Newest Green MP, Mojo Mathers has written her first Frogblog post, on the Food Bill and brings us up to date on what seems to be a very ill-defined position from the Government. She writes:
"In the last Parliament Sue Kedgley met with the Minister of Food Safety Kate Wilkinson and sought to exempt small growers, people who sell food directly to consumers, and those who barter or swap food, from some of the more onerous food regulations contained in the new Food Bill.
This bill, which is currently before Parliament, will replace the 1981 Food Act.
Sue called publicly for these groups to be exempted. Unfortunately so far as we know the Minister has failed to move on our concerns. One small win however was an assurance from Ms Wilkinson that she would be revisiting the issues surrounding seed exchanges with officials.
However given the Food Bill is not yet law, there is still plenty of time for amendments to be made. It is due to be debated again in the next Parliament and is yet to go through its second reading, committee stages and third reading stages.
This is why I am looking to get feedback from those who grow and sell food regarding their thoughts on the Food Bill."
Mojo ends with: " If the freedom to grow and share food is threatened by the Food Bill, the Green Party will be opposing it."
Good stuff.
Further more...
Oooby have this information for anyone concerned:
A message to all members of Ooooby (http://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action?xg_source=activity) Many of you will be aware of the Food Bill that is due to be passed through Parliament over the summer holidays. This Bill directly effects Ooooby and its members. In a nutshell, if the new Food Bill is passed then 'unexempted' sharing and trading of homegrown food would be a criminal offence. This sounds ridiculous I know, but it is true. We're not into scare mongering here at Ooooby and it would be remiss of us to not respond to this considering the relevance. One thing you can do is to sign this online petition. http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-gov... (http://www.petitiononline.co.nz/petition/oppose-the-new-zealand-government-food-bill-160-2/1301) There are over 14,000 signatures already and we need 50,000 to make ourselves heard. Another thing you can do is forward this to as many people as you know. At this link are three independent interpretations of the Food Bill. http://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action They are a longish read (nowhere near as long as the actual Food Bill itself) and they highlight the main points of concern. If you have any ideas on how else we can prevent this Bill from going through, please let us all know in the comments at this link (http://ooooby.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-bill-time-for-action?xg_source=activity). Visit Ooooby at: http://ooooby.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
Showing posts with label Frogblog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frogblog. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Russel's Waituna report
"One of the principles that I try to follow in my job is that I don’t change the message depending on the audience; maybe change the emphasis or they way I tell it, but I aim not to change the fundamentals. With this in mind I found myself recently sitting in a small community hall in the middle of the farmland that forms the catchment of the Waituna Lagoon, to the east of Invercargill."
That's right, he tells it as he sees it. Russel's report posted on Frogblog and open for comments, is thorough and interesting. Eric. You'd benefit from having a good read of what Russel has written :-)
That's right, he tells it as he sees it. Russel's report posted on Frogblog and open for comments, is thorough and interesting. Eric. You'd benefit from having a good read of what Russel has written :-)
Saturday, November 6, 2010
More on coal
Treesoftommorow has this to say over in Frogblog's pond -
"Jeanette Fitzsimons has announced a six-point plan to effectively shut down NZ’s coal industry, which includes converting Solid Energy into a renewable energy company and closing the Huntly Power Station.
She suggested a change in direction for SOE Solid Energy too:
Fitzsimons believes Solid Energy should cease investigations into converting Southland lignite to liquid fuels and instead focus on becoming a renewable energy company, building especially on its expertise in waste wood. She notes Solid Energy has recently invested in a wood pellet and wood stove business, as well as a solar water heating business, and is also producing bio-diesel from rape seed.
And here's the article he cites:
Greens Want To Close Down NZ’s Coal Industry
April 30th, 2008
The Green Party has outlined a radical policy that includes a ban on new coal mines, with a view to phasing out coal production in NZ apart from a small amount for specialist non-energy uses. Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has announced a six-point plan to effectively shut down NZ’s coal industry, which includes converting Solid Energy into a renewable energy company and closing the Huntly Power Station. Thankfully for Labour and National, Fitzsimons says the Greens won’t make the coal mining policy a bottom-line issue in any post-election coalition talks. But she has accused both parties of “greenwash and spin” over coal, noting the Govt has banned new coal-fired power stations in NZ but is happy to export coal to be burned overseas. Fitzsimons argues there is sufficient coal in existing mines, which the Greens are not proposing should shut down, to keep market contracts supplied and the workforce employed. But she believes a Govt that aims to be carbon neutral can’t allow its own State Owned Enterprise to carry on expanding coal production, either for domestic consumption or for export.
