Heaven, Earth, Mankind and Happy Dads

With Special Guests:

Professor Ian Plimer and
Professor John Jenkins.

This week we opt for variety, beginning the show with one of Australia’s leading climate change sceptics Professor Ian Plimer, whose new book Heaven & Earth: Global Warming The Missing Science has topped the bestseller lists and is already into its fifth edition in Australia in a month. The author of seven books, Professor Plimer is somewhat taken aback to finally find himself the author of a bestseller. Not only are issues around global warming of intrinsic worth to fathers, the propaganda techniques used to convince the general population that only politicians can save us through higher taxes and greater government control is also of direct relevance. We then move on to Professor John Jenkins, who has just completed a study on separated dads suggesting they should learn to relax, play and have more fun with their kids. For everybody’s sake.

First up, Plimer says:

“The Earth is an evolving dynamic system. Current changes in climate, sea level and ice are within variability. Atmospheric CO2 is the lowest for 500 million years. Climate has always been driven by the Sun, the Earth’s orbit and plate tectonics and the oceans, atmosphere and life respond. Humans have made their mark on the planet, thrived in warm times and struggled in cool times. The hypothesis that humans can actually change climate is unsupported by evidence from geology, archaeology, history and astronomy. The hypothesis is rejected. A new ignorance fills the yawning spiritual gap in Western society. Climate change politics is religious fundamentalism masquerading as science. Its triumph is computer models unrelated to observations in nature. There has been no critical due diligence of the science of climate change, dogma dominates, sceptics are pilloried and 17th Century thinking promotes prophets of doom, guilt and penance. When plate tectonics ceases and the world runs out of new rocks, there will be a tipping point and irreversible climate change. Don’t wait up.”

Ian Plimer is Professor of Mining Geology at The University of Adelaide and Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences at The University of Melbourne where he was Professor and Head (1991-2005). He was previously Professor and Head of Geology at The University of Newcastle (1985-1991). His previous book, A Short History of Planet Earth, won the Eureka Prize.

Next up we have another professor, John Jenkins who is Professor of Tourism and Leisure Studies and Head of Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Southern Cross University.

Taking time out to play in the sand, read a few stories, play board games or have a game of backyard cricket could be some of the best ways for non-resident fathers to establish a positive relationship with their children, he says.

Professor Jenkins has just completed a study examining non-resident fathers’ leisure with their children, and has found that leisure pursuits help non-resident fathers to both engage with their children and reassert themselves as a parent.

“Separation and divorce are among many factors that have led to more and more fathers not sharing the same home address as their children,” said Professor Jenkins.

“With trends like these, the nature of fatherhood has been the subject of some speculation but unfortunately, much of the debate about parenting and non-resident fatherhood focuses on the impact of a father’s absence rather than what he actually does when he is with his children.

“This study looked at not only the impacts of separation and divorce on non-resident dads’ lives, but also what leisure activities fathers and their children participate in together and why, and how leisure assists fathers to develop their relationships with their children.

“It was found that leisure activities enabled the group of non-resident fathers interviewed to share experiences with their children, and were vital for building stronger relationships with them after separation.

“As well as that, positive experiences arising from leisure-based interactions increased many fathers’ happiness and sense of worth as a parent.”

In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 non-resident fathers residing in the Hunter region, ranging in age, income and background.

Professor Jenkins said common themes in his interviews with the fathers were the effects of separation on life circumstances, lack of contact time with their children, the leisure activities undertaken and their significance, and the fathers’ aspirations for future leisure experiences with their children.

“Fathers’ leisure activities with their children included skiing, surfing, cycling, playing in the sand at the beach and camping,” said Professor Jenkins.

“But other passive and educational leisure pursuits often less associated with fathering were also common: arts, crafts, drawing, reading and playing board and computer games together.

“The interviews were often very emotional, ranging from expressions of great sadness and guilt after separation, to the great joy of being a father or establishing new relationships, a new family and a home.

“But whatever the case, for these non-resident dads the importance of leisure time with their children was clearly evident.

“It is very apparent that although separation and divorce can affect family relationships profoundly, leisure is an important way for non resident fathers to connect with their children and redefine or re-establish their roles as parents.”

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