Stone's avoidance understandable

Efforts to have the Federal Member for Murray, Sharman Stone, join us Beneath the Wisteria have been met with only avoidance and in reading this story in The Guardian, it is clear why.

The Guardian's Oliver
Milman in Melbourne.

Federal Coalition plans to combat climate change are not only inappropriate, but clearly inadequate.

The story, headed “Abbott's tree-planting plan not enough to combat climate change, study says”, quotes a report that warns that in absence of significant cuts to fossil fuel emissions would undermine any attempt to store carbon in trees and soils would be fruitless.

The report, entitled “Untangling the Confusion Around Land Carbon Science and Climate Change Mitigation Policy”, says that there is public confusion over the offsetting of carbon emissions by carbon “sinks” such as forests.

Talking about "Slap Tomorrow 'Beneath the Wisteria'

Final details of the June 6 public forum, “Slap Tomorrow – A Wake-Up Call” will be discussed by those who gather Beneath the Wisteria in Shepparton tomorrow.

Beneath the Wisteria convenor, Mr Robert McLean, who is also involved with Slap Tomorrow organizing committee, will outline the June 6 forum and talk about the broad community involvement it has generated.

Attempts had been made to have the Member for Murray, Shaman Stone, attend and talk about the Coalition’s Direct Action program, but Ms Stone argued it would be unwise to discuss that until the latest version of the policy had been released.

Those who gather Beneath the Wisteria to consider the public and individual response to climate change are concerned about community health and so how people at the extremes of age cope with increased temperatures.

More than 170 people died in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and although that fact is well documented, what is not widely known, or discussed, is that more than 300 perished because of the extreme heat in the week leading up to the fires.

Public health and climate change will be discussed and the group will talk about how that can be explored and better understood.

Beneath the Wisteria  start at 11:30am, is free, open to the public and, reflecting its name, held Beneath the Wisteria at the northern end of the Maude St Mall. Some public seating is available, but those attending are advised to bring a folding chair.

'Direct Action' to be explained

Those at the March gathering Beneath the Wisteria agreed that an approach be made to the Member for Murray, Sharman Stone, to have her attend and explain the benefits for Australia, and Australians, of the Coalition’s “Direct Action Plan”.

The Shadow Minister
 for the Environment,
Greg Hunt.

The opening paragraph of an “executive summary” of the plan says: “A Coalition Government will implement a climate change strategy based on direct action to reduce emissions and improve the environment.”

It says: “Direct action on soil carbons will be the major plank of our strategy, supported by other direct action measures that will reduce CO2 emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 based on 1990 levels and deliver significant environmental outcomes – without the need for a great big new tax.”

Detail or the plan can be seen here on information provided by the Member for Flinders, Greg Hunt, who is also the coalition’s Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage – Direct Action Plan.

Tearing up climate change abatement hopes

About 170 people assembled at Shepparton’s RSL Club on April 2 to listen to the Federal Member for McKellar (NSW), Bronwyn Bishop, and her counterpart from Murray, Sharman Stone, discuss matters of interest to senior citizens. Robert McLean was among who attended.

Bronwyn Bishop and Sharman Stone profess and profit from hugely confusing values.

Bronwyn Bishop

Ms Stone, the Federal Member for Murray, and her Liberal Party counterpart from the New South Wales seat of McKellar, Ms Bishop, rely on science to prove arguments, when it suits them.

As Australia’s Shadow Minister for Seniors, Ms Bishop, explained her Christian upbringing to about 170 people at a meeting in Shepparton organized by Ms Stone.

And then, in what was an alarming contradiction of her beliefs and value system, said she believed in evolution and wasn’t a “creationist” – I’m confused!

Ms Bishop spent considerable time expounding of the benefits of coal-fired power stations (the absolute villain in carbon dioxide emissions) reflecting the views of the three newly elected state liberal governments, which are tearing up whatever climate change abatement documents, and controls, existed in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

The absolute conclusive science that points to the reality of human-induced climate change brought on by our consumption of energy with electricity provided by coal-fired power stations being one of the most prolific of contributors.

Soon after that, Ms Stone lambasted the present Labour Government for its handling of the Murray Darling Basin Plan arguing that it was ignoring the science that disproved its position.

