There really isn't anything more important to us and yet all the time we're distracted by other issues.
By comparison they aren't important at all.
It seems to me that if this campaign is successful in Australia then other world countries, like our own, will start taking this matter realy seriously.
* * * * * * *
Australia is about to pass a law that would slash carbon emissions and get polluters to pay. This is the front line in the fight for our planet's future -- if we win, it could spur bold global action. But Rupert Murdoch and big polluters are fighting hard to kill the bill, spreading messages of fear across the country. We can help drown out Murdoch's mantra with messages of hope from across the world and help pass the law -- join in now:
Right now, a major climate fight is blowing up in Australia -- the government is about to pass a law that would cut carbon emissions and get polluters to pay. But big businesses, backed by Rupert Murdoch, are trying to kill the bill.
This carbon pricing law is a win-win measure -- it will push dirty businesses towards clean production and generate more resources for working families. If it passes, it will spur other major emitters to follow suit and could be the next best hope for our climate. But Murdoch's megaphone of fear is massive -- he owns seventy percent of Australia's press. If together we can drown out his campaign to crush the bill with messages of hope from across the world, we could help it pass.
This battle is being fought on the Australian air waves now. Sign the urgent petition to back this bold initiative and share it with everyone -- when we reach 250,000 signatures, we’ll run inspiring radio ads that deliver our global messages, lay out the benefits of the law and rouse public support:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/?vl
We are all under threat from climate change -- including the droughts and storms that cause forest fires, floods and failed harvests. Australia’s proposal would start to shift its economy to halt it. The measure would make polluting companies pay, encouraging them to become more efficient while funding technologies of the future and increasing support to the most needy. Yet Murdoch -- who has a long history of supporting climate denial -- has joined with mining companies to spread wild predictions of job losses and economic doom.
Countries like Denmark, Sweden and Costa Rica have already introduced carbon-pricing, spurring innovation and reducing pollution. If we now embolden Australia -- the worst rich country per person carbon polluter -- to follow their lead, it will generate momentum for other major emitters such as China and the US to follow suit, boosting our chances of a global climate deal next year.
Avaaz members across the world have been strong campaigners on climate change -- our actions together have often influenced governments and companies. Right now, Australia’s people and political leaders need our support to face down the profiteers and renew our hope in climate solutions. Let’s remind our Australian friends that they're not alone in this crucial climate fight:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/australian_carbon_price/?vl
Politicians and businesses often think short-term, when long-term action is needed. When our people-powered movement counters these tendencies and proposes a clear vision of the future we want, we bring out the best in our leaders. Let’s shore up Australia’s resolve, then approach other governments until we achieve the global climate deal the world needs.
With hope,
Alex, Stephanie, Ben, Alice, Emma, Ricken, Giulia, Carol, Rewan and the whole Avaaz team.
MORE INFORMATION
Australia plans to impose carbon tax on worst polluters (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14096750
Australia plans to put a 'carbon price' on industrial emissions (CNN)
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-10/world/australia.carbon.emissions_1_carbon-tax-carbon-emissions-tax-cuts?_s=PM:WORLD
Australia overtakes U.S. in per capita carbon emissions (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aN60ck4Sz4iE
David Cameron supports Australian carbon tax (The Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8673736/David-Cameron-supports-Australian-carbon-tax.html
Political will, public doubts on Australia climate policy (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/07/australias-carbon-tax
Murdoch media attacks carbon tax proposals (Independent Australia)
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2011/politics/carbon-tax-and-the-parallel-universe-of-limited-news/
8 comments:
"Climate Change" ? An outrageous scam invented by academics/politicos/hairy bearded ageing hippy loons who have suddenly noticed that from time to time the earth's climate er, changes. Big deal. Its a nature thing and nature will resolve it without the hysteria generated by the aforesaid and, of course, huge amounts of cash taken - from us - to fund the hysteria.
Which all goes to show what a great job Murdoch and the media is doing of brainwashing the public that there's nothing to worry about.
Does not being able to row to the north pole for the first time ever not ring some alarm bells?
