'Victory' as insurance and seas still rise

." That's what the flyer from the Coastal Residents Action Group said.

Fantastic news I thought to myself, now my insurance will go down.

So I rang my insurance company.

"Hello, do I get a discount on my home insurance now that the s149(5) is gone?"

The reply: "No sorry, we do our own mapping.

"In fact, we will be increasing the premiums next year".

Hmm not a good start, so I decided it's time to sell.

After all, according to the Coastal Residents Action Group, waterfront properties have dropped $250k since they were put in.

"Hello Real Estate, I would like to sell my house since its worth a lot more today than yesterday"

The reply: "No sorry there are a lot more factors to a properties' price than the removal of a coding warning of sea level rises.

"After all, the seas are still rising whether it's there or not".

Hmmm, maybe I am being too selfish and not looking at the bigger picture.

"Hello CSIRO? Now that the s149 (5) certificate is removed have the sea levels stopped rising?"

The reply: "No, unfortunately they are rising at an increasing rate".

Hmmm this wasn't looking good, so I thought I would go to the people we all trust, the organisation that's pretty big on scientific matters with many very intelligent people.

"Hello NASA?

"Just wondering how the global warming thing is going now that the s149 (5) sea level certificate has been removed?"

The reply: "Yeah we heard about that, but unfortunately it also coincided with this week's announcement that the Arctic ice levels have shrunk to what we believe is the lowest in 130,000 years.

"Also we are starting to get a fair bit worried about Antarctica as well."

So my insurance will still increase, my house isn't worth anymore, the seas are still rising and the ice is still melting.

Tell me: What is there to feel victorious about?

Email, 30 Aug 2012

Ross Cochrane, Woy Woy