From an article in the Britian’s online newsletterwebsite, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ November 5, 2007
For those who poo poo’d Al Gore’s facts and information in on Global Warming in ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ then this is the book they will love. Scared to Death: From BSE To Global Warming — How Scares Are Costing Us The Earth by Christopher Booker and Richard North.
The book talks about how we have been cajoled into believing that mankind is responsible for Global Warming, how facts and figures have been manipulated for the purpose of the economics and politics. It tells the real history of the world’s changing temperatures often known as and subsequent life and agriculture changes (for example, the Roman Warming, the Mediaeval Warming, and the Little Ice Age), it exposes how information collected for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC) is manipulated for reporting and why Michael Mann’s hockey stick temperature graph was used for ‘scaremongering.”
Global warming, as described that by Tony Blair's chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, claimed in 2004, poses "a far greater threat to the world than international terrorism"
But is this so? Isn’t this just scaremongery? The article on the telegraph.co.uk website is a most informative read in itself, but I do urge you to get a copy. Not sure if it is in New Zealand, but it is available in the UK. Oh and when you have finished reading your copy, may I borrow it?
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Climatic Change - A Snapshot
When flying home from our European Adventure, I was very excited to find out that our flight path would be over southern Greenland. Like many people, I was taught at school, and still believed, that Greenland was white and that a few Eskimos lived there. I think it was a friend called Isabella , who fishes in North Sea, made some comment that Greenland was actually brown!
There, sure enough, was the world’s biggest island, with its grey/brown scoria laiden mountains, dipping into green/blue waters, below me. And not a dot of snow in sight!
Greenland, in spite of looking huge on the map is only about the size of Mexico and 75% the area of Denmark. It boasts one of the world’s largest fiord complexes and apparently 80% of it is covered by ice.
It was first inhabited by the Saqqaq culture in around 2000BC. Then in the 10th century the Norwegian Eric the Red, who had to quit Iceland, 175 miles away, because of his involvement with a murder, discovered it. The church built by his wife Thorhild still stands today.
Since the 1500’s Greenland was governed by the Danes and in 1953 changed from a Danish Colony to become part of the Danish kingdom. By 1979 it has had its own local government at the inhabitants’ request.
Today the population is more than 56 thousand and has many tourists who enjoy the unique arctic climate and the outdoor activities it offers.
The country, which is environmentally friendly towards green plants because of geothermal hot spots, has been called “An Arctic Laboratory.” Indeed Danish Scientists had made it the “most completely explored arctic land in the world.” However, the land is poor in natural resources.
Fishing is Greenland’s main industry of Shrimp (peeled prawns) followed by Greenland halibut, crabs, scallops and cod.
The capital of Greenland is Nuuk, or Godthaab, which means “Good Hope,” was founded by Hans Egede. Its population of 15 thousand is made up of the Inuits, and Danes. The average temperature averages from –1 to 18 degrees centigrade, in winter there are 4.5 daylight hours while in summer there is light for 24 hours from May until August.
Greenland and Climatic Change
Greenland and it’s neighbouring Arctic Circle countries seem to be the most vulnerable countries to climatic change. But action is being taken.
In January 2008 Nuuk will be hosting the Mayors of Winter Cities Bi-annual Winter Cities Conference and Expo.
The theme “Mother of the Sea” - a local folk story, reflects the conference’s focus of Global Warming and in particular, Climatic Changes in the Arctic. Reports from various surveys in local and nearby countries reported that 75% of all indigenous adults reported that climatic change is an environmental problem for them, as many, in spite of being satisfied with their lives, and jobs, spend a significant amount of time in traditional subsistence activities, including hunting and fishing.
There are, however, mixed reactions to Climate Change, or Global Warming in Greenland. It is been seen as a local boom, not doom for the world, as Al Gore suggests in his movie, “An Inconvenient Truth.” According to an article in the Wall St Journal in July 2006, a reindeer rancher says the glacier on his property has retreated 300 metres and his reindeer now feast on wild thyme and purple Niviarsiaq flowers. And he is planning to harness his ‘new’ river for hydroelectricity.
Average temperatures in Greenland have risen by 2.7 degrees Farenheight over the last 30 years. Swans have appeared, ducks are no longer migrating, farmers are getting larger crop yields and more vegetables can be grown.
Climatic change in Greenland is not new, according to oxygen isotope samples taken from Greenland’s ice core. Apparently in 1100, when Eric the Red discovered and settled here it was warm. The following 300 years represented the height of the Norse farming era, then the Norse inexplicably vanished. Farming faded and disappeared in the 17th century, but was practised again by the Inuit farmers in the 19th century, combining Norse and modern practices. The cold spell from 1950 – 1975 slowed farming, but now it is expanding rapidly.
Greenland’s fishers are benefiting from the return of warm water loving cod, which disappear from the waters when there are long cold spells. However, the shrimp – Greenland’s largest export may disappear, because not only do they enjoy cold water, they are eaten by cod!
No matter what happens to the temperatures, the Greenlanders are determined to make the most of the benefits they bring.
Climatic Change and the International Scene
Scientific Watchdogs
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed by governments who were members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programmed (UNEP) in 1988 to provide assessments of available scientific and technical information on climatic change. The most recent assessment was released in 2007, and can be seen on www.ipcc.ch
It has three separate working groups examining the physical science of climatic change, the effects on nature and society, and the methods of mitigation - that is, how humans can respond, adapt, survive and prosper to climactic change, and limit the effect of future warming by reducing the release of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. There is also a task force which is responsible for the IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme. New Zealanders David Wratt from Niwa, is a vice chair of the Climatic Change group, while Helen Plume, from the Ministry for the Environment, is a member of the Task Force.
