Citizens entitled to protest

I was surprised at the general tone of anger, frustration and political aggression displayed throughout the article. The points made, seemed disjoined and at times contradictory. Prof Kenny took the PM to task for saying “it is possible to have industrialisation while preserving the environment.”

In attempting to discredit this statement Prof Kenny says “the concern is appropriate balance between the processes of development and true conservation, leaving something for future generations”. You will observe that the two statements mean the same thing, but said differently.

The Professor then went on to contest the term “environmental lobby” used by the PM, which seems ludicrous, as we all know there are groups protesting in one form or another against matters which have negative impacts on the environment. To deny that collectively, whether this is “environmental lobby” or not is really nit picking and an insult to the public’s intelligence.

The attempt to explain “environmental lobby,” by using the “many groups” and individuals “as simply wanting improvements in their community, is not what the PM meant. We are all aware that there are anti-smelter groups, very active in the country, together with “Friends of the sea” and other conservationists, collectively, do become an “environmental lobby.” What is wrong with that? It is either you stand for something or not.

The Professor then went into a tirade about politicians in the Senate and House of Representatives. From the environment to politics and back again, an attack on fellow environmentalists.

The Professor seems perturbed that there are now “many individuals” and “groups” articulating their views on diverse environmental problems, as simple local issues. The Professor does admit however that there appears to be something close to a “lobby” by all manner of citizens and appeared to be broadbased by focussing specifically on aluminium smelting. Could someone explain that to me?

Why is the Professor distancing himself from the ordinary citizens, who are now expressing their views on the protection of the environment, due to a heightened state of awareness? We do not all have doctorates and degrees, but we are intelligent enough to see what is going on. We all want the same thing, from the community protestor to the “individual groups formed of diverse elements of society”, and also “all manner of citizens.” Everything is connected, the concern is that, we do not want the negative effects of aluminium smelting to be added to the already existing heavy industrialisation present in the country. We all know about the cumulative effect.

All who have expressed concern for the environment in whatever way, are all on the same side.

JOEL QUINTAL

San F’do