by frog
Published in Environment & Resource Management by frog on Tue, November 17th, 2009
General debate, November 17, 2009
Published: November 17, 2009
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Please use 
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
How would you vote on this if it happens in New Zealand?
http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/political/farmers-greenies-and-nats-back-ets-exemption/1677799.aspx
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DoughH – exciting isn’t it! If, like Australia hopes to do, New Zealand excludes agriculture and “fugitive” emissions from coal mining from the ETS, we’ll have a splendid proposal to take to Copenhagen.
Inspirational!
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Householders and taxpayers, you and I, will be crushed by the costs of the ETS that the National Government has now dumped on us.
Households produce less than 20% of emissions but National now demands
that we pay 52%!
The big industrial emitters and farmers produce two-thirds of all
emissions but will only pay 4%!
Someone is pulling the Government’s strings and it’s not us householders
and taxpayers!
This is a bad deal.
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Just goes to prove the whole ETS scheme is a fraud of massive proportions, take money of rich nations and give to the poor nothing to do with emissions.
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“Just goes to prove the whole ETS scheme is a fraud of massive proportions, take money of rich nations and give to the poor nothing to do with emissions.”
no, the money going to poor nations does pay for reducing emissions. It’s the transfers of money between economic sectors within New Zealand and within Australia that are not related to reducing emissions.
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Immigration Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman has announced findings of a research study highlighting the major contribution that immigration makes to New Zealand’s economy. He was delivering the opening address at the Pathways, Circuits and Crossroads Conference, held at Te Papa in Wellington.
“What the Department of Labour’s International Migration Settlement and Employment Dynamics (IMSED) research shows us is that, without immigration the outlook is bleak,” says Dr Coleman.
“Without current levels of inward migration, both our population base and economy would shrink dramatically. By 2021, our population would drop by 9.6 per cent and our GDP would drop by 11.3 percent. There would be a 10.9 percent drop in the available labour force and the export sector would be savaged with volumes dropping by 12.9 percent.
“What this research tells us is that immigration contributes significantly to every New Zealander’s per capita income,” says Dr Coleman.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/research+confirms+immigration039s+contribution+new+zealand
Residency ‘carrot’ lures rich investors
“Thousands of wealthy foreigners are lining up to move here, just weeks out from the introduction of business migration laws that will grant them residency almost immediately.”
“Property development, education, training and tourism were among the most popular areas for potential investment, an Immigration NZ spokesman said. ”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10609740
gdp vs. gdp per capita
Using growth in GDP per head rather than crude GDP growth reveals a strikingly different picture of other countries’ economic health. For example, Australian politicians often boast that their economy has had one of the fastest growth rates among the major developed nations—an average of 3.3% over the past five years. But Australia has also had one of the biggest increases in population; its GDP per head has grown no faster than Japan’s over this period. Likewise, Spain has been one of the euro area’s star performers in terms of GDP growth, but over the past three years output per person has grown more slowly than in Germany, which like Japan, has a shrinking population.
Some emerging economies also look less impressive when growth is compared on a per-person basis. One of the supposedly booming BRIC countries, Brazil, has seen its GDP per head increase by only 2.3% per year since 2003, barely any faster than Japan’s. Russia, by contrast, enjoyed annual average growth in GDP per head of 7.4% because the population is falling faster than in any other large country (by 0.5% a year). Indians love to boast that their economy’s growth rate has almost caught up with China’s, but its population is also expanding much faster. Over the past five years, the 10.2% average increase in China’s income per head dwarfed India’s 6.8% gain.
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2008/03/gdp-vs-gdp-per.html
Overall, it is equivocal whether there is enough robust evidence to support the claim that immigration is always positive for per capita growth. This paper concurs with the observations of the OECD, which stated “there is not sufficient or detailed enough data on the behaviour of the New Zealand economy to give clear answers on the overall effects on per capita incomes of existing residents”. While the evidence suggests small positive net gains from migration, these do not necessarily stack up as an improvement in per capita growth rates. Whether immigration is positive is also dependent on which particular group of people governments are concerned about increasing the welfare of. If it is overall national welfare then the evidence does suggest immigration is positive. But if this is achieved through a lowering of the wages of native workers, albeit while potentially increasing returns to the owners of capital, this distribution of benefit may not be seen as desirable.
