“Will Clover lead by example by cancelling her outrageously extravagant, carbon-emitting, fireworks indulgence and accompanying $1m booze up for all her hangers on? Don’t think so.”
Just dandy, said Mandy:
“Bravo Maurice Newman, and years ago the carbon-tax-axing Tony Abbott provided the nutshell expression: socialism masquerading as environmentalism.”
Peter reckoned:
“The only emergency around is to get Clover and her green mates out of any political position where they can spend taxpayers money on their own follies.”
Bill felt ill:
“The climate change catastrophism scaremongering climate emergency agenda pushed by the globalists and postmodernist Marxists is the biggest political wealth redistribution scam of our time. Pushed by mostly public sector elites, cosy in secure jobs mostly for life, they swim in climate junkets, get to ‘guilt trip’ the rest of us while laughing all the way to the bank themselves. It’s a racket of global proportions.”
Michael took a stand:
“I won’t support socialist totalitarianism, even if it is presented as solving climate change!
‘Human freedom stands above everything. There is no end in the world for the sake of which it is permissible to sacrifice human freedom.’ Vasily Grossman.”
Welcome to my world, said Mr Natural:
“Where I live, The Adelaide Hills Council has declared a climate emergency. It’s probably significant that they also brag about how many Welcome To Country ceremonies they hold.”
Another Michael wondered:
“If it is an emergency then why does the Sydney City Council shine coloured lights on city buildings?”
Rebecca raged:
“I wish COS would just stick to their brief. Clover Moore is equally obsessed about boosting the nighttime economy and Sydney being a ‘global city’ as she is this ‘climate emergency’.
“If I were her I would start by ensuring that the toilet block just outside the Botanic Gardens gates and on way to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair was properly maintained and cleaned more often. Most of the time it is in a disgusting and smelly state!
“And that goes for the alleged sacred nighttime economy grounds of KX. It regularly gets well beyond a clean of the footpaths and Springfield Plaza and the like. Last place I would want to roam around day or night if I were an overseas or out of state visitor. Very not ‘vibrant’.”
Kelly went dark:
“To address her emergency the easiest first response Clover could take is to introduce bans on night lighting in the city of Sydney. The Brits did it during the Blitz and it was real action that people could take to deny the Lufftwaffe any easy targets.
“No more Vivid light festivals or night Madis Gras, no more brightly lit skyscrapers or harbour bridges or opera houses or sporting venues. When she does that I might sit up and take notice.”
Roland yawned:
“First there was global warming, but the globe didn’t warm enough. Then there was climate change to make the crackpot theories unfalsifiable, but this was too bland.
“The movement is still losing credibility so let’s have an existential, crisis, emergency, extinction something to raise everyone’s heart rate.”
Gina reminisced:
“A perfect example of the wealth redistribution diver of the left’s climate obsession was provided by Gillard’s carbon tax. The power companies were free, if not encouraged, to pass the cost of the tax to the consumer.
“The government would then pay a portion of the tax as a subsidy to those of lower incomes and pocket the rest. Result? Not a jot of carbon reduction but a neat wealth redistribution.”
Silent Majority said:
“Maybe councils should realise that they maybe the ones causing the 'climate emergency’ not CO2. The cooling effect of trees in urban situations is being recognised. Maybe they should think about the wisdom of ever increasing the urban sprawl by replacing trees with concrete, bricks, tile and black bitumen and producing what is known as the urban heat island effect. Trying to compare modern urban temperatures with those of the greener past is very questionable.
“Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that the right amount of tree cover in an area can lower summertime temperatures by at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit. This magnificent cooling effect can be noticed from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, even on a scale of a city block, the study said.
“Surfaces such as sidewalks, buildings, and roads often absorb heat from the sun at day and then release heat at night. When there are trees, however, not only does shade surface from the rays of the sun, they also transpire and release water into the air through the leaves, which keeps temperatures cooler.”
Last word and comment of the week to William:
“Could some enterprising brave young journalist please ask climate comrade Moore and her fellow travellers, do they ride their bikes to council meetings, or even use public transport, do they have their own worm farm and compost system on their property, do they grow their own fruit and veg thus saving travel miles for such, do they each have solar panels and personal wind generation capacity, have they ceased jetting overseas for holidays, do they use video conference if wishing to have meetings outside Sydney including OS climate meetings, do they drive electric cars if they must travel outside public serviced areas?
