It is no accident new variants of COVID-19 have emerged in Britain and elsewhere and are spreading in new infection waves. Millions of infections mean there are millions of opportunities of new virus variants to arise.
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One of Australia's greatest scientists, Nobel Prize-winning Macfarlane Burnet, always recommended thinking about the ecology of viruses and their co-evolution with the host. In the 1950s, Burnet and Frank Fenner used the release of myxomatosis among Australia's pest rabbits as an opportunity to test those ideas. We have had 70 years to absorb their findings.
If COVID-19 only recently spread from another species into humans, as many suggest, then it should be no surprise that, as it adapts to its new host, it spreads more easily and infects younger age groups.
The approach of our state governments is containment of COVID-19 whereas other governments [overseas] simply try to limit rates of virus spread so as not to overwhelm the health system or slow economic activity. Whether intended or not, our current national approach minimises the risk that Australia could be a source of new virus variants. It is a socially responsible strategy well ahead of most other countries.
Brian Cooke, Waramanga
Vaccination not for all
I am not an anti-vaxxer, and accept that widespread vaccination is a useful tool to develop herd immunity, but I am concerned about any attempt to make the COVID-19 vaccination compulsory by banning non-vaccinated people from airlines, pubs and restaurants.
That is because, for some people, vaccination is not medically recommended. Last time I had a vaccination (a flu shot, 10 years ago) I spent three months in hospital and still suffer the after-effects. The reason: I suffer from an autoimmune disease (multiple sclerosis). Vaccination stirs up the immune system. But if it is already attacking you, vaccination puts it into overdrive.
At the time a neurologist described the vaccination as "contraindicated".
If someone insists on my being vaccinated I would ask that they take full responsibility for any adverse effects, including total financial responsibility for any care for as long as it is needed to maintain my quality of life.
David Walker, Ainslie
Good questions
I write in response to Penleigh Boyd's (Letters, January 16) query about the light rail and carbon pollution. In my time in the Assembly I asked a very similar question.
I asked "was any life cycle analysis done by or on behalf of the ACT government of the environmental impacts of the Light Rail Stage 1 project; if so, can the Minister provide details." The answer was "no". I asked other questions about light rail, and equally surprisingly I was told that greenhouse gas emissions per kilometre in operation is commercial-in-confidence and not disclosed. You can find my questions and the government's answers in http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/2020/pdfs/200213.pdf.
Caroline Le Couteur, former ACT Greens MLA, Phillip
And the victims?
In recent months The Canberra Times has published several stories about the plight of prisoners in the ACT. The most recent article ("The emotional toll of helping Canberra prisoners feel less alone", canberratimes.com.au, January 18) informs us about efforts to comfort criminals who, as a result of their own actions, now feel "isolated", "lonely", "worried", etc. By way of balance, could The Canberra Times also interview some of the victims of these criminals? Perhaps the victims of violent assault or armed hold-ups also feel "isolated", "lonely" and "worried", not as a result of their own actions, but because they are now too traumatised to venture out.
And no doubt such feelings are the least of the emotions experienced by the relatives of murder victims, whose lives have been destroyed forever. Just a suggestion.
Anne Laisk, Weston
Contributor mourned
It is with sadness that I would like to let the "letters" community know that our mum Ann Darbyshire passed away on Monday.
She absolutely loved being a contributor to this group. I have such fond memories of her talking about many other frequent writers; delighting in the word spar, knowing personality through opinion. As a younger person I used to roll my eyes and answer yes when asked if I was related to Ann Darbyshire of Pialligo but later felt the exhilaration in having a few of my own letters published.
Cheers to all of you that pay attention and feel strongly. Keep sharp, keep writing.
Felicia Darbyshire, formerly of Pialligo
Strange views
What motivates someone like I C Dillon of Garran, to write such tripe as "The falsity of President Trump's orange face has defined America for four grotesque years. Sadly, Mr Morrison's emetic smirk appears destined to be a comparable symbol for his period in government". (Letters, January 18).
He obviously has zero respect for Australia's excellent election process and would rather see a left-wing dictatorship in power, forever no doubt. Very sad.
M. Silex, Erindale
'Minions', really?
Catherine Townsend may feel ''self-respect'' when she walks into the new offices of the ACT Planning Authority Canberra ("Office that sets the standard for design on Northbourne Avenue", January 19, p4) but the article exudes self-absorption and pomposity.
Furthermore, she does not show any respect for the staff of the Authority by referring to them disparagingly as ''minions''.
She and her colleagues should be more concerned about overcoming the poor quality of the design and construction of Canberra buildings over the last few decades and working hard to gain the respect of the Canberra community. For a start, they should venture from their comfortable new offices, forget about algorithms, and drive along Flemington Road, John Gorton Drive or walk around the Belconnen Town Centre to see what has happened and is still happening to Canberra.
