This piece of politically correct tripe was part of South Africa’s contribution to a United Nations waffle-fest on climate change this week:
Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change. “For South Africa, the mainstreaming of gender and youth in climate policy, decision-making and implementation is therefore a cross-cutting priority,” [ex-leader of an ex-party and now Minister of Flowers and Tourist PR Marthinus “Kortbroek”] Van Schalkwyk said.
What pretentious news-speak. He wants “a balance between climate stabilisation and sustainable development”, which at least admits that they’re contradictory goals. Personally, I don’t think we should be trying to mess with a chaotic climate system we don’t understand and which could kill us. Especially when we can use the prosperity for far more immediate, certain and substantial benefit — like saving productive lives lost to disease or malnutrition.
You may disagree, of course, and think climate change is a problem that demands top-priority action. But if so, are governments not the least likely to be effective agents in this cause?
Governments don’t develop technology. They don’t create the prosperity to pay for it. They are as far removed from the people who need the solutions as is possible. They have no material stake in the welfare of the people they claim to want to benefit most.
What has half a century of foreign aid achieved? Politicians and their intergovernmental do-good organisations are like huge black holes that produce nothing, and even without blithe corruption and theft have an unquenchable thirst for other people’s money. Van Schalkwyk is unthinkingly regurgitating propaganda for governmental power and political central planning. There’s a big political power base propped up by all that tax money and well-intended charity.
And what’s this rubbish about women and children? Aren’t men vulnerable too? Aren’t they affected when women and children are threatened? Aren’t we supposed to be in this together, equal in worth, equal before the law and equally dependent on a healthy, productive Earth? Van Schalkwyk might mean well, but his politically correct platitude is only an offensive slur against men. James Taranto would sneer: “World ends, poor hardest hit”. Of course.
(First posted at my personal blog, on September 24 2007.)
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