Posts by Kennedy Graham

• 

  Shooting at One’s Feet (US Style) on Palestine - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  On Tuesday I welcomed the decision by the UNESCO General Assembly to recognise Palestine as an independent state. That decision reflects the majority international view that the Palestinian people deserve to be represented as a state at the international level. Murray McCully is yet to give a credible explanation for NZ’s abstention from the vote. [...] read more
  November 4, 2011 12:58 pm - 14 Comments
• 

  ‘Debating’ Foreign Policy: National and Green - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Yesterday, the NZ Institute of International Affairs held an important one-day seminar on ‘The Major Economic and Foreign Policy Issues facing New Zealand, 2012-17’. The programme is here. Some excellent presentations were made, especially by Rick Boven (NZ Institute) and Duncan Currie (oceans consultant). There were three political representatives. The Minister spoke at 8.45 am. [...] read more
  October 23, 2011 10:42 am - 3 Comments
• 

  Reforming the NZ Parliament - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  The 49th Parliament ended yesterday.  All 122 MPs have headed home.  Most are already preparing for the election. The three years have been a fascinating experience for me.  The most frequent question people have asked is, “are you enjoying it?”; to which I reply, “I am glad I am there”. I am glad I am [...] read more
  October 7, 2011 5:12 pm - 3 Comments
• 

  On Climate Change: Tuvalu and Panama - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Just as international talks on climate change are taking place in Panama this week to prepare for the annual Conference of Parties (COP17) in Durban at the end of this year, Tuvalu is experiencing a fresh water crisis. We can expect more climate-related crises and refugees as time goes by, even if we do get [...] read more
  October 4, 2011 4:18 pm - 41 Comments
• 

  How many jobs will oil and gas bring NZ? - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  On Tuesday the Government released the final version of its backwards-looking energy strategy. Of passing note is the removal of any overt reference to lignite coal.  Of course bioenergy could be code for it, or ‘alternative transport fuels’ (the Energy Outlook 2010 specifically cites lignite diesel as an alternative transport fuel with potential.) But basically [...] read more
  September 1, 2011 12:30 pm - 24 Comments
• 

  The Lignite Mirror Maze - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  If the Ministry of Economic development can join the Coal Association to lobby the Government, should the Environment Ministry not join the Wind Association to do the same? read more
  July 15, 2011 9:35 am - 7 Comments
• 

  From the Depths of Hell – a Vision of Heaven - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  In my last blog post, I reported on my 2nd public forum for the rebuild of Christchurch.  I held it in New Brighton, one Sunday, 12 June – prehistory. Post-June 13th, Christchurch has changed. The 5.7 and 6.3 shattered not just brick and stone but flesh and soul. And then Tuesday’s 5.3, along with its [...] read more
  June 22, 2011 11:01 am - 3 Comments
• 

  Visions for Christchurch - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  On Sunday, I convened the 2nd of my series of Vision Christchurch public forums.  Their aim is to engage the public in the challenge of rebuilding greater Christchurch.  This one was held in New Brighton and concentrated on Christchurch East.  What a difference a day makes. Within 20 hours of finishing our meeting in which [...] read more
  June 16, 2011 10:07 am - 16 Comments
• 

  Another hard day in shake city - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  As you will know by now we were hit once again in Christchurch with two more earthquakes. We were fortunate that no one was killed – for that we can be thankful. On behalf of the Green Party, our thoughts go out to the people hurt yesterday and those whose houses, businesses and lives suffered [...] read more
  June 14, 2011 10:46 am - 3 Comments
• 

  The Biosphere and Politics: Coming to a town near you - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Yesterday some of the leading authorities in Australasia presented at the IPS conference on Biophysical Limits and their Policy Implications in Wellington. Some 300 people turned up. Two were members of Parliament. Both were from the Green Party. read more
  June 10, 2011 3:40 pm - 4 Comments
• 

  And justice for all? - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  The Governments changes to the legal aid system have fired up a number of those who work in the legal system. These changes have resulted in people who face lower grade charges being unable to choose whom they wish to be represented by. read more
  May 30, 2011 5:55 pm - 7 Comments
• 

  Parting gift from Treasury head a game changer - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  The outgoing head of Treasury, John Whitehead, has left New Zealand with one of the best parting gifts ever — the groundwork for an alternative set of measures to define ‘progress’. This is one of the best news stories in my living memory. Why? Simply put, the way we define and measure progress goes to [...] read more
  May 26, 2011 1:24 pm - 8 Comments
• 

  Congratulations Canadian Green Party - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  It is great to see that Elizabeth May has won the Canadian Green Party’s first seat in the Canadian Parliament. The NZ Greens offer her our heartfelt congratulations on such an extraordinary accomplishment.  We wish her the best in holding the Conservative Party to account. I lived in Canada (Ottawa) for three years a while [...] read more
  May 4, 2011 1:19 pm - 5 Comments
• 

  Visions of Christchurch: My Public Forum Series - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  For the first few weeks, it was shovelling.  Then it was door-knocking.  Then it was fund-raising to buy food and deliver it to welfare centres, attending memorial services, participating in MP briefings, and travelling into the suburbs and Lyttelton for meetings with Green members and others. Now it is time to refocus and plan for [...] read more
  April 29, 2011 3:57 pm - 3 Comments
• 

  Peering into the Abyss: The Red Zone of Christchurch - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  Yet nothing prepares you for the inner city. It is not the destruction, for not all buildings are (yet) down. It is the scene, the ambience, of pure desolation. read more
  April 8, 2011 2:59 pm - 3 Comments
• 

  Courts and Criminal Matters - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  The aim of the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill is to enhance the courts’ powers and processes for the collection of fines and other monetary penalties, and civil debt. There is more and more evidence that we are an increasingly unequal society and that inequality negatively affects everyone. We support a fair and robust system [...] read more
  April 7, 2011 10:06 am - 2 Comments
• 

  Greeting the Christchurch Office, Nervously - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  It is one of life’s ironies to pillage your own office. But that is what the gods of wrath have done to us. I trust we do not do time for our discretionary executive action yesterday. read more
  March 18, 2011 3:20 pm - 2 Comments
• 

  Loaves and Fishes, in Christchurch - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  There is something deeply bonding about supplying food to people in need. Words are few; yet communication is intimate. The experience penetrates the human psyche. read more
  March 17, 2011 11:28 am - 3 Comments
• 

  At Last, the Tears - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  First it was the shock. Then it was the shovelling, then the door-knocking, then the food delivery and ‘informal’ counselling.  We have tried, in our myriad ways, to help.  Adrenalin relentlessly drove us through the early climactic days.  The sheer intensity of physical effort successfully kept the emotions at bay. That can never last, nor [...] read more
  March 15, 2011 9:32 am - 1 Comment
• 

  Heroes (Heroines) I Have (Recently) Known - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  A hero(ine) is defined as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for one’s brave deeds and noble qualities.  I know, now, who they are and why. Let me count the ways. We have become, in Christchurch, a tale of two cities. Out west, we are relatively unaffected and seek to help.  In the [...] read more
  March 6, 2011 10:58 am - 2 Comments