The Greens’ official stance on 1080 is probably not what you think it is

Following on from the recent post on 1080 & the Green party that had been mysteriously removed by those who would censor what we believe, a short commentary here on the meaning of ‘Green’ particularly with regard to the said party that claims ‘green’ … time for a re evaluation …

What springs to mind here is Kermit the Frog’s song ‘It’s not Easy Being Green’ for the older among us who remember it. It can’t be easy being really green these days, by traditional standards. Especially on poisons & insecticides like 1080 which ironically is green but nevertheless a  “highly hazardous broad spectrum poison that kills all oxygen-breathing animals and organisms” according to Dr Meriel Watts (but which officially, somehow, manages to target certain pests only, such is the brilliance of our esteemed leaders).  It’s especially not easy when the government/corporation you (at least partially) represent OWNS the poison factory. Especially when your government/corporation has been consuming 85% of the world’s supply even though it’s banned most places on the planet. Such is the conundrum of being green these days. Time for a name change praps? Bring it into line with reality. If we’re to teach our kids honesty then best be real methinks. They’ve already cottoned on to the lies we live with, praps part of why we have the highest teen suicide rate in ‘clean & green’? And the filthiest river in the Southern Hemisphere to boot.

So going by the removal of the said article regarding Michelle Read’s communications with the Green party from both here & Facebook, seems the latter is not green either? (and possibly don’t want you seeing evidence to the contrary so to speak?). It’s all getting way harder to cover up nowadays.

EnvirowatchRangitikei  (proudly Green)

 

My site was hacked & a post about the Green Party’s 1080 stance deleted!

Two days ago I had an as yet unpublished post featuring communications with and about the Green Party’s stance on 1080, hacked into and deleted.

I find this particularly disturbing and believe it illustrates the reach now of surveillance note particularly  ‘Five Eyes.

How this came about was curious in that it involved Facebook initially. The information contained in the item was in fact was posted on Facebook by a fellow blogger and consisted simply of a record of communications between another blogger and the Green Party about their stance on the use of 1080 poison in NZ. That original information with names, is posted below.

The information was taken down by Facebook actually, with no explanation given as would normally be the case. It contains no offensive remarks (as can be seen) and did not appear to violate any of the rules. A discussion ensued where I asked to be given a copy of the information so I could post it to this site. I duly copied it and dated it to be published on Saturday 4^th November 2017 (next day).

When I returned that day to finish off editing the post, my own comments remained but the communications between the Green Party and the blogger had vanished completely. On there was an information video by DoC NZ about 1080, a link for which was in the Greens communication. I deleted the video thinking it must be an error of sorts, and then replaced the information that had been deleted, thinking I must not have properly saved the original post.

Whilst I was doing so, in between saving it and previewing it (whereby a copy of how it will look once published appears) the information DISAPPEARED AGAIN and the video REAPPEARED.

Now to cover bases, my site is a free WordPress site. I had availed myself of their two step authentication process which means aside from the usual login password to WordPress, I was also sent a text message each login with a one time new SECOND password. So the hacker (presuming this was the work of a hacker & perhaps a more savvy internet user may be able to shed more light on this) had gotten past the two steps, and supposedly had access to my text message.

I’m left wondering why of course, this person was keen to delete the Greens’ communications. And curious about the progression from Facebook to WordPress. WordPress, having taken a while to respond to my query on this, eventually advised me to change my password. No other explanation. I’m awaiting further information.

Here is the original post to Facebook, posted by Carol Sawyer, citing communications by Michelle Read:

 

THE GREENS ON 1080 POISON

Michelle Read wrote to the Greens, a comprehensive, lucid letter, complete with scientific tables and facts, with this accompanying note:

30 October, 2017

Dear James Shaw,

Thank you for replying to my email of 14th September via Geraldine Molloy and Stephen Lungley. It was good to hear the different views put forward by your party. Congratulations on the outcome of the election.

Please find some more helpful information which I hope you decide to appropriately distribute to those in your party who will make important decisions for our environment.

It is vital we reduce our pesticides use in line with the ‘developed world’ instead of escalating them on the basis of an ideology. We cannot afford to keep pretending that poisons are an answer to a problem that may not even exist in the way it has been presented to the public. Please do take a moment to read this.

Whilst the other OECD nations are reducing pesticide use, New Zealand alone is bucking the trend and escalating the use of these chemical poisons. The compound known as 1080 is such an example of extraordinarily high use of a deadly poison… some would say it is overkill.

