It’s untenable
The appalling scenes of death, suffering and destruction in Ukraine are heartbreakingly sad to watch. And no sane person wants a wider war in Europe or for it to spread further. But how long can the world continue to see Ukraine devastated by Russian missile attacks? This bombing is killing innocent civilians, reducing Ukrainian towns and villages to rubble and violating the human rights of all Ukrainians.
I hope that very soon international and internal pressure, sanctions and Ukrainian resistance will bear fruit on Putin’s regime and stop the terrible carnage. Otherwise, more must be done to stop Russia’s ruthless invasion. Tolerating these atrocities any longer in Ukraine is completely untenable. If this agony continues, we will reach a point where almost everyone will say enough. And we will have to act by all means and at all costs to stop the massacre. Putin’s attempt at greatness and restoration of the Russian Empire is built on the corpses of so many children, women and men. In the name of justice and humanity, just stop this war.
Steven Katsineris, Hurstbridge

No-fly zone
During its invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s army clearly committed war crimes. To give them a chance, the Ukrainians need a no-fly zone over their country. Could this be achieved by other European countries donating fighter jets to Ukraine to be repainted with Ukrainian insignia and flown by Ukrainian pilots?
Henry Haszler, Eltham

Call his bluff
It’s like watching someone get beaten to death on the street. Putin thinks he can have the whole world with his threats of catastrophic consequences for the world. If there’s any decency, someone will call their bluff.
Roger HylandRichmond

Obscene Subs
How obscene that Defense spends $120 billion on submarines, while we rely on people’s ″⁣mud army″⁣ and private boats to rescue people during floods. Go figure.
Tony Danino, Wheeler Hill

nature’s recovery
In the future, older Australians who look out of car windows while driving will say to their children: “I remember when all this land was covered in houses”.
It will be a direct reversal of previous generations who lamented the loss of valuable farmland and beautiful native bushland to increasingly encroaching housing.
Any site that has already been flooded should be excluded for construction or reconstruction. Let plants and animals collect it.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills

Conditional approval
It is refreshing to see the call for a reinvigorated emphasis on history teaching in our universities (Commentary, 7/3), unless it comes from a faith-based institution that carries its mission in its name. Religions should not be sponsored by the state in a 21st century public institution.
Tony Haydon, Springvale

Work to do
Let me be perfectly clear. All mothers work. In fact, all women work. In fact, everyone works. Many people work for money. Some work for love, but while people live there is work to be done. When we use the term “working mothers”, we mean mothers who are in paid employment. To denigrate “working mothers” however denigrates everyone.
Ann Ritchie, Bellfield

Don’t Blame ADF
Your correspondent (Letters, 7/3) criticizes the ADF for having arrived late to the floods in Lismore. Defense forces that make their own decisions are those of military dictatorships, not those of democracies. Our ADF (of which I am a proud retiree) is, quite rightly, under the control of a civilian government. If the civilian government is too unable to dispatch them quickly, the ADF is not to blame.
Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky, New South Wales

Meaningless Ads
The United Australia Party’s ″⁣Stop Repression″⁣ and ″⁣Freedom Forever″⁣ ads are empty, ignorant and offensive slogans here. Yet they have real meaning in Ukraine, where people are fighting for freedom against Russian invasion and repression. Does the UAP really understand the meaning of repression? Or freedom?
Jennie Irving, Camberwell

Agree, it’s embarrassing
Jenny Callaghan (Letters, 6/3) is on hand. During Q&A last week, we could see how host Stan Grant struggled to figure out what to do with Putin sympathizer Sasha Gillies-Lekakis’ “thug” question in the audience. The fact that Grant decided to remove Gillies-Lekakis on the grounds that his question was “promoting violence” sets an awkward precedent for an ABC program. Q&A is proud of the forum’s openness and eclectic lineup of guests. Are certain questions now prohibited, depending on the context of their content?
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris

No long term vision
In response to the floods in Australia, the Prime Minister said: “If you closed all the coal mines in Australia, would that have stopped these floods? The answer is no” (“After Another Deluge,” The Age, 5/3). While this claim is technically correct, it is extremely myopic and could even be considered immoral. What Morrison still fails to understand is that actions that reduce emissions now will count towards crops, homes, businesses, ecosystems, species and human lives saved in the future. The Federal Government’s failure to see beyond the immediate dangers and success in the next election will have serious repercussions for the well-being of Australians.
Amy Hiller, Kew

