INVESTING IN WORLD'S FUTURE
I appreciate Ron Kerr's experience with solar hasn't delivered the reduction in power bills he anticipated ("No decrease on power bills", The Daily Advertiser, July 12).
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There are many other people who have reduced their power bills with the help of batteries. I am thankful that the people who own my home have installed a Tesla battery that has benefited me.
Agency refers to our capacity to make choices and influence outcomes with our actions. Capacity is usually guided by our moral compass setting goals and adjusting these as we deliberately absorb ourselves in learning opportunities. Agency is mostly anticipatory. What I want to stress is agency isn't necessarily about capability.
There are many capable people without capacity. General examples are people pushed into the poverty cycle through language barriers, racism, domestic violence, political oppression, discrimination and trauma. There are many more examples of capable people barely surviving.
This leads me to privilege; "having special rights, advantages, or immunities".
There is the person with privilege who says "what's in it for me" and there is the person who says "what's in it for everyone".
Economics teaches us about the nature of supply and demand. The more we demand, the more the market wants to supply, the greater the competition, which generally lowers the price for consumers.
The "what's in it for everyone" people who use their agency and privilege are likely to buy an electric car or solar panels or build a passive house knowing it costs more to buy now than it will in the future.
They have made a moral and economical choice to spend now to increase demand so one day it may be affordable for everyone, while reducing carbon emissions.
Behaviours such as divesting their superannuation, buying organic, free-range eggs, RSPCA-approved meat, ethical and responsible products assist everyone. It's a conscious decision to use their purchasing power for ethical reasons. The people with privilege who live by "what's in it for me", well that about sums it up.
Benjamin Lee, Brucedale
MINISTER'S 'SHAMEFUL LEGACY'
How does Environment Minister Sussan Ley sleep at night? Her government's inaction on climate change is being highlighted at every turn yet she fires back at any suggestion of fault. Cheers to the eight children who won a Federal Court case declaring she has a duty of care to protect them from future impacts of climate change.
Boo to Ms Ley for appealing the Federal Court decision. brick bats for denying the reef is in danger when her own government report says its outlook is 'very poor'.
Stalling, forever stalling while our environment implodes. What a shameful legacy.
Lizette Salmon, Wodonga
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BARTY MAKES AUSTRALIA PROUD
Has Australia had a more popular sportsperson than Ash Barty? I think not, with the possible exception of Pat Rafter. Her grace and humility came as no surprise following her absorbing Wimbledon victory on Saturday night. It made you feel proud to be an Australian. I couldn't help but think what amazing parents she must have to bring up such a wonderful young lady. I must admit to shedding more than one tear during her post-match interview.
Sue Tanner, Albury
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