Comments on: You don’t always get what you want…

By: Jean

Jean — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:43:51 +0000

The thing with climate change is that the problem has been labelled wrong. If it were pollution and waste we were addressing… there could be no debate. And I agree Jools… these are the very things that we need to address into the future if we are to have a future.

Co2 is a colourless odourless gas essential for photosynthesis and fundamental to life on earth. It is not a pollutant nor “pollution”. Addressing the apparent threat of climate change by reducing the level of Co2 in the atmosphere does not address the problem of pollution (atmospheric or otherwise). Whether it’s reduction achieves the desired aim of preventing an aberration in the world’s climate is another matter.

Beats me why the majority of scientists who sit squarely in the middle of this issue don’t get their heads together and speak up loudly (and now) before whole nations are run into further economic strife by the questionable introduction of environmental legislation that could ruin us all.

By: Garden Jools

Garden Jools — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:43:43 +0000

Thats what spins me out Jean!! I have stated many times that I think the planet has been on the course that it is ( a natural cycle of extreme weather and land transformation) and there is nought we can actually do about that. BUT…(and that is a very big BUT!), we are adding to our problems by not looking after what we do have. By not emulating many other living things, not conserving, not preserving and not deserving!!! I do get quite heated about the pollution levels in our waterways and on our land masses. I also do not understand the mentality of other races mutilating and deeming cruelty to animals in the pursuit of “beauty and sexual stimulation”, ego and plain greed! We cannot take what we want, when we want. We cannot “dip” into the pool of natural resources without thought or care and then cry “what about me???”. We have to put back in what we take out. We have to be responsible for our own mess and clean it up. I see so many people are now crusading for so many different causes..”save this and save that”…it almost seems to be a fashion (cringe!). I do think that all of these causes are commendable, but really…if we do not stop our way of thinking (disposable versus sustainable) where are we going to keep these animals everyone wants to save? Our oceans, forests, rivers and grasslands are dying because of our pollution.

By: Jean Burman

Jean Burman — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:38:10 +0000

And you are right of course too Jools…

Strange how human nature is so very often anti-nature…

By: Jean

Jean — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:26:26 +0000

Too true John… too true…

By: Garden Jools

Garden Jools — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:53:44 +0000

John…I think it will have to be something massive to be able to “shake” the old attitudes to the foundations!

By: John Crowther

John Crowther — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:57:57 +0000

“I sometimes wonder that we can really effect change against nature?”

All good thoughts, Jean, and Jools. But I think we sometimes forget that we are in fact creations of nature ourselves, to an immense degree just playing out what nature has in store for us. Yes indeed, we can alter our behavior, but I fear that our exploding population, with its survival needs combined with our less attractive instincts for greed and violence, is putting a far greater burden on the planet than it can sustain. All an individual can do is live the way he or she believes is right, and hope that a seismic shift will take place in the human psyche.

By: Garden Jools

Garden Jools — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:14:39 +0000

Hey Jean…no I didn’t get any chocolate, but I gave out my share! Had some visitors from Toowoomba, was so nice to see them. It had been 10 years, we laughed alot and sat up really late! So good to “catch up!”

By: Jean

Jean — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:48:48 +0000

Hey Jools! Glad you liked the cartoon

Your observation that civilisations (and indeed species) have survived through adaption to change is a good one. We need to remember that. We all need to exercise good stewardship of our planet… but I sometimes wonder that we can really effect change against nature? Climate is dependent on a great many varying and naturally occurring circumstances as well… and human impact is certainly difficult to measure. In the end… it may well prove that nothing can or will stop the inevitable. Climate has been changing since time immemorial.

All that serious stuff aside… hope the easter bunny brought you lots of chocolate!? (grin)

By: Garden Jools

Garden Jools — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:59:02 +0000

Hi Jean! Great cartoon!
I see that the world has always been changing. Ice ages have come and gone, droughts have done the same. Civilisations have prospered and disappeared, many species of flora and fauna have been wiped out and then replaced by a “better model”. I think that what we need to do is accept the changes that shall have to be made (just as every other living thing has done and will continue to do), to survive. There is merit in considering how so many other civilisations continued to flourish after catastrophic events (volcanoes erupting, earthquakes splitting apart continents and water levels covering once productive areas). I see that we should be looking at our contribution for sure (waste and greed get a big tick there!), but overall, its a matter of thinking twice before we succumb to further waste and greed.. That we “need” to appreciate what we have had and do have. With so many threats that we are aware of (is it a good thing to know so many possible outcomes???) we need to live in “today” and love those who are near and dear…whatever happens!

By: Jean

Jean — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:22:26 +0000

John and Roger… thank you both for commenting

Roger… model-based hysteria describes it well! (grin)

I guess the issue here is not so much whether or not or by how much the earth’s climate is changing… (that debate is rowdy enough already) but rather how vested interests are taking the information that is coming to hand and using it to push their own particular barrow. To point to a country such as Australia (as this article does) and attempt to “join the dots” of misinformation to manipulate the truth is unconscionable.

Certainly there are huge challenges for our planet due to it’s burgeoning population growth and past failures to consider the environment… but the cover-all banner of climate change is a misnomer.

To my way of thinking the voice of truth and reason comes from Professor Bob Carter of James Cook University in Queensland whose commonsensical moderate and balanced viewpoint… I am ever hopeful… may eventually be heard over the din of “extreme views” being peddled out in the climate change marketplace by a rowdy minority of vested interests from both sides. Professor Carter continues the push to provide critical and dispassionate analysis based upon scientific principles, demonstrated facts and a knowledge of the scientific literature. My fervent hope is that he… and scientists like him… will eventually be heard.