Greenweek 3 April 09: Eels, ambulances and soy undies

Party: Greens

Sender: Green Party of Aotearoa NZ <[email protected]>

Date Received: 2009-04-03 16:49

HTML Version

3rd April 2009 : E-news from the Green Party Parliamentary team

This week's video and audio
Watch Green MPs Sue Bradford and Sue Kedgley give a brief rundown on the report from the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance. (2m59s).
NZ fails to set an emission target: watch Dr Kennedy Graham question the Minister for Climate Change Negotiations here (6m09s).

National’s tax cuts from a bygone era
The Government’s tax changes which took effect this week help those earning more than $100,000, increasing the poverty gap,
Read Russel's press release.

Meridian can’t see the Mokihinui eels for the trees
The Green Party has firmly rejected Meridian’s suggestion of a land-swap to mitigate the impact of its proposed Mokihinui hydro dam because it ignores the main species at risk – the eels and other native fish that inhabit the unique Mokihinui River gorge.
Read Metiria's press release.

Ambulance staffing at the bottom of the cliff
Green MP Sue Kedgley said revelations that staff and volunteer shortages in ambulance services are forcing nurses to spend hours away from their ward duties calls into question the viability and safety of these services.
Read Sue K's press release.

Obama’s charm sinks NZ’s UN human rights bid
The Green Party is concerned that the Government’s withdrawal from its bid for a UN Human Rights Council seat reflects a weakening commitment to human rights issues.
Read Keith's press release.

Community conservation projects sprouting with Green funds
The first round of successful applicants to the Community Conservation was announced this week. This Fund, providing $4 million over two years, was established by the Green Party in the 2008 Budget and aims to support community groups doing conservation projects on public land. Green Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei MP welcomed the many successful applications from across the country.
Read the announcement here.

Declaration of Indigenous Rights Down Under
"On Tuesday I got to ask my first proper Question in the House. Unsurprisingly Hone Harawira asked more or less the same question. Will the Government follow the lead of Australia and change their position to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People?" Read Catherine's blog here and the comments here.
Watch Catherine ask her Question in the House here.

For details on events in your area, check our website.

Healthy Food in Schools Campaign Launch
Fri, 3 Apr 2009, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Ponsonby Community Centre, Ponsonby, Auckland
Today Sue Kedgley launched the School Food Campaign and a Nationwide Petition to get unhealthy food and drink out of schools and to support edible gardens in schools. If you didn't manage to get along, visit the campaign page, send an e-card and sign the petition!

To see press releases on topics not covered by the items above, go to all media releases

Published by the Greens' Parliamentary Office, Bowen House, Parliament, Wellington.
Ph (04) 817 6700, Fax (04) 472 6003, [Email], http://www.greens.org.nz/.

Earth Hour around the world
[MSNBC]

Climate Treaty Or Deal?
Words count at the UN talks in Bonn. [Planet Ark]

Greening your office
A video from Grist - and some April Fool's advice for next year. (Read a few of our own April Fool jokes on Frogblog, here, here and here.)

Help save planet Earth, starting with Uranus
Eco-smart soy undies from Uranus Apparel. [Treehugger]

Greenbird breaks world record
Wind-powered vehicle clocked at 126.1 mph. [Guardian]

Borrow cars and drink rainwater
Worldchanging's view of a low-carbon world in 2050.

So long, salamanders
The global decline in amphibian species is adding to the evidence of ecological change around the planet. [iNSnet]

Reforesting Guatemala
... the careful way. [People and Planet]

British Wildlife Photography Awards
[Guardian]

You are welcome to send snippets that may interest other GreenWeek readers to Alison Coleman.

This email is sent by the Green Team in Parliament.

