While we are at it – let’s try to save the planet

Written By: - Date published: 12:32 am, November 10th, 2015 - 49 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags:

Can’t be many more important campaigns than saving the planet right?  Only people power will change the current economic levers which are designed to burn burn burn.  We have the chance to join with others around the world ahead of the climate talks in Paris to send a strong message to our Government that we want NZ to maximise its contribution to this programme.

On 27 and 28 November just before the climate talks in Paris,  the “Peoples Climate March” will take place around the world including in NZ to call for a real climate action plan from that conference.  One that will  reverse the growth of carbon pollution and reverse the terrible destruction of the planet through climate change.

These are expected to be the biggest demonstrations on climate on the planet and we need to do our part in NZ with a Government that to date has shown no commitment to playing its role in this agenda.  Don’t miss them!

You can offer to help and get details here.

Climate change is a workers issue – there are no jobs on a dead planet.  We need to ensure climate change trends are reversed and the economic and social impacts of making that change are managed so that there is a ‘just transition’  to decent jobs in a greener environment.

I will be there – I hope to see you there too!

49 comments on “While we are at it – let’s try to save the planet ”

  1. Sorry Helen, but the desire for full employment and workers rights has been one of the biggest drivers of climate change.
    If on the other hand we had kept our population down, and run a society with say 80% unemployment, humans might have many decades left, as apposed to the maybe 2 we have now.
    Full employment means more destruction of the human friendly environment, more oil and gas, more minerals, more mining, more deep sea drilling,more top soil loss, more wars etc etc.
    It is growth in employment/population that has bought us to the point of extinction.
    China is a fine example of what the insane push for full employment looks like 7 – 14% growth has destroyed China’s environment, (laying as much concrete as the USA did over 100 years in just 3 didn’t help), to the point 1.2 billion people face running out of potable water inside of 10 years, they are nearly at the stage of running out of water for INDUSTRY (read jobs). Can you picture how many flat out spending consumers it would take to keep the factories open in China? They have over built nearly 2 years supply of everything, the world wouldn’t notice if China inc took a couple of years off at the moment.
    There just isn’t enough ‘stuff’ or consumers on the planet to employ everyone now, let alone as massive swaths of land are being taken out of production due to climate change, deforestation, desert creep, drought, war, pollution, population expansion (suburbia)
    What to do ? I haven’t a clue ??? except I do know doing more of what has caused this cluster fuck isn’t the answer, ponzi growth based savings scams isn’t the answer, trying to maintain this population isn’t the answer ie to do so we will need to produce as much food in the next 50 years as humans have ‘produced’ in the past 10,000 years – that is what 7 – 9 billion hungry people will take to sustain, giving them all a happy green environment jobs is impossible.
    Hippy love-ins maybe?
    The ice burg is well and truly in the rear view mirror, Copout 21 is just chucking buckets of water into steerage.
    Ho hum (

    • Mike the Savage One 1.1

      You raise some very valid points of argument there. Things are NOT getting better on a global scale, and certainly not in China:

      http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/09/airpocalypse-now-china-pollution-reaching-record-levels

      I have just looked outside again, like every morning in rush hour Auckland the massive number of residents are out in their cars in droves, driving to work, study and taking their kids to school. There is NO honest awareness and certainly NO action of significance to address the very causes of climate change here.

      The often proclaimed increase in public transport use in Auckland can easily be explained by the growing population, which includes a significant increase also of students to study here longer term, and new migrants first looking for work and so. They do not rush to buy their own cars, they use buses and trains, while they get established. For most resident New Zealanders, workers, students or business people or whatever else, they continue their love affair with their metal cabin on four wheels, mostly powered by fossil fuels.

      If we were going to switch all cars to electric, demand would suck up so much electricity, little would be left for powering washing machines and fridges at homes, or even for commercial business and industry.

      So much for a “sustainable” New Zealand, so far less than half-hearted talk and nothing much else. And voters will not vote for swift change, as they fear change (most that is). They will not vote for higher fuel costs, for a switch that will so far cost more than to continue burning fossil fuels. The government does not care much either, as we know, and the Greens struggle to get over 11 percent of those that bother voting. I rest my case, with huge concern, frustration and also anger.

      In reality this is what people and governments are more concerned about, looking like possums into the headlights of a car rushing towards them:
      http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34763751

      P.S.: By the way, personally I intend to go to the local climate march, but fear most people will nevertheless rather rush to the malls to do their usual weekend shopping or to prepare for some diy at home.

