Surely wrong time for refuse reorganisation Be on your guard for dognappers

Again, unemptied bins stand outside homes, days after they were due for collection

Ron Boyce Cardiff

WHAT a mess! Cardiff’s reorganisation of refuse collection.

Who was the genius behind this change? Again, unemptied bins stand outside homes, days after they were due for collection.

What is the reason for the continuing problem? Whatever the reason, why were changes made during an ongoing pandemic when staff numbers were likely to be affected?

Take note councillors, if people have problems disposing of their rubbish legally they’ll find other ways. But with the current farce enough is enough.

Ron Boyce

Cardiff

Online event gives women a platform

HOW splendid to hear that research by women in Wales will be beamed across the world as part of the celebrations for this year’s United Nations annual conference of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UN:CSW) to be held later this month.

Usually held in New York, UN:CSW, which monitors progress on women’s rights, this year makes its debut as an online only event, and Wales Assembly of Women, a non-governmental organisation accredited to UN:ECOSOC, will showcase some of the latest research on how women in Wales are represented in public life.

In a session entitled Women’s Representation in Wales: How Gendered is my Valley?, a panel of three post-graduate women researchers will focus on elected women in Welsh local government, women in Welsh sport leadership, and the experiences of disabled women, to see how far various sectors have succeeded in introducing greater diversity to their senior decision making.

Leah Hibbs will analyse the experiences of women councillors in Welsh local government in the significantly entitled “What do you know? You’re a woman!” Philippa Davies will examine women’s experiences of Gender (in)Equality in Welsh Sport Leadership; and Ruth Nortey will survey the challenges and shortcomings of the Representation of Disabled Women in Public Life in Wales. All three speakers are awardees of the annual Audrey Jones Awards for Women’s Scholarship, sponsored by Wales Assembly of Women in memory of celebrated women’s rights campaigner and founder member Audrey Jones.

Chair of Wales Assembly of Women Dr Eleri Evans said the seminar was “absolutely on topic” for UN:CSW’s priority theme this year of women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life.

She said: “We need to keep our focus on the representation of women in public life. A recent report by the UK Government committee on women and equalities found UK Government support policies during the pandemic repeatedly skewed towards men. This is not good enough.

“In Wales we have a chance to do things differently and indeed the country caused waves worldwide in 2003 as the first legislature to achieve 50:50 gender balance with equal members of men and women. But although Wales broke this significant barrier, women are still underrepresented in public life and business, paid less than men, and more likely than men to be working below their qualifications level.”

She said that was why she was delighted Welsh Government Minister for Equalities Jane Hutt MS, who was a friend of Audrey Jones, would be taking part in the online session.

Co-ordinator of the Audrey Jones Awards Dr Jane Salisbury said: “Audrey fought tirelessly for women’s rights and equality. She would be so heartened by the platform we have created in her name to share robust and evidence-based research. It is only in learning about the lived experience of women that we can share good practice, shine a light on areas where inequality persists, and contribute to making a difference in the lives of women and girls.”

The Wales Assembly of Women panel will take place on March 18 at 8.30pm. Everyone has to register on the virtual event platform to watch the panel. Just search online for NGO-CSW65 Forum registration. Jean Silvan Evans Peterston-super-Ely

Our lax response to virus outbreak

VIROLOGY is completely dependent, like all science, on abstract mathematics.

The number of “variants” is an arithmetical function of the total number of live, evolving viruses, regardless of nationalistic barriers, and the rate of spread of infection, R, is an exponential function of the number of live viruses. These facts, quite separate from MPs’ opinions, determine that actively killing viruses at source, as we learnt 100 years ago, must be the optimum strategy, just as Eastern countries recognised, to depress numbers.

For one year, UK TV has been full of people talking of themselves, without understanding biology of fixed, limited, viral action. Your impatience with lockdown, and desire to kiss elderly relatives, should be tempered by responsibility, lest you become an agent of death.

The US Republican Party under Trump showed the world the most extreme picture of irresponsible, deceitful, ignorance in “civilisation”.

When other nations set out to kill viruses in January 2020, Britain produced the maximum possible number of live viruses for others to breathe in, until July, when the Government suggested the use of masks.

Eventually, separating humans from each other does make viruses perish, but could never be as effective as actively exterminating viruses, by as many efficient means as possible, such as ultraviolet light, or a mask more scientifically designed than a flimsy cloth over the mouth.

When we discuss the UK response, maybe in 2023 instead of right now, perhaps we could perceive that nationalism prevented Brits finding higher beliefs consistent with this universe.

Neville Westerman

Brynna

NEARLY every week, reports of the kidnapping of dogs – from back gardens, from their homes, or even while they’re out for a walk – hit the headlines.

“Dognapping” is an alarming, growing epidemic. Thieves know that “purebred” and “designer” dogs

sell for high sums, and they don’t give a damn about the emotional bonds between the animals and their guardians.

To help keep animals safe, it’s vital that everyone microchips their animal companions, keeps that information up to date, and maintains a watchful eye on their animals, acting swiftly if one goes missing. If the worst happens, it’s imperative to contact the police as well as local animal shelters and veterinarians immediately, put up posters, and even get the media involved.

Those who pay for puppies from breeders or online – rather than looking to legitimate rescue groups and animal shelters – contribute to problems like theft and fuel the greedy pet trade, denying animals in shelters the chance to find love and security. By adopting, you can save a homeless animal’s life – and help take price tags off other dogs’ heads.

Jennifer White

Senior Media Officer, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

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