YP Letters: In search of secret to happiness

GEOFF Wood, a fellow octogenarian, poses the question “By what standards is happiness measured in other parts of the world?” (The Yorkshire Post, February 19). I would guess that the answer lies in expectation and knowing where the next meal was coming from.

Like Mr Wood and his wife (and I have discussed this with Mrs Sheridan) we are as happy as “Larry” and “a sand boy” respectively. However, I would ask Geoff if he is not affected by the certainty that it can’t last.

It is much easier to identify the cause of unhappiness than what brings happiness. Philosopher Bertrand Russell posited that undue preoccupation with what other people thought was a main source of unhappiness and Jean-Paul Sartre asserted that hell was other people.

Another philosopher, whose name escapes me, claimed that the quest for happiness per se will always be in vain: happiness sneaks up on us as a by-product of other objectives. I recall gardener Monty Don writing about a surge of happiness when putting his tools away after a day in the garden with the prospect of dinner.

MP’s dash for fracking

From: Michael Tanner, Nawton, North Yorkshire.

DESPITE Ryedale District Council, all five local market town councils and a large proportion of the parish councils democratically calling for a moratorium on fracking, Kevin Hollinrake MP seems determined to impose the government’s dash for gas in our rural area.

Even before North Yorkshire County Council has decided the outcome of the Third Energy planning application, he appears to be mapping out the areas where fracking will take place with the four gas companies granted PEDL licences within his constituency.

I feel he is being politically naive if he thinks he can single-handedly control the proliferation of this industry as the terms of the PEDL licences state that development must be maximised in each area. It all starts with just one well.

Leave the bankers alone

From: JW Buckley, Aketon, Pontefract.

BANKER bashing is in the news again, but this time in the context that it has gone on long enough. About time too.

When the credit crunch happened, certain influential politicians realised that fingers of blame could be pointed at them. To counter this before it happened, they threw money at the problem (not their money, but yours and mine) and put it about that it was all the fault of the greedy bankers.

Just as the credit crunch was the fault of too little regulation; the latest “mini crunch” was the fault of too much regulation, or better expressed as too fast a U-turn on the part of the regulators, to be accomodated by the financial sector.

The latest “mini crunch” will have passed by most people. One thing in our favour, is that it was realised that the regulators had been pushing too hard and too fast. Before any damage happened, some hasty back- tracking was done – all dressed up in the appropriate spin.

Step forward on pollution

From: Tompion Platt, Head of Policy & Research, Living Streets, London.

THE latest Royal College of Physicians report into UK air pollution highlights the importance of getting more people walking and cycling. Road traffic is the most significant cause of air pollution and with 39 per cent of journeys under two miles being driven; swapping four wheels for two feet is an easy and effective way to tackle the problem.

The Government has a legal duty to protect people from the harmful effects of pollution. It must prioritise investment to make our towns and cities safe and attractive so that more people start walking and experiencing the benefits.

It’s good to see the report recommending local authorities be given the power to limit the amount of cars on the road, especially around schools. Very simply – more walking means less air pollution.

Hell bent on destruction

From: Mr J Penn, Hedon, Hull.

HAS Big Brother’s computerisation of our planet made it a superior habitat? The threat of war, financial depression and global warming are having a serious effect on human life.

We are supposedly the most intelligent creatures on this planet. It certainly doesn’t look that way to me. We are on the path to total destruction.

Helpline praise

From: Hugh Rogers, Ashby.

WE have contacted the NHS 111 helpline several times in the past year and have received nothing but sympathy, efficiency and effective resolution of our issues. Unlike Jayne Dowle (The Yorkshire Post, February 18), we didn’t particularly care whether the first responder was 17 or 70. What mattered was how effectively our inquiry was dealt with and in this respect we were entirely satisfied.