Educating the Masses - An Inconvenient Truth – the movie we love and hate
“Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world's scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced.”
No matter what we think about global warming I am sure that most of us who saw the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” with Al Gore would agree that it is worth watching, even if we tire of the many facts, figures and diagrams with tails disappearing into thin air. However he does have many points, which make us think twice about what is happening on our planet, and what we can do, in our own patches.
Life at the Edge
The National Geographic, June 2007, as well as providing some spectacular photos of the wildlife which depend on the ice, talks about the significant shrinking of ice covering the Arctic Ocean in summer, over the last 25 years. What will happen to it if the ice shrinks much more?
Fewer icebergs and thinner ice covering the sea and warming it will result in changes in food supplies and shelter.
*“Ice is part of the biology of every creature that lives in this frozen vastness” Paul Nicklen
There is also alarming information about the thawing and receding of glaciers, in both the Arctic and Antarctic areas. For it is not just a case of the ice melting, there are multiple processes, which speeds the process. The processes include;
- the white snow melts, exposing the dark ice underneath. The dark ice absorbs heat and melts, whereas the white snow reflected the heat.
- Summer meltwater forms in pools in the ice, fractures it and pours below, speeding flow.
- Thinner ice has a weaker grip on the land and can’t hold the accelerating glacier
- Warmer oceans erode floating ice at its base, weakening it and causing it to break up.
The melting season in Greenland is starting earlier and ending later. Much of the bedrock has been forced below sea level, so rising seas may follow. However “Greenland alone could push *up sea level by three feet or so over the next century, if global warming does not let up.” Tim Appenzeller
Over the last 14 years Greenland researchers have had first hand experiences of rising temperatures. The seasonal melts have started earlier and ended later, snowmobile tracks have been full of slush and instead of snowing, it has been raining.
What are the Facts about Climate Change?
Participants in the 2007 IPCC assessment summarized some climatic arguments in the Scientific American magazine.
“Scientists are confident that humans have interfered with the climate and that further human-induced climatic change is on the way. The principle driver is greenhouse gas emissions…global warming has been caused by human activities as much as 90%…the magnitude of expected change depends on what humans choose to do about greenhouse gas emissions.
Eleven of the past 12 years have been the warmest since reliable records began in around 1850.
In conclusion, the article says that what is certain – plants, animals and humans will be living with the consequences of climatic change for the next thousand years at least. But what is uncertain – we have limited knowledge of the response of natural systems and human society to the growing impacts of climatic change.
In silence Greenland’s green waters and dramatic mountains slide out of my aircraft window’s view and for a short while and we fly over the waters of Davis Straight Davis Strait towards Nunavut, Canada. But look at that! A tidal Sea of Ice! Now I bet there is an interesting story here….
References include:
Scientific American August 2007
National Geographic June 2007
www.ipcc.ch
http://mytrip.dk/eindex.html. (great pics here)
http://jensjk.dk
http://www.wintercitiesnuuk.gl
ttp://www.climatecrisis.net/aboutthefilm
http://www.danishexporters.dk
http://en.wikipedia.org
There, sure enough, was the world’s biggest island, with its grey/brown scoria laiden mountains, dipping into green/blue waters, below me. And not a dot of snow in sight!
Greenland, in spite of looking huge on the map is only about the size of Mexico and 75% the area of Denmark. It boasts one of the world’s largest fiord complexes and apparently 80% of it is covered by ice.
It was first inhabited by the Saqqaq culture in around 2000BC. Then in the 10th century the Norwegian Eric the Red, who had to quit Iceland, 175 miles away, because of his involvement with a murder, discovered it. The church built by his wife Thorhild still stands today.
Since the 1500’s Greenland was governed by the Danes and in 1953 changed from a Danish Colony to become part of the Danish kingdom. By 1979 it has had its own local government at the inhabitants’ request.
Today the population is more than 56 thousand and has many tourists who enjoy the unique arctic climate and the outdoor activities it offers.
The country, which is environmentally friendly towards green plants because of geothermal hot spots, has been called “An Arctic Laboratory.” Indeed Danish Scientists had made it the “most completely explored arctic land in the world.” However, the land is poor in natural resources.
Fishing is Greenland’s main industry of Shrimp (peeled prawns) followed by Greenland halibut, crabs, scallops and cod.
The capital of Greenland is Nuuk, or Godthaab, which means “Good Hope,” was founded by Hans Egede. Its population of 15 thousand is made up of the Inuits, and Danes. The average temperature averages from –1 to 18 degrees centigrade, in winter there are 4.5 daylight hours while in summer there is light for 24 hours from May until August.
Greenland and Climatic Change
Greenland and it’s neighbouring Arctic Circle countries seem to be the most vulnerable countries to climatic change. But action is being taken.
In January 2008 Nuuk will be hosting the Mayors of Winter Cities Bi-annual Winter Cities Conference and Expo.
The theme “Mother of the Sea” - a local folk story, reflects the conference’s focus of Global Warming and in particular, Climatic Changes in the Arctic. Reports from various surveys in local and nearby countries reported that 75% of all indigenous adults reported that climatic change is an environmental problem for them, as many, in spite of being satisfied with their lives, and jobs, spend a significant amount of time in traditional subsistence activities, including hunting and fishing.
There are, however, mixed reactions to Climate Change, or Global Warming in Greenland. It is been seen as a local boom, not doom for the world, as Al Gore suggests in his movie, “An Inconvenient Truth.” According to an article in the Wall St Journal in July 2006, a reindeer rancher says the glacier on his property has retreated 300 metres and his reindeer now feast on wild thyme and purple Niviarsiaq flowers. And he is planning to harness his ‘new’ river for hydroelectricity.
