WHAT an excellent article by Vonny Leclerc on March 5 (Outraged men must be allies against harassers, The National, March 5). Men have to step up and challenge misogyny and abuse but to get there we obviously and desperately need compulsory age-appropriate sex and relationship education in schools. In this way all children grow up knowing what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and the consequences for not respecting this. There must be no exceptions made for any school nor by any parent.
On the question of cycle safety (Letters, March 6), the one measure above all others that works overnight is to join the rest of Europe and adopt the laws of presumed liability. This costs nothing and is the most effective measure we can take to change cycling culture and how drivers respect cyclists and in turn how cyclists respect pedestrians.
We will never improve cycle safety nor increase cycle usage for all ages and genders until we have these laws in place. Dedicated cycle lanes are the next best thing to provide for us on two wheels. Until then, to encourage children and adults to cycle on our roads is a dangerous thing to do.
Tony Martin
Gullane
TOMORROW, March 8, is International Women’s Day, which offers a chance to celebrate women’s achievements but also reflect on women’s position in the world. The theme for 2018 is “Press for Progress”, spurred on by the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report produced by the World Economic Forum. Its findings showed that given current trends, “gender parity” is still more than 200 years away, which just isn’t in any way acceptable. In this context gender parity refers to the equal contribution of women and men to every dimension of life, whether private or public.
Whilst there is no doubt we have made tremendous strides in this regard, there is still much work to be done. The International Women’s Day campaign suggests there are several areas where you can “Press for Progress” individually or collectively: maintain a gender parity mindset; challenge stereotypes and bias; forge positive visibility of women; influence others’ beliefs/actions; celebrate women’s achievements. See www.internationalwomensday.com for more details. In our own community, with so many strong and lively women, let’s challenge ourselves to press for progress tomorrow and throughout the year.
Aimee Swartz-Glancy
Walkerburn
BBC presenters hit by tax demands are urging the corporation to pay part of what they are due to HM Revenue & Customs.
There are more than 100 cases pending involving people working for the BBC. It will be interesting to see how many millions are recovered.
Christa Ackroyd, a former BBC regional news presenter, has already been ordered to pay £419,151. There is no sympathy for these highly paid individuals who have led a privileged life funded by the TV licence whilst ordinary mortals struggle to pay their bills and taxes. If the presenters are unhappy with the BBC they could always resign.
It is compulsory to have a TV licence, but the time is right to start phasing it out.
Clark Cross
Linlithgow
MARTIN Hannan says that hubris is not a word you associate with Scottish Rugby, adding that “you need to have the pride before you can have the fall” (There’s no point in beating the Auld Enemy then losing to others, The National, March 6). Obviously his memory fails him, as the opening game in Rome for the first Six Nations immediately sprung to mind. Scotland went into the game as the last ever Five Nations champions but lost 34-20 in a game many, including the players, thought was won before they’d even arrived. Surely that matches, if not surpasses, the Costa Rica game?
Keni O’Neill
Leith
O MO chreach! Chan eil alt Gàidhlig ri fhaicinn sa National an-diugh agus fad dà sheachdain a-nis! Dè tha ceàrr? Nì mi fiughar ris a h-uile seachdain - mar sin, cumaibh oirbh leis a’ Ghaìdhlig. Tha seo cudthromach dhuinn!
Dùghlas Friseal
Dunfermline
Please be reassured that Calum MacLeòid will be back from holiday next week
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