In commemorating the sacrifice of our soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom, it is important to do them justice by ensuring we continue to protect that freedom.

It is now been threatened in a very different way from before: by the demands our lifestyles are placing on the environment.

Our Prime Minister assures us he takes climate change threats seriously.

However, he claims the Government is doing all it can.

Actually New Zealand is one of the more poorly-rated countries for its climate change policies.

NZ Prime Minister John Key defends this position by saying we are only a small country and cannot do much unless the ‘big countries' pull their weight.

This ignores the fact many big countries are doing more than we are.

Such ‘hiding behind the skirts' of others puts us to shame.

Particularly if we compare it with our performance in either of the World Wars, or our assertion of our anti-nuclear policies.

We are a proud nation and have a great record of making an impact where it matters. But we need a government with the guts to put us on the map.

G Southon, Tauranga City.