politics Archive

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  An open letter to Phil Goff, on reading Friday’s Herald - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Dear Phil, I am deeply disappointed you are letting Nick Smith’s electioneering define the Labour party, and apologising for that definition. It is hard to see how Labour will ever have an independent identity if it leaps to deny sensible policy whenever National attacks it. Even using their term, “nanny state” fails politics 101 – never repeat your opponent’s terms of abuse. read more
  September 12, 2009 5:17 pm - 180 Comments
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  ETS: No majority = FAIL - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  The really interesting question now is, where is National going to get a majority for its amendments to the ETS in the House? Peter Dunne on his own hasn’t got the votes. They need one more party. The Maori Party’s minority report makes it clear they do not support an ETS at all, and if there is going to be one they do not support intensity based allocation. They have a simple principle: the polluter should pay. So National can... read more
  August 31, 2009 10:58 pm - 45 Comments
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  ETS: Four minority reports = FAIL - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  The long awaited report of the special select committee to review the ETS – yes, that one with the terms of reference that didn’t even mention reviewing the ETS – you know, the one forced on the government by a coalition partner who then mostly didn’t even turn up to occupy their place on it – yes, THAT one – has finally reported. read more
  August 31, 2009 10:50 pm - 42 Comments
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  Green shoots or growing rot? - by frog

  
  
  
  Everyone agrees that we’re in a crisis. Officials and politicians point everywhere and say – Hey look! Green shoots! The worst is over. Others urge us to ignore the green shoots, the worst is yet to come. read more
  August 31, 2009 9:55 am - 22 Comments
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  Nick Smith: incompetent, negligent, or something else? - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s a very serious question which I don’t take lightly, but I am beginning to wonder why the media aren’t asking this question when it comes to the Minister’s handling of the Climate Change portfolio. Probably the most vexing issue is the Minister’s cynical use of a flawed NZIER/Infometrics report, which he commissioned, in order [...] read more
  August 24, 2009 6:46 am - 40 Comments
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  Verde que te quiero verde. Should Marina stand for President? - by frog

  
  
  
  The pressure is coming on in Brazil for the former environment minister, Marina Silva, to stand as the Green Party candidate for President of Brazil. It’s a wonderful debate, with some coming out with unconditional support and others more guarded, worrying about her Christian beliefs.  All signs point towards a political shift in Brazil if [...] read more
  August 21, 2009 9:48 am - 1 Comment
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  Town and Country at Loggerheads - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  There was a stark contrast between the Napier consultation meeting on our climate change target, and those in the major cities. We’re now reaping the consequences of several years of misinformation being fed to the farming community about climate science and it is driving the deepest town-country divide I have seen in my lifetime. Auckland [...] read more
  July 20, 2009 9:04 am - 127 Comments
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  Fitch is sending New Zealand a message - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  It is hardly surprising Fitch has signalled a credit watch on account of our current account deficit. The Greens have been pointing out the seriousness of our overseas deficit for many years. There is not much compassion in international circles for people who have been living beyond their means for many years and expecting others [...] read more
  July 17, 2009 5:57 pm - 72 Comments
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  Scotland agrees world’s toughest 2020 climate goal - by frog

  
  
  
  Reuters reports that Scotland has pushed Germany into second place with the world’s most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target: Scottish lawmakers Wednesday backed a binding goal to cut greenhouse gases by 42 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, edging Germany into second place in a ranking of the most ambitious developed world targets. “At least [...] read more
  June 29, 2009 6:07 pm - 17 Comments
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  Gratitude for a climate change denier - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Thank goodness for climate change denier Senator Fielding of Australia. Didn’t think you’d ever hear me say that, did you? Senator Fielding is the one vote Rudd didn’t have yesterday to pass their “Carbon Reduction Plan” – or Emissions Trading Scheme in our language. And that is a good thing, because the proposal was so [...] read more
  June 24, 2009 1:19 pm - 29 Comments
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  Climate science – another missing link is found - by frog