The only exemptions would be for specialty coals in small quantities for uses such as carbon fibre and activated carbon, and for enough local coal of a sufficient quality to keep NZ Steel supplied. The Greens will also try amending the Emissions Trading Bill to include coal seam methane in the climate change obligations of coal mining companies. Fitzsimons also dismisses the idea of “clean coal” as “a highly misleading slogan” of the coal industry. While carbon capture and burial may be possible one day, she sees this as “a hugely expensive red herring” which is diverting funds away from renewable energy research.
Fitzsimons believes Solid Energy should cease investigations into converting Southland lignite to liquid fuels and instead focus on becoming a renewable energy company, building especially on its expertise in waste wood. She notes Solid Energy has recently invested in a wood pellet and wood stove business, as well as a solar water heating business, and is also producing bio-diesel from rape seed. About 5m t of coal is mined each year in NZ, most of it by Solid Energy. Almost three-quarters is high-quality coking coal, which goes to Japan, India and other countries for steel making. Huntly burns 44% of NZ’s coal. About half is imported from Indonesia and the rest comes from the Waikato coal fields. NZ Steel uses about 31% of domestic coal, and Fonterra uses it at several dairy factories to dry milk, as well as other big industries such as cement and aluminium.
"Jeanette Fitzsimons has announced a six-point plan to effectively shut down NZ’s coal industry, which includes converting Solid Energy into a renewable energy company and closing the Huntly Power Station.
She suggested a change in direction for SOE Solid Energy too:
Fitzsimons believes Solid Energy should cease investigations into converting Southland lignite to liquid fuels and instead focus on becoming a renewable energy company, building especially on its expertise in waste wood. She notes Solid Energy has recently invested in a wood pellet and wood stove business, as well as a solar water heating business, and is also producing bio-diesel from rape seed.
And here's the article he cites:
Greens Want To Close Down NZ’s Coal Industry
April 30th, 2008
The Green Party has outlined a radical policy that includes a ban on new coal mines, with a view to phasing out coal production in NZ apart from a small amount for specialist non-energy uses. Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has announced a six-point plan to effectively shut down NZ’s coal industry, which includes converting Solid Energy into a renewable energy company and closing the Huntly Power Station. Thankfully for Labour and National, Fitzsimons says the Greens won’t make the coal mining policy a bottom-line issue in any post-election coalition talks. But she has accused both parties of “greenwash and spin” over coal, noting the Govt has banned new coal-fired power stations in NZ but is happy to export coal to be burned overseas. Fitzsimons argues there is sufficient coal in existing mines, which the Greens are not proposing should shut down, to keep market contracts supplied and the workforce employed. But she believes a Govt that aims to be carbon neutral can’t allow its own State Owned Enterprise to carry on expanding coal production, either for domestic consumption or for export.
The only exemptions would be for specialty coals in small quantities for uses such as carbon fibre and activated carbon, and for enough local coal of a sufficient quality to keep NZ Steel supplied. The Greens will also try amending the Emissions Trading Bill to include coal seam methane in the climate change obligations of coal mining companies. Fitzsimons also dismisses the idea of “clean coal” as “a highly misleading slogan” of the coal industry. While carbon capture and burial may be possible one day, she sees this as “a hugely expensive red herring” which is diverting funds away from renewable energy research.
Fitzsimons believes Solid Energy should cease investigations into converting Southland lignite to liquid fuels and instead focus on becoming a renewable energy company, building especially on its expertise in waste wood. She notes Solid Energy has recently invested in a wood pellet and wood stove business, as well as a solar water heating business, and is also producing bio-diesel from rape seed. About 5m t of coal is mined each year in NZ, most of it by Solid Energy. Almost three-quarters is high-quality coking coal, which goes to Japan, India and other countries for steel making. Huntly burns 44% of NZ’s coal. About half is imported from Indonesia and the rest comes from the Waikato coal fields. NZ Steel uses about 31% of domestic coal, and Fonterra uses it at several dairy factories to dry milk, as well as other big industries such as cement and aluminium.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Why I like the Greens #2
(From Frogblog)
The last few days have resulted in a renewed focus on Parliamentary expenses. In the interests of transparency and democracy, the Greens are fronting their own expenses, despite changes in rules and proposed rules that may help MPs to hide taxpayer-funded expenses.
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