Letters 2021 - underlining indicates deletion by editor; square brackets indicate insertion.
To The Scotsman (20 Jan 2021)
Independence for Scotland is claimed as if Scotland were a British dependent territory (like the Falkland Islands or Bermuda). It seems to be believed that it can secede and become an independent nation (like the Bahamas) leaving a somewhat smaller United Kingdom.
But that is a false prospectus. Scotland is an integral component of the UK, a founder member of Great Britain, bound by the Treaty of Union in 1707. As such Scotland's departure would mean the end of both Great Britain and the UK.
Consequently Scotland cannot separate from England without abolition of the Treaty of Union a matter that would require negotiation. I see no calls for that to happen; nor can I see Westminster agreeing to it.
Calls for Scottish independence are deceitful and misleading. Scotland cannot leave the UK as it is itself 'the UK'.
It would be more honest to call for the breakup and destruction of the UK, for that would be the consequence of independence. Is that what most Scots actually want? Is it what most UK citizens want?
Independence for Scotland is claimed as if Scotland were a British dependent territory (like the Falkland Islands or Bermuda). It seems to be believed that it can secede and become an independent nation (like the Bahamas) leaving a somewhat smaller United Kingdom.
But that is a false prospectus. Scotland is an integral component of the UK, a founder member of Great Britain, bound by the Treaty of Union in 1707. As such Scotland's departure would mean the end of both Great Britain and the UK.
Consequently Scotland cannot separate from England without abolition of the Treaty of Union a matter that would require negotiation. I see no calls for that to happen; nor can I see Westminster agreeing to it.
Calls for Scottish independence are deceitful and misleading. Scotland cannot leave the UK as it is itself 'the UK'.
It would be more honest to call for the breakup and destruction of the UK, for that would be the consequence of independence. Is that what most Scots actually want? Is it what most UK citizens want?
To The Scotsman (18 Jan 2021) not published
No disrespect to Robert IG Scott, whose views if support (letter 18 January), but he still frames Scottish independence in terms of Scotland leaving the UK.
I continue to point out that Scotland is an integral component of the UK, being one of the founder members of 'Great Britain'. Scottish separation could not happen without negotiating and overhauling the Treaty of Union. That would cause 'Great Britain' to cease to exist and, consequently, also cause the UK to cease to exist.
Scotland cannot leave the UK, but it can destroy it.
No disrespect to Robert IG Scott, whose views if support (letter 18 January), but he still frames Scottish independence in terms of Scotland leaving the UK.
I continue to point out that Scotland is an integral component of the UK, being one of the founder members of 'Great Britain'. Scottish separation could not happen without negotiating and overhauling the Treaty of Union. That would cause 'Great Britain' to cease to exist and, consequently, also cause the UK to cease to exist.
Scotland cannot leave the UK, but it can destroy it.
To The Scotsman (14 Jan 2021) not published
Alexander McKay (Letter 14 January) is quite right that a two-thirds majority should be required for any constitutional change.
However I pointed this out in a letter you published a year ago (17 Jan). I mentioned it again in a letter you published on 19 July last year. Did Mr McKay not notice?
The SNP's own constitution requires a two-thirds majority and The Free Scotland Constitution drafted by the SNP calls for amendment of the constitution only with a 60 per cent majority in parliament, subject to approval by a majority of the people in a referendum (why not a 60 per cent majority in the referendum?).
If the Prime Minister ever does agree to another referendum on Scottish independence, he should insist on such a majority, plus perhaps a simple majority of the whole electorate. He should also require separation to address the Treaty of Union which created Great Britain.
Alexander McKay (Letter 14 January) is quite right that a two-thirds majority should be required for any constitutional change.
However I pointed this out in a letter you published a year ago (17 Jan). I mentioned it again in a letter you published on 19 July last year. Did Mr McKay not notice?
The SNP's own constitution requires a two-thirds majority and The Free Scotland Constitution drafted by the SNP calls for amendment of the constitution only with a 60 per cent majority in parliament, subject to approval by a majority of the people in a referendum (why not a 60 per cent majority in the referendum?).
If the Prime Minister ever does agree to another referendum on Scottish independence, he should insist on such a majority, plus perhaps a simple majority of the whole electorate. He should also require separation to address the Treaty of Union which created Great Britain.
To Scotland on Sunday (11 Jan 2021) not published
Donald McCallum (Letter, 10 January) is right that any place 10 metres above sea level is unlikely to be inundated by sea level rise caused by global warming. However that does not mean that we should not 'rush to abandon fossil fuels'.
