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Category Archives: Environment
A Biologist Believes That Trees Speak A Language We Can Learn
From QZ.com via wakeupkiwi.com
I'm in a redwood forest in Santa Cruz, California, taking dictation for the trees outside my cabin. They speak constantly, even if quietly, communicating above – and underground using sound, scents, signals, and vibes.
They're naturally networking, connected with everything that exists, including you.
Related: The Health of Trees and The Natural World Is Closely Linked To Our Own State of Health
Biologists, ecologists, foresters, and naturalists increasingly argue that trees speak, and that humans can learn to hear this language.
Many people struggle with this concept because they can't perceive that trees are interconnected, argues biologist George David Haskell in his 2017 book The Songs of Trees. Connection in a network, Haskell says, necessitates communication and breeds languages; understanding that nature is a network is the first step in hearing trees talk.
For the average global citizen, living far from the forest, that probably seems abstract to the point of absurdity. Haskell points readers to the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador for practical guidance.
To the Waorani people living there, nature's networked character and the idea of communication among all living things seems obvious. In fact, the relationships between trees and other lifeforms are reflected in Waorani language.
In Waorani, things are described not only by their general type, but also by the other beings surrounding them. So, for example, any one ceibo tree isn't a "ceibo tree" but is "the ivy-wrapped ceibo," and another is "the mossy ceibo with black mushrooms."
http://www.wakeupkiwi.com/news-articles-94.shtml#Trees
Image by jplenio @ pixabay.com
communicationforestinterconnectednatureTrees
agenda 21/30, Environment
Bright Green Lies (Environmental Doco)
September 4, 2022 Pam Vernon 1 Comment
From the official website brightgreenlies.com
Bright Green Lies investigates the change in focus of the mainstream environmental movement, from its original concern with protecting nature, to its current obsession with powering an unsustainable way of life. The film exposes the lies and fantastical thinking behind the notion that solar, wind, hydro, biomass, or green consumerism will save us from climate change. Tackling the most pressing issues of our time will require us to look beyond the mainstream technological solutions and ask deeper questions about what needs to change.
"Bright Green Lies dismantles the illusion of 'green' technology in breathtaking, comprehensive detail, revealing a fantasy that must perish if there is to be any hope of preserving what remains of life on Earth. From solar panels to wind turbines, from LED light bulbs to electric cars, no green fantasy escapes Jensen, Keith, and Wilbert's revealing peek behind the green curtain. Bright Green Lies is a must-read for all who cherish life on Earth." —Jeff Gibbs, writer, director, and producer of the film Planet of the Humans
WATCH AT THE LINK
https://rumble.com/v1ehy8n-bright-green-lies-2021.html
Biodiversityelectric carsGreenillusionLEDLiesNew World Ordersolar panelsWind Turbines
1080, DOC, Environment, News
A Look at New Zealand's Conservation Science (Dr Jo Pollard)
From CORANZ
by Dr Jo Pollard (BSc (Hons), PhD)
Supporters of NZ's conservation by aerial poisoning have commonly defended their position with the statement "Look at the science."
Most of the published science on conservation in NZ is accessed readily, appearing in the NZ Journal of Ecology (NZJE). A browse through the issues from the last couple of years reveals glimmers of hope for ecological management, plus some not so nice things. The following is a quick run through.
Freshest news from Landcare is the observation that ship rats climb up and carefully drink nectar from mountain flax flowers; their furry faces probably transferring pollen between flowers (Donald & Dhami, 2022).
Landcare is now thinking rats might compete for nectar and pollinate "on a widespread and under-appreciated scale."
Also from Landcare is "Do mice matter?" (Watts et al., 2022). It concludes they do.
When other mammals were fenced out of a reserve, mouse numbers rose and apparently reduced numbers of wētā, caterpillars and other invertebrates, potentially having "catastrophic" effects. Then when the researchers got rid of the mice, unexpected things were noted: non-native earthworms seemed to move into the depleted ground faster than native earthworms, and an extremely high number of beetles appeared in one area.
Stoats and Rats
Studies of alpine-dwelling stoats by researchers from several organisations (McAulay et al., 2020; 2021) supported previous findings that rats are stoats' preferred prey. Fifty-five stoats were caught in traps laid above the tree line in Fiordland, Mt Aspiring and Nelson Lakes national parks. Stomach contents and stoat tissues were analysed to find out what they had been eating.
At the Fiordland and Mt Aspiring sites the stoats were living on small mammals (e.g. rats), topped up with insects and plant material. There was no bird material in their stomachs, and it was estimated that long-term, small birds made up less than 2% of the diet. In contrast at Nelson Lakes (where there were no rats) stomachs contained small birds (estimated as 15 -26% of the long term diet) and also skinks (19-57%).
The authors warned that when and where ship rat numbers are low, stoats are more likely to eat threatened species. Also that individual stoats have their own feeding habits, so generalisations cannot be made from narrow observations.
On islands where introduced mammals have been eliminated, things have turned out badly for several bird species. Miskelly et al. (2021) (from Te Papa Museum and the Department of Conservation (DoC)) studied birds on 38 Fiordland islands, where Norway rats or stoats were removed several decades ago. Seven islands left unmanaged provided an experimental control. In the absence of rats or stoats, robins have flourished, seemingly aggressively ousting other species, including grey warbler, silvereye and tomtits.
"Robins flourished—ousting other species"
The authors warned that killing off predators to achieve "restoration" can cause declines and disappearances of native bird species. So far then, it seems much is being learnt about ecology that challenges NZ's Predator Free conservation goal to wipe out mustelids, rats and possums (Predator Free, 2022).
Many Questions
There are many questions: how to deal with increasing mice, once their predators have been killed off; how do our long-naturalised mammals fit into current ecology; what about the results from the Fiordland islands, where it appears that taking away the introduced predators reduced the diversity of birds?
Also challenged within these first few papers is DoC's insistence on aerial poisoning of alpine zones, to "protect" rock wren and kea from stoats. The stoats are likely to not be eating any birds! Plus the poison is toxic to birds and a very broad range of other creatures. It is not reliable in controlling stoats which shift to eating birds if their rat prey is gone. So the alpine animals may suffer a double-whammy: poison, then hungry stoats. DoC's idea that stoats must be killing off bird species comes from hunted down, marked and monitored nests. But the monitoring itself makes the nests prone to desertion and predation.
Contributions from DoC to the latest NZJEs include an addition to a large pile of studies on nesting and survival of rare birds wearing radio telemetry gear (Steffens et al., 2022). This gear, ironically, makes birds much less likely to nest, markedly increases energy expenditure and causes fatalities.
Something seems amiss in the animal ethics screening of DoC experiments.
Attempts to improve monitoring appeared in the University of Otago's study on robins, whose nests were observed from a distance to avoid disturbing them (van Heezik et al., 2020), and trials by various researchers on remote monitoring of kiwi, using their calls (Jahn et al., 2022; Ellis & Marsland, 2022). The latter authors had animal welfare and other concerns about the transmitters DoC routinely uses on kiwis' legs.
As with DoC, a lack of ethical oversight was apparent in a study from Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP). Nichols et al. (2022) killed 20 rats by feeding them 1080-poisoned food, to make bait for stoats. Since, there has been a change: now they humanely kill their rodents then make them poisonous by injecting them with 1080.
Many articles concerned aerial poisoning using 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate).
Bomans et al. (2021) from Victoria University monitored bird calls before and after aerial poisoning operations realising however that calls did not reflect bird numbers, because survivors might call frequently, e.g. for mates. Dilks et al. (2021) (from DoC and Lincoln University) used trail cameras, baited with rabbit meat and an egg, to record animals before (spring) and after (summer) an aerial poison operation. With no experimental control they could not conclude much, except that all common small mammals were seen far less afterwards. Morriss et al. (2021) (mainly Landcare people) "gathered observations" on deer mortality rates after aerial poisoning, which were highly variable and it was concluded formal research was needed.
Rats Rebound
Two studies demonstrated the classic rat population response to aerial 1080 poisoning, with numbers rebounding within several months and reaching higher levels than before poisoning began (Bell et al., 2021 (mainly people from DoC); van Heezik et al., 2020 (mainly from Otago University)). To gain better control, Nichols et al. (2021) from ZIP aerially poisoned twice a few months apart, spreading baits at extra high density, and managed to nearly get rid of all rats, stoats and possums. Monitoring of any other creatures' survival was only "incidental"; a grave omission since the authors propose this super-poisoning might become more common as NZ strives to become Predator Free.
Rats are especially well equipped, through their lifestyle and physiology, to withstand a 1080 poison war.
An oncoming weapon for beating nature is genetic modification, and there's no shortage of interested parties lining up. Inwood et al. (2020) are people from Scion, Landcare, the Environmental Protection Agency and four universities wanting to work on topics such as gene editing to make rats infertile. That idea had been put to bed by a NZ Royal Society review (Dearden et al., 2017) as too dangerous, because modified rats might escape to overseas ecosystems where rats were actually important!
Habitat Importance
Encouragingly, Walker et al. (2021a; 2021b) from Landcare stressed the need to preserve habitat, stating its loss and modification "is a principal, ongoing cause of indigenous biodiversity decline." Echoing this was Landcare's study on kereru, for which forest seemed to be a limiting factor (Carpenter et al., 2021).
Long ago, ecologist Dr Carolyn King pointed out "conservation of species is conservation of habitats".
How good things might have been if DoC's head scientist Graeme Elliott had listened to Dr King and focussed his career on the observation that mohua, needing tall forest trees on valley floors, were suffering from habitat loss. Instead, stoats were blamed for the mohua's decline, leading to rampant stoat trapping, followed by rats getting out of control and eating the mohua, then the onset of aerial poisoning to quell rats.
Perhaps the Predator Free movement might yet face up to ecology.
Unfortunately, as restated in the NZJE (McGlone et al., 2020) there is a history of dysfunction whereby conservation management in NZ has departed from science.
The science indicates a need for careful studies and saving habitat, rather than mindless interference and indiscriminate poisoning.
Footnote: A fully referenced copy of this article is available at this link.
Dr Jo Pollard
Header Photo: pixabay.com
Others: supplied
Birdslandcare researchpest controlPredator Free 2050
1080, Environment, News
Predators Are Not Evil But are Mostly Part of Healthy Ecosystems
Opinion by Tony Orman
New Zealand has for many decades waged a war against predators. Currently there are a number of anti-predator campaigns, often using public money in big spend-ups on futile aerial poisoning exercises. In addition, in the end, the blanket operations run counter to the impassioned aim of exterminating predators (e.g. rats) and instead cause major disruption to food chains and serious damage to the ecosystem. For example there is Predator Free 2050, and Zero Invasive Predators, the latter jazzily known by the acronym of ZIP. The zealous programmes have earned international recognition."Time" magazine which proclaimed "Rats, Possums and Stoats Beware! New Zealand Goes to War Against Invasive Pests." But the programmes are like the 1837 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Emperor's New Clothes". At one stage in the fable, the wise man serving the Emperor thinks "What!" "Is it possible that I am a fool? I have never thought so myself. No one must know it now if I am so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my job?"Those questions should be asked of those who champion Predator Free 2050 and ZIP – people from Prime Ministers to central and local government politicians, local bodies, naive unquestioning media whoop as investigative journalists, extreme green groups and even unprincipled "scientists" following the money trail of funding all pursuing the dream of exterminating New Zealand's predators. However the reality is the dreams are running against the way Nature behaves.
