Petition Tag - new zealand

I am writing to strongly urge the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to lobby for the immediate return of Fiji to the rule of law and Democracy.

Human rights have been abused, citizens are terrorised, umiliated and interrogated without counsel. Citizens have been killed, brutalised and tortured by the military. Women raped by the military has become a daily occurrence.

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AUSTRALIA Preamble (New Zealand below):

We urge the Australian government, especially the Prime Minister - Kevin Rudd; Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts - Peter Garrett; and Minister for Climate Change and Water - Penny Wong, to recognize the many benefits of a meat free diet and promote them to the Australian public in order to slow climate change.

It’s critical that we bring down our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions now. Dr. James Hansen, one of the world’s leading climate scientists and Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies recently said in an interview: “Yes, we’re really running out of time… this next year or two years are the critical time period."

In June this year, research by international climate scientists revealed grave news that the world is facing severe and irreversible climatic events due to the unprecedented accelerated warming of the earth. Though we definitely need to transition from our dependency on coal to renewable, sustainable energy, it takes several hundred years for the carbon dioxide that is already in our atmosphere to break down and dissipate. And meanwhile planetary warming keeps rising because we’re not limiting other greenhouse gases that can abate climate change much quicker than carbon dioxide reductions.

There is hope. We can quickly reduce our impact on planetary heating by focusing on limiting the short-lived greenhouse gases (GHGs) like methane. Reducing the short-lived GHGs will substantially slow down global warming over a short period of time - this is what needs to happen. Methane in particular has a very short atmospheric life. If we stopped all our methane emissions now, the methane currently in the sky will disappear within less than 20 years and that would reduce a substantial amount of warming effect.

According to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, methane has a warming impact 72 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20 year time frame. Limiting this gas is relatively inexpensive and will produce rapid results.

In Australia, sources of methane are derived from a variety of sectors but the one that produces the most is Agriculture. The emissions produced by livestock production alone have more impact than the emissions from all the coal-fired power stations combined!
(Source: Russell G., CSIRO Perfidy, Vivid Publishing (2009))

As well as being major contributors to global warming, livestock farming and feedlots have extensive impacts on our Earth’s resources:

Deforestation
o In Queensland, 96% of land cleared in 2006 was for animal grazing.

Water Scarcity
o Meat production, particularly ‘feed’ production for livestock consumes large amounts of critically important water resources.

Land Degradation
o About 70% of all grazing land in dry areas is considered degraded, mostly because of overgrazing, compaction and erosion caused by rearing of animals for their meat.

Water Pollution
o More than 2 billion tons of animal manure was produced worldwide during the late 1990s. Assuming an average nitrogen content of around 5%, this makes 100 million tons of nitrogen finding its way into our water systems.

Loss of Biodiversity
o Tropical forests hold half of the world’s species which are becoming extinct at an alarming rate due to deforestation for meat production.

Not to mention the energy resources used to transport, refrigerate and process livestock into meat, and not forgetting the black carbon generated from deforestation specifically resulting from livestock grazing. Black carbon may only stay in the atmosphere for a short amount of time but is an incredibly potent climate warming agent.

Avoiding the Tipping Points
It’s essential that we avoid the tipping points identified by climate scientists – climatic thresholds that are irreversible once exceeded. Surpassing these tipping points will lead to catastrophic climate events such as unprecedented food and water shortages, massive changes in weather patterns, and the further melting of ice sheets that could introduce unforeseen rates of rise in sea level. Focusing on reducing carbon dioxide emissions Even if we could shut down all the coal-fired power stations tomorrow a problem arises in that these power stations generate, as well as carbon dioxide, sulphate aerosols, which have an immediate cooling impact. They lessen the impact of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power stations. Taking out this cooling effect without a quick reduction in other GHGs at the same time, could rapidly lead to an even hotter planet, running the risk of crossing dangerous tipping points. By focusing on reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions now, we can avoid going over these tipping points, buying us more time to transition to renewable energy.

What You Can Do
In light of the planetary emergency we face, the single most effective thing that individuals can do right now to bring down net GHG emissions that doesn’t cost the earth is, go vegan. If changing to a vegan diet is considered difficult at present then the next effective thing to do is:

* Eat less meat. Choose to eat vegan meals at least twice or more times per week. The less animal products consumed the greater the impact on rapidly reducing our net GHG emissions. If we are to save our world and ourselves from the impending dangers of runaway climate change we need to act as quickly as possible.



NEW ZEALAND Preamble:

Target audience: New Zealand Prime Minister - John Key, Climate Change Minister - Nick Smith and Environmental Groups and Organisations.

