(Letter to the editor of the Southland Times today)
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt is no stranger to mining, having spent plenty of time tunneling through Fiordland rock when he was a younger man.
Nowadays he seems to be taking a more cautious approach to industries that impact heavily on the environment and asks, in his Mayoral Moments column:
"Should Southlanders accept mining or should we fight tooth and nail to protect our environmental heritage and clean, green image?"
The answer is obvious to me, but the National Government seems to have dismissed it and grinds-on with its pro-mining agenda in our region, despite what Southlanders might think about it.
The mayor, referring to Southland's goldmining past adds: "Our wealth is based on exploiting the environment, and now we have to reverse our mindset and collective memory."
District Mayor Frana Cardno echoes his disquiet.
She says on her mayoral blog;
"Of grave concern to me personally and to many others I talk to in Southland is the mining of our lignite resources."
Could someone please tell John Key and his pro-mining ministers that Southlanders, especially our mayors, want to have their say about his plans to tear up the place?
Monday, July 16, 2012
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21 comments:
If Frana is so concerned about mining, and the tunnel / monrail project, then why is she quiet on the drilling on Stewart Island - she should be yelling from the tree tops, or is there not enough voters over there to worry about it
That's a very good point, Towack. I'd like to know that also. I was interviewed by the ST today, seeking my views on the Rakiura drilling. Perhaps you'll read all about it in the morning.
try this from 2010
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/3498229/Mayors-oppose-Rakiura-mining
Where exactly has John Key specifically said he plans to 'tear up the place'
?
Thanks Charlie. You're the research wizard!
Anonymous - in his 'Mordor Manifesto'. You've read it, surely? Bill English hand-delivered a glossy copy to every Southland address. Eric Roy drove the car and gunned the engine while Bill was each letter box, in case they had to make a run for it.
Ok got it, but, on which page does it actually say he plans to 'tear up the place'
42
paragraph 7, "I will tear Southland up, leaving nothing but smouldering ruins".
Do I have to spoon feed you, Anonymous?
and you'll see on page 43 where Bill English says he lives here in Southland.
That's the comedy page.
Oh there it is... "as for Southland, well I plan to tear up the place, and Robert Guyton can put whatever words in my mouth he likes I will still tear up the place"
Sorry Rob I missed that
I know! I got special mention in John's book!
I didn't sleep that night, I tell you!
Your semi over JK keep you awake?
Nah, I was busy writing down some ideas to send to John. Ideas on a green economy. They were good, but I've come to accept that they must have got lost in the post and he never received them. If he did, he hasn't said, nor has he shown signs of implementing anything like them.
Disappointing really.
We were getting on so well.
Perhaps could share some with us? C'mon surely you can remember some?
I'm hastily preparing to be wowed...
I'm sorry, Anonymous. I didn't see your last comment until now - I suppose you haven't slept!
Let's see...idea no.1 for John - don't did up Southland's lignite, John. It'll all convert to greenhouse gas and contribute to the ruination of the climate, resulting in great harm to humanity. (I don't expect John will understand this one - he doesn't seem to have the facility to empathise with ordinary people, only his rich mates).
Idea no. 2 for John; Don't sell our strategic assets, John, partially or otherwise. They are strategic John. Energy production facilities are the very ones you should not sell. We are looking into an energy-constrained future, John and New Zealand will get through that okay if we have ownership of our own energy generating assets.
He hasn't listened though, Anonymous. Sometimes I think he doesn't have our interests at heart at all! Perhaps he's serving some other master? You think?
No prob Rob, I don't sleep much anyway, too busy working to help the country prosper, you can thank me some other time but for now...
I hear your concerns/ideas but the first point is not really in relation to a green 'economy' but I will reaffirm my view that population growth will be the downfall of mankind far sooner than climate change. I say get into it we might aswell be warm and have all our appliances running whilst we wait for bird flu or something similar to take us.
As for the strategic sale of assets the government made no attempt to hide their plans in this regard and still got voted in, again it seems the minority has the loudest voice, what does JK say to the people who gave him their vote on the basis of asset sales? Maybe thats not too many, but, fact of matter is that it can happen, so why not rip in and buy some of these shares in such vital assets as you say they are. This way you can get a great return for the money you have worked so hard for. A nice share portfolio should keep you going well into retirement Rob?
Anonymous - you don't think lignite mining has any relation to a 'green economy'? I suppose it's rightly part of a 'black economy' but really, putting a stop to the de-sequestration of enormous amounts of carbon is a very green idea!
You say, 'get into it', where I say, restraint now will promote clever, sustainable development. Yours seems an irresponsible approach, but as you believe we are doomed because of overpopulation, it doesn't matter to you what we do. Your view is reckless. I'd not choose you as a decision maker, knowing how careless you are.
The mandate argument is a circular one and I'm not bothered by it. I see the way the Maori claims to the tribunal are slowing the process dow, and I cheer that. I also see increased opportunity for the referendum to gather support due to the delay and I cheer that. I also see Key's popularity heading down, down, down and I cheer that, so there's a lot of cheer in my world just now.
Leave the lignite underground, retain our energy assets. Having a merchant banker in a position of decision making has been very bad for New Zealand. That time will pass, of course, and most of the damage he's caused will be able to be repaired. A Green-lead Government will be exciting. I hope you'll continue to share your thoughts here on this blog as that new era unfolds, Anonymous. I'll try not to crow :-)
Absolutely, I'll stop working then and enjoy the fruits of your hard campaigning while collecting all sorts of benefits and generally being a user of society. But hey as long as I'm not impacting the environment whilst I do so, you'll be happy to support me eh Rob
Yes.
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