Green Covid Jobs - New Zealand

 Posted 2nd May 2021 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill New Zealand NZ 

    

I must comment on the Jobs for Nature scheme in Saturdays paper.

I have been working on jobs for nature in Fiordland for decades now I wanted to use cycle trails as a dual delivery system for pest & weed control but also for public appreciation of our pristine wilderness  so far our Government has not been of much help. 

It is almost insane that our last proper park review was in 2007 in some countries that would be considered neglect.

I have to say...  As an old school big picture conservationist I have to roll my eyes at the green-washing that has been going on in our area and the lack of transparency of public spending and benefits in this area. 

People need jobs BUT they need to feel useful and appreciated  least we forget we are living the the Anthropocene Era and we just have to live with it...  Yes we can help but only nature can fix what has been done because nature is not run as a business or political position.  Sorry to tell you the worst of it is not in the bounds of our National Parks either.

      

The Health of New Zealand

Posted August 30th 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

After reading the paper today it is interesting to reflect on how health has become a huge political issue in the USA with over 65 percent of the population putting on the heat for government assistance with healthcare, arguing their tax dollars are meant to be a kind of heath insurance seems to be a political no-brainer.

In NZ politically speaking the idea of maintaining the Nation’s Health is not such an urgent issue.
Yet all the indicators are that we are slipping not just in physical health but mental well being.

I don’t know about the current politicians but in the past we had the Values Party who pretty much put such things on the top of the list.

Since the 1980s when the USA encouraged us to ditch our Kiwi socialist ideals we have been overworked underpaid and exploited, now I think our
minds & bodies are paying the price... But worse yet we no longer care as much for each other as we once did and sadly overseas there is precious little hope at all in that direction.

Life on Earth can be tricky, still, on the bright side, we are not literally on fire.

The Honour in Failure

Posted 23rd of August 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

I was just thinking a great part of a vibrant society is due to the rare human desire to try the unusual and face down failure.
Maybe one day a year we should take time to celebrate the noble failures that happened in our region that would otherwise go un-sung and forgotten.

People are quick to scoff at crazy endeavors when they fail but when they succeed they can often change our society and our communities.
 History is full of examples of near failures that took off  and Southland has it’s share as well as some that didn’t.

So here is to the unsung dreamers of Southland who push boundaries against the odds and don’t quite make it a conservative, sparsely populated region.  

It has been noted the only difference between Invercargill and Silicon Valley is San Jose has a huge pile of money to throw at crazy stuff  like Travis Kalanick’s UBER or Rob Rhinehart’s SOYLENT (food replacement) and inflict painfully unfeasible bad ideas on the world, Oh and let’s not forget to mention Joe Gebba and Brian Chesky founders of Air B&B who are literally causing an economic refugee crises around the world. then there was the Guy selling vote cancelling software in Florida.  

So yes failure could indeed be a positive thing in some cases. 

NZ Conservation Department Blues

Posted 19th July 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

Just some observations on the Department of Conservation concessions debate in Fridays Paper. 
I think the real problem is that of mandate.

It started when the Department of Conservation was turned into the department of homeland environment security
and away from recreation after the Cave Creek disaster. Since then there has been no real govt organization focusing on the
fundamental reason for our national parks exist in the first place and that vacuum has been a bit of an open wound.

I guess because tourist visitor numbers are cyclical and Kiwis are so horrendously overworked they now have very little time for
recreation anymore, it makes sense in a way to ignore the problem and just run out the clock, a perfect strategy for a cash stripped
demoralised department one would think?

It is also sad that the people of Te Anau have been waiting over a decade on the clock for a thumbs up for Cycle Trails in their national park
and have now had to look to the Snowdon Forest for recreation opportunities.

I must say I some how doubt that the visionaries who founded our national parks did so to lock off all the best scenic places from the 99 percent but
that is what the effect is in 2019.

