While the latter would embrace renewable energy sources and sustainability, its focus would be on the changes which are appropriate for our entire continent and economy under global warming, man-made or not.

It would bring hope where pessimism prevails, and it could deliver know-how to the poorer nations of the world with similar climates.

Addressing emissions per se leaves us tackling the problems that the major powers should address, with all the related uncertainties.

The best that can deliver is business as usual, and who wants that as the future of our world?

Les Broderick, Farrer

Too long to wait

I AM one of the unfortunate people who have waited months for surgery (''Eye Patients waiting 'months or eye surgery''' (August 21, p8), in my case eight.

The surgery I need is for a cataract that is a result of a trauma caused by an operation to save the sight of my left eye. The trauma resulting in a cataract is a known result of the operation.

The loss of sight in one eye has affected my ability to co-ordinate both eyes for reading, writing, filling out forms and using a computer.

I have a small business and am a visual artist and it is extremely difficult to conduct my daily administrative and artistic work.

The wait is more painful knowing that a short simple operation will fix the problem.

Annette Fisher, Weston

Rip off, plain and simple

WHO else is aggrieved or mislead by the recent TransACT letter in which the company says it is ''excited'' about an ''upgrade'' to its TransTV packages that takes place ''automatically'' on September 4? Down in the third paragraph it is revealed that the ''upgrade means an increase of $7 per month''. On inquiry I find there is no option to remain with the existing number of TV stations at the current price, but that my service must increase ''from 21 to 33 channels.'' Customers do not even have an option of paying more for the existing service but less than the $7 increase with the additional channels.

For the sake of clarity for the old fashioned folk like me, what is proposed is a price increase, plain and simple.

But TransTV adds some additional TV channels to soften the blow.

I would much prefer businesses to be upfront and say that costs have risen and that the company needs to pass the increases on to the customer.

I presume the marketing whiz kids ''repackage'' the ''product'' and pass it off as an ''improved' service when a price rise is in the offing.

Worse, their baby boomer bosses and company directors endorse this marketing ploy.

The ACT Government is a shareholder in TransACT as well as the regulator for fair trading and consumer protection.

Who will bring TransACT into line and direct it to cease its sharp business practices that mislead and confuse the customer?

Plain language, simple products is that too much to ask?

David Perkins, Reid

Police deserve praise

I BELIEVE Bill Bush's criticism of ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell over the Controlled Operations Act is over the top (Letters, August 19, p12). Blaming national committees of law enforcement officials and compliant ministers, Mr Bush states the tame implementation of their schemes in the ACT eats away at civil liberties in the name of protection from serious crime.

The trafficking of prohibited drugs and their use is illegal, and therefore outside the realm of civil liberties. Otherwise it could be argued that driving in excess of the legal alcohol limit is eroding civil liberties. Mr Bush also suggests the Government's action in relation to the Act is not keeping kids from drugs, but in the same breath refers to the seizure of 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy. Making this and other large seizures is obviously keeping kids away from lethal drugs, even saving lives. I have only praise for the magnificent work done by police and customs for enforcing our drug laws and, yes, I include their sniffer dogs.

Colliss Parrett, Barton

Fairness and respect

TELOPEA Park School/Lyce{aac}e Franco-Australien de Canberra is a bi-national school which operates under an agreement between the French and Australian governments, signed in Canberra in 1983. This year, the school celebrates 25 years as a bi-national school, delivering a bilingual program from Kindergarten through to Year 12. Approximately 30 of the school's staff are expatriate French nationals who teach the French curriculum. While the article ''Releasing your second tongue'' (August 17, p25) was clearly intended as a fond recollection of Sally Pryor's time here as a student, a statement such as, ''I haven't forgotten how mean some of those French teachers could be,'' does not, I believe, represent fairly the role our French teachers have played and continue to play in the success of the school's bi-national charter. This school prides itself on intercultural understanding: our values are cooperation, fairness, honesty and respect.

Michael Maniska, Telopea Park School principal

All singing, all dancing

A MUSICAL entitled ''Howard the Hagiography'' might be a better rebuttal for David Barnett to pen in response to Keating! the Musical. Would he be able to counter the quip in the latter about a certain Pru and David Goward?

Mike Johnson, Chapman