Friday, March 30, 2012
Fiji flood, March 30, 9:30am
High tide is still hours away and the water is already above the bonnet. No one is going anywhere today.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Woop!
This afternoon, I make the annual pilgrimage to WOMAD; a beautiful 3 day festival that will make my toes tap, body shake and mind expand. Packed with incredible music from around the world, WOMAD is definitely my only never-miss festival.
Set in Pukekura Park, festival goers are treated to 120 acres of botanical gardens with stages scattered among the more open areas. The main stage is separated from the audience by a lake, at the base of a glorious natural amphitheater. The other stages placement ensures there’s no noise pollution which makes me happy considering clouded sound is one of my pet hates.
While I could provide an entire list of artists I'm looking forward to, I wont. Instead, I'm going to let myself be surprised, bewildered and entertained by those artists I know nothing about - after all, the beauty of WOMAD is in the unknown.
Disclaimer: out of all the known, I'm a huge fan of Baaba Maal and slightly beside myself that i'm about to see him in 12 hours. This is why: http://baabamaal.bandcamp.com/
Set in Pukekura Park, festival goers are treated to 120 acres of botanical gardens with stages scattered among the more open areas. The main stage is separated from the audience by a lake, at the base of a glorious natural amphitheater. The other stages placement ensures there’s no noise pollution which makes me happy considering clouded sound is one of my pet hates.
While I could provide an entire list of artists I'm looking forward to, I wont. Instead, I'm going to let myself be surprised, bewildered and entertained by those artists I know nothing about - after all, the beauty of WOMAD is in the unknown.
Disclaimer: out of all the known, I'm a huge fan of Baaba Maal and slightly beside myself that i'm about to see him in 12 hours. This is why: http://baabamaal.bandcamp.com/
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Department of personal opinions
Fracking is one step closer to a disastrous New Zealand and doing it with few regulations will only speed up the damage. It's just another one of many National initiatives I don't agree with.
Basically, the Government wants New Zealand to become a net exporter of oil and gas by 2030. Hydraulic fracturing or, fracking, is a technique used to extract ‘unconventional’ oil and gas which, until recently were deemed too expensive or difficult to extract.
It involves pumping a cocktail of water, sand and chemicals into underground rock layers where the oil or gas is trapped. The extreme pressure of the water creates tiny cracks in the rock and the sand holds the cracks open, to allow the oil or gas to flow up the well. Once you've busted all the rock to pieces, you get seven or eight thousand barrels a day and then you do it all again.
Groundwater contamination is the main problem because the hydraulic fluid used to fracture the rock contains toxic chemicals that can find their way into aquifers. It leaves a legacy of hazardous waste and the mobilisation of hydrocarbons can also release various naturally occurring toxic chemicals that would otherwise be undisturbed.
This is not acceptable New Zealand! Don't make us wait until all the oil reserves run out before you sort your shit out. Wake up and look to the future. Protect our environment and change your views on a dollar.
Here's a thought:
Solar
Wind power
Hydroelectric energy
Hydrogen and fuel cells
Biomass
Geothermal power.
Basically, the Government wants New Zealand to become a net exporter of oil and gas by 2030. Hydraulic fracturing or, fracking, is a technique used to extract ‘unconventional’ oil and gas which, until recently were deemed too expensive or difficult to extract.
It involves pumping a cocktail of water, sand and chemicals into underground rock layers where the oil or gas is trapped. The extreme pressure of the water creates tiny cracks in the rock and the sand holds the cracks open, to allow the oil or gas to flow up the well. Once you've busted all the rock to pieces, you get seven or eight thousand barrels a day and then you do it all again.
Groundwater contamination is the main problem because the hydraulic fluid used to fracture the rock contains toxic chemicals that can find their way into aquifers. It leaves a legacy of hazardous waste and the mobilisation of hydrocarbons can also release various naturally occurring toxic chemicals that would otherwise be undisturbed.
This is not acceptable New Zealand! Don't make us wait until all the oil reserves run out before you sort your shit out. Wake up and look to the future. Protect our environment and change your views on a dollar.
Here's a thought:
Solar
Wind power
Hydroelectric energy
Hydrogen and fuel cells
Biomass
Geothermal power.
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