The end of the People's Car

Posted 12th July 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

Reading your story about the Mexicans love of the classic VW beetle and the end of the 1990s reboot version production I feel like an observation is in order.
Frankly I feel like the automotive industry has lost it’s marbles.
In the past there was a push to sell no nonsense peoples cars the Ford Model T, The Austin 7, the VW Beetle, the CV Citroen, cars that where cheep fixable rugged and could
drive across a ploughed field. Loaded with character and wonderfully cheep & simple. Perfect for the undeveloped world.

Can I buy a modern counterpart today? No, because they are not allowed to make them.  The waste of energy in building a disposable modern car is astounding  when we could make cars that
can last forever and take knocks unlike the shiny metal egg shells of today.

I see GM has shut down car plants in the USA to gear up for autonomous electric cars because Americans only want to buy Trucks??

Ironically Mexico has no shortage of drivers all they need is some kind of VW Beetle that can reach rugged remote destinations without falling apart.

Anthropocene Emergency Confusion

Posted 1st July 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill Southland NZ

Looking around the discussions about the human overpopulation and just plain bad habits wrecking the planet
one has to question the education system for the gaps in simple understanding of words and effects.

When people want to declare a code red CLIMATE EMERGENCY for example it does not require a air raid siren and flashing lights
It is in fact a heads up to start factoring a big change into our society, so it is not just a call to action for those in power
but a wake up call to everyone who will be effected by something that will effect everyone everywhere in some form or other.
It is without doubt a responsible act to indicate the need to prepare.

Public Education I am sad to say teaches little about life skills and critical thinking and a lot about passing exams for entry the job market
leaving the internet to fill vast gaps in young minds.

Just a quick look on the internet reveals many people speaking with authority about politics and history parroting a load of folklore
and assumptions based on half learned observations and often, contempt.... Take the term socialism, how many people think it means
 a living hell as opposed to a word that literally means leave no one behind.  Maybe it’s not all the fault of educators but it is already
heading to become a code orange emergency of it’s own.     

Climate Emergency in Local Politics

Posted 14th of June to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill Southland NZ

The call for Environment Southland to declare a Climate Emergency and to join other regional environmental agencies has been building.
I guess this will test the metal of the region to see if we have the will to tackle the mother of all environmental problems instead of the usual small change stuff.
I just hope our will to survive has not become political as it has in certain other nameless countries across the seas.

Just remember step one in fixing a problem of any magnitude is to name it.  What the Media calls Climate Change and experts amongst there colleges call the Anthropcene Outbreak is here.
We humans caused it... We fix it... Together...

Obama Called Climate Emergency ish

Posted 11th June 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

I read Robert Guyton stating it is time to declare a climate emergency on a local level.

I happen to know a message asking president Obama to declare a climate emergency was sent just after the time
Obama finished off Bin Laden. A dramatic presidential announcement was not forth coming but he did make the effort to say
to a journalist that “Of course climate change is a problem”  instead of flinching from the idea.

I suppose in retrospect President Obama was not the man for the job as he did not have the backs of the right wing voters.
to declare a global state of Emergency a president would require the powers of a dictator  and Mr Obama was getting enough heat
of his own to walk into that kitchen.

So while we wait for a presidential super hero to save us all, us folks at the bottom of the power pyramid need to get cracking and change
the political narrative. 

Invercargill, what makes a good city?

Posted 22nd May 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill.

Talking about refurbishing Invercargill City... I did a check list about what makes a good city it seems well maintained and tidy buildings,
nice friendly street-scapes are important but their are a few other things you need like nice weather, Interesting shops, friendly people,
Recreational opportunities, education opportunities and first and foremost good job opportunities. I don’t know how city hall can tick all those boxes but
As long as Central Government is not helping cities much apart from the Auckland Mega City project so unless that changes it will be a hard road.

The Dream of Donald Trump NZ

Posted 12 May 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

It has been interesting to see Donald J Trump effecting Kiwis  He sure is an interesting guy the way he effects certain people.
He is the long awaited king of the day dream believers, the champion of the powerful wanabe oligarchs club,
he is the Pope of the self important and the patron saint of the near do well sons everywhere. He administers to the many people In abject as well as moral poverty, and to Fundamentalist Christians he is a gift from above.

