The intention was to start the New Year with the message– “Warm wishes for a cool change”. But it would seem to be not only an empty hope but flying in the face of everything we are coming to learn about climate and our future management of our planet. The earth is getting hotter. FACT. The US has just experienced its hottest year ever. FACT. Australia has just experienced its hottest day on record. FACT. Climate change – or global warming, if you like – is happening faster than anyone predicted. FACT. So do we, like others  in the know, just give up telling the world to face the facts? Should we, like some others in the media, bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best?  Of course, we will keep on telling the climate change story. Reporting history as it happening. But also bringing any good news we can find. Where countries, companies, organisations and individuals are being inventive and innovative. Are finding ways to clean up our energy act. And hope against hope that some sense of urgency consumes people in authority. That leaders get fired up when they see flames destroying property and thousands of hectares of farmland and forest . When they realise that extreme weather  and “catastrophic” fire storms are directly attributable to a warming world. And we can do something about it. Maybe we can only wish for a change of heart. May this be the wake up call for 2013. – Ken Hickson