'It seems that everyone with a grievance is out on the streets' - Your Letters: August 6

It seems that everyone with a grievance is out on the streets; politicians warning of societal breakdowns are obvious to all.

Financial problems; fighting around the the globe for resources, water and precious minerals, meanwhile the global population increases.

The UK Government increases the population's dependence on it, despite the cuts. Does it feel like we are living in 1938 again on the verge of war; while the sun shines?

Nationalists and internationalists around the world sizing up to each other. Racism, illegal immigration, overcrowded towns and cities, while populations are on the move, crime at an all time high, and strikes. To paraphrase Basil Fawlty in John Cleese's Fawlty Towers "This is exactly how Nazi Germany started. Be careful of what you wish for!

T R Clift, Dudley

DESALINATION IS WAY FORWARD 

The present situation regarding water shortages has been expected for a long time now but of course nothing has been done about it. Now it is being proposed, with taxpayers’ money again, that large areas of land be used to create more reservoirs in addition to those we already have which of course are seriously depleted.

If we are going to be getting hotter temperatures and less rain in the future with which to refill the present supplies how on earth do they expect to fill the new reservoirs once completed. Surely the answer is obvious. We are an island surrounded by water so desalination plants would be no problem at all to build. These could then be used to refill our current reservoirs without the need to dig out large tracts of land for new ones. Goodbye to hosepipe bans.

Robert Waller, Stafford

PUT DOWN THE MOBILE PHONES

It's great that the Government wants to reduce the time that children are using a screen for entertainment, information, company etc.

It will give more time for them to absorb what is around them; the sights, sounds, even the smells. They'll have time to talk face to face with parents, the whole family and friends. They will get to know people, places, how to socialise, share and care. Everyone involved will have a richer life at far less cost. They'll be able to find things to do when the electricity or batteries fail.

We didn't have much, but we never said that we were bored, we didn't have time. We didn't even own a watch, but went with the church clock or even the amount of daylight, people going to and from work, the birds or perhaps most of all our tummies, food being scarce. We really were hungry, when we said so, rather than just wanting a snack. A snack was rare except when we could scrumpfruit or pick berries, but don't touch crab apples, except when changed to jam to last the winter. We even had jam made from marrows.

Come on, put down the mobiles and you find loads to do together if you just relax away from the distractions and make your own fun / time fillers. I can hear the laughter, smell of cooking, "pass to me" etc. There may be more left for a once in a while very special treat, but a picnic and a paddle, catching fish in a jar may reward you move.

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