Unfortunately for some reason his close friends are bitter and twisted gangster like tormentors of humanity,  luckily to protect the population from panicking from this toxic entourage
as the crimes & bodies mount up, our best comedians, Democrat Leaders and journalists weave a soft blanket of normality around him.

You can’t blame people for taking the road of least resistance as resistance is very hard, uncomfortable and dreaming is very undemanding, soft & fluffy .
Sometimes people just have to get through the darn day.

Posted 5th May 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

I read that Mr Aulis Allen is fearing catastrophe if we act on climate change civilisation is doomed which is a worry to young people and investors world wide.
Perhaps for some clarity your team might want to investigate The Green New Deal, The Sunrise Movement, Justice Democrats, Labour for a green new deal (UK)

Yes our wasteful shitty oil powered stupid greed economy has to fall, but it is rubbish anyway, especially it’s clear it’s coming to a dead end. However life is full of challenges and humans are a highly resourceful species especially the impetuous European Neanderthal Homosapien Hybrids.. Many are chomping at the bit to get stuck in and fix it.

This is the Issue of our time so throw out the old Rupert Murdoch Play Book and give us all some hope for a change .
Our NZ Green Party needs to reboot to the next level, Dolphin Huggers, old Hippies and culture shamers are not going to “cut it” in a world that is unkind to snowflakes.
It’s about Humanity now. We may have Neolithic minds Medieval Institutions and God Like Weapons but a good percentage don’t want to die on a hill made of money. 

Center of New Zealand Debate NZGB

Posted 24th April 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

It is interesting to read the debate about the exact centre of New Zealand.
People like these fun facts and they can generate a bit of attraction to visitors.

I recall back in the 1990s a group in Invercargill looked at finding the most inland point in the South Island
Which turned out to be a small hill with a natural Rock bivy on its top next to the Fraser Dam in the hills above Earnscleugh.

The Havoc and Newsboy TV show was even dispatched to go and check it out. But there was a problem with the NZ Geographic Board who did not seem to have the ability to confirm the location.  Even though anyone with a map and a ruler could find it.

Apparently at the time The Geo Board was not really responsible for geography per say but more into ruling on NZ Culture matters.  

US Paranoia Spills over to NZ

Posted 17th March 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

It is very sad that the United States perpetual war on all non Saudi Muslims has spilled over to Australia and New Zealand, 
especially effecting those workers who came to to Christchurch to help rebuild the city or generally help to keep our businesses going.

It all seemed so surreal we needed to go to the Invercargill Mosque it see the flowers place there by caring kiwi hands to mark what is a real trauma to our society both here and globally.  If you have had a guts-full Just remember in the age of the smart phone we are all citizens of the Globe and we are all potential citizen journalists. 

Capital Gains Transaction Tax NZ

Posted 6th March 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

Your opinion page correspondent Mervin Cave brought up a classic argument about taxation
which flies in the face of reason that seems to equate hard work with wealth.
Clearly that is a joke as a large percentage of our wealthiest people almost always are not doing any useful work but only became rich by being in the right place at the right time with the right people.

Tax is for the less fortunate who through no fault of their own are born into a dog eat dog world and need a form of insurance that is an investment in order & justice and a safety net to protect one from bad luck. That is what Tax is really meant for, not to be leeched on by the greedy & entitled with their hate filled camp followers.

It is wise not to punch downward lest one day you too fall on hard luck and you feel the lash of tongues
nearly all pundits say we are heading into dark economic waters and past luck might not be enough . 

Who Taxes Who? Capital Gains Debate

Posted 28th February 2019 to the Southland Times Invercargill NZ

I see the discussion of taxing the rich has come up again under the current political conditions
It might pay to keep an eye on the progressive wave that has been building in the USA against the
contempt the exceptionally wealthy is now being discussed broadly thanks to narcissistic Billionaire President from their ranks.

Capital Gains is a form of Transaction Tax that could be used on speculators and con men climbing the social ladder but its also a tool for keeping the property market from crashing.

