Archive for February, 2007

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  Aucklanders’ views on transport

  
  
  
  The NZ Herald online asked their readers for their views on how to solve Auckland’s transport problems. Overwhelmingly they want more and better public transport ahead of more and more roads. Surprise surprise. Someone should tell the government. read more
  February 28, 2007 3:15 pm - 24 Comments
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  Public transport, how do you spell that?

  
  
  
  Increasing public transport capacity is one of the desperate needs we have if we are to reduce our greenhouse emissions and make Auckland, in particular, a more liveable city. Jeanette engaged Michael Cullen in the debate last week. Here is an edited version of the transcript with my comments in square brackets. It’s a bit [...] read more
  February 28, 2007 3:04 pm - 19 Comments
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  Sustainability and sustainability

  
  
  
  Sustainablity is going to be one of the most contested words of our times. Michael Cullen’s latest speech to the Waikato Chamber of Commerce shows once again how he is trying to get “sustainability” to mean “endless exponential growth in GDP” which is the very antithesis of true sustainbility (unless we can delink GDP growth [...] read more
  February 25, 2007 12:54 pm - 64 Comments
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  Solid Energy hopes for carbon capture and storage

  
  
  
  Solid energy has put out a release announcing that the consortium they have invested in has started drilling a research well in Victoria, Australia. They hope to find a way to store carbon released from the burning of Southland lignite coal. Carbon capture and storage is the big hope for the coal miners and coal power [...] read more
  February 24, 2007 7:55 pm - 23 Comments
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  Falun Gong kicked out of Cuba Carnival

  
  
  
  Wellington City Council have kicked Falun Gong out of the Cuba Street parade, after previously allowing them in. The word is that the Council told them that the Chinese Embassy had paid for the big Chinese New Year celebration and the Chinese Embassy did not want Falun Gong in the parade, so they had to [...] read more
  February 24, 2007 1:32 pm - 5 Comments
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  Waitangi Day to stay – how about more holidays

  
  
  
  Peter Dunne’s bill to change the name of Waitangi Day to New Zealand day has been rejected by the Justice Select Committee. Good job too. The Treaty is a founding constitutional document and having a national day named after the Treaty, and timed to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty, [...] read more
  February 23, 2007 4:03 pm - 45 Comments
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  The votes are in, and s59 is on the way out

  
  
  
  Well, Sue did it! The Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill has just passed it’s second reading. The vote went thus: In favour – Labour 49, National 6 (Katherine Rich, Simon Power, Paula Bennett, Paul Hutchison, Jackie Blue and Chester Borrows), New Zealand First 3 (Brian Donnelly, Doug Woolerton, [...] read more
  February 22, 2007 9:28 am - 320 Comments
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  Section 59 Update

  
  
  
  The Parliamentarians have popped off for dinner, after a surprisingly demure series of speeches on the Crimes Amendment Bill. Sue’s was typically simultaneously measured and passionate (read it here or listen the the audio) and included references to the despicable business with that paragon of free speech and direct democracy, cyfswatch. This has garnered an [...] read more
  February 21, 2007 7:09 pm - 39 Comments
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  EU 20% by 2020. New Zealand?

  
  
  
  European Union ministers backed ambitious targets on Tuesday to cut greenhouse gas emissions unilaterally by at least 20 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. While short of the massive cuts necessary to halt a catastrophic temperature rise it still is a significant move in the right direction. The bloc may also be willing to [...] read more
  February 21, 2007 3:05 pm - 5 Comments
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  Southern right whale dolphins

  
  
  
  OK, while I’m on dolphins I can’t help but mention the extraordinary Southern Right Whale dolphin which remarkably lacks a dorsal fin. This from Te Ara (as is the photo above): Southern right whale dolphins Southern right whale dolphins are seen only occasionally, being a mainly offshore species. Like right whales, they lack a dorsal fin. Instead, their [...] read more
  February 21, 2007 2:11 pm - 1 Comment