Disasters should make us be thankful for what we’ve got

From: Barry Foster, Manor Cottages, High Stakesby, Whitby.

Over half the world is besieged by floods, earthquakes, famine, starvation and poverty, with rulers who are sadistic, evil and corrupt. So what do we go on about? A little bit of snow, people hell-bent on trying to ruin an elected coalition government; trying, whatever one says, to do their best and get us out of a huge mess created by others, and trade union moguls spouting their mouths off and living in the lap of luxury.

It really is time we recognised how lucky we are to live in this country and enjoy the freedom we all have. I would hedge my pension that most of us are warm, fed and looked after reasonably well. If not, and we are so dissatisfied, then I would suggest we emigrate to one of our neighbours who are in the throes of extreme sufferance.

From: John Gordon, Whitcliffe lane, Ripon.

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IT must occur to anyone who is following the tragic events in Japan that nuclear power and earthquakes are not a good mix. In Ripon we had a very definite movement of the tectonic plates a few weeks ago.

It was short, sharp and very positive and it was enough to remind Yorkshire people exactly what an earthquake is. Who is to say that our nuclear power plants are immune to such events? Sizewell springs to mind.

Are there lessons to be learned nearer home from the tragedy in Japan?

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington.

I RECALL in my youth more than 60 years ago the hydro power stations being built all over my native  Highlands – they are still operating today.

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Why can this proven system of generating electricity not be used nationwide?

In some areas, water to turn the turbines could be pumped from and returned to the sea.

Modern non-corrosive materials could be used for the pumps and pipes, leaving maintenance reasonably trouble free.

Then we would have no fears of nuclear accidents, from dated plant, in a country which does experience earthquakes, although, at present, minimal.

From: Kevin Allen, Stepney, Scarborough.

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TRAGIC recent events in Japan including the damage to two nuclear power stations demonstrates that the safety of nuclear power cannot be guaranteed.

Mankind does not really have power over nature and a natural disaster like the one in Japan could lead to a worldwide disaster if a nuclear power station had a serious accident. The risk is too great to take. By reducing our energy consumption, better energy efficiency and use of renewable sources, we could avoid the need for nuclear power.

There is also the problem of storing the nuclear waste and a terrorist threat.