Please, stay safe. Denying/ignoring the climate crisis is a wonderful example of short-termism and is readily adopted by many who feel they will be sorted ‘this quarter’. With regard to the election I am comforted by the thought that MPs burying their heads in the sand leave another part of their anatomy exposed to their enemies
Thanks Keith. We so need long term thinking and consistency here. It is gutting to see this government tearing down all previous efforts in this regard
I do not want to be wilfully blind while our young citizens are burdened with a lack of access to the basics of life because a few powerful private interests and governments withhold these for a select few, reflected in their short-term priorities.
I will vote for politicians and a government that takes their responsibilities to govern for ALL seriously.
I will support and encourage bipartisan agreements that are living agreements demonstrating stewardship values in action well beyond a 3 year election cycle.
🙋 Feeling for all those affected by these climate crisis events, particularly those who have lost whanau, friends, homes etc. And your own situation shows that the effects don't have to be visible to be serious ie medications & health treatments being unavailable, even to those "safe" so to speak.🫂 There is no excuse for any govt to ignore/deny/defund climate mitigation action in these times of widespread data. Local govt & communities can do a lot, but central govt should provide leadership AND funding if they are competent & care about their citizens
More learnings from Chch EQ plus being a remote tramper/camper: 1) if water is scarce, have fragrance-free (& preferably bio-degradable?) baby wipes on hand which are efficient alternatives to showers/baths (Antarctic scientists etc camping out on the ice use them too) PLUS can be used to wipe down plates & cutlery & most anything else needed - alternatives are CHUX type clothes dampened & soaped 2) I have an Ecoflow battery pack which can be charged by solar, plug into power, or while driving & I generally use for recharging other things & low draw appliances (incl. portable or even household fridge/freezer) - but remember the "while driving" can also apply to running the car in place to charge phones, batteries etc (with good ventilation obviously) 3) if temporary toilets are needed, old paint cans with lids (designed to be leak proof) or if doing prep in advance, something like the Thunder-down-Under which comes with a built in seat - when travelling I empty these into ordinary toilets or camp toilets when available, and of course after the EQs we had Port-a-loos on the streets for the same. Some people line them with rubbish bags & figure out how to dispose of them later! Ordinary toilet cleaner or diluted White Vinegar or Baking Soda can help with smells & some put kitty litter into the bucket or bag to absorb liquid (in the backcountry I used to use forest litter in the pit toilets) 4) if phone signal is weak, remember txts will go when voice calling doesn't Hopefully we are all learning to be more self-reliant in some ways after being in or witnessing multiple disasters in the last few years alone 🤔
** See the pretend-PM doing media standups a day late & several $$ short, but it got him out of attending Ratana so... 💩🥚🤡
Thank you for sharing - very useful! I think I will add some baby wipes to my emergency kit, and maybe even kitty litter - with 6 in our household it will get unpleasant very quickly. The husband invested in a few items after Christchurch and we do keep a stock of water and dry and canned goods on hand now. I think I might do some grab bag prep once home, so if an emergency does occur, I know what to pull together quickly. It's the latter I think that is so hard - when panicked and worried it is much harder to think sensibly.
Fantastic practical strategies Cindy - thank you - you’re a gem!
You’re so onto it promoting self-reliance. Be healthy, smart, awake and alert. But also connected; relating to and with others; giving and receiving in all the ways that neighbourhoods and communities do. My heart goes out to all affected by these climate crisis events. Ki kaha.
We know how marae function. This collectivism is essential. If we do not know of any pockets or hubs or networks close for us and our whanau to access, let’s create these networks of resilience and action. Such energising forces for good that carry us far beyond any 3 year election cycle.
Sorry, should have added, such weather related events are all too common now.
And what really annoys me is the absolute failure of politicians to front up and acknowledge that the Climate Crisis is here and now, not 20 years down the track.
