If there is ever a Nuremberg type trial for those charged with committing ecocidal crimes against the climate, Scott Morrison's name will be read out at the top of the charge sheet.
Australia’s Angry Summer: This Is What Climate Change Looks Like
The catastrophic fires raging across the southern half of the continent are largely the result of rising temperatures
By Nerilie Abram on December 31, 2019
Great articles. In the meantime the politicians like this country let other countries to bottle and export their water, no doubt in environmentally damaging plastic bottles. Someone making a quick buck is more important than looking after the environment or your own people first.
Tragic to read that about 30% of the koalas have died, and other wildlife has also been devastated. It will never recover as we can expect this shit to continue now year after year after year. In fact Oz will become a hostile place to live. No longer a holiday destination for us as we loved the bush but now too dangerous to have out back type holidays
It is a pity that it wasn't 30% of the politicians and large corporates of this world that suffered if they did the problems would start to be fixed overnight.
To be honest, I don't have a lot of sympathy for the Aussies who keep voting those dinosaurs back into power. They are getting what they deserve. The unfortunate side effect: the undeserving are copping it too.
As for the wild life – it is too upsetting to even think about.
Indeed (as far as the sympathy bit goes). It's becoming harder and harder to feel anything for the willfully and intentionally ignorant.
The undeserving are copping it everywhere – so as I said yesterday, things might have to get worse before they get better. In the scheme of things – so be it.
It's even worse when you consider the okkers have compulsory voting. But guess what (what OWT?). Expect a load of Australian and British refugees (due to climate denial and Brexit respectively), and they won't be considered "queue jumpers" or "economic migrants", and they won't be coming in boats either.
Viewing the docudrama Chernobyl on Prime TV a few weeks ago one of the most shocking aspects of the disaster apart from the disaster itself was how the Soviet authorities down played it.
Reminiscent of the fire crisis in Australia and how the authorities there try to down play it.
Despite the efforts of the Soviet authorities to downplay the true full horror of the Chernobyl disaster, the truth was revealed to the world by American satellite images that showed the Chernobyl reactor core open to the sky spewing radiation across Europe.
Luckily for us, the dense plume of smoke from the Australian bush fires, revealed by the Japanese satellite to be big enough to blanket the whole of the South Island, is passing just below the bottom of our country.
The smoke is very much blanketing Whakatipu. Can't see the other side of the lake, and tops of mountains around town are up in the murk. Some street lights are on, there's no sun and a strange diffused yellow light. And it's quite windy, whitecaps on the lake.
Dark and yellow in Dunedin, midday everyone is driving with headlights on, air smells smoky, can feel grit on my fingers, it's very strange and unnerving.
OK so many people on this site probably find me to be an entrenched bore, which is also probably true, but I'm not apologizing for having firm views, that's how I roll..but seeming as it's the new year and all, here is a little gift from the beautiful archives of the classic period of American Public Access TV…enjoy, and hope you all have a great and happy years ahead..
Did Nero really play the fiddle while Rome burned?
Did Scott Morrison really holiday in Hawaii while Australia burned?
Gaze on the weirdly manic images all over the internet of Scott Morrison with a wreath of Hawaiian flowers crowning his forehead, while Australian burned, and not be awed with the eerie similarity with ancient and modern images of of Nero depicted with a wreath of laurels on his forehead while Rome burned.
Historians cannot agree whether the ancient written written accounts that Roman Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned are accurate, or were just repeating contemporary mischievous gossip.
But modern recording technology and the internet will leave no doubt for future historians to determine that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison did indeed holiday in Hawaii while Australia burned.
'Last week Beehive insiders told leading political journalists that the “Year of Delivery” promise was actually a spin-line produced on the fly by the PM’s top spin doctor to get his boss out of a tight situation when she needed something memorable to say at the start of 2019.'
So just to be clear you're saying that the COLs failure is because of National/Act, the opposition, whose job it is to oppose the COL is opposing the COL successfully
Huh well ok, that's an…interesting take on it I suppose
Figure 1 in the cabinet paper linked on that page is a bar chart that looks to be scheduling roughly 160mill total 2018 and 2019. So progress is looking reasonable.
Oh, and there's actual progress on my local hospital, so that's another one.
I haven't read the Edwards' piece because as soon as I saw it was him I didn't bother.
But it sounds like a made-up bit of tosh. Part of the DP election strategy the Nats have chosen to run with. Hope it ends up biting them so hard on the bum they'll be yelping for years afterwards.
Is it climate change, or geoengineering that is accelerating climate change? Be nice if geo' wasn't auto-dismissed especially when we NEED to know exactly how much impact (if any) this is having so we can follow up with solutions.
Indisputable are the patents for weather modification + measurable aluminum where it should not be..whales, bees, rainwater….
Good thing is that if it is a major issue it can be halted immediately, delaying our rapidly approaching demise.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Anat Shenker-Osoroio's mop of hair probably generates its own heat & is a climate change threat. She needs Greta with a large razor to trim it while Greta dissess her with statements like "You have ruined my dreams” "I will never forgive you"
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Thanks for sharing that ‘classic‘ example of Thunberg belittlement PR – can see why it tickled your fancy. TIME's person of the year (2019) will be cut to the quick.
Can't wait for the Adani coal basin development to ‘come online‘ – more coal than you can shake a stick at, I reckon! Looking forward to longer-lasting magical yellow skies.
No need to answer; not surprised that you would choose to associate Thunberg with Hitler and Stalin. IMHO 1988 and 2011 would be better and more accurate choices.
Don't take that "beratement" personally – Thunberg doesn't know you exist. Fantastic to realise that she's been much much more influential in just one year than you and I will be in our entire lifetimes. What a wonderful world.
An inspiration to tens of millions. Yes yes, I know – "So was Hitler!"
There's really nothing more persuasive than seeing white men disparaging an autistic teenage girl on the Internet, right? That's the gold standard of persuasive argument right there.
But in the meantime, this teenage girl can experience everything the world's grumpy old men can throw at her, because she dared to stick out from the rest. Whatever gets you through the night, I guess.
The opportunity here is that the current bushfire crisis will push a larger number of the population to demand change and more people will then support movements like SS4C, and then the politicians will follow. This is how change happens.
That is very unlikely, as spending billions of dollars with no idea of what effect such expenditure will have is not something I'd recommend. Bjorn Lomborg has made the same point. And bushfires have been happening for decades. Many people possibly wouldn't be aware that there was a huge bushfire in Victoria in 1851 and there have been many large bushfires since.
I don’t allow climate denial under my posts. This has been well hashed out. Climate scientists and very experienced firefighters are saying you are wrong. These fires are unprecendented in scale, intensity and timing. This isn’t one large bushfire in one area, this is fires across the whole country and at times not normally experienced. And driving that is drought from climate change.