***********************************************************

Here is the reply she received ( I have even been nice enough to correct the spelling in the credits Geoffrey Woodhouse has at the bottom of his letter. He had “Assiocate Minister for Environment” ) :

2 November, 2017

“On behalf of Hon Eugenie Sage, Minister of Conservation, thank you for your message of 30 October regarding the use of 1080 in pest control operations.

There is a lot of good information provided on the Department of Conservation website that can answer the concerns you raise. The following page covers most of the key points: http://www.doc.govt.nz/1080

Here’s a video from New Zealand’s Threatened Species Ambassador that explains why 1080 is an essential tool in protecting endemic species: https://www.facebook.com/DOCTSAmbassador/videos/380996898900459/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE

I recommend that you read the recent report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on this issue; it is very approachable and provides an independent, scientific assessment of the points you have raised. I have attached the link here: http://www.pce.parliament.nz/…/evaluating-the-use-of-1080.p…

Sincerely,

Geoff Woodhouse | Private Secretary (Conservation)

Office of Hon Eugenie Sage

Minister of Conservation, Minister for LINZ, Associate Minister for Environment

******************************************************

And here is Michelle’s response to that :

That is a very disappointing response and does not address my complaint.

The current failed aerial poisoning programme has existed for 64 years. It doesn’t work. There are no credible DoC reports or data to show net benefit to any species in the New Zealand forests, apart from rats and mice that is.

Please read the following:

A recent review highlighting several reasons for concern regarding the New Zealand Government’s policy of widespread aerial poisoning with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080), was sent to several Government ministers and staff (in August 2016). A letter in reply, in support of the ongoing use of 1080, was received from the Department of Conservation (DoC). The letter claims that there is foundational evidence aerial 1080 poisoning is ‘safe’, will retain its efficacy against rats throughout repeated applications, has desirable biodiversity outcomes, and that there are no current alternatives to its continued use. These claims are refuted based on documented evidence. Further, examination of documents concerning the management of two species, kea (Nestor notabilis) and mohua (Mohoua ochrocephala), reveals no scientific, ecological basis supporting pest control by DoC. There is an urgent need to review conservation management in New Zealand.

Response to the Department of Conservation’s reply to “Aerial 1080 poisoning in New Zealand: reasons for concern” (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/…/313881837_Response_to_the_De… [accessed Nov 02 2017].

SOURCE

 

What the Metiria Turei smoke screen is actually shifting your focus from

For several days we’ve been bombarded with the alleged historical misdemeanours of the Greens’ Metiria Turei. (A google search will provide you plenty of info on that). She has confessed and is apparently paying up what she owes. However, we’ve heard nary a whisper on the alleged, equally illegal activities of the new Deputy Prime Minister. What’s good for the goose is surely good for the gander don’t you think? Or is it all just a handy smoke screen at this particular point in time? Media is hammering it. Should you be in the dark on the allegations raised regarding Ms Bennett, have a listen to the interview below of a whistle blower who knew her as a young person growing up. He did try to make this public six years ago he said but was shut down. He’s being a little more strategic now. The language is graphic (a warning for sensitive ears) but the message is clear and raw…. people in glass houses shouldn’t be throwing stones. As has happened with Metiria, so also should happen with the Deputy PM. And then the PM Bill English has been found out, and in the media regarding his houses. These people should all be fully investigated where necessary, instead of focusing on one Metiria who is looking very much like the sacrificial cow right now. If nothing else with these two women, they’ve demonstrated that it is very difficult to make ends meet on a benefit.

Now I’m all for forgive and move on, however this is a political arena, and these are our ‘esteemed’ (?) leaders. They are highlighting one and hiding the other. Let’s get some balance and some fairness surely and investigate the lot not just a select one?

Published on Jul 24, 2017

Support Vinny on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4321806

Paula Bennett’s Criminal History EXPOSED! Ashley Farrell
http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com/s…

Ashley Farrell https://www.facebook.com/ashley.b.far…
Having known the current minister of Police, Paula “Pull ya benefit” Bennett since he was 8 years old,
Ashley Farrell tells a harrowing story of who this woman is, from benefit fraud and drug abuse, to child abuse and gross miscarriage of justice, this is one show that will give you true insight into the darkness which occupies parliament and the blatant cover ups that prevent them from EVER being brought to justice!

More Shows About Pedophiles: http://www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com/a…

More Videos About CYFS: https://www.youtube.com/user/MRNEWSgu…

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RELATED

Paula Bennett says she never ‘deliberately’ misled WINZ

Metiria Turei’s frauds unlikely to end in jail time – lawyer

Gower on Turei’s sacrifice

Bill English buckles over housing allowance

Metiria Turei will not seek ministerial position

 

KiwiSavers invest in cluster bomb, land mine manufacturers

The subject of Kiwisaver has certainly raised a lot of questions lately with regard to the investment of funds by our corporation. Likewise have been the questions around our PM’s ongoing alliance with the US war machine. Check this one out!

EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

radionz.co.nz

Anusha Bradley Journalist @AnushaBradley anusha.bradley@radionz.co.nz

Hundreds of thousands of KiwiSaver members in government-appointed default schemes may be unknowingly investing in companies making cluster bombs and anti-personnel mines.

Photo: radionz.com

At least five of the nine default KiwiSaver providers invested in these types of companies, despite them being banned by government agencies such as the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and ACC.

The Green Party and Amnesty International say the government must review default providers that have investments in these weapons.

People who sign up to KiwiSaver but do not pick a scheme to enrol in are automatically allocated to one of nine providers hand-picked by the government.

These default providers are ANZ, Westpac, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, AMP, Mercer, Grosvenor and Fisher Funds.

More than 500,000 people are enrolled in default schemes, according to figures supplied by Inland Revenue.

An investigation by RNZ has found the default funds run by ANZ, Westpac, ASB, AMP and Grosvenor invested in the anti-personnel mine manufacturer Northrop Grumman and nuclear weapon or base operators Fluor Corp, Honeywell International and Lockheed Martin.

Westpac, ASB, BNZ, Grosvenor and AMP also invested in cluster bomb manufacturers General Dynamics and Textron.

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund and ACC are not allowed to invest in any of these companies because of the government’s obligations under international conventions banning the use of these weapons and investment in the companies that make them.

READ MORE

Agenda 21 is right on track in NZ … Key’s legacy

John Key’s legacy spelled out in scathing terms by Green Party MP Gareth Hughes on February 11th this year (2016). “Hungry kids … up, inequality … up, pollution … up, electricity costs … up, housing costs … up, foreign ownership … up, debt … up, corruption … up … “. His legacy if you like, epitomizes everything Agenda 21 is about.

EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

NZ Green Party

Published on Feb 11, 2016

Green Party MP Gareth Hughes, Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement – Part 48.

See a full write up of the speech on our blog here https://www.greens.org.nz/news/speech…

“Toe the line and deny any pollution by the HDC” was the clear message given by Mayor Brendan Duffy to Horowhenua District Councillors – a former HD Councillor speaks out

” … during my time on council … I was placed under pressure to toe the line and deny there was a [pollution] problem”  Former HDC Councillor Anne Hunt

Former Horowhenua District Councillor Anne Hunt, who is backing the claims made by both Councillors Campbell and Feyen (see links at bottom of page) regarding the HDC’s role in pollution of Horowhenua’s waterways,  has revealed that on two occasions they as Councillors were given a clear message by Mayor Brendan Duffy that they were to “toe the line and deny pollution by the Council”. The first of those occasions concerning a 2008 visit by Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman is addressed here, the second which relates to the pollution of Shannon’s waterways, will be covered in another post.

Mrs Hunt has previously stated on Maori Television in a documentary about the pollution of Lake Horowhenua that HDC is its “worst polluter” and she still stands by this statement (see video at 3.56 minutes).

Dr Russel Norman’s Visit in 2008

Mrs Hunt described an occasion in 2008 when Dr Russel Norman came to Levin to speak with HDC’s Mayor, CEO and representatives about the pollution of Lake Horowhenua by Levin’s nearby waste water treatment plant. At a Council workshop on the day prior, they were told, said Mrs Hunt, that TV3 was coming up to interview the CEO David Ward. Cr Leigh McMeeken suggested they should all stand around him as a show of support. She  describes the workshop:

“We were all sitting around the council table, and Brendan [Mayor Duffy] asked each councillor individually to speak to this and voice their support [of the CEO’s stance]… finally coming around to glare at me. I felt most uncomfortable and managed to mumble a non-committal answer. But the message was clear that I was not to step out of line. The Mayor and every other councillor supported the staff position on this, and agreed that Dr Norman was simply political point scoring”.

Put simply, Mrs Hunt says they knew they were to deny that their Council was polluting the lake.

Dr Russel Norman standing by Lake Horowhenua on his visit to HDC in 2008 – he correctly concludes the lake was contaminated with E.coli [Photo Credit: Green Party]

During his visit Dr Norman was given the opportunity to fly over the lake and take photographs. It was not until a couple of months later that he was proven right by Horizons official tests  (3 Oct 08 Manawatu Standard) about the sewage pollution when samples showed high levels of E coli, confirming faecal contamination.

