Letter: Disappointed by TV begging tactics

I can remember when we had Walt Disney cartoons, and the DFS sales ad drove you to the brink of insanity in the run-up to Christmas.

But for a full fortnight our screens have been bombarded with adverts about sick children and animals being tortured.

Don't get me wrong, I'd save every child if I had the power.

I work at an animal charity, but if I thought we'd resorted to constant begging tactics I would very much rethink things.

The snow leopard is a beautiful, endangered creature; donkeys shouldn't have to carry bricks until their legs buckle.

Advertise the facts by all means, just not every other advert.

At Christmas there are many old and lonely people with just the television for company. They follow the soaps. Have there been any weddings, babies born, happiness?

Of course not, those characters that haven't been beaten to death are in hospital or worse.

Wakey, wakey TV people, if the governments of the countries with dying animals, sick children drinking dirty water, and endangered species addressed the matter, in many cases poorer countries like Britain – which sees its own people on the streets living on hand-outs and dumping animals – wouldn't have to keep paying out.

Make the fat cats grow a set of morals instead of double chins while living in luxury.

Let's have some joy on TV, goodwill and all that.

If the 'soap' writers have to dwell on misery for stories is it little wonder we have gun and hate crimes, abuse and lack of respect?

Life doesn't have to be like that all the time.

Look beyond the sadness in the world.

Spread a bit of hope, something to build on.

You can make a difference in many ways.

Ann Corfield,

Much Wenlock