Today our correspondents discuss wild hares, putting Dundee on the world music map, the BP oil spill and, finally, renewable energy.
Mountain hares’ habitat put in danger Sir, I was disappointed to learn that approval has been granted for a wind farm at Calliachar near Loch Freuchie. Apart from spoiling such a beautiful landscape, this area seems to be a favoured spot for the mountain hares.
For many years, we have taken a trip there at the time of year when hares are in their winter white coats. We have seen dozens of them in groups – quite a wonderful sight.
The disturbance of this habitat will certainly affect this beautiful glimpse of nature. Other methods of power generation are simply not being explored, which is sad.
(Mrs) B. G. Kennedy.High Rising,8 Lochbank Road,Forfar.
Putting Dundee on world music map
Sir, In sharing your correspondent Garry Fraser’s enthusiasm for last Monday’s stunning Caird Hall concert by The National Youth of Orchestra of Scotland under the baton of French conductor Diego Masson with soprano Jane Irwin, a couple of further points could be made.
First, their very ambitious first-half presentation of Webern and Berg involving a steep learning process as Mr Fraser put it (August) was made easier for some of us by checking out the very funny family programme notes about these difficult pieces on the NYOS website.
The other point is that the acoustics of Caird Hall are perfect for such music. It is not surprising that the legendary Estonian conductor Neeme Jarvi rated the Caird Hall as the best in Europe in terms of acoustics.
The challenge is how to build on that reputation and get audience numbers up. If that means events like Monday’s NYOS concert have to be cross-subsidised by snippets of classical pop and Lesley Garrett from Loose Women performing a Dundee opt-out from The Last Night of The Proms, so be it. We all must make compromises.
No doubt the £15,000 that Dundee City Council is being asked to pay for a giant screen for City Square will be worth the money if that helps put Dundee back on the world music map.
I cannot wait for the NYOS Jazz Collective in Montrose.
Neil Robertson.4 Glamis Terrace,Dundee.
Dig deep for energy needs
Sir, I enjoy reading your letters page and wish it were bigger, particularly on a Saturday when we have lost the enjoyable articles from Fleet Street and eagerly await the columnist you will find to keep up with your always excellent writers on the other days of the week.
Your correspondents are usually correct in their views, particularly concerning the American posturing over BP. My friends in the oil industry confirm that everyone responsible for the BP disaster was not the Briton who heroically shouldered all the blame but citizens of America.
We cannot rely on green solutions to our need for energy. It suits politicians at all levels to say this but it is not true. The obvious solution is to make use of the hundreds of years of coal supply we have under our feet and produce clean-coal generators for which we already have the technology.
Robert Lightband.40 Clepington Court,Dundee.
Xenophobia drove Gulf claims
Sir, It is now clear that most things will be back to normal in the Gulf within a year the beaches before Christmas, fishing in two months and the shellfish industry in two years.
The oil is rapidly biodegrading and being eaten by microbes and half of the 80,000 square miles of federal waters previously closed to fishermen have already been re-opened.
Scientists such as marine expert Dr Simon Boxall say, “Tony Hayward was correct when he said the spill was the equivalent of a drop in an Olympic-sized swimming pool”.
Another scientist, Ivor van Heerden, was quoted, “There never was an environmental disaster. There was a lot of media hype but no evidence to justify it.”
The New York Times, Washington Post and Time Magazine all admit the President’s xenophobic ranting was ludicrous, but Hayward should not expect an apology.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Invest in renewables
Sir, I share Robert Potter’s amazement (August 4) at the endless correspondence hostile to renewable energy. Our oil and gas are in decline. Soon the same will be true of global supplies as China and India gobble up what’s left.
Before long, oil will be unaffordable, and we will depend for our gas on a very long pipeline controlled by the Kremlin. And as for coal, do we want to be at the mercy of another Arthur Scargill?
Currently, renewables and nuclear are our only options and should be invested in pronto.
(Dr) Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Warrington.