The essence of this policy will be based on the principles of ‘awareness’ and ‘balance’.
Supporting our environment is essential for human survival.
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Call: We call for a ten-year moratorium on new coal mining and new coal-fired power stations in New Zealand.
The Awareness Party is joining Coal Action Network Aotearoa, along with a number of other groups, that have decided to support the 10-year moratorium as a call to be made to political parties during the pre-election period, in the following form:
Reason for the moratorium : Burning coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel activity on the planet. We are facing runaway climate change which will destroy our children’s and grandchildren’s lives and livelihoods. Based on what we know now, we must keep the coal (including lignite) in the ground rather than risk a massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
In making this moratorium call prior to the 2011 General Election, we are not departing from CAN Aotearoa’s overall position, which is that we call for the phasing out of coal mining and coal usage in Aotearoa/New Zealand within 20 years, initially by opposing new and expanded coal mines.
Now, such a call won’t be very effective without accompanying action, which is where we hope you will come in. We encourage you to put the call for a moratorium to your local election candidates – all candidates, but especially those who may be disposed to listen to anti-lignite arguments. Ask whether they support it. Ask whether their party supports it. Put them on the spot, and ask for answers. You’ll find plenty of supporting material on the CAN Aotearoa website’s Resources page at http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.wordpress.com/downloads/ We encourage you to print off copies of this material and give it to your local candidates to support your arguments.
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Currently councils and ratepayers are in the hands of ERMA (Environmental Risk Management Authority), unless local councils add levels of control and regulation to stay GE-free. Auckland was part of the inter-Council Working Group on options for regulation GMO’s. A lot of good work has been done by the ICWG on GMO’s and it MUST continue. We need to demand Auckland Council continue as full and active members.
Auckland also has a history of local boards declaring a GE free Zone- including Western Bays, Eden-Albert, Waiheke. Hauraki Gulf Islands are also protected as GE-free in their plans.
We need Auckland council to be active on the GE-free issue and engage with the community , and be active in the Inter-council working Group on options for regulation GMO’s ability. We cannot leave it to ERMA and their allies in the GE-industry!
Please make a submission on Council Annual Plans. There are some concerning financial proposals in the amendments. The text below can be used for submissions on GE. This is a region-wide issue, but note on the Auckland City website you can also make a submission to your local community board using the same points. Mention the fact that some local communities have previously declared GE-free zones in Western Bays, Waiheke, and Eden-Albert and as a formal policy in the plans for Hauraki Gulf Islands.
You do not have to speak to your submission, but it’s good if you can.
Go to Have your Say and scroll down on the following website and you will find a place to fill in your details:
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/ABOUTCOUNCIL/PLANSPOLICIESPUBLICATIONS/ANNUAL_PLAN/Pages/haveyoursay.aspx
You can copy this submission, or create a new one. I recommend that you use this submission and add any other points to personalise this – sent to us by our last month’s speaker.
The Auckland Region
My submission relates to democracy and ensuring a voice for Auckland’s diverse communities with health, cultural, economic, sustainability or other concerns about GMO’s.
I request this submission is reflected in the plan’s key projects and priorities’ 2011/2012
My submission relates to the following sections of Annual Plan:
p86 ff: Economic Development
p99 ff: Planning and Policy (Research and Monitoring)
p104 ff: Regulation
p110 ff: Environmental Management
p119 ff: Environment Strategy and Programmes
p 234 ff: Mayoral Vision
Specifically the Plan should:
- State that Auckland City will continue as an active and full member of the “Inter Council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation & Options”
- That funding be provided in the annual plans for this participation and ongoing engagement with local communities
Justification
The plan should:
Reflect widespread community concern that local government has a duty and role to protect community values and wellbeing from the risks of GMO’s.
Reflect community support for previous participation in the ICWG on GMO’s by authorities which are now part of the Auckland Council.
Reflect the community mandate given to Council as established by the cross-region survey by Colmar Brunton of local community support for regulation of GMO’s. This survey was part-commissioned by former Auckland-area Councils participating in the ICWG on regulation of GMO’s.
Reflect independent legal advice that ratepayers are currently exposed to costs of GMO damage by “socialised risk” under the HSNO Act.
Reflect that requests by ‘Local Government NZ’ and local councils across the Auckland and Northland region for the HSNO Act to be amended have been rejected by Minister for the Environment.
Reflect the advice from the Minister that local and regional authorities are able to consider regulation of GMO’s at a local level over and above the oversight of ERMA (the Environmental Risk Management Authority).
