Warnings of climate catastrophe are in danger of losing their potency

David Attenborough is the latest to exaggerate on climate.

David Attenborough’s remarks at the climate summit in Poland bring to mind some other forecasters of doom (“Attenborough’s warning of climate disaster”, 5/12). Al Gore warned of the sea-level rising by 6m, engulfing New York and Shanghai. This posed “the most important spiritual, moral issue humankind has ever faced”. There were nine significant errors found in his movie An Inconvenient Truth.

Tim Flannery, former climate change commissioner, said Brisbane would never again have dam-filling rains, that the Gold Coast would run out of water. No one has bothered to count the cost.

P. C. Wilson, Miami, Qld

Doug Hurst (Letters, 4/12) wrote an excellent example of a logical fallacy taught in philosophy 101 at every university in the world — an irrelevant argument.

The fact that climate change is natural and has occurred many times in Earth’s history is irrelevant to the fact that people are burning fossil fuels in recent times and thus are causing people-made climate change now. We can reverse or slow down people-made climate change by using less fossil fuel to create energy. We should do this.

Russell F. Waugh, Swan View, WA

Frightened by Einstein

James McDonald makes a good point about not frightening children (Letters, 5/12). When I was a boy I became quite scared when I heard about Albert Einstein’s prediction that the first explosion of a hydrogen bomb might wipe out all life on Earth. I’m glad adults didn’t make things worse by encouraging me to take part in ban-the-bomb marches or get my photo in the papers holding up a banner concocted by someone else.

Children and those in their early teens should be taught critical thinking appropriate to their age and experience rather than be exploited for adult purposes In contrast to today’s ways of handling controversial topics, Einstein didn’t indulge in simplistic slogans or advocate hostility between people with different views on important matters. It is almost certain that in relation to bombs he never said “the science is settled”.

David Morrison, Springwood, NSW

China’s strategic plan

West Australian Labor MP Pierre Yang “overlooked” his membership of two Chinese Communist Party-linked organisations (5/12). Australia has to realise that Xi Jinping’s dynasty owns all Chinese wherever they live, and that they must obey his commands. Overseas Chinese are regarded as a magic weapon by Beijing as it seeks to infiltrate and influence countries that are part of its strategic plan.

Jim Wilson, Beaumont, SA

As an Australian who has recently relocated to Sydney after living in Hong Kong, I am outraged at the reach that Chinese influence can take within our country. All for the sake of political sensitivities.

This is a free country and it’s time we stood up for our democratic right to be able to criticise other countries (and their governments) that seek to undermine ours; as well as the rights of other people and countries around the world.

Patrick O’Rourke, Crows Nest, NSW

Costs don’t add up

I see the South Australian government is subsidising a scheme to put in 5kW solar panels and 13kW batteries in 50,000 houses. While the headline 250MW sounds good, the reality is that this will only be equivalent of a 40MW gas or coal-power station in terms of dispatchable power.

The reputed cost is $800 million and the most expensive part, the batteries, will need replacing in 10 years. I suppose it would be crass to point out that the cost of a 40MW gas-powered plant would be only $50m — 1/15th the cost of the solar scheme.

Brian C. Povey, Churchlands, WA