Fear-mongering

We are now starting to see locally the effects of allowing fearmongering to persist in our society.

Misinformation is one thing, but if it is designed to make people afraid enough to take action, then ultimately that action will become extreme. Self-preservation is one of the strongest biological instincts and when people genuinely feel their health or survival is threatened, they will go to any length to maintain it.

This is clear from the passion exhibited by the ’’anti’’side of any health-related debate; poison, vaccines, fluoridation etc.

While the majority can fight their cause within the bounds of the law, there will always be a handful who believe physical violence against people or property is their only choice.

So, what to do about it? We cannot deny people their rights to free-speech but must try and educate them on the possible consequences of their arguments. We should encourage those on both sides of any debate to ask themselves this: ‘‘Is my argument likely to make people anxious or afraid?’’. And then consider if perpetuating fear-based anger within our society is really what we want to achieve. Nelson, and, come to that, for any future grandchildren he may have, he would doggedly pursue all avenues for solutions rather than build a highway through a builtup, award-winning, pollutionprone community. Is that what he wants as a political legacy?

If he truly cared, as Environment Minister he’d grab the opportunity to showcase Nelson as a real leader in environmental sustainability, not build more roads. That would surely fit far better with his stated goal in the flyer ‘‘to be a champion for practical and science-based environmental improvements’’.

As things stand, perhaps behind the ‘‘congestion’’ smokescreen Mr Smith cares more about being the champion for those in the Rocks Road/Wakefield Quay environs than elsewhere in the city.