Our nation is on the attack, with USA/Israel

Our nation, I think is attacking Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank by failing to be outspoken in explaining to USA and Israel that their behaviour is totally unacceptable. There should also be BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) imposed where practical and possible. And, certainly no more iniquitous arms trading. Keep our weapons to ourselves. The popular arms trade is as wicked as 300 years of the British slave trade.

"Funding murderous wars", says Mick Freer

You wrote that we must stop funding murderous wars. How right you are. But we have taken an active part, alongside the USA in attacking Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, less active against Gaza, Judea, Samaria, Lebanon - and now Iran with English airfields used by USAF. My nation's values are rotten to the core, setting a very bad example for other nations to also be aggressive! Keep up your sterling work Mick and best wishes.USA in attacking Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, less active against Gaza, Judea, Samaria, Lebanon - and now Iran with English airfields used by USAF. My nation's values

to Mick Freer

Dear Mick

For me, and this is all about my survival instinct to help slow human caused climate change and resource depletion, it would be a wise move to begin the long transition towards using our local countryside for locally produced food; and, to grow renewable, zero carbon timber instead of catastrophic and finite fossil fuels. For me, this is the most important argument to slow the incessant process of concrete, brick and tarmac poured over fertile soil that, one day, we may be desperate for. For the politicians' goal of 2 or 3% economic greed every year on a finite planet that ain't so greedy as us lot, how about this, below? The Enterprise Zone would be better created, either on the land at Moor Street, Brierley Hill (the site of the former Brierley Hill Steel Terminal) or, north of Pensnett High Street. I am asking (a futile and ignored request) for Moor Street to be the site for the Very Light Rail (VLR) project and Innovation Centre and, for the test track to use the branch line to the cleared land north of Pensnett High Street. This would then allow the 13 miles mainline Black Country Line (with reinstated extension to Lichfield) to be reopened, once more, for local and ICE (inter city express) trains on both tracks, However, our councillors (except wonderful Will) and transport officials want only one mile and one track to be used to shuttle passengers to the ICE line in the neighbouring borough of Sandwell. The other track is to be a test track for VLR. The Black Country has its own, unused ICE line but doesn't realise it! We have two brown field enterprise zones but don't realise it! Unless we use them, we continue to worsen all our road and rail congestion problems. We also fuel the cry for more motorways to give us land next to them for growth/greed from the take, make and throw away life styles that has made us all so rich. Rich from relentless industrialism and finite resource exploitation that one day must come to an end. Living more simply and constructively so that others may simply live. And, prioritising land use and transport projects. What do you think? Tim Weller

Legal and illegal immigration

Under the Refugee Convention of 1951, I don't think there is any such thing.  Fear of persecution or death in war is sufficient reason to flee to the first safe country - and, by any means.

Nowadays, such is the scale of OUR wars and the vast sale of our UK manufactured weapons which get used throughout the world to kill and maim, it is hardly fair for the first safe country to take the lot.

Those we have turned into refugees or, to begin with those seeking asylum or safety from us lot of renegades, need to be fairly taken in by all the Judeo-Christian nations.  After all, these nations are the most responsible for the horrors being fled from.

I heard on Radio 4, many years ago, that the EU has come up with a formula based on numbers already taken, area of habitable land available and other criteria.  The desperate who are fleeing need to be shared out as fairly as possible amongst us all.  Thus, safe and legal routes are needed.  And, us entitled lot, wanting the lot and ever more from ever less, need to be less demanding of ever increasing economic growth and wealth just for ourselves.

In addition, of course, we in the West are the most responsible for Climate discomfort, too.  By virtue of our prodigious burning of finite fossil fuels which give us our wealth and high standard of living but, the consequences of which we are now seeing.

Premier Christian News - my comment

"Sir Keir told MPs the government “does not believe in regime change from the skies", stressing that initial permission to join US-Israeli strikes was refused because there needed to be a lawful basis and a viable, achievable plan. He said the UK only later allowed use of bases for defensive strikes after Iranian missiles and drones targeted Gulf allies and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus."

SELF: Defensive strikes are revenge strikes for our sides illegal and indefensible war on Iran.  Our aggression provoked the legal defensive strikes by Iran on our side for starting this totally unacceptable war of aggression on Iran.

"Meanwhile, Christians have been praying and celebrating after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."

to Corinne

Dear Corinne - and copied to Linda

Thanks for the email after we sent you our birthday wishes.

Is it tomorrow that you have the Femmes TdF Grand Depart from your beautiful Lausanne?  I think the men are due to come to Edinburgh in '27 for the Grand Depart.  Is that right?  But what about the heat?  We had mid 30s in June and this weekend in Halesowen it is mid 20s but is due to rise next week.  What were/are your figures in Zurich?

Linda cycles to and from church, as I do.  I cycle locally and occasionally into Birmingham for a meeting.  But they are fewer now.  We must have a longer cycle ride, soon - up Uffmoor Lane (with the short but steep huff and puff near the top).  But I'm 78 and Linda is 71 but we are still very fit.  I'm still going up to Scotland in April and October to visit more summit cairns.  I managed seven on four consecutive days of high pressure in April this year with the help of the invaluable mountain bike (29" wheel makes it faster over the stoney tracks but the bike is heavier, of course).  I then had two shorter, lower walking days before returning via my favourite, luxurious Westmorland Hotel in Cumbria as my reward for six nights sleeping in the car and washing in lovely remote mountain streams!

I'm doing lots of shorter walks in our beautiful countryside of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, South Staffordshire and clearing the overgrowth blocking stiles and gates.  I'm now realising there are so many stunning places we never took you to!  But Switzerland easily beats England, of course!

Out of our two, Becky is definitely more active on bike and running than Jonathan.  She has had a couple of bikepacking ventures with Anita, an old university friend, in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park.  Both Becky and Jon have two youngsters and Linda is quite magnificent at helping out with our four grandchildren.

She is at a weekend Christian conference until Sunday afternoon.  I'm doing much guerrilla gardening at Frankley Services Northbound on the M5 to beautify the lorry park and branching out into colourful flowers at home, as well as at my main guerrilla garden - called Ben's Wood.  There, last year, they put up an enormous high metal fence but I'm simply growing climbing plants up it - Virginia Creeper, evergreen Honeysuckle and Russian Vine with flowers along the bottom!

At Merry Hill Shopping Centre, the canal embankment is used for the tram and threatens my guerrilla garden with more destruction when they build the final stage - unless I can stop them!

Becky and Tim are also keen followers of the Tour, as I will be this year with Irish born Ben Healy, but living in Stourbridge, racing.  But how will they all get on with the next heat dome?