Embarrassment turns to spite
Parliamentary Services have marred what might otherwise have been a showcase example of how public protest is treated in New Zealand.
Environment
Guest post: Auckland’s transport towards next year
Ad discusses Auckland transport projects likely to be introduced over the next 12 months.
Andrew Little: A better future for Auckland
The text of a speech Andrew Little gave to the Committee for Auckland about Auckland’s future.
Diesel Bomb
Last Friday I wrote a post on Volkwagen gaming NOx emissions. This is a follow up.
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?
Commentary on research cuts
It’s not just lefties such as yours truly who think it’s mad to cut agricultural (especially emissions) research.
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.
No particular reason
Groser don’t go
Greenpeace, 350 Aotearoa and the Coal Action Network have jointly urged John Key not to send Tim Groser to Paris for the climate change talks because the Government’s policies and proposed response will embarrass New Zealand and damage its international reputation.
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.
NZ doing more harm than good on climate change
“Key told not to attend Paris and to pull NZ delegation”.
“It would be better for humanity if John Key were to stay home, and instruct Minister Groser and the delegation to do likewise.”
Pope Francis speaks
Pope Francis has given two important speeches recently.
AgResearch cuts include greenhouse gas research – of course
Cutting research into greenhouse gases? With our emissions profile? Now? This can’t possibly be mere stupidity. This must be willful blindness.
NOx-ious shit all around.
Been trying to get my head around the implications of Volkswagen’s rigged diesel performance tests. Predictably, and unlike most stories covering this, I couldn’t give a rat’s arse for the financial woes the company might be facing.
Let Ioane Stay
Ioane Teitiota lives with his family in New Zealand, he works in New Zealand and his children were born in New Zealand but he does not have residence in New Zealand. The Government wants him to return to Kiribati even though that Island is suffering from climate change. Updated with comment from John Key.
Is this what Key meant by investing in research?
Yesterday Key listed, among the “achievements” of his government for this term: “investing in … research and development”. Was this an example of what he had in mind?
Tsunami warning
Tsunami warning for the East Cape, Chatham Islands, Coromandel and Banks Peninsula after #chile quake. http://rnz.to/1UVX5BY
Hot hotter hottest
Plenty of distractions in the political circus at the moment, but meanwhile…
Guest Post – Hawkes Bay is GE free
A guest post by Ad on the Hawkes Bay’s decision to prohibit under its District Plan the release or the conducting of field trials of GM crops and animals.
Key and Abbott are prepared to sacrifice the Pacific
Climate change induced sea level increases poses a huge threat to most Pacific Islands. They are seeking support for a goal of limiting temperature increases to no more than 1.5 degrees. Australia and New Zealand are insisting on sticking to a goal of no more than 2 degrees even though this will likely mean that many Islands will disappear.
Refugee crisis a taste of things to come
The current refugee crisis is but a taste of the climate refugee crisis to come. But it according to Key it’s fine, because it won’t be a problem in the next year or two.
Naomi Klein correctly calls Tony Abbott a Climate Villain
Naomi Klein recently visited Australia and amongst other things described climate change as a crime, criticised the Abbott Government attack on renewable energy and described the importance of grassroots action and indigenous rights.
Christchurch – rhetoric and reality
Today is five years since the first of the Canterbury / Christchurch earthquakes. Christchurch voices are calling out for leadership.
Greens’ climate discussion paper
The Greens are attempting something remarkable, a plan that is economically credible, but set in the context of realistic environmental constraints. Did they succeed?
Is Syria the first failed state because of climate change?
A climate change induced drought from 2006 to 2009 appears to have sparked the instability that has caused the Syrian Civil war. The mass exodus of citizens that we are witnessing may be the first of many climate change induced events.
70 refugees dead in small truck on Austrian roadside
When European and NATO countries participate in destabilising and destroying nearby countries, the human tragedy doesn’t stay neatly confined to the other side of the border.
Scientists remind dickheads of their inadequecies
Ever imagine what a bull elephant’s penis looks like? Well wonder no more. Biologists kicked off a #junkoff today with this challenge. I have to say that the local trolls waving their dicks about on this site look poorly endowed and rather unimaginative.
NRT: Climate change: Absolute madness
I/S at No Right Turn: “the government is spending tens of millions of dollars a year paying these companies to destroy the world. It is absolute madness”.
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.
July 2015 the warmest month ever
July was hot hot hot. Meanwhile, let’s keep focussing on economic growth and more exports (and not making the middle classes too nervous that life is going to change radically, one way or another).
Dead Hands
Time worn patterns and predictable decisions.
Key priorities – puppy photo op not Pike River people
Unbelievable.
Milk and media moron Mike
Media moron Mike Hosking blathering on about how self-interested “experts” are always right. He calls these “Facts”. I don’t think that he would know what a fact is if he tripped over a spreadsheet. Meanwhile announcing a reduction in supply has produced the expected increase in prices in the GlobalDairyTrade auction last night.
Earth overshoot day
August 13th was Earth Overshoot Day. We have already consumed what the Earth can sustainably produce in a year, for the rest of this year we are consuming “ecological capital”. This can’t go on. But it is a problem that our current political and economic systems cannot solve.
Climate change – New Zealand not even a fast follower
Recent analysis of different Governments’ greenhouse gas reduction pledges for the Paris Conference suggests that New Zealand’s is behind that of Windmill hating Tony Abbott’s Australia.
Andrew Little on climate change
The Labour Leader gave a powerful speech to the Environmental Defence Society conference today.