Predator Role
Wildlife mangers overseas are increasingly regarding predators as an important part of a healthy ecosystem. In 2014 Al S Glen of New Zealand's Landcare Research and Christopher Dickman of Sydney University co-authored a book on "Carnivores of Australia" and in a chapter "The Importance of Predators" said "to maintain or restore functioning ecosystems, wildlife managers must consider the ecological importance of predators." This is hardly a new idea. Charles Elton, an Oxford ecologist, first conceptualised food webs in the 1920s, speculating that wolf removal would result in over-population of deer on which wolves preyed. The notion was taken up by others such as highly respected conservationist and author Aldo Leopold. Predators tend to remove vulnerable prey, such as the old, injured, sick, or very young, leaving more food for the survival and success of healthy prey animals. Also, by controlling the size of prey populations, predators help slow down the spread of disease. Predators will catch healthy prey when they can, but catching sick or injured animals is more likely and helps in the formation of healthier prey populations because only the fittest animals survive and are able to reproduce. In addition, predators help to reduce the negative impacts that their prey may have on the ecosystem if they become too abundant or it they stayed in one area for too long. Biologists have recognised predators like cheetahs prey on grazing animals like antelope, it keeps the prey population moving around (in fear) and prevents overgrazing in any one area. As a result, more trees, shrubs, bushes, and grasses can grow, which then provides habitat for many other species.
Predator Removal Dangers
If carnivores were removed from an ecosystem, what would happen? Herds of grazing animals, such as antelope, would grow and grow and result, in large herds overgrazing their food source, and as the food disappeared, the whole herd would begin to starve. Caroline Fraser writing for the US's Yale School of the Environment said experts "beginning with aquatic experiments, have amassed considerable evidence of damage done to food chains by predator removal and have extended such studies to land." Predators are simply a part of any ecosystem's food chain. New Zealand's native falcon prey on other native birds such as tuis and bellbirds. Blue duck (whio) prey almost entirely on aquatic invertebrates, mostly caddisfly larvae. Kiwi prey on worms. When animals of a predatory nature are introduced such as rats and stoats were to New Zealand, they go through a "boom and bust" phase before their populations settle down to a relatively static state. Unfortunately, native prey species can become drastically reduced or even extinct as a result of the predator "boom". The critical aspect of managing this situation is avoiding predator "booms". Consequently,the fervour and haste which the Department of Conservation and local councils applies with toxins is reckless and fraught with ecological danger.
Disastrous Outcomes
Large scale poisoning with eco-toxins such as 1080 and brodifacoum may heavily reduce predator numbers initially but with a few short years, the outcome is disastrous. The science is there to show the resurgence in predator numbers and subsequent wrecking of the food chain. Wendy Ruscoe in a study published in Landcare Research's publication 2008 showed aerial dropping of 1080 will temporarily knock back a rat population but due to the rodent's amazing reproductive capacity, the surviving rats recover rapidly and within 18 months, are two to three times greater than before poisoning began. A 2007 study by Landcare scientists Graham Nugent and Peter Sweetapple showed rat numbers recovered within 18 months and at the two year mark, rat abundance could be four times greater than before poisoning.
Stoat Prey
The disruption to the naive ecosystem ripples further. A major prey for stoats is rats. When rat numbers are reduced by 80% – 90%, the stoat deprived of its major food source, invariably switches prey to birds. But later as rat numbers surge and boom and pass original numbers, stoats enjoy a virtual banquet of rats, breeding increases and surges and then explodes.The well intentioned but ignorant predator extermination programme usually using 1080, has merely stimulated, within a few short years, major population explosions of rats and stoats. Attempting to poison-away rodent surges in beech-mast years is the ecological equivalent of farting against thunder. All this does (if anything) is delay the inevitable, as the fast-breeding ability of rodents will eventually allow population growth to match the food source. Rather than benefiting the birds and overall ecological health, there is massive ecological disruption by the man-induced mega rat and stoat plagues.
Ecological Damage
That is not counting the birds and insects and other invertebrate organisms killed by 1080 as research demonstrated, by DSIR scientist Mike Meads, in the 1980's. 1080 was originally patented as an insecticide in 1927. Examples are many of human interference directly or indirectly into Nature's food chains resulting in profound consequences. In a classic 1966 experiment, biologist Robert Paine removed the purple seastar, Pisaster ochraceus — a voracious mussel-feeder — from an area of coastline in Washington state. Their predator gone, mussels exploded in numbers, crowding out biodiverse kelp communities with monoculture. Less than a decade after Pisaster, marine ecologists James Estes and John Palmisano reached the astonishing and widely reported conclusion that hunting of sea otters had caused the collapse of kelp forests around the Aleutian Islands. With otters reduced to low levels, the prey (sea urchins) stripped the kelp forests. When otters eventually returned, they regulated urchins, allowing "luxuriant" regrowth of biodiverse kelp communities.
Toheroa Decline
In New Zealand, the decline of the toheroa shellfish was attributed unofficially to heavy over-fishing of snapper which preyed on paddle crabs which in turn preyed on toheroa. With the heavy decline in snapper, paddle crabs proliferated and almost obliterated toheroas. New Zealand has a long history of an obsession with attempted extermination of predators. In the 1950s acclimatisation societies managing trout fisheries blamed freshwater eels and shags for perceived declines in trout numbers. Bounties were paid out on eels. It had little effect. Ironically the best trout fishing rivers had healthy populations of both trout and eels. Eels simply removed the sick, the old or the unwary thus making for a quality trout population. The concept of being "predator free" or "zero predators" has no ecological justification, except in limited circumstances on smaller offshore islands and "mainland islands". Even in islands where predators may have been eliminated e.g. Secretary Island in Fiordland, the success is short-lived and temporary as animals can and do swim from the mainland to recolonise.
It seem incomprehensible that an agency such as the Department of Conservation and the Predator Free 2050 and ZIP concepts should go unquestioned in the light of the understanding internationally of the dangers of playing God with predators..But the 'fly in the ointment' is human nature. For example a scientist in DOC arguably has a vested interest by way of employment and a handsome salary. Similarly with any consulting scientist attached to Predator Free 2050 and ZIP. For others of zealous nature, as some humans are wont to be, it becomes the pursuit of "The Impossible Dream." For politicians it's good P.R. to declare war on the baddies, no matter how pointless and damaging that might be. The sad outcomes are the gross misuse of public funds and more tragically the profound ecological damage that often occurs in the pursuit of that "Impossible Dream."
Tony Orman has spent a lifetime in the outdoors observing and reading about it and Nature. He has had some two dozen books published, mainly on fishing, deerstalking, conservation and rural life.
Brodificoumfeaturedlandcare researchNZ GovernmentPoisonpredators
Conservation, Environment, NZ Government
Meet the next 'Moa' … Why is the NZ Green Party not condemning the extinction threat to the critically endangered Teviot Flathead?
By Craig Hutchinson
Earlier this week I looked on the NZ Green Party's website for a statement on the Labour-led government's Lake Onslow 'pumped hydro' project. I couldn't find one. So I asked the retiring Green Party Energy and Resources Spokesperson, Gareth Hughes. I included a link to my earlier post:
https://www.minds.com/waimak_one/blog/nz-labour-s-mad-energy-idea-1136410724734169088
I think I have offended him. His response:
I would like to decline the opportunity thank you. When your first line is "First we have a fake-left Prime Minister with a fake Covid19 narrative. Now her fake Labour Party (they've just destroyed thousands of workers jobs) is pushing a fake energy policy." And you quote that thoroughly discredited Michael Moore documentary I don't feel it would be a worthwhile conversation.
Interesting. I didn't ask for a conversation. I asked for the Green Party's position on the Lake Onslow proposal.
https://www.minds.com/waimak_one/blog/meet-the-next-moa-why-is-the-nz-green-party-not-condemning-t-1137641441846779904
Photo credit: minds.com
extinction of specieshydro projectLabour PartyLake OnslowNZ Green Party
Environment, HDC, Horowhenua District Council, Maori, News, Pollution, Treaty of Waitangi
At least $2.6 million ratepayer funds being spent because Horowhenua DC refuses to determine mana whenua
At least $2.6 million ratepayer funds being spent because Council refuses to determine mana whenua. Horowhenua District Council has committed at least $1.4 million ratepayer funding to Te Rūnanga o Raukawa and $814,500 to Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and the Muaūpoko Lands Trust in two separate agreements over Levin's Waste Water Treatment Plant called The Pot. The agreements, worth a combined minimum total of $2.6 million, were signed by all parties prior to a decision by Manawatu Whanganui Regional Council hearing commissioners on June 2, 2020 to grant the Council a 25 year resource consent to continue storing and discharging treated waste water to The Pot, situated on ecologically and culturally important sand dunes about 4 kilometres west of Levin. In both agreements the Council says it, "takes no position in relation to who holds mana whenua, customary interests and rights, and/or rights of iwi/hapu over any area." An Environment Ministry document titled 'Guidelines for Consulting with Tangata Whenua under the Resource Management Act: An Update on Case Law' states that although determining who holds mana whenua "can be a controversial issue" that "reasonable steps must be taken to identify the correct tangata whenua group. "It is the third agreement Council's chief executive David Clapperton has signed with Te Rūnanga o Raukawa without the matter being discussed around the Council table – and the second known agreement signed by Larry Parr who is listed on Council's webpage as chief executive officer for Te Rūnanga o Raukawa. Mr Clapperton also signed lucrative financial agreements with Te Rūnanga o Raukawa over Foxton's Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Levin Landfill. The latest agreement was signed on behalf of Ngati Raukawa hapu including, "Ngati Kikopiri (Ngati Huia), Ngati Hikitanga and Ngati Pareraukawa. "Ngati Raukawa hapu parties to the agreement include Pataka Moore, David Moore, Rachael Selby, Ngatokowaru Marae Committee and Ngati Kikopiri Mori Marae Committee Society in association with the Kikopiri Marae Reservation Trustees. Te Rūnanga o Raukawa, Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and Muaūpoko Lands Trust all agreed to:
1 Inform the regional council within 24 hours of signing the agreement, signed by Te Rūnanga o Raukawa on 5 March and MuaUpoko Tribal Authority on 16 April, "that their position on the Resource Consents have changed and they no longer oppose a 25-year term."
2 Inform hearing commissioners deciding The Pot application the agreement entered into with the Council responds to, "their concerns, in particular kaitiakitanga, whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and rangatiratanga."
3 Support the Council in, "any further matters before the hearing commissioners or any appeals" including appeals by the Council if The Pot consent was refused or conditions were imposed which limited or negated the agreement.
4 "Not participate in any way (including supporting any other party) in any process relating to the resource consents being granted, including before the hearing commissioners."
5 "Not take or be involved in any other proceedings against" the Council or "make complaints against" the Council, "in relation to the discharges at The Pot."
6 Assist the Council, "to talk with other submitters to try and resolve issues before the hearing commissioners or on any appeal in a manner that achieves the outcomes of this Agreement."
