I don’t have white guilt over National’s climate change policies, I have white shame

By
Martyn Bradbury
-
24
3

So, yesterday this happened…

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…I’m surprised Michael Woodhouse knows what the words ‘Colonialist’, ‘white’, ‘person’ or ‘guilt’ even mean so stringing together a full sentence is quite the achievement. The Government’s refusal to take in more climate change refugees from the Pacific Islands that are slowly sinking beneath the waves because the pollution counties like NZ creates is shameful…

A Kiribati family who claimed to be the world’s first refugees from climate change will have to leave their rented house in West Auckland after the father was detained this week.

Ioane Teitiota, his wife Angua Erika and their three New Zealand-born children all face deportation within a week after their four-year court battle for refugee status was rejected by the Supreme Court in July.

But their lawyer, Dr Michael Kidd, has complained to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which has the power to issue an interim measure barring the deportation.

Waitakere District Court Judge Belinda Pidwell yesterday refused Dr Kidd’s request for bail and issued a warrant committing Mr Teitiota in custody until Monday.

Terri Thompson, for Immigration New Zealand, told the court that deportation orders had been served on the whole family, including the children, and that they would be deported together “within the next seven days”.

…climate refugees are going to become the norm as the planet undergoes extreme weather events over the next couple of decades. What are we going to do for Islands that get swallowed up by rising oceans? How will those countries continue their Government and economic zones if their Islands disappear? These are real events we need to adapt to. With Auckland as the largest Pacific Island city in the world, we have an obligation to do more than throw people back to drown on their sinking homes.

This trickle will become a flood, if we don’t want that, then we need to take a leadership role on climate change. It’s not their fault those impacted by the pollution we and the rest of the world generates come to us seeking safety.

 

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24 COMMENTS

  2. Makes me want to burn the NZ flag not stand proud.We just throw solar panels at submerging people then we jail them for not wanting their kin to drown in the rising seas and growing tempests … Give me my pride back not just a banner of burden and guilt covered in sticky sweet jingoism. Give me a 40% cut in OUR emissions.. PLEASE

  3. I’m not sure John Key even believes in climate change. On TV1 last week he said rising sea levels “may or may not” be a problem for Pacific Islands. We are being led by a bunch of people who at best think it is a long way off and at worse isn’t even real. There needs to a time in a near future where criminal charges are brought against those in government who refused to do anything about it.

  6. …climate refugees are going to become the norm as the planet undergoes extreme weather events over the next couple of decades.

    Yes, and many of them will be white and cashed-up. Somehow, some way I’m betting we’ll manage to find the room for them.

  7. What can I say? If you insist on voting for monkeys you will get shit hurled at you…

    None of these overpaid, chauvinistic, middle-aged wealthy white men are capable of leading. That requires decision making and action. This is the most pusillanimous government we’ve seen in centuries. They are the government of inaction. The only time these buffoons act quickly is to allow the free flow of booze at all hours of the day and night and to rob beneficiaries of their entitlements.

    The longer these drongoes stay in power the more defilement befalls the good name of New Zealand/Aotearoa.

    This latest act by Woodlouse makes us all look like some ancient white colonial power. It is a gross embarrassment…

    And you might like to remind Mr Woodlouse Martyn, that the recent climate change meeting

  9. I have a letter from Michael Woodhouse where he said “I’m certain that a fossil free society could be several generations away”. He is wilfully ignoring the science on climate change and, like the rest of the National party, will go down in history as climate criminals.

  10. Matryn,

    We wonder if any NatZ were at this symposium last week Martyn?

    Probably not, it wouldn’t suit their policies now.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11512463

    S.T. Lee Lecture in Antarctic Studies 2015

    Date: 15 September 2015 Time: 5.30 pm

    The Southern Ocean, climate change and the future of the Antarctic ice sheet: A soft underbelly in East Antarctica?

    Dr Stephen R. Rintoul

    CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship
    Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Australia

    Hunter Council Chambers
    Level 2, Hunter Building, Kelburn Campus
    Victoria University

    If you would like to attend, RSVP by Friday 11 September to shannon.digby@vuw.ac.nz with ‘Lee lecture’ in the subject line or phone 04-463 6587

    Synopsis of Lecture

    By soaking up heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the ocean slows the rate of climate change. In fact, global warming is really ocean warming: about 93% of the extra heat stored by the Earth over the past fifty years is found in the ocean.

    Of particular importance is the Southern Ocean, where ocean currents efficiently transfer water, heat and carbon between the sea surface and the deep sea. Given the strong influence of the region on climate, changes in the Southern Ocean would have widespread consequences. Measurements from ships and robotic floats show that significant changes are already underway: the Southern Ocean is warming, freshening and becoming more acidic.

    In addition, evidence is growing that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is vulnerable to change in the surrounding oceans. A recent Australian expedition, the first to reach the Totten Glacier, suggests the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is likely more sensitive to ocean warming than previously thought.

    This lecture will review recent progress in understanding the role of the Southern Ocean in the earth’s climate system, how the Southern Ocean is changing, and the consequences of those changes for climate, sea level and the future of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.

