John de Bueger in his article "Answer not blowing in the wind" (4.11.11) criticises the Green Party's plan to generate 100,000 green jobs for our country, saying it is "pie-in-the-sky". It was highly ironic considering there was an article on page 5 of that same edition reporting how new research into photovoltaics may lead to up to 200 high-tech jobs being created here in Dunedin. In the following Saturday edition another article was reporting biofuel production here in New Zealand could be worth $6 billion a year and 27,000 jobs.
Mr de Bueger gives two examples of companies "struggling" (while tactfully ignoring the context of the biggest world recession since the Great Depression). Firstly, he cites WindFlow, but again fails to explain the context. Many new companies have cash-flow problems and WindFlow is a classic case of a successful company in this situation.
The company has been experiencing problems created, not by faults with the technology, or lack of demand, but by project delays caused by consent processes here and abroad. It has since had a cash injection and is looking forward to a bright future.
Mr de Bueger's other example is WhisperGen, which simply relocated to Europe where its main market is located. It is sad to see it go, and under a Green government we would do our best to keep the company based here in New Zealand. However, neither WindFlow or WhisperGen are failures as was implied by the writer.
The second reason Mr de Bueger gives for renewables not being the future was the scarcity of rare-earth minerals.
The environmental movement and the Greens have been talking about this matter for a long time. However, few have been listening, so I am glad Mr de Bueger brings up this issue.
Rare-earth minerals are not just sourced in mines; there is gold (literally) as well as other precious metals and minerals in old computers and other electronic devices that are thrown out as rubbish. We here in New Zealand should be recycling those materials and then selling them to an eager market, which would create even more jobs in the process.
Secondly, there are new rare-earth sources (mines) coming online soon in the United States, Australia and Europe. So while there are environmental concerns about the mines, supply is not such a big concern in the near future as stated by Mr de Bueger.
And Mr de Bueger neatly ducks the obvious question: if not renewable energy then what does he think will power our future without plunging our planet into irreversible climate change?
Christchurch-based Sustainable Business champion Raf Manji was at the latest Hillary Symposium and he remarked on how the attendees were talking about using New Zealand as a showcase for the rest of the world for renewable energy technology. Imagine that: New Zealand leading the world. Manji further claims the Christchurch rebuilding could become the blueprint for the cities of the future, that we should be partnering with leading-edge companies around the world to come up with solutions to the problems that every city on the planet faces.
However, what is lacking is leadership and vision, which the free market (that brought you the continuing slow-motion train wreck that is our global economy) cannot and will not deliver. To illustrate, only four building consents have been issued in Christchurch in the month of September. That's right, dear reader, four. That is the free market in action - or rather the lack of action of a political and business elite wedded to free-market ideology.
There is another way. There is a brighter future that has leadership and vision. One where we free our genius and enable our can-do attitude to create a richer, sustainable future.
One of the many remarkable discoveries in the past few years has been a carbon nanotube, which is 1000 times more conductive than copper and is extremely flexible. The possible applications for this material are many.
Entrepreneur Justin Hall-Tipping, along with a worldwide team of scientists, has a vision of using this technology to create a transparent solar-power generator that you can stick on to your windows.
New Zealand company Aquaflow takes the problem of how to dispose of sewage, and, using renewable technology, turns that waste into fresh water, biofuel and fertiliser. That is sustainable development and the technology of the future.
This is the kind of innovation that we in the Greens wish to sponsor and encourage here in New Zealand. If New Zealand can become the showcase of green technology and innovation for the world, we can perhaps reclaim our proud status of being the best country in the world to live in.
That is our dream. Let the naysayers grumble from the sidelines - I am sure the same pessimism dismissed Edmund Hillary and his dreams of conquering Everest as those of naive youth. We know we have the talent, the innovation and the ability to lead the world. We have a vision for our economy, our people and our land; it is sustainable, clean, green and richer for everyone.
