Recycling Electronic Waste - A Smart Move

Children are becoming increasingly aware of the need to recycle and reduce energy use. e-Day 2008 is an initiative to promote the recycling of e-waste. Old mobile phones, PCs, adaptors are too often ending up at NZ landfills. e-Day has been organised to give kiwis the opportunity to bring in their old mobile phones and PCs, to clean house (and garage) and to do it in a way that is gentler on the planet.

The Minister for the Environment, Trevor Mallard MP, this week launched e-Day in Wellington with e-Day Chair Lawrence Zwimpfer and around 35-40 other guests in attendance. More information about e-Day can be found at www.eday.org.nz

Why not make it a family event, tidy up the unused e-waste and teach the kids about care for the environment?

Tax Cuts Boost Economic Growth in South Africa

Infometrics - a leading economics consultancy in Wellington - have prepared an article (http://www.infometrics.co.nz/article.asp?id=4449) comparing tax rates and economic growth in South Africa and New Zealand. In particular it highlighted the rising living standards in South Africa - especially for the poor.

"The ANC have cut personal tax rates in almost every budget since taking power in 1994. The majority of tax relief has been handed to low and middle income earners."

"A strong economy (which brings healthy government revenue) coupled with a redirection of expenditure to the poor has been the backbone of the ANC’s strategy to achieve ‘A better life for all’. Growing government revenue has enabled them to build 2 million new houses, bring piped water to 17 million people, sanitation to 7 million and implement a social welfare system which is the envy of the developing world. The percentage of the population living in poverty dropped from 41% in 2000 to 32% in 2006. The growth momentum will ensure that further gains in poverty alleviation will be achieved in the future."

Climate change: costs and benefits

If anyone hasn't noticed the climate is changing. Parents, as much as anyone, should be concerned about it. It will be tempting to try to ignore the problem. But it won't go away. It means we will have to change the way we produce energy. It also means we will need to reduce our level of energy consumption. Here's a perspective on Climate Change that you don't hear too much these days.
No Right Turn: Climate change: costs and benefits

Strong Support For Income Splitting

New Zealanders from all walks of life have given an overwhelmingly positive response to the idea of Income Splitting. Over 205 written submissions were received by Inland Revenue, 90% of which supported the proposal and only 7% opposed it.

Seventy percent of submitters said income splitting should be optional and income should be split on a 50/50 basis.

United Future Leader, Peter Dunne, said "UnitedFuture has long championed income splitting as an option for families who want to be able to have one parent stay at home and carry out the vital duties of raising children and strengthening families.
This level and tone of response shows that New Zealanders also support income splitting."

Parents Choice '08 believes that Income Splitting provides greater flexibility to parents and enables parents to determine work and child care arrangements.