Economist Gareth Morgan challenged New Zealanders this week
on national radio to act to stop degrading our environment .
Across the Tasman the Lock the Gate farmers and activists have blocked mining companies from accessing their
land to extract gas from coal seams. Although legally entitled to do so these companies have
withdrawn in the face of concerted, widespread community opposition.
Drew Hutton from the Lock the Gate movement spoke in
Hamilton this week of the impact and risks of large scale coal seam gas
extraction. The most observable impact is the loss of productive farmland to
gas fields on a massive scale. Less apparent
but seriously concerning is the risk of contamination of water supplies, the
dangers of acid waste water post extraction and the escape of methane to the
atmosphere.
A local group has now formed to monitor these technologies
in the Waikato.
At the Waikato Interfaith Forum on Tuesday night
representatives of several faith communities linked their religious teachings
to caring for the earth. It is
encouraging that a group from widely varying backgrounds should do so with such
a degree of consensus. This week the Federation of Islamic
Associations in New Zealand mark Islamic
Awareness Week with a focus on the environment. This Saturday our Interfaith Forum will demonstrate their practical commitment to the
environment at a community planting at Lake Waiwhakareke to
continue the restoration of this area.
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