Average temperatures in Greenland have risen by 2.7 degrees Farenheight over the last 30 years. Swans have appeared, ducks are no longer migrating, farmers are getting larger crop yields and more vegetables can be grown.
Climatic change in Greenland is not new, according to oxygen isotope samples taken from Greenland’s ice core. Apparently in 1100, when Eric the Red discovered and settled here it was warm. The following 300 years represented the height of the Norse farming era, then the Norse inexplicably vanished. Farming faded and disappeared in the 17th century, but was practised again by the Inuit farmers in the 19th century, combining Norse and modern practices. The cold spell from 1950 – 1975 slowed farming, but now it is expanding rapidly.
Greenland’s fishers are benefiting from the return of warm water loving cod, which disappear from the waters when there are long cold spells. However, the shrimp – Greenland’s largest export may disappear, because not only do they enjoy cold water, they are eaten by cod!
No matter what happens to the temperatures, the Greenlanders are determined to make the most of the benefits they bring.
Climatic Change and the International Scene
Scientific Watchdogs
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed by governments who were members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programmed (UNEP) in 1988 to provide assessments of available scientific and technical information on climatic change. The most recent assessment was released in 2007, and can be seen on www.ipcc.ch
It has three separate working groups examining the physical science of climatic change, the effects on nature and society, and the methods of mitigation - that is, how humans can respond, adapt, survive and prosper to climactic change, and limit the effect of future warming by reducing the release of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. There is also a task force which is responsible for the IPCC National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme. New Zealanders David Wratt from Niwa, is a vice chair of the Climatic Change group, while Helen Plume, from the Ministry for the Environment, is a member of the Task Force.
Educating the Masses - An Inconvenient Truth – the movie we love and hate
“Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world's scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced.”
No matter what we think about global warming I am sure that most of us who saw the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” with Al Gore would agree that it is worth watching, even if we tire of the many facts, figures and diagrams with tails disappearing into thin air. However he does have many points, which make us think twice about what is happening on our planet, and what we can do, in our own patches.
Life at the Edge
The National Geographic, June 2007, as well as providing some spectacular photos of the wildlife which depend on the ice, talks about the significant shrinking of ice covering the Arctic Ocean in summer, over the last 25 years. What will happen to it if the ice shrinks much more?
Fewer icebergs and thinner ice covering the sea and warming it will result in changes in food supplies and shelter.
*“Ice is part of the biology of every creature that lives in this frozen vastness” Paul Nicklen
There is also alarming information about the thawing and receding of glaciers, in both the Arctic and Antarctic areas. For it is not just a case of the ice melting, there are multiple processes, which speeds the process. The processes include;
- the white snow melts, exposing the dark ice underneath. The dark ice absorbs heat and melts, whereas the white snow reflected the heat.
- Summer meltwater forms in pools in the ice, fractures it and pours below, speeding flow.
- Thinner ice has a weaker grip on the land and can’t hold the accelerating glacier
- Warmer oceans erode floating ice at its base, weakening it and causing it to break up.
The melting season in Greenland is starting earlier and ending later. Much of the bedrock has been forced below sea level, so rising seas may follow. However “Greenland alone could push *up sea level by three feet or so over the next century, if global warming does not let up.” Tim Appenzeller
Over the last 14 years Greenland researchers have had first hand experiences of rising temperatures. The seasonal melts have started earlier and ended later, snowmobile tracks have been full of slush and instead of snowing, it has been raining.
What are the Facts about Climate Change?
Participants in the 2007 IPCC assessment summarized some climatic arguments in the Scientific American magazine.
“Scientists are confident that humans have interfered with the climate and that further human-induced climatic change is on the way. The principle driver is greenhouse gas emissions…global warming has been caused by human activities as much as 90%…the magnitude of expected change depends on what humans choose to do about greenhouse gas emissions.
Eleven of the past 12 years have been the warmest since reliable records began in around 1850.
In conclusion, the article says that what is certain – plants, animals and humans will be living with the consequences of climatic change for the next thousand years at least. But what is uncertain – we have limited knowledge of the response of natural systems and human society to the growing impacts of climatic change.
In silence Greenland’s green waters and dramatic mountains slide out of my aircraft window’s view and for a short while and we fly over the waters of Davis Straight Davis Strait towards Nunavut, Canada. But look at that! A tidal Sea of Ice! Now I bet there is an interesting story here….
References include:
Scientific American August 2007
National Geographic June 2007
www.ipcc.ch
http://mytrip.dk/eindex.html. (great pics here)
http://jensjk.dk
http://www.wintercitiesnuuk.gl
ttp://www.climatecrisis.net/aboutthefilm
http://www.danishexporters.dk
http://en.wikipedia.org
A Busman's Holiday - or What it is like at the Other side of the World
When holidaying at the other side of the world, it is only natural to compare everything with home. Indeed, there are many similarities between New Zealand and the Baltic Sea Countries – including Finland and Sweden - our dependence on the water, the influence of glacial activity and our awareness of our heritage.
We took the local ferry from Tallinn, Estonia, across the Gulf of Finland to Finland’s capital Helsinki and wandered around for awhile, climbing up the many stairs to the Lutheran Cathedral which gave us a grandstand view of the city – plainish buildings, where the old and the new seemed to blend in together. We took a boat tour, gliding upon still grey waters (not a white cap in sight) past wide waterside promenades flanked by very expensive apartments and hundreds of wooden day sailing boats, and cruised past the ports where 2 icebreakers sat, waiting for winter.
Out to the islands now, small low and smooth mounds, not mountainous as ours are - covered with small industries, houses, and past the Suomenlinna island fortress World Heritage site in Helsinki harbor. The Swedes built it in the mid-18th century, when Finland was under Swedish rule. Because of the weight of the last glaciations the Baltic Sea bed and the islands are still rising - from 1 – 8 millimetres per year in some areas. The Baltic sea is fed by much fresh water from it’s surrounding countries, which makes the salinity so low that some freshwater fish can be found in it, while others, such as shrimp, are not.
