BLURB: My published Blurbling

In case you missed it, here is a copy of my letter to the editor which appeared in The Newcastle Herald on Tuesday, July 10, 2007:

..........
Low coal sales a high achievement
THE Herald's coverage of the Live Earth concerts reported 2 billion people world-wide showing their commitment to cut carbon emissions ("Powerful plug for revolution" Herald 9/7).
A few pages later NSW Minerals Council chief Nikki Williams appeared sad that the growth in Australian coal exports was remaining low ("Now's not the time to let coal boom pass us by" Herald 9/7).
I feel we should celebrate this low figure, and keep it small.
Australia may be rich in coal but it is also rich in other, less carbon-emitting resources.
Solar power, wind energy, and the resources and knowledge to generate these and other forms of renewable energy are the best investment for the government and industry of our country.
Ms Williams hopes for the Government to take a long-term vision and to have the willingness to take a gamble.
We can't make a wager on the future of our planet.
As the 2 billion people who watched the live earth concerts shows, we need to invest in renewable energy for exports and local use, and certainly not coal or nuclear any more.
..........

The Talented Nikki Williams presenting an environment award to Hunter Valley Coal Corporation 2005

Interestingly, Nikki Williams appeared on the forum panel which came after the ABC screening of "The Great Global Warming Swindle" (see my previous post). She is a magnificent PR agent for the new coal industry. The only woman on the panel, she appeared sophisticated, intelligent, and very caring about the climate change predicament. (She certainly is involved in many environmental community initiatives, which I cannot complain about, but we must keep following her motives.) The comments she made on the panel did not mention her push to increase coal exports for financial gain (as she mentioned in the Herald), but the "need" for coal fired power in developing nations in order to end poverty. Apparently, coal-fired electricity is the way to solve the issue of 3rd world poverty and health. Once again, I wish it was that easy! Sadly, here in Australia, we have a huge population of people living in 4th World conditions, with shameful poverty and health issues, and these populations HAVE electricity. I very much doubt that the short term solution of coal fired electricity is going to be much appreciated by anyone who 1. can't even pay the bill 2. Will absolutely not appreciate the temperature increases and changes in climate, health, farming practices in their homelands which are predicted to be the result of climate change caused by co2 increases (i.e. by producing this coal fired power in the first place!)