Net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
I attended a meeting, in Invercargill on Tuesday, at which Great South, a publicly-funded economic development agency, presented its strategy on how it intends to deal with the challenges of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
About 40 people attended the meeting I understand.
Other meetings were held in Gore and Te Anain what Great South billed as consultation.
It would be fair to say that the response to Great South's plans, which it paid an engineering company nearly $100,000 to produce, was feisty.
One of the issues that most concerned the audience was the time provided for submissions on the strategy.
We were shown an overhead containing bullet points, including the statement that public submissions would close on April 26, 2023, the strategy would be finalised on May 12, 2023 and implemented immediately afterwards.
When I and other attendees objected to this timeline and said it strongly suggested predetermination and lip service to public participation, Steve Canny, Great South's general manager strategic projects, assured us that the deadline would be extended.
I now call on Great South to honour that commitment and extend the submission period for at least another six weeks.
I also urge people to read the draft strategy and make submissions.
Sustainable transition is not all about spotting profitable business opportunities, although the draft strategy focuses almost exclusively on that issue; it also involves decent employment and social justice, such as helping poor people to obtain renewable energy supply and many other matters that will affect the lives of everyone living within Southland/Murihiku.
Wonderful wood
Once again, Jim Childerstone, (ODT, April 10), in his inveterate zeal to promote forestry, is being economical with the truth.
He avers that burning coal produces 40 times as much carbon dioxide as an equivalent amount of wood. This figure is the product of creative accounting by Scion forestry research who subtract the atmospheric carbon sequestered when the tree grows from the amount generated when the wood burns. The creation of coal also sequesters atmospheric carbon, albeit on a much longer timescale. Both wood and coal are hydrocarbons and their ratios of carbon to hydrogen are quite similar So too is their carbon dioxide output.
Jim also commends growing trees as a carbon offset. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, does not endorse this. Forests can burn: planting trees is not a substitute for decarbonising our economy or delaying this.
Woods virtues don't require embellishment. Wood is truly marvellous material, competitive physically with plastic and steel, but surpassing them chemically as it is both combustible and biodegradable.
Cartoon
It is very interesting to me to see Shaun Yeo’s cartoon of today (ODT, 20.4.23) loudly proclaiming free speech from behind prison bars.
What we have been experiencing lately and especially in the last three years is anything but.
J.K. Rowling’s books helped millions learn English
It was surprising to read that columnist Jean Balchin (ODT, 20.4.23) considers J.K. Rowling to be a lazy and, presumably, untalented writer.
However, on reflection, I realised that this is a perfect example of an academic who may indeed know all there is to know about English, but nothing at all about story-telling.
These books have helped more millions of people, children and adults, learn about English and how to use it, than all the formally trained academics like Ms Balchin put together.
I accept that Ms Rowling does not try to balance the percentages of the ever increasing varieties of race, sex and national options into her books, but despite all the noise by the promoters of these, the books have enjoyed massive success in all manner of countries around the world, many of which whose ways of life have little relationship to that which we can enjoy, and in languages structured entirely differently to English. Academia can do a lot worse than learn from her success in communicating with others.
By demonstrating excellent writing of her own, Jean Balchin enlivened the pages of the (ODT, 20.4.23) with her liverish view of J.K. Rowling's efforts. I’m sure her critique of Rowling's literary skills was spot-on. However, her description of Rowling as transphobic was false. Perhaps Balchin has spent too much time in one of Oxford's dark corners plotting the hated author’s downfall for disagreeing with the infallable faction. Off with her head, pens raised in fanatical fervour. But that’s OK, leave Rowling's magical books to her millions of adoring readers who care more about imagination than passive sentences.
Gratitude to oncologist Lyndell Kelly
I am writing to express my profound gratitude to retired radiation oncologist and clinician Lyndell Kelly (ODT, 18.4.23), for her continued commitment to Otago cancer services and patient welfare.
Two years ago I was diagnosed with a rare cancer and after eight weeks spent in limbo was fortunate to be referred to Dr Kelly, who immediately took charge of my radiation treatment, and communication with a surgical team in Christchurch for removal of my tumour.
It is one thing to try to make peace with "dying from cancer" but it is another thing entirely to be forced to accept dying as a result of dismissive and arrogant "experts" and politicians, who are simply not listening or acting on the advice of clinicians.
I am still receiving regular follow-up care from clinicians and staff in the oncology department but it’s pretty depressing thinking about what the future holds for both new and existing cancer patients, a future with specialist doctors "hot-desking" while trying to think, and organise incredibly complex treatments, consult with fellow-clinicians in other departments, and communicate and care for patients while respecting their privacy.
I wish Lyndell Kelly could enjoy the retirement she so clearly deserves after decades of service but I am so grateful that she is still fighting on the behalf of cancer services in this region.
Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz
