Letters 2018 underlining indicates deletion by editor; square brackets indicate insertion by editor
To The Scotsman (31 Dec 2018) published 2 Jan 2019
It is true that the proportion of CO2 entering the atmosphere now from man-made sources is small (Letter from Geoff Moore, 31 December), but it accumulates. Before the industrial revolution, CO2 emissions and sinks were in balance. But since then, the extra emissions from burning fossil fuels have not been absorbed and so stay in the atmosphere. That has resulted in the amount of atmospheric CO2 rising from about 280 parts per million (ppm) to the present 408 ppm. The result in climate change.
It is true that the proportion of CO2 entering the atmosphere now from man-made sources is small (Letter from Geoff Moore, 31 December), but it accumulates. Before the industrial revolution, CO2 emissions and sinks were in balance. But since then, the extra emissions from burning fossil fuels have not been absorbed and so stay in the atmosphere. That has resulted in the amount of atmospheric CO2 rising from about 280 parts per million (ppm) to the present 408 ppm. The result in climate change.
To Edinburgh Evening News (29 Dec 2018)
It is true that the Government did apologies to the families of the pilots of the RAF Chinook that crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994 ('Irish sympathy over crash showed thaw in relations', 28 December), however, that was not well founded.
In my book Chinook Crash, I show how the pilots, by mistake, flew the helicopter into the side of a hill. The RAF marshalls were justified in accusing them of negligence, although for a reason that did not really explain the accident.
It is true that the Government did apologies to the families of the pilots of the RAF Chinook that crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994 ('Irish sympathy over crash showed thaw in relations', 28 December), however, that was not well founded.
In my book Chinook Crash, I show how the pilots, by mistake, flew the helicopter into the side of a hill. The RAF marshalls were justified in accusing them of negligence, although for a reason that did not really explain the accident.
To The Scotsman (29 Dec 2018) not published
As the author of the only book (Chinook Crash) wholly dedicated to solving the crash of the RAF Chinook on the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994, I feel it necessary to correct your claim that the aircraft 'fell from the sky' ('Co-operation on Kintyre Chinook crash welcomed', 28 December).
In fact the pilots flew the helicopter at full speed into a hillside, a mistake for which they alone were responsible. Their subsequent exoneration by the Government was another mistake, still requiring correction.
As the author of the only book (Chinook Crash) wholly dedicated to solving the crash of the RAF Chinook on the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994, I feel it necessary to correct your claim that the aircraft 'fell from the sky' ('Co-operation on Kintyre Chinook crash welcomed', 28 December).
In fact the pilots flew the helicopter at full speed into a hillside, a mistake for which they alone were responsible. Their subsequent exoneration by the Government was another mistake, still requiring correction.
To The Scotsman (27 Dec 2018) not published
Rev Dr Donald M Macdonald (Letter, 27 December) claimed that I 'interpreted a Biblical text (Matt 10:34) out of context. Yet he himself ignored the following verses where Jesus is recorded as expanding on the above verse. There he declares that he came to produce family conflict (i.e. civil war). Clearly this is not a message of 'peace and goodwill to all men'; there is no record of those words from Jesus' mouth. Moreover Jesus told his disciples not to preach to Gentiles (Matt 10:5); his message was for the Jews alone.
As for swords, in preparation for the night in Gethsemane he told his disciples to arm themselves with swords.
If anyone still think that Jesus was bent on peace, let them read his warnings about the destruction of the Temple and subsequent chaos (e.g. Matt 24 with its 'abomination of desolation').
In any case, Jesus' basic message was always 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (e.g. Matt 3:2).
The Queen was mistaken and Dr Macdonald is merely an apologist for a conventional but mistaken interpretation.
Rev Dr Donald M Macdonald (Letter, 27 December) claimed that I 'interpreted a Biblical text (Matt 10:34) out of context. Yet he himself ignored the following verses where Jesus is recorded as expanding on the above verse. There he declares that he came to produce family conflict (i.e. civil war). Clearly this is not a message of 'peace and goodwill to all men'; there is no record of those words from Jesus' mouth. Moreover Jesus told his disciples not to preach to Gentiles (Matt 10:5); his message was for the Jews alone.
As for swords, in preparation for the night in Gethsemane he told his disciples to arm themselves with swords.
If anyone still think that Jesus was bent on peace, let them read his warnings about the destruction of the Temple and subsequent chaos (e.g. Matt 24 with its 'abomination of desolation').
In any case, Jesus' basic message was always 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' (e.g. Matt 3:2).
The Queen was mistaken and Dr Macdonald is merely an apologist for a conventional but mistaken interpretation.
To Edinburgh Evening News (25 Dec 2018) published 28 Dec 2018
Westminster is not the 'Mother of Parliaments' (Letter from Roberta Buchan, 24 December).
The phrase was coined by MP John Bright in 1865 when he described England [sic] as 'the mother of parliaments' because it gives birth to successive parliaments. In no sense is Westminster the mother of other parliaments, but it is the child of the state, being born again at each general election. It is the UK that is the 'mother', not Westminster.
Westminster is not the 'Mother of Parliaments' (Letter from Roberta Buchan, 24 December).
The phrase was coined by MP John Bright in 1865 when he described England [sic] as 'the mother of parliaments' because it gives birth to successive parliaments. In no sense is Westminster the mother of other parliaments, but it is the child of the state, being born again at each general election. It is the UK that is the 'mother', not Westminster.
To The Scotsman (24 Dec 2018) published 26 Dec 2018
In her Christmas message, The Queen wanted us to reflect on 'Jesus Christ's message of peace on earth and goodwill to all'. But her knowledge of the Gospels is as bad as that of most people, especially Christians.
In fact this was not Jesus' message; he explained that he came not to bring peace on earth, but 'a sword' (i.e. war) (Mat 10:34). Perhaps her majesty should consult the Archbishop of Canterbury before pronouncing on Biblical matters, although I'm not sure that would get the right answer.
In her Christmas message, The Queen wanted us to reflect on 'Jesus Christ's message of peace on earth and goodwill to all'. But her knowledge of the Gospels is as bad as that of most people, especially Christians.
In fact this was not Jesus' message; he explained that he came not to bring peace on earth, but 'a sword' (i.e. war) (Mat 10:34). Perhaps her majesty should consult the Archbishop of Canterbury before pronouncing on Biblical matters, although I'm not sure that would get the right answer.
To The Scotsman (22 Dec 2018) not published
Alexander McKay (Letter, 22 December) perhaps overlooks the fact that Mr Putin does not want the UK to hold another Brexit referendum in case we vote to stay in the EU. That would upset his plan to destroy the EU, which is a bulwark against his cold war against the West. The UK's separation would weaken the EU.
That is why he makes this hypocritical mischievous intervention. Russia may already have interfered in the 2016 referendum and encourage the 'Leave' vote.
A 'People's Vote' would not be held because some did not 'respect the result' but in the event that Parliament cannot reach a conclusion on the matter. The popular vote led to the present conundrum and only another such vote could solve it.
Alexander McKay (Letter, 22 December) perhaps overlooks the fact that Mr Putin does not want the UK to hold another Brexit referendum in case we vote to stay in the EU. That would upset his plan to destroy the EU, which is a bulwark against his cold war against the West. The UK's separation would weaken the EU.
That is why he makes this hypocritical mischievous intervention. Russia may already have interfered in the 2016 referendum and encourage the 'Leave' vote.
A 'People's Vote' would not be held because some did not 'respect the result' but in the event that Parliament cannot reach a conclusion on the matter. The popular vote led to the present conundrum and only another such vote could solve it.
To The Scotsman (21 Dec 2019) not published
On 15 December I wrote to you pointing out how delighted Russia would be to see the EU break up and that we should not be helping that to happen. The UK is a strong stabilising influence on the EU and the country that provides its interlanguage.
My view is supported by your report that Putin has spoken out against another Brexit referendum ('Putin accused of 'insulting' UK by speaking out against second vote', 21 December). He fears a reversal of the decision that would strengthen the EU, not weaken it. His aim after all is to destroy Western democratic influence in Europe. This is mischief-making on a grand scale. Good for David Milliband for drawing attention to this matter. Pity he has no influence in UK politics.
On 15 December I wrote to you pointing out how delighted Russia would be to see the EU break up and that we should not be helping that to happen. The UK is a strong stabilising influence on the EU and the country that provides its interlanguage.
My view is supported by your report that Putin has spoken out against another Brexit referendum ('Putin accused of 'insulting' UK by speaking out against second vote', 21 December). He fears a reversal of the decision that would strengthen the EU, not weaken it. His aim after all is to destroy Western democratic influence in Europe. This is mischief-making on a grand scale. Good for David Milliband for drawing attention to this matter. Pity he has no influence in UK politics.
To The Scotsman (15 Dec 2018) not published
More and more analysis shows what a good deal we had being a member of the European Union, a trading block of about 500 million people. Leavers' arguments boil down to xenophobia, nostalgia for a lost past and the idea that foreigners were running the UK. None of it rational or justified. The UK is a major influential participant in the EU, making decisions for us and every other EU state: an excellent democratic example of international cooperation for a peaceful world. Russia would be delighted to see the EU break up so we should not help that to happen.
The fankle that has now arisen in Parliament as to how to honour the referendum shows that extracting the UK from the EU is not easy and perhaps impossible. Mrs May's attempt to square a circle will fail. But what then? A new referendum might produce a majority for Remain, but what if it does not? The alternative (Leave) option(s) on a new ballot paper have to be practical and capable of being endorsed by Parliament. But what those could be is a mystery that would stump Solomon.
More and more analysis shows what a good deal we had being a member of the European Union, a trading block of about 500 million people. Leavers' arguments boil down to xenophobia, nostalgia for a lost past and the idea that foreigners were running the UK. None of it rational or justified. The UK is a major influential participant in the EU, making decisions for us and every other EU state: an excellent democratic example of international cooperation for a peaceful world. Russia would be delighted to see the EU break up so we should not help that to happen.
The fankle that has now arisen in Parliament as to how to honour the referendum shows that extracting the UK from the EU is not easy and perhaps impossible. Mrs May's attempt to square a circle will fail. But what then? A new referendum might produce a majority for Remain, but what if it does not? The alternative (Leave) option(s) on a new ballot paper have to be practical and capable of being endorsed by Parliament. But what those could be is a mystery that would stump Solomon.
To The Scotsman (14 Dec 2018) not published
George Wilson's argument (Letter, 13 December) may be correct in principle, but it was wrong in detail. He states that his hypothetical 'factory in the valley' requires a constant 30 MW of power (electricity). But in his windy day example, the factory suddenly requires only 27 MW, making nonsense of his subsequent analysis of surplus electricity.
George Wilson's argument (Letter, 13 December) may be correct in principle, but it was wrong in detail. He states that his hypothetical 'factory in the valley' requires a constant 30 MW of power (electricity). But in his windy day example, the factory suddenly requires only 27 MW, making nonsense of his subsequent analysis of surplus electricity.
