New Zealand Clean and Green?

For those readers who don't live in New Zealand, let me clear up something about this country.  We are not clean and green as the advertisements say, we are dirty and trashy.  This was brought home not that long ago by our own Environment Minister Nick Smith saying that a ban of plastic bags … you know, the ones the supermarkets put the groceries in - was not justified, nor was he going to give any consideration to a ban.  Read more here.

I find this appalling.  Not that I'm surprised.  The New Zealand landscape is littered with rubbish of all sorts from plastic bags to plastic water bottles and everything in between.  Just ask a tourist to this country what they think of our clean green image and they will shake their heads and say "Really? I've not seen any evidence of clean green." 

Even out in the countryside where the image of sheep grazing in paddocks and hobbits running over beautiful green hills fills the foreigners head ….. until they actually get here.  Oh, don't get me wrong - Hobbiton is very clean as are other defined tourist spots.  But those visitors who wander off the tourist trail are in for a bit of a shock.

It's estimated that we New Zealanders use about a billion plastic bags each year.  Granted, they do make useful bin liners and doggy poop collectors.  I've also seen them made into a stunning dress for our Wearable Arts festival.  But these are no reasons to keep them.

Why do we continue to lag behind the eight ball when it comes to our environment?  Why do we not take heed of what other countries are doing with banning plastic bags, putting more into recycling and generally trying to increase the sustainability of their country?

How narrow minded Nick Smith is not to be able to see that a ban on plastic shopping bags is just a small start in the education process that most New Zealanders need to have.

Five Reasons To Say No To Plastic Bags 

I did write about this back in 2013 about using reusable bags.  And do I use reusable bags?  Yes I do, and I take my own plastic bags from bread etc to put my vegetables in, I then wash them, dry them and put them into my shopping bag for the next time.  So, if I can do it, why can't others?

And, just as an aside:  As for being a "tidy Kiwi" - it would help considerably if one could find a rubbish bin (or trash can) to actually put the rubbish in!

The Use of Wool

This is a story about a little company in N.Z. supplying something that, as far as I'm aware, is not available in the big ol' U.S of A.

Well, it's not actually a "story".  It's just something that happened that got me thinking.

Five years ago, I went over to USA to be with my daughter for the birth of baby number 1.  Being a good grandma, I took gifts in the form of organic, reusable cloth nappies (diapers for those of you who live outside N.Z.).  Purchased from:  The Nappy Lady

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

My daughter is extremely environmentally conscious and was absolutely over the moon when she got these nappies.

Along with the nappies .... oh, all right then, diapers!, I took her over a couple of pairs of re-usable woolen breast pads which the Nappy Lady had recommended.  They were AMAZING!!!

Now, she's having baby number 2 and I'm about to head off to be with her.

A panicked letter arrived yesterday

".....mum, where did you get the wool nipple pads?  I held onto those for a long time but eventually they were misplaced...Is it possible that you can pick up some more please?  I would like two pairs if possible...."

Now, what's a mother to do?  Duh, get the "nipple pads" of course.
First point of contact - the lovely "The Nappy Lady" who is always just so helpful.  She put me onto the right website: Breastmates

Voila!  Wool breast pads! 

and, on seeing these, I also found this The Mumdrop Wrap:  - Wow, such a cool idea, wish it had been around in my day.

Getting back to the Wool breast pads.  This now creates a bit of a dilemma and I'm wondering just how many of you will agree or disagree with my purchase.

As you know, I'm vegan - therefore, no animal products which includes wool, leather etc.  and this is where I come unstuck.

I would rather purchase a natural product like these breast pads, that I know from witnessing it last time how healing they were when the nipples were cracked and sore after baby number 1.

Any chaps reading this …. well, cracked nipples, breast pads etc… fact of mummy life.
 

Giving my daughter a product that is reusable, environmentally friendly, has been made entirely in New Zealand sits right with me.

I know that the sheep are killed once their wool life is over and for this I am sad.  However, as I have seen working wool farms 1st hand, I know that our farmers actually do go beyond our strict animal welfare laws and that we have banned the cruel practice of mulesing.  Now I realize that there will be some rogue farmer/shearer who doesn't give a jot but I know some vegans who don't give a jot about other humans....there's always a rotten apple in any barrel.

I'm sure there are other vegans out there who think like me.  Those of us who will recycle leather  and wool from op-shops/thrift stores, those of us who will consider the use of wool and lanolin for the healing properties they offer.  Those of us who know the healing properties of propolis that bees give us.

And for those of us who do think like this, we are grateful to the animals who have provided us with these things.

To finish off …. I'm also a great supporter of small business within my own country - God knows we need to keep small businesses alive!

If you know of anyone who is having a baby, please check out these two sites.

My thanks to Kate from The Nappy Lady and to Franny from Breastmates for the great work you are doing and for caring about our environment.

Our Beautiful Gorge Under Threat...Nooooo!!

