Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has urged Alex Salmond to “stand up to Souter” re the consultation exercise on same-sex marriages (Courier, March 16). Brian Souter is a committed Christian and a significant donor to SNP party funds, and Mr Rennie fears that the SNP will give in to the campaign for “traditional values” to be upheld.
Anyone who does the number crunching on Christians in Scotland (those who follow the teachings of both Old and New Testament) will realise both Mr Rennie and Mr Salmond have a lot to consider before the “consultation” result is announced.
The facts are that, according to the 2001 census, 65% declared themselves Christian in Scotland this may not be reflected in church-going terms but anyone who declares themselves a Christian is going to be very concerned about any proposed same-sex marriage.
A recent poll reported in The Courier that 67% of Scots were against the same-sex marriage proposal.
In December 2011, Gordon Wilson a Christian and former leader of the SNP regarded the consultation on same-sex marriages as an “act of folly” which could be detrimental to the independence referendum.
Why could this affect the referendum? I suggest that committed Christians, whose views are ignored in the consultation results, would be more likely to use a “conscience” vote in the referendum as they would not trust the SNP in other matters.
This is why the SNP may delay the final decision on same-sex marriage until after the referendum in 2014.
Whatever the result and timing of the consultation on same-sex marriages, many Christians will already have made up their minds as to how they will vote in a referendum on independence.
Philip Kearns.47 Grove Road,Dundee.
Will those who lead us take responsibility?
Sir, – Reference your issue of March 16, and news a daffodil grower cannot find pickers for his early flowering crop. They are all in England, where the crop is late.
Did he contact the local Jobcentre? We are told (quite correctly) that there tens of thousands unemployed; many are young, fit school leavers, who may have welcomed the chance for a bit of healthy outdoor work. Or not?
David Puttnam in the article, Failed generation, tells us that me and my generation wasted all the world’s resources, leaving little for the present.
He doesn’t mention the widespread greed and corruption within the governance of most African countries (maybe his UN connection prevents this) and the aid which has been poured on to that continent over the past ‘wasteful’ decades.
There is plenty of water on that continent it requires better distribution.
He fears an upsurge of ‘right-wing’ activity and ignores ‘left-wing’ activity. Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Minh and their Communist parties were just as bad as Hitler, Tojo and Mussolini. The former came to power as a result of serious injustice, and murdered as many as the latter.
His reference to climate change is a foolish (in my opinion) irrelevance.
Finally, some of our farmers are fearful of losing a local fodder resource. Local distillers, afraid of contravening CO2 emission laws, are going to start using perfectly livestock-edible by-product grain as energy producing fuel. What nonsense.
Will the present generation of governments take responsibility for the utter mess they are making just now for their future populations? I think not. No one makes mistakes these days.
A glimmer of hope. The Cockenzie coal-fired power station is to be shut down but is to be replaced by a conventional gas-fired one. So much for wind turbines!
A T Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
Need to spell out what to do
Sir, – Congratulations on your excellent interview with David Puttnam (March 16). Why are the British media so reluctant to talk about climate change? I wonder if it is because most of us, from leaders to consumers, do not want to know about it. Lord Puttnam has done well to bring it to the forefront.
Of course, one needs as well to spell out what we should be doing to avert the catastrophe he (rightly, in my view) expects: we can start by avoiding plane and car travel whenever possible.
To find out more, why not come to the meeting of Dundee Transition Town at West Church, Perth Road, on March 23 at 12.30?
Antony Black.Emeritus professorin the History ofPolitical Thought, School of Humanities,University of Dundee.
Police would not be liable
Sir, – I am sorry to disillusion your correspondent George K McMillan but after a professional lifetime in the Scottish criminal justice system I can assure him that there is no way “the police would be liable for court costs” in the event of a failed speeding prosecution.
Firstly, the police don’t prosecute in Scotland the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is Scotland’s sole public prosecuting authority.
Secondly, there is simply no provision in Scottish criminal law for the award of court costs against the police. It is theoretically possible to seek damages from the police in the event of a failed prosecution but Section 170 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 places formidable hurdles in the path of anyone who tries to do so.
The act is available online should Mr McMillan or anyone else wish to consult it.
(Dr) David B Griffiths.41 Haston Crescent,Perth.
What about the neighbours?
Sir, – Regarding recent press coverage about radioactive particles on the shore at Dalgety Bay, I see that the MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy is demanding that the MoD start cleaning up the contamination.
Might I be so bold as to enquire whether any testing has been carried out at Dalgety Bay’s neighbours, Inverkeithing, Aberdour, Burntisland and Kinghorn?
Furthermore, where is our MP?
S Purvis.59 West Leven Street,Burntisland.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.