Meet Sammy Wilson. He believes that mankind is not to blame for global warming. Which, in itself, isn’t a big deal. After all, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. There are many people around the world who also share this view. But Sammy Wilson is Northern Ireland’s environment minister. And as such, he is in a position to influence peoples actions and reactions to environmental issues. So his recent denouncement of a British climate change ad as “insidious propaganda” and subsequent banning of the ad from being broadcast in Northern Ireland is a real concern.

According to Wilson, the Act on CO2 ads, aimed at promoting people to reduce their use of electricity and fossil fuels by doing simple things such as turning off their lights, were not only misleading but also dangerous. Wilson suggested that they gave people the false impression that “by turning off the standby light on their TV, they could save the world from melting glaciers and being submerged in 40 feet of water.”

Now before you start thinking that Wilson’s thinking is Northern Ireland’s thinking, know that Wilson’s action is not supported by either his own party nor the other coalition parties that make up the Northern Ireland government.

This isn’t the first time that Sammy Wilson has been in the limelight since becoming the environment minister last year and somehow I don’t think it will be the last time.

(source)

Image: James Jordan