Mike's Minute: Leadership and proportionality speak to credibility
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Why is the UK Environment Secretary urging people to stock‑pile food for a possible El Niño?
Turns out fanciful and quite possibly nutty and dangerous thinking isn't limited to the Greens and the government run supermarket. Dame Angela Eagle, Environment Secretary in the UK, has announced the need for people to take the burgeoning El Nino so seriously we need to start stockpiling food. This is a conflation of several things that affect a lot of us these days, all over the world. New and developing weather patterns we haven't quite got a read on. given we've never really dealt with them before, a growing amount of generalized alarmism, and of course very poor leadership through a chronic and growing lack of genuine talent.
How does the host link climate alarmism to poor leadership and talent shortages?
El Nino this summer, or their winter, may or may not be a thing, we simply don't know. Last report I read suggested New Zealand may well do quite well out of it given prices for what we grow most likely will rise. In other words, it may flood in South America or dry out in Australia, we could well be fine. Sadly, the modern age has seen the astonishing rise of fear and alarmism. How many years has the phrase before it's too late been used when it comes to climate change, eh?
What evidence is presented that volcanic activity and wars impact food security more than weather?
Just last week they rolled it out again as regards the one point five degrees they got fixated with a couple of decades ago. The point of no return and Antonio Guterres go to. Well we know for sure. Our volcanoes are worse for the climate than we are, and wars cause more crop damage than weather. But also, asking people to stock up seems a new low.
Is panicking and stock‑piling before a crisis damaging public credibility and messaging?
Stock up with what? Can beetroot? And to what extent are you stocking up and for how long and have you seen the size of your average British kitchen? And by panicking before anything actually happens, if and when nothing does happen, how's that going to go for your messaging and credibility if and when anything actually does happen? Happen and you actually need people to take you seriously.
What practical approach does the host recommend for dealing with climate warnings and everyday life?
Vaccines and our attitude towards them were materially changed because of COVID. It's why America has measles and internationally targets are now routinely missed with kids. Leadership and proportionality go hand in hand. Scare the horses, overreact, panic, get captured by ideology, they all lead to trouble. My approach to summer is going to be very similar to last year. If lived my life reacting to the Environment Secretary, alarmists or the Herald's harbor bridge closure alerts, I'd be a nervous wreck, and with no cupboard space left. And who needs that? For more from the Mike Asking Breakfast, listen live to News Talks Ed B from 6 a.m. weekdays or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why is the UK Environment Secretary urging people to stock‑pile food for a possible El Niño?
0:00–0:33
2
How does the host link climate alarmism to poor leadership and talent shortages?
0:33–0:59
3
What evidence is presented that volcanic activity and wars impact food security more than weather?
0:59–1:19
4
Is panicking and stock‑piling before a crisis damaging public credibility and messaging?
1:19–1:38
5
What practical approach does the host recommend for dealing with climate warnings and everyday life?
1:38–2:17
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The Mike Hosking Breakfast
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