Posts by Alastair Jamieson
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We aren't going to destroy the planet. We can lead to changes that destroy human civilisation, but the planet will continue to evolve and will chew us up and spit us out as it goes along.
I don't buy this attitude - or really understand it. I tend to think we have some kind of responsibility - at very least ourselves and our descendants - to keep the place in a habitable condition. It's not like it's impossible.
Perhaps "the planet" would survive, but what about all the other species that would go with us? Would all those tigers, kokako, dolphins and trees that go extinct just be some kind of inconsequential collateral damage that didn't require any consideration while we decided to consume our way down the gurgler?
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James Lovelock, who now believes it's too late to save the world
I prefer George Monbiot's view, detailed in his book 'Heat', that it's still (just) possible to avoid global climatic disaster by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But, the only way I see that this can happen in time is for businesses, communities and governments to design their response to the economic crisis to also deal decisively with the environmental crisis. Today's jobs summit missed an opportunity to take an important step in that direction.
Having just started to vote when a NZ government was out on the world stage standing up against nuclear weapons, the past few months have seemed very odd indeed with our government lagging substantially behind even the US in it's response to global climate change. It's the sort of issue I'd expect NZ to lead the world on.
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I'm completely underwhelmed by the results of the 'do-fest.' If the government's going into the business of make work schemes, surely there are endless opportunities to address actual issues that are already plaguing the country, rather than making sh*t up?
One example (and my particular concern) is the natural environment, where New Zealand is sadly a front runner in the global extinction crisis.
Surely the Minister of Tourism of all people is aware that New Zealand's treasured 'Clean Green' image is wearing very thin indeed? The country is barely managing its commitments under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity through the NZ Biodiversity Strategy, so how about some action and serious government investment to sort that out? Conservation initiatives like pest control and restoration are labour intensive, so wouldn't they be a starter to create jobs? What about investment and innovation in to actually reducing energy use and carbon pollution, rather than wasting time figuring out how to make the most of them as conceptual trading opportunities?
While I can appreciate David's enthusiasm for a national cycleway, the project is essentially a long, very narrow road, that can only create work in a sector which AFAIK is already stretched to capacity.
It's time this government got over it's allergy to environmental issues, realised the country (and planet) is not an infinite resource, and got serious about looking after them - and creating the jobs to achieve some real change.
No doubt PA readers with more social concerns can also think of many other areas that need attention, and could use more people working in them.
</rant>
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My vote this year is for melamine. Great word, rolls off the tongue beautifully, but before 2008 who knew it was anything but some kind of benchtop? And it may yet bring down NZ's largest exporter...
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I wonder will a carbon tax work both ways - if I start my own carbon sequestration program will I get money from the govt?
If you have more than 50ha of native scrub on the hill behind your house that you're not ever going to convert to dairying/ pine trees/ firewood or anything else, you might qualify for carbon credits under Landcare Research's EBEX21 (Emissions-Biodiversity Exchange) programme.
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Wouldn't it be a pisser if Key is turning out to be a hell of a lot like Clark in one important respect -- radical only in his ruthless pragmatism.
I wonder if that's exactly it - it's been impossible to pin down what Key stands for, but it's staring us right in the face. He just wants to be PMONZ, nothing more, nothing less, and he's going to hold onto that no matter what it takes. Just as RB said-
John Key looked more pleased for himself than anything else on Saturday night
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great scenery
Forget the Environmental Protection Agency, there's a clear need for a Ministry of Scenery going forward. Someone better find out if Peter Jackson's available for the role of Director General...
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Who's the world's greatest democracy now, hmm?
Well Emma, point taken, but today, actually, I think perhaps it's the USA again. If any of the speeches after our election on Saturday make me feel anything like this one does, I'd agree unreservedly...
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Don't want to interrupt the cat anecdotes for too long but,
...as you choose your adult Halloween costume.
consider Sarah Palin, apparently she's all the rage for Halloween this year.
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(Merrill Lynch, for example?)
Vote National, get Lynched?