Later we boarded the Silju Symphony overnight Ferry to Stockholm, Sweden. Entered through a door on the side of the ship and almost fell into to a one street Shoppers’ Paradise. Families fed their children at the many restaurants then herded into the large stores grabbed the huge industrial trolleys to stock up on duty free beer and liquor, clothes and handbags. The nightclub rocked, old and new danced til dawn (well, there was no dark) and yours truly settled down with a cocktail in the bar at the bow to enjoy viewing the Kvarken Archipelago, another World Heritage site. Alas, all there was to see was the blue/grey waters and fog!
Breakfast time and the sky clears as we glide through the Stockholm Archipelago on the coast of Sweden. One of the largest archipelagos in the Baltic Sea it consists of approximately 24,000 islands and islets. Once many of the islands were inhabited, then people moved to the cities for work. Today holiday homes litter some of the larger islands, while closer to Stockholm people take the ferry to dine at the one of the many island restaurants and watch the cruise ships sidle by.
It was interesting to note that there was much pride taken in the fact that, many places, such as Suomenlinna island fortress, and the Kvarken Archipelago, are proudly announced as being UNESCO World Heritage sites. Finland has seven World Heritage Sites while Sweden has fourteen, including the Naval Port of Karlskrona late 17th-century European planned naval city.
So why are there so many world heritage sites here? The countries surrounding the Baltic Sea are very serious about preserving their waterways and heritage.
The World Heritage Convention plays a very important role in preserving our world for the future. It was adopted in 1972 by UNESCO (New Zealand became a signatory in 1984) and seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage considered to be of ‘outstanding value to humanity’. Its list of 851 sites of 660 cultural, 166 natural and 25 mixed properties encompasses 141 countries.
Australia has seventeen listed sites, with the Sydney Opera House being the latest edition at this year’s July conference in Christchurch.
There are three World Heritage Sites in New Zealand, where I live.
They are Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand, the Tongariro National Park, and the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consisting of five island groups - the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. Amongst other notable assets 126 bird species breed on these islands, including 40 seabirds of which five breed nowhere else in the world.
Because of the increasing evaluation and monitoring workload, it is very difficult for a site to get on the World Heritage list. The first step is to put forward an inventory to be considered for the Tentative List.
This year, after much public consultation, New Zealand put up eight sites. They are the Kahurangi National Park, Farewell Spit, Waikoropupu Springs and the Canaan Karst System, the Waters and Seabed of the Fiords of Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) - an addition to Te Wahipounamu - South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area, the Napier Art Deco Historic Precinct, the Kerikeri Basin Historic Precinct, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds Historic Precinct, Kermadec Islands and Marine Reserve, the Auckland Volcanic Field, and Whakarua Moutere, or the North-East Islands including Poor Knights Islands.
Now that I am back at home by our own beautiful waters, and know that New Zealand has not been slack about recognizing about it’s heritage and it’s beautiful islands I can relax. And look! There are internships, volunteer job opportunities and school projects listed on the Unesco Site! What a great way help preserve our valuable earth! This could be the beginning of a new adventure….
References include: http://www.doc.govt.nz http://whc.unesco.org, http://whc.unesco.org/en/108#work (for job oppportunities)
We took the local ferry from Tallinn, Estonia, across the Gulf of Finland to Finland’s capital Helsinki and wandered around for awhile, climbing up the many stairs to the Lutheran Cathedral which gave us a grandstand view of the city – plainish buildings, where the old and the new seemed to blend in together. We took a boat tour, gliding upon still grey waters (not a white cap in sight) past wide waterside promenades flanked by very expensive apartments and hundreds of wooden day sailing boats, and cruised past the ports where 2 icebreakers sat, waiting for winter.
Out to the islands now, small low and smooth mounds, not mountainous as ours are - covered with small industries, houses, and past the Suomenlinna island fortress World Heritage site in Helsinki harbor. The Swedes built it in the mid-18th century, when Finland was under Swedish rule. Because of the weight of the last glaciations the Baltic Sea bed and the islands are still rising - from 1 – 8 millimetres per year in some areas. The Baltic sea is fed by much fresh water from it’s surrounding countries, which makes the salinity so low that some freshwater fish can be found in it, while others, such as shrimp, are not.
Later we boarded the Silju Symphony overnight Ferry to Stockholm, Sweden. Entered through a door on the side of the ship and almost fell into to a one street Shoppers’ Paradise. Families fed their children at the many restaurants then herded into the large stores grabbed the huge industrial trolleys to stock up on duty free beer and liquor, clothes and handbags. The nightclub rocked, old and new danced til dawn (well, there was no dark) and yours truly settled down with a cocktail in the bar at the bow to enjoy viewing the Kvarken Archipelago, another World Heritage site. Alas, all there was to see was the blue/grey waters and fog!
Breakfast time and the sky clears as we glide through the Stockholm Archipelago on the coast of Sweden. One of the largest archipelagos in the Baltic Sea it consists of approximately 24,000 islands and islets. Once many of the islands were inhabited, then people moved to the cities for work. Today holiday homes litter some of the larger islands, while closer to Stockholm people take the ferry to dine at the one of the many island restaurants and watch the cruise ships sidle by.
It was interesting to note that there was much pride taken in the fact that, many places, such as Suomenlinna island fortress, and the Kvarken Archipelago, are proudly announced as being UNESCO World Heritage sites. Finland has seven World Heritage Sites while Sweden has fourteen, including the Naval Port of Karlskrona late 17th-century European planned naval city.
