Tag: letters

Letters: Thanking People’s Postcode Lottery players

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their continued support as Cats Protection enters its third year of funding.

During these challenging times, Cats Protection is working flat out to keep caring for cats and the wonderful support we receive from players has never been more appreciated.

People’s Postcode Lottery players have helped us find loving new homes for thousands of cats by supporting essential cat care assistant and volunteer team leaders roles at our centres across England, Scotland and Wales, and funding our two cat behaviour posts (specialists who provide advice and support to our centres and branches). In addition, 10,000 microchips have been provided to our centres, helping to ensure that cats leave our care with a safe and permanent means of identification.

Over the coming year, players will also be supporting our important advocacy work, helping us create a better world for cats via campaigns such as Purrfect Landlords and Microchips Reunite, as well as helping to cover the overall costs of looking after cats at our centres.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the work of Cats Protection, or needing cat related advice, can visit www.cats.org.uk

Kind regards,

James Yeates
Chief Executive, Cats Protection

Letters: This Is Not Living

Dear Editor

Over seventy years ago the people of the UK decided the NHS was a necessary public service to be owned by the public and to be publicly funded.

Many struggles tok place to maintain this principle. Today, people take great pride in this social way of organisation. We owe a great debt to all those past and present who foresee the future.

From January to May 2020 the population has taken a hammering from the coronavirus.

In order for people to ‘stay at home’ and not go to work unless they were key workers, a Government scheme was launched to pay companies money for up to 60 – 80% of their employees wages. At best this was approximately a 25% reduction in income for most people.

As we know the kindness and generosity to others has been amazing, as with the recent recalling of the end of World War II, when the prevailing mood at that time in 1945 was that we, the people, will make changes in how our things are run and organised for the benefit of all.

Today, the people are are realising that the kind of society that has been created over this past century is a massive apology for living.

The daily chase to work on packed buses,trams and railways or packed in traffic jams of thousands – whatever transport is used, it eats up eveyone’s time, pollutes the air and dmages the climate. This is not living. There must be changes.

More and more people whilst having to deal with the coronavirus have also been aware that things have to change, making our lives more in harmony with the world and not in the interests of money makers and investors.

People have seen that investors control which industries operate, whom they employ and under what conditions – be that full time working, flexi work or zero hour contracts – all of these are decided by the companies.

Wealthy investors’ ownership of major parts of the economy as ‘theirs’ cannot be justified in any way.

As happened with the formation of the NHS, rail buses and trams must be brought into public ownership. Now people are recognising how indispensible the NHS is, so too are rail, buses and trams – they are an essential part of normal society, not an investment for greedy individuals.

During this lockdown major lessons have been understood, people appreciating a calmer environment with less traffic, cleaner air and being able to hear the birds sing.

Major changes have been taking place in our daily lives. At this moment in time working people are in great danger, even worse than the last six years of austerity.

Even the subsidy to wages that the government borrowed for the employers to hand out will be clawed back from the working people: in taxes, longer hours, cuts in services and raised prices.

These same working people will ‘pay back’ the investors and gamblers, banks and city corporations who will fight with all their guile and strength to recoup every penny of their wealth – and continue to amass fortunes and control the lives of the population.

Tony Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

 

Letter: Social distancing difficulties

 

Dear Editor

With social distancing now part of everyday life it is important to highlight that not everyone can maintain the required distance as easily as others.

People who are blind and partially sighted can struggle to know when they are getting closer to someone, or if someone is approaching them. And guide dogs, of course, aren’t trained to help in this regard.

There have been occasions when individuals have been aggressively berated for coming in to too close proximity to others, when the reality is they simply weren’t aware of it.

In such uncertain times, tensions over distancing can rise. But we would ask that if you feel someone seems to be ignoring the restrictions, consider for a moment whether that person, rather than being careless, might not be able to fully see you.

Thousands of people in Scotland are living with a degree of sight loss. Please be aware that some people do need just a little extra thought.

James Adams

Director

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland

12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh

Letters: Austerity – Never Again!

Dear Editor

When the banks crashed through mismanagement and greed most were bailed out by the government, using public money to do so.

People were told that everyone was ‘in it together’.

But as we know from thise years, the government embarked onn what they called Austerity, in whih wages were frozen for years; prices were rising; major cuts were made in services of all kinds;unemployment and zero hours contracts grew.

The years of tremendous sacrifices made by the people in their lives have now been forgotten by employers and government alike.

In fact there is an indication that both of these are preparing the repeat of austerity, more severe than the last – and that will last much longer.

The people must not allow this to happen again!

The investors and financial institutions are intent to make everyone pay and once again decimate the lives of all people.

Tony Delahoy

 

Letters: Covid-19 and the potential risk of increase in M.E.

Dear Editor

As the nation gets to grips with containing the Coronavirus pandemic, attention must be given to the possible impact on long-term health.

Some of your readers will have personal experience – or know someone who has – of the serious neurological condition, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), or seen stories being shared to mark May’s M.E. Awareness Month.

We know that many of 250,000 men, women and children in the UK with M.E. became ill following an infection or virus. This means we face the possibility, being raised by our medical advisors, researchers we work with and international experts, of a spike in post-Covid illnesses – including M.E.

