Jeanette Fitzsimons Archive

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  Lignite and IT problems - by frog

  
  
  
  The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has completed a report entitled Lignite and climate change: The high cost of low grade coal. “The plans to increase lignite use are extremely concerning as they would produce huge quantities of carbon dioxide which contributes to climate change – the biggest environmental threat we have ever faced.” The [...] read more
  December 9, 2010 3:48 pm - 2 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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  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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  Jeanette says we must keep the coal in the ground - by frog

  
  
  
  The Herald ran a very compelling op-ed by Jeanette Fitzsimons yesterday, suggesting that from a climate perspective our priority must be to keep most of the remaining fossil fuel in the ground. For 35 years I have been wrong about how to prevent climate change. It’s time I confessed. For 35 years I have worked [...] read more
  November 3, 2010 6:57 pm - 51 Comments
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  Former Green Co-leader appointed to UN top job - by frog

  
  
  
  Former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has put weeks of speculation to rest and confirmed she has been appointed to the role of Secretary General of the United Nations. Ms Fitzsimons, who retired from Parliament in February, was initially looking forward to spending more time at home on her Coromandel farm. ‘But Harry had everything [...] read more
  April 1, 2010 10:00 am - 13 Comments
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  Greens promote good farm stories this Farm Day - by Kevin Hague

  
  
  
  Don’t forget to visit our Good Farm Stories website for Farm Day this Sunday. There are great things going on in rural New Zealand with some farmers proving that we can have both a healthy farming sector and a healthy environment. One of the last things Jeanette Fitzsimons did before leaving Parliament was to put [...] read more
  March 26, 2010 3:32 pm - 16 Comments
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  Here’s how you can watch Jeanette’s valedictory speech live - by frog

  
  
  
  For those who can’t make it to Parliament House, Jeanette Fitzsimons’ last speech is viewable on line in several ways. Look here to choose your preference. Tune in from 5:30 pm today to ensure you don’t miss a word. Yes, the sad day has come, but we’ll see her off in good style! read more
  February 10, 2010 3:17 pm - 24 Comments
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  Send a tribute to Jeanette - by frog

  
  
  
  I never thought I’d be writing this post. Nevertheless, as I write, Jeanette is in Wellington announcing that she is stepping down as an MP. This post is a place for frogblog readers to send a personal message to Jeanette or recall a favourite memory. If you would like to debate the consequences or your [...] read more
  January 28, 2010 10:01 am - 51 Comments
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  Jeanette steps down from Parliament - by frog

  
  
  
  The headline kind of says everything, doesn’t it? It’s heartbreaking news to me, even if Jeanette has signalled since stepping down as co-leader that she would go before the next election. This is the post where we can discuss what it all means. Judging from past events, we will once again have to field all [...] read more
  January 28, 2010 10:00 am - 13 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary: It is a disgrace - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Tonight’s outcome in Copenhagen is a tragedy for humanity. It is  widely recognised as a failure papered over with some fine sounding words by Obama. The purpose of the meeting was to agree on a second commitment period for the Kyoto  protocol. That has not been achieved. We came here wanting an ambitious, fair and [...] read more
  December 19, 2009 1:03 pm - 76 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #6: Catching the climate train - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  A crowd of people set out to catch a train. The train had already left some time ago but was moving quite slowly, though steadily. It was still possible to catch the train if everyone ran. It was vital that they caught the train as disaster was chasing them. Also, no-one could get on the [...] read more
  December 19, 2009 8:24 am - 9 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #5 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  In the midst of the gloom about the chances of a deal, it is worth recording one small victory for the planet. There has been a huge amount of work by the NGOs to protect biodiversity and indigenous rights and they have been restored in the text. read more
  December 19, 2009 3:21 am - 1 Comment
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  A video message from Green MPs in Copenhagen - by frog

  
  
  
  As the COP15 climate summit draws to a close, Jeanette Fitzsimons and Kennedy Graham offer their views on what is, and isn’t, happening at this most important of international meetings. Jeanette discusses the lack of emissions reduction targets thusfar offered by rich nations, and the $100 billion pledge from the US that will begin in 2020 to [...] read more
  December 18, 2009 11:14 pm - 1 Comment
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  Copenhagen Diary #4 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Different cultures have very different views on the relationship between population and climate change. In some circles population is the great unmentionable. It is still associated with the coercive policies some early family planners tried to impose. In others it is the perfect excuse for why we should not have to do anything about our [...] read more
  December 17, 2009 12:52 am - 8 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #3 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Copenhagen has a public transport system to die for. With a population similar to greater Auckland, although covering much less space, it has a new (2002) metro that is very fast and I’ve never had to wait more than 4 minutes even though I’m near the end of the line. read more
  December 16, 2009 3:27 am - 5 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #2 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Forests are key to this negotiation – both how forest sinks, land use and land use change (LULUCF) are treated in the agreement for the next period, and the mechanisms for protecting 0ld growth forests in developing countries from logging. Estimates are that 15-20% of global emissions are n0w from deforestation. Along with the carbon, [...] read more
  December 14, 2009 5:52 am - 39 Comments
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  Copenhagen Diary #1 - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Just arrived after 32 hours travel via Hong Kong. Flying across Asia gives you  different perspective on the earth. From the East Asia coast to England not a tinge of green. The desert in West and north China went on for ever – mountains and hills and plains, but all sand coloured. I wonder how [...] read more
  December 12, 2009 10:04 pm - 34 Comments
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  Think our native forests were safe? Think again. - by frog

  
  
  
  “Agricultural intensification over the past 10 years has led to the highest rate of native vegetation loss since European colonisation.” Landcare Research Annual Report read more
  November 2, 2009 11:29 am - 18 Comments
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  Green Oral Question for today - by frog

  
  
  
  In Parliament today, the Green Party’s Questions for Oral Answer (number 3) is from Russel Norman to the Minister of Finance, Bill English: Does he stand by his statement that “water assets will not be privatised as a result of the restructuring” of local government; and if so, how does he reconcile it with Cabinet’s [...] read more
  October 29, 2009 11:42 am - 30 Comments
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  Love Wild Rivers? Give them your support - by frog

  
  
  
  Cool. Today a new campaign has been launched for one of New Zealand’s most iconic features – our Wild Rivers. It’s great to see diverse groups – tree-huggers, deer-stalkers, bird-watchers, knobbly-kneed trampers, sharp-edged climbers, risky rafters, kool-kat kayakers, and angelic anglers – representing “over 100,000 New Zealanders” and united in seeking to protect wild rivers [...] read more
  October 28, 2009 12:37 pm - 3 Comments