Archive for August, 2007

  • frog

    Mmmm..I love coal



    No, there has been a bit of frog fever going around the pond, but I haven’t got that bad. It’s just this ol’ free love forum coal promotion video, somehow it’s just so…comforting. Try it out. Maybe I’ve got coal all wrong. read more
    August 31, 2007 4:51 pm - 15 Comments
  • frog

    Radical supermarkets?



    Well, that’s probably going a tad too far, but check this out from UK supermarket chain Waitrose – a chain of 184 stores around Britain owned by its employees. Waitrose has an “Organic Commitment” which says: “At Waitrose our commitment goes much further than simply buying from producers and selling on to our customers. It is a [...] read more
    August 30, 2007 4:39 pm - 8 Comments
  • frog

    One down, two to go….



    Good news (albeit a temporary reprieve at this stage) for whales out of Iceland. Iceland announced last year it would allow up to 30 minke whales and 9 fin whales to be hunted, controversially ending a ban in place since 1986. But their Fisheries Minister has refused to renew the quota until the demand for whale [...] read more
    August 28, 2007 2:00 pm - 5 Comments
  • frog

    Gateway to….



    Appalling employment practices, apparently. The lockout at the Gateway Hotel in Mangere is entering it’s fourth week. The new owner isn’t doing himself any favours by acting like a cowboy – since taking over last November he has sacked a waitress for being pregnant, is under investigation by the Labour Department for paying some staff less than [...] read more
    August 27, 2007 10:26 pm - 123 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Aus Capital Territory review says don’t chase em



    A bit off my usual kind of post, but in light of the decision of the Police Complaints Authority decision to review the police pursuit policy, this caught my eye. A internal report by the Australian Federal Police has found that the risk to public safety does not justify chasing stolen cars or traffic offences. [...] read more
    August 24, 2007 5:40 pm - 23 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    A sign of the times



    Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas reported a 19% surge in revenue in the second quarter to one billion euros. It shipped 629 turbines in the quarter with a combined output of about 1000MW. It has a backlog of orders for about 4500 MW. Imagine if we had invested in a wind industry 20 years ago. An [...] read more
    August 24, 2007 11:13 am - 20 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Can we be constructive now?



    One of the overlooked elements of John Key’s overcooked speech to the National Press Club yesterday is his proposal on electoral finance reform, rather than his rhetoric as to the problems with the current bill before select committee. His approach on non-party interventions in elections is interesting, if underdeveloped. Key said: For example, we would support [...] read more
    August 23, 2007 10:47 pm - 65 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Tamihere to run for Mayor of Waitakere



    John Tamihere has launched his campaign to run for Mayor of Waitakere. Unfortunately Tamihere launched his campaign on Campbell Live tonight by criticising the Eco-City concept as a restriction on development. He also joined in the usual mindless attack on the Resource Management Act and restrictions on development. I wonder where he stands on allowing [...] read more
    August 23, 2007 7:22 pm - 4 Comments
  • Russel Norman

    Bush told to produce climate change report



    It seems that Bush is on the retreat on all fronts on climate change with a federal court judge ordering the Bush Administration to produce a report on climate change that he has failed to produce so far. He was supposed to produce an assessment of the scientific evidence and a plan for research. The only [...] read more
    August 23, 2007 7:15 pm - 10 Comments
  • frog

    Organics Conference



    Guest post by Nandor Tanczos. I attended the inaugural conference of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand this weekend. OANZ is the peak body for the organics sector, and its board comprises reps from all the major sector groups including Soil and Health, Te Waka Kai Ora, Biogro etc as well as organic producer groups such as the [...] read more
    August 23, 2007 11:51 am - 18 Comments
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