crisis Archive

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  Key correct to doubt quick recovery - by frog

  
  
  
  John Key has poured cold water on the APEC meeting’s joint statement, which expressed confidence that “we can overcome this crisis in a period of 18 months.” He was correct to do so, although he probably doesn’t arrive at that conclusion by the same path I do. The fundamentals of the global economy are not [...] read more
  November 25, 2008 12:17 pm - 27 Comments
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  The fat lady still sings - by frog

  
  
  
  There is an American saying that it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. While it is a southern phrase that refers to opera or to church, it has been popularised by sports commentators referring to the last minutes of a game. I was watching Michael Cullen on Agenda this morning, discussing the bailout and the financial crisis. [...] read more
  October 19, 2008 11:48 am - 22 Comments
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  Partners in Stupidity - by frog

  
  
  
  Many free market apologists, as well as commentators on this blog, are determined to blame the current financial crisis on governments forcing banks to loan money to bad clients, (only partially true), not enough land on which to build, (true in only a few areas, but not in any way the cause), and finally, bludgers [...] read more
  October 1, 2008 10:58 am - 7 Comments
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  Peak oil, subprime loans and poor oversight - by frog

  
  
  
  At the slimmest edge of his reasoning, I find myself agreeing with that great Kiwi free market apologist, Roger Kerr. Poor oversight has pumped billions of dollars into useless paper assets, primarily property. However, It is entirely disingenuous to blame the government for that. An oil price spike, one of the early symptoms of the [...] read more
  September 30, 2008 3:44 pm - 10 Comments
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  Under National, the Lights Would Already Be Out - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s a sorry statement, but true. The National Party’s schizophrenic behaviour concerning the power market is a sad indictment of their opportunism. First was their opposition to the Electricity Commission, which was put together as a plaster to fix the failures of the pseudo-market created by the National government in 1992. The Max Bradford “reforms” [...] read more
  June 16, 2008 11:14 am - 77 Comments
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  NGOs Cry Foul at FAO Food Conference - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  I’ve just come from the NGO’s presentation of their fiery declaration, which is in stark contrast to the bland ‘declaration’ of the high level conference which is bogged down in negotiations and still hasn’t been agreed to. The Minister Jim Anderton was pleased with New Zealand’s participation in the conference and felt we ‘waved the [...] read more
  June 9, 2008 10:55 am - 12 Comments
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  Food conference highjacked by free trade corporates - by Sue Kedgley

  
  
  
  [Frog: This is the first of three posts sent to me from Sue Kedgley, who is attending the World Food Conference in Rome] As usual in these international conferences, clarity and truth came from civil society and the NGO’s than from the set piece speeches of most world leaders. NGO’s were treated appallingly at the [...] read more
  June 7, 2008 3:53 pm - 27 Comments
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  To save, or not to save, that is the question - by frog

  
  
  
  To save, or not to save, that is the question; Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Dampness And to take arms against the low lake levels, And by going without, end them. A war of words has erupted between the Major Energy Users Group, or MEUG, and [...] read more
  April 26, 2008 2:46 pm - 52 Comments
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  Water – the under-reported resource crisis - by frog

  
  
  
  Such is the very interesting article by Fred Pearce at the Guardian. (as yet not online) After stating that biofuels are only just beginning to contribute to the food crisis, he describes how water, which underpins all agriculture, is the truly scarce supply. Here are a few excerpts: The great slow-burning, under-reported resource crisis of [...] read more
  April 24, 2008 9:52 am - 8 Comments