Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I read with interest Dr Kerby’s statement: ”I strongly believe in genetic modification. There is no evidence the technology is unsafe.” (The Courier, September 21). How ironic that two days earlier an independent study published in a peer-reviewed science journal finds a clear link between a GM diet and adverse health effects.
How ironic that two days earlier an independent study published in a peer-reviewed science journal finds a clear link between a GM diet and adverse health effects.
A French study has thrown up concerns about the safety of some GM foods following tests on animals.
The usual pro-GM suspects are already queuing up to discredit the study, but they’ll have a hard time. It covers a two-year period rather than the three months favoured in many previous GM industry studies.
It also adds to a list of over 30 other animal studies showing toxic or allergenic problems with genetically engineered foods.
I also read with scepticism Dr Kerby’s statement: “We are now in a world where GM has a massive positive impact on food production, especially in less-developed countries.”
GM crops are plagued with superweeds resistant to some herbicides and which therefore now require the application of ever nastier chemicals. Some farmers have even resorted to hand-weeding.
As far as less-developed countries are concerned, one only has to look at the experience of India to see what a mess GM crops have created.
If it wasn’t for the financial muscle, lobbying power and sheer hype of the companies concerned, GM crops would now be a discredited and dying industry.
There are better non-GM alternatives available, ones which work with nature rather than against it and they don’t soak up the huge amounts of public money required to keep the GM bandwagon rolling.
Peter Romilly.4 Westwood Terrace,Newport.
Sir, – The RSPB criticises the Scottish Government for issuing a few licences to cull fish-eating birds and thus give some protection to our valuable fish stocks.
Duncan Orr-Ewing, the RSPB’s head of species, unbelievably suggests that fishery managers use shelters for fish to escape from predators! Does he think that cormorants ”bomb” our salmon and trout?
Europe’s 1.7 million cormorants consume around 300,000 tons of fish annually, resulting in many fisheries becoming barely viable. A simple solution would be give cormorants 100% protection below the high water mark of their marine environment and no protection inland.
Many people are becoming aware that the RSPB’s policies of protecting predators such as pine martens, cormorants, big gulls, crows and buzzards is now doing more damage to the biodiversity of our wildlife than the Victorian persecution of raptors.
We know that fish-eating birds eat fish, buzzards kill peewits, partridge etc and the big gulls eat ducklings, leverets and any other juvenile that they come across.
The RSPB needs a rapid reality check, otherwise it will be deservedly ridiculed as a conservation organisation.
Michael C. Smith.Threapmuir Farm,Cleish, Kinross.
Sir, – Over the years Seaview House has played an historic role in Monifieth: as the home of the JF Lowe foundry owners and their apprentices, then providing accommodation for primary pupils as the numbers became too great for the original Monifieth Primary School before Seaview School and its recent replacement were built.
Currently the building, the property of Angus Council, lies vacant, waiting for a purchaser. As a frequent user of the right of way which passes between Seaview School and Seaview House I noticed that boarding had fallen from a first-floor window of the latter and that a nearby balcony meant access could be gained endangering both those who might try to enter and the building itself.
My concern was passed by the Access office to the property department and, within two days, the senior maintenance technician in charge contacted me to tell me of the steps which had been taken to secure the windows on the three floors of the house.
He contacted me again when further security measures had been installed.
I wish to record my appreciation of the speed and courtesy of the response to my concerns and the quality of the steps taken to safeguard this historic building.
Marianna Buultjens.7 Queen Street,Monifieth.
Sir, – As an expatriate Scot (and Red Lichtie) not entitled to vote in the referendum issue, but who is an avid follower of The Courier from afar, I’m a little puzzled at Mr Bell’s letter (September 20). If, as he says, ”The privilege of voting within a democracy brings with it an appreciation of responsibility for and accountability to the country. Such attributes do not seem apparent within our present society”, then surely the conclusion to be drawn is that those already entitled to vote are to blame for present attitudes?
The corollary is that perhaps only the teenagers he mentions in his letter should vote in the referendum…
Mike Blair.Holt,Norfolk.
Sir, – The Woodland Trust tell us that autumn is expected to arrive later this year as they have had fewer reports of ripe berries and turning leaves.
I thought autumn was already here, with some of the lowest summer temperatures being reported and ground frost now affecting some areas.
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
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.