Living with the consequences
We need strong leadership from all members of government; local, state and federal. We need engagement from all those who have benefited from the largess of our nation.
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We need leadership from all those who are teachers, church leaders, the media, business owners, and all those who claim they care about our young people.
Young people can’t be blamed for climate change. We are the ones who can be blamed. Young people can’t be blamed for climate change, but they will have to live with the growing consequences for decades to come.
It is up to all of us to put our best foot forward, every step of the way, stop being apathetic, stop ignoring our responsibility, and start being a community that cares.
Below is a copy of my letter to Council regarding the redevelopment of White Street; a wide street that would originally have been a dirt road, but is now bitumen sealed, therefore creating a heat island and adding to global warming.
I suggest this redevelopment become one of those steps where we start being a community that cares for the future of our young people.
Dear Councillors and Officials of Tamworth Regional Council, before a decision on the possible redevelopment of White Street infrastructure goes ahead, I would like the opportunity to address Council, discuss with you, or preferably walk White Street with you, to show and explain what I believe is the best alternative in the face of Climate Change.
Although my ideas are not popular with the residents of White Street, I would even be happy for them to come in order to get my message across.
At some time we have to wake up and face the cold, hard, fact; it is the way in which we live that is causing global warming, resulting in the climate to change to the extent that we now have extreme weather events.
What I am trying to say is; do we want to be part of a society that is responsible for thunderstorm asthma events like in Melbourne, do we wish, by our very actions, those things on other people, are we happy to wake up to seeing parts of the Great Barrier Reef has died, or someone’s livelihood or home has been lost by extreme inundation or bush fires like never before. Or do we want to be a society that is part of the solution?
I would like to think the redevelopment of White Street could become another step in the Council, and residents, owning the problems of Climate Change, and making a conscious decision to move forward to do everything possible to mitigate the effects.
Noretta Terry (Tamworth)
How to punish?
MP Canavan demands that pro-refugee protestors should "pay the price" for their actions at Parliament House. [1 December]
Perhaps their actions were dishonourable, disrespectful, and disruptive of our Parliamentarians and guests. (Just like Parliamentarians during Question Time!) And perhaps their actions were even illegal. Certainly, their actions were born out of frustration over the increasing intransigence of our many Governments and the resulting damage done to those deserving of our duty-of-care.
Still, the protesters' actions were entirely non-violent and non-harmful ... which is significantly more than I can say about our Government's policies dealing with asylum seekers.
"Saint Augustine said, 'An unjust law is no law at all,' which means I have a right, even a duty, to resist – with violence or civil disobedience. You should pray I choose the latter." [James Farmer, 1936]
I empathise with the frustration that led the protesters to those actions, and I commend the protesters for choosing the path of civil disobedience and non-violence.
Judy Bamberger (O'Connor ACT)
Thanks Barnaby
I am writing this letter to thank the office of Barnaby Joyce. For 15 years my husband I have been searching for (myself) to obtain identification.
I have never had ID, for some reason my legal papers, my Name that I thought was my birth name, Marriage and Birth certificate does not coincide. Identification has become really very important. One can not imagine the grief not having identification can cause.
We had exhausted all avenues, when you pass away you need legal identification, to prevent our children from the same same grief. This should never ever happen to any human being.
It was suggested to us to try Barnaby Joyce. I had nothing to lose so I rang Barnaby Joyce's office. The help we received from his office staff was genuinely showed they cared. Within weeks I had ID, to be honest the peace ID has given me is unimaginable.
Thank you to Barnaby Joyce's Office. I would like our letter to be published, it may help others, and proves we have some good politicians.
Vicki Radcliffe (Quirindi)
Young achievers
We are in our final week of calling for nominations in this round of the NSW/ACT Young Achiever Awards.
With many outstanding young individuals excelling in their field of endeavour plus contributing to their local community we urge you give them a pat on the back. We ask you to please run a story encouraging your locals to do just that.
If you require any further information or would like to nominate someone, please head to our website or contact our office.
Kristi Monk
Awards Administration Manager
NSW/ACT Young Achiever Awards