Steam billowing from the world's largest biomass-fuelled Drax Power Station near Selby, England. Photo / debstheleo, via 123rf.com
Recently more than 500 scientists issued a plea to leaders in the US, the EU, Japan and South Korea to stop burning forest biomass as a means of making electricity in converted coal-burning plants. This is a result of the United Nations' decree that the burning of forest biomass to produce electricity is carbon neutral.
Furthermore, the Paris Agreement says burning forest biomass does not count as emissions in meeting carbon reduction targets. Can you believe it?
The burning of forest biomass in converted coal plants is booming, especially in the US where even the cleanest of the biomass plants pump out nearly 50 per cent more CO2 than coal-burning plants.
The UK uses up 4 million tons of forest biomass in wood-burning plants, almost as much as America. One German city alone is burning 113 tons of wood per hour.
To make matters worse, coal-burning countries such as India, Iran, Turkey and Iraq did not sign the Paris Climate agreement and more or less burn whatever they like. China continues to build new coal-fired plants at will.
Deforestation is causing the extinction of 50,000 species per annum and wood-fired power plants can only make that a whole lot worse.
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
Armed response
A correspondent asks (NZ Herald, August 2) what the gun buy-back achieved? Quite a lot actually. As for guns that are still out there being used by gangs, the Police Commissioner said on Radio NZ that a lot of guns are being sold by unscrupulous gun dealers and licensed gun owners buying them, then on-selling them to the gangs for a tidy profit.
Perhaps it's time there was an investigation into the suitability of some self-proclaimed "responsible" gun owners and dealers?
John Capener, Kawerau.
Universal science
Brilliant comment from Bruce Logan (NZ Herald, August 2).
I subscribe to the NZ Listener and thought the letter written by the group of lecturers from the University of Auckland was rational, considered and respectful; it expressed the concern felt by many of us who value the true concept of the scientific method and science education.
It was an ill-conceived attack on the very essence of universal science by the Vice-Chancellor. The University of Auckland should expect a high standard of critical thinking from a Vice-Chancellor reaping $750,000 pa.
That the inept and unreasoned response by the Vice-Chancellor to the "In defence of science" letter has now led to the resignation of Professor Douglas Elliffe is disgraceful.
"Truth and therefore justice is up for grabs and government policy becomes the views of the university. Maori and Pakeha share the same common loss."
Heather Mackay, Kerikeri.
Speaking freely
Academic freedom was a big issue in Auckland in the early 1930s. Outspoken academics were caught in the crossfire for daring to suggest that it was a good idea to study the Soviet Union and Communism. It was an offence punishable by jail sentences to import "Communist" literature.
Then, as now, there was much confusion about the difference between promoting discussion and debate about ideas and endorsing those ideas. Sir George Fowlds, University College President, issued a memorandum which asked staff to restrain their public statements on controversial questions and present "both sides of the question" while suggesting that failure to do so could be taken into account when considering "the question of fitness for tenure of a university post".
Dr John Beaglehole, a life-long champion of civil liberties, joined with a colleague to write an open letter about the dangers of suppressing dissenting opinion. Auckland papers, including the Herald, declined to publish it. Beaglehole, who did not have the protection of tenure at the time, was then retrenched.
The irony is, of course, that historian John Beaglehole ended up with a list of academic and civic honours that few could rival.
Maire Leadbeater, Mt Albert.
Leases illegal
Your correspondent Dennis Pennefather (NZ Herald, August 2) suggests leasing out rental properties on the basis of paying a full year's rent in advance to guarantee security.
However, this is illegal. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord must not require the payment of any rent more than two weeks in advance.
If they do so, they commit an unlawful act that could result in an order for exemplary damages of up to $1500.
Peter Lewis, Vice-President, Auckland Property Investors Association.
Curative measures
With reference to Edmondson's letter (NZ Herald, August 2) reacting to Richard Prebble's article regarding our healthcare. The conundrum being, would encouraging further private practices equate to a better overall service? The simple answer is yes, but only for those who can afford it.
Alternatively we could make it work by implementing a levy on all private consultations. Then start advertising for overseas medical practitioners, together with recently retired local specialists. They could then kick-start a learning programme through universities attracting a whole new generation of medical students; whilst also helping to fill the universities once again.
John Norris, Whangamatā.
Vaccinate teens
It has become evident that the Delta variant is more of a threat to young people than the original strain, and youth are super-spreaders by nature.
Before Delta gets here, we should bring the age for vaccination down to 12+ as in the UK, and pivot towards vaccine delivery before schools and tertiary providers break for exams, and the opportunity is lost until March 2022.
Juliet Golightly, Whangārei.
Floored logic
Excellent article (NZ Herald, August 2) about local carpet maker Cavalier and an attempt to silence their pro-wool policy.
The legal moves by American owned Godfrey Hirst to stop Cavalier highlighting the benefits of natural fibre wool carpets smacks of oil industry standover tactics.
Cavalier's Greg Smith is taking on the whole synthetic plastic fibre industry by promoting the benefits of natural wool carpets. He should be applauded and supported.
Synthetic fibres are environmentally bad as they don't biodegrade. They turn into toxic microplastics that pollute our land and water. They give off toxic fumes when they burn and large amounts of greenhouse gases are released by oil companies in creating them.
