A report on ethical investment opportunities, commissioned by Dunedin City Council, will be discussed by councillors later this month.
“This is an opportunity for us as a community to have a conversation about what we collectively feel comfortable making money from. It is important to have this conversation.” –Cr MacTavish (via ODT)
The councillor has written:
“I think drilling for hydrocarbons is unethical because of climate change. At the Council, we’re already having to factor climate change planning into decision-making, and it’s pretty obvious that it’s not the cheap option.”
Read Jinty MacTavish’s recent comments at ODT Online:
On ethics and hypocrisy… (9.1.14) and Climate change policy, cycle investments (12.1.14).
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Link supplied.
Monday, 13 January 2014 4:06 a.m.
![Ethical Sat Nav [newsbiscuit.com] 1](https://dunedinstadium.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ethical-sat-nav-newsbiscuit-com-1.jpg)
Cr MacTavish need never get lost again
### newsbiscuit.com Jan 7th, 2014
Politicians to replace faulty moral compass with new Ethical Sat Nav
By Ludicity
MPs are preparing for the arrival of a new piece of wearable technology that will help them navigate difficult terrain and always guide them towards the high moral ground.
The EPS, or Ethical Positioning System, operates by triangulating a person’s political standpoint via a number of morally aware ‘smart satellites’. If a politician starts to veer off course, perhaps about to break a manifesto pledge, the Sat Nav will interrupt with the message: ‘You are no longer on the agreed route, please perform a U-turn now.’
The new system replaces the old and unreliable moral compass. ‘In theory the moral compass should have worked,’ explained philosopher AC Grayling, ‘but many politicians found it confusing and were clearly unable to tell which way it was pointing. All too often they either they left it at home or held it upside down and headed off in entirely the wrong direction.’
Read more
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Those speaking at the inaugural Oil Free Future Summit included Gareth Hughes (Green Party), Jinty MacTavish, Prof Bob Lloyd, and photo journalist John Wathen.
### ODT Online Mon, 13 Jan 2014
Flotilla to hinder drilling
By John Lewis
Oil Free Otago has established a ”rapid response” team of up to 260 people to take to the waters around Otago to hinder Anadarko Petroleum Corporation’s deep-sea drilling operations. Oil Free Otago spokeswoman Niamh O’Flynn said the team was established during the Oil Free Future Summit in Dunedin at the weekend, and hinted it may be used to block the shipping lane in Otago Harbour to stop Anadarko vessels from using Dunedin as a servicing port.
Read more
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Related Posts and Comments:
9.4.13 Dunedin: Future service town to Shell? #realitycheck
24.9.12 Stadium Councillors back coastal oil exploration
13.4.10 Dunedin – an oil base?
18.3.10 Dunedin harbourside for oil base?
26.2.10 Latest on Dunedin’s offshore oil and gas prospects
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr
*Images: newsbiscuit.com – Ethical Positioning System (EPS); oilfreeotago.com – OFFS poster (detail)
What if? Dunedin... 
I think some of you need to stick to the issue rather than make this some kind of personal tirade against Jinty McTavish. I’m sorry, but I don’t think she deserves the kind of personal attacks as seen here. Disagree with her, if you will, but her positions on issues, like climate change,are at least sincerely held and not motivated by some personal financial gain. (Unlike some well known characters in this town who have routinely plundered public coffers to their advantage.These are the people who deserve the tartest of brickbats.Not her.)
You will notice she does her best to engage in the debate over climate change….. without rancour.
I occasionally dip into this site, now, and would prefer not to read yet another tirade along the same old lines.Remember we can not all be ‘experts’ on a wide range of issues.
Yeah, agreed in principle. Trouble is, she’s coming across in her public utterances as a fanatic in the grip of utopian Visions, fighting the Evil Forces of Doom.
I don’t believe most of her “proofs” and “authorities” no matter how numerous. Advocates of homeopathy are equally convinced, equally affronted by homeopath deniers. The Germans were baby-eating sub-human monsters, the epitome of evil, in 1914. “Authorities” agreed on that. Smoking was helpful for asthmatics and definitely didn’t cause cancer, not in the slightest. It’s one of the things about being around for a long time, facts, authorities and majority support look different a few years later, and the longer one lives the more of these “differences” one has observed personally.
We’ve even got one close to home, not scientists but civic and university leaders and businessmen as well as less exalted types believed the stadium would be a boon for Dunedin, attracting extra students to OU, bringing great concerts and events that had previously passed us by. Build it and they would come. Some of those who were in favour were then observed benefiting from it, however whether they had been in favour only out of selfishness while realising it would be bad for Dunedin, or because they believed the Vision, it’s impossible to be sure.
Jinty’s “build it and they will come” promotion of cycle lanes despite the clearly observable absence of cyclists on most city blocks most hours of the day and night, does her credibility no favours. She avidly supports preparation immediately for the variety of doominess advancing upon us with the inevitability of next Christmas’s junk mail, due to anthropogenic climate change. I am still waiting for our excitable AGW activists to mention volcanos – and come up with plans to make them stop going off when their eruption time comes around again. Yellowstone, Taupo….. Meanwhile, the climate predictions songsheet of the AGW experts’ choir have had to be revised several times to fit in with inconveniently observable truths. Science isn’t democratic, the number in favour of a belief do not make it true, nor false.
As for mocking Jinty, were she not risible in the manner and matter of her utterances the incentive to mock would be small indeed, as she’s a sweet young person full of idealism and prepared to work hard for what she believes in, and these are characteristics that most people are willing to admire even if they don’t agree with the beliefs.
### dunedintv.co.nz January 13, 2014 – 7:06pm
Lines drawn in the battle over deep sea drilling
Lines have been drawn in the sand as a battle over deep sea drilling off the Otago coast heats up. Texas-based oil giant Anadarko says it is ”not unduly concerned” about a newly established protest fleet organised in Dunedin to hinder its work. But the organisation behind the fleet is clear it is quite serious in its intentions.
