Archive for July, 2010

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  Environmental conference season highlights clash of values - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  Just grabbing a few days’ rest after a full-on three weeks in Parliament, including yet another week of pointless urgency. The weekends have kept me busy too, but much more constructively. I’m not only talking about the great Invercargill march against the Government’s mining plans, but also a whole series of important environmental conferences. The [...] read more
  July 7, 2010 1:33 pm - 7 Comments
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  Urgent: Tell the Govt that air quality matters! - by frog

  
  
  
  If you are concerned about the fact that 49% of New Zealanders live in areas where the quality of the air is dangerous because of avoidable particulates – submit by Friday this week on Nick Smith’s proposed changes to air quality standards! The Government is proposing to lower and delay air quality standards, which will [...] read more
  July 6, 2010 1:53 pm - 23 Comments
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  Photo – snowdrop - by frog

  
  
  
  Won’t be long ’til these little beauties show their faces. read more
  July 6, 2010 12:54 pm - 7 Comments
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  Gerry’s biofuel subsidy blunders - by frog

  
  
  
  I was aghast when Minister Brownlee stormed into office in 2008, declaring that a cost free, modest biofuel sales obligation was poor economics and bad for the market, and that it must be repealed and replaced with a subsidy. read more
  July 6, 2010 11:52 am - 12 Comments
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  It’s good to know we’re safe from alien invasions - by frog

  
  
  
  Dang, I have to admit I missed the obvious disclaimers and was believing this Truthdig article until nearly the end!  LONDON—Reversing his recent position on the dangers of an extraterrestrial invasion, eminent theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking said today that the planet is in no such peril anymore because aliens are “no longer interested” in invading [...] read more
  July 6, 2010 6:30 am - 11 Comments
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  Obama’s support for solar power challenges New Zealand - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  The US$2 billion fiscal stimulus package to kick-start the solar energy industry announced by US President Obama yesterday is good news for the world, and a direct challenge for New Zealand. read more
  July 5, 2010 3:37 pm - 34 Comments
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  JB Hi Fi picket - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  Arguments employers used during the recession to stop wages rises don’t hold much water now. So it is not surprising there is now a small wave of industrial action for improved wages and conditions. In the state sector, the ACC and Housing New Zealand workers escalating their efforts to force their empoyers into serious negotiations. [...] read more
  July 5, 2010 2:31 pm - 11 Comments
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  General debate, July 5, 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
  A hat trick from Treehugger today. Some countries aren’t afraid to label products.  This time it’s light bulbs in the US. Their take on the new Aussie PM and climate change. And a personal peddle-powered submarine? Too cool! read more
  July 5, 2010 6:30 am - 54 Comments
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  Key’s support for Howard’s ICC Presidency bid ignores history - by frog

  
  
  
  John Key has gone in to bat for former Australian Prime Minister John Howard’s nomination as International Cricket Council (ICC) Vice-President. But Howard’s record in Australian domestic and foreign policy is one of pandering to, rather than combating, racism – an issue which is bound to be very sensitive in most of the ICC Test-playing nations which have themselves experienced racist colonial rule in the not so distant past. read more
  July 4, 2010 11:52 am - 6 Comments
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  BP Oil Spill – Clarke & Dawe lighter look at BP - by frog

  
  
  
  Sometimes it takes a bit of humour to point out the fallacies in our thinking. Do you think self regulation, which is the policy that Crown Minerals and Gerry Brownlee espouse, is the best way to manage our petroleum resources? Do you think that a few more regs about how many battons need to be [...] read more
  July 4, 2010 7:37 am - 3 Comments
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  Victory for Parliamentary democracy–Greens can be proud - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  This week has seen parliamentary democracy in New Zealand at its best. Most of the time, the House reverberates with two forms of adversarial action: Question Time when the trick is (usually) to score a ministerial goal – and for the ministerial goalie to defend; Debates over legislation in which supporting parties rationalise a draft [...] read more
  July 3, 2010 3:12 pm - 4 Comments
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  Toxic baby bottle battle - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Bisphenol A(BPA) is a chemical added to plastics to make them stronger. It is used in baby bottles, feeding cups, packaging for baby food and the packaging of other foods. Emerging research indicates that the leaching from plastic containing BPA can have serious negative health effects. read more
  July 3, 2010 12:24 pm - 2 Comments
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  Feminist Rapper Episode 2: Real Ladies Fight Back - by frog

  
  
  
  I posted episode 1 a couple of weekends ago. After watching the pay equity debacle in the house this week, I was reminded that real ladies fight back! It’s time for a little pay equity action, don’t you think? read more
  July 3, 2010 7:27 am - 1 Comment
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  An MMP moment in the House - by frog

  
  
  
  In a moment straight out of Hollywood and a demonstration of an MMP Parliament working as it should, the Minister walks into the Chamber with a handwritten amendment to the Bill… Minister Simon Power was persuaded by the debate in the House to amend the legislation under discussion. The right of the accused person to [...] read more
  July 2, 2010 4:32 pm - 4 Comments
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  ToTolleytarianism - by frog

  
  
  
  Anne Tolley turned up, gave a 15 minute lecture to the assembled school principals, and left. Perhaps if she had stayed to listen to the concerns of the principals, instead of making not so subtle threats to remove their right to speak out on the very issues on which they have professional expertise, some progress may have been made. read more
  July 2, 2010 1:59 pm - 21 Comments
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  UKUSA spying agreement continues to baffle - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  I’ve long been trying to find out what New Zealand has signed up to under the UKUSA electronic spying agreement. It has been a somewhat Kafkaesque exercise because the government wouldn’t directly admit the existence of the agreement, or whether New Zealand had signed up. read more
  July 2, 2010 11:34 am - 25 Comments
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  Celebrating the Green’s insulation success - by frog

  
  
  
  Yesterday marked the first anniversary of the Heat Smart insulation programme. The Greens have campaigned for years on the economic, social and environmental benefits of such a programme, and recognise it as a key plank in any Green New Deal as it is addressing both the climate crisis and the economic crisis at the same time. read more
  July 2, 2010 9:46 am - 16 Comments
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  The Government’s record on pay equity - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  It is one year since the Government axed the Pay and Employment Equity Investigation Unit from the Dept of Labour. So what you might ask? Surely in the 21st century men and women have equal pay for equal work and pay equity for work of equivalent value? Actually no we don’t. read more
  July 1, 2010 4:03 pm - 17 Comments
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  The Minister of Education and the disappearing National Standards research - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  I’m a great fan of the Parliamentary Library. I think it’s fair to say that without the wonderful research they do, my job as an MP would be nigh on impossible. So I was surprised to read in yesterday morning’s NZ Herald that Education Minister Anne Tolley was dissing the Parliamentary Library for a research paper it had prepared on her National Standards for primary and intermediate schools. read more
  July 1, 2010 9:29 am - 49 Comments