“When I was a kid, I — like most of my cohort — used to walk to and from school. Others caught the bus, but very few were driven to school by parents. Nowadays, many of these young climate change warriors are driven to school in gas-guzzling 4WDs and sit at home ordering Uber Eats with loads of plastic packaging.”
Catherine went back to the future and gets comment of the week:
“Well, I think a lot of students would be concerned about losing a day’s tuition and they might be heading to the library instead.
“When writing about future human subcults in his 1970 book Future Shock, Alvin Toffler said: ‘In a science fiction story entitled The Weather Man, Theodore L Thomas depicts a world in which the central political institution is a ‘Weather Council’. In it, representatives of the various nations hammer out weather policy and control peoples by adjusting climate, imposing a drought here or a storm there to enforce their edicts.’
“Almost 50 years on and it isn’t as far fetched as it was back then.”
Chris was cataclysmically cross:
“We are on the brink of what could turn out to be a cataclysmic war with Iran and it could escalate to consume the world if Russia gets involved. These spoiled rotten ‘children’ won’t know what hit them.
“If they want to see a world without fossil fuel they may only be days away. Less than one month in this country without petrol, diesel and oil and I can promise you this: You can have the whole life off not going to university and enjoy the anarchy and violent dystopia you so richly desire.”
Bruce looked back:
“Oh well, I remember being mentally hijacked by The Beatles in my teenage years: I suppose there is some equivalence but I guarantee you, the 1960s were way more fun!”
Patrick’s pitch:
“Most people remain unaware of the process by which the IPCC climate change consensus has been orchestrated. The IPCC does not do any original research. Instead, they ‘review the literature’ … information which has been published in scientific journals since the previous review.
“Critically there seems to be a total lack of transparency about the selection of personnel, the selection of technical material for review. Is there any documentation of the literature searches … when was the search done; who did it; which databases were searched; what time periods were covered; what was the search strategy (search terms & boolean logic used); what was the rationale and justification for that strategy; how many citations were retrieved at each stage of the search; what were the final selection criteria for inclusion/exclusion from the final analysis?
“Without such a protocol the IPCC has been at liberty to cherry pick information which supports their political narrative while ignoring or actively excluding counter evidence.”
Barry’s bit:
“Dr D’Abrera seems to be missing some obvious points.
1. Our universities (particularly our medical schools) believe in teaching based on evidence. The evidence is that climate change is an existential threat to our way of life. It’s hardly surprising that they welcome student participation in protests.
2. Students want to be exposed to different opinions, and want their views to be challenged. Students don’t want to be exposed to alternative facts.
3. Speaking of evidence, the claim that students will be ‘judged as climate deniers’ for turning up to class seems to be based in, well, none.
4. Being concerned at climate change is not a “liberal left” world view. It’s a scientific one.”
Chris was crafty:
“Send your kids to TAFE. By the time they finish these unemployable uni students will be in their first or second year and your child will be putting a deposit down on a house.”
Richard raged:
“When all the Green activists switch their Beemers and Benzes in favour of bicycles, I might take a bit more notice. High profile gestures such as a ‘drown-in’ won’t cut it with me.”
Patrick pointed out:
“University staff are so passionate about stopping climate change they’re prepared to take paid leave on a sunny Friday afternoon.”
Brisbane barked:
“Hey, Bella d’Abrera is director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation program at the Institute of Public Affairs. What if I told you that Climate change was the single biggest threat to western civilisation? See you at the climate strike!”
Cheryl chuckled:
“How dumb are these people? The climate changes daily, we call it the weather.”
David wondered:
“How many people will be marching in China, India, those countries that make up the Amazon Basin, Indonesia, Malaysia and the rest of SE Asia, and around the continent of Africa?
“Instead of calling it the Global Climate Strike perhaps there needs to be some reality put into it and call it The West’s Climate Strike.”
Grahame was green:
“Activism is projected as pejorative term, by the righties. Activism has led to the vote for women, citizenship for our First Australians, equality of pay for equal job role (almost), etc.
“Accusing climate change activists of stifling ‘intellectual’ debate: I have seen nothing intellectual in the righties who deny what is plainly happening to our global environment. I do see attempts by those with vested interest in maintaining the status quo of land clearing, coal and oil mining and consumption, water contamination by overuse of fertilisers etc trying to sow the seeds of doubt — just like the tobacco industry and others.
“I fully and wholeheartedly support the efforts of our young (and older) activists in encouraging governments to consistent and persistent action to reverse the completely unacceptable trends that continue to increase greenhouse gas emissions, tree and habitat destruction and so on.”
A quote from Kevin:
“ ‘Each new generation born is in effect an invasion of civilisation by little barbarians, who must be civilised before it is too late.’ Thomas Sowell”.
