Climate anxiety
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's United Nations speech on climate policies gave notable mention of existing and potential anxieties for student protesters.
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For many decades there have been many instances of student and community-wide anxieties expressed in prolonged opposition to nuclear bombs and testing, involvement in the Vietnam and Iraq wars to mention but a few where we have slavishly followed the United States into human disasters.
These anxieties, brought about by sycophantic governments, are not only being expressed and confined to our youth who have a much bigger stake in the future of the planet but also by everyone with humane and democratic aspirations for the future.
These aspirations now gaining momentum in the world-wide efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources are among the positives on which further demonstrative action is needed and urgent.
The school strikes in this country understandably are directed against Federal Government stalling and political obfuscation that requires pious conformity while the climate strikes back to threaten all life forms on earth as temperatures soar towards the Paris Agreement's 1.5 degrees limit and beyond.
The Australian Conservation Foundation estimates 350,000 demonstrators were involved on Friday, September 20, joining a global day of action with over 4 million people in at least 161 countries, 820 civil society organisations and over 3000 companies throwing their support behind the student strikes.
What a day of international unity and as it continues the Prime Minister is almost certain to also experience a deserved dose of anxiety that only a rapid increase to 100 per cent renewable energy is the known antidote and cure.
Darrell Dawson, Nelson Bay
Gum tree troubles
I sometimes have doubts about the council's logic regarding gum trees on the verge in our area. The trees attract termites, break foot paths, gutters and roads, drop branches on power lines and houses.
The council then spends a lot of money to sensibly remove these annoying trees. Then later come along and want to plant more of these monsters.
Gum trees are fine, in the right place. But not in built up areas. Surely some common sense must prevail.
There are a number of suitable non invasive and more attractive trees that could be used. To replant gums is ridiculous.
Rick Colin, Corlette
Stockton deserves better
Stockton has always been a working-class suburb of Newcastle whose residents have unselfishly contributed to the numerous disasters both within NSW and Australia, including our own 1989 earthquake.
This support has been not only in financial terms but also in areas of manpower during floods and emergency services. Much of the Newcastle history and its heroes, too many to mention, came from Stockton. Past State Governments have neglected this historical town.
Forget the politics and political grandstanding get on with securing one of Newcastle's historical and pristine areas .
Gerry Mohan, Shoal Bay
Chuffed with effort
The Examiner printed a lovely article about Brooke Doran, a firefighter from Salamander Bay who was about to challenge herself on behalf of all firefighters suffering from mental health issues and climb 28 floors of a Melbourne hotel [Examiner, August 1]
You will be pleased to know she did just that. Her dad Steve and I are extremely proud of this achievement.
It was a fabulous effort, she has three youngsters who think its pretty cool too.