When they see documentaries of islands of plastic rubbish — where there is more plastic than fish in what was once pristine environments, and turtles and other wildlife choking and dying on what they thought was food — does it not sink in that it is humans who are causing it? Obviously not.
I really admire those who care and are trying to do something about it. If we all did a little bit, like using reusable bags for our groceries, at least it would be a start. We are a caring community, so come on people of Whanganui, I challenge you to try to be part of the solution, not the cause of the problem.
VALERIE BING
Aramoho
Ideology rules
I agree with Melinda Bolton (letter, March 13) that it is easy to coerce vulnerable people into a choice that is not really their own in the matter of end-of-life choices.
At the moment, in my view, people are actively coerced by organised religion and passively coerced by medical associations who don't have the backbone to stand up for their patients and who force them into prolonged deathbed suffering.
There is a plethora of scholarly research on the benefits to the patient of having control over their end-of-life process dating from the beginning of this century. These benefits go beyond the psychological, emotional and mental, into the actual physical (eg pain reduction) to the patient. This benefit is whipped away from patients in medical settings that deny them the option as and when they should be eligible for assisted dying.
You would think that this research alone would prompt palliative care to work co-operatively with assisted dying, as happens in other countries. But no, not in New Zealand.
Palliative care in our country has an ideological position and this takes supremacy over the life-view of the patient.
While their PR and marketing arm claims the contrary, namely a "holistic" understanding of the patient's needs — spiritual, emotional, social and physical — the reality is that the patient must accept the ideology of the hospice movement on entry into the facility. More funding, please?
ANN DAVID
Waikanae
Assisted suicide
Jay Kuten (Chronicle, March 5) needs to push a little further into assisted suicide.
There is a genuine effort to solve the problem.
What he needs to do is consider a right is not an absolute. Rights cannot be separated from the truth.
All murder is unacceptable, all suicide is self-murder.
There must be another answer.
How about does pain have a purpose?
F R HALPIN
Whanganui
Be afraid
The media is charged in part to be balanced in its reporting on an issue of news.
To this end, reporters attempt to exercise care in distinguishing between an allegation, and evidence in truth.
Not so, however, the #metoo sexual harassment campaigners, who rail against any and all allegations as being anything but truth.
The recent public release of the Jordan Williams v Colin Craig Appeal Court defamation decision, whereby Williams accused Craig of ultimately unproven sexual harassment against Rachel MacGregor, is timely.
In this decision, the judges affirm the centrality of the entire case rested on an unproven and sans-evidence allegation of sexual harassment.
The cost to both parties in this matter must surely be in the millions of dollars, upon a rapidly evaporating quicksand platform of "if she alleged it, then it must have been true".
#metoo has become an indiscriminate weapon of ideological destruction, and innocent men should now be very, very afraid.
DYLAN TIPENE
Auckland
Fanning flames
Looking around the world, we see extremists and populist politicians fanning the flames of prejudice and hatred. The targets may be Mexican criminals, Christian crusaders, or Muslim extremists.
People are supposed to live in fear of them so the haters can divide and rule, then the floodgates of violence will open.
On Monday the Chronicle gave prime place to a letter decrying a "Muslim murderer". That sick individual had clearly disregarded any religious teaching in his upbringing by leaving his family, hiring prostitutes and killing one of them. That behaviour has nothing to do with religious background. Highlighting it is laying the fuel for hatred of innocent people.
Whanganui has a small, peaceful and productive community of followers of Islam. Their cultural heritage includes some of the learning that we most value today in mathematics, astronomy and literature. Islam like Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism has many positive teachings that guide people to live fulfilling lives. Singling out one of these world religious traditions for infamy is ignorant and dangerous.
There is still a level of prejudice in our region that often appears in the letters to the editor. The fault lines it can create in our community are like landmines for our future harmony. Fortunately, the tide is going out on this intolerance, but bigots don't like being ignored and will continue to send letters targeting racial or religious groups.
I challenge the Chronicle to stop giving oxygen to their prejudices.
That would be a positive step for a peaceful, tolerant and resilient community. Let's join the call to, "Give nothing to racism" or any other form of prejudice.
KEITH BEAUTRAIS
Westmere
Childlike faith
Richard Peirce claims there is agreement among scholars about the authorship of John's Gospel. However, tradition and early scholars place it with John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved".
Many modern scholars dispute this (but not all). Either way, for those who place their faith in Jesus based on the scriptures that teach about Him, all scripture is divinely inspired, regardless of who wrote it down.
Jesus took scholars and intellectualisers to task over their lack of faith.
Today, also, intellectual pride distorts and extinguishes the childlike faith that allows any person of any age to have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe.
MANDY DONNE-LEE
Whanganui
Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
