Calamities as teaching aidsCARLOS BARRIA Shades of King Canute as Hurricane Irma visits Florida. If the huge majority of the world's scientists are right (spoiler alert: they are) this isn't just another test of empathy. It's getting pretty bad out there for reasons that have more than just a bit to do with what we've been up to. For that reason, they regard both Irma and her sibling Harvey as useful teaching aids about how prepared we are for what's already upon us, let alone what lies ahead. Senior Government politicians are adept at intoning about the long-term challenge of climate change while at the same time giving piddly examples of how we're puddling our way into a better future.

Source: Stuff September 11, 2017 16:52 UTC