I see more and more cars left running, while people pick up something from a house or shop, mostly not really quickly. They might be after the comfort of an air-conditioned car in the heat and don’t realise they are cooking the planet. 

In the Middle Ages European rivers were poisoned by run-offs from clothes dyeing and other factory chemicals. The rivers stank and were coloured, but it was completely reversed by stopping the pollution. 

The ozone hole is closing again after banning chlorofluorocarbon. Years ago, Germany’s Black Forest was dying from acidic rain, until scientists found a simple solution to spread lime on it, which neutralised the acidity and it recovered. Climate change needs more than a simple solution, but we can reduce the most severe impacts.

Voting for the politicians who actually would do something against it would have been the fastest way, but sadly we have to deal with more conservative politicians all over the world. 

Instead of giving up with the acceptance of our fate, we can act and save energy, turn down the air conditioning a few degrees, eat less meat, buy less plastic and other not so necessary stuff, simply consume less, enjoy freshly grown local food and ride bicycles or walk to shops, which also benefits our health and wallet. 

It is necessary, if we want the human race to survive and our children still being able to lead a liveable life on this planet, not suffering from more bushfires, more extensive storms, floods from sea level rise, food - and water shortages, all related health problems and the high cost to our economy from destruction of infrastructure. 

We need to create more awareness and rethink our own behaviour and habits.

Dörte Planert, Tathra

When you reach for the stars you can fly to the moon,

On the wings of a butterfly which are gone to soon,

Yet the world as I see it, is killing that notion,

Polluting the rivers, the desert, the ocean,

More humans to suck the life from this Earth,

Devaluing its beauty, its purpose, its worth,

Filling it with sorrow instead of mirth,

Right wing agenda creating this dearth.

People not caring, indifference is rife, too many struggles in ones daily life

Mental health issues sedated with knife,

Greed, hate and anger perpetual strife.

Species disappearing before our very eyes,

Our beautiful treasures, that should be the prize,

So much for evolving from ignorance to wise, Led by politicians whose lies I despise,

Or inaction deliberate darkening our skies.

The light in the tunnel growing smaller each day,

Leaving untold destruction generations to pay,

As Cat Stevens asked earlier “where will the children play”,

Still asking that question 46 years to this day.

But we do the know the way, the truth and the light,

Maybe Jesus did say it, for he was quite right ,

But surely a reflection of thinking, from others that night,

For purely its in our hearts and our soul and our mind,

To treat all living things respectfully, defining 'man kind'.

Written in response to the missing rescue cats from Beverly St, the jerk who left the kangaroo to suffer it's injuries and now more recently, another orphaned wombat “baby” taken in by a caring person.

Sorry for your loss and thank you for your compassion.

Donalea Eaton, Eden