The headlines on August 2 should read "Spending exceeds income by whopping 170 per cent", but they won't as we don't pay enough attention to our planet's ecology.
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Earth Overshoot Day is on August 2 this year, the day we have spent 100 per cent of this year's ecological income, the day we start deficit spending until the end of the year.
Earth Overshoot Day, determined by the Ecological Footprint Network, has fallen in August since 2005 and September since 1997.
Our world used to live within our ecological means, up until 1971, and since then we've had larger deficits every year. Our biosphere is like a trust fund we inherited from previous generations, and we are the both the trustees and beneficiaries, except we don't give our role of trustee the attention it requires.
Each year we are the beneficiaries of a dividend, which are all the ecological services provided by our biosphere. When our spending of these natural services exceeds that dividend, then we reduce the assets of our trust fund, which results in a smaller dividend the following year.
We have now been in this downward ecological spiral for 46 years.
The ecological assets we pass on to the following generations will be substantially smaller than the assets we inherited, as we are negligent trustees. This shrinking ecological dividend now needs be spread among substantially more people, who have increasing affluence, and more polluting technologies, and we are heading for an ecological collapse.
Stuart Walkley, Lyneham
Eggleton the man
I was going to reply to Drewe Just's request (Letters, July 27) for sources of data of greenhouse gas concentrations by referring him to A Short Introduction to Climate Change by Tony Eggleton.
But on Friday, July 28, Professor Eggleton responded himself.
He wrote, with great modesty that, because he wrote the book himself, "Drewe Just has no reason to trust me."
I have no such inhibition. The book is one of the best introductions to the subject I have seen.
It is an easy read for anyone with a nodding acquaintance with science, and a reasonable concentration span.
It contains ample citations of sources and suggestions for further reading. The reader has every reason to trust it.
I am puzzled that people ask about this. Information is widely available. One can be reasonably informed by reading the occasional articles on the subject in The Canberra Times; Googling "greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere" yields in seconds at least 10 references, including Wikipedia articles; and Professor Eggleton's book is, though one of the best, but one of those that can be found on the shelves of any good bookstore.
John Cashman, Yarrlaumla
Calculating carbon
A reliable source of atmospheric CO2 measurements (for Drewe Just, Letters July 27) from AD1006-1978 is a study in 1996 by Etheridge etal of air bubbles in three ice cores from Law Dome, Antarctica.
Pre-industrial CO2 was in the range 275-284ppm, with lower levels during AD1550-1800, making it inappropriate to refer to a single pre-industrial CO2 level.
Bruce A. Peterson, Kambah
Cards a bad deal
Recent statistics indicate that plastic cards are more popular than cash. Is this being pushed by the banks?
I would like to know how they calculate the number of cash transactions. Is someone keeping tabs on cash transactions? I'm curious as to how that could be done. Are we being closely watched in our private economic decisions?
We know internet banking is plagued by hackers and banks quietly refund large amounts to account holders that have been ripped off.
We are only told about card transactions, not their illegal use, which would offset total card activities. Is internet card purchasing contributing to shop closures? The banks will make huge fortunes from the cashless society. What will happen if the internet fails and consumers are left without means to buy and sell?
Away with cards and a return to cash would be safer for all in the long run.
Jay Nauss, Glen Aplin, Qld
Labor compromised
Ms Michal Biran, a member of the Israeli parliament, has compromised the Australian Labor Party.
She visited Australia and after her return home wrote the article "It takes two sides to create lasting peace: World cannot turn blind eye to Palestine's part in stalemate" (July 28, pp16,17).
Ms Biran spoke of "ongoing dialogue between the Israeli Labour Party and its sister social democratic party, the Australian Labor Party."
Ms Biran represents the Zionist Union in the current Knesset, Israel's Parliament.
The ZU was formed in December 2014 by the Israeli Labor Party, Hatnuah and the Green Movement.
I suspect that many members of the Australian Labor Party would resent being identified with a Zionist organisation and would strongly resent being typified as a social democratic party.
Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor
Archives shine
How commendable of the National Archives to alienate some of its collection ("Documents seized in World War II returned to Japan", July 21, p10).
It was especially noteworthy that the archives returned originals rather than just copies, and despite any technical legal requirement to do so. When such gifts happen, everyone wins.
Perhaps other national cultural institutions will emulate the NAA?
The National Library might consider returning its 19th century official NSW and Tasmanian documents collected by Sir John Ferguson, and the War Memorial its documents captured from German New Guinea during World War I.
Michael Piggott, Cook
An unlikely victim
Peter Moran (Letters, July 29) blames the police for the deaths of two people during the Lindt Cafe siege and suggests Man Monis, the individual the coroner found was responsible for all the deaths, was a "victim". What planet is hefrom?
J. Green, Deakin
Mean spirits and cold cash
A couple of months ago I received a letter from ACT Revenue advising that my previously separate pensioner rebates for electricity and water bills would be combined from July 2017 for 2017-18 and providing a new figure.
The reason given was that the water and sewerage concessions previously unavailable to renters would be provided to them as well as home owners.
On checking previous electricity and water charge concessions, I found that the government is now providing about $300 less in a year.
Of course, one supports their altruism in extending the rebate to renter pensioners.
It transpires, however, that rebates for home owner pensioners are being reduced to pay for it. That is, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
It is tough luck for some pensioners who are already scared of soaring rates and utility bills, particularly electricity.
According to media reports, they are rationing electricity usage and are using layering of clothes in an effort to keep warm. They will find now that their efforts are negated when their combined rebates are reduced.
