Archive for May, 2007

  • frog

    eco fashion



    Is the new black. Well, not strictly new, as that phrase has been bandied about for several years now, but it’s getting harder and harder to avoid. The labels range from totally eco-focussed, low impact, recycled, non pesticide, chemical free etc, to those that promise a commitment fair trade and workers rights, and a variety of [...] read more
    May 30, 2007 5:48 pm - 13 Comments
  • frog

    Brian protests against religious tolerance



    See, I find this all, well, a little mortifying. Frog though it was weird when people marched for their right to hit children, but this (far larger) march to protest against freedom of religion is just surreal isn’t it? Isn’t it? Pope B is accusing the government of religious treason. Good to see other Churches are speaking [...] read more
    May 29, 2007 8:02 pm - 79 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    National open up massive lead



    Two polls now show that National could govern alone if election results reflected the poll results. The Greens are holding our own around 6% in both polls. The gap between National and Labour in the latest poll is quite extraordinary – 56% vs 31%. With John Key adopting a Labour-lite approach it’s hard to see where Labour can [...] read more
    May 28, 2007 8:15 am - 90 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Solid Energy spying on lawful protesters?



    Sunday Star times is leading with a story by Nicky Hager and Deidre Mussen about Solid Energy hiring private investigators Thompson and Clark to spy on the Save Happy Valley Coaliton. They are doing this by paying people to infiltrate the group and feed intelligence back. Now Solid Energy is a state owned enterprise so here [...] read more
    May 27, 2007 11:23 am - 73 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Greens get a bit more for conservation while Jim oversees sea lion deaths



    Metiria announced the extra dosh we managed to squeeze out of Labour for three wetlands. Unsurprisingly, Cullen’s visceral dislike of anything green meant that he didn’t acknowledge that the Greens got the money when he announced it in his budget speech. But hey who cares because in the end we will help three important wetlands [...] read more
    May 27, 2007 12:12 am - 9 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    The death throes of the Bush climate vandals



    The struggle around the position the G8 will take on climate change at its June 6 meeting is hotting up. Angela Merkel, the conservative German Chancellor, is pushing for a relatively strong postion on climate change while the Bush administration is seeking to stop any serious statement. The document with the Bush administration’s feedback is apparently [...] read more
    May 26, 2007 11:36 pm - 12 Comments
  • frog

    Either politics or the lake turns green



    The Climate Defence Tour has hit the centre of the North Island and for the last two days we have been holding meetings, a workshop and a stall in Taupo. It is an interesting town: built on tourism and the timber industry and undergoing tremendous change at the moment. It is surrounded by such scenic [...] read more
    May 25, 2007 9:33 pm - 8 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Eating fugu for public transport



    Eating fugu, prepared from puffer fish, is one of the great delicacies in Japan, apparently. The puffer fish has a neurotoxin to which there is no antidote and incorrectly prepared fugu does still kill people on occasion. Hence it is a dangerous but apparently tasty treat. And just as eating puffer fish is a dangerous activity [...] read more
    May 25, 2007 9:08 pm - 12 Comments
  • frog

    Bush gets infinity billion dollars to continue his war



    No timetables. No withdrawal. 14 senators voted against the latest war treasure chest, I mean Supplemental Appropriations Bill, 80 voted for it. Thanks goodness the Dems have control of both houses. Not. There are a lot of very angry US progressives out there, struggling with what many in their party have done. It does however, herald the first [...] read more
    May 25, 2007 8:34 pm - 1 Comment
  • frog

    Amnesty reiterates its opposition to zapping people with 50,000 volts



    Amnesty International has released it’s massive annual report on global human rights – you can read it here. New Zealand takes up just half a page of this 240+ page door-stop. The report does not make for easy reading. America, Russia and Israel bear the brunt of Amnesty’s criticisms. But it is absolutely true that we must [...] read more
    May 24, 2007 6:44 pm - 43 Comments
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