‘No grounds’ to hold up Kavanaugh nomination

THE editorial (ODT, 9.10.18) states among other things ‘‘the fact and the way the credible sexual assault allegation from Judge Kavanaugh’s past was overridden is a blow to the rights of women’’.

This assertion, however, does not bear close scrutiny.

The complainant Christine Blasey Ford was treated with total courtesy and given the opportunity to fully present her account of the alleged assault before the Senate Judicial Committee prior to any decision being made. Whether her evidence is thought to be credible or not does not determine the outcome.

Much of her testimony in fact was contradictory and vague on important points. Most tellingly, there was absolutely no corroboration to support her allegation.

In addition, a subsequent FBI investigation involving interviews with potential witnesses also found nothing that could substantiate her claims in relation to Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Accordingly, there were no grounds to hold up the nomination process.

This was not a blow to the rights of women but an affirmation of due process and the application of the rule of law. Joss Miller

Waverley

Keep Coronet Forest

THE IPCC has just revised its recommendation to limit global temperature rise from 2degC down to 1.5 degrees, with only a 12year window for corrective action to prevent catastrophic climate change.

The boss of Shell has stated planting the equivalent of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest would be required to do that, and our own Government has undertaken a 10year programme to plant a billion trees.

In the light of this, should the Queenstown Lakes District Council revisit its plan to fell Coronet Forest?

It would be a pyrrhic victory to gaze upon the naked hills of Otago as the world sinks into climate chaos.

Al and Jenny Coleman

Queenstown