Natural gas has a big role in cutting emissions
PROF Colin CampbellHunt raises some important issues in his column in the Mix (29.7.18), but underestimates the major role natural gas has in lowering emissions.
Carbon emissions in the United Kingdom have fallen to 19thcentury levels and even the United States has seen a 14% reduction since 2005.
In both countries that is thanks to switching from coal to natural gas (which has only half the emissions of coal).
This is why natural gas is booming around the world. Not only is it helping lower emissions, it is creating millions of jobs and cheaper energy for consumers. It’s an industry New Zealand can and should be a part of.
It’s also important to clarify the Paris Agreement is not about ‘‘phasing out all sources of carbon’’. Given all life forms on Earth are carbonbased, that would be a radical step.
Instead, we need to lower our net emissions. We can do this by planting more trees, using new technologies to capture emissions, and switching to loweremitting fuels like natural gas.
Cameron Madgwick Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New
Zealand (PEPANZ)
‘Greedy speculators’
The article ‘‘Property investors pull out’’ (ODT, 31.7.18) refers to ‘‘mum and dad investors’’ in the housing market.
‘‘Greedy speculators’’ would be more accurate but doesn’t have quite the same ring, possibly because it is immoral that an essential commodity like housing should be used to enrich the few at the expense of the many.
The reason that the National Party vote seems to defy gravity is because every move it made while in power was designed to push up prices (by the selling off of state housing and the reckless boosting of immigration, for instance).
The lucky winners will naturally vote National; the disillusioned losers, who sleep in cars or rent spare space in garages at $300 per week, probably don’t vote at all.
Some time ago I saw statistics of the MPs who owned multiple houses.
I seem to recall that John Key had six and one National MP had about
50.
How likely is it that such MPs, who have made fortunes out of greedy housing speculation, will do anything to stop the gravy train? Perhaps it is time to republish this list?
Dennis Dorney
Calton Hill
Ballet scholarship
WE were delighted that you chose to report our son James Burchell’s success in gaining a ballet scholarship (ODT, 31.7.18).
He has worked hard, and we are delighted for him.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank his teachers and choreographer Shona Bennett and Emma Holloway, of Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz, without whose support, encouragement and expertise he would not have gained this scholarship.
Jenny and David Burchell
Mount Cargill
Meat pie and politics
YOU have got to wonder what’s gone wrong with the world when Australians lose faith in their prime minister when he’s caught on film eating a meat pie with a knife and fork.
That is said to be putting him out of touch with everyday Australian culture.
It makes you wonder if fake or lack of news from rogue journalists looking for a story has got out of hand.
G. Palmer West Harbour
BIBLE READING: Whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. — Mark 8:35.