28/06/04

Vera Baird, Dari Taylor, Ashok Kumar and Frank Cook should support our government's ambitious target of reducing CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

Such a policy relies on improved energy efficiency, more renewables and phasing out the dominance of coal and gas generators.

The effects of global warming through carbon emissions in causing rising sea levels is well known, so one would think our local Teesside MPs would lift their heads from the sand and support measures to combat this.

By 2020, the amount of energy generated from imported gas is reckoned to be 60 per cent, mostly from unstable regions of the world - we will be at the end of a pipeline from Kazakhstan.

Does this inspire confidence? A terrorist attack in Russia would have a disastrous effect on Britain's electricity supply.

If the UK is to achieve its target of 20 per cent reduction in CO2 by 2020, then it is madness to ignore free, clean energy right on our doorstep.

Heather Duncan should also know better. The proposed wind farm will be over a mile out to sea, so how does Heather Duncan propose this will impact on wintering waders and wildfowl, which, from my recollection, spend their time actively feeding on the rich Teesmouth mudflats, not out at sea? - Jonathan Skidmore, Appleton Wiske.

Stanley MEMORIAL

WELL done The Northern Echo and reporter Chris Webber for campaigning so hard for those near-forgotten men and boys who died in the Stanley pit disaster all those years ago.

My great-grandfather died in the disaster and it is thanks to the hard work and community spirit of your paper that he and all the other tragic victims will finally have their graves honoured with names.

The extent of Mr Webber's commitment in walking the length of the country to raise funds is highly commendable. - Niamh Wherity, Leeds.

EURO 2004

ENGLAND once again lost out on glory in a major football tournament due to penalties.

It is sickening. To be honest, I nearly cried when Darius Vassell missed his spot kick.

We must now let the players enjoy their break, before they return to their domestic clubs for pre-season training.

Later on this year, England will start to play matches to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Before this happens, I hope that Mr Eriksson makes two changes to the team. One is the goalkeeper, and the other the captain.

If we had Nigel Martyn in goal and Shaun Wright-Phillips dashing down the right wing, then I think that we may have been crowned Euro 2004 champions.

I just hope that our Swedish friend takes note of the blunders made by David James during the tournament, and replaces him with a goalkeeper who can actually catch a ball. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

ANY referendum concerning an English governmental system should present the English population with a full set of choices, in the following manner:

Choose one of the following (as in an election ballot paper that everyone understands): Do you want: an English parliament only? English regional assemblies only? An English parliament in addition to English regional assemblies? None of the above?

This is an honest and unbiased approach covering all possible choices. Unbiased honesty is perceived, by much of the English electorate, to be alien to our politicians at Westminster and probably explains the low turnout for elections in England.

New Labour and the LibDems are not alone in denying the people of England a fair choice.

The Tories and the revitalised UKIP are both complicit in this farce. They reject an English Parliament on the off-chance they pick up a few seats in Wales and Scotland. Fairness does not come into it when they're after power.

England is being used as a political football by them all. Keep flying your flags until they get the message. - K Young, Darlington.

COMMUNITY FORCE

I HEARTILY agree with Mr Bridgett (HAS, June 19) on the negative value of Sedgefield District Community Force, or community farce, as regarded by the majority of Shildon people.

Furthermore, I would suggest to our high spending council that it does something positive for a change by selling all those brand new, top of the range cars, and put the money to good use by employing street wardens with the power to issue on the spot fines etc.

So please, out of your cars and on to your feet - the exercise will do you good, and hopefully make Shildon a better place to live. - AM Whitlock, Shildon.

ST CUTHBERT

I WAS delighted to hear of the interest in raising funds for a replica of the Lindisfarne Gospels to be displayed in St Mary and St Cuthbert's Church, Chester-le-Street (Echo, May 11).

We, in Nidderdale, have a very special affection for St Cuthbert, and I am hoping to find other churches, communities and schools who share our feelings.

My question is this. To what extend is there a "living presence" of St Cuthbert in the 21st century in our area? With the forthcoming vote on regional assemblies, Cuthbert may be argued to be the personality who united us in the North-East.

I should be delighted to hear from any of your readers who feel as we do, that Cuthbert is a very special saint with an extraordinary appeal. Perhaps no other region has such a well known and respected figure. - Rev Peter Dunbar, St Cuthbert's Church, Pateley Bridge.

IRAQ

THOSE people clamouring for Tony Blair to apologise over the war in Iraq are rather like those who expect their politicians to give yes or no answers to every question.

Any politician doing so would have a very short career in politics.

I believe most Iraqis were pleased to see Saddam Hussein toppled from power.

They had lived for many years under his cruel dictatorship and it seemed that his reign would go on for ever.

It took the combined efforts of the allies to bring the regime to and end.

A good prime minister must demonstrate leadership, and Tony Blair did this with regard to Iraq. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.