In response to Benjamin Barber’s article on putting cities in charge of climate change (Opinion, 8 May), while I agree that current government attempts are ineffective, and Oslo, the example city, has worked effectively to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions, I think putting less affluent cities in charge would have a different outcome.
Kate McWilliams
Newcastle upon Tyne
• One solution to the question of retesting older drivers (Letters, 3 May) would be to require them to resit the theory test. This has the advantage that it requires up-to-date knowledge of road signs and there is also a reaction time test. As so much is constantly changing on the roads today this ought perhaps to be mandatory for drivers of all ages every few years.
Jenny Page
Sidmouth, Devon
• Richard Dawkins would prefer TV subtitles to interpreters when French speeches are broadcast (Letters, 6 May). Unfortunately the BBC at least seems to have a rule that no subtitle should be left on the screen long enough for anyone to read it. Until that changes, I’ll vote for interpreters.
Chris Birch
London
• Sue Trowbridge (Letters, 5 May) writes about Swedish naming convention for grandparents. It is even more clear cut on the Indian subcontinent: a father’s father is Dada, a father’s mother is Dadi. Similarly, a mother’s parents are Nana and Nani. A father’s brother is Chacha, and his wife is Chachi; a mother’s brother is Mamoo, his wife is Mami.
San Cassimally
Edinburgh
• When my father died in January my five-year-old nephew lamented that he now had no grandfathers left. At least, he consoled himself, he had a spare grandma. My mother and the other one are now fretting over which of them is only for use in emergencies.
Richard Jeffcoat
Birmingham
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