Month: October 2026

Categories
Cultural responses

October 4, 1982 – Koyaanisqatsi 

Forty four years ago, on this day, October 4th, 1982,

Koyaanisqatsi (English pronunciation: /koʊjɑːnɪsˈkɑːtsiː/[3]), also known as Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, is a 1982 American experimental film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke.

Koyaanisqatsi – Philip Glass

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 341ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that through the 70s the hippies had begun to realise that they were in fact right, that you couldn’t have infinite growth on a finite planet, that it doesn’t profit a man much to gain the whole world if he loses his biosphere, and there were ongoing struggles, decolonization hadn’t been the panacea that the more optimistic among had hoped for. 

The specific context was, well, you can read about Koyaanisqatsi here.

What I think we can learn from this is that artists and filmmakers and creatives, generally to use an ugly term, have known which way was up and have known that the hippies were largely right. 

What happened next There was another film, Powaquaatsi, a few years later.

There keep being new films, which are going to change things, and then they don’t. These things don’t change things, and here we are.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 4, 1957 – see, see – SPUTNIK!! – All Our Yesterdays

October 4, 1969 – “If we melt the Antarctic, our problems are solved because all of the ports of the world would vanish and the ocean will rise 200 feet.”

October 4, 1990 – “Verdict on our efficiency: we must try harder” – All Our Yesterdays

October 4, 1993 – Coal chief wringing his hands about “greenhouse,” promises new tech – All Our Yesterdays

Categories
Australia

October 3, 2007 – Turnbull makes a pledge

Nineteen years ago, on this day, October 3rd, 2007,

A new $4 million commitment to educating local governments on responses to climate change will tackle the global problem at a community level, federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/turnbulls-4m-climate-pledge/2007/10/03/1191091180504.html

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 384ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was that the Liberals had been shit on climate change after the 1990 federal election, which they narrowly lost, but in late 2006 had had to modify that because the public was going through one of its periodic “oh, actually, a habitable planet would be quite a nice thing” phases.

The specific context was that the federal election was only a few weeks away, the campaign may have actually already begun, and Turnbull, as Environment Minister, was having to say this sort of crap. 

What I think we can learn from this is that what comes out of a politician’s mouth is usually crap, even more so at election times.

What happened next Turnbull became opposition leader, was then toppled by Tony Abbott, and then five years later toppled Abbott back (this time for the Prime Minister gig), and then, of course, was toppled in a coup, where it was probably Peter Dutton who started it, and Scott Morrison who was the final victor.

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 3, 1970 & 2008: Nixon creates EPA, Brown creates DECC

October 3, 1975 – Three members of Congress introduce first bill for a national #climate program.

October 3, 2004 – John Howard revealed to have asked for fossil fuel CEOs to kill renewables. #auspol

October 3, 1970 & 2008: Nixon creates EPA, Brown creates DECC 

October 3, 2011 – “The End of Australia”

Categories
Australia Uncategorized

October 2, 1973 – News editorialises on Gas fields warning

Fifty three years ago, on this day, October 2nd, 1973, the Adelaide News (now defunct) editorialises on ‘natural gas’ (methane).

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 328ppm. As of 2026, when this post was published, it is 430ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.

The broader context was, South Australia was looking hungrily at oil and gas fields in the northern part of the state, and here we see a senior physicist, and by this time I think Governor General, wanting to sound the alarm, what we learn is that there were people capable of taking a systems approach. Oliphant, I think, was not that bothered by the carbon implications at this point, but more by the “all eggs in one basket”, question and wouldn’t long-term solar be better.

What I think we can learn from this – we used to have grown ups in positions of authority? Maybe? Or maybe rose tinted glasses are at play, idk.

What happened next Oliphant was of course ignored, as scientists have been ignored, and we have committed ourselves to fossil fuels in a big, big way, and the consequences are coming due. 

On this topic, you might like these other posts on All Our Yesterdays

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References

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You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.

What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.

If you want to get involved, let me know.

If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).

Also on this day: 

October 2, 1927/64 – Svante Arrhenius and Guy Callendar die. – All Our Yesterdays

October 2, 1942 – Spaceflight!! – All Our Yesterdays

October 2, 1961- UNESCO conference on “climatic variations” begins  

October 2, 1994 – twenty years of boredom, for trying to change the system from within (Phillip Toyne becomes civil servant) – All Our Yesterdays   

October 2, 2014 – Low emission technologies on their way, says Minerals Council of Australia