The economic cost of not acting will far, far outweigh any negatives to the economy now from climate action. But there is no good reason to not change the economy.
I'm not sure if you're referring to someone else as you would well know I'm not a climate denier.
The economic cost of not acting will far, far outweigh any negatives to the economy now from climate action.
Well, that is your opinion but it doesn’t appear to be based on fact. What is a fact is that spending large sums on an indeterminate outcome will mean less expenditure elsewhere.
perhaps you need to make your point clearer then, because it looked to me like you were saying Australia has always had fires, and there's no point in Australia reducing GHGs or taking serious action on CC.
"Well, that is your opinion but it doesn’t appear to be based on fact. What is a fact is that spending large sums on an indeterminate outcome will mean less expenditure elsewhere."
Spending billions or trillions of dollars and hoping for the best. That is the antithesis of science.
This year, the world will spend $US162 billion ($230bn) subsidising renewable energy, propping up inefficient industries and supporting middle-class homeowners to erect solar panels, according to the International Energy Agency. In addition, the Paris Agreement on climate change will cost the world from $US1 trillion to $US2 trillion a year by 2030. Astonishingly, neither of these hugely expensive policies will have any measurable impact on temperatures by the end of the century.
Climate campaigners want to convince us that not only should we maintain these staggering costs, but that we should spend a fortune more on climate change, since our very survival is allegedly at stake. But they are mostly wrong, and we’re likely to end up wasting trillions during the coming decades.
…
Over-the-top environmental activists are not only out of synch with the science but they also are out of touch with mainstream concerns. A global poll by the UN of nearly 10 million people found that climate change was the lowest priority of all 16 challenges considered. At the very top, unsurprisingly, are issues such as better education, better healthcare and access to nutritious food. We need to address climate change effectively — but we should remember that there are many other issues that people want fixed more urgently.
I guess if we were to print money, we could possibly afford to waste trillions. But we likely won't be printing money – we'll simply be forgoing expenditure elsewhere (eg, health, welfare, education).
Garden variety third generation climate denial right there.
If you say so.
In 2018, 10 million people contracted tuberculosis (TB) and 1.5 million people died from it. A lack of clean drinking water is estimated to cause about a half a million deaths each year. If only some of those trillions spent on climate change was spent elsewhere.
"The International Monetary Fund periodically assesses global subsidies for fossil fuels as part of its work on climate, and it found in a recent working paper that the fossil fuel industry got a whopping $5.2 trillion in subsidies in 2017. This amounts to 6.4 percent of the global gross domestic product."
Your response is akin to anyone criticising Israel being labelled an anti-semite. Please try and engage meaningfully.
Lomborg is saying that climate change is a real problem but it's not the only problem. He's also saying that it would be foolish to throw vast sums of money at the problem when the expenditure is likely have little impact on climate. He also makes the point that renewables need to be much cheaper, and governments need to commit to making them cheaper.
Feel free to make the argument about how I am wrong then. I can only go off what I am reading here.
Well, I've commented here over several years – my views are well known.
To repeat: should we throw billions or trillions of dollars at a problem if we don't know what effect, if any, that spending will have? Lomborg claims it will have a negligible effect. Meanwhile, about two million people die each year from TB or a lack of clean drinking water. Some 400,000 people die each year from malaria.
"An estimated 6.3 million children under 15 years of age died in 2017, or 1 every 5 seconds, mostly of preventable causes, according to new mortality estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Division and the World Bank Group."
“Without urgent action, 56 million children under five will die from now until 2030 – half of them newborns,” said Laurence Chandy, UNICEF Director of Data, Research and Policy. “We have made remarkable progress to save children since 1990, but millions are still dying because of who they are and where they are born. With simple solutions like medicines, clean water, electricity and vaccines, we can change that reality for every child.”
These are huge numbers and greater than the number of deaths caused by climate change. Feel free to ignore these facts on the basis of climate denial. However, that would be unhelpful and wrong.
See, there's your problem right there. You're treating some Danish statistician as an authority on climate and then trying to argue from authority that we don't need to do anything about AGW. That looks like disingenuous AGW denial to the people on this thread, with good reason. You should consider a different approach if you want to post on weka's threads.
Sounds familiar. We shouldn't spend health budgets on reducing smoking while a single tuberculosis case remains untreated.
That's a weird response and completely misses the point I was making. We shouldn't be spending vast sums of money when we have no idea if that spending is going to have much if any impact. That is especially so when other significant problems exist which are resulting in considerable harm and death.
You're treating some Danish statistician as an authority on climate and then trying to argue from authority that we don't need to do anything about AGW.
Hmmm you'll have to point to where he or I say that we should do nothing about AGW. As for making a veiled threat about who should be posting on Weka's threads, those that have to bullshit to bolster their argument should go to Kiwiblog. 🙂
"As for making a veiled threat about who should be posting on Weka's threads, those that have to bullshit to bolster their argument should go to Kiwiblog."
I've long had a position of no climate denial under my posts. I've written about the why in the past. Sometimes I put a note at the end of the post, but unlike when I first started writing I generally don't need to now because there aren't as many deniers around (and those that are know better).
The onus is on commenters to demonstrate that they're not running denialist lines. I still haven't seen you do that.
Oprah Winfrey and the positivity click are out in force.
Think positive and the world is your oyster – funny how that has not worked for the last 40 odd years.
Although it keeps getting repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
The answer is not nice words, positive thoughts and good intentions.
The answer is to stop an ideology and system which is killing us.
The sad truth is that all the guns, bombs and nukes – are in the hands of the maniacs who are the biggest stakeholders to keep the ideology and system running.
Only option – stop
Stop driving, stop working, stop being part of the system. Just stop.
Too Soon…
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
By all means adam, stop what you are doing. Turn off the power, the internet, the water and sewerage. Don't use the car, don't go to the supermarket … don't whatever you do go to the doctor or a hospital, call for the police or expect a lawyer to defend you.
And especially don't expect the emergency services to scrape your rotting carcass off the couch.
The point is you cannot stop, you are part of the world whether you like it or not. Stopping is not an option because you have basic needs that must be met, today, tomorrow and next week. Now I have no quibble with you having a vision of a different world, I have no problem at all with idealistic people. But you cannot get there if you starve today.
None of us can, and there are 7b people to feed, today and tomorrow.