So why are there so many world heritage sites here? The countries surrounding the Baltic Sea are very serious about preserving their waterways and heritage.
The World Heritage Convention plays a very important role in preserving our world for the future. It was adopted in 1972 by UNESCO (New Zealand became a signatory in 1984) and seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage considered to be of ‘outstanding value to humanity’. Its list of 851 sites of 660 cultural, 166 natural and 25 mixed properties encompasses 141 countries.
Australia has seventeen listed sites, with the Sydney Opera House being the latest edition at this year’s July conference in Christchurch.
There are three World Heritage Sites in New Zealand, where I live.
They are Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand, the Tongariro National Park, and the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consisting of five island groups - the Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. Amongst other notable assets 126 bird species breed on these islands, including 40 seabirds of which five breed nowhere else in the world.
Because of the increasing evaluation and monitoring workload, it is very difficult for a site to get on the World Heritage list. The first step is to put forward an inventory to be considered for the Tentative List.
This year, after much public consultation, New Zealand put up eight sites. They are the Kahurangi National Park, Farewell Spit, Waikoropupu Springs and the Canaan Karst System, the Waters and Seabed of the Fiords of Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) - an addition to Te Wahipounamu - South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area, the Napier Art Deco Historic Precinct, the Kerikeri Basin Historic Precinct, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds Historic Precinct, Kermadec Islands and Marine Reserve, the Auckland Volcanic Field, and Whakarua Moutere, or the North-East Islands including Poor Knights Islands.
Now that I am back at home by our own beautiful waters, and know that New Zealand has not been slack about recognizing about it’s heritage and it’s beautiful islands I can relax. And look! There are internships, volunteer job opportunities and school projects listed on the Unesco Site! What a great way help preserve our valuable earth! This could be the beginning of a new adventure….
References include: http://www.doc.govt.nz http://whc.unesco.org, http://whc.unesco.org/en/108#work (for job oppportunities)
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Passionate about Antarctica? Exciting Opportunity for Young People !
A new scheme for young New Zealanders to work with an environmental team in Antarctica has been launched to celebrate the 50th anniversary Scott Base on the continent.
Sir Blake’s son, James, welcomes the scheme which is a partnership between Antarctica New Zealand and the Sir Peter Blake Trust. The 20 year old believes that his Dad would have been very excited about this programme in the land which he was so passionate about.
Each year, during the summer months the Antarctic Youth Ambassador would work with Antarctica New Zealand in areas such as the International Antarctica Centre in Christchurch, or at various locations in Antarctica.
Applications are open now until May 4, 2007 for people aged between 18 and 25 years. For more information and to apply, go to www.sirpeterblaketrust.org or www.antarcticanz.govt.nz.
Sir Blake’s son, James, welcomes the scheme which is a partnership between Antarctica New Zealand and the Sir Peter Blake Trust. The 20 year old believes that his Dad would have been very excited about this programme in the land which he was so passionate about.
Each year, during the summer months the Antarctic Youth Ambassador would work with Antarctica New Zealand in areas such as the International Antarctica Centre in Christchurch, or at various locations in Antarctica.
Applications are open now until May 4, 2007 for people aged between 18 and 25 years. For more information and to apply, go to www.sirpeterblaketrust.org or www.antarcticanz.govt.nz.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Who does New Zealand’s Minister for the Environment work for?
New Zealand…. or Japan??
According to a press release just posted on the world conservation seashepherd.org website, it is suspected that NZ Minister for the Environment Chris Carter, is not telling anyone where the Japanese whaling fleet are illegally slaughtering whales – because Japan told him not to!!
Two ships from Sea Shepherd are patrolling the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary at this minute. Unlike Greenpeace, they are not there to physically protest whaling, but to “enforce international conservation law against illegal whaling activities in accordance with the principles established for intervention by non-governmental organizations enshrined in the United Nations World Charter for Nature.”
The organization is desperate to find out the where the Japanese Whaling fleet is. In fact, it is offering $USD25,000 to anyone who can supply them the co-ordinates. See their website www.seashepherd.org.
Yes, it’s true that in December last year Chris Carter led a deputation of 27 countries, including Australia and the United States, in a diplomatic protest at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, but absolutely nothing has happened. Was this a ploy of some sort?
So what is going on? Why is Chris Carter taking orders from Japan, allowing them to illegally and commercially fish in Antarctica’s Whale Sanctuary?
I want to know! We all want to know! Can you shed some light on this?
And what are other countries doing? Australia, for example? Are they working for Japan too?
If you are as mystified as I am, about Chris Carter’s stance, why not email Chris on ccarter@ministers.govt.nz and ask him?. Oh, and let me know the outcome, would you?
Rae of Sunshine
According to a press release just posted on the world conservation seashepherd.org website, it is suspected that NZ Minister for the Environment Chris Carter, is not telling anyone where the Japanese whaling fleet are illegally slaughtering whales – because Japan told him not to!!
Two ships from Sea Shepherd are patrolling the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary at this minute. Unlike Greenpeace, they are not there to physically protest whaling, but to “enforce international conservation law against illegal whaling activities in accordance with the principles established for intervention by non-governmental organizations enshrined in the United Nations World Charter for Nature.”
The organization is desperate to find out the where the Japanese Whaling fleet is. In fact, it is offering $USD25,000 to anyone who can supply them the co-ordinates. See their website www.seashepherd.org.
Yes, it’s true that in December last year Chris Carter led a deputation of 27 countries, including Australia and the United States, in a diplomatic protest at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, but absolutely nothing has happened. Was this a ploy of some sort?
So what is going on? Why is Chris Carter taking orders from Japan, allowing them to illegally and commercially fish in Antarctica’s Whale Sanctuary?