7 "Work together to identify, assess and, if appropriate, assist consenting potential new areas for irrigation of treated wastewater from the LWWTP on the 'Tucker Block' land adjacent to The Pot" owned by the Council.The Council also committed to work with MTA to negotiate and sign a Memorandum of Partnership, "as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than 3 months from the commencement of this Agreement."
kaitiakitangaMana WhenuamanaakitangaManawatu Regional CouncilMuaūpokoRMAtangata whenuaTe Rūnanga o RaukawaThe Pot
1080, DOC, Environment, News, Poison
Re unlawful acts of the Crown regarding 1080 poison: A NZ lawyer with multiple science degrees is expert witness at the Intl Tribunal for Natural Justice
September 8, 2019 Pam Vernon 10 Comments
International Tribunal for Natural Justice
Uploaded on Sep 5, 2019
Lawyer, Sue Grey testifies to a number of unlawful acts of the crown and its contractors who have been aerially spreading deadly poison, called 1080, on DOC land, Maori Land and private land. Sue and her team has identified over 10 possible legal challenges involving apparent criminal or civil breaches of statutory obligations by DoC, OSPRI and/or poison contractors. Sue Grey testified on June 23, 2019 before the ITNJ Commission of Inquiry into Weaponisation of the Biosphere. Watch all the Indonesia Seatings at https://commission.itnj.org Help continue this work and expose the next phase of expert witness testimonies. http://www.itnj.org
Read info below also, from the
Ecocide in NZ facebook page
"Sue Grey Testimony on New Zealand's Ecocide with the use of 1080 Poison
The ITNJ opens its Commission of Inquiry into the Weaponisation of the Biosphere with stunning testimony from New Zealand expert witness Sue Grey, in what she describes as 'ecocide' and 'a war on nature'.
A lawyer and activist with multiple science degrees and over 30 years' experience in environmental health policy, Sue testifies to the devastation being caused to New Zealand's native wildlife and ecosystems through the systematic and widespread aerial poisoning with the chemical Sodium Fluoroacetate, commonly known as "1080" Poison.
Four hundred million 1080 pellets (enough to kill over a hundred million people) will be spread by helicopter this year over much of the country's land and waterways, in a longstanding Crown sponsored program, its stated purpose: to preserve native wildlife by eradicating non-native stoats and rats. However, the cereal baits attract many other species of insects, birds, and mammals, contaminating the food chain and cruelly killing thousands of "non-target" species including deer, farmed stock and dogs. There has been a drastic impact on Kea (native parrots) and cereal baits are known to poison many other species of native bird including iconic Kiwi and Weka.
Birds and animals can be poisoned by eating the bait directly, drinking from poisoned waterways, or by feeding on the carcasses of poisoned animals. Evidence also exists that 1080 has made it its way up the food chain into wild pork, farmed cows and honey, and is also suspected to have poisoned humans, many of whom Grey has represented.
Despite many years of campaigning, lawsuits, public outcry, and official statistics that prove its catastrophic failure, the New Zealand government refuses to take responsibility and bring an end to the serious threats posed by this program to New Zealand's ecosystem and its inhabitants.
ABOUT THE ITNJ: The ITNJ is the world's first people-powered tribunal that operates independently of governments and corporations, and is therefore willing to issue rulings against those organizations based on Natural Law, where agents of governments and/or corporations have caused harm or loss to living men and women, and in this case, matters that relate to the weaponization of our biosphere and the existential ecocide and genocidal threat against humanity.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: commission.itnj.org CONTACT:press@itnj.org
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ITNJ, PLEASE SEE: www.itnj.org / itnjcommittee.org
FOR PRINT QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHS PLEASE CONTACT: media@itnj.org
https://commission.itnj.org/…/expert-witness-testimony-fro…/
aerial 1080contractorsCrownfood chainInternational Tribunal for Natural JusticeITNJKeaOspriwild food sources
1080, Environment, News, Pesticides
Massive global insect decline could have 'catastrophic' environmental impact, study says
February 13, 2019 Pam Vernon 1 Comment
NZ, like many places globally, is slathered with hundreds of various poisons. No surprises that our insects are dying. Read Dr Meriel Watts' book The Poisoning of New Zealand. Glyphosate is NZ's fave. As also is the insecticide 1080, dumped annually over our environment by the tonne.
RELATED: THE 1080 INSECTICIDE IS NOT KILLING 50% OF OUR INSECTS SAYS DOC – AND NO LONG TERM MONITORING IN SIGHT
(From CNN)
Insect populations are declining precipitously worldwide due to pesticide use and other factors, with a potentially "catastrophic" effect on the planet, a study has warned.
More than 40% of insect species could become extinct in the next few decades, according to the "Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers" report, published in the journal Biological Conservation.
Insect biomass is declining by a staggering 2.5% a year, a rate that indicates widespread extinctions within a century, the report found.
In addition to the 40% at risk of dying out, a third of species are endangered — numbers that could cause the collapse of the planet's ecosystems with a devastating impact on life on Earth.
The report, co-authored by scientists from the universities of Sydney and Queensland and the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, looked at dozens of existing reports on insect decline published over the past three decades, and examined the reasons behind the falling numbers to produce the alarming global picture.
Its lead author, Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, of the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney, called the study the first truly global examination of the issue.
While the focus in the past has been on the decline in vertebrate animal biodiversity, this study stressed the importance of insect life on interconnected ecosystems and the food chain. Bugs make up around 70% of all animal species.
The repercussions of insect extinction would be "catastrophic to say the least," according to the report, as insects have been at "the structural and functional base of many of the world's ecosystems since their rise … almost 400 million years ago."
Key causes of the decline included "habitat loss and conversion to intensive agriculture and urbanization," pollution, particularly from pesticides and fertilizers, as well as biological factors, such as "pathogens and introduced species" and climate change.
While large numbers of specialist insects, which fill a specific ecological niche, and general insects were declining, a small group of adaptable insects were seeing their numbers rise — but nowhere near enough to arrest the decline, the report found.
READ MORE (INCLUDES VIDEOS)
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/11/health/insect-decline-study-intl/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3NhgrllHwK3UOG3cY1-jLYaDy8Yx094qQrZduHSarz83h2sSvQ4F6qd-k
dyingecosystemExtinctionfertilizersfood chainHabitat lossinsect declinePathogensResearch
1080, Environment, News, Poison
Poisoning our food is a time worn tactic
January 1, 2019 Pam Vernon 14 Comments
Some of my regular readers & correspondents will be aware of my art work being exhibited recently … (having just completed my Bachelor of Maori Visual Arts degree at Putahi a Toi, Massey). For those who are interested I'm posting my work here on the site because it concerns 1080 poison.
(As good fortune would have it by the way, my two adult children, both artists in their own right, were also exhibiting at the same time in the Te Manawa Gallery in Palmerston North. The recent feature article from the Manawatu Standard will give you the background to their work also. We were all interviewed as a trio. Unfortunately my daughter's work is now gone, some of hers is in the newspaper article).
The theme of my work is poison, in particular 1080 & arsenic, which encapsulates the ongoing issues we are facing today … well at least those of us who are concerned about the toxic chemicals that we are involuntarily immersed in daily. These two poisons interweave throughout our history, and are only two of 280-300 active pesticide ingredients registered for use in NZ (read Dr Meriel Watts' The Poisoning of NZ, p19). The poisoning of our food, our water, our people. The arsenic episode began in the nineteenth century with what was known as the NZ Government's 'Sugar & Flour' policy, where non-selling Māori were targeted with aid in the form of flour mills and other 'goodies' to entice them to sell their land. Subsequently the flour became poisoned (as has happened & is documented in other colonized nations) to the extent in the Upper Whanganui River there was a notable decrease in the Māori population. The poisoning was also discovered & documented by missionary Rev Richard Taylor in his journals. You can read about it in David Young's Woven by Water. It is also of course in the oral histories of the River & was spoken about in the Treaty hearings. Tariana Turia (former politician, co-leader of the Māori Party) also wrote about this in the Taranaki Star at the passing of Sir Archie Taiaroa, from the River. Sir Archie had wanted the stories to be made known, saying that Māori were forced to rely on flora and fauna to avoid being poisoned. My great uncle from the Whanganui River died of suspected poisoning. What a damning episode to the record of a so called 'Christian' nation. Civilizing so called 'savages'? It is very clear who were the savages. And so it goes on today with the systematic dropping into our environment, the deadly ecotoxin called 1080.
On this theme I created an assemblage, after the work of indigenous Australian artist Tony Albert, detailing the current poisoning of our waterways and food by the aerial 1080 program operating here in Aotearoa (NZ). In my research on that I have seen testimony of concerned Whanganui people subject to aerial drops who saw incidences of miscarriages & cancer immediately after one. Like the cancer clusters around the cell towers, the authorities of course deny all of this. Dr Peter Scanlon (late) detailed that there have been little if any studies on the effects of 1080 on the unborn. Remember the post about how two midwives advised their pregnant patients to leave town when they heard of an imminent 1080 drop? I would certainly be erring on the side of safety & leaving also were I in their position.
Returning to the assemblage it contains images I've used with the permission of the donor* featuring the 2018 hikoi with Emile Leaf & Alan Gurdon. The basic message is … 'Kāti te paitini haere i ā tātou kai!' … 'stop poisoning our food!' It also features the assimilation drive of the colonists who desired land & and an eventual absorption of Māori into the white race. Well documented if you search … Angela Ballara's 'Proud to be White' is a good start. The newspaper archives she cites speak volumes. Wiping out an ethnic group is technically called genocide however that is well nigh a dirty word in many circles today.
Below is the final gallery version.
Te Kaupapa Here mō te Parāoa me te Huka | The Flour and Sugar Policy – Artist: Pam Vernon, Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi
Description: Governor Grey's 1840s policy of aid and education saw the provision of many flour mills in NZ including along the Whanganui River. Matahiwi's Kawana mill was named after him. David Young records in Woven by Water (p 49-50) the rapid decline in population on the upper river and the alleged systematic poisoning of non-selling hapū there. The government policy therefore became known as the 'sugar & flour policy'. Land alienation was further fast tracked via The Native Land Court, with depopulation of Māori occurring via land wars, the introduction of muskets and European diseases. Te reo Māori was banned in schools and the assimilation agenda continued into the twentieth century (the Hunn Report,1960).
Part of the assemblage is this Biblical scripture taken from Matthew , translated it means: "…for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known" referring to the secret poisoning of Māori who would not sell their lands.
There is another scripture under the visible one (second 'page') that quotes Isaiah 26:21, "See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer.
The image below is also part of the assemblage detailing what a former NZ Premier John Ballance had to say about Māori. He was called a 'nation builder'.
John Ballance, dubbed a 'nation builder' is renowned for his quote "the only good Māori is a dead one" currently in place of honour outside the Whanganui District Council buildings
The work below titled 'Ekoruhe 20:13 | Exodus 20:13' is an installation featuring three flour bags. I was told years ago by a kuia in our home town that the flour bags marked for poisoning had a red circle on them. I've taken artistic license to add red circles to the bag marked 'paraoa' (flour), although I am unsure how the red circle originally looked.
Description: "Kaua e patu" (do not kill), are words from the Bible, the book brought here by the missionaries. Governor Grey's Flour and Sugar policy was said to be partly an attempt to reduce Māori 'rebellion' against land acquisitions, targeting areas where he hoped to acquire land. With the alleged poisoning of Māori, they were forced to use their knowledge of flora and fauna to avoid death. Used globally to this day, the destruction of indigenous food sources on colonial fronts is a time-worn tactic. Currently, another poison is being dropped into our waterways, contaminating both our water & our wild food.
The work below titled 'E Paitini ana i te Whenua me te Wai | Poisoning the Land & the Water' speaks for itself.
Description: For over 50 years, 1080 poison, a class 1A ecotoxin with no antidote, banned in most countries, has been dropped regularly onto NZ soil, currently at amounts of 4,000 tonnes per annum, enough to kill 60 million people. The Government recently changed legislation so that it can drop 1080 into the waterways without a resource consent, excluding the operation from Resource Management Act protection. A retired NZ Doctor recently warned that if you die from 1080 poisoning, nobody will know because Doctors are bullied by the MOH into not testing for it.