Richard’s response:
“These climate strikes won’t solve the climate crisis alone. What this moment can do is demonstrate that people are no longer willing to continue with business as usual. The urgency of the climate crisis requires a new approach and a just response centred on human rights, equity, and justice. (Global Climate Strike website)
“The key words here give the game away. Climate change is a handy banner, but the true goals are human rights, equity and justice — oh and getting rid of business. To translate: people have a right to whatever they want (more ice cream perhaps); everyone should be equal (maybe I failed the test but I’m just as good as the next guy); and justice — I want it (whatever it is), but I don’t have it — how unjust.
“Take a look at the global map of these strikes. Not a single one in China — the world’s largest source of CO2 emissions. Why don’t the kids bus to Canberra and stand outside the Chinese embassy and ask for no more coal fired power stations? Or better still ask for no more summary executions or jailings of dissidents (human rights anyone)? What about the Russian embassy (one strike event)? Why don’t the kids advocate for nuclear energy? France for instance gets 80pc of its power from carbon neutral fission power.
“Why don’t they symbolically smash their iPhones, to save on electricity — most of which comes in Australia from coal or gas? Or swear off TV, the internet, central heating or airconditioning?
“Because they’ve never been given all the facts by teachers (and some parents) who are almost as child like in their grasp of the realities. And especially because climate change is rightly seen as a big stick with which to beat conservative governments, which most teachers see as their god given right.
“It’s extraordinary how many adults (and much of the media) see this youthful revolution as a good thing — and not the politically inspired abnegation of responsibility.”
—
The Mocker waded in to the brouhaha between Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and the Coffs Harbour City Council. Cassandra was complimentary:
“You can’t get better than this. Mocker the Magnificent. I hope Jacinta continues with her advocacy and that one day we will see her in federal Parliament. She is an inspiration … a credit to her parents, her family, her tribe and her indigenous and European heritage. I was fortunate to hear her speak recently and as far as I am concerned Jacinta represents everything that reconciliation should be in this country. She gives me and millions of other Australians HOPE.”
John jibed:
“As shallow as a puddle. The ordinary Australians are onto this garbage. Jacinta Price is an absolute champion.”
Kevin concurred:
“Jacinta Price aims to end Aboriginal disadvantage. This is bound to incur the wrath of the parasites of the ‘Aboriginal industry’ whose livelihoods depend on the problems not being solved.”
Greg growled:
“Jacinta should take the Coffs Harbour council as well as the Nine Aboriginal Organisations to the AHRC. Might consider including the ABC as well. Keep up the GOOD fight Jacinta, all power to you, your Mum, Family and supporters.”
Roger replied:
“Complete waste of time. HREOC is only interested in complaints from lefties, forget it if you have a brain. Anyway, people like Jacinta have no interest in being a victim, they are too busy getting on with their full and worthwhile lives.”
True Blue trumpeted:
“Indigenous health, education and social issues affairs are very serious issues. The ABC, Coffs Council and activists don’t give a rat’s about any of these issues. Their indignation and offensiveness is purely about wanting to appear virtuous and feeling good.
“Jacinta Price is a once in a lifetime leader wanting to help her people and for that she is a target. The Coffs Council, ABC and all the activists should all hang their heads in shame.”
First hand from Tony:
“I went to Jacinta Price’s Sydney gathering and learned more about aboriginal culture, history, kinship and social circumstances in about 2.5 hours than in a full day program put on over 6 hours by my employer.
“This latter course was also presented by an indigenous Australian but seemed to shoot all the social issues and dysfunctional behaviours experienced in Aboriginal communities to the ‘white invasion’. There was no sense that the indigenous communities must take responsibility for such behaviour. Even recent immigrants and individuals from non-European backgrounds (South American, Asian, Middle Eastern and Africans) were introduced to the idea that Australia is founded on colonial exploitation and reparation must be made.
“In contrast Jacinta reflects, inclusion, honesty and courage in addressing these issues. She made no excuses for the behaviour of Europeans in the colonial period or by the broader Australian society in later times. She merely emphasised the point that indigenous communities need to take charge of their own destiny and deal with the issues confronting them (e.g. child abuse, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, family breakdown, education etc).
“I happen to be a Catholic white male. I raise this for no other reason than it would be incomprehensible to me being the recipient of a message from the Coff’s Harbour Council suggesting that, should I wish to speak on Catholicism at one of its venues, it would be advisable to seek the permission of the local Bishop to enter the Diocese of Lismore or approach the local Parish Pastoral Council out of ‘respect’ about speaking within the boundaries of its parish.
“This would be an unacceptable infringement of my rights as an Australian citizen. Why do we accept a lesser standard for an indigenous female?”
—
Douglas Murray, author of The Madness of Crowds, struck a chord with his theory that we are going through a great crowd derangement. In public and in private, both online and off, people are behaving in ways that are increasingly irrational, feverish, herd-like and simply unpleasant. Andrew agreed:
“Expresses exactly what I’ve been feeling for some time. As a kid I wondered how could the Roman Empire fail? Now I know. We are living through the fall of western civilisation and may end up witnessing its final destruction over the next few decades. China and Russia both have more compelling narratives to drive their ambitions while we sit the corner weeping over imagined slights we caused.”