    Steve Rintoul

    Dr Steve Rintoul is a CSIRO Fellow at the CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre in Hobart. His research is focused on the role of the ocean in the climate system.

    He has a particular fascination for the Southern Ocean, where his work has led to a deeper appreciation of the influence of the region on global climate, biogeochemical cycles and biological productivity. He has led 12 expeditions to Antarctica and coordinated the major international Southern Ocean climate research programs conducted over the past 25 years.

    Dr Rintoul was a Coordinating Lead Author for the 5th Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. His scientific achievements have been recognised by many national and international awards, including the Georg Wüst Prize, the Martha T. Muse Prize, the Australian Antarctic Medal, and election as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

  11. Once I have read this article, I really don’t understand New Zealand and it’s government. A question raised in my head was “Why NZ can’t afford to take these refugee who are genuinely need help?”. Firstly, I would like to share my opinion why some the Pacific islander should get help from the World which included NZ. According to Conservation International, all those low-lying Pacific island nations contribute little to greenhouse gas emissions, but they are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change which are warming temperatures, ocean acidification and, especially , sea rise. I can’t imagine how scary it would be for me and my family to live in some places that I knew it is about to sink under the ocean. These climate changes are not their false but the whole world. Secondly, NZ can afford more people and I believe that it will benefit from more people. We are a nation of immigrants, Maori, and every other Kiwi is an immigrant. Why can’t we accept more refugees who really need help? Thirdly, I would like to compare this Climate Change refugee case to another refugee case that NZ immigration has accepted at the end of 2014. It is Mr.Ekkapop Luera’s case. I’ve attached a link from NZ Herald which was on 8 January this year; http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm? Thc_id=1&objectid=11383297
    This couple got accepted into NZ as a political refugee. According to my long research as a Thai-NZ citizen, This man was not a genuine refugee. Why do I believe that he isn’t a genuine one? 1. Mr. Ekkapop Luera is a run away from a warrant of arrest, he is not a refugee because the Kingdom of Thailand did not have a civil war. It was a political unrest because of the corrupted government at the time – had done some serious harm to the country’s economy, by using tax money for their own gain. Mr. Ekkapop Luera is an activist who wants to gain popularity and money. He went on the stage of the red shirts in the year of 2014, an incidence that caused a few lives . It resulted from a scheming political crime. Mr. Ekkapop Luera, who supports the corrupted government – made a few defamation statements which he called a free speech, the speech laced with nasty Thai words – speaking derogatory of the Thai King and the monarch which is the beloved institution of the Kingdom of Thailand. No-one in this world has the right to defame anyone, by law it is a crime to insult another publicly.
    Mr. Ekkapop Luera ran away from the warrant of his arrest to a few place before reaching Cambodia, he lied about his circumstances to manipulate UNHCR to accept him and his girlfriend as the refugees. But he has a criminal record from the Kingdom of Thailand, a warrant of arrest. In the year of 1998 to 2000, the number of the Thai that applied for the residency in New Zealand under the refugee policy was very high, nobody was granted the residency. The Thai people who already had their work visas, had their work visa revoked after they applied for the residency under the refugee policy, even though their work visas were not expired.
    The Immigration office issued the reasons that :-
    – The Kingdom of Thailand was not under the civil war that would harm the life of it’s citizens.
    – The tourism trade was still trading as usual.
    – The parents of the Thai students who were studying in New Zealand had no trouble trading in their business. They were still able to send the expenses to support their children without any problems.
    These reasons simplified that the applications for the refugees’ status were unfolding. Its meant that there were no danger imposted to their lives in the Kingdom of Thailand, therefore their applications were declined. These facts above should be applied to Mr. Ekkapop Luera case. So, I really believe that NZ should be more open to a real refugee who desperately need help. There are war refugee from Syria and of course Climate change refugee from Pacific island that more worthy to live here in our beautiful country, New Zealand.

  12. Once I have read this article, I really don’t understand New Zealand and it’s government. A question raised in my head was “Why NZ can’t afford to take these refugee who are genuinely need help?”.

    Firstly, I would like to share my opinion why some the Pacific islander should get help from the World which included NZ. According to Conservation International, all those low-lying Pacific island nations contribute little to greenhouse gas emissions, but they are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change which are warming temperatures, ocean acidification and, especially , sea rise. I can’t imagine how scary it would be for me and my family to live in some places that I knew it is about to sink under the ocean. These climate changes are not their false but the whole world.

    Secondly, NZ can afford more people and I believe that it will benefit from more people. We are a nation of immigrants, Maori, and every other Kiwi is an immigrant. Why can’t we accept more refugees who really need help?

    Lastly, I would like to compare this Climate Change refugee case to another refugee case that NZ immigration has accepted at the end of 2014. It is Mr.Ekkapop Luera’s case. I’ve attached a link from NZ Herald which was on 8 January this year; http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm? Thc_id=1&objectid=11383297
    This couple got accepted into NZ as a political refugee. According to my long research as a Thai-NZ citizen, This man was not a genuine refugee.

