War cause is clear
For your correspondent to represent Zelensky as the “hapless and gullible” pawn of NATO, and NATO itself as waging a “proxy war” against Russia, is sheer nonsense (Letters, 2/3). Ukraine sought to join NATO for protection from further Russian aggression. NATO members were divided on whether Ukraine should be admitted. Russia invaded Ukraine to satisfy Putin’s paranoid ambition to dominate Russia’s neighbours. Neither Zelensky nor NATO started this war.
Anthea Hyslop, Eltham
THE FORUM
Discoveries saved my life
As an RH negative survivor, I know how vital those blood donations from the wonderful James Harrison were (“The man who saved 2.4 million babies”, 3/3). I was born prior to his anti-D donations or the official implementation of such transfusions, but I can thank a Melbourne doctor in 1961 who I was told “happened to be” at Yallourn hospital in Gippsland and oversaw the transfusion that saved my life at birth. My brother also had an emergency transfusion in 1956. My sister did not require any transfusion.
In a previous article in The Age I learnt that the first born RH-negative baby is fine, but if they produce the stimulus for the antibody then subsequent RH pregnancies are at risk of death or severe complications and this increases with each pregnancy. It was in reading the article that I realised, as a third-born, how lucky I was to be alive.
The other important person in Australia to contribute to RH negative (Rhesus) pregnancies was Dr Vera Krieger, who developed the first clinic testing for RH negative during pregnancy in the 1940s in Melbourne. It led to John Gorman’s incredible insight and the tremendous life-saving transfusions of James Harrison and many others around the country.
Linda Hibbs, East Ringwood
Eternal gratitude
As an RH negative woman and mother, I give thanks for the preventative treatment of anti-D. I can now put a face and a name to this lifesaving gift. Vale James Harrison, from me and my two adult sons. Surely the phrase “your blood is worth bottling” was written with James Harrison in mind. Eternal gratitude also for the work of John Gorman, Vincent Freda, William Pollack and, of course, Harrison.
Caryn Auld, Point Cook
Problem can’t be hidden
The idea of fining homeless people for being homeless is disgusting (“Council considers fines for homeless to reduce crime”, 3/3). Crime is committed by people of all levels of society, although realistically those with the greatest need are more likely to have to resort to crime. The rich end of society use accountants, call it tax minimisation and steal greater amounts.
Homeless people will often have no ability to pay fines, hire lawyers or even wear a suit for court. Are they going to be sent to “workhouses” to pay off their fines? Homelessness is a problem that needs to be solved, not just removed from sight. If people have the minimums of life, then they can look to work on any other problems they have, physical or mental. The council needs to work with their community and not just those who are ratepayers.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
Clean up this street
Fitzroy Street in St Kilda is a disgrace. People camping out, litter, drug dealing and general crime are consistent reminders of decay. As a resident, I can confirm it is not safe at nearly any time of day. I pity the retailers, restaurants, shop workers, and property owners on the eastern side of Fitzroy Street. It’s a mess, and has the air of bankruptcy.
Having said that, the state government did spend more than $25 million on the Pride Centre. And more recently, $53 million on the new St Kilda pier. It seems we’re good at pouring concrete and spending taxpayers money, but not so good at maintaining a safe environment for residents, visitors and tourists. It’s time to clean up this Melbourne icon.
Anton Whitehead, St Kilda
Support the specialists
How sad to note the City of Port Phillip is considering fines for homeless to reduce crime. Homeless people living rough, often in tent cities, is a worldwide problem. In my visits to San Francisco, I avoid the Tenderloin area that makes St Kilda look like Toorak by comparison. Trying to have a homeless person pay a fine won’t work. I sympathise with the residents of St Kilda, homelessness isn’t pretty and, combined with drugs, it can be dangerous. The problem of homelessness is multi-causal and complex with mental health issues being a significant factor. Why not fund organisations such as the Salvation Army who have decades of experience in this area? Supported by medical specialists and funded by all three tiers of government, the problem of homelessness can be ameliorated, and even perhaps resolved.
Lance Sterling, Nunawading
Celebrate house price falls
How can we achieve housing affordability in this country if media commentary continues to celebrate rises in house prices as a positive (“Rates fall, house values lift and rents start to ease” 3/3). You report referred to “signs of recovery in Sydney and Melbourne” house prices, and “slight improvement in values”. It might be good news for investors, but it’s bad news for aspiring home owners in what are some of the world’s most expensive housing markets. An alternative report would read “Housing affordability set to fall again”.