HI Dr Bex , the funny thing about averages is their fine in times of stability but in times of instability they are next to worthless. I was in northland in 2007-8 and we were hit by over 400mm in 36 hours, I counted 19 land slips on my way to town some over 100m wide and long even in manuka. We just experienced a one in 500y event in mid north coast NSW but I think most people will agree that this is only going to get worse and these events will become much more common. We have taken out some of the rungs in the ladder for cloud formation and rain which allow for these large events to form, this coupled with rising temperatures are starting to show in events like this all around the globe. I agree we need a rethink on the arithmetic of risk and I think most actualists agree as well.
Thank you for sharing your very thoughtful, considered and well researched substack. The more we can action now, the better - and the more that action is delayed now, the more things will get exponentially worse.
Pity in Beyond the canopy I left out the fact that our road networks cut and quickly drain the land which is especially important in Australia where we are a land of drought fires and floods.
this is an extension of the ocean co2 capture with the emphasis on the combination of ocean eddy and downwelling currents to deeply sequester vast amounts of co2.
this is about using satellites and AI to more easily find geothermal deposits which their founder thinks are in much higher concentrations, especially shallow heat anomalies, than the current exploration suggests.
This really hits home in the best way. The point about personal preparedness extending beyond just your home location is somthing I hadnt considered before. I went through something similar during a hurricane a few years back and felt totally caught off guard being away from my usual supplies. Really appreciate you sharing your firsthand experience with this.
Thank you for sharing, and yes, rather foolishly, it never really occurred to me that disaster might strike while away from our hometown and usual supports. Thankfully we weren't too badly impacted here - really feeling for those whaanau who have far more to deal with
Wow, cycled those roads back in October, a Thames, Tapu, Coroglen, Pauanui, Whangamata, Paeroa, Thames loop over a couple of days. Some of the roads looked vulnerable back then, obvious cracks and slumps with patch repairs, can only imagine the impacts. Stay safe, appreciate your reporting and commentary.
It does seem you had electricity and comms. Tairāwhiti had neither for a week during Gabrielle & Hale. Keeping a battery pack in the car boot can be a boon for light and phone recharging .NZME influencer/ provocateur Mike Hoskins on ZB radio is leading a discussion about closing highways we simply cannot afford to keep open.
Back from Hawaii our PM is in Gisborne today helping his beleaguered local MP.
our world class beaches are yet again strewn with slash and woody debris waiting for a clean up by ratepayers- again. It also destroys the littoral fishing habitat.
Indeed we did. Good idea re battery pack in the car boot - means it is likely with you. How does Mike suggest people who live in such areas collect supplies and visit specialists etc - passenger train?
People in such areas drive to Napier/Hamilton for supplies and specialists. The train was canceled in 2012 by the trucking lobby when malign neglect saw the line damaged in a flash flood the origin of which was never investigated- likely slash blocking the huge 1920 culvert. Shelves in the local supermarkets are becoming bare with the Waioeka Gorge out for at least 3 weeks.
Thank you - great idea. Spenny, but would be very useful if power goes out for more than a few hours. I reckon I could knock up a quick solar oven in a pinch, but I probably need to practice a bit now, before an emergency comes calling!
Installed solar systems pay for themselves in 5 to 10 years (longer if you put in batteries). These portable ones are just smaller versions so you can use them to supplement your normal electricity needs.
For cut off communities, it removes the worry of running out of fuel for petrol generators.
Well said. The lack if leadership on climate mitigation and adaptation has been so frustrating! I found some great advice on the Taje the Jump website about how an ordinary householder can live a carbon neutral life. So now I do that and, even if we're not all "teaming" it on this issue, I at least feel relieved that I am doing what I can. Leadership can be anacted by anyone.
Please, stay safe. Denying/ignoring the climate crisis is a wonderful example of short-termism and is readily adopted by many who feel they will be sorted ‘this quarter’. With regard to the election I am comforted by the thought that MPs burying their heads in the sand leave another part of their anatomy exposed to their enemies
Thanks Keith. We so need long term thinking and consistency here. It is gutting to see this government tearing down all previous efforts in this regard
I agree Keith and Dr Bex.
