Letters To The Editor

Crystal clear

Recent statements in the media by Vahid Saberi of the North Coast Health Service that a proposal for a multi service at the Campbell Hospital has generated the most community support are totally incorrect.

So far there have been at least 1400 letters and signed petitions forwarded on to Minister Iemma absolutely supportive of retaining the hospital as a hospital, not a multi purpose service.

The Save the Coraki and District Hospital Committee has made their position clear on their aims and objectives and that is - maintain the 14 beds taken away in 1999, return the x-ray machine that was taken away to be repaired, upgrade existing services to provide palliative beds, radio therapy, emergency respite beds and provide waiting beds for the nursing home.

Cr Ray Jeffery
Evans Head

Target practice

Fans of the American Gary Larson's 'Far Side' will recall a cartoon depicting two deer in a forest, one with a 'bullseye' target on his chest. The other commiserates, 'Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.'

It's a bit like that when you have a letter published in a newspaper. If the topic was a bit controversial you'll discover that there's no shortage of hunters out there with itchy trigger fingers.

Letters sometimes inform, sometimes entertain, often invite an exchange of ideas or even do a bit of stirring. But most times they express an opinion.

A lot of readers have never written to a newspaper. That's a pity because everyone's got something to say. We've all got interests and ideas and different points of view. I think many hold back because they feel they lack the necessary skills. But that shouldn't be an obstacle. The editor will tidy it up if he thinks it's necessary.

Of course a rush of new correspondents will mean a lot more targets out there, won't it? But then, when I think about it, that won't necessarily make me a smaller target, will it? What a bummer!

Barry Walsh
Lismore

Silly stereotypes

Re: Allan O'Neill's letter 'Shame on you' (Echo, June 2).

Life is so easy and simple when we slip into stereotypes and make assumptions about people based on their appearances and actions.

Such as those evidently cranky and miserable old men who have nothing better to do other than watch the world pass them by and write endless amounts of drivel, week in week out, in the letters column.

Grow a life and learn to appreciate diversity, Allan.

Mark Bailey
Invercargill, NZ

Shame again

In relation to my letters on unemployed persons in Ballina.

Firstly let me assure you of three matters.

1. I do know of many males and females who I have spoken to in ages from 18 to 25 years whom have no intention of working and receive the dole.
2. Most live together in caravan parks and turn down jobs when directed to possible jobs by employment offices and still receive the dole. I have operated many businesses over the years and presentation is a priority. Would you employ someone who has rings in their nose and lips? I don't think so.
3. These persons walk the streets and cry poor. Don't you really believe if they really wanted to work they would? So criticise me if you want but first look at the facts. I am 65 and have no trouble working.

So again I say shame, shame, shame. Bring back National Service. A long stretch in the army would do them good.

Allan O'Neill
Ballina

Upgrade option a crime

The new option for the highway upgrade along the Blackwall Range means a major impact to the environment and wildlife habitat. The Blackwall Range is the last coastal rainforest in the Ballina Shire and should be protected for the generations to come. Why destroy high value habitat when there is an existing highway? Why turn a straight road into a winding road? The only answer is to save money by getting free gravel fill for the highway while taking part of the range.

This new option would take a lot of the koalas and other animals habitat. The RTA can pay people out but they can't pay the wildlife. Animals can't raise their voice.

According to the National Parks and Wildlife Act all native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, except the dingo, are protected in NSW. Doesn't this Act cover the Ballina Shire?

Option 3a is a crime on the environment and should not be considered.

Elisabeth Lawler-Mehl
Pimlico

Think carefully

Regarding Schapelle's suffering, and everyone suffering with her. Is it time yet to have another look at the 'War on Drugs' and how it's going?

It's another American war idea, remember? Pot was going to turn us all into murderers and rapists, and they signed everyone up for this war too, just like the terror one. Fancy talking all those old, close to the earth cultures, like Indonesia, into prohibiting all the best painkilling herbs!

Ending this war threatens the giant pharmaceutical companies global monopoly on pain treatment. It may also threaten the booming jail industry and ultimately we may even need less police! Better think carefully.

Michael Balderstone
Nimbin

What a Downer

When asked to comment on Sheik Hilaly's apparent success in saving Douglas Woods' life, Alexander Downer replied in a phlegmatic tone "he is making a good contribution".

Mr Downer would probably also claim that Leonardo da Vinci has made "a good contribution" to the painting of the Mona Lisa and Albert Einstein has also made "a good contribution" to the Theory of Relativity.

Excuse me Alexander, but the one who contributes is only partly responsible for the whole. What you are obviously trying to imply in your usual pompous manner is, that it was indeed you, all along, who was pulling the strings, but you are ever so graciously letting Sheik Hilaly have some of the glory of success.

Oh how magnanimous of you! After all, what Hilaly has done was just child's play compared to your heroic efforts. He was only over in Baghdad ducking bombs and bullets, while you were busy pulling the strings, having got entangled in a maze of vicious fishnet stockings.

Tom Koo
Alstonville

An early Xmas

Hey! Lismore Lake now has two new islands. Great. For birds and bird lovers alike.

To me it's like Christmas.

This again is a good example to demonstrate to all of us that Council listens to the interests of concerned Lismorians. Has to, otherwise they'll be voted out. Their time will come.

Thanks to all who made this outcome happen. Especially to Molly Crawford who hung in there, polite and charming, but with the persistence of a sharp toothed bull terrier.

