Wind farms would ruin views of the Tor

Recently several of the "broadsheets" have carried articles on the professional view that wind farms, in the UK, are not cost effective as working businesses but are being built regardless of local or surrounding landscapes, due to large subsidises.

This makes one realise that this may well be the case in point, at the planned wind farms at East and West Huntspill in Somerset Levels.

Any traveller who has taken the A39, from Junction 23, off the M5 will have followed an ancient pilgrims route from early times.

The excellent view of Glastonbury Tor to your right is complimented by turning through 180 degrees, enjoying a classic view of the Vale of Avalon and the Somerset Levels, before being dominated by the presence of Brent Knoll, equally as ancient and mythical as the Tor, and the Bristol Channel coastline, with the Welsh coast in the distance.

Now if they have their way, wind farm developers will blight this, for at least the next 30 years, not for proven gains ecologically or sustainability, but for pure financial gain in their own investment.

Life in Gaza is one of sheer desperation

Today is the third anniversary of Israel's imposition of a blockade on its border with Gaza.

All eyes have been on the troubled territory in the past two weeks as humanitarian aid boats tried to break through the blockade. Yet how many of us are really aware of the sheer desperation of life in Gaza?

Over the past three years, since the start of the Israeli blockade, things have gone from bad to worse. During the same period, no exports have been allowed out of the country. So it is hardly surprising that the people there are in dire need of sufficient supplies.

Before the blockade, Gaza had a farming sector producing 400,000 tonnes of produce a year. A third of this was exported, providing valuable income for the 1.5 million inhabitants to buy life's essentials.

Even after the blockade started, many continued farming, but in December 2008, Operation Cast Lead left widespread destruction in its wake. Tanks and other military vehicles demolished 17 per cent of Gaza's cultivated land. Greenhouses, livestock shelters, irrigation channels, wells and pumps were bombed or bulldozed on a huge scale.

Wrecked buildings and vast expanses of rubble still litter the Gaza Strip. 17 months on, three-quarters of the damage and destruction caused to civilian infrastructure has still not been repaired or reconstructed. Four out of five Gazans are now dependent on aid.

We are supporters of Oxfam, who have been working in Gaza for 30 years. Oxfam programmes include providing cash for work, promoting hygiene and healthy living among young children, providing clean water and running food voucher projects to provide locally-grown fresh produce to poor families. It is heartening to know that at least some families get help.

The blockade of Gaza has widely been condemned as collective punishment, which is illegal under international law. It is time to lift the blockade and allow the people of Gaza to recover and to earn their own living. Aid such as construction materials and medical supplies are desperately needed.

The UK Government could call for an emergency international conference to lift the blockade of Gaza, allowing the free movement of people, humanitarian aid and commercial goods. If readers agree, please text LIFT to 70066 and write to our newly-elected MPs to show support for bold government action. There is a lot more information at www.oxfam.org.uk.

How do I protect my children from foxes?

Having been a long time supporter of animal welfare and in particular anti- hunting groups I wrote in last week voicing my concern I had been misled by the narrative falsely given to the general public following the attack on two sleeping babies by a fox in an urban apartment by these groups.

Although I had been a fervent supporter over the past year I had become disillusioned by the content of several letters posted by, or on behalf of these groups, in this newspaper running up to the election that had either contained seriously misleading information or were untruths.

Yet again yesterday I read with some disbelief the letter from Helen Weeks in which she tried to mislead the public into believing that the fox attack on the two babies was only alleged and therefore by inference had not been proven. She then went on to say that this was a rare incident and was more prevalent in domestic pets than foxes and questioned why there had been an inappropriate call for an urban fox cull.

Has she not realised that an incident of this nature concerning a domestic animal prompted the government to instigate the dangerous dogs act and that any dog concerned in a similar situation is automatically put down.

Clearly in intimating that this was only "an alleged fox attack" she was questioning the mothers integrity. I hate to think how much concern and angst this will have caused.

Within the same letter she suggests that guns should be removed from public ownership and yet she is clearly aware that with the demise of hunting shooting is the only legal way of controlling foxes and is preferred although not supported by the League Against Cruel Sports. In the light of this attack, are the animal rights and anti- hunting groups suggesting foxes should not be controlled by any means, leaving my children open to this sort of attack?

What is Tessa's view on TB badger cull

As Tessa Munt continues her Lembit Opik-style of publicity campaign, I am sure that her support for local farmers will be welcomed.

In Somerset, our farmers produce high quality food and maintain and enhance our greatest asset, our countryside.

It would have been a disgrace if one of Somerset's MPs was not supportive of the agricultural industry. As I and those close to farming know, bovine tuberculosis has a massive impact on the operation and profitability of farms and can place huge emotional pressures on our farmers.

It is a surprise, therefore, that Ms Munt has been quiet on this issue. I am sure the farming industry would be more receptive to her words if she was willing to indicate that she supports the issue of TB being tackled, including the cull of the infected badger population. That would be an indication that she considers her job to be more than fine words and obtaining maximum publicity.

Of the political parties, I suspect our local farmers recognise it is the Conservative Party that has continually shown support at a national and local level through actions as well as words and is committed to tackling TB, overhauling regulation, better food labelling, local sourcing of food for local authorities and an independent supermarket ombudsman.