Yet China’s growing consumption of coal – 4billion tonnes in 2012, almost as much as the rest of the world combined – is staggering! With the projection of a new Chinese coal-fired power plant coming on line every 10 days for the next decade, consumption will increase even more.  You wonder if our leaders are aware of these statistics, projections and world populations!

Enlightening as China’s 20per cent renewable energy mix is, 2014 is on target to becoming the hottest year ever. We know by now coal mining companies will continue mining and exporting while governments go on supporting them.

 If we’re not smart enough to figure out how to stop them, then we should back off using their products by using more renewable energy! 

Brian Johnson, Gymea

Major litter problem

 Like Robyn Glynn (Mercury, October 7), I could prove that we have a major problem with littering at Austinmer Beach. 

I’d take photos the day after a very hot day on a long weekend, when there’ve been hundreds of visitors to our beautiful beach.

 Today, those photos would show litter including: an abandoned picnic table, five collapsible chairs (they had), and a selection of cans, bottles and paper.

 Following Robyn Glynn’s logic, I’d recommend that the solution to this problem is to restrict the times that local residents can use Austi Beach. Makes sense to me!

 In the same article, Cr Curran is quoted as saying that the GIPA report, which revealed that there were only 25 complaints about the beaches under question, is misleading because the complaints only relate to the councilofficers’ report. 

I remind Cr Curran that the report covers all official complaints.

Bernie O’Donnell, Austinmer

Politicians not trusted

I’m unable to make up my mind who should be protected from whom.

Australians deserve protection from politicians who seem to keep finding new ways to disgrace themselves in full view of the rest of the world.

There is in my opinion more danger to the nation from those who hide behind parliamentary privilege than those who hide behind the burqa.

If Tony Abbott is is such great fear of being attacked in Parliament House, then why doesn’t he arrange to televise all the proceedings taking place there and save our country from the expense of searching everyone who goes in there?

I would trust a Muslim wearing a burqa long before I trusted Tony Abbott.

Dave Cox, Tarrawanna

Petitions queried

In recent weeks, Gareth Ward and Shelley Hancock have launched petitions for additional parking at Shoalhaven Hospital and additional carriages on South Coast trains, which they’re asking the community to sign.

 They are sitting members of parliament, and members of the current government (in Shelley’s case, a very senior one). In those positions, they have access to the Health Minister, Planning Minister and Transport Minister, and presumably have a voice in government decision-making.

 Their job, which they are well paid for, is to advocate on behalf of their constituents and fight for the things they need. Why are they now asking their constituents to do their job for them? 

E Roberts, North Nowra