Alan joins our letter writing campaign

Beneath the Wisteria supporter, Alan English, has joined our letter writing campaign and below is what he has written and sent to Shepparton’s weekly newspaper, the Advisor.

Things little children say - A true kinder story.

An aunty of mine used to teach at a kindergarten. She told of a little girl who came up to her and said: ”Miss, its coming.” Well it seems we are all likely to be in the poo soon the way things are going. Climate scientists have warned ad infinitum that the World is becoming hotter, but really no one seems to care whether we dirty our pants or not. The government claims to know that the climate is changing, but is so up-tight about the economic situation that what is proposed to avoid a climate melt-down falls far short of what is required. It is agreed that all nations have to pull together, but insufficient is prepared to lead the way or show courage. Yes, we may well be in the poo!.

Most people see the daily weather reports. With Central Australia having soaring temperatures of 48 c and Brisbane experiencing its highest temperature ever, it is highly likely that some-time in January or February we could see a return of temperatures such as 45 c as we did in 2009 when bush fires in Victoria were out of control. How many of you have noted the plight of farmers in Queensland? The sheep industry cannot be sustained due to the heat; and that is apart from the fact there isn’t enough vegetation to eat. Cattle are being driven along roads and stock routes. Some people of the land are packing up and leaving. Rainfall and even cyclonic rains are most uncertain. Meteorologists are not with any certainty able to offer assurances of what may happen. We are not exempt from catastrophe either. It isn’t news that our atmosphere is contaminated. Unless urgent action is taken, we will certainly know what it is to have poo in our pants.

Will as many people as possible ask their newspaper to organise petitions to the Federal Government to take better and more control for what is certain catastrophe without immediate action. Balancing the budget is important, but if our climate becomes unbearable it will be HELL for all of us.

Ideas come bubbling up from Beneath the Wisteria

The New York 'carbon clock', similar
 to what Terry Court would like
 to see in Shepparton.

Ideas about raising public awareness and so making them more conscious of difficulties arising from climate change came bubbling up at the November gathering Beneath the Wisteria.

Long-time supporter, Bill Brown, suggested a monthly release on climate events in a brief, readable format that could be posted in regular places about the Shepparton and neighbouring towns.

Bill was also confident some shop-holders would be willing to give the regular update on climate happenings prominence, maybe even giving the A4 size update prominence by framing it.

Terry Court, whose concern that “we were talking to ourselves” led to the Slap Tomorrow forum, suggested a CO2 meter to be displayed in a public and prominent place.

Terry imagined something similar to a rather large electronic sign displayed in New York’s Times Square sponsored by Deutsche Asset and Wealth Management that alerted people, unambiguously, to the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The Telstra tower in the centre of Shepparton was suggested as a possible site to display the “carbon clock’.

Terry will take the idea to Tuesday’s meeting (December 3) of the Slap Tomorrow committee.

Another keen supporter of Beneath the Wisteria, Alan English, discussed that he was hard of hearing suggesting he would like a written list of ideas that people spoke to and then a report of discussions enabling him to stay abreast of the conversation.  

Conscious that nature never sleeps and therefor climate change doesn’t take a break over Christmas, Beneath the Wisteria supporters will gather again in Shepparton’s Maude St Mall at 11:30am on Saturday, December 28.

Soapbox kicked out by reality

Beneath the Wisteria supporter, Shepparton’s Alan English, has “kicked” the soapbox out from under me with a rather sharp dose of reality.

Soapbox - 'kicked out'.

In his response he says:

 

Do you think for one moment that scaling back consumer goods is the way of satisfying the people ? Of course not. And do you think any Government in power will stand up against commercial interests; of course not. And will there be a ground swell of ordinary people who will gather in strength to demand that action be taken ? I think not. Apart from complacency people enjoy  their present style of life too much to want to forego anything. When weather patterns shock us and when the point of no return occurs, then the hue and cry will be why didn't the Government fore see this, warn us, and take action. We are placed in a no win situation. It is true that small groups have been and can be catalysts for change. The dynamic of what we do is the big question. Networking of many groups all around Australia and even overseas could hold the key to courses of action that would alert people everywhere of the imminent danger of our perilous situation and of the immediate action that should be taken.

 

Although I am sure he is aware of my position in that I am a utopian and something of a dreamer. I have one implacably ally, nature.

Of course, as Alan correctly says, as people wrestle with the unfolding dilemmas of climate change, the voice of reason will again be drowned by a public howl of “why weren’t we told”, just as the men of reason have today, fortified by the skeptics and doubters, ignored the impeccable warnings of the world’s climatologists.

Alan and I first struck up an acquaintance because of my rather caustic view of Christianity, but to his credit he has been able to set aside those beliefs as he has emotionally invested in the climate change conversation.