In case you missed the PCE’s report
Let’s face it, with all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about Winston, you could have blinked and missed it. Nevertheless, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report Electricity, Energy and the Environment is a valuable document, not least because it urges that New Zealand should get rid of gas and coal-fired power plants as soon as possible. Some reports, like this one and TV3’s coverage last night, have focussed on random side issues like the possibility of wind turbines on every roof, but the discussion on Jim Mora’s show this afternoon on National Radio was fairly useful
Jeanette asked Energy Minister David Parker a series of questions about the report in the House this afternoon, which I’ll post tomorrow.
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July 27th, 2006 at 10:28 am
Yep, its great to have a catalogue of gizmos to produce micro energy. Its better to hear the PCE stressing that efficiency is the first, easiest, and cheapest step.
Our real problem is that nobody has come up with a way of marketing efficiency as cool/sexy/smart/healthy/”life enhancing”. Positive, empowering messages are much needed. Failing that, make us laugh at someone elses expense. Like the latest Greenpeace anti SUV ad.
Social stigma is a powerful thing. In a negative way. There needs to be some real effort put into marketing efficiency so that it appeals to “mainstream” (oooh, I hate that word) Kiwis. Preferably in a positive, empowering light.
July 28th, 2006 at 11:17 am
yep, how to sell the message “*consume less*” to a generation raised on mind-numbing advertising that brainwashes people into overconsumption, and unneccessary “retail therapy” aimed at choking the credit card, thus maximising the finance companies’ profits…
Really, the ethical target for this information has to be the ad agencies and the finance companies, as so much overspending is generated by their efforts.
Perhaps a private member’s bill aimed at restricting the gouging practice of credit?
Along with funding to help the community agencies who already mop up those who’ve slipped off the credit ladder into functional bankruptcy, and need industrial strength budgeting advice.
Institutional financial abuse is rife in this country, as practically anyone can call themselves a financial advisor, and gain income from recommending clients to buy products of various firms (yes, any unemployed BCom grad can apply for a licence, go have a look… it take seriously irregular behaviour before someone can be thrown off the register; bad advice just doesn’t get a look in)
July 28th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
The report makes interesting reading.
One of the themes is that generation doesnt have to be done in massive chunks, and rightly notes that for myriad reasons nothing to do with generaton its really hard to do generation in smaller chunks. Most particularly, theres no big company with big funding who will take up the challenge.