COMBINED with Brexit, Donald Trump’s first days as US President have surely given the new leaders of the Yes2 campaign an urgent agenda.

Trump’s ominous promise to Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson – that an early bilateral trade agreement will be made with the “exiting” UK – makes independence absolutely the only way in which Scotland can protect her environment, her natural resources, the well-being of her people and her ability to contribute some sense to international politics.

Mr Trump’s vow to deregulate trade and industry, putting the US first at all costs, should make us all reflect about the nature of American products – including GM crops which are subjected to pesticides banned in the EU, and beef exports contaminated with growth promoters – hormones and antibiotics. Fishermen will remember how Ted Heath bought the UK into the EU by handing over Scottish fishing grounds, and will have observed Westminster’s early signals that Brexit safeguards for corrupt London bankers and finance institutions might be achieved by further sacrifice of their industry.

Theresa May’s repulsive simpering towards Donald Trump looked like an invitation to rape and pillage a Brexiting UK as only a truly ruthless billionaire exploiter of people and resources knows how to do. A post-Brexit bi-lateral UK/US trade agreement will be a walk-over for someone like Trump. He will be well aware of the proposals of TTIP, especially those elements which encourage multi-nationals to sue any government which is deemed to inhibit their profit. Under such a UK/US agreement, for instance, the Scottish Government’s moratorium on fracking in Scotland, devoid of EU protection, would be at risk.

The Yes2 campaign leaders will surely have overwhelming support for the simple, fierce and clear message that Scotland’s environment should not be, ever again, offered to the US as a sacrifice area for abuse. From nuclear weapons testing and storing, to fracking, such abuse, as Mr Trump is so fond of asserting, must “stop now”.

Mr Trump will no doubt have had some strong advice for Teresa May about the viability of the UK National Health Service, which the London Government has been privatising since Margaret Thatcher and which is, as a result, collapsing in England.

Trump’s first act as President began the demolition of Barack Obama’s vain attempt to create any such service in the US. He will no doubt suggest the same for Britain – where the momentum of dismantling has already been established and openings abound for US profiteering.

The Yes2 campaign must surely make this a major issue because, in these circumstances, the humane social values of Scotland – sharing resources and costs to the benefit of all – will not survive without independence.

When the fear propaganda of bankers, borders and mix-match currency begins, the Yes campaign leaders will surely smile and refer to the Brexit border issues in Ireland, for the Scottish electorate are not daft.

A positively wise and thrawn recall of all the other dirty tricks in 2014 will carry Scotland to the safety of independence and the chance of offering the rest of the world an example of antidotes to the horrible prospective outcomes of Brexit and Trump.

I hope the next Yes campaign will respond to the insular, racist, greedy, ruthless and destructive combination of Brexit, Ukip, Westminster, Theresa May and Donald Trump with renewed determination and hope.

As a nation, we still have a beautiful, vulnerable environment and a sense of worth and justice to protect and promote. We still have the gumption, thank goodness, to do it – but we need to get a move on ... now.
Frances McKie
Evanton, Ross-shire

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Give credit where it’s due to our talented architects

SEVERAL newspapers – including this one – recently featured the Category A Listing of Leith’s Cables Wynd flats, but without crediting the architects of this “excellent example of international modernist design”. (It was Edinburgh practice Alison & Hutchison & Partners, I believe).

As Scotland’s only truly “national” newspaper these days – that nation having produced great architects such as Robert Adam, William Chambers, James Craig, “Greek” Thomson, Charles Rennie Mackintosh etc etc as well as a host a brilliant “young” contemporary Scottish architects – could I enter a plea that you, at least, take the trouble to always attribute buildings to their creators as you do with paintings, books, music, etc.

The standard of building design (particularly in housebuilding) in Scotland is depressingly poor and the profession of architecture is held in low esteem compared to how it is regarded by our more enlightened European neighbours. This, in large part, is because the public thinks any “building designer” with a computer programme is an “architect”, and most planning departments and councillors seem disinclined to demand “better” design.

The panjandrums of the Scottish Cringe, obsessed with this “world class” nonsense – when we need only “top class”/the best it can be – still look to London and abroad for “starchitects” for our “grands projects”, when the talent is here in abundance, itching to build the new Scotland.
David Roche
Perth

READING in Thursday’s National about the Church of Scientology’s attempt to acquire the historic Lothian Chambers building reminded me of an illuminating newspaper article concerning that same organisation.

Its core belief is that millions of years ago a galactic ruler, Xenu, wiped out billions of Earth-dwelling Thetans by dropping hydrogen bombs into volcanos – a bit harsh maybe, but they were probably asking for it The downside is that particles of those blasted Thetans still cling to people today, impeding their spiritual and mental progress.

The church offers increasingly expensive courses of study, which promise to rid the body of unwanted Thetan atoms.

Well, you can’t argue with that, can you? I’m definitely in, and have formulated my own user-friendly version: to save time and tedious initiation rites, readers can simply empty their bank accounts and send the proceeds to me, in return for my pledge that they will soon be entirely free of noxious Thetan particles.

Hard-line Brexiteers and indy No voters can look forward to being fast-tracked as particularly suitable for treatment.
James Stevenson
Auchterarder

WHEN everyone was signing the petition against Trump’s temporary travel ban on a few people, where were they when the leader of one of the world’s most despotic countries was on a state visit and being feted by the great and the rich? The Chinese premier leads a country notorious for its human rights abuses and deaths of millions of people, especially in Tibet where the people are being ethnically cleansed. For example, can you imagine being sentenced to life imprisonment for sending an email?

Where were the petitions against the Chinese? Where were the petitions against the King of Saudi Arabia and his visit? Another leader totally opposed to freedom and who ruthlessly enforces an extremist version of Islam on everyone. To me it all smells of hypocrisy.
Brian McKenna
Dumbarton

I SPENT Friday morning in the glorious sunshine watching the last section of decking being lifted into the new Queensferry Crossing. Once I heard the cheering of the workforce I went home. 

So how happy I was to see that Reporting Scotland had relegated this, what I had thought to be an historic occasion, to the third item, 10 minutes in. STV made it their lead story, but obviously hadn’t got the memo about this Nationalist Shibboleth aka Salmond’s Folly. 

No doubt when the bridge opens, after being reminded that it is late (you know, like the Parliament and trams) the BBC will consign it to after the Dog On A Skateboard story.
Bruce Naughton
Edinburgh