Saturday, October 24, 2009

Dozens turn out for Day of Apathy

Or as my friend down under, Andrew Bolt, calls it: “Day of apathy”

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Sydney yesterday demonstrated the depth of international passion about global warming through several highly pictorial stunts:
It was part of a series of events across Sydney yesterday by the environment movement 350.org. Australia was the first of 179 countries to take part in 4500 events worldwide as part of the International Day of Climate Action.
Counting the people in the picture, though, I’d say that this is not a global day of action, but global day of apathy. Or, let’s hope, a global day of mounting scepticism.

Left: People outside the Opera House take a stand on climate change yesterday. Top: . Protesters at Manly and bottom, Marton Hidas at the Opera House.
Left: People outside the Opera House take a stand on climate change yesterday. Top: Protesters at Manly and bottom, Marton Hidas at the Opera House. Photo: Adam Hollingworth, Janie Barrett

And that’s even without discounting for the tourists and the unfortunate children who were simply dragged there by parents warning them they may not have a future:
Among those on the Opera House steps showing their support was Rae Lawrence from Croydon, who brought her sons, Cameron, 6, and Nicholas, 8. ‘’We care about the future and I want them to have one to live in,’’ she said.
UPDATE
Apologies. From Greenpeace, this proof that the crowds in Sydney may have been even bigger than I sneeringly suggest:

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UPDATE 2
The global day of apathy rolls on in Rome:

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And in Kiev:

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And Dunedin, just the one:

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In Copenhagen, where the world’s leaders will meet in December to discuss slashing emissions – or not:

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And Shanghai, city of 17 million, in a country that is now the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases:

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But you know it’s a snoozer, media-wise, when “balloon boy”, his mom, and the death of Soupy Sales gets above the fold on Google News and “350″ doesn’t:

Posted via email from Garth's posterous

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