One would have thought the issue of global overpopulation was serious enough in itself without it being turned into a personal attack upon Dick Smith (‘Comment’, June). Apart from the gratuitous photo opportunity with the “five inexplicably smiley blonde bombshells” – an episode one hopes Smith will refrain from in future – one wonders whether this is simply a personal attack on Smith by Guy Pearse, rather than a considered article on a far more important issue: world population and the sustainability of resources.
Pearse is correct in some of his statistical data, in that Australia rates very poorly in terms of the impact of coal exports to the global emissions crisis. However, as a current resident of Al Ain, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, I can assure Pearse that his statement “our new houses are the world’s largest, at 200 square metres on average” is absolutely incorrect. I can escort him on a tour here to show that all local houses are 600 square metres plus, complete with air conditioners and a fairly high carbon imprint. Please, let us not get confused between a minor personal matter and a major global issue.
Roy Burrows
Abu Dhabi, UAE
