A heated debate

Interesting to see that Stuff is launching a project,

‘‘Quick! Save the Planet’’.

I sincerely hope the project is well researched, factually correct and objectively reported, as anything less will be cynically viewed merely as an attempt to sell more newspapers, and I already have some concerns about that.

Firstly, the project title implies that the planet is at risk. It isn’t. It has been around for about 4.5 billion years and unless hit by a very large object, such as another planet, it will likely last at least another 4.5 billion years.

So it isn’t the planet but ‘‘life on the planet’’ that is at risk.

Secondly, even if the project title was ‘‘Quick! Save Life on the Planet’’, that would imply mankind has the ability to control climate change.

In reality, planet Earth is constantly in an orbit around the Sun.

Variations in the path of that orbit and the amount of heat radiated from the sun, amongst other things, cause much of our climate change.

It is only 10,000 years ago that planet Earth was engulfed in an ice age. Mankind didn’t cause that ice age and nor did mankind end it. It just happened.

I’m not saying that some of the current climate change isn’t being caused by the activities of an ever increasing population of human beings on Earth, but I am saying please present us with the full story, not just the alarmist view that mankind is the sole villain.

And if you do conclude that mankind is a major villain, then how about another project titled ‘‘Quick! Reduce the Population’’.

Ian Frame, Oakura