I had a fabulous time at last year's port blockade run by Rising Tide. It was family-friendly-fun, informative, and inclusive; a great community event for people who care about the environment. Plus, the music was fantastic. It really put Newcastle on the map as a progressive, green city with a lot to offer, and I've got people coming from Perth, Adelaide and country Victoria this year.
Safety was a primary focus last year, as with this year, and there were no issues with that in 2023 - nor have any problems been reported with any of the previous 12 port blockades that have taken place over the years.
I look forward to attending with my friends and family at the end of this month. It is uplifting to gather with such a huge crowd of climate-concerned people who are creative, active, and ready to have a good time (and splash some cash with us!) in Newcastle.
Joanne Jaworowski, Cooks Hill
Thanks for making some noise
TO Peter Schofield from Rising Tide: I wish you and all organisations like Rising Tide every success. I admire your bold and sometimes perilous protest tactics which I'm sure are born from the frustration of the fact we are heading for a climate catastrophe and no-one listening.
In years to come Rising Tide et al will be seen with the same awe and reverence we remember the anti Vietnam War or no blood for oil protesters. We'll never know how many lives those protesters saved but we do know you're protesting to save all life. More strength to your arm.
John Lawton, Belmont
Market has decided on nuclear
TONY Mansfield wants to "let the market decide" about the uptake of nuclear power ("Market will decide", Letters, 8/11). Well, the market already has and there is no desire for it. That's why Peter Dutton must commit untold billions of taxpayer dollars for his nuclear dream.
Why isn't industry interested? Because plants are too expensive and take too long to build, therefore the price to the consumer of their power will not be competitive with that of renewables, and for that reason alone, by the time they become operational in the 2050s, they will be stranded assets. Industry is committing billions to renewables because the future, and return on investment is there.
John Arnold, Anna Bay
City centre has a future in fun
BUILD it and they will come. It's a line from the movie Field of Dreams and many of us living in our beautiful city have dreams about how our inner city could be. The good news is that building has resumed in the Hunter Street Mall and the future of inner city Newcastle can now be clearly seen. No, it won't ever be the same again, but it might very well be better.
Last Saturday saw many people flock to the mall for a celebration. Music played and businesses took the opportunity to show their wares. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps Hunter Street had lost its way and its purpose for quite some time but it has found it again.
I often look at a very old black-and-white photograph taken in the heyday of Hunter Street. It shows my mother and her sister-in-law walking down a busy Hunter Street, eating ice creams on their way back from the beach. As small children my mother often dressed my sister and I in our Sunday best and walked from the bank corner to the top of town. It was very special. Build a better Hunter Street and they will come. They just need a reason; retail and entertainment are two of the best. It's probably the only city in Australia where the main street, harbour and beach meet harmoniously.
Denise Lindus Trummel, Newcastle
Good advice to do your homework
I AGREE with Ian King ("Buyer beware on new tech", Letters, 7/11), that consumers need to do their homework when buying any new technology product, including electric vehicles (EVs). My EV ownership experience, travelling around 20,000km over the last 12 months, has been mainly very positive. The initial insurance premium on my Chinese-made EV was substantially less than on my previous car, a BMW X1. Both cars were insured for a similar amount covered. My recent insurance renewal premium was much the same as the original premium.
As far as the battery is concerned, I requested the car dealer complete an annual battery health check. It showed that the battery of my EV was like new, indicating many more years of useful service life ahead. So yes, please do your homework before buying an EV, then enjoy many years of enjoyable and reliable driving.
Ian Thomas, The Hill
Short Takes
Chivalrous act on the water a heartwarmer
IT was a heartwarming story in the Newcastle Herald on Monday about the rescue of the Vietnamese seaman off Blacksmiths Beach ('Miracle at sea', Herald 11/11). Dr Glen Valaire and Lee Pitt performed a chivalrous act in bringing the seaman on board and tending to his needs.
Les Field, Wickham
Blockade due no leniency
NIKO Leka ('Blockade risk pales in comparison to what's coming', Opinion 12/11): the intended protest has been through the courts and knocked back. What part don't you and your supporters get? Those who break the law should face the penalties.
Shane Tull, Redhead
Science is golden for Trump
IT'S becoming obvious worldwide that the normal people are not going to cop woke activists and their useless causes anymore, including protesters. Trump won because he has an understanding of biology the most basic of all science. You have to believe the science, boys and girls.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
Corruption claims ring hollow now
WELL the US Presidential election has been run and won. Just prior to the election day, among many other outrageous claims made by Donald Trump was one of corruption and vote rigging that he said was already happening with the early voting. Now that he has won, I wonder why somebody has not asked the question, were the figures all genuine? Probably only Trump knows, he was the one who said it was happening, and that he knew it was happening.
Fred McInerney, Karuah
What does great really look like?
DOES making America great again mean going back to the days of beauty pageants, prom queens and cheerleaders? Does it mean a Happy Days lifestyle with a white Marion, Howard, Richie and Joanie? I really would like to know.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
Don't forget the good things
GREG Hunt, I assume that you sent your electricity rebate back to the government? You also forgot to mention over a million jobs created, back to back budget surpluses and the unemployment rate at a historic low. Also, there is absolutely no evidence of rampant anti-semitism or renewables ripping our land. A few facts wouldn't go astray.