      • Bill 1.1.1

        How many of the vehicles in the rush hour are people going off to perform tasks that offer nothing to society; that they resent doing; that they feel compelled to do under fear of being kicked out of house and home?

        How many of those vehicles would be on the road if there was a a general strike happening alongside a debt strike? So, no going to the job today unless it’s socially useful or necessary. No payments towards the mortgage or the rent or the HP or the overdraft.

        Either we’re going to that or something similar or the effects of climate change will mean it’s impossible to do your job today (a huge variety of possible scenarios) and the monies you’re paying, that you won’t be paying because no-one will be paying you, are all dropping into the black holes of a wholly broken and fragmented financial system.

        I guess we’ll choose not to take the first option and so wind up having the first option forced on us alongside a whole heap of chaos.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2

        The often proclaimed increase in public transport use in Auckland can easily be explained by the growing population, which includes a significant increase also of students to study here longer term, and new migrants first looking for work and so.

        Probably not actually. As the Auckland Transport Blog has reported for some time actual driven kilometres has been dropping for some time.

        If we were going to switch all cars to electric, demand would suck up so much electricity, little would be left for powering washing machines and fridges at homes, or even for commercial business and industry.

        The answer is to get rid of cars. They’re totally uneconomic and really should never have become common. They’re a great example of how our financial system encourages and even enforces uneconomic behaviour.

        • Lanthanide 1.1.2.1

          “The answer is to get rid of cars. They’re totally uneconomic and really should never have become common.”

          Disagree that they’re uneconomic – if this were so, then literally billions of people would not have chosen to buy them.

          The problems are two-fold really:
          1. The proper cost of oil and petrol has never been paid by the car-driving consumer
          2. Societies have been built around cars, due to their heavily subsidised cost making them a very attractive solution to transportation problems, further embedding the requirement for cars.

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.1.1

            Disagree that they’re uneconomic – if this were so, then literally billions of people would not have chosen to buy them.

            One does not follow the other as your 2 problems show. Cars have been heavily subsidised throughout the 20th century both directly (councils and governments building for cars) and indirectly (subsidies of the oil companies).

            Take those subsidies away and would people have bought cars quite so readily?

            • Lanthanide 1.1.2.1.1.1

              Given the alternative is pretty much horse and carriage for carting goods, or personal transport like bicycles. Yes, people still would have bought cars.

              • Draco T Bastard

                We had trains before we had cars and just because cars are uneconomic doesn’t mean that trucks aren’t. Cars, if they had been priced correctly from the start, would never have seen anything other than government and business use.

                Bicycles for personal transport are great. Great for both individual and family transportation.

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVzW984ITKk

    • Rosemary McDonald 1.2

      “Sorry Helen, but the desire for full employment and workers rights has been one of the biggest drivers of climate change.”

      Sorry Robert Atack, but I think you’re wrong. The desire for profit has been the biggest driver.

      Imagine…if the Business Barons had made the decision to reduce the use of cheap fossil fuels to power their factories….taken a hit on their profits and sincerely developed alternates?

      Imagine….if goods were manufactured to last…not with built in obsolescence. Our gadgets would cost more, but we would be using less of the Planet’s resources in manufacturing.

      Imagine… if businesses were forced to pay for the environmental damage attached to their profits. Land, air and water pollution completely unacceptable.

      Imagine….if the Business Barons were forced to provide safe workplaces. Not only from accidents, but from exposure to chemicals which are proven to harm health?

      Some of the cost cutting(profit maintaining) practices would cease. More workers just might be needed to ensure environmental regulations were met.

      People would be healthier…with the resultant reduction in state healthcare costs.

      Yes…control population growth….that’s a no brainer.

      Yes….put real international effort into better food distribution. There is plenty of food….with half the Planet’s population overweight….the food isn’t getting to the people who need it….profit again.

      I don’t know either….maybe this conversation is starting too late?

      BTW…TPP rallies THIS weekend….fight against the Business Barons.
      Climate change rallies on the 28th….be there…show you give a shit.

      • Colonial Viper 1.2.1

        “Sorry Helen, but the desire for full employment and workers rights has been one of the biggest drivers of climate change.”