Video
### dunedintv.co.nz January 13, 2014 – 6:58pm
Nightly interview: Neville Auton
Oil Free Otago held a summit over the weekend that included a conference on energy-related topics. One of those who spoke at the conference was the Otago Polytechnic’s energy consultant Neville Auton. He has worked on developing energy efficiency locally, and joins us with his thoughts on the issues.
Video
Good news
### dunedintv.co.nz January 13, 2014 – 6:35pm
744 followers join Pro-drilling group
While many are protesting the offshore drilling, a local group has come out in support and is welcoming Anadarko. The group called Pro Oil and Gas Otago launched a Facebook page on Friday, with 744 followers in just four days. A spokesperson for the group says members are meeting tonight to appoint an experienced media co-ordinator. The group say their aim is to provide some balanced debate and facts around oil and gas.
Ch39 Link [no video available]
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Pro Oil and Gas Otago at Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pro-Oil-and-Gas-Otago/202345206637605
Peter, I don’t think anyone here “attacks” Jinty from a personal standpoint, simply her stance on several issues of council involvement with which we disagree. That Jinty puts her ‘stake in the ground’ on certain issues is not sufficient that she should demand total acceptance. I give her full credit for being willing to listen and even respond in some instances, but that again doesn’t absolve her from being criticized on many of the issues which she fronts. Two of the most notable are the Transport Strategy on cycling, and, of course the ‘Climate Change’ thing. Both of these she is adamant about and consequently draws comment. That is what democracy is all about. As the saying goes, “if you can’t stand the heat in the kitchen then get out.” Jinty has shown no sign of heat exhaustion that I can see and power to her.
Calvin. There are many people, like yourself, who have strong, ‘adamant’ opinions on one, several or every issue that comes across the bow. I have no problem with that. In fact, I prefer it to the wishy washy types who try to say all things to all people.
It is the tone used to mock Jinty’s views which I don’t like. It comes across as bullying.
For myself, I don’t have strong opinions on every local government issue. With bigger issues, like climate change, I am no scientist and prefer to bow to the experts, whom I know sometimes get things wrong, but nevertheless have reached almost a consensus.
Peter I guess I largely agree with you, Jinty annoys me at times too, but, I think she’s genuine and earnest, and she represents a large constituency (she shed STV votes early in the counting) who deserve a say, whether you agree with them or not.
Who ever you are, if you oppose Jinty, and you voted at the last election, and chose wisely, chances are your STV vote ended up with someone who supports you on this issue and who will oppose Jinty around the council table – that’s how representative democracy works
### ODT Online Tue, 14 Jan 2014
Business
Protest ‘goes against history’
By Dene Mackenzie
Anadarko drilling ship Noble Bob Douglas will arrive in Otago waters soon. The Oil Free Otago flotilla set up to hinder Anadarko’s deep sea drilling programme went against more than 150 years of Port Otago’s history, Otago Chamber of Commerce past-president Peter McIntyre said yesterday.
Read more
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### ODT Online Tue, 14 Jan 2014
South ‘must seize drilling opportunities’
By Dene Mackenzie
The disparity between the average salaries in Taranaki and Otago makes it imperative Dunedin does everything possible to welcome Anadarko and Shell when they arrive to drill off the coast of Otago, business leaders say. The Seek average New Zealand salary packages for December showed Wellington at the top of the list with an average salary of $81,259, a growth of 4% from January last year. Taranaki, despite a 13% fall, was second on $75,349, followed by Auckland with 3% growth at $75,170.
Read more
Peter Mc Intryre, past President of the COC and a director/consultant with Craigs Investments, did his own emotional plug for deep sea oil drilling after criticising those who ‘show emotion’ over the issue. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
We also remember Peter, along with John Christie,were strong supporters of the stadium and all the wealth and opportunities that would bring to Dunedin.They were ‘the build it and they will come’ exponents. I rest my case.
Desperate times seek desperate measures on a wing and a prayer.
I love the line ‘they are only going for gas not oil’. FFS. Do we really think they will say,if they discover oil, ‘Oooo, there’s some oil there. We better leave it ?’ All part of the propaganda manipulation to ease the case for oil drilling. As we saw with the stadium.
### ODT Online Tue, 14 Jan 2014
ORC motion filed to support drilling
By John Lewis
An Otago regional councillor has filed a notice of motion to the Otago Regional Council encouraging it to support Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Shell New Zealand’s deep-sea oil drilling explorations off the coast of Otago. The motion follows threats by anti-drilling group Oil Free Otago to block shipping lanes in Otago Harbour with a flotilla of up to 260 boats, to stop oil and gas companies from using Dunedin as a service port.
Read more
Let’s hope DCC finds its way to do something similar !!
But Peter, they haven’t “reached almost a consensus”. The ones who disbelieve, and those who are skeptical about certain aspects of the AGW “current truth” are not united, they don’t have a powerful Cause to unite them, to advocate and agitate for change. I cannot think of anyone with any knowledge of history – far less prehistory, geology – who does not believe the climate changes, always has. And there is no reason to believe it will stop changing. I see it like the tides, on top of which there are waves, plus a cliff collapsing into the sea, plus the ripples from a fisherman down at the wharf casting a hopeful line … and so on. And then there’s sometimes a tsunami. I’m not going to get up a posse to chase the fishermen off the wharf to save coastal areas from devastation, not while I can’t prevent tsunamis. Yet that’s the model of argument put forward by AGW groupies.
If this was an issue that was happening in geological time, over millions of years I’d agree with you, we’d adapt, move, or grow gills or something, but it’s not, the sudden release of carbon from buried sources is changing things too quickly for people or the rest of the world to adapt.
To me those exponential looking curves that we are seeing for temperature/etc are equivalents to a Tsunami …. unless of course you have some evidence that next year they’ll all flatten out and go back to normal.
Is it man-made? The changes in the C13/C14 ratios in the atmosphere pretty much tell us that it is, that extra carbon is coming from underground.
Of course people should be sceptical, that’s after all how science works, it’s why people publish their data and their methodologies and I’m not quite sure what, if anything, anyone has to gain by promoting a false panic.
