Australia under the Liberal and National parties has generally become a corporatocracy1, where the only entities of consequence are corporations and those state bodies that are needed to ensure their…
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On Wednesday, January 15, the Science Minister, Karen Andrews, will convene a roundtable meeting of scientists to develop a response to the “devastating and surprising” bushfire catastrophe1. There are several…
In response to the opprobrium heaped on The Australian for their constant climate change denialism now that climate change is blindingly obvious to all but halfwits, one or other of…
Climatic changes may mean that by the middle of next century, every year would be a potential “Ash Wednesday” year of extreme bushfire danger, according to CSIRO scientists.
The risk would be greatest in south-eastern Australia, the nation’s most fertile and densely populated region, the scientists have told the national Greenhouse 87 conference.
It is the first time the possibility of such a dramatic increase in bushfire risk has been linked to the global warming many scientists will occur within the next 50 years.
[Sydney Morning Herald, December 4, 1987]
The philosopher Donna Haraway speaks of the imperative of “staying with the trouble”, of not shying away from reality but instead inhabiting the present in all its complexity, terror, hope and joy and recognising our kinship with those around us. Perhaps it is time we all learned to do that, time we learned to recognise our own hopes and fears in other people. Because that is what many of us glimpsed in the faces of the people on the beach in Mallacoota on New Year’s Eve. We saw ourselves, our shared future, the terror and pain of what is coming. And we could no longer look away.
Hi Michael [Miller, News Corp Executive Chairman],
Thank you for your e-mail regarding fundraising and other support initiatives in relation to the devastating fires.
Unfortunately however, this does not offset the impact News Corp reporting has had over the last few weeks. I have been severely impacted by the coverage of News Corp publications in relation to the fires, in particular the misinformation campaign that has tried to divert attention away from the real issue which is climate change to rather focus on arson (including misrepresenting facts).
I find it unconscionable to continue working for this company, knowing I am contributing to the spread of climate change denial and lies. The reporting I have witnessed in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun is not only irresponsible, but dangerous and damaging to our communities and beautiful planet that needs us more than ever now to acknowledge the destruction we have caused and start doing something about it.
News Corp’s decision to take this approach in such a devastating time for our country, communities and environment is a step too far for any of us stakeholders to ignore and continue with our daily tasks without thinking for a minute about what we are contributing to.
Anxiety and disappointment are the feelings that have been occupying me over the last 24 hours, to the point where I am finding it incredibly difficult to focus on my work and do my job.
I hope this email will get you as a leader of this organisation to think about the big picture and the impact of our publications.
Sincerely,
Emily
[This e-mail was deleted from News Corp staff inboxes within an hour of it being sent, but was leaked to the real media multiple times]
Sometimes when I write these essays (or whatever they are), I find it difficult to not type with my fists as my rage is almost insuperable. This one hasn’t made…
Everyone knows that the main reason the fire seasons are getting longer is because of climate change, even the deniers. The 2008 Garnaut Climate Change Review, which examined the scientific…