Meeting Notes 4th November 2019 - Jaap Poll (Nov 06, 2019)

Meeting Notes

4th November 2019

Guest Speaker

Jaap Poll

Mentees

President John opened the meeting at 6.30 pm on 4^th November.

John Thornton apologised for his lack of tonal support at last week’s meeting, then led the members in singing the National Anthem.

President John welcomed tonight’s Guest Speaker, Jaap Poll, who will give us an insight to his views on Climate Change. Ivor Roberts will formally introduce Jaap later.

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Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

Reg Ransom, Wolf Martinick, Tuan Pham, Barbara Murerwa, Gurang Deewan, Sonam Dorji, Kuenley Dorji, Marion Cahiff and Mahes.

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Question of the Week:

Q: When was UWA’s Winthrop Hall opened?

Geoffrey Cahiff correctly answered that PROBUS is derived from PROfessional BUSiness.

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Family & Friends Announcements:

No new news.

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Birthdays & Anniversaries:

Michelle Wilson 28^th Oct, Robyn Chien 31^st Oct, Lee Saleeba 7^th Nov, Ilse Lorenzen 10^th Nov.

Stewart Brash 83 on 6^th Nov, George Melville 80 on 6^th Nov, Lindsay Dry 75 on 9^th Nov.

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Members Attendance: 42 members and 9 guests.

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Committee Reports and Announcements:

Community Service

Tim Humphrey reminded of a meeting on Tuesday 8^th.

Nigel Johnson updated on Cans for Christmas – flyers and bags have been distributed to other Clubs. Ours will be available at the last two meetings in November.
Public Image

Kevin Jackson warned that limited tickets remain for ‘Alice In Wonderland’.

Men’s Shed

Trevor added to his words last week, advising that Chris Cole and Jaap Poll were involved in the initial development of SCMS.

His announcement that a grant of $120,000 from LotteryWest was greeted with applause.

President

Members were reminded of the Rotary Bendigo Bank Drought Fund.

An event ‘Creating Parity for Indigenous Australians’ – Wednesday 6^th November - presented by Peter Murdoch; organised by RC of Elizabeth Quay; at WeWork with dinner afterwards at The Grammercy Bar.

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Sergeant:

Sergeant Tony Chien, assisted by Corporal Graeme Sansom, excused the usual fine from the wine table.

Chris Cole for wearing socks on wooden stairs, and falling.

Peter Robertson for allegedly speeding in his BMW.

Richard Ranshaw for holidaying, then going into hospital – John M to pay in Richard’s absence.

John Thornton for not having his ‘Chinese whistle’ at last week’s meeting.

John Lindquist wearing a top hat in the bar.

John Bolto for his missing name badge.

Bob Davis good looking family photo in Post.

Neil Wilkie eating three crepes.

Any grandfather who had not done babysitting duties in the past week.

Males who had not cooked a meal this week.

Anyone planning to not spend Christmas at home.

Usual departure and arrival taxes.

Cyclists for hindering traffic by riding two abreast.

Horse owners – any share at any time.

Anyone who missed on tickets in the Cup Sweeps.

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Mentees:

Kim Smith introduced our Club’s mentees, and each one gave a short presentation.

Tuan Pham (Vietnam), Barbara Murerwa (Kenya), Gurang Deewan (Nepal), Sonam Dorji (Bhutan), and Kuenley Dorji (Bhutan).

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Guest Speaker: Jaap Poll

Ivor Roberts gave a history of Jaap’s life thus far. Born in Indonesia - interned in a Japanese prison camp - obtained qualifications as a Geologist in Holland - commenced work with Shell, then Woodside and several other Companies worldwide - received several academic awards – joined Rotary in Port Moresby in 1972 - has been President of four Rotary Clubs.

A Cool Look at Climate Change

Jaap reminded members that in accepting membership of Rotary they were tasked with the responsibility to keep members informed of developments in their area of service.

Climate change is real – look back at Ice Age, etc.

There are

Believers, who believe a significant portion of climate change is due to man-made CO2 (and therefore the process is reversible),

and

Sceptics, who believe only a small part, if any, is due to man-made CO2; the rest is natural.

About 15,000 years ago temperatures rose by 4^oC and sea level by 120 metres, without human input.

CO2 is plant food – increased food crop growth from increased CO2.

Over 90% of the time the Earth has been warmer than now – Romans grew grapes in Scotland, and Greenland was habitated.

The Vostok Ice Core in Antarctica has samples from approx. 450,000 years, and indicates 110,000-year solar cycles.

CO2 is not the driver.

112,000 cycle – elliptical orbit – we are moving away from the Sun – may lead to another Ice Age.
Earth’s wobble on-axis – movement of Magnetic Poles.
Solar variability (sunspots) – 11-year cycle.
Ocean currents.
Volcanoes, meteors, etc.

Climate is a chaotic non-linear system, so is hard to predict.

There are many forecasts – some very extreme. Thirteen significant errors were found in Al Gore’s presentation, which was ruled as unacceptable for UK schools.

Jaap has presented data he has found as a Geoscientist.

No computer model has correctly predicted change – has not been based on historical data.

Past ‘unshakeable’ beliefs:

Earth is flat
Blood-letting by leeches was beneficial
Sun/planets circle the Earth
Y2K

There is a restriction on the free flow of information.

Are we destroying the world?

No, Earth is too resilient but we are destroying life.

Humans are in plague proportion – world population explosion.

How to reverse:

No more land clearing, halt urban sprawl, replant marginal lands.
Stop polluting land/air/water.
Develop new affordable energy sources – keep oil/gas/coal for future petrochemical requirements.

Are we Believers or Sceptics, or a bit of both? May be Common Sense.

Jaap answered several questions, some contentious.

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Close:

President John thanked Jaap, and all our guests, the NGC staff (welcome back Denise), and John O’Hara (On Par Catering).

REMINDER OF COMING EVENTS

November 11^th – Club Forum

November 18^th – No More Homeless Inc

November 25^th – Anna Sudlow and Carol Shannon – Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation

December 9^th – Weld Club – Christmas Cocktail Party – dress code, jacket and not tie + cocktail for ladies.

He acknowledged sponsors Lizzie Bee Florists (who supplies flower), Butler Settineri (Club Auditors), Paragon Consultants (Charitable Trust Auditors) and PSZ Accounting (Charitable Trust software).

He called on members to recognise RI President Barry Rossin’s Presidential theme for the year, Be the Inspiration. Members were asked to acknowledge the Flag.

Meeting closed at 19:45.

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Photographer Peter Robertson

Editor: John Murdoch

Webmaster: Tom Langley

Why was Helen Dance chosen to fell the first tree at the founding of Perth?