Finally, a Godbot with a shred of sense ...

Every now and then we do hear from high-ranking Godbots who say something that amounts to less than abject stupidity or insipidity. In this case, it's Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who warned that God will not save our sorry hides if we keep destroying the planet, ecologically.

Speaking on Wednesday he said just as God gave humans free will to do "immeasurable damage" to themselves as individuals it seemed "clear" they had the same "terrible freedom" as a human race.

"I think that to suggest that God might intervene to protect us from the corporate folly of our practices is as unchristian and unbiblical as to suggest that he protects us from the results of our individual folly or sin," he said.

"God's faithfulness stands, assuring us that even in the most appalling disaster love will not let us go - but it will not be a safety net that guarantees a happy ending in this world."

Without a change of heart, Dr Williams warned, the world faced a number of "doomsday scenarios" including the "ultimate tragedy" of humanity gradually "choked, drowned, or starved by its own stupidity."

An Archbishop with a strain of misanthropy – who knew? Not to mention he's fuckin' right of course. (And how often do I say that of religious officials?)

Greenpeace also chirped in:

A Greenpeace spokesman welcomed the speech: "Hundreds of thousands of people are dying every year because we haven't taken the necessary steps to stop climate change.

"Whilst there's nothing wrong in hoping for a miracle, relying on one does seem to be more than a bit reckless."

I just wish Greenpeace would stick to sensible actions and tactics that actually garner support and actually acheive their ends instead of their absurd and irritating (and stupid) ploys they're known for using over the years. Instead of tying yourselves to trees and oil rigs, why not do something that won't make people look on you like they would upon an annoying rat that just ate their last slice of cheese? That's the key point activists always seem to miss, whether they be Greenpeace of that horrible PETA or whatever: the point of activism is public support, not public support alienation. Get them on your side, not against you. The only way change is ever achieved in this world is when you've got the voice and will of the poeple to back you up, so really, they need to stop doing the sort of things that result only in pissing people off.