Readers’ letters: UK is being held to ransom by warmongers like Trump

As you point out, the International Energy Agency has suggested working from home, driving slower to save fuel, using public transport, car sharing and avoiding flying where there’s a choice.

This is good advice anyway so perhaps something good is coming out of this “crisis”. During Covid scientists measured a significant drop in pollution levels around the world. In the first full month of lockdown, April 2020, above average sunshine levels were experienced everywhere in the UK on what was the sunniest April on record. We can change behaviour to respect our environment more, but it seems we need coercion to do so.

The UK government chooses to ignore the IEA’s advice, claiming that we have adequate energy reserves and refinery capacity, but under five days’ supply of gas is pitiful compared to our European neighbours, and Scotland’s only refinery was deemed surplus to requirements.

Despite the wake-up call from Ukraine, the UK has not moved fast enough to invest in energy security. We should have sought to harness more North Sea oil and gas while transitioning to clean energy. We remain wholly reliant on international markets when warmongers like Trump, Netanyahu and Putin can affect our lives too easily.

We should not be held to ransom by these bullies and use our ample energy resources to provide our own energy needs while respecting the environment.

Neil Anderson, Edinburgh

Alien life

Ian Petrie (Letters, 20 March) commented on The Scotsman's picture of the Milky Way printed the previous day, alleging mankind's self-importance.

He argued that there must be intelligent life elsewhere. Perhaps, but so far there is no evidence of that, not even a radio signal.

For all we know, we could be alone in this vast universe; the more one knows about our evolution, the more one wonders at the evolutionary accidents that led to our existence. Mankind's emergence was not inevitable, not is it inevitable that other intelligences exist.

Then Mr Petrie asks "where is God in all this?” William of Occam would point out the presumption involved in that question. Mr Petrie also alleges that we live in an “intelligent creation” (that’s why he believes that it must be the work of an “intelligent creator”). However, cosmologists could tell him that no god was necessary; the universe created itself, emerging from nothing.

Steuart Campbell, Edinburgh

Democratic deficit

Inter alia, the regrettable failure of the Assisted Dying Bill goes to show the toom tabard nature of so many so-called democratically sourced political manifestos. Had that bill been instead the subject of a national referendum the result may have been the same, but at least we the people would have spoken.

Sadly, as matters stand, that gold standard cannot be claimed. At the UK, Scottish and local government levels the will of an informed people is far too rarely requested. We have democracy in name, but not in practice.

The Athenian Greeks recognised this and turned instead to sortition: politicians selected much as British juries are formed, and for a set period of time after which members stand down, duty well done. No more political parties, career politicians or ignored manifestos.

Let Holyrood be reconstituted accordingly if a trial with a local authority proves both viability and desirability.

Tim Flinn, Edinburgh

Palliative care

What struck me in watching last week’s assisted dying debate – beyond the intermittent internet connection, a sign of just how many were watching – was that every MSP at Holyrood passionately agreed: palliative care is a matter of national urgency.

Liam MacArthur has made clear that assisted dying legislation will return.

Certainly the strength of that request would vanish if we finally addressed Scotland’s palliative care postcode lottery. Instead of waiting for another cycle of debate on lethal drugs, MSPs can act now to sort out the care so many are lacking.

Treat the suffering. Fund palliative care. End the lottery. Be a compassionate Scotland.

Dr Matthew Doré, Hon Secretary for the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland

Good riddance

Wednesday will mark the end of careers in the Scottish Parliament for around one-third of the current MSPs. One can only hope that the new influx will contribute to a far greater extent and to the benefit of all of the electorate.

It is hard to shed a tear for the departure of the likes of Humza Yousaf, Shona Robison, Fiona Hyslop, John Mason and a hopeless Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone for example. They all leave with substantial pay-offs and fabulous pension plans, and more fool us.

Richard Allison, Edinburgh

Smaller Holyrood

Reform UK’s plan to cut the number of Holyrood constituencies strikes me as clever. Many voters are vexed by our parliament’s excesses in recent years, without wanting it abolished.

Moreover, the move would bring about far greater proportionality, with fewer small-party voters effectively disenfranchised. Which is why the Bundestag-style additional member system was adopted in the first place.

George Morton, Rosyth, Fife

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