Author: Fee Writes

Fee Writes

Harbourmaster Uses Council Boat To Free Orca – Stood Down

A Coromandel (N.Z.) Harbourmaster has been stood down because he used a Council boat to go and free an Orca.

A breeding female orca was trapped in a cray pot line for 16 hours – Yup 16 HOURS!!!! and the DOC (Department of Conservation) peeps were “too busy” to go and free her. So, in the end, the Harbourmaster along with a volunteer who had training in Dolphin and Whale rescue went out to her aid.

She was being held up by other members of her pod – if that’s not distress I don’t know what is!

Read More Here

They did get her free and she swam away.

But now the Waikato Regional Council is

“checking whether any regulations were breached or operational procedures not followed during the rescue”

and the Harbourmaster has been stood down.

This is P.C. gone afoul – as usual. Who gives a toss if regulations have been breached! The Harbourmaster knew what he was doing, didn’t put anyone at risk and saved the Orca. He should be commended not reprimanded!

I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Fee Writes

Environment | Food | Rants

C’mon Now, Save The Bees!

We really do have to save the bees. And I’m over the big corp bullying.

It came to my attention yesterday that the chemical corporation, Bayer (Bayer is the German version of Monsanto, more about this corp below), is suing Europe! The European Commission to be exact.

And this is because…

Back in 2013 scientific studies concluded that the pesticides with Neonicotinoids in them definitely killed bees. So the E.U. banned three pesticides. Now, Bayer wants to overturn that decision so they can start selling this stuff again.

I do find it rather ironic that this is coming now when Bayer is about to acquire Monsanto, the other big chemical giant. If this happens, then Bayer will have world dominance over seed production.

Stick with me here…

Bayer produces seeds which have Neonicotinoids over them. That means, once they are planted this chemical spreads throughout the plant and kills any insect that happens to come along to have a wee snack …. including bees which are there for the pollen.

The plants are also unable to re-generate meaning that the farmer must get new seeds each planting time (my understanding is that is under the GMO part of seed raising) – I am actually going somewhere here.

So Bayer takes over Monsanto.
Bayer produces seeds that kill bees.
Bayer produces GMO plants that can’t regenerate.

My little brain equates that to…

Bayer wants total world domination of the food supply.

Do you agree? Would love to see your views in the comments below.

Either way, it would be excellent if you would take a minute to sign the petition just click:

SAVE THE BEES

Fee Writes

Environment | Random

Is It A Human’s Right To Have Water?

Do you believe that every human being has a right to have water … for free?

Back in 2013, Peter Brabeck the Chairman of the Board of Nestlé upset the world when he began pushing for the privatization and control of water across the world. He created such a furore that he back-tracked his initial statement and gave his reasons.

Before I go into what those reasons were, let me say that Nestlé wanted to take control to the extent that in 2000 at the World Water Forum they successfully lobbied to

stop water being declared the universal right of every person.

Since then they have been pushing for control.

Already water is being pumped out by the millions of gallons, put into plastic bottles which are then sold to a gullible public to the point that it has become almost a status symbol of the wealthy.

Will it end up that just the wealthy will be able to afford clean water?

Peter Brabeck’s argument is that if the water is owned, then it is the responsibility of the owner to make sure that it is clean. He believes that as water remains “free” it is

“wasted, polluted and unsustainably managed … it is abused and polluted making it undrinkable in its natural state. And, if we’re not careful, the water will become so polluted that the citizens will not be able to use it in any way at all.”

You have to admit that he has a point – take the town of Flint in the USA as a classic example of water being polluted so badly it can’t be used.

Geez, even N.Z. is well on the way to having a drinking water problem as over 70% of all waterways are so badly polluted they are deemed to be toxic. Also, according to NZ ecologist Russell Death,

“We have the highest level of many of these waterborne gastrointestinal diseases in the OECD.”

that’s just insane for a country that tells the world we are clean and green.

However, I certainly am NOT in favour of privatizing water… not one little bit. In fact, I’d like to see companies who bottle water for the supermarket shelves to either stop doing it or replace the plastic with recyclable glass!!!!

Because there’s the other problem with “private water”…

Plastic is the bane of the modern world and it is time we face up to the fact that we just have to STOP using it.

All of this has been prompted by a petition to:

Tell Nestlé that humans have a right to water.
Stop locking up our resources!

You can sign the petition here: Tell Nestlé

I’d be very interested to read what you think about this so please feel free to scroll down and use the comments section below.

Fee Writes

Random

Experiencing Country Life!

I honestly didn’t think I’d be experiencing country life again.

It would have to be at least 18 years since I’ve lived in the country. Like, really in the country!

So why am I here?

I left the last house-sit not quite two weeks ago. Yes, I apologise to those who are following me (all two of you), who are actually interested in where I am.

My new “digs” are now about 1/2 hour drive from the city heading North. When I say 1/2 an hour – that’s when the traffic is normal. Peak time can be around 45 – 55 minutes. But that’s o.k. gives me time to plot and scheme about stuff!

I’m here until late December when I’ll be back in the city looking after Lily again.

Now, the household is made up of my beautiful friends Caitlin and Rob and their adorable cat, Ruby. The vibes here are super loving and I couldn’t be with better people.

With you in mind, I took my camera when I went for my walk …. yes, I’m walking and checking out the neighbourhood just for you ……

Meet the neighbours:

These two gorgeous Clydesdales belong to the neighbour

Just some of the girls who live here with us

There's always a Pukeko close by — There’s always a Pukeko close by

Even the proverbial barn

The neighbour is creating a beautiful fence of roses in front of the avocado trees.

And best of all ... Ruby — And best of all … Ruby

Ahhh, country life.

Fee Writes

Environment | Random

Stop The Food Waste!

France has done it again, this time the supermarkets have been told to stop food waste.

It is now illegal for French supermarkets to throw out good food in a bid to stop the huge food waste that goes on.

It’s not the first time France has come up with environmental and social laws.

Last year the French government came out with a law that all new buildings in commercial zones must either be partially covered in plants or solar panels. How amazing is that?

The beauty of green roofs is that they have an isolating effect, help to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the building in winter and cool it off in the summer. Not only the good stuff like that but it also gives birds a place to nest!

Now the French Government have made a new law. Supermarkets are no longer allowed to throw away good food. The supermarkets must now donate their unsold food to charities.

See, grassroots campaigns can win, because that’s how this all started. French shoppers, anti-poverty campaigners and those opposed to food waste all came together to get this bill passed in their parliament.

Why doesn’t that happen here? Are we too apathetic? Do we just not care? Or is it a case of the majority of us are simply trying to get through each day making enough to pay the bills, buy food and trying to better our lives?

Of course, for France, the campaigners want to take this idea even further, past the supermarkets and into the restaurants, bakeries and even school and company canteens.

Poor little NZ – we’re way behind the 8 ball, gosh we can’t even ban the plastic bag and just get deeper into the mire and muck and further away from the clean and green.

Will anything change for us? I certainly hope so, and quickly!

Author: Fee Writes

Harbourmaster Uses Council Boat To Free Orca – Stood Down