Wind-farm smarts
BOB Brown is complaining about windmills in Tasmania (“A bridge too far,” Robbins Island, Talking Point, July 8). He says they will look bad and they will kill birds. It seems we must do without any energy at all. No windmills (they look bad and kill birds), no hydro dams (they destroy wilderness), no coal (climate change), no timber (destruction of forests), no nuclear (just no nuclear). In other words nothing.
We are clever enough to make unlimited energy to power our civilisation. We can make energy from the wind, from the rain, from the sun, from the waves in the sea, from lakes, we can even make the lakes. We can make energy from plants, and from plants buried long ago. We can make energy from the atomic structure of the earth. We are clever enough to do all this and to keep the earth safe. We are the best engineers the world has ever seen. We may even find a way to make windmills look attractive and to save the birds. Do you wish to destroy our civilisation or improve it? Please Bob, be positive.
Pill-testing can help
MISINFORMATION on pill testing leads opposition to this life saving initiative. Pill testing introduces young people to medical professionals who warn on the dangers of MDMA. Upon entering the tent, while the pills are tested and upon leaving they are counselled on the dangers, given literature and invited to dispose of their pills, which up to half do. Pills are never passed as safe. People are told the level of MDMA, for example, contrasted with the average, and informed that no level is safe, that even small amounts can be lethal and other potentially lethal drugs and impurities in the pills were not tested. Having pills tested is an excuse for many with cold feet to dispose of their pills while saving face among friends. Alternatively, a number of young people have died upon taking their stash to avoid detection as police approach with drug dogs. Opposition is contributing to youth mortality at concerts.
Stick to council issues
I’M not able to comprehend how pill-testing at music festivals and the like will prevent attendees obtaining and ingesting them. My understanding is that some, maybe most, of the youth of today can’t enjoy themselves at any event without being drug-infused. No one will convince me any of them will put their hand up and say, I have bought/brought some drugs at/to this event, would you please test them. Another wast of time at the Hobart City Council. Attend to traffic mayhem, collecting garbage, give us back at least two lanes in Liverpool St and stop making street seats from plastic.
Willow Court blow
CHARLES Wooley’s article discussing developers as saviours for communities rang alarm bells ( TasWeekend, July 13-14). Decisions being made by the Derwent Valley Council on a proposal for the Willow Court Precinct will result in those precious buildings and surrounds being taken from our community forever and the exciting possibilities removed, along with its cultural and historical integrity being compromised. The premise seems to be development at all costs in an attempt to reinvigorate our region, which seems very shortsighted.
In addition to proposals for the distillery and arts centre, the council received a proposal that would have provided a framework for a community vision and management plan, staged redevelopment, and a planned approach to fitting uses to the most suitable buildings, with a balance of community and commercial use, which would include suitable space for the distillery. This visionary proposal for Willow Court’s future as a community asset was disposed of by the Derwent Valley Council at the June 20 meeting.