Economy, by definition, means prudently managing resources, yet in practice growth consumes them, unsustainably. We need a new narrative, say the Greens, that decouples progress from growth: this might be a myth and it is a gamble, but so is growth
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 24
North Korea attacks South Korea--two marines killed; New York Times reports new nuclear facility in North Korea; some experts speculate Kim Jong-Un is trying to win support from the army by showing toughness; Australia to supply Japan with minerals known as 'rare earths'; Iran assembly tries to oust Ahmadinejad; Taliban leader in secret talks was imposter; Cowan responds to calls for snap election in Ireland
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday November 23
Ireland accepts EU bailout of both banks and government (+ analysis); As NZ waits, China rescues 29 trapped miners of its own; Obama tells Karzai to pull his head in as NATo commits until 2014; Abbas blames Isreal ahead of peace talks; and more
Read MoreMana from Matt & Loves Labour’s Lost
The Mana by-election was Labour's pre-campaign test. It flunked
Read MoreThe torturer's horse scratches its innocent behind on a tree
Even though more important things are happening on the Mainland, Parliament is displaying its worst and best qualities this week.
Read MoreThe Spirit Level reaches NZ - why freedom and equality are kin
In which I'm perplexed why people are so afraid of equality and compassion, and reflect on freedom and the filthy rich Westpac CEO, all because I've finally got around to reading The Spirit Level
Read MoreThoughts on Green growth, from a gardener
Among the many things people don’t get about the Greens and the green movement is -- it’s organic. This is not just a nice conceit. Greens live and breathe above and below ground, which makes them resilient
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday November 19
First Guantanamo detainee tried in US courts guilty on just one count (+ analysis); Ireland looks set to accept bailout worth "tens of billions"; UN warns of world food shortages, higher prices; China re-routes global internet traffic for 18 minutes; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday November 18
Republicans threaten to block nuclear treaty despite White House pleas (+ Clinton & Gates op-ed); China promises fire safety standards after 53 die in Shanghai; NATO leader talks of Afghanistan combat role beyond 2014; Iraq President refuses to execute Tariq; and more
Read MoreDavid Cunliffe: a political vision?
David Cunliffe offers personal observations from the Greens’ economic conference, on how to do good — “to do good, first we must win” — and possibly, also on how to win
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 17
Pressure grows on Ireland and Portugal to accept bailout (+ Euro analysis); US plans military campaign in Yemen; Suu Kyi seeks to reinstate political party; Mullah Omar rejects Afghan peace talks with "puppets"; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday November 16
G20 and APEC fail to deliver enforceable deals of currency and protectionism; Obama returns to US to face unfinished business; Suu Kyi urges reconciliation and rule of law; Netanyahu wants to return to peace talks (and billions of dollars); Is Ireland negotiating an EU bailout?: and more
Read MoreJaundiced towards the Junta: what freeing Suu Kyi really means
Burma's military thugs undoubtedly want something in return for releasing perfect hostage Aung San Suu Kyi, but world leaders who have used her fame to preach democracy must now make sure the generals find no reason to re-arrest her
Read MoreDavid Suzuki: an elder’s vision
David Suzuki says by ignoring warnings of over-consumption and its dire consequences, we are following 99.9999% of our fellow animal species to extinction; and the Greens convene a cross-party economic conference, populated mostly by Greens
Read MoreWelfare reform: Do we get tough or take the 'corduroy' option?
As the welfare debate again rises from the grave over the next few weeks, it'll pay to remember that life is messy and keep asking 'where are the jobs?'.
Read MoreTwo (growth) roads diverged in the woods...
In Robert Frost's poem, taking 'the road less travelled' made all the difference, and so it is with the economic choices we face as a country. Will it be growth for growth's sake, or a more sustainable growth?
World News Brief, Friday November 12
US and South Korea fail to settle free-trade deal due to car, beef disputes (+ analysis of US trade policy); Iraqi leaders finally form government; Pakistan attacks India's UN record; Bi-partisan panel suggests radical cuts to US budget; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday November 11
Obama urges cooperation as G20 opens amidst finger-pointing and stalling tactics (+ analysis); Thousands protest Japan's plans to join TPP; Kenyan court rules it has no jurisdiction over pirates; EU to work together on energy security and efficiency; and more
Read MoreDo not go gently into that good night ...
The sight of a Minister reading a speech to Parliament about a Bill he clearly hadn't even read has done what not even the Electoral Finance Act could: it's killed off a vital part of political discourse in New Zealand.
Read MoreThe last and least loveliest: lignite
When global crude oil sources are ranked and graphed by size and production cost, lignite coal is among the biggest, the most expensive, and the last one on the list. Lignite and Solid Energy need peak oil; it’s a lifeline for them, not a threat