Different colours of green paint

I run a painting and decorating business called The Decorators. We are now responding to customer demand and using eco friendly paints.
All standard paints on the market contain volatile organic compounds which damage the ozone layer, in the same way that the now banned CFCs in aerosol cans and fridges did.
The paints we are using do not have any volatile organic compounds in them, making them extremely environmentally friendly.
The eco paints that we use are also carbon positive which means that as they dry they absorb carbon dioxide.
For every job we complete we are donating £10 to Friends of the Earth.
Simon Banks
Ashton,
Stamford

Livestock farms vital

SUE Hodson wrote in last week to make an environmental case for not eating meat.
In it she states that harmful hormones are found in meat. This is untrue as hormones in both white and red meat have been banned in the EU for many years.
Countries outside the EU can use hormones, however supermarkets which do sell meat from places like South America specify their meat comes from hormone-free herds.
The simple answer if you are not sure is to buy British.
Sue's idea of a better environment without livestock farming would mean a very boring landscape with very little wildlife as the majority of our fauna and flora depend on the rich grasslands with hedgerows and woods.
Arable farms tend to have very little cover in the way of hedgerows and the insects and wild plants essential to biodiversity are generally sprayed out apart from very small areas when headlands are left unploughed.
It is also worth noting that most vegetarians eat eggs and dairy produce. Eggs require the keeping of poultry and the disposal of unwanted cock birds and cows have to keep producing calves which must also be disposed of either as calves or as beef later.
Richard Dilworth
Melton Road,
Langham

Starting at home

I APPLAUD your initiative on this project.
May I draw your attention to the article published in your newspaper on Friday, July 19, 1996.
Despite frequent exposure to media broadcasts, the Raindrops project is still falling on deaf ears.
We constantly hear that one effect of global warming is increasing drought in the coming years.
The latest initiative is for all households to install a water butt (one!) in the garden.
Over 10,000 gallons of water falls on one roof of an average three bedroomed property each year. How much of this goes down the drain?
Despite the proliferation of wheelie bins taking up space in the garden, rainwater conservation, with some planning, can be invisible.
With the likelihood of mandatory water metering for all properties in the near future, rainwater will become a precious commodity.
My suggestions are as follows:
1) Every new house built should incorporate an underground storage system for rainwater harvested from a roof.
2) Those converting properties should think about doing likewise while the diggers are on site.
3) Those who have space in their gardens and access for a digger should consider bulk storage of rainwater underground.
My original prototype installation is 12 years old and still is in full working order, saving 2,000 gallons of rainwater from one downpipe in my underground system of plastic interfed tanks.
I would be pleased to show the system in action to any of your readers.
Paul Latchford
Berrybushes, Market Overton

Letters - March 21

Eat greens not meat

ANY move towards a greener lifestyle is to be applauded, but unfortunately most people don't have enough passion to do the really big thing to help the environment, which is to cut down on, or better still give up, meat consumption.
I make no apology for having written about this previously, but many people do not know, or do not want to know, that farming animals for meat gives rise to methane levels which surpass all forms of emissions from transport worldwide. Also meat farming uses up valuable land and water resources which are used to grow feed for animals, rather than directly for human use.
This aspect of 'going green' is largely ignored because of the culture of meat-eating. I realise that most meat-eaters feel they could not do without their meat, but these days there are lots of very tasty and healthy meat substitutes such as Quorn, textured vegetable protein etc in form of fillets, sausages, mince and others which contain none of the harmful hormones found in meat and are very versatile, as well as lower in fat than the meat they replace.
Sue Hodson
Park View
Barnack Road, Stamford

Don't drop litter

As a supporter of your Let's Go Green campaign, I am sure I am not alone in expressing my concern about the ever increasing amounts of litter along the verges of our roads, especially the A1.
It is so unsightly and downright depressing to see mile upon mile of rubbish strewn everywhere and plastic bags and polythene caught up in bushes.
I suspect many of these offenders of discarded cans, crisp packets etc etc are people who have little regard for our beautiful countryside. Do they have a conscience you might ask?
Why don't we employ the young offenders or people doing community service to tidy up our verges and promote a better "Keep Our Countryside Clean" campaign?
In thses days of encouraging a greener Britain let's start by training irresponsible individuals to dispose of their rubbish sensibly!
Julie Headland
Essendine Road
Ryhall