FOOT-AND-MOUTH

I AM writing to readers regarding the tragic plight of the countryside which at present is being ravaged by foot-and-mouth.

People in many areas have been led to believe that foot-and-mouth is at worst under control and at best over, all but the odd one or two cases. Sadly, this is not the case. We are in fact slaughtering more animals now that at any time during the outbreak.

This disease has torn the very soul out of the countryside. It has destroyed so much that we hold so dear.

We have been forced to witness such terrible scenes and tragic brutality and blatant cruelty.

This is our country. This is the best we could do. This is 21st century Britain. I am appalled to be part of this. I am appalled to be part of a country where apathy allows us to turn a blind eye and ignore the suffering of both people and animals.

It did not need to be like this - it could have been different. We need to ensure that people know what is going on. We need to bring this disease to a speedy conclusion. We need to end the barbaric slaughter and cruelty.

We want to establish a network of people opposed to the way the Government is handling foot-and-mouth and work in the same direction to help bring it to a speedy conclusion. - Sue Burton, Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary, Hornchurch.

TOBACCO ADVERTISING

OF course everyone should believe J Gaffikin (HAS July 2) that banning advertising of tobacco will not make the slightest difference to the number of gullible youngsters who take up the addiction.

When gullible teenagers grow up they realise just how much they have been misled practically every smoker wants to stop but that is not easy.

If banning advertising saves just one young life, then it will have been worthwhile.

Finally if banning adverts for tobacco addicts will, as he avers, make no difference why is he so concerned to write to numerous newspapers to inform them.

Could it be that we should not believe even one word of what he is stating? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

TENNIS FASHIONS

HOW strange are the fashions of clothes worn by tennis players. The women wear tight skirts up to their hips, while the men wear baggy shorts down to their knees. - Ann E. Carr, Middleton St George.

GREEN PLEAS

HUMANITY'S begetting sin is not anger but complacency. In fact, we are not angry enough, especially with ourselves.

Why? Because we happily swallow all the guff the experts feed us about the planet being safe in their hands and those of their colleagues in international big business whereas the reality is the lot of them are raping and torturing the Earth to death.

She's never failed us throughout the aeons, now she needs our help.

Go Green, buy only organic whenever you can. Cut out anything involving cruelty, ie most meat, and enlist with a good pressure group like Greenpeace or the RSPB. We haven't much time left. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

EURO BY STEALTH

IN January when the euro is unleashed upon Europe, many big firms in the high street will welcome it into their tills.

I was under the impression that the euro could not become currency at all, in this country, prior to a referendum by the people. This seems like a Government way of bringing in the euro by stealth. Surely this should be illegal.

Tony Blair must be aware of this back door method of bringing in the euro before a referendum. - Jim Ross, Rowlands Gill.

WOODLANDS HOSPITAL

AFTER reading the report of the opening of the new hospital on the western side of Darlington (Echo, July 5) I toured Hummersknott, Mowden and Branksome, but there was no sign of Woodlands. Perhaps they meant the County of Darlington - so I ventured out to Piercebridge, Summerhouses and Denton. There were several woods, but again no Woodlands.

Later when visiting the supermarket I spotted the fine new building on the eastern side of town.

Perhaps the Echo reporters have adopted the slogan outside the hospital pharmacy - We dispense with accuracy. - IB Wade, Darlington.

QUESTION OF INNOCENCE

PLEASE allow me to respond to John Young's letter (HAS, July 3) commenting on my original letter.

I did not suggest that most murderers are innocent, as he states, but cases in recent years such as that of the Bridgewater Three and Steven Kiszko show that innocent people can be convicted for a variety of reasons.

If they had been executed, then being shown to be innocent would be of little comfort to their grieving relatives.

As the law is operated by fallible human beings, mistakes are always possible in spite of scientific advances and a means of correcting errors should always be available. - Eric Gendle, Middlesbrough.

OVER FIFTIES

THE scheme to involve over-50s in a variety of activities should indeed be expanded (Echo, July 3). This age group has so much of offer. Many who are now unemployed could really enjoy offering their services to help in areas where they have an interest and perhaps have not up until now been able to make use of their skills.

Helping on a part-time volunteer basis also gives the freedom to offer as much or as little time as is best for them. No ties of a full-time job.

The scheme will help many lonely people have the opportunity to make friends and the community will benefit from the work they do. This scheme is a very positive step in helping the entire community. - EA Moralee, Billingham.