To The Scotsman (10 Dec 2018) not published
Eric J Scott (Letter, 10 December) should look in the mirror and ask himself if he is not rejecting 'all truth claims' but his own and that his religious view 'trumps' all secular world views. Does he not seek to 'enforce' his own religious 'truth claims'?
The 'Christian understanding of the world' did indeed shape Western society for generations, but not after science showed how wrong it is. We have outgrown superstition and most people in the UK are no longer religious.
That being so, schools should be careful how they handle religion and keep it away from vulnerable young pupils, who should be left to make decisions about their beliefs when they are old enough to do so.
Would Mr Scott like the morality of the (Jewish) Ten Commandments imposed on the young? Most young people take on the moral compass of their parents and we all instinctively know what is right or wrong. Morality is not the preserve of religion.
Eric J Scott (Letter, 10 December) should look in the mirror and ask himself if he is not rejecting 'all truth claims' but his own and that his religious view 'trumps' all secular world views. Does he not seek to 'enforce' his own religious 'truth claims'?
The 'Christian understanding of the world' did indeed shape Western society for generations, but not after science showed how wrong it is. We have outgrown superstition and most people in the UK are no longer religious.
That being so, schools should be careful how they handle religion and keep it away from vulnerable young pupils, who should be left to make decisions about their beliefs when they are old enough to do so.
Would Mr Scott like the morality of the (Jewish) Ten Commandments imposed on the young? Most young people take on the moral compass of their parents and we all instinctively know what is right or wrong. Morality is not the preserve of religion.
To Edinburgh Evening News (8 Dec 2018) not published
The Rt Rev Russell Barr's Comment about Bethlehem ('From Bethlehem comes a new message that matters', 7 December) is misplaced.
If Jesus had been born there, he would have mentioned it, justifying his claims. But everyone knew he came from Galilee.
The idea that he was born in Bethlehem was invented by the evangelists Matthew and Luke to give Jesus an origin commensurate with his deification by the Early Church and to elevate him to that of a saviour god, equal to other contemporary saviour gods. Mark's earlier Gospel made no mention of Jesus origin and nor did John's Gospel, written it seems by 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'.
Matthew and Luke didn't even have the same story, with the holy family travelling in opposite directions.
The whole Birth Narrative, with all its shepherds, magi, massacre, star, etc is make believe and should not be taken seriously. This is the 'message that matters'.
The Rt Rev Russell Barr's Comment about Bethlehem ('From Bethlehem comes a new message that matters', 7 December) is misplaced.
If Jesus had been born there, he would have mentioned it, justifying his claims. But everyone knew he came from Galilee.
The idea that he was born in Bethlehem was invented by the evangelists Matthew and Luke to give Jesus an origin commensurate with his deification by the Early Church and to elevate him to that of a saviour god, equal to other contemporary saviour gods. Mark's earlier Gospel made no mention of Jesus origin and nor did John's Gospel, written it seems by 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'.
Matthew and Luke didn't even have the same story, with the holy family travelling in opposite directions.
The whole Birth Narrative, with all its shepherds, magi, massacre, star, etc is make believe and should not be taken seriously. This is the 'message that matters'.
To The Scotsman (7 Dec 2018) not published
Kenny MacAskill (''Scotland's Oil' may have to stay on the sea to avoid world meeting Easter Island's fate', 6 December) claimed that 'Neither science nor artificial intelligence can or will save us [from the consequences of burning fossil fuels].'
In fact, since technology got us into this mess, it can get us out of it. Several plans have been outlined that can cool the planet and stop it's temperature rising.
It is clear that appealing to all nations to stop CO2 emissions will not work. Like the Easter Islanders, who went on cutting down trees even though they knew the consequences, nations that rely on coal to generate electricity will not change their habits. Efforts to cut CO2 emissions are bound to fail and the only way to save the planet is to reduce insolation while efforts continue to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It's not either or; it's both. We have the technology to shade the planet, but who is going to arrange it? The UN?
Some talk of us adapting to the hotter world, but that will be almost impossible. Rising sea levels will inundate most major cities and threaten all coastal areas. Deserts will spread and forest will burn. We are trashing this planet and shouldn't look for another until we fix this one. The future looks bleak.
Kenny MacAskill (''Scotland's Oil' may have to stay on the sea to avoid world meeting Easter Island's fate', 6 December) claimed that 'Neither science nor artificial intelligence can or will save us [from the consequences of burning fossil fuels].'
In fact, since technology got us into this mess, it can get us out of it. Several plans have been outlined that can cool the planet and stop it's temperature rising.
It is clear that appealing to all nations to stop CO2 emissions will not work. Like the Easter Islanders, who went on cutting down trees even though they knew the consequences, nations that rely on coal to generate electricity will not change their habits. Efforts to cut CO2 emissions are bound to fail and the only way to save the planet is to reduce insolation while efforts continue to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It's not either or; it's both. We have the technology to shade the planet, but who is going to arrange it? The UN?
Some talk of us adapting to the hotter world, but that will be almost impossible. Rising sea levels will inundate most major cities and threaten all coastal areas. Deserts will spread and forest will burn. We are trashing this planet and shouldn't look for another until we fix this one. The future looks bleak.
To The Scotsman (29 Nov 2018) not published
Gavin Matthews of SOLAS ('Time for Christians to redeem the once unmentionable word "repentance"', 29 November) confuses Jesus' call for repentance with the Church's belief that salvation comes through faith in Jesus (Christ). John the Baptist and Jesus' calls for 'repentance for the remission of sins' was for people to gain entry to the imminent Kingdom of God. No word of needing faith in anyone, certainly not Jesus.
To claim that repentance needs to be matched with faith is inappropriately to project modern Christian faith back onto Jesus' mission.
Gavin Matthews of SOLAS ('Time for Christians to redeem the once unmentionable word "repentance"', 29 November) confuses Jesus' call for repentance with the Church's belief that salvation comes through faith in Jesus (Christ). John the Baptist and Jesus' calls for 'repentance for the remission of sins' was for people to gain entry to the imminent Kingdom of God. No word of needing faith in anyone, certainly not Jesus.
To claim that repentance needs to be matched with faith is inappropriately to project modern Christian faith back onto Jesus' mission.
To Edinburgh Evening News (21 Nov 2018) published 22 Nov 2018
Kezia Dugdale, in her column on 20 November, claimed that the Armistice marked the end of the First World War.
But an armistice is not a peace treaty. After the Armistice a state of war continued to exist between Germany and the Allies until 10 January 1920, when the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, signed in Paris on 28 June 1919, came into effect.
In his Comment column the same day, Rev Russell Barr made the same mistake.
Call me a pedant, but we will surely celebrate the 100th anniversary end of the War in January 2020.
Kezia Dugdale, in her column on 20 November, claimed that the Armistice marked the end of the First World War.
But an armistice is not a peace treaty. After the Armistice a state of war continued to exist between Germany and the Allies until 10 January 1920, when the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, signed in Paris on 28 June 1919, came into effect.
In his Comment column the same day, Rev Russell Barr made the same mistake.
Call me a pedant, but we will surely celebrate the 100th anniversary end of the War in January 2020.
To The Scotsman (20 Nov 2018) not publsihed
Edinburgh SNP MP Deidre Brock asked about safety failings at Faslane ('More than 500 safety failings at nuclear sub base', 20 November), but why would this be of relevance to people in North Edinburgh and Leith?
Shouldn't Ms Brock concentrate on matters that concern the community that elected her? One wonder what fellow SNP MP Brendan O'Hara thinks about this interference.
Edinburgh SNP MP Deidre Brock asked about safety failings at Faslane ('More than 500 safety failings at nuclear sub base', 20 November), but why would this be of relevance to people in North Edinburgh and Leith?
Shouldn't Ms Brock concentrate on matters that concern the community that elected her? One wonder what fellow SNP MP Brendan O'Hara thinks about this interference.
To Edinburgh Evening News (16 Nov 2018) published 20 Nov 2018
As Gus Logan claims (Letter, 15 November) most of the fallen in the First and Second World Wars were probably actually or nominally Christian or members of other faiths. But all the memorials seem to be Christian in nature and design (but not the Cenotaph in London) and the services entirely Protestant. What about the many Roman Catholics who died? How are they remembered?
However, It's not the faith of the fallen that matters here; in those days almost everyone accepted Christianity (less so in WW2 I think). It's the faith or lack of it of the present-day mourners that controls how the memorial ceremonies are conducted. It would be hypocritical of non-believers to commemorate the lives of the dead in a religious manner just because some of them may have been religious. We commemorate their sacrifice, not their religion.
As Gus Logan claims (Letter, 15 November) most of the fallen in the First and Second World Wars were probably actually or nominally Christian or members of other faiths. But all the memorials seem to be Christian in nature and design (but not the Cenotaph in London) and the services entirely Protestant. What about the many Roman Catholics who died? How are they remembered?
However, It's not the faith of the fallen that matters here; in those days almost everyone accepted Christianity (less so in WW2 I think). It's the faith or lack of it of the present-day mourners that controls how the memorial ceremonies are conducted. It would be hypocritical of non-believers to commemorate the lives of the dead in a religious manner just because some of them may have been religious. We commemorate their sacrifice, not their religion.
To The Scotsman (14 Nov 2018) published 15 Nov 2018
Regarding your report ('Civil rape case victor fronts bid to end 'confusing' not proven verdict', 14 November), you published a letter from me on this matter on 16 January 2016. How long is this debate going on?
I was supporting JP John Lawless's excellent summing up of the matter (your report that day). Charges have to be proved,either beyond reasonable doubt or on the balance of probabilities. So old Scots law was precise and logical.
The importation of (first) a 'not-guilty' verdict and (second) the 'guilty' verdict from England was a mistake and should not have been allowed. As Mr Lawless pointed out, no one knows whether or not an accused is in fact guilty or not-guilty. All a verdict finds is whether or not the prosecution have proved their case.
So the solution, to enhance Scots law and rationalise it, is to go back to just two verdicts: 'proven' or 'not proven'. The public should learn to understand these verdicts and their implications.
Regarding your report ('Civil rape case victor fronts bid to end 'confusing' not proven verdict', 14 November), you published a letter from me on this matter on 16 January 2016. How long is this debate going on?
I was supporting JP John Lawless's excellent summing up of the matter (your report that day). Charges have to be proved,either beyond reasonable doubt or on the balance of probabilities. So old Scots law was precise and logical.
The importation of (first) a 'not-guilty' verdict and (second) the 'guilty' verdict from England was a mistake and should not have been allowed. As Mr Lawless pointed out, no one knows whether or not an accused is in fact guilty or not-guilty. All a verdict finds is whether or not the prosecution have proved their case.
So the solution, to enhance Scots law and rationalise it, is to go back to just two verdicts: 'proven' or 'not proven'. The public should learn to understand these verdicts and their implications.
To Edinburgh Evening News (11 Nov 2018)
Your report ('Heart-felt tributes as the Capital remembers', 10 November) is mistaken. The Armistice was not the end of the First World War; it was only then cessation of hostilities.
The war did not actually end until 10 January 1920, when the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, came into effect. Please remember this.
