Madam, - Congratulations to Breda O'Brien on her excellent column on climate change (November 4th). Surely any parent who knows anything about climate change must see unbearable accusation in the innocent eyes of her children?
Taking action may not solve the problem but at least you will have an answer for your children when they ask you why you did nothing.
I agree wholeheartedly with her rallying call to The Irish Times to lead the debate on this issue.
What we are looking at is the imminent destruction of our planet and perhaps five sixths of the human race, to say nothing of our civilisation.
We may only have a few years before it becomes too late to do anything.
Shouldn't The Irish Times now have a Climate Change Editor and an advisory panel on climate change?
Although it would be impossible to stop all promotion of unnecessary carbon production without closing the newspaper, surely a consciousness of the cost of such activity - the shopping trip to New York, the second home in Dubai - should pervade the newspaper?
At least desperately concerned readers like myself wouldn't feel so alone! - Yours, etc,
VICTORIA WHITE,
Ashfield Road,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
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Madam, - I was disappointed and dismayed at the Taoiseach's ardfheis speech.
Despite Ireland failing in its Kyoto commitments and the recent launch of the Stern Report on the economics of climate change, Mr Ahern feels it more appropriate to focus on the transformation of Ireland's road network, which he claims will promote prosperity and enhance the quality of life throughout the country.
It is bizarre that not one mention was given to renewable energy or reducing emissions.
In contrast President Bush, a known sceptic about global warming, still managed to devote a significant portion of his state of the union address to the subject.
Perhaps the temperature will need to rise another few degrees for the Taoiseach to feel that the topic is a hot enough election issue to warrant action. - Yours, etc,
Dr KARL O'CONNELL,
Castle Street,
Dalkey
Co Dublin.