Let's put it this way - what would convince the sceptics?
What's the point of having scientists if Joe Public isn't going to listen to them?
Is it because the truth scares the living daylights out of them?
It certainly should.
More likely because we've all been taught not to think for ourselves.
"Trust me I know best" says Cameron and Blair and Thatcher and . . . ..
Not being able to row to the N Pole bothers me not one whit!
For every scientist who caks themselves about "climate change" there's another who doesn't.
Noted climate change fanatic A. Gore reckons those who don't agree with him are a type of fascist!
Cameron, to his eternal shame is as much in thrall to the doomsayers as your goodself - he doesn't have to worry about paying for that particular obsession coz I will.
Regarding climate change, please answer the question "What would convince you?"
Scientists can help us by making predictions based on actual measurements, but if this is to work we have to do the spade work and decide which scientists we believe. For this we need to understand what they are talking about and decide how convinced we are by their arguments.
Alternatively we need to find people we really trust to interpret the scientists for us. Again, this needs some hard spade work.
Its not so much "what would convince" me, more that I look back over recorded climate data and work out that its really, as previously stated, a nature thing and nature very ably sorts it out.
I also am highly sceptical of "scientific" opinion. Remember they all said that we were all going to die of AIDS?
JSJ you state : I look back over recorded climate data and work out that its really, as previously stated, a nature thing.
So what would convince you that it's a result of human activity and not "natural".
The Science Museum ran an exhibition to prove that the problem was manmade. One that finished last year.
Does that count?
JSJ - AIDS has killed over 25 million people and many more will die in the coming years. I don't remember scientists telling us that we were all going to die (Maybe you can point us to some recorded quotes to back up your statement? Not newspaper headlines, quotes from real scientists), but they did tell us that it was a very serious disease, what caused it, and how it could be prevented (saving countless lives in the UK). What exactly are you sceptical about? Do you think AIDS is a myth? (laughably, there are people who do hold this view so I didn't want to discount this possibility).
Far more alarming than any hyperbole about climate change is this trend to dismiss everything science says because people who get all of their information from the Daily Mail think they "know better".
Science isn't always right, but when the overwhelming consensus (and there is a consensus) of expert opinion says that climate change is man-made, it is probably man-made.
A popular argument against science is that "scientists thought the Earth was flat a few hundred years ago". Like your opinions on climate change, this is total bunk. Aristotle knew the Earth was spherical in 330BC. Since then generations of scientists have expanded and improved the sum of human knowledge, rigorously testing each supposition, proving and disproving theories to better understand the universe and how it all works. All this knowledge, thousands of peer reviewed papers and reasoned debate, points strongly to the cause of climate change. But of course you know better.
It's not so much "what would convince you" because nothing would convince you; there is no evidence that could be collected that would make you change your opinion. Your house could be under 100ft of water next week (science knows this isn't going to happen incidentally) and you would stick to the belief that it was the natural cycle of the Earth's climate; that any statement to the contrary was a scam, probably propagated by the manufacturers of rubber dinghys and SCUBA gear.
People who hold stupid, baseless views can rarely be persuaded that they are wrong, e.g. homeopaths, those against the MMR vaccine etc etc etc. All the evidence and testing proves what they are saying is wrong, but still they are convinced they are right. That the tests are wrong and it's all a conspiracy. They even manage to find a crackpot scientist - proven to not follow proper scientific procedure - to back up their claims and make them appear to have some validity. Thus they can carry on protecting their belief that they are right, as though being right in their initial belief was a valuable possession they don't want to lose, no matter what the cost. Ridiculous, really.
It's just fortunate that most people in power recognise the problem of climate change. Even if they are doing very little about it, the people who lead the world acknowledge that the issue exists, so it doesn't really matter what someone like you thinks. You can get back to worrying about immigrants or whatever it is that floats your boat.
So elloquently put.
Thankfully we have some very wise and knowledgable people who read this blog. People who are willing to take the time and speak out.
Hurray is what I say!
I find it very encouraging that we can pool our resources.
A community in action is far more effective than an individual.
Thanks.
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