Greenweek 20 March 09: Wind, water and White House veggies

Party: Greens

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

Date Received: 2009-03-20 15:00

HTML Version

20th March 2009

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].

This week's video/audio
Kennedy Graham MP takes a quick look at international Climate Change Negotiations, on video here (2m13s).
Watch Rod Oram talk to the Young Greens about the economic crisis on video here (3m).
Internationally acclaimed ecological economist Dr Robert Costanza spoke to a packed house in Wellington last week. Listen to him chatting to Jeanette here (8m08s), and watch his full lecture on video here (55m).

Government opts for oil dependence, gridlock, and growing carbon emissions
The National Government’s newly announced plan to accelerate the building of new state highways reveals a complete denial of the actual transport challenges faced by this country.
Read Jeanette's press release.

Voluntary Dirty Streams Accord a roaring success
The voluntary Clean Streams Accord has failed and it’s time to set enforceable water quality standards.
Read Russel's press release.

Green Party Welcomes End to Spying on MPs
The Greens have welcomed the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s recommendations to stop the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) spying on Members of Parliament. Keith Locke discovered upon receiving his SIS files that - as well as having been snooped on since he was a teenager - his personal file had been updated even after he became an MP.
Read Keith's press release.
Hear Keith discuss his SIS file in this audio file (8m34s).

NZ for sale – going, going…
The Government seems keen to put the 'For Sale' sign up on land that is currently off-limits to foreign investment.
Read Kennedy's press release.

Unfinished business angers Mapua residents
Residents living next to the Mapua site contaminated by pesticides still have numerous questions regarding their health and the health of the local environment.
Read Catherine's press release.

Key charity advice adds insult to injury
John Key’s advice to those lucky enough to benefit from the April tax cuts to donate them to charity simply adds insult to injury for all those people currrently struggling just to get by. Read Sue B's blog and the comments here.

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

Action Alert! Your chance to comment on RMA amendments
The Government has recently introduced its Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill. The Bill shifts the balance of the RMA away from environmental protection and community involvement, and towards unsustainable development. You can have your say on the Bill by sending in a submission before April 3.
Read Russel's guide to preparing a submission.

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/.

Save the polar bear: Norway
66% of the world's 25,000 polar bears could disappear by 2050. [AFP]

Recession ends pollution of world’s largest freshwater lake
[Ecoworldly]

White House veggie garden to be planted
[Tree Hugger]

Shell dumps wind, solar and hydro power in favour of biofuels
[Guardian]

Let the Clean Waters Flow
March 22nd is World Water Day. [World Changing]

Student designs biodegradable packaging for McDonald's
[Inhabitat]

Ethanol's Land Grab
Mozambique has survived colonialism and civil war. But can it survive the ethanol industry? [Mother Jones]

Winds of change
How environmental jobs can help boost the economy. [Independent]

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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/AUDIO
:: Kennedy Graham MP takes a quick look at international Climate Change Negotiations, on video here <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php (2m13s).
:: Watch Rod Oram talk to the Young Greens about the economic crisis on video here <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php (3m).
:: Internationally acclaimed ecological economist Dr Robert Costanza spoke to a packed house in Wellington last week. Listen to him chatting to Jeanette here
<http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php (8m08s), and watch his full lecture on video here
<http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php (55m).
GOVERNMENT OPTS FOR OIL DEPENDENCE, GRIDLOCK, AND GROWING CARBON EMISSIONS
The National Government’s newly announced plan to accelerate the building of new state highways reveals a complete denial of the actual transport challenges faced by this country.
:: Read Jeanette's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
VOLUNTARY DIRTY STREAMS ACCORD A ROARING SUCCESS
The voluntary Clean Streams Accord has failed and it’s time to set enforceable water quality standards.
:: Read Russel's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
GREEN PARTY WELCOMES END TO SPYING ON MPS
The Greens have welcomed the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s recommendations to stop the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) spying on Members of Parliament. Keith
Locke discovered upon receiving his SIS files that - as well as having been snooped on since he was a teenager - his personal file had been updated even after he became an MP.
:: Read Keith's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
:: Hear Keith discuss his SIS file in this audio file <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php (8m34s).
NZ FOR SALE – GOING, GOING…
The Government seems keen to put the 'For Sale' sign up on land that is currently off-limits to foreign investment.
:: Read Kennedy's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
UNFINISHED BUSINESS ANGERS MAPUA RESIDENTS
Residents living next to the Mapua site contaminated by pesticides still have numerous questions regarding their health and the health of the local environment.
:: Read Catherine's press release <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
ACTION ALERT! YOUR CHANCE TO COMMENT ON RMA AMENDMENTS
The Government has recently introduced its Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill. The Bill shifts the balance of the RMA away from environmental protection and community
involvement, and towards unsustainable development. You can have your say on the Bill by sending in a submission before April 3.
:: Read Russel's guide <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php to preparing a submission.
: : F R O G S W E E K : :
KEY CHARITY ADVICE ADDS INSULT TO INJURY <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
John Key’s advice to those lucky enough to benefit from the April tax cuts to donate them to charity simply adds insult to injury for all those people currrently struggling just to get by. Read Sue
B's blog (link above) and the comments here: <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php .
: : S N I P P E T S : :
Save the polar bear: Norway <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
66% of the world's 25,000 polar bears could disappear by 2050. [AFP]
Recession ends pollution of world’s largest freshwater lake <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
[Ecoworldly]
White House veggie garden to be planted <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
[Tree Hugger]
Shell dumps wind, solar and hydro power in favour of biofuels <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
[Guardian]
Let the Clean Waters Flow <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
March 22nd is World Water Day. [World Changing]
Student designs biodegradable packaging for McDonald's <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
[Inhabitat]
Ethanol's Land Grab <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
Mozambique has survived colonialism and civil war. But can it survive the ethanol industry? [Mother Jones]
Winds of change <http://www3.greens.org.nz/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php
How environmental jobs can help boost the economy. [Independent]
: : 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