101 ms·

Honest question: what makes NZ safer than other countries? I assume it depends on the scenario? Political turmoil could make sense (I don't know enough about NZ

by folli 6y ago

Honest question: what makes NZ safer than other countries? I assume it depends on the scenario? Political turmoil could make sense (I don't know enough about NZ politics), global warming probably less so?

cblconfederate 6y ago
Isolated and well developed probably, and small nation. They have effectively eradicated COVID, have you seen videos from their elections?
- dzhiurgis 6y ago
  Auckland central candidate pulled off a drag show in their campaign. She won.
simonh 6y ago
They are remote, defensible, politically and socially stable, self-sufficient in food and many materials. NZ does not have nuclear weapons, or host nukes for anyone else so they're not a retaliation or first strike target. They're also in the southern hemisphere, which is useful in a nuclear winter scenario.
- jobigoud 6y ago
  A nuclear winter is planet wide no? With which aspect being in the southern hemisphere helps?
  - simonh 6y ago
    Most nuclear targets are in the northern hemisphere and most atmospheric circulation follows lines of latitude or regional patterns. While a full on nuclear winter would eventually have global effects, not everywhere would be impacted equally in terms of severity or duration. The most severe effects would be felt in the north. For a more limited exchange with regional or continental wide effects, there are few regions in the north not at risk of such a conflict. With a pattern of impact driven by latitudinal or regional weather patterns, the impact on the southern hemisphere of any regional northern conflict are likely to be minimal.
- ericmay 6y ago
  Interesting, but I’d actually view New Zealand as one of the countries on the hit list. If there was a nuclear war between the US and Russia/China, there are enough nuclear weapons that you’re not only hitting the US and UK (which you’re for sure fighting against), but also Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Because if you take the US out while also getting taken out but don’t take out the allies, you didn’t really “win” the war.
- wolfgke 6y ago
  > [NZ is] remote, defensible, politically and socially stable, self-sufficient in food and many materials. And easy to (mostly - except for satellite connections) cut off from internet, since there exist only few sea cables to NZ that have to be cut: > https://www.submarinecablemap.com/ https://www.submarinecablemap.com/

by folli 6y ago

cblconfederate 6y ago

Isolated and well developed probably, and small nation. They have effectively eradicated COVID, have you seen videos from their elections?

dzhiurgis 6y ago
Auckland central candidate pulled off a drag show in their campaign. She won.

simonh 6y ago

They are remote, defensible, politically and socially stable, self-sufficient in food and many materials. NZ does not have nuclear weapons, or host nukes for anyone else so they're not a retaliation or first strike target. They're also in the southern hemisphere, which is useful in a nuclear winter scenario.

jobigoud 6y ago
A nuclear winter is planet wide no? With which aspect being in the southern hemisphere helps?
- simonh 6y ago
  Most nuclear targets are in the northern hemisphere and most atmospheric circulation follows lines of latitude or regional patterns. While a full on nuclear winter would eventually have global effects, not everywhere would be impacted equally in terms of severity or duration. The most severe effects would be felt in the north. For a more limited exchange with regional or continental wide effects, there are few regions in the north not at risk of such a conflict. With a pattern of impact driven by latitudinal or regional weather patterns, the impact on the southern hemisphere of any regional northern conflict are likely to be minimal.
ericmay 6y ago
Interesting, but I’d actually view New Zealand as one of the countries on the hit list. If there was a nuclear war between the US and Russia/China, there are enough nuclear weapons that you’re not only hitting the US and UK (which you’re for sure fighting against), but also Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Because if you take the US out while also getting taken out but don’t take out the allies, you didn’t really “win” the war.
wolfgke 6y ago
> [NZ is] remote, defensible, politically and socially stable, self-sufficient in food and many materials. And easy to (mostly - except for satellite connections) cut off from internet, since there exist only few sea cables to NZ that have to be cut: > https://www.submarinecablemap.com/ https://www.submarinecablemap.com/