M Houlding asks if I will abandon the Greens due to my ‘electoral failure' in the recent local body elections,(‘Will the Greens now change tack?'The Sun, November 15).
Actually, while not elected, I attracted more votes (6030) than a Green-flagged candidate has ever previously received achieved in Tauranga. I will continue to promote protection of our environment as essential to human wellbeing.
M Houlding quotes George Monbiot, a UK-based environmental writer who now supports nuclear energy. In a thoroughly-confusing article, Monbiot also wrote that nuclear radiation is less dangerous than previously thought. Radiation as a threat, and the costs of energy, are separate issues. The discoverers of radiation, Marie and Pierre Curie, were the first known to die from its effects and many others have died since.
Nuclear energy is under discussion in the UK, which is trying to establish a low carbon economy in order to address the threat of global warming.
M Houlding appears to assign global warming to propaganda and political ambition of ‘the Greens', although governments of all persuasion now accept the threat is real and demands an economic response.
Even our conservative government has appointed a minister and associate minister of climate change.
On Monbiot's support for nuclear energy, readers can find a detailed response at: www.jonathonporritt.com
Addressing income inequity (wealth redistribution), is a key issue for the Greens, the Labour Party, and several of our recently-elected councils, including Auckland and Wellington.
The benefits for society of greater equity have been widely documented. To learn more, go to: www.closingthegap.org.nz

Dr Ian G McLean,
Green Party,Tauranga.