        Sorry Robert Atack, but I think you’re wrong. The desire for profit has been the biggest driver.

        We’re in a system where no jobs are created if corporations are not profitable.

        If any business loses profitability for an extended amount of time, it will lay off workers one way or another.

        So the two of you are simply looking at the same problem from different sides.

        A third side is that investors demand higher returns from business managers, forcing business managers to act in certain ways. So you could blame investors as a core part of the problem as well.

        We’ve created a system where the kind of living standard we want depends on very high levels of energy use and material consumption.

        And that entire system is on the verge of collapse – and that’s for the top 25% of the world’s population. For the bottom 75% of the world’s population, that system only ever worked against them anyway.

        • Rosemary McDonald 1.2.1.1

          I’d agree that the system is on the verge of collapse.

          But surely, the Business Barons can see this?

          And…they can’t take it with them.

          What is the point of sustaining an unsustainable system.

          (“living standard” is personal. Maybe those of us forced into what many would consider a ‘lower standard of living’ will prevail when shit gets real.)

          • greywarshark 1.2.1.1.1

            Rosemary M
            ‘I’d agree that the system is on the verge of collapse.
            But surely, the Business Barons can see this?’

            It could be that psychological study is needed to understand that. There is a theory that says people tend to transfer measures of love, self-regard and wellbeing into money and possessions. As the physical assets grow so they feel empowered, rewarded and bolstered in self-esteem. And more is better.

            Being able to stand alone not surrounded or dependent on other’s approbation because of one’s spoils of life would require them to step away and find the real individual under the baubles (if there is one left).

          • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1.2

            But surely, the Business Barons can see this?

            And…they can’t take it with them.

            Look at the vast numbers of multi-million dollar holiday getaway homes in Queenstown and Wanaka owned by the overseas 0.1% set who are hardly ever there.

            In their minds, that’s what counts as “preparing” for potential future collapse.

            • Rosemary McDonald 1.2.1.1.2.1

              Now…I didn’t like to point that out….

              They used to, in the past, settle their privileged arses on coastal properties.

              Alas, with AGW, and the ever rising tide and the ever decreasing value of their seafront homes…..

              (And they stuffed up a bit in Wanaka and Queenstown didn’t they….not making provision in their town planning for housing for the plebs….)

          • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1.3

            But surely, the Business Barons can see this?

            Research carried out over the last few decades indicates that large numbers of our business and political ‘leaders’ are psychopaths.

            Guess what? They know and they don’t care.

            http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2013/04/25/the-disturbing-link-between-psychopathy-and-leadership/
            https://hbr.org/2004/10/executive-psychopaths
            http://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/sep/01/psychopath-workplace-jobs-study
            http://brainfodder.org/ceo-psychopath/

        • Chris 1.2.1.2

          “We’re in a system where no jobs are created if corporations are not profitable…If any business loses profitability for an extended amount of time, it will lay off workers one way or another.”

          Yes, and government says this is how things are and responds with a more stringent work test for the unemployed, secure in the knowledge there’ll be no opposition.

    • johnm 1.3

      R.A. 1000% right on! But here in PC NZ not right on! if you want to be with the informed club here just keep the Hopium BS going. The truth leaves you out in the cold. No one believes the biosphere can actually evict us.! Could affect our driving experience?

  2. We have to change our thinking to prepare our communities for the future with the effects of climate change and cheap fuel running out. I don’t really see a while we are at it approach as the way to do that. The old paradigms are holding us back from facing up to and preparing for the challenges imo.

    • Sabine 2.1

      WE have to change our actions.

      little case study. Friend of mine has a daughter who is old enough to drive. It drives him crazy that she does not want to make her license. She being the girl of the future simply states that it makes no sense getting a lisence, buying a care and maintaining it as she could not afford it as a student on a part time job (she works for me). She also sees no reason to have and maintain a car as she can use bus, train and airplanes for travel should she need it. He can not fathom that she chooses public transport (and yes I consider airplanes part of public transport) rather then have a car and do the Kiwi thing of driving to the dairy to get milk.

      I would venture to say that the young generation knows pretty much that what ever we are having now is only borrowed goods, and lives accordingly. 6 – 8 in a three bedroom, with maybe one or two cars that get shared, working their 0 hour/0 dollar jobs. They are not the problem.

