Excessive consumption causes hardship

I am writing to clarify some of the issues in my earlier letter in Peninsula News (Energy price hikes not so bad, Forum, 19 July 2010).

My comments were directed at the broader section of the community, including affluent families, who continue to use excess energy to support their lifestyles, resulting in price hikes and great hardship for vulnerable groups such as pensioners, of whose plight I am aware.

It is this behaviour which needs to change for the benefit of society as a whole and to lessen the impact of climate change.

And, for the record, my annual trips to India are for the purpose of visiting my own ageing parents who are also pensioners and whose lives are severely impacted by power cuts and taps running dry during the hot summer months.

It is my fervent hope that Australia does not go down that path in the future.

Email, 30 Jul 2010 Nitasha Thomson, Ettalong Beach