Up Front 09/12

Whilst it’s not difficult to imagine there might be dubious alternative agendas behind some people’s denial of global warming and its contribution to climate change, it is often harder to pinpoint everyone’s true motivation. On one level it could be an attachment to a particular political or industrial lobbying group. On another it could be a case of natural healthy scepticism or on the other hand it might just be an ego-driven need to try to be interesting by singing a different tune, regardless of the consequences. Whatever the reason and whatever the stance, people will go to great lengths to get their point across and it’s good to see a semi-retired weather man get into the fray, even if it is to help promote a clothing brand. Television weather man Michael Fish, who made a bit of a name for himself in 1987 by saying there was no hurricane coming just hours before the worst storm since 1703 laid waste to great chunks of the countryside, has completed a BASE jump to raise awareness of climate change. 68 year-old Michael made the freefall jump, landing by parachute, after training with experienced urban BASE jumpers. Before he jumped he said: “Raising awareness of climate change is really important, because there is no doubt whatsoever that if we carry on the way we are, there will be shortages of food, shortages of water, towns and cities will be flooded, there’s all sorts of chaos that could arise, in fact some of it is already happening. We have to do something about it now, not wait until it’s too late. If some of us have to make sacrifices, like risking our lives by jumping off buildings, then so be it.” A video of his jump is available on Rapanui clothing’s website and there is no doubt it is an impressive effort. On landing in one piece Michael had this to say: “Bloody Hell!” Not dissimilar to what most of us said on the morning of October 16th 1987.