Rabbit plague a blight worse than locusts
The plague of rabbits in Central Otago is far worse than anything that Beatrix Potter could come up with, as Potter was a children's book writer. There is no Flopsy Bunny, much less Peter Rabbit. (ODT, 17.11.23).
Moreover, feral rabbits are munching their way through the best and verdant grass in New Zealand. Furthermore, plague will exacerbate this bunny rabbit problem. This plague is far worse in the North Otago township of Moeraki and is far worse than a plague of locusts.
Now I understand why our Otago Regional Council rates are so expensive: to pay for staff to drive around counting rabbits. It is a great pity these people can't count properly as I have never ever seen 3.6 rabbits. Can the ORC please tell us whether the hawks got the other 0.4 and if it was the front or the back end of the rabbit?
Decimation
More than 10,000 people have been killed by the Israeli Army in Gaza since the appalling Hamas attacks which killed 1400 Israelis. As we see repeatedly, Israel practises the policy of decimation, first used by the Romans, then reinvented by the Germans in Occupied Europe. If one invading soldier was killed by resisters, then the occupier killed 10 or 100 people, depending on the psychopathology of the commander, as punishment.
Netanyahu is on course to reach the first target and the fact that the vast majority of those being blown to bits in the bloody reprisals are women and children, is frankly nauseating. Joe Biden needs to withhold armaments until Israel announces a ceasefire, pulls back, and enters into peace talks for a Two State Solution to end this macabre genocidal invasion.
Not to take sides
It is shocking to read the now daily reports of the human tragedy playing out in Gaza. Like me you are probably inundated with demands to "pick a side" or "be on the right side of history". Sadly, this has spilled out into unsavoury anti-semitic vitriol. One thing to remember is that being Jewish does not equal support for Israel, especially for Kiwi Jews. It is akin to thinking a Christian unquestionably supports US foreign policy.
Also, in further untangling this connection, it is important to understand contributions of Dunedin's small Jewish community. Julius Vogel, co-founder of the ODT and New Zealand Premier, was devoted in his support of universal suffrage and feminist ideals. A little later, Bendix Hallenstein (founder of Hallensteins Brothers) also pioneered improving conditions for factory workers and wider philanthropic work in the city (continued by his family) .
As I sit here on Vogel St, I just pray that a solution and ceasefire can be achieved quickly, as it is creating pain and disharmony well beyond the conflict itself.
Tomorrow spent undoing yesterday’s decisions
As a retired veteran of over 30 years with passenger rail, it's time to add my two cents to the current debate on the Taieri Gorge rail route.
This is an asset and a gem for an area that has little else for tourism and cruise passengers. To convert this beloved train to a bicycle trail would be a travesty. Once the rails and roadbed are converted they will never return.
I know. I have seen it time and again. I grew up in Pittsburgh with streetcars and rail service everywhere, now sadly missed. My friends and I would buy a Sunday pass for 65c and ride all over the city and county. Pittsburgh is not alone. Los Angeles and environs once had more inter-urban and street rail than any city in the country. Now all gone, and they are trying to rebuild it all at huge expense.
Bike trails are simple and can be placed almost anywhere. Not so with trains. We have no idea what growth this area will see in future decades. Decisions today may look sadly misguided in future. I can remember taking a train from Dunedin to Mosgiel in 1967. With today's petrol prices, no reasonable city parking and merchants crying for business, a simple motorised railcar service would be much appreciated. Killing the train today will also kill tomorrow's possibilities.
Last week, as part of Trending Topics (ODT 15.11.23) there was a message from Andrew Simms, stating he had been elected with everyone knowing that he stood for getting a cycleway through the gorge.
I would like to remind Mr Simms he is a member of the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board. Only the people of the Mosgiel-Taieri community could vote for him (and only 48.2% voted at all). The rest of Dunedin did not have the opportunity to vote for or against his agenda.
This an asset for all of Dunedin and Otago to decide on.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
