ON page 10 of The Australian newspaper on July 7 there was a piece headed “Cigarette butts seeping into food chain.”
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It should have been blazoned on the front page.
The science writer went on to report research by Iranian scientists, plus a study published in the British journal Tobacco Control, warning about the cocktail of hazardous chemicals including metals such as cadmium, nickel and arsenic in cigarette butts that could end up in the food chain.
These nasties have been implicated in causing cancer, low-birth weight, as well as lung, kidney and bone damage.
The studies raise the possibility that these chemicals and metals could enter the food chain by accumulating in fish, consumed then by humans.
The article was more detailed and should be read by everyone instead of being tucked away in the bowels of the broadsheet.
Those of us that walk for our health know that there is no kerb or gutter in Orange that is free of cigarette butts.
They can be seen building up where any obstruction is holding back the flow of water, where smokers pick their children up from school, and where smokers stand waiting for their ride to work.
The pavements in the CBD show evidence of the same lazy disregard by smokers to show a modicum of care towards disposal of their butts in the bins provided.
Some smokers once carried a little tin for their butts.
Cigarette butts degrade wherever they lay.
They point to an attitude by society (like rubbish in the street) that they are just part of the scene and therefore accepted as such.
It reflects poorly on the culture of today and could come back to bite us.
A lot more interest should be taken in the not-so-humble cigarette butt.
It is an insidious product of human stupidity … no butts about it.
Bruce C Martin, Orange
Greyhound decision is proof of nanny state
I REFER to the Lithgow Mercury’s article ‘Trainers get ready’ published on Tuesday July 12, 2016.
I fear that NSW is fast becoming a ‘nanny state’ where people in Sydney decide what is best for us without consultation.
A new low is abolishing greyhound racing in NSW and the ACT.
I know of no other country or state that has gone so far as to dictate to its citizens.
Every industry has a few bad apples.
In saying that, it is absolutely draconian to place such a ban on greyhound racing.
Similarly, Mr Baird’s actions would have all industry and business worried that a few people can bring down a whole industry by their actions.
The tone of being politically correct is starting to restrict the personal freedoms of everyone in Australia.
The results of the recent federal election should, however, have made it clear to those in elected power that people in the mainstream community are not being listened to.
When governments ask for a ‘mandate’, they now seem to be asking instead for a ‘politically-correct’ date.
It is the height of arrogance is for the state government to now be telling us that greyhound racing is no good.
This decision needs to be re-addressed with great caution, as the political backlash will be significant and not easily forgotten.