Your report ('Heart-felt tributes as the Capital remembers', 10 November) is mistaken. The Armistice was not the end of the First World War; it was only then cessation of hostilities.
The war did not actually end until 10 January 1920, when the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, came into effect. Please remember this.
To The Scotsman (10 Nov 2018) not published
Was it ignorance or carelessness that caused you claim that November 1918 saw the end of the First World War (Leader, 10 November)?
Surely you know that, following the Armistice, a state of war continued to exist until 10 January 1920 when the Treaty of Versailles, signed in Paris on 28 June 1919, came into effect. I do not believe that commentators made your mistake in 1918.
North and South Korea are still at war, despite hostilities having ceased a long time ago. A cessation of hostilities is not the same as war ending. But not all wars end that way. The Second World War in Europe ending with a surrender. In 1918, Germany was not inclined to surrender and had not been defeated. Hence the Armistice, which they initiated.
It would be helpful at this time, if you made the situation clear.
Was it ignorance or carelessness that caused you claim that November 1918 saw the end of the First World War (Leader, 10 November)?
Surely you know that, following the Armistice, a state of war continued to exist until 10 January 1920 when the Treaty of Versailles, signed in Paris on 28 June 1919, came into effect. I do not believe that commentators made your mistake in 1918.
North and South Korea are still at war, despite hostilities having ceased a long time ago. A cessation of hostilities is not the same as war ending. But not all wars end that way. The Second World War in Europe ending with a surrender. In 1918, Germany was not inclined to surrender and had not been defeated. Hence the Armistice, which they initiated.
It would be helpful at this time, if you made the situation clear.
To The Scotsman (9 Nov 2018) not published
Like many other, including radio and TV presenters, Joyce McMillan confuses the Armistice with the end of the War ('Tommy knew Fritz wasn't the enemy', 9 November). After the Armistice, the state of war continued.
The War was not brought to an end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in Paris on 28 June 1919. Even then it did not come into effect until 10 January 1920.
Like many other, including radio and TV presenters, Joyce McMillan confuses the Armistice with the end of the War ('Tommy knew Fritz wasn't the enemy', 9 November). After the Armistice, the state of war continued.
The War was not brought to an end until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in Paris on 28 June 1919. Even then it did not come into effect until 10 January 1920.
To The Scotsman (16 Oct 2018) published 18 Oct 2018
Claire Perry MP claimed that James Clerk Maxwell 'pioneered power generation' ('Scotland is poised to take green energy chance of a lifetime', 16 October).
In fact the first electromagnetic generator was invented in 1831 by Michael Faraday.
Maxwell was not an inventor. But in 1865 he formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon.
Claire Perry MP claimed that James Clerk Maxwell 'pioneered power generation' ('Scotland is poised to take green energy chance of a lifetime', 16 October).
In fact the first electromagnetic generator was invented in 1831 by Michael Faraday.
Maxwell was not an inventor. But in 1865 he formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon.
To New Scientist (12 Oct 2018)
The fact that we have explored only a very small proportion of the Galaxy, and so an infinitesimal part of the universe, and found no sign of aliens does not falsify the hypothesis that 'there is nobody out there' (Our hunt for alien life is far from over', 6 Oct 2018). To do that we would have thoroughly explore the whole universe!
The fact that we have explored only a very small proportion of the Galaxy, and so an infinitesimal part of the universe, and found no sign of aliens does not falsify the hypothesis that 'there is nobody out there' (Our hunt for alien life is far from over', 6 Oct 2018). To do that we would have thoroughly explore the whole universe!
To The Scotsman (9 Oct 2018) published 10 Oct 2018
The IPCC ('Ministers to seek new advice on climate targets', 9 October) seems to think the answer to catastrophic global warming is a combination of reafforestation and various renewable energy methods.
Why no mention of nuclear power, the one method of generating bulk electricity without damaging the climate (or the landscape and seascape)?
One hopes that the Scottish Government will get independent advice to the effect that allowing Scotland's two nuclear power stations to be decommissioned without replacement is a foolish strategy, as is allowing the surface environment to be industrialised by wind farms.
The IPCC ('Ministers to seek new advice on climate targets', 9 October) seems to think the answer to catastrophic global warming is a combination of reafforestation and various renewable energy methods.
Why no mention of nuclear power, the one method of generating bulk electricity without damaging the climate (or the landscape and seascape)?
One hopes that the Scottish Government will get independent advice to the effect that allowing Scotland's two nuclear power stations to be decommissioned without replacement is a foolish strategy, as is allowing the surface environment to be industrialised by wind farms.
To The Scotsman (1 Oct 2018) published 2 Oct 2018
As a science writer and the principal investigator of Robert Taylor's report, I find it depressing that West Lothian Council has seen fit to establish a tourist trail to the site in Dechmont Woods ('Tourists are out there: UFO trail launches', 1 October). The exploitation of the Loch Ness monster myth at Drumnadrochit is similarly depressing.
Is this collective escapism? Would people rather believe exotic stories than face mundane reality.
At Dechmont, where a stone marks the spot (it once had a plaque but that was stolen), the site is now unrecognisable as the one that confronted Robert Taylor in 1979. Tree growth has turned it into a dark forest clearing of no particular interest.
Anyone wanting to know what actually happened there can find an account in my book The UFO Mystery Solved. Robert did not invent his account (he was too simple to do that) and did not recant it. He had an unusual experience that he interpreted in the only way he knew.
As a science writer and the principal investigator of Robert Taylor's report, I find it depressing that West Lothian Council has seen fit to establish a tourist trail to the site in Dechmont Woods ('Tourists are out there: UFO trail launches', 1 October). The exploitation of the Loch Ness monster myth at Drumnadrochit is similarly depressing.
Is this collective escapism? Would people rather believe exotic stories than face mundane reality.
At Dechmont, where a stone marks the spot (it once had a plaque but that was stolen), the site is now unrecognisable as the one that confronted Robert Taylor in 1979. Tree growth has turned it into a dark forest clearing of no particular interest.
Anyone wanting to know what actually happened there can find an account in my book The UFO Mystery Solved. Robert did not invent his account (he was too simple to do that) and did not recant it. He had an unusual experience that he interpreted in the only way he knew.
To The Edinburgh Evening News (27 Sep 2018) published 1 Oct 2018
It is disappointing to see the Labour Party committing to a 'sevenfold increase in offshore wind power and to double onshore wind [and] treble solar power'.
Consumers require a reliable electricity supply 24/7 but all renewables are intermittent and rely on sources like gas to fill the gaps, so making the gas generation inefficient and costly, a cost not factored into that of the renewables that depend on it.
Covering the land with solar farms and both it and the seascape with wind turbines leaves a a damaged environment. Cutting off our nose to spite our face.
Nuclear power can supply all the electricity we need; renewables are not necessary.
It is disappointing to see the Labour Party committing to a 'sevenfold increase in offshore wind power and to double onshore wind [and] treble solar power'.
Consumers require a reliable electricity supply 24/7 but all renewables are intermittent and rely on sources like gas to fill the gaps, so making the gas generation inefficient and costly, a cost not factored into that of the renewables that depend on it.
Covering the land with solar farms and both it and the seascape with wind turbines leaves a a damaged environment. Cutting off our nose to spite our face.
Nuclear power can supply all the electricity we need; renewables are not necessary.
To The Scotsman (25 Sep 2018) published 26 Sep 2018
There's none so blind as those that will not see. (Dr) Charles Wardrop (Letter, 21 September) was a good example. In a letter mainly about electricity supply, he slipped in an aside about 'the unproven hypothesis of anthropogenic climate change'.
Hypotheses cannot be proven but they can be supported by evidence; in this case the evidence is overwhelming.
Malcolm Parkin (Letter, 25 September) is another example. Variations in the Earth's orbit do affect our climate; they are described as the Milankovitch cycle and are well known to climatologists. Indeed, it is thought that, except for our interference in the climate, the cycle would have taken us into another glaciation (the only beneficial result of global warming).
Global temperatures are rising, as is the level of CO2 in the atmosphere causing that, ice sheets are melting, sea level is rising and the oceans are acidifying.
Refusal to acknowledge all this evidence is perverse. Only 'ostriches' reject evidence that undermines their prejudice?
There's none so blind as those that will not see. (Dr) Charles Wardrop (Letter, 21 September) was a good example. In a letter mainly about electricity supply, he slipped in an aside about 'the unproven hypothesis of anthropogenic climate change'.
Hypotheses cannot be proven but they can be supported by evidence; in this case the evidence is overwhelming.
Malcolm Parkin (Letter, 25 September) is another example. Variations in the Earth's orbit do affect our climate; they are described as the Milankovitch cycle and are well known to climatologists. Indeed, it is thought that, except for our interference in the climate, the cycle would have taken us into another glaciation (the only beneficial result of global warming).
Global temperatures are rising, as is the level of CO2 in the atmosphere causing that, ice sheets are melting, sea level is rising and the oceans are acidifying.
Refusal to acknowledge all this evidence is perverse. Only 'ostriches' reject evidence that undermines their prejudice?
To The Scotsman (22 Sep 2018) not published
(Dr) Charles Wardrop is a good example of the adage that 'there's none so blind as those that will not see' (Letters 21 September).
In a letter mainly about electricity supply, he slips in an aside about 'the unproven hypothesis of anthropogenic climate change'.
Hypotheses cannot be proven but they can be supported by evidence. In this case the evidence is overwhelming: global temperatures are rising, as is the level of CO2 in the atmosphere causing that, ice sheets are melting, sea level is rising and the oceans are acidifying.
Refusal to acknowledge all this is perverse. What sort of person rejects evidence that undermines their prejudice?
(Dr) Charles Wardrop is a good example of the adage that 'there's none so blind as those that will not see' (Letters 21 September).
In a letter mainly about electricity supply, he slips in an aside about 'the unproven hypothesis of anthropogenic climate change'.
Hypotheses cannot be proven but they can be supported by evidence. In this case the evidence is overwhelming: global temperatures are rising, as is the level of CO2 in the atmosphere causing that, ice sheets are melting, sea level is rising and the oceans are acidifying.
Refusal to acknowledge all this is perverse. What sort of person rejects evidence that undermines their prejudice?
To Scotland on Sunday (17 Sep 2018) published 23 Sep 2018
Dani Garavelli is sure that Jesus was a socialist because he 'sided with the down trodden and abused' ('Attack on Archbishops play into the hands of Tories', 16 September).
It is dangerous to interpret Jesus' behaviour as if he lived today; his life only makes sense in the light of his milieu, where the concept of socialism was unknown. He associated with the poor because he thought they would be the rulers in the Kingdom of Heaven. But he also associated with the rich, who probably funded his mission (after crucifixion his body was put in a rich man's tomb).
Christianity, a religion not founded by Jesus, has mistaken his purpose and itself become the establishment. It has no future or purpose and never did.
Dani Garavelli is sure that Jesus was a socialist because he 'sided with the down trodden and abused' ('Attack on Archbishops play into the hands of Tories', 16 September).