So let me ask you a question, suppose you were a scientist and you discovered that there was something that was happening that had the potential of causing a drastic change to life on earth, one that would likely cause the deaths of millions of people (could be a comet headed for the planet, the uncontrolled release of nano-replicators, ice-9, or yes even global warming) – what would you do? Would you do anything different from what scientists are doing now? How would you tell a genuine pending disaster from a false one? How would you err if you weren’t sure?
Non-answer: I’d smash their computer models that overstate what may be happening.
I believe the correct way to do that is to repeat their models with the same data and prove that they don’t work, then publish a peer reviewed paper explaining the assumptions in their models that are wrong and why
Elizabeth. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up in 1988 with a mission to provide comprehensive scientific assessments of information about the risk of climate change caused by human activity. In all this time, some 25 years, it has signally failed to provide any convincing evidence that this is so on anything but a minor scale akin to microclimates.
The eye-wateringly expensive models that have been developed to project climate change on a global level have failed to do so. The modelling so produced increases in divergence from observations with each succeeding year. With respect and in response to Mike below, it is not up to others to prove their models one way or another or explain the assumptions lying behind them that are wrong or otherwise. It is up to the IPCC itself and the modellers to do that. This is what they were charged to do.
The test of a scientific theory is the accuracy of its predictions.
The reason so many scientists are skeptical of the global warming theory is because the predictions of the computer models have been so wrong : carbon dioxide has been increasing but temperature has not : there has been no significant warming for the last 17 years.
How can there be confidence in the models’ predictions for the next 80 years when the predictions for the last 20 years have been wrong.
For more info, go to the world’s most popular science blog:
http://wattsupwiththat.com/
Wilma McCorkindale/Fairfax NZ Southland Times
Noble Bob Douglas —new ultra-deepwater drillship
Noble Drilling (Noble Corporation) is bringing the new high-tech drillship to New Zealand as part of Anadarko’s deepwater programme. The overall project length for Noble Drilling is anticipated to be circa 8 months.
Rig Name: Noble Bob Douglas
Rig Manager: Noble Drilling
Rig Owner: Noble Drilling
Competitive Rig: Yes
Rig Type: Drillship
Drillship Type: Dynamic Positioning
Rig Design: Gusto Engineering Hyundai Gusto P10000
Rated Water Depth: 12,000 ft
Drilling Depth: 40,000 ft
Read more at RigZone
Article at Shipbuilding Tribune:
South Korea: Drillship Noble Bob Douglas Under Construction at HHI Contracted (13.7.12)
The Noble Bob Douglas is one of four ultra-deepwater drillships being constructed for Noble by HHI. All four drillships are based on a Hyundai Gusto P10000 hull design, capable of operations in water depths of up to 12,000 feet and offering a variable deck load of 20,000 metric tons.
Elizabeth
Every picture tells a story. Rubber duckies versus Noble Bob – just about sizes them all up doncha think?
Mick, I do think. Unless Greenpeace sweeps in with a large corporate-sponsored vessel or three, Jinty’s kayak ain’t gonna work. She mustn’t drop the paddle either. “Rubber duckies versus Noble Bob” – the whole scenario makes for delicious children’s tales.
Yes………and Jonkey ain’t no Vladimir Putin.
!
If Dave Cull doesn’t put on his Mayoral hat and state categorically that Dunedin welcomes the opportunity to host these people, then if the exercise does bear fruit in the form of gas or oil, we could well find Dunedin being sidelined and other arrangements made to service and provision the project. It is not for him or any other councillor to use their position to cast personal opinion on the city’s participation at the expense of the industries which may well be negatively affected. Particularly when it comes to the matter of taking personal positions on the basis of supposed ‘Climate Change’ as being caused by the exploitation of ‘fossil fuels’. This is a matter outside the mayor and councillors’ domain. Despite the ‘naysayers’, the science is still very much in dispute, and there is as yet no definitive proof of the claims being made of ‘sea level rises’ or excessive warming, other than a number of computer programmes set to a lot of variables imposed by the IPCC consultant scientists which are very far from being shown as valid. Until this happens, or not, then Dunedin is in no position to make unilateral decisions on either type of outcome. All it will do is sideline the city and run the risk of losing out on possible job and industry growth. As it has been pointed out, Taranaki has benefited immensely out of the oil and gas industry as indeed have other cities around the world. It will be a crying shame if Dunedin misses on the strength of a minority paranoia.
Cull was quick enough to do a U-turn on chucking rates money at the stadium and has been steadily, generously, funding it ever since he became mayor. After all, once it was there what else could he do – I suppose that is how he justifies his switch from Fubar opponent to sugar-daddy.
So, Anadarko? If he makes it plain that Dunedin doesn’t welcome the opportunity to host these people they’ll go away and the world will be saved from climate change?
Sure, Dave. Good move, Dave.
Time for a quote from Sir Humphrey: “That would be a courageous decision, minister.”
I ditched the climate change train a while back and am more than happy to just deal with weather, in my farming tradition. The sixties I grew up in featured localised seasonal extremes not at all unlike ‘now’. My life span left earns me no panic of climate type. I have a small footprint that most New Zealanders wouldn’t be prepared to tolerate – choice is great thing.
So when it comes to offshore exploration and the hope of finding something good, I dare say Central Government will ensure that the Dunedin mayor and councillors of excessively green ‘ethics’ and kayaks… do not get to hinder business (therefore jobs and productivity where they land within NZ). Dare we look at Christchurch as the warning to that – ministerial rule.
We must be of the same vintage, Elizabeth, because I too remember “climate extremes” and how we called it dreadful, or wonderful, weather. We didn’t have a doom-script to slot it into, to give it more significance than it warranted.
Anadarko – New Zealand overview
http://www.anadarko.com/Operations/Pages/NewZealandOverview.aspx
There is a term bandied about “green Taliban”, so committed and so fanatical in their beliefs it becomes doctrinal, Jinty is the epitomy of such world view, it is a shame as it clouds her ability to competently perform her role with any real objectivity and rigour, c.f. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/146099/cr-mactavish-tears-climate-plan-debated
I suspect the above is the tip of the ice berg which is scary, she wishes to push an agenda which would ultimately have us licking rocks for sustenance, and if anyone dares to suggest maybe that is slightly extreme, like many of her Green party ilk she effectively throws a petulant tantrum like a spoilt child
What is clear is that Jinty is not behind the 47 million dollar cycle lanes to protect cyclists. If she was she would not encourage 260 kayakers to consider drowning, protesting in kayaks in the sea with a dirty great big oil platform coming and going.
