Archive for July, 2007

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  and in other news of the bizarre…. - by frog

  
  
  
  The US confirms plans to sell some $60 billion dollars worth of arms to the Middle East. That’ll help. read more
  July 31, 2007 5:56 pm - 12 Comments
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  jon stewart pokes fun… - by frog

  
  
  
  at the trés silly satire, denigrate and ridicule rules. this has been all over the interweb for some days, but if anyone hasn’t seen it yet … read more
  July 31, 2007 5:48 pm - 9 Comments
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  Hockey players, fuel efficiency, the state and market failure - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  An interesting article on hockey players and fuel efficiency in the New Yorker. Economist Thomas Schelling found in the 1970s that most hockey players didn’t wear helmets if given the chance, even though helmets reduce head injuries, because if you wore a helmet it slightly reduced your vision on the field and hence made you [...] read more
  July 29, 2007 10:21 pm - 18 Comments
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  Pros and cons of foreign investment - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Brian Gaynor has a thoughtful article in today’s Herald about the pros and cons of foreign investment, in light of the bid by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for Auckland International Airport. I have raised concerns about the bid because the purchase would: further add to the foreign ownership of the NZ economy which is crippling our [...] read more
  July 28, 2007 6:52 pm - 16 Comments
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  National and Waitakere ranges protection - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Interesting article in today’s Herald by Gary Taylor from Environmental Defence Society. He argues that a test of how serious Nats are on conservation and environmental issues is coming up with the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Bill. (The Nats have already failed on the protection of Card Creek ecological area with its rare lowland forest remnants [...] read more
  July 27, 2007 10:48 am - 5 Comments
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  IEA vs NZ Govt - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Interesting to compare IEA attitude to oil prices to the NZ Govt attitude. The IEA has had a recent conversion, if not to the idea of peak oil at least to the idea that we are facing rising prices over the next five years. And they are calling on governments to rapidly lead a process [...] read more
  July 26, 2007 10:33 pm - 38 Comments
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  Electoral Finance Bill goes to all party committee - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  The Greens have managed to get the Electoral Finance Bill to go to a select committee with all parties represented on it. The Justice and Electoral Committee will have all parties with voting rights for the purposes of considering this bill. My understanding is that the votes will be in the same proportion as the [...] read more
  July 26, 2007 9:12 pm - 9 Comments
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  Inequality like this.. - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  It seems the ever expanding super wealthy have a new toy – their own private submarines. According to this article, the super rich are snapping up their own subs at US$80m a pop. In a world of shrinking resources and masses of people extremely short of resources surely there are better things that we can [...] read more
  July 26, 2007 8:56 pm - 11 Comments
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  Car stats - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Some interesting graphs from MfE website.  Vehicles per 1000 people in NZ is increasing: Cars per 1000 people now up to 620.”Today, 92 percent of trips are by car. One-third of all car rides cover less than two kilometres, and two-thirds are shorter than 5 kilometres.” Average engine size is increasing: But at least air [...] read more
  July 26, 2007 4:35 pm - 78 Comments
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  disneyesque faux historic - by frog

  
  
  
  Sorry this is prehistorically old, but it’s a good explanation on on why the themepark by the big new road always looks so empty as you whizz past it…. read more
  July 25, 2007 6:09 pm - 13 Comments
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  globalisation not so hot, say people - by frog

  
  
  
  there’s a recent FT/Harris poll that suggests not every one is so sold on the benefits of globalisation. Turns out the ungrateful masses aren’t keen on rising wage inequality either…. read more
  July 25, 2007 6:02 pm - 16 Comments
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  Is there more to Shrub than we realised? - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Now, on this blog we are very critical of George W Bush, and for good reason as Bush has been the number one obstacle to real action to reduce greenhouse emissions and protect the planet from out of control human induced climate change. But what about this passage from his speechwriter David Frum’s book The [...] read more
  July 24, 2007 11:33 pm - 12 Comments
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  Election finance reform spin - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  The proposals to reform campaign finance law were tabled yesterday afternoon. While there are many good elements to them, they do nothing to crack down on anonymous donations to political parties, nor do they crack down on the trusts that National used last time. Yet Minister of Justice Mark Burton is not comfortable about coming [...] read more
  July 24, 2007 6:01 pm - 49 Comments
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  Blackle - by frog

  
  
  
  Apparently this website stemmed from this blog post, hypothesizing on the potential energy savings of using a non white screen on your ‘puter. here’s a fuller exploration of the science and the commerce here. read more
  July 24, 2007 5:41 pm - 18 Comments
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  ‘risible’ is such a good word - by frog

  
  
  
  British MPs tell some home truths to the airline industry “The airline industry has “a diverse and generally unsatisfactory attitude” to carbon offsetting, a report from MPs says today. British Airways’ offsetting efforts had been “risible”, the report from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee added.” read more
  July 24, 2007 1:31 pm - 15 Comments
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  upcoming report from Nature - by frog

  
  
  
  This is an interesting article from the Independent about an upcoming Nature article, making a strong case for anthropogenic climate change causing the increased rainfall in the UK that has led to the rather large floods. S’pose it ‘ll keep the wingnuts and deniers busy for a day or two… read more
  July 23, 2007 7:24 pm - 10 Comments
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  victory in the employment court - by frog

  
  
  
  Spotless lockout unlawful, rules judge Posted at 5:46pm on 23 Jul 2007 An Employment Court judge has ruled that a lock-out involving 800 hospital workers is unlawful. The Service and Food Workers Union took the matter to court 11 days after the cleaners, caterers and orderlies were shut out by Spotless Services. The union argued [...] read more
  July 23, 2007 6:14 pm - 22 Comments
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  Organic tomatoes have more antioxidants - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  A report in New Scientist that a ten year study of organic vs conventional tomatoes found organic toms have more antioxidants – 79% more flavonoids quercetin and 97% more kaempferol. These anti-oxidants have been linked to reduced rates of cardiovascualr disease and some forms of cancer and dementia. The really interesting bit is the reason [...] read more
  July 20, 2007 4:52 pm - 28 Comments
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  IPCC got it wrong – it’s worse - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Interesting article from James Hanson et al in the 18 May 2007 edition of the Royal Society journal which suggests that the IPCC seriously underestimated the impact of climate change on rising sea levels (picked up on this article from Monbiot). The IPCC fourth assessment report had a very conservative figure of maximum 59cm sea [...] read more
  July 19, 2007 3:23 pm - 33 Comments
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  Human Rights are Not for Sale - by frog

  
  
  
  Those in Welly may like to take part in tomorrow’s rally, (organised by us, Amnesty, Falun Gong and Friends of Tibet). The media were invited up today to meet with Yonglin Chen, who’ll be amongst the speakers tomorrow. He defected in 2005, and has been on the frontline of promoting alleged human rights abuses by [...] read more
  July 18, 2007 6:41 pm - 15 Comments