Senator Bob Brown insists all coal driven power stations should be closed by 2020.

I would suggest that the public be given an opportunity to see what it is like to be without those power stations, say for one day a week, every week, for say, a year.

As power stations cannot be switched on and off like lights in a home, it will be cheaper and better for the operators to simply cut off the power for 24 hours once a week.

Power stations will be compensated for their financial losses by the Greens, the Labor party and those true believers in the Liberal party.

This will give the public some basis on which to make judgments.

When the power goes off, there will be:

* No trains.
* No airline operations.
* No shops open.
* No food available.
* No coffee shops.
* No paper shop.
* No radio and or television transmission.
* No air conditioning.
* No electric blankets in winter.
* No refrigeration.
* No washing machines.
* No electrical appliance systems at all.
* No electronic communications systems.
* No sporting events.
* No 000 calls.
* No ambulance.
* No Fire Brigade.
* No medical operations.
* No X-rays.

I have been wondering whether the public would stand this for a year; especially over a non-existent problem. If Senator Brown gets his way they will have to endure it for ever.

Apart from hydro power, coal driven power is still the cheapest source of reliable power on earth.

Ronald Kitching
Rockhampton QLD Australia.