SIR, – In response to your story (January 6) headed “Alcohol clinics ‘don’t work’”, I would like to make the following points.
We agree that it is very important to educate children about the dangers of alcohol, and we can reassure you this is happening in Skye.
However, it should not be seen as an alternative to the newly-opened detoxification clinics, which provide services for people who are already dependent on alcohol.
Withdrawing from alcohol is never easy and attending a clinic as an outpatient on a daily basis requires more motivation and more commitment than being treated after admission to hospital. It is definitely not a “soft-touch” approach.
Methadone is not used to treat alcohol addiction and I am not aware of anyone who is dependent on alcohol taking methadone as an alcohol substitute.
The 2% success rate quoted for people attending alcohol detoxification clinics is not a figure we recognise.
Following recent publicity of the new clinics, in the Press and Journal and other media, there has been a marked increase in the number of people referring themselves for treatment and we are pleased to see people taking this positive step.
Neil Turner,
alcohol liaison nurse for Skye and Lochalsh,
Tigh An Oisean,
Portree,
Skye.
SIR, – I write with reference to Stephen Hadden’s letter (the Press and Journal, January 5) regarding Israel’s action in Gaza. He surmises that Hamas simply terrorised Israel for several months with unremitting rocket attacks, but didn’t actually kill many innocents. Israel, however, overreacted trying to protect her citizens and silence the terror. He states this is ethnic cleansing by Israel (a ludicrous notion).
Annie Lennox and others have also been very vocal in their condemnation of Israel.
Why the backlash against Israel for protecting her sovereignty and her citizens? If any other nation does so, then this seems to be acceptable.
Indeed, the 1982 Falklands conflict was for the sake of sovereignty over little-known islands, resulting in 258 British and 649 Argentine deaths.
Many conflicts have been initiated with little justification, resulting in considerably more deaths than in Gaza. Were the same self-righteous anti-Israel voices raised with equal indignation?
September 11, 2001: At least 716,760 killed in Afghanistan and Iraq since the US and the UK spearheaded attacks.
1993: Burundi civil war marked by ethnic violence, hundreds of thousands killed.
1992: Bosnian War. Estimated 100,000-110,000 killed.
What of Zimbabwe? A brutal tyrant has massacred many thousands of innocent people.
The silence is deafening.
Kenneth Roberts,
5 Baillieswells Place,
Bieldside,
Aberdeen.
SIR, – After reading Geoff Smith’s letter (the Press and Journal, January 5) regarding a potential bonspiel, I have only one question for him: “What are you waiting for?"
Since when did we (anyone living under the umbrella of the Cairngorms National Park Authority) have to ask permission to go curling?
I would like to think that the reason behind the decline of the bonspiel is the lack of some really bad weather and nothing at all to do with the PC brigade or some jobsworth who is still wet behind the ears.
If anyone or any organisation cancels any of our traditional events or pastimes through the fear of incurring the wrath of some petty bureaucrat, then I say “shame on you".
Get on your phone, e-mail, smoke signals or whatever it takes, Mr Smith, and get your 199 like-minded people on to the ice while you have the opportunity, and if anyone tries to stop you, tell them to “go where it never freezes over".
Stewart Archibald,
Greenbank,
Glenmuick,
Ballater.
SIR, – I write in response to A.E. McKenzie’s letter (the Press and Journal, January 6) regarding noise from fireworks.
I am a senior citizen who went to bed before the new year came in and I was awakened at midnight by fireworks.
I just sat up in bed and enjoyed the show, which lasted about 20 minutes.
After all, it is an annual event, not a weekly one, so I don't see what A.E. McKenzie has to complain about. He or she must be a very miserable person if they can't abide to see other people enjoying themselves.
M. Grant,
Kellands Road,
Inverurie.
SIR, – I write with reference to your edition of January 3 in which you printed, on Page 14, a picture of the destruction of a Hamas militant’s house.
Opposite, on Page 15, you had a half-page advert with the heading “Wherever you want to be there’s a Tulloch home waiting for you”.
Was this a sample of today’s “targeting” advertising?
P.J. McKinlay,
Hillsview,
Berstane Road,
Kirkwall.