Letters to the Editor - letters@fijitimes.com.fj
Electrical safety
THE article, ‘Tips that might save your house' (FT 20/11), stated that one should use extension chords wisely and not overload them.
That's good advice, but it would be better to avoid the need to use extension cords since they do increase the risk of fires.
Here in the US, the National Electrical Code requires power points very 12 feet except in kitchens, where power points are required every four feet. Therefore, we rarely need extension cords.
Unfortunately, FEA policy, by charging a deposit based on the number of power points, discourages having plenty of power points. For that reason, houses in Fiji usually have too few power points, causing people to use extension cords and dual adapters thereby increasing the risk of fire.
Obviously not all fires are caused by a shortage of power points, but having more power points would improve safety.
FRANK R EGGERS
Albuquerque
USA
Oceanic Olympics
THE Olympic Games are now such a commercialised venture that to have Fiji hosting is probably beyond one's imagination. Some may even laugh at the idea.
But I would like to venture the thought that maybe the Oceania nations can bid to co-host. Island nations can host separate sports. How about it?
KOLI KOROVULAVULA
Suva
Airwave fools
IN reply to Lilian Mausio (FT 19/11), I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I'm not sure why CFL (the radio stations parent body) does not take any action against that station.
They seem to have been making a mockery of the public.
It was funny in the beginning when it was done by the experienced hosts who are no longer around, but quite recently it has become a nuisance.
The prank calls, absurd jokes, invasion of privacy and harassment and victimising the innocent.
People that have fallen prey to these airwave fools should report them to the police.
The job of a radio jockey (RJ) is to entertain and inform the public and harassing someone for the sake of getting a few laughs is not entertaining.
How would the radio hosts feel if the shoe was on the other foot? I hope CFL takes these bad comedians to task and at the same time clear the airwaves of such nonsense.
VHAVNAL SINGH
Lautoka
Winning platform
I WOULD like to say to every coach bringing their athletes to the Chow Games, even for the first time, that winning is what sports is all about.
With no disrespect to the teacher who said that winning was secondary and participating was the first priority – what motivation are the children getting. Don't lay platforms by participating lay platforms by winning.
It looks like the teacher is telling the child, "We are here to participate not to win, make sure you don't come first?"
Set the platform and win first-time round, break records, make waves not ripples and kick butt if you have to. Our kids need to be motivated in becoming winners not just participators.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON
Lautoka
Meteorologists needed
WEATHERMAN Rajen-dra Prasad (FT 19/11) made a nationwide plea for more meteorologists.
If past media reports are anything to go by, our Meteorology Department has been lacking in this area for the last few years with our forecasters venturing into greener pastures being the main reason.
No wonder Mr Prasad doesn't smile on camera as spice man Ronald Gatty (FT 13/11) complained about. The poor chap along with his colleagues have been working under staffing constraints while Gatty was playing with his spices in front of the TV.
With our systems finally upgraded, thanks to the authorities, perhaps this would be an opportunity for our recently graduated university science students to have a go at the interesting interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere.
BEN KUSH
Nadi
Rubbish statistics
I WISH to highlight some of the doubts identified with revelations of the Suva City Council relating to the decrease of rubbish weight collection that also favourably decrease the surcharges levied by the Naboro Landfill Rubbish Dump.
As much as we appreciate the news, we are also sceptical to this revelation because of other related statistics that needed to be attached with this finding such as:
Increase of population in the greater Suva area;
Increase of businesses operating within the Suva vicinity, and
Increase of our imports that are also related to waste sustained from all sorts of material.
The increase in the sighting of rubbish in the greater Suva area.
Even though council administrators took this decrease and saving with great achievement on their part, they should instead have raised some doubts if they have taken into account other related statistics to verify their stand.
A clear example of these disputed stats is the drain that goes from Ruve Street, Belo Street, Raiwasa, Vatuwaqa. A closer view of the drain could identify their missing rubbish tonnage.
I would kindly request our city fathers that the money they saved could be usefully used to clean up tonnes of waste and rubbish now becoming a health scare to residents of the Samabula community.
