This New Zealand Life

Copenhagen fast: Hunger pangs start at lunchtime

It's been just a few hours without eating and I'm starting to realise how difficult 24 hours without food will be. My stomach is now gurgling and I'm looking forward to a lemon tea.

Copenhagen in crisis: fast for climate justice

Following a call from 350.org, I will be fasting on Thursday 17th December for 24 hours

Despite massive mobilizations this year, world leaders are still caving to powerful special interests.

The targets on the Copenhagen negotiating table right now don't get us back to 350 -- in fact, they put the world on track to hit a devastating 770ppm by century's end -- literally a scorched earth scenario.

I will be fasting on Thursday 17th December for 24 hours (starting right now in fact).

Please support the global call for a life saving 350 level of CO2 in the atmosphere by registering your support at the following link.

Even consider fasting.

http://action.350.org/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup

Threatening yachties, rats, rain and mud on Stewart Island

Endless boardwalk on Stewart Island

Stewart Island boasts stinking mud, poisonous traps, head-numbing rain and a hotel. Californian writer and traveller, Douglas Wilkins, takes a sideways look at the hazards facing explorers of the far south.

New Zealand papers fail to support global climate initiative

11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc.

Today newspapers around the globe published the same front page editorial calling on negotiators at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen to reach an ambitious, planet-saving agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

NZ prices: Theft by another name

Ship loading with chocolate biscuits from WikiCommons

Kiwi myth exploded: Generations of honest New Zealanders have been paying a massive premium for imported goods. But a little bit of maths shows shipping costs are a minor part of the overall price. Kiwis are being shafted.

UK Guardian slams NZ's green image

Prize for the most shameless two fingers to the global community goes to New Zealand

The news of NZ's measly environmental credentials is reaching the outside world.

Food costs less but is still expensive

Grocery prices are falling in NZ but the supermarket duopoly takes excessive profits.

Fuel prices will rise in New Zealand

International Energy Agency: deliberately underplaying a looming shortage

Peak Oil closer than previously admitted risking NZ's petrol obsession.

Raise petrol prices to stop needless deaths

Petrol is one of the few things that is cheaper in New Zealand than in Europe

News Roundup: Could premature death and destruction be halved with European style petrol taxes. Here's one day's motoring headlines.

Pineapple lump epiphany

Lump the taste from wikicommons

Comment: If you spend any length of time in New Zealand it won't take you long to come across the fabled sweets that have a reputation out of all proportion to their generally tasteless, odourless and - let's face it - sweet-less character.

Odd celebrations, weighty bread and uncompromising fairness

Kiwis have an underdeveloped part of the brain responsible for getting the rounds in.

Blog roundup: New Zealanders have some strange customs and habits that this week's blogs examine.