Our natural disaster planning is inadequate – we need to learn from tsunami-struck Tonga

When faced with natural disasters such as the tsunami and volcanic ash fall on the Tonga islands, it is understandable that the human response is to rush in help for those affected. And credit goes to the New Zealanders and Australians in particular for their humanitarian aid.

It is equally understandable that those directly affected by disaster will wish to restore the living that they knew. After all, home is precious and there will seem to be no alternative. Yet, we are told that the ash fall on some of the islands will mean agriculture is compromised and that the people will require food aid for years to come.

Add to this that sea-level rise is inexorable because of global warming and that this will cause both salinisation of groundwater and eventual inundation of many of the low-lying islands, questions need asking about the short- and medium-term sustainability of disaster policies.

Governments need to start planning for the inevitable evacuation of vulnerable, low-lying island nations, painful as this might be for both those needing to move and, perhaps, those needing to accommodate the displaced. It will be irresponsible to do otherwise. Indeed, the need for evacuation is already with us.

Ian Reid

Kilnwick

The UK government sending troops and weapons to Ukraine in the name of defending “freedom” is the very same government trying to take away the freedom to protest with its totalitarian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Sasha Simic

London

Regarding your article on train announcements, if Grant Shapps wants “a bonfire of banalities” maybe he should look closer to home rather than wasting taxpayers’ money on videos while openly promoting Tory-supporting newspapers.

Many passengers including the visually impaired, overseas visitors and infrequent users probably find most of the current onboard announcements very helpful.

Alan Hagan

Newcastle-under-Lyme

Thank heavens for the House of Lords voting down various proposals in the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021, which would have threatened free speech in public spaces.

One wonders if those who draft legislation actually live in the real democratic world or in distant legal ivory towers. One prays the House of Commons will see sense and not try to reintroduce the dangerous proposals.

J Longstaff

E Sussex

The longer Boris Johnson can cling on in his freshly wallpapered Downing Street den the better for this country.

The Conservative Party’s combination of right-wing populism and entitlement, so perfectly exemplified by Johnson and Priti Patel, is utterly toxic and can only get worse.

The swirling miasma of allegations around sleaze, bullying, blackmail, lies, greed and sheer incompetence that appears to characterise England’s present government will, with any luck, disqualify the Tories from ever again being given serious consideration by voters.

There is a limit to how long the electorate will be taken for fools.

D Maughan Brown

York