THANK you for publishing the opinion article by 17-year-old school student Bryce Ham in Saturday's Newcastle Herald ('Coal pride lingers but power shift is lasting', Opinion 5/12). This young person shows an impressive understanding of the local, state and national issues that need to be addressed to provide a safe and equitable future society for his generation.
For too long our young students have been criticised and ridiculed, by people who think they know better, for speaking out and protesting for action on climate change. Some federal politicians have chastised our students for participating in the school climate strikes, suggesting they would be better focusing on their studies.
Greta Thunberg, the Swedish student activist, has been subjected to verbal abuse by radio commentators and even trolled by President Trump.
I commend these students for being brave enough to speak out and raise their genuine concerns for the future and providing their vision of what could make the world a better place. If they had received respect and consideration in the first place they would probably not feel compelled to strike to get their voices heard. We should reflect on the fact that it is the older and previous generations that have guided society into this perilous state that we now find ourselves in. It is the students' future at stake and they are entitled to their say.
Allan Evans, Lambton
Priorities are all wrong
THERE is something very wrong here.
We are wasting an additional $270 billion that could be used on hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and support for our citizens on military junk.
We continue to insult our largest trading partner and then accuse them of aggression when they return the favour. We do this at the behest of a country whose past regime has shown negligible regard for the lives of its citizens during the pandemic and whose upcoming regime boldly claims the 'leadership' of the world. This stupidity has 'bipartisan' support. Definitely we need a return to reasoned diplomacy and concern for the needs of our citizens instead of bellicose posturing alongside Japan and the US who have form as aggressors in our region.
Peter Ronne, Woodberry
Healthy system rewards its staff
JOHN Hunter Hospital is working well under difficult conditions.
Nurses in children's and adolescent wards needed to find space in overloaded wards. They did so with kindness and grace. Admissions are up and staff are stepping up to this situation.
Are governments stepping up to support these essential workers, who have not received very well earned pay increases? Are staffing levels able to be raised with extra beds in the wards?
Remember when you are in the care of these folk to respect and thank them, because without them it all falls apart.
Lyn Rendle, Rankin Park
Forget rego, what about rewards
DAVE McTaggart brings up the old chestnut of enforced registration for bike riders (Letters, 8/12). I won't rehash that long-rebutted idea. Rather, I suggest the many benefits of bike riding be rewarded with payment of carbon credits. Every bike trip means one less car, zero carbon and noise pollution, one more available parking space at destination, virtually zero wear and tear on roads and great health benefits. And, noting a vanishingly small number of people killed or cars written off by bikes, mere annoyance is a low priority. Yes, there are bad riders, bad pedestrians and bad drivers. I urge all to follow the rules and travel safely.
Michael Gormly, Islington
Cost for riders doesn't add up
DAVE McTaggart has thrown out the old chestnut that people who ride bikes should pay rego for the right to do so. How many regos would you like me to pay, Mr McTaggart? I already have four registered vehicles, would I get the fifth one free?
My council rates helped pay for the Fernleigh Track, which by the way was an initiative driven by the cycleways movement. State government charges like stamp duty also contribute to the maintenance of roads.
This notion that charging people to register their push bikes only divides people more. We need to educate everyone about road use. By the way the two recent incidents appear to have been by a registered owner of a motor vehicle in the wrong, yes, breaking the Law. They paid rego didn't they?
Mark Bowen, Broadmeadow
Don't mark past by the present
IN response to John Ure (Letters 4/12), there is no doubt the decision of President Truman killed and affected the life of many Japanese for generations. It was an horrendous act, for not just the people of Japan but the world as a whole. The mistake I believe Mr Ure has made, as do many other people today, is that you cannot judge an event, action or a decision made 70 years ago by the same standards of today. I have no doubt that 70 years from today future generations will judge us harshly for the things many in society genuinely believe are correct today.
Future generations' judgment of us will be no less unfair.
Andrew Hirst, Beresfield
Few understand language stand
I'M a proud Anglo-Saxon man from Merewether. I was astonished to see our national rugby team singing the national anthem in anything other than English. Olivia Fox sang Australia's National Anthem in the traditional Eora language along with our rugby team during the Tri Nations rugby match between Argentina's Pumas and Australia's Wallabies at Bankwest Stadium, Saturday 5th December. The Wallabies looked splendid in their First Nations jerseys. But none of that helped their game which was of an insipid standard in the first half. Australia finished last in the TriNations competition.
But why sing the anthem in another language? There were more than 300 native languages in Australia, mostly forgotten, though many pidgin versions are still spoken and some full languages have been proudly maintained. The total number of native speakers of any particular dialect would be very small. Other languages have far greater numbers of ethnic speakers in this country. Why not have sporting teams sing in Italian, Greek, Polish, German, Dutch, Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese or whatever? Now there's a thought. Sing in Mandarin as an appeasement to China for our recent misbehaviour while the team kowtows towards Beijing? Teams could sing in a different language at every match. But my favourite would be Latin whose roots go through almost every sentence spoken in this country.
Peter Devey, Merewether
SHORT TAKES
THE first people in the world able to receive the COVID virus immunisation just happen to be some of the richest, reportedly including the British Queen, Prince Philip and the last three American presidents. I suspect that will also be the same in Australia sadly. Just watch.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
WELL said Dennis Crampton (Short Takes, 8/12), I totally agree. A good start to nationalise all Chinese interests in Australia, but does our government have the guts.
Len Stowe, Georgetown
I WONDER if there is anything in the fact that the two countries who have displayed most incompetence in dealing with COVID-19, are the only two major countries in the world who still cling to the ancient Imperial measurement and weights. Perhaps the USA and the UK could learn from the rest of the world but, of course, these countries will tell you that they have the best health systems in the world. However, they both have incompetent politicians.
Mike Sargent, Cootamundra
IF only we could spin the idea of a federal ICAC into something palatable for the Prime Minister. I know; how about jobs, jobs jobs?
Samuel Rogers, Redhead
AUSTRALIA'S COVID death tally should be adjusted. I would imagine our death tally would be much greater if we included the COVID-19 deaths of Australian citizens who have been stranded overseas.
Greg Adamson, Griffith
WELL said, John Black (Letters, 8/12). Yes, we must acknowledge that coal mining is in decline and that new jobs need to be created. If only Joel Fitzgibbon would have the sense to agree.
Stan Keifer, Arakoon
JOHN Black (Letters, 8/12), I've asked this question before; what jobs will be available for workers in industries that have to close to appease the climate gods? 1 million Australians are waiting for the answer. As far as I know there are no jobs for these people.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
MIKE Sargent (Short Takes, 8/11) you are displaying one of the signs of wokeness, the up-to-date meaning that is, which is your belief that people with a differing opinion to you are of less intelligence. I would make two points in the interest of balance. Firstly, the Democrats have for four years not accepted the 2016 election result and also many of the US COVID cases can be attributed to decisions made by Democrat mayors and governors.
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
WHEN the media report footballers' assaulting police, domestic violence, rape and other violent crimes could they stop referring them as superstars and legends?