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/research-policy/wp/2006/06-02
The Economic Impact of Immigration
http://www.civitas.org.uk/pdf/Rowthorn_Immigration.pdf
Anti-immigration feeling has no place in the Green party Immigration and Population policies released today, Green MP Keith Locke says.
“Our policy is the opposite of Winston Peters’,” the Party’s Immigration Spokesperson Keith Locke says.
Unlike Mr Peters, we don’t start with an assumption that ‘Kiwi values’ are somehow superior to those of new migrants.
http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/greens-counter-peters-welcoming-immigration-policy
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Which indicates that our discussions with Maori are rather more important than our discussions here.
respectfully
BJ
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BRIEFING PAPER TO THE INCOMING MINISTER OF HOUSING
1. Property Council New Zealand (‘‘Property Council’’) is a not-for-profit organisation that represents
New Zealand’s commercial, industrial, retail, property funds and multi-unit residential property
owners. Property Council represents all the forms of commercial property and property investment in
New Zealand.
2. Property Council Members own or manage property portfolios the value of which exceeds $25 billion.
Our organisation actively involves itself with central, local and other government associated bodies,
promoting the views, goals and ideas of our members. Property Council’s underlying policy is that
economically sustainable communities are good for New Zealand’s future well-being, and that such
communities will only be viable if we do three things:
re-establish New Zealand as an attractive investment destination;
improve local and national governance through law reform; and
further invest in infrastructure and utilities that secure New Zealand’s economic prosperity.
A Road for Reform
3. In September 2008 Property Council released its manifesto document, A Roadmap for Reform, which
codifies a series of public policy changes that are necessary to transform and reenergise New
Zealand’s economy. A Roadmap for Reform calls for the following:
economic growth (starting with an overhaul of the Resource Management Act 1991);
fairer taxes;
greater overseas investment;
cutting red tape;
delivering the dividends of wealth creation back to the creators of wealth;
17. While accepting that demand factors, such as population trends, significantly impact on the market
price of residential property, Property Council believes policy intervention should focus on the
supply-side factors relating to:
development contributions;
compliance costs;
constrained land supply; and
insufficient land zoned for high density and height within the city limits.
http://www.propertynz.co.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145860363
“The full extent of plans to cut the Green Belt across large swathes of England can be revealed for the first time. ”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6569414/Green-belt-threat-to-27-towns-and-cities-revealed.html
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Does New Zealand have that kind of money? What will services that benefits New Zealand society will the government have to cut to fund this wealth transfer, through the UN, to “poor” countries.
Why are 5 “special” Maori iwi (excluding Hione Harawira’s Ngapuhi iwi – no wonder he is upset) allowed to plant forest on DOC land (and will the Greens be upset at the desecration of the pristine DOC land with logging operations)
http://www.3news.co.nz/Nationals-ETS-to-include-special-treatment-for-Maori/tabid/419/articleID/129832/cat/67/Default.aspx
For a country borrowing $50M per day already, where will the money come from to enable the government underwriting the ETS until emmisions are lowered enough for the scheme to be tax neutral?
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This is interesting:
http://www.slideshare.net/IBMNZ/wellington-business-keynote-paul-callaghan
and there’s a power point here
http://www-07.ibm.com/events/nz/ibmforum/presentations/downloads/paul_callaghan.pdf
ps heard BJ’s email on Morning report.
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He wahine koretake ia!
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Kei te tautoko au i to korero Greenfly
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JH. I did NOT get to hear it… but I am astounded that they read it out. Now I have to go see if they read out all that I wrote.
That’s an interesting PDF. I note particularly, the tax slide.
We have to work out how to DO it, not just that it needs doing. The property market, taxes and the investment environment need adjusting to be sure.
I still say we should disband parliament and send a guy up to Sweden with a photocopier. Just do what THEY do
respectfully
BJ
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That incompetent jerk-off Nick Smith doesn’t seem to realize that
instead of $25 it’s going to be over $100 a ton, and subsidizing a big
industry for its emissions at taxpayer expense means that that industry
has NO INCENTIVE to change!!!! HIS is the party that believes in
market forces, and he is taking them entirely out of the equation and
contrary to his claim that he’s not going to cost Kiwi families money,
he’s on track to take a hundred billion from us directly.