This is another example, among many, of a mean-spirited government intent on using all means available to help pay for a shonky tram system.
David Fisher, Curtin
Autonomy of autos
The CEO of Mercedes has recently stated that autonomous vehicles will reduce the number of vehicles by up to 95 per cent in the coming years.
This will totally negate the necessity for light rail in Canberra. The light rail introduction is similar to introducing a new land-line telephone system.
Autonomous buses, taxis and other car sharing will be able to use the existing or similar road networks, giving the flexibility that rail cannot at far far less cost to build.
As this is happening the trend away from traditional offices is increasing.
The light rail will probably never return an economic benefit to the people of Canberra.
Why are we spending millions of dollars on 19th century technology in the 21st century?
We therefore need to ask if our elected representatives have the required expertise to be making these decisions.
Barry Faux, Kingston
Why more MLAs?
Apparently the Greens want to increase the number of MLAs in the Assembly from 25 to 35.
This is after the recent increase from 17 MLAs.
Such a proposal deserves close examination.
Political parties have a vested interest in more and more electoral positions.
But these positions come at considerable cost in salaries and entitlements.
These are all borne by ACT ratepayers who have been suffering a painful increase in rates over recent years.
Before there is any further increase, it needs to be established what all these Assembly members do and how the governance of the ACT will be better off with more of them.
Finally, the electorate at large should decide if there is to be an increase in MLAs rather than it be decided by the political parties themselves.
Brian Brocklebank, Bruce
In memory of strike
The 100th anniversary of the general strike of 1917 is just over two months away and it would seem appropriate to commemorate this significant event on the home front during the Great War to provide a holistic picture of the history of the Great War in Australia.
The Commonwealth government could commission a memorial in the national capital (similar to the eight-hour day memorial in Melbourne) or maybe a national institution such as the National Museum or the ANU could host a conference, and/or the Mint issue a commemorative coin or Australia Post issue a stamp to mark the centenary in October.
At the moment, the silence is embarrassing.
Rohan Goyne, Evatt
Solution on land
More intensive townhouse development would undoubtedly occur by subdividing older/larger blocks of land (more than 750 square metres) where the existing owner wishes to remain on site, if this type of land subdivision was brought into line with subdividing blocks under the Unit Title Act, namely:
a) The "change of lease purpose" fee was made the same.
b) Similar offsets from the boundaries as required by Unit Titling.
c) That there was no requirement for the creation of easements for (overhead and underground) services and utilities.
Peter Gately, Canberra
The morning roar
One might as well have retired to Fyshwick or Hume instead of Kingston, if being able to sleep in on weekdays had figured in his or her plans.
Come 8am the peace and quiet is shattered regularly by the unfettered roar of leaf blowers and/or industrial lawn mowers.
You can set your clock by it. God only knows how shift workers are meant to cope.
While the statutory starting times appear to be strictly observed by operators, surely noise levels aren't.
I accept that the offenders are just trying to earn an honest living, but they really need to give more consideration to the comfort of others adversely affected by their excessively noisy machines.
D. N. Callaghan, Kingston
One law for all
The citizenship crisis for senators Canavan, Ludlam and Waters is sad. But a law is a law. It should be applied equally to all in the same manner.
Senator Canavan should follow the path senators Ludlam and Waters have shown.
Sankar Kumar Chatterjee, Evatt
TO THE POINT
BRANDIS APPROACH
The Greens' Scott Ludlam discovers he has dual citizenship; Attorney General George Brandis spruiks that Scott may have to repay monies paid him. Coalition's Matt Canavan finds himself in the same situation; George says the matter should be referred to the High Court.
The first law officer of the country seems to be duplicitous with his opinion depending upon who is involved.
Jeff Bradley, Isaacs
HARD TO COMPREHEND
I find it incomprehensible that I could be signed up for citizenship of a foreign country without my knowledge.
Brian Smith, Conder
BILLBOARD BLIGHT
Who gave permission for the developer to erect an enormous double billboard at the corner of Drake-Brockman Drive and Kingsford Smith Drive?
Another single enormous billboard blights the corner of Drake-Brockman Drive and Spofforth Street in Holt.
Does the local government consider these billboards legal?
Anne Thinius, Holt
REASON FOR FEAR
First the PM creates a perception that Australia is a nation in fear.
Then he creates a department of Home Affairs.
Then he annoints Peter Dutton to take charge.
That is a real reason for fear.
Mission accomplished.
Ann Darbyshire, Gunning
BATTLESHIP WORRY
So, the UK is sending the yet to be formally named HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Queen Elizabeth into the South China Sea on a freedom of navigation operation.
I pray that the Royal Navy's latest carrier does not share the fate of its namesake, the battleship, that was sunk along with the HMS Repulse, by airstrikes in 1941.
John F. Janke, Pearce
WHERE'S THE HEART?
The socially conscious Barr government managed to find $200,000 for ACT dog parks on Thursday but in the same week, despite its massive rates hike, couldn't find the heart to give the same amount as an ex-gratia payment to the little boy badly mauled by an ACT dog.
Peter Sesterka, Hawker
IVORY'S EXAMPLE
Nine-year-old Ivory Clark, who has autism and whose letter to Pauline Hanson was published in The Canberra Times ("Nine-year-old girl with autism applies filter, then sets Pauline Hanson straight", canberratimes.com.au, July 27) seems more intelligent and socially skilled than Senator Hanson will ever be.
Patricia Saunders, Chapman
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