Opposition to renewables is selfish and short-sighted

Opposition to installing wind turbines on rural properties often stems from jealousy and misinformed prejudice (“Tilting at turbines,” October 26). Farmers whose properties are selected to host the turbines are offered the opportunity to practically “drought proof” their operations. Most reasonable people accept the need for renewable energy and the need for landowners to improve their situation by adopting wind farm projects. The main reason why society is leaving projects is largely driven by those who believe they will not benefit financially from the technology. This attitude is both selfish and narrow-minded. Despite disruptive opposition that often goes nowhere, wider society will certainly benefit from renewable energy. Derrick Mason, Boorowa

It seems that people in some countries are against wind turbines because of their ugliness. It shows that they love the aesthetics that nature brings with climate change; wildfires, droughts, floods and storms; All of these cause damage. John Roma, Mt Lawley (WA)

It is tragic that renewable energy is dividing rural communities in this way. If the Nationals had decided that wind farms were as good for nature as coal mines and gas fracking projects, none of these fights would have happened – at least not on such a large scale. The irony is that it is rural areas where climate change will be most evident and where communities will lose the most. They can look forward to more droughts, more floods and more wildfires; All of these will be costly to cover and increasingly difficult to insure. I don’t know for the life of me why the future victims of a hotter planet are doing the work of the companies that warm it. Ken Enderby, Concord

Yes, wind farm turbines and power lines spoil some of the existing landscapes, but the alternative of no energy has to be worse. And yes, energy companies should consult and adjust the route of their structures so they don’t build on farmhouses and infrastructure. They can’t make it in the city, so why would they make it in the country? But renewable energy sources are not just a commercial activity; They are essential to replace our virtually obsolete power stations that have been allowed to fall into disuse by successive (mostly Coalition) governments. Therefore, there is no alternative for “anti-renewable” groups. And you can give a fuck about the Coalition governments whose members are currently fueling all this abuse. Nuclear power options are too far away and not currently feasible based on current projects around the world, so unless they find a magic bullet, they should give up on their Luddite ideas and move on. They also need to lift their eyes and remember that commercial farming is necessary to feed us all. But in doing so, it also degraded beautiful natural landscapes and forests that once supported a much smaller population. We need to move on and recognize the need for change, but this needs to be done in appropriate consultation with those affected. Ian Ferrier, Long Pier

Rudd was right. she still

What Kevin Rudd said three or four years ago about Donald Trump – namely: “the most destructive president in history” and “a traitor to the West” – is still true today, even more so (“I won’t forget what Rudd said: Trump”, October 26). “I won’t forget what Rudd said,” Trump said. We don’t need Kevin Rudd to tell us that Trump is the worst president in US history. If Trump visits Australia, just like in Scotland and England, he will be kept under tight security and too scared to meet and greet the public. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl

Is it time? Whitlam was ahead of this

Whether you love or hate Whitlam (“Whitlam’s lesson for Albanese”, 26 October), there is no doubt that Gough Whitlam’s government was chaotic at times, but he was the most productive Prime Minister since Ben Chifley. In his defence, Labor came to power after 23 years of Conservative rule. All government instruments were imbued with the ideology of the Conservatives. Here was the tall, well-spoken, intelligent and highly educated man with a vision and independent thought that Australia had never had, who sought to massively change the country economically, culturally and socially overnight. It wasn’t in the DNA of Australians then, and to some extent it still isn’t. He eliminated all traces of discriminatory immigration policy, even went to China before the Americans, and best of all, he made a bold 25 percent cut in tariffs in 1973, aiming to reduce inflation by increasing competition and imports without informing the Treasury, the cardinal sin that the bureaucracy would never admit. Remember, all the tariff cuts came after Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979. Many of Whitlam’s policies remain, but he was 50 years ahead of his time. Mukul Desai, Avcılar Hill

Abbott’s Achievements