$*%#$(*#@%&!!!!!!!
Sorry. Woke the family shouting at the radio.
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I think that’s what they read but not the profanity.
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The worm is turning not before time.
Now 50% (down 5% since August 2009) of Australians
Approve of Australia’s proposed Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme and
30% (up 3%) say “Concerns are exaggerated” about Global Warming
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2009/4435/
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national radio is reporting that..
..federated farmers are really pissed off..
they say their exemptions until 2015 are ‘not enough’..
and they are now demanding .. exemptions forever..
(like the aussie farmers have just been given..)
nicholson says farmers ‘can’t stand the uncertainty’ of that 2015 exemption..
and he will be demanding the gummint give farmers that ..
..”..exemptions forever..”
(kinda breaks yr heart..knowing farmers are ‘suffering that uncertainty’..
..eh..?..
poor luvvies..!)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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If the entire population of Australia decides that there is no such thing as fire danger in Victoria and decides to go there to play with matches it won’t help that there are more of them than there are of fire experts. Will it.
So whatever the hell you are celebrating, it isn’t a victory. Just a symptom of their confusion… which is not surprising given the idiocy at “The Australian” and the amount of money poured into generating that confusion worldwide.
BJ
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The latest missile is based around this issue:
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/11/its-all-about-me-thane/#more-1708
Well, it’s not really all about me. But methane has figured strongly in a couple of stories recently and gets an apparently-larger-than-before shout-out in Al Gore’s new book as well. Since a part of the recent discussion is based on a paper I co-authored in Science, it is probably incumbent on me to provide a little context.
First off, these latest results are being strongly misrepresented in certain quarters.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/al-gore-admits-co2-does-not-cause-majority-of-global-warming.html
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/gore_clears_carbon_dioxide_of_most_blame/
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Our climate villains.
Key, Smith, Turia.
In for nasty weather.
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Free the farmers! Pay their bill!
(Stupid townies!).
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The world, it seems, is revolving in a most unusual fashion now-a-days.
Up has become down. Water has been found on the dry and dusty moon. It’s summer and icebergs are heading our way. The ‘Perk-buster’ has been busted (some say that since Rodney Hide met his new girlfriend, he’s really perked-up!)
Bill, who we understood lives in Wellington, doesn’t and Tim, who we’d thought had a good sense of humour, turned from Comedian to Tragedian.
The national parks we’d always valued for their natural beauty and unspoiled nature, turned out to be worth more to us as deep, dark sulphurous pits, perhaps capitalising on our ‘Lord of the Rings’ fame and bringing in tourists to see our very own Mordor.
A cycleway was going to save us from the ‘sharp edges’ of the Recession, but it seems the Recession is over and barely a sod has been turned on the cycleway!
Equally surprising is finding that the devastating effects of global warming have been avoided, simply by deciding that it’s not going to happen. Not only are we taking the carefree approach to what scientists warn is the greatest threat mankind has ever faced, we’re not even bothering to send our Prime Minister to Copenhagen to talk with the leaders of other nations about the problem (in fact many of us would like him to go, but he’s decided against attending).
The ‘100% pure, clean and green’ image we have promoted ourselves with has been challenged in England’s ’Guardian’ newspaper no less, and they’ve said we’re not! We thought we were innocent til proven guilty (turns out it’s the other way round), that we had the right to remain silent (not any longer), and that our privacy was safe from listening ears and prying eyes, but that’s all changed now.
Maori will have ownership of the beaches, our soldiers are back fighting in a war, someone other than us is going to own our drinking water…
One thing has remained the same, thank goodness, the old adage that the only constant is change.
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@greenfly 1:03 PM
Nah, he’s really porked-up!
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could someone plse tell kevin hague to shave that ‘mo
off..
he looks like john carter..
(and surely that would terrify anyone to the razor..?)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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phil u wrote:
“could someone plse tell kevin hague to shave that ‘mo
off..”
“he looks like john carter..”
I’m sure he’ll be shaving it off on the 1st of December.
