I imagine that the finding was correct in law — but where are the laws that limit the rights of fossil fuel industries to impose irreparable damage on our planet’s climate for centuries and generations to come? Where are the laws that impose swingeing taxes on the billions upon billions of dollars of profits that the fossil fuel industries earn every year for damages that will, one day soon, be seen as criminal?
Rosemary Penwarden was on trial, but also on trial was a legal system that, in this case, defended the interests of an industry that in fact requires — but is free of — the most stringent legal controls over its knowingly irresponsible destruction of our present way of life. We admire you Rosemary for your guilt. We challenge the fossil fuel industry, and the political and legal systems that defend it, to own up to theirs.
Colin Campbell-Hunt
Dunedin
Take pride
Rosemary Penwarden is correct in saying the wrong person is on trial regarding climate change. Today’s ruling (ODT 14.6.23) rings the death knell for both satire and the hopes of change for many communities. We have missed the opportunity to put the petroleum industry on notice and prove ourselves not as negative, wet or whiny but world leading, progressive and change makers.
This year’s election yet again appears to be more of the failures of the past. It’s my hope, and that of many others, that the smaller parties have an opportunity to carve their own paths into a new political future. Be proud of your actions Rosemary. Many of us out there certainly are.
Bert Holmes
Opoho
Naming policy
The ODT editorial (20.6.23) rather patronising dismisses the consternation of some Mosgiel residents at the long Maori name for their new pool.
In supporting that name the editorial suggests residents should simply get used to it. If it is so appropriate why did their caption under the accompanying photo read "Mosgiel Pool"?
Was it because if they had used "Te Puna o Whakaehu" most people wouldn’t know what they meant and it could be a pool anywhere in New Zealand?
Surely a name has to inform the majority of the people who read it or it defeats its purpose.
Brendan Murphy
Fairfield
Official titles
What a delight it is to read (ODT, 16.6.23) that Dunedin’s harbourside cycle/walkway now has an official title and thus that citizens can add Te Aka Otakou to the growing list of terms such as whare pukapuka; Te Pukenga; Kainga Ora; Hato Hone; Ripeka Whero; Te Wiki Tuao a-Motu at whose meaning the average person can hardly hazard a guess though, to be fair, most people can work out that you need tikiti in order to travel by tereina instead of by motoka.
I have a suggestion for our civic leaders.
The next time you need a name for something be it a building, a service, a reserve or even a humble park bench, why not come up with a title in English so that the great majority of taxpayers and ratepayers can know what you are talking about?
It is, after all, we who are footing the bill.
John Bell
Forbury
Civis and the meaning of freedom of expression
Your newspaper provides a forum for a wide range of opinions and one of them is of course that of Civis, a nom de plume that has been used by writers of the Passing Notes column since 1878.
The current Civis provide us with a liberal commentary on current events which is arguably well-informed and well worth reading.
We live in a society which normally values the contest of ideas and thus it is concerning that letter writer Peter Oliver (ODT 21.7.23) would like you to either silence Civis or "out" him — simply because he disagrees with his views.
I assume that Peter Oliver values freedom. On reflection he might like to apply it to the opinion columns of your newspaper.
Bill Southworth
Port Chalmers
Two correspondents objected to Civis’ columns, but they both attacked the person, without presenting any evidence to counter the issues Civis discussed.
I want, "Civis claims ‘x’ but in fact, evidence shows".
How telling that this was not the approach in either of the letters.
Susan Grimsdell
Auckland
Taxing topic
Once again Sir Ian Taylor has "hit the nail on the head" with his article in yesterday’s ODT (13.6.23). Too many of our politicians are completely out of touch with the investment of time, money and sheer hard work which many of the men and women make to set up and run businesses, not just for their own sakes but for the benefit of all. Many of the things we hold dear are on the verge of collapse — our education system, universities, health — so I say to politicians don’t hit the hand that provides funding for these.
Margaret Hall
Wanaka
BIBLE READING: The righteous will live by faith. — Romans 1.17.