It is dangerous to interpret Jesus' behaviour as if he lived today; his life only makes sense in the light of his milieu, where the concept of socialism was unknown. He associated with the poor because he thought they would be the rulers in the Kingdom of Heaven. But he also associated with the rich, who probably funded his mission (after crucifixion his body was put in a rich man's tomb).
Christianity, a religion not founded by Jesus, has mistaken his purpose and itself become the establishment. It has no future or purpose and never did.
To The Scotsman (3 Sep 2018) published 4 Sep 2018
The Prime Minister's argument against a 'People's Vote' on the EU beggars belief. How can consulting the voters again be a “gross betrayal” of democracy'? That's contradictory.
In 2016, the question was not clear or based on any reliable information. Just blind prejudice and lies by Brexiteers. Today many people's eyes are opened and the full extent of the disaster facing the UK is clear. Opinion polls also indicate a change of heart.
It is only fair that, after the options become clear, that another referendum be held to be sure that the Government acts in accordance with the wishes of the majority in the UK.
The Prime Minister's argument against a 'People's Vote' on the EU beggars belief. How can consulting the voters again be a “gross betrayal” of democracy'? That's contradictory.
In 2016, the question was not clear or based on any reliable information. Just blind prejudice and lies by Brexiteers. Today many people's eyes are opened and the full extent of the disaster facing the UK is clear. Opinion polls also indicate a change of heart.
It is only fair that, after the options become clear, that another referendum be held to be sure that the Government acts in accordance with the wishes of the majority in the UK.
To Edinburgh Evening News (23 Aug 2018) not published
The BBC1 programme on Monday 20 August revealed more about the tragic circumstances in which Kirsty Maxwell lost her life in Benidorm (your report 'Will TV doc finally crack case of tragic Kirsty?', same day).
Her behaviour indicates that she was in an altered state of consciousness, either sleepwalking or under the influence of some drug, apart from the alcohol consumed. Trying to climb out of a small bathroom window is not rational behaviour and perhaps she was not aware of where she was. It seems most likely that she fell accidentally from the balcony in the mistaken belief that it was a way out.
There was no evidence that she came to harm from any of the men in the apartment, who naturally feel persecuted.
It is understandable that, in the case of unusual accidents, relatives need someone to blame; they are reluctant to accept that the victims are often responsible for their own death.
The BBC1 programme on Monday 20 August revealed more about the tragic circumstances in which Kirsty Maxwell lost her life in Benidorm (your report 'Will TV doc finally crack case of tragic Kirsty?', same day).
Her behaviour indicates that she was in an altered state of consciousness, either sleepwalking or under the influence of some drug, apart from the alcohol consumed. Trying to climb out of a small bathroom window is not rational behaviour and perhaps she was not aware of where she was. It seems most likely that she fell accidentally from the balcony in the mistaken belief that it was a way out.
There was no evidence that she came to harm from any of the men in the apartment, who naturally feel persecuted.
It is understandable that, in the case of unusual accidents, relatives need someone to blame; they are reluctant to accept that the victims are often responsible for their own death.
To The Scotsman (14 Aug 2018) not published
I am astonished that the recent Survation poll for the Huffington Post reveals that 40 percent of those who claimed to be 'Christian' also described themselves as 'not religious' (only 12% described themselves as 'religious'). That makes the 'not religious' total hard to interpret.
More importantly, it raises the question of why people who claim not to be religious should also claim to be Christian. Perhaps it means that the label 'Christian' is used to mean 'even though I don't attend a church, I am a good person' (dictionaries do allow that meaning). So these 'Christians' are not Christian at all. A Christian is defined as someone who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity.
What is certain is that belief in Christianity is declining which makes me wonder what people think Jesus was up to (if they don't accept his claims).
I am astonished that the recent Survation poll for the Huffington Post reveals that 40 percent of those who claimed to be 'Christian' also described themselves as 'not religious' (only 12% described themselves as 'religious'). That makes the 'not religious' total hard to interpret.
More importantly, it raises the question of why people who claim not to be religious should also claim to be Christian. Perhaps it means that the label 'Christian' is used to mean 'even though I don't attend a church, I am a good person' (dictionaries do allow that meaning). So these 'Christians' are not Christian at all. A Christian is defined as someone who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity.
What is certain is that belief in Christianity is declining which makes me wonder what people think Jesus was up to (if they don't accept his claims).
To The Scotsman (8 Aug 2018) published 9 Aug 2018
Evidently Boris Johnson doesn't know his burka from his niqab (your report 8 August). Neither do his critics. The one that looks like a 'letter box' (pillar box?) is the niqab. The burka shows nothing except what looks like a ventilation grill and I don't think is worn in the UK.
Mr Johnson's remarks cannot be Islamophobic as, according to most Muslim scholars, Islam does not require such dress. It's just a dress choice, albeit one that most people would regard as anti-social.
To The Scotsman (1 Aug 2018) not published
Dr Richard Dixon is right: 'we should be worried' (Platform. 1 August). However, his claim that there is very little time left is surely wrong.
If all emissions of greenhouse gases ceased today, the world would continue warming because of the locked-in effect of the the gases already in the atmosphere. The temperature may go on rising for a hundred years or more. The fact that it is impracticable to stop the emissions makes it certain that there is no time left and the world is heading towards catastrophe.
Certainly all emissions should be reduced, to zero if possible, but Scotland on its own can make little difference. Eventually the point will be reached when everyone sees the calamity coming and realises that emergency action is required. That will have to be some sort of geoengineering to reduce insolation so as to give us time to get emissions under control. This will require international cooperation.
To The Scotsman (30 Jul 2018) not published
Tim Flinn thinks that Jesus committed suicide (Letter, 30 July). Yes he did go 'willingly to his death' (why?) but he did not refuse palliative care. He accepted an anodyne traditionally provided to victims (Mk. 15:36).
The speed of Jesus' death, although commented on even by Pilate, is another matter altogether.
A full explanation of these extraordinary events and the reason Jesus wanted to be crucified can be found in my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus (2009).
To The Scotsman (21 Jul 2018) not published
Geoff Moore (Letter 21 July) is surely right: a first-past-the post referendum would probably lead to Remain. The way out of that is to hold a transferable vote referendum, where voters mark the options in their order of preference (1,2,3). That would lead to the option most people would accept.
Of course such a referendum assumes that the option agreed with the EU is clear and understandable. At present it is opaque.
To The Sunday Times (16 Jul 2018) not published
It's hardly surprising that children cannot explain why a brick does not fall through a table ('Playing outdoors helps younger children get into swing of science', p24 15 July); university students would be stumped. The explanation that forces are 'in equilibrium' is incorrect although assuming the existence of such forces is simpler than the application of general relativity (to explain gravity).
To The Scotsman (15 Jul 2018) not published
RM Atkinson calls for England (sic) to have a new national anthem (Letter, 14 July).
Right sentiment but wrong country. England does not have a national anthem, but the UK does.
Most nations have national anthems that praise their country; the UK should do the same and dump the obsequious religious dirge we have at present.
To Scotland on Sunday (9 Jul 2018) not published
Euan McColm is right ('Little more than a slap of the wrist for nicking our future', 8 July); over-funding a referendum campaign is cheating and should be penalised more severely than a £20,000 fine. He suggest making it a criminal offence.
How about adjusting the result so that if a campaign for one side overspends by x per cent, the result is adjusted by reducing their result by x per cent? That should be a sufficient deterrent.
To The Scotsman (5 Jul 2018) not published
Amazon may be tops for customer satisfaction (your report on p15, 5 July), but 'What about the workers?'
In his book Hired: Six months undercover in Low-Wage Britain, journalist and writer James Bloodworth describes, inter alia, his appalling experience working in an Amazon distribution warehouse ('fulfilment centre'). He and others (mostly foreign) worked like slaves in a cold, windowless, prison-like environment where the toilets were several floors away; they hardly had time to eat a lunch break because the canteen was far away. His health suffered, especially his feet and he gained weight due to the fast-food diet which was all he had time to consume. No one lasted long enough to get a full-time job so the staff turnover was high.
The 'gig economy'; exploitative Dickensian conditions in modern Britain?
Do Amazon's customers know what misery their orders incur?
To The Scotsman (29 Jun 2018) published 2 Jul 2018
Charles Wardrop calls for a reduction in spending, including repeal of the Climate Change Acts. He describes this as an 'ineffective' attempt to influence the climate by decarbonisation so as to curtail industrial CO2 output (Letter, 28 June).
I agree that, because the UK's output of CO2 is trivial compared with global emissions, our attempts to change the climate are almost 'ineffective'. Nevertheless one can argue that by trying to do so, the UK sets an example to those countries that do have the ability to make a difference (US and China in particular). The UK could not call for others to act when we do not act ourselves.
However, we could save money in other ways, for example by ceasing to subsidise and support various renewable energy methods, especially wind farms. Most renewable methods are unnecessary and largely ineffective in reducing CO2 emissions. They are also costly and visually intrusive, spoiling the environment.
Reducing CO2 emission requires mainly the decarbonisation of electricity generation (replacing burning coal and gas with nuclear fuels); replacing diesel and petrol by hydrogen for road and rail transport and replacing methane by hydrogen in piped gas supplies for heating buildings.
To Sunday Times (25 Jun 2018) not published
Linda Campbell (no relation) implied that Christians 'think for themselves' (Letter, 24 June). Hardly, they believe what they're told or read in the Bible. It was thinking for myself that allowed me to escape the superstition.
To The Scotsman (23 Jun 2018) published 25 Jun 2018
It is surprising that neither Alice Kinghorn-Gray, in her Perspective article 'Power must lie with the people' (22 June), nor Bob Taylor (Letters, 23 June) mention community councils, the lowest level of the democratic hierarchy, which actually do represent 'local people'.
Unfortunately they have no power and are kept on a short financial string, with members expected to serve without remuneration. No wonder they are poorly attended and their views usually ignored.
Community councils should be given the power to make decisions on matters affecting their neighbourhood and their elected members should be offered some financial compensation for their participation. That might increase attendance and make them accountable.
To The Scotsman (22 Jun 2018) not published
Alice Kinghorn-Gray calls for truly local democracy and 'Act As If' councils for local people ('Power must lie with the people', 22 June). But she does not mention community councils, the lowest level of the democratic hierarchy which do actually represent 'local people'. Unfortunately they have no power and are kept on a short financial string, with members expected to serve without remuneration. No wonder they are poorly attended and their views are often ignored.
To The Sunday Times (11 Jun 2018) not published
You quote Stephen Noon as claiming that 'At the heart of the Christian religion is the idea of service, the first will be last and the last will be first' ('Saying yes to God was the easiest decision I've ever made', 10 June).
That's a mistake (also confused); the central message of Jesus was repentance in the face of the imminent arrival of the kingdom of heaven. Because the kingdom did not arrive, the Church preaches that believing in Jesus can save everyone from Hell. Belief not works.
Mr Noon has a lot to learn.
To The Scotsman (9 Jun 2018) not published
From Jim Duffy's report ('Brian Souter's non-preachy sermon has got me thinking', 8 June) it is hard to tell what Sir Brian Souter was telling the National Prayer Breakfast. That we need more purpose? That we need to get to know Jesus? To add meaning to our lives?
Life has no purpose or meaning anymore than the universe itself does. It and we have evolved and 'we're here because we're here' (probably uniquely). We take life as it comes live as best we can. Following any religion, with its claims to know why we're here and where we're going, is foolish and a waste of time. Following a 1st century Jewish rabbi, who know nothing of life outside of his country or beyond Judaism, is idiotic.
To The Scotsman (7 Jun 2018) not published
Congratulations on using the word 'historical' (as in the title of the Bill) throughout your report ('MSPs votes for gay men to be pardoned for historical convictions', 7 June).
All day yesterday, BBC News ignorantly used the word 'historic', which has a different meaning.
To The Scotsman (2 Jun 2018) not published
The centralisation of planning control is certainly of concern to all democrats (Andrew Robinson's letter 2 June). State government has a role in determining the outcome of applications that affect the whole state. But it should not interfere with applications that have no such effect.
The principle of subsidiarity should apply to planning decisions. That is to say: the central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed at a more local level.
This would mean that local authorities should be left to determine outcomes where there are no national consequences and, as in some other countries, appeals should not be allowed.
Further down the planning chain, why should a local authority overrule the views of community organisations? Let the people decide.
To Scotland on Sunday (28 May 2018) not published
Sorry to disappoint Sandra Busell (Letter, 27 May), but the usual English translation of Genesis 1:26, etc. is correct. God gives mankind 'dominion' over all his animal creations. The Hebrew word for 'dominion' there is radah, which means 'bear rule', 'come to have dominion', 'reign', etc. It does not mean 'care for them and protect them from harm'. Nor would the 10th century BCE writer have thought that. What mistranslation has she been reading?
To The Times (20 May 2018) published?
Sorry to disappoint Ahmadis, who seem to be a sensible branch of Islam, but 'Islam' does not mean 'peace' ('Britain's Ahmadis under fire in battle for the soul of Islam', 19 May). The word means 'submission', in this case submission to God or any Islamic authority. Most Muslims are not allowed to think for themselves and have to do as they're told. That's their problem. The Ahmadis seem to be the exception.
To The Scotsman (16 May 2018) not published
(Dr) Charles Wardrop claimed that there had been no global change in temperature for the last two decades (Letter, 15 May).
In fact the NOAA National Centres for Environmental Information (January 2017) states that the global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.07°C per decade since 1880 and at an average rate of 0.17°C per decade since 1970. It has probably continued rising since then. 2016 became the warmest year in NOAA's 137-year series. Remarkably, this is the third consecutive year a new global annual temperature record has been set.
The World Meteorological Organisations states (Jan 2018) that 2017 was among the three warmest years on record.
This may not be what Dr Wardrop wants to hear, but he should face the evidence that the increase in atmospheric CO2 is continuing to cause global warming, a serious problem the world needs to deal with.
To The Sunday Times (14 May 2018) not published
Victor Sebestyen described the Chernobyl reactor as 'graphite-cooled' (review of Serhii Plokhy's book about the disaster (Books in 'Culture' 13 May).
The graphite in an RBMK reactor was a moderator (slowing neutrons); it was cooled by water, an inherently dangerous combination--as the explosion showed. One hopes that this was not the author's mistake but one worries that he was confused. His description of a 'mushroom cloud' is also confused. The explosion was not a nuclear one and there was no such cloud.
I would treat this book with caution.
To Scotland on Sunday (14 May 2018) published 20 May 2018
Dani Garavelli reports that some thought Billy Graham's crusade 'emotional manipulation' and theatrical ('When the greatest show on Earth came to town', 13 May).
This is surely true; most of the audience would not have been thinking rationally, letting their emotions take control. No wonder the influence wore off within four weeks.
Nor did Graham have any greater insight into the life of Jesus than anyone else (probably less than most biblical scholars). He spoke as if he was absolutely certain that he was right, when the truth is that he was mistaken. Jesus was not who he believed himself to be and failed in his attempt to fulfill what he saw as prophecy regarding two Messiahs.
Consequently, Graham was promulgating a myth. For more on this see my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus.
To The Sunday Times (7 May 2018) not published
Jonathan Leake claims that nuclear decommissioning is the UK's biggest debt (Each baby costs hospitals £1,000 injury insurance', 6 May). In fact, the decommissioning costs of nuclear plants are met from the Nuclear Liabilities Fund, which is built up by the plant operators themselves. The Fund presently contains about £9 billion and is not a UK debt.
To Edinburgh Evening News (29 Apr 2018) published 2 May 2018
Edinburgh City Council is gradually replacing sodium street lights with LEDs. This has led to complaints, mainly of dark spots between lights, but also about the effect of these blue-rich lights on eyesight and sleep. Amateur astronomers are also concerned about increased light pollution.
A new concern has now been discovered by ISGlobal, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. It has discovered that the bluer the light emission, the higher the risk of breast and prostate cancer (such blue-rich light is also emitted by tablets and mobile phone screens).
The City's residents should be concerned that the new street lights could be damaging their health. LED's with a lower blue content are available and the blue can be screened out.
To The Scotsman (5 Apr 2018) not published
The debate over whether or not there is an afterlife, hell in particular (Revs Cameron and MacDonald, 2/5 April) will be lost on most readers as most people are now not religious (only a minority are Christian). We are more concerned with getting the most out of the only life we have here now.
In any case, the arguments from scripture are rather confused, especially over what Jesus believed. The idea that he was resurrected is fanciful and not well founded (see John chapter 21 for example, where the disciples mistook an elderly shepherd for their master). Most people recognise that atavistic beliefs are out of place in the modern secular world.
To The Sunday Times (2 Apr 2018) not published
Justin Welby ('This is not time for cosy Christianity. A shock awaits you', 1 April) got a couple of things right: (1) 'people simply do not rise from the dead'--that understanding is what caused me to abandon Christianity; (2) 'If Jesus did not rise from the dead, none of this matters and I should resign from my job...' --well it doesn't matter and he should resign.
The idea that Jesus rose again is a fanciful belief deriving firstly from Jesus' own predictions of this outcome and secondly from a chance encounter with an elderly shepherd on the shore of Lake Galilee (John 21, a strange postscript to John's Gospel, where the disciples, unsure who stranger was, nevertheless conclude, mistakenly, that it was Jesus). The other reports of seeing a resurrected Jesus are clearly inventions.
Contrary to Jesus' expectation, he did indeed die during crucifixion, leaving a leadership vacuum, only later filled by leading disciples who came to believe that his disappearance was planned and that he would return. Consequently they preached this. No one should take any of this belief seriously. Death is the full stop and there is no afterlife. We must make the best we can of life here and now and make ourselves useful.
See more on this in my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus.
To The Times (1 Apr 2018) not published
There's nothing 'blue' about the second full moon in a calendar month (caption to picture of moon on p12, 31 March). That's just a useless fancy. Genuine blue moons are very rare, being cause by fine dust or smoke particles high up in the atmosphere. So please stop pandering to idiots who like to (mis)name astronomical events.
To The Scotsman (27 Mar 2018) not published
Speculation that Judas' betrayal was due to disillusionment with Jesus (your report of the Edinburgh Easter Play, 27 March) is undermined by the Gospel record that Jesus knew his intention and forecast the betrayal, without naming anyone. So why did Jesus not stop him?
The obvious explanation (universally ignored) is that Jesus wanted to be betrayed and sent Judas to the High Priest. That's why the Last Supper was held in a house near to that of the HP. Waiting in Gethsemane to be arrested and not resisting confirms this hypothesis. See more in my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus.
To The Scotsman (20 Mar 2018) not published
Dr Geraldine Prince claims that the 'fact that Christ died for our sins' and that that applies to everyone, including atheists like me. In fact, it's not a 'fact'; it's a Christian belief and not one supported by the life of Jesus (it was later attributed by the evangelists). Evidently Jesus died as a result of crucifixion, but whether or not he intended to and why are different questions.
Christians should not claim to speak for everyone, certainly not for those of different faiths or none. Jesus himself thought his mission was for Jews alone.
To The Scotsman (14 Mar 2018) not published
David Robertson ('Children are being indoctrinated over gender--they should find identity in Christ', 14 March) is mistaken; identifying with Jesus will only confuse children. Jesus himself seemed confused; he never married and had an intimate relationship with one of his younger (male) disciples and was close to a female follower. In fact, he probably thought sexuality irrelevant because the imminent kingdom would mean living in sexless bodies for ever.
To Edinburgh Evening News (8 Mar 2018) published 12 Mar 2018
Alastair Macintyre asks 'when will global warming resume' (Letter, 7 March). In fact it never stopped.
Regardless of our recent cold weather, which may have been caused by disturbances at the pole from climate change, the planet's average surface temperature has over 1 degree Celsius since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.
Sixteen of the 17 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001. Not only was 2016 the warmest year on record, but eight of the 12 months that make up the year — from January through September, with the exception of June — were the warmest on record for those respective months.
The oceans are warming; sea levels are rising; glaciers and ice sheets are retreating and wild weather events are increasing all over the world.
It's doom for us if we don't stop it.
To The Scotsman (6 Mar 2018) not published
Ian Moir (Letter, 1 March) is evidently not up with modern hydrogen (H2) developments. The world produces at least about 50 million tonnes a year of H2. The gas is used as an additive in oil refineries, as a raw material for making ammonia and for many different industrial processes including, for example, the making of margarine.
Almost all hydrogen is made today from what is known as ‘steam reforming’, usually of methane, the main constituent of natural gas. H2 can be extracted from water by electrolysis but it would be more environmentally-friendly to use electrolysis. Unfortunately, at present, this is about 10 times more expensive. Nevertheless there is a shift to electrolysis and the cost will come down, especially if the electricity used comes from unused night-time generation by wind and solar farms and nuclear stations.
A recent two-year experiment in Leeds has shown that converting the gas grid to use H2 is feasible. The Gas Distribution Networks are currently replacing their old iron mains with polyethylene, which does not suffer from the same leaks of hydrogen as the iron mains.
Last year it was announced that Liverpool and Manchester are to be the testbed for an ambitious £600m project aiming to solve the thorny problem of how the government cuts the carbon footprint of the gas that heats most of Britain’s homes. This pioneering trial in the 2020s will use H2 as a cleaner alternative to methane in pipelines across the region.
The future is hydrogen.
To The Scotsman (3 Mar 2018) not published
The situation Nick Dekker describes (Letter, 3 March) is correct. Eventually, Scotland will lose its ability to generate enough of its own electricity and will be dependent on imports, mainly from England and probably from new nuclear stations. But what happens when England needs all its generation and has none to spare for Scotland?
Gaining statutory power over energy policy would make no difference. In effect the Scottish Government already has this power, via planning control, by preventing the construction of any new nuclear or fossil fuel power stations, so creating an atmosphere in which no new applications arise.
The idea that all Scottish electricity demand can be met from renewable generation, combined with increased efficiency in use, is fanciful.
What is needed is a change in Scottish government to a party with a more realistic policy.
