Latest news with #Greenpeace
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
David Robie: New Zealand Must Do More For Pacific And Confront Nuclear Powers
The New Zealand government needs to do more for its Pacific Island neighbours and stand up to nuclear powers, a distinguished journalist, media educator and author says. Professor David Robie, a recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), released the latest edition of his book Eyes of Fire: The last voyage of the Rainbow Warrior, which highlights the nuclear legacies of the United States and France. Robie, who has worked in Pacific journalism and academia for 50 years, recounts his experiences aboard the Greenpeace vessel the Rainbow Warrior in 1985, before it was bombed in Auckland Harbour. At the time, New Zealand stood up to nuclear powers, he said. "It was pretty callous [of] the US and French authorities to think they can just carry on nuclear tests in the Pacific, far away from the metropolitan countries, out of the range of most media, and just do what they like," Robie told RNZ Pacific. "It is shocking, really." Speaking to Pacific Waves, Robie said that Aotearoa had forgotten how to stand up for the region. "The real issue in the Pacific is about climate crisis and climate justice. And we're being pushed this way and that by the US [and] by the French. The French want to make a stake in their Indo-Pacific policies as well," he said. "We need to stand up for smaller Pacific countries." Robie believes that New Zealand is failing with its diplomacy in the region. He accused the coalition government of being "too timid" and "afraid of offending President Donald Trump" to make a stand on the nuclear issue. However, a spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Pacific that New Zealand's "overarching to work with Pacific partners to achieve a secure, stable, and prosperous region that preserves Pacific sovereignty and agency". The spokesperson said that through its foreign policy reset, New Zealand was committed to "comprehensive relationships" with Pacific Island countries. "New Zealand's identity, prosperity and security are intertwined with the Pacific through deep cultural, people, historical, security, and economic linkages." The New Zealand government commits almost 60 percent of its development funding to the region. The spokesperson said that the Pacific was becoming increasingly contested and complex. "New Zealand has been clear with all of our partners that it is important that engagement in the Pacific takes place in a manner which advances Pacific priorities, is consistent with established regional practices, and supportive of Pacific regional institutions." They added that New Zealand's main focus remains on the Pacific, "where we will be working with partners including the United States, Australia, Japan and in Europe to more intensively leverage greater support for the region. "We will maintain the high tempo of political engagement across the Pacific to ensure alignment between our programme and New Zealand and partner priorities. And we will work more strategically with Pacific Governments to strengthen their systems, so they can better deliver the services their people need," the spokesperson said. But former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, writing in the preface of Robie's book, said: "New Zealand needs to re-emphasise the principles and values which drove its nuclear-free legislation and its advocacy for a nuclear-free South Pacific and global nuclear disarmament." Robie added that looking back 40 years to the 1980s, there was a strong sense of pride in being from Aotearoa, the small country which set an example around the world. "We took nuclear powers," Robie said. "And the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was symbolic of that struggle, in a way, but it was a struggle that most New Zealanders felt a part of, and we were very proud of that [anti-nuclear] role that we took. Over the years, it has sort of been forgotten". 'Look at history' France conducted 193 nuclear tests over three decades until 1996 in French Polynesia. Until 2009, France claimed that its tests were clean and caused no harm, but in 2010, under the stewardship of Defence Minister Herve Morin, a compensation law was passed. From 1946 to 1962, 67 nuclear bombs were detonated in the Marshall Islands by the US. In 2024, then-US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell, while responding to a question from RNZ Pacific about America's nuclear legacy, said: "Washington has attempted to address it constructively with massive resources and a sustained commitment." However, Robie said that was not good enough and labelled the destruction left behind by the US, and France, as "outrageous". "It is political speak; politicians trying to cover their backs and so on. If you look at history, [the response] is nowhere near good enough, both by the US and the French.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- Gulf Today
Sharjah records highest temperature at 50.2°C in Al Dhaid, residents urged to hydrate regularly