The fight is about getting you out of your car and getting a bike, mule or horse with no crap to take you around the village stopping on every corner at a traffic light.
One might support her ideal if she forswore her own car, got rid of all the vehicles the DCC use to rob parkers, hoover up dogs and all the one year old vehicles traded in by council staff from the DCC and the ORC.
It is all a crusade and in the end she’ll have about the same result as Richard I.
Like Richard I, has no car. Walks, cycles, uses a bus. And so do I.
;)
### ODT Online Thu, 16 Jan 2014
Opinion
Lessons in petroleum benefits
Ross Cullen provides insights from petroleum exploitation in Norway.
The prospect of renewed exploration for petroleum off New Zealand has generated plenty of interest among the public, business and government. New Zealand has an offshore exploration history dating back to the 1960s, several producing fields, and petroleum exports worth $1.5 billion annually, but we are a tiny player in the world petroleum market.
Read more
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New group formed in support of drilling
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/288328/new-group-formed-support-drilling
The whole essence of that opinion piece is that Norwegian politicians are one hell of a lot smarter than the average New Zealand one. We only need to look within our own city to see that, never mind on the national scene.
Bob Jones said NZers have no investment culture. Double that with knobs on for politicians.
The rich always have an investment culture – like he does. But no, we don’t avidly put money into growing new companies/startups or into R&D very much at all. If there was an even distribution of wealth in NZ, would we each spend more on increasing productivity and export initiatives – as THE investment ?
The interviewer said something like “Well, it’s all right for you to talk about investing but a lot of NZers don’t have spare money.” At that Bob Jones said he wasn’t talking about money-investing but investing overall, i.e. deferred gratification, making an effort or small spend now for a return later. He said he always puts in food-producing trees and plants as one of the first things to do with a new home, and pointed out that it takes very little effort or expenditure to grow a few veges. It is easy to grow cut-and-come-again salad greens in a plastic tub.
That’s what he meant about investment CULTURE. We’ve got worse since he said it. Now it’s not just blow all your pay before next payday – and I don’t mean the people who literally do not earn enough to have 10 cents over, no matter how careful they are, this applies to many well-paid people. Now it’s a culture of instant gratification on the plastic. Great profits for the banks, and an increasing acceptance of shorter and shorter short-termist practices of politicians.
An investment culture is one that looks at the possibilities of doing smart things now so the future will be better – not the “we’ll all choose to ride bicycles when cycle lanes are provided” utopianism of the Green Taliban, but calm evaluation of “growing new companies/startups or into R&D” on a case by case basis, without hysteria.
Check out the size of Bob Jones’ house and garden in Wellington. There was a TV programme about it a few years back.
Yes, I remember. Fabulous, v envy-making! I’ve also seen very small gardens where every sq.cm is productive including the concrete – with pots of strawberries and veg on it!
### ODT Online Fri, 17 Jan 2014
Anadarko to meet pro-oil group
By Chris Morris
Anadarko’s representatives will be back in Otago today for meetings, including one with members of the new Pro Oil and Gas Otago group in Dunedin.
Read more
Five-week wait to plug well
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/288602/five-week-wait-plug-well
● The time needed to source, assemble, move and install the capping stack is put at 35 days in the company’s oil spill management plan for its exploratory well off the Waikato coast. The plan was approved by Maritime NZ last year and released under the Official Information Act before Christmas.
● Under draft regulations to accompany the new Exclusive Economic Zone Act, the Government plans to make offshore drilling a non-notified activity, meaning applications will not be subjected to public scrutiny.
### ODT Online Sat, 18 Jan 2014
Drilling divides mayor, lobbyist
By Andrew Ashton
After meeting representatives from Texan oil company Anadarko yesterday, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he believed oil and gas exploration off the Otago coast could be an economic ”game-changer” for the district, but Greenpeace says mayors across Otago are ducking the ”hard questions” as to who really stands to reap the financial rewards.
Read more
### ODT Online Sun, 19 Jan 2014
Cities vie for big oil’s favour
By Brenda Harwood – The Star
Dunedin and Invercargill have both been courting big oil companies in recent years for the chance of a billion-dollar bonanza from potential gas deposits in the Great South Basin. Insiders believe Dunedin’s proximity to promising gas fields in the Great South Basin should see it become a base for any largescale production – but it is not a done deal yet.
Read more
…chance of a billion-dollar bonanza…
*POOF*
Now the oil companies and the rich boys are suddenly going to let you and me tap into a billion dollars…
It’s all soooo real, just like magic or a Disney plot.
### ODT Online Mon, 20 Jan 2014
Opinion
Gas hub gains a case of us or them
By Andrew Whiley
The residents of Dunedin have a choice to either embrace the concept of the city being a hub for offshore gas companies or accept the alternative and encourage the companies to set up their hub in Invercargill. The decision in our control is where these exploration companies will base themselves.
Read more
• Andrew Whiley is a DCC councillor.
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The tooth fairy expectorates in unseemly fashion.
### ODT Online Mon, 20 Jan 2014
Opinion
Fossil fuel position based on science, best interests
By Jinty MacTavish
Recently, I’ve expressed an opinion that it’s unethical to explore for additional fossil fuels, in the light of climate science and in the absence of an international agreement that limits carbon emissions. I’ve questioned the ethics of the Dunedin City Council investing public funds in companies involved in fossil fuel exploration, and both the ethics and the wisdom of the council using ratepayers’ resources to entice those companies to set up shop here.
Read at your own risk
• Jinty MacTavish is a DCC councillor.
If the cap fits, Jinters.
