October 31, 2006

First, in the space of one generation, changes are occurring on the Earth that normally take thousands of years. Hardly a day goes by without some new piece of scientific evidence that things are worse than thought.

Second, India and China have only just begun their industrial revolutions. This is partly the reason for the steadily rising prices of commodities ranging from copper to crude oil in world markets. At this time, China is commissioning a new coal-fired power station per week.

Thirdly, since 1850 our human population has increased sevenfold. Each year there are now an extra 90 million who need energy and to be fed.

I suggest the plot is now lost and we might as well make hay while the sun shines. Let's have no more of this foolish talk of green taxation.

I realise this is a bleak view and would be delighted if any readers were able to convince me I was wrong. - Peter Hill, School Aycliffe, Co Durham.

JUST how desperate is Tony Blair to leave something of value behind him? All this talk of climate change being everyone's responsibility is just political spin to cover up for the policies of politicians worldwide which has brought about global warming.

It now appears an American, a former presidential candidate, has been brought in by the Blair government in the role of climate change advisor - a man whose own country is the biggest climate polluter in the world. He should be working over there, not here.

Politicians of all parties in this country are putting forward ideas that more taxes inflicted on us under the cover of friendly green taxes will bring about a halt to global warming. What rubbish they talk.

None of the reasons for halting global warming have been put forward as being required for social reasons. Every political statement is about the economic reasons for halting climate change, and it is the incessant pursuit of global wealth that is causing all these problems.

Possibly the world is on course for the dinosaur solution when a new start will make people realise that the creation of wealth is second to social wellbeing. - Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham.

DEMENTIA DRUGS

I AM disgusted at the decision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) to restrict vital NHS dementia drugs. No excellence in my opinion. What about compassion? Have any of these people ever cared for someone, a loved one, suffering from Alzheimer's or any form of dementia? I think not.

It is the sufferers' age group who have subscribed to the NHS and are the carers for loved ones. Can these educated people of Nice not see, that by withdrawing this vital medication, the NHS will have a bigger expense as the carers will then become patients?Our era looks after our loved ones, often so long at home that their own health suffers.

Once again the old (and in some cases not-so-old) and vulnerable are being kicked aside as an unwanted burden. Shame on Nice, our MPs and the Prime Minister for allowing this.

Thank God for The Northern Echo, which is taking up this plight through its Don't Stop Dementia Drugs campaign. I wish it the same success it had with the Chance to Live campaign over heart surgery waiting lists.

I ask everyone to sign the dementia drugs coupon in the Echo. - Mrs D Gallimore, Coxhoe, Durham.

IT is incredible that Nice will be advising the Government to withhold drugs for Alzheimer's. These drugs do work. Ask the patients and their carers. Regardless of all the reasons and excuses, as usual it comes down to funding.

There are 750,000 sufferers at the moment who will cost the NHS approximately £900 each per year.

Failure to find this amount from one of the richest nations in the world (we are told) is unacceptable, yet we are sending £20m to Africa to combat Aids and countless millions in relief all over the world.

Alzheimer's is a cruel and devastating illness and people need help at the beginning, not when the condition is really severe. Regardless of a healthy lifestyle it can happen to anyone. - Mrs J Bennett, Shildon, Co Durham.

MIDDLE EAST

CS Simons (HAS, Oct 20) asks if Pete Winstanley understands that the state of Israel is "here to stay". While appreciating the sentiment behind the question, I'm not sure of its precise relevance.

It is clear from recent letters that Messrs Winstanley, Pender, Dodgson and others have a genuine issue with the way that Israel conducts itself in defence of its national interest - and this I understand - but to their credit at no time have they overtly suggested that the country should be deleted from the map.

However, these same correspondents are curiously silent when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, of Iran, publicly proposes that Israel be destroyed and then goes on to say: "You should know that the rage of people is boiling and is like an ocean that is welling up. Once its storm begins blowing, it will go beyond the borders of Lebanon and Palestine, and it will hurt European countries."

A clear threat to any Western society that has the audacity to support the only democratic state in the Middle East.

I wonder why your correspondents fail to mention this matter and would be delighted to see an unequivocal denunciation of this monster from them. - David Lacey, Newton Hall, Durham.

MUSLIM VEILS

IN reply to Pete Winstanley's letter about Muslim veils (HAS, Oct 24), maybe only a tiny minority of women wear them, but tiny minorities are usually the thin end of the wedge. Not so long ago the characteristic headdress, or hijab, of Muslim women was a rare sight in our towns and cities. Now, it's common.

As for the veil itself, it is so alien and obtrusive in our society as to constitute an explicit rejection of it: a conspicuous gesture of non-integration. That is extreme bad manners, if nothing else.

Actually, both the veil and the hijab are intended to be statements of the intrinsic inferiority and servility of women: so obnoxious as to amount to provocation. As such both should be made illegal.

When going abroad most British people would unhesitatingly accept and conform to the customs, including dress codes, of the country concerned. We are entitled to expect the same courtesy from people who come here. - Tony Kelly, Crook, Co Durham.

YACHT ROLL

I WAS intrigued by your report on the bad weather encountered in the Velux 5 Oceans Race in which it was stated that legendary yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's yacht rolled 360 degrees (Echo, Oct 25).

I have seen kayaks perform 360 degree Eskimo rolls, but I could never imagine a yacht, whatever the size, completing a 360 degree roll. I think your reporter got somewhat carried away by the severity of the weather. - Malcolm Conway, Eaglescliffe, Stockton.