Hear All Sides

EUROPE

MURIEL Green (HAS, Feb 7) says we will still be in control of our own laws, taxes and government if we join the euro.

She is mistaken. The treaties signed by successive British governments, starting with Edward Heath in 1972 and the Treaty of Rome, form the primary source of law or constitution of the community.

In London, British civil servants enact Brussels regulations as statutory instruments, running at about 3,000 a year. These are not even subject to normal democratic scrutiny.

All courts and tribunals of member states are obliged to apply community law in preference to the rules of their own national law. British Common Law is set at nought.

We do not control our own laws. We are no longer sovereign, and soon our Parliament will be redundant.

As for the euro, we trade with most countries of the world, but are not expected to adopt their currencies in order to do so.

We will not be isolated if we retain sterling, we will be free. - J Butler, Durham.

RALPH Hedley (HAS, Feb 7) could possibly reflect that numerous Germans will surely be lamenting the scrapping of their deutschmark in favour of the euro at this very moment, especially as the mark was one of Europe's strongest currencies.

But our continental neighbours are not fools. They recognise, with the history of Nazism in mind, that so-called sovereignty based upon isolationist nationalism can soon be an empty road to conflict and ruin.

Some churches have ancient treasure chests with six or more different locks, so that no treasure can be abstracted until the six keyholders on the governing body come together. This illustrates the European Central Bank almost perfectly.

By opting out of the euro, the UK has no chance to become a keyholder or to influence any financial policy based upon a defence of UK sovereignty. In fact, it represents a serious weakening of this country's financial influence and goodwill. - E Turnbull, Gosforth.

WAR ON TERRORISM

I FEEL compelled to respond to Jim Tague (HAS, Jan 28) to point out that it is not misplaced sympathy for the captured Taliban and al Qaida soldiers which prompts concern about the US detention camp in Cuba.

The rules of the Geneva Convention were drawn up to protect individuals from mistreatment at the hands of their enemy (whoever that may be).

Many regimes, including the Taliban, appear to have scant regard for these rules and other human rights. But to disregard the rules because others do is the road to anarchy.

Revenge is an understandable emotion, but it will not help us to bring about a peaceful solution. Respect for what is right must be upheld, otherwise we become like those whose activities we oppose. - Anne Alderson, Sadberge, Darlington.

MMR VACCINE

SO the Government is going to spend more taxpayers' money to persuade parents to have the triple MMR vaccine that they obviously don't want.

Why does it not spend this money to find out why over half a million of parents are living in a continuous nightmare with autistic children who were perfectly healthy before having this vaccine?

And why do the powers that be keep saying there is no proof that the triple vaccine causes autism and illnesses of a lesser degree, such as hyperactivity, when there is plenty of scientific evidence out there?

I have read numerous pamphlets and books written by medical men, although they are nearly all American, giving the evidence against vaccinations that are destroying the natural immune system and producing allergies to just about everything, even one's own body. - Brenda Tingate. Darlington.

WILDLIFE TRUST

WE have agreed the purchase of 12 acres of land known as Town Kelloe Bank. The land will be managed as a nature reserve.

Town Kelloe Bank is one of the most extensive areas of primary magnesian limestone in Britain and is therefore of national and international importance. The purchase of such an important site will make Durham Wildlife Trust one of the major conservation landowners and managers of primary magnesian limestone grassland in the UK. Globally, there are approximately 240 hectares of magnesian limestone, 70 per cent of which is found in County Durham and southern Tyne & Wear.

Magnesian limestone grassland occurs on outcrops of magnesian limestone which were laid down about 255 million years ago when shallow seas covered the UK. It is rich in species and particularly important for its botanical interest.

The Trust has launched a special appeal to raise funds to purchase and manage Town Kelloe Bank nature reserve. We have set a target of £30,000.

If any of you feel you would like to help the Trust by contributing to our appeal I would extremely grateful to hear from you. Any amount will be welcome.

The devastating effects of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak during 2001 will be felt for a long time to come. During 2002, we hope for better times. The addition of Town Kelloe Bank nature reserve provides a wonderful opportunity to begin a new chapter in the life of Durham Wildlife Trust. - R Wood, Chief Executive, Durham Wildlife Trust, Houghton-le-Spring.

POSTAL SERVICES

I HAVE followed all the comments about the failing Post Office, but have never seen any mention of the disproportionately high cost of sorting out and storing second class mail for two to three days.

All commercial organisations naturally strive to keep storage of materials/stock/goods in transit, etc to an absolute minimum. Why should the Post Office do the opposite?

There seems to be a strong case for reverting to one class of delivery. - J Strachan, Leeds.