Monday 19 July 2010

The Editor

Sunday Star Times

Dear Editor  

Describing the government's proposed Environmental Protection Authority (18 July) Rod Oram advocates freedom "from political interference" as a major criterion.  A cunning choice of words confusing "interference" with "intervention" - surely the duty of any democratically elected government.  No mention of the dangers of commercial interference -- private sector lobbyists looking to profit from public sector projects.  Only have to see how the weekly issue of Treasury Bills is oversubscribed by hundreds of millions in the rush to own government debt!

As a keynote speaker at a forum staged by the Whanganui River Institute Mr Oram heard fellow panelist, union leader Andrew Little observe that "Perhaps we need a new economic model" i.e. to fund environmental protection. Forget the "perhaps". It's time our society's leaders admitted that the "eco-" prefix in "economics and "ecology" is derived from a Greek word meaning "good housekeeping". It does not denote opportunities for corporate profit! Means funding at nil interest from our sovereign central bank (the RBNZ) in a similar fashion to the multi-billion credit facility afforded the systemic banks to ease them through their liquidity crisis.  Surely our environment is a more deserving case for such privilege.  Let's hear it from Rod Oram.......

Heather Marion Smith

Wanganui