Is Howard burnt out?


JILL Singer writes: John Howard wants a new Kyoto because he reckons the old one is useless.I want a new PM for much the same reason.
The evidence is irrefutable that he is stubbornly refusing to take the threat of climate change seriously and is prepared to engage in media stunts and window dressing only in the hope he can fool us into thinking all is well.
Just listen to his use of language. It's all designed to soothe Australia into thinking the problem isn't necessarily all that bad and that he is absolutely on top of it.
Consider the release of Britain's devastating report by Sir Nicholas Stern, which warns that poor old parched Australia is at particular risk of devastating environmental and economic disaster.
First, Mr Howard advises Coalition MPs not to get mesmerised by one report, never mind that it echoes last year's dire predictions by Australia's CSIRO scientists.
Then he tells the public it is very important we don't overreact to Stern.
No one, he says, can assert with any confidence that Sir Nicholas's doomsday scenarios are right or wrong.
It's almost as if you can hear Joh Bjelke-Petersen's voice from the grave saying, "Don't you worry about that".
Then, last Thursday, a Newspoll revealed that 79 per cent of Australians wanted the Government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and commit itself to greenhouse-gas emission targets.
And 91 per cent wanted the Government to shift from fossil fuels, such as coal, to renewable sources. Surely, such public concern cannot be dismissed lightly?
Think again. Mr Howard's response to the poll was to question its veracity but he later had to correct himself in Parliament and admit it was legitimate.
Furthermore, he says it's not surprising people say we've got to do more because of all the focus of the last few days on climate change.
The last few days . . . Who is he kidding?
Obviously, Mr Howard is bargaining on the public having the collective attention span of a gnat.
You know, today we're worried about climate change, tomorrow we'll all be so preoccupied with a horse race that we will forget about it.
He could be right. For now we have Channel 7's Mel and Kochie plugging events, such as the Walk Against Warming and asking irritating questions, such as why the Howard Government is spending twice as much taxpayer money on advertising the Government as it spends on climate change.
But such programs are not noted for keeping the heat on, if you'll pardon the pun.
Tomorrow, I'm sure, it will all be jolly old hats and feathers and next week it could well be some other worthy cause that shocks their socks off.
The fact is that today marks the start of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Kenya, Nairobi.
Over the next two weeks, the 165 countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol will discuss the way forward for global co-operation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
India and China, the two countries that John Howard highlights as not doing enough to combat climate change, will be there and exercising their right to vote.
And Australia, the greatest per capita producer of greenhouse gases in the world, will be sitting on the sidelines, along with the world's single greatest polluter, the US, plotting how to form a splinter group that will advantage their coal and oil industries.
Yes, it's true Australia is in the Asia Pacific Clean Development and Climate Partnership (the AP6).
It's also true the Howard Government announced last week $60 million for initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. But let's get this in perspective. It's akin to putting a Band-Aid on a bloke shot at point-blank range.
Not only is Australia the nation most reliant on dirty fossil fuels for energy, we also export a staggering $61 billion worth of pollution a year in the form of coal, according to economic modelling based on the Stern report.
What's more, the Australian Conservation Foundation estimates the Government is spending $1 billion on subsidising company cars.
And here is the PM expecting us to get all excited because he is contributing a mingy $57 million to a $319 million solar power project in Victoria.
For another comparison, Howard's much vaunted national chaplains in schools are going to cost $90 million.
Why, oh why, are we still being encouraged to think we shouldn't overreact or get hysterical about our future?
Listen again to the PM's language.
In a prime bit of Biblespeak, John Howard reckons he won't destroy the natural advantage that Providence has given the working men and women of Australia: apparently the retired, the unemployed and children are exempt from any natural advantage.
Ah, Divine Providence.
God has delivered unto us plenty of coal and it would be economically sinful not to capitalise on it.
God also happened to bury lots of uranium deep under our land, so we'd better use that up too.
One might point out that Providence has also given us lots of wind and sunshine.
No doubt, come election time, Mr Howard will post everyone a cheque for some reason or other, have his photo taken alongside some token windmill or solar panel and reckon it will be enough to get him over the line, yet again.
It might even work for him, but the risks he is taking now are not personally large for him. He has already had a long, happy and successful life.
The risks he is taking threaten the future of the country he professes to love.
They also threaten the rest of the world, from which he is increasingly alienating us.
I am beginning to understand why Mr Howard says we need chaplains in school. They are particularly good at bereavement counselling in times of crisis and loss.
The only option left us may well be prayer.
jsinger@bigblue.net.au
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