Thursday's Letters: Contrasting views over Gaza convoy attack

This attack is an act of piracy and/or a war crime and I must ask why does our Government stay so quiet about these criminal acts?.

If an attack like this had been carried out by Iran or North Korea, we would see our forces descending on those countries or at the very least our ambassador being withdrawn and sanctions put in place.

Even now as I write, I am further disgusted at the way the Press in this country are dealing with the reporting of this crime. We see Israel's Prime Minister and other Israeli spokespeople given air time to explain that blame lies with those on the ship.

It is clear that those on board did nothing more blameworthy than ignoring the orders of a country whose navy was about to and ultimately did engage in criminal acts on the high sea, in international waters, to include murder.

The UK must now show that it condemns all acts of piracy to include the crimes of Israel who are no better than pirates and criminals who ignore international law and norms.

From: Ray Deans, Church Fields, Deighton.

From: Brian Ormondroyd, Brindley Court, Skipton.

I URGE our MPs to take immediate action to condemn the barbaric and illegal attack on the Gaza aid convoy.

Those found responsible must be brought to trial.

It is vital that early talks take place to end the occupation of the "Occupied Territories".

Progress here would lead to a reduction in tensions in the Middle East and Afghanistan, thus permitting the early withdrawal of British forces from these areas.

From: Peter Lee, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate.

THE BBC is in full anti-Israel mode this week with its condemnation of the Turkish humanitarian aid ship been seized and 10 peaceful protester killed.

The BBC has entirely failed in its duty to examine the other side of this story. It has wilfully sanitised the role in this episode of the Turkish organisation IHH who I would like to point out are a radical Islamist group masquerading as a humanitarian agency.

The flotilla was offered safe passage through either Israeli or

Egyptian ports but they declined.

To the BBC, knife-stabbing and iron-bar wielding extremists is not enough of a threat to open fire.

The BBC refuses to provide any balance when it comes to covering Israel and as such is nothing more than a propaganda arm for Palestinians.

Shame on all BBC journalists involved.

Time to say goodbye to Eurovision

From: Carl Gresham, Bradford.

ISN'T it about time we pulled out of the Eurovision Song Contest?

Our contribution gained us a poor 10 points and brought us last in the competition (Yorkshire Post, May 31).

Perhaps our song wasn't at all that good, but is there a hidden message here from the other Eurovision members telling us very clearly what they think of the United Kingdom?

I thought the German entry was perfect Eurovision and well deserved the number-one spot. Congratulations.

However, now we in the UK should say "Goodbye Eurovision".

From: Jane Hammond, Otley.

AT least Josh Dubovie, Britain's entry in the Eurovision song contest, produced one useful purpose.

By coming last, it means that the BBC does not have to waste millions of pounds of public money hosting this nauseating event next year.

I bet Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, is not too happy with her country winning this charade.

German TV will foot the bill next year.

From: Dean Edwards, Yeadon, Leeds.

LOOKING at the voting in the Eurovision song contest, with Spain

supporting Portugal and vice versa, why doesn't the UK take a stand and boycott this event?

The musical quality is so poor that I only switch on for the voting and try to guess, with great accuracy, who is supporting whom and the favours they are calling in.

This isn't entertainment in the true sense of the word – it is a farce (even though the UK entry was, judging by accounts, lucky to have got 10 votes because it was so dreary and uninspiring).

Underlying reasons

From: Charles Rushton, Pasture Close, Strensall, York.

YOUR Editorial comment (Yorkshire Post, May 27) does you credit in pointing to the extravagance of the late Government in the last months of that unlamented rgime.

Where I do take issue is where you suggest that they (the last Government) should apologise for their shortcomings in being so extravagant with our shrinking resources in their last months in

office.

I am quite certain that a large number of your readers will have detected a degree of deliberation in monetary policy during those last months and that, at some point, a decision was made to exacerbate monetary difficulties to the discredit of the succeeding rgime.