All I can say is "Duh" - I read this news report this morning and was just flabbergasted on so many levels.

Karangahake Gorge Mining

The Karangahake Gorge is the most beautiful area in so many ways.  I have traveled through there all my life and have seen it change over the years, surviving floods and the removing of the railway to name just two.  There are stunning walking tracks and a cycle trail, which uses the old railway track, has recently been opened up that is one of the top rides in New Zealand. 

This is an area that used to be mined back in the old days.  The amount of toxic waste that was dumped into the water and the scars to the land were bad.  Obviously very little was known back then about pollution, toxic chemicals, or environmental disasters.

However, nature has been kind and has "cleaned up" the water and brought the bush back to life.

So back to present day.  The District council has now given the go-ahead for the mining company New Talisman Gold Mines to begin exploration in this area.  This is the first "Duh"!  How totally selfish and shortsighted and greedy is that.

Selfish because the Government is maintaining that this is going to help the economy …. no, it will help the Government look better with the budget and with their employment figures.

Shortsighted because this is going to effect the tourist industry.  Shortsighted because of the environmental impact this is going to cause, especially after Nature has taken all that time and trouble in cleaning up the mess from the last time mines were there.
and… Greedy - pretty much the same as selfish - money into the coffers to make the Government look good.

The second "Duh" is the sheer insanity of the Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges of allowing something like this just a week or so out from the general election.
Mind you, with his track record of screwing with the environment (see my blog post Expanding Marine Sanctuaries) this doesn't surprise me at all.
Money comes first with young Simon as it does with the current Government.

Who will I be voting for?  I'm not even sure I'm going to vote …. I really don't know if I trust any of them.  So at the moment, I'm still one of the "undecided".  I know one thing for certain, I'm not supporting any political party that screws with our natural treasures.

SAY NO TO MINING!!!!

All For The Pigs

Saturday 26th July!!! Hopefully a day that helps to turn the tide for the caged pigs in New Zealand.  (I wrote about this in a previous blog - link).

The month of July has been a month of campaigning by members of SAFE around the country getting as many signatures as possible on a "Say No To Intensive Pig Farming in N.Z." petition.  This was kicked off with a documentary which aired on national television (See here for the Sunday Program) which was an expose on pig farming.  The following week was a further follow up program which, again, highlighted the plight of piggies, this time showing the abuse of piglets and a sow all taken with a hidden camera by Farm Watch on a different, randomly pick farm.

But, getting back to Saturday the 26th July.  SAFE organized protests and rallies in the main cities in both the North and South Island, with smaller centers getting on-board with petition signings and even a bake stall in one area.

In Tauranga, where I live, we had a signature drive in the Mount Maunganui area.  The sun was shining and the people were out walking the beach, having their cappuccinos, climbing the Mount or just enjoying the sun.  With 7 members of SAFE (two dressed in the piggy costumes) mingling among them, within a couple of hours we had filled over 25 sheets of the petition pages - well done Tauranga!!!

The majority of people were so ready to sign and most knew what the issue was without being told - wonderful!  One young woman I spoke to, who is from Holland, is totally disgusted with the way we treat our animals here.  She told me that Holland has banned all cages for any animal and that if they can do it with way more population and less space, then so can we in N.Z. - I totally agree with her.

I do have a really special THANK YOU to the Mount Pharmacy (Find them on FaceBook) - two wonderful women who gladly signed the petition...but that's not all, the owner then slipped away and came back with the most awesome little piggy keyring!!!  Her way of saying thank you for the work SAFE does. - That small gesture just blew me away

If you're at Mount Maunganui, need a pharmacy, please go there .... in fact, even if you don't need a pharmacy, just go in and say hi anyway - they are pure magic!

Thanks to everyone, volunteers and public, who made this such a powerful day - let's hope we see some difference for the darling pigs.

Help Stop Factory Farming

Today I received a letter from SAFE in my mail and I felt that, as it is such an important issue happening in New Zealand right now, I had to contact SAFE to ask if I could copy and paste the letter in its entirety here on my blog.  They kindly said yes.  

I know this is directed towards New Zealanders, but factory farming goes on all over the world, so where ever you may live I hope there is something you can do to help your animals who have to live in these dreadful conditions.

As for any Kiwis who are reading .... please get behind this campaign.

Here is the letter:

If you’re unlucky enough to be born as a female pig on a factory farm, you’ll either be fattened up and sent to slaughter at the age of about 16 weeks, or you’ll be used as a breeding machine.

You’ll be denied your basic natural needs such as 

 sunlight, fresh air, mud baths and room to move.  Instead, you’ll spend your life in a dark, barren shed.

The first four weeks of your 16-week pregnancy will be spent in a sow stall so small, you can’t even turn around. You’ll then be moved to a farrowing crate to give birth. Your babies are born on a metal floor rather than in a soft self-made nest. The farrowing crate is still too small for you to move properly or turn around, so you’re unable to reach your babies to protect and comfort them.