More importantly, why isn’t Sue Kedgley growing one? Doesn’t she care about men’s health?
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In case you hadn’t noticed,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you’re talking about?
Or believe strongly in what you’re saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)’s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?
Even when those sentences aren’t, like, questions? You know?
Declarative sentences—so-called
because they used to, like, DECLARE things to be true
as opposed to other things which were, like, not—have been infected by a totally hip
and tragically cool interrogative tone? You know?
Like, don’t think I’m uncool just because I’ve noticed this;
this is just like the word on the street, you know?
It’s like what I’ve heard?
I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions, okay?
I’m just inviting you to join me in my uncertainty?
What has happened to our conviction?
Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?
Have they been, like, chopped down
with the rest of the rain forest?
Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society become so, like, totally . . .
I mean absolutely . . . You know?
That we’ve just gotten to the point where it’s just, like . . .
whatever!
And so actually our disarticulation . . . ness
is just a clever sort of . . . thing
to disguise the fact that we’ve become
the most aggressively inarticulate generation
to come along since . . .
you know, a long, long time ago!
I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you,
I challenge you: To speak with conviction.
To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks
the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You have to speak with it, too.
Read more Taylor Mail poetry at http://www.taylormali.com
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He speaks for himself Rimu. I speak for me.
…. but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
Just that I never cared enough to be cool.
respectfully
BJ
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Rimu – No.
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“Unlike Mr Peters, we don’t start with an assumption that ‘Kiwi values’ are somehow superior to those of new migrants.”
http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/greens-counter-peters-welcomin g-immigration-policy
does the Green Party actually think about what “Kiwi values” are or which ones might be worth hanging on to? I have said this before but i was walking back down Mt Roy in Wanaka one day and got talking to an old geologist who had lived here for thirty years; he was leaving NZ because he said we are “ruining this country”. Many people wouldn’t get it (including many “Greens”). Keith Locke & Co have defined “G/green” as a left-wing issue: it only applies to capitalist industries and cow-dung, otherwise we are life-boat NZ for all our brother workers of the world (no questions asked). Does it not matter if people who are raised in dense cities or whose preference is 10 kids start to sway to a new set of values?
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I agree that we are ruining this country, but I suspect not in the same way that your geologist friend does. Where is he going to instead and in what way is it better?
As far as I can see, all developed countries are going down the gurgler in pretty much the same way (it’s only the speed that differs), so I might as well stay put.
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Did your geologist friend mean we were ruining the country geologically?
When he referred the the ‘ruiners’ was he meaning people who damage the environment by walking on fragile landscapes (as the two of you were) and when he said ‘we’, was he including himself?
I wonder where he went. Hopefully to a mystical land that ‘we’ aren’t ruining. Maybe he meant heaven. Was his breathing laboured?
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Ah Southland! You’re a hotbed.
Greenpeace shut down a portion of a lignite coal mine used by dairy processing and export company Fonterra in Southland this morning, covering the mine with a 40 by 40 metre banner with the words “Fonterra Climate Crime”.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0911/S00172.htm
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The geologist was talking about the property boom (open slather) in the Wakatipu basin/ Central Otago area; the rush of investors seeking capital gain and consequent over development that was occurring. The same could be said for Auckland and most other places: didn’t trip the green party Values alarm did it? He told me where he was going, he had looked all around the world as was a well healed gentleman but I’m not saying.
ps Mt Roy has a track maintained by DOC.
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jh – you say: he was leaving NZ because he said we are “ruining this country” and describe the rush of investors seeking capital gain and consequent over development that was occurring.
with the comment that Many people wouldn’t get it (including many “Greens”)
What the hell are you talking about? Do you feel that Greens support the ‘rush of investors etc? I find your point, if indeed there is one, obscure to the point of impenetrability.
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“The Green Party policy is not based on prejudice, but an objective analysis of what level of migration is compatible with a sustainable New Zealand”
http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/greens-counter-peters-welcoming-immigration-policy
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jh – you say: he was leaving NZ because he said we are “ruining this country” and describe the rush of investors seeking capital gain and consequent over development that was occurring.
with the comment that Many people wouldn’t get it (including many “Greens”)
Between 1990 and 2004 the population increased 21%. It was also (after the Americas cup and Lord of the rings) the period described as the discovery of NZ by the rest of the world (and our “breathtakingly cheap” waterfront property’) etc. The Boston Globe travel writer referred to “NZ at a crossroads”. It wasn’t just tourism or credit expansion that underpinned the greed but the expectation that there would always be more arrivals. During this period what noises were the G/greens making: big welcoming gestures (a national identity, pride, sentiment and values isn’t cool).