As serious as they are, Murray Darling Basin difficulties are nothing more than a sub-set of the challenges humanity faces that have emerged from climate change; something about which the science is clear and unarguable - a fact that seems to escaped the thinking of both Ms Bishop and Ms Stone.

The chasm in their thinking is alarming, but it seemed that most of those at the April 2 meeting were unable to sense the dichotomy.

A letter to a leader, seeking a champion

Any useful response to human-induced climate change needs a champion, a leader and an advocate that has broad influence. Below is a copy of a letter I have sent to the chairman of the McPherson Media Group board, Ross McPherson, urging him to be that champion - Robert McLean.

By chance, I have become something of a student of human-induced climate change and oil scarcity (commonly referred to a “peak oil”) along with being a passive observer (and victim) of the world’s declining and imploding economy.

My interest in climate change was truly piqued when I attended a University of Melbourne’s “Festival of Ideas” in 2009.

I have listened to countless speakers, read endlessly and consciously avoided arguments (I don’t think quick enough for that) as belief about climate change is ideologically ingrained in people and to suggest to some people that it is real, and happening, is a little like asking them to murder their first born – their only intent seems to be murdering you.

Everything I have been able to understand about our changing climate illustrates that it is unfolding with beautiful adherence to the agenda as pieced together and understood by the world’s best climatologists – right down to the unpredictable, confusing, costly and socially destructive weather throughout Australia, not to mention the rest of the world.

The Goulburn Valley urgently needs a broad considered response, it needs a champion, it desperately needs leadership on the issue and, importantly, is needs someone to stand out from the crowd to show the way through what will be a calamity of dimensions we can’t comprehend.

I urge you, through your board, to encourage the McPherson Media Group to become that beacon, that lighthouse that will help people of the Goulburn Valley avoid the worst of reefs that await them.

Ross, I am unable to stress just how important a considered response is.

Some argue that we have already passed a crucial tipping point when there is a self-reinforcing feedback loop of carbon dioxide emissions.

The damage already done is beyond human control with emissions being at nearly 400 parts per million (ppm), the highest ever for hundreds of thousands of years, certainly at a time scale understandable on a human life time frame.

Humans can survive reasonably comfortably at 350ppm and to get back to that we would have to reduce our output of carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50 per cent and even as high as 90 per cent.

We need to aim at 350 parts per million
 of carbon dioxide emissions.

It is worth noting, that in this conversation we have locked our immediate descendants into a dramatically different future as even if we stopped all emissions of C02 right now, it will take centuries of no emissions for us to return to 350ppm.

Interestingly when Russia collapsed and the country ground to an almost complete halt, its C02 emissions only fell to about less than 10 per cent.

We have, I believe, no comprehension of just how difficult our future will be.

Recently I wrote to Sharman Stone urging her to break ranks with Liberal Party philosophies and confront the fact that climate change is real.

I suggested to her that although it might require the sacrificing of her career, in the wash-up she would be long remembered as the one Liberal who had the courage and integrity to stand up in her electorate for what was right.

Ross, not for a moment do I suggest the same extremes for you for it is absolutely critical we have someone at the helm that is clear about where we are going.

You worked hard to make the renewal of the district’s irrigation system a reality - a hugely important project, but it will all be for nought if we allow human-induced climate to evolve unabated.

The options, if you listen to some people are many, but if you analyse each of them closely, they are little more than an illusion, promising much but in reality having the potential to deliver a little.

Climate change advocates are frequently accused of talk that is largely smoke and mirrors, but the reality is that those who advocate business as usual are really those who live in a world of smoke and mirrors.

A note in reply to Sharman Stone

Recently I wrote to the Federal Member for Murray, Sharman Stone, about the potential changes we face as an outcome of climate change.

Her reply was kind and courteous, but quickly collapsed into a political discussion about the wonders of Liberal Party ideology compared to the inadequacies of Labour Party policy. That, however, what was not what I wanted to hear, rather I eager to hear about some positive, bipartisan steps that would ease the impact of human-induced climate change.

Below is what I said today (March 6) in reply – Robert McLean.

Dear Sharman,

Thank-you so much for your reply to my note about human-induced climate change.

