A big day
Yesterday / last night was a big one for political junkies like myself, both at home and abroad. In the US, of course, the Democrats gained control of both the House and the Senate (here’s a link to the Wikipedia article explaining how the US political system works if you find it as confusing as I do) in a major blow to the Republicans. First casualty: Donald Rumsfeld. The remainder of George W Bush’s presidential term will be very interesting indeed as he will now have to grapple with a democratic majority in both houses as he attempts to pass legislation. Will also be interesting to see what concessions he makes on Iraq since that is widely recognised to be what this election was all about.
Some interesting discussion in the last thread about the role of the US Green Party and whether they should stand or not in close elections - but they do field candidates in many less high-stakes positions and have had some successes, mostly at local level. Results here.
It’s interesting to see that both Bush (with this election result) and Blair (on his way out) are now suffering politically at home as a clear result of their presence and policy in Iraq. John Howard’s still doing ok, but will he be next? And what of Don Brash, who would have had New Zealanders in the thick of it all as well?
Domestically, excellent news that the Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction: Purchase Age) Amendment Bill was defeated at its second reading last night, by an actually very substantial margin of 72 to 49. The Keep it 18 campaign’s late charge was probably a significant factor, as was the Government’s announcement of a review into underage drinking which probably offered wavering MPs a good excuse to vote against the bill. Whether that is dodgy or not, it’s the right result, as the real problems with alcohol-related harms in New Zealand are certainly not limited to 18 and 19 year olds. Hopefully now Metiria’s Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill will get a good run, as a fair, helpful measure which might actually help to address our widespread acceptance of binge-drinking, unlike arbitrarily changing the age.
And yesterday was also the first Buy Kiwi Made showcase, which was held at Parliament with exhibits from a plethora of New Zealand made products from around the lower North Island. It was followed with a memorial tree-planting for Rod in the Parliamentary grounds - both events a fitting tribute to Rod and a wonderful, positive way to mark one year without him.
November 9th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
The end is nigh!
Maybe I need to find out a bit more from the Brethren about the Rapture.
November 9th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Interesting sardonic quote of John Howard re climate change on TV last night, with a background of cracked earth like something out of Africa: ” Well, I don’t think anyone can be sure it’s the worst drought in Australia for 1000 [emphasised] years”. Which was followed on the news immediately with the information that Australian farmers are committing suicide at the rate of one every four days.
November 9th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Who’d have thunk a continent mostly covered in desert would ever have had a drought. It wouldn’t have happened when I was a kid.
Imagine people not liking wars? Wow big surprise. Didn’t Chrchill get voted out after winning one?
November 9th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Was the leader of the Greens serious when she asked the government (today in the house) if they had plans to turn the entire Waikato into a forest?
November 9th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
It’s a better option than turning the etire Canterbury plain into a desert!
November 9th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Ha ha….having been beaten by Canterbury far to many times on the rugby field I don’t think that sounds like a bad idea at all.
But seriously Toad, the Canterbury plain is not going to turn into a desert, this type of scare mongering is not helping the cause, can I assume that her question was a serious one then?
November 9th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
big bruv:
How can you be so sure that the Canterbury Plains are NOT going to be turned into a desert?
As a lifelong Cantabrian I am not that certain.
The story goes something like this:
Historically (in Pakeha times) the very dry Plains were irrigated by farmers sinking bores into the artesian water (originating in the Southern Alps) below their land. The water, under presure, spurts up, is directed into irrigation channels to irrigate pasture and crops suitable for an aluvial plain dominated by the drying effects of our famous NorWest wind.
Now the land is being bought by would-be dairy farmers /large companies who invest HUGE sums of money on high intensity “dairy conversions” requiring lush pasture previously only found on the West Coast and a few other high rainfall areas.
Historic water rights do not give our precious aquifers adequate protection from the HUGE mobile irrigators that now spray water onto the land. The “Rules”, that allow this (never envisioned) overuse, take time to change.
In the worst cases, sea water is now detectable in some aquifers … It must be flowing from the sea into the porous land and polluting (probably permanently) the pure water stored there in these now over-depleted aquifers.
In the better cases things are still OK … for now.
To make matters more uncertain, our climate patterns are changing markedly.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
… and to add to the above: On the Canterbury Plains the last time I looked, many long standing pine platations (and even “shelter belts”) have been “harvested” to take advantage of “higher prices” and “the demand for timber”.
They are going to take a long time to replace … leading to more land exposed to the NorWesters, more drying, higher temperatures etc
November 9th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
I think NIWA predicts that climate change will mean on the whole a wetter west and a drier east for NZ.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
So we drill a couple of holes through the mountains and let the water through to the East coast….
