Adani risk too high
Two members of the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta's Social Justice Committee were fortunate to have the opportunity to experience a close encounter with the Great Barrier Reef during recent holidays. However, they found the experience rather disturbing, finding the reef was looking unhealthy, with grey-green algae covering coral and fewer fish or other organisms than expected. Having no empirical evidence of their own, a visit to a research facility nearby confirmed their concerns.
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It appears that the warming of the ocean, with its consequent changes in acidity, together with nutrient run off from agriculture, are causing damage by bleaching and increasing algal growth on the corals. This is affecting not only the corals of the Reef, but the ecosystems it supports. Added to this, the recent news of the failure of the coral spawning after three successive years of bleaching shows that the reef is in enough trouble with adding any extra stressors.
Adding a coal mine the size of the proposed Carmichael Adani mine, and the infrastructure required to support the transport of the coal overseas, on that same part of the Australia's north east coastline sounds like a harbinger of death to the reef there.
In Australia we have a very poor record in terms of protecting our unique ecosystems. While we aspire to have a quality education system and believe ourselves to have a sense of morality from our common values, risking damage to an already stressed Reef to produce the source material for applications that are known to have a significant impact on precious environments like this Australian icon, as well as increasing greenhouse gas emissions that the world is already struggling to control, seems immoral, ignorant and greedy.
It has been estimated that this coal, wherever it is used, would be responsible for approximately doubling Australia's greenhouse gas emissions over a 12-year period. Surely it wouldn't take a lot of vision to find less damaging ways of providing employment for those worried about job opportunities in Queensland: just some re-imagining, research, determination and leadership.
Rev John Parkes, Bishop of Wangaratta
Free speech for all
Mr Moran was barking up the wrong tree. It should be very evident that Folau was simply quoting the Bible so really, you are condemning the Bible, which you are entitled to do but why did you select only the LGBTQ community as if they were so fragile and lacking resilience that suddenly the words of the Bible would cause them distress? Maybe you could print your views on Islam's attitude to the same subjects?
You say you agree with free speech "in a measured and respectful manner" but from your attitude that only applies if people agree with your perspective.
George Krooglik, Albury
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