Archive for June, 2009

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  Organics industry growth in jeopardy

  
  
  
  In the 2005 cooperation agreement between the Green Party and the previous Labour-led government, we negotiated funding for an Organics Advisory Service (OAS). It included mentoring support for conversion to organics and peer support for organic farmers. Unfortunately, after three years of successful service to the organics sector, the modest $2.15 million funding has now run [...] read more
  June 30, 2009 4:42 pm - 63 Comments
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  No will in NZ to phase out wonky flouro food

  
  
  
  Last night TV3’s 60 minute program looked at the issue of food colourings and whether or not they affect children’s behaviour. While the experiments used in the item were not scientific the research that prompted the kiwi journalists to highlight this issue caused shockwaves when it was released in the United Kingdom in 2007. The research – [...] read more
  June 30, 2009 2:27 pm - 12 Comments
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  NIWA study backs Green New Deal planting & fencing

  
  
  
  Yesterday, Kevin Hague MP blogged on the voluntary efforts to improve water quality and water-way ecology in the Aorere catchment. And, the Greens continue to promote a Green New Deal stimulus measure to spread fencing and planting across the country, to create jobs and restore waterways at the same time. Today, the National Institute of Water and [...] read more
  June 30, 2009 12:41 pm - No Comments
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  Scotland agrees world’s toughest 2020 climate goal

  
  
  
  Reuters reports that Scotland has pushed Germany into second place with the world’s most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target: Scottish lawmakers Wednesday backed a binding goal to cut greenhouse gases by 42 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, edging Germany into second place in a ranking of the most ambitious developed world targets. “At least one nation [...] read more
  June 29, 2009 6:07 pm - 17 Comments
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  Aorere shows the way on water

  
  
  
  On Friday I had the opportunity to attend a celebration of the Aorere Catchment Project in Golden Bay. When I had been presenting the Green New Deal in Takaka several local people had mentioned the project to me in tones of pride, so I jumped at the chance to attend the celebration. read more
  June 29, 2009 12:50 pm - 43 Comments
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  Enviroschools video series: 4 an additional plea

  
  
  
  In the final installment of the video series on Enviroschools, Catherine explains the success and disappointment of losing the funding in the parliamentary general debate. She also released an audio podcast this week that is highly recommended listening. “Picture this: a Dunedin 10-year-old develops a cost-benefit analysis of solar power versus wind power as energy sources [...] read more
  June 27, 2009 8:00 pm - 57 Comments
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  Enviroschools video series: 3 offering the solution

  
  
  
  In the third video on Enviroschools, we have Green Party education spokesperson Catherine Delahunty enquiring of the Prime Minister why he saw fit to cut funding to such a successful programme, and one that NZ trade negotiators are busy ’selling’ in the trade talks with Brunei, Chile and Singapore! read more
  June 27, 2009 2:00 pm - 10 Comments
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  US climate bill passes House

  
  
  
  Well it was closer than I hoped but the Waxman-Markey bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed just now – 219 to 212 with 8 Republicans voting in favour and 44 Democrats voting against. Obama has apparently been heavily involved phoning members of Congress. And the fossil fuel levies and the Republicans have been [...] read more
  June 27, 2009 12:30 pm - 18 Comments
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  Enviroschools video series: the PM loves it

  
  
  
  In our second video on Enviroschools we have the Prime Minister himself singing the praises and importance of Enviroschools. He says, amongst other things: Most of all, we know that the environment is something that New Zealanders have for a long time taken for granted. We’re at a point we can no longer afford to do [...] read more
  June 27, 2009 8:00 am - 6 Comments
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  General Debate, June 27, 2009

  
  
  
  There must be something more to talk about than celebrity deaths? read more
  June 27, 2009 7:06 am - 52 Comments