A 75-year-old grandfather from Kiama, Ian Carstairs, is worried about “the insidious influence of fossil fuel lobbyists that threatens my grandchildren’s future.” He has written this poem – from the heart - in the hope of asserting some influence of his own to counteract the fossil fuel lobby.

The Tipping Point

Our planet’s not just hot it’s boiling

At the poles the ice is melting

The ocean temperature is rising

Record sea levels take a belting.

Ocean water turns more acid

Plankton dies – our oxygen source

The AMOC current becomes more flaccid

Earth’s climate’s on emergency course.

Experts say we’re at tipping point

Fires, floods and famine all over the place

So the question is: ‘How to save the joint?’

And the answer’s right here in our face.

Leave coal, gas and oil in the ground

No more new coal mines or expansion of old.

Rapid transition to solar and wind

Electric cars, trucks and buses are gold. 

Asparagopsis in cattle feed

Reduces methane in burps of livestock

Green compost bins for every household

Cut the food waste, recycle the plastic.

If we start right now perhaps we’ll see

Our grandchildren have the chance to thrive.

If we’re too slow to change then inevitably

We’re cutting their chances to survive.

The Bulge joins Ian in his resolve to speed up the transition to adopting a greener lifestyle.