There’s a big demand for coal and coal seam gas. There’s a demand for heroin. There’s a (slackening) demand for tobacco.
Some people, many of them overseas, make an awful lot of money from meeting those demands. They have the power that comes with big money. The harm from these products is enormous.
But is coal like tobacco? Both seemed like wonderful products at first, but gradually we learned some truths about the effects of their use. What have we done about tobacco and what can we do about the harmful effects of coal?
For starters, we can tax harmful things (to reduce their use, and have money to pay the bills for the clean-up).
We can educate people so that they understand the effects and the need for change.
In the case of coal, we can seriously develop and support other ways of meeting the demand for heat, light and transport, and transfer the jobs to a clean economy. Let’s face it, Australia has lots of healthier energy options.
But, and it’s the biggest BUT: Who doesn’t want our bad habits to change? Who is making squillions out of dirty coal? In Australia they can’t organise a coup to maintain their profits, but they sure can put a lot of money into destabilising political and public debate to their great advantage.
A famous writer said, “If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about the answers”.
Barbara Finch, Armidale