“When they answer yes to these asks, then they can inflict their agenda on the rest of us. Shame on these evangelical CC opportunists just putting their own name in lights, all about me me me.”
—
Readers were incensed by Billie Jean King’s cheap shot at Margaret Court’s tennis legacy. Judith smelled a sore loser:
“Margaret Court and Billie Jean King faced each other 32 times, with Court winning 22.
King and Court met in the finals of five Grand Slam events. Court won 4 of those Finals
“Court won twice as many Grand Slam Single Titles as King (24 — 12) with King relying on her Doubles and Mixed Doubles wins to beef up her historical tennis profile.
“King was a brilliant Player but doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breathe as Margaret Court. Typical of the Left. If you can’t win in the heat of battle, then try and change the history.”
Sandra had history:
“I remember back to the days when Billie Jean King (nee Moffatt) was playing and she was always controversial and difficult. Nothing has changed.”
Courtesy rules for Kon:
“Margaret Court came from the generation of Australian tennis greats who let their racquet do the talking. Quiet, dignified, respectful players all champions in their own right. These were the days of Laver, Emerson, Rosewall, Newcombe, Court and Goolagong.
“If Billie Jean King has an issue with pastor Court’s Christian beliefs and her willingness to publicly preach them, then she needs to publicly address her intolerance of Christian teachings too.”
A stadium by any other name, said Les:
“Flushing Meadows has the Billie Jean King stadium, which now should come into question because of her support for the tobacco industry. That is due to her support of the Virginia Slims tournament over the renown Australian Open. What a loud mouthed yank.”
Sense from Sara:
“King should keep her stadium, and Court should keep hers. They were awarded on tennis merit and should stay that way. Both have the right to express their opinions, and others have to the right to respond.”
Rod resisted:
“Court’s homophobic opinions are the issue here.”
Kate countered:
“While sections of the Christian and Muslim communities are vehemently homophobic, all religious devotees should not be tarred with the same brush. Many are tolerant of those who have a different sexual orientation.”
—
The Black Hornet nanodrone is the length of a pencil and looks like a toy but it can slip down a street or building unnoticed and will change the rules of war. Craig had a sinking feeling:
“How much future intelligence briefings do our military decision makers get when such antiquated diesel subs are to be made for next 30 plus years. It beggars belief.”
Rick agreed:
“Why are we spending money on these giant weapons platforms, the fighters and subs, when robotics and miniturization are revolutionising the battlefield? World War II technologies are not going to hack it.
“The missile shield systems have seriously reduced the threat of international missiles, and the surface-to-air weapons makes manned flights risky. Deployable drones which can sneak and identify targets exactly to direct budget-cruise missiles seems a much better option than sneaking in SAS spotters to direct jets, or whatever happens currently.”
David did too:
“I would also say the level of investment in manned fighter jets is a waste of money. The future of fighter jets is unmanned, however the policy makers in defence are ex-fighter pilots and as such we spend hundreds of billions on fighter jets with reduced capacity due to putting a pilot inside.”
Steve was suspicious:
“You guys don’t run into software issues daily, doing routine things? Why oh why are we imagining that these things will be more reliable?”
John took aim:
“Counter measure? How about the old fashioned 12 gauge shotgun?”
Angry Dude said:
“It looks like it’s time to reinstall those multi-coloured streamers that were once used to keep out annoying insects. Also, I’m not sure how hornets perform in heavy rain or wind.”
Graham saw a fly in the ointment:
“Next to be developed — the drone swatter.”
Rog said:
“A private eye’s heaven!”
Geoffrey wanted one:
“I need one of these so I can deploy it before going home after the pub on a Friday night and ensure a safe entry without the wife seeing me.”
—
Each Friday the cream of your views on the news rises and we honour the voices that made the debate great. To boost your chances of being featured, please be pertinent, pithy and preferably make a point. Solid arguments, original ideas, sparkling prose, rapier wit and rhetorical flourishes may count in your favour. Civility is essential. Comments may be edited for length.
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