Emissions-free nuclear power is worth supporting
Adam Creighton nails Australia’s international embarrassment perfectly (“No logic in our nuclear allergy”, 23/4). Alone among developed nations, nuclear power remains illegal in this country because of a 20-year-old deal between the Greens and Democrats of that time to get other legislation passed. It is pathetic that our leaders continue to hide behind this. We sell uranium to others for safe, emissions-free nuclear power, but will not use it ourselves.
The only way out of this ludicrous position is for strong bipartisan leadership to put the matter beyond electoral doubt so that proper analysis can be done.
Since 1999 when the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act outlawed nuclear power in Australia, much has been done to ensure the safety and practicality of using nuclear power as an energy source. Work is being done to develop small reactors. This is being undertaken by some of the biggest names in the nuclear energy world.
In Ontario, nuclear power produces 60 per cent of electricity needs with none of the emissions that cause smog, acid rain or global warming.
These facts and many others are surely enough for us to come to our senses and encourage governments to support the use of nuclear power for electricity.
A bounty on white males?
A Melbourne University student workshop has advocated banning white males from speaking during tutorials (“Ban on white males speaking”, 23/4). We all know that white males are responsible for the ills of the world. The time has come to act. Stage one should involve banning white males from attending university. This should be followed by banning them from government employment and, of course, standing for political office. There is also the matter of burning all the books that have been written by white males.
Why haven’t these students begun patrolling the streets arresting white males? It’s typical for students not to take things to their logical conclusion.
Koran is no help
I agree with Babette Francis (Letters, 24/4), we do need to know more about Islam, but we also need to know our Muslim citizens. Trying to understand Islam by scrutinising the Koran would not help. It would be like trying to understand Christian society by studying the Old Testament.
The Koran contains apparent contradictions between the Mecca and Medina phases of Mohammed’s life and it falls to the imams to adopt particular translations. In Islam there are also the Hadiths that are considered to be unreliable and the Kitab Kuning which is generally used in the pesantrens found in poorer communities. Sunni and Shia Muslims obviously have different views of Islam. So the Koran is not going to help you much. Talk to Muslims yourself.
Those Muslims who become radicalised do so through the distorted beliefs of a small minority but that is not the exclusive domain of Islam.
Climate rubbish
I am surprised that so many voters seem to believe the rubbish Labor’s climate change spokesman Mark
Emissions-free
nuclear power is
worth supporting
Butler expounds. He obviously disagrees with our Chief Scientist’s view of our influence on climate change. Since we produce only about 1.3 per cent of global greenhouse gases, a 45 per cent or 27 per cent reduction would not affect the climate and would be a waste of money.
It is a pity teachers can’t explain these numbers and children are misled into believing that we can make an effective reduction in global warming when we are only a bit player.
Gender intervention a betrayal of the nation’s vulnerable youth
Major policy statements from democratic institutions, led by the UK’s Cass Review and the US fightback for common sense, are dropping totally disproved medical procedures.
Food industry brings home extent of our energy crisis
With big increases in electricity bills leading to higher food prices, the conclusion is that by placing ideology over pragmatism, the Albanese government has failed us.