We need house prices to fall further, so that those currently locked out of the market have a chance at buying a home – to live in. It is time to stop promoting housing primarily as an investment asset rather than a basic right for shelter. Only then might our political leaders summon the courage to change tax and investment policy settings in favour of home buyers, not investors.
Graeme Russell, Clifton Hill
Absurd gas circle
Australia, a major LNG exporter, now faces the absurd reality of importing the very gas we ship overseas. Despite vast reserves, domestic shortages on the east coast have led to proposals for floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) to bring in LNG. This comes as global LNG demand is set to rise 60 per cent by 2040 (“Asia wants to cut emissions, so why is it still buying so much Australian gas?” 3/3), with Australia ramping up exports to meet Asian demand. Yet, while we expand production for overseas markets, we are preparing to import gas at international prices – an astonishing policy failure.
Constructing FSRUs to import LNG underscores the severity of our supply issues. While these terminals offer rapid deployment, they also bring environmental risks, including marine disruption, thermal pollution, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. The irony of importing a resource we produce and export in abundance is undeniable. Australia must reassess its energy policies to ensure domestic supply security and avoid becoming the only nation that exports its own gas only to buy it back at a premium.
David Fox, Beaumaris
Fire safety a furphy
Sadly, it seems the Allan government and their CFMEU friends want to continue to log the last of Victoria’s native forests, so they’ve come up with a misleading new slogan to help them do so: “fire safety” (“Inside the fight to save the last Victorian highlands forest fairies”, 28/2). Numerous scientific studies have found that native forest logging makes Australia’s forests more flammable for many decades. Felling trees dries the forest out and results in more young, flammable trees. Funny how the big old trees in the forest that keep getting chopped down make loggers the most money.
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
Clearing is strategic
In response to your recent article on forest firebreaks, the Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) highlights the critical role of strategic firebreaks in protecting both communities and wildlife. The findings of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission underscored the importance of firebreaks and fuel management in reducing the severity and spread of bushfires. Strategic firebreaks – where vegetation is carefully managed to reduce flammability – are essential for bushfire prevention.
The article also references private native forestry operations. It is important to clarify that these activities are conducted under the strict environmental and social standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Crucially, areas harvested under FSC-certified forestry are replanted, ensuring forest regeneration and long-term sustainability. Products from harvested areas are used to create furniture, stairs, decking and other essential housing materials used by Victorians every day.
Andrew White, CEO, Victorian Forest Products Association
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Liberty lost
Does Donald Trump plan to replace the inscription on the Statue of Liberty that reads “Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. Maybe it would be easier to replace the whole statue?
Jan Ham, West Melbourne
At any moment, New Yorkers will see Lady Liberty leap from her podium and hitch-hike back to France.
Helen Moss, Croydon
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Trump and Ukraine
Although I’m appreciative of many of Trump’s policies, he should heed William Ralph Inge’s saying (adopted by Boris Yeltsin): “A man may build himself a throne of bayonets, but he cannot sit on it.”
Howard Hutchins, Wantirna
People have forgotten that MAGA stands for Make America Great Again, not Make the World Great Again. They have scant interest in the world.
Neale Meagher, Malvern
If a journalist were given an opportunity to ask one question of a visiting president whose country is battling for its existence, I cannot imagine a more inane choice than “Do you own a suit?”
Rosie Elsass, Brighton
British PM Kier Starmer may come to regret his words in calling for a “coalition of the willing” to defend Ukraine. George Bush’s coalition of the willing could not have ended in a bigger disaster.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Ich bin ein Ukrainer.
Jim Picot, Altona
Homelessness
Innovative thinking by the City of Port Phillip. Make being homeless illegal, get other municipalities to follow suit. Homelessness in Australia is solved overnight.
Alister McKenzie, Lake Wendouree
I can’t wait to see the sign held by a homeless person on a St Kilda street: “I need money to pay the fine for being homeless because I don’t have any money. Thank you.”
Nigel Dawson, Windsor
Finally
So glad I read The Age online. What a wonderful video clip of the Men in Suits singing “I’ve got the house to myself today”.
Carole Ruta, Benalla
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