 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
by Tali Iserles – Kapiti Observer
Thankyoufornotbreeding. Peka Peka man Robert Atack admits his unusual middle name has been the subject of ridicule but says the reason behind the name change is becoming a terrifying reality.
The Direct Democracy electoral candidate for Otaki last week told the Kapiti Observer «any more than no children is too many right now.»
Petrol price hikes were just part of a disastrous chain of events that would eventually lead to mass global unemployment, economic depression and eventually, human extinction, he said.
«I sincerely believe that any child born today will have a miserable, short life because of peak oil, peak minerals, global warming, peak population. It’s coming to a head about now. If you love your children as much as I love my dogs, you wouldn’t want to inflict it on them.»
One way to save the planet was to reduce its human population, childless Mr Atack, 47, said.
The owner of the www.oilcrash.com website felt so strongly about the issue that four years ago, he had a vasectomy and paid $96 to change his middle name by deed poll from Mark to Thankyoufornotbreeding.
The name change came about when a new driver’s license required him to state his full name.
«I thought what the hell, I may as well make a statement. It’s out of social concern. I’ve got zero money so I have to do everything I can to get publicity.»
Although his middle name was a conversation starter, he did not change it for egotistical reasons, Mr Atack said.
He said he thought about an impending oil crisis “twenty-four-seven” and had spent $15,000 and 5000 hours producing his website and other publicity.
«I’m sincere about my cause… Most [people] have laughed at me and then say ‘but you are right’ or ‘it’s coming true now Robert’. There’s no pleasure in that. There’s hundreds of us in the peak oil movement that are scared.»
Hurricane Katrina, which ripped through America’s Gulf Coast last week, was a direct consequence of global pollution and of the Arctic Circle «shrinking by 40 per cent in the last 30 years», he said.
Mr Atack, whose dogs were desexed, said one of the only ways to reverse the devastating effects of climate change was to radically shrink the human population.
«The situation gets worse by the minute. Two hundred to 500 species are going extinct every day. We are the most polluting species on the planet. Why should one species dominate and kill off other species on that planet?»
Although he would like a 30-year moratorium on people having children, Mr Atack said it would be impossible to enforce.
Mr Atack, whose surname was the one he was born with, admitted many people may find his opinions radical and extreme but said his critics had not done their homework.
«They are living on hopes and dreams… Most of the necessary minerals you need to keep modern man going will disappear in the next 40 years. There’s a potential for 220,000 extra deaths per day for the population because of the depleting energy.»
Tali Iserles |
Some of Robert’s speeches |
| Anna was given about 100 pages worth of information about peak oil and what follows is the best she could come up with. I suggest you email her Anna.Saunders@dompost.co.nz and ask what she plans to do since she is such an inept reporter. — Robert Thankyoufornotbreeding Atack |
by Anna Saunders
10 September 2005
The founder of an environmental website has been
fined for repeatedly defacing National billboards.
Robert Atack, who runs www.oilcrash.com and is a political candidate, was fined $1500 in Levin District Court earlier this year for writing “traitor” across photos of Helen Clark and Don Brash on a National Party billboard. He has also spraypainted (sic) his website address on its signs.
He was later fined another $160 for putting up a sign next to a National billboard and partly obscuring it. «What do they say — all publicity is good publicity?»
He was given 160 hours’ community service for the offences.
Mr Atack, whose middle name is Thankyoufornotbreeding, is from the Direct Democracy party, is standing in the Otaki electorate.
The Peka Peka builder was not standing for the party when he committed the offences, he said. He has campaigned for the public to examine the issue of peak oil.
A National Party spokesman said a complaint was lodged with police after the billboards were vandalised.