Healthy Eating
I AGREE with the sentiment of the article “Dorset eating heart healthy” (The Examiner, April 9).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
I have been visiting your beautiful state for the past year.
Thanks to my relatives, I have been able to learn about many aspects of your landscape and lifestyle.
The beauty of Tasmania remind me of my birth place, Piombina, Italy, with its mediterranean climate.
I am sorry to say that I find the claim in the article that people in Tasmania are the least healthy in the whole country quite believable.
I have attended a few fundraising events for the patients of, and research into, serious life-threatening diseases.
Almost always, muffins and cupcakes, full of sugar, chemical additives and colourings are served.
In school canteens, meat pies and ice-cream are fed to children on a daily basis, instead of providing nutritional meals with vegetables, and fruit salads for dessert.
People here queue for and consume junk food in many fast food outlets instead of cooking and baking their own healthy meals from the abundant local fresh produce, including fresh meat, vegetables, olive oil, pulses and legumes, grains and nuts, real butter and milk.
I applaud the Dorset Council for attempting to rectify the situation for the nice people of their region.
Hopefully, the rest of the state will follow this path.
Joula Maren-Ariz, Piombino, Italy.
Political System Improvements
QUITE a number of influential people within our state are calling for the state's lower house to return to 35 seats.
Surely this not our only option.
Would we be better served with more robust cooperation between the upper house and lower house, through joint sittings? Could this result in better outcomes?
Further consider:
- The introduction of a four year fixed term electoral cycle.
- Do away with the Hare Clark voting system
- Reduce the local government numbers substantially
Hypothetically let’s say seven regional government areas, each electorate to elect five government representatives should result in 35-seat, single house government.
This seems to work out in New Zealand and Queensland, why won’t it work in Tasmania?
Bigger is not always better.
David Cox, Evandale.
Live Exports
I REMAIN sick to my stomach at seeing such graphic images on TV of the conditions live animals face on board ships bound for the Middle East.
Australian born and raised sheep, including lambs squashed together, denied three of the most basics of life for living creatures: food, water and ventilation.
If they die during the voyage, they are left in piles of sheep manure before being unceremoniously dumped overboard by crane.
If they survive, a fate just as bad awaits them on arrival.
Their throats are cut while still alive, no stunning them first.
How can we, as a civilised, first world country, sleep at night knowing this is happening to defenceless, voiceless creatures?
If buyers insist on receiving live animals, then they can go elsewhere, because surely a line in the sand must be drawn, where animal rights and welfare comes before profit.
Some people may say “they’re only animals”, and this is true, but like humans they have emotions, feel pain and need food, water and air, among other things.
The barbaric trade of live exports needs to stop now.
Carmen Frelek, Launceston.
Milos Forman
HE WAS an orphan (at the age of nine) of victims of the Nazi holocaust in World War II, and forced to abandon his homeland due to imminent invasion.
Czechoslovakian film maker Milos Forman has passed away this last week, age 86, relatively unnoticed by those who love quality films.
The legacy he leaves are probably two of the most memorable films to hit the screen - thank you Milos Forman for One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and your brilliant film on the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, called simply Amadeus. RIP.
Robert Lee, Summerhill.
Whose Voice
AS A once wannabee and failed muso, now in my twilight years, I seldom watch commercial TV except for The Voice.
I am eternally grateful for the mute button so that I can tune-out the "look at me" actions by the so-called judges in their attempts to upstage our excellent young Aussie contestants, who are what the show should be about.
Is that too much to ask for?
Don Davey, Launceston.
Jobs for North
IT WOULD good for the state if we can get some of these federal public service jobs here but the big question arises: how many of the ones the may come will end up in the north of the state?
Senator Jonathon Duniam said the state’s Liberal senators and the state government and the business community would work to ensure it happens.
It would be good to see all politicians of all creeds working together for once to help the state and its citizens.
David Parker, West Launceston.
Parking
I WONDER if there is a connection between increasing parking fees in the Launceston central business district and the empty shops to be seen all over the city.
I would certainly never shop in the city if what I wanted could be found elsewhere and I suspect I am not alone in this.
Reg Pontin, Hillwood.