Subscribe Already the chemical industry is lining up to rubbish an important forthcoming book on the threat of pollutants which are hormone mimics Our Stolen
By Admin
Already the chemical industry is lining up to "rubbish" an important forthcoming book on the threat of pollutants which are "hormone mimics" (Our Stolen Future by Dr Theo Colburn) and is arranging a hue and cry among researchers to look for a single cause and effect to "explain" the problem. This is an impossible quest, as it is clear that many human- made chemicals have an effect in degrading sexual development and fertility. The lesson is not to be surprised by the threat from pollutants that destroy the ozone layer, or disrupt hormones. This is the threat from "hormone pollution" - a threat to the continued quality of life for future generations (sexual health, fertility and so on) for the human race, as well as for much wildlife. In the coming months a new pollution story on the scale of loss of the ozone layer is likely to "break". If we have good evidence of a miscarriage or denial of justice we will intervene at whatever level is necessary to protect a British national.
But in all other cases, and whatever our sympathies, it is for the courts to determine the outcome, as they have for Caroline Beale. We are glad she can now come home.Jeremy Hanley MPMinister of StateForeign and Commonwealth OfficeLondon SW1. Sir: Your report (8 March) that an ozone hole is threatening Britain signals a need for politicians to reverse their present assumptions about what industry is allowed to do. It would be a bad day for justice if governments meddled whenever one of their citizens appeared before foreign courts.Our policy is clear and has remained unchanged since Palmerston. The New York Consulate General gets its instructions from the Foreign Office.
It got them in the tragic case of Caroline Beale, as her lawyer generously and publicly acknowledged. Consular staff were by her side throughout from her first to her final court appearance. It is disingenuous to suggest that with more official help she might have avoided the need to plead guilty. In countries with democratically elected authorities such matters are for the courts and the lawyers, not governments. Sir: Daniel Jeffreys ("The lessons of Caroline's tragedy", 6 March) makes a distinction between the actions of our New York Consulate - "exemplary, giving genuine and effective help" - and the Foreign Office who "barely lifted a finger". The only explanation for denying leaseholders similar rights is the Tory Party's unwillingness to challenge the big landowners. It would be tragic if once again the protection of leaseholders were subordinated to the Tory Party's self-interest.Labour will be seeking to amend the Housing Bill to incorporate the "right to manage".Nick Raynsford MP(Greenwich, Lab)London SW1.