ARE we now witnessing the end of any pretence of democracy in the EU?
I pose this question as once again a member of the EU has voted no on another of their grand schemes for further integration. What part of no do these political elite not understand?
I have just watched the president of the EC, Jose Manuel Barroso, arrogantly dismissing the Irish vote with the claim that the treaty ratification will continue by the other states, in spite of the inconvenient fact that by their own rules, the Treaty/Constitution must be ratified by ALL the member states.
They prattled on in political speak about strengthening democracy. What is democratic about totally ignoring any state which dares to vote against their grand plan for Europe. The ballot box is something they will just ignore when it does not give them the result they desire.
The Dutch and French rejected the constitution in 2005, but that was conveniently ignored by our European masters, so they changed the name to the Lisbon Treaty.
Would some of the EU supporters out there please explain to me how the oldest democracy in the world can allow our own shameless bunch of politicians to totally ignore any pretence of democracy by refusing us a vote that they promised us prior to the last election?
The Lisbon Treaty is now being railroaded through Parliament with as much haste and as little debate as they can manage. Mr Miliband says that we shall continue to ratify this treaty and ignore the Irish vote. What a total disregard for the voters' wishes.
The MEPs oversee a system that is so riddled with corruption that the auditors have failed to sign off their accounts for many years and yet they still continue to preach democracy.
Together with our own MPs, they continue to siphon off cash under the guise of "expenses" for everything, from nannies to window cleaners.
If a member of the public carried out such blatant acts of fraud they would have the police hauling them in, but our MPs seem to be immune from such bothersome things as the law.
Can nobody now stop this runaway gravy train, manned by power-mad federalists.
Nil Desperandum
What ignorance!
ON June 11 I took a very dear friend of mine to a shop in Washington.
My friend, sadly, suffers from Huntington's Disease, and because of this illness she walks awkwardly, has a very bad stammer and hums involuntarily, all classic symptoms of this awful affliction.
As we were passing the reception area there was a woman standing there who stared at my friend, then laughed and then said in a very loud voice, "Eh, I thought you were a spastic going on like that!"
My friend was understandably very upset and was sobbing uncontrollably, and it took me a while to calm her sufficiently to get her into the car to take her home.
She was upset all evening due to this person's thoughtlessness.
My friend is used to people staring at her because of her disabilities but there was no need for this woman to open her mouth.
I would just like to say that everyone should be more aware of disabled people who are doing their best to remain independent and cope with things, and they can do without such ignorant people like this.
Christine Hill,
Wenlock,
Biddick,
Washington
Paths can be lethal
A PAINFUL foot injury I incurred while working on Strictly Come Dancing last year really brought home to me how difficult it can be to go about your everyday life when your mobility is limited. It not only restricts your independence but it is also a significant knock to your confidence.
My injuries were thankfully temporary, but for the millions of older people who have fallen on broken paving, their injuries are often permanent and life-threatening.
A shocking 2.5million people aged over 65 in the UK have fallen to the ground due to damaged or uneven pavements and nearly three million older people think that the pavements in their areas are sub-standard.
As falls are a leading cause of death for over-75s, something must be done to improve pavements across the UK.
This week Help the Aged is holding its fourth National Falls Awareness Day, sponsored by Stannah Stairlifts, when councils will be held to account for the poor paving in their areas.
Since last year, the charity has successfully lobbied a number of councils to improve reported broken pavements within a year. However, Help the Aged needs your readers' help to carry out this vital work.
A pavement postcard is available that can be used by members of the public to highlight an area of dangerous paving to the local street maintenance service and to the charity.
I would urge your readers to order one now to send on National Falls Awareness Day. They are available by emailing falls@helptheaged.org.uk or in Help the Aged shops.
Older people should not be risking their lives by simply walking down the street and certainly should not have to live in fear of leaving their homes.
Kate Garraway