Hey Red. At what point over the past few hundred years did the system of production and distribution we're tied into feed all of the world? Pretty sure it's been responsible for a lot of unnecessary starvation because. y'know, "the market". (Obvious eg – Irish people starved as food was exported from Ireland)
Individual action won't cut the mustard. But individual non compliance can contribute to making current arrangements unsustainable. So maybe I'll drive a car if I justify a reason for driving it. And if I determine that a car journey so a guy can make me use my time 'making useless widgets' so he can make money doesn't justify driving a car, then hey…and that Human Rights protection if the legal system considers my reasoning to be on a par with religious belief 🙂
But y'know, I'm a doctor or a nurse or a maintenance guy on crucial infrastructure….I'll drive to work if need be. 😉
And while I do that, society drops its use of carbon related energy by 15% per year…aided and abetted by all those guys refusing to chew carbon for the sake of some cunt making profit from useless widgets…
At what point over the past few hundred years did the system of production and distribution we're tied into feed all of the world?
The old 'demanding perfection' fallacy. Of course the system failed from time to time, yet in 1800 there were just over 1b people and we seriously struggled to feed them reliably. Famine and winter starvation was a stark reality for many. Now we are 7.5b and growing and the biggest problem we have relating to food is that too many of us eat too much.
Yes the bottom 1b humans still live precarious lives, but can you not see progress when it's literally on your plate daily?
Nor am I claiming the forms of economy we have today are perfect and sufficient; that would be insane. Of course there is much room for improvement. But I generally find that the best way to improve a complex machine is not to start with a wrecking ball. Especially not machines I don't fully understand, I'm dependent on, and I don't have a backup for.
No. I'm pointing out that capitalism has produced famines and prolonged famine because implementing the ideology takes precedence over confronting reality humanely. That's entirely different from saying capitalism didn't prevent hunger or famine.
But I generally find that the best way to improve a complex machine is not to start with a wrecking ball.
Sometimes a tweak here and an adjustment there will be all that's required – that's true. And sometimes reality demands a Copernican revolution. The trick is in recognising the nature of situation confronting you.
Famines and similar disasters long pre-dated capitalism, nor does it produce or prolong them by design. Otherwise why in such an intensely capitalist modern world are they now so comparatively rare? The problem with Ireland was not so much the market economy, but that the Irish people had lost political control over it.
And don't pull the black and white fallacy on me. I may be defending industrialised capitalism for what it has achieved, but I'm not advocating that it can exist divorced from social and political concerns, nor that it's current form is sufficient.
As for Copernicus, his revolution was entirely conceptual. It dramatically shifted our thinking, but on the day nothing changed. People still tilled fields, cooked meals and had babies as they always did. By contrast getting to carbon zero is going to demand a lot of complex, pragmatic change that will impact our daily lives. It's a totally different kind of problem, one that will not be solved with any kind of magical thinking or silver bullet. It will be one tricky damned thing after another, with lots of mistakes and missteps as usual.
Famines and similar disasters long pre-dated capitalism, nor does it produce or prolong them by design.
Of course famines have been around "since forever"! But capitalism does actually produce and prolong famines because of its inherent logic. If you don't like the Irish example, then let me give you the example of Tanzania (subject of the documentary "Darwin's Nightmare") – Nile Perch introduced to Lake Victoria, processed in a Japanese owned fish factory and exported to European restaurants by Russian cargo planes even as the local population starved. Such a shame the locals weren't rationally optimising economic units fruitfully engaging in neutral market transactions for food, eh?
Yes, the Copernican Revolution was conceptual in nature. But what is capitalism if not a concept?
Again your example in Tanzania is more about political failure than the market. One of the core primary duties of any modern government is to ensure food security for it's people. I wonder if that documentary examined the role of the Tanzanian government in this? And would I loose much money if I bet on a fair bit of official corruption somewhere in that sadly sordid loop?
But what is capitalism if not a concept?
Carbon zero may be an idea, but achieving it is not. It will demand a substantial rewiring of our entire industrial economy … while it continues to feed, clothe and protect us daily. I see that as an intensely practical undertaking. Conceptual my arse 🙂
So you've never seen the documentary but confidently state the famine was down to dodgy politics, not the rationale of economics. Watch it and then come back to me on the topic if you want.
I've never suggested that getting to zero carbon from fuel was anything other than a practical undertaking. What I said was that capitalism is just a concept – one that stands four square against any practical undertaking vis a vis global warming.
I'm also slightly curious as to who this "us" is that you're referring to. Does it include the people of Venezuela who are being starved or otherwise killed by the US led economic blockade of the country? Or does it include all the Iranians and/or Syrians who are being similarly denied basic requirements of life? Or the homeless in New York or London or Cairo or Auckland….does it include them? I'm thinking it only includes people you'd imagine to be in a position not so unlike your own (ie comparable). And Red? That's a minority of humanity.
OK go right ahead and smash capitalism today. Then get back to me on who you are going to buy your solar panels from. Or any of the myriad goods and services we will need to build carbon zero economies for 7b people in the next few decades.
Who can I buy my solar panels from today Red? And where can I get that double glazing from? Or any of the other (soon to be) basic necessities in a 'globally warmed' world?
I can't afford jack shit.
Truth be told, if 10 years ago I reckoned I'd live to be 80+ (all things being equal), with the apparently accelerating effects of AGW, I think it's entirely reasonable to contemplate popping well before my 80s during an extended heatwave in the not too distant.
No single system can be relied upon, indeed the marxist economies were notably poor at it as well. Again don't pull the false dichotomy on me, I'm not arguing capitalism can exist in a moral or political vacuum. That's the libertarian mistake, and not even Adam Smith argued for that.
I think you're attributing benefits that may have happened despite capitalism to capitalism, and problems capitalism was solely responsible for to things other than capitalism. Has agriculture been boosted more by terminator seeds, or by government investment in irrigation projects?
NZ agriculture is still reaping the benefits of govt crop advances made when 2/3 of people worked for the government, but capitalism has no interest in funding and building infrastructure.
Capitalism is expendable but sadly unavoidable. Government is not expendable, but frequently degraded or absent.
Far too late if the intention was to be "not clattered" by the effects of global warming.
The priests (economists and politicians in their service) 'led us' over a cliff edge. There be many who are turning to those very same sources and asking that they send up prayers or what nots – looking for them to formulate and deliver a plan that we might follow. (eg – A Green New Deal)
The priests took us off this cliff edge. The question is around what's to be done when the top of the cliff's up there? Pretend the wind in the hair is because we're flying? That's the notion the priests and all the believers and not a few agnostics are hanging on to 🙂
The climate change debacle provides us with a profound lesson; that extremists at both ends of a debate can and will derail effective action.
By contrast the ozone CFC depletion problem did not involve big powerful interests out to defend their profits, nor ideological lefties yelling catastropohism and determined to thereby 'smash capitalism'. It was dealt to firmly and with remarkable efficiency.
Of course fossil CO2 was always going to be a much bigger problem, but we could have made far better progress towards solving it if the debate had not become so political and intensely polarised.
The extremists are today's economists and politicians – if slavish adherence to an political/economic theory that's laying waste to a planet's biosphere doesn't clear the bar for being reasonably viewed as a member of a death cult, then nothing does.
