This morning’s letters focus on the legacy of modern warfare, football coverage on TV, and global warming.
Horrific legacy of US uranium missiles Sir,-Alan Hinnrichs (July 14) gives an outline of the human and social realities arising from the military invasion of Iraq by the United States, assisted by the Blair/Brown fawn club.
He did not mention the 4.5 million Iraqi orphans in a state with the capacity to provide care for less than one thousand.
Many independent scientists have shown that it has been the uranium-coated shells used by the invaders on their quest for weapons of mass destruction which are the real WMD, leaving a horrid legacy of radioactive dust and soil, to carry on being ingested by animals and people via food, water and air with cruel consequences.
The UK Uranium Weapons Network, campaigning for a ban on these actually illegal munitions, have submitted a report to the Chilcot Inquiry on the conduct of the war.
This points out the UK’s failure to clean up its uranium contamination and criticises the US for withholding information on deployment of different shell types.
Meanwhile, Western politicians and their nuclear industry chums, who hold sway over the international health agencies, construct denials to allow business to continue as usual.
Big oil interests are more than pleased with their progress in Iraq and look forward to a return to the glory days in pre-1979 Iran.
Arthur Jarrett.45 Naughton Road,Wormit.
Cash contrasts within football
Sir,-It was hardly surprising, as you reported, that the BBC attracted substantially more viewers for their coverage of the World Cup than their rivals ITV.
It is a regular comparison, as the BBC, funded by the television licence payer, appears to have unlimited cash.
They were able to send an army of pundits and back-up staff to the World Cup finals.
Meanwhile, ITV had to be more prudent, as their income derives mainly from advertising and many people, while accepting this revenue is essential, found their adverts a turn-off and spoilt their viewing of the event.
Still on football, what a sorry state of affairs at Dundee FC. Two weeks until the start of the new season and Gordon Chisholm has only 13 players at his disposal.
Gordon and Billy Dodds may be regretting leaving the comfort of Queen of the South for Dens Park and who could blame them?
R. H. L. Mulheron.28 Cowgate,Tayport.
Gambling on future
Sir,-Dr Stephen Moreton (July 14) misses the essential point about all the global warming arguments, which is, do we want to bankrupt ourselves now, for something that may or may not happen in 100 years’ time?
By the time the truth of global warming has become self evident, so much else will have happened to us that it could quite possibly be irrelevant.
For a start, we might not even be occupying the planet by then, having been wiped out by a plague or by some massive global disaster.
It is possible to look just too far to the future.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Arrogance of climate scientists
Sir,-I find Dr Stephen Moreton’s sneering attitude to “non-scientist” Robert Dow both patronising and insulting (July 14).
Mr Dow was a well-respected headmaster of a secondary school and has the intellect to look at the global warming issue.
I am a Scottish chartered accountant, with no scientific degree, so am I not allowed to comment?
The climate change case is not indisputable.
Polar bears are endangered? Sea levels are rising? The ice caps are melting? The Himalayan glaciers would vanish within 25 years?
These claims were discredited.
Global temperatures have not risen for 11 years and Professor Latif, an IPCC contributor, admitted that temperatures would not rise for another 30 or 40 years.
Can I suggest Dr Moreton gets on his bike and goes to China and India where new coal-powered stations are opening up every week to drive their economies?
China has 90 years’ supply of coal so is unlikely to toe the CO2 reduction line.
Dr Moreton would be better campaigning to abolish the gigantic subsidies on wind turbines and use the £500 million every year to invest in research and development to quickly find green alternatives to coal, gas and oil.
Dare I point out that nuclear energy supplies 77% of France’s energy needs and does not emit CO2?
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
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.