Yet more anti-science rhetoric on wood burning (Letters, 11 October). The World Health Organization estimates that every year, worldwide, 4 million people die prematurely as a consequence of burning domestic biomass. Yes, the extra CO2 burden from burning dry wood as compared with gas is not huge, but it is the particulates that kill people – and if they don’t kill you, they exacerbate bronchitis, asthma and other lung ailments. Sometimes I despair of my fellow Guardianistas!
John Freeman
Kingswinford, West Midlands
• Jonathan Hewett’s defence of accepting poor writing skills is flawed (Letters, 7 October). Full stops and commas have a function: pauses, emphasis, nuance, organisation. Having spent many hours marking essays, one aim was to make writing and punctuation enjoyable, not to produce snobs. Have I wasted my life?
Veronica Edwards
Malvern, Worcestershire
• When I woke up to read “Matt Hancock appointed UN special envoy to help Covid recovery in Africa” (Report, 12 October), I thought that I must have slept right through until 1 April next year.
Harry Bower
Rotherham, South Yorkshire
• Your correspondent (Report, 11 October) says: “Bats are New Zealand’s only land based mammals.” Do all the people live in the sea?
Francis Blake
London
• Daniel Trilling (Britain is learning the hard way that migration can’t be turned on or off like a tap, 12 October) quotes the party slogan: “Vote Tory to get a pay rise.” Tell that to the nurses.
Ian Wishart
London
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