Now you can finger point, and you can smear, and you can wave your arms all you like, but that cliff edge is way up there and we're traveling in a singular direction at quite a clip, thanks entirely to industrial capitalism.
And ICI went to great lengths to stop movement on CFC (it was their gravy train requiring a high tech solution from ICI, except it wasn't 😉 )
Yet you are only alive and commenting on the internet because of this same industrial capitalism. Quite the conundrum really.
Oh and the Australians would have had a price on carbon a decade ago, if the Greens had not scuppered it with an idiotic insistence that Rudd’s scheme was ‘not good enough’. Plenty of ideologues to go around.
I'm alive, not because of industrial capitalism, but because a woman got pregnant and gave birth to me. Now, would there be an internet without capitalism? Possibly (no compelling reason why not). Would I be commenting on global warming in that case? Probably not.
Australians, carbon prices….what!? Carbon prices do not impact on the use of carbon based fuel. The studies have been done and I've previously highlighted those studies in posts I've done for 'the standard'.
but because a woman got pregnant and gave birth to me.
In 1800's Victorian England the life expectancy was around 36 years. I'm assuming you and I are somewhat older than this.
As for carbon pricing … tell this to the Australian Greens who were demanding more of it. And as is usual with anything climate related the answer is 'complicated'.
But my point was not that carbon pricing is any kind of silver bullet, but that ideologues in the Australian Green Party literally hung two Labour PM's out to dry on climate change, and thereby opened the door to Tony Abbott and a decade of political toxicity. ScoMo is merely the latest installment in this debacle. All when Rudd had virtually achieved a bi-partisan agreement in principle.
I wonder what happened to life expectancy immediately prior to enclosure and immediately after. You reckon it went up? All that coal mining and those city slums and cotton mills in lieu of land where people could grow food probably worked 'wonders' on that front, aye?
I don't think you are claiming that modern life expectancies are somehow lower than 200 years ago. Of course there is no rule that says progress is a neat, linear affair with no setbacks. For instance the one group in the USA with declining life expectancy right now is white working age males. (Please keep the cheering polite and subdued /sarc).
Yet here we are globally where life expectancy is typically double what it was 200 years ago. Over a period when our total population increased around 7 fold. All this in the context of a highly scientific, technical, industrialised economies based largely on a mix of capitalist and social policies. That's not too shabby really.
PS. And that’s it from me for now. Best wishes to you all personally. We live in very interesting times and I truly wish nothing but the best for you all. There is so much risk and opportunity all muddled up right now; it’s not easy wading through this.
"By contrast the ozone CFC depletion problem did not involve big powerful interests out to defend their profits" – really?
But the Rowland-Molina hypothesis was strongly disputed by representatives of the aerosol and halocarbon industries. The chair of the board of DuPont was quoted as saying that ozone depletion theory is “a science fiction tale…a load of rubbish…utter nonsense“. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Protocol
So what. Very quickly the science prevailed. Of course ICI and Dupont had every reason to defend their interests, and it's entirely unsurprising they would attempt to do so. But in this case they soon realised they had some perfectly acceptable technical alternatives, that not only solved the problem, but represented a decent commercial opportunity.
The reality is there wasn't a decade or so of funding directed at mass disinformation campaigns undermining the Montreal Protocol remotely comparable to the fossil carbon story. Or if there was I sure didn't notice it.
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Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
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Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
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The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
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It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
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Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
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'
They can't say they didn't know.
If there is ever a Nuremberg type trial for those charged with committing ecocidal crimes against the climate, Scott Morrison's name will be read out at the top of the charge sheet.
Great articles. In the meantime the politicians like this country let other countries to bottle and export their water, no doubt in environmentally damaging plastic bottles. Someone making a quick buck is more important than looking after the environment or your own people first.
Tragic to read that about 30% of the koalas have died, and other wildlife has also been devastated. It will never recover as we can expect this shit to continue now year after year after year. In fact Oz will become a hostile place to live. No longer a holiday destination for us as we loved the bush but now too dangerous to have out back type holidays
It is a pity that it wasn't 30% of the politicians and large corporates of this world that suffered if they did the problems would start to be fixed overnight.
https://qz.com/1776800/chinese-company-gets-approval-to-bottle-water-from-drought-plagued-australian-town/
Those Aussie councils seem very corrupt. There needs to be a law prohibiting Chinese or anyone from exporting water, preferably criminal. Now.
To be honest, I don't have a lot of sympathy for the Aussies who keep voting those dinosaurs back into power. They are getting what they deserve. The unfortunate side effect: the undeserving are copping it too.
As for the wild life – it is too upsetting to even think about.
Indeed (as far as the sympathy bit goes). It's becoming harder and harder to feel anything for the willfully and intentionally ignorant.
The undeserving are copping it everywhere – so as I said yesterday, things might have to get worse before they get better. In the scheme of things – so be it.
It's even worse when you consider the okkers have compulsory voting. But guess what (what OWT?). Expect a load of Australian and British refugees (due to climate denial and Brexit respectively), and they won't be considered "queue jumpers" or "economic migrants", and they won't be coming in boats either.
great articles…..i despair that folks will wake up…..
Shock and awe
Gaze on this image of the Australian fires spewing smoke into the sky taken by a Japanese satellite.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118545776/massive-currents-of-smoke-from-australian-fires-reach-new-zealand
Viewing the docudrama Chernobyl on Prime TV a few weeks ago one of the most shocking aspects of the disaster apart from the disaster itself was how the Soviet authorities down played it.
Reminiscent of the fire crisis in Australia and how the authorities there try to down play it.
Despite the efforts of the Soviet authorities to downplay the true full horror of the Chernobyl disaster, the truth was revealed to the world by American satellite images that showed the Chernobyl reactor core open to the sky spewing radiation across Europe.
Luckily for us, the dense plume of smoke from the Australian bush fires, revealed by the Japanese satellite to be big enough to blanket the whole of the South Island, is passing just below the bottom of our country.
It's made the air in Wanaka into a milky orange. Eerie.
The smoke is very much blanketing Whakatipu. Can't see the other side of the lake, and tops of mountains around town are up in the murk. Some street lights are on, there's no sun and a strange diffused yellow light. And it's quite windy, whitecaps on the lake.
Weird yellow sunlight and clouds in Christchurch too.
Dark and yellow in Dunedin, midday everyone is driving with headlights on, air smells smoky, can feel grit on my fingers, it's very strange and unnerving.
Fully over the South Island now.
https://twitter.com/zentree/status/1212118125170135041
Well-crafted thread joins the dots from mad skies to action (click on the tweet to read the rest of them):
https://twitter.com/REasther/status/1212136583865888768
wow, that is a seriously good thread.