Below is the work titled E Paitini ana i ngā Manu | Poisoning the Birds. This also speaks for itself.
E Paitini ana i ngā Manu | Poisoning the Birds, Artist: Pam Vernon
Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi
Description: It's claimed by DoC that 1080, a class 1A ecotoxin targets pests, however, originally an insecticide, 1080 kills all oxygen breathing animals and organisms (Dr M Watts 2010). A 2002 Otago 1080 drop killed an estimated 10,000 non-target birds. Over 5 years, of 89 dead tagged kiwi in the Tongariro Forest, none were tested for 1080. In 1984 Brodifacoum exterminated Tawhitinui Island's entire weka population.
The bird image is from a carved kōkako from Te Keepa Te Rangihiwinui's house, Huriwhenua, at Ranana on the Whanganui River. It's speculated it may symbolize the raven sent forth from Noah's ark (David Young, Woven by Water).
Finally is the work titled St Joseph's Church & Convent at Hiruhārama. Hiruhārama is on the Whanganui River, home of the pictured Catholic mission presence and Sister Aubert.
St Joseph's Church & Convent at Hiruhārama . Artist: Pam Vernon
Description: Patiarero on the Whanganui River was re named Hiruhārama (Jerusalem) by missionary Reverend Richard Taylor in the 1850s, as were many other Whanganui River settlements. In 1892, Suzanne Aubert (known as Mother Mary Joseph) established the congregation of the Sisters of Compassion, a charitable and religious order, where they cared for abandoned children. Their presence is still there today.
(Thanks to the Sisters of Compassion for permission to use their photograph).
Thanks also to Rere Tihema for the use of his protest images.
The exhibition will remain up until February so if you are in the Palmerston North area over the holiday break you can see it at Te Manawa.
Link to Standard article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/lifestyle/109022748/an-artistic-family-shows-their-work-under-the-same-roof?fbclid=IwAR0H6uwgw44-6bqfcvA3thQzKQRv31Zh9_BryTCWMEloo_eYnuLWA8SVJjw
I acknowledge all the kaiako at Putahi a Toi Massey & in particular Kura Te Waru Rewiri from whom I've learned so much. My learning is a journey that's still in progress.
And finally, a correction regarding the Standard article. This is a misunderstanding by the writer who assumed I was from Patiarero going presumably from my painting the Hiruhārama image. I whakapapa to the River through my father's side (see 'about the author' at the main menu) … I am unsure which is our marae however. Still researching that. Apologies.
Arsenicflourflour millsFoetusFoodMaoriPeter Scanlonplants
There are alternatives to 1080
Well I'm blown away. Herald has published a piece about alternatives to 1080. Just on the heels of my post on mainstream media. Either there's progress on that front, or there's more to their agenda than meets the eye. I would have to say I get a little suspicious when MS does a turn around. However… in the meanwhile, this is good news. It comes specifically from Hawke's Bay Today & is a scathing commentary on a previous opinion piece about 1080.
*Norm Brown: There are alternatives to 1080 poison
Norm Brown says dropping 1080 with no due care of the results is 'despicable' Photo: Hawke's Bay Today
In reply to Mark Story's opinion piece that claimed 1080 angst is "unhinged and ill-informed".
You call me unhinged because I argued with Ospri about aerial spreading 1080 over tracks and river edge in the Kawekas where we take students tramping and which is used frequently by tourists and New Zealand public.
You call me unhinged when I then find out a couple of weeks later that the MoH had actually told Ospri to ground treat the area concerned. That Ospri also told me that the area would be safe and just wash the students' shoes is even more insulting.
To say I am ill-informed when I am working to the only official regulations available by law to me, the label and the chemical data sheet, is slander and fraudulent.
To say that other anti-1080 people are ill-informed is also slanderous and fraudulent.
You are saying that the label and the chemical data sheet are false science. Are you really saying that everyone should ignore chemical labels and data sheets or do you just wish to pick on 1080?
If you are saying that the regulations are fraudulent then I suggest that you very quickly get the Government to change the EPA personnel because you have just called them incompetent and mischievous.
To be 100 per cent truthful you should be saying that anti-1080 people believe in the regulations while the pro-1080 people such as Ospri have been given dispensation not to work to the regulations.
Even then the pro-1080 people are disobeying the few restrictions placed on them when given the dispensation. There are two rules governing 1080. This is the essence of the issue. This has been stated often.
So now it comes down to who is actually ill informed, the anti-1080 people or Ospri and commentators like yourself?
When Ospri forces non-compliant applications of 1080 on the populous with no due care of the results it is despicable.
It builds the fear, anger, frustration and a genuine need to protest. Your article ridicules those affected and only adds heat to this.
To tell anti-1080 people they are using false science, when they are working to the label and data sheets (the regulations), builds the anger to contempt and accusations of fraud and corruption.
Your opinion piece has just drawn all these on to you and your paper. Integrity would require your words to be withdrawn and an apology offered to all of New Zealand for helping expose them to this horrendous deadly poison that has no antidote, has horrendous side effects on all mammals (humans are mammals) birds, insects, and plant life.
1080 breaks down at 200C, dissolves easily in water and is known to create secondary and tertiary poisoning, and in many cases leaves the carcasses to rot over many months in catchment areas (insects die if they try to eat the carcass), creating a bacterial contamination.
It is time you did some research to find what is driving the fear and anger and the frustration. It is columns like yours that are ill-founded, ill-informed and somewhat unhinged.
You say anti-1080 people create havoc with the environment, which is also slanderous.
Most of us are well aware of the environment and the protection of it. Especially when it comes to humanity.
Awareness is driven by fear that we will have more effects like thalidomide, 245T, 24D, DDT, and asbestos, to name some. These were all declared safe by the manufacturers and our own EPA and yet created social trauma. The 1080 label and EPA say 1080 is not safe.
If you get a chance, look at the photos the New Plymouth nurse took over several years of fetal defects in the Paratutu area where the Dow factory was located. I am sorry, humanity comes first.
To try to tell New Zealand that there is no alternative to 1080, is crap.
Pests are very well controlled in all farmland and It was not aerial dropping of 1080.
Alternatives are controlled and precise.
However, I would prefer the expansion of these alternatives to the short and long term results of current uncontrolled aerial spreading by people who have no credibility or ethical behavior.
* Norm Brown is a director of Mohaka Rafting on State Highway 5
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=12129464
Header Photo: Carol Sawyer
aerial dropsalternativesCorruptionEPAfalse scienceFraudHawkes BayMohaka RaftingNorm BrownProtest
The Queenstown mayor is against 1080
QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL MAYOR JIM BOULT PUBLICLY OPPOSES 1080 POISON !
Thanks to Carol Sawyer for this:
John Sarginson asked : ""Mayor Jim, bearing in mind we have enough water flowing from our hills to generate power for our own waste treatment plants and provide quality domestic water to our escalating population, what is your stance on the broad spectrum use of 1080 poison onto our land and into our water ways?"
His answer is here.
Published on Jun 7, 2018
against 1080Mayorpersonal opinionqueenstown
1080, Environment, News, Pollution
Petition to stop the aerial spreading of 1080 poison
Petition of Josephine Violet – Stop aerial release of 1080 poison
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/petitions/document/PET_78808/petition-of-josephine-violet-stop-aerial-release-of-1080?signed=true
Health RisksParliamentPetitionpollutedstopWater
DOC, Environment, News, Ospri
Two academics have hit out at the Government's Predator Free 2050 goal, calling it "badly designed and unachievable"
July 22, 2018 Pam Vernon 1 Comment
From News Hub
They say the plan could lead to a decline in public support for conservation policy, because it's an "impossible" target destined for "inevitable failure".
Predator Free 2050 goal needs 'reality check' – Conservation Minister
The plan was announced by former Prime Minister John Key in 2016, and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has previously said it needed a "reality check".
Victoria University School of Biological Sciences associate professor Wayne Linklater and ecologist Dr Jamie Steer said their research shows the plan is based on flawed assumptions.
Those assumptions are:
Predator extermination is the best way to protect biodiversity
The country needs to eradicate every stoat, rat and possum to protect biodiversity
A complete eradication of predators is possible
"None of these assumptions are true," Mr Linklater said.
"Complete eradication of predators is technologically impossible, and biodiversity is affected more in some places by habitat decline and plant eaters than it is by predators."
He said eliminating select predators from complex communities of plants, animals, and humans was likely to be harmful, causing populations of other introduced animals to erupt.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/nz-s-impossible-predator-free-2050-goal-blasted-by-academics.html
conservation policyeradicationEugenie SageFailurePestsPredator Free 2050reality checkScientistsunachievable goal
School holidays still & Corner Peak Route in the Timaru 1080 drop zone is still littered with whole cinnamon flavoured baits!
So sad to see our beautiful country poisoned like this. And the apparent carelessness with which it is dropped and left for humans to touch. Little ones could easily run ahead, pick up those pretty looking baits & taste them before you even had time to stop them. Getting difficult isn't it to be able to walk the wild places safely any more?
"One third to to one half of a cinammon-flavoured 1080 bait, comprised of cereal and 25% sugar, and as you can see an attractive 'lolly-green' can KILL a preschooler. A nibble, or even a lick of a bait could make a child very ill."
It's the school holidays and this is the Corner Peak Route, in the Timaru Creek 1080 drop zone area… late this afternoon.
Ten tonnes 1080 baits were aerially dropped here on 20 June, 2018. We have had an enormous amount of rain since then and yet, nearly 4 weeks later, here are baits looking as intact as when they were dropped from the sky
This photo of children with 1080 baits in the Timaru Creek aerial 1080 drop zone, on the Corner Peak Route, shocked many people when it was posted online yesterday. (The photo was taken late yesterday afternoon, 15 July, 2018)
So Kirstin Dana and I decided to go and have a look for ourselves this afternoon. We climbed the Upper Timaru Creek Track to the Corner Peak Route, which is the red dotted line on the map.
We didn't have to go far on the Corner Peak Route before there seemed to be baits everywhere. One had been crushed by a boot…. I hope that person cleaned his footwear when he got home. I poked one bait open with a stick and as you can see it was still vivid green inside.
The photos of the 1080 baits I here are just two of 13 baits that I photographed on just one 75 metre stretch of the track'
Bear in mind this is exactly 25 days since the drop. These 12 gram baits look as though they have just come out of the manufacturer's bags ! You can see the ice on the track in the photo below.
Ice visible on the track
A lot of 1080 must have been eaten though, as in two hours of walking we heard ONE bird… a Grey warbler on the other side of the valley. Apart from that, not a sound.
We came across sheep, including a dead one, and three donkeys, at the junction of the Upper Timaru Creek Track and the Corner Peak Route. They appeared to be in the drop zone – the closest baits we found on the track were approximately 100 metres up the hill from them.
It's not really good enough this sort of thing, is it?
These baits are 0.15% pure 1080 poison and for anyone who doesn't believe my calculations and wants to work it out for themselves… the LD50 of pure 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) is 0.7 to 2 mgs per kg of bodyweight, according to the govt-owned 1080 bait manufacturer, Animal Control Products, in Whanganui . The baits at Timaru Creek are standard 12 gm baits.
The average weight of a two-year old is between 12 kgs ( girl ) and 12.7 kgs ( boy ). One third to one half of a bait can kill a two-year-old ( boy or girl ).
