02/01/04

In the aftermath of this disaster children who survived are now in a desperate situation, traumatised, without shelter in freezing temperatures and in need of water and medicine.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has already despatched urgently-needed medical and shelter supplies to the stricken region but there is still much more to be done. We would like to encourage your readers to make a New Year's resolution: to help save lives in Bam, children's lives in particular.

UNICEF has sent 12 emergency health and essential drug kits containing antibiotics, painkillers, syringes and other equipment to enable health workers on the ground to establish small medical clinics.

These supplies are capable of treating 120,000 people for up to three months. We have also sent winter tents and plastic sheeting to protect homeless and displaced children from the freezing cold, but we still fear for the health of tens of thousands of children in the aftermath of this tragedy.

In addition to trauma and injuries directly resulting from the earthquake, there has been a breakdown of basic sanitation and disruption to the supply of clean water. There is the growing risk of infection from decomposing bodies, and low night-time temperatures can lead to disease outbreaks including diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections.

Donations from your readers will make a huge difference to our success in saving children's lives in Bam.

Cheques or postal orders, payable to UNICEF will be gratefully received at UNICEF Children of Iran Earthquake Appeal, PO Box 1800, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S6 4UG. Thank you.

Just £30 will provide an emergency health kit, sufficient to meet the medical needs of 130 children for up to three months. - Louis Coles, Regional Fundraising Manager, North-East, UNICEF UK.

Darlington FC

THE Reynolds Arena is a excellent stadium. Why on earth are some suggesting a move back to Feethams would benefit the club?

What happens if next season we start to do well or draw a big name in the Cup which would instantly increase the revenue, which is just impossible to do at Feethams?

I would prefer to see a third/half full Reynolds Arena than queuing for tickets at Feethams with its antiquated facilities.

Next week we play Hull. They will probably bring 3,000-4,000 fans which Feethams could not accommodate.

If cost cutting has to happen why not just have one stand open until crowds pick up?

A move to Feethams would be a backward one for fans and the club and would show a total lack of ambition. - John Tempest, Darlington.

NEW YEAR MESSAGE

THE year 2003 did see major events internationally, nationally and locally.

The Iraq War obviously. Was it worth it? The Tories dump their leader for Howard's Way. Tuition fees, foundation hospitals, controversy in the church, etc.

Redcar and Cleveland Council formed their own coalition without Labour.

Middlesbrough and Stockton Councils joined forces without Redcar and Cleveland. Mayor Mallon goes to Dubai for the Middlehaven project. Ghost ships for Hartlepool controversy lingers on.

Teesside Steel is still hanging on, thankfully.

More coppers for coppers. Will the council tax payer buy this one again?

You may say that there are still more questions than answers at this time of the year, as we look forward to 2004. Best wishes. - Councillor George R Dunning, Leader of the Labour Opposition, Redcar & Cleveland Council.

ROAD SAFETY

YOUR correspondent Mr Briggs (HAS, Dec 30) says that we have uniformed wardens and CCTV, and asks for action on pavement cyclists.

Uniformed wardens and CCTV do not currently have the power to stop cyclists riding on the pavement.

The Community Safety Partnership is seeking powers early in 2004 under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act (2003) to tackle this issue and other forms of anti-social behaviour.

Wardens, with the support of CCTV, will then be able to intervene. In the meantime, officers of Durham Constabulary will continue to respond to complaints received. - Andy Errington, Darlington Community Safety.

SOHAM MURDERS

NO one is born evil, but circumstance and experience can drive a few people to madness or extreme violence.

Crime is, to an extent, symptomatic of the defects of society, but no matter how perfect a society we create, there will always be a few people who will inexplicably indulge in rape or murder, and seem to take pleasure in inflicting pain on others.

It is said that there is the potential for evil in all of us. Tony Kelly's admission (HAS, Dec 26) that he would find it entertaining to see Ian Huntley tortured slowly to death provides an illuminating example.

I do not oppose the death penalty because I have sympathy for the likes of Huntley, but because I am more interested in crime prevention than vengeance.

Obviously, a criminal cannot re-offend if he has been killed, but there is nothing to support the theory that violent punishment reduces violent crime. Many countries which retain the death penalty have higher murder rates than those which don't. Legitimising violent retribution diminishes all of us, and may lead to a more violent society and more crime. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

EUROPE

READING the views of euro fanatics, one can only assume they are suffering from an information deficit in recent times.

The catalogue of disasters that have lately befallen the ill-conceived progression to a federal European state include the breakdown of the inter-governmental conference on the EU constitution. This ended in unmitigated failure over a side issue.

It showed that national interest always takes precedence, that Germany and France have no intention of changing their long-held aim to dominate the union, that despite the huge financial gains being promised them at our expense, the new entrants are realising the dangers of another oppressive regime.

It appears most people like me, who fear for the UK's future in a more integrated EU, believe co-operation with Europe is desirable and hope that we can limit our future involvement to the free trade area proposed in the 1970s.

The crass refusal of Tony Blair to acknowledge that most people still want this country to have more than a minority say in how we are governed now equals Ted Heath's betrayal in leading us into the Common Market knowing a federal state was the real aim, while conning the population into believing it would be a Free Trade area. - J Heslop, Gainford.