Antipodean subscribers might be interested in the 'Opinion - Interview' item
in the current New Scientist (22nd June), which features Tim Flannery. I'd
not heard of him, although you might already be muttering "Oh, him!" in a
range of tones from enthusiasm to disgust. He thinks it's time to stop
pretending that Australia has a European environment; the introduced garden
plants which made early settlers feel at home should be replaced with native
species (amongst which he claims there are many equally attractive) and
agriculture should stop producing such inappropriate crops as wheat and
sheepmeat. He claims that, at current levels of consumption, a population
of only 7-8 million could be supported sustainably (as opposed to the
current 19 million, let alone the 50 million called for by business by
2050). It sounds persuasive, but I've not heard any arguments against.
Comments, anyone?
Tony N-S.
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