Letters: Social equality

I am sorry because I am ashamed of not doing enough to help

Sir: Tony Blair is right not to say we are sorry. It would be hypocritical to say so when his government (and probably the wider public) don't feel truly sorry at all. It would just be words, like the words of regret at the invitation-only church services held over the weekend which continued the practice of social exclusion that mitigates oppression of "the other".

I am sorry. I do wish to apologise for the actions of my ancestors and the continuing shameful actions of my contemporaries in not doing enough to create a world free of oppression. I am ashamed of our continuing economic dependence on exploiting the poor while subsidising the rich. I am ashamed of my country's massive support for the arms trade and the pride it takes in the "defence industry". I wish I could do more than support and contribute to organisations such as the UNA, Amnesty International, Peace Direct, CND and a great many others working towards a better future for all.

Above all, I wish I had a real choice of political party, one which stood for this better future and truly wanted to continue the tradition that Wilberforce represented, of leading social change against overwhelming economic argument to the contrary.

RICHARD DRAKE

BRISTOL

Sir: All this talk about contrition, apologies, reparations, cruelty and subjugation, prejudice and discrimination makes me wonder if church and state will ever admit culpability, apologise, and make reparations for centuries of subjugation and prejudice that results in so much discrimination, hatred, and violence against women.

The church prevented women's education until relatively modern, more secular times. It prevented their participation in the professions, in government, public affairs and political decision-making, and kept them economically dependent, many in poverty.

These attitudes still affect millions of women as they struggle for equal pay and pensions, and family and child support that do not depend on men supposedly responsible for them and their children. And worse, violence is the ever-present background to the lives of millions women all over the world, including Britain.

SUE MAYER

BERRY'S GREEN, KENT

These are dire days for young doctors

Sir: Great concern has been expressed recently about the new application process for junior doctors to enter specialty training. Up to 8,000 doctors face the prospect of unemployment after August 2007. Even for those doctors who are successful, there are potential problems.

Junior doctors are at a stage in their lives when they are forming permanent relationships or already have families. We have heard recently of a London medical student whose husband has been short-listed for only one job, which is in Birmingham. Should he be successful, the couple face two years apart.

We also know of a junior doctor applying for a job on a "London rotation" who could end up in Bognor Regis. How is this compatible with maintaining a satisfactory relationship, unless her partner also happens to have a job near Bognor Regis? These stories are repeated all over the country and are causing anguish and distress to countless junior doctors.

The Medical Women's Federation, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, would like to ensure that, in the review of the application process for the second round of interviews, the personal circumstances of the doctors are taken into account. Many doctors marry other doctors, and it is unacceptable that couples are forced to be separated for several years because of deficiencies in the application process.

DR CLARISSA FABRE

HONORARY SECRETARY, MEDICAL WOMEN'S FEDERATION, LONDON WC1

Sir: Morris Brown and his colleagues should be respected for their view that the present selection process must be abandoned (letter, 17 March); the alternative suggested - that 50 per cent of posts will be kept vacant for a validated second round of appointments - is too kind to the architects of the Medical Training Application Service.

It is illogical to allow the first 50 per cent of posts to be filled by a system which has completely failed to live up to a stated objective of being "fair and transparent". That the Department of Health and Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) group acknowledged sufficient failings to warrant an "independent" enquiry, and to state that significant changes would be needed before round two, surely suggests that it can not be intellectually correct, or morally justifiable, to pursue a round one so riddled with flaws.

The desperation of the administrators of the medical establishment (the deaneries, and even the Medical Royal Colleges) to force this round to continue are such that very thinly veiled threats are being issued to some consultants in an effort to stop them from heeding their conscience and withdrawing from interviewing. Last week, 10,000 doctors - consultants and juniors - marched in central London in protest at these changes. Their protest is not simply about the lack of validity, fairness and transparency of the MTAS process; it is about the dumbing down of the medical profession to suit political whim.

It is obvious to all doctors that shortened training (approximately 7,000 hours vs 34,000 hours) between graduation and "completion of training" will produce less-experienced and less-able doctors. Medicine is, and always has been, a skilled and challenging apprenticeship.

It is equally obvious that introducing a recruitment system that is so flawed it has been likened to a lottery is likely to drive experienced junior staff to look overseas for the training opportunities that are denied them in the UK. I doubt that they will return to take up sub-consultant posts in a dumbed-down, demoralised and run-down NHS.

The damage being done by the rushed and ruthless introduction of MMC, despite increasingly obvious and severe failings, is irreparable.

If the Government truly wants a great health service, they have to halt the MTAS process immediately, before we lose 8,000 qualified and experienced doctors to the Antipodes or alternative careers.

SARAH SPENCER

CONSULTANT IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE.PONTYCLUN, SOUTH WALES

Sir: The new application arrangements for junior doctors have caused deep distress. But there is a wider context. Other professionals have had to be flexible and mobile for years.

I was not always a parish priest. Nearly 40 years ago, I began to sink all my energies into long and difficult preparation for a different, highly specialised and not very remunerative career. I accepted, as we all had to accept, that the odds were against it. We took the chance because we believed in what we were doing. If it paid off, we rejoiced. If it didn't, we swallowed our disappointment and went to do something different. Medical staff may like to consider two further things. First, golden roads seem to be things of the past for professionals everywhere, especially where public money is concerned. Second, and perhaps more importantly, medical staff have no monopoly of long hours, heavy burdens and concerns about their career; or even of life and death decisions.

