A wing and a prayer

“Longline to extinction” (February 11), describing decades of work to record the decline of subantarctic albatrosses, struck me deeply. No doubt if more people saw these majestic creatures, they would achieve the profile of other charismatic endangered species. But, as we know, this would not necessarily ensure their survival.

The phrase “shutters of conservation fatigue” resonated. In 2019, I completed a diploma in environmental studies as an adult student. After four years’ study, strangely, I was left with an even deeper and paralysing sense of helplessness. My attempts to discuss global warming or biodiversity loss since have led to the dreaded shutters of fatigue, followed by a quick change of subject.

The image of a male albatross waiting patiently every year for his mate long ago drowned by a longline is poignant, but I struggle to think how I can share this message in a way that will be heard by anyone who can make a difference. The global fishing industry behemoth ( boats, ports, suppliers, tuna markets) feels like an autonomous beast impervious to any attempt at human intervention.

Billy Bragg, quoted in the same issue, says “… like music, writing can’t change the world. But it can make you believe that the world can be changed.”

We know silence and passivity are the death of hope, and the death of hope signals the end of action. It seems we must continue to lose many fights in the battle against biodiversity loss, but it still seems important to continue to speak up.

Fran Rigby

(Miramar, Wellington)

LETTER OF THE WEEK

BROKEN HOMES

Although the storms are not yet over, it is time to stop and look at the reality of just what has happened to the houses Kiwis have been allowed to build.

I use the word “blame” for every council, building inspector, builder and architect who has allowed, encouraged and profited from the building of houses in places of danger. That includes cliffs, hills, riverbanks and coastal regions that are obviously not solid – just earth – soft mud when wet, with little or no bedrock for

foundations. These authorities and businesses should be made liable for rebuilding and re-siting ruined houses.

I have watched numerous TV programmes such as Grand Designs New Zealand and have been amazed at the ridiculous places where houses have been allowed. It is time to point the finger and make the responsibility land on the right desks.

Jim Adams

(Rotorua)

UKRAINE PAIN

Bill Hodge (“Putin’s grand plan”, February 4) explains Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in terms of the need to access warm-water ports. But access of civilian vessels to the Mediterranean from the Black Sea is guaranteed by the Montreux Convention (1936) regulating maritime traffic through the Turkish straits. Naval ships may pass through also, but are restricted in times of war.

In my view, Putin’s “limited military operation” is more a result of autocracy and a communist-era mindset.

Russia under the tsars was expansionist, despite having the largest land mass. Communism came with an aggressive ideology and the Communist International directed from Moscow had as its aim world communism. The Chinese Communist Party, now in control of mainland China and Tibet, was helped in Shanghai by Russian operatives.

I suggest autocracies and totalitarian states (for example, those of Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin and Mao) seek expansion by force because the conquest of new lands enhances the leader’s prestige. Putin’s standing in Russia was high after the seizure of Crimea. But Europe has shown that democratic states can cooperate and prosper.

I was born in Prague, and by the age of 10 had experience of two totalitarian regimes, Hitler’s and Stalin’s. Democracy can be messy, but the freedom of thought and action that come with it are to be treasured. Helping Ukraine is supporting democracy and freedom.

John Lekner

(Wellington)

GROWING UP POOR

Regarding the profile of Frances Eivers, Children’s Commissioner (“A matter of choice”, February 4), it’s good to know that we are looking out for the true poor. I grew up in poverty. I know now that I had pneumonia but it was not treated. It wasn’t even noticed at the time.

One day, three Salvation Army people came to the door. I just wanted them to come in and pick us up in their arms. We were hiding under a bed.

Instead, they brought out tenors and a tambourine and played a song for us.

Today, our situation would have been dealt with, hopefully. My early years stunted my growth and limited my opportunities. I was good at education, but this was not enough to get me through.

In every town around the country we need people who will follow the call and say “enough is enough”.

David George

(Cromwell)

THE WRONG TROUSERS

Michele Hewitson (“Cloaks & daggers”, February 4) describes Chris Hipkins’ trousers as “appalling” and says he looks like “a scruffy, first-year social studies school teacher”. Bemused by this characterisation of our new Prime Minister, I went looking for photographs of Hipkins’ trousers and, although I found some, I wasn’t able to detect incontrovertible similitude. However, I am prepared to be educated in this matter.

The derogatory description of Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the British Labour Party, as looking like a geography teacher dogged his leadership career. The photographs of him as grizzled with an open-necked shirt and sometimes a cardigan made that caricature plausible. Geography and social studies teachers are in the same discipline – social sciences – and yet there is no comparison between Corbyn and Hipkins that I can see.

The great Scottish philosopher David Hume thought the