Comments for Australia Must Care For Its Future at http://www.baysidechurch.com.au , comment 1 to 2 out of 2 comments http://www.baysidechurch.com.au Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:45:30 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.baysidechurch.com.au/content/view/159/243/#comment-18 Thanks Rob, While I share your sentiment, I don't really know where to start, an I guess most people are in the same boat... This matter reminds me of the statement [i]"If good people don't stand up, bad things will probably happen"[/i]. So, how do I/we stand up? Is there a Christian action group on this matter we can throw our support behind? Pastornet have a link to the [url=http://www.pastornet.net.au/envcomm/Resources/Audit/Environmental Audit.pdf]eco-congreagation[/url] which may be something to consider at Bayside. Given a cause to ralley behind and a great leader I am sure more people will be able to; [i]wake up and speak up before it’s too late![/i] Russ - Russ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:47:25 +0100 http://www.baysidechurch.com.au/content/view/159/243/#comment-17 It is certainly true that in the actual act of making a practical difference, Australia is so small that whatever reductions it makes in carbon emissions it will not trigger a turnaround in global warming. Yes the practical difference will have to be made elsewhere. Whilst the Garnaut report does highlight the expected exponential increase in China's emissions,it also states the following: "Mitigation effort is increasing around the world, but too slowly to avoid high risks of dangerous climate change. The recent and projected growth in emissions means that effective mitigation by all major economies will need to be stronger and earlier than previously considered necessary. The existing international framework is inadequate, but a better architecture will only come from building on, rather than overturning, established efforts. [b]Domestic, bilateral and regional efforts can all help to accelerate progress towards an effective international agreement[/b]." (http://www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/pages/draft-report-chapter-11. accessed 7/7/08) It seems to me that government action on global warming is less about what Australia can do to directly safeguard its future and more about the stand it can make as a major economy in the world to illicit international agreement, and in so doing, to safeguard the planet (and therefore its own future). And yes it all seems rather "up in the air" (no pun intended!) or "wait and see" while Australian businesses and people are suffering in the meantime. This solution is far from perfect and any outcry against it is absolutely justified. A huge part of the beauty of Australia is that people cry out against any form of injustice and we have the freedom to do so. The real challenge for our government around climate change is how to effectively juggle the international without jeopardising the immediate interests of the domestic. This is a process that is going to require constant negotiation. And all interest groups need to be taken into account. - Shalini Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:46:18 +0100