Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The perceptive letter of Michael C. Smith of Threapmuir (March 2) on the disappearance of so many bird species here was worth a close read.
His condemnation of ongoing singular prejudice in favour of raptors by the RSPB is worthy of support.
From the RSPB to the credulous public comes the dubious message that intense agriculture rather than raptor and corvid predation has been the death knell for our many moorland and wader birds, yet in the area of the Cleish Hills there is no agriculture at all.
In my boyhood the Cleish Hills teemed with curlews, peewits, redshanks and snipe whilst the lochs, Black, Lurg and Dow, had a full complement of coots, tufted and mallard ducks.
This incoming spring their presence will not delight us for they are gone. Now the area is solely patrolled by crows, buzzards and in the blanket blocks of conifers, the sparrowhawk.
Mr Smith is right to call for a balanced culling of the predominance of predatory bird species here and elsewhere.
If we do not control the predators their natural increase will result in their own starvation through the annihilation of their prey.
The RSPB will have brought about by reason of some skewed ideology the destruction of both the hunter and the hunted in our beloved local, bird life.
Alastair Harper.House of Gask,Lathalmond,by Dunfermline.
Should not be an excuse for witchphobia
Sir, – The horrific witchcraft murder of the young boy in London at the hands of his sister and her partner should not be used as an excuse for witchphobia.
The law is quite clear on the matter of witchcraft. It is illegal to discriminate on employment grounds or the provision of goods and services to people who hold witchcraft beliefs.
Witchcraft, like any other supernatural belief system, is entitled to respect and those who are anti-witchcraft can rightly be called witchphobic.
Ian Stewart.Convener, Atheist Scotland.33 Park Avenue,Dundee.
An arrogant statement
Sir, – Nick Clegg’s speech at the Scottish Lib Dem Conference shows that he and his party are ignorant of history and reality, simply because they have never had to cope with either.
His statement that “dockyards could be reopened as windfarm factories” shows an insulting arrogance about the fate of the Scottish shipbuilding industry under previous governments, as well as an inability to differentiate between a dockyard and a shipyard, plus a failure to grasp that the subsidised windfarm industry is thankfully coming to an end.
Deputy Prime Minister Clegg and his party are straight out of the Kenneth Grahame children’s story of 1908, where the wind was in the willows, and everyone lived happily ever after.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Missing point of campaign
Sir, – Re your article ‘SSPCA under fire again for ‘upsetting’ campaign literature’ (March 3).
The Coupar Angus parent who complained about the SSPCA’s fundraising and awareness-raising campaign lacks perspective.
His daughter may have been upset by the admittedly distressing image used but he should be explaining to her that some people are horrendously cruel to animals and why this is wrong.
Clearly the SSPCA would not produce such literature were it not effective and therefore the point has been somewhat missed as to why it was sent.
Regarding the comment that the tactics are not innovative, I myself have a background in promotion and would suggest this is disproved by the fact that there aren’t many campaigns such as this being discussed in the media.
I am sure the SSPCA would rather not have to campaign in this way but someone needs to speak up for cruelly-treated animals. Doubtless many more people will now be donating to help animals in need and as such the campaign has my full support.
David Christie.Meadowside,Ceres.
Good luck, Scotland
Sir, – I am glad to hear Donald Trump is willing to help preserve the natural beauty of Scotland by investing in efforts to stop ‘windsprawl’. I hope his interest continues here in Maine (USA) as our great state is known as “Vacationland”.
The turbines will destroy the tourism, sporting lodge, and guiding businesses which cannot survive when people are driven elsewhere to escape the industrial intrusions.
The wildlands need protection from subsidy-driven profiteers and people nearby deserve a quiet, remote outdoor experience. It is for the greater good that windsprawl is stopped in its tracks.
Good luck, Scotland, in stopping a proven scam.
Mike DiCenso.56 Taylor Street,Lincoln, Maine,USA.
Refreshing read
Sir, – Helen Brown’s article about car menaces (Friday, March 2) is both enlightening and refreshing.
As an octogenarian driver my annual mileage is less than 4,000 miles. I would presume this applies to most elderly drivers. Such low mileage would also partly explain the lower accident rate.
I have always thought, however, that a driving licence should not always automatically be issued at 70 years of age, nor every three years without some sort of proficiency test.
This could then be produced to insurance companies to persuade them to reduce or even cancel the excessive “age loading” they apply.
Could Age Concern or similar not press for this?
Robert Drummond.26 Helen Street,Arbroath.
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.