MARGI KEYS
Vigilante-in-chief, Grammar Vigilantes of Aotearoa
Springvale
Facts on 1080, please
Great to see someone talking sense about the use of 1080 for predator control and providing unquestionable facts about the results that can be achieved with and without its help (August letter to your column).
It is accepted by pro-1080 people that there are clearly negative aspects to the use of 1080 but not sufficient to stop its use in appropriate situations, and clearly not sufficient to justify death threats against those who are involved in the production and use of 1080.
I would like to see your paper document the concerns of the anti-1080 faction, then have a 1080 expert provide comments on those concerns so that your average reader can make up their own mind from the facts, rather than from ill-informed, emotional clap-trap.
F FOSTER
Durie Hill
Pleasing God
Russ Hay thinks "objective analysis" of power to determine morals and ethics is not only a possibility, but a reality.
Obviously he has forgotten that outside of measurable fields, people all bring their own biases and world views into whatever they analyse.
Some come firmly believing that man is a product of random, mindless accident and therefore must muddle along according to the thought processes brought about by said randomness.
Others are convinced that everything we see demonstrates design and purpose,
necessarily implying that a greater intelligence than our own designed us with purpose in mind, and therefore has the ability to determine what is best for us.
That Russ finds the latter group dangerous is contrary to verifiable evidence that these are the ones who launched the fields of science, social justice, charity and education, and who continue to be at the forefront of organisations promoting freedom and reconciliation.
Of course those of us who love God are as fallible as anyone else, but we have a compelling reason to seek to improve our thoughts, attitudes and actions — we want to please the one who gave us everything and keeps loving us in spite of our failings.
MANDY DONNE-LEE
Aramoho
An ode for the ocean
A poem for the creatures of the ocean on the occasion of the ban on seabed mining off South Taranaki.
Sing, sing whales of Aotearoa,
Tell other creatures of the sea,
A victory has been won.
Once we killed for profit.
Our great-grandchildren will say,
"Never, never again.
Like you we will rise up
To protect the taonga
Of the islands and seas of Aotearoa."
Now sing people of these lands,
Stand on the beaches,
Stride upon the headlands,
Jump from safe rocks.
Let your song and your joy
Be heard over the waves, saying,
"Tēna koutou, tēna koutou, tēna koutou katoa."
"Welcome, thrice welcome to you all,
Creatures and plants of the deep."
In the heavens
The sun, moon and stars sing together,
Of justice not bound by greed,
Nor by land nor sea nor sky.
WENDY WARD
Whanganui
Repair memorial seat
I wondered if someone would employ Anderson's Monumentalists to repair the very important memorial seat in shocking need of repair at the corner of Virginia and Great North Rds.
I, as a young girl, tended the lawn around the seat, kept it very tidy and even had a narrow garden around the back and sides of calendulas in yellow and orange. I did this for many years until I went to Christchurch Teachers' Training College, became a primary teacher and started at Aramoho School.
The oak tree just grew behind the seat, and now its roots are destroying the seat.
So before it gets worse, can you see it in your hearts to repair the monumental seat to World War II servicemen? I hope you see the importance of this.
L WESTWOOD
Whanganui East
Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
