Steven Taylor (September 18 letters) gives us another take on the idea that nature is the biggest emitter/producer of CO2 and therefore it is not worth us humans trying to do anything about climate change.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Usually we are told that it is volcanoes that are the huge emitters of CO2 but this time we have another version and, unfortunately, just as wrong.
Steven tells us that “the Chinese hills are made of limestone and that limestone is made up of CO2”.
First a sweeping generalisation and then a chemistry error.
Not all Chinese hills are made up of limestone, many consist of igneous rocks derived from the earth’s inner core and others are certainly of sedimentary origin and consist of sandstone and limestone.
Limestone is calcium carbonate and when it is reacted with acids it will release CO2.
So are we to believe that the rivers flowing through all these Chinese hills are sufficiently acidic that they will react with the limestone to release CO2?
It’s a great pity that we can’t accept the evidence that scientists give us regarding the origins of climate change and not try to invent spurious explanations to avoid action on what is a significant threat.
David Thurley, Lavington
Tipping point approaching
Steven Taylor may be right about the Chinese hills being made of limestone, but they have been that way for thousands, if not millions of years.
The rapid increase in CO2 percentage in the Earth's atmosphere has occurred in the last 200 to 300 years as the result of the Industrial Revolution and the rapid increase in human population.
The burning of fossil fuels has caused a major imbalance in the formerly natural Carbon Cycle.
The world is rapidly approaching a tipping point where we may not be able to prevent disastrous consequences.
I urge readers to look at Joanne McCarthy's excellent article in Saturday's Border Mail.
Rod Clutterbuck, Wodonga
Make sure you’re ready
For many of us it’s unthinkable. Until it happens, and then it’s too late.
We all face emergencies: as large as a bushfire or as personal as a medical crisis. We all face emergencies: as large as a bushfire or as personal as a medical crisis.
They can all be devastating.
In Emergency Preparedness Week (17-24 September 2017), Red Cross is asking you to take one easy step to make your next emergency less stressful.
These are simple and practical steps you can take to protect the people you love, your own wellbeing and the things you value most.
Easy things to help you prepare include:
- think about being in an emergency situation and how you might react. This will help you stay calmer and respond better when an emergency happens.
- find out where to get important disaster information, like your local radio emergency broadcaster. This means you’re better informed when an emergency happens.
- get to know your neighbours. They’re the people who might support you and look out for you when an emergency happens.
For more easy things to do, get your Red Cross RediPlan at redcross.org.au/prepare.
