The Science Media Centre’s latest Heads-Up newsletter is out – bringing you the latest science and tech news and a peek at what’s coming up in the week ahead.
Click on the image below to read the latest Heads-Up.
The Science Media Centre’s latest Heads-Up newsletter is out – bringing you the latest science and tech news and a peek at what’s coming up in the week ahead.
Click on the image below to read the latest Heads-Up.
MINES in the Far North? The depth of feeling already on the street indicates there’s a mighty battle looming
between pro and anti-mining factions, even before we have information from last year’s aerial survey to give us a hint of what might be under our feet or where. Our mayor was approached a number of firms at an international mining convention in Canada this month, expressing strong interest. The catch phrase is ”ethical mining”. What is ethical mining? What does it look like? What does it sound like and what is its footprint? What are the track records of the companies involved? Why is fracking touted as safe for New Zealand when it’s banned in other parts of the world? While US research released this month suggests people living close to fracking wells may be at higher risk from developing cancers, respiratory illnesses and eye irritation due to emissions from wells, the Parliamanentary Commissioner for the Environment is reportedly undertaking a ”scoping” project to determine whether the issue warrants further investigation.
The government is not jumping out of the blocks to scrutinise fracking.
The argument for mining is strong. Nearly 40,000 New Zealanders have gone to
Australia in the past year – many of whom have settled in
West Australia, where 77 per cent of all business investment is in mining. Sifting fact from spin will be high up on the agenda for the people of the Far North. Input from the scientific community is very welcome.