Letters To The Editor – August 9, 2018

No place for fossil fuels

Dear Editor,

Alan Barron’s letters to this paper are always an amusing read of misinformation and last week’s support for fossil fuels is no exception.

Rather than applaud what California has achieved with renewable energy he finds cause to criticise them.

The facts are that California is well-known as a world leader in clean energy technology deployment.

The major energy utilities have already exceeded the state’s 2020 renewable energy target of 33 per cent, and will likely meet the 2030 target of 50 per cent 10 years early.

In that context, Victoria’s renewable energy targets of 40 per cent by 2025 is hardly ambitious.

That said, while California has some concerns, notably because of closure of nuclear power stations, any comparison with Victoria’s situation would be ludicrous.

Mr Barron needs to recognise that the great strides being taken around the world with pumped storage and battery technology and the diversity of energy renewables are ensuring that there will be no place for fossil fuels in the energy mix in future decades.

In any event, the sustainability of the planet cannot permit it.

Don Bartlett
Indented Head

Anglesea’s summer traffic standstill

Dear Editor,

VicRoads is opposing an Anglesea bypass once again on grounds that it might be dangerous for travellers during a bushfire (“Meeting to discuss traffic on Coalmine Road”, Surf Coast Times, August 2).

We need to inform VicRoads that bushfires do not occur every weekend during summer, but miles of stationary traffic does, causing angst and inconvenience to frustrated drivers.

A ring road (around Anglesea, not through it via Harvey Street) could keep traffic moving should there be a mishap on the Great Ocean Road between Aireys Inlet and Anglesea.

If a bushfire was approaching the bypass, it could be closed off at each end to keep motorists out of the area.

Melva Stott
Anglesea

Thank you for being part of team #Fightstroke

Dear Editor,

On behalf of local stroke survivors and the Stroke Foundation, I would like to thank members of the community who took on Run Melbourne (July 29) and raised funds to continue the fight against stroke.

A total of 64 participants took part, including 93-year-old Ken Lyons. Many of the members of Team #Fightstroke, including Team BGL, Walk for Nany Cita and Castiel Shepp walked in honour of loved ones who had been impacted by stroke.

I sincerely thank those who took part and the families, friends, colleagues and community members who backed their efforts.

I am excited to announce that with your support, we collectively clocked up almost 1,000 kilometres and raised almost $18,000. These donations will enable Stroke Foundation to continue to partner with the community to prevent, treat and beat stroke.

Sadly, there will be more than 14,000 strokes in Victoria this year alone. There is one stroke in Australia every nine minutes.

Stroke attacks the brain – the human control centre, changing lives in an instant. The impact of a stroke is felt well beyond the individual, with families lives also turned upside down by this devastating disease.

Most of Team #fightstroke know this story only too well after either suffering a stroke themselves or witnessing the impact of stroke on someone they care about.

But stroke’s impact doesn’t need to be this great. Around 80 per cent of strokes are preventable, and with the right treatment at the right time many people can recover from stroke.

Looking after our own health is the first step. Physical inactivity is now the second highest risk factor for stroke behind high blood pressure, so it’s time to follow the lead of Team #Fightstroke and get moving.

Find out how you can reduce your stroke risk and support the fight against stroke at strokefoundation.org.au.

Sharon McGowan
Stroke Foundation, Chief Executive Officer