I do not want to be wilfully blind while our young citizens are burdened with a lack of access to the basics of life because a few powerful private interests and governments withhold these for a select few, reflected in their short-term priorities.
I will vote for politicians and a government that takes their responsibilities to govern for ALL seriously.
I will support and encourage bipartisan agreements that are living agreements demonstrating stewardship values in action well beyond a 3 year election cycle.
Yes Keith, I never vote for short-termism.
🙋 Feeling for all those affected by these climate crisis events, particularly those who have lost whanau, friends, homes etc. And your own situation shows that the effects don't have to be visible to be serious ie medications & health treatments being unavailable, even to those "safe" so to speak.🫂 There is no excuse for any govt to ignore/deny/defund climate mitigation action in these times of widespread data. Local govt & communities can do a lot, but central govt should provide leadership AND funding if they are competent & care about their citizens
More learnings from Chch EQ plus being a remote tramper/camper: 1) if water is scarce, have fragrance-free (& preferably bio-degradable?) baby wipes on hand which are efficient alternatives to showers/baths (Antarctic scientists etc camping out on the ice use them too) PLUS can be used to wipe down plates & cutlery & most anything else needed - alternatives are CHUX type clothes dampened & soaped 2) I have an Ecoflow battery pack which can be charged by solar, plug into power, or while driving & I generally use for recharging other things & low draw appliances (incl. portable or even household fridge/freezer) - but remember the "while driving" can also apply to running the car in place to charge phones, batteries etc (with good ventilation obviously) 3) if temporary toilets are needed, old paint cans with lids (designed to be leak proof) or if doing prep in advance, something like the Thunder-down-Under which comes with a built in seat - when travelling I empty these into ordinary toilets or camp toilets when available, and of course after the EQs we had Port-a-loos on the streets for the same. Some people line them with rubbish bags & figure out how to dispose of them later! Ordinary toilet cleaner or diluted White Vinegar or Baking Soda can help with smells & some put kitty litter into the bucket or bag to absorb liquid (in the backcountry I used to use forest litter in the pit toilets) 4) if phone signal is weak, remember txts will go when voice calling doesn't Hopefully we are all learning to be more self-reliant in some ways after being in or witnessing multiple disasters in the last few years alone 🤔
** See the pretend-PM doing media standups a day late & several $$ short, but it got him out of attending Ratana so... 💩🥚🤡
Thank you for sharing - very useful! I think I will add some baby wipes to my emergency kit, and maybe even kitty litter - with 6 in our household it will get unpleasant very quickly. The husband invested in a few items after Christchurch and we do keep a stock of water and dry and canned goods on hand now. I think I might do some grab bag prep once home, so if an emergency does occur, I know what to pull together quickly. It's the latter I think that is so hard - when panicked and worried it is much harder to think sensibly.
Fantastic practical strategies Cindy - thank you - you’re a gem!
You’re so onto it promoting self-reliance. Be healthy, smart, awake and alert. But also connected; relating to and with others; giving and receiving in all the ways that neighbourhoods and communities do. My heart goes out to all affected by these climate crisis events. Ki kaha.
We know how marae function. This collectivism is essential. If we do not know of any pockets or hubs or networks close for us and our whanau to access, let’s create these networks of resilience and action. Such energising forces for good that carry us far beyond any 3 year election cycle.
I live in Whangamata. Being boxed in isn’t pleasant. But please stay safe
Sorry, should have added, such weather related events are all too common now.
And what really annoys me is the absolute failure of politicians to front up and acknowledge that the Climate Crisis is here and now, not 20 years down the track.
