In 1972, Alanis Obomsawin, a Canadian Native American, made one of the most pertinent observations of our time:

“When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realise, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.”

The young people who protested in York recently seemed to understand that.

In view of the threat from fracking, the continued use of fossil fuels, deforestation and the big business - and organised crime-sponsored murder of environmental activists in Brazil, Mexico and other countries, the rest of us need to urgently add our support.

Technology can find some solutions and perhaps delay the inevitable, but if we do not act now and change our ways, science is telling us that mankind will destroy the ecology of our planet and, ultimately, will doom the human race to extinction.

We should listen to the scientists.

Tony Fisher,

Prospective Liberal Democrat candidate for Strensall Ward,

West End,

Strensall,York

York will be smaller version of Leeds

IF building 550 houses near Strensall Common would have an ‘adverse impact’ (Homes plan at Barracks may be ditched, The Press, February 25), then I would hope the 500 houses planned for Askham Bog will be ditched also.

What with five- and six-storey buildings going up in Piccadilly, as well as the ones in Hungate, York is going to look like a smaller version of Leeds.

Maureen Robinson,

Broadway, York