      The ones that need changing are those that need a Humvee to feel save when they drive to work, that need a car for every member of the family, that need million dollar values on their houses, that need strawberries from Colombia in Winter, and Palm Oil in everything. And sadly these guys are not changing, they really do believe that they will be the ones to sell the last cup o tea on this planet.

      I believe that we are going to change the system, when we have demonstrations for public transport, and fruit trees in parks.

      • Bill 2.1.1

        I believe that we are going to change the system, when we have demonstrations for public transport, and fruit trees in parks.

        Or maybe when anyone in a car just routinely stops to offer pedestrians a lift and when we just go and plant the bloody fruit trees in the park 😉

        What was that Jim Morrison line? Oh yeah – “We want the world, and we want it now.” I’d say stop protesting the fact and just take it. You in?

        • Sabine 2.1.1.1

          been doing it for sometime. 🙂

          I remember the faces of shock and horror twenty odd years ago when I told Kiwis that i don’t have a car, and only ever had one for about a year. When they asked me how you get around, I said by bicycle – and yes there where not many around in AKL in the mid/late 90’s that used a pushbike – or walk, or bus. And the word bus literally send shivers down the spine of all. So effn funny.

          And I really have a thing for guerrilla gardening. It is so much fun. 🙂

          Alas, we are now at the age, where instead of protecting trees we are removing safeguards to fucking knock them down for a subdivison, or a garage or a drive way., essentially in a nutshell for fuck all.

          • Bill 2.1.1.1.1

            So you’re in! 🙂 And I’m in. And a fair few people I know are in.

            Seems the only barrier is spatial separation (edit – and as Adam has written, a lack of experience). That will diminish and vanish as more people raise their heads, raise their hands, raise their expectations and opt in, no?

            Sure, there are massive time constraints and a need to act with the utmost urgency. But while I’m being positive, I’ll draw on the example – with a whole pile of caveats and qualifications – and of how incredibly fast the USSR collapsed.

            Change, when it occurs, happens fast… even, we might say, instantly.

    • Bill 2.2

      I took the “while we’re at it” as being somewhat and deliberately ironic….or dry.

      It’s a fact that there will be no jobs on a dead planet. But no, the planet isn’t going to die.

      There will be no jobs with no market economy. The market economy drives the activities that drive CC. A small plus is that there will be no market economy in a world beset with CC. But there will still be economies (we always need to provide for ourselves on a scale beyond the individual).

      I think we need to cut to the chase, dump the market economy now and begin developing a new economy before CC takes away both our ability to choose what type of economy we want as well the time to develop and fine tune it.

    • maui 2.3

      ++ lots, we are completely unprepared for any oil shock. There is no public discourse on how our society looks like with no oil or small amounts of oil to hand. This is our greatest blindspot I think, we have to start acting for self sufficiency now. Unless people think they can still get food with limited trucks running and bare supermarket shelves.

  3. Ad 3

    All power to Helen. More voices for good that are there, the better.

  4. just saying 4

    https://www.facebook.com/events/1497899440503746/

    The Dunedin March is on the 29th. Details at the link above.
    Meeting at the Dental School at 1pm.
    Looking forward to seeing all the local Standardistas there!

  5. Colonial Viper 5

    It’s worth remembering that once upon a time the ‘progressive left’ was dead set against “wage slavery” because it was seen as destructive of the true creative and productive potential of a human being.

    Now the progressive left advocates for wage slavery, as long as it is sufficiently well paid.

    Ironic.

    • Bill 5.1

      Yes and no.

      I’m probably seen as a part of any progressive left. And I’m dead set against wage slavery – it’s the anarchist in me 😉

      I don’t think there was ever a time that the parliamentary left was against wage slavery and it’s probably fair to say that many unions formed to protect given trades in a capitalist framework – not to challenge the framework.

      Then there was all those Bolsheviks and the various cults that spawned from Leninism that claimed to be progressive but that just wanted to seize power in order to put a slightly different yoke on workers.

      • Colonial Viper 5.1.1

        As you know, the initial formation of the NZ Labour Party was seen as a major compromise towards the interests of the ruling capitalist establishment.

        • Bill 5.1.1.1

          Yup. I know that. It was the same for all Labour Parties. Many on the later to be utterly marginalised left saw the danger in that and never did stfu about it. Time to re-evaluate the use of parliamentary parties as vehicles for meaningful change? Given CC, I’d say we do that re-evaluation real fucking fast and then get on with it (trying to, as the post says, save the planet).

