Democrats Abroad New Zealand
6.06.2007
Global Sea Levels Will Rise Quicker Than Thought -- Study (NZHerald.co.nz)
12:05PM Wednesday June 06, 2007
By Steve Connor
Fears that global sea levels this century may rise faster and further than expected are supported by a study showing that 300 glaciers in Antarctica have begun to move more quickly into the ocean.
Scientists believe that the accelerated movement of glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula indicates a dramatic shift in the way melting ice around the world contributes to overall increases in global sea levels.
Instead of simply adding huge volumes of meltwater to the sea, scientists have found that rising temperatures are causing glaciers as far apart as Alaska, Greenland and now Antarctica to break up and slip into the ocean at a faster rate than expected.
The findings are likely to raises concerns within the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which earlier this year downplayed the so-called "dynamic" nature of melting glaciers - when rising temperatures cause them to break up quickly rather than simple melt away slowly.
(More ... NZ Herald > News > World)
By Steve Connor
Fears that global sea levels this century may rise faster and further than expected are supported by a study showing that 300 glaciers in Antarctica have begun to move more quickly into the ocean.
Scientists believe that the accelerated movement of glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula indicates a dramatic shift in the way melting ice around the world contributes to overall increases in global sea levels.
Instead of simply adding huge volumes of meltwater to the sea, scientists have found that rising temperatures are causing glaciers as far apart as Alaska, Greenland and now Antarctica to break up and slip into the ocean at a faster rate than expected.
The findings are likely to raises concerns within the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which earlier this year downplayed the so-called "dynamic" nature of melting glaciers - when rising temperatures cause them to break up quickly rather than simple melt away slowly.
(More ... NZ Herald > News > World)
Labels: Climate Change, NZ Herald
¶ 21:24 0 comments
5.31.2007
NZ Ranked No. 2 in World Peace Survey (NZHerald.co.nz)
5:00AM Thursday May 31, 2007
New Zealand has been placed second behind Norway in an inaugural Global Peace Index launched in London overnight.
The Economist Intelligence Unit was commissioned by a group of businessmen, academics and peace institutions to rank 121 nations according to their relative state of peace.
The index was comprised of 24 indicators, ranging from a nation's level of military expenditure to its relations with neighbouring countries and the level of respect for human rights.
"New Zealand's lofty position in the Global Peace Index (GPI) partly reflects its lack of internal and external conflicts and its very good relations with neighbouring countries, namely Australia and fellow member states of the Pacific Island Forum," the GPI reports says.
The report said New Zealand's diplomatic and economic links with Australia had been underpinned since 1983 by the Closer Economic Relations agreement.
It said the nation's political scene was stable and the index gave New Zealand very low scores on the likelihood of violent demonstrations and the number of homicides.
"However, violent crime is higher than in Norway and the number of jailed population is considerably higher than the four Nordic nations surveyed."
The report noted New Zealand's military expenditure as a percentage of GDP was low and notably lower than Australia.
"New Zealand's ability to play a security role within the Pacific region was nevertheless demonstrated in July 2003, when it sent 35 policemen and 230 military personnel to the Solomon Islands as part of a 2225-strong Australian led peacekeeping force."
(More ... New Zealand Herald > News > National) ¶ 08:06 0 comments
New Zealand has been placed second behind Norway in an inaugural Global Peace Index launched in London overnight.
The Economist Intelligence Unit was commissioned by a group of businessmen, academics and peace institutions to rank 121 nations according to their relative state of peace.
The index was comprised of 24 indicators, ranging from a nation's level of military expenditure to its relations with neighbouring countries and the level of respect for human rights.
"New Zealand's lofty position in the Global Peace Index (GPI) partly reflects its lack of internal and external conflicts and its very good relations with neighbouring countries, namely Australia and fellow member states of the Pacific Island Forum," the GPI reports says.
The report said New Zealand's diplomatic and economic links with Australia had been underpinned since 1983 by the Closer Economic Relations agreement.
It said the nation's political scene was stable and the index gave New Zealand very low scores on the likelihood of violent demonstrations and the number of homicides.
"However, violent crime is higher than in Norway and the number of jailed population is considerably higher than the four Nordic nations surveyed."
The report noted New Zealand's military expenditure as a percentage of GDP was low and notably lower than Australia.
"New Zealand's ability to play a security role within the Pacific region was nevertheless demonstrated in July 2003, when it sent 35 policemen and 230 military personnel to the Solomon Islands as part of a 2225-strong Australian led peacekeeping force."
