However, there is a simple aspect of Christianity and other religions, such as Islam, that does translate easily into political action, and that is love. It has made a difference to international politics in our lifetime.

The late President of Egypt, Anwar Sadat, was sufficiently influenced by the Sufis and their message of universal love, to take Egypt out of the firing line against Israel. Love is obviously opposed to war.

It has made a difference to national politics, as well, in Senegal, North West Africa. There Ahmadou Bamba [1853-1927], a learned Sufi and a Gandhian before Gandhi, led the population along a peaceful path to independence, and founded a village, Touba, as a haven for peace in 1887. It is now Senegal`s second largest city. His influence lives on in Senegal.

We are used to love being a strong force between individuals, but it can be a strong force in politics as well.

Most of your readers would agree with John Meyer's call to get the historical facts about the occupation of Australia by Europeans "squared away for prosperity" (Letters, October 16). This includes the doctrine of Terra Nullius which, according to official records, was applied in Australian law as early as 1822.

An earlier correspondent, Bill Deane (Letters, October 14), incorrectly claimed that Terra Nullius only emerged in 1977, but this submission was mostly a repeat of the same argument published by The Canberra Times in 2015 (Letters, 21 January 2015). Several instances of much earlier applications of Terra Nullius were subsequently produced in your Letters Sections of 27 January and 9 February 2015.

All this demonstrates conclusively that Mr Deane's repeated claims fail in the face of hard historical evidence and the British, in fact, did occupy Australia based on a legal fiction that this land was unoccupied and uninhabited.

This is an open letter to all the Chicken Littles of climate change. Notwithstanding that climate change for the worse may indeed be underway, you should have a hard think about some facts.

While it might make you feel good and virtuous, no matter what you do in Australia will have any effect whatsoever on climate change, given its miniscule contribution to global emissions. We could destroy our economy and return to horse and buggy days with zero effect on the global climate.

You are not about "saving the planet", you are about saving yourselves. The planet, including the reef, will be here for millions, if not billions of years after the human race has extinguished itself.

I think I am the subject of Jeff Allen's letter ("Snakes or cyclists?", Letters October 17).

Firstly, I can assure Mr Allen that I did ring my bell and a very loud bell it is.

Secondly, assuming Mr Allen did not hear my bell (and from my experience about half of all pedestrians do not hear a bell or if they do, they do not indicate in some way that they have heard it), it was his responsibility, knowing it was a shared path with very heavy pedestrian/cyclist activity, to look behind to see if the way was clear before veering abruptly to the right hand side of the path.

On two occasions, after having sounded my loud bell, I have had pedestrians cross abruptly to the right hand side of the path at the exact instant I was overtaking, resulting in me going head over heels along with my bike.

So Mr Allen and other like minded pedestrians need to know that if you keep well left, and look behind to see that the way is clear if for some reason you need to cross over to the right hand side (as I do when I am walking), then cyclists and pedestrians will have a much more harmonious relationship.

The Deloitte Access Economics suggestion that the 54/11 provisions of the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) are holding Canberra back, are a little off the mark.

The last official numbers (CSS financial report June 30, 2018) showed only 4000 active members of the CSS remaining, with the scheme being closed in 1990. Of this 4000, I would suggest that the majority (maybe 70 per cent) are already over 55 years of age, having already passed up the 54/11 opportunity.

Of the remaining 1200 or so, the 54/11 option is unlikely to be viable to as many as 50 per cent, as these longer periods of membership and employment, generally translate to higher progression within the service and therefore higher superannuation salaries (making 54/11 less viable).

Of the remaining 600, some of course are not in Canberra and, those that are, will not all reach 54/11 at the same time.

On a normal distribution of membership, this will mean around 80-100 members a year take advantage of 54/11, for the next five to six years. This is hardly likely to be holding Canberra back.

John Sharp's article (Opinion, October 17) was a little hard to stomach. The Howard government, with Sharp as Minister for Transport, presided over the transfer of a public monopoly airports with tight regulation to private ones with "light touch" regulation. What did he expect would happen?

