Unless you have been living in a cave, you have seen the headlines and lead stories that show just how badly Australia is burning. Indeed, despite being known as a hot country, Australia has seen record hot temperatures in 2017, which were then eclipsed by new record hot temperatures in 2019, and which have stretched now into 2020. The wildfires that have resulted have devastated the country, and there are some who are suggesting that recovery and rebuilding might be as challenging as a country rebuilding after horrific war.
One can see the individual trees, and look at this as some kind of isolated tragedy. But it is hard not to draw comparisons to the projections from scientists over the course of decades regarding global trends. Because you see, these kinds of disasters, which used to be "once in a lifetime" kinds of events, are beginning to happen with an alarming degree of regularity.
If you look at just this one instance of unbelievable wildfires in Australia, then you could indeed be forgiven for not making any correlations. But when you put all of these record hot temperatures together - record heat waves in Australia in 2017 and 2019, record heat waves as well on the Arabian peninsula in both 2017 and 2019 as well, record heat wave in northern Europe in 2019, record heat wave in Antarctic regions in 2019, a record heat wave in the American southwestern (Mojave) desert in 2018 - then you might be forgiven if you notice that this seems to be a trend. A trend that scientists had predicted with eerie accuracy decades ago.
Of course back then, though, many people were laughing at these projections, and claiming that it was all a bunch of nonsense. What the hell was "global warming" anyway? And why should we believe in it? There is still snow on the ground in the winter, so does that not prove that the whole "global warming theory" is just a farce?
Well, no one is laughing anymore. Those record heat waves are not the only very strange weather phenomenon. There are more severe storms that might once have ranked as "storm of the century" material, but they seem to be happening far more often these days. In some regions, we are seeing record flooding. In others, record droughts. Again, all very much in line with what scientists projected decades ago: more extreme weather patterns.
Yet, there are still some who plug their ears and make childish noises whenever anyone mentions climate change, or global warming. Unfortunately, some of them make it to high office. This is especially true in the United States, where we had many leaders, including some in the White House, who were skeptical of all of this in the late 20th century. More tragically, however, we still have major leaders, including in the White House, who remain skeptical of any mentioning of climate change. Trump mocks it, as did former House Speaker John Boehner. More alarmingly, some have outright censored the mere mention of it.
Well, again, that might be something that seems especially common among mainstream American politicians, particularly Republicans, but is seems to have won some favor, unfortunately, for world leaders in other parts of the world, as well.
After all, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is threatening to pull Brazil out of the Paris Climate Accord, and he wants to hasted the burning of the rain forest in the Amazon. Remember when French President Macron offered help from his country to fight the forest fires in the Amazon last year? Instead of thanking them for offering to help, the Brazilian Trump basically told them to piss off, insulting Macron's wife. Stay classy, Mr Bolsonaro.
And there is also Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia. Yes, Australia, the country that saw some of the most devastating wildfires that we have seen in recent weeks and months. When the really big fire broke out, a video emerged, showing that Morrison was not even in Australia, but enjoying some rounds of golf in Hawaii. He returned after there was outrage among the people of his country, once he realized that the elected leader might need to be in the country when something major and tragic happens.
It seems that Morrison has some things in common with Trump, as well. Perhaps he is Australia's Trump. And he now only plays rounds of golf when he should be taking care of his country instead, but he also shares Trump's climate change denial, as well.
Who is Scott Morrison? Well, here's a bit of a summary as described by by Adam Taylor of the Washington Post:
Well, again, that might be something that seems especially common among mainstream American politicians, particularly Republicans, but is seems to have won some favor, unfortunately, for world leaders in other parts of the world, as well.
After all, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is threatening to pull Brazil out of the Paris Climate Accord, and he wants to hasted the burning of the rain forest in the Amazon. Remember when French President Macron offered help from his country to fight the forest fires in the Amazon last year? Instead of thanking them for offering to help, the Brazilian Trump basically told them to piss off, insulting Macron's wife. Stay classy, Mr Bolsonaro.
And there is also Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia. Yes, Australia, the country that saw some of the most devastating wildfires that we have seen in recent weeks and months. When the really big fire broke out, a video emerged, showing that Morrison was not even in Australia, but enjoying some rounds of golf in Hawaii. He returned after there was outrage among the people of his country, once he realized that the elected leader might need to be in the country when something major and tragic happens.
It seems that Morrison has some things in common with Trump, as well. Perhaps he is Australia's Trump. And he now only plays rounds of golf when he should be taking care of his country instead, but he also shares Trump's climate change denial, as well.