  6. greywarshark 6

    Idea – this is an important, actually vital and ongoing post that Helen is hosting. it is one that is obviously close to Helen Kelly’s heart. I think she is leading us to a useful way to think about and discuss our looming problems.

    I ask if this post could be a permanent one under the same heading, going up every day along with Open Mike and the Daily Review. We can feed useful things we do or have heard or read about into it. Then all those things will be kept in this post and be a resource for ideas and others’ thoughts when we are puzzled. Can this be done TS planners?

    Helen’s good thinking and vibes will go on inspiring us, and we will carry these forward and inspire each other. And some days not much will go up, but it will be there awaiting thought or research back in TS archives, and be so needed as time goes on. When anyone thinks what can I do, or starts to despair, it would be the go-to place.

    How about it! Thinking of Helen, and thinking of us all. It would be good to have.

    • KDW 6.1

      Excellent idea, greywarshark!

      This thread has been very interesting reading – it’s critical that we drive more conversations like this about climate change and related issues, especially with a NZ perspective, so that talking about them and a willingness to take action becomes normalised. We need a powerful social shift in order make progress at the pace we need. More conversation will help improve knowledge, dispel apathy, encourage action, generate ideas and solutions; and most importantly help get other people involved (who may want to be, but don’t have anyone to talk to about these things!)

      A friend of mine has the goal to have at least one “climate conversation” each day, mostly with workmates. She organises regular conversation spaces at work, and has seen some quite amazing shifts in her workmates’ perspectives as a result. I think this is something we should all be doing.

      • greywarshark 6.1.1

        I think your friend is amazing KDW, I’m gobsmacked. I can feel inertia dragging me back when I should be making changes that I know multiplied would be good. As more people do things it inspires us. And we need a paradigm shift in thinking. Just having a portal to it in a familiar blog space would be good.

        Thanks for your helpful comments and your summary and ideas of where we are.

  7. savenz 7

    A big problem is this very one sided fixation on ‘growth’ in economics.

    A growing unprofitable business seems to be considered better than one that is stable but profitable. This drives business to look more for growth than profit and it unsustainable.

    In addition a lot of business is looked at within very short time frames of profit and loss. So it drives executives to only look at short term profits as they are rewarded for that.

    In the long term for example if an executive invested in solar or hybrid cars or even research and development and innovation they would be better off but in the short term it costs them to change or innovate so they don’t do it.

    At the same time losing jobs is considered ‘good’ as it is ‘managing’ the business better and being ‘more efficient’.

    I don’t agree that increased employment and a better planet are what is causing climate change. It is the neoliberal ideology of greed with too many people that is the problem.

    Also as an individual we can just make personal choices to decrease climate change.

    Under TPP and other agreements ‘social’ factors are not allowed to be declared to consumers such as GM, country of origin and so forth. This is the opposite of saving the planet.

    Apparently as well as reducing biosecurity for countries under TPP (i.e. being able to challenge inspections and safety of food) it also has deleted 6 out of 7 conditions for environmental protection used in other trade agreements.

  8. All this nonsense talk about Full employment being the biggest driver of climate change.
    In a fossil fuel free world less consumptive lifestyles give a great opportunity for work. Imagine what will be achieved by community participation in setting up the alternatives
    Local gardens new or old tried and proven replacement transport systems.
    New humanitarian models for assisting each other
    As an octogenarian I have experienced the like from depression and war year of shortages and rationing.
    Our grandkids will in survival mode be living in a virtually fossil free world. Shouldn’t we at least be making it as easy as possible for them
    Yes Gisborne will be having a Peoples Climate March as well.
    A planet fit for life ios what we are fighting for
    Bob Hughes

    • Bill 8.1

      I think you need to differentiate between work and jobs. We all work and there’s nothing wrong with work. There’s a lot wrong with jobs.

    • Colonial Viper 8.2

      All this nonsense talk about Full employment being the biggest driver of climate change.

      Everyone drives to work Bob, burning petrol and diesel. How’s that for a start.

      • savenz 8.2.1

        Actually with IT many people work from home. In other countries people use public transport, cycle or walk if they do use that hopefully outdated the idea of an office….

      • Mike the Savage One 8.2.2

        It is worse, they drive to work, then after work drive to the gym, to do exercise, that is using their body, some doing it on an exercycle and walking machine. That is the idiocy of our modern day society.

