Kia kaha – you speak for me…

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Congratulations Oil Free Seas Flotilla, congratulations SV Veda and the crew, congratulations Greenpeace, congratulations all those out on the water 185km off Aotearoa’s west coast at Raglan.

In the face of corporate bullying and a quisling government you are standing up for this country, our environment, our people, our children and grandchildren. Your words and actions speak for me and millions more in New Zealand and around the world. Thank You.

Anadarko’s oil ship has arrived at the drilling site only to find six boats from Oil Free Seas Flotilla already there – Bravo!

The Texan oil giant will be drilling in 1.5km of water – a hugely risky venture from a company with little experience in deep water.

After earlier seaborne campaigns off the East Coast the Minister of Energy and Resources Simon Bridges was lobbied by the big oil companies and agreed to push through parliament tough new laws to demonise and attempt to paralyse sea-borne protests.

Bending over for the big oil companies was easy for Bridges whose National government regularly changes the law to suit the corporate sector – Warner Brothers and Skycity for example.

Bridges probably thought the threat of huge fines and long terms of imprisonment would be enough to deter protests but kiwis are made of sterner stuff.

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While this ministerial prat was still in short pants New Zealanders took to the water against nuclear armed and nuclear powered warships in the 1980s to establish our now cherished nuclear free status.

His National government was on the wrong side of history then just as he is on the wrong side of history now.

Oil exploration in the face of climate change and environmental destruction is irresponsible madness. Students in the future will shake their heads at this reckless stupidity.

But rational argument will never win when the capitalist ideology of growth, growth and more growth at all costs stands in the way.

Bridges and National stand with the big Texan oil company – I’m with the flotilla.

Land-based protests are taking place this Saturday on west coast beaches. People are being asked to show their support for the flotilla by making a banner and getting down to their favourite west coast beach.

Come on – make the effort this time. Further details are here.

To the flotilla – kia kaha!

30 COMMENTS

  1. Good article John…having grown up in a very politcal family through the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and somewhat had my own direction of agitation thrust upon me since…I really like the short pants on Bridgers referencing our fine tradition of protest in NZ. Keep the fight going…hopefully the sheep awake one day!

    • That is right love the article im 24 and its our generation that will have to face the future not the old oil corporates its time the people get what they need…which is fresh water clean air and and an environment that is able to create fresh food…were not here to fight we are here to update everyone on what we as humans have destroyed and yes feel bad if your not doing anything to try and fix it..we are tough to respect our elders.i am the younger generation i have seen to much destruction in the world…i love everyone I’m only here to protect the Next Generation…to john minto thank you for standing up doing what you as an elder has always meant to do excellent….keep doing what you do

    • Kia ora John, always good to know that others share the same thoughts, principles and views as Nga Uri O Tahinga in terms of protecting the environment, people and heritage. Keep up the good work.

      Leeanne

  2. “The Texan oil giant will be drilling in 1.5km of water – a hugely risky venture from a company with little experience in deep water.”

    And this is based on what? Perhaps you could quantify the risk as in what is the likelihood of something going wrong in the open sea versus a similar operation closer to shore. I presume you have the data on this do you?

    • As I have said to you before Gosman, how is it possible to”quantify the risk” when human greed, stupidity and incompetency have to be entered into the equation?

        • I suspect you know Gosman is here to goose us! Right On!
          Frankly I enjoy his contributions as I would soon be bored if we lefties just kept writing about how right we were on all left/right issues.

    • Why don’t you tell us, Gooseman? I’m sure Anadarko has sent you a glossy pdf and maybe even a promotional video.

      In the meantime, I’m with the flotilla. The brave sailors are doing for me what I am unable to do for myself. They are the real warriors for our future, while Simon Bridges, short pants or not, is an objectionable relic of a plundering and destructive past.

    • I’ve seen estimates of a 40%-50% failure rate for these things at depths around 1.5 km. Ours will be operating without pre-drilled backup shafts, without blowout preventers, and with no other craft available to help. The chance of us not having a catastrophic spill from these two drilling operations is disturbingly small.

      Which Jonkey is relaxed about, because they’ve promised him “best practice” and he’s given them legally immunity should anything go wrong and a huge subsidy to get them out here in the first place. All because striking oil would make the books look a bit better for the next election’s round of more tax cuts for the rich.

    • The risk is small. But if there is a blowout (and this is possible) the consequences may be very serious indeed.

      So part of the risk assessment has to include weighting of the consequences.

      Deep Water Horizon + Rena disaster = not a good idea to drill in even deeper water down here in NZ.

      We just don’t have the equipment on hand to reply promptly to a problem. And you can be sure that Anadarko are cutting costs in this area to increase profits, as profits to sharholders is their primary legal requirment.

