Flawed features in saving the planet

I don’t really consider myself to be an environmentalist though from time to time I have endeavoured to reduce my carbon footprint, but with little actual success. I have owned three hybrid cars, but eventually realised that the fuel savings were never going to overcome the extra cost of the technology. Disregarding this experience I then covered a large portion of the roof of our home with photovoltaic solar panels to generate...

Read More...

Is music sustenance for the soul?

It's probably due to my complete naivety, but as a teenager I was not aware of anyone in my age group or beyond ever contemplating or actually committing suicide. If I’m right, then I’m not sure what has happened in the interim, but I have a sneaking suspicion that music may play a crucial role. I’m certain our generations euphonious offerings were more edifying compared to the fare that young people seem to seek solace in today....

Read More...

Getting your priorities right

In 1986 I flew on my own from a remote airport in Amazonia to Miami in a recklessly-maintained aeroplane. I was keen to get to an English-speaking country after struggling conversation-wise in Portuguese-speaking Brazil where I had just spent six weeks on a sponsored study tour. I was therefore bitterly disappointed to discover that most people I encountered in Miami spoke Spanish. Tens of thousands had fled Cuba after the revolution and...

Read More...

Meat lovers of the world unite

Seven Sharp’s roving reporter Tim Wilson ventured out on to the Auckland streets last week offering passers-by a taste of a meat patty that wasn’t made with meat. The responses were mixed, but for those who farm animals for the table it looked ominous. There is even an international school of thought that believes within our lifetime eating meat will disappear altogether and a synthetic substitute will be accepted and may even be...

Read More...