Roland Schicht Sunshine
Lismore

Family search

We are searching for any descendants of our great grandparents Robert Wood and Sarah Ann Patch, and also any descendants of Robert Wood and his second wife Alici Boyter nee Smith. Anybody interested can contact us: B & K Wood, PO Box 1256, Ayr, North Queensland, 4807.

Kathy Wood
Ayr

A backwards leap

The Big Scrub Environment Centre suggests a fun and poignant activity for all Australians around this World Environment Day - going backwards. Walk backwards, run backwards, bend backwards, why whatever you're doing - just go about it backwards!

What an eerily accurate statement to make about the Carr Government's decision for a new coal-powered power station in NSW. That's right: in this era with all our knowledge of fossil fuels and climate change, here is our very own government locking us into a fossil fuel future.

And now they've introduced legislation to Parliament to revoke a great many of the environmental controls now in place to take us back to some pre-enlightened era.

So with such strong government commitments to take our environment backwards as fast as we can possibly go, what more meaningful thing could we really do for World Environment Day?

Valerie Thompson
The Big Scrub Environment Centre
Lismore

Leading the way

I attended the Climate Change Forum on Friday and was frightened and disturbed by the predictions for the warming and drying future for Australia. Our climate has been obviously drying (anyone over 20 can remember a wetter time) and at the same time the weather is warming, up on average 0.8 degrees celsius in the past century. While this doesn't sound like much it has had a dramatic effect, but predictions for up to six degrees rise over the next 70 years leave me numb.

I am amazed that, despite overwhelming evidence that our CO² emissions are about to bring about a catastrophic change to our climate, which will most likely lead to our downfall, along with most 'evolved' life, we continue to cling to our destructive lifestyle. Our prime miniature declares "it isn't in Australia's interest to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol" (allowing us to increase our emissions by 10 per cent) and goes off to war to secure our oil supplies. So we vote him back in with an increased majority. Our Premier for cars is commissioning new coal fired power stations, axing railways, pouring money into freeways, and his sidekick Custer has just kneecapped the (totally inadequate) cycling budget, cutting it by two thirds. They certainly know how to appeal to the masses.

I used to not believe in God, but now I'm not so sure. According to legend s/he has intervened in the past to wipe out carnal civilisations who refused to listen to prophets who tell the people to change their selfish ways, but after the flood promised not to do it that way again. This time s/he will do it by drought, and Australia, as the world's worst greenhouse gas polluter (per capita), is leading the way.

There are things you can do to stop the process.

Subscribe to 'green' power at www.countryenergy.com.au/internet/cewebpub.nsf/Content/green+power.

Stop driving your car. Walking is wonderful, cycling is fun, gets you fit, and will save you between 30 and 90 c/km, as well as saving our future. Get into your local community. Use public transport, live close to work, and demand better from our leaders.

Grow your own food or buy at local growers markets. Large scale agriculture and transport of food are significant contributors to ecosystem collapse.

Avoid air travel and take the train. Jets are one of the most energy inefficient form of transport, though they are very efficient at putting their CO² and other pollutants just where it will do the most damage (and avoid being an unwitting drug mule). Trains are a great way to see our land: use them and demand the return of real ones.

It's up to us all to lead the revolution.

Simon Cripps Clark
Lismore

Councillor challenge

I have always had the desire to be a councillor on Lismore City Council. Now that I have retired I now announce publicly that I will be a candidate in the next Lismore City elections.

I ask all councillors, now that they are considering next year's budget, to seriously consider waiving all fees and charges for ground hire in the Lismore district for all junior sport. The cost in fees reduction would be in the order of approx. $120-$130 thousand dollars a year, and this Council is in a good financial position to wear this.

Reason:

• Lismore City Council is owned by the community and people already pay their rates both direct and indirect;
• Assists single income families to all be able to play sport;
• Assists one parent families;
• Gives opportunity for all the family, parents and children, to be able to play sport;
• Playing sport helps to reduce boredom;
• Helps to create friends and mateship and can also lead to future employment; and
• Assists sporting clubs with financial burdens and allows them to expand and upgrade their facilities, which will benefit Lismore City Council anyway.

In saying all that, Lismore Council have a surplus of approx $319,000 in this financial year, and it would be nice to see Council put back the money, approx $107,000, that was re-directed out of the LDSA (Lismore & District Sports Association) reserves for work that was not related to sports activities in the 03-04 budget year and complete the projects that were to be undertaken in the 03-04 year.

At the last LDSA meeting the committee was asked to put in a priority order the four projects to be completed, which they have done.

1. Irrigation at Hepburn Park.
2. Lights and drainage at Riverview Park.
3. Upgrade canteen at Oakes Oval.
4. Complete the traffic barriers at Nesbitt Park.

At the moment there are not enough funds to commence No 1 and No 2, but with the 03-04 money No 1 and No 2 can be completed immediately if Council were to put back the re-directed money.

Laurie Cooper
Tregeagle

Some humanity

I've been around for 80 years and anyone who knows me or even hears my opinion on events in a public place, would be surprised to hear that last week - the week following Schapelle Corby's sentence - I was comparatively quiet. As I said, I have been around for 80 years and have not lived in any one place, nor worked for very long at any job - the longest and the last permanent one was for five years. What I am getting at is that I have had a very varied lifestyle, living in many places, from Townsville to Melbourne, and have had so many jobs I can't remember them, but I still find it hard to comprehend how people who gave so generously to the tsunami appeal could even contemplate wanting their money back, thus leaving those hundreds of thousands of people still trying to get their lives back in some sort of order, with little or no help, Humanity?!

Doug Myler
Lismore Heights