It seems, if all the pro killing swan letters are taken seriously, the one day of killing swans, big ones, easy tame targets will most definitely save the harbour.
I guess when they've finished committing swans to the pot, those brave hunting (no, read killing instead of hunting) types, who are so desperate to save the harbour, will then lock their guns away and get into studying estuarine ecology and the importance of bio diversity. If they do, and if they really did shoot swans as a public service, then these environmental studies will show them that they don't have to kill and mutilate swans again next year.
They'll learn the harbour is not under threat from swans, human lifestyle will not change as a result of too much swan poo. Instead of justifying turning the harbour into a killing field, these newly enlightened hunters may inspire their children into respecting each individual form in which life is manifest.
Who knows, this may lead to their kids learning to respect all life, which will lead to them respecting their own life, then, indisputably, that will grow to a strong sense of self respect. A child with an unfailing sense of self respect is likely to have a great passage through life. It is unlikely that anyone with a strong sense of self respect would try and bullsh*t those around him that blowing relatively harmless and beautiful animals to bits is vital for conservation any more than people embued with a strong sense of self respect would believe it.
Graeme Butler, Avenues.