Very talented chap. We are lucky to have him back.
what does he do?
Astrophysics, mainly https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/people/profile/r-easther
OK so many people on this site probably find me to be an entrenched bore, which is also probably true, but I'm not apologizing for having firm views, that's how I roll..but seeming as it's the new year and all, here is a little gift from the beautiful archives of the classic period of American Public Access TV…enjoy, and hope you all have a great and happy years ahead..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvbL_5rH1QQ
Did Nero really play the fiddle while Rome burned?
Did Scott Morrison really holiday in Hawaii while Australia burned?
Gaze on the weirdly manic images all over the internet of Scott Morrison with a wreath of Hawaiian flowers crowning his forehead, while Australian burned, and not be awed with the eerie similarity with ancient and modern images of of Nero depicted with a wreath of laurels on his forehead while Rome burned.
Historians cannot agree whether the ancient written written accounts that Roman Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned are accurate, or were just repeating contemporary mischievous gossip.
But modern recording technology and the internet will leave no doubt for future historians to determine that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison did indeed holiday in Hawaii while Australia burned.
https://www.mamamia.com.au/scott-morrison-in-hawaii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8jggkk6TNg
Plenty of scope for Labor to act as well since they are in power in most of the states.
The 'fiddling' that Nero did is actually the equivalent of twiddling his thumbs, and not playing a musical instrument as often depicted in literature.
Either way, the person who chose the still shot for the above video was a lyre…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/31/new-zealands-year-of-style-over-substance
'Last week Beehive insiders told leading political journalists that the “Year of Delivery” promise was actually a spin-line produced on the fly by the PM’s top spin doctor to get his boss out of a tight situation when she needed something memorable to say at the start of 2019.'
Ouch…
Shock horror politican uses spin doctor.!!!!
She should have shrugged her shoulders and said shes akshully relaxed about it .
I guess the real problem is that, like Kiwibuild, some silly voters might akshully expect her to, I don't know, produce something
Maybe
It's a bit hard to do anything when your lot make out modest changes to our system as a Bolshevik revolution.
So just to be clear you're saying that the COLs failure is because of National/Act, the opposition, whose job it is to oppose the COL is opposing the COL successfully
Huh well ok, that's an…interesting take on it I suppose
So dirty politics is the role of opposition? Is National really presenting itself as a credible government in waiting?
They've built a few state houses puckeroni, your lot'll be able to sell them when they get back in.
Kiwibuild is still building plus thousands of state houses have been built with more under construction, that's producing something is it not?
Not to mention the billion trees are well on schedule.
They have a schedule? I thought it was more of an intention or something
A hundred and fifty million and counting.
Figure 1 in the cabinet paper linked on that page is a bar chart that looks to be scheduling roughly 160mill total 2018 and 2019. So progress is looking reasonable.
Oh, and there's actual progress on my local hospital, so that's another one.
Never a good sign, a political organisation being so bereft of strategic nous that it falls to a comms person to invent a focus.
Also never a good sign when it comes from the Guardian
from Bryce Edwards
Good spotting
Take anything that Bryce Edwards says with a large dose of salt.
According to the Edwards' piece, "…Beehive insiders told leading political journalists that the “Year of Delivery” promise was actually a spin-line…"
Does that mean after the leading political journalists were told one of them told the other journalists such as Edwards?
Where's the proof? its just hearsay isn't?
I haven't read the Edwards' piece because as soon as I saw it was him I didn't bother.
But it sounds like a made-up bit of tosh. Part of the DP election strategy the Nats have chosen to run with. Hope it ends up biting them so hard on the bum they'll be yelping for years afterwards.
Is it climate change, or geoengineering that is accelerating climate change? Be nice if geo' wasn't auto-dismissed especially when we NEED to know exactly how much impact (if any) this is having so we can follow up with solutions.
Indisputable are the patents for weather modification + measurable aluminum where it should not be..whales, bees, rainwater….
Good thing is that if it is a major issue it can be halted immediately, delaying our rapidly approaching demise.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[no climate denial under my posts please – weka]
Tinfoil, literally?
Anat Shenker-Osoroio's mop of hair probably generates its own heat & is a climate change threat. She needs Greta with a large razor to trim it while Greta dissess her with statements like "You have ruined my dreams” "I will never forgive you"
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
You forgot "how dare you"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve8tYdNltGg
Thanks for sharing that ‘classic‘ example of Thunberg belittlement PR – can see why it tickled your fancy. TIME's person of the year (2019) will be cut to the quick.
https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2019-greta-thunberg/
Can't wait for the Adani coal basin development to ‘come online‘ – more coal than you can shake a stick at, I reckon! Looking forward to longer-lasting magical yellow skies.
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-wakes-yellow-skies
She joins an illustrious group all right, I'd certainly want to be associated with them:
Adolf Hitler: TIME's person of the year 1938
Joseph Stalin: TIME's person of the year 1939 & 1942
Ruhollah Khomeini: TIME's person of the year 1979
PR, did you select Hitler/Stalin/Khomeini from a longer list, and (if so), what were your selection criteria?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Person_of_the_Year#Persons_of_the_Year
No need to answer; not surprised that you would choose to associate Thunberg with Hitler and Stalin. IMHO 1988 and 2011 would be better and more accurate choices.
Still, five days left for your Epiphany
Pucky! You're being silly! Thought you'd moved beyond…
Sorry, I just can't and won't accept beratement from a teenager
Dismissing the messenger is usually the easier option. Dismissing the people who listen and respond to the message is even easier.
Don't take that "beratement" personally – Thunberg doesn't know you exist. Fantastic to realise that she's been much much more influential in just one year than you and I will be in our entire lifetimes. What a wonderful world.
An inspiration to tens of millions. Yes yes, I know – "So was Hitler!"
That's OK. They will just work around you anyway.
There's really nothing more persuasive than seeing white men disparaging an autistic teenage girl on the Internet, right? That's the gold standard of persuasive argument right there.
As opposed to listening to the same teenager spouting nothing that hasn't been said and thinking shes the second coming
Shes got a couple of years (18 or 20) before the media tire of her and annoint a new, younger version
Same as the Olsen twins, Brittney, Lindsay, Christina, Mandy etc etc
But in the meantime, this teenage girl can experience everything the world's grumpy old men can throw at her, because she dared to stick out from the rest. Whatever gets you through the night, I guess.
Whodat bugga69?
The opportunity here is that the current bushfire crisis will push a larger number of the population to demand change and more people will then support movements like SS4C, and then the politicians will follow. This is how change happens.
