Archive for December, 2008

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  Belated Holiday Greetings

  
  
  
  Greetings from my holiday lillypad. While I spend the next couple of weeks hopping around the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, I may be out of touch for days on end. As it is, I am hanging on from a very precarious Vodem connection. I would like to wish all those who celebrate the real reason for this [...] read more
  December 27, 2008 11:21 pm - 247 Comments
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  Current Account Deficit can’t carry on forever

  
  
  
  The Current Account figures came out this morning. They show a marginal decline in the position according to Dept Statistics: For the year ended September 2008, the current account deficit was 8.6 percent of GDP. This compares with a deficit of 8.4 percent of GDP for the year ended June 2008. This is a bad picture and, [...] read more
  December 22, 2008 5:00 pm - 164 Comments
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  Is business the only stakeholder that matters?

  
  
  
  Agriculture Minister David Carter has admitted that he intentionally left environmentalists, the water rights trust and recreational users off the invite list of a major water users meeting in Canterbury. In the same breath he promised that their concerns would not be ignored. George Orwell and his Ministry of Truth would be proud. Purposefully keeping key [...] read more
  December 22, 2008 11:54 am - 65 Comments
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  More Circular Uncertainty from National

  
  
  
  Following the circular uncertainty created by John Key and his National government regarding the Emissions Trading Scheme, we now have another round of circular uncertainty, this time created by officialdom, no doubt because there is no clear leadership from the top. To start with, we have the utterly confused and ambiguous signals to business regarding the [...] read more
  December 21, 2008 12:19 pm - 82 Comments
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  Scientist’s Warning to Humanity

  
  
  
  In 1992, not long after the Rio Summit, the Union of Concerned Scientists published a warning to all of humanity. Unfortunately, little, if any, of their recommendations have been heeded. Instead, we continue along the unsustainable growth trajectory that they so deplored. Almost 1700 scientists signed the declaration, including 104 Nobel Prize winners. Here is [...] read more
  December 20, 2008 4:27 pm - 49 Comments
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  Question Time at Gormenghast

  
  
  
  There’s a gothic fantasy book by Mervyn Peake, called “Gormenghast”. It’s about a medieval castle inhabited by weird individuals and arcane patriarchal rituals. There is an atmosphere of ruination, insanity and borderline behaviour. Such was my impression of my first question time at Parliament. There was howling, snarling, backslapping and ritual clapping but nothing you [...] read more
  December 19, 2008 10:20 am - 31 Comments
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  Good Wood Guide

  
  
  
  Greenpeace has done it again, bless their socks, and updated the Good Wood Guide just in time for your summer/Christmas shopping spree. Want to know what the most sustainable wood products are? Start here. Want to know which species are which? Start here. Want to know which sustainable timber certifications are for real? Start here. Outdoor furniture is often [...] read more
  December 19, 2008 10:14 am - 3 Comments
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  Kevin Hague’s maiden speech

  
  
  
  Welcome Kevin!   read more
  December 18, 2008 12:21 pm - 7 Comments
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  Kennedy Graham’s maiden speech

  
  
  
  Welcome Kennedy!   read more
  December 18, 2008 12:18 pm - 2 Comments
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  Strange Bedfellows

  
  
  
  Politics is a funny business, and can produce some very strange bedfellows. The Rob Gilchrist spying affair has highlighted a significant lack of oversight regarding police covert activities, and frankly, some very poor judgement. I have been asked a few times by commenters why I haven’t waded into the scandal. The  reason is that I take [...] read more
  December 18, 2008 12:09 pm - 84 Comments