YP Letters: Our right to challenge the dash to frack

From: Heather Stroud, Gilling East, North Yorkshire.
Protesters lobbied North Yorkshire County Council over fracking. However their call for a scheme at Kirby Misperton to be blocked was ignored.Protesters lobbied North Yorkshire County Council over fracking. However their call for a scheme at Kirby Misperton to be blocked was ignored.
Protesters lobbied North Yorkshire County Council over fracking. However their call for a scheme at Kirby Misperton to be blocked was ignored.

IT was heartwarming to see the great turnout at Saturday’s anti-fracking rally in York. The message of ‘no social licence to frack in Yorkshire – or anywhere else, for that matter’, resounded from the cobbles, as marchers made their opposition known.

Clearly, others, like myself, have invested time in becoming informed about the realities of industrial scale fracking. Our beautiful old cities and unspoiled rural villages are a delight to residents and visitors alike.

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This unconventional fossil fuel extraction has never been done anywhere in the world without causing some degree of environmental damage. Fracking carries enormous risk to both public health and to our precious water, soil and air. It’s hard to comprehend why our government would support this reckless ‘dash to frack’. Even the economics now look suspect.

Maybe there is a clue as solar, daylight, energy has been heralded as the new potential democratiser. It’s a power that, once harnessed, could be free to everyone. The only issue has been storage, but with new technological advances now is the time to invest in a future that looks upward rather than down into a dying fossilised age.

Importance of compassion

From: Barbara Taylor, Cumberland Close, Halifax.

I HAVE followed with interest (and not a little sadness) the journey of Dr Kate Granger and her ‘Hello my name is...’ campaign. Admirable as of course it is, what a sad indictment of the medical profession that a campaign has to be started by a terminally ill young doctor to promote and encourage what should be there as a matter of course.

Some are obviously in the wrong profession. I am talking, of course, of compassion, kindness and understanding.

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Both myself and my late partner have had a long history of depression – it ran through our families (The Yorkshire Post, August 3). My partner died of cancer almost nine years ago and, as a patient, she was quite clear which of the two illnesses were worst. There is a vast anomaly in care.

If people with cancer were treated the way people with mental illness are treated, there would be an immediate outcry – no question.

From: Mrs Connie Hird, Mount Drive, Bridlington.

I AM a 95-year-old lady and I was so moved by an article (The Yorkshire Post, July 21) from the spirited and brave lady injured so terribly in the London bombings of 2005.

Some of her words in one paragraph stood out for me, I quote: “Throughout the chaos of my rescue, my hand was held tightly and my face was stroked gently. I experienced feelings of absolute love, yet these people did not know me.”

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Such beautiful, simple, heart-rending words. I can only send my best wishes for the future to the charming lady in question and give thanks to the many kind people in the world.

Time to restore Christian values

From: Canon Michael Storey, Healey Wood Road, Brighouse.

I HAVE just listened to the BBC News and a discussion on the increase of HIV and diseases from which women suffer, very often through having intercourse with a variety of partners.

The problems for both men and women seem to stem from the “free for all” attitude to sexual intercourse which is often encouraged by TV programmes modern social media etc.

Perhaps it is time to return to Christian values?

From: Donald Webb, Rothwell.

I THOUGHT the Church would be grateful to anyone who still attends on a Sunday (David Treacher, The Yorkshire Post, July 30). Judging people by their dress is akin to judging a book by its cover, a big mistake but a common one.

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Judge people by their deeds, not by their appearance, and the world will be a better place.

More power to the Broad Acres

From: Jon Marcus, Lightwater, Surrey.

WELL done The Yorkshire Post for spearheading its campaign to boost the power and recognition of Yorkshire by taking it directly to Theresa May.

As God’s Own County has a population larger than that of Scotland, I would have added two other points to the paper’s six priority areas: The Prime Minister should appoint a Secretary of State for Yorkshire, and one of his/her first jobs would be to restore the original boundaries of the Three Ridings.

Give medals to all Olympians

From: Anthony Hopkins, Carlton Drive, Guiseley.

THE time comes around again for the charade known as the Olympic Games.

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In view of the ongoing controversies relating to drugs and who should/should not be partaking, will the simple answer be to let them all come and on arrival competitors be presented with a medal, papier-mache of course in mixed gold, silver and bronze colours, letting them compete with the placings having becoming irrelevant.

Think of the cost effectiveness and an end to the so tiresome jingoistic medal presentation ceremonies.