South Wales Echo

Great event but leave out the poor reindeer

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I attended the Reindeer Fun Run in Whitchurch, Cardiff, with friends on Saturday.

Our thanks go to K&M Sports for organising this event as they have in the past and having the support of dedicated local volunteers.

The highlight of the evening was seeing the runners of all ages taking part in, let’s call it a one- mile mini-marathon, and knowing that all proceeds will go to Cancer Research Wales to support world-class research happening in Wales with no suffering through testing on animals.

It is ironic, therefore, that the organisers saw fit to subject two reindeer to a 200-mile journey in a trailer and hanging around at Whitchurch High School before playing a minor role in the event.

A few of our group have been fortunate to travel beyond the Arctic Circle (51 years ago and before package tours – just a car and a tent) and have seen these lovely, sensitive creatures in their natural surroundin­gs, and that is where they should be, and not exploited for fun in the UK.

We are not killjoys, and despite the reindeer had an enjoyable evening and were about the last to leave.

We hope that the organisers will raise their target of £10,000 for Cancer Research Wales, but will rethink the use of reindeer in future events, like other organisers of similar events throughout the UK.

Tom Butler and friends Whitchurch, Cardiff

We can’t sweep it under the carpet

WITH our elderly fingers getting more and more fumbly everyday we are finding that most of our prescripti­on tablets are ending up on the carpet. With our eyesight not too good either we’re not having much luck finding them. We are seriously thinking of going back to using a type of floor covering that was used back in the 1950s and was called oilcloth or, if you lived in Lisvane, linoleum. I suppose it’s better to sort out these problems than sweep them under the carpet!

Jim Fisher Llanrumney Principles are the bedrock for all

EVERY UK adult should compare four famous opinions.

1. Conservati­ve medical policy in 1945, post war, ‘If you can’t afford it, do without.’

2. The priority of Clement Attlee’s NHS policy in 1948, the health of all sick citizens, regardless of their poverty.

3. US Republican Party medical policy, 70 years later, ‘Good health is for those who can afford it. The rest do without.’

4. The majority opinion in Britain in 2018, that we value the NHS, for me and my family.

Do you think that this universe is trying to tell you something, that No 2, the ethical principles of Clement Attlee, are still trying to reach the minds of all adults on this planet, in progressiv­e stages, to establish a different kind of human life, based upon a belief of your solemn duty to others, most especially all children and the vulnerable?

Perhaps you could come to recognize the incomparab­le benefits of such proactive action now, plainly revealed later in the next generation, in honest, purposeful lives who responded to it, so vastly contrasted against present Tory philosophy, to punish the children for the sins of their parents?

Sentimenta­lity is no good to anyone, but real, ethical principles, if you can find them, are the bedrock of all human life.

CN Westerman

Brynna

EU playing political games over Brexit

WHILE stock markets across Europe tumble and Italy and Germany fall into recession, the EU continues to play silly political games over Brexit.

The EU knew the DUP would never accept conditions which meant Northern Ireland was treated differentl­y to the rest of the UK, yet, with the tame and stupid acceptance of Mrs May, that is what they have done.

It is hard to understand the Dublin Government’s position.

Fifty per cent of Ireland’s exports come to the UK and hundreds of their lorries trundle across Britain every day bound for the continent.

Any hold-ups in Dover or Calais will seriously effect their imports and exports.

If the EU would stop playing with people’s lives and got rid of this nonsense of an endless backstop, we could have deal which would be good for everyone.

These lovely, sensitive creatures should not be exploited for fun Tom Butler and friends Whitchurch, Cardiff

David Gorton

Rumney, Cardiff

Let’s have another referendum now

DURING the EU referendum, people voted for the sovereignt­y of Parliament.

They voted with the idea that today’s UK was still as powerful has the old British Empire, a Britain that won both world wars, when in fact it was a coalition of countries.

In the second vote the people voted for Theresa May in the snap general election but not in greater numbers to avoid a so called “hard Brexit”.

The EU has said this is the only deal on offer, so the DUP and Brexiteers or Labour will not get a better deal.

So with Parliament unable to get enough votes for any deal then the people should have another vote.

Let’s have a proportion­al representa­tion with the three deals available which are May deal, no deal or no brexit.

Andrew Nutt

Bargoed

Seize the chance, election is coming

I write to you as a proud Welshman living in self-imposed exile in England.

From this position, so removed from the finer details of Welsh politics, I offer a sombre perspectiv­e on the opportunit­ies and challenges which Brexit offers the Cymraeg nation.

The key threat is from a rising English nationalis­m with Westminste­r ever keener to hang on to what is left of its once great if rather unjust Empire.

Thus we can expect no more freedoms from Westminste­r, no further devolution, and independen­ce moves yet further into the realms of dream.

The other key challenge will be economic, which may well be harder

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