Sharman Stone

It saddened me that you choose to cherry-pick facts and then without hesitation turned it into a political conversation about who was right and who was wrong.

It’s worth noting, however, that nature doesn’t care about our politics, or the world’s economy, its only interest, if it can be argued nature has an interest, is in finding equilibrium, something it will do regardless of our political stance or financial stake in world affairs.

The overall threat to the world, and the very existence of humanity, is so great and so in need of an immediate attention we need genuine and honest bipartisan response to the impact we are having on our climate.

Just last week I listened to a professor who has direct association with the London School of Economics, Oxford University and the University of Melbourne and has been working to understand human-induced climate change and it impact on our economies and Dr Cameron Hepburn argued that if we stopped subsidizing technologies dependent on fossil fuels we would immediately remove half of our carbon dioxide emissions.

Put so succinctly that seems simple, but as both you and I know it is not and will only eventuate if there is authentic bipartisan conversation combined with an extensive project aimed at helping people understand the seriousness of climate change implications.

Personally, debates about who is right or wrong about the impact of climate change and do not interest me for as I said earlier, nature doesn’t care nor does it have an respect for what we might consider right or wrong.

You were pretty close to correct about Australia’s contribution to green house gases (less than 2%), but you failed to acknowledge the per capita contribution of Australians that makes us among the worst in the world.

Beyond that, of course and which must be noted, is that we actually export many of our emissions in that coal (the absolute villain among green house gas emitters) and other base resources are shipped overseas at an alarming rate.

Australians, or rather a few rich individuals, pocket the profits and in a world sense, we socialize the costs – in other words, we share the resultant carbon dioxide emissions with the world.

Ideas of the Liberal Party are honourable, but absolute ineffective in dealing with a problem that, if not attended to within the next three or four years will decimate the world’s populations, including Australia’s.

James Hansen

I don’t need to personally justify any of this as if has already been clearly documented, repeatedly, by many and importantly the head the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and an adjunct Professor with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University, Dr James Hansen.

Speaking at a recent conference in America, Dr Hansen said that governments around the world are going after any fossil fuels they can find, completely ignoring the science.

He has advocated that a fee on carbon be collected from fossil fuel companies at the source.

Encouraging the governments of the world to act to counter the damage we are doing to the environment, he said our failure to have an adequate response would be “intergenerational injustice”.

Sharman, this is your watch and wouldn’t be wonderful if when in generations to come people looked back and said that is was the courage and commitment of Sharman Stone as the Federal Member for Murray that had a huge impact on saving Australia, and by implication the world, from the worst of climate change,

To initiate some movement in Federal Parliament leading to changes in our way of life that may forestall climate change impacts may require you to ultimately sacrifice your career, but that raises a difficult scenario – what is ultimately more important your career or the long-term well being of Australia.

Personally, the last four or five years has been life-changing as I have devoted myself to listening to as many authoritative speakers as I could, read endlessly and, or course, listened to a few highly qualified climate change skeptics and the result of all that leaves me without any doubt that we are facing times so difficult we even begin to imagine how tough they will be.

Being aware of the science and the implicated threats, I decided that personally I should do what I could and so set up a voluntary organization, Beneath the Wisteria  with absolutely no authority, and no formalities to discuss a reasoned response to climate change, which has meet three times and attracted up to 14 people and beyond that, and determined not to die with regrets, I have argued, with little success I might add, that the McPherson Media Group should act to prepare for what will be a trio of difficulties in climate change, resource depletion and an imploding world economy.

Jacob Bronowski

Sharman, I urge you to step beyond you Liberal Party confines, consider climate change as something that will impact on us all, irrespective of political leanings, an act to do what you can to have the Federal Government address the causations of what it is that is changing the world’s climate.

Reading just a few minutes I came across a quote from a Polish-Jewish-British mathematician, biologist, historian, author, poet and inventor, the late Jacob Bronowski, who once said:

“Dream or nightmare, we have to live our experience as it is, and we have to live it awake. We live in world that is penetrated through and through by science and which is both whole and real. We cannot turn it into a game simply by taking sides”.

Bronowski’s view seems relevant to what is ahead.

In all that, take care,

Robert McLean,
March 6, 2012.

