TALK of the world being a global village is turning into reality. The internet has telescoped distance, space and time. Self-government supporters can use that new ability to break the previous muzzling of Scotland within the UK. To reach out, to learn from and contribute to a wider world. Contact with others internationally is just an email or mouse-click away. “Distance” is now just a mental inhibition, something that stops you growing.

There are innovations occurring in Victoria, Australia which could potentially improve life in Scotland. Why Victoria? There are core similarities and differences. Victoria has five million English-speaking people, but in a state the size of Britain – in an actual federal system. The federal government may set the overall context but the Victorian government, laws, politics, and near everything else matter greatly in everyday life. Ring some bells?

The topic of this example is the men’s shed movement and how it has evolved, including spreading internationally and to Scotland. The inspiration came from recognition of the needs of socially isolated older men with related health problems, alcoholism etc. The period spent in retirement is lengthening, but provisions have not kept up. Boredom kills.

Men’s sheds began as a way to provide a meeting place and activities, to counter isolation with comradeship. Then it developed into social inclusion of marginalised groups and addressing rural isolation. More recently, the sheds evolved as a way to deliver social services such as health education, fighting depression and adult literacy. Now men’s sheds are becoming valuable local contributors; improving the community by making, fixing, renovating or innovating to meet local needs.

Consider just one of the benefits. Prevention is vastly better and cheaper than medical services. Medical preaching to males has had very little impact on their health and morale issues. Older males tend to avoid doctors, neglect their diet and health, suffer isolation, depression and are more prone to suicide, especially in remote rural areas. Men’s sheds, of which there are around 250 in Victoria, but only 38 in Scotland as yet, reach men in a friendly, informal and relaxed way. Best of all, the Sheds prove positive and constructive; restore self-respect and pride; and are enjoyable.

This best-practice example of men’s sheds addresses the issue of prevention not costly cure in an era of artificially-imposed ‘austerity’ and budget constraints. Multiple government services are delivered to a specific target audience in a totally non-bureaucratic, low-cost, decentralised and volunteer, community-driven way. Cheap, effective and – most importantly – able to reach those in most need of the support.

What are the implications of this with local government elections coming next May? Have you identified candidates? Are they in training? Do you have local policies? Do you know your local voluntary services scene? Do you know what unaddressed needs and groups warrant attention? Does the men’s shed model fit or can it be transported into a different field using the same principles in a new way? Adopt, adapt, or improve!

Coincidence happens far more often in a global village. Professor Barry Golding, Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, will address the evolution of the international men’s shed movement at the Scottish men’s sheds seminar on October 13 in Glasgow. This is happenstance, I do not know the professor and this is not a PR plug for him.

Matilda Waltzer
Address supplied

The seminar is at the University of Glasgow’s School of Education from 1pm to 4.30pm on October 13. Book on cradall@gla.ac.uk

THANKS to Carolyn Leckie for her article (It is not racist to condemn Zionism The National, October 3rd). It has been a standard response on Zionists that any criticism of the Israeli state is met with the cry of anti-Semitism. The Israeli state is a racist state where your rights depend on whether you are Jewish or not. There is no universal freedom of movement. The establishment of Israel was through ethnic cleansing – a practice effectively continuing today as Israel bombs and persecutes Palestinians. If you raise your voice in protest expect to be banned from entering Israel and therefore denied access to Palestine as Israel has sealed in the Palestinians.

Israel has ignored multiple UN resolutions and continues building its “Apartheid Wall” in defiance of international law.

Carolyn may well be right that the only practical peaceful solution means the establishment of two states. The Israeli Government is determined to thwart this by its facts on the ground policy of illegal settlements. An Israeli state will continue to be a racist state while rights depend on whether you are Jewish.

These are the facts and are not anti-Semitic.We can do our bit to support the oppressed Palestinian people by boycotting Israeli goods and cultural events and bring political pressure on the EU (while we are still a member). The UK also has significant trade with Israel including weapons – some of which were used in Iraq. I hope everyone reading this will take personal action and help bring real peace and justice to the Palestinians – and therefore the long term co-survival of Israel.

Tony Grahame
Edinburgh

VERY well said, Carolyn Leckie. Her article condemning the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism was the kind of brave and true journalism we are starved of in the media. And well done to The National for publishing it.

Isn’t it a disgrace that a journalist has to think twice before writing an article like this? It speaks volumes about the poisonous atmosphere which has been generated around the subject. What she writes is the truth – that supporters of the Israeli state have deliberately used anti-Semitism as a catch-all condemnation of any criticism aimed at Israel. It is tragic – not only because it allows a great ongoing inhumanity and injustice to carry on unchecked but also because it diminishes us all by denying us freedom of speech.

The treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli state is an ongoing outrage and until we are allowed to say this without fear of being branded anti-Semitic then there is little chance of justice in Gaza and the West Bank.

Frank Rodgers
Glasgow

I LIVED near to Gretna in 2014 and voted Yes to indy and am at present living near Shap in Cumbria.

With regard to recent comments about the Royal Mail and the Post Office in the letters pages, from March 2017 the postmasters who have not transferred or converted to the much disliked shop model will have their salaries slashed by at least 50 per cent.

So you can expect more post office closures in the future. I continue to purchase your excellent newspaper which is available at Shap Co-op.

John Bailey, Relief Postmaster
Cumbria

FOLLOWING on from Michael Fry’s piece (Will equality for Scots just become a broken dream? The National, Sep 29). After almost everything has been “done” (and I DO mean done), has anyone noticed a cheaper, improved utility?

This guff was foisted on us in the guise of “nationalised equals bad, privatised equals good”. A state monpoly, we were told was bad. But what happens when private ownership takes over and a private monopoly is created? The Monopolies and Mergers Commission (allegedly) stop them. Parting thought: any of you out there remember being told in the 1950s: “With the advent of nuclear power, electricity will almost be free”?

Barry Stewart
Blantyre

THANK you Jim Cassidy for sharing your beautiful photo (Picture of the Day, The National, Oct 4). It is very Japanese in its delicacy. I would love see more of your work. Do you exhibit?

Edith Clark
Address not supplied