Humans the new Sorcerer’s Apprentices

Climate change campaigner and author, Professor Clive Hamilton, will debate whether humans are masters of the Earth or merely stewards, at a free public lecture at James Cook University in Cairns on September 14.

A Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, Professor Hamilton has been appointed by the Federal Government to the Board of the Climate Change Authority.

He was the Executive Director of the Australia Institute for 14 years, a progressive think tank which he founded, and has been awarded an AM for his contribution to public debate and policy.

“The emerging science of Earth systems tells us that so enormous has been our influence, ‘nature’ independent of humans no longer exists,” Professor Hamilton said.

“Instead of nature we have an Earth system showing various levels of human disturbance. If this is so, then our goal can no longer be to ‘live in harmony with nature’, the hope enshrined in the 1992 Rio Declaration.

“Our task becomes how best to manage the Earth system. Yet we must now ask ourselves a far-reaching question: Are we, 21st century humans, capable of managing the planet? Or, by aspiring to become masters of the Earth, are we destined to destroy it?”

Professor Hamilton’s latest book Requiem for a Species: Why we resist the truth about climate change, is about why climate change warnings have been ignored.

He is currently writing a book on climate engineering and the future of humanity. Previous books include Growth Fetish and The Freedom Paradox: Towards a post-secular ethics.

Professor Hamilton’s presentation, The New Sorcerer’s Apprentices, is the latest in James Cook University’s annual series of public lectures in science and engineering.

The lecture will be held in the Crowther Theatre at James Cook University in Smithfield on Friday September 14. Refreshments will be served from 5.30pm and the lecture will begin at 6pm.

Issued September 5, 2012

Media enquiries: E. linden.woodward@jcu.edu.au T. 07 4042 1007