Credits

Time To See The Light

6 January 2009

Time to see the light

Kevin Epps' letter (Mercury, January 2) must surely create debate, especially the questioning of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore's assumption that five tonnes of firecrackers will do no harm because they will buy carbon credits and use green energy to offset the effects.

Ms Clover, as part of an environment promotion, I had about 30 light globes changed in my home to generate carbon credits - to be sold within the environment industry when at least two had never been turned on, except for the original check.

They were replaced with disasters that although promoted to last 15,000 hours, some lasted barely 100 and cost up to $7 each.

The old ones, about three for $1, lasted at least 1000 hours. I haven't noticed any difference in my power bill, but I can no longer tune in to Sydney AM radio because of interference from the lights.

I went to Woolies to buy replacements before incandescent globes go off the shelves.

They virtually had none.

Why would they when they make more profit on a $7 globe than a 30? one?

Also Ms Clover, tell me what was going to happen to the green power you purchased if you did not set fire to the environment?

Would the owners of the windmills stop the turbines turning?

By the way, I support the fireworks display but not the propaganda spin doctors try to sell us. Next we will be trading whale slaughter by the Japanese for some so-called environmental credit somewhere.

That makes as much sense.

Keep the debate going Kevin and people may just start to ask questions.

After all, if a big cyclone were to hit Darwin we could blame global warning, or as it is now known, "climate change".

Bill Carey, Kiama Downs.

Art can replace trees

Two disappointments. First, the Mercury apparently did not report the destruction of seven newly planted pine trees at Towradgi Park, although told early. Second, this is perhaps the fourth act of vandalism on flora at Towradgi over the past few years.

There remains now seven newly constructed, attractive tree guards, with Towradgi Primary School students' designs on the wind deflectors.

These seven places could be filled with Aboriginal Dreamtime sculptures standing at least 3m above the ground.

A national art competition could be held among the Aboriginal community for designs for these seven sculptures and also a competition be held for a sculptor for each one.

The sweeping vista of the park from the cycleway passing the sculptures could be called, for example, "Aboriginal Walkabout".

Towradgi and adjacent Corrimal are legendary Aboriginal names.

Ray Robinson, Corrimal.

(Editor's note: The Mercury published Mr Robinson's letter about the trees on December 31)

Office move reasonable

Roger Mason (Mercury, January 3) seems to want to read too much into my response to his letter (December 30) regarding the relocation of the Shellharbour MP's office from Dapto to Shellharbour City.

The MP's staff had advised Mr Mason their office was relocated to be more central. Mr Mason asked in his letter, "Central to what?". To make my rather simple point much clearer, I see that the Shellharbour electorate is U-shaped. Dapto is at one extreme and Lake South at the other. Lake Illawarra is in between. Shellharbour City is near the base.

Most residents don't need a map to know there are reasonably proportional numbers of voters on each side of this electorate.

Her office is now more central and geographically accessible to more of her constituents. I also believe she has a right to move it anywhere within the electorate.

For Mr Mason to insist that Dapto is the only place to house the MP's office beggars belief.

Graeme Jay, Figtree.

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