The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Show kindness and pay to neuter a cat
There are simply too many cold-hearted, nasty and incorrect thoughts and beliefs in Pip Worlledge's letter (February 3) to address in this short letter.
I also don't believe in public slating of a respectable and caring charity such as the SPCA.
However, I do agree that cat population control is necessary and the humane way to do this is by neutering, not killing.
It is extremely cruel to let cats and dogs reproduce so prolifically.
Each new creature that is born unwanted condemns another animal to a homeless life or even death.
The SPCA actively encourages neutering of domestic animals and every animal re-homed by them has already been neutered.
As a society, we humans need to take responsibility for the animals in our care.
Sadly, there are many people who don't realise the ramifications of their "non- action".
I would say this to Pip Worlledge: "Put your money where your mouth is."
Try helping instead of moaning.
Offer to pay for at least one cat to be neutered, more if you can afford it.
I'm sure the SPCA would be delighted to find most of their pens empty for a change.
So, my plea to everyone is that if you know of a family who cannot afford to neuter their pet, offer to pay ... charity begins at home and what goes around, comes around.
Please, let's all show a little kindness now and then.
Jan Cooper, Tauranga
Active learning changes our world
Following two letters inquiring about a possible solution to New Zealand's educational woes and the need for a move towards real world learning, many of the new generation of learners are now being called i-learners with increasing opportunities to access a plethora of mobile technology.
Many see this as a potential threat and a subtle way of dumbing down a generation addicted to games. I see it as an opportunity to engage young people and encourage them to become active learners not empty vessels passively absorbing facts that can be regurgitated in an end-of-year examination.
Conventional exams have earned a reputation for rote learning and lacklustre formats, becoming more obsessed about exam techniques than a test of the pupil's ability to apply knowledge to a range of core skills urgently needed in an increasingly complex world. Cambridge University has recently started to offer IGCSE and a two-year pre-uni course.
Alastair Jones (February 2) asked why no one had identified themselves as a teacher. I can only presume most teachers have been too busy planning and preparing for the academic year ahead.
I am fortunate that my 20 years in the education service enabled me to teach engineering and then the training of teachers all over the world.
(Abridged)
Ray Lewis, Omokoroa
Try for blokedom
John Key's throwaway line about Liz Hurley being "hot" has, of course, offended those of a feminist bent but it is simply an attempt to align himself with the drinking classes.
As for myself, the suave, intelligent and quite beautiful George Clooney is welcome to call me anytime he wishes.
(Mrs) Robin Bishop, Pyes Pa
Wrong equipment
I cannot help but feel sorry for Andrew Mears who is charged with recklessly discharging a rifle and causing death.
It was surely foolhardy for Ms Ives and Mr Hyndman to be wearing a spotlight on their heads while brushing their teeth in a camping ground.
Spotlights are hunting gear and could easily be mistaken for the eyes of an animal at a distance.
A torch or lamp which casts a ray of light would have been more appropriate.
M J Forsythe, Papamoa
Warning whistle
Re: Tsunami warning systems.
People are becoming increasingly blasé about warning sirens, as every day they hear police/fire/etc sirens. I would suggest an unusual sound such as a loud whistle. From 1947 to 1972 there was a steam-powered sawmill at Te Puna, and every working day at noon boilerman Albert Borell would activate the steam whistle which could be heard in Tauranga. In a strong westerly it could even be heard at the Mount.
A similar system could be achieved by having a windmill driving a compressor, storing the compressed air in a tank. When required the compressed air would be released through a whistle and the radio-controlled start mechanism could be controlled by a solar-charged battery thus no mains power would be required.
If such a system was placed 5km-6km apart this would give a hearing range of between 2.5km-3km (perhaps even further depending on design) that could be heard by everyone in range. This system would be cheap to run and require little maintenance.
A J Butt, Te Puna
Tax immaterial
Note to Tony Farrell (February 3), without necessarily wishing to be too rude, you are clearly totally unaware of human requirements and desires for some people.
However much artificial tax you put on booze, these people will still pay for it, they will drag it out of every last dollar meant for the family food bill, the electricity bill, the rates or water bill, it does not matter to them ... they will probably also buy smokes and drugs to get them through their daily lives.
Until we, as a nation, are adult and strong enough to call it in, and seriously punish offenders unreservedly for the harm they cause us and our country, then nothing will change.
Adding more tax to the alcohol purchase in my opinion will only make manufacturers and suppliers of alcohol aware to this and develop and market lesser quality, and maybe even more harmful products at a lesser price to gain or maintain market share.
The government does have a role to play in this however, that is to ensure that the police finally are given some teeth to deliver and uphold the charges against offenders (and in some cases, their supporters), and the court can and actually does impose sentences that are totally appropriate for the crime ...
It's election time people ... well?
Peter Huxham, Welcome Bay
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