Will this progressive thinking spill over to New Zealand if the USA gets back to the business of punishing wrong doers instead of rewarding them, who can say, but currently the Thatcher/Reaganite Neo Liberal status quo is looking a lot like a sinking liner.

Billionaires are just the ship’s orchestra.

Invercargill Lowlands and Sea Level prediction

Posted 13th Jan 2019 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

It is kind of sad to see what happened to the Invercargill estuary under the human stewardship of public environmental assets that can not be exploited for commercial benefit. I can only think that there was just so much unspoiled nature in the early days of European settlement that the founders just got tired of it. Or perhaps intensification of farming we encourage lead to the final nail.

The next worry is what degradation rising sea levels will take on Southland’s numerous shallow inlets & margins.
Has anyone drawn up any projections of what we have in store in that respect?

Also how is our soil holding out? In parts of the USA the Soil is worn out from over use and is only alive due to heavy use of various nutrient applications and chemicals. Something that is repeating pattern globally with modern agriculture.

Despite low population density and our geographic distance buffer we are not isolated from global problems, or simple physics.  

Help our Lost Confused Politicians

Posted 18th December 2018 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

It’s been 100 years since the end of the Great War of the European & American Bankers that spread a new power across the globe where the Anglo American Work ethic has changed the face of all cultures and all nations but now its looking a bit old and sad and the job of government cheering hard work and growth of industry seems out of date. Maybe it’s time for some progressive politics to blast fresh air on the cobwebs of political complacency.
Garry Tong & Tim Shadbolt have been great cheerleaders for progress but there has been a lot of questionable stuff outside the public mandate that are not the nuts and bolts of maintaining a healthy community.
If I was a mayor I would treat rates as a form of community insurance, also I would be cheerleading whistle blowers and have a reward system for our brightest and best in the community.
There are great changes ahead for us all in the world and the old ways are not going to be appropriate forever.  

Public Opinion Journalism Letter

Posted to the 1st December 2018 to the Southland Times (Fairfax Media) Invercargill NZ

Thanks for looking after Southland’s Citizen Journalists with you public opinion   
Just be mindful that their job is to take on subjects house journalists can not touch
or even comment.

It would be nice if you could point out the opaque boundaries of the mainstream media
to volunteers. I have been doing this work since the 1980s and it’s still confusing as to weather we are appreciated
by some publications as some editors are ironically not always great communicators.

So just what are the biggest Issues of our time you want feed back on ?

We await instructions...  to keep our print media in the game.  

Fairfax Media - Anthropocene Stance

Posted 28th November 2018 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

I read Nov 28th Patrick Crewdson says print media should make human made Climate change a serious subject.
I knew this back in the 1970s when Gordon Rattray Taylor brought out a popular book on the subject but yet
we are still waiting for popular movement to rise. This may be happening if the new blood in the US Congress can float the Green New Deal but part of the problem is The Media did not find the right tag, they used Global Warming and then Climate Change,  Social Media has the Anthropocene Outbreak which is more to the point, it is the cause not the Symptom but most modern journalists can’t deal with that.

Here is a thought, if we are to take this problem seriously we have to be honest with each other  Humans are what is known in science as an outbreak species.

However we are highly adaptive and cleaver, if we pull together on this and stop mindlessly humiliating each other we could turn the ship around.

Seriously what else have we got to do ?   Build more Walls?  

American Meltdown Midterms

Posted October 31st 2018 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

At this point in time the USA is going through a frantic stage. They badly need change to deal with the impending future but their system is so inflexible the frustration is reaching a crescendo. It is getting to as point where Americans dare not talk too loud in public about politics as nerves are so on edge. Things could go very pear shaped in the next few weeks as all the pent up anger and disappointment comes to a head in the Midterms. The worst problem is the insecurity the status quo just fails to address the future in any logical way. If you listen to commentators those who are lucky enough to have bags of money they are looking at New Zealand as a bolt hole if things get out of hand.
Perhaps we might want to tell them that if they want to live in a Parliamentary Proportional Democracy they should try it at home first as running away is really not a good strategy. Besides we really won’t want NZ swamped by spoiled American Trust Fund Kids. Believe me!