Climate crisis has moved past point of no return
Greta Thunberg, other climate activists and the periodical meetings of politicians who issue reports such as the Paris agreement should be thanked for their efforts to address the problem of climate change (16 August). However, nothing at all has been achieved and none of these efforts will achieve anything due to the selfish nature of humans, including the bringing of newborns into a world that at some point will be uninhabitable.
The unfortunate side effect of these efforts is to give us a sense of complacency. If the global population continues to grow, the effects of tempests and droughts will reduce the amount of food and water available. The health of all will suffer and disease will increase. The next extinction will be that of the human race.
I suggest that the Guardian Weekly could serve us very well by issuing a special edition devoted to the climate crisis with contributions by scientists putting forward an action plan. Perhaps I am too optimistic about even that succeeding.
Denis Griffin
Cessnock, NSW, Australia
We should resist efforts to curtail freedom of speech
How can the marketplace of free speech (The myth of the ‘free speech crisis’, 13 September) be trusted to deliver a balanced investment return? When advocates of free speech cry “crisis” and take no responsibility for subjugating freedom of rational expression, nor acceptance for public anxiety evoked by the death of nuanced debate, it is time for the populace to protest and take them on.
Stewart Stubbs
Wentworth Falls, NSW, Australia
The air-conditioning con is marketing at its finest
That was a great article on air conditioning (6 September). The unconscious, artificial need that the industry has been creating since the 1950s, accompanying a burst of ill-designed buildings, in the US first and in fast-developing countries afterwards, with a still accelerating boom to come: all this epitomises the flaws of free market when it is unable – and unwilling – to take into account the environmental damage it implies. Alas, the article gives very few hopes of moderation for the times to come. Will it only be the global collapse that is going to stop it?
Marc Jachym
Les Ulis, France
• As every GCSE physics student knows, one watt is equal to one joule per second. So when Stephen Buranyi tells us that Con Edison’s grid “can deliver 13,400 MW every second”, he means “13.4bn joules every second, every second”. This is like saying that a car drives at 50km/h, every hour. Is the repetition for emphasis?
Derek Harland
Leeds, UK
Brexit chaos and historical systems
The bedlam of Brexit (13 September) and chaos afflicting economic, democratic and ecological systems is a reminder that historical systems have lives. The reality of a true crisis and the associated bifurcation of existing systems is chaotic. Every small action during this time can have significant consequences. There are wild oscillations before definitive choices are made but eventually there is a clear outcome and then we find ourselves living in a different historical system for another period of time.
Until the next time.
Stewart Sweeney
North Adelaide, South Australia
Dickens would have been proud of Trudeau story
Not even Dickens could have come up with a more fitting name for Justin Trudeau’s executive director of communications and planning, Kate Purchase, who insists that “at the end of the day the prime minister is not a Nike sneaker. He is a leader.” (30 August). Aha!
“People will always describe what they believe the brand to be, and what their version of the brand is, but at the end of the day, I think our brand is what we’ve delivered.” Absolutely priceless.
Irmgard Thorne
Dunnington, UK
• Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s greatest assets in this election campaign are the leaders of the main opposition parties, Conservative Andrew Scheer and New Democrat Jagmeet Singh, two men devoid of charisma.
Adrian Chaster
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
