Meanwhile over the last 24 hours there has been minimal media coverage of the UN World Meteorological Agency's latest report showing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere are at a record high and of the WMO head's comment ''we are running out of time''. The loss of Australian life due to global warming is likely to far outstrip other causes. But global warming issues will disappear from the media again while we are going to get more media/political over the top alarmism on terrorism.

Makes one feel very pessimistic whether humanity has the wit to deal with the real global threats.

Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor

The bombs of terrorists are mere chicken feed compared with the harm that is happening to this nation from the increasingly destructive mega fires, floods, droughts and storms caused by climate change along with the acidification of our oceans, the loss of the Great Barrier Reef and rising sea levels.

Remembering how much of Victoria was brought to its knees by massive fires and how many Queenslanders died in floods, I can think of no more viciously effective terrorist action than a large donation to the Coalition whose wilful indifference to climate change carelessly destroys Australia's environment and thus kills its people and animals. (''Emails spark 'cash for questions' claims'', September 9, p4).

Rosemary Walters, Palmerston

I received a letter yesterday from ActewAGL and a credit on my electricity bill as they were passing on the savings from the abolished carbon tax. The quarterly saving for me was 99¢ for the quarter. Granted I only live in a two-person household, but to come anywhere near the average household savings of $550 a year that the Prime Minister spoke of, the average household must have over 60 people living in them.

In a decade's time are we still going to be celebrating the loss of this tax due to the extra cup of coffee we will be able to afford each of those years? Or will we be lamenting the fact that we have lost a decade of bringing down our pollution levels.

We have been had yet again by Tony Abbott and his scare tactics. A leg of lamb didn't reach $100 under the tax, nor will we the consumers now be awash with savings now it is gone. The environment and its inhabitants are the losers in all of this.

Dale Chaffey, Braddon

ACT Education Minister Joy Burch is to be commended for holding the line regarding the federal government's blackmail in trying to force the ACT to employ only religious chaplains. The $240-million school chaplains program, which has been rejected twice by the High Court, if it is to exist at all, must include the option for schools to choose if they want to employ secular workers in this program.

The state education system should be free of religious indoctrination and the Abbott government's attempts to force students to be subject to religious teachings or advice should be anathema to an advanced education system.

We generally get our religious beliefs from our parents. In my view, children should not be inducted into any religion until they are old enough to be able to distinguish between fact, fable and culture and thereby able to choose for themselves which path they want to go down, whether religious or secular. Joe, there's a $240 million saving not to be sneezed at.

Kathryn Kelly, Chifley

Peter James (Letters, September 10) seems far more interested in protecting the jobs of his chaplains than in the welfare of students.

If the latter was his primary concern he would be fervently urging the federal government to immediately abandon the caveat preventing secular welfare workers in schools being funded.

The High Court has twice struck down their efforts and now the federal government, aided by self-interested groups like the National School Chaplaincy Program, are trying to bully the states into administering this unconstitutional program. I congratulate Minister Burch for sticking to her principles.

Helen Berg, Curtin

With the current debate and talk about reviving parts of Civic, I have yet to see any discussion on how commercial rents influence human activity. Sub-letting, government assistance, profit-sharing, are all possibilities, and I can pretty much guarantee that cheaper rent will help bring businesses and young entrepreneurs back to the city.

Maybe Braddon has become hipster central because of cheaper rents? It's worth exploring.

Damian Breach, hipster end of Kambah

Has anyone noticed how many of the youngish ''pop up'' experts on radio and TV now begin their explanations with, ''So, …''? And then away they go, telling us about the promising preliminary findings of their research at Didgeridoo University into the value of YouTube kitten videos as an alternative to Ritalin in remedial texting classes for hyperactive students. Or whatever.

So, this is an ungrammatical use of an unassuming little word that never enjoyed such stardom prior to its being adopted by Gen Y and the Millennials as a ''soft starter'' for sentences.

Ross Kelly, Monash

Someone long before now should have quietly told Alan Cowan (Letters, September 11) that most real doctors consider it bad form to attach the honorific to their name when writing on matters outside their speciality. So unless Alan Cowan has a doctorate in political science I suggest that he stop doing it.

