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I Say Tomartoe and You Say Tomaydo! |
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Written by Seuamuli Des Bentin
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
Tom Harris is an Ottawa, Canada-based mechanical engineer and executive director of the Natural Resources Stewardship Project (www.nrsp.com) In an article printed in The Saturday Observer 02 February 2008, he wrote that “Words” are the “key weapon in climate war”.
Visit the NRSP web site and you will read that the;
“Goals for 2006/2007:
1. NRSP’s first campaign is focused on dispelling the notion that Canada needs CO2 reduction plans. CO2 is very unlikely to be a substantial driver of climate change and is not a pollutant. Global climate change is primarily a natural phenomenon and so governments should focus on solving environmental problems over which we have influence (air, land and water pollution being obvious examples). NRSP will articulate a vision that also promotes assisting our most vulnerable citizens adapt to climate change while encouraging continued research in this exceptionally complex field.
2. Become recognized by media, government and ordinary Canadians as the most reputable voice for the promotion of science-based climate change policy.
3. Identify and track the positions of MP’s and MLA’s across the country in order to identify and assist politicians willing to support climate and pollution policy based on the most up-to-date science, engineering and economics.
4. Have a measurable impact on the public’s understanding of climate change, with a target of significantly lessening support for implementation of CO2 controls.
Strategy:
Create a much stronger and more public debate concerning climate and pollution policy by:
1. distinguishing legitimate concerns about climate change and pollution from unsupportable claims that humans are a significant contributor to climate change.
2. show how in many cases the promotion of severe greenhouse gas restrictions is not beneficial to Canadians or the environment and merely reflect predetermined agendas and strong vested interests.
Tactics:
∑ Direct media inputs (OpEds, letters, media appearances) from non-governmental, non-industry climate scientists and NRSP executives.
∑ Establishment of an experts’ speaker’s bureau for public appearances, media interviews and government testimony.
∑ Convening well-publicized news conferences with experts in the field.
∑ Coordinating unbiased public opinion polling on the issue.
∑ Direct mail campaigns.
∑ Email and internet newsletters to NRSP supporters and other concerned Canadians.
∑ Public education campaigns.
∑ Consumer advocacy based on the latest developments in science, engineering and economics concerning climate change and pollution.
I am not sure when the article that appeared in the Saturday Observer was written or how they came by it but this being 2008 suggests that the NRSP may have achieved its goals for 2006/2007 in Canada and is now going global. What better target for “direct mail campaigns” and “direct media inputs” than a small South Pacific nation who probably got pressured into signing the Kyoto Protocol? But when, why, where and how do not really matter in the end. The Observer is well known for fairness and publishing letters and opinions sent to them from anybody as long as they fell within an understandable set of rules. But people like Mister Tom Harris piss me off! Pollution, climate change and global warming are not Fourth Form Chemistry or English grammar and comprehension class where you must insist on the correct terminology, spelling or chemical symbol or fail the end of year exam.
We are in the middle of the Cyclone season and the flooding we experienced last week, and probably would again before the season ends around the end of April, is a direct result of pollution and climate change. I don’t think we are being “environmental alarmists” when we say that the reclamation works on all that area of the wider Apia township and Central Business District which is natural mangrove and wetlands has resulted in the excess rain water flow-off not having anywhere to go. A local engineer has also blamed the blockage of drains for the water bursting out on to the streets and everywhere. Tons of domestic waste and plastics clog up the waterways as we go about oblivious to the collective effect of more than two thousand people in Apia dumping plastic bags on the street every day for twelve months until the next cyclone season comes around and we wade through filth again calling on the government to do something!
It is very frustrating when we try for years to raise local awareness about pollution, climate change and global warming only to be met by a blank wall of disinterest. It is unfortunate that people have to scramble to get their valued possessions out of the reach of rising flood waters or watch their market produce get washed away before they understand the effects of pollution and how pollution contributes to climate change and global warming. It is not too late for us to do something about pollution in our town and back yards. The Government ministries involved must act now whilst the snapshot of that water-logged day is still fresh in the memories of those affected. Wait and they will turn on you for trying to relocate them from areas where they have been squatters for years!
Mister Tom Harris and the NRSP may have achieved their target of “significantly lessening support for the implementation of CO2 controls” in Canada but we do not need their “direct media inputs” trying to confuse the very real pollution and climate change issues we face here now. Who the hell cares if it is “Carbon dioxide emissions” and not “Carbon emissions”? One of the NRSP goals is to have a “measurable impact on the public’s understanding of climate change”. We already have a measurable impact of Nature’s understanding of pollution and climate change in that we no longer have a ‘Dry’ and ‘Wet’ seasons but now have a ‘Wet’ and a ‘Very, Very Wet’ season with flood water now up to ‘here’ at the Fugalei Market! Have a nice one folks and well done Manu Samoa Sevens!
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