The Quarantine Abolition Fighting Fund (QUAFF), a volunteer, recognised not-for-profit organisation, has been working for four years to get the UK's disgraceful Quarantine Laws changed and has recently challenged the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAFF) in court because the imposition of six months' quarantine on all pets regardless of health status or origins, is an unnecessary restriction on free movement which is not scientifically justified and therefore represents a prima facie breach of The Treaty of Rome. The pressure of the case has resulted in a recent announcement of change and the implementation of a pilot Passports for Pets scheme to start in April 2000.

Unfortunately however, this applies only to animals coming from the European Union and excludes rabies-free islands until 2001.

The Government's arbitrary exclusion of rabies-free islands and the inclusion of EU Member States, some of which still have rabies (albeit only fox mediated), is obviously scientific nonsense and a clear demonstration of the Government's knowledge and fear of its long-standing breach of EU law. It may be, therefore, that further legal action is required to bring about change for other countries.

In the meantime, however, we believe there will be a perfectly legal way to return to the UK avoiding quarantine, from April 1, 2000 (or earlier if the proposal pilot scheme is brought forward) Provided that the microchip, vaccination and blood test certificate are completed six months before entry.

We suggest that all owners of pets intending to return to the UK in the next year get in touch with QUAFF now, regardless of their present domicile.

QUAFF advises all pet owners wishing to return to the UK of all the options available, and hopes that continuing legal action will bring forward reforms for all countries. We would welcome contact from them directly to our postal address: P.O. Box 151, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 6BB or via e-mail at quaff(at)lagness.prestel.co.uk. Further information is available on the WEbsite at: http://freespace.virgin.net/simon.green/ For those who have no alternative, we recommend extreme caution in selecting a quarantine kennel and to that end publish a carefully-compiled Quarantine Kennel Report, based on the experience of QUAFF members who have used the facilities described.

Traditionally, conditions in most UK quarantine kennels have been poor, but now that the kennel owners can see an end to their business, there is every incentive for them to extract the maximum profit possible while still no minimum welfare standards or statutory controls exist and, there is absolutely no requirement to provide a good service.

JUNE HAMILTON Volunteer Chairman Quarantine Abolition Fighting Fund Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom The slippery slope October 9, 1999 Dear Sir, Greetings in the name of the most high. Mr. Editor, what does it really mean, when on the same day that we are to celebrate youth we lose a couple of youths? What does this really mean Mr. Editor? This same day as the block party on Parson's Road there is a murder on that same road. A young black man gone forever. For what? I do not know the reason why this has happened. What I do know is that Bermudians had better be prepared for the future! The future being the young children who have been raised yet have not risen above the cycle of life that has programmes for decades. Decades of confusion that is going to be cast into chaos is the very near future. Everybody had better be prepared for a new wave of young men who generally don't care. And they don't want to hear what anyone has to say. These youth are not stupid. They can see right through the glass ceilings and walls that have stopped many before them.

Generally it is not that they just don't care. It is the fact that they don't have any fear. No fear whatsoever of a system that was basically designed for the demise of people of colour! Although this is tragic, death is a fact of life. A fact of life after the fact of life. Therefore, there can't be death without life! So, let every man and woman celebrate life even in the wake of death. Because, death is not the end of life.

GILBERT R.S. SIMONS Westgate Correctional Facility Taxing question October 7, 1999 Dear Sir, I am angry at the way my tax dollars are being spent in the Town of St.

George's. Bermudians in general are complaining about taxes, but living in St.

George's I have to pay two sets of taxes.

I am outraged to find out that my taxes are paying for Corporation of St.

George's employees to paint their house, sand their cedar doors and take care of their lawns. I am also paying for office staff that are not needed, just to walk around town doing nothing. I am paying for trays of snacks ordered from various restaurants for the office staff. The staff is overpaid. You should see what I have to live on. In Hamilton, the only other place to have two sets of tax, the vast majority of taxpayers would be commercial rather than residential, but in St. George's this is not the case.

The Corporation of St. George's Committee knows these things are taking place but refuse to take action. The only thing they are concerned about is how they could get more money from the taxpayers.

To the Corporation of St. George's, what have you done for me in St. George's? Nothing. I have to paint my own house, sand my own doors and now my own lawn.

My trash is picked up twice a week just like the rest of Bermuda. I have street lights at night just like everybody else.

UNFAIR TAX Town of St. George's A true picture October 15, 1999 Dear Sir, This letter is in response to the issues raised and statements made by members of the Bermuda Photographic Association regarding the soon to be released "Moods of Bermuda'' custom publication.

While the parent company is Moods of Man located on the Isle of Man, the Moods of Bermuda project was initiated by the US subsidiary, Moods of America, Inc.

based in Connecticut, which I represent.

Our objective in all "moods'' publications is to capture the true feeling, attitudes and atmosphere of the subject matter through photographs and to surround these photos with accompanying copy thus creating a pictorial essay.

The chapters of the book and the content would tell a compelling story of the subject matter.

This is the same approach we took in creating and producing the "Moods of Bermuda''. We are telling a story through the eyes of the Bermuda residents who are the major contributors to this book.

Unlike other publications that are printed off shore, our plan was to use the island resources. We used Island Press to print the book, we used island writers such as Roger Crombie, Elizabeth Jones and Rosemary Jones to write the copy for each of the chapters, and the forward of the book was written by the Honourable Jennifer and the Minister of Tourism, David Allen Most importantly, the photographs used for the "Moods of Bermuda'' were sources via a photographic contest run in the Royal Gazette and Bermuda Sun from mid-June through the month of July. We asked all residents to submit photographs they felt captured the moods of the island. The winners of the photo contest were given prizes for their submissions.