Already some people who have contracted Covid-19 are reporting lingering dizziness, nausea and crippling fatigue – all common symptoms of M.E.

We know that it is sensible for anyone with a virus to take proper time to recover. They should not push themselves, but instead listen to their body and rest as much as needed, to give themselves the best chance of making a full recovery.

Action must now be taken to investigate the long-term post-viral effects of Covid-19, and put appropriate support in place for those whose health is affected beyond initial viral infection.

To those reading this who already live with M.E., we know that living under “lockdown” thanks to chronic and often disabling symptoms is nothing new.

Action for M.E.’s Crisis, Advocacy and Support Service can help source practical local assistance, and advocate for health and social care needs, as well as offering comprehensive information and support to manage M.E.

Please call on 0117 927 9551 or email questions@actionforme.org.uk and we will do what we can.

Sonya Chowdhury

Chief Executive, Action for M.E.

Letters: Public services more vital than ever

Dear Editor

The National Health Service has always been valued as a people’s organisation. This value has always been appreciated – but never more so than today.

This lesson on the importance of people’s services shows the way our society must be run. If the NHS is vital, so are gas, electricity and water. As are the railways, buses and trams. Make them public services, too – serving the people.

The value of the NHS to the people is immense: a publicly funded service, available ever day.

Also ever day, 30 million people travel to and from their places of work using rail, bus and tram.

Work, in order to live, is a necessity. These transport industries must also become part of a fully funded, publically owned service with the NHS. It can be arranged and organised as a public service.

The NHS has been our lifeline. People have always guarded the principle of a service of the people.

How right that is!

Tony Delahoy 

The 75th Commemoration of VE Day, 8th May 2020

Dear Editor,

I hope my words will be printed to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.

As a D-Day veteran of WW2 I felt – and still feel – we all must protect peace for all and co-operation between nations.

Tony Delahoy

In May 1945 the longed-for Peace came to Europe.

The joy, happiness,relief and sadness overtook Europe.

From that date there was a determination that the people of Europe co-operate in building an organisation to represent all peoples.

An agreement was reached on the formation of the United Nations, at which issues and policies could be agreed.

As a worldwide organisation a tremendous amount was done ro help people.

The formation of a European organisation became necessary to solve problems that were arising. The European Union has followed and developed this spirit of co-operation.

The greatest achievement of the EU is that Europe is, and has remained for decades, united in peace.

The people of Europe will defend the peace they have created.

Tony Delahoy

 

Letter: Scandalous

Dear Editor,

It looks like our so-called leaders are making a right fool of themselves and our country at a time when they should be dealing with this pandemic effectively. 

Matt Hancock the Health Secretary stated that the public doesnt need to wear masks and should leave them for the NHS staff.

Firstly, its absolutely appalling how this government has failed to respond to this pandemic and are now busy showcasing themselves and pointing the finger at the public who are just trying to keep themselves safe.

Secondly, most of the masks the public are wearing aren’t even fit for purpose for our health workers as they are purchased online on Ebay etc so are you saying this is what our frontline staff should be wearing? If so, this is s shameful suggestion.

The British government has proven itself to be one of the least well prepared of all global governments in dealing with this disease and protecting its people.

This government’s inaction and austerity policy have caused a shortage of face masks and protective for the NHS, so stop blaming the public and get your acts together before its too late.

And the Home Secretary Priti Patel finds it hard to apologise for these failings and thinks this is ok and can be ‘expected because of the situation’.

Stop the deception and do something for the people who are dying instead of bluffing your way through the questions as this is real life and real lives being lost.

These so called “low skilled” migrants who are fighting for this country: whats your contribution?

We want action that works.

 

Foysol Choudhury MBE

Chairman, Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council

 

Letters: Thanks,NEN

Dear Editor
May I say the social importance of NEN keeping in contact with the community is so helpful. With the isolation being felt by so many having a negative effect.
When this awful plague is over the community must come together and Public Services are an absolute priority for all Councils everywhere, fully funded and protected.
Tony
Tony Delahoy 
(by email)

Letters: Our NHS

Our NHS is under extraordinary pressure and strain and I implore our government and people to help support our front line staff. 
The front line workers are the only people who have to treat people infected with this virus on a personal level. The rest of us just have to stay two metres apart or at home.
We know that our front line staff do not have the protective facilities they need. It is wrong that they have to work in danger and compromise their health and safety while serving the public.
Therefore, I am pleading to the government to ensure our front line staff whether nurses, doctors, police or care workers, have protective masks, clothing and have access to testing kits.
We have seen in Italy and Spain the difficulties that staff have faced and many have lost their lives. This must not happen here, so please protect our front line staff and make sure they have the facilities they need to survive and do the invaluable work they are doing for the public.
#protectthefrontlinestaff
#coronavirus
Foysol Choudhury MBE
Chairman: Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council | Chairman: Bangladesh Samity Edinburgh. | Founder / Director: Edinburgh Mela. | President: The Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs, Scotland. | General Secretary: Council of Bangladeshis in Scotland.