Jai Bentley-Payne
@abstractivist.bsky.social
Critical theorist, sociologist, philosophy nerd. Writing about abstraction, tech, capital, politics. Advocating against mental distress and homelessness in my day job. Tangata Tiriti. Ko Ōtautahi te kāinga. ☭ 🇵🇸
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
our govt wants to spend 327 times more on a single road ($18b) than they are currently spending yearly on all of basic science in new zealand ($55m) #nzpol
The Northern Expressway we were told would cost $10 billion is now priced at $18 billion, or six times the Cook Strait crossing we were told was unaffordable. This is fantasy stuff. www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-adv...
Game-changer: New $18b expressway endorsed to boost jobs and road safety
The Northland Expressway from Te Hana to Whangārei is expected to boost Northland.
www.nzherald.co.nz
October 26, 2025 at 7:55 PM
our govt wants to spend 327 times more on a single road ($18b) than they are currently spending yearly on all of basic science in new zealand ($55m) #nzpol
People who revel in cruelty are often engaging in reactive abuse as a result of trauma… but in this instance I just think we are dealing with inherently cruel bastards: #nzpol
Very few beneficiaries offered new non-financial sanctions, thousands have benefit cut
Thousands have had their benefits cut since new non-financial sanctions were introduced, and only nine offered the new alternative.
www.rnz.co.nz
October 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
People who revel in cruelty are often engaging in reactive abuse as a result of trauma… but in this instance I just think we are dealing with inherently cruel bastards: #nzpol
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
“New Zealand accused of ‘full-blown climate denial’ over cuts to methane reduction targets” - The Guardian
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #ClimateChange #Methane #NetZero
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #ClimateChange #Methane #NetZero
October 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
“New Zealand accused of ‘full-blown climate denial’ over cuts to methane reduction targets” - The Guardian
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #ClimateChange #Methane #NetZero
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #ClimateChange #Methane #NetZero
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
Don't engage. Just block. They want to push their rage bait on here. Don't give them the satisfaction.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
October 17, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Don't engage. Just block. They want to push their rage bait on here. Don't give them the satisfaction.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
bsky.app/profile/did:...
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
Generative AI is literally destroying knowledge
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Generative AI is literally destroying knowledge
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
Contact Energy prices are rising AGAIN.
This feels particularly despicable when so many people barely got through winter this year with astronomical electricity bills - and because it was recently reported their full year net profit is up 41% to more than $331 million, & underlying profit is $774m.
This feels particularly despicable when so many people barely got through winter this year with astronomical electricity bills - and because it was recently reported their full year net profit is up 41% to more than $331 million, & underlying profit is $774m.
October 16, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Contact Energy prices are rising AGAIN.
This feels particularly despicable when so many people barely got through winter this year with astronomical electricity bills - and because it was recently reported their full year net profit is up 41% to more than $331 million, & underlying profit is $774m.
This feels particularly despicable when so many people barely got through winter this year with astronomical electricity bills - and because it was recently reported their full year net profit is up 41% to more than $331 million, & underlying profit is $774m.
In case you missed this, the coalition Government is utterly without shame…
When Phonics Isn’t Reading: Why Today’s ‘Literacy Breakthrough’ Doesn’t Add Up
This afternoon, the Minister of Education announced what she called a “transformational boost” in reading achievement, crediting the government’s mandated structured literacy programme and newly intro...
aecnz.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:50 AM
In case you missed this, the coalition Government is utterly without shame…
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
“Stanford has been claiming a national “transformation” based in large part on the results over time of only 0.007% of the current Year 1 school population.”
Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Dodgy Claims About Reading Achievement – werewolf
werewolf.co.nz
October 16, 2025 at 1:24 AM
“Stanford has been claiming a national “transformation” based in large part on the results over time of only 0.007% of the current Year 1 school population.”
If you’re not already reading Mountain Tui’s excellent Substack, you should. Easily one of the best sources for insight on #nzpol
Luxon boasting today about ram raid numbers falling - meanwhile #nzpol
October 15, 2025 at 2:29 AM
If you’re not already reading Mountain Tui’s excellent Substack, you should. Easily one of the best sources for insight on #nzpol
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
The select committee report on the Regulatory Standards Bill is in.
📝166,000 submissions.
❌98.7% opposed.
Yet National are going to continue supporting it.
🗣New Zealand could not have been louder, but Luxon still isn’t listening.
📝166,000 submissions.
❌98.7% opposed.
Yet National are going to continue supporting it.
🗣New Zealand could not have been louder, but Luxon still isn’t listening.
October 13, 2025 at 1:48 AM
The select committee report on the Regulatory Standards Bill is in.
📝166,000 submissions.
❌98.7% opposed.
Yet National are going to continue supporting it.
🗣New Zealand could not have been louder, but Luxon still isn’t listening.
📝166,000 submissions.
❌98.7% opposed.
