This should be especially the case in beer-loving countries such as Australia, in Ireland, where beer prices could "almost triple", and in Argentina, where rising prices are forecast to decrease beer consumption by "almost a third".

The warning that beef consumption (and, presumably, production) will have to decrease if we are to keep global temperatures at manageable levels should also come as a wake-up call to beef-loving countries such as Australia, the US and Argentina.

Perhaps even more concerning is the view of the director of ANU's Climate Change Institute that rising temperatures will cause plants to grow faster, have smaller yields, and produce less protein. Faster-growing plants also absorb less solar radiation, which increases the rate of temperature increase – in a dangerous feedback loop.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin

The letter from Roger Dace (October 17) suggesting the sea level at Batemans Bay hasn't risen in 25 years exemplifies the careless, ignorant dismissal of climate science infecting our politicians to the highest level.

Contrast this with the announcement (October 18) that Australia's most prestigious science award (ironically called the Prime Minister's Prize for Science) has gone to Professor Kurt Lambeck of the ANU for his work, over many years, on the way the Earth changes shape in subtle but highly important ways. His work led him to studying sea level variability: "Professor Lambeck says the big rise in sea levels has been since the Industrial Revolution – when humans started burning coal on a large scale. By measuring these changes over not only millions of years but also day to day, Professor Lambeck and his colleagues hope to be able to predict future changes and that has huge implications for communities as they address rising sea levels."

Richard Johnston, Kingston

Over the years Australia has lost many prime ministers and senior ministers – 56 of them – because of disputes and policy disagreements. So losing Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister was certainly nothing new or unusual.

We have always taken only a very, very short time to get over the loss, so surely we ought to go that same way now. Getting on with our national life is far more important than regretting the past, if only because there is absolutely nothing we can do to change anything to provide any benefit.

As my grandmother told me more than 80 years ago: "Get on with life, press on remorseless, and with any luck it will not be rewardless". I have done that since, and am still here, married to a most wonderful lady in a house we own.

Geoff Cass, Tewantin, Qld

I hope and pray the self-avowed atheist Ian Warden realises that unless he is already there, he may one day be an "over-70s First World Whinger" and despite his prophetic call for the Letters page to be taken away from us, I have faith in the Letters editor that his voice in the wilderness will simply be dismissed as a Third World Dummy Spit ("Why God spat the dummy", Sunday CT, October 14, p19).

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook NSW

I have a couple of points about Ian Warden's offering of October 14 on our PM's prayers and other things. The first is Christ's statement that God "sends his rain on the just and the unjust" (Matt 5:45). This might be to Ian's advantage. The second is that the letters page be taken away from the "over-70s First World Whingers of Old Canberra".

I would suggest the newspaper no longer publish articles by the nearly 70s crew like him.

That would make it more readable.

Stan Marks, Hawker

I agree with Ian Warden that the Opera House couldn't care less about the fleeting projections on its magnificent sails.

I would go further: the Opera House would no doubt be delighted with an occasional dress up that projects a sense of fun that most of the permanently outraged would never understand.

H. Ronald, Jerrabomberra

I know every time we have a royal visit the republic debate crops up. I for one love the way that whenever we have a visit there are so many smiles and feel-good stories. Not often that we get to see so many people enjoying themselves.

Barbara Mecham, Melba

There have been comments in this paper about naloxone use and availability. The truth is that the availability of naloxone means that fewer people die from overdose, especially when people are trained in its use. It does not mean that more people become drug users.

Ian Jannaway, Monash

Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message field, not as an attached file. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.

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