Today, almost 40% of NZ’s land has been converted from native forest to pasture for grazing animals.
(State of New Zealand’s Environment 1997, www.mfe.govt.nz)

Per head of population New Zealanders emit nearly twice as much greenhouse gases as the British- we are not far behind the Americans.

Our greenhouse gas emissions are growing rapidly – we are producing 22% more than in 1990.

Our growing dairy herd and energy demand mean that our net emissions are expected to grow to over 70 percent above 1990 levels by 2012. NZ is also the world’s largest exporter of meat and dairy produce.

Despite being a small country, our carbon footprint per capita is very significant. NZ emission per capita greenhouse gas emission in 2000 is 19.3 tonnes of CO2 compared to 22.9 tonnes of CO2 in the USA being a much larger country.
(World Resource Institute WRI)

Expected level of deforestation in NZ between 2008-12 will result in 40 million tonnes CO2 emissions above 1990 levels= excess agricultural emissions.
(www.maf.govt.nz/climatechange)

The risk of drought is expected to increase in already drought-prone areas

The frequency of severe droughts is expected to increase across many eastern parts of New Zealand by 2080.

Droughts may happen in spring and autumn, not just summer

Temps expected to increase, increased risk of forest fires

Very heavy rainfall events predicted to increase in many parts of New Zealand, even in those areas where the average annual rainfall decreases. Increased floods predicted. The sea level is expected to rise.
(www.maf.govt.nz/climatechange)

In 2007, the agriculture sector was the largest source of emissions, contributing 48% (36.4 Mt CO2 -e) to total emissions. As a result, NZ has a unique emissions profile compared to other developed countries where agricultural emissions are typically 11% of national emissions.
(NZ's GHG Inventory 1990-2007)

Plus - obesity, heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer are big killers in NZ - there are already recommendations to reduce meat consumption just for health reasons but meat consumption remains high especially in Maori and Pacific communities.

There are two main issues - first, that we are consuming far too much protein over and above the levels recommended by the World Health Organization. And second, to dispel the myth that it is necessary to consume meat in order to obtain an adequate amount of protein. It is very easy to obtain adequate protein levels through the consumption of plant foods, whilst the over-consumption of protein through the high meat and dairy diet is avoided which also gives the added benefit of reducing certain diseases linked to consumption of animal fats such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and
obesity.

But we don't need any figures to show that one can obtain adequate protein through a 100% plant-based diet - there is a multitude of vegans out there in Europe, USA and other developed countries - and most are healthy and well-educated about their diet - including Olympic athletes such as Carl Lewis. Protein deficiency is pretty much unheard of in vegans! (That is those with a well-balanced vegan diet - it goes without saying that this may not refer to the malnourished people in developing countries who may be living on a diet of rice and potatoes).

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Heli-hunting destroys the natural quiet of the NZ backcountry.

Heli-hunting is not permitted in any country in the OECD.

Heli-hunting has no conservation benefits whatsoever.

The only benefit outlined by DOC is that heli-hunting will bring $$$ into NZ. If heli-hunting is legalised it will drive away many more hunters and their $$$ than it will entice. Who would pay to hunt, tramp, climb in a country when a low flying helicopter can ruin your backcountry experience at any random time.

Heli-hunting raises massive safety issues. To have an untrained person shooting from a helicopter is incredibly unsafe for all involved. Genuine recreational users of the NZ backcountry have no idea of when a heli-hunt will occur, we do not wish to be anywhere near an untrained shooter firing from a low flying helicopter at high speed.

DOCs definition of heli-hunting

“This activity involves the conveyance of a client (and guide) in search of a trophy animal. The helicopter positions the client on the ground and the client shoots the trophy from the ground, or the client shoots the trophy from the helicopter and the helicopter then conveys the client, guide and trophy home.” “Wild Animal Recovery Operations framework 15-4-09.”

What this definition really means:

1. Searching for a game animal from the helicopter and chasing it until it is physically exhausted then landing at a random site client and guide disembark to shoot the game animal and retrieve it.

2. Searching for a game animal from the helicopter. Once an animal is located a random landing is made and client and guide get into position for a shot. The helicopter is then used to herd the game animal back toward the client and guide; the animal is shot and the helicopter lands a second time to retrieve the animal client and guide.

3. Searching for a game animal from the helicopter and shooting a game animal directly from a helicopter. The helicopter then lands at a random site to retrieve the animal.

My personnel opinion is that point 3 will not be allowed, but it may be.
Points 1 and 2 are known as “spot and drop” and are most likely to be legalised.

