They give voice to our thougths.
Image: ChatGPT
The silence of the decarbonisation lobby at the urgent call for the restoration of the Sapref refinery is ironic and hopefully marks a turning point in what US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has aptly dismissed as their “discredited fantasy.”
Military action in the Persian Gulf has ignited the importance of oil to every aspect of life, especially economics. The scenario of the disruptive effect of limited oil supplies at horrendous prices on economies, industries, travel and transport is exactly what would be the case if the decarbonisation maniacs dogmatically imposed their green energy fantasy. Deaf to the reality that fossil fuels have nothing to do with climate change, as proven by science and historical records cataloguing cooling and warming periods over millennia, those responsible for closing the Sapref refinery and obstructing oil and gas projects have a lot to answer for.
By closing Sapref, the green lobby has outsourced our petroleum needs to foreign suppliers; through persistent litigation oil and gas development projects have been stymied. In that respect, the green lobby has arrogated to itself stewardship over the economy. “It is paralysis dressed up as principle.” Absolutely! Unfortunately, the green maniacs have inveigled their way into the presidency as well. At the taxpayers’ expense, the Presidential Climate Change Commission has assiduously promoted the fantasy target of total decarbonisation by 2050.
It has been afforded acres of space in the media to propagate its unscientific fantasy of a so-called “just transition,” evading and ignoring incontrovertible evidence and argument to the contrary. As argued previously in these columns, the commission should be abolished. The idea that there is a man-made “climate crisis” is false. Climate change is a natural phenomenon influenced by solar variations as well as the varying elliptical paths of the Earth as it orbits the sun and slight variations in the tilt of the Earth. As such, climate change is God-ordained and as normal as day and night.
In contrast with the sudden realisation that the closure of Sapref refinery was ill advised and harmful to our economic sovereignty, it was refreshing to note that Namibia is sensibly determined to proceed with exploitation of the oil and gas bonanza off its coast. Overall, the restoration of the Sapref refinery promises significant implications. One would be the stance of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance decarbonisation lobby. It was a prime motivator in closing Sapref, which cost hundreds of local residents their jobs. What motivation will it propagate to justify restoration of those jobs? | Dr Duncan du Bois Bluff
We have institutionalised a form of ageism that is as destructive as it is illogical.
We claim to prioritise “youth” (18–34), but the moment a South African turns 35, the doors of opportunity slam shut. This group – specifically Black men – is then blamed for the high rates of gender-based violence and social decay, despite being systematically excluded from the means to provide or lead. Consider the irony: if the state were at war, there would be no age limit for the draft. As we see in global conflicts today, men of all ages are sent into the meat grinder. Why is this same manpower not drafted into the rebuilding of our economy? China lifted billions out of poverty by valuing the labour of every generation; South Africa, however, treats those between 35 and 65 as disposable.
Many in this forgotten generation are waiting for a chance to give meaning to their lives – through specialised training, pastoral work, or artistic contribution. Instead, they are met with a Human Rights Day that ignores their right to work. Is it a spiritual failing of our leaders that they find it easier to take revenge against their own flesh and blood than to demand justice from the former oppressor? We must stop sacrificing our own for the sake of a political narrative that serves no one but the elite. | Khotso KD Moleko Bloemfontein
I watch with horror slick TV advertisements for gambling, when gambling addiction is escalating in South Africa.
One such advertisement urges that gambling should be available in supermarkets. It is overdue that the restrictions on alcohol and nicotine advertising in our media are extended to include combatting gambling addiction as well. | Keith Gottschalk Claremont
The planet Mars is said to be in “precession,” meaning it is wobbling slightly on its axis and slowly rotating in the opposite direction.
In a humorous comparison, this rare event is imagined to cause dizzy spells among Martians, once every two million Earth long weekends. This metaphor is used to suggest that a similar “wobble” may be affecting political thinking on Earth, particularly among influential figures in governments, the military and the media. Prominent figures in the US are said to have resigned in protest against the war against Iran. Among them is Joe Kent, previously known for his strong stance against terrorism.
Commentators and politicians once strongly critical of Palestinians, Lebanese, Iranians and other Arab groups appear to be reconsidering their positions in a growing awareness of the human cost of conflict. A notable example is Indian TV personality Arnab Goswami, once regarded as pro-BJP, who has recently begun asking difficult questions of Israeli representatives. Previously accused of dismissing Palestinian suffering and supporting the Israel-India military relationship, he is now criticising excesses among political elites and raising environmental concerns.
These concerns include opposition to the planned destruction of parts of the Aravelli mountain range between Gujarat and Rajasthan, where commercial development threatens the natural environment. More broadly, attitudes in both the US and India following the events of October 7, 2023, are described as gradually evolving. Some who once supported hardline nationalist positions are now questioning the continued marginalisation of minorities. The piece concludes with the hope that this figurative “Mars precession” continues to encourage reflection, helping people of all backgrounds, religions and races to move towards greater understanding and lasting peace. | Ebrahim Essa Durban
DAILY NEWS