This should be one of the most absurd cancellations in this woke world we live in: a university appointment cancelled for questioning science, when questioning science used to be the primary function of a university.
The Board of Directors of the University of Newcastle in Australia unanimously agreed to appoint former deputy prime minister Gary Vaile as the University Chancellor (a largely ceremonial role).
As you can imagine by the name, Newcastle was built on coal and has the world’s largest coal port. Coal is one of Australia’s fastest growing exports. You would think that Gary also being on the Board of Directors of Whitehaven Coal would be a plus.
Not according to the woke student and teaching unions. Not only is Gary working for a (climate changing) coal company, but he’s also committed the egregious sin of questioning climate science.
The science is settled by the way. According to Wikipedia, 98% of studies support the consensus and 2% are wrong.
The entire problem here is that these students and other idiots at Newcastle think that the city has to diversify economy and abandon coal mining because it’s a sunset industry. Diversify, sure. But abandon its biggest industry where it has a massive global advantage?
Admittedly, they had probably been misled by woke “experts” such as the IEEFA (International Energy Experts of F*** All). who believed that China would reduce reliance on coal while simultaneously rapidly ramping up production of high energy intensive solar power cells and batteries.
Funny. In reality the fall was temporary. China is almost back to 2013 levels while India never stopped growing.
A rather awkward chart given what it was supposed to do.
Imagine what all those other charts created by climate change alarmists are going to look like when they arrive at reality.
But let’s not let facts get in the way of popular opinion and scientific consensus.
As far as giving direction on how to approach global warming and all other scientific consensuses, maybe questioning the science might not be a bad idea at an institute of learning. And just maybe partnering with the biggest industry in the region would make sense.
But no, partnering with the coal industry will land you in front of the Spanish Inquisition of public opinion and wokeness.
Universities used to teach critical thinking, and were home to students and staff that thrived on challenging assumptions and scientific consensus.
Or maybe not. I’m just looking at the past with rose tinted glasses. Universities were always political. So was science (e.g. Galileo, Copernicus, COVID vaccines). It’s good to see history repeating itself.
P.