Wool carpets are much better for us and the environment. Wool is decidedly healthier than plastic, whether you walk on it or wear it. And you're supporting our farmers, not wealthy international oil corporations.
I hope Cavalier wins this David and Goliath struggle.
Jeff Hayward, Auckland Central.
Swinging back
How uplifting it is for me, and, I'm confident, thousands of other Kiwis, to read (NZ Herald, August 2) the latest poll from Newshub-Reid Research which demonstrates the proverbial pendulum is swinging away from this current regime.
Clearly, this 10 per cent drop in confidence in the Ardern Government highlights the mood of those who, in a moment of personality politics-driven delusion, shifted their support to the far left last election.
My confidence in what could be an effective Act-National alliance come next election is however more than a little disconcerted at how much more potential damage Labour could inflict at breakneck pace in the interim.
Peter Cook, Lynfield.
That's debatable
Judith Collins's continuing calls to "demand a debate" sounds more and more like National has no actual idea on how to deal with any of the issues Labour is trying to address.
It just declares Labour to be wrong — simply because it's Labour — but needs other people to actually do the work and say what the errors are and offer alternatives.
Even the party website is almost devoid of substance and mainly just says "Labour is
wrong". Yes, there's a bit about violence in prisons, and a bill to (temporarily) bypass the RMA to get houses built.
National is demanding a debate. It is not itself actually debating, as if it wants to keep out of a battle of wits for which it finds itself unarmed.
Who knows what it might do if it were actually Government. There's no sign it knows itself.
Morgan L. Owens, Manurewa.
Keep our Cup
I applaud rich-lister Mark Dunphy's initiative and attempts to look at ways to hold the next America's Cup in Auckland (NZ Herald, July 30). He is right in saying it's a unique showpiece for our nation and, through government, everyone has contributed to it.
It just makes sense to host it again at the Viaduct, with all the expense and effort that has gone into creating the superb facilities for all involved.
Not only that, but if Mr Dunphy is successful, combined with government funding, it should be made a condition that if TNZ and the RNZYS retain the cup for a historic third consecutive time, the following Cup defence must yet again be hosted in New Zealand. The message to challengers, in keeping with the origins of the Cup, should be: We've got it, you want it, come and get it.
Ric Kerkmeester, Western Springs.
Trigger happy
From BMX riding to windsurfing, the Olympics are including more and more pastimes into Olympic medal events. After my initial opposition, I now applaud this.
No other event in the world brings every sport and pastime together on the world stage. However, there is one pastime missing from the Olympics that I think everyone would love to see. That would be paintball.
How many of us would love to see members of the US Delta Force go head-to-head in a paintball war with the Russian Spetsnaz? Or the Australian SAS going up against our own SAS? Watching these elite forces in a live mock battle would be essential viewing. Please IOC, make paintball an Olympic sport in 2024.
Kent Millar, Blockhouse Bay.
On politics
Populism is not necessarily a measure of sound governance, whereas unpopular governance, like "bitter pills" for your health, can be good for your wealth. Kenneth Lees, Whangārei.
On Lotto
Why is it that only married people and couples always seem to win Lotto? Helen Lowe, Albany.
On university
Thank you Bruce Logan (NZ Herald, August 2) for a brilliantly articulate exposition of what science is and what a university should be. The Vice-Chancellor is the one who should have resigned. David Goodyear, Welcome Bay.
You can't make an omelette without causing some "hurt and dismay" to the eggs. Mike Wagg, Freemans Bay.
On education
Cecilia Robinson eloquently described the strangeness of single-sex schooling. An education journey that starts in co-ed primary schools and finishes in co-ed tertiary, but with a single-sex interval in between is bizarre. Chris Kiwi, Mt Albert.
On medals
American commentators on Sky TV have provided us with the new verb, "medalling". Just as I was getting used to "offensive" footballers, along come the Americans again meddling with the English language. John Riley, Ōrewa.
Are the voters just starting to think about jumping on a different perch, maybe realising that it's not all milk and honey as the Government would have us believe? Lawrence C.
The only Covid competence of Labour was last year when it decided to lock down early. This year has seen huge failures in border protection, failure of a timely and co-ordinated vaccine rollout, failure to get frontline people vaccinated, all resulting in pure luck, rather than competence, keeping out community infections. John H.
The loss in support for Labour has not translated into mass movement to the Greens, so the Greens are very much keeping within their own support base. I don't deny the Greens will have influence on the makeup of the next government, but their support is actually very static, which is a surprise given the focus on the environment of late. Murray B.
It's not a perception that some ministers aren't on top of their portfolios, it's a hard reality. I can't think of any that are performing to even a satisfactory level. Walter H.
Dropping 10 points in two months is an incredibly worrying trend regardless of where those points have gone. It's extremely rare to see an incumbent leader suffer such a dramatic, negative shift. James T.
Labour reigns because of a sad lack of leadership from any other quarter. Collins is the logjam that blocks progress for the Nats. Graeme L.
I expect Labour's numbers to improve as the population becomes more vaccinated. Arden is the most popular politician in NZ, Collins the least. Erik P.
National does not present as a credible opposition to Labour and I cannot see that changing before the next election. I suggest it is National who are responsible for the current debacle. Bruce W.
On the Mike Hosking PM Christopher Luxon says he's open to scrapping regional councils amid RMA reform. NewstalkZB