Trees close to roads a bad idea

Dear Eho News,

Was pleased to see planting going on both the side of Morrison Road and Abingdon Street.

I then realised that the plants are trees (not bushes) most directly under the power lines.

Apart from them being under the power lines, trees so close to the road are not a great idea.

How often do we see cars crashed into trees.

B Westcoast

Midland

Shot hole is not boring

Dear Echo News,

I do hope R Wood (Echo News, June 20) doesn’t find it too boring when she/he finds out that with Polyphagous shot-hole borers (PSHB) at large in the Kalamunda area (as per the story PSHB gets a foothold in Kalamunda and Swan (Echo News, June 20), there could be uncontrolled infestation through large areas.

This could result in (a) almost total destruction of the forest coverage and (b) possible destruction of the timber industry with a loss of up to 180,000 jobs.

As for their comments about accuracy of weather forecasts, the BoM issues these with degrees of probability of events occurring, meaning that there’s always the possibility of the forecast not being spot on.

Lastly R Wood should do a bit of research to find out the difference between weather and climate.

They are two different things entirely.

KG Blake

Lesmurdie

Smith Family Appeal 

Dear Echo News,

As we near the end of our Winter Appeal, there are still more children and young people needing support with their education, and now is the perfect time to make a tax-deductible donation before June 30.

In the past year, The Smith Family has reached more than 178,400 children and young people nationally through its programs, and supported the education of more than 67,000 students.

The charity is reliant on donations made by generous Australians to fund its educational programs, enabling children and young people to create better futures for themselves.

Every dollar given by supporters is put to good use. We have partnerships with over 780 schools nationally and are located in 91 communities.

Donations assist us in delivering our evidence-based programs crucial to helping students engage with their schooling, keep up with their peers and reach their educational potential.

A tax-deductible donation to a charity before June 30 is a great way to minimise your tax bill. It’s good for the hip pocket and, most importantly, the heart.

And if it’s outcomes you want for your charity dollar, The Smith Family delivers on that too, with a full breakdown of what we achieve available via our annual report.

The Smith Family would love to hear from you by June 30.

To donate to the Winter Appeal, visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au/wa

D Taylor

Smith Family CEO

Eco nutters not the right term

Dear Echo News,

Referring to Eco nutters are boring (Echo News, Letters, June 20).

The term nutter refers to someone who is foolish or eccentric or, perhaps, having a psychiatric disorder.

Therefore, the term eco nutters would be inaccurate if applied to the vast majority of people who are concerned about climate change.

Climate change and vaccines have a similarity in that both have been criticised as being anything from useless to dangerous.

The World Health Organisation states, “Vaccines have saved more human lives than any other medical invention in history.”

It is to be expected that a minority of people do not believe in vaccines or climate change and the potential disasters that can ensue. It is their right to believe whatever they believe and, if they are wrong, perhaps they are the true nutters.

Let me quote from the Dechen Tsering, acting director of the Climate Change division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), “Most of the world rightly acknowledges that climate change is real. But in many places, misinformation is delaying the action that is so vital to countering what is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.”

It may be worthwhile reading the complete article – Debunking eight common myths about climate change at www.unep.org

W Buchanan

Kalamunda

Echo News social media comments

PSHB gets a foothold in Kalamunda and Swan (Echo News, June 20):

Trillion Trees:

“Thank you for shining a light on the canopy crisis. We need urgent action to protect mature trees and restore landscapes where trees have been lost.”

Comment about PSHB and government responsibility: 

L Brown

“This beetle is native to South East Asia but has spread to Israel, the USA, South Africa, Argentina, and most recently Australia.

It causes serious economic damage in every country, including tea plantations in India and Sri Lanka, and avocado orchards in California.

If it was easy to eradicate it would have been done somewhere before now.

Please don’t bag government workers or particular political parties, I’m sure people are doing their best.”

Comment in reply:

C Wilson 

“No they’re not. They left it far too late to do anything.

Government employees should have repercussions for doing a rubbish job just like the private sector do.”