Russian invasion makes nuclear war more likely

Madam,

The Russian invasion of Ukraine raises the increasing possibility of nuclear war. If a nuclear bomb like the one at Hiroshima was dropped on a town the size of Redditch, 21,000 could die in the initial blast and 26,000 face terrible injuries, while many more would be affected by skin burns, cancers, birth defects and loss of eyesight. Our hospitals could not deal with such a disaster especially after a decade of austerity and two years of Covid-19.

Russia and the US have a combined 12,000 nuclear warheads up to a hundred times more powerful than the one that devastated Hiroshima. Their use today would be a human and environmental catastrophe and an existential threat to humanity.

The UK government refuses to sign up to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), but people can join others by calling on their local authority to sign up to the TPNW and become a Nuclear Ban Community. By advocating for a local ban, we can give a clear signal to Westminster that we do not tolerate the threat of nuclear annihilation.

West Midlands CND has further information on its website at wmcnd.org.uk/campaign/nuclear-ban-communities/

P Bishop

CND member

Remember foster carers on Father's Day

Madam,

This month, we celebrate Father’s Day: a joyous day for so many celebrating those who play a paternal role. However, Father’s Day can also be a painful reminder for people who are not part of a ‘traditional family’, including children in care.

It can be difficult to comprehend that there is an increasing number of children coming into foster care, with over 80,850 children currently looked after away from home in England alone.

Yet despite seeing how quickly our country can rally to help those most in need, and with the media’s backing, many are unaware of the desperate shortage of foster carers needed to keep up with the growing numbers of children entering the country’s care system.

This Father’s Day, we’d like to call on your readers to celebrate and thank those that take on non-traditional parenting roles, those who foster, adopt, and look after children and young people in care. Many of whom are men, playing an important paternal role in children's lives.

There are several myths around fostering which can stop men from considering fostering. These include the belief that single men can’t foster, you must have your own children, you can’t be in a same sex relationship, and you must be a homeowner, all of which are simply not true.

Whilst people across Bromsgrove are opening their doors to people in need, we’d also like them to reflect on whether they could offer a safe home to a child in care.

Five Rivers Child Care welcomes anyone interested in exploring fostering, to get in touch with any questions, on 01527 810 314.

Hopefully this gives you something to think about this Father’s Day.

Martin Leitch.

Head of Fostering Operations, Five Rivers Child Care