Richard Moore's Straight Talk Columns

Stop bleating and try a practical approach

22/6/2010

RUSSEL NORMAN - co-leader of the Green Party - needs to grow up and pull his head in.

His one-man protest against the second most powerful man in China at the weekend was not only irresponsible but was also embarrassingly limp-wristed.

``Give me back my flag,'' he whined after losing the Tibetan flag he was waving, ``Give me back my flag.''

How any burly Chinese security chap could have taken him as a threat is laughable but when guarding the future leader of the Chinese empire you can't afford to take chances - even when facing down a savage woolly head.

A nicely judged elbow dealt with Norman and Vice-President Xi Jinping was able to go on his way to a meeting.

No one likes what China has done - and will continue to do - in Tibet.

They invaded the place, brutally suppressed the population and then transplanted squillions of their own people there so that in X number of years the number of Chinese folk there will outnumber Tibetans.

It's colonisation and racial extermination by patience and shows just what a pack of charmers are in power in China. But, realistically, what can be done about it?

China is too big militarily to physically kick out of Tibet and its economic muscle is such that it can ignore the views of everyone else in the world. It is true that if every nation refused to trade with China until it changed its ways there may be a chance of forcing Beijing to heel, but self-interest makes that sort of unity an impossible dream.

And this is where Norman's actions border on treason.

By squeaking out his protest so he can sit round with his chardonnay-sipping circle and feel better about life, he risks the relationship with New Zealand's second-biggest trading partner.

Now while Norman's job is safe, his actions endanger the livelihoods of many New Zealanders at a time when jobs have never been so vital.

People who don't like Beijing's ways should put their money where their mouths are and protest through their wallets or purses. It's simple - don't buy goods made in China.

It certainly hits the pocket - but it is a price I am happy to pay.

And you won't catch me squeaking ``give me back my bag, give me back my bag''.

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I love World Cup finals. They are filled with great stories of triumph and tragedy and the journey of the All Whites so far is just fabulous.

There is nothing better than a team of journeymen soccer players and part-timers taking on the overpaid and pampered big-name stars and bursting their egos in the best possible way.

However, in this finals series a few things have been pretty ordinary.

The lack of goals for one. Usually it's a goalfest but in 2010 the top marksmen have been way off target.

Next up is the goalkeeping. It is woeful - NZ keeper Mark Paston's performances aside - with most of the scoring seemingly coming off errors by the players in the No1 jumpers.

Worst of all is the refereeing. Just where they got these bozos from is a question Fifa needs to answer. They not only make dodgy penalty decisions - as did the clown in the Italy-All Whites game when he allowed the Azzurri back into the game with a suspect spot kick - they are continually sucked in by pussy players.

Sneeze near some of the European or Latin American players and they'll shriek like a sook, put their hands to their faces, fall down, roll around in agony only to make a miraculous recovery when a free kick or penalty is earned.

Red card them, I say. And those cheats who dive.

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Now call me hard-hearted and mean but I hope Aucklanders vote for Len Brown as the mayor of their Super City.

I can think of no finer person to represent the latte-swilling cafe set than a guy who goes out to dinner on the public expense, gets caught out and then literally beats himself up about his actions.

In some form of self-harm lunacy Brown publicly hit his own head and chest in a weird mea culpa.

Crikey next up he'll be buying a hair shirt and whip - on the council credit card of course - and give himself a damn fine going over.

There is no truth to the rumours Brown is going to stand for the Flagellant Party - he reckons even he can beat them.