Letter from Jeanette Fitzsimons

Kia ora tatou:

Some time ago I wrote to Jeanette Fitzsimons, leader of the New Zealand Green Party on the subject of the windfarm on the Lammermoors. Today I received a reply.  Here it is in full. I have to say that my position since then has changed, that I am seeing the whole issue in a new light( no pun intended) and that I think there are bigger issues at stake… More on that later.

Dear Tony

Thank you for the link. Your photographs of the Lammermoors are really stunning.
As proponents of empowering people the Green Party are pushing for micro-generation options and the solar hot water programme is a part of this approach.

It’s all a reality

Kia ora tatou:

If you thought global warming was a myth, have another look. I received this email from Virginia. Enough said!

Dear Tony,
Part of my heaven has disappeared! Ivory Glacier has gone. It lay couched in its little cirque in a hanging valley, 600 ft above the Stag River inland from Hokitika. Beautiful striped brown, white and grey ice carved schist lies on the glacier’s terminal moraine where wonderful ranuculus flower profusely. All this is still there, of course, but the little cirque where the snow precipitated, froze, compacted and flowed into the lake, is bare, reminding me of Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard! I was deeply saddened to hear this devastating news from the man who had take me there early in 1995.
The global warming became a reality for me.

Do yourself a favour. Go and see An Inconvenient Truth.

Ka kite ano

 

 

An inconvenient truth-why you need to see it

Kia ora tatou:
Last weekend, I went to see Al Gore’s movie An Inconvenient Truth. I am still somewhat in shock after seeing a potential future for the planet, our planet, laid out so graphically and chillingly.

I spent a couple of days trying to find the flaws in it. I want to see the flaws in it! But so far, zip.

And it has me thinking about my position on windfarms. So before I shoot from the lip again, I want to do my own research and think a position through.

In the meantime, read, Roger Ebert’s review in the Chicago Sun-Times. Then go and see it for yourself.
And someone tell me (please) how and where he has got it wrong!

Alex Speaks

Alex (16, and new to photography) wanted to post this image and make his own statement about it. He would appreciate your comments.

Personally I do not believe in God, but after taking a picture like this I can’t help believing God exists. When we reached the top of the hill and had a look around, I realised that this would be the only chance I would ever have to capture this, because there would never be another moment exactly like it. At no other time will things look exactly the same as as they did when I pressed the shutter; the light, the clouds and very soon the landscape. For me it’s worth a 2 hour drive up rugged tracks just to be able to get a picture like this. To put 176 wind turbines in a landscape this heavenly is murder.

Micro-exhibition-a requiem to the Lammermoors

Tawhirimatea kept his promise, and he continues to do so to this day. Sometimes he is content to listen to advice from his parents and forgive his siblings. On those days the weather is fine, clear, and calm.

But sometimes he is reminded of the pain his parents endured when they were separated and the longing they still have for each other. On those days he sends tornadoes, hurricanes, and cyclones to bring havoc to his brothers’ lives and to hound their children.

-Maori myth

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.
Pablo Picasso

How can anybody in their right mind to do this?