There are many ways of serving humanity. In realising this, they will find themselves in good and supportive company.

THE REV DR JOHN THEWLIS

CARSHALTON, SURREY

Ban Zimbabwe from international sports

Sir: For almost a week now, the airways have been buzzing with speculation over the unfortunate death of Bob Woolmer. There is no doubting, given the blanket media coverage of the case, that his demise has cast a long shadow over the cricket World Cup.

But the competition was already tarnished by the participation of a team from Zimbabwe. What planet are the organisers of the event inhabiting, obviously a different one from the rest of? It is astonishing that a team representing Zimbabwe should be allowed to compete in this prestigious event.

Yet the real scandal is that while the presence of this pariah nation has been universally ignored, the international media has gone completely overboard on the Woolmer case.

The only conclusion to be drawn from this is that, according to the media, the death of one white man is far more important than the suffering and deaths of thousands of Zimbabweans under the brutal Mugabe regime.

What message must this be sending to Robert Mugabe? That his murderous regime can continue its brutal oppression with impunity? Zimbabwe should be banned from all international sporting events, just as apartheid South Africa was.

DAVID CALLAGHAN

HULL

Keeping an official eye on the banks

Sir: I am writing to refute the suggestion in your article "This may be one windfall to reject" (17 March), that we failed to protect customers, after our investigation into the way banks disposed of customers' personal information.

It is up to the banks to protect their customers' personal information. After a thorough investigation, we found 11 banks had breached the Data Protection Act by leaving customers' personal information outside their premises. It is wholly unacceptable for banks and other organisations to carelessly discard sensitive financial information and other personal details.

We do not have the power to fine organisations when they breach the Act, but we have made full use of the powers open to us. Every organisation involved has signed a formal written undertaking which requires future compliance with the law. If the banks fail to handle personal information securely, they not only risk further action from the Information Commissioner, which could ultimately lead to a prosecution, but also risk losing the trust of their customers.

We will also be visiting all the banks involved to review the way they deal with confidential waste. We will ensure they have the correct security procedures in place and staff are adhering to them.

DAVID SMITH

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, WILMSLOW, CHESHIRE

Double standards for Tony Blair

Sir: Tony Blair describes the kidnapping and detention of UK forces personnel as "unacceptable, wrong and illegal" which, of course, is correct. Unfortunately, this is also the description which has been applied almost universally to his own behaviour concerning the invasion of Iraq, and especially in much of the Arab world.

If, as he says, his primary concern is the safe return of the 15 servicemen and servicewoman, he might do better to lay down his megaphone, remain silent and leave the negotiations to those better qualified for the task.

PETER COGHLAN

BROADSTONE, DORSET

Sir: By presenting a female sailor as a special case you provide ammunition to those who opposed the entry of women into the Armed Forces (article, 28 March). It was precisely the point about our reactions to captured women that the establishment used to try to prevent equality in the services.

Why is it more newsworthy when a female is captured? Is her life more valuable than the 14 male colleagues? And do male sailors not "miss their little girls growing up every day"?

TONY JACKSON

LONDON SW12

Still a saving

Sir: David Beakhurst does some complicated maths to try to show dimmers are wasteful (letter, 27 March). His conclusion is that to get "half-brightness", a dimmed light bulb uses 44 per cent of its full power consumption. This is still a 56 per cent saving on full power, which is the alternative if we are not to sit in the dark.

SIMON JONES

WEST WALES

Silence of the MPs

Sir: The silence from our elected politicians on the continuing awful conflict of Iraq is astonishing. Where are the protests from our elected MPs? Tony Blair's quest for a legacy is extinguishing the Labour Party. Where are the debates, discussions and meetings? Our foreign policy has been neutered with the ascendancy of President Blair. It seems only national newspapers are providing insight, answers and opposition to the Government. There is an urgent need for a solution that either leads to more involvement or total withdrawal from Iraq.

JON WILLIAMS

COAL ASTON, DERBYSHIRE

Save our hares

Sir: It seems British brown hares will soon be extinct ("Open season on Britain's hares", 26 March). There are arguments for keeping fox numbers down because they kill poultry and can be seen as vermin, but a few hares grazing on arable pasture cannot be seen in the same light. If eating crops is the problem, rabbits should be greatly reduced in number. It's high time a hunting ban was introduced and brown hares protected before they become extinct.

CLARE MEIKLEJOHN

EXETER

Adaptation a disgrace

Sir: While it is pleasing that Allan Forrester's pupils have borrowed Jane Austen novels after watching Mansfield Park (letter, 26 March), I would be interested to know how many of them read all of that particular one, and, if they did, whether they agree with Howard Jacobson's comments (Opinion, 24 March). I do not consider myself a "curmudgeon", but I believe the ITV adaptation was a disgrace and did a disservice to a complex text. The broadcast this week of Northanger Abbey should justly inspire new readers, I think.

CHRISTINA JONES

RETFORD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Word to chew over

Sir: Your report on the best diet for humans ("What not to eat", 27 March) states that "Once, there were only vegetarians and carnivores". Surely you mean vegetarians and omnivores. I know omnivore doesn't sound as rapacious as carnivore, especially to triumphalist vegetarians, but it is - disappointingly for headline writers - the correct word.

MICHAEL O'HARE

NORTHWOOD, MIDDLESEX

Hands off

Sir: By far the most threatening notice I have seen was on a hot-air hand-dryer. It read: "To activate, place hands under dryer. Switches off automatically when hands have been removed."

STUART CURRIE

WORCESTER