FOREIGN AFFAIRS

I NEVER cease to wonder at how political fortunes ebb and flow like the tides of the oceans.

Remember Robin Cook's grand words: "We will pursue an ethical foreign policy."

Surely, if he had not been eased out as Foreign Secretary he would have been obliged to resign as a matter of principle.

Tony Blair's Government now bows to a military dictator in Pakistan and the tyrant Putin in Russia, not to mention the despicable Sharron in Israel.

Putin has just shut down the only independent TV station in Moscow. When told about the thousands of street children in Moscow, Putin said: "they represent a threat to national security". Not a word of hope or sympathy for these poor lost little souls.

The only opposition to Sharron in Israel comes amazingly from his own people and the Israeli army. Not a squeak from President Bush and Mr Blair.

For the past 50 years we have been told ad nauseam about the war crimes committed by various countries demonised by the West, but, to their eternal credit, the BBC finally exposed the US as guilty as the rest.

The Timewatch programme told the horrendous story of how thousands of Korean refugees were murdered by the US military.

Young, old, women and children were ruthlessly gunned down from land, sea and air.

The Pentagon, with an attitude typical of the Nazis, tried to whitewash or deny the whole terrible story, even when presented with the army records ordering the soldiers, sailors and airmen to "kill 'em all".

I tell you, it is high time the people of our country asked, no, demanded, that we disengage from the likes of Bush, Putin and Sharron and perhaps then we may get back some of our self respect. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

WITH reference to H Pender's letter (HAS, Jan 30) in which he ridicules America over its actions in Korea and Vietnam. He fails to mention both these wars were started by communists intending to impose Marxist dictatorships on these countries.

Communist regimes have killed over 100 million people worldwide and are responsible for most of the land mines planted in Third World countries.

Mr Pender's letter is typical of communist propaganda and people like him are partly responsible for inciting hated against America.

The aim is to split us from America and impose communist regimes wherever they can, an old game called divide and rule which has been going on since Lenin established communist rule in Russia and then decided America was a threat to communism. Lenin began the trawl for "useful idiots" (his own term) in the West and Mr Pender among others seem to be his prize pupils.

What about the lives America has saved all over the world by being first on the scene with aid, and what countries would give that amount of aid if these useful idiots succeeded in overthrowing America? None that I know of. - Timothy Bell, Darlington.

GOLDEN JUBILEE

IT appears to me that all British citizens, whether strongly royalist or staunchly republican, have good reason to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Queen's accession.

Over that period this country has developed from a war-torn austerity state to an affluent one, avoiding further world wars and developing a much more equitable and caring society.

As yet, there seems to be little civic encouragement for festivities, and much may be left to voluntary organisations. For example, here in Blackwell, All Saints' and Salutation Church, in conjunction with the Flower Arrangers Club, we are organising a flower festival in the church and Millennium Hall over the weekend of May 31 to June 3. A silver band concert, and refreshments in the form of a street party will add to the celebrations, which will be a fitting tribute to our national achievements.

It is hoped that many more voluntary and charitable organisations will take this occasion to acknowledge past attainments and express confidence to future humanitarian progress. - ED Howard, Darlington.

MINERS' PENSIONS

I WORKED in a coastal deep mine for the best part of my life, working in very wet seams and had to leave the colliery on the advice of my doctor to get a dry job, due to arthritis in both knees.

I managed to get another job, but had to take early retirement due to this crippling complaint.

I joined the miners' pension scheme when it started but received no redundancy when I left the colliery. At present, I get 79p per week and an insulting yearly bonus of two pence.

No government has the right to use pension money for their own purpose and this scheme belongs to the miners. They paid for it.

I know the problems of having three knee replacements, and my retirement is very restricted as I am now a virtual cripple.

Please give John Cummings his due, he did speak out (Echo, Jan 18) urging the Government to push this issue through. For this I thank him. - Name and address supplied.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

A LOT of manufacturing firms in England are going abroad for lower production costs, which we cannot compete with. Jobs will be lost.

Workers in jobs should think before going on strike if they are on a reasonable wage.

It is better than claiming benefits, which will be a lot less, and make unemployment grow. - N Tate, Darlington.

council tax

Anyone with anything but broth between their ears can see the theory of council tax discriminates against those who already contribute to society.

Enter R. Lewis into the debate (HAS, Feb 6). He states that our water bill is based on the theory of the more taps you have, the more you pay. Great. We are getting somewhere now. Each tap pays a levy for the service is uses, although the amount of water actually used is another debate. However, the theory seems logical to me.

Unfortunately, Mr Lewis could not bring himself to use the same argument for council tax. Surely, it then transpires that three working age adults in the one household should each pay a levy for council tax services.

No way would a Labour Government pursue such vote losing socially democratic theories. A proportion of its supporters, not all, contribute very little towards council tax. The dole is my shepherd brigade.

Cath Thompson (HAS, Feb 6) is totally right. Stand up and fight it, you would if it were the Tories. Frightened still to judge Labour? Before you judge me, I pay £1,000, how much do you pay?

More piecrust promises regards taxation from Labour. - Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland.

band reunion

A reunion will be held in Spennymoor Town Hall on Saturday, July 6, 2002 for any past and present band persons who played for the youth band.

The youth band was formed on April 1, 1990, by our musical director Susan Noms.

Members of the present band play for other senior bands in the area and players have progressed from the youth band to play for numerous internationally recognised bands.

The band entered the Action Research Contest at Blackpool where in our first year we won Best Soloist which went to John White who now plays cornet for the Fishburn Band. They also entered the Middleton-in-Teesdale contest where one year they won five trophies out of the six that were on offer. Best Soloist was the trombonist Peter King who won it two years in a row and plays for Ferryhill Town Band.

When the stage play Brassed Off came to the Theatre Royal at Newcastle the band played an hour before the performance.

Two years ago the band went to Valkenburg in Holland over the Easter holiday and played in various venues.

They have also had concerts with guest soloists Philip McCann and Jimmy Shepherd.

The youth band was formed to bridge the gap between junior and senior bands and to give the members the experience to play in contests. I always found that the musicians involved were courteous and very polite whenever we went to any venue or contest.

If anyone would like to join us at the reunion to renew acquaintances please contact Eva or Alan Jackson on 0191 3770454. We would love to hear from you. - Eva Jackson, Coxhoe.

Peter Mullen

AS the father of two children currently attending our local comprehensive school, I can assure Peter Mullen (Echo, Jan. 22) that those imaginary loony lefties of his have not managed to get the teaching of English history banned from our schools.

Children still learn about monarchs, battles, treaties, explorations and conquests, just as we did when we were at school.

My 14-year-old daughter asked: "Does Peter Mullen actually believe all this rubbish he writes, or does he just like stirring it?" I wonder.- Pete Winstanley, Chester-le-Street, Durham.