Leo's future (letter to The Southland Times editor)

The weather's been patchy lately; hot then cold, rainy then sunny not only here in Southland but across New Zealand.

Globally, the story's the same; odd weather, unseasonal and unusual, just as the climate scientists predicted it would be. There have been soaring temperatures in some countries, extreme cold in others. According to the scientists, the extra energy created by burning fossil fuels; coal, oil and gas creates an unstable climate that causes serious problems for human-kind and they were right; that's exactly what's been happening.

Should we do something about it now, or should we leave it to our grandchildren to try to cope with a dangerously unstable and hostile climate?

I think we should take action now.

Sadly, our Government thinks it's best to pretend it's not happening.

On behalf of my little grandson, I challenge that irresponsible thinking.

Shadbolt gets cold feet

"Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt believes Southland and Otago may be run by a single southern council if the current National-led government is re-elected this year."

"If the present Government remains in office we could all become 'super cities'" Mayor Shadbolt said in his 'mayor's comment' segement of the ICC's draft annual plan,
"There will be forced large-scale amalgamations", he opines, summing up what he learned at the latest 'zone6 ' meeting for local body politicians.

Well Tim, if that prospect is causing you concern, it might pay to reflect on your behaviour prior to the last election when you worked vigorously to spoil Labour's chances here in the South. Your comments then doubtless contributed to the situation you as mayor, find yourself in now. Time to dub John Key 'Mugabe' now perhaps?

Rodney Hide said...

...oh, never mind.
Nothing to see there.

A glimpse of our future

Think public libraries are a symbol of our caring egalitarian society, do you?

One Fine Weasel has something for you to browse through in that case.

"It's Save Our Libraries Day.

"We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth."
Humanoid David Cameron and his government pixies want to close lots of public libraries.

They think it will help get the economy back on track."

When you are reading it you'll probably notice thumb-prints from Rodney Hide left on the pages and dog-ears where Key has turned down the corners on the ones that excited him the most.

Water privitization

Interested in how plans to privitize our water are progressing?
Red Alert has this well constructed deconstruction of Rodney Hide and John Key's plans to make us pay more for our water, starting in Auckland but coming soon to a city or town near you.