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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Fossilized thinking

12 comments:

robertguyton said...

I'll throw this comment in here, in the hope of snaring Fred :-)
I pinched it from Red Alert, where Mercure said:

“Maurice Williamson started it all in 1992 with the deregulation of coastal shipping.”

The following are extracts from a longer article published in the Gisborne Herald on Friday, January 8th, 1993!

Tanker Warning ‘Disaster for NZ’
THE wrecking of the oil-laden tanker Braer on rocks in the Shetland Islands should be a warning to New Zealand, says Seafarers’ Union national councillor Gerard Hill, who is on holiday in Gisborne.
“We could see disasters like that on our coastline if the Government goes ahead with proposals to allow uncontrolled entry by foreign-owned ships and crews into our coastal trade,” he said.
“The Braer and the Aegean Sea, the oil-bearing vessel which broke up and caught fire off the Spanish coast last month, were both flag-of –convenience [FOC] ships.
“Transport Minister Rob Storey wants to open up New Zealand coastal trade. We say that will open the way for flag-of-convenience ships which could jeopardise jobs, the environment and regional economies.”
”If you had an accident off the coast of Gisborne, your fishing and tourist industries would be severely affected. Surfers, holiday makers and everyone concerned for the environment should make their feelings known.”

The National Party cannot maintain they have clean hands in this present catastrophe and must be made to confront the disastrous consequences of its 1990’s actions! Williamson & Nick Smith, ministers from that era, are again in the Cabinet! The New Zealand coast must be re-regulated and Cabotage restored!
[full text of this news clipping has been posted in the "Docs" section of "MV Rena Response Monitoring & Action Group" in Facebook]

fredinthegrass said...

Its called "Consequences", Rg. It is the 'game of life'.
It is a dangerous game filled with pitfalls and potholes. There are winners and losers, and some will get hurt - badly. People will talk about what is the best way to play. Some will take responsibility for others, most will look after themselves.
At times the game will proceed according to The Rules". Events will happen that will change the rules. People will start blaming others. Reason will no longer apply. There will hardship and hurt. A few will continue to help others, and get on with important things to improve the game.
THE GAME WILL GO ON!!!!

Shunda barunda said...

Gee whiz Robert, if only a party (perhaps some sort of 'Labour' party) had have come to power between that govt and this. If that had have happened, the union could have lobbied said government and rectified this issue that they felt so strongly about at the time.

And if that said 'Labour' govt had have been in power for say, 3 terms, there would have been no way that the unions would have failed to do so, plenty of time to think about how they could 'undo' those heinous crimes!!

Oh well, if only I guess......................

robertguyton said...

Yes, Fred, and I'll play it for something greater than just my own well-being - I'm playing on behalf of the wider environment as well :-)
Lignite mining, off-shore drilling for oil, fracking for gas, coal seam gas production - these things seem a very stupid direction to travel in.

robertguyton said...

Unions eh, Shunda.
Yes, a good union would have forced a responsible Government to do things properly. This is not the situation we find ourselves in now. Know of a party that thinks your way?

Shunda barunda said...

Our country is in trouble Robert, voting for a party with MP's stuck in the 1950's is hardly the answer.

Shunda barunda said...

You may be interested in this Robert:

http://www.investigatemagazine.co.nz/Investigate/?p=1701

robertguyton said...

So who, Mr Magoo?

robertguyton said...

Shunda! I thought you knew better than to read drivel like that! (I've not followed the link yet, so you can be assured mine is a knee-jerk response. It's just that, Wishart!
Pleeeeeeeeeeeease!
Can you precis it for me, so I don't hurt my peepers?

Shunda barunda said...

Ok, don't look then, but I just thought a possible near miss with an oil tanker the day before the Rena hit the reef may have been of interest to you.

robertguyton said...

Okay, you've shamed me into it. I'll investigate.

paulinem said...

Robert in class we studied today oil reserves etc .. really interesting who was the biggest global oil producer and exporter ... its Believe or not Russia not Saudi ...If we wonder why Afghanistan conflict and US involvement ( US is the worlds biggest importer of Oil... wouldn't be the oil pipe line that comes from Russia through Afghanistan to Turkey now would it !!!

Next 2nd biggie importer is China next Japan next Germany ... the present reserves discovered will run out they believe in 2030. Because these countries are addicted to oil ..how will they cope and assure a continuation of the imported oil supplies

Hmmmmm ...re South Basin?Matarua lignite ...oh dear environment consequences well lets face it US and China etc counties are not located anywhere near the South basin ..so heck no problem ...

Now how to assure the oil supply keeps coming from mugs like NZ with their nearby oil and lignite resources... hmmm simple invade them economically this time not like the failed attempt in 1940s buy the land buy the assets ...

I guess Robert some could say I am being over cynical...oh well by 2030 I will be in my 80s and no longer care as I possibly will be a bit lala mentally thinking :)...let all the young ones who voted National/Act on November 25th enjoy the consequences of their folly !!