From Guy Cox
Perry Bebbington makes a very important point in his letter when he says that oil used to make plastics should be referred to as “plastic ore” rather than fossil fuel (29 November, p 32).
But he doesn’t take this line of thought far enough. Can you imagine modern civilisation without plastics or steel? Plastics need petroleum – although other alternatives may be developed – and steel production needs coal, for which no potential alternatives are in sight.
How irresponsible is it to burn these precious resources for energy when alternative energy sources are available.
Sydney, Australia
