Invest so we’re battle-ready
ACCORDING to the pundits, it’s going to be a hellish fire season throughout Australia. As homeowners, we have been strongly advised to be on guard. But how truly ready are our fire authorities in providing us the security we need? TFS acting deputy chief officer Sandy Whight indicated that due to very dry conditions “any fires that do start will be difficult to control” ( Mercury, September 20). The same report gave voice to United Firefighters Union’s Leigh Hills who said 80 remote firefighters had been “benched” due to issues of risk management and inadequate evacuation measures. This should have been resolved well before now!
As a consequence, there is a grave risk the TFS, Parks and Wildlife and Sustainable Timber Tasmania will be insufficiently prepared with personnel or mechanical resources to deal with the fire scenarios we face. Waving the red flag for interstate help will not bring guaranteed availability when they will be at full fire stretch themselves. Time is not on our side. The State Government needs to invest in a big way right now with aerial firefighting technology (a water bombing force). It’s a strategy that will assist our fire authorities to be adequately resourced and supported, and truly battle ready. Jack Buzelin Taroona Coal a backward step I’M deeply concerned to learn the State Government plans to award a $50,000 grant to Midlands Energy to continue exploration for coal in our clean green state. What a backward step. We cannot afford to dig up more coal if we are to have any hope of staying under 1.5C of global warming. It makes no difference where you burn it, that atmospheric carbon all adds up. Not to mention the potential impacts on soil, water and air quality. We have to move on from these unhealthy fuels of the past and ensure a just transition to a renewable energy future, in which Tasmania has the potential to be a world leader. Anna Seth Taroona Fossil fuel for food SO we need to take climate action. Great. Do we or do we not drain Lake Pedder? Do we dam the Franklin? Do we invest in nuclear power? Do we stop exporting coal to China? The last time a Western country (the US) imposed an energy blockade on a rising Asian nation (Japan) it precipitated World War II in the Pacific. Australia with fewer than 50 operational battle tanks, no modern artillery and three deployed submarines would soon find itself enjoying all the benefits of Chinese occupation the Tibetans enjoy currently. Some have gone so far as to demand a complete phase-out of fossil fuels by 2050.
However it is the application of fossil fuels to industrial agriculture that feeds the world. Without this at least two thirds of the world’s population would starve. To put that in perspective casualties from World War II amounted to only 60 million and the Communists in 70 years only managed to murder, torture and starve 100 million. Extending the benefits of centralised economic management to the entire planet would seem like a bad idea. So let’s take action, but if you are going to blockade highways and lecture the United Nations, be very careful what you wish for. Erik Peacock Berriedale Barking dogs IT doesn’t matter what breed, shape or size the dog is, if you can give it love and affection, you will get it back tenfold. Most dogs are family orientated and love to share. People must exercise them often, because dogs like to be doing something to show their worth. Over the past 25 years we have shared our lives with numerous cattle dogs. All have had different characteristics, but one thing stands out “faithfulness”. They stand by you, watch over you, comfort you. So if your dog barks incessantly just give them a little more sharing and love and affection or even consider another dog for mateship. Ray Wakefield Claremont No new hive for us BEES leave home and establish new hives when the population reaches saturation and communication breaks down. Too many drones who are unable to connect with the Government (Queen) hatch a new queen causing the original leadership to leave the hive seeking to build a new community. Ants, without a queen or with overpopulation or major disturbance form a satellite nest. Kangaroos hold off the birth of their joeys in hard times and sheep have smaller or larger lamb numbers depending on food availability.
Nature finds a balance in all species without interference. We humans with our large brains and bloated sense of selfimportance believe we know better and can control the environment to meet our needs. The flaw is we don’t have another hive or nest to relocate to. The world is now saturated with humanity and our hive is breaking down. It has started with climate change and as the voracious species we are we will not be able to survive unless we also reduce our numbers. I’m not suggesting a cull, but reducing population growth. We will not survive if our hive collapses. We have nowhere else to go! Vyv Alomes Dodges Ferry Why send cash to Mars WHO is smarter, Scott Morrison or Donald Trump? Our PM has pledged $150 million to the US President to help him get to Mars, the President is trying to find out just how foolish our PM is. We know the answer, but why, when we are threatened with a global economic meltdown, our health system is failing, too many of our children are leaving school unable to read or write, and life as we know it is in real danger of extinction because of the lack of political will to tackle climate change is Scott Morrison directing taxpayers’ money to help the Donald Trump madness when we so desperately need it here? Anne Griffiths Huonville