Tigers in prison
THE arrival of two Sumatran tigers at Tasmania Zoo is hardly cause for celebration ( Mercury, June 14). These animals have spent their lives imprisoned, first in New Zealand, then Sydney, and now Launceston. Zoos try to give a sense something meaningful is happening to save animals, when in reality they serve no conservation purpose, because animals in zoos are rarely, if ever, returned to their natural habitats. The physical and mental stress of constant captivity and loss of all freedom, including when and what to eat and what to do, leads many animals in zoos to display abnormal, neurotic and even self-destructive behaviour. With today’s technology, virtual field trips, IMAX movies and wildlife documentaries are a far better way to teach children about
Focus on fixing traffic
WHILE Hobart’s inclusive, diverse city council is burying attention-seekers in a street, our State Government has released an impressive budget with $2.6 billion slated for infrastructure. Not one cent is to be spent on a CBD bypass tunnel or planning for one, which is the only solution for growing traffic congestion. Nothing from the Federal Government either, 10 months from an election. Melbourne gets $5 billion for an airport rail link, Hobart … the Hobart City Council welcomes UTAS to the CBD, increasing congestion, makes Liverpool St one lane and our lord mayor says a bypass tunnel is all too hard. Three levels of government could not care less
Angry at sell-off
I AM very angry and appalled that this greedy and no conscience government is once again selling out Tasmania to private vested interests. With our democracy sold out at the last state election we are now paying the high price of dark back room deals. We are told without consultation we are selling our iconic heritage buildings. The Treasury building is priceless but we are told it is outdated! Does that mean all our heritage buildings are useless and for sale? Why in good economic times do we need to sell our state jewels? Our heritage like our freedom and democracy must not be sold to private or overseas investors.