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Notice of AGM and a presentation by Dr Nancy Pollock: Food contamination from US nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific – 23 October 2012, 5.30pm, Room CO304, Kelburn Campus, Victoria University of Wellington. Read more…

“Nuclear war, is also on the front pages every day, but in a way that would astound a Martian observing the strange doings on Earth. The current threat is again in the Middle East, specifically Iran, at least according to the West, that is. In the Middle East, the U.S. and Israel are considered much greater threats. Unlike Iran, Israel refuses to allow inspections or to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It has hundreds of nuclear weapons and advanced delivery systems, and a long record of violence, aggression and lawlessness, thanks to unremitting American support. Whether Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, U.S. intelligence doesn’t know … The possibility that Iran might develop nuclear weapons arises in the electoral campaign. The fact that Israel already has them does not. Two positions are counter-posed: Should the U.S. declare it will attack if Iran reaches the capability to develop nuclear weapons, which dozens of countries enjoy? Or should Washington keep the ‘red line’ more indefinite?
   The latter position is that of the White House; the former is demanded by Israeli hawks, and accepted by the U.S. Congress. The Senate just voted 90-1 to support the Israeli position. Missing from the debate is the obvious way to mitigate or end whatever threat Iran might be believed to pose: Establish a nuclear weapons-free zone in the region. The opportunity is readily available: An international conference is to convene in a few months to pursue this objective, supported by almost the entire world, including a majority of Israelis. The government of Israel, however, has announced it will not participate until there is a general peace agreement in the region, which is unattainable as long as Israel persists in its illegal activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Washington keeps to the same position, and insists that Israel must be excluded from any such regional agreement. We could be moving toward a devastating war, possibly even nuclear. Straightforward ways exist to overcome this threat, but they will not be taken unless there is large-scale public activism demanding this opportunity be pursued.” (extract from Noam Chomsky: Issues That Obama and Romney Avoid 5/10/2012, Truthout)

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Pacific Institute of Resource Management (PIRM) was founded in 1984, by Wellington architect George Porter. PIRM is an organisation dedicated to sustainable use of the earth’s resources. PIRM is concerned about the deterioration of global ecosystems, the rapid depletion of natural resources and degradation of the environment, examples being climate change, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, pollution of water systems and natural habitats. Our objectives are to advocate respect for natural processes; conservation of physical resources and integrity of all life forms. We contribute to the establishment of New Zealand as a strong, independent authority promoting a world conservation strategy. PIRM works for the improvement of human communities worldwide living in harmony with the natural world.

PIRM organises public forums and makes submissions to the New Zealand government on environmental and social issues, and publishes Pacific Ecologist (formerly Pacific World).

Pacific Ecologist is one of a family of Ecologist journals now published around the world in France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, India and Italy – as well as of course the original in the U.K. – The Ecologist.

PIRM is not politically aligned and is funded by members and supporters. We are a voluntary organisation with charitable trust status. It is run by an executive committee elected from its membership each year at the AGM, normally held in October. The current committee is listed below:

Peter Barrett (convener) studies climate in the geological past at Victoria University of Wellington, working in both the Antarctic Research Centre, where he was Director until 2007, and the newly formed NZ Climate Change Research Institute, where he is Deputy Director. His long-standing research interest has been Antarctic and global climate history over the last 40 million years or so – results from the warmer past provide a guide for ice sheet and climate response to future warming.

Father Peter Healy sm (secretary) has been on the committee for three years. His interest in ecology began in 1992 after attending the Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero. Peter’s interests include organic gardening, environmental art, running workshops on ecology and spirituality and tramping in New Zealand’s national parks.

Kay Weir is editor of Pacific Ecologist. She once sang with the NZ Opera Company and, having trained as a subeditor with the former Evening Post, became a volunteer assistant to PIRM’s founder George Porter in 1994 for the publication of our former magazine, Pacific World. She became editor on his retirement in 1997. Kay’s work in developing the network of contributors and improving editorial standards attracted support from Edward Goldsmith, founding editor of The Ecologist (UK), and in 2002 Pacific World was replaced by Pacific Ecologist. Kay is the only full-time worker on PIRM’s voluntary committee.

Peter Gilberd is a scientist with a particular interest in physics. He works at the Royal Society of New Zealand on the administration of the Marsden Fund. In his spare time, he is one of the gumboot brigade, planting native trees with his reforestation group, Woodridge Planters.

Barbara Strathdee keeps the subscriptions lists for Pacific Ecologist up to date. She is an artist and fiction author with an interest in ecology. Barbara recently travelled to Trieste to receive a prize for her latest book, Cafe Wars, which is set in Italy.

Contact details

PIRM/Pacific Ecologist
Box 12125
Wellington
Aotearoa/New Zealand

Phone: +64 4 939 4553

Email: pirmeditor@paradise.net.nz