YOUR editorial (CL 9/12/07) was a little unkind to those like me whom you described as climate change sceptics.
Firstly, I’m not at all sceptical about the reality of climate change, which has always been a fact of life on earth.
What I am sceptical of is the proposition that we are on the verge of a mammoth environmental catastrophe as a result of global warming caused by mankind.
In July 2007, British filmmaker Martin Durkin (The Great Global Warming Swindle) was savaged mercilessly on ABC television for daring to question the validity of this recent popular orthodoxy.
Durkin has correctly pointed out that this global warming doctrine is first and foremost a middle class political theory; and to disagree with it is to commit a breach of social etiquette inviting vehement personal attack.
To its disciples it is a sacred cow, not to be questioned or scrutinised.
Secondly, you accused people like me of being out of line with what the Church is advocating.
That’s not so, for I accept without reserve Pope Benedict’s exhortations to respect, protect and preserve the created environment, of which we are the appointed custodians.
That, however, is a very different thing from giving blind assent to a secular theory as yet unproven.
Many of us remain unconvinced, simply because the evidence so far is insufficient.
RICHARD CONGRAM
Carindale, Qld