That is very unlikely, as spending billions of dollars with no idea of what effect such expenditure will have is not something I'd recommend. Bjorn Lomborg has made the same point. And bushfires have been happening for decades. Many people possibly wouldn't be aware that there was a huge bushfire in Victoria in 1851 and there have been many large bushfires since.
https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/history-and-incidents/past-bushfires
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I don’t allow climate denial under my posts. This has been well hashed out. Climate scientists and very experienced firefighters are saying you are wrong. These fires are unprecendented in scale, intensity and timing. This isn’t one large bushfire in one area, this is fires across the whole country and at times not normally experienced. And driving that is drought from climate change.
The economic cost of not acting will far, far outweigh any negatives to the economy now from climate action. But there is no good reason to not change the economy.
I don’t allow climate denial under my posts.
I'm not sure if you're referring to someone else as you would well know I'm not a climate denier.
The economic cost of not acting will far, far outweigh any negatives to the economy now from climate action.
Well, that is your opinion but it doesn’t appear to be based on fact. What is a fact is that spending large sums on an indeterminate outcome will mean less expenditure elsewhere.
perhaps you need to make your point clearer then, because it looked to me like you were saying Australia has always had fires, and there's no point in Australia reducing GHGs or taking serious action on CC.
"Well, that is your opinion but it doesn’t appear to be based on fact. What is a fact is that spending large sums on an indeterminate outcome will mean less expenditure elsewhere."
What's the indeterminate outcome?
What's the indeterminate outcome?
Spending billions or trillions of dollars and hoping for the best. That is the antithesis of science.
This year, the world will spend $US162 billion ($230bn) subsidising renewable energy, propping up inefficient industries and supporting middle-class homeowners to erect solar panels, according to the International Energy Agency. In addition, the Paris Agreement on climate change will cost the world from $US1 trillion to $US2 trillion a year by 2030. Astonishingly, neither of these hugely expensive policies will have any measurable impact on temperatures by the end of the century.
Climate campaigners want to convince us that not only should we maintain these staggering costs, but that we should spend a fortune more on climate change, since our very survival is allegedly at stake. But they are mostly wrong, and we’re likely to end up wasting trillions during the coming decades.
…
Over-the-top environmental activists are not only out of synch with the science but they also are out of touch with mainstream concerns. A global poll by the UN of nearly 10 million people found that climate change was the lowest priority of all 16 challenges considered. At the very top, unsurprisingly, are issues such as better education, better healthcare and access to nutritious food. We need to address climate change effectively — but we should remember that there are many other issues that people want fixed more urgently.
https://www.lomborg.com/news/how-to-spend-162bn-to-fix-climate-along-with-everything-else
I guess if we were to print money, we could possibly afford to waste trillions. But we likely won't be printing money – we'll simply be forgoing expenditure elsewhere (eg, health, welfare, education).
since our very survival is allegedly at stake. But they are mostly wrong, and we’re likely to end up wasting trillions during the coming decades.
Garden variety third generation climate denial right there.
Garden variety third generation climate denial right there.
If you say so.
In 2018, 10 million people contracted tuberculosis (TB) and 1.5 million people died from it. A lack of clean drinking water is estimated to cause about a half a million deaths each year. If only some of those trillions spent on climate change was spent elsewhere.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
162 billion USD!!!
"The International Monetary Fund periodically assesses global subsidies for fossil fuels as part of its work on climate, and it found in a recent working paper that the fossil fuel industry got a whopping $5.2 trillion in subsidies in 2017. This amounts to 6.4 percent of the global gross domestic product."
https://www.vox.com/2019/5/17/18624740/fossil-fuel-subsidies-climate-imf
Citing Lomborg does not help your claim.
So what has Lomborg said about climate change? From the link above:
"Global warming is a real, man-made problem…"
Hmmm mayhe's a Holocaust denier because he sure isn't a climate denier.
There are now three generations of CC denial:
1. The planet is not warming
2. The planet is warming but it is natural cycles not human activity
3. Human activity is part of the problem but only a small part and the consequences are greatly exaggerated
Solkta,
Your response is akin to anyone criticising Israel being labelled an anti-semite. Please try and engage meaningfully.
Lomborg is saying that climate change is a real problem but it's not the only problem. He's also saying that it would be foolish to throw vast sums of money at the problem when the expenditure is likely have little impact on climate. He also makes the point that renewables need to be much cheaper, and governments need to commit to making them cheaper.
Nobody here is interested in your smelly poos.
If you are no longer interested in participating in the discussion thread, just walk away and/or say so in the first person singular.
Actually solkta gave a clear summary of climate denial dynamics. Your comments look like a denialist position to me too.
Believing that lowering GHGs won't impact on CC, and advocating against action based on that, is a form of denial. It's dangerous too.
Actually solkta gave a clear summary of climate denial dynamics. Your comments look like a denialist position to me too.
You're wrong, Weka.
Feel free to make the argument about how I am wrong then. I can only go off what I am reading here.
Feel free to make the argument about how I am wrong then. I can only go off what I am reading here.
Well, I've commented here over several years – my views are well known.
To repeat: should we throw billions or trillions of dollars at a problem if we don't know what effect, if any, that spending will have? Lomborg claims it will have a negligible effect. Meanwhile, about two million people die each year from TB or a lack of clean drinking water. Some 400,000 people die each year from malaria.
"An estimated 6.3 million children under 15 years of age died in 2017, or 1 every 5 seconds, mostly of preventable causes, according to new mortality estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Division and the World Bank Group."
“Without urgent action, 56 million children under five will die from now until 2030 – half of them newborns,” said Laurence Chandy, UNICEF Director of Data, Research and Policy. “We have made remarkable progress to save children since 1990, but millions are still dying because of who they are and where they are born. With simple solutions like medicines, clean water, electricity and vaccines, we can change that reality for every child.”
These are huge numbers and greater than the number of deaths caused by climate change. Feel free to ignore these facts on the basis of climate denial. However, that would be unhelpful and wrong.
https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/child-under-15-dies-every-five-seconds-around-world-un-report
Sounds familiar. We shouldn't spend health budgets on reducing smoking while a single tuberculosis case remains untreated.
Lomborg claims it will have a negligible effect.
See, there's your problem right there. You're treating some Danish statistician as an authority on climate and then trying to argue from authority that we don't need to do anything about AGW. That looks like disingenuous AGW denial to the people on this thread, with good reason. You should consider a different approach if you want to post on weka's threads.
Sounds familiar. We shouldn't spend health budgets on reducing smoking while a single tuberculosis case remains untreated.
That's a weird response and completely misses the point I was making. We shouldn't be spending vast sums of money when we have no idea if that spending is going to have much if any impact. That is especially so when other significant problems exist which are resulting in considerable harm and death.
You're treating some Danish statistician as an authority on climate and then trying to argue from authority that we don't need to do anything about AGW.
