Global Warming (or is it cooling?)

Professor Ian Plimer could not have said it better!
I received this via email and it's too good not to share.

Okay, here's the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland, since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet, all of you.
Of course you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress, that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow, and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans, and all animal life.
I know, it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of: driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kid's "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cents light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs...well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days.
The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days - yes - FOUR DAYS ONLY by that volcano in Iceland, has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud any one time - EVERY DAY.
I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in its entire YEARS on earth. Yes folks, Mt Pinatubo was active for over one year, think about it.
Of course I shouldn't spoil this touchy-feely tree-hugging moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keep happening, despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.
And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year.
Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you on the basis of the bogus ''human-caused'' climate change scenario.
Hey, isn't it interesting how they don't mention ''Global Warming'' any more, but just ''Climate Change'' - you know why? It's because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming bull artists got caught with their pants down.
And just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading Scheme (that whopping new tax)imposed on you, that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer. It won't stop any volcanoes from erupting, that's for sure.
But hey, relax, give the world a hug and have a nice day!
PS: I wonder if Iceland is buying carbon offsets?

Don't Let our Beach Access Disappear

I received this by email - it's vitally important for all Kiwis. If you agree contact your MP, John Key and forward it to everyone!
An open letter to all Kiwis.
Our coastline is under threat from a racist bill.
If you care about our country and the love affair that generations of Kiwis have
had with our coast, please read this and help. Our beach-going culture is under
imminent threat from the Minister of Treaty Settlements who is determined to
give our precious coastline to Māori, through his Marine and Coastal Area Bill.
Let us explain.
In 2010 the Minister of Treaty Settlements Chris Finlayson – a former lawyer for
Ngai Tāhu – wanted to give the Urewera National Park to Tūhoe. But the public
believe our National Parks should belong to all New Zealanders, not just Māori.
When John Key realised how strongly the public were opposed to the deal, he
stopped it.
Now the same Minister intends giving our beaches and territorial sea – and
most of the riches that are under it – to a few privileged iwi. Again the public
are overwhelmingly opposed. They believe the foreshore and seabed are the
birthright and common heritage of all New Zealanders equally. Will John Key
step in this time to stop the Bill?
The Prime Minister promised he would stop this bill if the
public were opposed to it. Can we trust the Prime Minister
to keep his word?
When John Key announced National’s plan to repeal Crown ownership of the
foreshore and seabed, in March 2010 he said “if there was not wide support then
the current law could remain in place”. We are now calling on the Prime Minister
to honour his promise. He shouldn’t say one thing then do another.
Almost everyone who has looked beyond the rhetoric and half-truths issued by
the Minister of Treaty Settlements and who has read the bill for themselves is
overwhelmingly opposed to it. They believe the bill is bad for most Māori and
worse for the rest of us.
Please help us stop our coastline being given away. Please help us convince the
Prime Minister to honour his promise to the people of New Zealand and leave
the current law in place
Please contact John Key. Ask him to honour his promise
to withdraw this divisive and racist bill.
Please help us and take action now.
The bill is scheduled to become law
within the next two weeks!
Please forward this message on to everyone you know and
ask them to help fight the bill.

• Ask them if it’s fair that the threshold test for customary title has
been significantly lowered to make it easier for iwi to claim? *
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi won’t have to prove their claims
in court?
• Ask them if it’s fair that politicians can give away your beach
without asking you, telling you, or giving you any right of appeal?
Ask them if it’s fair that politicians can swap your beach for votes
in a coalition deal with the Māori Party – just so they can stay
in power?
• Ask them if it’s fair that traditional local usage has been extended
to “customary interests” giving iwi power over the entire coastline.
In addition customary title gives iwi more rights to: minerals; all
newly found “taonga tūturu”; other development rights; and the
right to develop a plan which regional councils must recognise
and provide for? *
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi will be able to exclusively develop the
marine area, including fish farming, without (according to legal
experts) having to ask the public?
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi will be able to veto the rights
of others to commercially use the coast?
• Ask them if it’s fair that the bill turns the burden of proof around
so the Crown will now have to prove customary rights were legally
extinguished, rather than iwi having to prove they were not? *
• Ask them if it’s fair that iwi will be able to ban people from all
beaches and fishing spots by declaring wāhi tapu (and fine you
$5000 if you trespass)?
• Ask them if it’s fair that one in ten kilometres of our coastline could
be given to iwi as soon as the bill passes into law? And the Māori
Party has said they won’t be satisfied until the entire coast is in
Māori hands.
Thank you for caring about our coast and our country. This issue is at
the heart of what it means to be a New Zealander, and whether you
want a future united as one people or a future divided by race.
* Source: briefing paper by the
Māori Party to iwi describing
how much they will gain
from this new bill. View at
www.CoastalCoalition.co.nz
On behalf of the Coastal Coalition:
Dr Muriel Newman
New Zealand Centre for
Political Research
Dr Hugh Barr
Secretary, Council of Outdoor
Recreation Associations of New Zealand
John Key still needs
every vote.
Contact Peter Dunne –
ask him to oppose the bill:
peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz
In 2004 he led a march in Nelson
opposing the race-based carve up
of New Zealand’s coastline. Ask
him why he is supporting this bill
now see here
Help us fight the bill:
The Coastal Coalition is a grass
roots movement formed to oppose
National’s plan to carve up the
coast along racial lines.
You can find out more about this
whole outrage from
www.CoastalCoalition.co.nz
Tens of thousands of Kiwi families
have supported our campaign.
Your donation will help us reach
the public with information like
this – so more New Zealanders can
understand what’s actually going
on. Click here to help
What else can you do?
Contact all the other National MPs.
Tell them they have lost your vote if they pass this racist bill.
Ask them if they have actually read the bill. Don’t be put off by propaganda
and misinformation. Ask them some hard questions.

Hauraki Herald Goes Red and Black for Canterbury

All over New Zealand we are wearing black and white to help raise funds for quake-stricken Christchurch. Red and Black are the official colours of the Canterbury region of which Christchurch is the centre. As a tribute to the courageous people of Christchurch, today's Hauraki Herald produced a front cover red and black tribute.

The entire staff turned out in red and black for the day with money raised going to help the Christchurch Press families.