A SHORT comment in memory of the atrocity of 9/11:

Any Answers?

Etched with us forever - is the eleventh of September

When captives in that plane seared our world in pain,

And fanatical powers wreaked carnage in those towers.

Is it satanic 'free will' that makes us torture and kill?

Must hate blight the face of our flawed human race?

Why do religious bigots threaten - vile Armageddon?

Must horror Jihads - and violent reprisals - plague our planet's innocents, yet again?

Merciful Allah, Great Jehovah - if you're there - please explain!

WITH recent weather conditions, and in the years to come getting much, much worse, now is the time to start doing something positive. It's too late for this summer season, but if our political leaders and the public in general get serious we can protect our homes, fauna, flora, livelihood and more importantly the lives of many Australians.

At present our brave firefighters are battling many fires. Homes, lives and livelihoods will be lost. Ask yourselves where do they get the much-needed water to fight these fires? If the erection of pipelines and large storage dams are started now we will have a chance to save our environment. If cost is a concern, I am happy to have $10 a week drawn from my pension towards this cost and if every Australian who loves their country were to do the same we together can achieve miracles. We can also get the government to match dollar for dollar.

STOCKTON needs permanent sea defences. Sandbagging of Stockton's beaches is a temporary fix ('Emergency sandbagging of Stockton', Newcastle Herald, 7/9).

Although some parts of the sand peninsula are six metres above sea level, with the sea level set to rise by half a metre by the end of the 21st century, wave erosion will be growing problem.

More permanent sea defences will be needed, including land build-up, sea walls, groynes, dykes, drainage canals and pumps. Some parts of the peninsula may be too expensive to defend and may need to be abandoned to the sea. The state government should do a survey and formulate a plan and set a timeline for the completion of these infrastructure works.

But infrastructure works are expensive. So, who should pay for them? Who should pay compensation to landholders whose land is abandoned to the sea?

Firstly, Stockton residents should pay a levy since their houses might otherwise be washed into the sea. After all, they chose to live there, the rest of us didn't. Secondly, many indirect beneficiaries should pay. Stockton helps protect Newcastle harbour from the sea. It therefore protects the livelihoods of many businesses that rely on Newcastle harbour. These include coal companies, wheat farmers and shipping companies. Therefore, they should pay something.

Ratepayers of Newcastle and taxpayers or NSW should also pay something, since they will also indirectly benefit.

HAVING attended almost every day of the Newcastle Inquiry, two thirds of the royal commission up and down the east coast of Australia and specially (one of only two supporters) the unexpected appeal for Fox to later attend court proceedings (which was to take about an hour or so, instead took five-six hours), Fox's book Walking Towards Thunder is gripping and a duplicate account of his public testimony within court, and those whom he trusts. There are many significantly loose with truth leaders in all aspects of life. The ball is now in the public court of decency to read Fox's book and make their own judgement. I urge anybody interested in justice, firstly for all those who have suffered sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, and for Fox who has made the world a safer place for children, to think how they would feel if it happened to their children and what they expect from the community.

GOOD film footage does not a smart city make. I welcome John Freund's call for professional input into the promotion of the city's events (Letters, 7/9), but warn against excluding those directly impacted by these events from the process of deciding which events should be brought to the city. What we have learned above all else from the controversy surrounding the Supercars event is that the following needs to be done before these decisions are made: A business case needs to be drawn up which includes the potential impact on local residents and small businesses; plans for any necessary construction work through public streets and parks should be put on public display for comment; research needs to be conducted into the estimated benefits claimed by the promoter and; potential risks need to be identified and risk management plans put in place.

Our city did look good on Foxtel. Novocastrians have every right to feel proud. However, this does not make up for lack of due process that has caused this event to divide rather than unite our city.

WE in the Hunter are so lucky that the girl from Gloucester has grown up. Jodi McKay MP we can see she will do a lot more for us than the others with their promises.

READ the article on Matt Hall, Red Bull Racing, winning the world championship ('Top gun's on top of the world', Newcastle Herald, 10/9). Congratulations Matt.

SANDBAGGING Stockton is a waste of money ('Emergency sandbagging', Herald, 7/9). You call it erosion. I call it rising sea levels. Why are the Pacific Islands vanishing? Beachfront one day, then....

I WOULDN'T like to be a bloke looking for a job in the media; I counted four ladies presenting the news, so I tried another station which had six ladies and one bloke.

CENTRAL Coast councillor Bruce McLachlan says a statue of a pelican should be built at The Entrance, in my opinion this is a great plan. Imagine a giant pelican which can be seen by land, sea and air, and light up at night, this would bring in tourists and sightseers from far and wide. Full marks to Bruce McLachlan for this plan, and I would like the pelican to be called Bruce in his honour. Why not, it is a first rate project on his part.

THE Knights have just shown what a decrepit team they really are. No wonder the Wests Group are investing in aged care.

REGARDING the under-performing Knights - I'm not sure why the new coach hasn't run in another direction. Good luck with these under performers, mate. I think they are an embarrassment to the Knights of old who never gave up and always gave their all.

KNIGHTS shame, shame, shame. How can a team return to Newcastle after a result like that? No wonder I watch anything except NRL.

WHAT arrangements are being made for the operation of the light rail when the barricades go up in Scott Street at Watt Street for the Supercars races? The terminus is on the other side of Watt Street.