Shearing not clear choice
I'm sure many people think it looks cute to see a five year old shearing sheep but how vulnerable to injury are the sheep in the hands of a small boy with a pair of sharp shears?
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The sheep pictured in one of the photos certainly didn't look too happy - and with good reason. During the shearing process, teats, tails and ears are often cut or ripped of. This is because most shearers are paid by volume - not by the hour - which encourages them to work at breakneck speed. Sheep are frequently cut and workers use a needle and thread to close the gaping wounds.
Undercover footage from shearing sheds in NSW, Victoria and SA in 2014 showed sheep being punched, kicked and stomped on. They were hit in the face with electric clippers and shearers stood on their heads, necks and hind limbs. One shearer was seen beating a lamb in the head with a hammer and another repeatedly twisted and bent a sheep’s neck until it broke.
Sheep are gentle creatures who feel pain and fear just like us. They certainly don't deserve this cruel treatment. Nor do they deserve to be robbed of their fleece in the first place. Consequently I'd be far happier to learn that young Charlie Dunn wanted to become a train driver.
Jenny Moxham, Victoria
Price wars
Some months ago, Malcolm and Lucy kept promising Australians that gas and electricity prices would fall by an average $400 per year. Whenever politicians make such predictions we know the opposite is about to happen, which it has. Then predictably, governments announce an enquiry, but we, the paying public, know from experience nothing will change.
Electricity bills include a supply charge (whatever that is) which drains the residents of the city of Wagga alone, some $10.4 million. Add to this the governments GST ($2.6 m), plus the late payment and credit card usage fees, etc.
Several years ago the CEO's of the country's top five electricity boards over the previous five years pocketed bonuses of $29m – I would imagine that as prices have increased these bonuses could have now reached say $50m.
I am issuing a challenge to Michael McCormack to stand up against big businesses who are running this country. I know this stance would be against government's policy, however it would show that you are here to represent the people of your electorate.
Peter Dolden, Wagga
Combat climate change
A new study has found that there are four things we, as individuals, can do to combat climate change: have less (or no) children, ditch our cars, avoid air travel and move to a plant-based diet. The report says that other tactics such as recycling, using your own shopping bags, changing your light bulbs to energy efficient varieties and doing your laundry in cold water garnered almost tokenistic results by comparison.
Now, most of us only decide on procreation once or twice in a lifetime; we might buy a car every few years, and we may fly a handful of times a year. But we make decisions on our eating habits three times a day (sometimes more), and that is an empowering thought.
According to the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification, it takes up to 10kg of grain to produce just 1kg of meat, while more than 90 per cent of all Amazon rainforest land cleared since 1970 is being used for grazing livestock. The Worldwatch Institute reports that a staggering 51 per cent or more of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture.
Try going veg for your next meal. You'll not only reduce your carbon footprint, but you'll improve your health and help save animals from horrific deaths. And the best news: you can make that difference three times a day.