I am appalled – but not surprised – that the coalition has been re-elected.
Australia is an incredibly immature country when it comes to politics. We have a political system which works on sound bites and short-term policy. As far as the Coalition is concerned, what will ensure re-election is far more important than policies which require us to bite the bullet in order to ensure survival in the long-term.
We are long overdue for reform of our financial system as well as acceptance of the demands on us, as part of a world community, in relation to climate change.
Clive Palmer spent millions (is he really going to pay his former employees as promised, now that he has won no seats???) to ensure that a government favourable to his ambitions would be elected. Look out Carmichael – not only Adani is waiting for the green light!
For whatever reason – naivety, misplaced trust, laziness, whatever! – people have allowed blatant lies to influence their vote, without making any real effort to inquire as to the truth of the statements which influenced them. Job gains – generally less than have been claimed – in one area will be balanced out by job losses in another. After all – demand for coal is decreasing as other nations start taking climate change action, so mining greater quantities is liable to lead to greater stockpiles,
While many of us will not mourn the failure of Tony Abbott to be re-elected, the fact that Peter Dutton has returned to the House will send shivers down many a spine. He has perfected cruelty to genuine asylum seekers to the extent that his actions alone must be discouraging refugees from seeking Australia as a safe haven.
It is true that Australia, by itself, cannot save the world when it comes to global warming. But actions in individual States in the USA and in most European countries and many in Asia are already in train – we would not be the first to take action and the more who do act, the more likely it is for those yet to commence action to change their plans. Having a global carbon price would really work!
The Coalition continually relies on the health of the economy to support its case for being the party which Australia needs to have in government. In truth, a small amount of research would tell you that our economy, despite claims to the contrary, is NOT in good shape. Wait for the next RBA report!
But if the economy only supports some of the population, and others are ignored and left to die in the gutter, is it not wise to also consider other issues?
During the campaign, Morrison made much of the “those that have a go” mantra – but what about those who are incapable of having a go?
What about the pensioners who cannot afford dental care and face months or year on the Dental Clinic waiting list before they can eat properly? Or wait for years, in increasing pain, for ‘elective’ hip replacement surgery in the public hospital? They cannot afford private hospital cover so waiting is their only option.
I have read enough about the research into climate change to be convinced that we really are close to the tipping point. We now need really urgent action to reduce emissions and deal effectively with pollution from all sources – and particularly that which is affecting the oceans. We may have already waited too long for the best possible outcome and we really cannot afford to wait any longer.
When I was 10, in biology at school I learned about photosynthesis – as do most students. During the day, green plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil and using the chlorophyll in their leaves, create glucose to ensure their growth, with a bi-product being oxygen. Throughout the 24-hour cycle, just as we breathe out and secrete waste, the process of respiration takes place in plants, taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. However, over the entire day, the net result is an increase of glucose in the plants, a decrease of carbon dioxide in the air and also, very importantly, an increase of oxygen in the air.
The extent to which profit-making enterprises have undertaken massive levels of deforestation has been highly damaging, the result has been an increase of carbon dioxide – one of the major global warming gases – and a decrease in oxygen – on which nearly all life on earth depends.
Around the world, green vegetation is a very effective carbon sink – as were the oceans. Now, however, ocean temperatures are rising and marine plant and other life is adversely affected – not to mention the damage done to marine life by the massive amount of plastic pollution.
By the end of 2030, my youngest great-grandchild will join her 2 older brothers as a teenager. I will be in my 90s so near the end of my life but I agonise over the conditions in which they will be living if action is not taken NOW to reduce pollution in all forms.
Information from all sources indicates that mankind is the most dangerous predator on earth! We just have time to be redeemed – not by some amorphous god but by our own actions!
Morrison’s stunt with the piece of coal might have been good theatre, but, unless he now accepts that we must stop mining, exporting and using coal – wherever it might be burned (we only have one atmosphere for the entire planet!) – then we will truly become the Pariah of the Pacific!
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