“According to commentary in the ODT, the ODT Online and Dunedin-based Facebook groups, that makes me variously a comfortable middle-class leftie, perpetual whinger, tree-hugger, hypocrite, naive, self-righteous, “against everything”, a bird-brained penguin, misguided waster, eco-terrorist, oil hater, stupid, ignorant, a lazy beneficiary*, Luddite, a nimby and an “extremist seeking to sabotage Dunedin’s economic wellbeing”.”
*Fortunately, she is paid a very handsome stipend (with pricy add-ons for this and that) to be one of your city councillors. This could equate to ‘beneficiary’ status but I don’t think so.
It’s politics, dear.
Offshore drilling might bring the end of the world…
“Two degrees centigrade is the maximum amount of warming we can allow if we’re to avoid catastrophic climate change.”
DON’T MAKE US LAUGH.
Elizabeth
In reading this piece by Jinty it is clear that she is well and truly out of date. This is rather sad for someone so young. Jinty seems to be in a ‘time warp’ – out of date and seemingly on the shelf.
The failure of the 2009 Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Summit conference signalled the beginning of the end of the climate change meme. In the week following its end, carbon prices in the EU dropped to a six month low. It has been steadily downhill since then. Not just the price of carbon but the whole creaking climate change edifice. Slowly by surely over these last 4-5 years it has crumbled – even the main stream media is waking up.
‘Travesty’ Trenberth is still looking for his missing heat – in the depths of the ocean. Unfortunately he hasn’t found it yet. It might be more appropriate to search in the ‘Depths of the Temple” where such religious salvation might be found.
Andy Revkin of the New York Times sees the writing on the wall when he observes “Worse than we thought” has been one of the most durable phrases lately among those pushing for urgent action to stem the build-up of greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
He observes “On one critically important metric — how hot the planet will get from a doubling of the pre-industrial concentration of greenhouse gases, a k a “climate sensitivity” — some climate researchers with substantial publication records are shifting toward the lower end of the warming spectrum shaving away the high end of estimates from doubled carbon dioxide levels”. This is quite a move for an ardent advocate and ‘believer’.
But other papers such as the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail in Britain are beginning to realise that this meme has pretty well run its course. They are becoming increasingly critical of this now well discredited meme.
Meanwhile, the German “Der Spiegel” reports that the European Union “is seriously jeopardizing its global leadership role”.
It says “The EU’s reputation as a model of environmental responsibility may soon be history. The European Commission wants to forgo ambitious climate protection goals and pave the way for fracking — jeopardizing Germany’s touted energy revolution in the process.”
In Australia the new Liberal government has thrown all this under a bus.
The USA will soon become the greatest exporter of fossil fuels while Britain’s Prime Minister is pressing for the development of its shale oil reserves.
This is the real stuff. Actions speak volumes.
The one who is out of step with all this is Jinty.
She asserts “If we exceed 2degC, scientists warn of dangerous climate impacts, with the livelihoods of millions of people destroyed by disruptions to food production, water supply and ecosystems, potentially aggravating conflict and forcing mass migration.
Beyond 2degC, it’s expected that feedback loops would kick in – warming resulting in more warming – eliminating the possibility of a safe climate future, and rendering mitigation of effects such as sea level rise and ocean acidification effectively impossible.
Dunedin and our economy would not be immune to these effects”.
Well Jinty what Scientists? Why has Germany started burning brown coal, Why is China and India ignored the IPCC and is burning more fossil fuel than ever before. Why is the U.K hell bent on developing is shale oil reserves? Because Jinty they simply do not believe this Malthusian view of the world. Not any more.
daspresMick, thanks for your comment! Alas, it will be some time before Jinty (therefore Daaave) self-corrects… so the council’s 2014/15 annual plan (as well as the LTCCP) is in for considerable damage. Boof! There goes the DCC credit rating. But seriously, there go the diminishing number of ratepayers willing to stomach DCC’s bad financial management, called ‘debt creation’. [rating base shrinks]
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Remember, the “books” don’t deal adequately to the truth of the DCC/DCTL relationship – interest rate swaps, the three big banks, and $850 million of uncalled capital… see post.
I am disappointed that she didn’t mention my favorite: “Enviro-nazi”. The Urban Dictionary (www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=enviro-nazi) has this quite appropriate definition of “enviro-nazi” –
n. an environmentalist who is so anal over the cause that he or she feels it it entirely ok to trample on the rights of others to enforce his beliefs. Most of these morons are ultra-left liberal flakes with no career ambitions or direction, but still need to find ways to keep others down in a futile attempt to elevate themselves. Many are also PETA members and all have socialist agendas.
Enviro-nazi examples are everywhere, from the bicyclists who occasionally stage a rally to block major bridges in rush hour in a vain attempt to blackmail normal people into giving up their cars to the protesters who turn up in droves with signs and attitude whenever they get word that somebody somewhere intends to cut down a tree or drill for oil.
JimmyJones, I feel sure the ODT wouldn’t have let that truth through !!
Jinty’s ‘job description’ shows just how really versatile she is. And so young! Still, even though I think she is way off beam on this climate change threat, she certainly is not alone on that. Bit of a worry actually. My concern is that win lose or draw, it will cost the ratepayers big time, and they are in no position to handle that. Bad enough with what is in the here and now without worrying over what many say will never happen. The science is not all in on this one at all, despite the conning ‘mantra’ “97% of scientists” agree on AGW. I am waiting with bated breath to see what the consensus of this new council is on the subject.
We can expect some excellent journalism from Bruce Munro.
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### ODT Online Sat, 25 Jan 2014
Magazine
Search comes south
By Bruce Munro
Oil and gas exploration in our backyard is on its way. No matter whether you are for or against deep sea drilling, it is set to begin in earnest off the Otago coast. What is involved? How real are the potential benefits and risks? And who would reap them? During the next few weeks the Otago Daily Times will examine these and other questions to give readers a comprehensive understanding of the issues and the facts. Today Bruce Munro begins by asking why all the interest in our patch, and why now?
