Social media harm

Harbour. It means half of the 50 per cent of Tasmania that is reserved is being promoted for logging and mining, whilst the other half, in theory protected as national parks, is subject to tourism development. The Liberals have taken legal action to destroy globally significant indigenous and natural heritage on the Tarkine coast. Natural Tasmania underpins our “brand”. Old forests and wild places store immense stocks of carbon, protect cultural identity and biodiversity, give us clean air and water and are great places to visit. The animals and plants that live there have a right to exist for their own sake. As our planet moves into ecological crisis there is no place for a government that so comprehensively fails its responsibility to nature.

Impressed by Royal

I WISH Rebecca White would bring herself and the public up to date ( Mercury, February 7). I was a patient at the Royal Hobart Hospital last month, and I admit I was a bit concerned because of all the reports I had read and listened to. I was taken by two lovely girl ambos, and yes I had to go in line to be seen, but a lady came out of A & E with NAVIGATOR printed on her shirt. I asked the ambulance lass what that was. She answered that lady comes and reads the reports from the doctor and as soon as there is a cubicle available the needy goes in first. I thought that was sensible, but not for the man opposite, boy did he stack on a turn. When I got to the cubicle I couldn’t wish WELL done, Catherine Fair (Soros hears my frustrated cry, Letters, January 31). The social media tentacle that’s been quietly weaving its way into societies is being challenged because of devastating damage. George Soros must be respected for his ability to read and play markets and his understanding of behaviour. Tobacco was seen as cool in its time with companies and governments knowing this product was addictive and could cause death, but continuing on, both reaping financial gain. Some of our world’s best analysts are questioning the mental and physical benefits of social media. I think the genie is out of the bottle. Kids hooked before they are 10, middle age people wondering why they are getting fatter and sicker but able to convey their illness to some “liker”. The effects of tobacco will pale into insignificance compared to the damage of social media over the next 50 years.