From the Revd Josie Midwinter
Sir, - The year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the
beginning of the First World War, and, in consequence, the Prime
Minister has announced that the Government will allocate a
substantial amount of money for schoolchildren to take a trip to
the battlefields in France and Belgium.
I wonder if the Church has any plans to mark this important
anniversary, and, if so, what those plans might include. The
Church's input both for the Queen's Golden Jubilee and for the
Olympics was first-class, and I think this centenary of the First
World War will be of equal importance to the nation. So I would be
interested to know if plans are afoot - and, if not, when things
will begin to be planned, as the anniversary is only about 18
months away.
JOSIE MIDWINTER
32 Barnes Close, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8JN
From the Revd Oliver Harrison
Sir, - The development and use of unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) or "drones" is not as controversial as is sometimes claimed
(
News, 26 October). So-called "remote" warfare - and killing -
began when people first threw rocks at one another, and continued
in a seamless spectrum through spears, bows, catapults, artillery
field pieces, and every type of gun.
Drones are only the latest manifestation of this phenomenon. As
such, they may be considered a development and an advance: no more
carpet bombing from tens of thousand of feet above a target; no
more indiscriminate naval bombardment from many miles off-shore; no
more troops on the ground putting themselves and others in harm's
way. Surely it is better to reduce deaths and damage to an absolute
minimum through the use of this technology?
Against an enemy prepared to use suicide bombers to impose its
fascist ideology, I would consider their use fully justified.
OLIVER HARRISON
Holy Trinity Vicarage
64 Glascote Lane, Wilnecote
Tamworth B77 2PH