The Daily Blog Open Mic – Saturday 3rd February 2018

1. If all you have left is a hammer, every problem is a nail

   Last week Donald Trump claimed that polar ice caps are at record breaking levels. (meaning biggest extent).

   http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/371129-trump-polar-ice-caps-are-at-a-record-level

   Why did none of his advisers correct him?

   Are there no more scientists in the US State Department?

   Why were they all silent?

   What about the Pentagon? It is a fact that the US military leadership are well convinced of the dangers of climate change.

   https://climateandsecurity.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/tab-b-slvas-report-1-24-2018.pdf

   Why did Trump’s military advisers from the DOD keep their silence?

   The following essay examines the reasons behind the Pentagon’s silence on climate change under Trump. The final conclusions are frightening.

   Late last week, the Pentagon released the unclassified summary version of America’s new National Defense Strategy. For the first time since 2008, it makes no mention of climate change….

   ://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/1/23/16918280/trump-military-climate-change

   But behind the scenes the US military is taking climate change seriously because it has to.

   …..Coastal Naval bases are in danger of being inundated by rising seas; the Arctic is melting and opening new areas of geopolitical conflict; the rising cost of climate impacts will squeeze the military budget; and responding to severe weather events will reduce military readiness.

   ://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/1/23/16918280/trump-military-climate-change

   An all-adaptation, no-mitigation climate approach fits the bill, at least for the sort of conservative who mistakes callous myopia for realpolitik. After all, with all its advantages (military not least among them), America could prosper in an increasingly chaotic world, at least for a while. It could sell its abundant oil and gas and profit from fossil fuels while they still dominate. It could tighten its immigration policies and build up its military to guard against the displaced.

   Trumpian climate policy — maximize fossil fuel exploitation, minimize domestic regulations, cut off international cooperation, and leave the military to prepare for the consequences — could become the conservative center of gravity on climate change in coming years, extending the legislative deadlock that has gripped climate politics for so long.

   But in the long term, such a strategy would be disastrous, dramatically and continuously exacerbating existing inequalities. As things get worse, those who can afford to protect themselves — move their military bases, build sea walls and desalination plants, claim newly navigable land in the Arctic — will pull farther and farther away from those who can’t (the global poor, who did so little to cause the problem).

   The US might come out on top in a more violent, chaotic world, but in the end, we do not stand apart. We will sink with it. The only way to save ourselves from climate change is to save everyone.

2. The community are asking Government now to re-open the Napier/Gisborne rail – we ask to re-open the service this year labour.

   We see in our local paper Wairoa star; 30th January 2018, where our local Government also now is asking last week for this and are still waiting now six years for the new Labour Government to honour their promise to reopen our Napier/Gisborne rail services after national stopped the Kiwirail funding to keep the maintenance and safety on the line in 2011/12 and caused a one km rail washout and since have mothballed the line.

   So come-on Labour – repoen this line your forefathers fought and opened under Michael Joseph Savage in 1939-42.

   Do what your first Labour government did please,

   HB Regional Council Press release last week;

   Our letter to Labour coalitiiion response;

   Public COMMUNITY letter;

   Subject; Regional Rail article for Labour coalition MP’s – Real ambition for Wairoa rail line … (“Wairoa Star” 30/1/2018):

   30th January 2018.

   TO; Ministers,

   Real ambition for Wairoa rail line … (“Wairoa Star” – Tues 30th January 2018)

   Enthusiastic Napier Wairoa rail comments made by forestry minister Shane Jones last month were welcomed
   by local government.
   Hawke’s Bay Wairoa regional councillor Fenton Wilson said there was real ambition for this government to reopen
   the Napier-Wairoa line and provide funding to keep it open.
   “However, until ministers Jones and Stuart Nash can get it in front of cabinet to approve intention (and funding),
   we are all left waiting.
   “I would expect announcement soon.
   “It is the most positive feedback on the line in my time with Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and I wish them well.”
   Mr Wilson sits on the regional council’s land transport committee and is also interested in the work being done
   on the Opotiki-Napier road corridor.
   “Wairoa is in a positive space regarding transport and connectivity at the moment and I look forward to
   recommendations and action later this year.”
   As far as repairing the damaged rail sections in the Beach Loop area north of Mahia which were damaged in 2012,
   Mr Wilson said nothing was definite other than it would fit with rail growing rural communities as per election promises.
   “It is one step at a time I suspect – get Wairoa going first.”

   -ends-

   Warmest regards,

3. The inconvenient truth, which even the NZ Greens have not accepted yet, let along Labour:

   https://www.greenpeace.org/archive-international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/the-tesla-dream/blog/56609/

   Forget electric cars, they will NOT be the solution.

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