From desperation to inspiration

The announcement yesterday of NZAID's dissolution back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade sees the focus of NZ's overseas development work shift from poverty alleviation to economic development with a special focus on developing our trade and tourism. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, mentioned the term 'sustainable economic development' a number of times in his speech before going on to call the Millennium Develoment Goals (MDGs) "lofty rhetoric".

With this sort of attitude to internationally formed and agreed upon approaches to our world's problems it is really no surprise that it was only a few months ago that the New Zealand government was on the verge of conducting its own investigation into the scientific basis of climate change. If there is one word to sum up our country's leaders, it is arrogant.

This sort of arrogance and pig-headed approach to global issues is the same sentiment that will likely see the NZ government leap on the Australian government's recent announcement - that it will be investing a further $72 billion (AUSD) into its defence force - as justification for NZ to take a similar course of action. It is becoming increasingly apparent that our leaders plan on fighting their way through the problems that we face in the coming years.

This is old-fashioned thinking that is simply out of touch with today's world.

Today's world is seeing a growing movement that is led by progressive, informed, passionate and peaceful people. There is no point in waiting for our governments to create the sort of policy that we need. The time is now to create this ourselves. If we are to be listened to, we have to show that we have the answers and that we will not back down to leader's lies and excuses.

One of the most exciting opportunities for this in relation to climate change is the 350.org movement. Launched by the inspiring Bill McKibben (who was instrumental in creating Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth), 350.org is based on the science of NASA's chief climatologist Jim Hansen - that we need to stabilise the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere at 350 parts per million (ppm). We are currently at 387ppm and rising at 2ppm per year. We have to turn this around NOW. There are no if's, but's, or maybe's. We have to start turning back the clock on carbon emissions or else we will realise a future that is unrecognisable, a world that is, in many places, uninhabitable.

But the 350 movement is not about scare tactics. Nor is it about laying blame. We are all complicit in this situation. We must accept our responsibility and change the way we live. Central to this is making a binding target at the crucial UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference being held in Copenhagen in December of this year. Through the 350 movement, we will shout the loudest and clearest message yet: that we want, need and have to have emissions reductions targets that will prevent catastrophic climate change.

We will being doing this by organising events throughout the world on October 24, 2009. Photos, videos and messages will be sent straight to Bill McKibben who will project these images on a wall at the UN in New York.

Last night I met Bill McKibben in person. He is the most lovely, warm, persuasive and caring person I have ever met. He spoke from the heart and with confidence that we can do this. We will create the future that we want. We, the people. You and me. This is all we have. One chance to make it happen. You and me. Now.

Check out the global site at: 350.org
And the New Zealand at: 350.org.nz

A sad, sad day for NZ's development sector

I have sadly just been informed that an announcement will be made tomorrow (1 May) regarding the future of NZ's Agency for International Development (NZAID) - that it will be integrated back into the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

The implications of this move are huge for NZ's development sector. NZAID is renowned for being a world leader in the delivery of aid. As a semi-autonomous department that has effectively operated outside the purview of government and thus the rule of politicians, NZAID has proved an exemplary model that has received particular attention and praise from, amongst other organisations, the OECD.

NZAID's focus has been on poverty alleviation, however, with its integration back into MFAT the focus will shift to 'economic development' and instead of being run by development professionals, NZ's aid will be delivered by politicians and diplomats. Changing the focus of NZ's overseas development assistance from poverty alleviation to economic development will result in what is called 'boomerang aid' - the money that should be spent on helping developing countries and their people will inevitably return to NZ as NZ-based companies are contracted to do, generally, infrastructural development in developing countries.

This approach to development harks back to out-dated modernisation and neo-liberal theories of development and will mean a shift away from approaches that champion sustainable development, community empowerment and partnership.

May day will be a very sad day indeed for NZ's development community as well as the multitude of countries, organisations and people that NZAID has worked with. Yet again, the National-led government has proved that it is completely out of touch with the world's needs. John Key's big business approach to leadership is making sure that NZ will take a long, long time to recover from his utter arrogance and pig-headed leadership.