All photographs used in the book would be acknowledged in the book and all participants whose photos were selected for use would get a free copy of the book.

At the time we ran our first contest ad, the publisher, Mr. Michael Ingram, contacted ten of the island's professional photographers (Trimingham, Carpenter, Skinner, Outerbridge, Zupp, Macdonald-Smith, Rayner, Simons, Spurling, Stallard) via a letter dated June 17, 1999 requesting their participation in the project. Only Roland Skinner responded saying that he had a book coming out in September and would not be able to participate. Other than that response...Silence.

The publisher on the Isle of Man was never contacted about any issues from the BPA nor was any voice or emails left or sent. This leads me to wonder if the issues being raised reflect the input from the total membership of the BPA or whether they are Mr. Outerbridge's personal feelings.

A follow up letter on July 8, 1999 was sent to each of the professional photographers initially contacted with no response. It was assumed at that point that for whatever reason they chose not to participate which is their decision.

It should be noted that in both the initial and follow-up letter to Mr.

Outerbridge we invited him to be part of the panel to judge the photographs from the competition since we valued his expertise. We never got the courtesy of a response to this invitation.

I am disappointed and somewhat dismayed that the BPA would lower themselves to question my integrity and business ethics. Before I began selling the concept to companies, I applied for and was granted a work permit by immigration in early April 1999.

In selling the "moods'' concept to island companies they were never mislead in any aspect of the project. Our materials provided a background of our company, our concept for the "Moods of Bermuda'' book, how photographs would be sourced, pricing and timing for book availability. Never did we imply or suggest that we had the support of Bermuda's best photographers.

Remember, in the early stages of presentations we were selling a custom publication concept entitled "Moods of Bermuda'' that based on enthusiasm from the companies contacted turned into reality and the actual creation and printing of the book. We were perfectly prepared to walk away from the concept if companies rejected the idea. They didn't and now the book will be available November 15 to over 50 participating corporations, hotels and cottage communities. The books will also be available in select retail stores for purchase. The participants in this project plan to use the "Moods of Bermuda'' book as gifts to shareholders, valued clients and guests worldwide that generate tremendous exposure that will result in more business and tourism to the island.

I prefer not to address the statement about a "diluted product'' from not having professional participation since I do not want to insult those residents who submitted photographs for the contest and the photographs that were selected for use in the book. Judge the final product before you make such condemning statements.

The finished product is superb and everyone involved with the project should be proud and complimented for their efforts. The Moods of Bermuda is a pictorial essay about the island as viewed by the residents. We thank you for your contributions. You'll love the finished product.

If our being greedy is for us to use the island resources to create, write and print the "Moods of Bermuda'' custom publication then I guess we are guilty.

Island Press is our printer, Roger Crombie, Elizabeth Jones and Rosemary Jones are our writers, the island residents provided the photographs for the book and the Premier and the Minister of Tourism wrote the introduction. The book is 100 percent Bermudian.

My suggestion to those who are making adverse comments about the Moods of Bermuda custom publication is what resources did you use to produce your last picture book? How did you help the island economy? I have visited Bermuda since 1966, own property and plan to make Bermuda my year round residence. I have a passion for the island, its people and its success. I would do nothing to diminish its image.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or additional information you might require.

GEORGE COLESWORTHY Moods of Mann Ltd.

PS - We have all the documents referred to in this letter in our files and are fully prepared to provide them to you if you think it necessary.

Who really knows? October 11, 1999 Dear Sir, I am writing in response to Dr. Leonard's article on the safety of cellular towers and would like to make a few comments. I have educated myself on the subject and recently called the FCC EPA and WHO. None of these organisations can guarantee the safety of living close to the towers.

Dr. Repacholi of World Health organisation said that WHO have gaps in their studies on long term exposure, and the International agency on Cancer Research will be doing a study next year to try and fill in the gaps.

Dr. Olphlic of the FCC said he had never seen or heard of a tower being as low as the Warwick one which is 40 ft. (Scotts Hill tower even lower) and had never measured reading higher than one to two percent of FCC maximum radiation exposure limits. The Warwick cellular tower has a 17 percent reading for public exposure.

Mr. Norman Hankin of the EPA said NOBODY has the right to say that living close to the towers is safe, as they simply do not have enough research.

So, as you can see I have made attempts to find out the hazards to my family.

The public are being used as human guinea pigs while research is ongoing, and cellular companies are making a fortune at the expense of public health.

I agree with Dr. Leonard that the Bermuda Government should have equipment to remove radiation exposure, I would like to see if Dr. Leonard could get information from the Telecommunications Department as this question has been asked many times and not answered. In fact I have heard the Minister has been getting annoyed at people calling. I think it's a reasonable question to the Minister for a member of the public to ask, "Please measure the exposure at my house from any given tower? Why is it that this has not been done to date? Finally Dr. Leonard's analogy of living close to a tower, is no more than sitting in the sun for half an hour at lunch times makes no sense.

Dermatoloigists tell you to keep out of the sun, especially at noon, and it is especially important to keep children and babies out of the sun.

The same thing for cellular towers should be applied to keep cellular towers a safe height and safe distance from Children and Communities.

INFORMED Warwick More Police needed October 12, 1999 Dear Sir, I am very much in favour of bringing in Policemen from overseas, already trained and ready to work.

Bermuda is a small Island and you will find most Bermudians are related one way or another with the population, cousins, lots of uncles etc. And that causes problems as we have people breaking the law left, right and centre.

If the Police do not know these people they will do their job with no hesitation. We need Policemen NOW and lots of them as there are too many incidents that are happening; we have too many crimes and they are getting worse every day.

We need protection, we need a strong and dedicated Police Force.

Forget about Bermudianization. This is about Law and Order not politics.

DEVONSHIRE