        On weekends a fair few here in Auckland DRIVE to the parks or outer suburbs and the waterfront, to jump on their bicycles and do a few rounds there.

        Few get the damned logical idea, to not bother paying for a gym membership and to not bother driving in a car everywhere, and start right from home, riding a bicycle, which is totally common in places like Copenhagen, Amsterdam and many other places in Europe. There are excellent cycle ways all along streets and roads in many towns and cities, along even rural roads, all over many countries in Central, Northern and some parts of Western Europe.

        Fact is, people in NZ are largely trained from a young age, to be lazy in that regard, to drive everywhere, and a car is still by most a desired means of transport, as most frown on sitting next to others in buses and trains, who they rather not share a close encounter with (from say the lower end of the social spectrum).

        Then they also like to jump into the car at any minute or hour, for convenience, to drive where they want to go, as they dislike having to depend on bus schedules and connections and all that stuff. Convenience is a huge thing in NZ, I discovered, that is why cities here are designed a bit similar to US American cities from the post WW2 era where the motor-vehicle was the standard means of transport. In Europe, Asia and other places, people learn to adjust and accept restrictions, and to use timetables and public transport for their transport. That is alien to NZers.

        The middle class is firmly locked into this behaviour, that is most of them, and that is the major challenge here. I see no way that education and motivational drives will change this, they need to be forced, that is the sad truth. And that will not happen by a voted in government, as they will not vote for pro green governments making their lives “harder”, they will do all to keep it as it is. I t will most likely happen due to economic or social or other catastrophes, pushing most into poverty, or into situations, where there will be no easy access to fossil fuels anymore, so they have no choice.

        The only other alternative is the most likely one, that NZ will like in most matters wait until the rest of the developed world changes and sets the new standards, and then simply follow, at the tail end.

        • greywarshark 8.2.2.1

          I agree Mike the Savage that travelling by public transport is lower class. That’s for women and the unskilled. A car is a step up, and the way that a real male travels. But a real male now uses cycles for sport and getting out into the environment.

          They are trying to take over every pedestrian way so there is nowhere peaceful and safe to walk without being alert for some guided missile behind, in front or passing. And the cycling brigade are astonished and angered and disappointed in the obtuseness of pedestrians and those who would limit them in their chosen pursuits. After all it is healthy and not using fuel so good for the environment and they wear an invisible halo, and see themselves as the chosen ones who could have the cycle tracks laid out with a red carpet for them except that would be silly and unmanly.

          Now in Nelson they are trying to make a tourist attraction by building a lift from a scenic hill previously used by walkers having a quiet, bush experience within city limits. The lift is to take bikers high and they will zig zag round the hill so that it is part of a outdoor cycle-attractive city. that they can promote for tourism. It will increase traffic up a long narrow valley much of it heavily settled with young families using the roads. Definitely not a people-friendly sport. Walkers you’re against progress, our cycling fraternity’s progress. You want to live in the dark ages. Go climb a tree!
          edited

  9. capn insano 9

    Well we have problems when we have people like Dick Quax voting in favour of deep-sea drilling whilst questioning money spent on climate research.

    • greywarshark 9.1

      Dick Quax is like many sports people. There is a narrow track they pace, with a simple outcome, and they have to put all their energies and thought and determination into getting from A to B for no useful reason. They go at life outside sport similarly. See the ball or the target, keep your eye on it, watch intensely, don’t get sidetracked by extraneous chatter. Above anything else achieve the result. Project successful. Celebrate.

      There is no confusion or discussion about whether the project is right or appropriate. If the person/s with money, sponsors, say it is then it’s Holy Writ.
      edited

  10. I and my Union in France will demonstrate in Paris, alongside with Sharan BURROWS and ITUC. We live alltogether on the same planet. There is no “plan B” than social justice for a safe planet.

  11. greywarshark 11

    Something to add to Helen Kelly’s plea for conservation and saving the planet.
    This is on the $billion asset to humans of coral reefs. And about these amazing little organisms, more amazing than us, and more valuable to the health of the planet and of us, than we are!

    A TED talk by a committed, knowledgable person with images. Really wonderful and hopeful too.
    https://www.ted.com/talks/kristen_marhaver_how_we_re_growing_baby_corals_to_rebuild_reefs

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T17:03:49+00:00