Read more
### ODT Online Sun, 2 Feb 2014
Distant prospects
By Bruce Munro
The oil and gas exploration ship Noble Bob Douglas is due off the coast of Otago within days. It is a mini-United Nations aboard the 229m-long and 36m-wide drill ship swarming with geo-scientists, petroleum engineers, drillers and other roustabouts, oil company representatives, caterers, cleaners and maintenance crew.
Read more
Unfortunately, the magazine piece decides to get hooked on climate change, which is said to be “beyond argument”.
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### ODT Online Sun, 9 Feb 2014
Magazine | Oil and gas exploration
Oil’s not well
By Bruce Munro
Oil and gas exploration heating up off Otago’s coast brings not only potential benefits but risks too. Bruce Munro looks at the likely effects of a well blow-out and asks whether the planet can afford even one more well.
[…] Climate change is without doubt the biggest risk posed by the ongoing search for, and use of, fossil fuels. Climate change itself is beyond argument. At a global level there have been more than 300 consecutive months of temperatures being warmer than the 20th-century average for that month. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the planet is now 0.85degC warmer than at the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Read more
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Read earlier parts of the ODT Magazine series | Oil and gas exploration:
http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/289184/search-comes-south
http://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/290005/distant-prospects
It’s OK PRO-drillers, I’m forming the water police and growing the coastguard.
The destroyers and aircraft carriers are heading into Cook Strait and steaming this a-way !! Always fancy the mix of toxic high and low tech. Drones and barrel bombs at the ready. And I’ve told the whales and fishies to piss off till things calm down.
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### dunedintv.co.nz January 31, 2014 – 7:37pm
Oil Free Otago plans to ‘peacefully confront’ Anadarko’s drilling ship
Oil Free Otago met with crew from sailing vessel Tiama this morning, planning the group’s next move against oil-giant Anadarko’s deep sea drilling. Oil Free Otago say members will sail to ‘peacefully confront’ the drilling ship which is expected soon. And the group has defended its activities, in the face of considerable criticism.
Video
### dunedintv.co.nz February 4, 2014 – 7:20pm
United States academic talks pros and cons of oil in the community
A United States academic says hosting the oil industry can bring benefits to a community. But she says those companies also use their money to soften criticism in communities that can become quickly overwhelmed with rapid change. As the industry heads to the Otago coast its arrival here, and the response from locals, will give her plenty of research material to take back home.
Video
Something for their risk management plan. Engine failure and high winds caused a fertiliser ship to strike a jetty off France and split into two. The photos remind me of the breakwater at Aramoana.
### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 07:59 06/02/2014
Ship snaps in two in storm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/9691795/Ship-snaps-in-two-in-storm
Don’t worry according to the plan Anadarko filed with the govt EPA they are prepared :
“The kit on the drillship includes:
• 15-4’ socks, 5-8’ socks, 190 pads, 16 pillows;
• 2-10 lb Albozorbit, 15 disposable bags with ties;
• 4 pair of nitrile gloves, 4 pairs silvershield gloves;
• 4 each splash resistant goggles, 4-Tyvek coveralls XL;
• 1 non-sparking shovel; and
• 1 emergency response guidebook.”
sounds more like they are preparing for a sleep over with overweight roustabouts than a deep sea drilling mishap
Probably a typo ?!
No it’s real – it’s quite funny until you realise that what it is is that they’re totally prepared for an engine oil spill but have made no plans whatsoever for an oil spill at depth – though the Guide book might simply say “run away”.
Facetious about the typo ;)
Our dear Government is supposed to protect us and our environment from fools like this [wails]. Have to hope a demanding questionnaire was sent to Anadarko’s HQ for ‘clarification’ Cc Maritime New Zealand.
I know, I live in fantasy land.
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We now know how far away, how many weeks away, the gear is to cap a blowout etc etc. But we’re drilling for GAS, not oil, we’re told.
humph – you make a test well because you don’t know what’s down there, just because you drill for gas doesn’t mean that’s what you get.
Just like Anadarko’s claim this week that somehow drilling and finding nothing proves that what they are doing is safe – not having a blowout when you don’t find anything proves nothing – they are obviously unclear on the concept.
I think we should simply leave the oil/gas in place, by the time our kids are running the show exploration at depth will be a much more mature technology, the oil/gas will be worth a whole lot more and we can negotiate any leases at more Norwegian levels of return to the country.
Mike, your list is not convincing. I looks like it was written for children, perhaps by a paid green party publicist. If you are trying to convince the grown-ups that the Anadarko doesn’t have the gear to deal with a mishap, then your list needs to be a list of things it doesn’t have, not a small selection of things it does have for an unspecified purpose, not necessarily related to big oil spills.
Jimmy – you can read it for yourself here pp228/229
Click to access Deepwater_Taranaki_IA.pdf
BTW I agree it looks like it was written for children, probably how they got it past the minister
Mike: Thanks for the link. Your comment about the Anadarko’s equipment seems to be either carelessly misleading or deliberately dishonest. The list of equipment that you give is for dealing with Tier 1 spills (“small operational spills”); the more serious spills are Tier 2 and Tier 3. Examples of Tier 1 spills are hydraulic leaks and small spills during refueling generators – this would include what you mention above, an “engine oil spill”.
For large spills Maritime NZ “take the lead and mobilize resources”. If more equipment is needed this will be supplied by Oil Spill Response Ltd. If you think this isn’t good enough, then you should say so without using misleading information. I suggest that if you have spread this around other blogs, then you should correct the bad information and apologise at each site.
Jimmy – no it’s exactly my point, they are not at all prepared for a real oil spill, they expect a part of the NZ government which is equally unprepared to do it for them – the government don’t have any oil spill (or well capping) equipment for dealing with deep drilling in NZ either – it would takes weeks, likely more than a month before any equipment would arrive on site to deal with a blowout.
This is why we should wait until the oil companies have had a lot more experience dealing with drilling, and problems drilling at depth
Mike: your point was that Anadarko was unprepared based on your fake (out of context) list of equipment. Do you understand why you seem to be careless or dishonest.
