Turn up your air-conditioners, leave your lights on… all the time, throw away your new bicycle and drive to work. The world needs to urgently sit up and take note of the sloth-like speed at which the globe is warming. This is serious. We need to act now to urgently warm this planet up because it’s freezing in Mongolia.

If you are a true internationalist interested in contributing to third world development, I beg you to act immediately.

In large parts of Mongolia the people live in sub-zero temperatures for more than half the year. Berated by snow day and night, scarred by a freezing, burning wind, and eating nothing but boiled lamb, the people are sick and tired of the cold. For their lives to improve the world needs to get seriously warmer, seriously fast.

Mongolia is a land-locked nation, one of the furthest from the ocean. The people do not enjoy a beach-side culture like us in Australia, and in fact, most have never even seen a beach. However, you can help make a difference through small changes. By increasing your carbon footprint and heating up our world we can melt those polar ice-caps (experts say it will only take a 2-3° increase), raise those sea-levels and bring the ocean to the Mongolians. With our hard work, the people of Mongolia may one day exercise the basic human rights to sun-bake, snorkel and surf that many of us in Australia take for granted.

The rising sea-levels and the development of a beach culture in Mongolia would also bring extra tourism to the area. The influx of tourists would result in a more money coming in to the country, subsequently alleviating the nationwide poverty. Tourism would also speed up the economic, political and social progress as seen in other popular tourist destinations such as Bali, Phuket, Cancun and Goa.

So next time you leave a room and go to turn off that light, afraid that increasing temperatures will make your life harder, or that melting ice-caps and rising seas will obliterate your city, cast your thoughts to the poor Mongolians huddled in the greyness, snow and sleet pounding them day after day after day, nothing but vodka to drink, and having never even body-surfed. Think of them with their freezing nothingness and leave that light on, and then go and turn all your lights in the house on, and then go for a drive just for the hell of it.

The Mongolians, fed up with battling against the cruel elements, need to get warmer before we get colder. And you can make a difference.

Do your part, increase your footprint today.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 25th, 2008 at 4:49 pm and is filed under Central Asia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

32 comments to “Change of Climate”

  1. By Chris October 25th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    :-)

  2. By Jen October 25th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Great report Jack, I can understand how frustrated the Mongolians are, however, we are desperate for rain here, dry brown grass down here in Gippsland already and we are not into Summer yet so we also need for people to be aware of the climate change. We have become a nation of selfish people and we need to change IMMEDIATELY before it is far too late.
    Keep the report coming from you and Jon, they are really great and the photography fantastic.
    How is Jan and Nigel? perhaps you could just tell us how they are copeing here in Australia without you both

    Cheers
    Jen

  3. By Debbie from sunny Beaumaris October 25th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    To quote an old friend, “If I lived there, I’d move”. lol

  4. By Elma October 26th, 2008 at 7:45 am

    I’m with Debbie, get out of there.

  5. By Marsha October 26th, 2008 at 9:28 am

    I did my best … Went to bed yesterday, turned on the aircon and crawled under the winter doona. Hoped it made a contribution.
    Laughed, I did

  6. By Alison October 26th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    I am enjoying your reports immensley and the photos are amazing.
    I hope there will be a book about this adventure,you are just giving us tantalizing bits,enough for us to want more!
    Stay safe,AL.

  7. By Wally & Eleanor October 26th, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Hi J & J As I was reading your change of climate I was thinking the same as Debbie. So my question is why dont they move.? Or are they so entrenched into that way of life that they dont know any better. Do they have connection to the internet do they know how the other half live.? If so yes I would say get the hell out of there but where would I go? To sunny Australia Who have so many restriction its a wonder a dog could get in. Any way I love reading your blog keep on treking. Wally

  8. By Natalie October 27th, 2008 at 6:08 am

    As Malcolm would say - Life wasn’t meant to be easy!!!!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. We’re sweltering here in 10 deg. above seasonal normal. Send us some cold. All part of life’s rich pattern. Keep on, keeping on you two. Natalie

  9. By Matthew October 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    “An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody will see it!” - Mahatma Gandhi … there is something up guys, it’s part of something global and its coming to Oz. Pushed aside to obscure the truth. The sixth day in the month of mars, in the year to come that sums eleven. For this day is three times the number of days since, for believe the day was the one on which two brothers fell. A setup, a problem… same old pattern! Move to the mountains in southern Oz … come back if you feel you should John, because my heart feels you are torn, comeback and help reveal the truth. Matt. Sonofjohn @ y7mail.com