You can unsubscribe from future emails of this type while continuing to get emails on other issues you have expressed interest in: Please remove me from this email list

You can also opt out of ALL future emails from us: Please don't mail me again

Green Party of Aotearoa NZ
PO Box 18888, Wellington

Text Version

: : G R E E N W E E K : :
Kia Ora, Greenweek comes out regularly during the Parliamentary year and keeps Green supporters up to date with the latest from our nine Members of Parliament and on Green issues. You are welcome to
send snippets that may interest other GreenWeek readers to Alison Coleman: [Email] <mailto:[Email]> .
: : L A T E S T N E W S : :
THIS WEEK'S VIDEO AND AUDIO
:: Watch Green MPs Sue Bradford and Sue Kedgley give a brief rundown <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php on the report from the Royal Commission
on Auckland Governance. (2m59s).
:: NZ fails to set an emission target: watch Dr Kennedy Graham question the Minister for Climate Change Negotiations here
<http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php (6m09s).
NATIONAL’S TAX CUTS FROM A BYGONE ERA
The Government’s tax changes which took effect this week help those earning more than $100,000, increasing the poverty gap,
:: Read Russel's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
MERIDIAN CAN’T SEE THE MOKIHINUI EELS FOR THE TREES
The Green Party has firmly rejected Meridian’s suggestion of a land-swap to mitigate the impact of its proposed Mokihinui hydro dam because it ignores the main species at risk – the eels and
other native fish that inhabit the unique Mokihinui River gorge.
:: Read Metiria's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
AMBULANCE STAFFING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF
Green MP Sue Kedgley said revelations that staff and volunteer shortages in ambulance services are forcing nurses to spend hours away from their ward duties calls into question the viability and
safety of these services.
:: Read Sue K's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
OBAMA’S CHARM SINKS NZ’S UN HUMAN RIGHTS BID
The Green Party is concerned that the Government’s withdrawal from its bid for a UN Human Rights Council seat reflects a weakening commitment to human rights issues.
:: Read Keith's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROJECTS SPROUTING WITH GREEN FUNDS
The first round of successful applicants to the Community Conservation was announced this week <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php . This Fund,
providing $4 million over two years, was established by the Green Party in the 2008 Budget and aims to support community groups doing conservation projects on public land. Green Conservation
Spokesperson Metiria Turei MP welcomed the many successful applications from across the country.
:: Read the announcement here <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
: : F R O G S W E E K : :
Declaration of Indigenous Rights Down Under <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
"On Tuesday I got to ask my first proper Question in the House. Unsurprisingly Hone Harawira asked more or less the same question. Will the Government follow the lead of Australia and change their
position to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People?" Read Catherine's blog here
<http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php and the comments here <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
.
:: Watch Catherine ask her Question in the House here <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
: : S N I P P E T S : :
Earth Hour <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
Earth Hour around the world <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
[MSNBC]
Climate Treaty Or Deal? <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
Words count at the UN talks in Bonn. [Planet Ark]
Greening your office <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
A video from Grist - and some April Fool's advice for next year. (Read a few of our own April Fool jokes on Frogblog, here
<http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php , here <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php and here
<http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .)
Help save planet Earth, starting with Uranus <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
Eco-smart soy undies from Uranus Apparel. [Treehugger]
Greenbird breaks world record <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
Wind-powered vehicle clocked at 126.1 mph. [Guardian]
Borrow cars and drink rainwater <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
Worldchanging's view of a low-carbon world in 2050.
So long, salamanders <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
The global decline in amphibian species is adding to the evidence of ecological change around the planet. [iNSnet]
Reforesting Guatemala <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
... the careful way. [People and Planet]
British Wildlife Photography Awards <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
[Guardian]
: : C A L E N D A R : :
Check our website for upcoming events in your area:-
: Auckland <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
: Other NI <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
: Wellington <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
: Christchurch <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
: Other SI <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
Published by the Greens' Parliamentary Office, Bowen House, Parliament, Wellington.
Ph (04) 470 6700, Fax (04) 472 6003, [Email] <mailto:[Email]>, www.greens.org.nz
This email is sent by the Green Team in Parliament. You can unsubscribe from future emails of this type while continuing to get emails on other issues you have expressed interest in:
http://www3.greens.org.nz/index.php You can also opt out of ALL future emails from us:
http://www3.greens.org.nz/index.php Green Party of Aotearoa NZ PO Box 18888, Wellington