Dishonest UNICEF

A Front Organization For the Left

Lindsay Mitchell writes a blog covering the perversions of New Zealand's welfare state.  She recently had the temerity to make some critical observations about UNICEF.  At this point we must issue a warning.  Mitchell's subject matter, coupled with her critical mien, draw us very close to what can only be called heresy according to present received wisdom.  

We acknowledge that UNICEF is the United Kingdom's secular version of the Anglican Church.  More accurate may be the observation that UNICEF is the Anglican Church's "welfare" arm.  The thing flows out to the colonies.

Mitchell approaches being labelled a heretic because of her sarcasm towards UNICEF.  She points out that in June 2017 (that is, a mere six months ago) UNICEF launched the following jeremiad:

New Zealand has performed poorly in a global report card on children’s well-being, and Kiwi kids will continue to miss out unless there is a massive upheaval in how children’s best interests are served, says child rights organisation UNICEF NZ.

Child poverty, child poverty, child poverty.  New Zealand was failing badly.  The implication was the gummint was evil.  It was run by neo-liberals (whatever that sobriquet may mean).  The vulnerable were on the scrapheap.

Now, six month's later, UNICEF is singing from a different song sheet:

 Babies born in New Zealand have access to high levels of care, education and medical assistance, which is reflected in their long life-spans.  [Stuff]

Further:

Unicef NZ executive director Vivien Maidaborn said socially, Kiwis seemed to honour what it means to care for a baby.   "There is a social expectation in New Zealand that babies will be born well, named immediately, and the family will have access to support," she said.

"All of those things add up to babies surviving their first days, then their first month, first year and so on. At our best, the families are supported, the women get space to bond with the baby, and increasingly so do dads."  Maidaborn said New Zealand offered primary health services that supported women from early in their pregnancy, right through to early childhood.  

"They get the help they need ... and there are baby checks, so there is quite a lot of information about each baby from birth, so intervention can be targeted early," she said.  Babies born in New Zealand have access to high levels of care, education and medical assistance, which is reflected in their long life-spans."

What on earth, we hear you ask, caused such a radical change in six months?  When it comes to children the country has moved from "poor performance" to a country where children "get the help they need."

The only substantial change we can think of has been the election of a Labour Government at the end of 2017.  Overnight,

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day

Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies

UNICEF--a secular front for the Left, a fervid supporter of socialism, a fearsome opponent of neo-liberalism (whatever it may be), and profoundly dishonest.  Some spleneticals might even accuse UNICEF of gross hypocrisy.

Vivien Maidaborn, executive director of Unicef NZ.

ROSS GIBLIN/STUF  

UNICEF would seem to be a front organization for darker interests and powers.  It is after all an agency of the United Nations.  We have never given it a dime--an act of neglect (or rebellion), which to this day we consider a duty of Christian stewardship.