The environment
The environmental specialists and green advocates are having a real field day at the expense of economic growth.
That includes all forms of industry, manufacturing and agriculture.
They protest about any mining for fuels such as gas, coal, or oil. They are anti-farming, in particular dairy farming.
These people are also enjoying the fruits of these industries, so in my view could be labelled hypocrites.
Are they self-sufficient enough that they no longer require to travel on roads that are sealed using oil? Do they travel in cars, planes, buses or bikes that also require fuel and oil?
Why not be sensible about these environmental issues?
We all care about the environment – there do have to be standards and regulations – but do we need to go overboard?
New Zealand needs to progress along with the rest of the world, not become Third World.
We need to keep up with modern technologies, including cellphones and computers manufactured using oil.
About 80 per cent of the New Zealand population are urban dwellers. They live in a completely artificial environment, from the construction of their homes to the way they live.
I am not critical of that, but do not complain about the way farmers or industry operates.
Ninety-nine per cent of farmers comply with all standards, consents and environmental regulations.
However, as with any activity, there are those who flout the rules and regulations and take short cuts.
Not all drivers obey the road rules. Do we therefore label all drivers irresponsible?
Do not label these growth industries by the small minority who do not comply.
Maybe if the media focused on those who are complying rather than those who do not, the public would get a completely different view of the industry.
As for water quality, well, rivers and streams in towns and cities would be the most polluted of all, and there is no farming in the cities or towns.
This country relies on produce for economic profitability.
Get off the backs of those who are making this country grow and support these industries and stop running them into the ground.
Merrial Kirk Waimate (Abridged)