Letters

Wednesday, 15th July 2009

Spectator readers respond to recent articles

A heated debate

Sir: One reason why we continue to live in an unsustainable way is that not enough people accept the reality and implications of climate change (‘The great climate change con trick’, 11 July). Green issues may be higher up the agenda than before but Professor Plimer needn’t fret: procrastinating politicians continue to encourage business-as-usual consumption and unsustainable growth. Sadly, Professor Plimer is not alone in his climate-sceptic views, as sales of his new book indicate. So he has, it would seem, every reason to be cheerful.

Nick Reeves
Executive Director, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
London WC1

Sir: It is sad to see the desperate wishful thinking that The Spectator is now engaged in over the climate crisis. From a cover proclaiming ‘Relax: global warming is a myth’ to James Delingpole saying ‘Imagine how wonderful the world would be if man-made global warming were just a figment of Al Gore’s imagination... Imagine no more, for your fairy godmother is here’, you are playing shamelessly to people’s selfish desire not to make changes to their lives to prevent our children’s future from being devastated.

The irony here is that the changes that we need to make to stop runaway climate change are in most cases the very changes that we need in order to make our world a better place. A huge drop in pollution, a relocalisation of our society, less stress, revived community spirit and the like. It is extremely unfortunate, to say the least, that in your desire not to have to change anything about the way that society operates, you are missing the chance to make the very changes that would make us as a people happier.

Councillor Rupert Read
Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election, Norwich

Sir: The normal suspects are fulminating because James Delingpole actually dared to thoroughly read and review my book Heaven and Earth: Global warming — the missing science. It appears that an alternative view on climate change by an established scientist should not be aired in our green utopia. The Guardian’s George Monbiot, who criticised this magazine’s decision to publish James Delingpole’s interview with me, should put his money where his mouth is — or is he just hot air? I am happy to fly to London at my expense to debate Mr Monbiot on ‘Humans induce climate change: myth or reality’.

Professor Ian Plimer
The University of Adelaide, Australia

Ivanov’s role

Sir: The junior Russian intelligence officer Ivanov (Scandals special, 11 July) never intended to recruit Christine Keeler as an agent, as she was of no operational value. He never slept with her, because he did not have the required permission of the ‘Centre’ to do so. The head of station never applied for the Centre’s sanction for it.

The stories about Ivanov’s role are myths.

Oleg Gordievsky
London WC1

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JohnAnt

July 16th, 2009 10:56pm Report this comment

"You are missing the chance to make the very changes that would make us as a people happier."
Such as paying £250 more per year for energy on top of already inflated fuel prices? Such as paying an extra £250 (in tax) because the state's benefit recpients don't feel like coughing up? Such as paying through the nose to fly? Councillor Read is presumably among the 'happy few' - wealthy enough to absorb all those costs, or politically well-connected enough to have them subsidised by the rest of us.

Russell Seitz

July 20th, 2009 2:35am Report this comment

What a load of antipodean codswallop!

As it seems unlikely that this journal will stoop to acquiring an science editor anytime soon, given the spectacular disconnect between atmospheric physics and the gospel according to Plimer, it might be a more sporting proposition for The Spectator to hold a cricket test to decide the fate of the Earth.

Viscount Monckton can captain Professor Plimer's side if Zac Goldsmith of the Ecologist can rustle up his brother in law to bat for the Gaia eleven.

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