As a nuclear campaigner, I have seen the nuclear industry walk away from its mistakes many times, ignoring people’s suffering.

But it is the terrible effect on people of a nuclear disaster such as Fukushima that really brings home the flaws of the nuclear system.

Nearly two years after the disaster, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Japan are still being disrupted. When the disaster hit, their lives were turned upside down. They were forced from their homes, they lost their jobs, families were split up and communities were abandoned due to the radioactive fallout.

People are not able to get fair compensation. Many are still unable to return home or rebuild their lives elsewhere. Imagine living in limbo like that, stuck between past and future.

How can this be happening?

B... Read more >

The Federation of American Scientists estimates that at the end of 2012, there were 17,300 nuclear weapons globally. It said about 4,300 warheads are operational, of which about 1,800 US and Russian warheads are on high alert.

Another estimate, from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, puts the number of nuclear warheads at 19,000, down form 20,530 at the start of 2011. Other estimates go as high as 36,000.

These weapons are possessed by nine states, United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and... Read more >

By banning the sales of pesticides and herbicides Bhutan has outlined a clear path for the future of its agriculture: it will become the first wholly organic country in the world.

Bhutan was already largely organic, but the recent decision announced at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2013 aims to make it possible for the tiny Himalayan country to cut the last bond with dangerous agricultural chemicals.

The goal is not only to go organic, but to grow more food as well. Bhutan aims to achieve this with a region-by-region and crop-by-crop approach. At the same time it will study and introduce new methods of growing traditional crops in order to increase yields.  

This will set an example to show how ecological farming, which organic farming falls under, is a valid alternative to indus... Read more >

Earlier this week, we launched a report that showed that our clean energy sector could become the beating heart of our nation’s economy whilst creating many tens of thousands of jobs. Here's the infographic, the report, and the full modelling document.

The report was based on detailed economic and energy analysis by DLR, the German Space Agency as well as New Zealand based experts. Its conclusions showed that with the right Government action we could transform our energy landscape and in doing so play a role in delivering the clean technology solutions that the world needs.

At Monday’s official launch on board the Rainbow Warrior in Wellington, we were joined by over a hundred guests including politicians from the Labour and Green parties, business and industry leaders, economists and sci... Read more >

Last week I was lucky enough to be one of the group of local grassroots organisers from around the country who spent a few fantastic days at sea on the Rainbow Warrior's Bluff-to-Wellington journey. Something of a childhood dream of mine, it was a surreal and, luckily for us, sun-drenched experience. The Rainbow Warrior is all you imagine it to be; a ship made incredible by it’s people: a colourful array of inspiring folk from around the world with far more fascinating stories than you can take in over three days.

The six of us were invited aboard for a very specific purpose. As locals of areas around Aotearoa threatened by deep sea oil drilling, we came together to spend three days with each other, and Greenpeace, to learn, share, strategise and plan. We all share the common goal of ensur... Read more >

Yesterday was a good day. It was a day that my colleagues in Indonesia and around the world feared might never come. It was a day when that we have taken a huge step closer to saving remaining rainforests of Indonesia and the communities and endangered species who call them home.

Last night, in Jakarta, the notorious rainforest destroyer Asia Pulp and Paper, the world’s third largest paper supplier and owner of New Zealand based Cottonsoft, launched its new ‘Forest Conservation Policy’ committing to “end the "clearing of natural forest" across its entire supply chain, with immediate effect[i]”.

Many of my colleagues have invested endless hours over the last decade to expose the role that APP has played in the destruction of rainforests and persuade them to take this positive step.  Afte... Read more >

It's almost a year since we climbed the Shell-contracted drilling rig, Noble Discoverer.  Landing on the pier that day we felt dwarfed by the vast 53 meter drill tower that sat atop this rusting hulk which Shell was to use to pioneer their drilling programme in the Arctic.

Insignificant as we were we felt something had to be done – a light had to be shone on Shell’s insane plans to drill for oil in the icy Arctic wilderness.

Not in my wildest dreams did I think we would succeed as we did remaining atop the drill tower for over 77 hours.

During daylight hours I explained dozens of times to outlets from CNN to the Taranaki Daily news why we were taking such a dramatic stand.

For my part I feel I owe it to my children to be counted among those demanding immediate action on climate chang... Read more >

While the thought of official councils — with their high-level policy workshops and multilateral task forces — is enough to send most sensible people into fits of abysmal loathing, there is one such council that anyone passionate about the high north should care about: the Arctic Council.

Laudable aims

Created by the Ottawa Declaration in 1996, the Arctic Council is “a high level intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States.” Of particular importance to the Council are “issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.”

These are fine, noble words and laudable aims. But, as my dear grandmother often reminded me, such words tend not to butter many parsnips. Read more >

Not much to show for though...