Hello all,
On the matter of unreasoned extremism and what the Australian newspaper
has been up to in stirring anti-environmental conservation sentiment, I've
a couple of little questions some people on this list might be able to
help me with.
I have noticed two conspicuous names popping up in the media over the last
day or so, not only in the Australian, but also in ABC contexts and
elsewhere. David Packham and Rod Incoll are both members of Forest Fire
Victoria Incorporated and "The Stretton Group", though this fact has not
yet been revealed in the news reports. Can anyone fill me in with more
information about these blokes?
In the last few days they have been featured as experts of some kind or
another who appear to now be performing "I told you so" routines for the
media regarding the bushfire tragedies. Their opinions seem terribly
muddled to me, but I'm not an expert in fire science: the vitriol they
direct to "greenies" and by extension national parks makes me suspect that
they are representatives with axes to grind. Old time forestry axes.
Packham had this piece in the Australian,
"Victoria Bushfires Stoked by Green Vote"
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25031389-7583,00.html
Disconcertingly Incoll appeared on the national ABC news broadcast last
night claiming some sort of moral high ground because he "warned" the
"greenies" who apparently had control of Nillumbik Shire Council in 2003
that their policy requiring people to plant vegetation near houses without
broadscale prescribed burning tragedy would ensue. No mention of gale
force winds and 47 degree temps, or crown-fire for that matter from
Incoll. Asa Wahlquist, rural writer for the Australian, gave Incoll a very
positive spin in the piece. I hope Wahlquist will attempt to balance the
slate very very soon.
"Council ignored warning over trees before Victoria bushfires"
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25038717-5018722,00.html
Craig Williams
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www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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