#npip

[kedreeva]

So I went to my pullorum tester certification class today, which I have been to several times over the last decade+ and I’ve been a tester for years so I already know what I’m doing, but for the testing demonstration, we have to draw blood from a chicken’s wing and mix it with antigen and read the results. They paired me with a guy who’d never done it before so when they brought us our bird, I held it and the guy did the draw and the reading.

The instructor came over and asked him “what do you think, positive or negative?” and the guy said “Positive.” and the instructor looked at me and goes “What do you think?” I nodded and said, “Yep, positive.” And he smiled and said “Tell me, how do you know?” and I assume he was expected me/us to describe the test result but I said “Because the bird has duct tape on her leg.”

Anyway they still certified me despite the look he gave me.

[peopleagainstprisonsaotearoa]

Information released to No Pride in Prisons under the Official Information Act shows that up to 87% of prisoners were unemployed before entering prison. On the other hand, the unemployment rate across all of New Zealand is 4.8 percent. This only further proves what we already know: poor people go to prison. The everyday misery of poverty puts people in extremely desperate positions to make ends meet. The stress breeds addiction, health issues, and abuse that tear apart communities. We also know that Māori make up the majority of people who end up in prison, and are more likely to be poor. Economic racism and colonisation put Māori at even greater risk from the severe harms of imprisonment. Capitalism is based on an elite class benefiting from the poverty, unemployment and misery of the many. By keeping wages and benefits low, the government ensures that there will always be people desperate to accept bad working conditions. When people act out as a result of their miserable conditions, they are used as a scapegoat. They are held responsible and put in prison, while the social system that pushed them into prison is ignored. Prison never has and never will be used to address “crime”. It is used to lock up poor people and secure the privilege of the elite. The prison props up capitalism and colonialism at the expense of Māori and the poor. http://ift.tt/2uvyDBT

[kedreeva]

Current Longfeather Lane records for NPIP eligible birds. Since they have to be 4 months or older to be tested, I didn't have to test the celadons, the peachicks, or the GLW chicks in the house still (I will test them when they are old enough obviously but they won't get added to my registry until next testing survey), and pigeons aren't included in pullorum testing (thankfully). The celadons came from an NPIP flock, though, and the GLWs came from a hatchery, which has to be NPIP too, so I don't expect they'll test positive anyway.

I named the bobwhite quail just so that they weren't the only ones without names. Bob White and his girlfriend Betty White, and their friend Gertrude. Just Gertrude.

[kedreeva]

welp. I spent my ENTIRE weekend doing pullorum testing for other people, I am exhausted. Everyone tested clean though, so that was good, and I got to see a lot of really pretty birds.

The lady today brought out the first goose and asked me if she should tuck his head so I wouldn’t get bit and I looked at the goose and said I think he will know better than to bite me. And he looked back at me, swung his head around and put his bill against my arm... and then decided better of it. She also had a guinea later on that was biting the heck out of her hand as she was trying to grab his head so he wouldn’t bite me, and I finally had to say, look, don’t bother, it’s fine. And I put my forearm up and gently pushed his head against her chest and drew the blood with my other hand. He didn’t even try to bite me.

[kedreeva]

Me: Charles River is going to have my antigen ready next week!!

Sark: Neat

Me: you say that, but that means catch-and-hold-and-bleed-all-birds week is coming up soon

Sark: 

[peopleagainstprisonsaotearoa]

We're changing our name tomorrow! http://ift.tt/2wjHv0S

[peopleagainstprisonsaotearoa]

Kia ora whānau, A prisoner that we work with has come into some trouble and needs a lawyer. He was recently assaulted by another prisoner at Spring Hill and had to defend himself. Although he tried to resolve the conflict without violence, Corrections has decided to charge him. He feels that this is extremely unjust. He would like a lawyer present at his disciplinary hearing, to help him make his case. This is beyond the scope of what our volunteer advocates can do. We need some help getting him representation. If you know any lawyers in Northern Waikato or South Auckland who’d be keen to help out pro bono, please point them in our direction! Email us at [email protected] or contact us here on Facebook. http://ift.tt/2wvhlX0

[peopleagainstprisonsaotearoa]

"Prison abolitionist organisation No Pride in Prisons is preparing to change its name to People Against Prisons Aotearoa after a majority vote at its 2017 Annual General Meeting. “Our work is for the universal liberation of prisoners, and so our organisation must be similarly universal,” says No Pride in Prisons spokeswoman Emilie Rākete. “We are not an organisation just for queer and trans people, but for everyone who opposes the violent prison system.” “People Against Prisons Aotearoa, or PAPA, is a reminder that Papatūānuku underlies the struggle for mana motuhake and the nationwide liberation of Māori in Aotearoa.” “People Against Prisons Aotearoa is a declaration that we are serious about opposing and ending incarceration itself.” The change will be made official on 1 September."