26 March 2004 Media Statement

Minister attends international environment forums

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs leaves tomorrow to attend two international environmental meetings in Jeju, Republic of Korea.

The minister will chair the Commonwealth Consultative Group on the Environment on Sunday as a preliminary to attending the UN Environment Programme's Global Ministerial Environment Forum.

"The themes for both forums are water, sanitation and human settlements," Marian Hobbs said. "Both meetings will provide a good opportunity for frank and open debate about how we are all approaching sustainable development.

"The concept of partnership is at the heart of our sustainable development approach where combined efforts and resources, shared understanding and information will ultimately provide better results."

Marian Hobbs returns to New Zealand on Thursday.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>