They dump an average of 35,000 tonnes of coal on the wharf, which is trucked down the Southern Motorway to Huntly for the power station and to Glenbrook for NZ Steel. There are 875 trucks, going there and back, for each ship.
One month, 210,000 tonnes of coal, 10,500 truck movements.
Why is this happening? Because of ill-thought out responses to climate changes.
I know the climate's been changing since it gained oxygen in the atmosphere, and I know that the movement of our ancestors in Africa coincided with accelerated change.
But really? In my view, Shaw needs to do better.
Graham Crooks
Pyes Pa
Throw-away society
I was extremely disappointed there was nothing in Climate Change Minister James Shaw's column (Opinion, June 8) about pollution from synthetic materials, or plastics, to name just a couple.
Pollution is the biggest problem not being addressed. It seems to me all the legislation, policy changes, think tanks and declarations of climate emergencies are focusing on climate change due to CO2 emissions.
But, we are not reading or hearing enough about what should be done about the pollutants ending up in the oceans and landfills.
These ultimately end up in the food chain, and impact the lives of all living creatures.
Many Kiwis want to know what they can do to contribute to a healthier planet.
We live in a throw-away society in which numerous plastics and other products are not able to be recycled and which therefore end up in landfills or, even worse, in the ocean.
The people who think they are leading this ''revolution'' have, in my view, missed the boat. I believe they spend time looking at the big picture about air pollution, but have forgotten to consider all forms of pollution. I believe they have also forgotten how to encourage those who will be the ones to make the difference to our planet - us, the people.
Robin Uncles
Rotorua
What skills shortage?
So accountants and so-called highly skilled jobs get sweeteners like overseas holidays, vehicles and flexibility to come and work in Tauranga (News, June 8), whereas workers in healthcare and hospitality are expected to be grateful for job opportunities that in many cases pay less than the living wage?
How about employers in those sectors adopted the same largesse with pay and conditions to attract the valued talent they say they are desperately short of.
Anybody thought of that as a solution?
Stan Gregec
Bethlehem
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