Fat is not a happy word
THANK you, Heather Ford! (''High Cost of obesity demands a fat tax'', October 20, p11). It's always a relief to read an intelligent article on the link between obesity, and the quality and cost of food.
My main beef with the article is the description of a tax on poor-diet food as being a fat tax.
Fat is not a happy word. In our body-image obsessed culture (fuelled by the media), it is used by young girls who are starving themselves to ill-health and death when describing their reflection.
It is used by people, openly and cruelly, to discriminate against others. This says more about the abuser than it does about the person it's aimed at.
Such abuse rarely compels people who are overweight or obese to lose weight but it does drive some toward lower self-esteem and depression, which can in turn lead to greater weight gain.
Although being obese is one of the best indicators of increased disease risk, it is not the only indicator.
Normal and underweight people also die of heart attacks, strokes and cancer as a result of poor diet.
Let's drop the abuse and bring on a hypothecated disease risk tax that targets poor-diet food and supports all Australians, from farmers to consumers, toward best-health food.
Helen Kinmonth, Cook
The Wright message
I WONDER if I could record my admiration for your correspondent Jessica Wright in being prepared to declare rather than deny her health problems (''Take a walk in another's shoes to help diabetes fight'', October 18, p20).
Wright's willingness to speak openly about her condition and travails has the potential to help hundreds, perhaps thousands, with similar problems. As a member of an organisation seeking to assist and raise research funds for people fighting blindness, our membership is but a small proportion of the population who suffer similarly but are unwilling, sometimes catatonically so, to seek assistance. If only they knew how much acceptance of their condition would help themselves and others.
I recall being impressed by another of your columnists, Robert Messenger, when he wrote about the ways in which he became aware of and then dealt with his bipolar disorder.
Both journalists are a credit to your organisation for providing this very public service, which has the potential to help many confront and then deal with their disabilities.
I would like to thank also the members of Women in Racing, who attended and generously supported our fundraiser at Thoroughbred Park Saturday, October 17.
Robin Poke, Retina Australia (ACT) president
Reclaim our streets
WE MOVED into this suburb about 30 years ago, and although crime wasn't unheard of it was generally minor and infrequent.
Our local police station also acted as a deterrent for would-be vandals, especially in the Erindale area.
Over the years this situation has changed drastically. With the closing of the Erindale police station, pockets of undesirables moving into the area, and the popularity of the local restaurants and clubs, Wanniassa is no longer a safe place to live.
The crime rate has grown astronomically over the past few years; we do not feel safe even in our own home and the thought of walking in the neighbourhood after dark is unthinkable.
Out of necessity we have installed a security system and lights but even these appear not to act as a disincentive.
About six months ago, after visiting a local restaurant and enjoying a few drinks we responsibly left the car at home and walked. On the return journey we were held up at knife point and money was demanded.
Many homes in our street have been broken into, had cars stolen, damage inflicted to most cars parked outside after dark, and trees set alight.
Although once heavy sleepers, we now sleep quite lightly, waiting for unexplained noises and cars moving slowly along the street. Last Tuesday night my husband awoke to find a gang of youths trespassing on ours and neighbouring properties, with a car dropping them off and picking them up. The police try their best to apprehend the offenders, who usually get a slap on the wrists by the courts, with little regard for the psychological damage they have inflicted upon their victims.
I think it's about time our Government concentrated on local issues, starting with law and order.
The judicial system requires a complete overhaul; we need to send a clear message to those who seek to break the law that there is a low tolerance in the ACT to crime.
I suspect many residents (and voters) share my concerns. The time for debate is over we want action to reclaim our streets, and to make Canberra once again a safe place to live.
W. Reynolds, Wanniassa
Confusion over colleges
IF THE Minister for Education, Andrew Barr, was serious about improving the quality of vocational offerings to students in years 11 and 12 he would immediately end his department's mobility policy which moves teachers around schools and colleges.
This policy means that expertise and knowledge about local industry, which takes a long time to achieve, cannot be fully developed and used by a teacher as they are rapidly moved on.
Those with industry experience cannot be attracted to a school as they will soon be moved out of their particular area of expertise and into a high school.
Given the fact that the department decides which college a student will attend, who will decide, and on what criteria, which students will be directed to the vocational institutions?
If cost savings are the unstated reason for the changes he may need to consider the student ratios in college vocational courses compared to TAFE.
I can hardly believe that anyone, let alone a Labor minister, would suggest such an arrangement for ACT public education in 2009.
Just who is advising this minister, and what is their agenda?
Steve Thomas, Yarralumla
Religious bias?
RECENTLY I was asked to respond to a phone survey on the sale of Calvary Hospital.
I supplied my age and post code then I was asked my religion. I answered ''none'' and was told that this category (no religion) was full and that the interview could not continue.
What type of survey excludes respondents based on their religion or lack of religious beliefs?
Allan Hewlett, Kambah