PLEASE ADD A COMMENT IN THE BOX PROVIDED. YOUR COMMENTS ADD ADDITIONAL WEIGHT TO THIS PETITION. NB. THIS FIELD IS OPTIONAL.

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Three students have been arrested for an attack on a sheep that the local SPCA described as "one of the worst animal cruelty cases it had seen" - the attackers blew the sheep's jaw off with fireworks, and attempted to set the sheep alight after kicking and opening up the sheep's stomach.

Please see link below for complete news article:-
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10567692

Whilst I realise the arrested are innocent before being proved guilty, I call on the New Zealand Ministry of Justice to impose the maximum sentence on anyone proven guilty whom served the maximum injustice on this animal.

I would invite you all to write directly to the New Zealand Ministry of Justice, Chief Justice at reception@justice.govt.nz

Good luck and thank you.

Updates : Teens deny killing sheep
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10568700
Update : Charges dropped as no post mortem on sheep
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10575324

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Motorsport in New Zealand has a huge fan base, but is considered to be 'second fiddle' to most other sports such as Rugby, Cricket and Netball. Even though Motorsport was the 2nd most watch sport after rugby in New Zealand it still doesn't get the footage it deserves.

If Sky had a dedicated Motorsport channel then we would see an improvement in the quality of motorsport coverage in NZ and also a boost to the people competing in NZ and overseas.

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The Japanese Government and the pacifist people it represents are on a collision course with Australasia over whaling.

It is bad enough that they continue to slaughter the relatively small minke whales on spurious research grounds. Or that they kill highly intelligent dolphins, or that they continue to blindly overfish migratory tuna to the extent these mighty fish will one day be gone. Now they are proposing to kill fin whales and the mysterious and gentle humpbacks, both species that are still threatened.

Hunted to the brink, humpbacks have been protected since 1986 when commercial whaling was banned. Now Japan is embarking on the biggest cull since that time, sheltering behind a deceitful "scientific research" programme. After killing tens of thousands of whales over the past two decades, despite ever increasing protests, the only question that remains unanswered is how many more will be harpooned before Japan drops the pretence and admits it is once again a commercial whaler.

Japan must be left in no doubt their actions in the southern ocean are deeply offensive and must be resisted on every possible front.

Read more at dompost.co.nz

Signatures on this petition may be published in The Dominion Post. They will also be forwarded to the Japanese embassy.

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The Electoral Finance Bill makes New Zealand a democracy in name only.

This bill has many highly concerning provisions such as: preventing ordinary citizens, Plunket and ambulance services among many others, from having their views heard a year before an election.

It provides taxpayer funds to electorate MPs currently in office but not those competing against them.

The Human Rights Commission, NZ Law Society, and Greenpeace all oppose the bill, and a majority of submissions to the Select Committee suggested that the bill should be scrapped altogether.

The Bill will pass parliament by a very small majority, which is inappropriate for a bill which will substantially and dramatically alter New Zealand's constitutional arrangements. The only way to stop the bill is to persuade the Governor-General not to assent to it.

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The British viewing public was robbed of its daily fix of the wonderful New Zealand soap 'Shortland Street' when ITV cancelled it in favour of the dreadful 'Crossroads', which died a pitiful death after a couple of seasons.

Now that the BBC have decided to give up 'Neighbours' from Spring 2008, it is an ideal opportunity to replace it with 'Shortland Street'

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On 22 August 2007 a media statement was released by the Western Australia Minister for Small Business stating that "even All Black supporters would be accepted, that is how desperate WA’s robust economy is for extra workers. "

This implies that if the economy were not robust "All Black supporters" would not be accepted and is direct racial discrimination under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

The full media statement is available here.

Australia and New Zealand have a long running history of giving heaps to each other but the line has to be drawn somewhere. This may have been attempt at humour by the minister however, if this comment had been made about any other group within society it would immediately be condemned.

If you're a rugby supporter, or supporter of anti-discrimination against any group within society please sign this petition asking for a formal apology.

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Australia and New Zealand have many Bon Jovi fans that have supported Bon Jovi for decades, promoting their music, pushing for airplay, travelling overseas to see them live, spending much of their money on the bands music, merchandise, and tickets.

We have been told that Bon Jovi will be performing in RUMBA, the undersigned all agree that this is not enough and would like to see a full Australian / New Zealand tour
this time around as was promised after the one performance last year in the Universal Appeal. Every signature represents disapproval of a RUMBA only appearance in Australia and New Zealand and requests that we get the full tour to show that the band still appreciates the loyal fans here!!

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