A 3-year-old ( average weight 14 kgs ) could be killed by just over 1/2 bait ( 9.8mgs ).
And remember, this is NOT an exact science… they haven't exactly experimented to come up with those figures. Nor are they likely to have exaggerated!
baits on tracksChildrenCorner Peak RouteDingleburn StationExposureNZPoisoningRiskTimaru Creek
Corruption, DOC, Environment, News, NZ Government
With certain species on brink of extinction, two top scientists are lifting the lid on DoC's "toxic" culture of corporate ideals – "the department has lost its way" says one
Are we surprised? I don't think so. About time isn't it? Reflect now on the use of 1080 all over our environment including the waterways, with impunity. Do you still feel safe under their watch? EnvirowatchRangitikei
"Committed conservation workers, even if they're highly regarded, are being pushed out, Head says, because they don't fit the mould of the department's new corporate ideals…"
"The desire to listen to in-house expertise is gone. It's much more important that we write plans and waste thousands and thousands of dollars on consultants developing so-called interface plans and task assignments than actually doing the job."
DoC's Culture Wars Revealed
Two top scientists are lifting the lid on the Department of Conservation's "toxic" culture. David Williams reports.
A culture war is being waged within the Department of Conservation, says a former DOC ecologist who claims he's been hounded out of the job.
Nick Head, the 2013 winner of the prestigious Loder Cup for conservation, quit the department last month and is taking a personal grievance claim. He says there's a corporate culture in DOC being driven by management, that seems unable to face the inconvenient truth that its core function is to advocate for conservation. Some bosses seem unwilling to fight to protect special, rare and threatened places in case it upsets "relationships", he says. That's causing friction with some scientific, technical and frontline staff.
"There's a culture war and there's a lot of discontent."
Head's view, which he believes is widely shared within the department, is that DOC became highly politicised because it was seen as an impediment to the previous Government's economic growth agenda. Some DOC staff became afraid to speak out or take a strong line.
"…the country's rare flora and fauna are on the brink of a raft of extinctions, much of it down to DOC's ineptitude…"
Committed conservation workers, even if they're highly regarded, are being pushed out, Head says, because they don't fit the mould of the department's new corporate ideals. "They make life so difficult for them, they either leave or they find reasons to force them out."Another Loder Cup winner, botanist Peter de Lange, left the department, disillusioned, in August last year, after being diagnosed with chronic stress. He thinks the department has lost its way, and that the country's rare flora and fauna are on the brink of a raft of extinctions, much of it down to DOC's ineptitude. He should know – De Lange was instrumental in developing the country's threat classification system used since 2001.
"… the department has lost its way…"
Loder Cup winner, botanist Peter de Lange
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/07/12/151517/docs-culture-wars-revealed
afraidcorporate idealsculture wardiscontentecologistpersonal grievancespeak outstressedToxic
1080, Birds, DOC, Environment, Native Birds in decline, News, Poison, Pollution
Go into a 1080-poisoned forest, see for yourself says a NZ bushman of 35 years – non target birds are dying
NOTE: This is a burning issue in NZ currently, a nation advertised as clean and green is anything but. They are poisoning our environment with greater intensity under the guise of saving birds. Folk visiting here should be warned & not drink water from the streams as many tourists do. One tourist here died & her Doctor who arranged to send her heart for testing for 1080 was told to back off & the lab 'lost' her heart. Massive cover up going on. https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2016/10/06/could-this-healthy-23-year-old-have-died-from-exposure-to-1080-we-will-never-know-because-incredibly-the-nz-lab-lost-her-heart/
From the Gisborne Herald
With regard to Grant Vincent's comments on the benefits of 1080 poison. As a logging contractor and bushman for the past 35 years, I have seen my fair share of 1080 poison drops. Every year parts of the forest estate where I worked were systematically poisoned every three years.
In my experience this creates very low bird numbers, especially predatory birds like the falcon, morepork, weka and hawk. All these birds I have found poisoned after a 1080 poison drop.
1080 poison was first developed as an insecticide, so what effect does this have on the forest ecosystem as a whole? And then there's the effect on poisoning our waterways which run down to our coastline.
New Zealand's Department of Conservation, TBfree and many regional councils backed by Forest and Bird support the aerial use of 1080 poison which indiscriminately kills all creatures that breathe oxygen through a slow, painful death that can take some animals days.
Then there is the crusade to have New Zealand pest-free by 2050, which includes deer and pigs. If you hunt wild game to feed your family, as most of my workers do, be concerned as this will affect you!
As I have always said to people who ask me about the effects of 1080 poison — go into a forest which has been poisoned by 1080 and see for yourself. Listen if you can hear any birds, and you will notice the smell of death.
Mark Nyhoff
Pakiri Logging
READ COMMENTS ETC AT THE LINK
http://gisborneherald.co.nz/opinion/3124914-135/go-into-a-1080-poisoned-forest-see
For further independent science & info on 1080 see our 1080 pages at the main menu. You won't find that info in mainstream media. Also search 1080 in categories at left of news page.
birds dyingbushman commentsdeerfalconForest & Birdhawkhuntinginsecticidelow bird numbersmoreporkPigspoison droppredatory birdsTBfreewekawild game
agenda 21/30, Environment, HDC, Horowhenua, News, public private partnerships
HDC is about to give millions in council assets to a new trust … to promote the economy we're told
Last year we posted news that HDC were considering public private partnerships to dispose of council assets. They seem to think we all came down in the last shower. Here we have a CE saying "but it was not yet known how profits would be spent or invested… " Seriously … this is the person who we just heard paid local iwi secretly as per quote from Kapiti Independent News:
"Chief executive David Clapperton made the confidential agreement to provide at least $880,500 to Te Runanga o Raukawa on the proviso the Runanga withdraw its objection to council's resource consent application to make discharges from the Foxton Waste Water Treatment Plant to Matakarapa Island".
…& we've heard nary a whisper of that since it leaked out!… who also all but gifted $1.86 million of council assets (aka pensioner flats) to Willis & Bond property developers. (The auditor General's fine with that we heard recently so I imagine it's all go with the current giveaways as well). May as well say haere ra to this lot friends. The millions of dollars of assets I'm talking about, not the generous people who are giving them away. As we speak the community/memorial halls are up for grabs in Foxton & elsewhere. This looks distinctly like a land grab as eloquently described by the late Joan Veon who observed developments in the UN plans for so called 'sustainable' development that is clearly everything but sustainable … Public Private Partnerships 'an arm of the world's growing corporatocracy, the bottom line is to take control of the assets of government (links below). At the Agenda 21/30 pages (main menu, top of page) you can read NZer Dr Naomi Jacobs' ebook on topic inspired by the rates hikes & property losses in Mangawhai.
Here is Stuff's article:
Millions of dollars of council assets will be transferred into independent hands to help boost the Horowhenua economy.
The Horowhenua New Zealand Trust could be operating in the next month, chairman Cam Lewis said. It will own and manage property and assets given to it by the Horowhenua District Council, and promote the district as a place to do business.
The trust would benefit residents by increasing jobs in the district, but it was not yet known how profits would be spent or invested, he said.
Council staff said property to be transferred would only include "non-core properties". The council owns almost $28 million in non-core property and more than $100m in assets.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/104864000/millions-in-council-assets-to-be-given-to-new-trust-to-promote-economy
LINKS TO OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLES:
https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2017/06/12/so-horowhenuas-community-housing-did-indeed-sell-for-a-song/
https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/why-did-a-property-developer-register-a-company-called-compassion-horowhenua-a-week-before-horowhenuas-community-housing-sold/
https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2017/12/03/horowhenua-council-considers-selling-off-large-amounts-of-council-property-by-way-of-public-private-partnerships/
http://kapitiindependentnews.net.nz/horowhenua-councils-secret-payout/#comment-718586
https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/public-private-partnerships-are-an-arm-of-the-worlds-growing-corporatocracy-their-bottom-line-is-to-take-control-of-the-assets-of-government-joan-veon/
https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2018/07/06/challenging-the-privatisation-and-divestment-of-public-land-assets-forced-upon-communities-against-their-will-re-takapuna-a-high-court-judicial-review-scheduled-for-august-on-8-grounds-re-the/
https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/the-horowhenua-dcs-economic-development-committee-that-looks-not-unlike-insider-trading/
To look at the wider picture, as per Joan Veon's video if you watched it, see our Agenda 21/30 pages (NZ in particular) at the main menu. This is a global trend with global governance in mind.
investmentslocal iwi's secret payoutMatakarapamemorial hallspublic private partnershipspublic trustsale of public assetstown halls
1080, DOC, Environment, News, Poison, Treaty of Waitangi
Resistance to using 1080 grows in Far North: DoC has misled the public on operations costs, consultation & perceived support
June 21, 2018 Pam Vernon
The Department of Conservation's plan for a 1080 aerial drop in public and private forests in the Far North later this year is meeting growing resistance.
Critics say use of the poison over more than 60 years has had devastating effects on wildlife, killing indiscriminately, inflicting an "extremely cruel and inhumane death" that often takes days. Locals for Responsible Conservation also argue that it poisons water, including sources used by people.
"Poisoned animals are left to rot in the forest and waterways, and remain toxic for many, many months," a spokesman said.
"Dropping deadly poison over our environment is not an acceptable practice, and it is not sustainable.
"There are many alternatives that contribute positively to our communities and our employment opportunities that do not risk our health and our environment.
"We support sustainable, responsible conservation that benefits local communities and respects our environment, including all creatures great and small."
Meanwhile a reply to an Official Information Act request from Locals for Responsible Conservation, received in March, raised more questions, glossed over the risks and showed that DOC had misled the public about the cost of the operations and local support for the drop, the group said.
A number of the groups listed as having been consulted said they had not been, while others had wrongly been cited as supportive.
http://www2.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12073542
alternativesConservationconsultationfar North NZhapuiwiMaorimisleading the publicoperations costsrangatira rightsTreaty breaches
'Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation' – A peaceful hikoi protesting the widespread use of 1080 in NZ is happening now
This peaceful hikoi protesting the widespread use of 1080 in NZ started out on 14th & 15th June from the far North and the far South of NZ.
From the organizers:
What is the PLAN for this PEACEFUL PROTEST?
How is this "Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation" going to work?
Start date, 14th & 15th June 2018.
Emile Leaf starts at Cape Reinga.
Alan Gurden starts at Stirling Point, Bluff.
This Hikoi will be ORGANIC. IT WILL GROW naturally.
START TIME 7 AM DAILY.
Average 30 kilometres per day, Daily distances decided by weather, camping spots, health & safety, etc.
One rest day per week.
Join it wherever you can, for as long as you can.
Follow " Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation" on this facebook page and you will get an idea of when it is close to you.
IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT EXACT TIMES AND PLACES.
Take photos and videos and share them on the Facebook site and SHARE SHARE SHARE with your friends.
If you want to Donate online. BNZ acc.no 02-0844-0118658-000 Acc name A. Gurden & Mr E . Leaf. There are always expenses.
Please text only to Emile 021 0237 7287 or Alan 022 4971 825.
For more information about 1080 & why the hikoi is taking place, go to the link below (you will find links to the full mission statement & other important info at the bottom of that page):
https://www.tv-wild.com/hikoi
Updates will be added to this page as they appear on FB (for those who are not on FB).
Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation on FaceBook
Research the truth about 1080 that your authorities are not telling you, the independent research. See links at our 1080 pages here, especially the resources page. Particularly you need to watch the GrafBoys' 4x international award winning environmental doco called 'Poisoning Paradise' that your government doesn't want you to see.
If you share the vision, watch out for the hikoi in your area & support by your presence, walking with them (long or short distance, whatever you can do) and/or providing them with refreshments. Contact details are at the information links provided above.
UPDATES as available:
(note FB users regular updates at the Hikoi page, links above)
(Latest at the top)
Wednesday 18th July
Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation UPDATE…
The Hikoi will continue as planned on Saturday 21st leaving The Strand Takapuna at 9am and following the previously arranged route to Onepoto Domain and onto the Harbour Bridge at 12noon.
Our application to NZTA for a supported bridge crossing has been declined. NZTA themselves have been supportive and helpful through this process but say it is too short notice to make arrangements. Emiles earlier communications to authorities were redirected, referred and ignored which has left us at the 11th hour.
NZTA have said they will be prepared and ready to manage an 'unplanned event' if that occurs. Please be aware that crossing the bridge on foot may incur a fine of $100. We are told that the police have no power to make arrests. Many of us feel strongly enough to walk regardless and believe the processing of our numbers by the authorities would be impractical.
We welcome your support on Saturday any way it comes. Please join the hikoi where you feel comfortable. You may choose to make the harbour crossing on foot in the hikoi tradition, by vehicle, waka….
Emile is walking under his sovereign native rights and anyone walking him with him will be under korowai manaaki under that context. Which basically means we are as one person.
Sat. 30th June
A little behind in updates. Here is what the hikoi page is currently reporting:
Today from the North: "Ata marie koutou. Heading to start off again from Whakapara.."
From the South: Said goodbye to alexandra same way we woke them up .
Some may not approve of my methods but the truth needs to be told . The truth is ugly and confronting!
But grab a tissue and get over it we have a job to do.
To re claim our right to guardianship of the whenua in this country ,
STOP the use of 1080 and the Aerial dispersal of all pesticides altogether in N.Z.
Support gained while we were there and shown as we left was awesome
Well worth the sore throat.
TOMORROW we leave from clyde dam lookout to walk to Cromwell should arrive at about 2 pm
I have a lovely day off in the sun and we just got visited by Paul and Paula from the taieri mouth motor camp in Dunedin diverted out of their way to come and see us so good on you guys he video Paula did for us
Morena from @Cath Hopa-Pioletti Emile has had cell phone coverage reception problems. But just note: He will be in kaitaia at the RSA tonight to give a talk. He is travelling the eastern route of SH1 at the moment. He is having a bit if a rest today too. Then continue on from Monganui. He gave a talk at Kaeo last night too and speaking where he can get more coverage.Due to weather conditions the journey may detour. @Cath Hopa-Pioletti is the contact person.
Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation- Accommodation Offers
Are you able to provide other support eg walk, support vehicle, kai, koha, etc?
This is for people wanting to offer accommodation to the Hikoi teams- Alan Gurden (South Island) and Emile Leaf (North Island) .
See the accommodation form at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMjMRuemyXr1rFDhoNJxf4Ssx2YWGxhtKGG1cnwIjZ6Fvj5g/viewform
Please check route on www.tinyurl.com/poisonednation and Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation FB page for updates
From the South Island … "Quiet day restoring
Signage doin washing and then did 13 km towards raes junction from waikoikoi where we left off yesterday prked up at tapanui motorcamp day off walkin tomorro rest the bones poor reception so dont b sad if we dont answer your txts Southland hikoi power to the people!!!"
Resistance to using 1080 grows in Far North
Article from Herald, DoC misleading the public on several counts about their operations
Comment on FB from a supporter Royden Dick:
I was Blessed to get the opportunity to walk with the peaceful protesters on their Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation for the first 3 days from bluff.
We met some truly awesome, soulful, down to earth people along the way.
I am overwhelmed with the support these guys are receiving from the public on their journey whether it be Honks, toots, yeeha's and woohoo's from motorists to people stopping and giving koha's of food and money to help these guys on their journey.
There was still the odd bird flicked our way and a dude pretending to shake the crap out of an imaginary can of coke and to these folks I say sorry to you for having such a sad and crappy day as you seem to be very angry and upset, I hope your day gets better for you.
Going off the support received so far the angry upset kiwi's having a crappy day are the extreme minority, Seems as though everyone else is happy as.
NZ YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!!
I ask anyone and everyone who gets the opportunity to meet and join these guys on their travels to parliament to do so. Whether it be for 5 days or 5 minutes to make a stand against 1080 and all aerial poisons in Aotearoa. They are not walking for their own agendas and interests but for YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.
I look forward to walking again as soon as possible.
Thanks again guys and Kia Kaha.
NELSON MAIL REPORTS:
https://www.pressreader.com/@Jim_Hilton.1/csb_OIzsnr0slpSp8gpohBeZ5pOmpCd6hThmAN8LqtkCStQ
aerial spread of 1080 poisonBluffCape Reingafar northfar southhikoiHikoi of a Poisoned NationNZParliamentProtest
1080, Environment, News, NZ Government, Poison, Water
In 2017 the NZ Govt effectively excluded the aerial distribution of poison bait, from the protection of the Resource Management Act – still trust them then with your safety?
June 9, 2018 Pam Vernon 1 Comment
Through its new rules the New Zealand Government has effectively excluded the spreading of Compound 1080 – a WHO class A1 eco-toxin – from environmental protection legislation, to increase its company profits … TV-Wild
Important information from TV-Wild by the Graf Brothers:
"New Zealand is known for its pure water, mountainous peaks and majestic scenery. Millions of tourists visit every year. They tramp the Great Walks and drink from the mountain streams – a land of milk and honey, 100% Pure! …"
"There is growing concern across New Zealand about the massive use of Compound 1080 poison. Government agencies currently spread 1080 poison bait aerially, across the forests and directly into the waterways – enough poison to kill over 60 million people every year. The poison kills 1000's of deer, and 100's of 1000's of other animals, birds and insects, every year." (Explore menu at the TV-Wild link for references)
READ MORE ON WATER
"There are three significant government agencies that aerially spread 1080 poison bait across land and water in New Zealand – The Department of Conservation, TB Free & OSPRI, and regional councils.
Up until 2017, regional councils issued resource consent certificates to government agencies and contractors that permitted 1080 poison bait to be spread across land and directly into water. However, in 2017, the New Zealand Government changed legislation, and that legislation now permits poison bait to be aerially spread across land and directly into water, without the requirement for a resource consent certificate – effectively excluding the aerial distribution of poison bait, from the protection of the Resource Management Act.
The New Zealand Government owns Orillion, the 1080 poison factory that imports and manufactures 1080 poison, and brodifacoum cereal baits. The factory's mission statement makes it clear that the company exists for profit.
Through its new rules the New Zealand Government has effectively excluded the spreading of Compound 1080 – a WHO class A1 eco-toxin – from environmental protection legislation, to increase its company profits. "
Follow links at the TV-Wild site for further info on 1080. Also see our 1080 & related resource sub pages for other links to information. The information your esteemed leaders are not providing you with. The independent research. Search categories here (left of page) for further articles on topic and/or use the search box. Especially you should visit our page on suspected 1080 poisoning of humans (and that's not including the thousands of animals and birds not specifically targeted that die with each drop). Folk are commenting that the bush is quiet. The birds are disappearing.
Finally, consider how you can support the coming hikoi from far North & far South to parliament. All info at TV-Wild.
aerial distributionbaitsclass A1company profitscontaminationDeathdyingeco-toxinHealth RisksOrillionPoisoningProtectionRMAWHOWildlife
cancer, Environment, Glyphosate, Herbicide, News
Hear Dr Meriel Watts on glyphosate
May 20, 2018 Pam Vernon 1 Comment
From Green Planet FM
The chemicalisation of our society and the chemicalisation of New Zealand, our food, our bodies
Meriel Watts from Waiheke Island, trained in agricultural science before becoming a natural health practitioner and treating people poisoned by roadside sprays. She also co-ordinates the New Zealand branch of Pesticide Action Network, providing technical information to international organisations such as the United Nations.
Listen to one of only two full time, totally dedicated 'volunteer' activists against the chemical spraying of the thousands of kilometers of Auckland's suburban streets and footpaths with dangerous herbicides.
This is another battle for the health of Auckland's families as well as the ecology of the beaches, harbours and marine life, where the chemicals run off after rain.
Present focus:
Stopping the reintroduction of chemical weed management on roadsides and streets throughout the greater Auckland Council area, when for the last 14 years Auckland and the North Shore had a very successful non-chemical management system, and now the focus is getting Auckland Council region back onto non-chemical roadside weed management.
To get chlorpyrifos an insecticide banned in NZ where it is still used in agriculture, horticulture, on livestock and on roses, because prenatal exposures to even low levels interferes with brain development leaving children with neurological and behavioural issues that last a lifetime – like reduced IQ, ADHD, Autism.
READ MORE & LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW AT THE LINK:
https://www.ourplanet.org/greenplanetfm/dr-meriel-watts-on-chemical-road-sprays-in-auckland
Photo Credit: thanks to Marian Sutherland (Council spraying roadside)
Auckland streetschemicalisation of NZDr Meriel WattsecologyFoodSpraying
Environment, Glyphosate, GMO, Herbicide, News, Poison
"The most toxic chemical we've ever had in our environment" – Dr Don Huber
April 30, 2018 Pam Vernon 1 Comment
From greenmedinfo.com
When one of our world renowned professors uses the term "horrifying" in speaking about the widespread use of a chemical in our food supply, the prudent person would sit up and take notice.
That's exactly the word Dr. Don Huber used. But are we listening? Calling glyphosate"the most toxic chemical we've ever had in our environment, he says that "future historians may well look back upon our time and write, not about how many pounds of pesticides we did or did not apply, but about how willing we were to sacrifice our children and jeopardize future generations for the massive experiment we call genetic engineering that is based on failed promises and flawed science, just to benefit the bottom line of a commercial enterprise."
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/roundup-herbicide-most-toxic-chemical-environment
Photo: EnvirowatchRangitikei ©
AutismcancerDr Don HuberEnvironmentfood supplyglyphosatemost toxic chemicalProf Emeritus Plant PathologyPurdue UniversityroundupSoysugar beets
Corruption, Environment, Indigenous, News, WWF
In bed with the world's biggest polluters the WWF is also accused of committing violent crimes against indigenous peoples, contributing to 20 million 'conservation' refugees
Not new, as is from 2014. Stories like this deserve to be shared over & over lest the revelations be forgotten. I stopped donating to this cause long ago after I learned some of the ugly truth.
From Natural News
World Wildlife Fund's hidden role in spreading harmful corporate practices is revealed in new book
Monsanto, Coca-Cola, Shell, HSBC, Cargill, BP, Alcoa and Maine Harvest have reportedly all benefited from the WWF's green label while continuing business as usual … Wilfried Huismann
NaturalNews) Overcoming adversity by piercing through the corporate fabric in which the world's corporations are banded together, PandaLeaks – The Dark Side of the WWF exposes the ugly underbelly of the planet's largest conservation group.
Written by award-winning German journalist and filmmaker Wilfried Huismann, the book almost didn't make it to print after the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) fought tooth and nail to stop its sale. The group's efforts to stop the book's publication, which included a massive campaign of threats and a series of lawsuits, fell short of preventing the controversial report from reaching the market.