    Why do I believe that he isn’t a genuine one? Mr. Ekkapop Luera is a run away from a warrant of arrest, he is not a refugee because the Kingdom of Thailand did not have a civil war. It was a political unrest because of the corrupted government at the time – had done some serious harm to the country’s economy, by using tax money for their own gain. Mr. Ekkapop Luera is an activist who wants to gain popularity and money. He went on the stage of the red shirts in the year of 2014, an incidence that caused a few lives . It resulted from a scheming political crime. Mr. Ekkapop Luera, who supports the corrupted government – made a few defamation statements which he called a free speech, the speech laced with nasty Thai words – speaking derogatory of the Thai King and the monarch which is the beloved institution of the Kingdom of Thailand. No-one in this world has the right to defame anyone, by law it is a crime to insult another publicly. Mr. Ekkapop Luera ran away from the warrant of his arrest to a few place before reaching Cambodia, he lied about his circumstances to manipulate UNHCR to accept him and his girlfriend as the refugees. But he has a criminal record from the Kingdom of Thailand, a warrant of arrest.

    In the year of 1998 to 2000, the number of the Thai that applied for the residency in New Zealand under the refugee policy was very high, nobody was granted the residency. The Thai people who already had their work visas, had their work visa revoked after they applied for the residency under the refugee policy, even though their work visas were not expired.
    The Immigration office issued the reasons that :-
    – The Kingdom of Thailand was not under the civil war that would harm the life of it’s citizens.
    – The tourism trade was still trading as usual.
    – The parents of the Thai students who were studying in New Zealand had no trouble trading in their business. They were still able to send the expenses to support their children without any problems.
    These reasons simplified that the applications for the refugees’ status were unfolding. Its meant that there were no danger imposted to their lives in the Kingdom of Thailand, therefore their applications were declined. These facts above should be applied to Mr. Ekkapop Luera case.

    So, I really believe that NZ should be more open to a real refugee who desperately need help. There are war refugee from Syria and of course Climate change refugee from Pacific island that more worthy to live here in our beautiful country, New Zealand.

    • I completely agree with Pari on this topic our GDP has tripled since 2010 and John Key is from a refugee family him self! We are a multi-cultural society and should be doing more for the world than just thinking about ourselves! Isis is pushing the civilians out of their homes. This needs world action

  13. John Key is only interested in two things that interests himself, 1) anything of financial investment that will bring him big returns at the expense of anyone else other than himself, 2) saving his own skin when confronted with issues of priority over his financial gains. Key isn’t a politician, he’s merely a fraudster of Wall Street connections, using politics as a smokescreen distraction for his exploitations of New Zealand and its people. Key is proving himself an enemy of the state and a treasonous traitor.
    The upside to all of this? Key is going to lose everything either when someone in the legal profession has the balls to have Key arrested and charged for his guilty actions, the world court holds Key accountable, or Key snuffs it before his time is due. Personally, I’d like to to see him lose the lot, go inside with the mainstream crims, and suffer at his own risk.

  14. As for Michael Woodhouse, maybe a public flogging, or put in stocks while rotten food be thrown at him, might be the order of the day. Bring back public punishment for our politicians that need to held accountable for whatever laws they break.

  15. Anyone with a brain that functions properly should have worked out by now that the whole government thing is an Orwellian puppet show, geared to the transfer of wealth from the commons and from the common people and into the pockets of a few individuals: ‘War is peace; Freedom is slavery; Ignorance is strength’.

    The extraction and combustion of sequestered carbon is the prime driver of the entire, corrupt system (along with the creation of money out of thin air and the charging interest on it….the Ponzi financial system).

    It is not about a few thousand or a few hundred million ‘climate refugees’. it’s about rendering the Earth largely or completely uninhabitable for humans and most other species in a matter of a few decades via continuation of fossil fuel extraction and fossil fuel combustion……primarily so that an ultra-greedy, tiny minority who already have far too much can acquire even more stuff they don’t need.

    With Abrupt Climate Change now having been triggered and the so-called ‘2oC safe limit’ shortly to be exceeded, it is clear there is no hope long-term.

    2015, is set to be the hottest year in recorded history. And it’s going to get a lot hotter a lot faster in the near future now that the CO2 concentration is breaking 400ppm and CH4 breaking 2000ppb. .

    Methane, with a warming factor over 100 times that of CO2, is already erupting from the permafrost. And it’s going to get a lot worse a lot faster now that most of the old ice in the Artic Sea has melted.

    The inevitable collapse of the global economic system (which is now underway), and the commensurate collapse in extraction of sequestered carbon, may extend humanity’s run by a decade or so. It’s difficult to say. It may well be that humanity has already done so much damage so quickly it will all be over by 2040.

    Of course, all of that -abrupt climate change, collapse of the financial system etc.- is unmentionable in ‘polite circles’. However, as the gulf between reality and what politicians and media pundits say increases, and as the economy gradually implodes, we will reach a point at which the masses will finally recognise that they have been lied to all along, and that it was only ever a puppet show, run by money-lenders and corrupt opportunists.

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