Comments for Climate Tasmania

Comment on In praise of modest living by Suzy Cooper

Suzy Cooper — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:34:53 +0000

Peter, you’re right on trend. Frugality is the new black. There’s currently a huge range of magazines, blogs and books aimed at teens and twenty-somethings promoting everything handmade, recycled, ‘upcycled’ and op-shopped. Saving is cool again. You’re ahead of the curve. Enjoy your trip to see your grandchildren. It’s impossible to put a price on human connection.

Comment on A banker’s thoughts on the science of climate by Andy Cunningham

Andy Cunningham — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:38:08 +0000

Unfortunately David Murray isn’t the only influential person with his head in the sand on this issue. Yesterday former Prime Minister John Howard launched an anti-warmist book aimed at school kids that’s written by controversial geologist Prof Ian Plimer. I’m amazed that these people think they know more about climate change than the specialist scientists in their field, after all if they were diagnosed with cancer they wouldn’t ignore the advice of their oncologist, that would be just crazy!

Comment on What is really needed to address climate change? by Jake Simpson

Jake Simpson — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:18:10 +0000

Great presentation that I felt really got to the heart of the issue. Central to the problem is the mistrust and denial of science by the voting populace.
Far too many feel they can cherry pick the science which agrees with their world view and disregard science which contradicts it as some sort of global conspiracy, no matter how well established it is.
A prime example - the current Republican presidential nomination race is ridiculous to the point where to be a front-runner you are required to deny climate change. John Huntsman is unique amoungst the several current front-runners for believing in both climate change and evolution. And he is considered bold for this! Following a recent debate about mandatory HPV vaccination, Michelle Bachmann made the ridiculous claim that it causes mental retardation and despite a total lack of evidence, no damage is done to her campaign.
The problem is rife amoungst conservatives though it does manage to cross the political divide with spurious, unscientific anti-vaccination claims also popular with some on the left.
I fear the previous commenter, Paul, is amoung those on the left who feel they can choose what science to believe based on their world view and not on the evidence. How can you have “no doubt” that we are rushing headlong towards a mass extinction of humans if you don’t trust the science that forms the basis for your belief? The history of science has taught us that we cannot make such assured claims about the world based on a gut feeling - we need the science to back them up.
Perhaps a more rigorous education of the scientific method is required for our youth in order for people to realise how hard-fought scientific truths are obtained. People should not fear science as an easily-corruptible tool when in the wrong hands. Nor should they see it as something subjective and completely open to interpretation.