Forestry debris/slash by Susan Grimsdell
It’s something we’ve heard a lot about recently: slash – public enemy number one since the storms and the cyclone struck. But it didn’t happen because of any natural phenomenon. There’s nothing natural about billions of tonnes of dead trees and other forestry remains crashing into bridges, destroying roads and ending up on people’s property and on our beaches. It’s no more natural than if I dumped my garbage on the street. The companies that left their trash on the ground once they’d made their millions from cutting down trees, own the… Read More
Future present by Susan Grimsdell
The warnings we get about global warming always talk about the future – “by 2030 there will be….” or “in 5 years’ time sea level will….” But humans are not good at preparing for the future. We are a here and now kind of species. For example, most of us find it impossible to say no to a delicious slice of pizza or piece of cake, even when the old saying fills our mind – “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”. Oh what the hell, we say and… Read More
Flying again by Susan Grimsdell
Leadership When Covid first hit in NZ, our Prime Minister took a leadership role right away. “Stay home,” she said, and explained why. We believed the science and we believed her and it seems it’s a good thing we did because our death rate was miniscule. The key to us all complying was her strong leadership. She didn’t say “We’d appreciate it if you stayed home as much as possible.” She said loud and clear, “Stay Home!” World wars bring out that kind of leadership – people all over Europe put up… Read More
After the gold rush by Trevor Plumbly
‘Helpless, helpless’ (Neil Young) Neil was scarcely boy-next-door material; he looked like someone had abandoned him in a doorway: overlong hair and a face that charity would describe as ‘lived in’. But the guy could write! He was the high priest of the folk/druggie followers (see ‘The needle and the damage done’). Vocally he wasn’t much, but then neither were the others; the message was more important than the melody. They were heady times with newly discovered drugs, rights, sexual freedom and social wrongs to identify with, from racial discrimination to nuclear… Read More
NZ farmers’ protest by Susan Grimsdell
Taking to the streets Hundreds of farmers recently took to the streets in their expensive tractors. The vehicles are big bullying things, and that makes me think the drivers are too. Sitting way up high, big wheels, the whole rig shouting – “I’m big and powerful and rich so get out of my way.” As far as I could make out, that was the essence of their protest – “This government is telling me what to do. I won’t have it. It’s my land, and I’ll say what happens to it.” Farmers… Read More
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