Close the door and help to save energy

AMIDST all the talk of climate change and the need to conserve energy, why is there no campaign to curb the excessive temperatures in shops and public buildings, public transport etc?

Members of the public using these spaces are by definition wearing outdoor clothing and the excessive temperatures are not only unnecessary but thoroughly uncomfortable. Staff in these establishments can easily put on extra layers; the public cannot easily do the reverse.

In addition there is the now almost universal practice of shops leaving their doors open, with blisteringly hot over-door heaters and most of that heat escaping into the street.

Aside from energy concerns, I have two other concerns. Firstly, health. I wonder if there has been any research into the effects of repeatedly going from excessively high temperatures into cold air at this time of year?

Secondly, people are being conditioned to accept and expect such temperatures in their own homes. How about The Yorkshire Post spearheading a “turn it down” campaign alongside a “close the door” campaign?

Nazi camp clarification

From: Hannah Phillips, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Portland Place, London.

I AM writing to you with regards to the piece “Never forget” holocaust pledge from PM’ (The Yorkshire Post, December 10). I would like to bring your attention to the first paragraph where the phrase “the Birkenau extermination camp in Poland” appears.

Unfortunately such a phrase 
is factually misleading as 
there were no Polish concentration camps during the Second World War, only the concentration camps set up and administered by Nazi Germany in the Reich and occupied Europe, including occupied Poland.

Here in the Embassy we feel that this is an important distinction to make otherwise one runs the risk of distorting the historical truth about some of the most horrific crimes perpetrated in the 20th century.

This false geographical description may result in a masking of the truth behind those events, potentially confusing the fate of victims 
with that of culprits and bystanders.

In addition, the wording “camp in Poland” is inaccurate on account of the formal decision made by The World Heritage Committee of Unesco of June 27, 2007, which changed the name of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp heritage site to “the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi German concentration and extermination camp 1940-1945”.

Insight into the real NHS

From: David Glover, Bailiffe Bridge.

WHAT an excellent piece by Melody Redman (The Yorkshire Post, December 11 ) reporting on her time in A&E. No political point scoring; no moaning 
about conditions of employment or colleagues. Just a statement 
of how things are and the decisions front line staff have to make.

She makes the point that life and death decisions are not best done by tired and overworked staff. But yet in her experience, short though it is, medical 
staff do their best for all patients – even if it means missing the four-hour target which is again the news.

I wish her well in her chosen career and suggest that someone like her be asked to serve on some committee advising the Government how to run the NHS. Then, perhaps, Ministers would know what really happens rather than bandying statistics around to baffle us all – and them.

Changing face of driving

From: Shirley M Sutcliffe, Hillam Hall Lane, Hillam, Leeds.

I ALSO am somewhat intrigued by the correspondence on driving techniques. I passed my driving test in 1960 or thereabouts, driving what was then our first vehicle, an Austin A35 van.

I don’t remember side wing mirrors being fitted, but, when asked by the examiner to execute the reversing test, I said that in executing that manoeuvre I normally opened the driver’s side door, leaned out and looked over my right shoulder whilst reversing with one hand on the steering wheel. The examiner agreed, and I was successful in passing my test. How things have changed!

Parties are 
all socialistic

From: Hugh Rogers, Messingham Road, Ashby.

I LOVED the letter from Michael Thompson (The Yorkshire Post, December 12) condemning the efforts the coalition Government has been making over the last five years to undo the damage done to the country’s economy by his own party.

All in all, a hilariously imaginative view from South Devon where, apparently, apart from ubiquitous but completely unnecessary food banks and mythical bare-footed ragamuffins, they also mostly vote Liberal. Which says it all.

The reality is, of course, that there are precious few proper “Tories” around these days.

All governments, of whatever political colour are, perforce, socialistic in outlook and none of them wants to destroy the Welfare State, even covertly.