[/sarcasm]
respectfully
BJ
November 10th, 2006 at 3:08 am
In any decent worldwide carbon-credit trading scheme, NZ would be extremely well-placed to make profits. The key is to increase the area of young, growing forests (mature forests are not generally net carbon sinks) The trick is to avoid returning the carbon to the atmosphere after you’ve harvested the trees…
November 10th, 2006 at 6:20 am
Alistair
I don’t know if I properly agree with us being “extremely” well placed because the carbon sequestered in the trees would almost HAVE to be released one way or another. We’d be well placed to break even or perhaps make a little profit, but our need for energy renewables and our distance from all other markets would somewhat abrogate the advantage of our ability to just plant stuff and watch it grow.
A lot depends on the price of the carbon. On the whole I am not so sanguine about our prospects under such a scheme. I’d be happy to manage to break-even.
respectfully
BJ
November 10th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Not all irrigation comes from aquifers. A lot of mid canterbury’s comes from the Rangitata scheme. North Canterbury gets it from the Waiau I believe.
The Greens should encourage small dams in the alps to capture high water flows - these could even generate electricty
November 10th, 2006 at 9:31 pm
correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought that we already had damed all the available rivers high up in their catchments already. Certainly the Waitaki already has numerous hydro dams upstream and is used for irrigation downstream where the monstrous Project Aqua was proposed.
I’m sure the Greens would support any further small scale low impact hydro electric schemes. Perhaps we can have some more of those ones that can be used for power storage where they pump water back up in off-peak hours?
November 10th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
stuey:
The rivers further south are “damed up” more than the major Canterbury rivers … (which tend to be more spreadout and “braided” as they actually flow on top of the great mounds of shingle they have each built up over the Ages. (In between these mounds are “valleys” where “resultant” rivers flow!)
So there is scope for “further small scale, low impact, hydro electric schemes” that you suggest. (It takes time for some to stop “Thinking Big” … and to sort out the priorities.)
Also I have seen it predicited that the Canterbury area between mountains and sea will be subjected to variations in weather (from Global Warming) more extreme than many other areas …
Interesting times ahead !
November 11th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Insider: You are right about irrigation schemes from the Canterbury rivers (which are considered part of the aquifer system I believe?) However, there are also a lot of bores sunk on private land which tap directly into the water in aquifers below.
Christchurch for example, taps into aquifers in this way. Our water remains untreated and pure, but there are concerns about serious overuse and “You don’t know what you’ve go till its gone” fears.
One prominent geologist told me that they are now tapping into aquifers, about which they do not have the information to know whether these will refill or not. hence part of the fear about pollution from sea water.
I’m no expert ! I just keep my ear to the ground and ask knowledgeable people questions.
November 12th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Sen. Barbara Boxer on Thursday promised major policy shifts on global warming, air quality and toxic-waste cleanup as she prepares to lead the U.S. Senate’s environmental committee.
“Time is running out, and we need to move forward on this,” Boxer said of global warming during a conference call with reporters. “The states are beginning to take steps, and we need to take steps as well.”
Boxer’s elevation to chairwoman of the Senate Environmental Public Works Committee comes as Democrats return to power in the Senate. It also marks a dramatic shift in ideology for the panel.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6205208,00.html
The Liquor Advertising (Television and Radio) Bill is long overdue, I distinctly remember tobacco industry saying that advertising only affects brand choice not overall consumption, this was rejected, so how can the money bags of the liquor industry get away with it? At least people can grow thier own hootch in their garden, without bankrupting their family.
Henry
November 13th, 2006 at 10:11 am
That is good news Henry!
Barbara Boxer has an excellent reputation (according to my Kiwi/Californian rellies.)
I copy here the last sentence of the last paragraph from the Guardian article:
“On the issue of global warming in particular, we’re going to need a new president before we see major progress,” said Eric Antebi, spokesman for the San Francisco-based Sierra Club. “But this Congress can really lay the groundwork for that and make incremental changes.”
November 15th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
Hon Peter Dunne has raised with me as a matter of privilege an e-mail newsletter “Robson-on-politics – e-news� published on the Scoop website of 1 November 2006. The newsletter discusses the role of the United Future Party as a support party for the Government. It examines the position of the party on various issues including alcohol and tobacco. In his newsletter Mr Robson states “The liquor industry’s support for Peter Dunne, as with that of the tobacco, has always meant that he has faithfully delivered his vote for their interests�.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0611/S00274.htm
I had that thought myself when I heard Peter Dunne sticking his neck out for the tobacco lobby, a few years back.
JH
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:44 am
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