Archive for December, 2006

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  Greenhouse gases xmas dump - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Ministry for Economic Development have slipped in their end of year dump with an admission that in 2005 we released a million extra tonnes of carbon dioxide than they previously admitted. Due to an oversight in missing 20 petajoules of gas used in electricity generation. Oh well, everyone makes mistakes I guess. At NZ$30 per [...] read more
  December 22, 2006 11:37 am - 127 Comments

• Comment moderation - by stuey

  
  
  
  Frog asks all participants to respect others and be civil at all times, and as such frog has a comment moderation filter in place. This will block comments that contain offensive terms until they can be checked and approved by a moderator. The list of terms is largely composed of common swear words. In addition [...] read more
  December 20, 2006 12:44 am - No Comments
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  Smilies and formatting - by frog

  
  
  
  This page explains what options there are for formatting your posts and adding emoticons (smilies). Frog apologises that there is no text formatting toolbar available, however you can use a number of HTML tags to format your comments. The following tags are allowed: bold, <b> strong, <strong> italics, <i> emphasis, <em> strikethrough, <strike> or <del> [...] read more
  December 19, 2006 9:00 pm - No Comments
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  Met Service release - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  In case you missed it, the latest from the Met Service on climate change. Note that they distance themselves from Augie who has sadly gone over to the other side. Also note the reference to the increased cost of extreme weather events – something I did a release about yesterday. Press Release: MetService Issued at [...] read more
  December 19, 2006 5:14 pm - 59 Comments
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  The Government’s recent releases on climate change - by frog

  
  
  
  Some commenters have pointed out that frogblog has been quiet on the Government’s recent climate change-related releases – so with another due out this morning let’s recap. [I should point out first that frogblog isn't the only place to go for Green responses to Government announcements and other current events: those who are interested in [...] read more
  December 18, 2006 10:26 am - 52 Comments
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  Brash and Zaoui - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  One of the interesting revelations in Nicky Hager’s book is that Don Brash was of the view that the case against Zaoui was “flimsy”. “Guys, I have to say that, after reading some of the stuff on the case today…I am absolutely appalled at the way it has been handled. I think the evidence that [...] read more
  December 17, 2006 9:53 pm - 39 Comments
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  NZ Last - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  NZ First, which should henceforth be called NZ Last, has agreed to sign up to a deal on the Joint Therapeutics Agency with Australia even though they previously promised to oppose it. This is a major sellout given the strident position of opposition they took before they signed up to the deal with Labour. The [...] read more
  December 13, 2006 1:30 pm - 36 Comments
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  Energy strategy blues - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  So the Government has released its draft energy strategy. And I see that Contact are happily predicting that it will have no effect on their decision to build the Otahuhu C gas fired station. It strikes me that the energy strategy is not going to be particularly effective at producing renewable electricity generation if it [...] read more
  December 12, 2006 4:48 pm - 48 Comments
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  Street politics – alive and well - by frog

  
  
  
  Winston Peters got heckled outside Parliament today as Green MPs joined those standing up against Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill. The proposed new drug regulation, also to include all natural health products right down to vitamin C, is up for its first reading in Parliament today. The legislation is likely to destroy most small natural [...] read more
  December 12, 2006 3:35 pm - 27 Comments
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  Audioblog: Metiria on the Maori Purposes Bill - by frog

  
  
  
  Haven’t had an audioblog for ages, and Metiria delivered an excellent speech on the Maori Purposes Bill in Parliament last week, so it seemed like a good time. You can download the speech as an mp3, or listen to it streamed. It’s definitely worth checking out. She uses material from The Hollow Men to attack [...] read more
  December 11, 2006 1:50 pm - 160 Comments
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  100% Pure vulnerablity - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Well the Greens have been banging on about it for ages, but yesterday another report reinforced our economic vulnerabity to other countries finding out that our 100% pure label doesn’t stack up. An article in the DomPost referred to the Providence Group report “Code Green”: “No other country tells the world they are 100 per [...] read more
  December 8, 2006 7:22 pm - 34 Comments
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  Excerpts from yesterday’s Hansard - by frog

  
  
  
  Exhibit A – are a “range of proposals” the same as targets and dates? Jeanette Fitzsimons: Recognising that international scientific opinion agrees that very major reductions in carbon emissions-such as a reduction of 60 percent by 2030-are needed to prevent climate disaster, will the Prime Minister set targets and dates for reducing our emissions that [...] read more
  December 6, 2006 9:43 am - 47 Comments
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  Climate change in da House - by frog

  
  
  
  A fascinating session in Question Time this afternoon – statements from the parties on the situation in Fiji, the first clash between John Key as Leader of the Opposition and Helen Clark, a barrage of questions on climate change and carbon neutrality from the National Party, and alarming revelations from the Minister of Biosecurity about [...] read more
  December 5, 2006 3:44 pm - 11 Comments
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  Greens in trouble with the establishment again - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  You might think that Parliament could do with the occasional hug to make up for all the bullshit and bullying that goes on, but not in Oz where you can get threatened with, wait for it, “gross disorder under standing order 203″ for hugging a visiting Green MP. No hugs thank you, we’re senators Monday [...] read more
  December 4, 2006 11:22 pm - 15 Comments
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  Auckland – City of Cars - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  A great new video has been produced by Michael Tritt about transport in Auckland. It points out how ridiculously and unnecessarily car dependent Auckland is compared to other cities. You can view Episode 1 and 2 at Youtube. I have pasted his synopsis below and he will be visiting FrogBlog tonite sometime to comment and [...] read more
  December 4, 2006 1:11 pm - 38 Comments