PS Castles in the Sand: What’s happening to the NZ Coast not one reference to the Green Party
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“The Green Party policy is not based on prejudice, but an objective analysis of what level of migration is compatible with a sustainable New Zealand”
http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/greens-counter-peters-welcoming-immigration-policy
This is the “worry about it in the future”/ “how many people can you get in a mini”/ have it both ways approach.
As they say: “when the tide goes out you see who has no clothes on” if we had a land value tax we may see a different view of the rationale for mass migration”.
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Chinese pollution pics;
http://www.chinahush.com/2009/10/21/amazing-pictures-pollution-in-china/
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feeling good about the fact you use a ‘green’ shopping bag..?
but what are you putting in that bag..?
http://whoar.co.nz/2009/simple-living-for-the-environment-is-for-suckers/
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we can destroy the industrial economy that is destroying the real, physical world
Phil!
Right behind you.
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Industrialisation as we know it is coming to an end.
How do we wean the New Zealand public off the first world living standard (where social services ENTITLEMENTS such as pays for philu lifestyle) when we can no longer afford to fund the provisions of the ACC, WWF, DPB, etc.?
Or do we keep borrowing till our creditors call in the receivers?
See if philu keeps wanting to stay at home we may be forced to dig up the coal to pay for his lifestyle.
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‘Forced to dig up the coal?
National are slathering at the prospect.
How can we wean the New Zealand public off the first world living standards, where consumption of fripparies, bolting down unsustainably produced food, especially meat products, and unnecessary travel, treating and general wallowing in the trough of opulence is the norm?
Indeed Gerrit!
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Glad to see you agree that we cant afford to fund the social services umbrella.
So what would you cut first?
I would get parliament down to 60 representatives, cut the civil service numbers funding to 10% of GDP, make ACC user pays, cut benefits to long term benificiaries who are able bodied enough to work, etc.
How would you balance the book? Or are we in for another glib remark?
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you’ve nailed it gerrittt..!
i’m the real problem here..eh..?
‘sort’ me out..
and all else will just fall into place..eh..?
the brownlee shall embrace the turi..
the actite will lie with the greenie..
and all will be well..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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the actite will lie with impunity … (I’ll give you glib!)
Glad to see you agree that we cant afford to fund the social services umbrella.
You are? You can? Gerrit, please cut and paste the passage where I agree that we can’t afford to fund the social services umbrella (just to show that we are on the same page).
Or do we keep borrowing till our creditors call in the receivers?
This seems to be the approach National/Act/Maori have taken, so I’ll concede that you’re onto something here.
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Greenfly,
So we can in your eyes?
Keep borrowing?
Nice to see you care for our childrens future so much.
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The medical profession doesn’t seem at all impressed by National’s ETS.
Makes them sick.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0911/S00172.htm
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gerrit..you aren’t making ‘basic/any sense’..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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Gerrit – can’t find it eh? Oh well.
You pose and answer questions in a matter of a single post, all without the benefit of hearing from the person you address your question to! It’s a novel debating style, I’ll grant you. No matter.
I find the borrowing insanity that Nat/Act?Maori/Dunne Government is indulging in to be …insane as I presume you do also.
I’ve a great care for the future of our children. I’d hate to see them thrown to the wolves and believe there is a role for community to support any of its members that are unable to support themselves.
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good news..(sorta..)
i guess the devil will be in the detail..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2009/barack-obama-and-hu-jintao-aim-to-agree-greenhouse-gas-targets/
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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Greenfly,
Absolutely.
But what would you cut to stop the insane borrowing?
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Turn the lot of them out.
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“..But what would you cut to stop the insane borrowing?..”
nothing less than an entire re-jig/up-ending of our economy/society will suffice..
(there is a thesis in the details..
and i hope somebody is working on it..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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There are, of course, a multitude of steps that can be taken to reduce and manage indebtedness and the discussion on the most effective way through the Mire of Borrowing is a complex one. Throughout it all, I hold to the belief that the environment is of ultimate importance and supports all other activities. The wellbeing of people must be balanced alongside of the health of the environment of course and therein lies the challenge for us all. I’ d begin with a programme like the New Green Deal.
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To be sure, I rather like the idea of fewer idiots in parliament, although the 10-12 people left there after the elimination took place would probably feel a tad lonely.
Wanting to slash the budget isn’t all that unusual, but I don’t know what the current budget even looks like so would be ill-prepared to make recommendations there and you’d be ill-advised to take them seriously.
However, there are a few things to be done.
1. We know about the Cap-Gains-LAQC issue. That’s pretty heavy but doesn’t claw back a lot of money. What it does is release money for investment.
2. We know we need better regulation of the investment groups… we are supposedly getting something with more teeth. I am not informed of its likely effects.
3. We have been playing at jerking the top tax rate down and flattening taxes and benefits… I disagree with this approach. The fact of our inflation means that more tax brackets are appropriate, not fewer. I should not be paying the same rate (and a higher effective rate) of tax than someone on twice my income.
4. We need to break the speculation from/to overseas and a Tobin tax might do it.
None of which has anything to do with the outgo, just with the income.
5. I tentatively disagree with making ACC “user-pays”.. at least I need a better justification and explanation of what that means in terms of ACC. Provided it is not privatization of the system I am willing to listen to arguments.
6. I would be in favor of ending the WFF and any other “per-child” direct monetary supplement through the tax or benefits system and providing such services and goods as support the child directly. This more directly involves the state in the well-being of the child and can be arranged to provide the same or better support to all children equally.
7. Abandon the war on drugs. The cost to the society is immense and poorly understood, and will continue to be poorly understood until that foolishness is abandoned.
8. Provide some incentives, tax-breaks, tariff protection or direct intervention in the market to jump-start some industrial activity that is in our long term interest.
I think that that might be enough. I should have offended just about everyone at this point.
respectfully
BJ
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Do you really think building new football stadiums is a good use of public money?
http://www.detnews.com/article/20091117/METRO/911170327/1411/METRO02/Silverdome-sale-price-disappoints
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When Key speaks in the House, does he sound arrogant and spiteful to you, or is it just my cheap radio?
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Spineless Key avoids meeting Dalai Lama.
Gormless Key avoids fronting Copenhagen.
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Mark,
.
Feel that one? Geonet reports it as 4-5 out your way, 5.1 here, only a little baby but enough to scare the imports
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Yep – felt more like two quakes actually – but pretty rough – then again, I’m a Wellingtonian originally and can light cigarettes in an 8.6!
Warmest Regards Mark
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Mark,
It was indeed two. The second only just came up on GeoNet. A 4.3.
Those of continental Europe seem to find terrifying what we take for granted. Interesting, I believe. Though the results of the Napier quake do speak to that in an entirely different manner.
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Sapient; Hope the Exam Season went (is going) well – let us know when we can call you Dr Sapient!
I see the Nats in Parliament howling about their massive achievements after 1 year in Parliament – the only differences I can pick are that things have become one hell of a lot more expensive for less services….at least the PM isn’t a sulky blanket of disapproval (like the last one).
Looking forward to the next few changes in the house.
The Brain Drain may have happened here, but never underestimate Rat Cunning!
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Mark,
).
That will be another five years away, assuming I survive this weekend (21 on sat
Exams were a breeze; next years the one to present the challenge. Just nabbed myself a $5000 research scholarship; might actually have two pennies for once.
I did have some hopes that this government would do well, looked like they had potential for awhile. The devious tapestry they be weaving does not look pretty to me but I reckon will buy them another term at the least. A pity really, such a population as this; somehow similtaniously apathetic, ignorant, emotive, and myopic.
Best get the waka under construction; acquire a feudal domain before the rising waters bring forth the chaos.
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Sapient
Happy Birthday Dear Fellow!!!
Will send your Horoscope under separate cover….
Watch out for Shadenfruede at Parties and you should be OK!
