Men's and women's Gillette razor ad arguments show no difference

No matter how much Kevin Donnelly blathers on in defence of masculinity and men's rights against toxic feminism, the facts remain that more than 68 women were murdered by male partners/ex-partners in Australia in 2018; one in three women over 15 are subjected to domestic violence by men; one in five women are subjected to sexual assault by men, all in Australia every year. I'm a man and I'm prepared to recognise that it is men that are the problem, it is up to men to become the solution. Stop whinging that we men have feelings that the feminist movement is hurting. Women are being hurt and killed by men week after week and men must do something about it. We must stand up for women, don't look away, don't be silent about violence against women and change our bloody attitude. - Don Smith, Ashfield

Razor blades have nothing to do with the complex and controversial issues Gillette, out of sheer greed and self-interest, has sought cynically to exploit. When an entire Herald editorial is devoted to such sanctimonious virtue signalling, you might say the company succeeded – if that's what you regard as success ("Razor blade wars a good look," January 18). - Ron Sinclair, Bathurst

Gillette: no longer recommended for sensitive skin. - Rod Tuck, Katoomba

There's reportedly falling retail spending and rising obesity yet Macquarie shopping centre owner AMP Capital is demolishing the famed ice rink ("Olympic dreams put on ice as $195m upgrade closes beloved ice rink", January 18).

It might be argued this upgrade includes "more access to the railway station and bus interchange", but many might consider this a profit-driven business decision. Will this upgrade also comprise yet more apartments? Macquarie Centre lies within an uninterrupted high-rise apartment jungle. I grew up in nearby Eastwood and spent school holidays and weekends walking up to what was then Marsfield, to pick blackberries in the vast fields that are now Macquarie Park.

Since the fields were built over, the Macquarie Ice Rink has been the physical exercise fields in school holidays and weekends for countless children raised in apartments. Predictably, healthy lifestyle concerns skate on very thin ice here. - Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville

Last week, waiting to see a movie at Macquarie Shopping Centre, my daughter and I watched an ice hockey match (my first). I was amazed at the skill and speed of the game. This week, I hear that the only ice rink in northern Sydney is to be bulldozed for an upgrade to the centre.

As usual, development trumps sport (even to Olympic level), recreation, entertainment, health and human interest. We must have more shops to cater to more consumers to spend more money in an area more than well-served by shopping centres (Top Ryde, Chatswood, even Hornsby).

The state government is involved, as "access to the railway station and bus interchange" is planned for the space. Which stakeholders were consulted in this decision? Certainly not the skaters or the leaseholder of Macquarie Ice Rink. Everyone seems blindsided. If this decision cannot be reversed, the developer should be forced to provide an ice rink in an alternate nearby location. - Ruth Barwick, Hornsby

The impending demoltion of the Macquarie ice skating rink shows the vulnerability of community facilities or cultural assets being owned privately. How often are developers given bonuses to create community precincts or facilities and then some years later claim commercial pressures require them to close for redevelopment?

Even private management of public assets like Luna Park are able to pursue profits for development with no public benefit happening on crown land – all because governments do not want to publicly manage their own community assets. - Polly Seidler, Darlinghurst

All this suggests the owners and developers may have to water down their plans and put the whole thing on ice. - Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook

I notice that champion tennis players such as Serena, Roger and Venus don't bother with the silly "Which is the lucky ball?" juggle before serving. They simply accept the first ball offered. Neither do they find it necessary to stuff a spare into a pocket or up the edge of the skirt. - Rob Hughes, Oatley

To Clive Palmer: Hey, big spender. Actually, Australia is great despite the posturing of Trumpesque blowhards ("Palmer outspends Libs and Labor", January 18). - Anne Ring, Coogee

Clive may think he is advancing along the yellow brick road to political success, but in the eyes of most voters he has already hit the yellow brick wall. It's not that long since another politician chucked his side a million or so, and that did not go too well in the end. - Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Surely Clive Palmer must realise that bombarding us with $50m worth of his advertisements is a waste of time and money? The average Australian does not suffer from memory loss. - Carolyn Wills, Cremorne

Seems those of us west of the Divide now live in "wherever" (Letters, January 18). - Bob Guy, Cootamundra

Hear, hear Jim Ayling (Letters, January 18). Compulsory voting insulates us from the hare-brained populist politics of "the base". - Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

Once again Tony Abbott shows us how deeply immersed he is in UK politics ("Abbott slapped down over 'embarrassing' Brexit claim", January 18). Perhaps he could be persuaded to move back to the UK and stand for Parliament there? He'd fit in well - somewhere. - Lorna Denham, Cardiff Heights

I expect Tony Abbott is feeling rejected and dejected. First he is resoundingly rejected by the Australian people in the polls, then by the Liberal Party and now by his beloved Poms. He receives so little gratitude, no one would blame him if he walked away from politics. - Graham Lum, North Rocks

As the letters of January 18 point out, Adam Kay's exculpatory article on cotton farming ("Cotton farmers didn't kill the fish", January 17) misses the point. This dry country does not need to grow cotton. We receive little benefit as there seems to be no secondary industry; whatever is grown is sent overseas to be processed. It is time we admitted we have made a mess of agriculture in Australia and, if our farmers have any sense, they will go to the original inhabitants and ask them for help. A good start for "experts" and politicians might be a requirement to read Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe. - Nola Tucker, Kiama

Adam Kay says cotton gives growers more bang for their buck, but the "Australian Grown Cotton" tags on clothing designed to promote a home-grown fibre might do more to boost ethical shopping if consumers decide to avoid products that have become synonymous with the decline of our east coast river system and look for alternatives.  - Dorin Suciu, Valentine

