Archive for January, 2006

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  Whale law - by frog

  
  
  
  The NZ Herald’s editorial today (offline): The protest groups would like nothing more than to see warships on the scene. They believe the navies of signatory nations should have been defending the sanctuary from the resumption of whaling this season in the first place. Should a frigate hove into view now, the protesters would almost [...] read more
  January 12, 2006 3:38 pm - 3 Comments
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  It’s the plants’ fault - by frog

  
  
  
  The Nature report that has found that plants give off methane in the lab is getting a bit of a run in the media today. Radio NZ reports: New Zealand scientist who peer reviewed a study into greenhouse gases, says it casts doubt over the benefit of plants to combat global warming. European scientists at [...] read more
  January 12, 2006 12:30 pm - 3 Comments
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  Picnic for the Planet weekend after next - by frog

  
  
  
  Jeanette has just announced the details for this year’s Picnic for the Planet, where she will deliver her second ‘State of the Planet’ speech. It is being held in Marlborough the weekend after next, to coincide with the annual Waihopai protest, which the Anti-Bases Campaign has this year dedicated to Rod‘s memory. What: Picnic for [...] read more
  January 11, 2006 4:04 pm - 4 Comments
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  When truth is the victim - by frog

  
  
  
  Russell Brown, amongst others, has at times said that, while the public perceive that violent crime in New Zealand is increasing, statistics show that it is gradually tracking downwards. The media are generally blamed for this mismatch between reality and perception, but it is also true that certain politicians love to play up the fear [...] read more
  January 11, 2006 10:46 am - 13 Comments
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  Anyone know where to find a vegan drive through? - by frog

  
  
  
  Knowing how much you frogblog readers love to get your teeth into debating veganism, and with my previous post about animal fat as a transport fuel in mind, consider this from the New Scientist: THINKING of helping the planet by buying an eco-friendly car? You could do more by going vegan, say Gidon Eshel and [...] read more
  January 11, 2006 9:39 am - 83 Comments
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  Festivals - by frog

  
  
  
  A quick plug for two greenish events coming up. The Organic River Festival near Levin the weekend after next: Imagine an idyllic rural setting surrounded by native trees, flanked by a river with beautiful swimming holes, well removed from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Relaxing under summer skies with family and friends, enjoying [...] read more
  January 11, 2006 9:14 am - No Comments
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  Japan to save its whalers? - by frog

  
  
  
  My point yesterday about the Sea Shepherds not getting the same reaction and coverage as Greenpeace is now out of date. The Japanese government is now threatening to send “police aircraft” to protect their whalers. The Sydney Morning Herald reports: “If Greenpeace action becomes more aggressive, the Fisheries Agency may ask the Maritime Police Agency [...] read more
  January 10, 2006 3:41 pm - 23 Comments
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  Soy bad - by frog

  
  
  
  The Independent in London reports: Women who eat GM foods while pregnant risk endangering their unborn babies, startling new research suggests. The study – carried out by a leading scientist at the Russian Academy of Sciences – found that more than half of the offspring of rats fed on modified soya died in the first [...] read more
  January 10, 2006 11:14 am - 3 Comments
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  Some getting high is a risk to us all - by frog

  
  
  
  I recall that, not long after September 11, satirist Michael Moore reacted to the resulting security scrutiny of Arabs and muslims by saying that the minority that the US Government should be picking on was millionaires, as extreme wealth, rather than ethnicity and religion, was the attribute of Osama Bin Laden that was most relevant [...] read more
  January 9, 2006 3:42 pm - 3 Comments
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  There may be no team to play next time - by frog

  
  
  
  The line between cricket and wider events in Zimbabwe became even fuzzier in recent days. A strike by the nation’s top players has led to Mugabe’s government appointing a new board. Reuters reports: Player representative Clive Field reacted to the latest developments by saying that Zimbabwe cricket now faced ruin. “I think we’re stuffed, more [...] read more
  January 9, 2006 2:59 pm - 2 Comments
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  Heroically tasty - by frog

  
  
  
  Ribbet. Morning all, the frog is back. Thought I’d pick up this year where I left off the last – with Greenpeace’s ongoing battle with the Japanese pirate whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean. Things are heating up down near the ice, with reports that yesterday the whaling ship Nisshin Maru and Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise [...] read more
  January 9, 2006 10:06 am - 56 Comments