HI Dr Bex , the funny thing about averages is their fine in times of stability but in times of instability they are next to worthless. I was in northland in 2007-8 and we were hit by over 400mm in 36 hours, I counted 19 land slips on my way to town some over 100m wide and long even in manuka. We just experienced a one in 500y event in mid north coast NSW but I think most people will agree that this is only going to get worse and these events will become much more common. We have taken out some of the rungs in the ladder for cloud formation and rain which allow for these large events to form, this coupled with rising temperatures are starting to show in events like this all around the globe. I agree we need a rethink on the arithmetic of risk and I think most actualists agree as well.
https://drtomharris.substack.com/p/parasol-lost-recovery-plan-needed
Thank you for sharing your very thoughtful, considered and well researched substack. The more we can action now, the better - and the more that action is delayed now, the more things will get exponentially worse.
Pity in Beyond the canopy I left out the fact that our road networks cut and quickly drain the land which is especially important in Australia where we are a land of drought fires and floods.
Two other subs I gain inspiration from
https://climaterestoration.substack.com/p/localized-ocean-fertilization-is
this is an extension of the ocean co2 capture with the emphasis on the combination of ocean eddy and downwelling currents to deeply sequester vast amounts of co2.
https://zanskargeothermal.substack.com/
this is about using satellites and AI to more easily find geothermal deposits which their founder thinks are in much higher concentrations, especially shallow heat anomalies, than the current exploration suggests.
This really hits home in the best way. The point about personal preparedness extending beyond just your home location is somthing I hadnt considered before. I went through something similar during a hurricane a few years back and felt totally caught off guard being away from my usual supplies. Really appreciate you sharing your firsthand experience with this.
Thank you for sharing, and yes, rather foolishly, it never really occurred to me that disaster might strike while away from our hometown and usual supports. Thankfully we weren't too badly impacted here - really feeling for those whaanau who have far more to deal with
Wow, cycled those roads back in October, a Thames, Tapu, Coroglen, Pauanui, Whangamata, Paeroa, Thames loop over a couple of days. Some of the roads looked vulnerable back then, obvious cracks and slumps with patch repairs, can only imagine the impacts. Stay safe, appreciate your reporting and commentary.
It does seem you had electricity and comms. Tairāwhiti had neither for a week during Gabrielle & Hale. Keeping a battery pack in the car boot can be a boon for light and phone recharging .NZME influencer/ provocateur Mike Hoskins on ZB radio is leading a discussion about closing highways we simply cannot afford to keep open.
Back from Hawaii our PM is in Gisborne today helping his beleaguered local MP.
our world class beaches are yet again strewn with slash and woody debris waiting for a clean up by ratepayers- again. It also destroys the littoral fishing habitat.
Indeed we did. Good idea re battery pack in the car boot - means it is likely with you. How does Mike suggest people who live in such areas collect supplies and visit specialists etc - passenger train?
People in such areas drive to Napier/Hamilton for supplies and specialists. The train was canceled in 2012 by the trucking lobby when malign neglect saw the line damaged in a flash flood the origin of which was never investigated- likely slash blocking the huge 1920 culvert. Shelves in the local supermarkets are becoming bare with the Waioeka Gorge out for at least 3 weeks.
If you live where you can be cut off from power a portable solar system might be what you need. You can also use it to keep your bills lower https://shop.aa.co.nz/collections/portable-power
Thank you - great idea. Spenny, but would be very useful if power goes out for more than a few hours. I reckon I could knock up a quick solar oven in a pinch, but I probably need to practice a bit now, before an emergency comes calling!
Installed solar systems pay for themselves in 5 to 10 years (longer if you put in batteries). These portable ones are just smaller versions so you can use them to supplement your normal electricity needs.
For cut off communities, it removes the worry of running out of fuel for petrol generators.
See Rewiring Aoteroa for more information
Very useful info, thanks. Hey wee typo: māuiui, eh, not māuiwi :-) All the best for your safe stay & safe return home.
Oh goodness, good spotting! Shall edit forthwith!
Well said. The lack if leadership on climate mitigation and adaptation has been so frustrating! I found some great advice on the Taje the Jump website about how an ordinary householder can live a carbon neutral life. So now I do that and, even if we're not all "teaming" it on this issue, I at least feel relieved that I am doing what I can. Leadership can be anacted by anyone.