Metres of sea level rise and hot air
Cr Jim O’Malley is quoted (ODT 20.05.23) as saying ‘‘We are looking at metres and metres of sea-level rise.’’
At current levels of sea-level rise, which are under 2mm per year, it will take over 500 years for the mean sea-level to rise by 1m.
Could Cr O’Malley say how many millennia ahead he is planning for?
Or alternatively, if Cr O’Malley thinks that the rate of sea-level [rise] is going to increase by an order of magnitude, to for example 20mm per year, so that we would have a 1m rise in just 50 years (a more reasonable timeframe for planning purposes, given the life-span of buildings and infrastructure), could he give a source for such a projected dramatic increase in the rate of sea level rise?
This is too big an issue to have an elected councillor who is erring by orders of magnitude with regard to current scientific estimates of the extent of sea-level rise that is likely to occur over the coming century.
Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle
Dunedin
Mr Moncrief-Spittle was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2022 local body election. Ed.
Cr Jim O’Malley replies. Mr Moncrief-Spittle’s comments on sea-level rise ignores that sea-level rise is about to enter a new phase in which significant forward feedback loops are beginning to kick in. The exposure of rock underlying ice on land increases the heat absorption of the land and speeds up melting.
Additionally, methane release from frozen permafrost also is starting. Both will speed up the rate of land-based ice melting and result in even faster sea-level rise than we have seen so far.
Regarding meters and meters of sea-level rise. Yes, we face that threat, but these changes that will occur over the next few hundred years. However, if humanity does nothing, we will see the effects of melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which have the capacity of causing up to 7 and 60 meters of sea-level rise respectively.‘‘
Climate change denial needs to stop.
The female lens
Thanks for pointing out Government’s application of a female-only lens when budgeting (editorial 22.5.23). ‘‘The initiatives achieve results for whanau, women, pregnant women, single mothers, wahine Maori, Pacific women, working women and students’’. So nothing for those that die early, suffer more workplace injuries, are over-represented in prisons, mental health, suicide, leave school early - that would be men by the way.
The Danish government recognised this. They disbanded their Ministry for Women and created a Ministry for Gender Equality. You have to wonder what has our Ministry for Women actually achieved in its nearly 40 years.
Bernard Jennings
Wellington
University malaise
The financial malaise of Otago University should raise alarm bells, and their simultaneous plan to change their logo, costing huge sums, must reflect a most inept fiscal management. This is urgently needing an independent audit of their books. The logo change is an outright overindulgence, which has see outrage from the public. Their reasons to be as diverse as possible is both overly PC, and ridiculous. Many reasons have been aired by the executive for their money plight but has stopped short of accepting personal responsibility.
The proposed massive job cuts is shameful, affecting the lives of loyal knowledgable academic people who accepted their positions in good faith.
Clive McNeill
North East Valley
[Abridged]
Sam Gilbert was well and truly robbed of a try
On Saturday I was seated in seat 263, row A, aisle 209, north stand of the Dunedin Stadium.
This location had me in an elevated position with a good view of the try line and dead ball area for the Highlanders v Rebels rugby game.
At the time I was fully unaware what a fortuitous location I was in.
Very soon after kick-off I had a clear view of what I considered was a certain try scored by the Highlanders. The ball was forced down solely by the hand of a Highlander player.
No Rebel players hands were to be seen: they must have thought it was a try as they all moved over behind their goal post. The Highland players had retired to the halfway line.
The exception that of the goal kicker who had already placed the ball into position for the conversion. But still no whistle for the try from the referee.
My reaction to seeing full on what I considered to be a fair try was for my geriatric body to involuntary leap up from my seat with both arms raised.
Then I view the referee and my side touch judge being in contact with the TMO. The outcome that the ball had grounded on a Rebel player’s hand and not the grass.
I am prepared to swear on the Bible that there was no Rebel players’ body attachments anywhere near where the ball was grounded.
Poetic justice must have prevailed as this same player (Sam Gilbert) converted a penalty well into overtime to give the Highlanders a very slight win.
If the Highlanders had lost, or even drawn, this game, surely it must be up there with the Bob Deans disallowed try when the Original All Blacks played against Wales in front of at least 47,000 spectators in 1905.
John Neilson
Ravensbourne
[Abridged]
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