Archive for April, 2010

• 

  Covered with tar, full of smoke and short of fish - by frog

  
  
  
  KiwiRail toys with idea of moving people from A to B (and sometimes C) with trains. Why has this never been tried before? Which reminds me of this quote from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: “The trouble with most forms of transport, he thought, is basically one of them not being worth [...] read more
  April 6, 2010 9:06 am - 56 Comments
• 

  Food – photo - by frog

  
  
  
  Food – it should look great on the plate (tripe excepted) but it can also look a treat before it gets to the kitchen. This cob of corn positively glows with GE-free goodness, showing that beauty is found, not just in the wilds or in the flower garden, but in the vegetable patch as well. read more
  April 6, 2010 8:16 am - 4 Comments
• 

  General debate, April 6, 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
  9 Food Label Lies – Welcome to the Anthropocene – Who will be the next UN climate chief? – 6 great environmental pranks read more
  April 6, 2010 6:20 am - 41 Comments
• 

  Upcoming film – ‘Growth Busters’ - by frog

  
  
  
  I’m looking forward to this doco I like the warning at the start: “This film contains material which may be offensive to economists, developers, the Pope, politicians, octomoms, wealthy capitalists, environmentalists, people who leave the lights on, and…well, pretty much everybody.” I’ve had my fill of doom documentaries, so the promise of a positive vision [...] read more
  April 5, 2010 9:25 pm - 2 Comments
• 

  A tip for the ECan dictatorship - by frog

  
  
  
  You wouldn’t want your footnote in history to be responsibility for the creation of the Ellesmere Desert, would you, prospective ECan Commissioners? So be mindful of the historical lessons of environmental mismanagement when you attempt to “balance” the economy with the environment. read more
  April 5, 2010 6:10 pm - 13 Comments
• 

  Zealandia really is awesome! - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  One of the cool things about staying in Wellington over the weekend occasionally has been visiting the Karori Sanctuary. Wellingtonians will already be very familiar with it, but others will be interested to know that the sanctuary comprises 225Ha of regenerating lowland forest and wetland in a valley above the suburb of Karori, including Wellington’s [...] read more
  April 4, 2010 4:43 pm - 11 Comments
• 

  ‘ClimateGate’ scientist cleared of all wrongdoing - by frog

  
  
  
  A review by the House of Commons’ Science and Technology Committee began in January in the wake of the ‘Climategate’ media frenzy. Their results are clear We believe that the focus on CRU and Professor Phil Jones, Director of CRU, in particular, has largely been misplaced. We consider that Professor Jones’s actions were in line [...] read more
  April 4, 2010 12:09 pm - 6 Comments
• 

  Environment groups line up to slag government on water conservation - by frog

  
  
  
  It seems the Environment Minister is getting short on friends… read more
  April 4, 2010 10:11 am - 11 Comments
• 

  Heavily pregnant women tasered 3 times – legally - by frog

  
  
  
  From Wired “Although she had told the officers she was seven months pregnant, they proceeded to use a Taser on her, not once but three times, causing her to scream with pain and leaving burn marks and permanent scars.” A federal appeals court says three Seattle police officers did not employ excessive force There’s something [...] read more
  April 4, 2010 9:22 am - 131 Comments
• 

  The transportation revolution will not be motorised - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  A few days ago, Frog blogged about a recent report debunking the myth that electric cars will solve our imminent transportation challenges. Fortunately, it is becoming ever clearer that a far cheaper more efficient and sustainable option has been (re)discovered, and is taking off in the US and Australia. Of course, the Green Party have [...] read more
  April 3, 2010 2:35 pm - 21 Comments
• 

  A hard ACT to follow - by frog

  
  
  
  It seems the infighting within the ACT Party is not confined just to Rodney Hide, Heather Roy, Roger Douglas and the Parliamentary wing. Following ACT on Campus President Rick Giles’ profound argument in denial of human induced climate change on TV3’s Sunrise earlier this week: I think my argument is so powerful, it’s not necessary to talk about it read more
  April 3, 2010 6:28 am - 18 Comments
• 

  Under the leather - by frog

  
  
  
  What would you say if I were to tell you that a New Zealand company has been fined every year since 2004 for breaches of air pollution regulations — in China? What if I was to tell you this company, which has strong New Zealand links – including a former Prime Minister on the board [...] read more
  April 2, 2010 3:04 pm - 2 Comments
• 

  Bad time to extend Conservation Land concession lengths - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  Did you know that commercial activities on public conservation land can now be allowed for up to 10 years, with no public say at all? Not many people did, but that was another Easter present brought to you by the Government in this week’s urgency in Parliament. read more
  April 2, 2010 2:00 pm - 5 Comments
• 

  David’s Diary #6 – ‘Kiss me, I’m a Vegetarian…’ - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  The last couple of days have gone in a bit of a blur, so with no particular attention to chronology will just comment on some of the more memorable bits.  The plenary session has been going on concurrently with other committee meetings, various panels, bi-lateral meetings and the like, so speakers to the plenary have [...] read more
  April 2, 2010 1:44 pm - 1 Comment
• 

  Easter – a time for family or a time for shopping? - by frog

  
  
  
  The Department of Labour is currently reminding retailers of the laws around opening and closing times over this coming Easter weekend. The current law restricts shops from trading on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. That law – the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act 1990 – specifies three and a half days each year on [...] read more
  April 2, 2010 9:00 am - 8 Comments
• 

  Wingnuts: Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine! - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s Good Friday, and I think I now know whom Patti Smith was referring to all those years ago when she sang: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine”. Almost a quarter of American voters identifying as Republican believe President Obama may be the Anti-Christ. Happy Easter! read more
  April 2, 2010 1:00 am - 31 Comments
• 

  New Green MP for Parliament - by frog

  
  
  
  A report by the Electoral Commission to the Prime Minister about irregularities in seat distribution after the 2008 election has meant the Green Party will be gaining an extra parliamentary member as of today. The report entitled Irregularities with the Application of the Sainte-Laguë Formula Post Election 2008 says the ACT Party was over allocated [...] read more
  April 1, 2010 11:32 am - 17 Comments
• 

  Work-life balance added to Green Party portfolio list in time for Easter - by frog

  
  
  
  There are many important issues to fight for but sometimes it is essential to slow down and take stock, said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman today. As of today the Green Party will officially add work-life balance to their list of 47 portfolios. Like the Transport portfolio work-life balance will be shared among a [...] read more
  April 1, 2010 11:15 am - 1 Comment
• 

  Jandal Danger a potential Public Health Catastrophe - by frog

  
  
  
  Based on new scientific research, the Green Party is calling on Kiwis to go barefoot rather than wear jandals. “Unfortunately jandals are really bad for your feet, legs and back. The answer is to lose the shoes altogether,” Green Party co-leader and podiatry spokesperson Metiria Turei said today. “I’m a jandal lover like a lot [...] read more
  April 1, 2010 10:51 am - 2 Comments
• 

  Green Co-leader to become National Boss - by frog

  
  
  
  Green Co-leader Russel Norman announced today that he was taking over the leadership of the National Party and would assume the powers of the Prime Minister next week. Beehive watchers had been expecting some kind of shake up given the government’s appalling record on the environment. Dr Norman explained that as John Key “was basically [...] read more
  April 1, 2010 10:32 am - 8 Comments