Australia endures regular bushfires. They destroy property and kill people and wildlife, but they’re necessary for the survival of various plants and trees.
The most important tool in managing bushfires to help ensure they don’t become monster conflagrations is controlled burnoffs in the cooler months — it’s really the only tool, since burning is the only practical way to destroy undergrowth and dead timber. That way, when the fires arise in the hot season they are not so large and damaging.
Burnoffs have a fascinating history. They’ve been practised since Europeans arrived in Australia, and of course the Aborigines, who started the burnoffs thousands of years ago, taught them how to do it. Since then the application of Western science has improved our understanding of the bush.
This week, on the Tasmanian Greens web site, in response to “a few queries about the Greens’ policy on fuel reduction burns,” somebody signing himself “Greens staff” claimed that the Party supports “fuel reduction burns as a vital tool in protecting lives and property in all land tenures including National Parks.”
But it’s only two years ago that they wanted to shut them down.
In March 2011, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, Greens Health spokesperson, issued a press release — in the Green Party’s name — wanting to stop regular forest safety burns on “environmental” and health grounds.
He lambasted “burn-off practice as outdated, old-school and not in line with appropriate practice today.”
“Tasmania’s beautiful autumn days are blighted by the dense smoke plumes blocking out the sun and choking our air.”
“This is an unacceptable situation. It compromises Tasmanians’ health, our environment, and is an insult to common-sense.”
He doesn’t mention old-growth forests nor incineration of forest waste following tree felling, making it clear he’s talking only about annual fuel-reduction burns.
“We also want to see an end to these burns, and are calling on the Minister to consult with the community to establish a date by which this polluting practice will end once and for all.”
“It is also concerning [sic] at the impact these burns have on Tasmania’s biodiversity and threatened species such as the Tasmanian Devil, burrowing and freshwater crayfish, and a myriad of other plant and animal species.”
How about the human species, Basil, and their hard-won assets? But no:
The Tasmanian Greens today said that the Parliament needs to commission an independent study into the total social, environmental and economic costs of forestry burns, as they continue to emit pollutants into the air causing distress to the many Tasmanians suffering from respiratory complaints, and also impacting on Tasmania’s clean, green and clever brand.
The Greens must quickly clarify their position on fuel-reduction burns and either deal with Basil O’Halloran’s treachery towards the victims of the fires or confirm it.
h/t Bob D
Views: 378
We should hardly be surprised at anything from the Australian Greens as they are now publicly endorsing criminal and fraudulent behavior.
Anti-coal activist Jonathan Moylan made a hoax press release from ANZ stating that “the bank had pulled $1.2 billion in funding from Whitehaven’s Maules Creek project due to environmental and social concerns”
This hoax has caused about $300 million to be wiped off the companies value, not to mention pension funds, Mum and Dad investors etc.
However, Christine Milne, supports the hoax, stating this:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/asic-seizes-jonathan-moylans-phone-pc-amid-whitehave-hoax-probe/story-fn91v9q3-1226550074368
Furthermore, the letter in The Age also seem to be in favour of the fraud
http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/which-crime-is-the-more-serious-20130109-2cgof.html
My enquiry on the Green’s Facebook page led to this page
http://greens.org.au/policies/environment/environmental-principles
Specifically 13 and 14:
The Tassie Green Facebook page is a treasure trove
This comment caught my attention:
(Speaking of Christine Milne)
There is another article by Miranda Devine in the Telegraph
Stop telling bushfire victims to shut up
“Green tape” – that’s a new one on me.
The bush fires also get a mention in the Herald’s latest piece on GW,
Editorial: If this is global warming, we’re all in it together
I live in Queensland and many years ago, they stopped the Forestry from doing controlled burn-offs. I and my family got caught in a fire between Landsborough and Bribie Island, because of the Greens interference in something they have no knowledge of. Anyone taking any notice of what they say has a fool for a friend! They must be eliminated from office.