Next Tuesday Simon Bridges will attempt to bypass International law (Article 20 of the UDHR) and previous NZ legislative documents (NZ bill of rights act 1990 and the Human rights act 1993) by empowering his amended Crown minerals bill with its third reading.

At the crux of the new law is the politically polarising issue of human rights, as Section 101B outlines how peaceful protest at sea will be made illegal, resulting in hefty fines and imprisonment. Clearly putting all their eggs in one basket, the government’s economic development strategy is heavily influenced by the raping of DOC land and water ways by large overseas corporations. The amended bill was clearly formulated with this in mind, giving international ease of access to companies wishing to prospect and economically exploit areas that are undoubtedly protected regions.

The government’s hope in deep sea oil drilling needs to be squashed, for the amount of environmental risk such a process demands it’s just not worth the small economic leverage promised. The probability of a major oil spill (like the ecological atrocity that occurred off the Mexican Gulf) seems to be an unregistered possibility for the government. There is no doubt that endangered marine life like Maui’s dolphin (in which there is about 55 in the North Island) will be even more at risk when multi-corporate oil tycoons set up shop on NZ shores.

As the minister of energy and resources, Bridges wants his bill to nullify any ‘resistance’ or messy transactions between the NZ government and oil firms in the coming future. But as the past week has shown, Bridges will have a tough battle on his hands; for organisations like Greenpeace are sure to stir up protest for government adherence to human rights (so far over 24,283 people have signed the statement against the bill).

Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.

T.K Lewis