Angry At PM Climate "Policy", Tim Flannery May Give Back Australian Of The Year Award - SMH

[hatrack]

Scientist and environmentalist Tim Flannery says he has considered handing back his Australian of the Year award because of Prime Minister John Howard's climate change policies.

Speaking to public relations practitioners at Melbourne's RMIT University, Dr Flannery said he was struggling to reconcile his role as Australian of the Year with his views on climate change.

"Of course this year I am Australian of the Year, and I have to somehow tread a very difficult line, a very tenuous line, I think, between honouring the tradition of Australian of the Year, being apolitical, and trying to do something for my country," Dr Flannery said.

He said he had considered handing back the award, frustrated by the federal government's refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and Mr Howard's view that the economy took precedence over climate change. "I don't know quite what this means to me or the office of the Australian of the Year, whether it's better for me to give back the award and say it's simply impossible to continue as things are," he said.

EDIT

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Flannery-angry-at-PMs-climate-policies/2007/04/24/1177180647001.html