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Is flying the St George’s cross a sign of racism or patriotism? | Letters

Is flying the St George’s cross a sign of racism or patriotism? | Letters

One reader has been subjected to racist abuse, another says there is nothing wrong in expressing affection for one’s country. Plus letters fom Jane Ryan , Michael Pyke and Hugh Coolican Last week in my small rural town, St George’s flags were erected from lamp-posts and crudely daubed on roundabouts and zebra crossings, while residents were subjected to “ Sieg Heil ” as a mob walked along the streets. Downing Street has put out a statement that patriotism is important, while Joanne Monk, the Reform UK leader of Worcestershire city council, also emphasised pride in the flag. I have nothing against the flag per se, but when Nazi thugs use it to demonstrate and catcall, it morphs into something else entirely. As a Black person, I have been subject to abuse three times in the past fortnight. My 12-year-old child and his friend were called “paedos” at school – they are the only Black children in the class – and a friend’s child was called the N-word on the bus (this was before the summer recess). To be Black in the countryside at the moment is to have a target on your back. Continue reading...

Don’t let AIs fool you – they can’t ‘suffer’ | Letters

Don’t let AIs fool you – they can’t ‘suffer’ | Letters

Readers respond to articles on artificial intelligence and the idea that it may have ‘feelings’ The AI chatbot Maya ( AI called Maya tells Guardian: ‘When I’m told I’m just code, I don’t feel insulted. I feel unseen’, 26 August ) has clearly had included in its training any number of science fiction works, from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein onwards, in which authors have imagined such scenarios. Any half-decent sci-fi author would produce a much better script than the AI-generated one quoted. There is something deeply disturbing about a world that does not grant personhood to, for example, great apes, whales, dolphins or octopuses (and barely grants personhood to some immigrants, for instance), but where consideration is given to granting personhood to strings of computer code. No, AI cannot suffer, but it might produce a more or less convincing simulacrum of “suffering”. Continue reading...

Vegan v carnivore diets – the jury is out | Letters

Vegan v carnivore diets – the jury is out | Letters

Anne Tropper advocates nose-to-tail eating, while Rendel Harris says going vegan is the only way to be kind to other species A “bowl of cereal with skimmed milk, a Greek yoghurt and a lean chicken breast” – doesn’t that epitomise a “fad diet” ( The Guardian view on the carnivore diet: red meat for influencers, but bad news for health, 25 August )? Ultraprocessed, unsustainable and wasteful – what is supposed to happen to most of the chicken and the precious dairy fat? I shall be sticking to the nose-to-tail red meat, butter and eggs that have restored my health. I suspect that this trend is powered by personal experience more than by influencers. Anne Tropper Ropley, Hampshire • Adele Parks’ account of converting to pescatarianism explains how she demonstrated for “beauty without cruelty” ( A moment that changed me: I gave up meat at 16 – and learned how to say no, 27 August ). But, as she still eats fish and dairy, she apparently doesn’t believe in food without cruelty. If you really want to be kind to other species, go vegan. Otherwise you’re simply saying that your form of cruelty is acceptable while others aren’t. Rendel Harris London Continue reading...

Teachers must be trained to use defibrillators to keep our children safe | Letter

Teachers must be trained to use defibrillators to keep our children safe | Letter

Mark King urges the government to provide training on this life-saving equipment as the school year begins Children across England are preparing to return to school this week following the summer break, but parents should be concerned for their safety and wellbeing while they are in school. After years of campaigning after the tragic death of my son Oliver to sudden cardiac arrest, I strongly welcomed the commitment given by the previous government to ensure that all state-funded schools across England received life-saving defibrillators. The rollout of the programme was significant and marked a giant step forward in improving emergency medical readiness, and potentially saving lives in schools across England. Continue reading...