Various traps can be purchased on Trade Me. I have now got rid of my little mushroom-topped pots and use a couple of Gordy's Fly Traps instead. I have found these cheap and rugged one-piece devices are much better than the flimsy mushroom traps. They fit on top of 10-litre paint pails and need no maintenance at all over the summer.
But any trap will work. Bait it with some old meat, place it in a breezy out-of-the-way place where stray dogs can't get to it, keep it half-filled with water, and goodbye blowflies.
Encourage your neighbours to do the same. Your war on flies would be even more effective if every nearby farmer and horse owner could be cajoled into setting up a big barrel fly trap, like the 60-litre "Doc's" variety, in each one of their paddocks.
JOHN ARCHER
Ohakune
Belief systems
In reply to John Haakma's letter (Chronicle, January 11), I feel I need to clarify a few things about my own belief system.
In my belief system, atheism is not a relevant word.
I prefer positive and negative terms to assess the practicality of belief systems.
Positive would value the individual as an integral member of society, contributing to the wellbeing of all.
Negative would be the opposite, naturally.
For me "God" is the energy behind the creation of our universe 14-odd billion years ago. What form that "God" takes, I have no idea, and neither does anyone else.
At the last count there were about 3000 religions worldwide. I am not aware of any of them providing evidence (apart from PR spin) that their particular belief system has the stamp of approval to be able to claim supreme divine authority.
All are currently valid, awaiting new revelation in the future.
Science, to me, makes more sense than religion to explain our reality. It does not have empirical evidence to explain everything -- yet. Give it time.
When my mortal body finally expires, the only way I fantasise about my self-consciousness surviving is to imagine a universal (or multi-universal) cosmic consciousness.
I could accept this concept of "God", which would mean I am part of "God" already. So cool! Thus, intellectually, I acknowledge the possibility of some kind of "God" and don't require a word such as atheism.
To be honest, I don't really fancy the monotheistic version: to live eternally in slavery to a jealous, needy, autocratic "god" on an infinite loop!
You can only experience so much before it repeats. Give me human mortality any day.
In the meantime, have tolerance for other beliefs, even though inside you regard them as idiotic.
Personally, I must accept those of a know-it-all, 6-year-old granddaughter.
PAUL EVANS
Parkdale
