science

We’re really stuffing up, aren’t we?

Written By: James Henderson - Date published: 7:58 am, September 29th, 2013 - 54 comments

The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report makes, well, pretty damn depressing reading. Over a century after the basic mechanism of global warming by greenhouse gases was understood, and quarter of a century since the world’s nations signed the framework convention on climate change, emissions are still rising and the outlook is getting worse.

Kennedy Graham: Key’s UN speech “B-“

Written By: karol - Date published: 7:27 pm, September 27th, 2013 - 39 comments

Good on Kennedy Graham for posting a good critique of Key’s UN speech, while the MSM largely report the speech in uncritical and glowing terms., Graham focuses on Errors of Omission. [Update: Key’s Omission of Kampala non-aggression Agreement, implicitly supports Obama’s UN speech for US military aggression.]

UBI. (Universal Basic Income).

Written By: KJT - Date published: 11:58 am, September 5th, 2013 - 232 comments

The concept of UBI has a long history in New Zealand.

Of course, we already have a UBI for those over 65.  Which has been extremely successful at eliminating poverty amongst the elderly, at a very moderate cost by international standards.

Fonterra scandal and deregulation

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:15 am, August 9th, 2013 - 72 comments

Stuff’s Pattrick Smellie makes the case that the Fonterra scandal is a product of deregulation. The lesson here is that Mike Joy and other scientists are right. To protect its environment, its brand, its exports and its economy, NZ needs to strengthen regulatory protections and clean up its act.

Petition for congestion free network

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 10:35 am, July 25th, 2013 - 17 comments

Generation Zero are running petition targeting the Auckland transport system. You can sign it here.

Government still doesn’t care about climate change

Written By: Ben Clark - Date published: 3:23 pm, July 8th, 2013 - 146 comments

We have very good climate scientists in New Zealand, but the government isn’t exactly promoting them.

So I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that they’re planning on more than halving the climate research budget from $10 million/year to $4.5 million.

Obama acts – at last

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:24 am, June 27th, 2013 - 96 comments

The Tea Party / Republican Party in Congress are a bunch of anti-science crazies who will never agree to any action to tackle climate change. But Obama doesn’t need them. And it looks like he has finally decided to act.

OP: Fluoridation – it does reduce tooth decay

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 2:59 pm, June 21st, 2013 - 306 comments

Ken Perrott at Open Parachute has been debunking some of the nonsense around fluoridated water by investigating claims (his background is in scientific research). It is refreshing after reading some of the recent misinterpreted drivel around about the science.

Water under pressure

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:12 am, June 15th, 2013 - 38 comments

Water is becoming a precious resource, under threat from pollution, over use, population growth, & commercial profiteering. The Green & Labour Parties are very critical of Key’s government weakening the RMA in favour of commercial gains, while over-riding local government plans.

Political science

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 7:21 am, May 20th, 2013 - 31 comments

As I/S pointed out yesterday, the Government’s “innovation” agenda is nothing more than a cuts to R&D and hidden subsidies.

Today in the Herald that’s confirmed

CO2 400 ppm and climbing

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:51 am, May 14th, 2013 - 45 comments

We have passed the dangerous and depressing milestone of 400ppm atmospheric CO2. 350.org are calling for a “relentless rise in activism” to match the “relentless rise in carbon”. After Copenhagen I no longer think that’s going to happen.

The climate reality pledge

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:44 am, May 9th, 2013 - 32 comments

“… I demand action from our leaders to work on solutions to the climate crisis. I pledge to get involved …”

Hockey stick becomes a wheelchair

Written By: lprent - Date published: 2:15 pm, April 30th, 2013 - 23 comments

When you look at the dependence of farmers in extreme climates around the world who are reliant on regular weather like the monsoons in Bangladesh or the mild winters in the gulf stream washed areas like Europe, it is clear how reliant we are for food on our relatively unchanging climate of the past 11,000 years.

Farmers unhappy about lower power prices?

Written By: Mike Smith - Date published: 8:32 pm, April 28th, 2013 - 40 comments

Former banker Bruce Wills and current head of Federated Farmers has joined the chorus attacking NZPower. Given the tired old  arguments he raises, it would be interesting to know if his farmer members would rather have lower power prices, or banker Bruce as their spokesman.

Space and density: Auckland Unitary Plan

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:15 am, April 22nd, 2013 - 8 comments

The draft Auckland Unitary Plan is massive and complex.  The Auckland Transport Blog helps in untangling issues around intensification vs sprawl. The government & some right wing councillors want sprawl & to delay implementation.  The Akl Council website has some cool videos visualising the planned developments. And social housing?