Warwick Williams, Nicholls
Trump rallied rioters
In response to Alvin Hopper (Letters, 18 January) I offer the words of Liz Cheney (R. Wyoming) third-ranking Republican in the US Congress, daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, who supported the motion to impeach President Trump and said:
"The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled this mob and lit the flames of this attack. None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not". It seems she believes the President incited the January 6 insurrection even if Alvin Hopper doesn't.
Even Mitch McConnell, has been quoted as saying "the President committed an impeachable offence" without indicating whether he'll vote to convict or not.
Clearly when you look beyond the partisan divide in the US there is a case for impeachment which, despite Alvin Hopper's interpretation, does hold water. It remains to be seen whether there will be enough senators willing to acknowledge the damage to democracy and convict Trump. Anything less would be no more than a light slap on the wrists.
Keith Hill, Canberra
Community spirit
I want to acknowledge the customers and team members of Coles and Coles Express in the ACT. Their incredible generosity has raised more than $25,000 for families facing childhood cancer.
Last year, there wasn't a family in the country who wasn't impacted by COVID-19 and none more so than those supported by Redkite, families who have a child with cancer.
Demand for our counselling and support services went up by 30 per cent as they grappled with the daunting task of keeping their immunocompromised child safe during the pandemic, along with the daily struggle of paying for groceries, household bills and hospital trips.
Local customers showed they cared by rounding up the till or adding a $2 Christmas card to their grocery shop.
Their Christmas spirit helped Coles Gungahlin raise more than $6000 for Redkite, making it the highest fundraiser in the territory.
Monique Keighery, CEO, Redkite
Electric burnouts?
Summernats' March 2021 event in Canberra is off and the January 2022 meet is in preparation ("Summernats' March event cancelled by organisers", canberratimes.com.au, January 14).
Among the more than 1700 entrants expected next year, will there be truly rebellious souls prepared to challenge the status quo with entries featuring electric cars?
With the acceleration rate of some electric cars reputedly exceptionally high, revs' fans are assured of mighty thrills.
Additionally, social kudos and applause are likely by promoting one of the main engines of a post-fossil-fuel future.
Jorge Gapella, Kaleen
TO THE POINT
STOP THE INSULTS
Why does The Canberra Times repeat Trump insults ("Sleepy Joe blitz aims to deliver relief", January 18, p41)? Trump, according to many US experts, is the worst president in US history and a proto-dictator. Biden could be the hope of the world. What expertise does The Canberra Times offer on Biden's character?
Rod Holesgrove, Crace
MAKE IT SO
I trust that Donald Trump's departure from office in the early hours of Thursday morning (AEDT) is not "fake news".
Don Sephton, Greenway
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Following the riot in Washington a sign in Canada read: "After today's events, Mexico has decided it will pay for the wall. And Canada wants one too". And seen outside a café in London: "All Americans must be accompanied by an adult".
C. Williams, Forrest
SETTLE DOWN DJOKOVIC
How dare Djokovic present a list of demands to relax Victoria's quarantine rules. He's the fool who organised a tennis tournament (and a rave at a nightclub) that resulted in a number of participants, including him and his wife, becoming infected. Following the government's dismissal of his demands it will be interesting to see if he is capable of complying with the restrictions he is complaining about.
Brian Bell, Isabella Plains
IT'S JUST A RACQUET
Broelman's view (editorial cartoon, January 19) aptly illustrates that the Australian Open quarantine is just another racquet.
Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW
DOGS NEED TREES
The Yarralumla dog park is closed because "a number of trees" were deemed unsafe. A number? Looks like a logging company has been through. Doesn't the government realise dogs need trees? When can our canine friends next cock a leg there?
Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla
CLAIM BIZARRE
Victor Diskordia made the bizarre claim Google and Twitter are Marxist Foucauldian enablers because they "impose leftism in the form of human rights and multiculturalism" (Letters, January 13). I can't help feeling if Victor was in charge, this self-proclaimed advocate of free speech and liberty would certainly ban all such "Marxist" sentiments from social media.
David Roth, Kambah
PREMIER'S SELF PRAISE
Gladys Berejiklian's claim that when the federal government carried out an audit of COVID-19 governance NSW came out on top reminded me of the Yes Minister episode where Sir Humphrey said: "You never instigate an inquiry unless you already know the result".
John Sandilands, Garran
GOD-BOTHERING NUTTERS
Even as they went about their sacrilege of the bastion of American democracy the pro-Trump marauding mob took time out to fervently pray. Where is the religion in that?
Rajend Naidu, Glenfield, NSW
FLYING COLOURS
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment didn't just pass the pub test, it got a High Distinction ("Dept's "light refreshments" come with hefty booze bill", p1, January 14).