The Courier’s week begins with criticism of Fife Council, praise for the police, analysis of the effects of Japanese radiation and awe at the astonishing longevity of the Lady of the Lowes.
Fife councillors’ subservience to paid officials
Sir,-May I congratulate you on your excellent editorial (March 31) which described everything that is wrong with local government in Fife.
If you care to carry out a bit of research, you will find that, in the majority of council decisions, the decision has already been made by the relevant council officers and the majority of councillors merely rubber stamp the decision.
Has it never occurred to them that they are there to represent the taxpayers and not prostrate themselves before the non-elected officials?
Allan Murray.44 Napier Road,Glenrothes.
Show gratitude to police officers
Sir,-I have been reading so much about the police once again being blamed for not dealing properly with protesters. In my view, they have a tough job and surely we should be, at the very least, giving them our support.
I note that in the USA, soldiers in uniform are often stopped by the public and thanked for what they are doing.
Perhaps we could adopt this idea here and thank the police instead of blaming them when others break the law.
Iain Craig.Adelaide Place,Dundee.
Ongoing threat from radiation
Sir,-The levels of radioactivity that have reached the UK from the stricken Japanese nuclear reactors may be very low at present but the government would be wise to stock up on iodine tablets for the entire population in case the situation worsens in the long term.
There is already talk that it could take many years to eliminate the danger.
The plutonium fuel rods will be lethal for 250,000 years and if it takes that long to sort things out, we will probably be eating several bottles of iodine tablets a day to survive.
Angus Ramsay.34 Kings Road,Rosyth.
Do not overlook UK coal reserves
Sir,-Why is it that when presenting their case, the environmental lobby seem to abandon all simple logic?
Mr Allan (March 31) suggests we do not rely on diminishing fossil fuels or gamble with nuclear power.
We in these islands are sitting on millions of tons of coal and have the technology to burn it cleanly.
On the nuclear gamble, I would bet that there is less chance of catastrophe here than that Mother Nature will bless us with the wind required to turn the monstrosities that blight our landscape.
The public pay twice for anything that comes from the wind farms, by way of subsidies, just like paying tax on VAT for petrol.
Biomass? I’d like to meet anyone who can grow a tree faster than I can burn it.
Then there is undersea and hydro, my personal preferences, but what of the fishermen, or those displaced by dams?
Given these observations, I would not think it unreasonable to suggest that coal or nuclear offer our best solutions to energy supply.
Before environmentalists rear up, I would ask them what percentage of the world pollution we contribute compared to China, America and India and what difference it would make if we let our lights go out?
Garry Stewart.Springbank,Clayholes,Carnoustie.
Destruction of natural order
Sir,-The first thing I do on a Saturday morning after I collect The Courier is to read a Man With Two Dogs.
Recently, I admired the sense of the last paragraph of his column which warned that if we go on as at present, our environment, or what is left of it, will exist no more.
I give an example. Forty years ago, my wife and I came to live at St Martins.
What appealed to us was the wildlife such as pheasants, deer and flocks of birds.
Alas, today, these wildlife treats are now nonexistent and I blame the car and the way we live.
Neil G. Sinclair.New Fleurs,St Martins,Balbeggie.
A Lady worthy of our respect
Sir,-In reply to Mr Robertson’s criticism of contributors to the osprey blog, I was one of the people who expressed my feelings in poetry.
Last year was an extraordinary one on the nest at Loch of the Lowes and there was worldwide interest.
While I knew little about ospreys before then, I now have quite a knowledge. That being so, I am not an expert, neither am I a poet.
I agree that the SWT should prioritise their work towards the protection of wildlife and not use resources to run a chat site for the bloggers.
The SWT blog site is now closed to people who wish to comment but, subsequently, two new sites have been introduced for people who wish to chat and receive information on wildlife.
It was difficult last year to trawl through the hundreds of comments on the site but these comments were important to the bloggers.
Mr Robertson should, as I do these days, visit the SWT site for the osprey news.
Then, if he feel in need of a laugh or some human chat, log on to one or other of the two new sites.
None of the letters that I’m sure will be sent in reply to Mr Robertson, should detract from the arrival of this remarkable bird, who continues to baffle experts and defy nature.
We should marvel at her achievements and her longevity and show her the respect that she deserves.
Marjorie Edgar.1 Caldwell Acre,Kingskettle.
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.