CLLR Rice has been the subject of unjustified, abusive attacks online since she was arrested for demonstrating against the licensing of new oil and gas fields.

Many people are saying it is more important to focus on the cost of living.

They are not realising that the cost-of-living crisis has primarily been caused by our addiction to oil, both because the price has increased internationally and because we import too many products that are oil-based, which has contributed to the fall in the pound’s value.

Part of the solution is to move more quickly to cheaper renewable energy produced in the UK, which is what Cllr Rice is campaigning for, but the current government is opposing such investment because it has close links with oil corporations.

Readers should also ask themselves whether they believe that people should be criminalised for peaceful protest (bearing in 'mind Cllr Rice did not glue herself to anything).

The environment may not be your issue, but one day you might have cause to protest about something else.

CLLR MARK HOWELL

Market Street, Poole