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.
Monday March 9
No more talc powder
“Apart from J&J not using talc anymore, it’s been at least two years since I’ve been able to buy any talcum powder. Some I learnt to use in the Army. We were issued with a particularly foul smelling product, called ‘Foot and Body Powder’, it was excellent for controlling tinea of all kinds. What now for all those serving, particularly in tropical and jungle conditions. It would be interesting to find out what levels of asbestos have been found in talcs. I do miss mine.”
Barrie Verdin
Buddha’s teachings
“The article on wabi-sabi gives me a chuckle for its ability to elaborate on imperfection, impermanence, self-compassion, and acceptance without ever mentioning Buddhist Dhamma that has expounded and taught these practices for almost three thousand years.”
Ang Ung 
Thanks Charles!
“The Conversation has been hitting some winners. The articles on Australia charting a new course given the US’s direction, the decline of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party over time and the multipolar international order that is not what Russia expected, are all very good and insightful. I hope students of international relations and political science take note.”
Charles Latimer
Tuesday March 10
No time to waste
“John Blaxland says it will be difficult to disengage militarily from the US. That means we should start as soon as possible. Events of the past 30 years have shown the US cannot be trusted as an ally. To rely on them for security can be summed up in the words of Oscar Wilde: ‘the triumph of hope over experience’. The cost of doing so may not be as high as he thinks. For security, you need to ensure the costs of invading or menacing Australia are higher than any possible benefits. Removing American spy bases, troops and military assets from Australia will greatly reduce any potential benefit an adversary may gain from menacing Australia.”
Michael Poole
Why did we put up with it?
“Why were Kyle and Jackie O ever tolerated, much less idolized and given political access? What does it say about some of us? Australians prepared to listen and laugh at vile jokes about violence, toilet humour and misogyny? While many turned away, why did we not condemn and demand that they be removed as a toxic influence in our midst?”
Pamela Curr OAM
Neocon or old hat?
“In his recent speech to the Australian parliament, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted with regard to the combined pension funds of Canada and Australia: ‘… it will increasingly matter who owes whom and who owns what’. I can remember when commentators and others shouted loudly that such didn’t matter. Perhaps Carney’s comment flags the declining influence of neocon economics.”
Victor Brooke, Isaacs, ACT
Wednesday March 11
What are men so afraid of?
“On reading your article on the Taliban’s war on women I found myself returning to a question I’ve long had: Why are men so afraid of women that they feel compelled to control them? Across cultures and centuries the excuses vary — religion, tradition, morality, ‘protection’ — but the pattern is the same: restrict women’s education, movement, work and voice. The one consistent factor is that men have historically held the advantage in physical strength and have built systems that entrench that power. But it still feels like fear. Fear of losing authority, status, and control. What makes it so baffling is how self-defeating it is. Societies that educate women and treat them as equals are healthier, wealthier and more stable. When half the population is suppressed, everyone loses. The tragedy in Afghanistan is not just the suffering of women and girls, but the deliberate crippling of an entire society.”
Karyn Siegmann
Here comes the sun
“There is constant surveillance on the rising costs of oil and gas due to geopolitical issues and other concerns. It’s pleasing to note the cost of sunlight hasn’t risen and it isn’t controlled or affected by geopolitical issues.”
Dr Jeff Barker, Palm Beach, QLD
Wednesday March 12
Protection abroad
“One of the reasons given as to why Australia is sending defensive military assistance to the UAE is to protect the Australians who are in that country from Iranian bombardment. This is to be commended. However, Australia’s stand on this "humanitarian” intervention should also be extended to protecting Australians in South Lebanon and Gaza who are also being bombed and are under military attacks. One wonders whether there are different categories of Australians when it comes to protecting Australian lives.“
Ranjan Yagoda
Reforming the UN
"The conflict in the Middle East has highlighted the urgent need for a review of the regulation of international conflict. We need new internationally agreed laws on what constitutes a legal act of aggression. And a rule that a declaration of war requires a majority (or super majority) vote of the General Assembly. And it’s time to reform the United Nations, starting with a demand that the founding members relinquish their veto power on the Security Council.”
Laurie Patton
Australia first?
“Matt Canavan puts his foot in it in announcing his candidacy as leader of the Nationals, when he says he has "the best chance to help win the battle for an Australia first plan.” Notwithstanding the rise of right wing populism in Australia and around the world, he apparently doesn’t realise that any association with Donald Trump is toxic.“
Charles Wolfson, Raleigh, NSW
Friday March 13
The road ahead
"Thank you for the interesting and timely article on electric trucks. I hope primary producers see the portents for farming, when electric trucks and tractors will be common and the diesel subsidy has gone. Apart from anything else, the threat of conflict cutting off oil supplies to our island nation should encourage rural folk to embrace solar and wind power and become early adopters, not laggards for this cost-effective, locally available energy source.”
Brian Wall
NAPLAN glitches
“Given that NAPLAN online requires students to develop and demonstrate typing skills as well as literacy and numeracy knowledge, it is imperative that the systems and programs delivering NAPLAN work properly. The whole process is stressful enough without students having tests delayed, timetables adjusted and more assessments done over a shorter period of time. How are this round of NAPLAN results going to be ameliorated to account for the unnecessary frustration and anxiety these glitches have caused the participating students? Sort it out very quickly or go back to writing because this round of testing will not allow students to present their best work.”
Anna Morgan, Footscray
War (what is it good for?)
“So disappointed with our Prime Minister! This is not our war and we ought not to be involved in any way, for any reason. Have we learnt nothing from our past mistakes?”
Heather Donaldson