Now is the time to plan
Fight or flee? (The Age, 7/3) is just the latest in a long series of articles on Australia’s crumbling coastline. From Wye River to Inverloch, we’re told coastal erosion is hammering wave rescue facilities, the Great Ocean Road is under threat and coastal councils are asking for funds to protect their shores from storms.
After the horrors of the black summer and the floods in Queensland and New South Wales, surely it is time for the major political parties to stop dithering around global warming and start planning for a future that incorporates both a serious reduction in fossil fuels and urgent preparations for a way of life that can cope with some of the changes heralded by the latest IPCC report, are now irreversible.
John Mosig, Kew

Too harsh a view
In response to ″⁣Life, Death and Cricket″⁣ (Letters, 7/3), no one is claiming that sportsmen are scientists, doctors, JFK, Elvis or Di. However, in this day of political correctness, figures such as Rod Marsh and Shane Warne have given many of us some well-deserved respite from a constant barrage of bad news.
Warne’s talent, work ethic, and dedication to the game are well-documented, and his regular man has given us assurance that most celebrities, regardless of their special skills, are good people. Marsh and Warne gave tirelessly of their time, continued after retirement to give back to the game, founded and donated to countless charitable causes. To suggest that they don’t deserve to be mourned and celebrated by the media or their supporters is, I believe, extremely harsh.
Sydney Shadid, Sandringham

Gold heart
A few years ago a neighbor won a competition where the prize was to play the Victoria cricket team in your garden. The biggest star of this team was Shane Warne.
Long after the other cricketers had fulfilled their pledge and left, Warnie was still there drinking beers with the dads and giving leg breaks to any kids who asked for it. It was typical Warnie, the children adored him and he reveled in idolatry.
He was no saint even though he barracked for them in the AFL. Those who knew him say he had a heart of gold and that’s fine with me. He certainly left us with wonderful sporting memories.
Nick Brenan,
Rowville

Unwarranted photos
The coverage of Shane Warne’s death in The Sunday Age was respectful and moving. So it was disappointing that The Age yesterday released footage of what appeared to be a covered body being loaded into a vehicle and an unmade bed in a hotel room. We all know that when a person dies they leave a body behind. We don’t need to look at him any more than we need to rummage through his sock drawer or his medicine cabinet. It was dirty and voyeuristic. His loved ones deserve better.
Phillip PriceRichmond

It’s new, but not clear
As Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton continue to talk about national security in the run up to the election, could they please explain how creating a nuclear target here makes us safer. (“PM plans east coast base for nuclear submarines,” The Age, 7/3).
Phil Alexander, Eltham

AND SOMETHING ELSE

Weather
Let’s be real and call it what it is – Climate Changed.
Greg Lee, Red Hill

Flood-ravaged residents of NSW and Queensland will be on the edge of their seats as they await Scott Morrison’s announcement on the submarines.
Ian Maddison, Parkdale

War
Peter Dutton seems determined to have a war with someone. I just wish he would choose someone less powerful than China.
John Walsh, Watsonia

War is not tanks and guns. War is not about hardware. War is people killing other people.
Terry MaloneWarburton

It looks like Peter Dutton is planning a quick run to Subs ‘R’ Us before the election.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick

Always remember that when a leader says, “We’ll fight them on the beaches,” he’s talking about you, not me.
Barry Revill, Moorabbi

Why can’t the frozen Russian billions be spent on supplying defensive weapons to Ukraine?
Phil Piesse, Kew

to warn
Somewhere someone is probably writing a movie script or even a ballet called Shane, Warts and All.
Myra Fisher, East Brighton

What a great cricket catch-up there will be ″⁣upstairs″⁣ when Bradman, the ″⁣other″⁣ Keith (Miller), Marsh and Warnie all come together, as our so revered Australian champions.
Tris Raouf, Hadfield

No, Vivienne, you’re not the only one (Letters, 7/3).
Narelle Richardson, Warrnambool

Vale, Rod Marsh and Shane Warne. Fortunately, God did not attempt a hat trick.
Peter Thomas, Pascoe Vale

ultimately
Josh Frydenberg returns the pork to pay for the tax cuts.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South