A demonstration of why climate science is still not settled

The ABC has run an IPCC propaganda piece.

Victor Branson points out (Letters 14/12) that while Judith Curry, climate scientist, dismisses the alarmist predictions of rising sea levels, the chief scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she works, has noted that in 1990-2005 the number of severe hurricanes was 269, compared with 171 for the period 1975 to 1989. What about 2006-18?

The chief scientist goes on to say the “increase in intensity was probably accounted for by the increase in sea surface temperature,” which in turn was “probably a manifestation of global warming.” Thanks for pointing out that the science is not settled.

R.V. Hanson, Kenmore, Qld

It is a disgrace that the ABC found it necessary to run a propaganda piece for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Thursday’s 7.30 program. It showed the usual videos of glaciers breaking off into the sea, bushfires, storms and floods. These are all events that have occurred for millennia and will continue to occur.

I wonder when the ABC will run a show explaining that higher levels of carbon dioxide do not drive up the temperature. In fact, the reverse is true.

Rising temperatures due to solar activity increases CO2 levels because it causes CO2 to be released from the oceans. We never seem to get the true side of the argument from the ABC.

Chas Barter, Lower Mitcham, SA

Wellbeing depends on us

It is in the nature of those with power and of the bureaucracy to seek to extend their range, to control more and more of society. This is evident not only in the articles on religion and anti-corruption but in the overall thrust of political parties, unions and activist groups (“If you have true faith, prepare to defend your rites,” and “Integrity body has limited power now but just watch this space,” 14/12).

But our wellbeing depends on controlling ourselves, on the values, standards and individual effort, whether alone or as a community. The greater the attempts to shift responsibility to political bodies and for them to seek to determine what is right and proper, based on an imperfect understanding, the poorer is our society. But the forces for smaller, less-intrusive government are sadly weaker and weaker.

Michael Cunningham, West End, Qld

Scourge of internet porn

The #MeToo movement claims to address the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace. It seems strange, therefore, that the movement never makes mention of that most egregious of modern scourges — internet pornography.

How can we as a society accept a situation where any teenager (disturbed or otherwise) can, with a few keystrokes, access the most vile degradation of women imaginable.

I feel that internet porn has much more influence on the incidence of sexual harassment of women than the occasional wayward wink at the office Christmas party.

Why isn’t #MeToo campaigning against the internet giants who derive handsome profits from internet porn?

Larry Ferguson, Port Elliot, SA

Veterans on alert

Reading there are rumblings Department of Veterans Affairs could be getting pulled apart to “give veterans a better service” really means the veteran community will lose as the bean counters get to work. DVA is not perfect but it sure as hell is better than anything the government wants to screw the veteran community with.

Many in the veteran community remember the last time a conservative government wanted to toy with DVA at their expense. Then, many veteranse were denied treatment because DVA expected doctors and medical professionals to work for a pittance. The veteran community should be very concerned.

D. J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld