Back in lockdown
I guess that many members will be starting to get just a little bit [or a lot] bored in the current lockdown? 
 
The race is on to get everyone possible vaccinated as quickly as we now can so that Covid outbreaks can be better contained allowing life to continue more as normal. According to the latest information almost 90% percent of those over 60 [thats very much our club demographic] that are now vaccinated.
 
 
A great response to the project to provide some financial support to local food banks has meant that we have been able to make donations of $1250 each, to two organisations. Details on that in the bulletin.
 
 
 
Just prior to lockdown a Pakuranga College planting day for Trees for Survival took place and the report on that is also in this bulletin.
 
 
We will hold a Zoom meeting this coming Monday - 20th of September. Our member and local MP, Simeon Brown, will do a presentation and address issues that members are likely to be interested in.    
 
 
If you have material for the Bulletin please send that through. 
Calendar
International Day of Democracy
Sep 15, 2021
 
PakRot Meeting - 20 Sept 2021
Sep 20, 2021
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
 
International Day of Peace
Sep 21, 2021
 
World Maritime Day
Sep 28, 2021
 
International Day of Older Persons
Oct 01, 2021
 
Rotary Economic and Community Development Month
Oct 01, 2021 - Oct 31, 2021
 
World Habitat Day
Oct 04, 2021
 
International Day for Disaster Reduction
Oct 13, 2021
 
United Nations Day
Oct 24, 2021
 
World Polio Day
Oct 24, 2021
 
Labour Day
Oct 25, 2021
 
World Interact Week
Oct 25, 2021 - Oct 31, 2021
 
View entire list
Foodbank Donations. 
On behalf of the Mission Parish of St Mark and Saint Vincent de Paul (SVDP) - Foodbank, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and  recognition of the generosity and selflessness of The Rotary Club of Pakuranga to support us in our mission to bring about food security to our sisters and brothers and families in need during this L4 lockdown because of Covid 19. 
 
Your donation will sustain us for the coming weeks as we continue to do the work of the ministry. I have checked with our accounts and we have received the donation of $1,125. Again, many thanks. 

Much blessings and prayers for the Rotary Club. 
Arohanui,
Fr. Sherwin Lapaan
 
 
 
Trees For Survival

PLANTING DAY REPORT 2021 Pakuranga College,
Rotary Club of Pakuranga and Trent & Kate Archer. Together, we planted 782 native plants.

Well done!

 

A lot of growing, caring & organising has taken place by the time the plants go in the ground. Thank you very much for your effort and commitment to improving our natural environment while also growing our next generation of environmentalists!

The planting was along a waterway and is a continuation of several years of plantings by a variety of schools. It is great to see the progress of previous plantings and the difference these are making in stabilising the land and improving water quality. Trent and Kate were great hosts, as in the past, and it was great to be warm and dry in the barn for lunch.

The Rotary Club of Pakuranga, who wisely didn't join us in wet conditions on a slippery hillside, were thanked for their continued support of the programme at the College.

 

 

 
 

 

 

Misinformation in the modern age. 
The spreading of misinformation, lies and conspiracy theories are not new and date back many hundreds of years. The rise of the internet has greatly increased the speed and geographical spread of information which is at best a simple misunderstanding all the way to the most egregious and dangerous falsehood. I definitely don't intend  to enter into discussion or debate about any of the current conspiracy theories but am comfortable sharing a little information about books that look at how conspiracy theories and misinformation takes hold and spreads in case any of you are interested.
 
Liars Falsehoods and Free Speech in an Age of Deception. Cass R Sunstein.  
The book examines situations of misinformation that people genuinely believe to be true through to the outright lies that have the potential to create enormous harm. Should all or some of those be protected by free speech laws?  What if the lie is about a politician? Should they have more or less protection? Should there be punishment or should the solution be counter arguments? Does the Government have a role or should the social media platforms have responsibility? Very interesting and well researched but not a "read at one setting" sort of book.  
 
 
 
 
The Misinformation Age. Cailin O'Connor and James Weatherall. The authors deal with five key questions. How do we form beliefs, especially false ones? How do they persist? Why do they spread? What are false beliefs so intransigent, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary? What can we do to change them? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Suspicious Minds. Rob Brotherton. Why so many of us are drawn to implausible, unproven and un-provable conspiracy theories. Everyone loves a good conspiracy. Yet conspiracy theories are not a recent invention. And they are not always a harmless curiosity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Conspiracy Theories. A Primer. Joseph Uscinski. Everyone believes at least one, but given the number of conspiracy theories, it is more likely that everyone believes a few. Some people have a worldview defined by them. Conspiracy theories are just another reminder that people disagree about many things, including truth.