The Met office has examined future emission scenarios for the UK, noting that the outcome is strongly dependent on assumed future greenhouse gas emissions.
The projected rise for Edinburgh by 2300 for example is 0.0-1.7 metres under a low-emission scenario, but 0.7-3.6 metres under a high emission scenario. Considering that a reduction in emissions looks unlikely, the latter outcome looks more probable.
This seems a long way away and of no concern to us now, but it would concern our descendants. Has Mr McCallum no concern for them?
Donald McCallum (Letter, 10 January) is right that any place 10 metres above sea level is unlikely to be inundated by sea level rise caused by global warming. However that does not mean that we should not 'rush to abandon fossil fuels'.
The Met office has examined future emission scenarios for the UK, noting that the outcome is strongly dependent on assumed future greenhouse gas emissions.
The projected rise for Edinburgh by 2300 for example is 0.0-1.7 metres under a low-emission scenario, but 0.7-3.6 metres under a high emission scenario. Considering that a reduction in emissions looks unlikely, the latter outcome looks more probable.
This seems a long way away and of no concern to us now, but it would concern our descendants. Has Mr McCallum no concern for them?
To The Scotsman (1 Jan 2021) not published
So here we are in 2021. Nowadays few seem to add 'AD' (anno domini, The Year of Our Lord), but that's what it is, the supposed age of Jesus if he were still alive (Christians believe that he is, sitting on a throne in Heaven).
Most civilisations numbered their years by the year of their ruler (see Luke 3:1), although Rome was an exception in numbering its years from the foundation of Rome (ab urbe condita).
Although Muslims and Jews have their own systems, for practical purposes the whole world now uses Jesus' age as its year number as if he were our ruler. Unsatisfactory for non-Christians but unavoidable.
So here we are in 2021. Nowadays few seem to add 'AD' (anno domini, The Year of Our Lord), but that's what it is, the supposed age of Jesus if he were still alive (Christians believe that he is, sitting on a throne in Heaven).
Most civilisations numbered their years by the year of their ruler (see Luke 3:1), although Rome was an exception in numbering its years from the foundation of Rome (ab urbe condita).
Although Muslims and Jews have their own systems, for practical purposes the whole world now uses Jesus' age as its year number as if he were our ruler. Unsatisfactory for non-Christians but unavoidable.
To The Scotsman (7 Jan 2021)
Murdo Fraser thinks that human ingenuity will meet future challenges as it has in the past ('Despite all the gloom, we are living better now than at any point in world history', 6 January).
I am not so sure. A challenge faces us that seems insuperable. I refer to the global warming caused by the greenhouse effect.
Much of human progress has been made possible by providing an abundance of electricity but with little regard for the consequences in generating it from burning fossil fuels. Only lately has it been generally recognised that the CO2 so produced is causing potentially catastrophic damage to the climate.
Although there are calls for a reduction in emissions and some have made an effort, the two major emitters, China and the USA, have made no progress.
The fact is that no effectual reductions will be made before a climate tipping point is reached and the atmosphere swings into a new hot phase with rising sea levels, ocean acidification and wild weather. Tropical regions will be uninhabitable.
That leaves only one remedy: geoengineering to reduce insolation. Several methods have been proposed but I don't hold out much hope that any will be deployed in time.
We may have been lucky so far but eventually our luck will run out.
Murdo Fraser thinks that human ingenuity will meet future challenges as it has in the past ('Despite all the gloom, we are living better now than at any point in world history', 6 January).
I am not so sure. A challenge faces us that seems insuperable. I refer to the global warming caused by the greenhouse effect.
Much of human progress has been made possible by providing an abundance of electricity but with little regard for the consequences in generating it from burning fossil fuels. Only lately has it been generally recognised that the CO2 so produced is causing potentially catastrophic damage to the climate.
Although there are calls for a reduction in emissions and some have made an effort, the two major emitters, China and the USA, have made no progress.
The fact is that no effectual reductions will be made before a climate tipping point is reached and the atmosphere swings into a new hot phase with rising sea levels, ocean acidification and wild weather. Tropical regions will be uninhabitable.
That leaves only one remedy: geoengineering to reduce insolation. Several methods have been proposed but I don't hold out much hope that any will be deployed in time.
We may have been lucky so far but eventually our luck will run out.