The week wraps up with letters focusing on Scotland’s beavers, the Dundee Scout Gang Show, nuclear power, and the choice facing voters.
Beavers have long history in Scotland
Sir,-It is unfortunate that Eric McVicar (April 5) in his call for a wildlife cull, demonstrates his lack of knowledge of some of the subject matter.
Beavers have been indigenous to Scotland for 97% of the last 12,000 years. They are a native species eradicated by man in Scotland some 400 years ago and their reintroduction is now in progress.
They have never been a non-indigenous invasive species which are destroying our native biodiversity. On the contrary, they are a native species increasing native biodiversity.
That the Tay beavers are Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) and not North American beavers (Castor canadensis) is not now significantly in dispute, despite initial scaremongering from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
I note the use of the term “so-called conservationists” but am unable to find an authoritative definition. But I gather from the tone that this is meant to be a deprecating label, which I deplore.
Perhaps Mr McVicar should visit www.beaversww.org, among other websites, to see and read the views of real and renowned conservationists who share similar views on the matter.
Mike Johnston.23 Burnside Court,Alyth.
Gang Show credit to youth
Sir,-Mr friends and I were not disappointed after our trip to see Dundee Gang Show in Whitehall Theatre.
The standard of entertainment was superb. Almost 100 youngsters of all ages performed as many as 16 scenes.
The people behind the stage are also to be congratulated on their speed. The costume changes were carried out with no delay to the performances.
We hear so much negativity about young folk but it was wonderful to see so many on the stage obviously enjoying performing.
Evelyn Taylor. 57 Service Road,Forfar.
Nuclear exaggeration
Sir,-I have followed with a mixture of amusement and despair the correspondence regarding the calamity at Fukushima.
The hysteria has now reached new depths of absurdity with the suggestion that we will need to consume iodine tablets by the bottle to survive.
With a half-life of eight days, the radio-iodine will be virtually all gone in a matter of months.
As for the fuel rods being “lethal for 250,000 years”, within a thousand years they will be comparable in radioactivity to uranium ore, veins of which occur on the coast near Dalbeattie, with no exclusion zone.
The situation at Fukushima is bad enough without the anti-nuclear brigade needing to exaggerate it with ridiculous assertions that only undermine their credibility.
(Dr) Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington.
Sleepwalking into power crisis
Sir,-I remember the Swinging Sixties, ban the bomb and flower power.
Today, however, the mantra is green energy and recycling to save the planet.
But fast forward 50 years. By that time the world population will have risen to 15 billion and there will be three billion cars. Oil will have run out so they will run on electricity.
Power shortages will be the norm in Britain because we had decided to depend on renewables and did not build new nuclear power plants. By that time we will be the new Third World. We should wake up before it is too late.
Joseph A. Peterson.2 Kilrymont Road,St Andrews.
Party policies merge into one
Sir,-What explains the list of so-called celebrities willing to endorse a political party in the Scottish Parliament election campaign? University of Dundee rector and actor Brian Cox has joined the fray, switching from Labour to the SNP and Alex Salmond.
One of the reasons may be that the differences between the parties on policy is getting narrower. The council tax is one example. Both SNP and Labour are now committed to keep it at the same level for two years.
The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives are broadly of the same persuasion, albeit they both want to give all pensioners at least a £200 rebate on what they already pay.
The public have difficulty in seeing what difference there is between the parties.
Little wonder the cult of personality has taken over to keep voters interested.
In fairness to Mr Cox, he has deeply held views on access to education and may have felt that the SNP have delivered on abolition of tuition fees.
I still hope though that for the next few weeks we can decide how to vote on the basis of what the various contenders stand for.
It is sad when a political contest is turned into some sort of popularity contest.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
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.