Inaction a blight on our humanity

protest in your paper. He is, however, right when he points out many New Zealand lives were lost in bigger and longer battles in WWI and WWII. To put the Gallipoli campaign in context 29,000 British lives were lost plus 10,000 French and 2000 Indians and 11,000 Australian and New Zealanders. It is not a numbers game, but it does make the suggestion to keep Anzac Day as a day of remembrance for all wars worth considering – whether the Australians would take the same view is probably debateable. JIM MESSENGER

Harbour View I couldn’t agree more with Ken Orr (Letters, January 20) questioning the West’s response to the atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram. He asks the question: ‘‘Are black lives worth as much as white lives?’’ It would seem not.

Terrible though it is, time and time again the western world seems to ignore or at least minimise what happens in Africa.

The genocide in Rwanda is evidence of this. The UN Security Council did nothing. Whatever happens in Africa doesn’t seem to count to the West.

I have often wondered if people in the West unconsciously believe that black people don’t suffer as much as white people, or is it just that these countries have no economic significance to the West so we ignore them?

Our inaction speaks volumes for our humanity. YVONNE SUMMERS

Levin stars are ripping off fans column (January 21) was by far, the most warped, biased and unfair article he has written for a long time.

If the column had been titled with ‘‘sportspeople’’ instead of just tennis players it would possibly have been a little bit more relevant.

If he had included soccer players, golf players, basketball and baseball players for example, he would have been closer to the mark.

Sportspeople who are at the top of their careers (usually a relatively short timespan) are entertainers and as such, deserve to earn incomes not solely from match winnings.

Their sponsors wouldn’t bother with them if they could not bring in the crowds and fill the seats.

They are in the same category as film actors/actresses, musicians, even ex-presidents of the United States.

They are all paid extortionate fees just for appearing on stage and performing.

I, for one, enjoy every second these crack sportspeople are on television, and am so grateful I have had the ability to watch them. JUDY YATES Kelvin Grove