robson-on-politics, a newsletter from Matt Robson MP
Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party
www.progressiveparty.org.nz

Thur 31 March

Planet Earth need not be on cusp of disaster

The British Independent newspaper today reports on new research that concludes Planet Earth "stands on the cusp of disaster.

"People should no longer take it for granted that their children and grandchildren will survive in the environmentally degraded world of the 21st Century".

The report should not depress any of us. It just means that we have to work harder together, nationally and internationally, to promote socially just and ecologically sustainable policies.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10117801

Stop complaining about America

It is no use complaining about the Republicans in America because the U.S. isn't joining global efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Sure, it is disappointing that the U.S. is trying to hurt multilateral efforts to fight AIDS/HIV via Needle and Exchange Programmes promoted by UN agencies.

Yes, it is disappointing the genocidal murderers in the Sudan may not get tried at the International Court of Justice because the U.S. government is anti that multilateral effort at an international law against tyranny.

Yes it hurts us that the U.S. imposes huge, unfair trade barriers against New Zealand's efficient dairy and other farmers, and massively subsidizes its own corporate agricultural and steel industries at the cost of living standards across the rest of the world.

But just because the U.S. isn't joining us at the Kyoto Protocol, World Court and other international forums like WTO, doesn't mean we should give up in despair, it just means we should do more ourselves to promote multilateral progressive policies.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/02/global10244.htm

Forest industry welcomes Budget annoucement

You won't know this from the news media, but on Tuesday Jim announced the first of Budget 2005 announcements. It is the sort of policy that excites people that care about adding value to our economy, getting us up the value chain so that we can become a richer economy able to afford the sort of First World social policies other richer countries take for granted.

Well, the Forest Industry put out a statement welcoming the budget announcement, so that's something!

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1663

Praise for China on car emissions policy

In the General Debate last night, I praised China for its really strong policy to cut car emissions. China is putting Europe, North America and us to shame on this vital issue related to global climate change.

The race to promote economic development is one that everyone can be excited about because it is a race to eradicate the evil that is poverty and also a race to raise environmental standards.

The government of China has given us a privileged position at the head of a very long international queue seeking a fair trade deal with China.

China is emerging very quickly as the world’s most important manufacturing hub and the Labour-Progressive government, precisely because it is forward-looking, is embracing this opportunity for all New Zealanders.

The Labour-Progressive government is saying YES to working for a global economy that is socially just and environmentally sustainable.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1661

NZUSA launch of Doctors and Debt

I attended the launch this morning of NZUSA's well-researched document "Doctors and Debt" which shows young graduates are delaying having families, and fleeing the country, because of the massive debt monkey on their backs.

The Progressive Party will have candidates in every electorate this year campaigning for party votes so that in the next Parliament we can implement our policy to reduce graduates' debt in return for them working in New Zealand.

http://www.progressiveparty.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1334

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