As you may or may not be aware, the National-led government's recent budget signalled yet another hit for the environment in this country - across-the-board funding cuts. All under the guise of 'tightening our economic belt' as a result of the recession, the following programmes have all been cut:
* Funding for the the Enviroschools Foundation national team who coordinate the Enviroschools programme in 670 schools throughout the country;
* Education for Sustainability Advisory Services (EfS Advisors who provide curriculum support for teachers wanting to integrate EfS into their classes);
* Matauranga Taiao (EfS support for Kura Kaupapa Maori);
* The Environmental Education Guidelines Review Project (technical Environmental Education/EfS support for teachers in schools);
* Adult Community Education (provision of community-based life-long learning classes - ie "night schools" - which fund sustainable living skills courses);
* Householder Sustainability Programme "What's your next step?" (coordinated by the Ministry for the Environment);
* Public Place Recycling Programme (funded by the Ministry for the Environment);
* Govt3 Programme (coordinated by the Ministry for the Environment to deliver leadership in sustainability practices by government agencies);
* The Sustainable Business Network (part-funded by the Ministry for the Environment).
While I am unsure of the economic 'savings' made by such cuts, it is worth remembering that just last week (15 June) John Key made an executive decision to contribute $20 million towards buying two warehouses at the Auckland port to be renovated to house and entertain rich, drunken rugby supporters in the 2011 world cup. While funding of the abolished programmes surely amounts to much more than the $20 million being spent on Auckland's waterfront, my question is what the long term cost will be for our environment, economy, culture and society in losing such progressive and future thinking projects as those Mr Key and his mates have slashed?
* Funding for the the Enviroschools Foundation national team who coordinate the Enviroschools programme in 670 schools throughout the country;
* Education for Sustainability Advisory Services (EfS Advisors who provide curriculum support for teachers wanting to integrate EfS into their classes);
* Matauranga Taiao (EfS support for Kura Kaupapa Maori);
* The Environmental Education Guidelines Review Project (technical Environmental Education/EfS support for teachers in schools);
* Adult Community Education (provision of community-based life-long learning classes - ie "night schools" - which fund sustainable living skills courses);
* Householder Sustainability Programme "What's your next step?" (coordinated by the Ministry for the Environment);
* Public Place Recycling Programme (funded by the Ministry for the Environment);
* Govt3 Programme (coordinated by the Ministry for the Environment to deliver leadership in sustainability practices by government agencies);
* The Sustainable Business Network (part-funded by the Ministry for the Environment).
While I am unsure of the economic 'savings' made by such cuts, it is worth remembering that just last week (15 June) John Key made an executive decision to contribute $20 million towards buying two warehouses at the Auckland port to be renovated to house and entertain rich, drunken rugby supporters in the 2011 world cup. While funding of the abolished programmes surely amounts to much more than the $20 million being spent on Auckland's waterfront, my question is what the long term cost will be for our environment, economy, culture and society in losing such progressive and future thinking projects as those Mr Key and his mates have slashed?
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