differs from that in the rest of the English-speaking world. By the standards of the latter, I repeat, Al is an old-fashioned High Tory. "I'm simply making the point that those who disagree are largely the political fruitcakes of the far right. The ones who believe in laissez-faire capitalism, minimum government etc and who'd dismantle the NHS like a shot , given half a chance." Don't compartmentalise people so simplistically -- they are a lot more complicated than you think. People whose politics you strongly disagree with may well be very good scientists. They may even be honest. Conversely, your political brothers may be, as you so elegantly put it, fruitcakes (i.e., in disagreement with you) when it comes to science, or art, or farm management. You still have an awful lot to learn about people and politics. Peter Lloyd Tempterrain - I was brainwashed as a lad, both at home and at school, with a total commitment to social responsibility and to critical thinking before adopting other people's ideas. That has resulted in my left-of-centre politics without anaesthetising my brain. So when I used that interesting link you provided, I read it critically although it appeared in a fairly typical conservative website, which naturally I approach very circumspectly. I have to say I found nothing in the article with which I could disagree -- most of it was a factual account of what is happening on the environmental front today and I challenge anyone to dispute the truth of