Francisco Blaha
@franciscoblaha.bsky.social
“We have two choices: to abandon hope and ensure that the worst will happen, or to use the opportunities that exist and contribute to a better world. It is not a very difficult choice.”
Noam Chomsky
Fisheries, bicycles,music
http://www.franciscoblaha.info
Noam Chomsky
Fisheries, bicycles,music
http://www.franciscoblaha.info
Reposted by Francisco Blaha
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
November 27, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I'm old.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
If you're not, listen to this.
Get a guitar or some drums, or a trumpet. Pick up a brush, a pencil, some clay or a welder.
Just make shit. It doesn't have to be good (eventually it will be) just make music, art or write or whatever.
It's literally never been more important.
Our increasingly oversized cars may encourage risky driving and bullying behaviour, and when people do hurt someone on the roads, they tend to get away with it. Only 19% of serious crashes involving a bike are even investigated by police.
thespinoff.co.nz/society/25-1...
thespinoff.co.nz/society/25-1...
Why are New Zealand drivers so aggro?
Anyone who’s ridden a bike or scooter on our roads has a story about a driver seemingly wanting to murder them.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Our increasingly oversized cars may encourage risky driving and bullying behaviour, and when people do hurt someone on the roads, they tend to get away with it. Only 19% of serious crashes involving a bike are even investigated by police.
thespinoff.co.nz/society/25-1...
thespinoff.co.nz/society/25-1...
'American Samoa is a showcase of a wealthy nation's tendency to outsource the burdens of environmental conservation. The asymmetric imposition of the will of the powerful to use the less privileged as sacrificial zones for virtue-signalling policies'
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
The Disproportionate Socioeconomic burden in conservation borne by an unrecognised SIDS still under colonial rule — Francisco Blaha
I have written about colonialism and neo-colonialism in fisheries, and my wor k, either directly by the influences of former colonial countries or via the imposition of standards, either regulato...
www.franciscoblaha.info
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 PM
'American Samoa is a showcase of a wealthy nation's tendency to outsource the burdens of environmental conservation. The asymmetric imposition of the will of the powerful to use the less privileged as sacrificial zones for virtue-signalling policies'
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
Reposted by Francisco Blaha
Now that COP is over, rich countries can go back to not pretending. Until next COP when both them and their pet journalists can celebrate their climate leadership
November 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Now that COP is over, rich countries can go back to not pretending. Until next COP when both them and their pet journalists can celebrate their climate leadership
This is actually excellent watching. What those dogs do is amazing, I take this over motor sports and American Football here in NZ any day www.rnz.co.nz/news/country...
Sheep dog trials return to screen in new broadcasting deal
Sheep dog trials at next year's New Zealand Rural Games will play on TVNZ's platforms.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
This is actually excellent watching. What those dogs do is amazing, I take this over motor sports and American Football here in NZ any day www.rnz.co.nz/news/country...
I tried to read this from as many angles as possible, and they are all pathetic. In fact, I'll be ready to respect Seymour if he were to walk away from the coalition because of this statement as a matter of principle (which of course he will never do)
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
'It's not impossible': Willis says National may join other parties to repeal Regulatory Standards Act
The National deputy leader said her party may also campaign to get rid of the law.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
I tried to read this from as many angles as possible, and they are all pathetic. In fact, I'll be ready to respect Seymour if he were to walk away from the coalition because of this statement as a matter of principle (which of course he will never do)
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/...
Reposted by Francisco Blaha
We have strayed too far from God.
November 26, 2025 at 6:18 AM
We have strayed too far from God.
More extreme weather events are among the expected impacts of climate change, this study shows that the reported number of excess deaths (how many more deaths occurred than would otherwise be expected) because of rainfall and flooding is a considerable undercount
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Official statistics are vastly undercounting deaths from extreme weather
Research reveals that many more people lose their lives because of the effects of rainfall and flooding than are routinely accounted for.
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:13 PM
More extreme weather events are among the expected impacts of climate change, this study shows that the reported number of excess deaths (how many more deaths occurred than would otherwise be expected) because of rainfall and flooding is a considerable undercount
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Chris Bishop does not have to roll Luxon… he just need to wait…. Luxon self sabotage on daily basis www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Chris Bishop says he's not plotting to roll Christopher Luxon
He's not the only MP who has been asked about a leadership challenge.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Chris Bishop does not have to roll Luxon… he just need to wait…. Luxon self sabotage on daily basis www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
Needing this one in vinyl... if anyone knows where to find it (or even if exists!)
Thank you
mungoshifi.bandcamp.com/track/bike-r...
Thank you
mungoshifi.bandcamp.com/track/bike-r...