Can you just turn your 'copter down
DOCTORS tell us to get eight hours' sleep. That's all well and good, but it is extremely difficult when the police helicopter is hovering above on a weekly basis.
Surely the police, with all the money they have, could invest in some type of silencer instead of waking folk up. Quite frankly, it's just not on.
They must appreciate that some of us have work to go to and the racket they make can be heard for miles around.
I understand they have a job to do, but if they invested in more bobbies on the beat maybe they could stop this practice. And with all the increases in fuel they must be spending a fortune using a helicopter.
I am sure I am not the only one to complain!
Mick "The Pen" Brown
Dandelion respect
AT this time of year we look at our garden with critical eyes. Yet wouldn't it be nice to have plants the colour of sunshine growing all the year round, something that thrives in any soil, survives frost, flood and drought and costs nothing. Wouldn't you like some?
Good news! They already flourish in your immaculate lawns – those despised dandelions.
Why do we hate them so much? It is some childhood memory of grown-ups warning us that if we pick them we will wet the bed!
Try digging them up. It's a backbreaking task. The root can be as long as your arm. If the tiniest thread remains it will come up laughing at you in a couple of weeks.
So you try one of the well-advertised weed-killers. The poison seeps down into the good earth damaging it for generations.
Think again. Why do we hate dandelions so much, yet love other members of the same family? Since the early 17th century dandelion leaves were highly valued as a rich source of iron and full of vitamins.
Take another look at these humble weeds. Admire their tenacity. Grant them due respect.
Live And Let Live
Cameras are there
I REFER to recent correspondence regarding speeding traffic on Seaham Road, Houghton, and specifically to Steve Winlow's letter requesting times and dates when enforcement cameras were present.
I can confirm that cameras were deployed on April 1 and May 1 this year and have the fixed penalty notices from Northumbria Police to prove it, along with six penalty points.
This is one driver who is now dangerously close to losing his driving licence for exceeding a 30mph limit at 38mph and 35mph within a month.
I now avoid this road on the first day of the month and have vehicles overtake me when driving at 28mph. There should be a sticker for the rear window to the effect that "you would be driving like this if you had nine points on your licence" to lessen the abuse and road rage caused by keeping to the limit.
Copt Speeding
Houghton
League winners
WHILE researching the history of Ryhope CW Football Club I was contacted by Derek Cowan of Ryhope, who presented me with a photograph of his uncle Bob, who was a member of Ryhope's first League-winning side in 1927-28 (shown above).
The reverse side of the photograph contains the names of the 11 players who made up the League-winning side and the area that they were from. They are as follows:
? Rawlings (Seaham)
J Gibson (Seaham)
M Lilley (Ryhope)
C Fletcher (Silksworth)
I, J or L McGrath (Ryhope)
I, J or L Scott (Hendon)
? Cutting (Ryhope)
R Cowan (Seaham)
I, J or L Gray (Seaham)
S Conn (Seaham)
A Wright (Washington)
If anyone recognises any of the names above as uncles, grandfathers or even fathers and has any stories or individual or team photgraphs of their time representing Ryhope CW that they would be willing to include in the record of the club's history, could you please contact myself on 07875 361023.
Any photgraphs that are forthcoming will be returned in the condition that they were received.
Chris Lindstedt,
Manager,
Ryhope CW FC

AS a collector for Christian Aid I would like to thank the people who gave so generously in the envelopes provided.
The foreign coins, added to others, could add a little extra money.
A dog bone? Well, at least it raised a smile and gave a treat to some dog.
No, this wasn't a deprived area but one of the most affluent districts in Sunderland.
See you all again next May.
M Lawrence,
Rosslyn Mews,
Sunderland

ON Wednesday, June 18, at about 5pm I travelled along the A690 from Durham, northwards on the A19 and down Wessington Way towards The Stadium of Light.
Somewhere along the way I've driven through a patch of something spilt on the road which has sprayed down the side of my car and is proving impossible to remove. It may be old engine oil but I can't be sure.
I wonder if any other readers experienced the same thing, and whether anyone might know the source of this substance. Also, if anyone has any idea how I might get it off, that would would be greatly appreciated.
L Sheils,
Hallgarth Manor Farm,
Pittington