Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Community

Sydney Morning Herald Open to Letters from Skeptics

By

Some time ago Art Raiche suggested to me that, “In all honesty, I suspect that it would be easier to hold readings of Dawkin’s “The God Delusion” in Mecca than to get the Sydney Morning Herald to print letters critical of AGW.  At least the response would be more direct.”

Today, the Sydney Morning Herald Letters Editor wrote:

“CLIMATE change is always a problematic issue for the letters page, and Michael Duffy’s opinion piece last Saturday sparked vigorous exchanges all week. Readers on both sides hold views with something approaching religious fervour, while grounding their arguments in science. If we publish the views of sceptics, we are accused of airing theories with as little credibility as creationism. If we don’t, we are accused of censorship and taking sides.

“It seems to me much better to have all kinds of opinions in the open – the letters page is not a peer-reviewed journal, and even if it was that would not necessarily give it authority in this debate. All we can do is plead for politeness, brevity and a bit of nuance…”   Mike Ticher Letters editor

I am impressed!  Thanks Mr Ticher.

Demetris Koutsoyiannis Awarded Darcy Medal

By

The 2009 Darcy Medal will be awarded to Demetris Koutsoyiannis (http://

www.itia.ntua.gr/dk) has been awarded the The Darcy Medal (http://www.egu.eu/ index.phpid=48&file=henry_darcy_overview&cHash=8b0bfba456ff76b4e3164b1dbcfb8463).

 

He will give the Darcy Medal lecture on Thursday, April 23 2009, at 6.30 pm at the EGU 2009 in Vienna.

 

The EGU statetement about the Darcy Medal reads:

Henry Darcy Medal

 

This medal has been established by the Division on Hydrological Sciences in recognition of the scientific achievements of Henry Darcy.

It is reserved for individuals in recognition of their outstanding scientific contributions in water resources research and water resources engineering and management.

 

Censoring and the Internet

By

Before this year’s Beijing Olympic Games, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd chastised the Chinese authorities for blocking full access to the internet for the assembled world media: “My attitude to our friends in China is very simple”, he said. “They should have nothing to fear by open digital links with the rest of the world during this important international celebration of sport.”

Although Rudd expressed no concern for the average Chinese web user being unable to view tens of thousands of banned websites, his intervention was nevertheless a welcome call for transparency and greater democracy.

But now the Rudd Government is working towards implementing an unworkable filtering process in Australia that suggests a misguided understanding of the internet and worrying tendency to censor an inherently anarchic system.

Read more here: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8162

Coal for Breakfast?

By

Starting with an average grain yield of 3.75 tonnes hectare and a realistic average price of $220 per tonne, a Haystack farm will produce $497,775 from each hectare in a hundred years, which is the life expectancy of a child born today.

This allows for a modest 3% increase p.a. for combined yield advantage and price increase. Haystack yields are currently increasing at 2% p.a. due to improved genetics and farming technology, and with predictions that we will run out of food long before we run out of energy, 1% for natural price increase is modest.

This amount of wheat makes $10,774,349 worth of bread at $2 per loaf from every hectare over a child’s life expectancy. Real figures!

Talk about kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

How can a Mining Licence be in anyone’s best interest?

Food4Naught

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=669lsVI4Zrc

Website: www.coal4breakfast.com.