The UAE has once again breached the 50 degrees Celsius mark, the third time in three months. The National Center of Meteorology reported that the highest temperature recorded in the country today was 50.2°C in Al Dhaid, Sharjah, at 2:00 pm UAE local time. Health experts have urged residents and workers to protect themselves from the scorching heat and to stay hydrated regularly. Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear indicator of global warming and that these heatwaves are expected to become more frequent, longer, and more intense. The number of extremely hot days has nearly doubled globally over the past three decades. According to a 2022 Greenpeace study, the Middle East is at high risk of water and food scarcity, as well as severe heatwaves, due to climate change. The report, which focused on six countries including the UAE, found that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, making its food and water supplies "extremely vulnerable" to climate change. According to the NCM, some cumulus clouds are expected to form in the east, possibly accompanied by rain on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. This is due to the country being affected by an extension of a weak surface low-pressure system from the east and a surface high-pressure system from the west, accompanied by an extension of a weak low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere. Tuesday's weather is expected to be clear to partly cloudy, with a chance of cumulus clouds forming in the east during the afternoon, possibly accompanied by rain. Light to moderate southeasterly to northwesterly winds will blow, becoming active and dust-stirring at times at speeds of 10 to 25 km/h, reaching up to 40 km/h. Waves will be regular in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Wednesday's weather is expected to be clear to partly cloudy, with a chance of cumulus clouds in the east during the afternoon, possibly accompanied by rain. Light to moderate southeasterly to northeasterly winds will blow, turning active and dust-stirring at times during the day at speeds of 10 to 20 km/h, reaching up to 40 km/h. Waves will remain regular in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Thursday's weather will be clear to partly cloudy, with a chance of cumulus clouds forming in the east during the afternoon. Light to moderate southeasterly to northwesterly winds will blow, becoming active and dust-stirring at times during the day at speeds of 10 to 25 km/h, reaching up to 40 km/h. Waves will be regular in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Friday's weather is expected to be clear to partly cloudy, with some clouds, possibly cumulus, appearing in the east in the afternoon. Light to moderate southeasterly to northwesterly winds will blow, becoming active and dust-stirring at times during the day at speeds of 10 to 25 km/h, reaching up to 40 km/h. Waves will be regular to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
David Robie: New Zealand must do more for Pacific and confront nuclear powers
"Hot off the press" David Robie talks 'Eyes of Fire' his book marking 40 years since the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis The New Zealand government needs to do more for its Pacific Island neighbours and stand up to nuclear powers, a distinguished journalist, media educator and author says. Professor David Robie, a recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), released the latest edition of his book 'Eyes of Fire: The last voyage of the Rainbow Warrior', which highlights the nuclear legacies of the United States and France. Robie, who has worked in Pacific journalism and academia for 50 years, recounts his experiences aboard the Greenpeace vessel the Rainbow Warrior in 1985, before it was bombed in Auckland Harbour. At the time, New Zealand stood up to nuclear powers, he said. "It was pretty callous [of] the US and French authorities to think they can just carry on nuclear tests in the Pacific, far away from the metropolitan countries, out of the range of most media, and just do what they like," Robie told RNZ Pacific. "It is shocking, really." The bombed hull of the Rainbow Warrior. Photo: AFP Speaking to Pacific Waves , Robie said that Aotearoa has forgotten how to stand up for the region. "The real issue in the Pacific is about climate crisis and climate justice. And we're being pushed this way and that by the US [and] by the French. The French want to make a stake in their Indo-Pacific policies as well," he said. "We need to stand up for smaller Pacific countries." Photo: Greenpeace / Fernando Pereira Robie believes that New Zealand is failing with its diplomacy in the region. He accused the coalition government of being "too timid" and "afraid of offending President Donald Trump" to make a stand on the nuclear issue. However, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Pacific that New Zealand's "overarching to work with Pacific partners to achieve a secure, stable, and prosperous region that preserves Pacific sovereignty and agency". The spokesperson said that through its foreign policy reset, New Zealand is committed to "comprehensive relationships" with Pacific Island countries. "New Zealand's identity, prosperity and security are intertwined with the Pacific through deep cultural, people, historical, security, and economic linkages." The New Zealand government commits almost 60 percent of its development funding to the region. The spokesperson said that the Pacific was becoming increasingly contested and complex. "New Zealand has been clear with all of our partners that it is important that engagement in the Pacific takes place in a manner which advances Pacific priorities, is consistent with established regional practices, and supportive of Pacific regional institutions." They added that New Zealand's main focus remains on the Pacific, "where we will be working with partners including the United States, Australia, Japan and in Europe to more intensively leverage greater support for the region." "We will maintain the high tempo of political engagement across the Pacific to ensure alignment between our programme and New Zealand and