ONCE again we have to endure the absurd ramblings of Peter Mullen with regard to climate change (Echo, Oct 5).

We are expected to accept his nonsense that the relevant university departments are engaged in a vast conspiracy regarding climate change in order to boost funding for their departments, coupled with Government departments who are gullibly accepting what these academics claim.

He claims that there has been no warming for the past 18 years but from where does he obtain his information? He should remember the sad affair of Dr David Bellamy who made claims that glaciers were advancing, not retreating, only having to accept that he had used a web site run by a fraudster who may well have had links to the US oil and coal industries, and who claimed that he had obtained his information from the renowned Swiss Glaciology Organisation.

This organisation completely denied these claims.

All published studies show a steady but irregular rise in temperature both atmospheric and oceanic from the late 1800s with a similar rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Eric Gendle, Middlesbrough.

AS a former red and someone broadly in support of green solutions I found myself in agreement with Peter Mullen’s final plea after his rant against everyone and everything annoying him. There should be fewer closed minds about what brings about changes in climate and more scientific research into the contribution human activities affect our futures.

I am with the pope that it is something which should be tackled but that requires us to have made the correct analysis.

Peter should try to avoid as much hyperbole to use his column against his present hatreds. It is not very good Christianity and it makes the casual reader more aware of his obsessions than what he might have to say which is useful.

When governments make decisions, even the international one in Kyoto, commercial interests cherry pick which action will support their endeavours and healthy scepticism about conclusions reached, even by august bodies like the United Nations, is needed.

It is when a subject seems closed off for questioning and discussion that I ask myself what are they attempting to hide, and I suspect the reverend gentleman has the same intuition.

G Bulmer, Billingham.