Pat Hockey, Clunes

I agree with recent letter writers that the amount of rubbish strewn around Ballarat is shameful. We're absolutely trashing the joint. Let's declare a Ballarat War on Waste. Let's reduce our personal waste as much of that which ends up in waterways has rolled or blown in the gutter on bin collection day. We can pick up litter outside our houses, in our block, on our walking tracks and around our parks. We can organise our own group clean ups if we don't want to gather litter alone. We can take our rubbish home from our picnics, especially if the bins are full. We can take our own shopping bag, refuse straws, sit down and have coffee or supply our own cup. Let's not leave it up to council. It already spends a huge amount of its budget on waste management.

Sandra Hawkins, Canadian

I read with interest your story on the tragedy of riding bikes in the city and in particular that there is little way in regards to safety gear that will protect these people. I ride a bike, by no means am I a serious or competitive rider. Now I could ride my husband's racer on the highway, as we do live on the Midland, firstly I am not prepared to take that risk for the reasons you have mentioned. There are a number of options to consider, as you can see by my profession, I am a Safety consultant and evaluate risk as part of my profession and also take this into my personal life. There is gear that these riders could use,and would be effective for head and spinal damage where if the rider and horse depart company  then these immediate inflate to protect neck and spine.

The other thing that I notice as a car driver, as I drive far more than I ride my bike is the amount of people who do not ride with high vis vests or apparel. They also don't plan their ride from the point of view, am I riding into a direction when the sun is in the eyes of the driver? Get out early in the morning when there is less chance of people under the influence of drugs or alcohol. There are always solutions to every risk.

Caylene Vincent, Safety, HR & System Specialists

If gluttony is rightly held to be one of the seven deadly sins, taking a squizz around the once great south land, the American influence is obvious. Only those old enough to remember the arrival of the 'golden arches' have a perspective of what a healthy active human society even looks like. Normal size clothes are now labelled 'slim fit' while the surgical removal of fat is a growth industry, along with diabetes and heart attacks. Politicians are happy enough to look the other way. With the herd fattened-up and dumbed down they can get on with lining their own pockets. Let it be? I don't think so. This is a matter of national security since this evil amounts to a war on our common humanity.

Steve Palmer, Lal Lal