Far more sinister but in similar vein, are the activities of militant unions, engaged, in my view, in what can only be described as wrecking activities.

More particular in the former nationalised industries, they seem determined to make such industries unmanageable and unworkable, in the belief that the state will have to rescue them and, thereby return

them to the milch-cow status we all remember from former times.

BA has lost 1bn in two years; any ordinary firm would be long gone by now. The railways similar.

No prizes for guessing who benefits from economic chaos.

Within the life of this present Parliament, all the gathering ills will be laid firmly at the door of this Parliament, while Gordon Brown's follies will be written out of history.

Steps can be taken to reduce scourge of litter

From: John S Culpan, Chairman of Brighouse Civic Society, Bradford Road, Brighouse.

I WAS most interested to read G Burroughs's letter (Yorkshire Post, May 18) regarding the large amount of rubbish and litter thrown about, spoiling the countryside, and also the two letters on similar litter issues.

I could not agree more with everything they said. Unfortunately, litter occurs almost everywhere these days.

Being involved with the Civic Vale, the recently launched national civic movement which replaced the former Civic Trust, and locally with Brighouse Civic Society, the following are my comments and latest observations on littering.

Among the varied civic matters we are concerned with, mainly at the local level, is litter. This occurs on most of our agendas and we try our best to encourage and be actively involved with local clean-ups

in our town and surrounding villages.

There does seem to have been a reduction in litter bins recently and especially alongside the canal networks. In Brighouse, a bin has been removed from the canalside only this last week after having been full for weeks. This, again, will add to the littering of the area.

However, as G Burroughs mentions, one of the best solutions is picking up litter oneself. On my walks I also take positive action by taking a carrier-bag and often fill it with the most dangerous litter – glass – and bring it back home to recycle.

On a national level, I read in the spring issue of Countryside Voice, produced by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) an item entitled "Stop the Drop". They mention that the cost of maintaining a clean environment in England is 780m, or 2.5m per day on street cleaning in the past year.

Finally, 60 Farnham Primary School pupils, at Bradford, have received certificates for taking part in a day of action with the council in tackling littering and fly-tipping. How encouraging to hear of young ones being involved in this positive action.

There is hope yet.

Yellow line peril for local stores

From: Keith Chapman, Custance Walk, York.

REGARDING North Yorkshire County Council's approval of parking charges for locals in Thirsk, Stokesley, Bedale and other places.

Having friends in those areas and listening to comments, they will have to be very careful as they could find the place where they live becoming isolated and many will go to shopping centres at far-off locations. The local store will be the casualty of such changes within their village.

If yellow lines are applied, you will have what we have in York. Time will tell as to the changing attitudes of the community.

What will they choose?

World Cup hope – and the hype

From: Mrs Doris Watson, Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth.

WHILE doing the weekly shop in the supermarket, I could not help noticing the vast array of England football paraphernalia that has gone on display. Mugs, flags, car stickers, even megaphones, all emblazoned with the flag of St George.

It was a cheerful sight, to be sure, and I am sure we would all like England to do well in the World Cup. I am afraid, though, that I recall similar displays in previous tournaments that have ended in failure.

I wonder if a mathematician might be able to draw up a chart showing a graph that demonstrates conclusively that the success of the national side is in inverse proportion to amount of pre-match hype.

Queen deserves Civil List rise

From: John Eoin Douglas, Spey Terrace, Edinburgh.

IT is singularly inappropriate for Labour's Ian Davidson to criticise the Queen over her request for a paltry increase in the Civil List and to urge her to axe staff instead.

Was it not the former Labour Government which poured billions of pounds of taxpayers' money into maintaining the lifestyles of bankers who, compared to Her Majesty, have done little or nothing for our country?

Cuts – and consequences

From: BY Hall, Scorton, North Yorkshire.

THE Government is to save money by cutting benefits and getting people back to work. They will also cut public spending, thereby putting thousands out of work. Confused!