Sunday, June 17, 2007
DAMS FLANNED
As predicted by sciencemagologist Tim Flannery, this month was supposed to see Sydney’s dams run dry. Instead:
At last the rains have fallen in the right places and Sydney’s dam catchment area has had its best drenching in years ...
Dam levels are predicted to rise by up to 5 per cent, pushing drinking water storage levels to 45 per cent, the highest in three years.
In fact, we’re looking at the wettest June since 1964; excellent news following Australia’s prolonged drought. It could be that, similar to the Goracle himself, the Flannacle possesses magical weather-altering powers. Speaking of the drought, Flannery had this to say a month or so back:
"Even a year ago this would have been unthinkable,” Flannery told AFP. “I think it’s the most extreme and the most dangerous situation arising from climate change facing any country in the world right now."
And another May comment:
In a keynote address, Flannery provided an update on the acceleration of global warming, from the rapidly melting Greenland ice sheet to the unprecedented drought that has gripped Australia.
But following recent rain, Flannery has lately changed his tune:
"I believe the first thing Australians need to do is stop worrying about ‘the drought’ - which is transient - and start talking about the new climate."
In May, the drought was “the most extreme and the most dangerous situation arising from climate change facing any country in the world right now”; a few weeks later, and we should stop worrying about a “transient” weather phenomenon. Flannery is in flat-out flip mode. Not that he’s given up making ridiculous predictions:
Environmental researcher Tim Flannery has warned that Brisbane and Adelaide - home to a combined total of three million people - could run out of water by year’s end.
I’ll take that bet. According to these figures, Adelaide has enough water to last until late January, 2008, even if not a further drop arrives before then. Brisbane has sufficient supplies to last until October next year. Flannery, however, will certainly run out of “Australian of the Year” glory points by 2007’s end. Then he can commence building Geothermia.
UPDATE. More from Flannery, back in 2005:
Scientist Tim Flannery predicts that one morning in the not-too-distant future in one of the major cities, taps will be turned on, and instead of water, there will only be a whistling in the pipes.
Not a drop. Totally dry.
A question to the global warming faithful out there: when you talk about “overwhelming scientific evidence” and “respected scientists”, are you including Flannery in that? Because I’m not getting much of a feeling that Flannery consults any charts or tables or records before announcing these predictions of his. It’s more like he comes up with whatever crap he thinks will scare children or sell more books. Is Flannery an embarrassment to you people yet?
UPDATE II. I wonder how the San Pellegreenoid’s “Three Phone Calls” campaign is going.
UPDATE III. This woman should stop complaining and start making $50,000 speeches:
Inspired by climate change campaigners Tim Flannery and Al Gore, Jane Majkut became determined to cover her roof with solar panels and buy a new hybrid car.
Then she found out what they cost.
Yep; green ain’t cheap.