The International Council of Museums published a revised and updated Code of Ethics for Museums in 2006.
This amounts to a global minimum standard for national, regional and specialist groups.
A full copy of the Code of Ethics can be obtained from the Secretary General, ICOM, Maison de PUNESCO, 1 rue Miollis, 75732, Paris, France.
I ask you to indulge me while I highlight salient points from this weighty document.
"Museums have an important duty to develop their educational role.
"Displays and temporary exhibitions should be in accordance with the stated mission, policy and purpose of the museum.
"Museums should ensure that the information they present in displays and exhibitions is well-founded and accurate.
"Museum usage from contemporary communities should be used to promote human well-being.
"All members of the museum profession should uphold the dignity and honour of their profession."
The Woodhorn exhibition of tattoos has no international dimension.
Tattooing has been around as long as humans have been around.
Tattooing has become a part of the culture of almost all societies.
The gallery of tattoos at Woodhorn is an astonishingly parochial gathering of flamboyant and gorgeously coloured local lads and lasses from Ashington and Blyth – so narrow and restricted in scope.
Tattooing has many health risks.
Getting a tattoo puts you at risk of serious infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tetanus, dermatitis, impetigo, flare ups of existing eczema, allergic reactions, and thick scars called keloids.
A person who receives a tattoo is prohibited from donating blood for six months without exception.
Some of the pigments used (especially Yellow No.7) are known to break down into toxic chemicals in the body when exposed to UV light, resulting in degradation products migrating to the kidneys and liver.
The sun will drain the colour over time and the tattooed area could be more susceptible to harmful rays.
The good news is that the tetanus risk is largely prevented by having an up-to-date tetanus booster prior to being tattooed.
Conspicuous tattoos and other body modification can make gainful employment very difficult in many fields.
For your readers with a penchant for forensic science, it may be of interest to learn that tattoos are used by forensic pathologists to help them identify burned, putrefied or mutilated bodies.
Tattoo pigment is deep enough in the skin that even severe burns will often not destroy a tattoo.
This exhibition must be dismantled now!
Do not wait until October 26.
Rip it out before any more of our children can see it.
I sincerely hope that some of your readers agree.
T M PATTERSON
Berrymoor
AshingtonAll correspondence should be e-mailed to Your Say
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