partner priorities. And we will work more strategically with Pacific Governments to strengthen their systems, so they can better deliver the services their people need." But former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, writing in the preface of Robie's book, said: "New Zealand needs to re-emphasise the principles and values which drove its nuclear-free legislation and its advocacy for a nuclear-free South Pacific and global nuclear disarmament." Robie added that looking back 40 years to the 1980s, there was a strong sense of pride in being from Aotearoa, the small country which set an example around the world. "We took nuclear powers," Robie said. "And the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was symbolic of that struggle, in a way, but it was a struggle that most New Zealanders felt a part of, and we were very proud of that [anti-nuclear] role that we took. Over the years, it is sort of been forgotten". France conducted 193 nuclear tests over three decades until 1996 in French Polynesia. Until 2009, France claimed that its tests were clean and caused no harm, but in 2010, under the stewardship of Defence Minister Herve Morin, a compensation law was passed. From 1946 to 1962, 67 nuclear bombs were detonated in the Marshall Islands by the US. The 1954 Bravo hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, the largest nuclear weapon ever exploded by the United States, left a legacy of fallout and radiation contamination that continues to this day. Photo: Marshall Islands Journal In 2024, then-US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell, while responding to a question from RNZ Pacific about America's nuclear legacy, said: "Washington has attempted to address it constructively with massive resources and a sustained commitment." However, Robie said that is not good enough and labelled the destruction left behind by the US, and France, as "outrageous". "It is political speak; politicians trying to cover their backs and so on. If you look at history, [the response] is nowhere near good enough, both by the US and the French.
Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Times
EU wants to see China taking more ambitious climate action
[BEIJING] The world needs China to show more leadership on climate action, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said on Sunday (Jul 13), highlighting the importance of cutting planet-heating emissions and reducing the Chinese economy's reliance on coal. Hoekstra is in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese officials on environmental and climate issues, at which he also wants to encourage China to stop building new coal-fired power plants and phase out use of the fossil fuel. 'We do encourage China to take more of a leadership role going forward and really hit the road with meaningful emission reductions in the next couple of years, and also move out of the domain of coal,' Hoekstra said. The number of coal power plants in the pipeline has been increasing in China, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, according to the World Economic Forum. In the first three months this year, China approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power plants, exceeded the approval rate in the first half of 2024, a June report by environmental group Greenpeace showed. Last week, Hoekstra told the Financial Times the EU was holding off on signing a joint climate declaration with China unless Beijing pledges a greater commitment to reduce emissions. 'We are open to looking into a potential declaration, but ... the thing that is most important about these types of statements is the content that goes into it,' he said when asked about the issue, without specifying what commitment the EU hopes to see from China. Hoekstra said the EU is interested in seeking areas of cooperation with China ahead of the COP30 UN climate conference that will be held in Brazil in November. REUTERS
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
EU wants to see China taking more ambitious climate action
BEIJING: The world needs China to show more leadership on climate action, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said on Sunday (Jul 13), highlighting the importance of cutting planet-heating emissions and reducing the Chinese economy's reliance on coal. Hoekstra is in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese officials on environmental and climate issues at which he also wants to encourage China to stop building new coal-fired power plants and phase out use of the fossil fuel. "We do encourage China to take more of a leadership role going forward and really hit the road with meaningful emission reductions in the next couple of years, and also move out of the domain of coal," Hoekstra told Reuters in an interview. The number of coal power plants in the pipeline has been increasing in China - the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, according to the World Economic Forum. In the first three months this year, China's approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power plants exceeded the approval rate in the first half of 2024, a June report by environmental group Greenpeace showed. Last week, Hoekstra told the Financial Times the EU was holding off on signing a joint climate declaration with China unless Beijing pledges a greater commitment to reduce emissions. "We are open to looking into a potential declaration, but ... the thing that is most important about these types of statements is the content that goes into it," he said when asked about the issue, without specifying what commitment the EU hopes to see from China.
