...Or some such unreasonably broad, controversial statement.
But it's true. Living Down Under for the last three years has led me to conclude that Aussies couldn't give a fig about their own beautiful country - much less the global environment - and as such have compelled me to re-flog ma flagging blog. I will elaborate.
But before that, let me first excuse myself by explain that I am no namby pamby, beardy weirdie eco warrior. In fact, I am a fully fledged Jeremy Clarkson groupie. I tried to grow a beard once but I was a girl. And still am.
However, it is with growing dismay that I have witnessed the systematic apathy for destruction of our beyoodiful surroundings here in SE Queensland - and that's only in three short years. Our local area of Noosa is famed for its amazing flora and fauna and the fact that it has UNESCO Biosphere status in recognition of the unique co-existence of man and nature. Unfortunately, all this loveliness means that everybody wants live here.
After a quick drive around Noosa, you'd be forgiven for thinking somebody had received a large back hander for declaring the region to be one of these special reserves. There seems to be no end to the clearances that have taken place to make way for the number of different estates and industrial parks that have sprung up in the area. Clearances means the removal of trees. And, while I'm no tree hugger, it seems to me this must also mean the removal or eradication of wildlife, such as koalas and flying foxes, etc. Let's not forget that this is effectively rainforest that is being chopped down and if this was the Amazon, all those people with fat back pockets would have Sting on their case, giving them a right old b*llocking by now (asterisk required for the Google Ads police!!) - or a benefit concert.
But the trigger for bringing me out of blogging semi retirement was a question posed by a local lad working in our favourite Eumundi restaurant: "Do you think that global warming's really happening?" Huh?
We knew that, with the exception of curing cancer, Australia took a long time to catch up with the rest of the world in just about everything topical but can they really be TWENTY YEARS behind everyone else in their environmental politics? Apparently, yes. It appears that a long line of Australian governments has successfully persuaded its electorate that global warming isn't really happening but, just in case it is, it isn't their fault. In fact, the rest of the world needs to cut down on emissions first before they'll consider doing it and, until then, we can all carry on contributing to the hole in the ozone by driving a four wheel drive - each.
So that is presumably why the unnecessary 4wd vehicle is still king here.
And maybe that's why the hole in the ozone seems to be directly over Australasia.
Just desserts? More like just deserts before long. Until they're covered in sea anyway.
