From missing birds to ragwort warnings - your views

7:46am Thursday 14th August 2008

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Peace event was deeply moving

Last Saturday Keighley peace campaigners remembered the dropping of the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Signatures were collected for a petition calling on the Prime Minister to actively begin processes towards nuclear disarmament. Origami peace cranes were made and given out and some will be sent with the petition.

Despite wet weather, it was felt there was much concern among the passers by in Keighley. The vigil was held inside the Shared Church rather than on the Church Green, with silent reflection, readings and a singing of A Song of Peace, which ends: "O hear my song, thou God of all the nations, a song of peace for their land and for mine." Thanks must be paid to the members of the Shared Church who were so helpful in making this event so deeply moving.

Sylvia Boyes, Keighley Peace, Justice and Environment Network

Missing bird mystery deepens

Like the gentleman from Oakworth, I have also missed the birds over the last three weeks.

I live on Park Lane where there is a good habitat for birds. Having fed them every day, I was amazed to see one day nothing was touched on the bird table; we had always had an abundance of starlings, magpies, wood pigeons, collard doves, robins and, of course, the blue tits and a pair of blackbirds that were regular visitors.

I was told it may be my cats. I have always had cats. Was it because I have changed the garden? No, I couldn't believe that was true. I feel there is something wrong. So where have the birds gone?

The good news is that last Wednesday there was a small flock of long-tailed tits in trees at the bottom of the garden, so that is a bonus.

Hazel Gaddas, Park Lane, Keighley.

The world is in a hole

Like the writer of last week's letter I too have had the same experience, ie lovely garden, lovely surroundings, no birds!

I have never forgotten my history teacher (Mr Clifford Whone) in the 1940s emphasising to the class how vital to the Earth the ozone belt was. I suggest therefore the hole that has appeared in the ozone layer is affecting mother nature.

The world's in hole and can't stop digging.

A Wilkinson Thornhill Avenue, Oakworth

Call to sign Velcade petition

We, The Velcade Three have been successful in arranging a petition which is available on the 10 Downing Street website.

We would very much appreciate you taking a few moments of your time to read and sign this petition and encourage friends and family to follow your example. In doing so you can help both patients and carers achieve our aim of gaining recognition and treatment of this devastating disease.

Our petition reads: We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to make multiple myeloma a government priority. Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, which attacks and destroys bone, damages the immune system and causes renal failure. Myeloma is currently not curable but it is treatable. We call upon the Government to ensure that all myeloma patients get the best care and treatment when their doctor says they need it.

We are Jacky Pickles, Janice Wrigglesworth and Marie Morton, three women from Yorkshire who suffer from multiple myeloma.

Our fight for access to the life-prolonging drug Velcade has been widely reported and we have become known as The Velcade Three.

We ask you to help us raise awareness of myeloma and help patients get the care and treatment they deserve.

To sign the petition go to petitions.pm.gov.uk/myeloma/ or click this link

THE VELCADE THREE

Ben's Olympic hopes

My name is Ben Ambler and I compete in athletics for Bingley Harriers AC, where I am the club record holder in both pole vault and javelin.

At the start of this season I chose to concentrate primarily on the javelin. In my first competition of the year I threw a personal best of 60.25 metres but unfortunately an injury has meant that I haven't been able to improve this mark so far this year.

However, I am still ranked fifth in the UK rankings for my age group and have been selected for the home international on August 10.

My aim for the remaining part of the season is to break into the top two in the rankings and to reach the 70 metre mark, which my coach (Wilf Paish) believes is very possible. This mark would put me in a good position to be selected for the Great Britain team. My long term plans are to achieve the qualifying mark for the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and then the Olympics in 2012. Last year I won the Yorkshire championships, came fifth in the national championships and finished sixth in the rankings.

The reason for my writing is to find out if anyone would be willing to sponsor me. If you do choose to sponsor me, the money would be put towards travel, training and physiotherapy expenses and also to buy much needed competition and training equipment.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ben Ambler The Cottage, Denholme House Farm, Halifax Road, Denholme benambler@hotmail.co.uk

Toddle Waddle thanks

I am writing on behalf of the Meningitis Trust to thank everyone from Yorkshire who held, or took part in a Toddle Waddle fundraising event for us - making our 21st anniversary Toddle Waddle one to remember.

Steve Williams Event Organiser, The Meningitis Trust meningitis-trust.org

Beware of yellow peril

The RSPCA wants to remind horse and livestock owners of the dangers of ragwort.

Dry weather can result in a shortage of grass and horses and cattle may feed on whatever weeds are in their fields ,such as ragwort, otherwise known as "yellow peril". There is also a greater risk of animals eating this highly toxic weed towards the end of summer as pastures die out or when it is mistakenly dried in hay.

This tall yellow-flowering weed causes irreversible damage to the liver, resulting in an extremely painful death for horses and livestock. Animals may lose weight and condition, suffer depression, loss of appetite, constipation, sunburn and jaundice. In many cases, it can be fatal.

Ragwort is a perennial weed and it needs to be dealt with every year so we are urging landowners to rid their fields and verges of this plant. Getting rid of this weed is the only effective way of preventing animals becoming ill and, in the worst cases, death. Ideally, the plant should not be allowed to seed, as each plant can produce thousands of seeds. It is irresponsible of animal owners to allow it to grow in their fields due to the life-threatening dangers it poses.

DAVID MILLARD RSPCA Superintendent for the North Region.

Photo courtesy RSPCA