Your letters: Trees are answer to global warming

Plant trees

G R Scown (letters, May 1) is quite right to suggest sunspots, jet stream, La Nina and El Nino etc as having effects on our weather. And, as I have said, that there is both heating and cooling recorded around our planet.

It is a big planet, very complex in many ways, especially with weather systems.

He is also right that CO2 is a plant food, and does keep our planet green. Trees and all plants use CO2 and release oxygen. If we had not destroyed so many forests, the overall heating effect would not be so evident.

The last 10 warmest years on record have been from 1998, with the last three years increasing by double the increase in 2014 (see graph from Climate Central).

This shows an increase of 2.02F (1.12C) above an 1881-1910 baseline. These figures are the result of data sets from NOAA (US Department of National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) and Nasa (US National Aeronautics & Space Administration).

I think it is logical to believe that the planet is heating overall. This trend started around 1850, when the use of coal became global, followed by the the use of oil for transport and heating, and an exponential increase in world population. I also believe that mankind has, at least partly, caused it.

This heating trend follows 10,000 years of stable climate.

So — plant trees! Even the dairy farmers in the US are planting almond trees. They know that's what people want, rather than cows' milk. And Jacinda has planned for assistance to farmers for riparian planting.

SARA DICKON
Founder member, Sustainable Whanganui

Long day of it

I couldn't help but notice the irony in the full-page ad on page 9 in last Tuesday's edition of the Wanganui Chronicle (May 2).

Listing the times for the buyers of old coins, medals etc, it mentions in red letters: Please check the times carefully.

It then goes on to say they will be trading from 01.30am until 4pm — what a long time to be trading.

Perhaps the ad's proofreader should have heeded the advice first and foremost.

B WRIGHT
Whanganui

Glass questions

I wholeheartedly agree with M Haddon's sentiments re the Glass Centre and number of councillors and their pay.

When my wife and I lived in Buderim, Queensland, there was a glassworks and the artisans turned out some beautiful pieces.

The catchment area was approximately 150,000, but they were forced to close because they couldn't make it pay.

So could we please have a balance sheet for our local works, and could you please publish some figures re numbers for comparable councils?

It was not that long ago when councillors were proud to do the job for nothing, then Lange decided they should be paid.

Ratepayers have no say over pay or numbers, which I think is totally wrong.

PETER SMITH
Wanganui

Political speak

Our much-loved Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has finally, after a long "honeymoon" period, become the consummate politician. I spotted this quote from her in the Chronicle of April 28 (Jones: Too soon to rule out bank probe, P9).

In response to a question about whether New Zealand should have an investigation into the banking sector in New Zealand similar to the Australian one, she replied: "But in a way ... we will certainly probably have an outcome ... "

"Certainly probably ..."? Perfect! And to preface that with " ... in a way ...", simply divine.
How could any politician improve on that?

Congratulations, Jacinda. I stand in awe of you.

Don't change a thing about your communication style. We love you the more.

STAN HOOD
Aramoho