Acknowledge painful past

We have recently honoured those brave men and women who served in wars. I could, however, find no mention of the experience of conscientious objectors, such as the torture meted out to Archibald Baxter in World War I.

It is encouraging that Anzac Day recognition of service and sacrifice has migrated away from glory and derring-do towards acknowledging many forms of contribution and to highlight the unacceptable costs of war. We should ask ourselves, however, just what it was that our nation rushed to war to defend in 1914 if, in the prosecution of it, we were capable of such barbarism towards conscientious objectors. Until we acknowledge this shameful part of our own recent past we may struggle to credibly advocate to other nations for the humane treatment of their oppressed peoples.

Ian Johnson, Christchurch

Maturing brains

I can’t agree with Gavan O’Farrell (Letters, April 25) and earlier Jon Johansson (Opinion, April 18) when they discuss the rational and necessary action by teenage climate strikers, doing the work their elders refuse to.

I do agree with O’Farrell that teenagers shouldn’t lead the response. It should be us. But our generation hasn’t led and refuses to. We have fouled the nest, and are now flying away without even bothering to tell the chicks that sorry, they’ll need to clear up for us, thanks. The strikers’ ‘‘certainty’’ simply reflects overwhelming climate science, and the skills to listen.

So complaining about youths’ urgency and action is astonishing and baffling. O’Farrell notes brain maturation waiting until the mid-twenties; if we must be ageist, I’d then comment that, unfortunately, swaths of our generation appear to have bypassed such development en masse.

Dr Scott Metcalfe (age 601⁄2), Wellington

Hydro drawbacks

I am incredulous at the proposed pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow. New Zealand has plentiful wind, solar, hydro and geothermal power sources. Tidal generation has huge potential.

There is major transmission loss of power before it reaches northern users. With climate change affecting weather patterns, it could be that for years in a row there will be no spare water to pump up to Lake Onslow. And the power needed to pump the water up considerably diminishes the benefits of the scheme, and the project might also reduce the landscape to a muddy flat.

The $30 million on the business case would be better spent on looking at schemes with much lesser environmental and financial negatives.

Russell Read, Roxburgh

Go Chloe

Despite having trouble with many ‘‘Green-style’’ interpretations of how politics should interfere with taxpayers’ lives, I am slowly warming to Chloe Swarbrick’s reasoning, in particular when it comes to poverty and animal abuse.

Her article on ending greyhound racing (Opinion, April 25) hit all the right notes. The racing and gambling industries will, of course, try to soften and dispute certain points, but that’s purely to protect the money at stake for themselves, their punters and the breeders.

Swarbrick has the intellect, compassion and the profile to help protect vulnerable species from mankind’s horrific behaviour.

So will she be taken seriously enough by the Government’s decision-making team, which she was once part of?

Rene´ Blezer, Taupo

Genocide stand

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta suggests that New Zealand is not in a position to side with America’s intent to declare the Turkish massacres of Armenian people as genocide, something that other Western nations have already done on the basis of irrefutable historical evidence.

Is this another occasion where New Zealand governmental thinking is so far removed from Western consensus as to make this nation appear as some kind wilful pariah, despite our longrespected and beneficial occidental affiliations?

Lorne Kuehn, Christchurch

Floyd bystanders

Alison Mau (Opinion, April 25) praises the actions of Darnella Frazier filming the final nine minutes of George Floyd’s life. There is no doubt that this evidence played a part in the conviction of police officer Derek Chauvin. Mau refers to Frazier’s effort as ‘‘upstanding’’ rather than just bystanding.

Perhaps of more relevance is what is shown in the photograph which accompanies her article – the presence of seven or eight able-bodied men. It may be assumed that these did nothing other than watch.

One wonders what the outcome may have been if one had spoken out. Maybe Floyd would still be alive.

Philip Lynch, Upper Hutt

Benevolent colony

Hugh Webb (Letters, April 25) is correct on Hong Kong if one is going to dredge back that far (to the Opium Wars). My point was

simple, and much narrower. John Bishop claimed ‘‘all colonisation is evil’’. I suggested an exception, that as it emerged and was practised in Hong Kong in the 20th century, it was benevolent and effective. I never intended anything other than that limited, recent timeframe, and I stand by that.

Wayne Wilson, Christchurch

Sky’s Tex Teixeira (‘‘Sky Sport wants to put fans in stands’’, April 25) believes games played to full stadiums are way more exciting. I agree.

The Wellington sevens were a roaring success, then the party poopers brought in the funkilling rules.

Then we bowed to the shortsighted TV moguls who proved they knew how to kill a money spinner, by holding games at night, when parents had children to mind. Other people who like to go out would have watched an early game first.

Afternoon games also get the kids to the grounds and into the excitement when they are at the age where we should be cultivating them as future players and spectators.

Garth Scown, Whanganui