Bike Rider (Mungo’s Hi Fi ft Pupajim), by Mungo's Hi Fi
from the album Distilled
mungoshifi.bandcamp.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Needing this one in vinyl... if anyone knows where to find it (or even if exists!)
Thank you
mungoshifi.bandcamp.com/track/bike-r...
Thank you
mungoshifi.bandcamp.com/track/bike-r...
Some of my words and images in this open article by the Financial Times in London… for the last few years I have been working more on the labour side of fisheries, yet as former migrant fisherman myself I hardly get invited to contribute. I appreciate the opportunity
ig.ft.com/supermarket-...
ig.ft.com/supermarket-...
The dark truth behind supermarket tuna
Major retailers are selling tuna from fisheries where crews say they are exploited and abused
ig.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Some of my words and images in this open article by the Financial Times in London… for the last few years I have been working more on the labour side of fisheries, yet as former migrant fisherman myself I hardly get invited to contribute. I appreciate the opportunity
ig.ft.com/supermarket-...
ig.ft.com/supermarket-...
Reposted by Francisco Blaha
Maximum 6 metre tinny fishing between Autumn and Winter only targeting kāhawai, grey mullet and trevally, selling to local markets vs a $100K plus Surtees stacked with $1000+ rods and reels targeting snapper and kingfish.
Fish for the people eh.
Fish for the people eh.
November 22, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Maximum 6 metre tinny fishing between Autumn and Winter only targeting kāhawai, grey mullet and trevally, selling to local markets vs a $100K plus Surtees stacked with $1000+ rods and reels targeting snapper and kingfish.
Fish for the people eh.
Fish for the people eh.
Reposted by Francisco Blaha
If we are serious about prioritising feeding New Zealanders, but only 12% of the pop are recreational fishers, while 72% of consumers purchase commercially caught fish at least once a month, why would we lock species up for a minority who can afford to run a boat? www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/...
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 PM
If we are serious about prioritising feeding New Zealanders, but only 12% of the pop are recreational fishers, while 72% of consumers purchase commercially caught fish at least once a month, why would we lock species up for a minority who can afford to run a boat? www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/...
Looks like “the economist” ain’t afraid of loosing Republican readers, which traditionally would be their political readership, all is changing to unrecognisable levels podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Loot first: Donald Trump’s transactional presidency
Podcast Episode · Economist Podcasts · 11/21/2025 · Subscribers Only · 50m
podcasts.apple.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Looks like “the economist” ain’t afraid of loosing Republican readers, which traditionally would be their political readership, all is changing to unrecognisable levels podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
That time of the year again ☺️
November 21, 2025 at 5:24 AM
That time of the year again ☺️
Finding Illegal vessels is exciting, but not finding them, even with all this coverage, tools, and technology looking for them, is the result we want.
Cooperation works, and the FFA is pivotal in helping our region achieve some of the world's lowest levels of IUU fishing. www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
Cooperation works, and the FFA is pivotal in helping our region achieve some of the world's lowest levels of IUU fishing. www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
Operation Kurukuru 2025 delivers strong results - Pacific Islands FFA
Operation Kurukuru 2025 delivers strong results - Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency FFA manages, controls and develops Pacific Islands fisheries.
www.ffa.int
November 21, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Finding Illegal vessels is exciting, but not finding them, even with all this coverage, tools, and technology looking for them, is the result we want.
Cooperation works, and the FFA is pivotal in helping our region achieve some of the world's lowest levels of IUU fishing. www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
Cooperation works, and the FFA is pivotal in helping our region achieve some of the world's lowest levels of IUU fishing. www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
Here are the results of Kurukuru 25 (1 of 4 annual operations). Finding Illegal vessels is exciting, but not finding them is the result we want
👥 17 FFA Members
📍 30 million+ square km covered
👁️🗨️ 56 Vessel Sightings
⚓ 126 Vessel Boardings
⚠️ 11 VoI
🔒 1 Vessel Detained
www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
👥 17 FFA Members
📍 30 million+ square km covered
👁️🗨️ 56 Vessel Sightings
⚓ 126 Vessel Boardings
⚠️ 11 VoI
🔒 1 Vessel Detained
www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
Operation Kurukuru 2025 delivers strong results - Pacific Islands FFA
Operation Kurukuru 2025 delivers strong results - Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency FFA manages, controls and develops Pacific Islands fisheries.
www.ffa.int
November 21, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Here are the results of Kurukuru 25 (1 of 4 annual operations). Finding Illegal vessels is exciting, but not finding them is the result we want
👥 17 FFA Members
📍 30 million+ square km covered
👁️🗨️ 56 Vessel Sightings
⚓ 126 Vessel Boardings
⚠️ 11 VoI
🔒 1 Vessel Detained
www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
👥 17 FFA Members
📍 30 million+ square km covered
👁️🗨️ 56 Vessel Sightings
⚓ 126 Vessel Boardings
⚠️ 11 VoI
🔒 1 Vessel Detained
www.ffa.int/2025/10/oper...
