The soul searching on bushfires has begun. We could argue forever about the causes, whether climate change on the one hand or fuel loads etc., on the other.
Most would agree that Australia should reduce greenhouse emissions further. However, a transition plan from high to low emissions is needed to avoid social and economic hardship. As well, what Australia does about its emissions cannot guarantee cooling, because emissions worldwide are still increasing, and Australia is busily feeding the habit through its mining exports.
Having the capacity to locate and attack fires where and when they start will be essential.
However, we also need to act decisively on the other things within Australia that are contributing to lower rainfall and higher temperatures.
Everyone knows Australia is a land of extremes, of drought and fire, with its fair share of storms, blizzards and flooding rains too, more so than nearly all other earthly places.
Obviously, much of the hot, dry weather originates in the outback.
Vast swathes of country (upwards of 3 million square-km) bakes under cloudless skies and, more than before, the inland heat moves right across the continent to the heavily wooded places closer to the sea, that traditionally have been wetter and cooler.
Things are getting hotter and dryer not only because of the greenhouse effect but also from centuries of land clearing and grazing, leaving the land bearer than before. Our woodland, mulga, savanna, Mallee and saltbush vegetation, covering much of the country, has been sizably reduced, causing more solar heat to be radiated.
Sure, drought and fuel loads exacerbate fires, but on bad days when scorching dry winds tear through, all wooded places and most things within ember range are vulnerable to fire and firestorm (as NSW's former fire-chief, Greg Mullins has explained).
These weather conditions can only be mitigated by cooling down the outback.
In this vein, indigenous management of the vegetation and landscape, expansion of landscape, and retention of groundwater when rain falls (refer to Peter Andrew's work) would be doable and affordable.
These initiatives are needed country-wide, because vegetation and groundwater play such a crucial role in creating rainfall cycles, enabling vegetation to grow and cooling to occur.
Creating more saltwater wetlands could also help cool the inland, for example, if lowlands can be flooded by pumping and gravitating seawater and floodwater (Eons ago, many inland salt-lakes were permanently inundated and vastly larger than they are now).
Mangroves, marshes and seagrass meadows (also greatly downsized in modern times) are proven to be great absorbers of greenhouse gases, far superior even than tropical rainforest (refer Prof Paul Avery of Edith Cowan University). They are also amazing food sources.
More coastal and inland seawater vegetation can improve fish stocks and help to open-up new drought-proof industries around seaweed production for human consumption and animal feed.
John Morandini
Civil Engineer, Gymea
Asbestos was never a wonderful product
I agree with Ian Ryan that Climate Change is natural and cyclical, but, as far as we know, it is much faster than it has ever been. Therefore we must be doing things that cause it to increase at this rate.
However, my main concern in his latest letter is that he blames scientists forty years ago for "shouting the praises of that wonderful product ASBESTOS".
This is wrong.
I started scientific work in the UK in the late 1950s and, in the early 1960s, I was told to be very careful as we were using asbestos for insulation in an experiment and the asbestos particles could get into the lungs and prevent some of the oxygen we need to be absorbed for the rest of our lives.
When I was doing scientific work in Australia in the 1970s, I was told NEVER to use asbestos, particularly the blue asbestos being produced in Western Australia as it had shorter particles that were much more likely to arrive in the lungs than white asbestos. This was where a privately owned company was producing it and they were making huge amounts of money.
It was, therefore, the companies that produced asbestos that was responsible for shouting it's praises.
Brian Charlton
Engadine
Did you vote for the LNP and if so will you change your vote?
I expected a large number of responses to Mr Ryan's comments. Comments are easy for us all, the question I have for those that either wrote in or were aghast with his comments is, `Did you vote for the LNP and if so will you change your vote?' I voted for the LNP since 1975 until the last elections (State and Federal). Those elections I voted Labor. Unless you change your vote, we will be heading towards a false target, achieved by using old measures. Real action needs to start now. We can lead the world and make new industries. Write to your local members and express either your disappointment or support of their action. Either way, give them reason/s for your position. Yes, many will no doubt support Messrs Ryan and Kelly. Just a thought.
Paul Foley
Caringbah South
Sydney train system a shambles
Could The Leader start research and investigate the tremendous ineptitude of Sydney Trains?
Every week there is a problem, lack of proper maintenance or contingency plans to give users adequate treatment.
My wife had to go from Engadine to Penshurst, around 2 pm to pick my son. Later, around 7 pm to Sutherland to pick up the other son.
They have problems every week or month. The whole system is in shambles.
What is happening?
Richard Benfatto
Engadine
Botany Bay April 29 Cook 250 anniversary
To the people of Sutherland and greater NSW and Australia where are the plans, the promotional information and events calendar items for April 29 2020 the most historically significant date in our history?
I am an educator, an historian and a person who after sixty years as a proud Australian can find nothing about the Meeting of Two Cultures event. But what is more of a concern is that our iconic replica ship Endeavour won't be sailing from Hobart to Botany Bay to arrive on April 29. The people need to ask questions of the PM and of mayor Carmelo Pesce. How will our $15 million be spent?
Deb Gibson
Sydney
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Write to the editor at craig.thomson@austcommunitymedia.com.au