STEPHEN BYERS

YOUR comment (Echo, Nov 19) was the usual brown-nosed "Labour can do no wrong" standard.

Defending Stephen Byers just about defines the Echo's sycophantic, slavish adherence to Blairism in its relentless pursuit of our downfall as a proud, sovereign nation.

Mr Byers' defence (supported also by Tony Blair) of Jo Moore, his special adviser, summed up this stinking Government completely. It was her vile, heartless memo of September 11 regarding the "burying of bad news" which provided, in microcosm, the insight as to what really motivates this unscrupulous, sleaze-ridden apology for an administration.

By stating that Stephen Byers should not only remain in place as a minister of the Crown but also be immune from criticism, shows that you share the contempt for our national pride and our democracy.

Only time will tell what effects Mr Byers's ham-fisted theft of Railtrack will produce. However, regardless of outcome, the Echo can doubtless be relied upon to lend approval. - Dave Pascoe, Hartlepool.

SCHOOLS SPORT

THE leader writer (Echo, Nov 19) is using rhetorical, emotional language to suggest sport is a vital component in education.

While sport should be encouraged, to suggest it will enhance social skills, reduce truancy and encourage a healthy lifestyle is an opinion that does not reflect the needs of young people on leaving school.

Many of our children are leaving school lacking in academic skills and the hope of a useful future, and to suggest sport will encourage them to steer clear of drugs and other forms of anti-social behaviour is a misrepresentation.

The fact that £750m of Lottery cash is being used in such a way is insulting, and letting the Government get away from its own failures to improve education for the less well off.

When one sees the greed and misuse of sport by the moguls in positions of power, and that sport of today has lost its meaning, I believe £750m of Lottery money could be better spent. - John Young, Crook.

YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS

THIS year is UN International Year of Volunteers, and 120 countries from around the world, from Madagascar, to Nigeria, to Japan, have been celebrating the contribution that volunteers make, and are encouraging more people to get involved. It is only fitting, as this special year draws to a close, that we thank everyone here in England who gives their time to support others or improve the environment.

The International Year of Volunteers team has produced a special thank you card, which groups and organisations can order, free of charge, and send to their volunteers.

While the focus of this special year may have been global, we have to remember that it is each individual volunteer who makes a difference - let's give them our thanks. Readers who would like to order cards for their volunteers should visit www.iyv2001england.org. - Ruth Johnson, IYV2001 Co-ordinator, England.

ABANDONED CHILDREN

WERE you abandoned as a child?

BBC Close Up North is making a programme about foundlings - people who were abandoned as babies, and whose natural families did not reclaim them after their original abandonment. Contact Helen on 0191244 1232 or write to Helen, Close Up North, BBC Centre, Barrack Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE99 2NE. - Helen Rogers, Researcher, Close Up North.

WAR ON TERRORISM

PETER Mullen (Echo, Nov 20) is a little premature in insisting that the US bombing of Afghanistan is working.

It is good that the loathsome and oppressive Taliban regime has been removed, but the war is not over, and it remains to be seen whether the people of Afghanistan will fare any better ruled by an uneasy alliance of quarrelsome warlords.

We may never be told how many lives have been lost in this war and, these days, 90 per cent of war casualties are civilians. Thousands more will surely die as soon as winter closes in on the millions now displaced to refugee camps by the bombing.

This may not be war on Islam, but it does seem that Muslim lives are not valued as highly as American ones.

The Taliban, in any case, is not al Qaida, and al Qaida does not reside only in Afghanistan, nor is it the only terrorist organisation. It would be foolish to imagine that taking out Osama bin Laden can solve the problem.

It is essential to deal with the poverty, inequality and injustice which feeds international terrorism, otherwise we may have to deal with something like the Hydra, the multi-headed monster of Greek mythology, which grew two new heads every time one was destroyed. - Pete Winstanley, Chester-le-Street.

THE Northern Alliance must be favourite for the reward to get Osama bin Laden dead or alive. - N Tate, Darlington.

I COULD hardy believe my ears when I head the American Secretary of State say the US did not plan to take any prisoners.

Just what does he mean by that? If Taliban fighters surrender, does he plan to have them shot? Serbs are in jail in the Hague for that sort of thing.

Have no fear, there will be lots of dastardly deeds going unreported before this conflict ends, if it ever does.

Meanwhile, thousands of innocent Afghans are fleeing the murderous bombing.

I was under the impression that killing innocent civilians was the definition of a terrorist. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.