Abortion bill debate
Against my better judgement I feel compelled to respond to your Kentucky correspondent, Mr Watson's, latest lengthy diatribe in defense of the indefensible; but I will try to be brief. While I would defend Mr Watson's right of free speech to the death, I would counsel him to show a great deal more moderation and restraint in his attempt to convince people of his point of view. He would do well to remember that old saw, "He protesteth too much".
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I wish him no harm in his crusade but, such is my compassion for the vulnerable in our society, I cannot stand silently by when I see emotional invective being introduced into what is a sensitive moral issue. And as they say, "The standard you walk by is the standard you accept". As a result, I can accept neither his initial polemic nor his later critique. There endeth the conflict.
Bert Candy, Glenvale QLD
Leadership on coal
BHP is to be commended on their announcement to reduce their carbon emissions and those of their customer networks. Recently BHP management commented that the energy sector's decarbonisation will see thermal coal "phased out, potentially sooner than expected".
However, I don't believe Whitehaven has got the message. Last month a small advertisement appeared announcing that their Narrabri underground thermal coal mine is planning an expansion to its mine, extending the mine's life from the current close-date of 2031 out to 2045. Survey submissions to Whitehaven are open until mid-August. They're seeking the community's input into the social impacts of mining thermal coal beyond 2031, to help inform their Environmental Impact Statement.
The scientific consensus of evidence clearly proves the need to stop our consumption of coal; in my opinion it is ludicrous to imagine that a snapshot of responses to a survey held mid-2019 could be considered an appropriate guide for a development starting in 12 years-time.
The understanding of the impacts of coal, and coal mining, have certainly changed significantly over the last 10 years and will no doubt continue to do so over the coming decade. In my opinion Whitehaven are trying to lock in developments whilst they still have a remote chance, locking out future opinions informed by irrefutable evidence of the damage caused by coal.
Whitehaven should be showing leadership equal to that of BHP, particularly in a community that is one of the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change.
Peter Wills, Breeza
Social influencers
I was amused to read a number of articles on social influencers. As a person who is not on social media, am I the last human to say that?, I don't have followers but I do have some readers from time to time.
Although George Clooney seems a nice person and I do drink the coffee he spruiks there is no connection between the two matters for me. If I buy something it's because I need it or want it, not because some pretty person, sorry George, tells me to.
I am of course not a saint and am willing to sell my soul. If anyone would like to send me whisky, or anything else including cash I will make sure it is well used. Your business ethics will be safe as nobody except me will know.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne
