Sir, – I am at a loss to know why some newspapers have felt that the views of Brian Cox on Scottish separatism are of interest to us. Mr Cox lives in New York City and does not experience life in SNP Scotland.
Of even greater importance is that, should Scotland vote for Scexit, he would not have to endure the austerity max that would undoubtedly accompany it.
His desire to inflict that on those of us who do live in Scotland is unwelcome.
Jill Stephenson.
Glenlockhart Valley,
Edinburgh.
Tough times, but much to be thankful for
Sir, – For many of us 2019 will be viewed more than a little negatively, driven by a combination of Brexit, terrorism, climate change and increasing global instability.
However, while it may not have made the front pages, there is much for us to rejoice in and be thankful for.
For example, children born today have the best chance of growing up healthy, safe and educated.
There are now 4.4 million fewer child deaths per year than in 2000, according to charity Save The Children’s Global Childhood Report 2019.
In addition, there are now 115 million fewer children out of school than at the turn of the century, and 94 million fewer child labourers.
Figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) also reveal that child-killing diseases have significantly declined since 2000.
Measles, for example, declined 86% and there was also an 82% decrease in incidences of tetanus.
According to the WHO’s latest World Malaria Report, cases of the disease declined by 3m between 2017 and 2018.
Governments around the world pledged to plant millions of trees in 2019 in efforts to capture carbon from the atmosphere.
In Ethiopia, an estimated 350m were planted on one day in July.
Elsewhere, Ireland’s government announced plans in August to plant 22m trees each year until 2040, while New Zealand has pledged to plant a billion trees by 2028.
According to United Nations’ figures for 2019, the number of HIV and AIDS-related deaths worldwide has decreased by a third since 2010.
A number of endangered species are also witnessing a recovery.
For example, the number of mountain gorillas, increased in east Africa.
Elsewhere, India’s wild tiger population grew by 30%, to number almost 3,000, and humpback whales in the south-west Atlantic now number some 25,000.
So while we may think things are getting worse, there is so much for us to be thankful for and rejoice in.
Alex Orr.
Flat 3, 2 Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh.
Westminster’s two-tier NHS
Sir, – In her letter (Focus on issues in health sector, Courier, January 3), Jill Stephenson picks out ‘delayed discharges’ statistics to lambast the Scottish Government.
I don’t have the benefit of the Scotland in Union research department to feed me information, as Ms Stephenson does, so I am not in a position at present to dispute her facts, but, having worked in the care sector for many years, I am dubious.
But I can furnish readers with an alternative picture of the Scottish health and social care sector.
Scottish accident and emergency departments were 18% better than NHS England in November, cancelled operations due to capacity in Scotland were almost zero and cancer mortality rates are falling in Scotland.
NHS Scotland has beaten its drug and alcohol targets for three years. NHS England is to be copying Scotland’s bowel screening to save thousands of lives and is short of 25 times as many beds as NHS Scotland; Norovirus reports halved in Scotland as they doubled in England and private surgery, which is falling in Scotland, was 10 times higher per head of population, and rising, in England.
The difference between the two organisations is that the Scottish Government wants to provide the best service for the people, regardless of wealth or position.
The Westminster government is much more interested in selling off parts of the NHS to private sector pals, and bringing in a two-tier system – one for those who can afford private care, and another one for those who can’t.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Bridge light show a winner
Sir, – I think a permanent light show on the Tay Rail Bridge is a great idea (Tay light show could transform rail bridge into a national icon, Courier, January 6).
Another plus to our wonderful waterfront.
Fingers crossed Dundee City Council can activate this.
Judith L N Hare.
28 Charlotte Close,
Dundee.
Help Australia in its hour of need
Sir, – For months the Australian bush fires have been raging.
What strikes me is, that wherever in the world a country is struck by disaster, the rest of the world tries to help.
But now the silence is deafening. Is there no one helping Australia?
Thousands of people have been robbed of their home and hearth, escaping the deadly fires with only the clothes on their body.
They have lost their livelihoods, they have nothing to go back to.
A sheer nightmare.
Complete hamlets and villages are wiped away, businesses gone up in flames.
This disaster is too big for Australia alone to handle! What does the UK or the world do?
Is there anyone who has offered to help?
The world’s biggest armies, from countries like the USA, have massive planes that can help extinguish fires.
Why not use them to help Australia fighting the bushfires instead of war-waging?
How can we reach out and help all the people in Australia who are affected by this horrible and deadly disaster?
I can only hope and pray that Australia will come through this, that rain will fall and ‘help’ the firefighters who must be at the end of their tether now.
Mrs Maaike Cook.
Cash Feus,
Strathmiglo.
Give aid budget to Australia
Sir, – The UK International Aid budget of around £14 billion, much of which is prone to waste or misappropriation, should surely now be given in its entirety to Australia, in its obvious time of need.
As our Commonwealth ally, over a million Australians fought with us for six years during the Second World War.
This would also remove the long running and valid criticism levelled at the use of this controversial fund.
Malcolm Parkin.
Gamekeepers Road,
Kinnesswood,
Kinross.
Why so gloomy and doomy?
Sir, – TV weather forecasters are forever telling us that we are in for misty and murky weather.
It is their favourite phrase, their mantra.
I wish they would mix it up a bit and use other phrases such as overcast and gloomy, or bleary and blurry, cloudy and grey or even smoggy and foggy.
After all, forecasting is not an art form – more educated guesswork – and we need to be cheered up by different phrases even if the weather remains awful.
Donald P McDonald.
10 Rose Terrace,
Perth.