    • According to the data acquired by the Labour party through an Official Information Act request – there is a 70% chance of a “reportable incident” happening in deep water (1500m) compared to a 10% chance at the current Taranaki wells

  3. Here , here John Minto .

    simon bridges ? A compelling argument for compulsory sterilization ?

    @ Gosman .

    What ?

    Is that the best you can do ? Really , you’re slipping old boy . I presume you have the data on going and fucking yourself ?

    • We all make the occasional typo- e.g. your “Mr kimble (sic) Bent”.
      SV is actually a ketch and if the second mast had been a little further aft it would have been classed as a yawl.
      I’m so sick of people telling us that if we don’t live a hunter/gatherer existence we have no right to criticize this modern age.

    • He hasn’t walked to work today because alternatives to oil based technologies and supporting infrastructures have not been researched and implemented. Why would that be? Old oil and old money of course. There are alternatives.

    • Please spend some time learning where to put commas and where not to put apostrophes. I still won’t take any notice of your stupid posts, but you will have learned something.

      What the hell does how someone got to work today have to do with anything? I caught two taxis today. How many oil coated beaches should I roll around on to assuage my guilt?

    • What a knob. You prove the point of so many ignorant people S FX.
      Im a kiwi who lives in London and “walk to work” every single
      day. And im far from a yokel. I walk because 6km there
      and 6km back doesn’t hurt me but saves a frig of a lot
      of c02. I bet you drive to work and probably down
      to the shops for a nice brioche even though its 10
      mins walk. Stop slagging the others off and get on ur
      bike!

  4. Who needs data to make a simple point that all the risks around drilling for oil/oil activity will not be good for this country? or any other country for that matter. Reference Rena. Reference BP and their lax management that resulted in the big oil spill in the Gulf, whose environmental fall out is still ongoing. Thanks Mr Minto. You are a credit to this country and long may your voice be heard!!

  5. New New Zealand National Anthem

    God of nations! at thy feet
    In the bonds of love we meet,
    Hear our voices, we entreat,
    God defend New Zealand.
    Guard Pacific’s triple star,
    From the threat of oil and tar
    Coating beaches near and far,
    God defend Our Sea Land

    People of ev’ry creed and race
    Toward this nation turn their face,
    They entrust in us, to guard this place,
    God defend our Free Land.
    Typhoon Haiyan, be not our fate
    God protect our climate,
    From the corrupt politicians of our State,
    Make our statesmen good and great,
    God defend New Zealand

    Make our navy not be blind
    As a government wined and dined
    By Andarko and their kind
    God defend our Free land
    Behind closed doors they sold their soul
    Defying them should be our goal
    God defend New Zealand

    Police, do not enforce the laws
    Made to quell a righteous cause
    help keep our coastline from Andarko’s claws
    God defend New Zealand

    Island rampart on the sea
    Forever nuclear weapons free
    Makes us faithful unto Thee,
    God defend our Free Land.
    Guide us in the nations’ van,
    Preaching love and truth to man,
    Working out Thy Glorious plan,
    God defend New Zealand.

    May God’s love for us increase,
    May God’s blessings never cease,
    God gave us plenty, he gave us peace,
    God defend our Free Land
    From dishonour and from shame
    Defending our environmental name
    God crowns us with eternal fame,
    God defend New Zealand.

  6. McAfee site advisor has the following to say about the Daily Blog

    “This link is suspicious. We tested it and found potential security risks. Be careful.”

    I have requested they review their rating for this link!

  7. Count me in. I’m with the protesters here. We neither want nor need this environmental threat in our coastal waters.

    Go the flotilla. And thank you.

  8. Well. Its obvious from a NZ standpoint, there is neither a need nor want for
    drilling in our waters. I back the flotilla and the actions they
    undertake on behalf of us that want a clean NZ. However, why
    such animosity about GOSMAN asking for stats. An argument
    of emotion is a powerful tool, an argument of emotion
    backed by statistics is irrefutable. Lets not clobber the
    oil guys with whiny emotions, beat them at their own game
    and support with statistics they cant refute. Cmon NZ, we’re
    green AND smart.

  9. All the best John to Oil Free Seas.

    DLANZ is sharing Mike Smith posts on Facebook within our groups here and around the world. Best wishes fair weather and Gods speed you all return home safe and soon.

    Doug Hay
    DLANZ Cordinator

  10. the latest oil “leak” by anadarko was in september this yr. Nicely covered up
    More than 5,250 gallons of crude oil have spilled into a river in Colorado, contaminating much of the same region that was ravaged days earlier by a monumental flood that left no fewer than eight residents dead.

    The Denver Post reported on Wednesday evening that the Colorado Department of Natural Resources was alerted of the spill that afternoon by Anadarko Petroleum, a Texas-based oil and gas exploration company.

    is that the 1 incident that shonkey was alluding to? I don’t think so

    Thank you Minto for your blogs.

Comments are closed.