Environmental activist Greta Thunberg addresses the Climate Action Summit in the United Nations General Assembly, at UN headquarters on Sept. 23, 2019.The Canadian Press
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Spell check
Re White House Tried To Conceal Ukraine Call (Sept. 27): The article begins: “In the days after Donald Trump exhorted his Ukrainian counterpart to help…” Should that not be a “t” instead of an “h?”
Hugh McKechnie Newmarket, Ont.
A double-double
Re Some People (See: Justin Trudeau) Are Judged By A Different Set Of Rules (Opinion, Sept. 28): Contributor Scott Reid writes that “what’s so crucial for Mr. Trudeau’s critics to understand is that it’s not about a double standard that Mr. Trudeau applies to himself."
That doesn’t ring true. It seems almost certain that Justin Trudeau would have been swift and unequivocal in denouncing and expelling any caucus member caught behaving the way he did. But for himself, the behaviour is excused by his “blind spot” acquired through a life of privilege.
Deborah Kestenbaum Toronto
The kids are…
Re I’m A Montreal Teen – And This Is Why I’m Marching For The Climate (Sept. 27): Greta Thunberg is challenging governments. Students are rallying to challenge local governments. But I most applaud Grade 10 student Shirley Barnea for asking Canadians to look closer to home.
Our excessive suburban behaviours have to change; lifestyle choices of the past may not be possible in the future. As I walk my neighbourhood, the volume of material in huge curbside containers is simply mind-boggling. The roadside ditches full of fast-food packaging are testimony to the size of the environmental problem.
At street level, teenagers will have to influence the behaviour of their parents and grandparents, otherwise their lobbying of governments may run into the inertia of politics.
It is also up to us old folks to face up to change, vote appropriately and make future-appropriate decisions.
Chris M. Campbell Nanaimo, B.C.
Re Thunberg Tells Trudeau That Canada Is ‘Not Doing Enough’ On Climate Change (Online, Sept. 27): I would be more impressed if Greta Thunberg presented a thorough plan to combat global warming, rather than complaining and criticizing others. I wonder if she has any idea how difficult it is to govern a country.
By definition, world leaders have to balance competing interests in order to provide their people with security and economic well-being. I agree that dealing with climate change needs to be a priority. However, there must be a balance between it and other important considerations.
If people have nowhere to live and nothing to eat, fighting climate change won’t mean much to them.
Garth M. Evans Vancouver
What a wonderful editorial cartoon by Brian Gable, showing teenagers vaping while bemoaning the death of the rain forest (Editorial Cartoon – Sept. 27). It’s unfortunate that for every teenage climate activist such as Greta Thunberg, there seems to be thousands of others smoking their lungs out because it’s the “adult” thing to do.
Dave Ashby Toronto
Re Ontario To Have 10,000 Fewer Teaching Positions In Public Schools Over Next Five Years, Watchdog Says (Sept. 27). Not only is the future of young people threatened by our inaction on climate change, the Ford government in Ontario looks to be destroying their right to a decent education to save $2.8-billion. Their future is jeopardized by both what we do and what we do not. As an 80-year-old former teacher, I have to weep.
Neal Reid Oakville, Ont.
The hot seat
Re On Climate Change, Humanity Is Not 'Evil’ (Sept. 27): Perhaps an analogy could explain prioritization to contributor Bjorn Lomborg, with respect to his non-urgent position on climate change relative to his focus on, say, poverty: If he had a backyard full of hungry people and his kitchen was on fire, would he really ignore the flames and go out for groceries?
Colin Grieve Toronto
Contributor Bjorn Lomborg positions climate change as a separate concern from “more pressing” issues. However, that thinking denies a clear cause-and-effect relationship and endorses a false dichotomy that we either address climate change or all the world’s other ills, but not both at the same time.
Jennifer O’Connor Vancouver
When it comes to climate inaction, the Titanic comes to mind: Yes, world leaders at the helm may have been working successfully to raise the standards of living and the health of passengers on board. But the minute the ship hits the iceberg, all that would have been beside the point.
The scientists are telling us the iceberg of irreversible climate change is very close, and we must change course.
James A. Duthie Nanaimo, B.C.
In a week of unprecedented youth-led climate strikes, it is disappointing to see contributor Bjorn Lomborg downplay the need for climate action. A climate catastrophe would undermine the world’s ability to deliver on the other issues he prioritizes, such as health and poverty.
He writes that people will be “300- to 500-per-cent richer” by 2070. It gives me no comfort to know that, after us adults are long gone, today’s youth will have more money to spend on a dying planet.
Instead of being critical of Greta Thunberg, we should be celebrating the leadership of the many youth who have found their voice and taken action.
Stephen Cornish CEO, David Suzuki Foundation; Vancouver
Contributor Bjorn Lomborg raises some important points that bear repeating.
Climate change is not going to be the end of the world, nor is it going to be the end of our society. In 20 years, 50 years or 200 years, we will still be here. We will also still be thriving. Certainly there will be problems – no society is ever without them – but we will adapt. It is what we as a species are very, very good at.
It is also important to note that climate change is only one of many urgent problems the world faces. I consider any educated adult who says differently to be irresponsible. Truly, I worry what additional problems may be created by the fear and panic I see so many climate-change activists determined to create.
Jeff Breukelman Richmond Hill, Ont.
Faceoff
Re Want To Know What the Leafs’ Core Values Are? See Who They Name Captain (Sports, Sept. 26): Would Toronto Maple Leafs players John Tavares and Morgan Rielly have been so quick to defend teammate Auston Matthews if the female security guard, whose vehicle Mr. Matthews and others allegedly attempted to force their way into, had been one of their female relatives? Maybe Leafs management should send them all to learn about violence against women and the meaning of the word empathy.
Ray Jones Toronto
Columnist Cathal Kelly tells us that Auston Matthews’s alleged act “may tell us more about a person’s character than a dozen canned visits to a children’s hospital.” Actually, those of us who have children and grandchildren at The Hospital for Sick Children will remain forever indebted to Mr. Matthews for his many unpublicized visits.
David O’Rourke Port Hope, Ont.
With great power…
Wouldn’t it be fun if Jane Philpott and Jody Wilson-Raybould both won their seats as Independents in a close minority government? Then who would hold the balance of power?
Cathy Harrop Canmore, Alta.
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