Nuclear power has a role to play despite Greens’ opposition

Top marks to Nick Cater for his hard-hitting expose of the dirty secrets hiding behind the clean energy phenomenon. (“Green rejection of nuclear a load of garbage”; 18/1). Despoilation of the environment and the massive ­accumulation of toxic and non-recyclable waste in the push to renewables makes nuclear look like a very clean and desirable alternative; even ignoring the usually unacknowledged factor of re­payment times for energy inputs in the production of solar panels, wind turbines and electric ­vehicles.

Recent analyses suggest that even “old technology” nuclear plants are now producing power that is cost-competitive with ­renewables.

The imminent availability of small, modular reactors should render their desirability (as part of an “energy production package”) incontestable. This is a debate which our nation needs to have. Many contributors to The Australian, in their support for the introduction of nuclear power generation, have provided the impetus for a wider debate.

With more input like that from Nick Cater, this will hopefully come to pass.

Bill Pannell, Dalkeith, WA

Bruce Collison (Letters, 18/1) raises an issue not often talked about when it comes to our climate response. Ever-increasing population growth leads to more consumption, more infrastructure (particularly roads), and ­millions more cubic metres of concrete for housing and business buildings. All this “growth at all costs” will actually offset the lower-emission strategies being implemented at all levels of government and put increasing pressure on our fragile environment.

Can’t we sustain a strong economy without this obsession with growth?

I, for one, am not rejoicing in the fact that Melbourne’s population will be greater than Sydney’s in a few years time.

Graeme Lechte, Brunswick West, Vic

Ross McDonald (Letters, 18/1) suggests and then bemoans Santos abandoning its Narrabri project, saying: “Only then will we realise what we have done.”

His phrasing reminded me of the Cree Indian prophecy that “only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realise we cannot eat money”. It seems some Australians reply to this grim warning: “Even when climate change-fuelled fires burn 24 million hectares, major cities flood again and again, highways are destroyed nationwide, and lettuces cost $12, we will argue that fossil fuel will keep us safe.”

I wonder if the latter wisdom will capture the public imagination the way the earlier one did.

Lesley Walker, Northcote, Vic

Blurring the point

It was no surprise that Greg Craven (“Pell’s revenge, 17/1), one of the late Cardinal George Pell’s chief cheerleaders, found nearly every conceivable way to extol Pell’s virtues, but in such enthusiasm, it seems his unnecessarily extravagant language may have blurred his point.

In claiming Pell had a “crushing unanimous vindication by the High Court”, it appears to ignore the fact that while unanimous, it can be in no way viewed as a vindication of Pell, given he was never found to be innocent, only that the High Court justices believed the evidence in which he was found guilty was inadequate beyond reasonable doubt – a point they were eager to make at the time.

While Craven seems unable to resist taunting Pell’s critics as “diehard hippies”, “cemented critics”, “purveyors of doom” and “a sad, scarpered ex-priest”, he ignores mentioning the significant royal commission findings criticising Pell for his neglectful leadership in managing pedophile Catholic priests for which he was aware and responsible.

Most of the article focused on the apparent debate within the Catholic Church of a move under Pope Francis towards a “synodality” that broadens the inclusiveness of Catholic Church believers, but which Pell apparently believed threatens the staunch Catholic doctrine and structures.

However, it needs to be kept in mind that Pell was a rigid conservative and, by definition, conservatives detest change. But culture is changing and constantly evolving, and structures that cannot change become ultimately irrelevant. This seems no revenge for Pell, but to his everlasting shame.

Allan Cook, Bundaberg, Qld

Russian distress

The debate about the gross inappropriateness of people flying the Russian flag at the Australian Open is important (“Nothing but nyet for flags, but it’s ‘love all’ for players”, 18/1).

Daily the world sees Putin’s immoral, cowardly and inhuman attacks against Ukraine and its people. Ban the Russian flag unless it is flown upside down – the international message of dire ­distress.

It would be a message that things in Russia are dire, or perhaps flagging the dire distress Putin has caused to Ukrainians.

Lee Smith, Kenmore, Qld