Letters

Ann Ferguson, David Farrow, Sarah Newsam, Julie Begg Our discussion group met recently in Castlemaine to discuss Drawdown, a book edited by Paul Hawken which, based on extensive research, presents 100 costed approaches judged to be the most effective ways for limiting global warming. Our discussion was broad-reaching, including the need to challenge core values…

Phillip Scoles, Castlemaine When we talk about ‘believers’ and ‘non believers’, what are we really talking about – science or religion? When our ‘believers’ put up the Californian bushfires as evidence of climate change it is obvious they really don’t get it. This is not evidence at all. Already the rumblings out of California suggest…

Trevor Scott, Castlemaine Hal Curwen-Walker (‘Malthusian scaremongering’, Opinions, August 28), says that the Californian bushfires are not evidence of climate change. Are over a thousand bushfires in NSW already this August, not enough evidence for you? Well-known American scientist James Hansen of NASA, testified before Congress in 1988 (i.e. 30 years ago!) that there was…

Patrick Hockey, Castlemaine Climate change denial is a complex belief system grounded in a mistrust of authority and a tendency to believe in conspiracy theories, but it is of little importance to this unfolding crisis. The fact is polling has shown now for more than a decade that the public has accepted the science that…

Christine Pruneau, secretary, Macedon Ranges Residents Association In response to the letter from Mary-Anne Thomas MP, State member for Macedon (‘Scaremongering on planning’, Opinions, August 28), it is critical for residents to be clear that Macedon Ranges is NOT yet protected, but still in the process of being protected. First: The Distinctive Areas and Landscapes…

Wendy Hebbard, New Gisborne Recently, the local Liberal candidate for the upcoming State Election wrote to local papers criticising the Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas. As I have said before, instead of denigrating one’s opponent, it would be much better to hear alternative policies put forward by other parties. We could then make an informed…

Andrew McLaren, Woodend North I am writing about the appalling behaviour of our power retailers. At the moment, virtually anyone who calls their retailer for a better deal gets one. Anyone who switches providers is then immediately approached by the former provider with a much better deal than the one they left. Where does this…

Len Millar, Newstead I read with interest Donna Thomas’s article regarding the risks to motor vehicles and trains along the Victorian Goldfields Railway line between Castlemaine and Maldon. VGR spokesman Andrew Reynolds made some telling points – especially regarding the heightened risk to motorists crossing open level crossings when trains run at night. There have…

Hans Paas, Castlemaine Safety concerns regarding ‘crossing risks real’ (Express, August 28) need to be addressed urgently. Anyone travelling south from Lockwood to Maldon has zero visibility for trains travelling from Castlemaine towards Maldon. Last time I drove that way I realised that it was tantamount to playing ‘Russian roulette’ as a safe crossing of…

Christine King, Castlemaine I write re the article on the steam train near-miss (Midland Express, August 7). It does sound as if safety upgrades are urgently needed at the Bendigo/Maldon railway crossing. Some people’s hearts must have missed a few beats that night. I’m curious about Mr Reynolds’ choice of words when he says motorists…

Gregory Clark, Woodend One meaning of ‘a fair go’ is that it can be used to ask for leniency for some trivial infraction. Isn’t it time after five years of detention that our asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus be given a fair go? Their ‘crime’ was the temerity to jump a ‘fence’ to save…

Hal Curwen-Walker, Castlemaine I write in response to Patrick Hockey’s letter (‘Sad sideshow’, Opinions, August 21). His reliance upon the Californian bushfires as purported evidence of climate change is, like so many scandalous and unfounded assertions by climate alarmists, not based in fact. Total area destroyed globally by bushfire has decreased by approximately 50 per…