To The Scotsman (26 Feb 2018) published 28 Feb 2018
Like many others, Ian Moir claims that it's Holyrood's policy to 'phase out the use gas' for the heating of buildings (Letter, 26 February).
In fact Scotland's Climate Change Act does not ban the use of 'gas' or require gas to be replaced by electricity. The Act merely requires a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases (42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050). This may mean the replacement of natural gas supplies by electricity, but it could also mean replacing methane by hydrogen, probably much cheaper than switching to electricity.
Burning hydrogen does not produce greenhouse gases; it just produces water.
To Scotland on Sunday (26 Feb 2018) published 4 Mar 2018
Clark Cross is wrong when he asks 'Where will we get the extra electricity...when gas is banned?' (Letter, 25 February). In fact Scotland's Climate Change Act does not ban the use of 'gas' or require gas to be replaced by electricity. The Act merely requires a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases (42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050). This may mean the replacement of natural gas supplies by electricity, but it could also mean replacing methane by hydrogen for heating buildings, probably much cheaper than switching to electricity. Burning hydrogen does not produce greenhouse gases; it just produces water.
To Radio Times (Feedback) not published
You would think that a physicist presenting a programme on temperature ('From Ice to Fire: the Incredible Science of Temperature', Thursday 15 February on BBC4) would be careful to get everything right.
But no: having explained how the Fahrenheit scale was devised (Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit was actually Dutch-German-Polish rather than Polish as Helen Czerski claimed), she then used the Celsius scale for the rest of the programme, but without explaining how that was devised. Also no mention of the absolute Kelvin scale.
Then there were category errors like 'coldest temperature' and the use of the words 'hot' and 'cold' as nouns (there are no such things).
During the programme my temperature gradually rose and I dread to hear more errors in the next two programmes.
To The Scotsman (16 Feb 2018) not published
The claim by DI Iain McPhail that 'banks will never contact you direct' ('Fraudsters steal £750,000 in telephone scam', Around Scotland 16 February) is incorrect.
My wife's bank contacted her by telephone on account of unusual activity on her account (in fact nothing was stolen). At first she ignored the call, thinking it was a scam. But the bank called again and convinced her that the call was genuine.
I think some clarity on this matter is required.
To The Scotsman (13 Feb 2018) not published
William Loneskie's claim that Scotland's Climate Change Act requires gas to be replaced by electricity (Letter, 13 February) is incorrect. The Act merely requires a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases. This may mean the replacement of natural gas supplies by electricity, but it could also mean replacing methane by hydrogen for heating buildings, probably much cheaper than switching to electricity.
To The Sunday Times (12 Feb 2018) not published
Richard Holloway claims to be an 'agnostic' because he is uncertain about his faith ('Why I haven't given up the ghost yet', by Peter Ross, 11 February).
But an 'agnostic' is not someone who sits on the fence; it is someone who is sure that nothing can be known, especially about God. So it is someone who is certain, not someone who is not.
To The Scotsman (10 Feb 2018) not published
It was John Sheppard-Barron, another Scot then working for De La Rue, who invented the ATM with it's 4-digit PIN, not James Goodfellow (your photo and caption in News Digest, 9 February). The latter patented the PIN and ATM technology in 1966. Sheppard-Barron received his OBE in 2005 for the invention, the year before Goodfellow gained his award, apparently for the same invention.
To The Scotsman (1 Feb 2018) published 2 Feb 2018
It was probably 26 September 1950 when Susan Hughes (Letter, 1 February) saw both a blue moon and sun over Edinburgh (you reported this curiosity the next day; it was seen from Scotland and the North of England). The colour change was due to small particles of soot from forest fires in Canada filtering out the red and yellow wavelengths.
It is the rarity of this phenomenon that has given rise to the phrase 'once in a blue moon'. Calling the second full moon in a month 'a blue moon' is a recent idea with no serious justification.
To Edinburgh Evening News (26 Jan 2018) published 30 Jan 2018
What John Sharp fails to mention (Letter, 25 January) is that the Boys Brigade is a religious organization dedicated to "The advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness."
Not all young people want to be told that their development depends on believing in superstition and today few are religious. Children are quite capable of self-development without religion.
I urge donors to avoid the Brigade and, instead, donate to secular youth organizations such as theInternational Humanist Ethical Youth Organization.
To The Scotsman (25 Jan 2018) not published
HM the Queen is not 'Queen of Scots' (Bill Wilson in his Comment 25 January); that title belonged to Mary, queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 to 24 July 1567. The present Queen, as she has explained herself, is queen of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She is no more 'Queen of Scots' than 'Queen of England', the latter a mistake often made by people who should know better.
Nor are there any 'other nations' within the present UK; it is the only nation. Ulster is a province of the UK and Wales and Scotland are 'countries', whatever that means. As nations, neither Scotland nor England have existed since they were joined in 1707 to form 'Great Britain'.
Unless that bond is broken, the union flag should be flown in Scotland as in England.
To The Scotsman (24 Jan 2018) published 25 Jan 2018
Dr Gerald Edwards makes the outrageous and erroneous claim that Green list MSPs 'represent no one' (Letter, 23 January). Many voters support the Green Party and they are entitled to representation. List MSPs are, under the present imperfect proportional electoral system, necessary to bring some proportionality to the Parliament. Nor should it be thought that those MSPs elected by the constituency vote are somehow superior. Most of them did not get the votes of the majority of voters in their constituency; they were elected by a first-past-the-post system. It would be better to adopt an STV PR system so that all MSPs are elected with the same system so that each could claim the legitimate support of a section of the multi-member constituency in which they stand.
To The Scotsman (22 Jan 2018) published 23 Jan 2018
The debate over whether public services are are better in private or public hands needs to take note of an alternative half-way house as demonstrated in Scottish Water. This is a statutory corporation created ([in]2000) and owned by the state and responsible to the Scottish Government. But it is also a private limited company (no. SC207004). Apparently, the Water Industry Commission iswell pleased with its performance and the company's finances outperform. It is not funded by the Government and makes an annual surplus, paying tax.
Perhaps this model should be followed elsewhere.
To Edinburgh Evening News (10 Jan 2018) published 12 Jan 2018
Regarding your report (''Increase" in illegal graffiti costs taxpayers thousands', 9 January), this would be true if the Council removed graffiti. But our experience in Longstone is that CEC no longer bothers unless it's racist or obscene. Graffiti on CEC property on Princes Street remains untouched, giving a poor impression to visitors.
When this matter was raised by Cllr Laidlaw at a Council meeting on 28 October last, CEC decided to take no action. Instead it was referred by the Convenor of the Transport and Environment, bizarrely, to the Community and Culture Cttee, where it seems to be lost!
Evidently the City Council does not take graffiti seriously.
qua Secretary/Longstone Community Council
To The Sunday Times (1 Jan 2018) published 7 Jan 2018
Your Anglocentric report and comment about proposed changes to marriage certificates ('Mums put on wedding certificates' and leader) ignored that [failed to mention] fact that Scottish marriage certificates have long shown the mother's name and even their maiden surname.
To Scotland on Sunday (1 Jan 2018) not published
The idea of 'integral age' (Letter from Martin Conroy, 31 December) is a myth. He is also mistaken in believing that the Early Church 'settled on 25 March' as the date of the Crucifixion. Modern scholars accept either 7 April in 30CE or 3 April 33CE, most go with the latter. Between the years 26-34CE, Passover (14 Nisan) never fell in March; every date was in April, except one in May.
It is well accepted that 25 December was already a day of celebration, probably associated with Mithraism. The Early Church chose this date (arbitrarily) to transfer people's attention from paganism to Christianity. The true date of Jesus' birth, or his conception, is unknown.
Evidently Boris Johnson doesn't know his burka from his niqab (your report 8 August). Neither do his critics. The one that looks like a 'letter box' (pillar box?) is the niqab. The burka shows nothing except what looks like a ventilation grill and I don't think is worn in the UK.
Mr Johnson's remarks cannot be Islamophobic as, according to most Muslim scholars, Islam does not require such dress. It's just a dress choice, albeit one that most people would regard as anti-social.
To The Scotsman (1 Aug 2018) not published
Dr Richard Dixon is right: 'we should be worried' (Platform. 1 August). However, his claim that there is very little time left is surely wrong.
If all emissions of greenhouse gases ceased today, the world would continue warming because of the locked-in effect of the the gases already in the atmosphere. The temperature may go on rising for a hundred years or more. The fact that it is impracticable to stop the emissions makes it certain that there is no time left and the world is heading towards catastrophe.
Certainly all emissions should be reduced, to zero if possible, but Scotland on its own can make little difference. Eventually the point will be reached when everyone sees the calamity coming and realises that emergency action is required. That will have to be some sort of geoengineering to reduce insolation so as to give us time to get emissions under control. This will require international cooperation.
To The Scotsman (30 Jul 2018) not published
Tim Flinn thinks that Jesus committed suicide (Letter, 30 July). Yes he did go 'willingly to his death' (why?) but he did not refuse palliative care. He accepted an anodyne traditionally provided to victims (Mk. 15:36).
The speed of Jesus' death, although commented on even by Pilate, is another matter altogether.
A full explanation of these extraordinary events and the reason Jesus wanted to be crucified can be found in my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus (2009).
To The Scotsman (21 Jul 2018) not published
Geoff Moore (Letter 21 July) is surely right: a first-past-the post referendum would probably lead to Remain. The way out of that is to hold a transferable vote referendum, where voters mark the options in their order of preference (1,2,3). That would lead to the option most people would accept.
Of course such a referendum assumes that the option agreed with the EU is clear and understandable. At present it is opaque.
To The Sunday Times (16 Jul 2018) not published
It's hardly surprising that children cannot explain why a brick does not fall through a table ('Playing outdoors helps younger children get into swing of science', p24 15 July); university students would be stumped. The explanation that forces are 'in equilibrium' is incorrect although assuming the existence of such forces is simpler than the application of general relativity (to explain gravity).
To The Scotsman (15 Jul 2018) not published
RM Atkinson calls for England (sic) to have a new national anthem (Letter, 14 July).
Right sentiment but wrong country. England does not have a national anthem, but the UK does.
Most nations have national anthems that praise their country; the UK should do the same and dump the obsequious religious dirge we have at present.
To Scotland on Sunday (9 Jul 2018) not published
Euan McColm is right ('Little more than a slap of the wrist for nicking our future', 8 July); over-funding a referendum campaign is cheating and should be penalised more severely than a £20,000 fine. He suggest making it a criminal offence.
How about adjusting the result so that if a campaign for one side overspends by x per cent, the result is adjusted by reducing their result by x per cent? That should be a sufficient deterrent.
To The Scotsman (5 Jul 2018) not published
Amazon may be tops for customer satisfaction (your report on p15, 5 July), but 'What about the workers?'
