Now scrap Trident

Published on Wednesday 18 February 2009 20:57

Accidents cannot be eliminated, but threatening others with nuclear weapons can. The crash of French and British nuclear submarines (your report, 17 February) is another reminder that even improbable accidents happen. We were lucky they were not travelling faster – then it might have been an environmental and human tragedy rather than just an expensive and inconvenient accident to our so-called "nuclear deterrent" (despite it being incapable of preventing wars or terrorism&

This is not the only accident in the nuclear business that defied declarations of its near impossibility. Nuclear weapons are a hugely expensive, indiscriminate threat of mass death. It is time to renew our efforts to get rid of them. Let's save what we can by scrapping Trident and diverting the money into jobs building something good for people and the environment.

LYNN JAMIESON

Warrender Park Crescent

Edinburgh

Congratulations to the builders of the two submarines involved in the mid-Atlantic collision. Their knowledge and understanding ensured the safety of the submariners aboard, countering the scaremongering claims of anti-nuclear groups. Thank goodness the crews aboard are safe.

FRED KINGHORN

Sarazen Court

Livingston, West Lothian