Hmmm you'll have to point to where he or I say that we should do nothing about AGW. As for making a veiled threat about who should be posting on Weka's threads, those that have to bullshit to bolster their argument should go to Kiwiblog. 🙂
"should we throw billions or trillions of dollars at a problem if we don't know what effect, if any, that spending will have?"
I still don't know what you mean by that. Are you suggesting that lowering global GHG emissions won't effect the progression of climate change?
"As for making a veiled threat about who should be posting on Weka's threads, those that have to bullshit to bolster their argument should go to Kiwiblog."
I've long had a position of no climate denial under my posts. I've written about the why in the past. Sometimes I put a note at the end of the post, but unlike when I first started writing I generally don't need to now because there aren't as many deniers around (and those that are know better).
The onus is on commenters to demonstrate that they're not running denialist lines. I still haven't seen you do that.
Hopefully lombers has some ideas for addressing climate issues AND cleaning up water formerlyrossy?
Parting the waters, surely. Aim high.
For those interested in some context, https://grist.org/article/infamous/
And for those interested in why spending on climate change mitigation might be sensible (including one of the best cartoons on that): https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/climate-change-mitigation-co-benefits-1.5205552
Oprah Winfrey and the positivity click are out in force.
Think positive and the world is your oyster – funny how that has not worked for the last 40 odd years.
Although it keeps getting repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
and repeated.
The answer is not nice words, positive thoughts and good intentions.
The answer is to stop an ideology and system which is killing us.
The sad truth is that all the guns, bombs and nukes – are in the hands of the maniacs who are the biggest stakeholders to keep the ideology and system running.
Only option – stop
Stop driving, stop working, stop being part of the system. Just stop.
Too Soon…
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
By all means adam, stop what you are doing. Turn off the power, the internet, the water and sewerage. Don't use the car, don't go to the supermarket … don't whatever you do go to the doctor or a hospital, call for the police or expect a lawyer to defend you.
And especially don't expect the emergency services to scrape your rotting carcass off the couch.
The point is you cannot stop, you are part of the world whether you like it or not. Stopping is not an option because you have basic needs that must be met, today, tomorrow and next week. Now I have no quibble with you having a vision of a different world, I have no problem at all with idealistic people. But you cannot get there if you starve today.
None of us can, and there are 7b people to feed, today and tomorrow.
Hey Red. At what point over the past few hundred years did the system of production and distribution we're tied into feed all of the world? Pretty sure it's been responsible for a lot of unnecessary starvation because. y'know, "the market". (Obvious eg – Irish people starved as food was exported from Ireland)
Individual action won't cut the mustard. But individual non compliance can contribute to making current arrangements unsustainable. So maybe I'll drive a car if I justify a reason for driving it. And if I determine that a car journey so a guy can make me use my time 'making useless widgets' so he can make money doesn't justify driving a car, then hey…and that Human Rights protection if the legal system considers my reasoning to be on a par with religious belief 🙂
But y'know, I'm a doctor or a nurse or a maintenance guy on crucial infrastructure….I'll drive to work if need be. 😉
And while I do that, society drops its use of carbon related energy by 15% per year…aided and abetted by all those guys refusing to chew carbon for the sake of some cunt making profit from useless widgets…
At what point over the past few hundred years did the system of production and distribution we're tied into feed all of the world?
The old 'demanding perfection' fallacy. Of course the system failed from time to time, yet in 1800 there were just over 1b people and we seriously struggled to feed them reliably. Famine and winter starvation was a stark reality for many. Now we are 7.5b and growing and the biggest problem we have relating to food is that too many of us eat too much.
Yes the bottom 1b humans still live precarious lives, but can you not see progress when it's literally on your plate daily?
Nor am I claiming the forms of economy we have today are perfect and sufficient; that would be insane. Of course there is much room for improvement. But I generally find that the best way to improve a complex machine is not to start with a wrecking ball. Especially not machines I don't fully understand, I'm dependent on, and I don't have a backup for.
The old 'demanding perfection' fallacy
No. I'm pointing out that capitalism has produced famines and prolonged famine because implementing the ideology takes precedence over confronting reality humanely. That's entirely different from saying capitalism didn't prevent hunger or famine.
But I generally find that the best way to improve a complex machine is not to start with a wrecking ball.
Sometimes a tweak here and an adjustment there will be all that's required – that's true. And sometimes reality demands a Copernican revolution. The trick is in recognising the nature of situation confronting you.
Famines and similar disasters long pre-dated capitalism, nor does it produce or prolong them by design. Otherwise why in such an intensely capitalist modern world are they now so comparatively rare? The problem with Ireland was not so much the market economy, but that the Irish people had lost political control over it.
And don't pull the black and white fallacy on me. I may be defending industrialised capitalism for what it has achieved, but I'm not advocating that it can exist divorced from social and political concerns, nor that it's current form is sufficient.
As for Copernicus, his revolution was entirely conceptual. It dramatically shifted our thinking, but on the day nothing changed. People still tilled fields, cooked meals and had babies as they always did. By contrast getting to carbon zero is going to demand a lot of complex, pragmatic change that will impact our daily lives. It's a totally different kind of problem, one that will not be solved with any kind of magical thinking or silver bullet. It will be one tricky damned thing after another, with lots of mistakes and missteps as usual.
Famines and similar disasters long pre-dated capitalism, nor does it produce or prolong them by design.
Of course famines have been around "since forever"! But capitalism does actually produce and prolong famines because of its inherent logic. If you don't like the Irish example, then let me give you the example of Tanzania (subject of the documentary "Darwin's Nightmare") – Nile Perch introduced to Lake Victoria, processed in a Japanese owned fish factory and exported to European restaurants by Russian cargo planes even as the local population starved. Such a shame the locals weren't rationally optimising economic units fruitfully engaging in neutral market transactions for food, eh?
Yes, the Copernican Revolution was conceptual in nature. But what is capitalism if not a concept?
Again your example in Tanzania is more about political failure than the market. One of the core primary duties of any modern government is to ensure food security for it's people. I wonder if that documentary examined the role of the Tanzanian government in this? And would I loose much money if I bet on a fair bit of official corruption somewhere in that sadly sordid loop?
But what is capitalism if not a concept?
Carbon zero may be an idea, but achieving it is not. It will demand a substantial rewiring of our entire industrial economy … while it continues to feed, clothe and protect us daily. I see that as an intensely practical undertaking. Conceptual my arse 🙂
So you've never seen the documentary but confidently state the famine was down to dodgy politics, not the rationale of economics. Watch it and then come back to me on the topic if you want.
I've never suggested that getting to zero carbon from fuel was anything other than a practical undertaking. What I said was that capitalism is just a concept – one that stands four square against any practical undertaking vis a vis global warming.