Who is Scott Morrison? Well, here's a bit of a summary as described by by Adam Taylor of the Washington Post:
Morrison, an evangelical Christian and a vocal supporter of President Trump, finds himself aligned with the U.S. leader on support for the coal industry. Australia is one of the largest coal producers on earth, with the industry supplying roughly 50,000 jobs but disproportionately responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.
Here is a little more about Morrison's views regarding climate change, again taken from the article by Taylor (see link below):
Morrison said his government was looking at “serious mechanisms that can successfully outlaw these indulgent and selfish practices that threaten the livelihoods of fellow Australians.”
Morrison said his government was looking at “serious mechanisms that can successfully outlaw these indulgent and selfish practices that threaten the livelihoods of fellow Australians.”
Climate change deniers calling environmental activists selfish and indulgent? The same climate change deniers who receive funds, and supposed scientific data, from major polluters. Now that's rich!
Morrison went on, however:
"I am not going to write off the jobs of thousands of Australians by walking away from traditional industries," he told Channel Seven.
Obviously, trying to abolish people from being able to protest is not going to go over too well with many people. That includes climate change believers and environmental activists, as well as fans of free speech and democracy more generally. Here were some of the reactions:
“From ending slavery to stopping apartheid, boycott campaigns have played a critical role in achieving many social advances that we now take for granted,” Hugh de Kretser, executive director of the Human Rights Law Center, said in a statement.
Morrison went on, however:
"I am not going to write off the jobs of thousands of Australians by walking away from traditional industries," he told Channel Seven.
He also deflected criticism suggesting Australia is not doing enough to combat climate change:
“I do not accept the suggestion that Australia is not carrying its weight,” he said.
But, according to him, he would also not accept “reckless job-destroying and economy-crunching targets that others are seeking to force upon us”.
Morrison also stated:
Morrison also stated:
“I know there are some who tried to make political points and score points over these issues in the midst of these disasters and that is disappointing.”
Obviously, trying to abolish people from being able to protest is not going to go over too well with many people. That includes climate change believers and environmental activists, as well as fans of free speech and democracy more generally. Here were some of the reactions:
“From ending slavery to stopping apartheid, boycott campaigns have played a critical role in achieving many social advances that we now take for granted,” Hugh de Kretser, executive director of the Human Rights Law Center, said in a statement.
A few more reactions, as taken from an article by by Eoin Higgins, staff writer for Common Dreams (see link below):
Greenpeace Australia Pacific head David Ritter found the statement flabbergasting. "Staggering egotism atop monumental negligence," tweeted Ritter.
And another reaction from the same article, this one by an Australian writer:
Progressive writer Jodi Jacobson bemoaned Morrison's call to continue coal production and said it was part of a broader problem in how the world is approaching the climate crisis.
"These are the realities that make me wonder at how corrupt must be the souls of people who have the power to stop this and fail to act," Jacobson said.
"We talk about 'what our grandchildren will say,'" added Jacobson. "Will your grandchildren even exist in 50 years when we've destroyed the Earth?"
Stupidity seems to be on a constant tour around the world, it seems. It does not even seem to matter when natural disasters that seem to be occurring these days with alarming regularity and intensity break out.
We now know that it will resist the right thing, including logic and integrity, even when huge parts of whole countries are burning.
Stupidity seems to be on a constant tour around the world, it seems. It does not even seem to matter when natural disasters that seem to be occurring these days with alarming regularity and intensity break out.
We now know that it will resist the right thing, including logic and integrity, even when huge parts of whole countries are burning.
Here are the links used in writing this particular article, including all of the quotes used above:
Australian PM Scott Morrison defends government policy on climate change amid wildfire crisis by ITV REPORT 23 December 2019:
https://www.itv.com/news/2019-12-23/australian-pm-defends-government-policy-on-climate-change-amid-wildfire-crisis/
Scott Morrison returns from holiday and signals no change to climate policy despite bushfires crisis Returning to work after Hawaii holiday, Australian PM acknowledges his absence caused ‘great anxiety’ by Paul Karp, December 21, 2019:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/22/scott-morrison-returns-from-holiday-and-signals-no-change-to-climate-policy-despite-bushfires-crisis
Pouring Coal on the Fires, Aussie PM Rejects Climate Solutions as Country Burns "These are the realities that make me wonder at how corrupt must be the souls of people who have the power to stop this and fail to act." by Eoin Higgins, staff writer for Common Dreams, December 23, 2019:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/23/pouring-coal-fires-aussie-pm-rejects-climate-solutions-country-burns
Australia’s prime minister pledges to outlaw climate boycotts, arguing they threaten the economy by Adam Taylor, November 1, 2019:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/11/01/australias-prime-minister-pledges-outlaw-climate-boycotts-arguing-they-threaten-economy/
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