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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol 35 no. 8. 27 April 1972

N.Z. Environment Sabotage

page 5

N.Z. Environment Sabotage

Although man has been carelessly exploiting the world's resources and upsetting natural balances for hundreds of years it is only relatively recently that the problems his takeover of [unclear: Ear] has caused have become large enough to claim general attention. Pollution, the population problem and the exhausting of world resources have become [unclear: tter] of international concern.

Photo of Mr. R. Norman

Mr R. Norman, assistant commissioner of works, president of the Technical Institute and member of the Environmental Council, represented New Zealand at the Unesco conference on "Man and the Biosphere" in Paris last November. He will also be a member of the N.Z. delegation to the U.N. conference on the environment in 2 months time. That will be led by Duncan MacIntyre. Mr Norman was invited by Ecology Action to speak about the Paris conference, its subsequent programme and N.Z.'s involvement.

The Paris conference aimed to work out a programme as a guide for research within individual countries; the central theme being an interdisciplinary approach to Man and the Environment, the general structure and functioning of the biosphere, and changes made to it by man. Despite some member nations (France, Germany) opting for a pure' research approach, the pragmatists (Canada, Australia, Iran, NZ) won out, and the council agreed to emphasize short term practical research with directly usable results. They decided on thirteen major projects. Six of these deal with man's impact on various ecosystems eg forests and grasslands; one with the effects of fertilizers and pesticides, one with island ecosystems and their special problems, another with the conservation of natural areas and their genetic material (eg in gene banks to prevent extinction of species) and four projects deal with urban and industrial problems, emphasizing the need for population studies and policies. The intention was that existing research facilities be utilised but guided into these areas, agreed internationally to be of prime importance.

Mr Norman then discussed some environmental questions in relation to N.Z. One problem with very great relevance to us is virtually irreversible depletion of the world's phosphate resources. Phosphorus is one of the elements necessary for human life. Without it; the earth could support two billion people - there are three billion at present and in sixty years time at the current rate of increase there will be eight billion. In accordance with the present consumption rate there will be no phosphorus left in sixty years.

Because of intensive agriculture N.Z. uses more phosphate than any other country in the world, absolutely not per capital Phosphorus is mined, used as fertiliser and then either contributes to animal life, is chemically fixed in the soil, or is washed out to sea. Because of the large amounts of fertiliser demanded by our economy an inordinate proportion of phosphorus follows this last path. The rate of application needs to be carefully looked at by New Zealand - especially as we are the worst offenders.

NZ is not following an enlightened path in regard to sewerage disposal either. Mr Norman pointed out that although treatment processes are being gradually introduced this is a slow costly process, and direct ocean outlets are by far the most common here and are still being built (eg in Hawkes Bay). Ultimately, via the destruction of phytoplankton in the sea, this means less and less oxygen, quite apart from the visual and other offence.

The worst and most basic environmental problem is people. The average "standard of living" in the world has been inexorably falling for the last fifteen years as population grows steadily ahead of technology.

Mr Norman felt that although the U.N. will probably encourage nations to introduce population policies this will not be enough. Can it remain the prerogative of a couple to decide how big a family they will have?

A radical shift in thought processes is required, he said. Instead of aiming for growth NZ should aim for stability. Our immigration policy and the basis for the family benefit should be studied. The question of the optimum population size, structure, and distribution for this country should be studied too.

Mr Norman felt that despite political wriggling and elusiveness (and the difficulty of taking unpopular measures while remaining in power), the fact that people with political status would be attending the conference in Stockholm offered hope that something might be done.

*****

RESISTANCE BOOKSHOP AND S.A.W.W. WANT TO THIS MAN URGENTLY. IF YOU SEE HIM, OR KNOW OF HIS WHEREEARCUTS PLEASE INFORM SALIENT OR A MEMBER OF RESISTANCE HIS NAME IS LEN KERR.