  10. By Jane October 27th, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    I agree with you Jack, we are so selfish here, we’re always whinging and complaining. I say keep on trucking and those Mongolians can come and live down under, they have nothing to bring but themselves. I feel sorry for them, what a life! But I don’t think those spoilt Ozzies, who have EVERYTHING, are willing to make an extra effort to quickly warm the planet so that those people in inhumanly freezing conditions can have some fun in the sun and surf in boardshorts!
    Can you imagine how much they would love that! I’m doing my bit , hope you are too!!??? xxJane

  11. By Paul the Cabbie October 28th, 2008 at 7:29 am

    HHHHMMMM
    I am sure the overwhelming desire to be dramatic is great. Lets be serious though. Any base GPS system will quite adequately guide you along the trans siberian railway. Yet your report would indicate at any moment you could be lost forever. Maybe “today tonight” could employ as a reporter when you get back as it is almost up to their standard. I enjoy your factual reports but please stop the dramatics. I hope you can take criticism as well as all the ” we love jon and he can do no wrong” fan club on here.
    Cheers

  12. By John and Rita October 28th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    Hi Jack,
    I enjoyed reading your article and the photos.
    I also feel very sorry for the poor people living in this country.The dilemma is,that if we warm up the globe even further people all over the world will suffer without rain fall,the ice caps will melt and a lot of low lying countries and islands will compleately dissapear.It is terrible what is happening with our climate but what is good for one country is disasterous for another.We all need to help stopping the climate change and try to turn this threatening disaster around.The outcome would be that the country Mongolia would recover and the people would Not have to freeze.
    Meanwhile I want you to still enyoy your trip and keep writing these great reports.
    cheers, Rita and John

  13. By Robbie October 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    Hey guys, great photos & writing! Am curious to hear how you are coping with the falling Aussie dollar. It’s almost 40% less than when you started out? Must be a bit of a worry?!

  14. By John October 28th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Fasinating account Jack! you are sounding more like Jon as the trip goes on..what a teacher! Cup week next week so hope you have a few horse stories! keep well and off the thunder box!

  15. By Darralyn Davies October 29th, 2008 at 10:09 am

    Hi John and Jack
    Love hearing about your adventures. I am afraid I am one of those selfish people and I am not doing my bit to warm the planet for the long suffering Mongolians. It is eighteen degrees C in the house. I’m cold. I think I’ll turn on the heating. Daz

  16. By Antonio Marques October 29th, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Well, I just bought a Toorak tractor to take my son to school 200m down the road. It makes me feel much better knowing it will help the mongolians.

  17. By sandra mcvitty October 29th, 2008 at 11:13 am

    I, like Debbie, am from sunny, dry, Beaumaris, and had a good laugh at Jack`s comments re global warming. Get the heck out of there, you two!! John, your name was mentioned yesterday, at the funeral of a dear old, 87 year old friend of my Mum`s. Apparently she wouldn`t hear a word against you, and was often involved in near fisticuffs when your pronouncements were challenged by well meaning friends. She thought your word was a little like the word of God, or maybe Moses!! Keep safe, and I will stay tuned for your progress reports. Enjoy the mutton.
    Cheers

  18. By Rob Heim October 29th, 2008 at 11:41 am

    Hi Jack & John, pleased to read you have gone mad with the cold, similar to maddness in the desert without water, :). The photos are GREAT Jack, you have a great talent and of course great subjects. I look forward to the book(s) and film (s) to follow in the next year or two. Live the moment, life after this will never be the same.

  19. By John McC & Sarah P October 29th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    We are very glad to see that not all of you people from “downunder” are treehugging greenies like your last prime minister Howard Johnson. We can assure you that after we are elected on November 4 our policies will quickly make Mongolia’s climate more hospitable. After all we certainly don’t want them moving to “the land of the free”!

  20. By Lesley October 29th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Beautiful photos of Mongolia.I didn’t like your article about Mongolia, Jack.It didn’t contain any useful information.
    All the previous articles have been very interesting.

  21. By Heather Callander October 29th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    Missed your last few week’s ABC reports Jon but made sure I was within range this morning .Great to hear , even though have been delayed a few times . Unexpected hiccups like that make life even more interesting !

  22. By Joy & Don October 29th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    Hi Jon & Jack, Jon you sounded much brighter this morning on Ali’s program. We were worried about you last week ’cause you sounded so “un’Jon” like.
    However, it must have been the stay in the brothel that sparked you up!! Only joking!!Jack, you really hit home how we, as Australians, take so much for granted. Don is printing off all your reports and is compiling a “book” of your travels. So if ever you mislay any of your text he has it all! Typical accountant!! Jack, you are a born scribe! Your word pictures are just so stunning - we almost feel we are travelling with you. Jon, have you seen any teddy bears on your travels?
    Cheers,
    Joy & Don

  23. By David F October 30th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    Jack

    on the positive - i like the articles and picture immensely and check regularly to see whats happening

    on the negative - I realise that you jest but it didnt really work for me. Based on the comments I suspect others havent even picked up on the jest & this is the sad bit. So was it succesful in getting a point across?

