John Howard

The Forum Communiqué is an international organisation between Pacific Island Countries and neighbouring nation-states. Its importance and relevance reaches far across the political, social and geographic boundaries within the Pacific Region. What this organisation does is important and influential. Unfortunately, the Forum Communiqué, while influential, is not the strongest political power in the region.

Australia is.

And in 1997 Australia's then Prime Minister made a political move. Prime Minister John Howard, in 1997, insisted that the small island countries remove any reference in the Forum Communiqué to the need for countries to cut greenhouse gases. He didn't believe in climate change.

Well, side-stepping the climate-change-is-true/not-true argument for a moment, the consequences for these small island countries in the Pacific will cost them everything - literally. Greenhouse Gas emissions insulate the earth's atmosphere and add to the ever increasing temperature of the earth's climate. Let's not attempt to disprove this science without science PhDs. The subsequent cause of the earth’s temperature increase results in a levelled sea rise. This, in turn, is currently eroding away and systemically flooding the low lying island countries: 3 metres of sea rise and their gone.

 What did Howard gain by slowing down progress that might otherwise have averted the disaster these countries now surely will face? What benefit was there for John Howard?

Well, whatever it was it is now forgotten amongst the high-tide news-tales and scientific reports alerting us (as in the beginning of an apocalyptic movie) of climate change.

I'm disappointed, Howard.

14th September, 2013, Australia's election day, here we come.



Information sought from http://www.bobsercombe.id.au/uploads/OurDrowningNeighbours.pdf