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Refusal to sign on to the hysteria

The two-week United Nations Climate Summit known as COP25 ended Dec. 15 in Madrid.
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The two-week United Nations Climate Summit known as COP25 ended Dec. 15 in Madrid.

Multitudes of government representatives, environmentalists and activists from almost 200 countries participated in meetings, extending their schedule by two days. Yet they had to postpone key decisions until they all meet again in Glasgow next year.

I remain puzzled that all those COP 25 experts cannot agree after so many meetings, an email buddy gets very upset with me for forwarding a meme and a YouTube video both gently mocking Greta Thunberg and her youthful followers. My buddy is nobody’s fool and had a fine career in the media, but went ballistic accusing me of being a climate change denier, disseminating lies, and worse. He’s not the first to accuse me, apparently because I refuse to sign on to the hysteria and extinction positions that many young advocates loudly put forth.

Responding immediately, I assured him that I’m fully aware of climate change, but have put my faith in brilliant young people around the world who work in companies that will eventually find necessary solutions.

They will decrease the use of fossil fuels and petrochemicals, that are such a huge part of our daily life and will continue to be for a while.

Having always believed that education is the key to just about everything else in life, I’m betting the solutions will be found sooner rather than later. Simultaneously, I lack faith in those who quit learning by dropping out of school to protest against climate change around the world. Furthermore, all the noisy finger-pointing, pouting, play-acting, etc., will not solve the fate of those young children in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo who labour under Dickensian conditions to mine cobalt and other minerals.

These materials are used extensively in batteries for cellphones, computers and all manner of gadgets that every kid seems to have, and in the batteries of the electric cars they are so keen to drive in. Yet nobody questions the brutal conditions surrounding production of these vital minerals.

Bernie Smith

Parksville