Australia’s position on methane emissions stinks
Cutting damaging methane outputs can be done quickly and it’s considered one of the most effective things we can do to meet our Paris targets (“Greenhouse gas curbs a win for COP”, November 4). The world celebrates with the 80 diverse nations at COP26 who’ve signed on to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. The world looks on in despair at countries, including Australia, who have not.
To find an “Australian way” to cut our methane emissions quickly is surely possible without – as Barnaby Joyce would have it – having to shoot the national herd. Other nations are focusing on mapping and managing methane leaks across their lands, and investing heavily in research and development to reduce methane production of their herds. Here, our inwardly looking, parochial “Australian way” flies in the face of addressing a global emergency. While we obfuscate, one thing is certain – our methane emissions can only get worse as our straw men return to the earth. Karen Campbell, Curlewis
Australia’s refusal to sign up to a reduction of methane gas emissions by 2030 is unforgivable and shows how beholden the current government is to mining and gas companies. $21 million in grants to a gas company for fracking in the NT is certainly proof of this but to do so without appropriate environmental investigation is beyond belief (“Climate change risks not part of minister’s considerations, fracking trial told”, November 4). Does Minister Pitt realise that fracking not only poses serious risks to groundwater and local ecology, it produces methane which is the worst greenhouse gas by a long shot? Rod Bartlett, Woonona
The Greenpeace report alleges that in 2019 Australia tried to change the declaration on regional security by objecting to the wording that “climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific” (“Pacific report slams Australia as a regional ‘bully’” , November 4).
I wonder now, with Scott Morrison joining China and Russia in opposing the global methane pledge to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, if climate change will be the single greatest threat to his re-election? Larry Woldenberg, Forest Lodge
In a manner reminiscent of Mark Latham manhandling John Howard, and channelling Sir Les Patterson, a smirking Prime Minister shirt-fronting the Prince of Wales with “G’day-ya-Royal-Highness-Jeez-we-now-have-net-zero-2050” was nothing short of crass. John Burman, Port Macquarie
Glasgow 2021: How to turn a much-anticipated “COP-that” message to the big polluters into a global “COP-out”. Now we are all going to cop it (“Squabbling superpowers risk climate progress”, November 4). Renata Bali, Beechworth (VIC)
Cleo’s case provokes searching questions
In a week of bleak news, the announcement Cleo was found unharmed was wonderful (“‘My name is Cleo’”, November 4). WA Police showed how it’s done and their spokesman said they had “her beautiful smiling face plastered around the walls of the station. We were never going to give up until we found her”.
I reflected though, on how much a child’s race, colour, creed, age, gender and physical appearance bear on the police’s determination, commitment and resources provided to investigate abduction and other serious offences upon children. Howard Charles, Annandale
Many prayers for Cleo were answered. I hope many thanks will follow. Simon Manchester, Artarmon
Calling the roll in kindergarten, 2026 is likely to be a nightmare for teachers. Every second girl is going to be a Cleo. Robert Hickey, Green Point
Transgender normative
My granddaughter showed very early signs, at about age 4, of not being comfortable in her assigned gender (“Evidence is clear on how to support trans youth”, November 4). This became more pronounced over time in relation to clothes, friends, sport and finally toilets. The child experienced bullying and became seriously upset with the early onset of puberty.
With professional and school help the child transitioned on entering high school with change of clothes, name, haircut etc. and excellent help from The Gender Centre and the gender clinic staff at Westmead Hospital. Puberty blockers were started at about age 14 and continued until about age 16-17 when testosterone was used to complete the transition. The problem with letting puberty continue is that the young person will need surgery later to correct their body shape.
I now have a very happy and well-adjusted grandson who has a job, a study plan, and a partner. I emphasise that that excellent psychological and medical care is needed. Name withheld
I work as a primary teacher with young people, who I observe are constantly investigating and experimenting with their gender. It’s an extremely fluid time. I also have observed in the students a more determined strident self diagnosis of gender dysphoria emerge in latter years.