I want to know! We all want to know! Can you shed some light on this?
And what are other countries doing? Australia, for example? Are they working for Japan too?
If you are as mystified as I am, about Chris Carter’s stance, why not email Chris on ccarter@ministers.govt.nz and ask him?. Oh, and let me know the outcome, would you?
Rae of Sunshine
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Let’s keep our Freedom of Speech!!
New Zealand Herald item - “Renegade blogsite holding CYFS workers to account”
At long last people are fighting back! They are damning CYFS for removing children from their families without proper research or consideration of the circumstances - often with tragic results.
The renegade blogsite details heart wrenching stories of what CYFS people have been doing to our children– even naming and graphically describing the people involved and their irresponsible behaviour.
CYFS’ lawyers are working to shut the site down - a move similar to a successful one in America when disgruntled CYFS ‘clients’ posted their grievances on line. (Isn’t this against their Bill of Rights – amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…..)
But hey, what about respecting the freedom of speech in New Zealand? Would the closing down of this blog mean the beginning of the end of the right to speak?
After all, blogs are private, not public, aren’t they?
Why can’t we write what we like? Just as we email, talk over the phone and converse with our associates?
I believe, that in spite of the subject matter, let the freedom to write and speak what we wish always remain with us.
So, let’s fight against this social injustice! No one should have the right of ability close a blog down just because they disagree with the content. Especially one as important as this!
What can we do to keep our social right to the freedom of speech?
Who are the best people to contact?
Are they the Prime Minister, the local MP, the Children’s Commissioner, The Communications Minister, the local paper?
Are you doing anything to prevent this blog from being closed down? Or anything else to preserve our freedom to speak and write? I look forward to your comments! Please post them! Let us know what you are doing!
Rae
At long last people are fighting back! They are damning CYFS for removing children from their families without proper research or consideration of the circumstances - often with tragic results.
The renegade blogsite details heart wrenching stories of what CYFS people have been doing to our children– even naming and graphically describing the people involved and their irresponsible behaviour.
CYFS’ lawyers are working to shut the site down - a move similar to a successful one in America when disgruntled CYFS ‘clients’ posted their grievances on line. (Isn’t this against their Bill of Rights – amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…..)
But hey, what about respecting the freedom of speech in New Zealand? Would the closing down of this blog mean the beginning of the end of the right to speak?
After all, blogs are private, not public, aren’t they?
Why can’t we write what we like? Just as we email, talk over the phone and converse with our associates?
I believe, that in spite of the subject matter, let the freedom to write and speak what we wish always remain with us.
So, let’s fight against this social injustice! No one should have the right of ability close a blog down just because they disagree with the content. Especially one as important as this!
What can we do to keep our social right to the freedom of speech?
Who are the best people to contact?
Are they the Prime Minister, the local MP, the Children’s Commissioner, The Communications Minister, the local paper?
Are you doing anything to prevent this blog from being closed down? Or anything else to preserve our freedom to speak and write? I look forward to your comments! Please post them! Let us know what you are doing!
Rae
Monday, January 22, 2007
DO YOU REALIZE THAT ANTARCTICA’S ICONIC TREASURES COULD DISAPPEAR WITHOUT OUR HELP?
Remember reading with fascination the success and demise of Sir Robert Scott when he reached the South Pole? And the triumph of Sir Ernest Shackleton when, after his ship ‘Endurance’ was broken up by Antarctica’s formidable ice, he rescued all his crew from certain death?
Today there is considerable interest worldwide, to visit the Huts of these heroic explorers on site. Especially as it's so easy to travel to Antarctica.
However, to protect the huts, much preservation work needs to be done. $16 million’s worth, to be exact. New Zealand Government and the Antarctica Heritage Trust have contributed $7 million, and Prime Minister Helen Clark has asked British Prime Minister Tony Blair to cough up the rest. But so far, no go.
But then, why should Britain cough up?
Could it be because British born Scott, for the first time ever, contributed a massive amount of scientific, meteorological, biological and geological information about Antarctica?
Or maybe because Anglo/Irish born Shackleton explored a vast area of Antarctica, and, against everything that Antarctic threw at him, ensured that his crew came home?
Does it matter that the beginning of the 20th century, Britain’s Most Heroic Age of Exploration was focussed on Antarctica?
On 1910 the world will be celebrating the centenary of Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition. There will be considerable attention on Antarctica; in particular Scott’s hut at Cape Evans, from where he and his team departed for their final, fateful journey.
What would happen if, in spite of the considerable preservation effects of the freezing Antarctica weather, Scott’s and Shackleton’s huts disintegrated to piles of rubble?
What would our children, and their children think? That Britain does not care about its heroes??? That Scott’s and Shackleton’s work was not valued? That role models are not important?
I feel so strongly about this - we must keep our heroes and historical icons alive for our children to benefit from in the future.
How can we make Britain sit up and listen?
Here are my suggestions – I am sure you have more!
Write to PM Tony Blair
Write to the World Monument fund – they are on the web
Write to the British High Commission.
Tell everybody – in fact, pass this message on!
Post your ideas on this site! Lets get action! Preserve the huts on Antarctica! Start now! Tell me what you are going do! We’ll get Britain on board yet …..
Today there is considerable interest worldwide, to visit the Huts of these heroic explorers on site. Especially as it's so easy to travel to Antarctica.
However, to protect the huts, much preservation work needs to be done. $16 million’s worth, to be exact. New Zealand Government and the Antarctica Heritage Trust have contributed $7 million, and Prime Minister Helen Clark has asked British Prime Minister Tony Blair to cough up the rest. But so far, no go.
But then, why should Britain cough up?
Could it be because British born Scott, for the first time ever, contributed a massive amount of scientific, meteorological, biological and geological information about Antarctica?
