One of these fields is climate science, a new organisation of information collecting. I use the word organisation because of the thousands of climate scientists now available who need an income as they, like everyone else, have bills to pay and families to support.

These scientists usually don't have long-term employment, and instead work for grants provided by other organisations who need evidence proving the need for the products they sell.

This new branch of science allows computers to analyze theories to arrive at an acceptable conclusion, called theoretical science, unlike real science which accepts only proven data.

So if grants are to continue, will they be for all, or only those who can provide desired results?

I am not disputing particular results, or the theories presented. But I’m asking what takes priority for a climate scientist: feeding a family, or not providing desired results?

Maybe this is why ordinary people using common sense often have better predictive abilities. A simple example being to believe that a few power stations burning fossil fuel is the primary cause of what some call climate change, while at the same time refusing to recognise Australia’s history of bushfire, and that far more fuel is consumed in one major burn than a power station would consume in a year.

My conclusion is that some theoretical science can be a science of convenience, bought at a price, and that only real science is the true science.

- Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek

THE powers tell us to shop around for the cheapest fuel on certain days of the cycle, but why are we tied to the world market that is always in turmoil? The Middle East catches a cold, South American countries have border problems, the United States has a driving season and Singapore do what they want. We have oil in Australia that we sell on world market to improve the GDP but no refineries are left. Then our government raises the excise (tax), believe it or not!

- Ken Godwin, Valentine

VALE Ian Kiernan, a man deserving great respect. He had a clear objective which would benefit us and our unique fragile world unlike many of our current elected representatives who work on brain snaps, knee-jerk reactions and incompetent management to the extent they rubber stamp legislation with no idea of its content. Mr Kiernan cared about the greater good and devoted his energy and time selflessly. Condolences to his family, friends and associates.

- Anne Phillips, Wallarah

I MUST confess that I was somewhat surprised the other day to hear the concerns of scientists complaining that women were becoming less fertile and that scientist were working on improving their fertility. Are they joking? It took since the beginning of time, when man first placed his feet on Earth, to 1808 for there to be one billion people on earth; it took just 35 years for the last billion.

The climate is changing, and water in many places is becoming scarce. There is an increase in the number of volcanoes erupting, more floods and tsunamis, and more tornadoes. We are destroying our planet. Several islands have been inundated due to rising oceans. The sea is already a pollution sump and Earth’s resources are disappearing at a fast rate – many people are already starving – yet we want to add to the problem?

I have never appreciated my age as much as I do now. I am an old man and, with luck, will not be around to see the final years.

- David Edwards, Wangi Wangi