    It also strikes me, do these people know any better (not a criticism) and they are probably happy even if a little cold. It would be great if you could go and drink some fermented yak milk or something with them and report back. In the mean time lets keep Mongolis cold!

    Happy travels

    David

  24. By Catherine Clancy October 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    Hi Jon and Jack, I only heard you for a few minutes with Ali this week but what memories it brought back. I travelled the silk road in China last year and keep going back to the photos. I remember the windfarms, and the heat in Turpan. So many grapes!! I hope you get to Kashi for the Sunday markets, Kashi is so different from Urumqi, thoroughly Uigher. I still think of the donkey carts among the buses, as natural as cars with trams here. See if you can get a personal tour of the old city, one of the few that has been protected in China. Enjoy the next part of the adventure.

  25. By Gillian October 31st, 2008 at 9:44 am

    Wow - some people really can’t appreciate a tongue-in-cheek article can they?!

    Love it.

  26. By natasha vagner October 31st, 2008 at 11:35 am

    Hi Jon and Jack I was wondering when are you going to be in Kazakstan! I hope you will have a good welcoming time there. If you are in Alma-Ata, don’t forget to ring Saltanat. Just to remind you, Don Henry is my partner and I am originally from Kazakstan (Temirtau city!)Anyway, looking forward to some news!
    natasha

  27. By kathyatkallista October 31st, 2008 at 10:26 pm

    Hey, I haven’t dropped in for a while, missed China and Mongolia, just catching up, photos are amazing. The light relief on climate change is cool (opps) Hot! Groans , It looks like climate has already turned Mongolia to dust!! I agree with jen it is so dry my dad has had hardly any rain in Sept and October. My landcare plantation up on the hill is under threat ( your offset tree might die john!!)all that work, so while i thought the work had finished i am now actually watering and weeding to try and maximize the survival rate. Thats if the dam holds out. It dried up last year. Our neighbour, a second generation farmer in the area said I don’t know what to do any more, i just don’t know what the climate is here any more. The trees and shrubs are holding their own at the moment but SUMMER IS ONLY JUST STARTING !! !It’s scarey. we are selling recycled paper pens and tea/cakes to pay for the fence contracter !!! Laughs!! we have a lot more to sell. Glad you are enjoying the trip, the boarder crossing sounded ridiculous, I heard you on the radio. Keep up the tales and pics am enjoying the ride . ps we are building an electric car !!! should have it finished before you get back, Lindy(774) said she’d like to see it when its running, she of little faith , we will drive to her door!! our other bit for climate change!! We gotta go like stink if we are to beat this thing. Cheers kathy

  28. By Lynne Meek November 3rd, 2008 at 8:47 am

    I listen to 774 every day and have never heard you. When are you on? (Obviously when you can get a connection!) Love reading your descriptions. Can’t wait for the next one.

  29. By Gerard November 10th, 2008 at 9:37 am

    I know you were only joking about climate change but seriously climate change may be a disaster for Australia but previous warming caused a flowering of culture and freedom for those that live in colder climes. It just means that agriculture would move to new areas and that Australia that has always been marginal for agriculture needs to become smarter to survive.

    great stories and safe travelling

  30. By kathyatkallista December 2nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    hi me again We got rain !!!!!!!! lots soaking in
    Yay!!! nov

  31. By Ann December 4th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    I havw missed out on a few days and am lost as to where you are. Can we tell Jean Richardson (October 8th ) that she is not too old to go to China, take a walking stick( I did on the Great Wall, on the easy side from Beijing) China was wonderful. I left Melbourne as soon as planes were off the ground on 9/11 and had a marvellous tour, but must admit I am too old to do other than conducted tours,in foreign lands but hope to be off to England next year,and do a River trip in Europe. when I am 80.Say good bye to all the relatives and come back here and try not to want to go again.
    Longing for your return, you will find it so tame in comparasion. But we miss you. You can give all the female fil-ins the flick!
    Roll on Late January when all, not only you, the good ones return. Even Tony has left us, to spend the nights with others!
    Good Luck and keep safe. Ann

  32. By Jack December 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Hi Jon i am your guide in xinjiang China ,how r you doing ?and where r u now ?

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