Official climate change fraud
Scientists and experts have been knowingly understating the unfolding climate change catastrophe to governments and decision makers. Why? For the sake of what is “politically palatable”.
Environment
Conservation
Scottish Parliament votes to ban fracking.
Imagine a country where the political divide is over whether to ban fracking outright or to be opposed to fracking but have a moratorium first in order to gather more evidence.
Fine for fox to guard henhouse – says fox
The Nats are happy for the fishing industry to effectively self-monitor, despite the fact that this has already been shown to be massively ineffective. In other news: John Key questioned on National’s closeness to fishing industry.
Who needs water anyway
Or waterways are starting to stink as much as our murky tax havens.
Pure spin vs. pure water
Yesterday a “host” of students marched to the Beehive with a petition of calling for all freshwater in New Zealand to be swimmable.
Norman on the economy
Russel Norman was right in 2014 when he said that the Nats were daft to gamble on oil and bulk milk production, and he’s right again now to draw attention to the failures. We need a green economy!
Common ground at Abel Tasman National Park
The desire of many New Zealanders to put a beach in the South Island under public control presents the opposition parties with a great opportunity to identify and defend common ground.
Buying Awaroa beach
“There is a pristine piece of beach and bush in the heart of the Abel Tasman up for private sale. Together we can buy it and gift it to NZ.”
Fight to save Christchurch’s trees
Christchurch has already lost so much. Now its “notable trees” are threatened. A small group is fighting to save them. Please help spread the word, or make a donation.
The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)
How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.
Johno Smith explains why he tried to save the Titirangi Kauri
Johno Smith has appeared in the Waitakere District Court and has pleaded guilty to trespass. He has set out his reasons for trespassing in an effort to save an ancient Kauri.
RMA announcement
Changes to the RMA have just been announced.
Updated.
EPA to be gutted – for doing its job
Looks like National is planning to take over the Environmental Protection Agency.
DoC Staff Striking during Conservation Week
How far removed from a ‘cloth-capped mob of union-stirrers and industrial saboteurs’ would the staff of the Department of Conservation be? These people […]
Fouling our nest
New Zealand is a beautiful country, and tourism is our second biggest earner of foreign exchange. We’d be stupid to trash the place, right?
Key pinches Labour’s Kermadec Sanctuary Policy
National’s announced intention to create a marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands looks remarkably like Labour’s policy from the last election. And why did John Key not tell his caucus beforehand?
What other countries are doing about climate change
There is hope that the cumulative effect of all the international pledges for the Paris climate change conference may buy the world some time to prevent runaway global warming. Some countries are pledging to becoming carbon neutral. New Zealand’s pledge is pathetically weak in comparison.
Oil drilling in Maui’s Dolphin’s habitat
The Government this week proposed at considerable expense the purchase of a couple of panda. But at the same time the Government is again proposing to allow the drilling for oil in the habitat of Maui’s Dolphin which is facing extinction.
A Takahe is not a Pukeko
The Department of Conservation let some volunteers from Deerstalkers onto Motutapu with shotguns to shoot Pukeko to make more room for endangered Takehe. But four Takehe were killed by stray shot gun pellets. DOC is now talking about prosecuting the Deerstalkers. Time for them to accept blame for allowing such a stupid thing to occur. And the Government for compromising DOC’s ability to function by starving it of resources.
Greenpeace activism
Herald columnist Paul Little has done some good stuff in the past, but today’s effort on Greenpeace is a disgrace. Nothing but ill-informed prejudice on parade.
Ports of Auckland is out of control
Ports of Auckland’s recent behaviour outlines a major weakness with Auckland super city. Corporate interests are able to take precedence over the wishes of our democratically elected representatives.
Tauranga oil spill
If we can’t even do simple things like refuel safely there is no way that we can guarantee the safety of deep sea drilling off the coast of NZ.
Greenpeace activists on oil rig
Peak soil
No, not a typo. Just in case you’re short of things to worry about, you can add soil to the list.
Rod Oram on the RMA and spin
An excellent piece by Rod Oram on the RMA and the government’s attempts at spin.
Drill baby drill will not work
Simon Bridges announced yesterday the release of the 2015 block offer. Potentially oil companies could be drilling in deep sea pristine environmental areas off the West Coast where the endangered Maui’s Dolphin lives. He calls for a “mixed balance” of energy generation. But all this means is that he wants the good mixed with the bad.
RMA backdown?
If this is accurate it is good news for the RMA and good news for NZ…
National still attacking democracy in Canterbury
The Nats’ takeover of Environment Canterbury is the greatest attack on democratic rights ever seen in this country. They are about to extend the period of imposed rule, because a fully elected body carries “too many risks”. If you think the people of Canterbury can actually be trusted with democracy you can sign the petition.
Two views on Titirangi’s Kauri
Rodney Hide has published a column about the ancient Titirangi Kauri which predictably argues that land owners should do what they want. But John Roughan has argued to the contrary in an article that will make you wonder if he is actually a greenie at heart.
UPDATED: Developers will save Kauri – for a Price
Was driving through Henderson today toward the City centre and spotted a car with screen painting on its bumper…
“Keep Kauri standing”…
Save our kauri!
The clash between those who value our natural environment and those who think money is king is playing out in Titirangi this morning.
Spock was a socialist
If you analyse the many things said by Spock you would come to the conclusion that he was a strong progressive.
Sand sculpture competition at Whatipu
If you are looking for something to do today there is a sand sculpture competition with an environmental theme happening at Whatipu.
The image of farming
Farmers are copping stick for doing what the rest of us are doing. We all need to change, not just them.
Save the Pohutukawa Six
Despite local opposition Auckland Transport intends to fell six prominent Pohutukawa to make way for an extra road lane with dubious transport benefits.
The Socialist Pope
Pope Francis has created a stir recently. He has been instrumental in the ending by the United States of sanctions against Cuba, he has criticised the Curia for being inwardly focussed and not sufficiently concerned for the poor and he has reached out to Muslims. And to top things off he is intending to issue a Papal Encyclical on climate change and will be urging countries to enter into a meaningful agreement on climate change.