John Howard presented this year’s Australian of the Year award to Professor Tim Flannery, a high profile environmentalist and scientist, and author of The Weather Makers, a treatise on climate change.
Environmentalist Tim Flannery got an early birthday present on Thursday when he was named the 2007 Australian of the Year, giving him a platform to convince Australians about the dangers of over-consumption.
As a scientist who has been warning about sustainability and the risk of climate change for decades, public opinion is finally catching up with Dr Flannery.
He has written best-selling books on the issue, been an environmental adviser to the South Australian and federal governments, catalogued the mammals of Melanesia, discovered dinosaur fossils and kangaroo species in his own country, and taught at Harvard.
Flannery soon after receiving the award was commenting that the Howard government was “dragging the chain” on climate change.
“I’ve said in the past that Australia has been the worst of the worst in terms of addressing climate change … but I’m hopeful that we’ll see over this year some movement.
“And it’s going to have to be fast movement. There’s been a decade of delay and that’s put us in quite a difficult position.
“Hard steps are now required where a decade ago we may have been able to take smaller and easier ones.”
dear dr. flannery,
i was so very glad when i heard you recived the award for australian of the year! so first of all congratulations!
i am currently doing a SOSE essay on researching a well known or famous australian. i choose you because global warming is one of the many things i feel strongly enough about to try to make a difference. i jumped at the chance to be able to write an essay on someone who does exactly what it is i wish to, and mabey, just mabey be able to contribute in a small way to change the way we think. although it is more than likely that the only people to hear what i have to say will be my class mates, it is my hope that a few of them will go away thinking on what i have said and in turn try to make a difference themselves.
keep up the great work,
your sincerly,
jelise camilleri, 14
PS we need more people like you in the world!!!
Pingback: World is Green Cool Aid: The National Carbon Test «
congratualtions you are an inspiration to many! keep up the good work!