Changing of the guard for Passing Notes

CIVIS, thank you for your 13year contribution. ‘‘Passing Notes” was compulsory reading for me. Your contributions were always relevant, thoughtprovoking and occasionally provocative. I hope you and “your spouse” enjoy many more Dunedin Symphony Orchestra performances. The new Civis has big shoes to fill. Laurette Robinson

Oamaru

We need Civis

As I settled down with a coffee to read Civis on Saturday morning it was with some dismay that I realised he was saying farewell.

Although happy for him after an amazing 13 years of columns I couldn’t help feeling, somewhat selfishly, that we needed his wise and humane view of the world now more than ever.

I have so enjoyed his columns where his beliefs in social democracy have underpinned his writing on matters personal, local, regional and indeed universal. They were all written so thoughtfully, with warmth and humour often shining through.

I shall greatly miss his columns and wish him all the best for the future.

Ann Rutherford

Alexandra

Armageddon time

The people we elected have just voted for our extinction. Every species – including our highopinionofitself one – requires a sustainable environment, that is an either/or, black/white choice; there is no such state as being ‘‘a little bit sustainable’’.

Yet Parliament has just voted ‘‘down with sustainability’’ – meaning ‘‘up with unsustainability’’. Brilliant; not. I was about to write that our grandchildren will abhor everyone involved, but of course, on this trajectory, they won’t be around to do the abhorring.

Murray Grimwood

Waitati .....................................

BIBLE READING: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. — Hebrews 13.8.