Of course the new private owners, free of burdensome regulation were going to exploit their monopolies. Revenues generated from parking (21 per cent of Melbourne's income in the first 10 years of private ownership), retailing and land development have dwarfed the revenues from aeronautical services.

And even the cost of these services have recently been the subject of protests by the CEO of Qantas and now John Sharp, representing REX Airlines.

John Sharp can now appreciate the incredible financial benefits given to the private airport owners with the real costs being born by the travelling public and, in the case of regional airports, the local communities that support the airports.

Having lived in the "bush capital" for nearly 40 years, it astounds me that collisions with wildlife have still not adequately been addressed, ultimately leaving the cost to be borne by motorists through increased insurance premiums ("Wildlife cause major road trauma", canberratimes.com.au, Oct 16).

Experience from overseas clearly shows that the construction of wildlife bypasses, fencing and speed limits with flashing lights at wildlife crossing zones do work to reduce accidents.

When it comes to savings thousands in potential damages, motorists who live in and around wildlife crossing zones should consider aftermarket add-on collision warning systems.

It's worth noting that reports by insurance companies show that single vehicle accidents, including those involving wildlife, are mainly due to vehicle speed.

As they say, the best defence is a good offence.

Drivers should be stay alert, avoid hot spots, and reduce speed at dawn, shortly before dusk, and after sunset.

If Canberrans want to continue to enjoy the benefits of living in the "bush capital" then the ACT Government needs to urgently implement wildlife crossing structures, together with introducing driver awareness, as a means to reduce the impact of wildlife collisions and thereby saving lives (human and animal).

Re: "GetUp chief says press freedom a top priority after successful campaign" (canberratimes.com.au).

Max Koslowski was reporting on Paul Oosting's address to the National Press Club.

Mr Koslowski was present at the Press Club so is well aware GetUp! membership is made up of around one million ordinary Australians. He still characterises it as a left-wing organisation.

If he is right then a large proportion of Australians must be left-wingers.

GetUp! is certainly to the left of the right wing of the so-called "Liberal" Party - but only because most Australians are near the centre and they are the people who are GetUp! supporters.

I have every sympathy with those injured by accidents or avoiding accidents with wild animals.

But also spare a thought for what seems to be the increasing number of dead animals on our country roads, no doubt caused by the drought and the slowly expanding human encroachment on the natural environment.

Slower driving on bush roads, especially in late afternoon, night and early morning could reduce human and animal trauma.

I note the generosity of Terry Snow giving significant funds to Canberra Grammar to improve their already well appointed facilities ("Canberra Grammar School gifted record-breaking $20 million from businessman", canberratimes.com.au, October 14).

How much more generous he would be if he donated these funds towards facilities that benefited the community more broadly?

So the north could end up with two stadia - at Bruce and Exhibition Park ("EPIC new stadium plan", October 17, page 1).

Rather than EPIC, there is a location in deserving, and planned-to-extend-westward Tuggeranong, on superb level land just across Athllon Drive from the pool complex, with a stunning Canberra backdrop of lake, hills, mountains, and the Murrumbidgee, right on the planned Tuggeranong tramline.

Skywhale is the ugliest apparition ever to darken our skies. Ideally the National Gallery should fold it up, put it in a store room, and forget about it.

Good to see promotion of hot air balloons to be enjoyed by all, ignoring the politically correct who fear that their shape and colour might promote animism or racism.

Yes Rob Ryan, (Letters, October 17) carbon is essential for plant growth and increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere promotes plant growth. But carbon dioxide is also a greenhouse gas which means that it contributes to global warming and climate change which is having disastrous consequences for the world as we know it. In some parts of the world the benefits of more carbon dioxide may outweigh the problems, but overall the downsides far exceed these benefits.

The Federal Treasurer still dishes out the economic spin despite new IMF forecasts that downgrade Australia's economic growth for this year and 2020, and the release of more evidence of falling consumer confidence. He might need to issue blinkers as mandatory apparel for the many disobedient, underspending consumers?

The pentecostalist prosperity gospel is comfortable with miracles, but draws the line at using group alchemy to intervene in the magic spirits sphere to end the drought ("No magic wand on drought, Morrison says", canberratimes.com.au, October 16).

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