Pleased to see some of the dough is going to the good!
Nats revert to type I feel – once the red carpets and the Limo’s come in, their Humanity flies out the door.
If the Greens weren’t trying so hard to be Goody Two Shoes they would stand a Fair Chance of having a slice of the Pie that gives the unheard a voice – heaven knows I’ve heard enough blowhards to last a while.
Not worried about the Oceans rise – made sure I bought a Mountain!
Might be some blanched looking boat people right round here eh?
Incidentally, I picked up a story on the Australian National News about a 104 year old woman dying, whilst tied to her bed amomgst fecal bandages in a Rest Home in Palmy North – haven’t seen this one on a NZ Media Outlet – you heard/seen it?
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fox news does ‘good work’
(go figure..!..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2009/fox-news-if-youre-still-eating-meat-this-is-what-youre-contributing-to/
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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Mark,
Ah, yes. It has been in the news and through the papers. Though I have not paid enough attention to know which; there is a fair number here. From memory there is a second home here which is also under investigation and there was one not too long ago also.
From what I’ve seen of the places they are not somewhere I would like to retire, though I suppose my experience is only with the dementia, etc., areas. Some would say we need more caring Samoan women and less cold white ladies.
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103, not 104. Though I suppose once one reaches triple digits it matters not.
Just some of the many from the local paper:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/3073949/Second-Palmerston-North-rest-home-faces-scrutiny
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3072785/I-wouldn-t-let-my-dog-live-in-that-place
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/3069659/Health-board-closes-Rose-A-Lea-rest-home
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Thanks for the Links – looking after a bloke in a rest Home is about the only work I manage these days – and I do that because many Staff are needlessly (unfathomably) cruel. I refused to continue a Conversation with one of the Managers there – it was all too far out of order for me -and I have a low tolerance for Bullies…
But any number of instances could have made the local Paper, that is if they weren’t part of the problem.
My real concern is that these stories are symptomatic of the Human Rights abuses that are SOP throughout NZ society – coming back here is truly like time travel (backwards x 100 years).
Am reading some C19th NZ newspapers and can well see where gossip and hearsay have come to be the Norm amongst supposedly unbiased NZ Institutions and Public Services – it’s a poor attitude and serves no one.
My old Boss used to tell a story about staying in the same Hotel Chain all over the World.
He said he could always tell he was in NZ however.
Because they’d bring your Breakfast up, half-an-hour late, cold, and throw it at you.
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Sapient – with your two pennies, you’ll be able to afford a spade and some packets of seeds!
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Greenfly,
Indeed, but, as mentioned previously, not a lawn with which to utilise them.
Mark,
Had to read that through several times, still manages to throw me totally.
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Sapient; Yep – astrology has the reputation of being somewhat ‘kooky’ but a friend took out a subscription to this guy for me, because she was tired of my queries(i look at all the best info i can find) – can recommend the site highly. Sharp as any knife.
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“Between 1990 and 2004 the population increased 21%”
well, when you put it like that
scary
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If nothing else, save farming.
The challenge of feeding 7 or 8 billion people while oil supplies are falling is stupefying. It’ll be even greater if governments keep pretending that it isn’t going to happen.
http://www.monbiot.com
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Good Lord! Perigo wrote something worthwhile!
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0911/S00208.htm
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Perigo is correct.
As was Russel.
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There are 3 news items of note to respond to.
1. Bollard’s new policy (announced June) is the reform of monetary policy (and under current policy settings) which Goff is seeking. He seems to have not noticed its arrival. It’s called the “core funding ratio” – it diminishes the amount of offshore money financing bank lending and allows a looser local monetary policy (lower OCR).
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10609289
2. The proposed new higher driving age – Greens should push for a rural licence for those 15 to the new driving age (16 or 17) for those in rural areas.
3. We are on track for a 6 degree increase in temp by 2100. And only a 2 degree increase causes climate change to kick in. Apparently the main cause (annual growth in CO2 from 1 to 3% pa) is “globalisation’s” transfer of production to and related growth in China – and its reliance on burning coal. The most concerning development however is the sign that carbon sinks are now failing and that there is now positive feedback.
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/climate-change/news/article.cfm?c_id=26&objectid=10610112
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