ANIMAL rights activists in Australia are concentrating their efforts towards banning duck hunting and the intensive farming of animals for food.

In the meantime thousands of wild pigs are being hunted in outback Australia by people with knifes and dogs.

Who believe that pigs taste better if they have bled to death.

— LEON COOPER, St Leonards.

Australian Day

I AM still puzzling over what Captain Cook had to do with 26 January.

Viz Yes, the date may be important to Australia's recent history but realistically, how many us even stop for one second on January 26 to think about the efforts of James Cook?.*

Perhaps Michelle Wisbey can explain.

*Sunday Examiner 24/01/16

— BEV JENNINGS, West Ulverstone.

Credibility

BOB Brown would gain some credibility if he was photographed actively supporting our fire crews instead of wasting police time and taxpayers money on his latest publicity stunt at Lapoinya.

What a sad example he is setting particularly to our younger and more impressionable community  for Australia Day.

If you don’t agree with your countries laws it is ok to just break them.

— LINDSAY MILLAR, Hillwood.

Smoke in the air

THE current high levels of smoke that we are experiencing in Launceston should alert us to the discomfort and health hazards provoked by the far lower levels of wood smoke that we often have in Winter.

People susceptible to air pollution, particularly wood smoke, are affected by far lower levels than we are currently experiencing and more.

More must be done to reduce pollution and deal with serial offenders who fail to use best practice in the operation of their wood heaters.

There is good advice, recommendations and alternative heating options available. There is no excuse for the plumes of smoke we regularly see hanging over Launceston when the inversion layer holds smoke in the valley.

Wood smoke is a major cause of premature death and disability around the world and Launceston in Winter is significantly affected by regularly high readings of particulate matter, mainly wood smoke, in our air.

— MALCOLM COWAN, West Launceston.

Mysogyny

THE ASSERTION that 'the connotation of a naked woman is that she is ready for sex' (Letters, January 24) is perhaps one of the most ludicrous things I've seen in print for quite some time.

While I can garner from your letter that you're a stringent Christian, and can only assume that you are therefore on the conservative side, the suggestion that a nude woman is ready for sex is both ignorant and misogynistic.

As a woman, who happens to also be a mother, partner, support worker and other things, I  can certainly attest that women are not ready for sex every time they disrobe. Cases in point - showering, bathing, skin on skin bonding time with children, and, for some, a certain amount of freedom.

Perhaps try googling some of the world's greatest pieces of art - you'll find loads of naked women who certainly aren't begging for it.

Assertions such as yours smack of victim blaming misogyny, and as far as myself and I'm sure many other modern women are concerned, have absolutely no place in today's society.

— TYH LILLEY, Prospect.

Additional Renewable Energy

ENERGY Minister Matthew Groom, following minimal spring rainfall and a Basslink cable malfunction, says “There is no doubt that Tasmania is facing a serious energy challenge’ and that “…more wind, solar and biomass are all options we (the state government) are actively considering.” (The Examiner, January 23).

One option the Minister fails to mention is increasing the number of mini hydro utilities which could easily be installed at various locations around Tasmania.

For example such a utility would be relatively simple to install at the base of Trevallyn Dam which, on completion, would not only increase renewable power generation but at the same time permit a significant increase in Cataract Gorge water flows to flush out unacceptable toxic contamination of the Gorge and the Tamar’s upper reaches.

A unique opportunity to generate additional renewable power while reversing Cataract Gorge and Tamar River environmental degradation. 

I urge Minister Groom to include such schemes in those the government are actively considering.

— JIM COLLIER, Legana.