Two years of on-the-ground investigative research reveals a number of horrid, and incredibly disappointing, facts about the WWF. While earlier skepticism has surrounded the conservation group for years, their unethical and hypocritical tactics have not yet been exposed in depth until the release of Huismann's recent research.
The book accuses the WWF of "selling its soul" to corporations in exchange for their donations, as well as forging alliances with powerful, non-sustainable businesses that are destroying the planet and "greenwashing" their operations under the conservation group's label.
New book blows the whistle on WWF's cozy relationship with Big Business
Originally released under the name The Silence of the Pandas in 2012, the book became a German bestseller before being recently published in English following a series of injunctions and court cases, according to The Guardian.
Monsanto, Coca-Cola, Shell, HSBC, Cargill, BP, Alcoa and Maine Harvest have reportedly all benefited from the WWF's green label while continuing business as usual, said Huismann. While publicly condemning such corporations, behind closed doors the WWF has set up "round tables" of industrialists on hot commodities such as palm oil, timber, sugar, soy, biofuels and cocoa.
An ethnic group residing in the Congo, the Baka people, say they've been forced from their ancestral lands in the name of "conservation."
"WWF is a willing service provider to the giants of the food and energy sectors, supplying industry with a green, progressive image… On the one hand it protects the forest; on the other it helps corporations lay claim to land not previously in their grasp. WWF helps sell the idea of voluntary resettlement to indigenous peoples," said Huismann.
WWF involved in the beatings and torture of indigenous peoples in the name of "conservation"
An elite club consisting of 1,001 of the world's richest people, including philanthropists, industrialists and upper-class naturalists, are reportedly operating out of the WWF, which was set up more than 50 years ago by Prince Philip and Prince Bernhart of the Netherlands. This elite club serves as an "old boys' network," holding "influence in the corridors of global and corporate and policy-making power."
Aside from being in bed with some of the world's biggest polluters, the WWF has also been accused of committing crimes against indigenous peoples by funding their "displacement" and "cultural extinction," contributing to more than 20 million people who are now classified as "conservation refugees."
https://www.naturalnews.com/047517_World_Wildlife_Fund_corporate_practices_PandaLeaks.html
Alcoa & Maine HarvestBPCargillCoca-ColaCorporationscourt casescultural extinctionDisplacementFoodgreenwashingHSBCmonsantoPandaPrince Phillipunderbelly of conservation
Chemicals, defense, Environment, Horizons, News, Pollution, Water
Official Information requested by Horizons from NZ Defence Force about an environmental hazard at Ohakea Air Base was not disclosed for more than a year later
Becoming a familiar story isn't it? (They legally have around 21 days to come up with the requested info).
Recently we saw they'd declined to notify the public of the presence of 1080 in storage which they should be doing (remember Whitianga?). Or if it is burnt which they also recently declined to do in Levin. And increasingly, info is declined in the OI requests. I've also been hearing lately information about the burial/dumping of 1080 & also of asbestos in 'unknown' locations! If folk know anything they need to blow the whistle. This is an area of total cover up in more ways than one. Yet another illustration that the 'sustainable' verbiage on the council websites is just that & of no particular use except to pull the wool as the saying goes. Sustainable practices stopped with Rogernomics. The history is long and damning. EnvirowatchRangitikei
Horizons Regional Council's chairman has blasted the Defence Force for keeping his organisation in the dark about contamination from firefighting foam used at Ohakea airbase.
The regional council was not told groundwater and water supplies might be contaminated until December last year – many months after the Defence Force knew of a potential problem.
"We are the environmental agency and they wanted to keep it from us," Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon said.
"We found out from the media [about the contamination] because the Defence Force didn't want to share it with us."
* Toxic foam found in fire trucks and storage at three more commercial airports
* Nationwide investigation into toxic firefighting foam launched
* Testing area for Ohakea toxic foam contamination to be extended
* Firefighter foam poses water risk around NZ air bases
It was revealed last week Horizons Regional Council was asked for information about water systems near Ohakea Air Force Base in Rangitīkei three times before it was told there was a contamination problem involving firefighting foam.
The first request for information came as early as April 2016 – a year after the Defence Force received the first results of tests – but officials didn't let on to the regional council that some water was contaminated until December 2017.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/102503823/information-requested-but-reasons-not-disclosed-for-more-than-a-year-later
Photo: PN Airport .. Wikipedia
contaminationEPAfire fighters foamNon ComplianceOhakeaOIAPN AirportRegional CouncilToxic
agenda 21/30, Banking, Corporations, Environment, Nature Conservancy group, News
New info on the recent 6-helicopter entourage over Fiordland by the head of NZ's Dept. of Conservation & 30 odd international bankers
March 28, 2018 Pam Vernon 10 Comments
In brief, this entourage may be connected to an environmental group called The Nature Conservancy group as stated by another source. It is a group that partners with corporations to fund conservation. This trend sees companies known for their polluting practices dubbed by many as 'greenwash' corporates. Just another sneaky way into yet another cash cow … the environment. And all a part of UN's Agenda 21/30. Read the full article below.
1) WHY WERE THE HEADS OF NZ'S DEPT. OF CONSERVATION & HONG KONG'S GOLDMAN SACHS TOURING PARTS OF FIORDLAND RECENTLY IN A SIX-HELICOPTER ENTOURAGE?
2) NEW INFO ON THE RECENT 6-HELICOPTER ENTOURAGE OVER FIORDLAND BY THE HEAD OF NZ'S DEPT. OF CONSERVATION & 30 ODD INTERNATIONAL BANKERS
3) SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL HAS TOLD A CORRESPONDENT THAT THE RECENT HELICOPTER TOUR OF FIORDLAND BY 30 ODD INTERNATIONAL BANKERS & DOC WAS 'PHILANTHROPIC' … AND NARY A WHISPER FROM MAINSTREAM MEDIA?
Recent info supplied by Carol Sawyer about the sighting of a DoC, banking helicopter entourage over Fiordland has brought comment at our Facebook discussion from a visitor who is a former Labour Party MP. She assured me that the entourage was not paid for by DoC (although that was a minor concern compared to 30 odd international bankers eyeing up the landscape from on high). She says a reliable source told her in confidence that the members touring were from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) group. Carol who supplied the original information, also from a confidential & reliable source maintains firmly that these were definitely international bankers.
A little research into the TNC which I'd not hitherto heard of, proved very interesting. It is a Hong Kong group and is headed by a former Goldman Sachs CEO.
If what this visitor to the discussion is saying is true, and if it's said in terms of 'all's well, it's just about conservation & DoC weren't paying', then we in fact do have cause for concern. Check out their corporate partners: "Pepsi Co, Disney, IBM, Goldman Sachs, Walmart and Cargill. In Asia Pacific, … Neutrogena in Australia and Rio Tinto in Mongolia. In Hong Kong, … Dragonair, Pacific Coffee Company, FORTUNE China, HSBC Private Bank, the Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Hong Kong Commercial Radio, Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific, Time Asia, Sun Hung Kai Properties and the Hong Kong Airport Authority". And there it is again, Goldman Sachs. They're featuring quite prominently. And Key's friends from Merrill Lynch.
If you navigate from the NZ website for TNC, there is another list of global companies that have partnered with them. On that very long list are Dow Chemicals, Shell & Coke to name three, who are all ill qualified to fit any green profile by any stretch of the imagination.
Speaking broadly, a not so new breed of 'environmental' people have clearly been dominating the green movement for some time particularly since neo liberal economics and are in fact all for profit. Strange bedfellows they shroud their activities in a deceptive cloak of green & sustainable rhetoric but don't be fooled. The bottom line of corporations is profit. (Read Behind the Green Mask on that. The author Rosa Koire's site is here).
TNC has been operating here in NZ since 2016:
"As part of a three-year strategic plan, in 2016 we worked with government officials, local communities, indigenous (Iwi) leaders, businesses and local conservation groups to identify science-based solutions to poor water quality and runoff."
You can read at the link what else they're up to. Clearly with their input our waterways are no cleaner and our clean water reserves are still either under threat, or being bottled and sent off shore for the sole benefit of foreign corporations that plunder us with impunity. While the councils that gave the consents sit by and twiddle their thumbs, plunging their rate payers into deeper and deeper debt. Doesn't make sense does it? Why do you virtually give away a valuable water resource to an offshore corporation but charge your own people top dollar? Why do you not sell it instead & benefit your district and its ratepayers? Favours for your corporate mates I'd suspect. And further cheap land available when the ratepayers' find they can't meet the rates. See what happened in Kaipara.
For an explanation on the councils' debt agenda go here & read Dr Naomi Jacobs' exposé. A useful exercise on consents is to attend one of your council's consent hearings. The last one I sat in on, the chair of the 'independent panel' (one of three corporates well versed in the RM Act) made a Freudian slip & said 'when the consent is granted' … 'I mean, if the consent is granted'. The consents were of course granted & the folk who lived next door to the moderate sized Bonny Glen refuse tip that the Rangitikei council sold in the early 2000s to an offshore Chinese corporation, were faced with living next door to a tip quadruple the size and all the drop in property values, the stench, the trucks through town, the rats, feral cats and the leachate in the waterways that go with that. (Sustainable practices). The hearings were held far from the residents' who were to be affected of course, many of whom doubtless had jobs to go to, a time worn tactic employed on Māori to relieve them of their lands.
There is big money in refuse.
So TNC's vision as stated at their website is:
"…to leave a sustainable world for future generations, in Hong Kong and around the world."
Sounds great doesn't it? (Hong Kong note, one of the entourage was head of Hong Kong Goldman Sachs). If you are familiar with Agenda 21/30 you will have spotted that word 'sustainable'. It's what is woven throughout local & regional councils' websites world wide as a purely lip service stab at getting you to believe it's about conservation. It is a line that really is wearing thin. I mean really thin. Any smart thinking person can see there's been nothing sustainable going on since the corporate takeover of all things precious and dear on the planet three decades ago. That would be since the early nineties when Bush first announced the New World Order directly after the Gulf War. That by the way was when the US military injected their soldiers with that 'mysterious' illness called Gulf War Syndrome. Followed by the "Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests, adopted by more than 178 Governments at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992″. Since then our countries have also become corporations, along with their respective former government departments. Since the signing up of those nations to this Agenda 21 agreement now known as Agenda 2030, we have had our fresh waters trashed, lands pilfered, forests plundered and our oceans trashed & pilfered as well. Did I miss anything? There's little left anywhere of anything pristine yet the lies continue to roll out for the gullible to swallow, on the plan for sustainable development. What bollocks.
This blog thread on TNC is interesting. Read the comments also at the link.
"The CEO of TNC is Mark Tercek who was formerly "managing director at Goldman Sachs where he played a key role in developing the firm's environmental strategy. He headed the firm's Environmental Strategy Group and Center for Environmental Markets, which worked to develop and promote market-based solutions to environmental challenges". I concur with their thoughts, climate disaster & pollution are not opportunities for investment!
Noted also are the level of salaries these CEOs earn & we are urged to cease donating to them, it being better to donate to groups that use the money to do the work not pay obscenely large salaries of $250K. Note also the salaries of our heavily indebted councils across NZ. District Councils are the Trojan horse for Agenda 21/30.
Tercek is also a member of several boards and councils, including Resources for the Future and the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Think Bilderberger and secrecy & New World Order on the latter organization. That is cause for concern just by itself (that is if you don't believe the lie of the happy global village with all things equal. Is it looking anything like equal three decades in?)
Tercek is also the author of a book called Nature's Fortune: How Business and Society Thrive by Investing in Nature.