Aerial photograph by Dr Norman showed groundwater from earthworks at the plant was pouring into the lake and creating a plume of dirtier lake water

Dr Norman’s Conclusions on the Sewage Contamination

Dr Norman concluded there was absolutely no doubt sewage was seeping into the lake and said it was turning out to be one of NZ’s worst sewage disasters in years. Official tests found high levels of E.coli between council sewage ponds and Lake Horowhenua. He commented that the HDC had a history of resource consent breaches including a then recent court appearance regarding Shannon’s sewage ponds. Mayor Brendan Duffy and CEO David Ward he said, have constantly downplayed risks, with Mayor Duffy calling any critics of his waste disposal practices ‘ill-informed’. The council had given priority he said to  a $10.4 mill council building over proper waste treatment.

The new Council building … “an edifice to stupidity” – Cr Michael Feyen

The Sewage Pollution of Lake Horowhenua was FACT

This has been an abbreviated revision of Dr Norman’s conclusions. Fuller coverage  will be the subject of a later post. It serves here in its brevity to illustrate that in spite of HDC denials, the pollution of Lake Horowhenua by sewage was factual, as official tests later proved. And the point of this post being to endorse the actions of Mr Andrews (the 70 year old Shannon environmentalist who was recently assaulted at his home by intruders) and Crs Ross Campbell and Michael Feyen,  in endeavouring to film what appears to be deliberate pollution by the HDC,  bringing it to the notice of the public. A public that elected these representatives to manage their public resources, prudently and not negligently.

Particularly, it exposes, thanks to Mrs Hunt, the clearly unethical tactics employed by the HDC in coercing its Councillors to think and ‘vote’ a certain way.

You have a situation here where your Councillors that you vote for on election day, the people whom you are expecting to represent your views when important decisions are made at your local District Council … they are actually being told how to vote … and that is according to the directive of the CEO.

Is this democratic?

Clearly not.

What  we have here it seems, is an illusion of democracy. Behind those closed doors Councillors are not permitted to represent you … their hands are tied. Clearly there have been three Councillors here who were willing to speak the truth … at great cost to themselves. For that I applaud them.

“When we tolerate what we know to be wrong–when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened–when we fail to speak up and speak out–we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice”. – Robert Francis Kennedy

Finally, bear in mind that your local District Councils are registered on Dun and Bradstreet’s website as companies. (Check this out for yourself). A company is:

“… any formal business entity for profit which may be a corporation, a partnership, association or individual proprietorship…” SOURCE

So we need to be asking ourselves, to whom do our Councils (that are really companies) owe their allegiance? To you the ratepayer/citizen? Or to corporate/company interests, given they exist ‘for profit’? Does this not explain a few anomalies? 

On a final note, these courageous Councillors who have put their heads above the parapet and spoken truth deserve our thanks. Do consider emailing them in that regard, or leave a comment here. And the same goes for the local residents, in particular Mr Andrews, who have also stood up and been counted.

 

EnvirowatchRangitikei

 

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RELATED:

Exposing the pollution of your waterways may well incur a violent backlash as two Horowhenua residents found out – the ongoing lip service councils pay to Iwi, the RMA & ‘sustainable development’

Horowhenua District Council’s pollution whistleblower has been served a trespass warrant – so what’s to hide?

“HDC is a top drawer polluter” says another Horowhenua District Councillor who filmed similar pollution to Shannon’s 14 months ago – he says HDC’s recent take was “misleading & full of half-truths”

“The whole thrust of one workshop was aimed at undermining the credibility of WECA members” … More revelations from a former Councillor on Horowhenua DC’s “long-standing & insidious” tactics

 

SOURCES FOR ARTICLE:

3 Oct 08 Manawatu Standard-Lake Horowhenua Contamination from Sewage Confirmed 

Sad Time for Lake Horowhenua – Green Party Press Release 2 Sept 08

Sewage Ponds Overflow at Lake Horowhenua Green Party Press Release 21 Aug 08 – Russel Norman gets offside with local Council 26 Aug 08

 

 

 

 

 

TPPA EXCLUSIVE: An open invitation from Professor Jane Kelsey

By Prof Jane Kelsey

(The Daily Blog) Ever heard Lori Wallach talk about the stark realities of US politics on the TPPA? If you have, you won’t want to miss her again! If you haven’t, this is a once in a lifetime chance to hear her on how the US and its corporate lobby stitched us up, and sold out ordinary Americans as well. (for Lori’s bio – see here)

Can the US Congress stop the deal? Will the US Congress stop the deal?