The new points that you make would have some credibility if you gave us some supporting evidence:
you say –
— “they expect a part of the NZ government which is equally unprepared to do it”, but until you show me otherwise, I will assume this is a decision of Government, not an unwillingness of Anadarko [to deal with serious spills]
— “[Anadarko] is equally unprepared to do it”. Anadarko will have some degree of capability for dealing with big spills. You haven’t shown that they are unprepared.
— “the government don’t have any oil spill (or well capping) equipment for dealing with deep drilling in NZ either”. I am interested to know if this is true, but I suggest that you find out before you start telling us that it is true.
— “it would takes weeks, likely more than a month before any equipment would arrive”. This could be true, but it looks like you are guessing. The information supplied by Anadarko is probably more precise than what you have said. Anadarko and Maritime NZ and Oil Spill Response Ltd are likely to have different delay times for providing equipment. I haven’t read the documents, so tell us if you discover anything useful.
Jimmy: I’m just passing on what I’ve read elsewhere – I believe that the company doing the drilling should be prepared and responsible to clean up any mess they make – not the government, not you and me, but the company who stands to make all the money should their well be successful. Their plan is not out of context – it is the context, it shows that they don’t have a plan, they wash their hands of any mess they should make. The problem with a deep well, a kilometre down, where you can’t send divers, is that there’s little you can do without specialised highly expensive equipment – equipment that no one can afford to have here, from what I’ve heard it’s at least as far away as Singapore, and if it’s not already in use will take weeks to sail here. So since they can’t afford to have it here they cross their fingers and tell us not to worry, they’re drilling for gas, not oil, but don’t really know what’s down there.
Mike: You haven’t been paying attention. What I have been telling you is that you have presented wrong information and you haven’t provided anything factual to support your opinions. Disregarding my views on drilling, I am saying that your arguments are crap.
Tell us what you believe, but don’t invent supporting “facts” and don’t present things as factual when your checking amounts to copying it from some blog or believing whatever you are told (eg. “from what I’ve heard it’s at least as far away as Singapore..”). Seven billion people live here, and they hear and believe and say many different things that are not necessarily true.
I said before- (“Mike: your point was that Anadarko was unprepared based on your fake (out of context) list of equipment. Do you understand why you seem to be careless or dishonest”), and your response is- “Their plan is not out of context – it is the context, it shows that they don’t have a plan..“. Is this the best you can do? – to talk about “their plan out of context” when I have accused you of giving us a list of equipment out of context. Your response is quite slimy, I think. Someone with more courage would admit that they were wrong.
But Jimmy – they are unprepared for a real oil spill their document says as much – it says they expect the NZ government to clean up after them if something bad happens when they drill – that is unacceptable.
See my earlier comment on this thread
Five-week wait to plug well
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/288602/five-week-wait-plug-well
● The time needed to source, assemble, move and install the capping stack is put at 35 days in the company’s oil spill management plan for its exploratory well off the Waikato coast. The plan was approved by Maritime NZ last year and released under the Official Information Act before Christmas.
● Under draft regulations to accompany the new Exclusive Economic Zone Act, the Government plans to make offshore drilling a non-notified activity, meaning applications will not be subjected to public scrutiny.
It makes sense for the government to be prepared for massive oil spills since the likeliest cause is – well, remember Reno? And who knows where it would happen next time, if there’s a next time. Well capping is a specialist skill involving specialist equipment and personnel. Given the low probability of it being needed, compared with the need for a neurosurgeon and cardiologist on the ship for health emergencies, I think some deep breathing followed by real-life risk assessment based on the record of all-time world-wide drilling hours may be in order.
Daaave cunningly spots a deepish source of investment potential.
Mark Solomon and his board are no fools.
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### ODT Online Fri, 7 Feb 2014
City-Ngai Tahu good partners
By Hamish McNeilly
The relationship between Ngai Tahu and the Dunedin City Council is ”blossoming by the day”, as their respective leaders discuss regional economic development, including the benefits and risks of offshore oil and gas exploration.
Read more
Ngai Tahu investment welcome (via ODT):
8.2.14 Ngai Tahu eyes second project
22.8.13 Public consultation on $20m hostel soon
21.8.13 $20 million student hostel planned
### ODT Online Sat, 8 Feb 2014
‘David and Goliath’ quest
By Shawn McAvinue
David killed Goliath, and the Oil Free Otago flotilla set to sail tonight can stop the Anadarko drill ship, the Rev Peter Matheson says. Mr Matheson (75) said he would be aboard the lead flotilla yacht SV Tiama when it left Dunedin tonight to confront the Anadarko drill ship Noble Bob Douglas at the drill site 65km from Taiaroa Head.
Read more
Well that’s it then. I’m out of here, she’s all over, leave the planet just as quick as we all can. The absolutely compelling piece of information which brings me to this conclusion is the devastating news that there has been an 0.85c degree rise in temperature since the start of the industrial revolution. Jeez! that’s nearly 0.3c degree per century. Why haven’t we been told this sooner? 300 consecutive months (twenty five years) with the temperature above the 20th century average. But hold on! It has been declared authoritatively that there has been no measurable increase in temperature in the last 17 years. I do think these folk who make this stuff up should be much more circumspect about the information they put forward as being gospel. It is what is known as responsible journalism. In retrospect, I think will stay and just take my jersey off and relax in all the warmth.
### dunedintv.co.nz February 11, 2014 – 7:07pm
ORC cautioned not to take a side in the Anadarko controversy
The Otago Regional Council has been warned not to take a position on gas and oil exploration.
Video
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### ODT Online Tue, 11 Feb 2014
ORC guarded on drilling
By Rebecca Fox
The Otago Regional Council’s ability to take a position on oil and gas exploration off Otago’s coast may be restricted by having to consider future resource consents related to the activity. Tomorrow, the council will consider a request by Cr Gerry Eckhoff that it ”endorses [in principle] the exploration for oil and gas off the Otago coast”. Chief executive Peter Bodeker, in a report to the council, said he had sought a legal opinion on whether it was legal or desirable to take a position on oil and gas exploration.