Yet National are going to continue supporting it.
🗣New Zealand could not have been louder, but Luxon still isn’t listening.
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
There has been so much shit flying around about Luxon these last few days it's taken me this long to find out Luxon accidentally referred to Chris Hipkins as "The prime minister" in the House. Fuckin' lol #NZPol
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
There has been so much shit flying around about Luxon these last few days it's taken me this long to find out Luxon accidentally referred to Chris Hipkins as "The prime minister" in the House. Fuckin' lol #NZPol
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
Pretty bleak seeing people celebrate the awarding of the Nobel 'peace' prize to someone who not only fully supports Trump (and US attacks & interference in Venezuela), but who is also fully pro-Israel, pro-privatisation, and has sought alliances with far right leaders in Europe like Orban & Le Pen.
October 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Pretty bleak seeing people celebrate the awarding of the Nobel 'peace' prize to someone who not only fully supports Trump (and US attacks & interference in Venezuela), but who is also fully pro-Israel, pro-privatisation, and has sought alliances with far right leaders in Europe like Orban & Le Pen.
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
In 2022, protestors hurled bricks, faeces at police & lit fires. Winston Peters said those protestors just wanted to be "heard" & shook their hands.
This week Peters called the mostly peaceful, law abiding Kiwis outside his home "gutless, spineless, [the] worst" protestors #nzpol
This week Peters called the mostly peaceful, law abiding Kiwis outside his home "gutless, spineless, [the] worst" protestors #nzpol
Faeces thrown at police at Parliament protest
Poo was pelted at officers during an early morning operation today to contain the protest at Parliament.
The 3.30am operation caught the occupiers off guard with attempts to thwart the plan, resulting...
www.rnz.co.nz
October 8, 2025 at 4:56 AM
In 2022, protestors hurled bricks, faeces at police & lit fires. Winston Peters said those protestors just wanted to be "heard" & shook their hands.
This week Peters called the mostly peaceful, law abiding Kiwis outside his home "gutless, spineless, [the] worst" protestors #nzpol
This week Peters called the mostly peaceful, law abiding Kiwis outside his home "gutless, spineless, [the] worst" protestors #nzpol
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
#nzpol The government has announced that 18/19 year olds, who live in a household where the parents earn $65,529 or more, can't claim jobseekers support. If both parents work 27 hours on the minimum wage - $634 a week - they will be expected to now financially support their adult offspring. A 🧵
October 5, 2025 at 6:56 AM
#nzpol The government has announced that 18/19 year olds, who live in a household where the parents earn $65,529 or more, can't claim jobseekers support. If both parents work 27 hours on the minimum wage - $634 a week - they will be expected to now financially support their adult offspring. A 🧵
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
god help me. this is just cruelty. these are human beings, you monsters.
October 5, 2025 at 4:54 AM
god help me. this is just cruelty. these are human beings, you monsters.
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
#nzpol Monthly employment data - and there are 4,814 more jobs than this time last month! Whoop. Only 42,746 to go to get us to where we were at the last election. 62 jobs lost every single day of this government, one roughly every 23 minutes. A 🧵
September 29, 2025 at 1:18 AM
#nzpol Monthly employment data - and there are 4,814 more jobs than this time last month! Whoop. Only 42,746 to go to get us to where we were at the last election. 62 jobs lost every single day of this government, one roughly every 23 minutes. A 🧵
Aotearoa has been governed by some awful people in the past; grifters, racists, drunks and economic vandals. But never ever have we had such a spineless coward for a prime minister. Chris Luxon is an utterly craven husk of a person. #nzpol #freepalestine
September 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Aotearoa has been governed by some awful people in the past; grifters, racists, drunks and economic vandals. But never ever have we had such a spineless coward for a prime minister. Chris Luxon is an utterly craven husk of a person. #nzpol #freepalestine
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
Reposted by Jai Bentley-Payne
“The AI in the study probably prompted doctors to become over-reliant on its recommendations, ‘leading to clinicians becoming less motivated, less focused, and less responsible when making cognitive decisions without AI assistance,’ the scientists said in the paper.”
AI Eroded Doctors’ Ability to Spot Cancer Within Months in Study
Artificial intelligence, touted for its potential to transform medicine, led to some doctors losing skills after just a few months in a new study.
www.bloomberg.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:41 PM
“The AI in the study probably prompted doctors to become over-reliant on its recommendations, ‘leading to clinicians becoming less motivated, less focused, and less responsible when making cognitive decisions without AI assistance,’ the scientists said in the paper.”
Is it Fascism yet?
August 12, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Is it Fascism yet?
New Zealand still part of the coalition of cowardice. To have still not recognised Palestine despite the horrific situation there is now an historically craven position.
July 30, 2025 at 6:19 PM
New Zealand still part of the coalition of cowardice. To have still not recognised Palestine despite the horrific situation there is now an historically craven position.