Letters: Mural is a powerful reminder of our duty to protect

People such as Sharon Dolev from Israel; Ekatrina Earsalovna, professor of international relations in Ural University, Russia; and Anthony Donovan, writer on peace and disarmament from New York, to name but a few, will be speaking at the rally at Faslane on that day. This massive gathering is to support the international treaty banning nuclear weapons agreed last year at the UN, which was signed by 122 states – but ignored by the nine rogue nuclear states.

Scotland is unique in being part of a nuclear-armed state while itself opposing the possession of weapons of mass destruction. At present, we cannot sign this treaty. We can only do so as an independent state.

A particularly poignant feature of the huge mural is the little robin resting on St Enoch’s hand. Many years ago my good friend and fellow Trident ploughsharer David MacKenzie took an enigmatic photograph at Faslane nuclear base. A little robin is sitting on a vast ugly roll of razor wire. An innocent creature destined to be burnt when we bring the sun to earth on Ragnarok Day.

We can feign indifference to the death and suffering we plan to bring to our “enemies”, our fellow human beings, but what about the rest of creation? What have these innocent creatures done that we should inflict hellish pain and death on them? Does nobody care about them?

Brian Quail
Glasgow

LESLEY Riddoch must express many people’s frustration at the content of BBC reporting (SNP aren’t helping with the BBC’s problem of properly representing Scotland, August 23). I have long since made Channel 4 News my main source of information, plus certain newspapers and Radio Scotland. That’s why I think it important to link in with a local Yes group if possible, Women for Independence or join one of the marches for independence in order to maintain outreach and to be better prepared for self-governance when that day arrives.

Today we are being warned that it will be a “no deal” Brexit in March. Surely then, Scotland will have to cut itself adrift before we are pulled into a black hole of Westminster’s making.

Janet Cunningham
Stirling

READ MORE: SNP aren’t helping with the BBC’s problem of properly representing Scotland

I WAS as confused as Keith Brown in his interview on Friday (Brown: we can’t rule out indyref within two years, August 24). He slipped seamlessly from talking about the SNP, the Yes movement and other political parties such as the SSP.

The SNP is obviously the largest political party for independence but it is not the only one. Many supporters of independence are members of other parties or, like me, none. If we are to fight together the SNP needs to be a lot more inclusive and a little less, can I say, arrogant. Of course they will have their own policy platforms on a wide range of issues which will healthily conflict with other parties. But we need common agreement on our proposals for independence.

Why doesn’t the SNP open up its National Assemblies on the Growth Commission to its allies? We are but a few years at most off a General Election. The SNP should have learned from its losses at the last General Election that unknown candidates cannot win an election in three weeks. Now is the time when prospective candidates should be agreed. This might mean standing down in some seats or, can I suggest, joint selection panels or joint adoption meetings. Now is the time to build a strong alliance. Otherwise tomorrow is the time for regret.

Ian Richmond
Dumfries and Galloway

READ MORE: Keith Brown: We can’t rule out indyref2 within two years​

SHONA Craven’s article (Sorry Jeremy, when you make mistakes they’ll be reported, August 24) demonstrated bad press and even worse politicians at their best. Hang on, I must surely mean worst. She clearly demonstrated how the duplicity of both media and politicians could work hand in hand, or stab you in the back. But when the politicians are mealy-mouthed and ignorant on various subject matters – Jeremy. Please. Get. Your. Scottish. Facts. Right – then there can be little or no sympathy.

When the media practises the dark arts, we definitely need to call it out. With that in mind, I won’t be alone in welcoming the news of the forthcoming Sunday editions of The National.

Perhaps this new publication will help counter balance the various erroneous facts spewed out by others, but wasn’t that apology on BBC this week something? Does that mean that public pressure is working? I doubt it, really, so all the more reason to keep up with the pressure.

And from one extreme to the other we had that outburst on Big Brother with an on-form, immediate rebuttal that has gone viral. How come Hardeep Singh Kohli’s antagonist never saw that coming as a supposed clairvoyant?

For me though, those are just two examples that show how ill-informed many people must be across rUK and where and how they get their information about us. I just hope that there is some way that pro-Scottish information, talking up Scotland, endorsing dialogue and debate centred on our alternatives, and ways of working – ranging from a possible Scottish currency to National Assemblies – can find its way to the ill-informed and the doubters.

Even more welcome then to the Sunday edition of The National.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

READ MORE: Sorry Jeremy, when you make mistakes they’ll be reported