Archive for June, 2009

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  General Debate, 24 June, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Will the government adopt Sue Bradford’s citizen’s referenda bill? Will the government adopt Jeanette’s biofuel sustainability bill? Is voluntary food labeling a sham? How long will Christine Rankin last? Sooo many questions… read more
  June 24, 2009 7:02 am - 81 Comments
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  Greenpeace’s new fishing video - by frog

  
  
  
  This new vid from Greenpeace features TV fishing personality and extreme stunt fisherman Matt Watson talks about fishing and sustainability, echoing what Metiria Turei wrote on World Oceans Day. read more
  June 23, 2009 3:03 pm - 2 Comments
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  Fair Trade Forests - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  This week in London, Chatham House are hosting the 14th conference in a series on illegal logging. With deforestation accounting for at least 20% of greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the loss of 137 plant, animal and insect species per day, action is urgently needed. Of equal, if not greater, concern is the ruthless [...] read more
  June 23, 2009 9:56 am - 5 Comments
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  Is making money out of sick people efficient? - by frog

  
  
  
  In a cautionary tale the New Yorker explores the effect of organising health care around making money. “It finds that costlier care is often worse care….” This article looks at why some towns have much higher health care costs than others. It finds that higher costs are driven by health providers seeking to make a [...] read more
  June 23, 2009 9:22 am - 20 Comments
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  Damning the tourism jewels - by frog

  
  
  
  The Greens continue to campaign alongside others for the Mokihinui River gorge in the Buller District to remain a wild and scenic free-flowing river. Meridian Energy has applied to the Councils and DOC for consents and concessions to dam the gorge. It’s on protected conservation land, and has historic artifacts such as the old pack [...] read more
  June 22, 2009 1:01 pm - 11 Comments
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  Climate science – another missing link is found - by frog

  
  
  
  It is the primary cry of the deniers and the false sceptics – “There is no definitive link between atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperature.” (I leave the genuine, scientific sceptics out – those who play a constructive role in challenging the science.) Last Friday, the new edition of Nature contained an article on just [...] read more
  June 20, 2009 2:19 pm - 117 Comments
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  General Debate, 20 June, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Stay warm and don’t sneeze on anyone! read more
  June 20, 2009 10:24 am - 106 Comments

• new comments policy - by rimu

  
  
  
  We’re going to be trying to improve the tone of the comments sections on this blog. Unfortunately we don’t really have the time to be nice, and delete or edit individual posts. Certain people have made it their (unpaid?) jobs to make a mess on this blog, and they are prolific enough that we don’t [...] read more
  June 19, 2009 4:17 pm - 107 Comments
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  From little things, big things grow… - by frog

  
  
  
  There was a recurring riff behind National’s opposition to two very different Bills on Members’ Day Wednesday. One commonality was that both Bills were voted down by National, Act and United Future, and supported by Greens, Labour, Progressives and Maori Parties. But the riff I want to highlight is the idea that the problem is [...] read more
  June 19, 2009 11:33 am - 7 Comments
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  General Debate June 19, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Government changes tack on swine flu. Illegal visas create a riff in Maoridom. Greens 2 for 2 in member’s Ballot. What’s eatin’ you? read more
  June 19, 2009 9:13 am - 23 Comments
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  2 out of 2 – the Member’s Ballot goes Green - by frog

  
  
  
  Out of a random draw of two - two Green Party Member’s Bills where drawn out of the member’s bill ballot at twelve today. This means they will now be voted on by Parliament! The first one is the Sustainable Biofuel Bill that will make sure that  NZ’s use of biofuels is sustainable (as opposed to the current regime which [...] read more
  June 18, 2009 12:51 pm - 97 Comments
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  More Rail Means Less Traffic (Surprise!) - by frog

  
  
  
  What’s that?  Did I hear you right? The National Government thinks better rail is the way to cut traffic congestion in Auckland. Praise be.  Welcome to the party fellas, (what took you so long?).  Actually, the Nats are still lingering in the door, perhaps a little uncertain if this is their kind of scene. So [...] read more
  June 18, 2009 12:00 pm - 48 Comments
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  General Debate, 18 June, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  As requested. read more
  June 18, 2009 11:46 am - 31 Comments
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  Dazed and confused by referendum - by frog

  
  
  
  It seems I’m not the only one confused about the meaning of the question in the forthcoming referendum: Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand? I initially wondered if it was asking whether I should get the bash if I don’t look after the tadpoles properly. [...] read more
  June 18, 2009 9:44 am - 255 Comments
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  Where there’s a Will there’s a Way - by frog

  
  
  
  Russel Norman recently submitted to many Councils’ LTCCPs through the country on the importance of planning to restore our waterways to health. Other MPs and Greens ably presented his submission at hearings around the country that he couldn’t make. Jeanette pushed for retention of the Clean Streams funding for riparian planting and fencing in the [...] read more
  June 18, 2009 9:37 am - 1 Comment
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  Bradford’s Truth – Morals and politics - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  I’ve decided to delve into some prurient interests in my regular column in the New Zealand Truth this week: If ever there was a topic to get the juices flowing it’s this one. Just put the words ‘sex’ and ‘MP’ together and audience interest is guaranteed. While the word ‘morals’ can cover many other matters [...] read more
  June 17, 2009 5:13 pm - 30 Comments
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  100% Pure ‘Clean Green’ GE llamas? Um, no. - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Just over a week ago, the High Court ruled that ERMA breached the law in accepting applications from AgResearch to import and experiment on a range of genetically modified animals. I described the application at the time it was lodged as: A huge application to genetically engineer a wide range of animals, plus human and [...] read more
  June 17, 2009 9:21 am - 4 Comments
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  A bouquet to the Bay - by frog

  
  
  
  Hawke’s Bay has come up with a solution to one of the main sources of pollution in the scenic and popular Tukituki River. Two months ago I highlighted some photos of Tukituki algae blooms on the Baybuzz blog, noting that: The slime is associated with low flows due to over-allocation of the water during summer drought flows, [...] read more
  June 16, 2009 7:36 pm - 7 Comments
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  When are subsidies sustainable? - by frog

  
  
  
  That is not a trick question, nor an economics one. The National-led government has decided that a biofuel subsidy is preferable to a sales obligation, no doubt on ideological grounds rather than economic grounds. We now have the Biodiesel Subsidy Scheme, which pays biodiesel producers in New Zealand up to 42.5 cents per litre to [...] read more
  June 16, 2009 2:10 pm - 15 Comments
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  General Debate June 16, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Upton gets the Green’s position wrong, again. He hasn’t noticed the MoU, obviously. The in-sensible Mr McVicar and TVNZ get their hands slapped for biased reporting. Grunting ladies may get gagged at Wimbledon.  (Yawn) Virus writers target Apple Mac. Bummer. read more
  June 16, 2009 10:37 am - 191 Comments