What happens if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency? Or Donald Trump (assuming that is worse … which it has to be)

Are US politicians serious that they will rewrite the deal after it is signed by setting rules for ‘implementation’? What would that mean for Kiwis?

Lori is arriving Tuesday morning for a speaking tour starting Tuesday night 7pm at the Auckland Town Hall in the lead-up to the planned signing in Auckland on 4 February. Then off around the country to Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin in a whirlwind tour. Sponsors (so far) are Its Our Future, ActionStation, and New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, as well as great local anti-TPPA groups.

– See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/01/23/exclusive-an-open-invitation-from-professor-jane-kelsey/#sthash.pOtZciOo.dpuf

EnvirowatchRangitikei

Kiwis lose $871 million from power company privatisations, power is up 3.8% & the elderly freeze

Whilst many elderly are stopping in bed all day to keep warm because they are paying outrageous prices for power (courtesy of Smart Meters) the CEOs of the powercos are on salaries of 1-2 million dollars. This is the insanity of corporate greed at its finest.

Today’s business corporation is an artificial creation, shielding owners and managers while preserving corporate privilege and existence. Artificial or not, corporations have won more rights under law than people have – rights which government has protected with armed force

Richard L Grossman and Frank T Adams

Recent articles in Nelson have illustrated what can happen following the installation of Smart Meters with accounts coming in at double the normal price and beyond. (Post to come on that one). The Greens in this article have highlighted the nonsensical world of privatisation … a thinly veiled scheme that clearly benefits the corporate world while claiming to benefit all. Remember, we were told the asset sales would get us out of debt (clearly wrong as our debt continues to climb). We were also told that more powercos meant more competition (free enterprise, the market and all that)  which would mean lower prices … wrong again.

“…free enterprise, [is] a term that refers, in practice, to a system of public subsidy and private profit, with massive government intervention in the economy to maintain a welfare state for the rich.”   Noam Chomsky

Gareth Hughes MP on Friday, August 28, 2015

“New analysis of the financial statements of Genesis, Mighty River Power, and Meridian released by the Green Party today shows that National’s partial privatisation of power companies has cost New Zealand taxpayers $871 million, the Green Party said.

“The latest data shows that National’s sale of 49 percent of shares in the power companies was a massive transfer of wealth from the people of New Zealand to a few select investors, many who live overseas,” Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes said.

“If the Crown still owned 100 percent of these companies, taxpayers could collectively have earned another $381 million this year alone and a whopping $775 million since the selloff.

“Add to that the $96 million of costs associated with the sale process, including bonus shares to sweeten the deal for private investors, and the New Zealand taxpayer is $871 million worse off because of National’s failed privatisation plan.

“Consumers are hurting because power prices are up 3.8 percent – meanwhile power companies are paying out massive salaries to their CEOs and directors.

“The CEOs of the three partially privatised power companies now all earn over a million dollars each, and Meridian’s CEO gets close to $2 million when extra perks are included.

“Rising salaries for power company CEOs are cold comfort for Kiwi households facing higher power bills,” said Mr Hughes.

Mighty River Power’s announcement today of a special shareholder dividend means it will pay out almost $300 million for the year, and caps off a string of recent profit announcements from the partially privatised power companies. Contact and Meridian are also paying special dividends, while Genesis’ profit doubled from the previous year.

The Green Party has released new analysis, undertaken by the Parliamentary Library, of the financial statements of the recently partially privatised power companies Genesis, Mighty River Power, and Meridian.

SOURCE: https://www.greens.org.nz/news/press-releases/kiwis-lose-871-million-power-company-privatisations

Fracking awareness raised in Whanganui meeting … “The drilling companies just seem to be able to do pretty much as they wish…”

Back in Sept/Oct 2014 our local newspaper mentioned a proposed report on fracking here in the Rangitikei, in the event consents were sought in the future. You can read that article HERE

The Green Party recently organized a meeting in Whanganui on the same issue, presenting the facts on what can be expected with fracking.

“….permission was being sought to drill up to eight wells 600 metres from Norfolk School in Inglewood.

There were also wells near Ngaere and Tikorangi schools, and well and flare pits could be within 200m to 300m of houses…”

We in the Rangitikei also need to be keeping an eye on this one. Bring yourself up to speed on fracking at the Fracking page here and follow the links to other sources.

There is a Frack Free Whanganui page HERE: https://www.facebook.com/FrackFreeWhanganui

And Manawatu Whanganui page HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1714960352062798/

Read the Wanganui Chronicle article HERE: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11318813