Hear All Sides

FOOT-AND-MOUTH

SOME people condemn pictures on TV and in newspapers showing animals being slaughtered and their bodies being shoved around in a digger because it is too graphic, too nasty to watch.

As much as I hate to view it, I think it's only right that we should see what's going on. I think it is the very least we can do to acknowledge what is happening to these poor animals.

We never get to see what goes on in normal circumstances in an abattoir which, by all accounts, is a much more dreadful fate.

So often unpleasant matters are expected to be swept under the carpet in case, heaven forbid, our poor little minds and feelings are offended. - P Johnson, Shildon.

RE Mr Kilbride's criticism (HAS, Apr 6) of Ray Mallon's assertion that farmers have been the last people to be consulted about foot-and-mouth disease precautions. I cannot speak for events this side of the Pennines but, having friends who farm on the Solway coast in Cumbria, I can only say that Mr Mallon's assertion is completely correct.

The lack of information regarding exclusion zones and culling has been truly appalling and seems to be the main criticism of the handling of the whole affair in that part of the world.

The general feeling of the farming community in Cumbria is that they themselves have been the last people to be consulted about the proposed destruction of their own livelihoods. It is little use searching the Internet for information regarding new cases. The NFU site refers users to the Maff site, which itself does not seem to be updated on any regular basis.

Probably the worst four-letter word anyone in the farming community can use at present is Maff. - Steve Warburton, Darlington.

FARMING METHODS

WHAT a tangled web we weave. The web began slowly, destroying the living soil with artificial fertilisers killing helpful worms and bacteria. We were taught at school each worm was a minute farmer.

Next came the spraying of pesticides, killing both pests and their predators, such as small birds and animals and their predators.

Men then turned their dubious skills to adding parts of dead animals to animal feed, calling it extra protein and feeding it to herbivores that do not have the digestive system to deal with it, and probably damaging their immune system.

Animals for human consumption are with us for only a short period, surely we can make their lives less stressful?

But nature will not be deceived. It is sorrowful to see animals stumbling about unable to control their movement, but it is heart-breaking to see people with such a similar disease.

It is at our peril we delay in returning to natural farming methods previously used for thousands of years; as only ill-health can come from inorganic ways.

The front page (Echo, Mar 21) shows two separate photos of sheep, one depicting a live, happy lamb in full harmony with nature, the other showing sheep dead before their time that had lived in disharmony with man. What more need be said. - DA Patton, Ferryhill.

CARE HOMES

THE outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has brought Britain's farming community to a desperate situation and, of course, there is a grave, knock-on effect that is also devastating the tourism and hospitality sectors in large areas of the country.

Help is promised from Government and, indeed, from the EC but, for many businesses, it will be too little, too late.

The majority of right-thinking people do sympathise with those who are watching their livelihoods literally go up in smoke - and many people are concerned about the future of our farming industry.

But strangely, the plight of the independent care home industry nationwide, which cares for many thousands of frail old people, which is a major employer and which makes a valuable contribution to the nation's economy, evidently rates little sympathy or support as it is forced into oblivion.

Perhaps it will only be when Britain's farming industry is wiped out, and when the last care home finally closes its doors, that the Government and the population will realise just what they have lost, and what the appalling consequences will be - regardless of the outcome of all the elections.

In County Durham there are approximately 6,000 staff caring for 4,000 elderly residents, what is the future for them? - Nye Thomas, Chairman Registered Nursing Home Association.

BATTLEFIELDS VISITS

EACH year, the King's Own Light Infantry Battlefield Research Section organises a Pilgrimage Tour to the First World War battlefield areas of France and Flanders.

In September, we plan to visit the battlefield areas of the Somme and the Ypres Salient, Vimy Ridge, Loos, Arras and Serre.

The trip specialises in visiting specific cemeteries or memorials on request. An experienced guide will accompany the trip to commentate on specific battles.

We welcome all inquiries. Anyone interested and requiring further information should contact me. We ask for a medium-sized SAE for postal replies. - Joe Street, 7 West Grove, Royston, Nr Barnsley, South Yorkshire. S71 4RY.