Jeanette Fitzsimons ~ Former Co-Leader NZ Green Political Party

Interviewed by Tim LynchOctober 12, 2011
Share this on  

I challenge any person in this country to explain off the cuff what is happening environmentally here in NZ … anyone! And to do it in such a way that you can feel her humanity in the timbre of her voice.

New Zealand's natural environment and resources are under assault from all quarters!

Jeanette gives an overview of what is happening, as more coal mines are planned with the long term view of every car to be diesel driven - from the extraction of coal.

Covering the increasing new methods of coal extraction to hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking' in Taranaki, we realize we are dealing with in Jeanettes words, a 'hydra' that continues to come up somewhere else.

Instead of phasing out coal mining the National lead Govt here is driving the hectic onslaught to extract more coal, see Denniston in the South Island, when we need to extricate ourselves out of the dinosaur age.

The conversation and planning needs us to invest in smart technologies and innovation (even retrofitting new 21st century synergistic turbines at the bottom of all the nearly 50 dams we have up and down our country) and keep the subject of 'energy' at the forefront of public awareness.

As for the ETS, the Emissions Trading Scheme, that it is basically a scam and that it has to be thought through. Who are the ones who benefit from all this money going offshore?

What about giant public forestry plantations that are superannuation funds for New Zealanders? There is one here at Kaingaroa, it's owned by Harvard University's endowment fund. So what about the NZ public, why are 'we' out of the loop?

So many issues … To not to be seen as too radical, Jeanette goes on to offer a strategic plan that allows us to continue mining the coal mines we have already open BUT over 20 years phase them out as they end their productive life, at the same time people in the industry keep their jobs but you don't employ any more new workers as you retire them off through natural attrition. Strategic thinking at its best as it puts the dinosaur fossil fuel industry to bed in an appropriate manner.

This is a superb clarification of the state of all the fossil fuel challenges in NZ that needs to be anchored and debated in the public consciousness.

http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.wordpress.com

Share this on  

Tim Lynch

Tim Lynch, is a New Zealander, who is fortunate in that he has whakapapa, or a bloodline that connects him to the Aotearoan Maori. He has been involved as an activist for over 40 years - within the ecological, educational, holistic, metaphysical, spiritual & nuclear free movements. He sees the urgency of the full spectrum challenges that are coming to meet us, and is putting his whole life into being an advocate for todays and tomorrows children. 'To Mobilise Consciousness.'

You May Also Like