The London bombings have brought death and destruction but also raised key issues which have to be tackled if we want a safer world for our children.

Young people feel disenfranchised and not represented by the feudal elders who seem to be our community leaders.

I do not see this as an excusively Muslim phenomenon. Globally we have had terrorist attacks in the past 40 years (IRA, Basque Separatists, ANC etc) and there is one underlying trend. Where people cannot see how they can channel their grievance through the democratic process then desperate men will take desperate measures.

All sane and decent people are outraged by the loss of innocent lives and collectively we should seek to out extremists and prevent people from being brainwashed. We should also find a solution to the issue of Palestine. This has given oxygen to the extremists.

Equally pressing issues are Kashmir, Chechnya, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan and until we tackle these issues I am sorry to say the future looks gloomy.

J I Patel

Blackburn