M Wilson

Darkwood Rd Upper Thora

While it's not my habit to engage in philosophical debate, I was sufficiently disturbed by Russell Atkinson's 'Coronavirus?' piece in last week's Courier-Sun to feel compelled to respond.

The kind of nave optimism that Russell advocates is all very well; but, as even the followers of Zen will tell you, it's all about balance, the positives and the negatives that make up real life. "Don't worry", "Do nothing", "Discount past experience", "Let life take its course"? Are we not then to worry about logging in our native forests and headwaters of our rivers, give up advocating for a Koala Park, fail to learn from our bloody, militaristic past or stop protesting at the abysmal treatment of refugees and asylum seekers?

Russell might be happy to hang out in some sort of spacy psychic hinterland, but he might do well to realise that, in opposing certain social, political and economic practices, we're not dealing with some benign force that will retreat in shame once we point out its shortcomings. It's a beast with teeth, and it's not frightened to use them to protect its interests, which include ensuring obedience to the dynamics of competition, greed and exploitation which dominate most people's everyday lives.

Grand altruistic ideals are fine, and in that regard there's not much that Russell advocates that I wouldn't in principle agree with. But the path to their realisation involves effort, energy, positive action and - dare I say it - even social confrontation. 'Love one another' is fine as an ultimate goal, but it's not enough without a determination to act forcefully in its pursuit.

Hunter S. Thompson nailed it a long time ago, when he pointed out that the fatal flaw of the hippie movement was its simplistic conviction that, because it was right, it would prevail. History, and particularly modern global history, indicates otherwise. The 'end of civilisation as we know it', if it comes about, will do so because the conditions of current life become intolerable for the majority of humankind and they rise up against them, and - particularly for those of us in 'Western liberal democracies' - that's a long shot right now.

Maybe the Corona outbreak will help bring that about, maybe not; but it won't happen simply because we grab a seat in the grandstand, sit back and wait for others to do the hard work.

Rob Simpson

Urunga

Cancer Council NSW has announced that the Stars of Bellingen Shire Dance for Cancer event, scheduled for Friday 29th May at Bellingen Memorial Hall will be postponed.

Rory Alcock, Director of Community Engagement at Cancer Council NSW said: "Given the high risk to public health currently posed by COVID-19, we have made the decision to postpone or cancel Stars events in March, April and May.

"Nothing is more important to us than the health of our volunteers, staff and supporters - your safety must come first. After taking advice from leading health professionals and knowing that many who attend our events are in a higher risk group, we're confident that this decision is in the best interests of everyone involved, as well as the wider NSW community.

"Our local teams will work closely with the Stars Committee to agree when to postpone this event to. We are grateful to the community for their patience and understanding in this unprecedented time."

For more information, contact your local Cancer Council office on 02 6659 8400 or email Brittany on Brittany.Raven@nswcc.org.au

In the meantime, we encourage you to continue to follow the current NSW Government Health advice to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19. If you or someone you know has cancer and are concerned, please call our 13 11 20 Information and Support line to speak to one of our trained health professionals.

Brittany Raven

Cancer Council

Failure by government to ask why the finance industry was regulated after the Great Depression has put Australia in a vulnerable position. We have no car industry, no steel industry, no rolling stock, no shipping, no aircraft and little food canning industries. Even Golden Circle has closed. The treasurer needs to look at what President Roosevelt in regulating the finance industry said: "The more they hated me the more I knew I was doing the right thing." The Reserve Bank has lowered interest rates 12 times to generate manufacturing investment and nothing has happened. We are a nation of lions led by donkeys.

Underground mutton anyone?

Allan Green

Mylestom