'March!' was one-word answer from Professor Robert Manne

“M

Professor Robert
 Manne - "March!"

arch!” was the one-word answer from Professor Robert Manne to a question from ABC radio host John Cleary.

The question came at the end of more than an hour’s discussion about “Can the planet be saved?” at the Conversations with the Archbishop in the Deakin Edge Theatre at Melbourne’s Federation Square.

Mr Cleary who facilitated the Wednesday’s conversation between Prof Manne and Archbishop Phillip Freier of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, was eager to know how people should respond the People’s Climate March on Friday, November 27.

Archbishop Freier was concerned about people just enjoying the warmth of the symbolism and not truly engaging with the issues.

He said it was important we have the symbolism, but felt it was equally important we look much deeper than that.

Saying “march”, Professor Manne said, “I hope there are huge marches all over Australia, it’s a political question that only massive non-violent political action, including what will be called ‘civil disobedience’, non-violent massive marches that I’m all in favour of, that are not civil disobedience, but manifestations of democracy.”

Prof Manne pointed to the abandonment of the idea of republicanism by Australia’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and argued that the PM should not be allowed to get away with the refuting of another idea he “apparently believed in”, addressing climate change.

Not only was Professor Manne eager to see many Australians out marching on Friday, November 27 (the eve of the United Nations’ climate talks in Paris), but he was also prepared to “call out’ at Wednesday’s early morning event who challenged or questioned climate science.

It was during question time that one fellow stood up brandishing a copy of Ian Plimer’s book, “Heaven and Hell” and in declaring himself a Christian and a believer in God, but a disciple of Plimer.

Referring to Plimer’s book, he questioned the veracity of scientists claims about carbon dioxide and urging that people not silently accept the views of 97 per cent of scientists that climate change is human induced and consider that a modern-day Galileo maybe among the remaining three per cent.

He urged the questioner to reappraise his views and consider what was written in the Australian newspapers by Michael Ashley, who described the book “as largely a collection of contrarian ideas and conspiracy theories that are rife in the blogosphere. The writing is rambling and repetitive; the arguments flawed and illogical.”

Michael Ashley is professor of astrophysics at the University of New South Wales.

Archbishop Phillip Freier.

Prof Manne said among the three per cents was the American atmospheric physicist Richard Lindzen, who is a respected evidence-based scientist, but beyond that there was little to recommend the group.

Speaking directly to the questioner, Prof Manne asked, “Would you be prepared to bet the planet on finding a Galileo in the group?”

Prof Manne’s contribution to the Conversation was impressive, he was restrained and yet forceful, clearly articulating the challenges humanity faced if its response to climate was inadequate.

He holds the view that we obviously don’t understand the seriousness of what is unfolding and we have one, maybe two decades to do something positive in terms of responding to the dilemma.

Prof Manne argued we should be preparing for the rigours of climate change as we did to the two world wars, but with even more intensity.

About 250 people were at Wednesday’s Conversations, which was the final event in the series of four held this year.