In his book Hired: Six months undercover in Low-Wage Britain, journalist and writer James Bloodworth describes, inter alia, his appalling experience working in an Amazon distribution warehouse ('fulfilment centre'). He and others (mostly foreign) worked like slaves in a cold, windowless, prison-like environment where the toilets were several floors away; they hardly had time to eat a lunch break because the canteen was far away. His health suffered, especially his feet and he gained weight due to the fast-food diet which was all he had time to consume. No one lasted long enough to get a full-time job so the staff turnover was high.
The 'gig economy'; exploitative Dickensian conditions in modern Britain?
Do Amazon's customers know what misery their orders incur?
To The Scotsman (29 Jun 2018) published 2 Jul 2018
Charles Wardrop calls for a reduction in spending, including repeal of the Climate Change Acts. He describes this as an 'ineffective' attempt to influence the climate by decarbonisation so as to curtail industrial CO2 output (Letter, 28 June).
I agree that, because the UK's output of CO2 is trivial compared with global emissions, our attempts to change the climate are almost 'ineffective'. Nevertheless one can argue that by trying to do so, the UK sets an example to those countries that do have the ability to make a difference (US and China in particular). The UK could not call for others to act when we do not act ourselves.
However, we could save money in other ways, for example by ceasing to subsidise and support various renewable energy methods, especially wind farms. Most renewable methods are unnecessary and largely ineffective in reducing CO2 emissions. They are also costly and visually intrusive, spoiling the environment.
Reducing CO2 emission requires mainly the decarbonisation of electricity generation (replacing burning coal and gas with nuclear fuels); replacing diesel and petrol by hydrogen for road and rail transport and replacing methane by hydrogen in piped gas supplies for heating buildings.
To Sunday Times (25 Jun 2018) not published
Linda Campbell (no relation) implied that Christians 'think for themselves' (Letter, 24 June). Hardly, they believe what they're told or read in the Bible. It was thinking for myself that allowed me to escape the superstition.
To The Scotsman (23 Jun 2018) published 25 Jun 2018
It is surprising that neither Alice Kinghorn-Gray, in her Perspective article 'Power must lie with the people' (22 June), nor Bob Taylor (Letters, 23 June) mention community councils, the lowest level of the democratic hierarchy, which actually do represent 'local people'.
Unfortunately they have no power and are kept on a short financial string, with members expected to serve without remuneration. No wonder they are poorly attended and their views usually ignored.
Community councils should be given the power to make decisions on matters affecting their neighbourhood and their elected members should be offered some financial compensation for their participation. That might increase attendance and make them accountable.
To The Scotsman (22 Jun 2018) not published
Alice Kinghorn-Gray calls for truly local democracy and 'Act As If' councils for local people ('Power must lie with the people', 22 June). But she does not mention community councils, the lowest level of the democratic hierarchy which do actually represent 'local people'. Unfortunately they have no power and are kept on a short financial string, with members expected to serve without remuneration. No wonder they are poorly attended and their views are often ignored.
To The Sunday Times (11 Jun 2018) not published
You quote Stephen Noon as claiming that 'At the heart of the Christian religion is the idea of service, the first will be last and the last will be first' ('Saying yes to God was the easiest decision I've ever made', 10 June).
That's a mistake (also confused); the central message of Jesus was repentance in the face of the imminent arrival of the kingdom of heaven. Because the kingdom did not arrive, the Church preaches that believing in Jesus can save everyone from Hell. Belief not works.
Mr Noon has a lot to learn.
To The Scotsman (9 Jun 2018) not published
From Jim Duffy's report ('Brian Souter's non-preachy sermon has got me thinking', 8 June) it is hard to tell what Sir Brian Souter was telling the National Prayer Breakfast. That we need more purpose? That we need to get to know Jesus? To add meaning to our lives?
Life has no purpose or meaning anymore than the universe itself does. It and we have evolved and 'we're here because we're here' (probably uniquely). We take life as it comes live as best we can. Following any religion, with its claims to know why we're here and where we're going, is foolish and a waste of time. Following a 1st century Jewish rabbi, who know nothing of life outside of his country or beyond Judaism, is idiotic.
To The Scotsman (7 Jun 2018) not published
Congratulations on using the word 'historical' (as in the title of the Bill) throughout your report ('MSPs votes for gay men to be pardoned for historical convictions', 7 June).
All day yesterday, BBC News ignorantly used the word 'historic', which has a different meaning.
To The Scotsman (2 Jun 2018) not published
The centralisation of planning control is certainly of concern to all democrats (Andrew Robinson's letter 2 June). State government has a role in determining the outcome of applications that affect the whole state. But it should not interfere with applications that have no such effect.
The principle of subsidiarity should apply to planning decisions. That is to say: the central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed at a more local level.
This would mean that local authorities should be left to determine outcomes where there are no national consequences and, as in some other countries, appeals should not be allowed.
Further down the planning chain, why should a local authority overrule the views of community organisations? Let the people decide.
To Scotland on Sunday (28 May 2018) not published
Sorry to disappoint Sandra Busell (Letter, 27 May), but the usual English translation of Genesis 1:26, etc. is correct. God gives mankind 'dominion' over all his animal creations. The Hebrew word for 'dominion' there is radah, which means 'bear rule', 'come to have dominion', 'reign', etc. It does not mean 'care for them and protect them from harm'. Nor would the 10th century BCE writer have thought that. What mistranslation has she been reading?
To The Times (20 May 2018) published?
Sorry to disappoint Ahmadis, who seem to be a sensible branch of Islam, but 'Islam' does not mean 'peace' ('Britain's Ahmadis under fire in battle for the soul of Islam', 19 May). The word means 'submission', in this case submission to God or any Islamic authority. Most Muslims are not allowed to think for themselves and have to do as they're told. That's their problem. The Ahmadis seem to be the exception.
To The Scotsman (16 May 2018) not published
(Dr) Charles Wardrop claimed that there had been no global change in temperature for the last two decades (Letter, 15 May).
In fact the NOAA National Centres for Environmental Information (January 2017) states that the global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.07°C per decade since 1880 and at an average rate of 0.17°C per decade since 1970. It has probably continued rising since then. 2016 became the warmest year in NOAA's 137-year series. Remarkably, this is the third consecutive year a new global annual temperature record has been set.
The World Meteorological Organisations states (Jan 2018) that 2017 was among the three warmest years on record.
This may not be what Dr Wardrop wants to hear, but he should face the evidence that the increase in atmospheric CO2 is continuing to cause global warming, a serious problem the world needs to deal with.
To The Sunday Times (14 May 2018) not published
Victor Sebestyen described the Chernobyl reactor as 'graphite-cooled' (review of Serhii Plokhy's book about the disaster (Books in 'Culture' 13 May).
The graphite in an RBMK reactor was a moderator (slowing neutrons); it was cooled by water, an inherently dangerous combination--as the explosion showed. One hopes that this was not the author's mistake but one worries that he was confused. His description of a 'mushroom cloud' is also confused. The explosion was not a nuclear one and there was no such cloud.
I would treat this book with caution.
To Scotland on Sunday (14 May 2018) published 20 May 2018
Dani Garavelli reports that some thought Billy Graham's crusade 'emotional manipulation' and theatrical ('When the greatest show on Earth came to town', 13 May).
This is surely true; most of the audience would not have been thinking rationally, letting their emotions take control. No wonder the influence wore off within four weeks.
Nor did Graham have any greater insight into the life of Jesus than anyone else (probably less than most biblical scholars). He spoke as if he was absolutely certain that he was right, when the truth is that he was mistaken. Jesus was not who he believed himself to be and failed in his attempt to fulfill what he saw as prophecy regarding two Messiahs.
Consequently, Graham was promulgating a myth. For more on this see my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus.
To The Sunday Times (7 May 2018) not published
Jonathan Leake claims that nuclear decommissioning is the UK's biggest debt (Each baby costs hospitals £1,000 injury insurance', 6 May). In fact, the decommissioning costs of nuclear plants are met from the Nuclear Liabilities Fund, which is built up by the plant operators themselves. The Fund presently contains about £9 billion and is not a UK debt.
To Edinburgh Evening News (29 Apr 2018) published 2 May 2018
Edinburgh City Council is gradually replacing sodium street lights with LEDs. This has led to complaints, mainly of dark spots between lights, but also about the effect of these blue-rich lights on eyesight and sleep. Amateur astronomers are also concerned about increased light pollution.
A new concern has now been discovered by ISGlobal, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. It has discovered that the bluer the light emission, the higher the risk of breast and prostate cancer (such blue-rich light is also emitted by tablets and mobile phone screens).
The City's residents should be concerned that the new street lights could be damaging their health. LED's with a lower blue content are available and the blue can be screened out.
To The Scotsman (5 Apr 2018) not published
The debate over whether or not there is an afterlife, hell in particular (Revs Cameron and MacDonald, 2/5 April) will be lost on most readers as most people are now not religious (only a minority are Christian). We are more concerned with getting the most out of the only life we have here now.
In any case, the arguments from scripture are rather confused, especially over what Jesus believed. The idea that he was resurrected is fanciful and not well founded (see John chapter 21 for example, where the disciples mistook an elderly shepherd for their master). Most people recognise that atavistic beliefs are out of place in the modern secular world.
To The Sunday Times (2 Apr 2018) not published
Justin Welby ('This is not time for cosy Christianity. A shock awaits you', 1 April) got a couple of things right: (1) 'people simply do not rise from the dead'--that understanding is what caused me to abandon Christianity; (2) 'If Jesus did not rise from the dead, none of this matters and I should resign from my job...' --well it doesn't matter and he should resign.
The idea that Jesus rose again is a fanciful belief deriving firstly from Jesus' own predictions of this outcome and secondly from a chance encounter with an elderly shepherd on the shore of Lake Galilee (John 21, a strange postscript to John's Gospel, where the disciples, unsure who stranger was, nevertheless conclude, mistakenly, that it was Jesus). The other reports of seeing a resurrected Jesus are clearly inventions.
Contrary to Jesus' expectation, he did indeed die during crucifixion, leaving a leadership vacuum, only later filled by leading disciples who came to believe that his disappearance was planned and that he would return. Consequently they preached this. No one should take any of this belief seriously. Death is the full stop and there is no afterlife. We must make the best we can of life here and now and make ourselves useful.
See more on this in my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus.
To The Times (1 Apr 2018) not published
There's nothing 'blue' about the second full moon in a calendar month (caption to picture of moon on p12, 31 March). That's just a useless fancy. Genuine blue moons are very rare, being cause by fine dust or smoke particles high up in the atmosphere. So please stop pandering to idiots who like to (mis)name astronomical events.
To The Scotsman (27 Mar 2018) not published
Speculation that Judas' betrayal was due to disillusionment with Jesus (your report of the Edinburgh Easter Play, 27 March) is undermined by the Gospel record that Jesus knew his intention and forecast the betrayal, without naming anyone. So why did Jesus not stop him?
The obvious explanation (universally ignored) is that Jesus wanted to be betrayed and sent Judas to the High Priest. That's why the Last Supper was held in a house near to that of the HP. Waiting in Gethsemane to be arrested and not resisting confirms this hypothesis. See more in my book The Rise and Fall of Jesus.