They sure do.
Corporations always have this awkward marrying of profit and economic sustainability & guess which always wins out? A quick glance around your local district councils and their modus operandi will tell you that. It's never the environment. It's all in the clever wording. They have to balance the two. "…each [corporate] engagement has, at its core" says TNC, "the potential to help us achieve our goal of protecting lands and waters on which all life depends." Note the operative words there are "the potential". Nice and non committal, non conclusive … followed by the emotive protectorate verbiage about land and water "on which all life depends". (Note: If you're unfamiliar with the absolute bottom line of corporations ie profit, do watch The Corporation doco).
There are other global environmental organizations being run by global banking elites. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for instance was at one time (2010 according to the source) managed by an ex Goldman Sachs Managing Director Larry Linden. The current WWF CEO Carter Roberts "has built partnerships with some of the world's largest corporations, including Walmart, Cargill and Mars" and is also a member of the CFR.
The WWF is an organization with a little known dark side. It's not just about cuddly Panda bears. You can learn about that at the following link:
A new book "accuses the WWF of "selling its soul" to corporations in exchange for their donations, as well as forging alliances with powerful, non-sustainable businesses that are destroying the planet and "greenwashing" their operations under the conservation group's label." WWF it's reported is also involved in "the beatings and torture of indigenous peoples in the name of "conservation".
So, the marriage of corporations & the banking fraternity with conservation & under the banner of 'sustainable development', the guise of all things green, is a complete scam and a sham. Again, don't fall for it.
"The interest in NZ by these people is all about resources and more sinister technologies. Everyone wants a piece of 'Little Texas', and this unregulated airspace and associated tech opportunities. Lets NOT forget our close location to the Pole and the large wealth of resources therein. Christchurch is the world's 'mine' door." (Comment from thecontrail.com).
You can be assured Kiwis, that the clearing off of our lands with all the poison is not about conservation. Watch the four times award winning film on NZ's wholesale poisoning program that your government/corporation doesn't want you to see.
Watch now for NZ partnerships. Who is cosying up to who? As the saying goes, "There's gold in them thar hills". On land acquisition, it being the end game of a group that wants global governance, check out their Public Private Partnership modus operandi. The late Joan Veon* told us that:
"Private Partnerships (PPP)are an arm of the world's growing Public corporatocracy & their bottom line is to take control of the assets of Government".
The Horowhenua District Council last year announced they would be using PPPs to sell off their surplus land having already all but gifted their community housing assets to a large property developer. Similar has happened in Tamaki with our State homes, all exposed thanks to Penny Bright's investigative work.
So, regarding the entourage over Fiordland, it's watch this space. We may in due course see some new plan emerge to conserve the Fiordlands. Not for profit of course.
*Joan Veon in the course of her work alongside and with the UN researched extensively andinterviewed high profile public figures on these matters during the '90s when things were kicking off. You can read and listen to her at this link. There are many more of her lectures on Youtube. (When I post Joan's PPP video on Facebook it gets marked as spam).
To learn more about UN's Agenda 21/30 visit our main menu. The agenda is already in NZ, see the Agenda 21/30 in NZ page also.
Post Script:
I am keen to hear from any of you out there who knew about and were familiar with the TNC group and their conservation work. I would've thought it would be headline news and any activity over Fiordland with their corporate partners (?) on conserving that place would be also? But no it flew literally right under the radar. By helicopter.
CEOsDistrict CouncilsfeaturedHong KongHorowhenuaNZ Governmentpilfering resourcesRangitikeiRio Declaration on Environment and Developmentsalariesselling national assets
1080, Environment, Health, Horizons, News, Poison
The Levin 1080 storage fire should have been a 'notifiable incident' with strict health & safety procedures in place
March 8, 2018 Pam Vernon 2 Comments
From NO to 1080 use in NZ Facebook community
What exactly happened at the fire at the Horizons Council depot Levin, in January? We know that 1080 and other poisons were kept there. We are not told how much, although it could have been up to 100 tonnes. We know that local residents were not aware of the potential dangers of the toxic fumes that may have reached their homes. Note that the council have admitted that "1080 [poison] casing was damaged in the fire." We also know that the local DHB and therefore the Medical Officer of Health were not informed about the fire via Fire & EmergencyNZ, nor Horizons, nor WorksafeNZ. This should have been a 'notifiable incident' with strict health and safety procedures in place, including an evacuation plan for nearby residents and drainage facilities for the fire equipment that prevented contamination of the water-tables.
Will this 'investigation' result in any changes?
Council depot fire to be investigated
Police investigation begins four weeks after fire.
Photo: nzherald.co.nz
An investigation into the suspicious fire at Levin's Horizons Regional Council depot was stalled for a month due to hazardous substances.
The January fire damaged property, equipment and vehicles stored at the depot.
It was confirmed by police that the depot had been broken into and a quad bike set alight.
Controversial pest control poison 1080 was stored at the depot along with herbicides for weeds, cyanide and rabbit toxins.
Horizons chief executive Michael McCartney confirmed that a 1080 casing was damaged in the fire.
Waste Management Technical Services recently removed and disposed of the hazardous substances, allowing Police to do an internal scene examination on Tuesday.
Mr McCartney said the removal was a complex and time-consuming task but it was now completed and all poisons accounted for.
He said the hazardous substances were not removed immediately following the fire to ensure their casings did not break.
"We did not want to risk moving them until we could ensure this could be done without risk to the environment or human health."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/horowhenua-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503788&objectid=12000331
cyanideDamagefeaturedFirehealth & safety regulationsHerbicidesHorizonsrabbit toxinsRegional Council depotwaste management
Chemtrails, Environment, Geoengineering, News, Pollution
More Pollution over Aotearoa's beautiful Akaroa Harbour
We featured recently reports on the pollution created by the cruise ships, with concerns raised by a local fed up with breathing their fumes. Here we have the familiar chemtrail/geoengineering pollution in the skies as well, a regular sight both globally and the length of Aotearoa.
Air pollution by cruise ships in Akaroa's harbour NZ
air pollutionAkaroabunker fuelcruise shipsDr Bevan MartinEmissionsHarbourHealthMARPOLnitrogen oxidesNZOilRiskssulphur dioxidevictoria universityWater
Conservation, Environment, HDC, News, protected species
Why is HDC allowing the felling of a protected Totara tree on a formerly Council-owned Foxton property, by the new owners Willis & Bond / Compassion Horowhenua? (amended article)
The original article posted earlier stated that the tree was a Kauri … apologies, it is in fact a Totara, but still a protected species. This is the original with amendments.
The Totara in question is on a property now owned by Willis & Bond / Compassion Horowhenua Housing. They are the new owners of Johnston Street community housing that was formerly Council owned. The tree to the right of the fence in the photo is to be cut back, that one is on Council property (Seaview Gardens). However the other tree to the left is to be felled. This native Totara is not currently listed as a 'notable tree', the only thing I understand that could prevent its being felled. The by-laws apparently have recently changed in the Horowhenua preventing the species from being protected there. So how is this a forward move? Felling a protected native species? Have local iwi been consulted on this? Here we have the usual UN 'sustainable' spin that balances sustainable economies with sustainable environments … guess which one wins out, every time?
It should in my opinion be cut back (for easier ongoing maintenance of the buildings if that is what is required) … but not felled. That is very backward thinking.
The following article reflects the direction Councils are taking in their professions of Treaty Partnership with regard to native trees. Their websites tend to pay lip service only to the Treaty. It is described in the article how the Auckland Council failed to support a rāhui placed on the Waitakere Forest to protect Kauri, another protected species.
"The council's Environment and Community Committee chose to reject the rāhui request made byTe Kawarau-a-Maki, deciding instead to close only high-risk and medium-risk tracks."
Read the article: Why aren't people listening? Māori scientists on why rāhui are important
So it would appear the Horowhenua District Council is moving in a similar direction? With recent by-law changes the protected species is now set for the chop.
Note: I have requested of Council today (5th Feb) that the tree be made 'notable'. They've referred my request to a 'Strategic Planner' to respond. Please consider requesting the same by sending an email to:
CustomerServices@horowhenua.govt.nz
EnvirowatchHorowhenua
cut backHorowhenuakauriLevinlip service to Treaty of Waitanginotable treeprotected treeto be felledtotaraWaitakere
Conservation, Environment, News
Why is HDC allowing the felling of a protected Totara tree on a formerly Council-owned Foxton property, by the new owners Willis & Bond / Compassion Horowhenua?
February 6, 2018 Pam Vernon 3 Comments
The Totara in question is on a property now owned by Willis & Bond / Compassion Horowhenua Housing. They are the new owners of Johnston Street community housing that was formerly Council owned. The tree to the right of the fence in the photo is to be cut back, that one is on Council property (Seaview Gardens). However the other tree to the left is to be felled. This native Totara is not currently listed as a 'notable tree', the only thing I understand that could prevent its being felled. The by-laws apparently have recently changed in the Horowhenua preventing the species from being protected there. So how is this a forward move? Felling a protected native species? Have local iwi been consulted on this?
compassion horowhenuaExtinctionFoxtonHorowhenuaiwiJohnston Streetnative speciesnotable treeprotected speciestotaraWillis & Bond
1080, DOC, Environment, News, NZ Government, Poison
"The Killing Nation: New Zealand's State-Sponsored Addiction to Poison 1080″… a new must-read book exposing the $100 mill industry that makes our 'clean & green' image look farcical
January 21, 2018 Pam Vernon 2 Comments
NZ now has a Poison Industrial Complex (PIC) which deliberately targets the media with good news propaganda justifying it's continued existence.
If you don't believe this read the latest book by Reihana Robinson exposing New Zealand's PIC, available on Amazon.
"Environmental activist and researcher Reihana Robinson explodes the carefully cultivated myth of New Zealand as the "Clean and Green" paradise of the South Pacific. While her country's government and tourism industry promote images of exotic native bush, rare avian species, clean running streams, and untainted farms, Robinson lays bare New Zealand's "Dirty Little Environmental Secret" – the wholesale poisoning of the landscape with one of the world's deadliest poisons to combat pest species, all in the name of "conservation". New Zealand stands alone in the world for its widespread and growing use of the supertoxin "1080, spread by helicopter over hundreds of thousands of hectares of conservation land, rolling hills, and even into waterways and drinking water catchments. The toxin, made in batches at a small factory in backwoods Alabama USA and shipped to far-off Kiwiland, deals a grisly death to all oxygen-breathing species – among them countless birds, deer, mice, frogs, eels, and invertebrates of all description. While failing to achieve proven conservation gains, New Zealand's poison-industrial complex taints more and more of the country's pristine natural wealth with each passing year. Robinson recounts the surprising history of her country's unusual and failing attempt to poison its way to a clean environment, and with classic investigative reporting and research, exposes the conflicts and professional intrigue that keep the poison flowing. Robinson chronicles the fightback by environmentalists, animal welfare advocates, and growing numbers in the scientific community against the increasing use of the poison in what has become an unhealthy growth industry protected by the New Zealand government. Her expose is a must-read for every student of environmental science – and an important introduction to "the real New Zealand" for tourists and international travelers expecting just the opposite."
See the Resources page at the 1080 tab at the main menu for further links to info on 1080. Watch Poisoned Paradise, the award winning film that NZ tv channels refuse to play.
conservation landcoromandelcruelDrinking WaterMediaPoison Industrial ComplexReihana Robinsonslow deathsupertoxinTourismToxicWater