Archive for August, 2009

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  River-As-Drain No Longer Acceptable, or Exceptional - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Kawerau pulp and paper mill should not be granted consents to pollute the Tarawera River — known locally as “The Black Drain” — for another thirty-five years. I spoke yesterday at the hearings in Whakatane for consents to discharge to air and water from the pulp mill. The pulp mill, owned by companies Carter [...] read more
  August 12, 2009 10:11 am - 14 Comments
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  General Debate, August 12, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Bonn, Afghanistan, and now sea lions.  Whatever next from this government? Update: and now sheep – speaks for itself really. read more
  August 12, 2009 6:44 am - 35 Comments
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  John Key versus Graham Henry - by frog

  
  
  
  Picture this: It is one week out from the great All Black Wallaby clash. The ABs have just purchased brand new uniforms, the selectors have brought in a few new players, and the management team have just christened their shiny new office. Graham Henry fronts up to the cameras and says: Well, we actually think [...] read more
  August 11, 2009 12:32 pm - 20 Comments
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  Climate change is now – urgent action needed for Pacific - by frog

  
  
  
  One person who won’t be impressed by the Government’s greenhouse gas emissions target announcement (so pathetic that John Key was labelled a piker by Jeanette Fitzsimons on National Radio this morning) is Reverend Tafue Lusama of Tuvalu. He speaks at 1.15pm today at Samoa House in Auckland, where he will appeal for stronger action on [...] read more
  August 11, 2009 10:17 am - 110 Comments
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  Quick, to the Telethon Bandwagon - by frog

  
  
  
  Has it come to this? The Government’s plan to help feed New Zealand’s neediest children is to give money to Telethons. This is not a policy. It is shameless posturing. This from the Government’s announcement on Sunday: Mr Key said the Government has agreed, with funding from the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of [...] read more
  August 11, 2009 6:43 am - 78 Comments
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  John Key shirks responsibility - by frog

  
  
  
  Well, the news is out. A 10-20% target, with so many conditions as to be meaningless. Minister Groser even confirmed during the post-cab that the 10% was in no way unconditional. Cabinet would revisit the whole thing anyway. So there we have it. The National Government failing to take responsibility for our share of the [...] read more
  August 10, 2009 5:55 pm - 82 Comments
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  Just how does the SIS protect our ‘economic wellbeing’? - by frog

  
  
  
  Image by Lyndon Hood I haven’t yet requested my file from the Security Intelligence Service just in case it diverts some hard working intelligence operative from detecting an outrage from Al-Qaeda, the Red Army Faction, Baader Meinhof Gang or the Action, Research and Education Network of Aotearoa (ARENA). Of course the group most likely to [...] read more
  August 10, 2009 3:16 pm - 61 Comments
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  Fiddling the electricity market, while consumers burn - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Once again the government is fiddling with the electricity market to try to make it do two contradictory things. Once again it will fail. The Minister of Energy is gradually drip feeding results of the Electricity Market Review,  which is to be considered by Cabinet this morning. It seems it will abolish the Electricity Commission, [...] read more
  August 10, 2009 11:49 am - 9 Comments
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  Gold mining – it’s the pits - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last Monday Jeanette and I were invited to a forum on mining in Waihi. Part of the event was a tour of the open cast pit (formerly Martha Hill) and the Favona underground mine, and the tailing dam (formerly the Golden Valley). Even though I was an objector at the first hearings to oppose that [...] read more
  August 10, 2009 11:45 am - 8 Comments
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  Tadpoles listen up: Granny Herald gives sage advice on climate change - by frog

  
  
  
  Image by Lyndon Hood My Friday night tipple of lily pad liqueur (but just the one, cos I’m a responsible frog) will be raised to Granny Herald, who today ran a sane and responsible editorial on climate change. Granny concludes: The world has become far more environmentally conscious. We cannot afford to be seen as [...] read more
  August 7, 2009 11:53 am - 9 Comments
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  Topical Tropical Forests - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Today we are launching an e-card to support my Member’s bill that will regulate the import of illegal and unsustainable tropical timber and wood products. Please send one now to the Prime Minister. In additional to the e-card, next week we are working with visiting Papuan activists Paula Makabory who is speaking in Auckland, Wellington [...] read more
  August 7, 2009 10:32 am - 7 Comments
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  General Debate, August 7, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  The tadpoles are recovering from a very busy week so the topics are up to you, dear reader. read more
  August 7, 2009 6:30 am - 72 Comments
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  Nick Smith doesn’t get it - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Nick Smith’s response to “Getting There“, the Green Party’s analysis of how much of a 40% greenhouse gas reduction target we could meet in NZ at low cost, was entirely predictable. We asked him 7 questions in the House today and are none the wiser. First, he refused to give any information about any work [...] read more
  August 5, 2009 10:32 am - 148 Comments
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  Can we do 40? Yes we can. - by frog

  
  
  
  Today the Greens produced a report showing that significant emission reductions can be made by 2020 to meet the bulk of a 40% target. This involves 36.2 million tonnes of reductions that would meet a 20% domestic reduction, much of it at little or no cost and with significant employment and environmental benefits. A further [...] read more
  August 4, 2009 3:10 pm - 128 Comments
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  Dairy pollution in a protected Wild River - by frog

  
  
  
  The Fishing News reported last year that: The Mohaka River has to be the jewel in the crown of Hawkes Bay trout fisheries, yet the upper reaches of this magnificent river are in decline due mainly to intense dairy farming and the subsequent effluent run-off. One of its tributaries is the Taharua River, into which [...] read more
  August 4, 2009 7:30 am - 14 Comments
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  General Debate, August 4, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  There’s a National Hui on setting New Zealand’s 2020 Emissions Target at Westpac Stadium in Wellington today.  Will Maori argue for the 40% reduction Greenpeace is campaigning for, the measly 15% reduction floated recently by John Key, or at least the 25% reduction scientists say is the minimum needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change? read more
  August 4, 2009 7:12 am - 21 Comments
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  SOS Enviroschools - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Last Thursday night I facilitated a meeting of more than forty people in Grey Lynn to discuss the cuts to Enviroschools and how to keep sustainability education sustainable. The meeting included youth activists who have formed a group called SOS Enviroschools, plus sustainability advisers, parents, the Auckland Regional Council and supporters from the community. Heidi [...] read more
  August 3, 2009 10:41 am - 46 Comments
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  Bill Maher vs the “Obama Birthers” - by frog

  
  
  
  This frog has always appreciated Bill Maher, the host of HBO’s Real Time, for his political analysis and biting wit. Here he takes on the “birthers”, whose campaign to expose Obama as not an American citizen has taken on nearly cult status. No PC zone is Bill’s show. Enjoy. read more
  August 2, 2009 7:32 am - 10 Comments
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  General Debate, August 1, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  Brand new month. Same old issues. read more
  August 1, 2009 7:18 am - 187 Comments