Sir David and the real threat to life on Earth

IT COMES as no surprise that at the Un Climate Change Conference, Sir David Attenborough was eloquent on the threat from greenhouse gases, but silent on the unsustainable growth of the world’s population.

In the Seventies, when I was endeavouring to be a trendy, Leftwing, environment doom-watcher, it was well understood that the ever-swelling tide of humanity was the fundamental driver of all forms of global pollution.

In present- day Britain, where natural habitats are disappearing, green belts are concreted over to be packed with soulless barrack housing and urban roads are at pollution- max gridlock, it is obvious what are the effects and what is the root cause.

That Sir David Attenborough says nothing about the cause is a consequence of the tyranny of political correctness.

Controlling population pressure, curbing migratory flows between continents and ending taxpayer subsidy for unlimited procreation are deemed off-limits in public debate now.

W. ATTENBOROUGH, Lincoln.

WHILE I respect what Sir David Attenborough has done for wildlife, I feel aggrieved at his high-minded stance on climate change. How big is his carbon footprint over his lifetime?

He must have travelled millions of miles by plane — air travel is one of the biggest polluters on the planet.

Has he planted a forest to make up for the damage he may have caused to the environment?

CARL DAVIS, Nottingham.

Commons duplicity

THE fact that Dominic Grieve said that MPs are ‘taking back control’ proves that politicians never had any intention of implementing the views of the electorate.

These people seem to think they have a divine right to know better than the 17.4 million people who voted Leave. I suppose we should congratulate Mr Grieve for being open and honest, which is not normal practice at Westminster.

If the Remoaners get a second vote because the voters are deemed to have got it wrong the first time, can Spurs keep playing Arsenal until they win?

I am ashamed to have this selfcentred lot running our country — we deserve better.

JOHN ADAMSON, North Ferriby, E. Yorks.

Why bother voting?

IF A meaningful Brexit does not happen, then democracy in this country is dead.

I am sure that many of the people who voted Leave will, like me, decide there is no point in voting for anything ever again.

MIKE EDWARDS, Nantwich, Cheshire.

THE unholy mess that is Brexit has shown not one politician of any political persuasion is capable of negotiating and leading themselves out of a paper bag. Article 50 should be suspended until such a messianic figure appears.

C. D. FIELD, Mellieha, Malta.

Christmas con trick

REPORTS about winter blunderlands (Mail) are amusing for those who did not attend. Regular though these rip-offs may be, the fact remains that grotty Christmas grottos are a nice little earner for crooks.

Produce a glossy brochure for a classy-looking event, use cartoon and film characters without having the legal right to do so, and then market it heavily and insist on advance payment for tickets.

On the day, provide the least you can and, when the complaints start rolling in, apologise and announce that the event will close for 48 hours ‘to make necessary improvements’.

Then wind up your company and vanish with the takings, leaving the punters disappointed and the staff unpaid.

It’s time for the local authorities to monitor these events. Council staff and police should inspect every venue before a single member of the public is able to buy a ticket.

If the event is not as advertised, it should be closed down on the spot.

S. DUTHIE, Edinburgh.

LIKE thousands of others deprived of a local store following closures, this will be my first Christmas without M&S.

I feel lost, as I have depended on the shop for more than 50 years. I miss popping in once a week for food — I always spotted something to buy for the family, too.

I usually give M&S gift cards as Christmas presents, but this year there is no point as there will be nowhere to spend them.

PATRICIA HARRIS, Darlington, Co. Durham.

Protect our privacy

THE exposure of how our privacy is being compromised by modern technology made for shocking reading (Mail).

Our laws are inadequate to protect us from organisations who are building up huge data banks on us without our knowledge.

Ticking a box to opt out of having your private information passed on is not sufficient when you sometimes need a magnifying glass to find said box. They should be in a prominent position on forms and websites.

The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law is failing to protect us from excessive and aggressive marketing tactics, so needs to be reformed.

And councils should not be allowed to sell electoral registers to marketing companies.

Cllr JOHN WARMAN, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan.

Bring Fred to heel

IT’S time to name and shame the irresponsible owners of Fred Basset (Mail).

not only do they allow their pet dog to roam unaccompanied, they also encourage him and his friends Jock and Yorky to run around as a pack, chasing cats, picking fights with other dogs, and antagonising a pooch that is tied up and cannot retaliate.

Where are the owners when all this is going on? Are they perhaps following at a discreet distance with poo bags? I doubt it.

However, what else can you expect from a couple who haven’t figured out it is not a good idea to leave a plate of sausages uncovered on the kitchen table!

MARIE BROWN, Bolton, Gtr Manchester.