Keeping our resources for future generations
Mayor of Southland District, Frana Cardno today wrote an extraordinary opinion piece for The Southland Times - one that deserves to be broadcast as widely as possible and through it, our wonderful mayor should receive comment from around New Zealand for her clarity of vision and bravery in speaking from the heart where our other mayors seem to be mumbling from their wallets.
Frana writes:
"In today's world it's all about the global economy and global environment, but I think we must start being aware of possible issues in our own country first. New Zealand is sold overseas as 100% Pure, but that marketting slogan is very much at risk.
We are a wealthy country compared to the Third World and we should be looked upon as leaders. I believe strongly we are only borrowing the land from future generations and as such , the resources we are so fortunate to have in Southland do not have to be used by this generation. In the future I am sure we will come up with alternative energy sources that are environmentally friendly. New Zealand is responsible for only 0.2 per cent of global greenhouse emissions, but that is still quite high per head of population, compared with other countries.
We cannot expect to continue to market our agricultural exports to the rest of the world, using our clean, green image to promote them, unless we show some commitment to reducing those emissions.
Of grave concern to me, and to many others I talk to in Southland, is the mining of our lignite resources. I know there are sceptics in the world who do not believe in climate change and the effects on our environment, but why take the risk?
Lignite mines of the scale proposed will be visible to any visitor and will affect our landscape and reputation to tourists and consumers in our overseas markets.
I guess it's hard to believe on a beautiful day in Southland that there are problems, but I am equally certain in the reality of climate change, particularly after the large number of of in-depth studies on climate change and the various side-issues, including fuel-use, that surround it.
Not least in this list of studies is that recently released by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan WRight.
Lignite and climate change: the high cost of low-grade coal discusses lignite as a resource, New Zealand's climate change obligations, options to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of lignite use on those emissions.
In her overview, Dr Wright states the Government agreed to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions to between 10 per cent and 20 per cent below the 1990 level by 2020. At the rate we are going at the moment, the emissions are on track to be 30 per cent above that level in 2020.
"The production of diesel from lignite on the scale contemplated would increase New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions significantly," she says.
The report goes on to say that lignite is a carbon-intensive energy-source and large-scale lignite use can result in green house gas emissions much larger than other fuel sources. However, the production of diesel and urea from lignite are both new activities that could qualify for support from the Government in the form of free carbon credits.
"But it makes no sense that the Emissions Trading Scheme rules would lead to taxpayers subsidising, even at a modest level, new investment in outdated, dirty technology.," the report states. Dr Wright goes on to make recommendations to the Government, but I want to emphasise to all Southlanders that if they do not want large-scale lignite mining, they need to voice their opinion to central Government now.
Importantly, lignite will not deteriorate while left in the ground until future generations discover technology to use it with less environmental impact.
For now we need to capitalise on our New Zealand Pure image to maximise returns for the food products we produce so efficiently from Southland for the markets around the world.
FRANA CARDNO
Saturday, October 15, 2011
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6 comments:
"10% pure" - glad someone's speaking the truth at last ;-)
Important words from the mayor, good on her.
At 70 years old and in your 7th term as mayor, longest searving female mayor in New Zealand, the look back to 1940's when you were born the world has changed a lot. 1945 ushured in the age where energy could be produced with out producing any CO2. Thorium 232 is a million times more energy than coal, gram for gram, and safe compared to Uranium. What is not taught in school from 1945 to 1955 was the malthusian catastrophe of population increase needing to increase scientific design. 1844 the world had one thousand million people and today seven thousand million people with ten thousand million people in 39 years expected at 2050 after an order of magnitude increase over 200 years. Lack of investment in understanding the world stage has left Southland in a stage of time where lignight is being offered as a fuel security for New Zealand. As a crown mineral this forms part of the $5 trillion to $20 trillion crown minerals going up for compeditive international tender after themelection. What is Mayor Cardno saying, vote green for a minority government with Winston Peters n 5% and Hone's Mana party on five percent? Is Frana suggesting the $250 billion her generation in governance run up will be paid off with tourist dollars. Who is going to give Frana $60,000 for every man women and child in new zealand to pay this debt off. Frana Cardno's council under CEO Adamson is paralised to even step foot out in an innovative way. Time has passed and Southland is now in the death throws of an old guard that had 11 of the 12 councilors unopposed in the last election. Democrocy has died in Southland and 11% of New Zealand's land area is now up for lignite mining the 72% of New Zealands coal. Rod Young Mayoral Candidate last election for Southland.
Ahh! Made the change, wildcrafty - can't go messin' with the mayor's words!
I hope there will be a response from Southlanders around what Frana has said here and am looking forward to joining her chorus ;-)
Rod - I've seen you here and there in Southland over the past year or so - at the James Hansen lecture for one and there you mentioned thorium. Again on the coal action network. Must be important to you. You know what it's like to stand against Frana - she's plenty of support and in this instance, I hope that combines to give her a powerful influence in this debate. As to democracy in Southland - the councilor-turn-over rate at the SDC is a concern but I'm pleased to report that the regional council welcomed 5 new councillors this election past, and they're not old guard material :-)
So you're not all that happy about using lignite to make our urea. Fortunately, we don't have to use lignite. Urea can be made from any carbonaceous material including wood.
http://mtkass.blogspot.com/2009/10/wood-waste-and-urea.html
Even better we don't have to use urea. It only supplies nitrogen. We have a source of complete fertilizer at our finger tips.
http://mtkass.blogspot.com/2007/09/fertilizing-new-zealand-natural-way.html
You talk a great deal of good sense, William. Suggesting that wood be the source of whatever it is we need is entirely appropriate here in Southland, given the ease with which we can grow the stuff. Your comments regarding urea are equally sensible, in light of the harm being done to our soils and waterways by urea right now. I fear your ideas would fall on deaf ears, should you present them to the present Government and it's southern representatives. I say this because I have certainly tried to do that myself (and will continue to do so). Old farmer-think is difficult to shed and when a Government is encouraging that sort of thinking, there is little chance of progress. However, there is a growing tide of discontent arounf both lignite mining and farming practice, so we will see what the near future brings.
Thank you for the excellent links, William. I will navigate my way through them shortly. Great thoughts from your roof.
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