Leaders the problem
I find it difficult to write a simple letter to the editor encapsulating the effort and importance of Doctor Margaret Beavis’s suggestion that we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future.
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If all members of Parliament nationwide consecutively tabled the backing of United Nations decision to begin a binding treaty banning nuclear weapons, voted on it and passed it federally, 84 % of Australians would be telling the world what we already know. Putin and Trump could do nothing but follow this worldwide decision. Our leaders worldwide have the power…unfortunately they’re the problem!
Brian Johnson, Gymea
What’s changed?
It’s a new year but there are still some questions to be asked, re cuts to pensions and welfare and homeless citizens on the streets. But we can still afford to sign a fifty billion dollar contract with a French submarine company, not to mention loaning a billion dollars to an Indian billionaire to build a railway line through pristine farmland for his own interests.
We can also afford without hesitation to give billions of dollars in tax relief to some of the most successful banks in the world when at the same time cuts are being made to our universal health care system and major cuts to our children's dental service.
But we can afford to give major tax breaks, eg Rupert Murdochs News Ltd ,Gina Rinehart’s Hancock mining and Twiggy Forrest mining and shipping interests, and these people do not employ Australians.
Matty Ryan, Fairy Meadow
Self serve a disadvantage
Whenever I visit any of the the major Supermarket outlets to push my trolley around and self-serve.
I often think about how different shopping once was. In the 1940/50’s customers of the Co-Operative stores were visited at home by the order man who would write down their grocery needs, two days later these were home delivered.
If you were doing it tough, you still received your order as you could run an account. The Co-operatives employed plenty of staff in each of their departments.
Many young people got their introduction to employment via a job at a Co-Op. Granted, back then the Co-Op’s had no “cool rooms” from which to purchase your out of season fruit and vegetables (definitely no Californian grapes or Chilean asparagus).
No sliced bread or ready cooked Pizzas’ either. Fast forward to the eighties and since and it is a different world completely.
No food on credit irrespective of your need.
Now not only do we push trolleys around and serve ourselves; too many of us line up to use the computer rather than manned checkouts. Yet we complain that our kids cannot find employment!
Barry Swan, Balgownie
Saturation point
I applaud Wollongong Council's decision to reject the request to demolish St Joseph's convent in Park Road, Bulli.
St Joseph's Primary School which occupies this site, is intending to expand it's population on an already overcrowded campus by extending onto the site occupied by the convent.
This is an already overcrowded campus. Park Road Bulli is a narrow suburban street, filled to capacity each school day with staff cars and then parent's vehicles, whilst also coping with traffic accessing Bulli High School and Waniora Public School.
The business model to expand this school is an attempt to increase pupil numbers. Does Wollongong Council set limits on the number of pupils with regard to the location of the school? I have been unable to access this information from council. The roads in and around St Joseph's Primary School have reached saturation point. No expansion of this school should be permitted,
Kate Broadfoot, Bulli