Robert W too:
“You aren’t alone in feeling you are witnessing the death throes of a once great civilisation.
We have never been so affluent, never had life so full of leisure, never had so much free time to enjoy ourselves and take rest, never received so much education, never had such good health, generally, yet we are made to feel that mankind is regressing and times are becoming tougher.”
Take a deep breath, said Bill:
“Despite the fact that these nutty views have permeated the institutions and some parts of the media, in reality they only represent less than 8pc or so of our society. In another decade it will be as hard to find anyone admitting they advocated this nonsense as it was to find a Nazi in 1946 or a Bolshevik after the early 1990s. But, and I say this with a great feeling of composure, continuity and happiness, our churches will still be here and our liberal democracies will still stand.
“The only really worrying thing is the last point the author makes. If push comes to shove, and let’s hope it doesn’t, then there may well be a violent backlash against these snide bullies.”
Anthony 6 suggested:
“The core of the problem is the suppression of the fundamental right to freedom of speech. This has encouraged the unfettered proliferation of a slew of new moralities which have not been subject to reasoned and thoughtful discussion of either their validity or application.”
LynZip added:
“It is also the loss of respect for others, in which you acknowledge a right to difference — opinions, values, beliefs that you do not hold and anticipate the same in return. It is a lack of tolerance in which previous intolerance is acknowledged and in an attempt to address it, you discover that same tolerance is not extended by those who sought it and an almost incomprehensible imperative to punish.
“It is that there seem to be no limits or boundaries for moral activism/narcissism — every success brings forth further victims in need of a campaign and those who have a bottomless need for moral validation, happy to extend their moral credentials. It is an expectation that life should be equal and fair to all — where in any socialist society has this social reductionism been achieved — any brief revision of history will confirm the atrocities that have taken place and the lack of tolerance, respect and diversity that ensued?
“It is the fact that there is failure to appreciate that victimisation is not a state to aspire to — it weakens in body, mind and spirit rather than strengthens and in blame, diminishes the victim and extinguishes potential and possibilities. It could be reasonably argued that never in history has it been better to be a woman, gender diverse, or a racial minority while acknowledging that past injustices were prevalent, yet rarely has there been more enmity, division, hostility and lack of tolerance. Great article DM, I have rarely read better, perceptive and very brave.”
Right on, said Ross the Elder:
“What a succinct article which explains so much. I have had the feeling for a few years now that everything I believed in was under attack and new things to attack were being introduced at an alarming rate.
“I felt like I was in the middle of a mad mob not knowing where to look to defend what I believe in. This book will be on my shelf ASAP. We are indeed entering a period of madness and it won’t end well.
“Throughout history there have been periods of madness which ended in great wars and huge loss of life. Just in the last 110 years, WW1, the Russian Revolution, WWII, Mao, Pol Pot, Hutsis and Tutsis etc.
“The alleged oppressed have become the oppressors, the alleged victims have become the bullies, the alleged disadvantaged are now at the front of the queue, quotas for diversity rule over merit.
“The Labor policies in the last election show where we are headed, the ABC promote this nonsense nightly, eventually the extremists will outnumber the quiet Australians and commonsense will be dead and buried. I really worry about my grandchildren’s future.”
Last word to Andrew:
“This new religion is based upon postmodernism, the philosophy that denies that there is a reality independent of the human perception of it. How you construe the world is how it is. If a man perceives himself as being of the female gender, then that perception is all that is needed to undeniably assign him that gender.
“But postmodernism is based upon a logical fallacy. It confuses the perception of one’s environment for features, properties or attributes of that environment, and thus makes the logical error of confusing the relation between two independent terms for attributes or features of one of those terms.
“One can easily drive Lefties nuts with this. When they respond that reality is a social construct, it’s fun to argue back that ‘OK, lets increase speed limits outside schools from 40km/h to 160km/h. Let’s see if the kids can deconstruct physics and safely cross the road when a car is coming’. Or ‘jump off Sydney Harbour Bridge without a parachute or safety equipment; and deconstruct gravity on your way down so you land safely on your feet’. The arcane mental gymnastics that Lefties will go to try and respond sensibly to these scenarios is hilarious.
“Postmodernism is currently destroying women’s sport. If being a woman is only a social construct, then how can one explain the superior performance of transgender athletes?
The Left loves to roll out its best ‘word salad’ chefs to create a defensive smokescreen for postmodernism, but it will eventually fail because of its hopelessly illogical fundamental premise. However, much damage and suffering will be inflicted upon Western Society before this happens. For example, I can easily imagine in a decade or two legal action being taken by those who had gender reassignment surgery as children now, victims of an ideology hopelessly wedded to denying the biological basis of gender.”
—
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Welcome to the column where you provide the content. As the climate strike got rolling, Bella D’Abrera bemoaned the groupthink gripping universities which sees students turning up for lectures damned as climate-change deniers. Back in my day, said Tim B: