Archive for November, 2010

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  Could it finally be bedtime for Bonzo Brash? - by frog

  
  
  
  I am thoroughly sick of hearing failed National Party Leader Don Brash’s world view.  It is lamentably and consistently the “3 R’s”: Ronald (Reagan), Roger (Douglas) and Racism. Brash covered all fields in his latest Return to Orewa effort, setting out the same divisive economic and racial agenda that back in 2005 lost him the [...] read more
  November 30, 2010 6:44 pm - 18 Comments
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  Movember wrap up - by frog

  
  
  
  And here we have Kevin Hague’s Movember moustache on the final day of Movember. It was a bit odd watching Kevin in the house. It was almost like he’d been replaced with his evil twin. Sadly, Kevin is being beaten by Tau Henare in terms of money raised. But we’ll claim the moral victory due [...] read more
  November 30, 2010 12:31 pm - 5 Comments
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  Support for CBD Rail link strong and growing - by frog

  
  
  
  There’s a poll on the Herald site asking if you think the Government should contribute to the CBD Rail tunnel. At nearly 15,000 votes, the vast majority (77%) say yes. Given that the Herald readership and online poll results tend towards conservative and business-oriented, there’s no reason to think that the popular support for this [...] read more
  November 30, 2010 9:56 am - 12 Comments
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  Conservation concerns not to blame for tragedy - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  We have been supporting the Government’s decision to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate both the immediate causes of the Pike River disaster and wider systemic issues that may also have been contributors, and are particularly pleased that the terms of reference have been cast sufficiently broadly. The other suggestions we have made [...] read more
  November 29, 2010 5:21 pm - 49 Comments
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  Is Waihopai helping the US spy on the UN? - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
  The latest Wikileaks documents on US spying on the UN are going to make it harder for our government to justify the Waihopai spy station. Waihopai’s main task is to intercept global communications for the US National Security Agency (NSA). The Wikileaks documents inform us that the US has been blatantly violating international conventions with [...] read more
  November 29, 2010 11:16 am - 38 Comments
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  Sustainable Business Awards 2010 - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  I recently attended the Sustainable Business Network national awards for 2010.  It was a great night, lots of very positive stories came out, and our very own Jeanette Fitzsimons was recognised with an achievement award.  Here’s a brief video that highlights and catches some of the buzz of the evening. Enjoy! read more
  November 29, 2010 10:32 am - No Comments
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  Joyce thinks importing cars, trucks & fuel is good for our trade balance - by frog

  
  
  
  In today’s Sunday Star Times, Joyce has an unsurprising reply to Rod Oram’s excellent piece last week (which critiqued the NZTA’s dodgy business cases for the Roads of National Party Significance).  It’s a bit ironic because Joyce starts off making the case that we are in debt and we need to get out of debt. [...] read more
  November 29, 2010 12:02 am - 24 Comments
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  General debate, November 27, 2010 - by frog

  
  
  
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  November 27, 2010 7:45 am - 49 Comments
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  43 Genetically modified foods in our food supply - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  I have just come across the latest Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) report. The report casually mentions that six new Genetically Engineered foods were approved last year. read more
  November 26, 2010 3:59 pm - 8 Comments
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  Welfare reports worlds apart - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  In the past two days, two significant reports have come out about welfare. I’d like to say that together they provide a comprehensive picture of the welfare debate and the options for reform, but sadly that’s not the case. read more
  November 26, 2010 3:44 pm - 252 Comments
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  Auckland CBD rail loop business case stacks up - by frog

  
  
  
  The long awaited Business Case for the CBD Rail Link was finally released on Wednesday this week, and it makes a compelling case for central government investment in the project. Just through traditional analysis of transport benefits, which usually underestimate the long term benefits of public transport projects, the economic case does stack up. But [...] read more
  November 26, 2010 3:10 pm - 27 Comments
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  White Ribbon Race goes Green - by frog

  
  
  
  Yesterday was White Ribbon Day. The White Ribbon Race is New Zealand men’s chance to help make a difference in the battle against violence toward women. We thought we’d enter a team to support such an awesome cause. Running can be a challenge at the best of times but running with nine other Greens connected [...] read more
  November 26, 2010 2:27 pm - 1 Comment
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  Kevin Hague speaks to the Government motion relating to Pike River - by frog

  
  
  
  Kevin Hague speaks to the Government motion relating to the Pike River coal mine tragedy. This will be our only post today out of respect for the Coast. Kia kaha, our thoughts are with you. read more
  November 25, 2010 3:56 pm - 2 Comments
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  Food: UK Govt gets multi-nationals to write policy - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  It’s hard to believe, but this is true. Food corporations no longer have to spend millions lobbying for favourable government policy in the United Kingdom. Instead, they have been invited by the new Conservative government to actually write the policy! read more
  November 24, 2010 4:52 pm - 34 Comments
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  High-speed buses need roads too - by frog

  
  
  
  When Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman questioned the Minister of Finance on how his Government’s heavy investment in roads prepared us well for future oil price rises, Bill English had this to say: “The lesson from past surges in oil prices is that although people may change to more efficient cars or different types [...] read more
  November 24, 2010 12:26 pm - 4 Comments
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  Iraqi Christians rally against violence - by Keith Locke

  
  
  
   One of the legacies of the US-led invasion of Iraq has been sectarian violence it unleashed, not only between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, but also against the Christian minority.  Yesterday I spoke to a gathering of 100 Iraqi Christians who met on the lawn in front of Parliament to mourn those who have been killed. [...] read more
  November 24, 2010 9:30 am - 11 Comments
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  The Book of Lod - by frog

  
  
  
  In which a simple typo becomes a movement.  It all started here: Mark Posted November 21, 2010 at 6:02 PM Mendocracy – rule by lies – I like it a lod In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face [...] read more
  November 24, 2010 6:42 am - 55 Comments
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  Tim Groser is far fetched on TPP - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  At his post cabinet press conference about 8 days ago Key was asked about investor state dispute mechanisms. Investor state dispute mechanisms are the clauses in trade deals that allow overseas investors to sue governments at World Bank tribunals if governments do things that cost overseas investors money. For example the Canadians passed a law [...] read more
  November 23, 2010 9:34 pm - 125 Comments
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  Democracy in NZ: Lost, Stolen or just Mislaid? - by frog

  
  
  
  Last weekend Jeanette Fitzsimons delivered the inaugural Rod Donald Memorial lecture to a packed audience in Christchurch. Here are some highlights of the speech and you can read the whole thing here. Running through the history of democracy has been the issue of just who is a member of society? In ancient Athens women and [...] read more
  November 23, 2010 12:22 pm - 21 Comments
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  Australian Greens stand up for human rights - by frog

  
  
  
  Australia does not have nationwide legislation providing for civil unions.  Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory do, and civil unions under State or Territory law are recognised by the Federal Government, but elsewhere there is no legal recognition of same sex relationships. A recent Roy Morgan poll found that in the marginal Labor-held electorates [...] read more
  November 23, 2010 10:48 am - 4 Comments