I'm also slightly curious as to who this "us" is that you're referring to. Does it include the people of Venezuela who are being starved or otherwise killed by the US led economic blockade of the country? Or does it include all the Iranians and/or Syrians who are being similarly denied basic requirements of life? Or the homeless in New York or London or Cairo or Auckland….does it include them? I'm thinking it only includes people you'd imagine to be in a position not so unlike your own (ie comparable). And Red? That's a minority of humanity.
OK go right ahead and smash capitalism today. Then get back to me on who you are going to buy your solar panels from. Or any of the myriad goods and services we will need to build carbon zero economies for 7b people in the next few decades.
Best wishes Bill.
Best wishes to you too Red.
Who can I buy my solar panels from today Red? And where can I get that double glazing from? Or any of the other (soon to be) basic necessities in a 'globally warmed' world?
I can't afford jack shit.
Truth be told, if 10 years ago I reckoned I'd live to be 80+ (all things being equal), with the apparently accelerating effects of AGW, I think it's entirely reasonable to contemplate popping well before my 80s during an extended heatwave in the not too distant.
Because capitalism can't be relied on to provide people's basic needs if there’sd a better buck to be made elsewhere.
No single system can be relied upon, indeed the marxist economies were notably poor at it as well. Again don't pull the false dichotomy on me, I'm not arguing capitalism can exist in a moral or political vacuum. That's the libertarian mistake, and not even Adam Smith argued for that.
I think you're attributing benefits that may have happened despite capitalism to capitalism, and problems capitalism was solely responsible for to things other than capitalism. Has agriculture been boosted more by terminator seeds, or by government investment in irrigation projects?
NZ agriculture is still reaping the benefits of govt crop advances made when 2/3 of people worked for the government, but capitalism has no interest in funding and building infrastructure.
Capitalism is expendable but sadly unavoidable. Government is not expendable, but frequently degraded or absent.
Too Soon…? lol Nope.
Far too late if the intention was to be "not clattered" by the effects of global warming.
The priests (economists and politicians in their service) 'led us' over a cliff edge. There be many who are turning to those very same sources and asking that they send up prayers or what nots – looking for them to formulate and deliver a plan that we might follow. (eg – A Green New Deal)
The priests took us off this cliff edge. The question is around what's to be done when the top of the cliff's up there? Pretend the wind in the hair is because we're flying? That's the notion the priests and all the believers and not a few agnostics are hanging on to 🙂
The climate change debacle provides us with a profound lesson; that extremists at both ends of a debate can and will derail effective action.
By contrast the ozone CFC depletion problem did not involve big powerful interests out to defend their profits, nor ideological lefties yelling catastropohism and determined to thereby 'smash capitalism'. It was dealt to firmly and with remarkable efficiency.
Of course fossil CO2 was always going to be a much bigger problem, but we could have made far better progress towards solving it if the debate had not become so political and intensely polarised.
The extremists are today's economists and politicians – if slavish adherence to an political/economic theory that's laying waste to a planet's biosphere doesn't clear the bar for being reasonably viewed as a member of a death cult, then nothing does.
Now you can finger point, and you can smear, and you can wave your arms all you like, but that cliff edge is way up there and we're traveling in a singular direction at quite a clip, thanks entirely to industrial capitalism.
And ICI went to great lengths to stop movement on CFC (it was their gravy train requiring a high tech solution from ICI, except it wasn't 😉 )
thanks entirely to industrial capitalism.
Yet you are only alive and commenting on the internet because of this same industrial capitalism. Quite the conundrum really.
Oh and the Australians would have had a price on carbon a decade ago, if the Greens had not scuppered it with an idiotic insistence that Rudd’s scheme was ‘not good enough’. Plenty of ideologues to go around.
Your supposed conundrum's a bit thin.
I'm alive, not because of industrial capitalism, but because a woman got pregnant and gave birth to me. Now, would there be an internet without capitalism? Possibly (no compelling reason why not). Would I be commenting on global warming in that case? Probably not.
Australians, carbon prices….what!? Carbon prices do not impact on the use of carbon based fuel. The studies have been done and I've previously highlighted those studies in posts I've done for 'the standard'.
but because a woman got pregnant and gave birth to me.
In 1800's Victorian England the life expectancy was around 36 years. I'm assuming you and I are somewhat older than this.
As for carbon pricing … tell this to the Australian Greens who were demanding more of it. And as is usual with anything climate related the answer is 'complicated'.
But my point was not that carbon pricing is any kind of silver bullet, but that ideologues in the Australian Green Party literally hung two Labour PM's out to dry on climate change, and thereby opened the door to Tony Abbott and a decade of political toxicity. ScoMo is merely the latest installment in this debacle. All when Rudd had virtually achieved a bi-partisan agreement in principle.
I wonder what happened to life expectancy immediately prior to enclosure and immediately after. You reckon it went up? All that coal mining and those city slums and cotton mills in lieu of land where people could grow food probably worked 'wonders' on that front, aye?
I don't think you are claiming that modern life expectancies are somehow lower than 200 years ago. Of course there is no rule that says progress is a neat, linear affair with no setbacks. For instance the one group in the USA with declining life expectancy right now is white working age males. (Please keep the cheering polite and subdued /sarc).
Yet here we are globally where life expectancy is typically double what it was 200 years ago. Over a period when our total population increased around 7 fold. All this in the context of a highly scientific, technical, industrialised economies based largely on a mix of capitalist and social policies. That's not too shabby really.
PS. And that’s it from me for now. Best wishes to you all personally. We live in very interesting times and I truly wish nothing but the best for you all. There is so much risk and opportunity all muddled up right now; it’s not easy wading through this.
"By contrast the ozone CFC depletion problem did not involve big powerful interests out to defend their profits" – really?
So what. Very quickly the science prevailed. Of course ICI and Dupont had every reason to defend their interests, and it's entirely unsurprising they would attempt to do so. But in this case they soon realised they had some perfectly acceptable technical alternatives, that not only solved the problem, but represented a decent commercial opportunity.
The reality is there wasn't a decade or so of funding directed at mass disinformation campaigns undermining the Montreal Protocol remotely comparable to the fossil carbon story. Or if there was I sure didn't notice it.
The quote is a directly relevant example of big powerful interests out to defend their profits – that’s “So what.”
What “the top 'golden' 1b” notice has, indeed, been largely a matter of choice. Maybe wealth will continue to be a good insulator.
This time next year, Simon Bridges could be the Prime Minister .
…in his dreams…
… in our nightmares.
Hate to say it, but I agree with you.
Happy New Year, with drones instead of fireworks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhDEEN4gcpI
Australian Green Party statement from 2013 on fuel reduction burns.
https://www.facebook.com/Australian.Greens/posts/141378112687123
Tweets about Winston Peters.
What?
See https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/93050983/winston-peters-accidentally-shares-social-media-search-on-himself-or-does-he