Or maybe because Anglo/Irish born Shackleton explored a vast area of Antarctica, and, against everything that Antarctic threw at him, ensured that his crew came home?
Does it matter that the beginning of the 20th century, Britain’s Most Heroic Age of Exploration was focussed on Antarctica?
On 1910 the world will be celebrating the centenary of Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition. There will be considerable attention on Antarctica; in particular Scott’s hut at Cape Evans, from where he and his team departed for their final, fateful journey.
What would happen if, in spite of the considerable preservation effects of the freezing Antarctica weather, Scott’s and Shackleton’s huts disintegrated to piles of rubble?
What would our children, and their children think? That Britain does not care about its heroes??? That Scott’s and Shackleton’s work was not valued? That role models are not important?
I feel so strongly about this - we must keep our heroes and historical icons alive for our children to benefit from in the future.
How can we make Britain sit up and listen?
Here are my suggestions – I am sure you have more!
Write to PM Tony Blair
Write to the World Monument fund – they are on the web
Write to the British High Commission.
Tell everybody – in fact, pass this message on!
Post your ideas on this site! Lets get action! Preserve the huts on Antarctica! Start now! Tell me what you are going do! We’ll get Britain on board yet …..
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
A New Years Request….can you help me pleeeeease???
Hi, thank you for reading this post. Here is my dilemma, and it might be yours too.
You see, like many of us, my resolutions for 2007 went well for the first few days, then things started turning to custard……
For example, mine were to get out of bed early, go to the gym, swim or walk, then do all my day’s tasks!!! Somehow, now that summer has, finally, arrived, it all is a bit too hard…
I had the same issue a couple of years ago. All of a sudden somewhere on a shelf in my brain, I remembered that back then, I created a solution. That is, I created a special ‘Weekly Goals Achievement Book.’ When I used it back then, I found it most revealing.
Let me explain. It’s not just a book for writing down one’s goals, as we are all told to do. Oh, no, this book has something much more beneficial. It asks us to write down how long it takes to complete a task! That way, we can find out not only what we have completed, but how long it took to do it, and at the end of the week, how much, in time terms, did we do! Now this could be rather …er…. revealing to some of us who enjoy long leisurely coffees, cigarettes, and chats without even mentioning the irrelevant (but necessary, of course) emails which Must Be Responded To Immediately.
I was so excited at how useful this book is for managing one’s time that I printed a whole lot off! They are available to purchase from my website www.broadlyspeaking.co.nz.
Now this is where you come in. I need some feedback.
To this end I would like to send you the book, free of charge, of course, to test, and let me know how useful it is for you. Oh, and what you think of the little sayings on each page. Would you mind? You may post the comments on this blog, so that others can see the feedback or just email me. If you are happy to do so, please post, or email your address at rae@broadlyspeaking.co.nz and I’ll send you a copy. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Rae of Sunshine xx
You see, like many of us, my resolutions for 2007 went well for the first few days, then things started turning to custard……
For example, mine were to get out of bed early, go to the gym, swim or walk, then do all my day’s tasks!!! Somehow, now that summer has, finally, arrived, it all is a bit too hard…
I had the same issue a couple of years ago. All of a sudden somewhere on a shelf in my brain, I remembered that back then, I created a solution. That is, I created a special ‘Weekly Goals Achievement Book.’ When I used it back then, I found it most revealing.
Let me explain. It’s not just a book for writing down one’s goals, as we are all told to do. Oh, no, this book has something much more beneficial. It asks us to write down how long it takes to complete a task! That way, we can find out not only what we have completed, but how long it took to do it, and at the end of the week, how much, in time terms, did we do! Now this could be rather …er…. revealing to some of us who enjoy long leisurely coffees, cigarettes, and chats without even mentioning the irrelevant (but necessary, of course) emails which Must Be Responded To Immediately.
I was so excited at how useful this book is for managing one’s time that I printed a whole lot off! They are available to purchase from my website www.broadlyspeaking.co.nz.
Now this is where you come in. I need some feedback.
To this end I would like to send you the book, free of charge, of course, to test, and let me know how useful it is for you. Oh, and what you think of the little sayings on each page. Would you mind? You may post the comments on this blog, so that others can see the feedback or just email me. If you are happy to do so, please post, or email your address at rae@broadlyspeaking.co.nz and I’ll send you a copy. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Rae of Sunshine xx
Great Barrier Island – Paradise going….going……or???
A bush clad hilly cloud covered island, hidden homes, walking tracks, beach baches, rusty cars by the roadside…Whites sandy beaches, paradise coloured seas, shipwrecks, fish, dolphins, shellfish, long lines, long haired inhabitants, art, island hours……
In the 1800’s three white families joined the Maoris on Great Barrier Island, the Sandersons, the Blackwells and the Medlands and took up farming. Today beaches, roads and other landmarks are named after them. Forestry, whaling and mining industries thrived for many years. Now the kauri dams and the whaling station, no longer used, are falling into disrepair, and the farmland, much of which is slowly reverting back to forest, signal signs of change. The rusty neglected cars now pile up in a field, and current car owners are subjected to frequent Wof and Registration blitzes by the Auckland City Council. The kiwi style baches are few now – replaced by new affluent holiday homes, the designs inclining towards a concession to the island style. There are very few sections below $400,000. The locals, forced off by laws prohibiting dole bludgers living there with no prospect of work, and enticed by the high prices overseas investors are paying for their properties, now live elsewhere. The resident population has declined to 700 from over 1000 a few years ago. Most of the island is publicly owned, and the majority by overseas interests. The Department of Conservation administers around 60% of the whole island.
