Make your mark

Online polls and petitions should generally be regarded with grave suspicion. Promoted on Twitter and other social media platforms, they are open invitations to cast multiple votes and add bogus signatures. Yes, there are safeguards on many, but they are easily circumvented by those keen to rig the results.

A petition of a different stripe — The case for leaving the Paris Climate Agreement — recently went live on the Parliament House website. It calls for

…the House to formally advise the UNFCCC of Australia’s intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. The first date representation can be made is three years from the date of the ‘entry-into-force’ of the agreement.

This date is 9 December 2019.

Formal removal becomes effective 12 months later.

Those signing are asked for their email addresses, to which a confirmatory link is sent. Click on that and politicians will know for a certainty that it is a breathing and bona fide voter who has recorded his or her displeasure at this country’s continuing participation in the ruinously stupid crusade against carbon.

So far, having been live for only a few days, the petition has gathered less than 1200 signatures.

Here’s the link once more for those keen to sign and, after that, share with others.

A million signatures would make quite the impression.