Stone opts for 'cherry picked' facts

Sharman Stone’s views on climate change are supported by facts, but facts which are cherry picked from the complex debate to suit her argument.

Sharman  Stone

Beyond that, the Shepparton based Federal Member for Murray, is faithful to the Liberal Party stance, obviously, but because of that has a somewhat coloured view of any response.

A recent letter to Ms Stone brought a reply that simply directed me to the Liberal Party website where an explanation to the Opposition’sDirect Action Plan was to found.

But of course that wasn’t all, Ms Stone gave no real indication of what she would do personally in her Murray electorate, but was quick to point what, in her, were the failings of the Gillard-led Labour Government.

Ms Stone was correct in pointing out that Australia contributes less than two per cent of the world’s green house gases and “to act alone or attempt to lead the way will only result in severe disadvantage to this country with no discernible improvement in the planet’s outlook”.

The latter point is obviously questionable and although our overall contribution to the worsening of the world’s climate is tiny, we are in fact right up there with the big hitters when considered on a per capita basis and that is what Ms Stone needs to be addressing – numbers relating to green house gas emissions are shown on the ABC link.

The true seriousness of our changing climate appear to have eluded Ms Stone (or is she simply being faithful to Liberal Party ideology) and within that is appears she puts the welfare of our economy ahead of that of our people.

Any workable and considered response demands courage and a commitment that exceeds political allegiance and a willingness to make decisions in a bipartisan sense.

A plea to Sharman Stone to demonstrate courage, and good sense

Reading Bill McKibben's book, The Global Warming Reader, I was inspired to follow his advice and engage with my parliamentatians and what follows is a letter written last night (February 19) and to be delivered today to Sharman Stone's Shepparton office - Robert McLean.

Federal Member for Murray

Dr Sharman Stone

426 Wyndham Street
Shepparton

 Vic 3630.

Dear Sharman,

Sharman  Stone.

 I write in the hope that I can encourage you to genuinely consider and honestly investigate the measurable changes that human activities are bringing to the world’s climate and by implication the climate here in Australia, and, subsequently your electorate.

The world’s leading climatologists have unquestionably established that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased alarmingly since the Industrial Revolution rising from about 270 parts per million then to nearly 400 today.

It was in 1988 that the head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, James Hansen, warned the U.S. Congress about the dangers of climate change, or if you prefer global warming.

Hansen told Congress that life on earth as we knew and understood it could be maintained, with care, if we were not to allow the carbon dioxide levels to go beyond 350 parts per million.

After that, he suggested, the world would begin to see changes in our climate, and subsequently our weather, that would eventually become uncontrollable and lead, increasingly, to events that have troubled the world in the past few years.

Positive feedback loops that are clearly understandable and which are rooted in unquestionable science threaten to even worsen events that have disrupted life for countless people throughout Australia and particularly in your electorate, as we have seen with a recent decade-long punishing drought.

Circumstances, you should note, are not going to get any better rather, they are going to worsen substantially and considering that, I encourage you to urge your party and influence the Government to build a vastly more resilient Australia.

Considering that I urge you to encourage legislation that puts the 350 ppm target ahead of economic goals; goals that are driven by the finite fossil fuels, which are the absolute villains in connection with the conditions that exacerbate climate change.

I urge you to ignore the doubters, skeptics and often misguided professors of one sort or another, and become an adherent of the certainties of nearly 100 per cent of the world’s scientific authorities and climatologists who declare that global warming is real and with unalloyed certainty that the world’s climate is changing.

The world’s climatologists repeatedly point out that what we are experiencing is, beyond argument, not natural or cyclical, but a demonstrable reality of the damage we have done to our atmosphere.

Finally, I plead with you to break with what appears to be Liberal Party policy, from your leader down, and in a demonstration of courage, tell parliament, and all Australians, including your electorate, that you now stand with those eager to prepare our country, and your electorate, to address the circumstances that are worsening, each day, as our climate changes.

Should you wish to talk with me more about this, I can be contacted at 140 Ashenden St, Shepparton 3630, by telephone at 5822 1766 or via email at: robed@sheppnews.com.au.

Thank-you,

Robert McLean.
February 21, 2012.