Sir, The utter futility of the nuclear arsenal at Faslane is again underlined by the twin tragedies in Ukraine and Gaza. In neither case was the protagonist deterred by the stockpiling of obscene armaments on the Clyde.
A few days ago, four well-intentioned protesters were arrested for their, sadly, unsuccessful attempt to block, delay or at least draw attention to, a convoy of missiles slinking surreptitiously through Glasgow around 3.30am.
Pointing a loaded gun at an individual very sensibly results in a mandatory jail sentence for the gunman.
Pointing 200 missiles in the direction of well, we don’t even know what their targets are is the stated policy of the Westminster Government, but, despite this being an all too clear threat not only to the survival of Scotland, but to civilisation itself, it carries no penalty, international or otherwise.
These weapons are obviously a non-deterrent.
They are decades past their “sell by” date and the first logical step towards their disposal is undoubtedly a “yes” vote in September.
Let’s do it!
Joseph G Miller. 44 Gardeners Street, Dunfermline.
Wrong to prey on the sick and vulnerable
Sir, Gordon Brown’s latest intervention in the referendum debate, raising fears that organ transplants and blood donations may be at risk after independence, is deeply offensive and totally without foundation.
Not only has the NHS blood and transplant authority already confirmed that current arrangements would continue, there already exist reciprocal agreements with other nations, including the Republic of Ireland.
Dr Izhar Khan, Consultant Nephrologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, has previously countered fears, stating that as a kidney specialist he works with professionals across Europe and has no doubt that transplants will continue to be provided on the same basis after independence.
On a different note, in 2013, of all the UK nations, Scotland had the highest rate of organ donor registrations. Initiatives taken by the Scottish Government and transplant authorities have improved awareness.
To prey on the vulnerable and sick with such false claims is stooping to a new low. I would ask Gordon Brown to immediately retract, apologise and allay the fears of families currently on the transplant waiting list, and to the wider public.
Dr Catriona Pagliari. Consultant Radiologist, Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Celebrity take on referendum irrelevant
Sir, I have a great deal of respect for Val McDermid as a writer (though a little too gruesome at times) and a person.
She’s gutsy, funny and intelligent. However, I have no interest in Val’s views on the referendum, nor those of any other frequently quoted “celebrity” writers, musicians, sportspersons, entertainers etc most of whom live outside Scotland and have no vote.
The opinion of such folk, many of whom live a rarified and economically cushioned lifestyle, is unlikely to have any bearing on my vote and the result of the referendum is likely to impact on my life more severely than theirs.
I would be grateful, therefore, if the media would spare me (and others) the thoughts of famous people on the referendum. They are irrelevant to the debate.
Monique S Sanders. Giffordtown, Ladybank.
Not all ogres as some would have us believe
Sir, While travelling up the A9 recently I noticed a St George’s Cross flag flying from the much-debated Beauly/Denny power line. This is incongruous to the independence debate, but a reminder, nevertheless, that the English are not all ogres, as some in favour of independence would have us believe.
The Englishman (person) who erected this flag was no doubt returning some of the banter that flows between Scotland and England.
Incidentally, a wee bit further up the road I was amused by a poster which read: “Proud to be Scottish and delighted to be United.”
Willie Robertson. Grianan, Lynton, Stanley, Perthshire.
Why should we have to vote down minority?
Sir, The closer the referendum gets the more sickened I am becoming listening to politicians making claims based on assumptions rather than facts.
In fact, why should I have to vote at all? I am happy with the status quo, as are many Scots. So why should we have to turn out to vote against a minority’s dream?
It is surely the responsibility of the Yes campaigners to prove that more than half of all Scots want independence. Once they can prove this then they have a justifiable case to take the country to a vote.
A Bruce. Auchterarder.
Meaningless figures
Sir, I noticed in Monday’s Courier we were again being told that the Little Raith windfarm “produces enough electricity to power 14,500 homes each year”.
What does “each year” mean? Does it power 14,500 this year and a different 14,500 next year?
More importantly, what does powering a home mean?
No windfarm can power a home by itself because no wind means no electricity.
Does this statistic mean that Little Raith actually generates in a year the electrical energy used by 14,500 homes? Or that at its peak output, it meets the needs of 14,500 homes?
If the latter, is that the need in summer, winter, on average or what?
The merits of wind turbines are debatable, to say the least. It’s important that quantitative claims for their performance are meaningful.
Cllr Dave Dempsey. Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay Ward, 7 Carlingnose Park, North Queensferry.
A better outcome for much less money
Sir, I have real sympathy for the businesses highlighted in your lead article in Saturday’s Courier. Just imagine how much worse it could get with the council’s proposal of demolishing Perth City Hall.
Years of noise, dust and inconvenience to those businesses round the square and for what? To produce an empty space in place of a fine building which has stood for more than a hundred years and is still in remarkably good order but has sadly been unused for the best part of 10 years.
The council talks of investing millions in the city centre as if it was their own money, when what they really mean is they have spent millions of our money.
The projected cost of demolition is around £4 million while a fraction of this sum could be invested to resurrect the City Hall so that it had a useful function in the community once again with the added bonus of increasing the footfall in the city centre.
Michael Smith. The Dovetails, Bridge of Cally.
Need to get back to basics to see an improvement
Sir, It has been announced that Tesco’s profit and customer numbers have fallen in the past year and recent industry data shows Tesco appears to have lost more than one million customer visits a week, worth £25m in sales.
This does not surprise me. In this age of austerity, customers are looking at more than prices when they are shopping. They are also looking for customer service and for far too long Tesco have dominated the market with some arrogance, poor customer service and not nearly enough staff serving at checkouts, almost as if they expect that these people should shop at their stores.
If Tesco want to see an improvement in sales they have to get back to basics and put customers first. Something they are clearly not doing if they are losing one million customervisits a week.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
The reopening of station is seen as a no-brainer
Sir, Re The Courier article on Friday (July 18), I was surprised to hear that Fife Council knows so little about the campaign to reopen Newburgh train station.
I run a business in Newburgh with an international clientele and I can assure you the campaign is being talked about all over the world following exposure on our website and Facebook page.
Without exception the idea is considered a no-brainer. Common sense prevailed, with the help of the energetic backing of The Courier, when the Tay Road Bridge tolls were abolished in 2008. May we assume that the council will, belatedly, have the vision to make sure it prevails once again now?
Alison Mountain. Big Cat Textiles, 3 Clinton Street, Newburgh.
How long would it take workers to earn this?
Sir, How long would it take for a hard-working man or woman (ie the grafters of this world), to earn £975,000?
A young Irishman hit a ball with a stick for four days, at Hoylake, and earned(?) this amount.
There’s something wrong somewhere!
E Smith. Monifieth.