Greenweek 12th September 2008

A summary of Green political happenings. You are welcome to send snippets that may interest other GreenWeek readers to Alison Coleman: alison.coleman@parliament.govt.nz

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Election date - the change we need is Green
Green Party Co-Leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Russel Norman welcome the Prime Minister’s election date announcement of November 8 and hope it will be an election that’s based on policy, not personal attacks.
Read Jeanette and Russel's press release.

ETS a first step, time for some big strides now
The passing of the Emissions Trading Scheme is the first small step towards getting New Zealand’s carbon emissions under control – but there is still much work to be done.
Read Jeanette's press release.

Rivers too polluted for stock to drink from
The Government can’t ignore a report on Waikato water quality out this week that shows 70 percent of 78 rivers and streams tested were unsafe for swimming and more than 75 percent were unsafe for stock to drink from,.
Read Russel's press release.
Read Russel's related press release: Listen to tourism lobby, not just Fonterra, Mr Mallard.

Greens Release Children’s Policy
"We look at all our policies, whether environmental, social or economic through the eyes of children in our call for a fairer future for all," commented Sue on the eve of the Every Child Counts Conference held in Wellington this week.
Read Sue B's press release.
Read the full policy.

Photos needed of GE research downsides
The Green Party is calling on AgResearch to publicly release photographs of deformed calves so the public can see downsides of genetic engineering as well as hearing and reading the Crown Research Institute’s spin.
Read Jeanette's press release.

Greens win $100,000 for Wellington’s trolleys and trains
Wellington’s iconic trolley buses have been given a $100,000 boost, thanks to the Green Party – to compensate for the one year under the Emissions Trading Scheme where electricity faces a carbon price while fuel does not.
Read Sue K's press release.

Did the Nats leave the Maori Party at the altar?
There has been a whirlwind of interest and speculation as to why the National party pulled support at the last moment for a Maori Party amendment to the Emissions Trading legislation. Read the comments here.

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To see press releases on topics not covered by the items above, go to all media releases

Published by the Greens' Parliamentary Office, Bowen House, Parliament, Wellington.
Ph (04) 470 6700, Fax (04) 472 6003, green.party@parliament.govt.nz, http://www.greens.org.nz/.
Authorised by Jon Field, 73 Eden St, Wellington.

Sorting rubbish 34 ways
A Japanese village's strict recycling regime looks to a future free of incinerators and landfills. [Guardian]

Earthwise interviews Robert Fisk
Mon 15 Sept, repeated Wed 17 Sept, 10pm. On PlainsFM96.9, an interview with Robert Fisk, Middle East correspondent for The Independent. Direct stream and podcast at: www.plainsfm.org.nz.

Journal of NZ birds, online
[NZbirds]

Big melt reveals uncharted waters
As the Arctic ice cap melts away, shipping in the environmentally fragile region is expected to expand hugely. [TerraDaily]

Iceland’s Energy Eden
This green utopia sits atop the world's most mammoth magma pool. [National Geographic]

Manure 'smells like money'
With energy prices driving the cost of agricultural inputs up, nutrient-rich manure is getting another look. [ENN]

Electronic smog
Mobile phones, Wi-Fi systems, electric power lines and similar sources of "electrosmog" are disrupting nature on a massive scale, according to a new study. [Independent]

Eat less red meat to help the environment
People should eat less red meat if they want to help combat the effects of climate change, a leading United Nations expert has said. (An entertaining response from Boris Johnson.) [Telegraph]