Letters: Learn from Japan and think twice about biomass plant

AS the recent terrible and tragic events in Japan have shown, having nuclear power plants has its dangers - who can forget the awful Chernobyl disaster, the legacy of which is still being felt?

I'm not saying the construction of a biomass plant in Leith would carry the same threat to public safety, but in the event of an accident or some other catastrophe surely public safety would be compromised?

Furthermore, when you take into consideration that Edinburgh already has two large scale power generating facilities on its doorstep in the shape of Cockenzie Power Station and the potentially much more dangerous Torness Nuclear Power Station, apart from the astronomical costs involved, the increased risks to the public and the fact that it probably would be a blight on the landscape, would the construction of a third be really justified?

Angus Mcgregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

Zoo's hard choices put animals first

I WONDER how many times Brian Arnold (Evening News, Monday March 14) has been to Edinburgh Zoo? I am a life member who visits the Zoo many times a year, and also goes to the Highland Wildlife Park. It may be necessary to get rid of the sea lions because their enclosure is getting old and is rather small. It would cost a lot of money to replace it, assuming space could be found. When that enclosure was built, the welfare of animals was not considered as important as it is now, and many of the enclosures were small to make it easier to see the animals.

As for the Red River hogs, it was not the choice of the zoo to euthanase the piglets. All zoos come under the ruling of various associations, who decide which animals should be kept. Edinburgh Zoo cannot keep every animal they breed so if another home cannot be found, they have to be put down. This happens in zoos all over the world.

As for Mercedes, she is now a very old lady, and suffers from osteoarthritis. While she can be kept pain-free, she will be kept alive, but if she starts to suffer, she will be put down.

So please, stop knocking the zoo. None of the animals are considered merely a commodity, but, as the zoo is a charity (and therefore does not make much profit) perhaps those who don't go very often might consider going more frequently and helping the animals that way?

Eve Thomson, Currie, Edinburgh

Income tax boast is not full story

Margaret Smith boasts that 4500 people in Edinburgh will no longer pay income tax as a result of Liberal Democrat policy (Evening News, March 14).

If she wants to take credit for this, she has to accept responsibility for all the vicious, regressive policies her party has also implemented. As a result of the budget proposals, which her party implemented with the Tories, hundreds of thousands of people stand to lose their jobs and millions will be worse off as a result of benefits being cut or frozen. In addition, the increase in VAT to 20 per cent will more than wipe out the small gain poorer people will get from the change in income tax thresholds. The result is that families on low and middle incomes face a real cost of living crisis over the coming years.

Lesley Hinds, Labour candidate for Edinburgh Western

Fact-based film used poetic licence

Noting Karen Burchill's comments on the hype surrounding the Oscar-winning film The King's Speech (Interactive, March 8) I am inclined to agree. I disagree however that the film is "historically inaccurate to the point where it bears little relationship to the truth".

The basic facts of the problems King George suffered and the method chosen by him and Queen Elizabeth to resolve these problems cannot really be disputed: nor can the facts regarding his brother the Duke of Windsor and the other characters portrayed.

It may be that a certain amount of "poetic licence" was used to give dramatic and personal effect, but there's nothing wrong with that: it's a film and it provides entertainment.

David M. Steel, Springfield Terrace, South Queensferry