Archive for October, 2006

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  Big splash in the mainstream - by frog

  
  
  
  Wow, if we ever needed proof that climate change has become a mainstream issue this year, we have it today. Internationally, the world press is abuzz with the release of the Stern Report – a study commissioned by the UK government into the economics of climate change – which predicts that climate change could cost [...] read more
  October 31, 2006 10:44 am - 125 Comments
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  Not a happy frog - by frog

  
  
  
  Not a happy frog at all to read this story about a new study that links a deadly fungal disease in frogs to climate change. Won’t somebody please think of the frogs!? read more
  October 27, 2006 4:53 pm - 14 Comments
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  Green TV - by frog

  
  
  
  If anyone’s feeling the pressure out there and in need of a new and interesting procrastination aid, check out some of the plethora of video blogs with an environmental flavour out there. While YouTube and its ilk is clearly both a curse and a blessing, porn and snot videos need not dominate. A couple of [...] read more
  October 26, 2006 5:31 pm - 3 Comments
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  Dioxin disaster - by frog

  
  
  
  TV3′s Melanie Reid has spent the last year investigating dioxin contamination from the herbicide 2-4-5-T, especially in the New Plymouth suburb of Paritutu, where Ivon Watkins Dow manufactured the chemical for more than 20 years. The result, a 90-min documentary called Let us Spray went to air last night. If you missed it, you can [...] read more
  October 24, 2006 5:05 pm - 33 Comments
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  Mum, can we go to the pub? - by frog

  
  
  
  So say I’m 19 and my, like, favourite indy band ever is coming to New Zealand to play at the King’s Arms. I own every CD AND the limited edition live album, plus several t-shirts and posters. I’m SO there, right? Wrong – unless I can convince my mum to come with me. If Labour [...] read more
  October 20, 2006 2:53 pm - 42 Comments
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  Out with the old, in with Matariki? - by frog

  
  
  
  I’ m interested to hear what people think of Metiria’s proposal that we should stop celebrating Guy Fawkes in New Zealand and let off fireworks at Matariki instead. I think it’s a fantastic idea. There aren’t enough fun things to look forward to in winter, and a big Matariki celebration (and public holiday!) would be [...] read more
  October 19, 2006 2:46 pm - 95 Comments
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  Oh no Iceland! - by frog

  
  
  
  Terrible news that Iceland is resuming commercial whaling after 20 years, and disastrous that they intend to include the endangered fin whale on their hit list. Metiria condemned the decision this morning: Because Iceland’s neighbour Norway has also resumed commercial whaling, this move will place great strain on the whale population in this region. Worse, [...] read more
  October 18, 2006 1:33 pm - 192 Comments
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  Government toys with emissions standards - by frog

  
  
  
  The Government is testing the waters on the issue of vehicle emissions, hinting that a fuel-economy standard for new and used vehicles is likely in future to curb greenhouse gas emissions and encourage economical driving. Any moves in this area are welcome as far as I’m concerned, with a couple of caveats: 1) Any standards [...] read more
  October 16, 2006 11:59 am - 52 Comments
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  Green response to Auditor General’s report - by frog

  
  
  
  “While we respect the Office of the Auditor General, we disagree with the Auditor General’s reasoning and conclusions. We believe that his findings will make it more difficult for MPs to carry out their work for their constituents effectively. “Obviously we are disappointed with the outcome, however, as we said earlier the six MPs and [...] read more
  October 12, 2006 4:56 pm - 64 Comments
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  World goes in to ecological debt - by frog

  
  
  
  According to the New Economics Foundation October 9 was the day that the world went in to ecological debt for the year. You can think of it as if the world has a budget for the year, and basically this week it blew it. And of course there aren’t particularly friendly credit agencies to borrow [...] read more
  October 11, 2006 9:26 am - 19 Comments
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  House debates climate change policy - by frog

  
  
  
  Nandor yesterday asked Climate Change Minister David Parker, who noted the urgent need for action on climate change in his speech at the symposium last Friday, why the Government isn’t proposing to introduce any price-based measures until after 2012, prompting an interesting exchange involving most parties. NANDOR TANCZOS (Green) to the Minister responsible for Climate [...] read more
  October 11, 2006 9:03 am - 19 Comments
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  First steps of Buy Kiwi Made approved - by frog

  
  
  
  Yesterday Cabinet approved a paper detailing the first stage of the Buy Kiwi Made programme, which is to kick off on 8 November with an event commemorating the one-year anniversary of Rod’s death, kiwi made champion that he was. It will be a showcase of the types of goods that will be promoted by the [...] read more
  October 10, 2006 9:49 am - 26 Comments
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  More on Climate Change Symposium - by frog

  
  
  
  No Right Turn has a great summary of the morning events at Friday’s Climate Change Symposium (afternoon rundown to come), complete with links. Well worth a look. Victoria University’s Institute of Policy Studies has been great for hosting these events – the next one to look forward to is The International Economics of Climate Change [...] read more
  October 9, 2006 10:29 am - 9 Comments
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  Major parties take climate change seriously(ish) - by frog

  
  
  
  Well, Labour and National have both used today’s Climate Change Symposium to give us a glimpse of what they propose to do about the problem. As others have noted, it’s very refreshing to see the major parties taking the issue seriously, especially National. Environmentalists everywhere should view it as a victory. As always of course, [...] read more
  October 6, 2006 1:32 pm - 32 Comments
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  Poor ol’ frog - by frog

  
  
  
  Thanks to those who have made comments about the state of this blog. I’ve been away enjoying New Zealand’s wonderful natural environment (without internet access!) for the last five days. Perhaps I should have explained this before I left, but I had been hoping to sneak in a couple of updates, which didn’t eventuate. Regardless, [...] read more
  October 4, 2006 9:02 am - 89 Comments