Archive for September, 2009

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  Oil companies declare that CO2 is green - by frog

  
  
  
  Some stupidity is just too good not to share. You only need half a second with this new US television advert to guess who’s behind it. The Guardian has a great article on the video, who’s behind it and why it is so ripe for a spoof. I’m tempted to do one myself! In a [...] read more
  September 30, 2009 5:06 pm - 30 Comments
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  When Does Fonterra Say ‘Enough’? - by frog

  
  
  
  Fonterra’s response to the latest Crafar disgrace is to assure us they will take action against farmers when it’s justified – so, when is it justified? According to Fonterra Chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden there are criteria: If any case of deliberate mistreatment of animals is proven by the authorities and appropriate remedial action [...] read more
  September 30, 2009 3:53 pm - 3 Comments
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  NZ and its strange love of voting down anti-nuke resolutions - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  New Zealand Nat-Lab Governments have prided themselves in recent years over their pristine nuclear-free policy. In the mid-1980s, we helped lead in the Pacific initiative to create the South Pacific Nuclear-free Zone. Then, unsatisfied with the weakness of the regional zone in allowing nuclear-armed warships to enter the harbours of treaty states, we legislated in Parliament against their entry into our own. read more
  September 30, 2009 12:42 pm - 24 Comments
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  New science blog – check it out - by frog

  
  
  
  Today the SMC has launched a new blog: what they call a “network of science blogs”…a great addition to the blogosphere. read more
  September 30, 2009 10:13 am - 2 Comments
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  Non-Aggression Bill still a force to be reckoned with - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  My International Non-Aggression Bill met its Maker last Members’ Day (23 Sept.) in the House. While that was disappointing, it was not all doom and gloom. read more
  September 29, 2009 5:27 pm - 18 Comments
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  She was asking for it - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  Reaction from Auckland motorists to the Greg Paterson bicycle incident has been largely unsympathetic in today’s Herald, especially the editorial. The implicit argument from drivers that cyclists break rules so are not worthy of protection beggars belief. It also an argument that gets repeated ad nauseum around the world it seems: The myth of the scofflaw [...] read more
  September 29, 2009 4:10 pm - 42 Comments
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  Green recycling message resonates with musical youth - by frog

  
  
  
  “Pick Up your bottles and put them in the recycling bin. We like to keep it real Green round here.” That’s the message from Che Fu, for this Thursday’s Pick it Up concert at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre in Auckland’s Manukau City. talented line-up Che – recently awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit [...] read more
  September 29, 2009 1:19 pm - No Comments
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  Calves starve to death on NZ’s largest dairy farm - by frog

  
  
  
  Yep, it’s the Crafar boys again. From interest.co.nz: Poor management and the pressures of massive debts obtained during rapid expansion meant this farm was so poorly managed that none of the staff trained the calves to drink milk, allowing them to die of dehydration in a muddy pen even though their trough was often full. [...] read more
  September 29, 2009 11:26 am - 10 Comments
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  NZ should avoid bad US customs - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Congratulations on Abraham Alawi for speaking out about being repeatedly singled out and searched by Customs when returning from overseas. This is a common complaint from NZ residents and citizens of Arab origin. As Abraham said on radio this morning, “many people are being victimised, but don’t speak”. Since becoming a citizen Abraham has felt [...] read more
  September 29, 2009 11:17 am - 42 Comments
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  Frog Week with Gerry and Tim - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s frog week! My favourite week of the year. But this one comes under a large grey cloud. My local native frog rellies have not been faring well for a while. They’re threatened by all sorts already. But now they have a new predator – Gerry with his sidekick Tim. All New Zealand’s native frog species are now threatened by mining. read more
  September 29, 2009 6:02 am - 3 Comments
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  Podcast: Sue Bradford reflects on a decade - by frog

  
  
  
  In this week’s Green Party podcast, Sue Bradford talks about some of her achievements over a decade in Parliament. They are many and varied and include the unique trifecta from last term; as noted by many commentators in recent days, she had three member’s bills passed into law, but there’s more… Click to play (13:51 [...] read more
  September 28, 2009 3:28 pm - No Comments
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  Green vote lifts in Germany - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  The German Greens are very happy with yesterday’s election result, with their vote rising from 8.1% in 2005 to 10.5%. Interesting, while the Green vote rose significantly, the Social Democrat vote fell to its lowest post-war level, 23%. The big rise in the Green vote in France in the last European election was also paralleled [...] read more
  September 28, 2009 3:02 pm - 14 Comments
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  Sue’s Truth: Employers on the rampage - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  I’m a bit late blogging my regular column in the Truth Weekender, as I’ve had other things taking up my time. But here it is: Employers all over the country are increasingly going on the offensive against workers who organise to bargain for their rights and conditions. The current state of industrial relations is typical [...] read more
  September 28, 2009 12:12 pm - 28 Comments
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  Cyclists worthy of greater protection - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  The comments made by Colin Davis, Chair of the Eastern Bays Community Board, appearing to blame cyclists for being hit by cars were mistaken and insensitive. The collision at the weekend resulting in the hospitalisation of four cyclists, one in critical condition, appear to be entirely the result of a motorist failing to be aware [...] read more
  September 28, 2009 11:07 am - 1 Comment
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  Population and Climate Change - by frog

  
  
  
  As greens, it seems pretty intuitive that runaway population growth is unsustainable. That argument rages in back rooms, but rarely gets much air in the media because it is such a controversial topic. read more
  September 28, 2009 10:37 am - 18 Comments
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  General Debate, September 28, 2009 - by frog

  
  
  
  What do you think of the PM’s trip to New York?  Statesman or pretender? read more
  September 28, 2009 6:11 am - 74 Comments
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  Secret agreement for SAS on Afghan prisoners? - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  According to Jon Stephenson in this morning’s Sunday Star-Times the SAS soldiers realise they are in for a tougher time in Afghanistan this time around. However, it is still not entirely clear what will happen to any prisoners our SAS hands over to the Afghan authorities. Jon Stephenson says Afghanistan has now promised, in writing, [...] read more
  September 27, 2009 8:35 pm - 2 Comments
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  What’s in a number? - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  For those working in the health sector a general election tends to bring a frisson of apprehension: will the positive momentum built with the current structure be, as usual, swept away by the political wind of structural change? The Minister’s “razor gang” review of the health sector recommends splitting the Ministry of Health in two [...] read more
  September 27, 2009 9:00 am - 2 Comments
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  Today is Earth Overshoot Day - by frog

  
  
  
  From today we will meet our demand for ecological services by depleting resource stocks and accumulating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. …we’re really good at accounting, but forgot to factor in our most important assets — the natural ones. What are your thoughts? read more
  September 26, 2009 10:15 am - 31 Comments
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  Sue Bradford resigns - by frog

  
  
  
  Wow, big news today. After 10 years of work as a Green MP, Sue Bradford is moving on to the next phase of her life. If you don’t have time for the video, the press release says it all, really. Sue was one of the most productive legislators, getting three pieces of legislation through parliament [...] read more
  September 25, 2009 10:52 am - 344 Comments