They rely on you for sustenance, but because of the crate you are sometimes unable to care for them properly. 

Once your precious babies are only four weeks old, they’re taken away from you… you’ll never see them again. You are re-impregnated and the cycle of abuse continues.

Because you’re intelligent, inquisitive and affectionate, it’s a life of perpetual sorrow, boredom and depression. After five years of this hell, you are deemed spent. You will see daylight for the first and only time in your life on your way to the slaughterhouse…

Would you want to live like this?
Or will you be a voice for
defenseless sows living in this hell?

Thanks to you and other caring New Zealanders, from 2016 sow stalls will be banned. However, farrowing crates will still be in use.

Together, we can get these cruel crates banned too!

Please donate $20 today and help us
make it happen.

If you’ve already made a donation, thank you. Please consider forwarding this email to someone else who may be interested in helping sows.

FOR ALL ANIMALS

Hans Kriek
Executive Director

View Event link

And, as a p.s. - this is how pigs should be:

 

Neonicotinoids and Bees

It really does upset me that this beautiful country that I live in (N.Z.) is so backward when it comes to environmental and animal welfare issues.

Recently I read an article about the neonicotinoid pesticides having such a devastating effect on bees and how in June 2014 a team at Harvard announced that when hives were treated with neonicotinoids, half of them collapsed.

Back around July 2013, after evidence against neonicotinoids had begun to accumulate, the EU had moved to ban three neonicotinoids from use on cereals and flowering crops attractive to bees which came into effect in December 2013.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a report saying that there is a connection to the health of the honey bees saying "pesticides may be part of the problem, including both the pyrethroid and neonicotinoid classes of pesticides".  But their recommendations are more about best management practices and technical advancements for applying pesticides to reduce dust, etc. than about the actual threat or banning them.

New Zealand just loves to follow USA and again our "clean, green" image comes into some question as once more the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which has the authority, has not even begun to investigate this new research ...... but then New Zealand is known for dragging the chain when it comes to banning pesticides along with other environmental and animal issues.

I wonder what Sir Edmund Hillary - our famous bee keeper mountaineer would say about this.

By the way, I applaud the EU for making this move even if it is on a "trial" basis for 2 years.  They did this in the face of intense lobbying and interference by Bayer and Syngenta who make and sell the chemicals.

Sea Cucumbers - Just Another Thing To Be Exploited!

These strange and funny sea creatures are actually really important to the sea's health and the last thing we should be doing is harvesting them to satisfy the palate of the Asia market.
New Zealand has just discovered that there is money to be made in these creatures and are currently working out how they can harvest enough of them to make it worth their while.

Please click through to the video and watch the "news" item about the lucrative market being investigated.... (I can't embed the video on here):  VIDEO  don't worry, you won't lose this page and when you come back you can then read this blog which explains the importance of these creatures (if you don't already know):  BLOG

We shouldn't be harvesting the wild ones and farming them isn't an option either .... how are they going to be fed?  Manure from the dairy farms?

I meant, ewww, who wants to eat something that eats poop?

Please, no, don't go there N.Z. we should be cleaning our sea, not selling our cleaners!

Book Review: Factory Farming and Animal Liberation - The New Zealand Experience

Title:         Factory Farming and Animal Liberation -
                 The New Zealand Experience

Author:      Michael Morris

Reviewer:   Fee O'Shea

More Information

Although some of the information is now out of date due to the work of animal welfare groups and changes in the N.Z. system, the book itself is still certainly very much on track and exposes the factory farming that still goes on in New Zealand. 
It is a harsh reminder that if it can happen in a country like New Zealand, it can happen anywhere.
The author, Michael Morris, is hard hitting at the policy makers and those behind the scenes. 

The points and facts are set out in such a way that makes this book easy to read, (although the subject matter itself is not).
As the title suggests, it is mainly concerned with the factory farming practices in New Zealand, however it also covers animal welfare in general. 

After outlining the conditions and factory farming activities in N.Z. Michael then goes on to provide more details on how both the industry and government has conspired to keep up the intensive farming practices.  I found it fascinating how the wheels of the egg producing industry went into full swing when the battery cage system was threatened. 

"Factory Farming and Animal Liberation - The New Zealand Experience" is written in a matter of fact way relying on documented research and evidence rather than from an emotional approach.  It gives ideas to the individual as to what s/he can do as a way of supporting the cause of stopping factory farming then goes on to give suggestions on how the industry could be curtailed and how the government could ensure more accountability to ensure animals are protected under the Animal Welfare Act.

This book did open my eyes to certain issues I was not aware of especially in the area of who actually holds the power and why.  It also reiterated what I already knew, that the general public can be hoodwinked into believing anything when the P.R. machines from Government and industry are run at full volume.

An excellent, fascinating book which I recommend to anyone interested in just how the care and welfare of animals can be right down on the list when money and power are at the top.

More information on this book is available here: Factory Farming and Animal Liberation - The New Zealand Experience