From Graeme Hird
Perhaps Philip Smith of Texas would like to research some climatic information before maligning Tim Flannery (3 August, p 27).
Much of Australia falls into the same climatic zone as the Western Sahara, with rainfall of less than 200 millimetres a year. Kalgoorlie, where I live, relies on water piped 600 kilometres from Perth. The mean annual evaporation rate is 10 times higher than the mean rainfall. Kalgoorlie is not especially dry compared with other parts of Australia, but without that water pipeline, there would be no town here.
Smith states that “Australia can support many more people than present, based on other countries’ statistics.” Flannery has based his statements on Australia’s statistics and climate. No other figures are valid. Between 7 and 8 million people is sustainable – more is not.
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
