GREEN HYSTERIA HIJACKS DEBATE
PROOF that green lobbyists will do anything to push anti- human causes has been on full display this week. According to southern media, the head of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Russell Reichelt, this week told a Senate committee that 50 per cent of all coral on the Great Barrier Reef’s 2300km length had died from bleaching.
He was quick to add that the deaths had been partially offset by coral growth in other areas and that surveys were still being conducted.
Southern media quoted Dr Reichelt saying “50 per cent of coral” had died, but then noted reef alarmist Professor Terry Hughes tweeted that 50 per cent of “shallow- water coral” had died.
So whom do we believe? Is it 50 per cent of all coral or 50 per cent of shallow coral?
I asked GBRMPA for clarification but they didn’t bother to reply.
Predictably, the green lobby has seized on Dr Reichelt’s “50 per cent” statement and ignored his statements about coral growth and regrowth.
News outlets have been bombarded with releases from conservation groups claiming the “50 per cent” claim is “proof” humans are killing the planet and that the Adani coal mine must be stopped.
But another article in April – this time from the leftleaning Guardian publication – stated that not one reef tourism operator had applied to move its operations, indicating that coral mortality might not be as widespread as claimed.
Admittedly, tourism sites only cover 7 per cent of the Reef, but still it would be an amazing coincidence if half the coral out there had died but just not in the tourism zones.
The article quoted coowner of Cairns- based tour company Coral Sea Dreaming, Claire Zwick, who said Michaelmas Cay off Cairns had 100 per cent coral cover.
So until Dr Reichelt confirms – with proof – he meant 50 per cent of all coral on the Reef had died, everyone should be taking the green hysteria with a grain of salt. And even if he stands by his claim, tourism operators are painting a different picture.
Yet another article this month, in the conservative Quadrant publication, scotched green claims that the Reef is fragile, pointing out it had bounced back admirably from numerous cyclones, tsunamis, rainwater inundations, sea- level rises and bleaching, much like Australia’s dry interior springs back to life when favourable conditions return.
It made an unreferenced claim that the worldwide system of over 3000 Argo buoys had not detected net temperature rise in the top 2000 metres of oceans, indicating warmer waters on the GBR are localised and caused by one of the strongest El Ninos on record.
Even coral at the American nuclear test site at Bikini Atoll 50 years ago is now thriving again.
Noted reef moderate Professor Peter Ridd also subscribes to the “resilient reef” philosophy, pointing out that coral bleaches because it has expelled its symbionts, therefore allowing it to host new symbionts that are more tolerant of warmer water.
So there is plenty of evidence suggesting news of the Reef’s death are grossly exaggerated, but unfortunately we don’t get to hear these views from major media ( particularly the ABC) who seem only too happy to publish green propaganda without even a cursory investigation.
Worse, politicians get caught up in the emotioncharged caterwauling and we have the situation now being faced by the Adani coal mine.
Everyone should automatically take a sceptical view when green groups start ranting, and seek out counterarguments ... especially politicians who have proven themselves to be among the most gutless, self- serving reprobates going around.
One reader is trying to launch the “Relaxivism” movement to counter the hysterical enviro- warriors.
If we all became Relaxivists and calmly analysed data from numerous sources – while ignoring the shrill human haters – we would make far better decisions that improve everyone’s standard of living and not cost us a fortune.
Society also needs to forget the idea that humans can thrive without altering the environment in any way.
We need mines, dams, ports, farms and roads. We don’t want to destroy nature, but we have to accept some degradation will occur to ensure our own survival and prosperity.