A more inclusive view of binary and transgender has been encouraged by the internet, plus the stresses of a developing personality in a highly charged social media framework has normalised some issues teens might be experiencing in trying to find their place in the world. But it is such a fluid time, experimentation is often involved and most times best left alone by the caring parent. They sort out where they’re at by themselves in their own time when given the space to do so. Patsy Chingwile, Leichhardt
Premier focus
Dominic Perrottet, as a conviction politician, is a breath of fresh air following the ethically challenged Gladys Berejiklian (“Living in Berejiklian’s shadow”, November 4). Even Paul Keating has applauded his early premiership. If the new Premier holds good on his undertaking to rein in rampant pork-barrelling, NSW will be a much better place. Tony Simons, Balmain
Gladys Berejiklian is my local member and easily the best ever to represent Willoughby. But like many things our perception of an individual politician is often 2 years behind the reality. While she shone with bushfires and COVID-19 she had already started to lose her appeal to her own constituents.
Had she stood up to pork barrelling, and its new variant of “Take from the safe and unwinnable seats to give to the marginals” then perhaps it would all have been different. I suspect it will remain her Achilles heel. That she failed so spectacularly to do so I believe is no reflection on her, rather it’s the system that is broken. The days of our best and brightest appear to be numbered as soon as they are earmarked for the top job. Ken Wilson, Willoughby
Middle-class welfare
What a deceitful act in the name of helping first home buyers and low income earners. The Premier and his Treasurer want to make housing more affordable by axing stamp duty and replace it with a lower yearly land tax (“Treasurer rethinks axing of stamp duty”, November 4).
Go figure. All this will do is to allow developers and wealthy property owners to buy and sell real estate more frequently with a substantial reduction in purchase costs.
Once again, pushing up real estate prices as the gap between the haves and have-nots deepens.
Bruce Blackstock, Kiama
Using dodgy tax law to minimise tax may be legal but is hardly ethical or good manners (Letters, November 4). Peter Wotton, Pyrmont
Call it a “rose” by any other name, tax minimisation euphemistically hides the fact that it is indirect middle-class welfare, the size and largesse of which far outstrips welfare for the unemployed and will soon overtake that of the aged pension. Try taking this welfare blanket away and the roars will be deafening. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi
Champing at the bitcoin
Your editorial implies that CBA allowing cryptocurrency trading on its platform is premature and rightly telling investors to be cautious (“Cryptocurrency gets CBA’s tick of approval”, November 4). With $2 trillion invested in crypto and getting bigger every day, it seems CBA doesn’t want to be left behind. Yes, crypto is popular with younger tech-savvy demography but it is also making in-roads into the older demographic as well. Crypto investors would have more confidence in the CBA platform than other unknown platforms and this might, as you have indicated, gives a false sense of security. Other banks are probably waiting to see how CBA fares before they jump onto the crypto bandwagon. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
Sportswashing
Full marks to Peter FitzSimons for reminding us of Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights behaviour and then trying to curry favour by giving large sums of money to various sporting bodies around the world (“Shark’s true colours come out in another Saudi sports wash”, November 4). Josephine Piper, Miranda
Sweet nothings
Every day reveals new ways the world has changed. In the article on dating I’m astonished to find that a job description of “dating coach” now exists (“Finding love without the liquor”, November 4 ). How does this work? Do they sit discreetly behind you in the restaurant giving advice through an earpiece? Ross MacPherson, Seaforth
Winging it
The Parrot isn’t dead, just pining for a perch (“Alan Jones exits Sky News Australia”, smh.com.au, November 4). Neil Reckord, Townsville (Qld)
Money talks, Woolies walks
If the citizens of Mosman don’t want a Woolworths Metro store in their suburb, all they have to do is to refuse to shop there (“Woolworths versus Mosman: supermarket giant wins”, November 4). Norm Neill, Darlinghurst
Thank you, driver
A huge shout out to Leichhardt Bus Depot who found my son’s sports bag left on the bus yesterday. Before I had even rung them to start chasing it up, they had contacted his school to report it as found and to arrange pick up.
Such a small thing in the overall scheme of things, but little things really make a difference to the world and help us keep smiling. Rebecca Semple, Abbotsford
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Ad man would excel at diplomacy in a china shop
Source: Philippines Alive
