EDUCATION: I WOULD query the decision to include atheism and humanism in the RE syllabus of our schools (Echo, Oct 29).

A religion indicates a belief in a deity of some kind. Atheism is disbelief in the existence of any god, while humanism is devotion to human interests, not divine.

The proposed syllabus is supposed to have Christianity as its main focus, but with so many beliefs to cover, it seems unlikely that any will be given sufficient weight and detail to be of much use in educating the pupils as to which religion to follow. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

ENVIRONMENT

A REPORT that an "innovative hydro-electric scheme" is to be installed at Windsor Castle (Echo, Nov 1) contained, as usual, misleading statements which are a favourite ploy of the Green movement.

It is stated that "the project will avoid the need to produce hundreds of tonnes of polluting gases".

Since these gases are lighter than air and thus rise into the atmosphere, will somebody from the Green Movement define exactly what form a tonne of gas takes?

Also, just which fossil-fuelled power station will turn down its fuel input a tiny bit to account for the reduction in gas emissions?

In reality, producing electricity from such projects will not lead to any reduction in gas emissions.

Or am I wrong and is the sky about to fall in? - J Routledge, Witton Gilbert.

SMOKING

YET again we have a smug smoker (HAS, Nov 1) comparing non-smokers causing pollution if they drive cars.

Who says smokers don't drive cars? Apart from them being dangerous as they drive along with fag in mouth, one hand on the wheel lighting up, etc, they are causing double pollution with their cars.

I can now, because of improved car efficiency, walk along North Road without any breathing difficulties. However, I can't (like many others) stay in a room full of smokers for very long.

I know smokers are banned from a lot of places but I didn't know they were banned from driving. - M Hogg, Darlington.

EUROPE

I WAS delighted to find your fair reporting of the present dilemma in the European Commission (Echo, Oct 28). The European Parliament was expected to approve the new list of European Commissioners, 25 commissioners in all after the enlargement of the EU on May 1.

Before the MEP election in June this year, you kindly published letters explaining that the parliament had a duty to interview the candidates put forward by member states and recommended by the new Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso.

If they objected to the choice of anybody, they could not dismiss just that person, but instead formally disapprove the presented list of future Commission members.

Jose Barroso chose to withdraw his entire list and the date they should have taken office, November 1, passed with the old commission still in charge.

These events have quite rightly demonstrated the political importance and power which the now enlarged European Parliament, with 731 MEPs, holds. Most decisions they take will in fact be co-decisions with the Council of Ministers, especially in legislative matters.

Nobody can continue to say that the whole of the EU is undemocratic and unrepresentative. Many of us wrote in June emphasising the importance of electing good new MEPs with experience and energy to play an active role in European politics.

It will be very interesting to see how a solution can be found to the problems Rocco Buttiglione's unpopularity have presented. - E Whittaker, Richmond.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

I LIVE on the bus route between Bishop Auckland, Durham and Newcastle.

As I don't drive, I quite often use public transport and, as we have hardly any easy access buses on this route, I often have to walk the two miles home with my grandson, aged 18 months, in his pushchair.

When are the bus companies going to get easy access buses regularly running on this route?

I have telephoned and written, even to the Transport Minister, without satisfaction. Surely in the year 2004 all buses should have these facilities? On our route the buses get older, not better. We are lucky if there is one an hour. - P Martin, Bishop Auckland.

IRAQ

JACQUELINE Bell (HAS, Oct 22) is obviously totally ignorant of the history of military warfare since 1944.

During the Normandy landings in 1944 the American, British, Commonwealth and Allied soldiers fought in their designated order of battle.

When the beachhead was successfully established, the campaign to free Europe from terror and oppression advanced with the respective armies working in close collaboration under one supreme commander, who was an American.

A similar situation is now taking place in Iraq, where separate armies have established their main bases and are now advancing against insurgent forces that are fighting a desperate rearguard action. They are slowly being forced to retreat into certain areas where they can be surrounded and destroyed.

Clamouring for a vote in Parliament every time our troops move against the enemy only encourages the terrorists to engage in more fierce resistance in the belief that their cause is justified.

They have plenty of free publicity via the media, and the sight of MPs wearing their red poppies struggling for camera space will certainly encourage terrorists to be sacrificial martyrs.

"Careless talk costs lives", was a well-known slogan during the Second World War. It is still applicable today, especially in the Palace of Westminster.

It will be a tragic setting that, as our troops move to engage the enemy, the honourable members of the Mother of Parliaments will be vigorously debating one-armed bandits in gambling casinos.

We can only hope they consider the Black Watch regiment with a clear conscience when the votes are cast. - Thomas Conlon, Spennymoor.