The Wire with Caeden

This week on Dear Science, the Tuesday Wire team sit down with Allan Blackman to talk dead flies speeding up the ageing of those that are alive, the size of the earth and how that was figured out, as well as what happens to your brain when you spend too long in space. 

ACT Party Leader David Seymour has accused RNZ of “propaganda” and “Palestinian-friendly” framing. 

These comments came after pro-kremlin edits were found in RNZ’s coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Palestinian New Zealander and descendant of Palestinian refugees Tameem Shaltoni. Shaltoni firstly provided some background into Israel's unlawful occupation of the West Bank. He also shared why Seymour's comments are concerning and his message to western media and political figures. 

She also heard from John Minto from the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa about his criticism of New Zealand and other western media's coverage of Israel's treatment of Palestine.

ACT MP Simon Court discussed ACT’s proposal for primary industries they announced at the Fieldays agricultural event and party leader David Seymour's comments comparing Palestine to Russia and China. 

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins also spoke to Palestinian New Zealander and descendant of Palestinian refugees Tameem Shaltoni and John Minto from the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa about Seymour's comments. 

Caeden spoke to Kay from We Back Our Kaiako about their upcoming protest in support of teachers.

They also talked to Jack from RainbowPath about the ramifications of the Human Rights Campaign's decision to declare a state of emergency for LGBTQIA+ people in the US.

And Nicholas spoke to Dr Kelly Garton from the University of Auckland about the impact of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme and the petition to extend it.

The government’s Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme began in 2019 in an effort to reduce food insecurity for New Zealand children.

The programme has now been extended to 220,000 students at 989 schools across the country.

The findings of a recent study into its impact has prompted a petition seeking further government funding to expand the programme. 

Nicholas spoke to the lead author of the study Dr Kelly Garton about why more students would benefit from the programme.