Unconvinced by claims 
on climate

I TAKE it from Allan Davies’s letter (The Yorkshire Post, June 27) that he is convinced about the climate change debate, and unfortunately seems quite scornful of people not sharing his view. For example, he rounds on your previous correspondent, John Redhead, (The Yorkshire Post, June 24) as “the latest climate change denier”. He then, somewhat pompously in my view, asks him to explain the scientific base for his stance.

It seems only fair to me that Mr Davies should perhaps answer his own question, and should explain the scientific base for his acceptance of the global warming (sorry, climate change) argument.

This is of course a totally impossible question to answer in the space available in your Letters to the Editor page, as Mr Davies would know, so why ask it in the first place?

I for one still remain unconvinced about the global warming lobby’s overtures.

Space on this page in your newspaper is obviously not available to resurrect the debate in any detail. I will confess, however, that I find the constant drip feed from the climate change lobby to be extremely irritating, and the reams of statistics offered in support of their prognosis to be predictable and questionable.

The winter just gone bucked the recent trend, being the wettest on record, and has been very mild. But let us be clear as to why it was mild, this was not due to some long term warming trend, it was due simply to the position of the North Atlantic jet stream throughout the winter period. The stream perversely stuck in a position that just kept throwing deepening depressions right across the United Kingdom, and it is worth pointing out that scientists and meteorologists are on record as admitting that they do not yet fully understand what drives the positioning of, and changes in the jet stream. They do seem to think, however, that the positioning of the jet stream over North America could be caused by the collision of cold (from Northern Canada) Arctic, and warm (from the Gulf of Mexico) airmasses. The science does not yet seem to be complete.

Offer jobs on merit alone

From: J Hutchinson, Kirkbymoorside, York.

AS we are now told that immigrants constitute the majority of people in Greater London and many other areas of large towns and cities where the populations are the largest in the country, is it not about time we abolished the draconian notion of positive discrimination?

Surely it is time to employ people upon ability and suitability for a job – or acting role – without the fear of cries of racism if a white English man or woman is chosen above an ethnic applicant.

No interest in computer age

From: Martin Fletcher, Flanders Court, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham.

ONCE again someone who thinks he knows better than anyone else (Eddie Copeland) says old people should learn about computers, and you print it (The Yorkshire Post, May 29).

Why should they learn? I am 68 and have had computers for about 25 years. At present I have a W7 desktop, a W8 laptop, an Android smart phone and I have just got a Nexus 7 Android tablet. I do not think though that I should foist my ideas on other older people.

I have been on an over 50s council committee for helping people with computer use. Most are not interested, even when we offered lessons in their sheltered accommodation housing lounges. It is their choice, so leave them alone. And that applies to those who write to papers and magazines saying that they must use a computer. It is not helped by councils putting everything online, although that is partly a cynical ploy to cut down on letters and complaints to them.

Spellings are hard to digest

From: Hugh Rogers, Messingham Road, Ashby.

NO, no, no! A thousand times no, Mrs Henry (The Yorkshire Post, June 28). The English language is being destroyed quite quickly enough without misguided folk promoting its misuse.

“Could” means a variety of things – it is the past tense of “can”; to be able to do something; express a possible course of action.

It is a very useful word, unlike “cud” which only means partially digested food regurgitated by a bovine animal.

Simplicity for the juvenile texting generation also means confusion for the cow. Clearly, you have not considered the side-effects of your reforming zeal.

Signs you’re in Yorkshire

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield.

I HAVE just returned from a week in Western Scotland. I note that the road signs are in Gaelic and English. This got me wondering whether we should copy this idea in Yorkshire.

Thus Driffield would be “Driffil”, Hull would be “Ull”, Market Weighton would be “Market Weetun”, Bridlington “Brid”, Kilnwick, “Killik” and 
so on.

I am sure it would soon catch on and all our visitors would have a smattering of the language.

Mind you the Westlanders would be different and have to create their own language.