The drains have not been cleared nor attended by those who have been contracted to carry out this work.
A little shake-up from our city fathers could liven up the South Pacific Pageant.
JOE GONEWAI
Suva
Fruits and chimps
LATELY, there were lot of emphasis given in the mass media by the authorities on eating a lot of fruits and vegetables for better health and longevity.
I believe chimps do that a lot throughout their life span but die between 20 and 30 years after birth.
So what is so convincing in fruits and vegetables that will enhance humans to live a long and healthy life?
RAVIND C NAIDU
Labasa
Airwave fools
SCIENTISTS say that planet Earth is hurtling through space at 108,000 kilometres per hour and if it moved 12.5 millimetres closer to the sun we'd fry or if it moved the same distance away we'd freeze.
All this begs the question, "Who or what is holding it all together?"
With the massive scientific knowledge mankind has accumulated why are people still challenged by the God factor?
Two academically gifted friends, who were confirmed atheists, would debate Christians and win their case on the strength of their intellectual arguments. Today, both are pastors at two very large Christian Churches.
What changed their view?
Both admit to having an amazing encounter with God and their lives have never been the same since.
It is a courageous person who would debate opponents in public forums about something they so passionately believed in only later to admit that they were wrong.
A good friend of mine says, "Eternity is the wrong thing to be wrong about!"
In the scheme of things, perhaps we can take comfort that, whoever is holding it all together we hope to God that He doesn't let go!
COLIN DEOKI
Australia
Learn from mistakes
THE Flying Fijians will need to make a number of significant improvements if they are to bounce back and beat Ireland this weekend.
Glen Ella and his coaching team would have struggled to find much in the way of positives when they reviewed last weekend's 10-23 loss to Scotland.
Possibly the most worrying aspect for Flying Fijian fans in that Test match was not the fact that the game was lost but the manner in which the Scottish dominated proceedings for most of the game.
Our boys were back-pedalling in the set pieces, shoved in the scrums and were dominated at the breakdowns and the lineouts.
Seremaia Bai's men were pinged several times in a lopsided penalty count by the referee on many occasions because they were under pressure in their own half.
Our boys made so many errors in their own quarter –– they were forced into making those errors.
Therefore, Norman Ligairi wearing the No 15 jersey must be a sure starter this weekend.
On Sunday morning, in Dublin, the Flying Fijians have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
SAMUELA KAILAWADOKO
Nadi
Meke for the cibi
COMPARING the cibi to the haka, the cibi is a bit pale.
Without the spears the cibi does not make sense.
Now that the officials have stopped the players from performing the cibi, they should perform a meke instead.
GURDIAL SINGH
Savusavu
Navosa netball
I THANK Draiba Village and its people for hosting us during a netball tour to Navosa province.
It was really encouraging to see that 18 clubs have shown interest in joining the 2010 Navosa Netball Association competition.
I know it will be a new association under Netball Fiji and we urge all the new clubs to come forward and show their talent and aim for the Fiji team.
I hope we have a good season and be part of the western rally, the Inter-District Competition and the MH Tour.
Once again, vinaka nene Vilise and Wana for the great hospitality given to us.
I wish Navosa netball all the best in the future.
JUDY KUMAR
Navosa
Sacked coach
THERE has been much controversy surrounding the sacked national netball coach Melissa Walker through this column with the majority in favour of Melissa.
Melissa should understand that she was appointed by Netball Fiji because of her experience, age and calibre to lift the profile of the game in Fiji and meet international standards.
With due respect to Melissa, I believe she should be more focussed on her family and leave aside coaching.
The Melissa saga has brought nothing positive to the sport and Netball Fiji.
VIMAL PRASAD
Lautoka
All Whites path to glory
THE All Whites' path to World Cup glory required just eight matches.
Yes, you read correct –– just eight matches.
One of the eight matches was a loss to Fiji.
Brazil, on the other hand, had to play 18 matches while Australia played 14 games.
Let that ring in your collective heads for a while.
Now doesn't that accentuate the incompetence of Fiji FA that much more?
PRANEET SINGH
Sacramento
USA