Read more
### dunedintv.co.nz February 12, 2014 – 6:29pm
ORC adopts neutral stance on deep sea drilling
The Otago Regional Council has rejected a call from one of its councillors to officially get behind oil and gas exploration off the Otago coast. The council this afternoon voted to adopt a neutral stance on deep sea drilling exploration. Councillors voted against a motion put by Councillor Gerry Eckhoff that the ORC support, in principle, deep sea drilling off the coast.
Ch39 Link [no video available]
### ODT Online Thu, 13 Feb 2014
Support for oil exploration ‘unlawful’
By Rebecca Fox
Otago regional councillor Gerrard Eckhoff has not ruled out further pushes to get the council to debate the issues around oil and gas exploration, after failing at the first hurdle yesterday.
Read more
█ Anadarko and Origin Energy have completed the first step in drilling the exploratory well off the Otago coast. The well was spudded on Tuesday, Anadarko New Zealand manager Alan Seay said. The process began on Monday afternoon and was completed about 1pm on Tuesday.
ProGas buzzed the city this morning!
### ODT Online Sat, 15 Feb 2014
Bold statement in skies by ProGas
By Timothy Brown
The fight over the seabed is taking to the skies. Pilot John Penno said yesterday he had been approached by a Dunedin businessman affiliated with the ProGas Otago group with a request to make a bold statement in the skies of Dunedin on behalf of the group.
Read more
****
Yesterday, a Dunedin taxi driver said business from the drill ship has been very good. Members of his taxi company are ferrying people to and from the Taieri helipad, as well as to accommodation providers and other locations in the city. The chopper from the drillship Noble Bob Douglas (see pictures of the ship) can carry up to 16 passengers and their baggage.
### dunedintv.co.nz February 13, 2014 – 7:06pm
Anadarko drilling already under way
The Anadarko drill ship the Noble Bob Douglas has begun drilling in the Canterbury Basin and has made an initial surface hole at the Caravel 1 well.
Video
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Tweet:
Dave Goosselink @kiwidaveg
Dunedin protests for and against Anadarko drilling as part of South Island day of action (video) 3news.co.nz/Dunedin-protes…
7:29pm · 15 Feb 14 · Tweet Button
Protesters have taken to beaches across the South Island in a show of opposition to deep-sea drilling.
3News Text + Video
Returning to matters raised at the top of this thread:
### dunedintv.co.nz February 24, 2014 – 6:49pm
Ethics considerations before investing may be up for public consultation
The public may get a say on whether the Dunedin City Council includes ethical considerations when it invests money from a multi-million dollar fund. The council is considering – at a meeting still running this evening – whether its $76m Waipori fund should have a formal position on the issue. The fund’s managers already have a policy of not investing in arms or tobacco. Staff have recommended the issue of making that policy more formal, and giving further direction on ethical investment, be part of this year’s annual plan consultation.
Ch39 Link [no video available]
Well, well, well!
“Ethical” and “DCC” go together like tripe and mallowpuffs, or did everything change when the clock struck midnight on Saturday?
Anyone finding Dave’s slipper, please hand it in to Reception.
Rather than ethical investment we could be better advised to consider the ethical process for Dave’s slippery sale of community-owned assets (if there’s any left not heavily mortgaged) – Amanda reminds us the water asset is under threat.
Report tabled at the meeting of Dunedin City Council on 24 February 2014:
█ Report – Council – 24/02/2014 (PDF, 130.0 KB)
Waipori Fund Ethical Investing
Other reports
### ODT Online Tue, 25 Feb 2014
Warning ethical investment could create volatility
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council risks more “volatile” returns from its $76 million Waipori Fund if it opts for an ethical investment strategy that shuns the likes of the armament and tobacco industries, the council says.
Read more
How to inflame the petrochemical user/kayakers and duckie riders !!!
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### dunedintv.co.nz February 27, 2014 – 6:59pm
Government’s decision regarding offshore drilling consents called “shameful”
The Government has bypassed the full resource consent process for offshore oil and gas drilling, prompting an angry response from an Otago anti-drilling organisation.
Video
Deep-sea drilling change slammed
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/293396/deep-sea-drilling-change-slammed
Dave has his knickers in a twist, perhaps reasonably.
Ms Adams said the non-notified discretionary classification was a ”pragmatic” option for exploratory drilling, and would ”provide a level of regulation proportionate to its effects”.
“The classification will provide effective oversight and environmental safeguards without burdening industry with excessive costs and timeframes,” she said.
Ms Adams said an operator would have to apply for a separate consent to produce oil or gas, and that consent would be subject to public consultation.
City councillors Whiley and MacTavish at odds over oil and gas prospecting news issuing from Wellington.
“[Off the coast] …”exploration drilling” was scheduled to happen eight times between now and the end of 2018.”
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/301082/oil-or-gas-find-matter-when-not-if-whiley
From the INCREDIBLE Files at DCC………..
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### dunedintv.co.nz November 18, 2014 – 5:44pm
Government invites petroleum companies to bid for exploration rights
The government is going through the process of inviting petroleum companies to bid for next year’s exploration rights. It’s known as the petroleum block offer, and in the past it’s been met with support as well as resistance from the Dunedin community. So now the city council is seeking public feedback on the issue, to include within its own submission.
Video
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Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Residents’ Views Sought on Oil and Gas Exploration
This item was published on 17 Nov 2014
Do you have a view on exploration for oil and gas off the Otago coast?
The Petroleum Block Offer is the way the Government enables petroleum companies to bid for exploration rights to New Zealand’s oil and gas resources. This is the third year of the Block Offer process, which is run by New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZP&M), a department within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says oil and gas exploration is a subject that has generated significant community discussion. There a wide range of views, from how many jobs might be created to the impact of fossil fuels on climate change. “We know this is a subject people feel strongly about and we are keen to hear what our residents think.” The DCC has made a submission for the past two years and intends to use these as the starting point for this year’s submission. Community views will be considered and the feedback received will be attached as an appendix to the formal DCC submission to NZP&M.
█ For more information on the Block Offer and previous DCC submissions, or to provide your feedback online, visit http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/petroleum-block-offer.
Contact Corporate Policy Team Leader on 03 477 4000.
DCC Link