Much of the climate-obsessed news coverage reminds us of the joke about the guy who identifies every Rorschach blot as erotic and when the psychiatrist suggests he’s obsessed with sex he says “Hey, doc, you’re the one showing all the dirty pictures.” To wit: Bloomberg praises a private effort to help save Californian sea otters, something we favour in principle. But of course: “The endangered species are critical to ensuring California’s coastal waters sequester carbon. With the federal government stepping back from funding conservation, the private sector is stepping in.” You can’t fool me, doc. That thing’s clearly a carbon sink not a marine mammal. Likewise some Canadian political nitwit proposes creating “National Cities and Municipalities Day” to give us one more pseudo-event not to observe. Especially as it would conflict with Hallowe’en. As to why we supposedly need it: “The challenges we face – whether it’s adapting to climate change, housing, or local economic vitality – cannot be met without the commitment of municipalities.” Maybe go out on Hallowe’en dressed as a carbon atom instead if you’re that obsessed.
Then there’s “Fruit fly tests in Greece target invasive species threat”. And is it due to globalization or the natural tendency of pests to exploit opportunities to spread? Heck no:
“the project is ultimately aimed at curbing an even greater threat: fruit fly species from Asia, which have begun to make their appearance in southeastern Europe as climate change increases local temperatures.”
(And yes, again, the writer thinks climate change causes temperature increase rather than being a statistical description of it.)
Or, from Canada’s rapidly self-destructing NDP, “MP Gord Johns brings motion for national mental health strategy in response to public emergencies”. As if Canada didn’t already have so many national strategies on everything from salt to head injuries that we need a national strategy for national strategies. But of course the first item driving us all mad, other than politicians, is “In recent years, western Canada has seen record-breaking wildfires”.
Oh, and “Minister Olszewski marks International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction” because (drum roll please):
“As climate changes, disasters are getting more serious, costly and their impact on our local and national economy is growing every year.”
“Minister Olszewski” being “Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada” so maybe we need a national strategy for reducing bloated cabinets, and one for people to get in line to claim the weather is getting worse without supporting data.
It may be funny. But it’s not innocent. Consider a press release like “Government of Canada contributes to major clean energy projects in Indigenous communities in Quebec”. Again, very woke, combining aboriginals with climate and the newly-trendy “energy sovereignty”. But Canada’s aboriginals face truly appalling socioeconomic problems from unemployment to lack of safe drinking water, especially in remote locations. And instead of the money going to schools, job training or water treatment:
“Brendan Hanley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced nearly $17 million in federal funding to support the 7.5-megawatt (MW) Innavik Remote Hydro Project, located in Inukjuak, and to explore the development of a 17-MW hydroelectric power plant at the site of the Matawin dam near St-Michel-des Saints, both in Quebec.”
The politicians are full of themselves as usual:
“Both projects support the Government of Canada’s commitment to lowering Canadians’ energy bills, creating more reliable and clean power, and fostering inclusive, respectful partnerships with Indigenous Peoples in the transition to a clean energy economy.”
But this obsession with carbon is an expensive indulgence.