  
  
  
  It is the primary cry of the deniers and the false sceptics – “There is no definitive link between atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperature.” (I leave the genuine, scientific sceptics out – those who play a constructive role in challenging the science.) Last Friday, the new edition of Nature contained an article on just [...] read more
  June 20, 2009 2:19 pm - 117 Comments
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  From little things, big things grow… - by frog

  
  
  
  There was a recurring riff behind National’s opposition to two very different Bills on Members’ Day Wednesday. One commonality was that both Bills were voted down by National, Act and United Future, and supported by Greens, Labour, Progressives and Maori Parties. But the riff I want to highlight is the idea that the problem is [...] read more
  June 19, 2009 11:33 am - 7 Comments
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  When are subsidies sustainable? - by frog

  
  
  
  That is not a trick question, nor an economics one. The National-led government has decided that a biofuel subsidy is preferable to a sales obligation, no doubt on ideological grounds rather than economic grounds. We now have the Biodiesel Subsidy Scheme, which pays biodiesel producers in New Zealand up to 42.5 cents per litre to [...] read more
  June 16, 2009 2:10 pm - 15 Comments
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  Enviroschools and the Budget – Sabotaging Success - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  Two weeks I went to a hui of environmental educators working with the Enviroschools programme throughout the country. They were so vibrant and so excited about their ever expanding programmes throughout kura kaupapa and many other schools throughout Aotaeraoa. They were also focused on their “regeneration” project which involves students who have left school but [...] read more
  June 4, 2009 2:36 pm - 55 Comments
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  Weaving and Moroccan Cooking Are Not Useful? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Minister of Education has seen fit to cut money in the Budget for adult and community education funding except for courses related to literacy and numeracy. Programmes offered through secondary schools are set to disappear after an 80% cut. She picked out weaving, salsa dancing and Moroccan courses provided by community education programmes as [...] read more
  June 3, 2009 3:06 pm - 57 Comments
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  Insulating the Budget - by frog

  
  
  
  Well, it’s happened again. Budget stuff has leaked from Wellington, stealing the thunder of Greens and Tories alike ahead of tomorrow’s announcement. No one is immune, and all sorts of theories can develop about who may gain an advantage by leaking such stuff. First of all, after a thorough hop around the corridors of power, [...] read more
  May 27, 2009 5:43 pm - 23 Comments
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  The JAFA Roll - by frog

  
  
  
  This little gem was sent to Russel by Joe Bell of Golden Bay, and is used with his permission. I think the idea has merit and is worthy of some debate here. The intention of a Presidential-style mayor and elite council for Auckland is scary. Imagine instead an alternative model of inclusive ‘bottom up’ governance [...] read more
  May 26, 2009 10:21 am - 4 Comments
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  Knights in Shining Armour will champion our rights - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Ministry of Women’s Affairs seems to be under orders to engage more effectively with men. This was revealed after the Greens submitted a written question to the Minister, Pansy Wong, asking who was invited to the pre Job Summit meeting organised by the Ministry. The answer was basically “we won’t tell you” but a [...] read more
  May 12, 2009 3:02 pm - 24 Comments
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  Farming and the ETS – the latest from the select committee - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Yesterday we heard all the farming related submissions. Federated Farmers continued to be the most extreme – agriculture should be entirely left out of the ETS because food production is important. But in NZ methane and nitrous oxide from farming are the large half (51%) of our emissions. Leaving them out means taxpayers fork out a hefty subsidy to farming, or other energy users pay twice as much as they otherwise would. read more
  May 6, 2009 7:30 am - 112 Comments
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  Scientific Megalomania? - by Catherine Delahunty

  
  
  
  The Education and Science Select Committee carries out financial reviews of Crown Research institutes which is a fascinating process, not so much the glossy balance sheets but reading between the lines. We also get to speak with the heads of these bodies and ask questions about the work. Yesterday we meet with Geological and Nuclear [...] read more
  May 1, 2009 9:40 am - 21 Comments