Letter of the Week
Have strong opinions, write in an engaging way? You could win our Letter of the Week, and with it a book from our friends and sponsors, the publishers Harper-Collins. This month’s book prize is Queen of the North by Anne O’Brien. To those around her she is a loyal subject. In her heart she is a traitor. In 1399 the fight for England’s crown has dire consequences. This is one woman’s quest to turn history on its head.
Rules: Best letter competition runs until January 19 next year. Entries close each Thursday at 5pm. The winner is selected by 2pm each Friday. Book of the month valued up to $49. Entrants agree to the Competition Terms and Conditions located at www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/ entertainment/competitions, and our privacy policy. Entrants consent to their information being shared with Harper-Collins for the express purpose of delivering prizes.
I’M unused to resorting to “letters to the editor” but Andrew Bolt’s assertions in the Bulletin yesterday cannot go unanswered. To head his article, “Field guide to the Paris Agreement” and then present a list of inaccurate and biased “facts” is disingenuous.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, as long as it is made clear they are just that, opinions.
To be specific, climate change has been proved to be a fact by numerous scientists and no amount of huffing and puffing by “shock jocks” and conservative commentators will change it.
China, to be sure, is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases but while their economy is growing their carbon intensity has dropped by 38 per cent and they are well on their way to meeting the Paris Agreement 2030 obligations.
There are streets in Beijing where the only vehicles in evidence are electric powered. I’ve seen this with my own eyes. Sure, the atmosphere is often hazy with pollution but they are doing something about it.
India is expected to over achieve its climate action targets under the Paris Agreement, 40 per cent nonfossil fuels as early as 2020, 10 years earlier than formally projected.
The European Union since 1990 has been steadily reducing greenhouse gases (all countries).
Japan’s energy mix since the nuclear disasters has trended towards fossil fuels, which has resulted in a massive increase in electricity prices. Their government is now seeking to diversify to renewables. They want to cut greenhouse gases by 26 per cent between now and 2030.
To cite America withdrawing from the Paris Agreement as laudable is to give credence to Donald Trump, a proven liar, and a president busily engaged in making America “grate”.
Coal is yesterday’s technology and to refer to “clean coal” is as ridiculous as talking about safe cigarettes. KEITH COOMBES, ELANORA
WE would like to acknowledge the major part that the Friends of Currumbin organisation, in particular the president Barry Robinson and the secretary Gloria Baker played in the long awaited Oceanway Path from Tugun to Bilinga, approval and funding by both the State Government and the City of Gold Coast Council (“Oceanway on the way”, GCB, 4/7).
Despite, initially, many obstacles by some local residents, opposition by the then local councillor, withdrawing of funding by the Gold Coast City Council, these people ably supported by many
like-minded residents, eventually were able to show all concerned that the project was a must, not only for local residents but for all Gold Coasters and visitors.
The project was a long and hard struggle to gain this outcome and thanks should also be directed to Natalie Wain and the T2B Oceanway Team, and also to the resilient people in the background.
It is also pleasing to note that the current Councillor for Division 14 Ms Gail O’Neill has stated that the pathway shall be completed in total and lighting shall be included as an integral part of the project.
Well Done! TERRY & JEANETTE CAMP
SENATOR Hanson-Young may learn of the two-edged sword encountered by those who sue for defamation.
The jury will necessarily have to consider the true nature of her character in deciding whether or not she has been defamed.
They could easily conclude that her spleen-venting verbal attacks on fellow senators and others should disqualify her from any legal redress.
She has “lived by the sword” frequently and might well deserve its bite. Any one doubting the accuracy of my prediction needs only to read Leon Uris’s fact-based novel QB7. ROBERT HALL, HELENSVALE