Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for August 2009

Advice from a Sydney Detective on Theories

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The Tower 2“YOU didn’t want to start to firm up ideas too early in an investigation, before you had enough facts. But you couldn’t help wondering how the pieces you had fitted together. It was a compulsion, even if at times it had to be resisted.”

This is not a quote from a scientist, but Sydney detective, Nicholas Troy. He’s a character in Michael Duffy’s first work of fiction, The Tower.

The Tower is in Australian bookshops from tomorrow.

Michael Duffy is of course a presenter of ‘Counterpoint’ one of the few programs on ABC Radio that provides an alternative perspective on a range of issues including climate change.

I wonder how much of Detective Troy’s character is a reflection of Mr Duffy’s own approach to life?

When it comes to not jumping to conclusions some of our scientists, especially our climate scientists, could probably learn a bit from both Troy and Duffy about the importance of resisting developing their own theory, or becoming too attached to a theory, too soon.

Reading a good book can be like taking a short vacation… In the case of The Tower it will be a journey to Sydney. Michael Duffy describes Sydney as a city of sharks – and he’s not referring to what’s in the harbour.

http://www.cityofsharks.com/

Warmaholics Warn of Tipping Point

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FIFTEEN senior Australian climate scientists have hit back at the resurgence of climate scepticism among the nation’s politicians and the media, warning that the threat from climate change is real, urgent and approaching a series of ‘‘tipping points’’ where it will feed on itself.  Read more here and here.

Al Gore Turns Up Heating?

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It was delightfully appropriate that, as large parts of Argentina were swept by severe blizzards last week, on a scale never experienced before, the city of Nashville, Tennessee, should have enjoyed the coolest July 21 in its history, breaking a record established in 1877. Appropriate, because Nashville is the home of Al Gore, the man who for 20 years has been predicting that we should all by now be in the grip of runaway global warming.  Read more here.

What will an ETS do for Australia’s Environment?

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blue gum plantation w_vic nov_06AN historic piece of legislation, The Carbon Pollution Reduction Bill, currently rests on the Senate table which, if passed, will have a huge impact on Australia’s economic and social future.  The legislation will next be considered on August 13th.   If passed what will this mean for the Australian environment?

It is generally agreed that the legislation is intended to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and methane.  However, given the big global polluters including China have no intensions of signing up to such a scheme, it is also generally agreed that an Australian emissions trading scheme will have no significant impact on global emissions or global temperatures. 

But in terms of economics how big will the impact be and what will the flow on effect be in terms of Australian industries and as a consequence the Australian environment. [Read more…] about What will an ETS do for Australia’s Environment?