15/12/03

The whole tone of his piece implies that speed cameras are an attack on all motorists, when in fact there are millions who comply with the law and have nothing to fear from any speed monitors.

The outrage is felt by those who have habitually flouted speed limits for years, and now find that they can no longer get away with it.

It is difficult to believe Nigel Burton's support for the flimsy excuse that the reduction in road deaths in those areas where cameras have been installed is somehow due to other factors like airbags.

His article will gain many plaudits, but only from those who feel that speed limits are for other people. - Bob Jarratt, Caldwell.

ELECTIONS

AW Dunn expresses the frustration which many electors feel at our electoral system (HAS, Dec 11).

This is entirely understandable. For instance, a "green" candidate has little chance of election although up to 20 per cent of the electorate report that green issues are their prime concern.

I do not believe that Mr Dunn's suggestion (to require candidates to have 50 per cent approval by electors) will much improve the situation for the first-past-the-post system is bound to produce unrepresentative government.

Two examples: No government since 1945 has had the majority of the popular vote and Conservatives are grossly under-represented in North-East local councils.

No, there a much fairer system such as is operated in Ireland both north and south of the border: the single transferable vote in multi-member constituencies (STV). In such a system about 80 per cent of electors have a vote that elects someone, whereas, in our present system, as few as 35 per cent of votes cast elect an MP or councillor. - Peter Wilson, Barnard Castle.

CHRISTMAS

WITH all the talk of taking Christ out of Christmas, ponder these facts.

The Bible states the proof of its authenticity is the accuracy of its prophecy, or foretelling the future.

In the four centuries before Christ, over 300 prophecies were recorded regarding the 24 hours of his crucifixion. All were fulfilled to the letter.

All other religions and sects are following self-appointed prophets whose credibility does not stand up under this degree of scrutiny.

Wise men still seek him. With him on the scene, life makes sense, even death. - W Mawston, Rushyford.

IT probably doesn't matter that the Christmas festival is being reduced more and more to the lowest common denominator - most scholars now accept that Jesus was not even born in the winter season.

I think it's interesting to note what the Bible says about Christ's birth.

In Luke 2:8 we get one of the most close-up pictures of the Christmas story we have. When the Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem "there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night".

This, however, could never have happened in Judea in the month of December, as eastern sheep cannot be left out in the open later than mid-October for fear of the cold temperatures and rainy weather.

Therefore Jesus Christ, if he existed, could only have been born in the early autumn - probably September - around six months after Passover.

This whole fresh way of thinking about Christmas sits well with me because I am a pagan sun-worshipper who only celebrates the winter solstice (December 21). Then again, I still enjoy turkey with all the yummy trimmings on the 25th. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

MIDDLE EAST

I AGREE with David Whittaker (HAS, Dec 11) that it is extremists on both sides who are the problem. However, his observations about Israel, the UN, and Arab states need correction.

In the first place, when Israel became independent in 1948, all the surrounding Arab states declared war.

Since the 1960s, most have signed peace treaties. The only one which hasn't is Iraq.

In the second place, to refer Israel's disobedience of UN Resolutions confuses other issues. There is a clear distinction between UN General Assembly Resolutions (which have political and moral authority, but are not legally binding) and UN Security Council Resolutions, which create legal obligations for the states to which they refer, but implementations vary according to the chapter of the United Nations Charter under which they are adopted.

Furthermore, it can be demonstrated that there has been consistent discrimination against Israel in the UN, orchestrated by her various enemies. There are 190 member states, and Israel is the only one prevented from winning a seat in the Security Council.

In more than 50 years, the UN has voted in favour of Israel just twice: in November 1947 (the partition of Palestine), and May 1949 (admission of the Israeli State to the UN).

For peace to come in the Middle East, it will be necessary for compromise. That will never happen as long as fundamentalists on both sides hold power. Neither will it happen before moderates are able to work together on a level playing field. - Rev Anthony E Buglass, Superintendent Minister, Pickering Methodist Circuit.

WAR ON TERROR

WILLIAM Wearmouth (HAS, Dec 10) says I have claimed that war is being waged against Islam. I have never said anything of the sort, though it is what al Qaida would have us believe. I did not suggest, either, that we should retreat from the fight against terrorism to avoid being targets.

Mr Wearmouth accuses me of naivety. I think it is a little naive to imagine that there is a finite number of terrorists, and that the world would be free of them if we could, as George Bush puts it, "hunt 'em down, smoke 'em out, and bring 'em to justice". Declaring war on them merely ensures that they will be replaced faster than they can be captured or killed.

What is needed is international co-operation and painstaking detective work, combined with radical initiatives to deal with the real injustices upon which terrorism thrives. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

Billingham

ARE you, like us, incensed about the plans for Billingham town centre, which have been submitted just in time for Christmas?

If you wish to object to the loss of the Forum, or one third of John Whitehead Park, then it is important, wherever you live, that you write a letter now.

Two planning applications have been submitted to Stockton Council, and people who wish to object must write to the council by December 29.

We appeal to like-minded people who want to 'protect and improve what we have for future generations'. - Fred and Barbara Jones, on behalf of Friends of John Whitehead Park, Billingham.