Your say: week beginning January 5

Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.

Tuesday January 6

Other ways to educate

“Regarding the idea of changing beach flags, there’s a far simpler, more effective solution. Every international flight coming in already has clips telling passengers not to bring fresh fruit or vegetables through customs. Extend this to a short series of warnings: ‘We drive on the left’ with driver point-of-view footage of what this looks like. ‘Don’t go ballistic around the wildlife’ with footage of someone calmly backing away from snakes; ‘we swim between these iconic Australian flags’ with easy diagrams and footage of what it looks like and where you go.”

Peter McPherson

Neighbourhood spirit

“I commend your article on moving house. You’ve touched on all the main issues to consider, except there’s one I think worth adding. As an older, single woman, I moved from Sydney’s North Shore to the inner west, where all the needs you point out are present. And there is an additional one in this more intensively developed area comprising terrace housing of all sizes. The footpaths are narrow – as are the streets – but it brings people physically closer and this results in many nodding acquaintances, all the way up to stopping to chat. This does not happen in ordinary suburban developments.”

Glenda Gartrell, NSW

Happy new year?

“I would like to look forward to a happy and prosperous new year, however, it looks like it will be a preposterous new year. There is no better word to describe the Trump administration’s policies and actions during 2025. The demolishing of the East Wing of the White House seems like an allegory for the demolition of American society.”

Steve Bentley, QLD

Wednesday January 7

Net-zero in a Trumpian world

“Thanks for the history lesson on oil in Venezuela. How does all this sit with Net Zero, climate control and global warming? What hope is there to change to clean energy if Trump is aiming to reinvigorate production in Venezuela? What incentive do we have in Australia to reduce emissions and move to electric cars etc., while the US seeks to expand production? It is all very bleak, but at least the article on rinsing swimwear raised a smile.”

Luana Felber

Bondi Royal Commission up in the air

“The constant calls for a Royal Commission are ridiculous. It will take several years and provoke a lot of social conflict […] I support the Prime Minister’s decision to have a much quicker inquiry looking at specific ways to improve the authorities ability to foresee and address problems.”

Greg Edwards

Changing beach flags?

“I would argue that since swimming and water safety are no longer mandatory in schools, the lack of water safety education and swimming proficiency are major contributors to swimming deaths, not flag colours.”

Professor John Ralston AO

Thursday January 8

Why are the US’ allies so quiet?

“The Trump administration has made it clear it wants to bully every country in the Western hemisphere – from the countries of South America to Canada and Greenland in the north. When will countries that genuinely uphold democratic values stop sitting on the fence and condemn illegal actions, whether perpetrated by Russia or the United States?”

Steve Amesbury, Nowra, NSW

What’s for lunch at school?

“Having taught in the UK throughout my career it was something of a surprise to find, on moving to Australia, that all children were still bringing lunch to school. Many Australian children eat a very unhealthy diet, which must lead to health problems sooner or later. Looking at the contents of shopping trolleys here I can only presume that many parents have to opt for the cheapest and most convenient way to pack lunches.”

Jenny King

A question on sanctions

“Both Iran and Venezuela are subject to sanctions by the US and its allies. I have not seen any articles on how this has contributed to their perilous financial situations, weakening their economies and making them vulnerable to attack. Perhaps The Conversation could look into this?”

Lee Tonkin, Gympie, Queensland

Friday January 9

An Orwellian future?

“Thank you for your article on Donald Trump’s raid on Venezuela foreshadowing a ‘great power carve-up of the word’. We seem to be inching closer to George Orwell’s scenario in 1984 where the world was carved into three geographic power regions and each region was, at any given time, in alliance with or at war with each other. This stabilised the power bases as it was deemed easier to control the population if they felt threatened by being in a state of war. 1984 was written as a warning, yet today’s autocrats are using it as an instruction manual.”

Karin Mogg

Arrogance and greed

“I, too, am angry about Trump’s statements and policies on Greenland and Denmark, alongside other aspects of his presidency, which reveal naked greed, arrogance, and imperial thinking. He is amoral and ignorant, and could initiate yet another war in which the US attacks sovereign nations.”

Angela Giblin

School lunches can work

“I grew up with school lunches. There’s nothing wrong with it if done properly. The means making sure there are regulatory inspections of facilities and that food is affordable and nutritious.”

Theresa Jackson