ARMING DEMOCRACY FOR WAR

One answer to the central question raised by Cathrin Schaer ( Bulletin, January 25) is surely that we must make our democracy capable of squarely facing up to the issues of anthropogenic climate change.

The way to do this is to make it more democratic, not less. Schaer mentions

Phil Saxby, who is engaged in preparing to launch a campaign for a citizens’ assembly to address climate change. This campaign deserves the widest possible support. Involving New Zealanders at large in making policy, as opposed to merely reacting to policy already made by the Government and its experts, is a way of strengthening and deepening our democracy and showing that democracy can be, and needs to be, more than elections.

We need solutions that come from below, not ones

handed down from on high.

John Stowell (Oratia, Auckland)

From Davos to Dannevirke, there is an increasing sense that finding effective climate solutions is not the problem; effectively implementing them is the real challenge.

The February 1 Editorial observes that in an election year, our politicians will not be looking at driving climate action, so perhaps ordinary citizens should be the agents of change. Telling the authorities to take a hike by taking a hike is the suggestion.

Well, maybe. A daily tramp from Auckland’s Mt Albert to Hobson St, summer or winter, sounds like planet-saving fun. Not. A bicycle ride? Public transport?

Something tells me that we are not in any position to achieve national transformational changes in regard to global warning. Not scientists,

not activists, not the general public, definitely not politicians. And to be frank, the same applies worldwide.

It reminds me of the lead up to World War II. By 1933, everybody knew it was coming, but they did not know how to stop it.

GM Tinker (Whangārei)