(More ... New Zealand Herald > News > National) ¶ 08:06 0 comments
5.21.2007
NZ Invited to California Clean-up (NZHerald.co.nz)
5:00AM Monday May 21, 2007
By Tim Watkin
California has invited New Zealand to join its battle against pollution, offering local businesses the potential to enter a ground-breaking market with the world's sixth largest economy.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's chief environmental adviser, Terry Tamminen, said New Zealand would be "more than welcome" to join the Californian-centred emissions trading market, due to launch in 2012.
"We'd come down there in a heartbeat [to negotiate]," Mr Tamminen told the Listener magazine.
"And Governor Schwarzenegger would be pleased to welcome your leadership here."
California is leading climate change legislation in the United States, and its commitment to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels, or around 22 per cent, by 2020, has attracted interest and praise from around the world.
(More ... New Zealand Herald > News > National)
By Tim Watkin
California has invited New Zealand to join its battle against pollution, offering local businesses the potential to enter a ground-breaking market with the world's sixth largest economy.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's chief environmental adviser, Terry Tamminen, said New Zealand would be "more than welcome" to join the Californian-centred emissions trading market, due to launch in 2012.
"We'd come down there in a heartbeat [to negotiate]," Mr Tamminen told the Listener magazine.
"And Governor Schwarzenegger would be pleased to welcome your leadership here."
California is leading climate change legislation in the United States, and its commitment to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels, or around 22 per cent, by 2020, has attracted interest and praise from around the world.
(More ... New Zealand Herald > News > National)
Labels: Climate Change, NZ Herald
¶ 08:03 0 comments
4.12.2007
Bush Looks to Appoint a War 'Czar'(NZHerald.co.nz)
5:00AM Thursday April 12, 2007
WASHINGTON - The White House wants to appoint a high-profile overseer to manage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has had trouble finding someone to take the job, the Washington Post reported.
At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have turned down the position. The war "czar" would report directly to United States President George W. Bush and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and would have authority to issue directions to the Pentagon and the State Department.
Retired Marine General John "Jack" Sheehan, a former top Nato commander, was among those who rejected the job. "The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," Sheehan told the Post. He said he believes that Vice-President Dick Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the Administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq.
(More ... New Zealand Herald > World) ¶ 08:49 0 comments
WASHINGTON - The White House wants to appoint a high-profile overseer to manage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has had trouble finding someone to take the job, the Washington Post reported.
At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have turned down the position. The war "czar" would report directly to United States President George W. Bush and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and would have authority to issue directions to the Pentagon and the State Department.
Retired Marine General John "Jack" Sheehan, a former top Nato commander, was among those who rejected the job. "The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," Sheehan told the Post. He said he believes that Vice-President Dick Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the Administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq.
(More ... New Zealand Herald > World) ¶ 08:49 0 comments
12.21.2006
Doomsday Countdown for Bush (NZHerald.co.nz)
Thursday December 21, 2006
KANSAS CITY - Some of the T-shirts bear only the date: 01.20.09. The others spell it out: Bush's Last Day.
But both, along with "Bush's Last Day" caps, mugs, bumper stickers, buttons and other collectibles are selling well this Christmas.
One of the most popular items is a clock that counts down the minutes - and yes, seconds - left in President George W. Bush's final term in office.
"We're close to selling a million pieces of assorted stuff," said Elliott Nachwalter, 56, of Arlington, Vermont, who started the business 18 months ago from the back of his fishing store.
(More ... New Zealand Herald > World News) ¶ 09:53 0 comments
KANSAS CITY - Some of the T-shirts bear only the date: 01.20.09. The others spell it out: Bush's Last Day.
But both, along with "Bush's Last Day" caps, mugs, bumper stickers, buttons and other collectibles are selling well this Christmas.
One of the most popular items is a clock that counts down the minutes - and yes, seconds - left in President George W. Bush's final term in office.
"We're close to selling a million pieces of assorted stuff," said Elliott Nachwalter, 56, of Arlington, Vermont, who started the business 18 months ago from the back of his fishing store.
(More ... New Zealand Herald > World News) ¶ 09:53 0 comments
11.10.2006
Regime Change (NZHerald.co.nz)
Today's editorial cartoon from Rod Emmerson:
Labels: 2006 election, Bush, editorial cartoons, NZ Herald
¶ 08:23 0 comments
11.09.2006
Nuff Said (NZHerald.co.nz)
Rod Emmerson on 2006 American Mid-term Elections
Labels: 2006 election, editorial cartoons, NZ Herald
¶ 21:40 0 comments
