Today’s letter writers tackle green energy, credit unions, the treatment of Christians in Islamic countries, and the condition of Perth city centre.
Minister ignored renewables subsidies issue Sir,-I read the defensive letter from Jim Mather MSP (November 18) about Rupert Soames’s speech in the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Mather is less than frank because he does not mention the large percentage of renewable energy that is produced by hydro power.
This is cost effective, unlike wind power.
Green zealots have long pointed to Denmark as the way forward but Germany and Denmark have now admitted that wind power is a failed experiment.
The green zealots gleefully quoted that Denmark produced 20% of their electricity from wind.
They must have had the wind taken out of their sails when it was disclosed that less than half of the 20% was consumed in Denmark.
The rest went to waste and they had to import supplies. Not one renewable energy project would go ahead if it were not for the eye watering tax-free subsidies available. Mr Mather carefully avoids this point.
The UK Government want us to pay £100 billion through our electricity bills for more useless wind turbines over the next 10 years. I would rather believe Rupert Soames than politicians with vested interests.
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
Wasteful energy dogma
Sir,-Ron Greer and Rupert Soames have provided fair repudiation of Energy Minister Jim Mather’s and the SNP’s green energy dreams (November 18).
As a Scottish Government minister, Mr Mather ought to be opposing his party’s wasteful, destructive, own-goal policies on renewable energy.
He is either deluded, deluding us, or both, in championing such commercially impractical plans for power production, which risk damaging, perhaps fatally, our national economy as well as the tourist trade, our most valuable enterprise.
The only real beneficiaries of the SNP Government’s misguided present power schemes are developers, (mainly foreign) equipment manufacturers and landowners.
If the SNP policy makers were honest patriots, they would admit they were wrong and revise their energy policies in the light of European experiences, with Denmark and Germany now withdrawing taxpayers’ subsidies for wind turbines.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.111 Viewlands Road West,Perth.
High value of credit unions
Sir,-I was pleased to read your item (November 17) highlighting the work of credit unions in Fife.
However, the key to unleashing the full potential of credit unions lies in persuading the public that they are not just for the poor or those who have problems accessing mainstream finance.
Before I became a councillor, I was vaguely aware of credit unions but had never considered joining one.
Once I learned more, I joined. My money does as well as in a bank account and is as safe.
I can get a loan if I need one at a very reasonable rate.
And the money I save can be leant to someone who might otherwise be the victim of a loan company charging hundreds of percent APR.
(Cllr) Dave Dempsey.7 Carlingnose ParkNorth,Queensferry.
Persecution and fear
Sir,-G. M. Lindsay is correct to draw attention to the disgusting treatment of Christians in Pakistan (November 17) but it is not just in Pakistan.
Much of Iraq’s Christian population has been forced out. In Indonesia, they are evicted from their churches and attacked in the streets.
In Sudan, they are sold into slavery and their girls genitally mutilated. In Egypt, they are harassed and denied government jobs. It is not just Christians. Hindus in Afghanistan, Baha’is in Iran, Ahmadis in Pakistan, Animists in Sudan, in short, wherever Sharia law goes.
Apostates face the death penalty, atheism is illegal and criticism of Islam will get you killed.
This is one issue on which all decent people, regardless of belief, can and should unite in condemnation.
Mr Lindsay asks why the churches are silent on this issue. After the hysterical reaction to the Pope’s Regensburg speech I think we know why-fear.
(Dr) Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington.
Square would attract derelicts
Sir,-Relief at the demise of the proposed incinerator at Shore Road is tempered by the irresponsibility of Perth and Kinross Council.
The debacle has cost every one of us money and time, yet they seem to be continuing as before.
At a time requiring economic restraint, they propose to build a gratuitous footpath/cycle path across the Tay which will destroy the beautiful view upriver from Smeaton’s bridge to the mountains far beyond.
Why other than folly and vainglory?
Every penny spent on this project could be better expended on tidying up the shameful interior of the town to make it live up to its title of royal burgh.
Atholl Street, next to the fineness of Robert Reid’s Rose Terrace and the North Inch, could be beautiful but is a disgrace.
St Paul’s Church should be restored.
Above all, city hall must be saved as one of the fine historical layers of Perth’s past.
Demolition will show no economic return. The romantic idea of a square of cafes is just that and will result in a night haven for drunks and drug takers.
Margaretha Linacre.21 Marshall Place,Perth.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.