A Message from The Queen Following the Earthquakes in New Zealand

Prince Philip and I were shocked to hear news of the severe earthquakes that struck on Monday. I send my condolences to the families of those who were killed and to the people whose homes and businesses have been affected.

Our thoughts are with you at this time.

ELIZABETH R.

New Zealand Votes to Keep Union Jack on Their Flag

New Zealanders have chosen to keep their original flag

From The Crown Chronicles
By Victoria Howard

New Zealand has voted to keep their current flag, featuring the Union Jack of the United Kingdom.

In a second flag referendum, the current design won the majority with 56.6% of the vote, against the chosen blue, black and white version, seen below.

Other proposed flags had been whittled down to one contender for the new design, all of which featured the New Zealand fern. These designs lost with 43.2%.

2.1 millions New Zealanders voted in the referendum, a 67% turn out.

The issue with the current flag lay in that the flag of the UK formed part of the NZ flag, due to the former Empire and colonisation of the islands. Some felt the flag did not represent the people, instead an annex of Britain.

Prime Minister John Key told the people following the decision: “Use it, embrace it and, more importantly, be proud of it.”

He was, however, a supporter of a new flag and was disappointed with the flag result but respected the decision of the people. Key said that the National Government will not revisit the issue under his leadership.

Deputy PM Bill English also agreed: “We should all embrace that decision.”

Free Movement Proposed Between Canada, U.K, Australia, New Zealand

The Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organization wants to see free movement policies between Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. (Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organization)

From cbcnews-British Columbia

When James Skinner moved from the United Kingdom to Australia, he fell in love with Melbourne, landed a great job, met a great group of friends, settled down in his new home — only to leave because permanent residency was much harder to obtain than he anticipated.  

Skinner, who now lives in Vancouver, says he fears the same experience could happen again.

• Vasco Castela loses job, may have to leave Canada over immigration mix up
• Permanent residency spouse sponsorship delays leave new dad unable to support family

"We are virtually the same people," he told The Early Edition's Rick Cluff, referring to countries within the Commonwealth.

"The only thing that divides us is the cover of our passports."

Skinner, who is the founder and executive director of the Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organization, is calling on politicians in Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand to loosen restrictions on visas and work permits between the four countries.

He says citizens within the European Union can work and reside indefinitely in each of the 28 member states, and a similar policy occurs between Australia and New Zealand.

There's no reason why something similar can't happen between Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, he argued.

"We've had that Commonwealth tie for generations and decades in the past, we've stuck together through thick and thin, [we] share the same head of state, the same native language, the same respect for the common law," he said.

"It's not something completely out there that we're proposing."

The Commonwealth Freedom of Movement Organization's petition has already gathered nearly 25,000 online signatures.

Skinner says he plans to send the petition to politicians in New Zealand and Australia, and then to the Canadian and British governments, pending elections in each respective country.

Ditch NATO, Defend the Anglosphere

Magna Carta - a shared foundation for freedom

From The Hill

By Bernie Quigley

Suggested in the days between the Velvet Revolution and the Orange Revolution — which you do not hear much about these days — that "they," meaning those in the unfortunate neverwhere between the old Soviet Union and Greater America, were not really calling for Thomas Jefferson, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Abrahama Lincoln for liberation. More like Calvin Klein and Michael Jackson. Even the honored Czech poet and then-President Vaclav Havel, seeking a front-row bench in the "West," would pitch musician Frank Zappa as avatar and inspiration. This has been the odd model of the American conquest since World War II. The French in their imperial day would send the soldiers, then they would send the priests. We send Frank Zappa and Lady Gaga, Starbucks, McDonald's and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Bono and Mick Jagger. Possibly what is today causing the stellar decline of American influence in the world is that most under 50 don't know who Frank Zappa was.

ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand

Today our New Zealand and Australian friends and allies observe ANZAC Day.  Originally,  this was a day of remembrance for all those of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought and died at Gallipoli  during World War I.  Today it is a day to remember and honor all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations."