Letters to the editor

Greens turn backs on Obama protests

Bearing witness to Obama’s war agenda outside the parliament on November 17 when he was inside talking up war in the Pacific also revealed a terrible truth about the parliamentary Greens.

They were invited to come join us, to speak out against the US Alliance and US bases. None did. Some apologised, but most did not even see fit to acknowledge the invitation.

The terrible truth is that Greens leader and spokesperson on defence, Senator Bob Brown turned his back.

Seems he reckoned a personal relationship with a one-term President to be more important than his relationship with the ongoing antiwar movement.

As Humphrey McQueen noted, Brown wanted to meet Obama because he reckoned Obama smarter than Bush. There is truth in that. The war agenda of Bush did not deceive Brown. By pulling the wool on Brown, Obama has shown himself to be much smarter.

The judgement of Bob Brown as Greens spokesperson on war and peace is no longer to be trusted.

What is he offering anyway? A sincere but tired voice saying over and over: “We need a parliamentary debate.”

Seventy-two percent of Australians want troops out of Afghanistan, not more debate.

If this is leadership, it is truly pathetic.

Graeme Dunstan,
Peacebus.com

NSW school ethics classes must stay

A parliamentary inquiry will examine whether ethics classes in NSW schools should be abolished.

The General Purpose Standing Committee N.2 comprises a majority of conservative MPs, including the Liberal right winger David Clarke, Marie Ficarra (Opus Dei member), Fred Nile’s colleague Paul Green, Sarah Mitchell (Nationals), Jan Barham (Greens), and ALP members Shaquette Moselmane and Helen Westwood.

It will examine the objectives and effectiveness of the classes, the curriculum and whether the legislation that allows them to be taught as an alternative to special religious education should be repealed.

The need for this inquiry is highly questionable. The committee has been given this task at the initiative of Nile who has expressed the most bizarre objections against ethics classes.
The overwhelming majority of parents support ethics classes. There has been ample public debate about this issue. The classes have been well received.

The Premier made an electoral commitment that the ethics classes would continue. If the classes are discontinued that would strengthen the belief of the electorate that most politicians need ethics classes even more than school children do.

The teaching of ethics at all levels of education is of paramount importance. As an editor of an academic text on business ethics I suggest that the need for ethics teaching, separate from religious doctrines and values, is beyond question.

Giving the committee this task (it will report in June) is reportedly part of a government deal to get Nile’s Christian Democratic party support for other legislation.

Klaas Woldring,
Pearl Beach, NSW



Cluster bomb treaty in doubt

I am utterly shocked and appalled to read that the US government is leading a push to try to overturn the international ban on cluster bombs, a lethal and incredibly indiscriminate weapon.

Many thousands of people, including numerous children, have been killed and maimed by these bombs. When cluster bombs are used in conflict areas they disperse hundreds of smaller bomblets. Many of these bomblets fail to explode at the time of use and lay embedded in the ground exploding months or years later when farmers, their children or other civilians disturb them.

Children and other people around the world are still dying and being badly injured by cluster bombs in various countries years after wars have ended.

It was righteous anger from people that led to the ban on these horrible bombs and only continued public indignation and pressure will compel the defeat of this shameful attempt to weaken the ban on cluster munitions.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions was a step in the right direction in curtailing the arms trade in and use of cluster bombs. We must speak up and protest against these appalling actions by the US and others to sanction the use of these weapons and the ongoing carnage they cause.

Steven Katsineris,
Hurstbridge, Vic. Abridged

Aged pensioners losing out

Many thousands of aged pensioners cannot afford dental care treatment and as a result their health is adversely affected.

The same applies to some medications. As a case in point, those who suffer from prostate gland disorders cannot afford Pros-Terol that has to be imported from the US at a cost of $55.
The aged pension is $331 a week.

A government that uses the appellation of Labor, permits this to exist. The time is long overdue for decisive action to be taken to ensure free dental care and medication to all pensioners.

Bernie Rosen,
Sydney, NSW