While climate change needs to be addressed through concerted international efforts, local and regional measures can minimise the scale of impacts on marine ecosystems and support adaptation while global socio-climate systems respond.
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
Climate change implications for fisheries and aquaculture in the Pacific Islands region — Francisco Blaha
Last year, I blogged about my sobering week at the excellent Fisheries Climate Awareness Workshop (CLAW) , which was designed to enhance knowledge and awareness of SPC member countries and territorie...
www.franciscoblaha.info
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 AM
While climate change needs to be addressed through concerted international efforts, local and regional measures can minimise the scale of impacts on marine ecosystems and support adaptation while global socio-climate systems respond.
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
www.franciscoblaha.info/blog/2025/11...
The upcoming technologies in geothermal energy are looking increasingly promising. NZ governments should be investing in this instead of going back to gas and oil
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Hotting up: the geothermal revolution
Podcast Episode · Babbage from The Economist · 11/19/2025 · Subscribers Only · 40m
podcasts.apple.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The upcoming technologies in geothermal energy are looking increasingly promising. NZ governments should be investing in this instead of going back to gas and oil
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Surprise Surprise!
NZ plummeted from 2nd in the world in 2023 to 53rd in the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
NZ plummeted from 2nd in the world in 2023 to 53rd in the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
'Absolutely ludicrous': Casey Costello defends plunge in global tobacco control ranking
New Zealand has gone from second in the world to 53rd in a major tobacco control index.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Surprise Surprise!
NZ plummeted from 2nd in the world in 2023 to 53rd in the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
NZ plummeted from 2nd in the world in 2023 to 53rd in the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
“Instead of concentrating the city’s population in places with the best access to public transport, jobs and other amenities, Auckland has built the majority of its housing in places without that access”
thespian off.co.nz/society/19-11-2025/why-aucklands-traffic-is-bad-in-one-map#1813
thespian off.co.nz/society/19-11-2025/why-aucklands-traffic-is-bad-in-one-map#1813
Why Auckland’s traffic is bad, in one map
Hint: it’s not because we didn’t build enough motorway lanes.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
“Instead of concentrating the city’s population in places with the best access to public transport, jobs and other amenities, Auckland has built the majority of its housing in places without that access”
thespian off.co.nz/society/19-11-2025/why-aucklands-traffic-is-bad-in-one-map#1813
thespian off.co.nz/society/19-11-2025/why-aucklands-traffic-is-bad-in-one-map#1813
sport
noun
“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others”
How people sitting inside a car, driving very fast and burning fuel is classified as “sport” is beyond me
www.rnz.co.nz/life/lifesty...
noun
“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others”
How people sitting inside a car, driving very fast and burning fuel is classified as “sport” is beyond me
www.rnz.co.nz/life/lifesty...
Formula One is more than a sport - it's a style
Formula One has moved on from Grid Girls and logo shirts, becoming a powerhouse in the fashion world.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
sport
noun
“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others”
How people sitting inside a car, driving very fast and burning fuel is classified as “sport” is beyond me
www.rnz.co.nz/life/lifesty...
noun
“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others”
How people sitting inside a car, driving very fast and burning fuel is classified as “sport” is beyond me
www.rnz.co.nz/life/lifesty...
Reposted by Francisco Blaha
NZ’s electric car sales dropped 70% last year while global sales rose, but the Transport Minister says his policies aren’t to blame.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
Behind the Govt's urgent move to make it cheaper to import dirty cars
Analysis: NZ's electric car sales dropped 70% last year while global sales rose, but the Transport Minister says his policies aren't to blame, writes Marc Daalder
newsroom.co.nz
November 19, 2025 at 2:55 AM
NZ’s electric car sales dropped 70% last year while global sales rose, but the Transport Minister says his policies aren’t to blame.
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/18/g...
From cost of living to feral cats… nothing delivered for the common good…
just slashing jobs, killing climate change policies, defunding health and educations and of course less taxes for landlords and fu*k the rest
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
just slashing jobs, killing climate change policies, defunding health and educations and of course less taxes for landlords and fu*k the rest
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
Christopher Luxon said feral cats would be added as a target in Predator Free 2050 - but it hasn’t happened
The omission of feral cats from the country's Predator Free plan has perplexed conservationists.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
From cost of living to feral cats… nothing delivered for the common good…
just slashing jobs, killing climate change policies, defunding health and educations and of course less taxes for landlords and fu*k the rest
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...
just slashing jobs, killing climate change policies, defunding health and educations and of course less taxes for landlords and fu*k the rest
www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...