We obviously have a difference of opinion on the crisis in the Ukraine, but I think my point about the Nazi influence in the current regime in Kiev is borne out by the facts. And if the number of phone calls I have had in support of my recent letter is anything to go by, my opinions are shared by many others.

Bernard Davis, O'Connor

The Canberra Times editorial ''ACT stands as a renewables beacon'' (Times2, September 9, p2) glowed about the ACT government's admirably ambitious plans for renewable energy. This local ambition is sorely needed, given the destructive forces up on the hill trying to tear down the renewable energy target. Our proud Minister Corbell has long criticised those forces and and exhorts his State colleagues to pursue their own renewable energy targets.

But right here at home, I was disappointed to learn our own ActewAGL does not support this vision. ActewAGL takes the view of its part owner, AGL, that the RET should be reduced so it doesn't upset fossil fuel interests. This means ActewAGL wants to increase the cost to consumers - precisely what the federal government's own modelling showed slashing the RET would do.

Why does ActewAGL take the view of AGL, which owns a 25 per cent stake, rather than the ACT government, which owns a 50 per cent stake and provides an effective monopoly market? Maybe the ACT government should look at encouraging new entrants that share its own ambitions and will advocate for the interests of ACT consumers?

Tom Swann, Campbell

Michael Lucas (Letters, September 8) wants to remove all government funding for ''independent'' schools and force asset rich churches to make up the shortfalls.

What happens when the money runs out? Perhaps he would like to make the parents of kids who are forced into the public system to pay a transfer tax! Perhaps he would prefer a few selective beheadings or threats to send such parents to re-education centres to keep them in line! Preposterous you say: well no more preposterous than denying that, through their taxes, parents who choose to send their kids to private schools are cross-subsidising those parents who choose to educate their kids through the ''free'' public system.

John Popplewell, Hackett

A Treasurer worried about unsustainable health costs should certainly read Lesley Russell's article ''Tackle nation's obesity to reduce budget fat'' (Times2, September 10, p5). It is full of common sense but avoids painting a true picture of where some of the monetary and social costs lie. The overweight problem is a human body engineering one.

With the percentage of Australians now overweight we can look forward to funding millions of hip and knee replacements over the next few decades. Even if we have the hospital capacity some will not be able to withstand these operations as their hearts and/or lungs will be so compromised by carrying extra weight.

The effects of ageing, with or without replaced body structural components, will then have millions live in expensive electrically adjusted beds, at home or hospital, with overhead cranes. They will need to be permanently connected to urine collection. They will need two carers at a time, twice a day, to crane them onto a potty and to sponge wash them suspended by straps.

Joe Hockey and Health Minister Peter Dutton should think whether the nation can bear these costs or could avoid the worst by the alternative of being a ''nanny state''. We have made a difference to rates of tobacco damage; why not do the same with what is shaping up to be an even more costly lifestyle-caused damage.

Paul Kable, Sutton, NSW

IF IN DOUBT, INVADE

When I hear sabre-rattling from those in power, I wonder has someone assassinated an archduke somewhere or have the powers that be been reading Henry IV's advice to Prince Harry to invade France if he has political problems: ''Therefore, my Harry, Be it thy course, to busy giddy minds With foreign quarrels; that action, hence borne out, May waste the memory of the former days.''

Maria Greene, Curtin

POWER OF COMEDY

Two wonderful elderly blonde comedians have left the stage in Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers; we still have Bronwyn Bishop, however. Can the Federal Parliament arrange to loan her out?

Linus Cole, Palmerston

ARE WE AT WAR?

Can somebody please explain why Australia actually needs submarines?

Phil O'Brien, Flynn

DON'T BLAME SHIVA

The Dancing Shiva is not infamous, as you reported (''Radford regrets Shiva's shadow over NGA'', September 10, p1). It is entirely innocent. The disgraced New York dealer from whom the National Gallery bought it could be called infamous, which means abominable, notorious for badness.

Michael Travis, Bruce

POLL ON BYPASS

I draw the attention of readers of The Canberra Times to the first ever opinion poll that will allow residents to express their view on which bypass option they prefer for the proposed dual carriageway Barton Highway at Murrumbateman.

The survey can be accessed at the Murrumbateman website, Murrumbateman.org.au, and it is important that Murrumbateman residents in particular take the time to express their opinion.

Councillor Greg Butler, Yass, NSW

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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