Today ‘s residents are business people; artists, local services and amenities providers, land and mussel farmers. Tourism is growing. There are plenty of choices of accommodation - luxury to back packers. Conservation issues are important – preservation of the beaches, encouragement of native bird life, the methods to eradicate predators. Improvements are being made to the walking tracks, beach areas and camping grounds which have excellent toilet facilities. Lively, heated debates abound as the locals work through the Auckland CC and DOC's plans for the Island. How to get rid of the rats? Feral cats – not wanted, but don’t pet cats prey on birds as well?
Local personalities, such as sailor, conservationist and politician Tony Bouzaid dance between the authorities and the islanders, working towards creating an eco friendly vision of the Island for future generations.
While Tryphena, the settlement in the Southern part of the Island looks as if it hasn’t and won’t change quickly, there are some very exciting prospects at Port Fitzroy, in the north which will bring considerable economical benefits to the island.
Around 14 years ago, Tony and Mal Bouzaid purchased the nearly derelict Fitzroy House and surrounding land. They rebuilt the house, and set about creating a sanctuary for endangered native plants and bird life, including the North Island Robin, which had not been seen on the Island for many years.. In August 2005, Tony and Mal were awarded the Conservation Achievement Award in Biodiversity Protection and Restoration by the Minister of Conservation the Hon Chris Carter, for their work.
Today the property offers visitors unique educational and recreational experiences for everyone.
Northwards, over the hill in Karaka Bay the Sir Edmond Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre has established its Marine Centre. Offering a huge variety of water based learning activities for everyone, the Centre will bring thousands of young and old to the island for 35 weeks of each year.
In spite of the lengthy consultation processes between governing authorities and the island’s eclectic population Great Barrier Island, I believe, has a unique and exciting future. Yes, there will be hundreds of expensive new homes with absentee owners. Yes, the population will swell 10fold every summer holiday. But there won’t be any destructive pests. Now go and stroll along those well maintained walking tracks though the regenerated native forests over the hills, marvel at the variety or plants, and listen to the kakas, robins, kingfishers, warblers – and isn’t that a…. ??? A balanced and lush ecosystem, Great Barrier Island is, a treasure for future generations. Paradise going? I don’t think so. Hmm, shall I go paddling at the clear seawater or kayaking? Oh look, there are hundreds of those brown teal ducks – weren’t they endangered once?
For the best information about Great Barrier Island get the brochure “Great Barrier Island Aotea – Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park” from the Department of Conservation.
In the 1800’s three white families joined the Maoris on Great Barrier Island, the Sandersons, the Blackwells and the Medlands and took up farming. Today beaches, roads and other landmarks are named after them. Forestry, whaling and mining industries thrived for many years. Now the kauri dams and the whaling station, no longer used, are falling into disrepair, and the farmland, much of which is slowly reverting back to forest, signal signs of change. The rusty neglected cars now pile up in a field, and current car owners are subjected to frequent Wof and Registration blitzes by the Auckland City Council. The kiwi style baches are few now – replaced by new affluent holiday homes, the designs inclining towards a concession to the island style. There are very few sections below $400,000. The locals, forced off by laws prohibiting dole bludgers living there with no prospect of work, and enticed by the high prices overseas investors are paying for their properties, now live elsewhere. The resident population has declined to 700 from over 1000 a few years ago. Most of the island is publicly owned, and the majority by overseas interests. The Department of Conservation administers around 60% of the whole island.
Today ‘s residents are business people; artists, local services and amenities providers, land and mussel farmers. Tourism is growing. There are plenty of choices of accommodation - luxury to back packers. Conservation issues are important – preservation of the beaches, encouragement of native bird life, the methods to eradicate predators. Improvements are being made to the walking tracks, beach areas and camping grounds which have excellent toilet facilities. Lively, heated debates abound as the locals work through the Auckland CC and DOC's plans for the Island. How to get rid of the rats? Feral cats – not wanted, but don’t pet cats prey on birds as well?
Local personalities, such as sailor, conservationist and politician Tony Bouzaid dance between the authorities and the islanders, working towards creating an eco friendly vision of the Island for future generations.
While Tryphena, the settlement in the Southern part of the Island looks as if it hasn’t and won’t change quickly, there are some very exciting prospects at Port Fitzroy, in the north which will bring considerable economical benefits to the island.
Around 14 years ago, Tony and Mal Bouzaid purchased the nearly derelict Fitzroy House and surrounding land. They rebuilt the house, and set about creating a sanctuary for endangered native plants and bird life, including the North Island Robin, which had not been seen on the Island for many years.. In August 2005, Tony and Mal were awarded the Conservation Achievement Award in Biodiversity Protection and Restoration by the Minister of Conservation the Hon Chris Carter, for their work.
Today the property offers visitors unique educational and recreational experiences for everyone.
Northwards, over the hill in Karaka Bay the Sir Edmond Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre has established its Marine Centre. Offering a huge variety of water based learning activities for everyone, the Centre will bring thousands of young and old to the island for 35 weeks of each year.
In spite of the lengthy consultation processes between governing authorities and the island’s eclectic population Great Barrier Island, I believe, has a unique and exciting future. Yes, there will be hundreds of expensive new homes with absentee owners. Yes, the population will swell 10fold every summer holiday. But there won’t be any destructive pests. Now go and stroll along those well maintained walking tracks though the regenerated native forests over the hills, marvel at the variety or plants, and listen to the kakas, robins, kingfishers, warblers – and isn’t that a…. ??? A balanced and lush ecosystem, Great Barrier Island is, a treasure for future generations. Paradise going? I don’t think so. Hmm, shall I go paddling at the clear seawater or kayaking? Oh look, there are hundreds of those brown teal ducks – weren’t they endangered once?
For the best information about Great Barrier Island get the brochure “Great Barrier Island Aotea – Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park” from the Department of Conservation.
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