Written By: - Date published: 3:50 pm, November 12th, 2009 - 13 comments
Our government is stupid. Sorry, it’s the only conclusion I can draw. Our government is made up of confused, muddled thinkers incapable of planning further ahead than lunchtime. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic. National have decided to “scrap the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and stop work on vehicle fuel efficiency […]
Written By: - Date published: 9:38 am, November 10th, 2009 - 37 comments
Rob Salmond The other day I posted a critique of Lord Monckton’s recent presentation, which purports to show that global warming is not real and not a problem. Imagine my astonishment to see that Lord Monckton himself took 2,700 words to respond to me in the comments! I am very surprised see that a new […]
Written By: - Date published: 1:15 pm, November 6th, 2009 - 121 comments
Rob Salmond In attempting to cover for DPF’s embarrassing disaster of a post on climate change, in his comments section some prominent right wingers (most notably John Ansell) pointed to a recent presentation by Lord Monckton. The presentation got a lot of publicity this month, including thinly veiled advertising from Fox News’ Glenn Beck, for arguing […]
Written By: - Date published: 10:12 am, November 4th, 2009 - 9 comments
On Monday climate change negotiations got under way in Barcelona – “the final chance for negotiators to hammer out a text before December’s Copenhagen summit”. It seems that these vital talks may have failed already. Geoff Keey reports: It’s been a dramatic first day at the climate change negotiations here in Barcelona and […]
Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, November 3rd, 2009 - 15 comments
A nice attempt at wedge politics from rightwing economic think-tank NZIER today. They say we should be concentrating on water quality, air quality, and saving native species, rather than climate change – a transparent attempt to divide conservationists from environmentalists. The entire substance of this ‘report‘ is a table on page 17 that doesn’t actually […]
Written By: - Date published: 5:40 pm, November 2nd, 2009 - 45 comments
There’s some massive FAIL going on over at Kiwiblog. Farrar’s got this new green-bashing post up where he breathlessly mocks Al Gore for saying sea levels could rise by 67 metres because of climate change. “67 metres in ten years!” wails Farrar. “I think politicians like Al Gore actually damage the very cause they purport […]
Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, November 1st, 2009 - 22 comments
One of the many problems facing people who want to grow popular awareness of matters ecological is that for the large part, it’s bloody depressing if you start to get the reality of it. So I imagine director Cameron Russell sold the pitch for this vid with an argument something like “we need to catch […]
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, November 1st, 2009 - 12 comments
I read a fun piece by Charlie Brooker in The Guardian recently: There’s too much stuff. We live in a stuff-a-lanche. I’m fairly certain I recently passed a rather pathetic tipping point, and now own more unread books and unwatched DVDs than my remaining lifespan will be able to sustain. I can’t possibly read all […]
Written By: - Date published: 10:20 am, October 30th, 2009 - 14 comments
Yes Mr and Ms Work-Life-Balance, science is on your side. Last month the New Scientist summarised research from Utah that showed workers were happier, took fewer sick days, and were more energy efficient when working four day weeks instead of five. The full results of this experiment won’t be published until October, but an ongoing […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:38 pm, October 27th, 2009 - 36 comments
Have a listen to Sean Plunket’s interview this morning with Fed Farmer’s economic spokesperson Philip York. Fed Farmers is calling on the government to cut spending to rein in the rising NZ dollar. FF: Well there’s going to have to be some tough decisions made. They’re going to have to look seriously at everything they […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, October 27th, 2009 - 42 comments
Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. We’re above that limit and we’re climbing fast. 350 Aotearoa is the New Zealand arm of 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million. Last […]
Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, October 26th, 2009 - 19 comments
On Midway Atoll thousands of albatross chicks die from ingesting plastic mistaken by their parents for food. More photos here.
Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, October 26th, 2009 - 13 comments
Want to send some Nats to Scandinavia? Me too! The one above should be self explanatory. Support Sign On and send John on his way. But while we’re at it let’s send Steven Joyce to Finland! He’s making such a mess of National’s broadband plans. He clearly needs to learn a thing or two about […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:33 pm, October 25th, 2009 - 6 comments
New World has dropped the 5 cent levy on plastic bags in its South Island stores. Plastic bag use was down 65%. Many shoppers support the levy but the CEO says: “the objections were too noisy” Guess we’d better oil the squeakiest wheel then. Even if it means continuing to bugger up our environment. Kind of […]
Written By: - Date published: 8:22 am, October 25th, 2009 - 21 comments
Remember when the world was going to end because Nanny State was going to make us get compact fluorescent bulbs? It all seems so long ago. Those ignorant, reactionary days of 2008. Now, we’re crazy for the wee blighters. According to the Building Research Association of New Zealand: “84 percent of homes had at least […]
Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, October 23rd, 2009 - 8 comments
Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. We’re above that limit and we’re climbing fast. 350 Aotearoa is the New Zealand arm of 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million. Tomorrow, Saturday, […]
Written By: - Date published: 2:22 pm, October 16th, 2009 - 16 comments
While we’re all aghast over Nick Smith’s shambolic handling of ACC and his ‘people are killing themselves for cash’ comments, let’s not forget he’s also making a total botch up of climate change policy too. As Marty discovered, National’s ETS will cost us $73 billion in added debt by 2050 and it’s being rushed through […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:31 pm, October 14th, 2009 - 12 comments
Let’s have a good turn out. Incidentally, with 1,700 workers at Justice joining 140 of their Parliamentary Service comrades in industrial action as they try to win a meager cost of living pay adjustment, and more departments soon to join them, Parliament’s front lawn could be a busy place in the weeks to come. Strange […]
Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, October 14th, 2009 - 15 comments
Day 7 of the bus strike by Infratil The idiotic employers at NZ Bus owned by Infratil have dragged their lockout into a 7th day of disrupting Auckland’s commuters. Yesterday they repackaged some of their old proposals and tried to make it look like something new. What the grasping employers want is for the drivers […]
Written By: - Date published: 11:36 am, October 14th, 2009 - 6 comments
A newly released government paper shows that by 2050 government debt will be $54-$73 billion higher than it otherwise would be due to National’s subsidies for carbon polluters. According to the paper: Treasury has modelled these costs [the free allocations to polluters] and, while the model has limitations, they estimate that, if a 1.3% phase […]
Written By: - Date published: 4:58 pm, October 13th, 2009 - 7 comments
Day 6 of Infratil’s strike Brian Rudman had a column yesterday that clearly articulated how Aucklanders view the bus strike by Infratil management at NZ Bus. Only a few days ago, my bus had to take an unscheduled stop outside the public toilets in Victoria Park. The driver locked his money box then made the […]
Written By: - Date published: 3:32 pm, October 13th, 2009 - 2 comments
One of the snippets announced while John Key was over performing for Letterman recently was a call for action on research into emissions: NZ pushes for Global Alliance on agricultural emissions Prime Minister John Key says the New Zealand Government is pushing for a Global Alliance to research how to cut world-wide greenhouse gas emissions […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:53 pm, October 12th, 2009 - 35 comments
ARC chairman Mike Lee has delivered a blunt ultimatum to NZ Bus as its lockout of drivers reaches day five. “We have had enough. Auckland will not be held to ransom. If you can’t deliver the services that the people of Auckland rely on, then we will have to find someone else who can… “NZ […]
Written By: - Date published: 4:24 pm, October 9th, 2009 - 10 comments
Mike Britton, the general manager of the Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society, writes today in the Dom about the gap that appears to be developing between National’s pre-election rhetoric and the post-election reality. Worth a look. In the lead-up to the election, John Key said National’s top three priorities were the three Es – […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:38 pm, October 9th, 2009 - 7 comments
I know I’m banging on about it this week, but it’s rather an important topic! This clip from Wake Up Freak Out is an accessible introduction to the science of the tipping points that are going to accelerate climate change. As the title of my posts in this series suggests, I think we’re too late. […]
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, October 8th, 2009 - 7 comments
Well the intransigent owners and managers of Infratil / NZ Bus finally went on strike this morning in their quest for higher profits. They locked out the bus drivers for threatening to abide by their contract. This is causing widespread chaos amongst other businesses as their employees are unable to get to work. We just dispatched […]
Written By: - Date published: 6:19 am, October 8th, 2009 - 4 comments
From Inter Press: Climate Change: Food Supply Hangs in the Balance Uxbridge, Canada – Rocketing food prices and hundreds of millions more starving people will be part of humanity’s grim future without concerted action on climate change and new investments in agriculture, experts reported this week. The current devastating drought in East Africa, where millions […]
Written By: - Date published: 7:05 pm, October 7th, 2009 - Comments Off on Climatic catastrophe lolz
hat-tip Sam Vilain in comments
Written By: - Date published: 9:25 am, October 7th, 2009 - 18 comments
From The Guardian: Arctic seas turn to acid, putting vital food chain at risk With the world’s oceans absorbing six million tonnes of carbon a day, a leading oceanographer warns of eco disaster Carbon-dioxide emissions are turning the waters of the Arctic Ocean into acid at an unprecedented rate, scientists have discovered. Research carried out […]
Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, October 6th, 2009 - 51 comments
Yesterday, around 1,000 bus drivers and support staff issued noticed to their employer, NZ Bus owned by Infratil, that from Thursday they would be working to rule in protest over the company’s unacceptable pay offer. Essentially, the company wants to combine several existing collective agreements by keeping the weakest elements of each. Sure, it’s offered […]
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