Inconvenient truths and the scientific consensus
Peter Cook’s rejection of the scientific consensus on recent climate change (ODT 30.1.26) in preference to his personal fringe view is worrying.
I’m a geologist. I worked in mineral exploration and much of my academic research has been on mineral deposits.
Mining is the basis of our technological society and essential for the transition to renewable energy. I support well-regulated modern hard-rock mining in New Zealand.
Geologists know that Earth’s climate has varied in the past and that atmospheric CO₂ has played a critical role in these shifts. The evidence is in the rocks and it is overwhelming.
This is why most of us accept the mainstream scientific view that current climate change is driven by CO₂ from humans burning fossil fuels.
As board chairman of Santana, Cook will have ultimate responsibility for their proposed hard-rock gold mine near Bendigo — a large, complex and highly technical operation.
Will he accept evidence and recommendations supplied by qualified experts on ore estimates, environmental regulations and open pit and tailings dam construction? Or will he choose to ignore any inconvenient truth? Shareholders and fast-track evaluators beware.
Debate and farce
When Jeff Connell from Doc proposed the central Otago Rail Trail a former cabinet minister based in Queenstown was quoted as saying "you will be able to see the corridor of weeds from the moon". Informed debate did not exist, yet the trail is a huge success.
The Santana debate has an eerie similarity to that farce and a similar absence of informed debate about the technical aspects of the proposal. For example, the article by mining expert Mr Cook was followed two days later by an article challenging Mr Cook’s views on climate change, a most unsubtle undermining of an expert.
The one technically informed letter to the Editor was abridged when the writer should have been invited to write a feature article. Instead we see photos of Knights holding wine glasses, a debate between a likely technically unqualified Ian Taylor and a likely equally unqualified Shane Jones. Focus on social opponents. Farce indeed.
Where are the facts about whether arsenic occurs naturally, potential level of toxicity of the tailings, the comparison with Macraes, whether it uses the same process, the social and economic transformation of East Otago as a result of that mine?
One fears if the Santana mine is declined there will be a lingering feeling that facts have been ignored in favour of sensationalism. Even if the go ahead is given, the significant mainstream and social media current coverage will leave a feeling that a consent was wrong.
[Ray Grubb is a former chairman of Fish and Game NZ.]
Faint praise
I note with interest that the Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Patterson, has entered the debate around the positive and negative impacts of proposed the Bendigo gold mine (ODT 2.2.1926).
No doubt it was deemed necessary to rescue his more voluble but rather less articulate colleague, the Minister for Regional Development, Shane Jones, from the morass into which he has cast himself and his party. Although Mr Patterson is an apologist for this project his arguments are well organised, more coherent and more measured. His explanation are more thoughtfully phrased, in stark contrast to his party colleague’s usual derisory remarks, commonly made on the fly and without thought.
All of which well suits Mr Jones to his self-appointed role as minster for empty spaces.
Pipe progress pleases but what of the future?
I acknowledge Lynne Newell’s frustration with slow progress on the Three Waters upgrade.
In North East Valley, the opposite end of the network, we are seeing some progress. A very capable and skilled team from Christchurch is working on the sewerage system.
They plan to install a plastic liner inside the existing sewerage pipes.
However, they must first check the pipes are clear using a camera and robotic device. They have unblocked an almost completely blocked section of pipe. The robot can clear obstructing roots and fix failing joins. They even cut off side connections from private properties that protrude halfway into the main sewer. This seems to indicate the DCC is finally making progress on maintenance.
Unfortunately, this will not address the need for larger diameter pipes as further intensification of housing occurs with population growth. In addition, it seems likely that some stormwater connections are continuing to feed into the sewer line.
What is also clear is that a large part of our Three Waters network is at the end of its practical life or at least fast approaching that end.
Tacky postering gets a down tick
Would you allow a stranger to plaster tacky bits of paper on your property? I think not, but this is what is happening in George St.
Sadly each time another shop closes, along come the poster plasterers with ugly posters and a large pot of glue. Posters are stuck on top of the last tacky posters and if an area looks overcrowded, no problem, just stick the new one on to the once sparkling glass or move on to other areas.
Attractive shop fronts, windows, poles, electricity meters, garage doors and walls are chosen and I now see posters close to our university, hospital and also around local shopping areas.
No areas are out of bounds to these vandals or their supporters. Excess glue flows down and leaves dirty black sludge on walls and pavements..
Something must be done urgently and surely it’s past time to stop this practice now?
[Abridged: length.]
Bullying
In the mid 90s I brought George Robinson and Barbara Maines to New Zealand from the UK to demonstrate their "No Blame" approach to bullying.
I became a qualified trainer and for the next 30 years ran workshops on both aspects of education. Schools appreciated and applauded, some parents took a little more persuading.
It seems nothing has stuck, and the desire to "blame, punish and bully" continues. The vast majority of bullying in school is misplaced "humour" or a lack of empathy (the perpetrator thinks it is fun). "It’s only a laugh, it happened to me" is the bully’s cry.
"Deal with the bullies! Punish them! They made my child suffer so make them suffer!" Comes from staff and parents.
The outcome of the "incident" in Oamaru is one child is traumatised and three young men have had their education ruined by taking part in a "stupid" act. When will we ever learn?
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