Posts Tagged ‘Parliament’
Emissions Trading Scheme review now calling submissions
My position on climate change is that it is happening, and it is not as some said, "just a recovery from the little ice age" - human activities are at least partially responsible. There are uncertainties on how worse it would be, but there should be no doubt that it is happening.
So I feel very unease to talk about a "balance" between combating climate change and accommodate economic growth. Environment, the global weather system is still something that we don't fully understand how it works and when it will strike, yet it is so closely connected with the future well beings of mankind. Nature should be something that every one of us respect, not something that you can do "trade and exchange" or mess up with. Our survival solely depend on environment, not economic development.
For this review, any significant change that denies the existence of the climate change will send a wrong message to the world(yes, I'm talking about Rodney Hide). This looks unlikely for now, but there are still chances for surprises in the final select committee report, for example, extracted from the terms of references:
- identify the central/benchmark projections which are being used as the motivation for international agreements to combat climate change; and consider the uncertainties and risks surrounding these projections
- consider the timing of introduction of any New Zealand measures, with particular reference to the outcome of the December 2009 Copenhagen meeting, the position of the United States, and the timetable for decisions and their implementation of the Australian government
Well, what you say? The submissions close on February 13 - it's shorter than usual, but hey, at least they didn't sneak it through the system before the Christmas.
Winston and others from now...
If nothing goes wrong, the vote of censure on Peters is expected to pass later today, which marks the new low Mr Winston Peters has sunken into.
So the vital question for both major party is, can Winston hang on?
NZ First's poll usually moves between 1 - 3% in last month, which isn't enough to help it to gets back to the partliament.
The Tauranga Electorate looks bad for Winston as well. In Augest he was 20% behind the National rival. I haven't see a recent poll but I won't be surprised to see a wider gap between the two.
However, the new website, iPredict, has a different result. The majority of people think that NZ First will win at least 4%.
But in my opinion, this parliament is the last one that we'll see Peters in it. The poll in Tauranga not only shows that people there have moved on, it is also a nationwide trend.
John Key has made a smart move by distancing himself from Peters. I think Labour should consider to do the same now. Wonder if they ever played that game called "mafia", if your mafia buddy will be definitely vote dead by majority, it's actually better to vote FOR his death to disguise yourself. So instead of live in the fading hope believing that you'll get re-elected, Labour should do the right thing now by stop providing useless protection to Mr Peters.
So a smart move for Labour today would be, give at least half of its vote fore the censure or to let each MP vote for themselves. You need to at least show people that this case was not decided on a political ground.
Well, life still goes on... for now.
I was quite disappointed that the world didn't end after the scientists turned on the LHC yesterday morning at Geneva. Well, that's it, I guess, life still goes on, so I still need to hand in my assignment next week.
Anyway there is a saying goes like "Mankind's greatest hope always lies in the future" - I've just learned that LHC's first high speed collision is not on until late next month ... Another window of opportunity - maybe I can escape the final exam, and auntie Clarkie can avoid the embarrassment after her defeat in the General Election.
However I guess it might be a bit too late for our Foreign Minister, Mr Winston Peters. He denied any wrong doings in last night's privilege committee meeting, gave evidence contradicting to what Mr Owen Glenn said.
But Mr Glenn got hard evidences: telephone records, several witnesses' accounts ... what Peters got? Nothing really, I haven't see anything. Although "billionaire" and "politician" both are the kind of job that is with my least respect, I think there's nothing for a billionaire to gain by lying to the public - so I trust this one, well, for this time.
By the way, my sincerest condolences to the family of the police officer who was died on duty this morning.
Labour Party list announced
Chinese candidate, Raymond Huo(霍建强)is ranked 21st. Quite good for a first timer, I have to say. It is almost certain now that we'll see at least two Chinese MPs in the next parliament, well, unless Labour falls in a huge landslide.
It would still be interesting to see who will be able to get his/her hands on the Howick seat.
It is also glad to see more ethnic minorities on the list.
Ha-ha!
... the only way to describe how I feel about the resignation of Foreign Minister Winston Peters. Oh, and I prefer to laugh in the Nelson Muntz style.
I actually like Winnie quite a bit. As a politician, he got skills and personalities that allowed New Zealand First to become one of the most successful minor parties since the MMP.
But on suspicion of lying to the House and New Zealand public is just too much for a politician, given that the general election is less than 3 month away.
I think it's a kind of retribution and he deserves it though. This was the man who always like to shout in the Parliament, claiming that he got somebody's dirt and making all sorts of threats. Now finally he's being hurt by his own dirts.
And no, I don't think Mr Peters will ever need the help of the unemployment benefit after the election. bezdomny ex patria has kindly offered him a teaching job in Beijing; and if Mr Peters does not want a change in his career direction, I think every private security firm in New Zealand would be very pleased to have him on board as a private detective.
No, seriously, Peters' priority is to get rid of the SFO investigation as soon as possible. The election is coming and there's no way that he can win a place in the House with the charges pending.
Wonder how the other corrupted guy Mr Field is doing at the moment...
The Chowick seat
The new seat is actually named Botany, but it was proposed to name Howick before, and is bit fun to keep it this way. Read more