To The Scotsman (20 Mar 2018) not published
Dr Geraldine Prince claims that the 'fact that Christ died for our sins' and that that applies to everyone, including atheists like me. In fact, it's not a 'fact'; it's a Christian belief and not one supported by the life of Jesus (it was later attributed by the evangelists). Evidently Jesus died as a result of crucifixion, but whether or not he intended to and why are different questions.
Christians should not claim to speak for everyone, certainly not for those of different faiths or none. Jesus himself thought his mission was for Jews alone.
To The Scotsman (14 Mar 2018) not published
David Robertson ('Children are being indoctrinated over gender--they should find identity in Christ', 14 March) is mistaken; identifying with Jesus will only confuse children. Jesus himself seemed confused; he never married and had an intimate relationship with one of his younger (male) disciples and was close to a female follower. In fact, he probably thought sexuality irrelevant because the imminent kingdom would mean living in sexless bodies for ever.
To Edinburgh Evening News (8 Mar 2018) published 12 Mar 2018
Alastair Macintyre asks 'when will global warming resume' (Letter, 7 March). In fact it never stopped.
Regardless of our recent cold weather, which may have been caused by disturbances at the pole from climate change, the planet's average surface temperature has over 1 degree Celsius since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.
Sixteen of the 17 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001. Not only was 2016 the warmest year on record, but eight of the 12 months that make up the year — from January through September, with the exception of June — were the warmest on record for those respective months.
The oceans are warming; sea levels are rising; glaciers and ice sheets are retreating and wild weather events are increasing all over the world.
It's doom for us if we don't stop it.
To The Scotsman (6 Mar 2018) not published
Ian Moir (Letter, 1 March) is evidently not up with modern hydrogen (H2) developments. The world produces at least about 50 million tonnes a year of H2. The gas is used as an additive in oil refineries, as a raw material for making ammonia and for many different industrial processes including, for example, the making of margarine.
Almost all hydrogen is made today from what is known as ‘steam reforming’, usually of methane, the main constituent of natural gas. H2 can be extracted from water by electrolysis but it would be more environmentally-friendly to use electrolysis. Unfortunately, at present, this is about 10 times more expensive. Nevertheless there is a shift to electrolysis and the cost will come down, especially if the electricity used comes from unused night-time generation by wind and solar farms and nuclear stations.
A recent two-year experiment in Leeds has shown that converting the gas grid to use H2 is feasible. The Gas Distribution Networks are currently replacing their old iron mains with polyethylene, which does not suffer from the same leaks of hydrogen as the iron mains.
Last year it was announced that Liverpool and Manchester are to be the testbed for an ambitious £600m project aiming to solve the thorny problem of how the government cuts the carbon footprint of the gas that heats most of Britain’s homes. This pioneering trial in the 2020s will use H2 as a cleaner alternative to methane in pipelines across the region.
The future is hydrogen.
To The Scotsman (3 Mar 2018) not published
The situation Nick Dekker describes (Letter, 3 March) is correct. Eventually, Scotland will lose its ability to generate enough of its own electricity and will be dependent on imports, mainly from England and probably from new nuclear stations. But what happens when England needs all its generation and has none to spare for Scotland?
Gaining statutory power over energy policy would make no difference. In effect the Scottish Government already has this power, via planning control, by preventing the construction of any new nuclear or fossil fuel power stations, so creating an atmosphere in which no new applications arise.
The idea that all Scottish electricity demand can be met from renewable generation, combined with increased efficiency in use, is fanciful.
What is needed is a change in Scottish government to a party with a more realistic policy.
To The Scotsman (26 Feb 2018) published 28 Feb 2018
Like many others, Ian Moir claims that it's Holyrood's policy to 'phase out the use gas' for the heating of buildings (Letter, 26 February).
In fact Scotland's Climate Change Act does not ban the use of 'gas' or require gas to be replaced by electricity. The Act merely requires a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases (42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050). This may mean the replacement of natural gas supplies by electricity, but it could also mean replacing methane by hydrogen, probably much cheaper than switching to electricity.
Burning hydrogen does not produce greenhouse gases; it just produces water.
To Scotland on Sunday (26 Feb 2018) published 4 Mar 2018
Clark Cross is wrong when he asks 'Where will we get the extra electricity...when gas is banned?' (Letter, 25 February). In fact Scotland's Climate Change Act does not ban the use of 'gas' or require gas to be replaced by electricity. The Act merely requires a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases (42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050). This may mean the replacement of natural gas supplies by electricity, but it could also mean replacing methane by hydrogen for heating buildings, probably much cheaper than switching to electricity. Burning hydrogen does not produce greenhouse gases; it just produces water.
To Radio Times (Feedback) not published
You would think that a physicist presenting a programme on temperature ('From Ice to Fire: the Incredible Science of Temperature', Thursday 15 February on BBC4) would be careful to get everything right.
But no: having explained how the Fahrenheit scale was devised (Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit was actually Dutch-German-Polish rather than Polish as Helen Czerski claimed), she then used the Celsius scale for the rest of the programme, but without explaining how that was devised. Also no mention of the absolute Kelvin scale.
Then there were category errors like 'coldest temperature' and the use of the words 'hot' and 'cold' as nouns (there are no such things).
During the programme my temperature gradually rose and I dread to hear more errors in the next two programmes.
To The Scotsman (16 Feb 2018) not published
The claim by DI Iain McPhail that 'banks will never contact you direct' ('Fraudsters steal £750,000 in telephone scam', Around Scotland 16 February) is incorrect.
My wife's bank contacted her by telephone on account of unusual activity on her account (in fact nothing was stolen). At first she ignored the call, thinking it was a scam. But the bank called again and convinced her that the call was genuine.
I think some clarity on this matter is required.
To The Scotsman (13 Feb 2018) not published
William Loneskie's claim that Scotland's Climate Change Act requires gas to be replaced by electricity (Letter, 13 February) is incorrect. The Act merely requires a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases. This may mean the replacement of natural gas supplies by electricity, but it could also mean replacing methane by hydrogen for heating buildings, probably much cheaper than switching to electricity.
To The Sunday Times (12 Feb 2018) not published
Richard Holloway claims to be an 'agnostic' because he is uncertain about his faith ('Why I haven't given up the ghost yet', by Peter Ross, 11 February).
But an 'agnostic' is not someone who sits on the fence; it is someone who is sure that nothing can be known, especially about God. So it is someone who is certain, not someone who is not.
To The Scotsman (10 Feb 2018) not published
It was John Sheppard-Barron, another Scot then working for De La Rue, who invented the ATM with it's 4-digit PIN, not James Goodfellow (your photo and caption in News Digest, 9 February). The latter patented the PIN and ATM technology in 1966. Sheppard-Barron received his OBE in 2005 for the invention, the year before Goodfellow gained his award, apparently for the same invention.
To The Scotsman (1 Feb 2018) published 2 Feb 2018
It was probably 26 September 1950 when Susan Hughes (Letter, 1 February) saw both a blue moon and sun over Edinburgh (you reported this curiosity the next day; it was seen from Scotland and the North of England). The colour change was due to small particles of soot from forest fires in Canada filtering out the red and yellow wavelengths.
It is the rarity of this phenomenon that has given rise to the phrase 'once in a blue moon'. Calling the second full moon in a month 'a blue moon' is a recent idea with no serious justification.
To Edinburgh Evening News (26 Jan 2018) published 30 Jan 2018
What John Sharp fails to mention (Letter, 25 January) is that the Boys Brigade is a religious organization dedicated to "The advancement of Christ's kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness."
Not all young people want to be told that their development depends on believing in superstition and today few are religious. Children are quite capable of self-development without religion.
I urge donors to avoid the Brigade and, instead, donate to secular youth organizations such as theInternational Humanist Ethical Youth Organization.
To The Scotsman (25 Jan 2018) not published
HM the Queen is not 'Queen of Scots' (Bill Wilson in his Comment 25 January); that title belonged to Mary, queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 to 24 July 1567. The present Queen, as she has explained herself, is queen of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She is no more 'Queen of Scots' than 'Queen of England', the latter a mistake often made by people who should know better.
Nor are there any 'other nations' within the present UK; it is the only nation. Ulster is a province of the UK and Wales and Scotland are 'countries', whatever that means. As nations, neither Scotland nor England have existed since they were joined in 1707 to form 'Great Britain'.
Unless that bond is broken, the union flag should be flown in Scotland as in England.
To The Scotsman (24 Jan 2018) published 25 Jan 2018
Dr Gerald Edwards makes the outrageous and erroneous claim that Green list MSPs 'represent no one' (Letter, 23 January). Many voters support the Green Party and they are entitled to representation. List MSPs are, under the present imperfect proportional electoral system, necessary to bring some proportionality to the Parliament. Nor should it be thought that those MSPs elected by the constituency vote are somehow superior. Most of them did not get the votes of the majority of voters in their constituency; they were elected by a first-past-the-post system. It would be better to adopt an STV PR system so that all MSPs are elected with the same system so that each could claim the legitimate support of a section of the multi-member constituency in which they stand.
To The Scotsman (22 Jan 2018) published 23 Jan 2018
The debate over whether public services are are better in private or public hands needs to take note of an alternative half-way house as demonstrated in Scottish Water. This is a statutory corporation created ([in]2000) and owned by the state and responsible to the Scottish Government. But it is also a private limited company (no. SC207004). Apparently, the Water Industry Commission iswell pleased with its performance and the company's finances outperform. It is not funded by the Government and makes an annual surplus, paying tax.
Perhaps this model should be followed elsewhere.
To Edinburgh Evening News (10 Jan 2018) published 12 Jan 2018
Regarding your report (''Increase" in illegal graffiti costs taxpayers thousands', 9 January), this would be true if the Council removed graffiti. But our experience in Longstone is that CEC no longer bothers unless it's racist or obscene. Graffiti on CEC property on Princes Street remains untouched, giving a poor impression to visitors.
When this matter was raised by Cllr Laidlaw at a Council meeting on 28 October last, CEC decided to take no action. Instead it was referred by the Convenor of the Transport and Environment, bizarrely, to the Community and Culture Cttee, where it seems to be lost!
Evidently the City Council does not take graffiti seriously.
qua Secretary/Longstone Community Council
To The Sunday Times (1 Jan 2018) published 7 Jan 2018
Your Anglocentric report and comment about proposed changes to marriage certificates ('Mums put on wedding certificates' and leader) ignored that [failed to mention] fact that Scottish marriage certificates have long shown the mother's name and even their maiden surname.
To Scotland on Sunday (1 Jan 2018) not published
The idea of 'integral age' (Letter from Martin Conroy, 31 December) is a myth. He is also mistaken in believing that the Early Church 'settled on 25 March' as the date of the Crucifixion. Modern scholars accept either 7 April in 30CE or 3 April 33CE, most go with the latter. Between the years 26-34CE, Passover (14 Nisan) never fell in March; every date was in April, except one in May.
It is well accepted that 25 December was already a day of celebration, probably associated with Mithraism. The Early Church chose this date (arbitrarily) to transfer people's attention from paganism to Christianity. The true date of Jesus' birth, or his conception, is unknown.