Archive for April, 2006

  • frog

    Chain mail (email, not armour)



    I got a chain email this morning urging me to boycott Mobil in an effort to bring petrol prices down. It’s very similar to other chain emails which have circulated in the past. Here’s a sample: This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the “don’t buy gas on a certain day” campaign that was going around last [...] read more
    April 28, 2006 11:20 am - 6 Comments
  • frog

    Katrina caused by global warming?



    Here’s an exchange from Question Time back on 21 March: Jeanette Fitzsimons: When the Prime Minister said that New Zealand needed coal-fired power plants because the weather did not always come to the party, was she meaning the recent droughts in Canterbury and yesterday’s Cyclone Larry in Queensland; and will she be advising her new Minister [...] read more
    April 27, 2006 11:35 am - 9 Comments
  • frog

    Colbert on global warming



    C4 recently started screening the Daily Show, albeit weekly. Another Comedy Central gem that won’t make it this far is the Colbert Report (for the uninitiated, the ‘t’s are silent), in which Stephen Colbert masterfully parodies the American right. Helpfully for those of us in the antipodes, onegoodmove regularly uploads video from both shows, as [...] read more
    April 26, 2006 3:04 pm - 5 Comments
  • frog

    Way to go Tesco



    There might be lots wrong with huge supermarket chains, but here’s one good thing: Tesco is planning to build the ‘World’s Greenest Supermarket’. They have announced a 100 million pound fund to increase their energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, and will install wind turbines and solar panels at some new stores. Sure, their motivations [...] read more
    April 26, 2006 12:24 pm - 14 Comments
  • frog

    Earth Day round-up



    Sunday was Earth Day, and the Greens took the opportunity to reinforce the Turn Down the Heat message with a number of events nationwide highlighting the possibility of rising sea levels as a consequence of climate change. Wellington Greens got dressed up and had a beach party in Cuba Mall: While those crazy Dunedinites (including Metiria) were [...] read more
    April 26, 2006 10:02 am - 19 Comments
  • frog

    Some reading for the public holiday



    The American Prospect (which will set you back $10 or so from a magazine shop as it’s air freighted, but which is thankfully available online) has an excellent special report on the Green Economy in its April Edition. The lead article on the so-called “carbohydrate economy” is a little dense, but presents a comprehensive case for [...] read more
    April 24, 2006 12:00 pm - 8 Comments
  • frog

    Sad about the Solomons



    It’s a real shame that the situation in the Solomons has deteriorated so markedly since the election, as the feeling immediately after the vote was so positive. Metiria and the other international observers left feeling positive about the process and likely outcome, but it seems that while the vote itself may have run smoothly, picking [...] read more
    April 21, 2006 11:21 am - 7 Comments
  • frog

    Petrol prices rise again. Wheeee!



    $1.68 and counting… Meanwhile public transport use is up, putting pressure on providers, who nevertheless say that major upgrades are years away. Fun times ahead… read more
    April 18, 2006 4:07 pm - 46 Comments
  • frog

    Japan and those whaling votes



    I hope everyone had a relaxing and pleasant Easter break. It was interesting to come back from the break this morning to speculation about numbers at the International Whaling Commission, and whether Japan has *ahem* garnered enough support for a 51% majority. While they would need at least 75% support from member countries to lift the [...] read more
    April 18, 2006 2:30 pm - 14 Comments
  • frog

    More about McKesson



    Some interesting information about McKesson, the company awarded the contract to provide PlunketLine’s service, has come to light in this press release of Sue Kedgley’s. It seems that the parent company of McKesson New Zealand, McKesson Corporation, has been accused of fraud on more than one occasion. It is also one of the top 100 [...] read more
    April 12, 2006 1:46 pm - 15 Comments