- Editorial -
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Rapid and radical change a must
s much as I’d like to think that climate climate change is here. change considerations will be part of an And it’s raising all sorts of practical questions ‘urgent but peaceful and consultative like, should I buy a house at the top of a cliff or process’, who could have thought the nonthe bottom? The good news about buying at the attendance to such ideals would turn into fights bottom is that you don’t die by sliding down the hill; on the fuel station forecourt and looting at the the hill comes down on top of you instead. Either first opportunity? way, you’re either dead or devastated. And what Well, I didn’t, but that’s what happened on New about buying near a stream? Where does it drain, Zealand's east coast when Cyclone Gabrielle and what price do I pay for a home in a known flood powered through on February 14. zone? In an ironic twist, this Valentine’s Day visitor In an article on p55, you can discover how created a real horror story as some residents researchers have assessed climate change risks on floated up to the ceiling inside their homes and the US property market. The numbers will differ Peter Barclay, Editor down under, of course, but the problem is the same had to break their way into the crawl space above to save themselves. – some of our property prices are way overvalued. But it was much, much worse than that. People lost their lives, Apart from the shocking damage on Auckland’s west coast, the their crops, and a future many thought would never be anything destruction down New Zealand’s east coast was near Biblical in less than sunny. Oh, but of course, with the odd shower in parts. We've been warned that access to some communities may between just to keep everything growing nicely. not be restored. It's all expected to cost billions of dollars. For me, the toughest tale to handle was the experience of one We’re in for a bunfight. Some homeowners are demanding young couple as they waded through water up to their necks Government buy their properties now while the Government almost, each with a child on their shoulders. The mother, who talks about “managed retreat”. Surely, we’ve entered a time when was pregnant, was unable to keep her footing. She slipped in the rapid and radical change is our best hope. raging flood water, and her two-year-old daughter was wrenched Food and climate change are intrinsically connected, a point from her arms and died. I can’t imagine coping with that. It’s more covered by Brenda Davis on p40. She challenges us with an than horror - that’s sheer terror. exercise in logic that questions how we ‘know’ some things. Take In his review of the background to this tragedy (P48), Professor milk, for instance. That’s where we humans get our calcium, right? David Norton, refers to the ‘looming” problem of climate change. Well, Davis is pretty knowledgeable on nutrients and their He makes it clear that the essential issue was man-made. We origins, but the point she makes questions the purpose of the knew that area was vulnerable, and we never did enough about it. cow in the first place – in relation to humans anyway. For her, “it As I write, I can sense the reaction of our Australian readers, defies rationality to imagine that any mammal would require the who are more than familiar with the problems created by massive milk of another species for its survival.” Surely, it defies the laws flooding and devastating bushfires. Somehow I feel a Homer of nature, she says. Simpson moment here with them saying, “doh”, what did you But we can make a difference and people like Katarina Tawiri expect? Well, we just joined the club. (p14) are an inspirational starting point. Learn, change yourself, Now, in New Zealand, there is a collective acceptance that and take action at a community level.
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Nicole Morgan
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Editor: Peter Barclay e: peter@wholefoodliving.life
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Printer: Inkwise, Christchurch Distributors: Are Direct, NZ Post & Iclay Media Contributions & Assistance Contributions & assistance on this issue is gratefully acknowledged from the following: Innes Hope, Janice Carter, Padman Sadasivam, Karen Crowley, Dr Mark Craig, Dr Martyn Williamson, Katarina Tawiri, Nicole Morgan, Dr Ralph Koelmeyer, Silva Mirovics, Divya Kachwalla, Florentina Lile,
wholefoodliving.life | Autumn 2023
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