Damn the torpedoes! Let’s prepare for war
I welcome the news that the 91原创 and American military will resume live ammunition weapons training in Juan de Fuca Strait. As a society we have become complacent and generally take our armed forces for granted.
However, the situations in Ukraine, Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula show how essential a modern, professionally trained armed force is to our way of life, our freedom.
The world is a dangerous place and seems to be getting more dangerous, not less. I question whether Fort Rodd Hill should remain park space or should governments start considering mobilizing the fort?
While some may laugh at the suggestion, it is likely those individuals were also laughing at the prospect of war in Europe in January 2022.
Alan J. Wainwright
Oak Bay
Valid arguments on both sides
Re: “Net-zero fantasy has empowered dictators,” commentary, Jan. 11.
Once again Gwyn Morgan has penned a compelling argument for Canada to produce and sell more fossil-fuel energy. Unfortunately, he either ignores or unfairly dismisses environmental concerns about fossil-fuel production.
Even if Morgan is 100 per cent right in his business case for fossil fuels, he is too close-minded to legitimate concerns about the negative impact of fossil-fuel consumption.
There must be a middle ground. Cannot Canada balance the obvious need for fossil-fuel energy and the revenue it generates with the need to protect the planet from greenhouse gases?
Yes, it will be a delicate dance to straddle the two competing realities. But surely people of good will can fashion a compromise.
It might start with respect and the recognition both sides have valid arguments.
Steve Housser
Shawnigan Lake
The closer to net zero, the better off we will be
Re: “Net-zero fantasy has empowered dictators,” commentary, Jan. 11.
Gwyn Morgan, former oil and gas CEO, again slams the movement to reduce global warming caused by oil and gas emissions.
He refers to the International Energy Association projection showing oil demand increasing. He fails to note that the IEA projects oil demand soon levels off and begins to drop even in their business-as-usual scenario.
In their two other scenarios, oil demand levels earlier and then declines dramatically. See “IEA World Energy Outlook 2022.”
His learning from the European crisis is to expand oil and gas while Europe’s learning instead is to increase renewables and nuclear to enhance self-reliance and minimize gas requirements.
He points to China’s construction of new coal plants but ignores reality: China is constructing more renewable generation than coal and is shutting aging coal plants.
Morgan criticizes wind and solar as costly and unreliable. As former chief energy planner for Manitoba Hydro, the consensus among experts and international agencies is that wind and solar are increasingly lower-cost sources of electrical energy than new gas or coal.
Wind and solar intermittency can be addressed through batteries, inter-regional transmission and diversification with hydro, nuclear, geothermal and peaking gas generators.
Achieving net-zero will be difficult. Again, the IEA report: It contains a net-zero pathway that is challenging but workable. We may not achieve net-zero by 2050, but the closer we come, the more livable our world will be for us, our children and grandchildren.
Ed Wojczynski
Oak Bay
Truth about net zero will bring howls
Re: “Net-zero fantasy has empowered dictators,” commentary, Jan. 11.
Once again the TC is to be congratulated for publishing another of Gwyn Morgan’s excellent comments, this time on the current “net-zero fantasy” so beloved of the woke and gullible climate zealots led by our very own dear leader in Ottawa.
I now eagerly await the predictable howls of indignation from his supporters, of whom there are many here on the left coast. It will be interesting reading.
The truth always hurts even though it does not conform to popular opinion.
Steen Jessen
Oak Bay
Recycling pickup is just not that great
I read with envy the letter praising Emterra’s recycling pickup. For several years our street has had ongoing problems with missed pickups and missed “recoveries.”
Our Dec. 20 pickup was cancelled due to the storm, which was quite understandable, and we were instructed to wait for the next scheduled pickup.
On Tuesday, Jan. 3, we eagerly put out our bins and bags. Per Emterra’s instructions, we left everything out until 9 p.m. No pickup.
Several homes sent notices to Emterra and received the reply to put the bins out the next day for recovery. Again no action.
Repeat on Wednesday, repeat on Thursday, repeat on Friday. On Friday we received a differently worded notice instructing us to keep our recycling out for recovery on Saturday. Guess what.
It rained on Saturday. Saturday night we carted our dripping, waterlogged bins back indoors to await Jan. 17.
Dare we hope?
Vivian Coppola
Victoria
Many great reasons to allow work from home
The actions of the federal government are contradicting stated objectives to move to a green economy. Just recently, the government announced it will bring everyone back to work who have been working remotely during the pandemic.
The very idea of putting all this traffic back on the road is flying in the face of green initiatives.
Perhaps a better idea:
How about taking some of those empty government buildings and converting them to residential use? (Perhaps some into open lounge areas with wi-fi for public common areas.)
With nearby restaurants and pubs, this would enhance community growth and stimulate commerce, making downtown areas more desirable for people to visit and shop.
The government can keep the buildings or sell them. That would solve the homeless problem, and create a flow of shoppers who live near enough to the shops and entertainment to provide jobs for those who live in the city.
People do not all need to work from a central office. We would certainly like to hear your ideas.
Sue Hiscocks, Victoria
Jim Wight, Saanich
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