Stance on sex abuse may be PR

Paul Evans-McLeod assumes the latest Papal ruling on clerical sexual abuse is a defining moment. I wonder if it is. For centuries the Catholic Church has used the strategy of denial, secrecy, internal management of abuse, moving the offender on to work and abuse elsewhere, and condemnation of whistleblowers. In recent times this has proven a public relations and legal disaster. Its main preoccupation is with maintenance of power, wealth, and prestige. I feel this recent position is an attempt at a more survivable PR stance. If it was truly sincere and focused on victims’ needs it would have happened decades ago.

Andrew Tichbon, Green Bay.

Alcohol promotion

As one who has had more than the odd tipple on occasions one feels qualified to mildly comment on the evils of drink. Availability and price are the main reasons for over-imbibing. It is too easy to pick up the odd bottle at the supermarket, with specials enticing the weak. Gone are the days when beer brewed on the Friday was pouring down your throat on the Monday and time was called at 6 o’clock. Basically you were either sober or asleep by 8pm.

The police chased criminals instead of sorting out street fights after midnight. As long as it’s readily available most hours the problem will remain. Methinks the horse has bolted and will not be caught.

Reg Dempster, Albany.

Drink strategies

When are society’s self-appointed standard-setters — district health boards — going to put out meaningful commentary instead of self-serving, inaccurate propaganda? They say “one in five people drink hazardously ” — four out of five are doing fine. They say “75 per cent of assaults between 9pm-6am are alcohol related” — not good. They say “10-20 drinks a week cuts six months from your life expectancy” — rubbish. If true, I would have been dead 20 years ago! They say “18 per cent of Aucklanders 15+ are drinking dangerously” — 82 per cent are coping.

What do they say to fix this — “increase price”. This will have no effect, probably add to the household budget and there will be less food for the kids.

“Raise the drinking age” — probably won’t work, but I would be happy with that. “Cut advertising and sponsorship” — why would that work? Advertising attracts people to brands, not the product. “Restrict availability” What? Prohibition?

The DHBs don’t look at themselves and ask what could they do. They should look at their own inefficiencies and put money into helping the 20 per cent who have a problem with alcohol and stay out of the lives of those doing fine.

Chester Rendell, Paihia.

Cellphones in cars

We are always reading of people causing accidents while using mobile phones. An instant $500 fine and confiscation of the phone is needed. The problem is worse because we have such a paltry fine.

Jock MacVicar, Hauraki

Speed reductions

Every time I see or hear comments advocating speed reduction as a means of reducing our road toll, I groan. Statistics show speed per se is not the major issue — accidents are the issue. Reduce accidents and the toll of death and destruction will follow.

The so-called road safety authorities want us to lessen the effects of accidents, not prevent them.

It is SLOW speed and associated bad driving that causes most speed-related danger, not excess speed.

Robin McGrath, Forrest Hill.

Risk in mindset

A Herald report quoted Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter saying “There is a huge amount of road upgrades that need to be completed in order to save lives”. She is correct, the upgrading is vital.

However, road fatalities almost without exception stem from poor judgment and driver error. Tailgating, failure to indicate, disregard for speed restrictions and the impetuosity displayed when overtaking and at roundabouts is in evidence. Is the mindset of the wayward driver the greatest risk to our motorists?

P.J. Edmondson, Tauranga.

Drone dangers

The impending danger to society was evident from the moment that private drones became a marketable commodity, but politicians worldwide have done nothing to manage their use.

How must they act to recover this situation? Could they make some unpopular decisions such as grounding private drones until compulsory countermeasures such as onboard transponders enable them to be identified instantly? Or insisting that drone manufacturers provide authorities with the means to countermand the instructions sent to drones by operators?

Unfortunately, we already need measures to curb the activities of fools who cause danger with fireworks, alcohol, drugs, motor vehicles, bikes, and scooters. While curbing these antics, they could have a serious campaign against the lowlifes that litter our streets with fast-food and drink containers.

Political success would be more achievable if they focused on things that they could fix, rather than melodramatic panic over climate change.

Do not hold your breath, the polling agencies that politicians rely on continue to provide services that do not reflect reality or societal needs.

Hugh Webb, Hamilton.

Rogue fliers

We live in a central North Island rural community. I bought a drone for my husband (and me, just quietly) for Christmas. My years of gliding, parachuting and small planes are some way past, however I was surprised to learn no registration, let alone training, is required for drones.

I contacted the Civil Aviation Authority (on holiday), the local airport (great response!) and went online to check CAA rules for drones. I have also found that a store in town issues copies of CAA101 when selling a drone. Perhaps other stores could?

We have told our farming neighbours and private airstrip operators we have a drone. And I have compiled a list of locals, plus the airstrips, to be emailed when we let the “beast” loose. Fortunately we are a long way from the region’s six airports.

It is not difficult to be a responsible drone operator. I would just ask manufacturers that each drone have a flashing light on top to alert helicopters and private planes that, strangely enough, fly a darned sight lower than 400 feet locally. Currently, with rogue drone users, a nasty incident is waiting to happen.

Naine Chave, O¯ ruanui

Dim view

Why does the Herald still run a horoscope daily, even a double-page edition at Christmas? Surely in the 21st century, in an enlightened country, there can be few people who believe in this superstitious nonsense. How can one’s date of birth have any connection with star clusters or influence one’s personality or future?

The whole concept is ridiculous and is a carryover from the prescientific era and overdue to be dropped from your reputable newspaper.

Keith Willis, Kaukapakapa.

Holiday travel

While I sympathise with your correspondent, Murray Brown, and the other travellers who struggled to pass a slow-moving load of hay he may find that the tractor driver was thoroughly fed up with inconsiderate motorists.

I base this on our own experience. Having left home December 15 and returning on Boxing day, we covered 1800-plus kilometres towing a caravan. I kept a wary eye on the rear-vision mirror and pulled over or slowed when possible to allow vehicles to pass.

We kept a roughish talley of “thank you toots and/or waves”. Our best figures were that one in every 18 vehicles appreciated our attempts to ease their journey. However, although acknowledgments were rare, they were appreciated. I wonder if Mr Brown was one of these?

Malcolm Joynt, Ru¯a¯wai.

Scooter rules

Something is wrong when people can ride scooters on the pavement at 27km/h (endangering pedestrians) but they are not allowed in cycle lanes. And can anyone explain why we still permit skateboarders to legally ride on the roads — a regular sight in Mount Maunganui as they cruise along — frequently in the middle of the road, with complete disregard for the cars following behind them? Fiona McAllister, Mount Maunganui.

Takeaway tales

There is an ad for UberEats in front of me on the TV and in front of my car there is a cyclist delivering someone’s Ubermeal and I wonder where did they suddenly appear from? In the old days, my youth, there was only pizza deliveries and with them the box generally tasted better than the pizza.

Now basically any food is available instantly or at least that’s what is advertised but why are they available? One of the likely reasons is that young people, especially millennials, can’t cook so they just buy what they want, or if they are health conscious what they need, and pay for it on credit.

They have been prepared for this at school when they ordered food to their school because their mum or dad couldn’t cook or so they thought. Millennials are the hope for the future especially since they will be paying the taxes that will provide my pension and so they should start preparing to learn to cook.

YouTube will teach them how to boil an egg in about three minutes. There are a surprising number of video clips on “how to cook food for millennials” and it includes all of the old favourites — toast, baked beans and where to buy them.

Perhaps the best source of wisdom is their grandparents who know it all and have the time to train them. They also can provide wisdom on many other parts of life. Go, gran and gramps!

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne.