Archive for July, 2007

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  responses to news re: ttga - by frog

  
  
  
  Sue K’s is here here’s NZ First’s, & the Nat’s here. TVNZ & TV3 here. read more
  July 16, 2007 6:30 pm - 3 Comments
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  Therapeutics Products and Medicines Bill (& Trans Tasman Therapeutic Goods agency) dumped - by frog

  
  
  
  I mean, parked. Therapeutics Products and Medicines Bill on hold Press Release by New Zealand Government at 3:59 pm, 16 Jul 2007 Joint statement by Minister of State Services Annette King and Minister of Health Pete Hodgson The Government is not proceeding at this stage with legislation that would have enabled the establishment of a [...] read more
  July 16, 2007 5:33 pm - 44 Comments
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  cycling through paris in the springtime (and the rest) - by frog

  
  
  
  The ‘velorution’ is underway in the city of love. If one doesn’t parlez francais… there’s articles here, here and here. The Vélib’ comprises 10,600 bikes, “at stations … approximately 300 yards apart and cyclists can drop off their bicycle at any station, regardless of where they picked it up. All they need is some identification [...] read more
  July 16, 2007 12:40 pm - 14 Comments
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  wow - by frog

  
  
  
  If anyone needs any reminding that Fox is dangerous and bizarre (& doesn’t have to suffer through dial up) check this out. This is a breathtaking montage (link is to the youtube version as the site puts a variety up and I couldn’t figure out the permalink) And there’s screeds more here. read more
  July 15, 2007 5:45 pm - 14 Comments
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  RMA needs National Policy Statements and Environmental Standards - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Rod Oram’s opinion piece in the SST picks up on a theme the green movement has pushed for a long time – the need for National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards to make the Resource Management Act work as it was envisaged. This was also the call coming out of the recent RMA conference [...] read more
  July 15, 2007 12:54 pm - 13 Comments
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  IEA on rising oil prices - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  It seems the International Energy Agency is changing its tune on oil prices and is now predicting price pressures post 2010 as demand increases outstrips supply. Of course that won’t stop the NZ government going on the biggest road building project in the nation’s history, because they think that another cheap energy source like oil [...] read more
  July 12, 2007 3:31 pm - 140 Comments
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  Solar activity and climate change - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  The climate change denial industry has rested some of its argument on the link between solar activity and climate change. They argue that increased solar activity is driving the heating of the Earth, or they argue that decreased cosmic rays coming from the sun causes heating because cosmic rays generate clouds that cool the Earth. [...] read more
  July 12, 2007 1:43 pm - 17 Comments
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  how about some funny? - by frog

  
  
  
  Sorry, it’s too cold, and you guys are too prone to antagonism. Instead of a blog post, let’s those of us with decent internet connections go laugh with Mr Colbert. I’m sure you all follow him (here‘s the early presidential roast which got a lot of attention), but the man is just stupidly funny, and, [...] read more
  July 11, 2007 6:25 pm - 10 Comments
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  enviro-mps battle it out on close up - by frog

  
  
  
  Tonight, on TVOne – Nandor, Annette King, John Key, Peter Dunne, Jim Anderton and Rodney Hide. They were all interviewed for a piece that will screen on Close Up tonight, sort of a ‘who is the most environmentally friendly?’ on a variety of different – kinda arbitrary – measures. should be interesting…. read more
  July 9, 2007 5:53 pm - 58 Comments
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  I’ll have the shrimp, with a side of carcinogens…. - by frog

  
  
  
  If you didn’t hear Sue Kedgley on RNZ this morning the interview is available here, and her press release is here. Here’s the ADB report as mentioned in the release, and there’s loads of stuff about on the issue, including this, this and this. read more
  July 9, 2007 1:09 pm - 8 Comments
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  15 ‘green’ politicians. - by frog

  
  
  
  http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2007/06/26/politicians/index.html Some rather unusual choices, and even weirder omissions…. Helen Clark makes it in as number 4, ahead of David Cameron, & Bob Brown is a ‘runner-up’ !? read more
  July 9, 2007 10:53 am - 15 Comments
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  Meanwhile the oil grab continues - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  The new oil law in Iraq has been approved by Maliki’s Cabinet. Backed by Washington the law gives foreign oil companies more access to the resource and the revenues flowing from it. There is growing opposition to the law in Iraq. I spoke about this in my state of the planet speech in January. But [...] read more
  July 6, 2007 11:02 am - 17 Comments
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  Oz Libs let the cat out of the bag - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  As if there was ever any doubt that access to oil was the number one reason for the war in Iraq, Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson stated it pretty plainly: Speaking this morning, Dr Nelson said oil was among the reasons to keep troops in Iraq. “Energy security is extremely important to all nations throughout [...] read more
  July 6, 2007 10:45 am - 88 Comments
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  yep. - by frog

  
  
  
  Electricity Commission Approves NI Grid Upgrade Press Release by Electricity Commission at 2:10 pm, 05 Jul 2007 The Electricity Commission today announced its approval of Transpower’s proposal for a new electricity transmission line between Whakamaru and Pakauranga, Auckland. The project will include more than 190km of above ground pylons and lines, and underground cables. While [...] read more
  July 5, 2007 2:30 pm - 98 Comments
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  Waikato pylon decision due shortly - by frog

  
  
  
  The Electricity Commision decision is due to come out around two o’clock this afternoon. It’s pretty much expected to be rubber stamped, and potentially even fast tracked, or ‘called in’ by the Minister. Should be fun to watch the Nats squirm on this one… Both the Herald’s comments and frogblog (similiar discussion back when it [...] read more
  July 5, 2007 12:34 pm - 1 Comment
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  surprise, surprise - by frog

  
  
  
  Bush has commuted Scooter’s jail sentence. Love the way he adds “I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr Libby is excessive.” Funny that, cos a whole bunch of Republican judges (appointed by W) disagree. Lucky Mr Bush is such an expert on jurisprudence…. There are reactions [...] read more
  July 3, 2007 12:25 pm - 27 Comments
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  pike river pikers - by frog

  
  
  
  Jeanette has raised some fairly large questions regarding the share offer of one Pike River Coal Company. They have, suprisingly, denied it. Having them tout their low environmental impact is a bit rich. Far from having a “minimal environmental impact�?, the PRCC’s greenhouse gas emissions are a massive contribution to the most significant environmental crisis [...] read more
  July 2, 2007 2:50 pm - 4 Comments