No stress, no hostility, people know you still love them and you don't need to wait until everybody is at each other's throats in December to give them gifts or to tell them (through doubtless gritted teeth) that you "love" them.
But most important of all, I am pretty sure we get a big tick from Jesus when we: a) celebrate His birth with serene respect, and b) refrain from insulting His birth date -- and Him -- with an overwhelming demonstration of love of money and carnal gratification so unacceptable to Him. Why do you think He took a whip to the money-changers in the temple?
Merry Whole-of-Year to all -- as you ask for, as you need, as you accept, God willing.
STAN HOOD
Whanganui
Climate change
G R Scown persists with his view that the Earth needs carbon, and the more the better.
W Partridge, on the other hand, continues to tell us that it is the sun that governs climate change, not human activity, and those who think otherwise are probably being paid by someone.
Indeed, the whole climate change phenomenon is part of a massive scam, an international left-wing plot, even. One has to admire their tenacity in trying to correct the rest of us. But I'm not sure what the point of that is.
Rather than talk to us, I have previously encouraged them both to present their views to any number of science institutes around the world and have them peer-reviewed, like scientists do.
On the other hand, it may make them feel better to express their views to the rest of us. But having debates between us becomes pointless -- a bit like debating the existence of God.
My own view about the reality of climate change is essentially supported by the vast amount of evidence now available. Hardly a day passes without yet another scientific report from some authority emphasising how serious the situation is.
Not that politicians around the world, including our own, pay much attention (Donald Trump also thinks it is a scam). But some countries are (eg, Denmark is aiming for 100 per cent renewable energy within a few years) and literally thousands of businesses around the world are divesting their funds from fossil fuel investment, including some of ours.
However, some scientists like Prof Guy MacPherson, who Mr Partridge spoke of, are pretty pessimistic about the future of our species, especially if we keep living the way we are. Whether he's justified or not, one would think that we need to listen to scientists about something so important.
But it is rather an inconvenient truth, so perhaps we should just go back to making money on the back of fossil fuel use. Let our kids and grandkids deal with it -- if it's true!
PHILIP McCONKEY
Whanganui
Affordability
I write in response to the Chronicle online story "Wastewater scheme survives yet again" (January 7) and, in particular, the posted comment: "Young was rambling. Everyone should watch the video and see how those who got their vote perform now they've got the job."
The streaming of council meetings is great in that it does enable the community to closely observe the performance of our elected representatives and senior management.
Councillor Young is certainly not the most articulate but if you listen closely to what he was trying to say, he does tend to talk sense.
The mayor's performance was disappointing and he does appear to be shaping up as being from the same mould as his predecessor, which has got to be a concern for the community.
There is no disputing that the levels of integrity, competence and best practice have been hugely elevated by those newly elected to council. Interestingly, they were referred to in a recent letter in the Chronicle as the "Magnificent 7".
Here's hoping the others around the council table will up both their performance and standards to match the newbies.
The big worry for the Whanganui community that surfaced from the last council meeting was to hear the mayor claim that the new wastewater treatment plant is unaffordable: "The key thing, and it always has been, is affordability. I agree with councillor Cleveland -- it is not capital costs that matter, it is the operating costs.
"So we all now need to turn our heads to the affordability 100 per cent. We are not doing that by skipping around the edges; we need to start concentrating on where we can make this [the new plant] affordable.
"Let's go away over summer, let's return invigorated, looking at affordability."
For the mayor to now be saying this, after the chief executive's earlier assurance that the new plant met the Auditor-General's criteria of "an affordable outcome that meets the needs of the community", hence his justification for signing the contract to build the plant ... Food for thought over summer.
ALAN HENDERSON
Wellington
Foolish move
To Messrs Taylor, Bennett, Cleveland and Young: You were not voted on to the council to pursue a divisive and disuniting faction within the council.
Your full-page advert expressing your disenchantment with what you perceive to be a wrong decision regarding the wastewater treatment plant was childish, impulsive and undemocratic.
Many citizens who voted for you expect a more mature attitude, especially from four men so recently appointed to their role as councillors.
The success of any council depends upon a democratic and collegial atmosphere, where differences of opinion are discussed and worked through in a civilised manner.
Taking a full-page advertisement in the local paper in an attempt to undermine the mayor and your fellow councillors was foolish and counterproductive.
There are now many who will think twice about voting for any of you again.
J A LAMONT
Whanganui
Greenies' fault
A Barron (letter, December 9) makes much of how the Chinese Government reacted when a cooling tower for a new coal-fired power plant collapsed under construction. They were rushing to get it finished before winter really set in.
He is impressed with how they dealt with those they believed caused the collapse: no trial, into jail -- you were there, you are guilty.
There would have been no deaths at Pike River if the protesters hadn't forced the abandonment of the original plan to push the side off the hill and go straight in. The Chinese Government would have not let 1000 snails stand in the way.
A safe mine would have been in operation years ago, providing a safe workplace for those who died because of the Greenies' protest.
The snails died in the DoC fridge, and hunters tell me that birds eat thousands of them anyhow.
The Greenies forced a 2km tunnel uphill through rock -- a big no-no, gases can't escape -- plus the exorbitant extra cost and time delay.
So perhaps, A Barron, you should lay the blame where it really lies: with the Greenies. They have no trough for human welfare, just the snails.
G R SCOWN
Whanganui
