MAHOGANY: POLITICIANS would have us believe that conservation schemes are improving so that there will still be virgin rainforests 50 years from now - what nonsense.

An area of tropical rainforest the size of England and Wales is lost every year. At the current rate, Friends of the Earth estimate that in 40 years time there will be virtually no unspoilt rainforests left.

Well done, humanity. The reason for the carnage? Mahogany and other desirable timbers.

The awful consequences of it? More dangerous global climate change. The loss of precious medicines and therefore potential cures for cancer, heart disease and AIDS. The loss of indispensable food and industrial products. The loss of thousands of unique animal and plant species.

All because the rich poseurs of the world want designer kitchens and floors, etc.

The saddest thing is that we wouldn't need to resort to such ruination if humanity were not selfish and greedy. It has all become a bit nihilistic these days. I often deny being human as I am ashamed to be so. Perhaps I will be reborn as a tree? Treat trees as individuals, acknowledge their divinity, as well as their beauty, and the logging might be stopped. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

EUROPE

EURO supporters love to claim that the euro is promoting trade between euro-land countries, and that Britain is losing out by being "isolated" outside.

But dramatic new figures from Deutsche Bundesbank, the German Central Bank, published in the UK by the think-tank Global Britain, show that the opposite is true.

In the euro's first four years, German exports to other euro countries grew by an average 6.8 per cent a year. But exports to the three non-euro EU countries (UK, Sweden and Denmark) grew by 11 per cent a year, and to the US by 11.5 per cent.

As a result, the US has replaced France as Germany's main export market, and the UK will soon overtake France as Germany's second biggest export market. The UK will then become Germany's biggest trading partner in the EU.

These figures blow apart the claim that the euro promotes trade between euro-land countries - indeed, the opposite seems to be the case. - Martin Callanan MEP, North-East, Conservative.

HEALTH SERVICE

I HAVE read your item on the MRI scanner in Middlesborough (Echo, Oct 16), that remains unused for lack of trained operating staff.

If your report is correct, this represents a characteristic Third World situation, and is not due to lack of staff or lack of funds.

There are masses of equipment of all kinds similarly unused in the Third World. Iit is a pity that Middlesborough should be included. - Professor DAH Taylor, Scarborough.

IMMIGRATION

I CAN assure P Morrison (HAS, Oct 17) that I am not mistaken. According to the 2001 census, six per cent of the UK population are black or Asian.

Certainly, there are areas, including Leicester, where blacks or Asians outnumber the local white population, but this does not justify the statement by T Atkin (HAS, Oct 8) that in these areas "we are outnumbered by foreigners".

By "we" he means white British, by "foreigners" he means black or Asian British.

All British people, regardless of colour or ethnic origin, have the same rights, including the right to live in peace in their own country. - Pete Winstanley, Durham.

ROAD SAFETY

IT must be evident by now that Ushaw Moor needs some sort of traffic control at its only crossroads. At any given time it's worse than a motorway. It won't be long before someone is killed or badly injured and it appears no one is doing anything about it.

Why not have some traffic lights or a pedestrion crossing? - Ron Hall, Ushaw Moor.

TONY BLAIR

FROM his conference speech, the Prime Minister wants a consultation to hear the public's views on a new manifesto before the next General Election.

Link-Age, based in Devon and Surrey, is non-party political, comprises all ages and backgrounds, and wishes to give the general public around Britain a chance to respond to Mr Blair's challenge. The following issues are of natural importance:

The re-linking of state pensions to national average earnings;

An uprate in the state pension to at least £200 per week single pensioner;

The abolition of the means test;

The abolition of the council tax;

A return to income tax based on ability to pay in a progressive tax system;

The abolition of taxing pensioners on income, having paid taxes through a working life.

Mr Blair never look down on your public, as you do on senior citizens. Together we can make a difference. - Michael Thompson, Link-Age.