REGARDING Mrs T Earp's remarks (Letters, February 22) on the Russian plan to use a huge mirror in space to light up an ice-capped region for mining's sake, she is right to question the long-term implications of yet another of man's manipulation of this planet.

Earth has a unique atmosphere to sustain life in all its forms. The oceans, deserts, tropics, temperate zones and the icy police are all integral part of the global weather system. For several decades, fossil fuels locked in the earth's core have been brought up and used for energy, industry and motor vehicles.

The result is millions of tons of carbon oxides are introduced into the atmosphere annually.

The tropics are still subject to relentless logging, thereby decimating the Earth's "lungs."

Now, man is extending his destructive manipulation to the ice caps.

How much more before the global weather system gives in?

Scientists are convinced it is already happening.

It's no laughing matter.

Can we afford to ignore them and, more importantly, where do we start?

N MOMONIAT (Mr), Azalea Road, Blackburn.

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