On the contrary there is compelling evidence that they are a major cause of these health problems.  The Nurses’ Health Study followed up 300,000 healthy  adults over four  years.

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and other junk foods predicted weight gain and consumption of vegetables, fruits and unprocessed foods was associated with relative weight loss.

The explosion of obesity in the United States after the 1960s  followed the  400-per cent increase in per capita consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and other junk foods. An analysis of 75 countries worldwide demonstrated that a 1per cent increase in soft drink consumption was associated with a 2.3per cent increase in the number of obese adults.

 Rates of obesity in developing countries are increasing in direct proportion  to their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Mexico has the highest per-capita  consumption of these beverages and has the highest rates of overweight and obese people –  70per cent of adults and 30per cent of children are overweight or obese.

Patrick  Bradley, Wollongong 

THE chief executive of the Australian Beverage Council, who denies sugary drinks are a significant contributor to poor health and mortality (Your Say, July 14), cites instead, among other factors, obesity and poor diet as some of the biggest causes of poor health.

 Well hello, what does he think contributes to poor diet and obesity if it is not the ability to consume the equivalent of the daily calorie requirement in just a few minutes by sculling volumes of empty sugar calories laced with an assortment of chemical colourings and flavourings. Who does Mr Geoff Parker think that he is kidding?     

Terry Dwyer, Mt Kembla

SUBMISSIONS to the International Criminal Court regarding government policy and treatment of asylum seekers by Tracy Aylmer, an Australian migration lawyer, in September 2014, were shelved by the ICC but maintained in the archives pending further facts and evidence.

In October 2014,  Andrew  Wilkie MP and lawyer Greg Barns commenced a case in the ICC against PM  Abbott, Scott Morrison, Michaelia Cash, Julie Bishop, former Chief of Defence Force General David Hurley and Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders Lieutenant General Angus Campbell (in total 19 of the Abbott cabinet).   In January 2015, Ms Aylmer was informed by the ICC that the case she submitted had been reopened.

 Also, in March this year Julian Burnside QC made inquiries with lawyers who specialise in ICC cases to see if the ICC would investigate Mr Abbott and Mr Morrison.

  In recent  months there has been a mountain of evidence of abuse at offshore detention centres, including physical, sexual and psychological abuse of detainees, including women and children.

 This means that prosecution of the Abbott administration is highly probable.   I wonder if Malcolm Fraser is watching.  

Don Kelly,   Kanahooka

DRIVERLESS cars within eight years, good grief have we not got enough idiots on the roads already?

Warren Fleming, Balgownie