Criticised young folk get it right

The patronising, mean-spirited comments from some of my generation regarding the young climate changers is driving me to depart from Mark Twain’s advice about not arguing with idiots. As if it is not enough that we have ruined their hopes for enjoying the wonderful world that has been our privilege to enjoy, they now have accusations of hypocrisy and insincerity launched at them en masse.

Of course these children use private transport. They are part of a society built around the car as the mainstream transport option and into which billions of dollars have been poured. But they are questioning whether there is a better option than the drive to consume, exploit and pollute as if there is no tomorrow. And guess what?

But there is still hope if we move now with the urgency and determination that these children are showing and embrace the radical changes necessary to give them a future.

Margette Campbell, Waihi Beach.

Message to students

About a century before man’s first balloon flight, Isaac Newton likened our atmosphere to a greenhouse, stabilising the earth’s life-sustaining ability. Now it’s more like a closed vessel in a microwave, unable to release its excess heat. Jet air travel has been creating massive amounts of exhaust gases where they couldn't occur naturally, beyond our ability or will to control them.

My generation, your parents and grandparents, won't listen to you, so get out your “devices” and show them. Google “climate change, aviation's contribution”. If they read it, maybe they will walk by your side. They won't be there to see it resolved but it’s your world too, they just need reminding. Good luck, you'll need it.

Brian Dunstan, Cambridge.

Measles risk

When will they stop non-essential travel to and from Christchurch — before or after measles becomes a national epidemic? The number of inoculations ordered suggests they are expecting it to keep spreading. Should we all get a jab?

Bob Wichman, Botany.

Health and safety

I am so angry after reading Jim Rollerson’s letter yesterday. What is happening to our country when a bunch of idiots dictates that after 53 years of a wonderful meals on wheels service, the volunteers are suddenly not safe and must be registered and certified in first aid and food safety, as well as police checks? These people are treasures and do a wonderful service and it is an insult to them.

It is so sad such a wonderful service has been disbanded. Next, we will have to wrap ourselves in cotton wool before we leave our homes, which themselves will have had safety checks. Stop all this health and safety nonsense, it has got out of hand. Get back to common sense.

Sandra Jennins, Milford.

Drug deaths

In a “sidebar” article it was stated over half the specified drug deaths between 2008 and 2013 were intentional, and over 70 per cent were people between 80 and 90 years old. Aren't those two facts alone telling us something? Neither “end of life choice” or “medically assisted dying” was available to those people. David Seymour's intended bill could have made some difference to their final years and the way they died. Maggie Barry has been vociferous in leading the Catholic Church’s opposition to the bill. Perhaps those elderly people who took the drugs were not worried about the possibility of suffering purgatory after they died, because they had been in purgatory before they died. David Speary, Northcote.

Rodeo cruelty

Isn’t it about time, in a civilised society, that terrorising and abusing animals as a spectator sport ceased? Why would any animal lover want to buckle up a thick belt in the sensitive area of the animal, so tight it hurts, in order to make it behave in a terror-stricken manner trying to loosen it? Why can’t rodeos instead focus on the skills of horse and rider working together as a partnership, competing in exciting events such as barrel racing and trick riding? People who like rodeos will still attend if the cruelty is taken out of it, as people who like the circus now enjoy the acrobatics and theatre of it without watching the indignities of the performing animals. L. Braithwaite, Coatesville.

Futile vote

Every three years we vote for people who tell us they can do the best job to run Auckland city. We do not vote for the management of Auckland Transport, Ports of Auckland Limited, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development or any other council “controlled” business. So why is it that these organisations do as they please, ignoring any direction the council (may) give them? Mayor Phil’s backflip over harbour infill is grounds for resignation. He has not kept his election promise.

Derek Paterson, Sunnyhills.

Slow zones

Dame Rosanne Meo’s letter about 30km/ h speed limit roads in Auckland raises good points. There is now an interactive map on the Auckland Transport website. If you dig far enough you will find it. Apart from the CBD and a couple of other roads, there are two other suburban blocks which seem to be around schools, Flanshaw Rd Primary in Te Atatu South, and Rosehill College, Papakura. I also wonder about what data has been looked at. How come these two school areas have been singled out? We already have speed restrictions around schools, but 24/7?

Tony Morton, Te Atatu South.

Scooter rules

So Auckland Transport has requested the electric scooter hireage business to have weekly mechanical checks of its fleet and has even limited the speed of the scooters in certain inner city streets to 15km/h. Wonderful. But exactly how are they going to enforce this? Only a device limiting the speed of the scooter will ensure this happens.

And what about the safety of pedestrians? Obviously Auckland Transport does not regard pedestrians walking on footpaths as their first priority. Why has Auckland Transport not required scooters,or bikes for that matter if they are using the footpaths, to have a warning device? Gillian Dance, Mt Albert.

Hospital care

Some positive news. I have just had a surgical procedure at the North Shore Hospital. I was there for two nights and the care and attention I received was absolutely exemplary. I have to say that I could not have been better cared for. The facilities were first class, the a la carte food fantastic and the nurses and doctors super-attentive. This DHB is fantastic.

Chris Blenkinsopp, Beach Haven.

Use the revenue

Return Capital Gains Tax revenue to taxpayers? What rubbish. Return it to schools to improve our children’s education, or to hospitals to ensure good health care, or to social housing to ease everyone’s access to affordable housing, or to mental health services to reduce our suicide and drug addiction rates, or to infrastructure to improve public transport and mitigation of the climate effects to come. These all make much bigger improvements in everyone’s lives than a bit of extra cash in their pockets, especially since those who need it least would get the most cash.

Penelope Sender, Laingholm.

‘Impressive’ knowledge

One has to be impressed that Maria Alyokhina, a member of the punk rock group Pussy Riot, has found time in the last two weeks, while maintaining a busy tour, to research historical Ma¯ ori land claims, and in particular the current Ma¯ ori claim to Ihumatao in South Auckland. That she is able to categorically state “Ihuma¯ tao is Ma¯ ori land” and that “the Government should pay for this land and give it back to Ma¯ ori”, speaks for her astute acumen and makes her potentially an outstanding candidate for the Waitangi Tribunal. Dave Murray, Grey Lynn.

Schooling Ma¯ ori

It seems to me Marianne and Terry Kayes misinterpreted Richard Prebble’s comments. My takeout from him was that according to international measurements, 80 per cent of pupils were achieving very well under the current system. So why would you want to change that? It would make more sense to develop something else for the specific needs of the 20 per cent who are not achieving (no matter ethnicity). The Kayes do not seem to appreciate we are all unique and there is not one solution to fit all with education.

Fiona Mackenzie, Stanmore Bay.