In the next few months there will be federal and state elections. There will therefore be billions of dollars of election promises made. At the top of these promises there must be a commitment to buy back significant quantities of water stored by Cubbie Station and for this water to be released into the Darling River as soon as possible, as well as a renegotiation of its water entitlements. Our state and its environment deserve nothing less. - Ross Langford-Brown, Randwick

We are told that distraction from use of mobile phones is a huge new problem on the roads. So many people are doing it that it has to be addressed with artificial-intelligence-controlled cameras on the sides of roads and on bridges, detecting it and issuing fines automatically. But how can that be true when the just-announced road death figures for last year ("Road toll lowered with 78 fewer deaths", January 17) show a substantial fall, with record lows in many states? It looks to me more like the Australian camera company and state governments seeing a huge new source of revenue. - Gordon Drennan, Burton (SA)

South Australia was the hottest place on the planet on Wednesday yet not a single power blackout ("Australia records 15 hottest sites on planet", January 17). - Larry Case, Turramurra

It must be time for a government-initiated, anti-scamming, anti-ID theft publicity campaign. The government's own figures assess the cost of these fraudulent exercises to be in the billions of dollars annually. Public welfare campaigns work - like the AIDS campaign, for example. Well-structured guidance on managing telephone, email and social media scams could be put into the media generally with messages like 'never provide your bank account details over the phone to a cold caller', etc. Taking care of its citizens is fundamental to the government's role. It's about time this particular need was addressed. - John Golden, Newport

I'm sorry, Pasquale Vartuli (Letters, January 18), but you are taking a very insular view of the events of Europe in 1940. France was taking a terrible beating from Germany and Charles De Gaulle wanted to commit all fighters to the battle. Winston Churchill, who had held office as prime minister for only one week, insisted on retaining a corps of aircraft for the defence of Britain in the event of the fall of France. This was vindicated by a marginal victory in the Battle of Britain. If De Gaulle had got his wish and the support of the total British Air Forces, then Hitler would have undoubtedly won the war and Europe would have been united under Germany. De Gaulle never forgave Britain for this and, despite support for him and French freedom fighters, and British support of the underground resistance network, De Gaulle vehemently opposed British entry into the European Union. It is, however, a shame we need barriers at all. Perhaps now it is time for a united world and the combat of inequality and injustice everywhere. - Edward Houghton-Ward, Banora Point

No, Pasquale, Margaret Thatcher would have just privatised the Brexit mess. - Peter Mahoney, Oatley

The Iron Lady would invade Europe and win the next election with an increased majority.- John Grinter, Katoomba

Why not celebrate Australia Day every year on the last Monday or the last Friday in January? This will overcome the controversy about January 26 as the set date and there will be a long weekend at a familiar time of year. - Stuart Dorney, Drummoyne

The Europeans have every right to be precious about the names of their produce which we have appropriated ("EU demands to rename Australian wine and cheese hard to swallow", January 18). Not only are they precious between countries but also across regions. When in the Loire Valley in France I asked for a glass of champagne, I was politely rebuffed by the waiter, "Non. Madame. Not champagne. Methode traditionelle." - Patricia Farrar, Concord

Kevin Harris (Letters, January 18) fondly recalls no evidence of pill taking by fellow patrons when attending concerts by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, et al. My wife and I were at Bob's famous gig at the old Sydney Stadium in 1966, and while (apart from being the source of dense tobacco smoke) the audience may have been clean, Bob himself had clearly been swallowing something more potent than water. Perhaps drug testing performers at today's concerts would be a good starting point? - Max Edwards, Kanahooka

Gladys Berejiklian obviously doesn't believe in the precautionary principle when it comes to pill testing. The principle says that if there is any possibility of harm, precautionary action should be taken before waiting for the definitive scientific proof. - John Frith, Paddington

Doctors recognise that pill testing at rock concerts will save young lives and will not promote drug trafficking. When will Gladys Berejiklian and the NSW Government stop obfuscating and follow suit? It may be hard to accept, but ultimately, if we want to save more lives, and put illegal drug suppliers out of business, but we need to legalise, regulate and control the recreational drug industry. - Geoff Black, Caves Beach

As the drought grinds on, letters giving first-hand perspectives from the regions are greatly appreciated. As with other pressing topics, unpublished contributions can be passed on to relevant reporters and editors. As close as the weather gets to us in the city, it's rarely as pressing a matter as it for "the bush".

Sympathy for politicians is in short supply on this page but it was hard not to see Peter Dutton in an impossible vice over the Saudi teenager Rahaf al-Qunun. Last week some readers urged her to join the refugee queue but on the weekend when Canada accepted her, there was some gnashing of teeth that our Immigration Minister – and Prime Minister – had been too slow to act. "If we abhor trial by media, then maybe we should be equally aware of granting asylum by media?" concluded Tim Parry, North Turramurra.

The pill testing debate pitted one set of realists against another: a classic case of public health mitigation versus individual responsibility.

"Your finger-waving correspondents seem to have forgotten what it is like to be young. Young people take risks. It has always been thus," complained James Buckman, of Enmore. 'Just say no' doesn't work, pill testing does."

Some were baffled by the notion that the music festival experience needed chemical enhancement. "I thought I would listen to Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.4 this morning, but couldn't decide which pill to take to enhance the melody, so I put on some rap music and took a laxative," wrote Ray Alexander, of Moss Vale. The late funnyman Buster Fiddess, who sparked fond memories this week, would have been proud.

Mark Sawyer, Letters co-editor