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The Herald Scotland

Trump is out to destroy the rules-based world order

The rules-based world order established at Bretton Woods in 1944, which America and Europe have been defending against authoritarian regimes seeking to change it fundamentally in their favour, is now being destroyed by the very United States who constructed it, led by a President whose knowledge of the world outside New York real estate hustling is non-existent. The United States has had a mix in its presidents, but none until now has ever qualified as the world's number one ignoramus. I cannot help in the situation we see unfolding in the Middle East, where western involvement has a record of leaving turmoil and bitterness behind it, contemplating the words of Burns: 'forward tho' I canna see, I guess and fear.' Jim Sillars, Edinburgh. Read more letters Dreading our rail future Is the long-running rail rumour to be proved right? That the replacements for our current long-distance fleet are to be Class 222 Meridians? The transport stars seem to be aligning that way. Let me pour scorn on these 222s, as well as asking the question: why are we in Scotland being landed with such shoddy trains for service on what should be our premier lines? These 'new' long-distance trains are actually third-hand, having passed through Midland Main Line and East Midlands Railways. What's their quality? 'Cramped, noisy, smelly. They're crap.' These five dismissive words belong to a noted planning director, someone well acquainted with railway work. My own experience with Class 222 Meridians is of incessant racket from vibrating underfloor engines, chemical toilets that stink, a body shell that severely restricts passenger space, and a general air of the thoroughly shabby. I was stuck in Derby Station for an hour last year, and it proved deeply depressing seeing these contemptible trains in action. Actually using them proved worse, starting with basics such as lack of luggage space. When ScotRail introduced the current long-distance fleet of HSTs (High Speed Trains), there were grouses that they were half a century old. True, but thanks to their design, these same trains have proved themselves winners down two generations. They're sturdy, fast, quiet, right for the job, and possess legroom, bike spaces, luggage areas and real toilets. Their style and speed engender pride in our nation. Yet ScotRail and its inept overseer Transport Scotland now bleat that HSTs are 'expensive to run and maintain'. If this is true, why were HSTs acquired in the first place? Away back in 1989, a most awful fleet of trains designated for Scotland's long-distance work was rolled out, the utterly contemptible 158s and 170s (the latter were initially christened Turbostars, a name scarcely worthy of The Beano). It took 34 years of campaigning to rid ourselves of this rubbish. Throughout, Transport Scotland proved blind and deaf to the fact that the same type of train serving what should be our premier long-distance routes of Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness was actually the same Dinky toy that trundled the commuter service to Cumbernauld. So who in Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government is responsible for considering these Meridians? Why might the leadership of our nation settle for the cheap and nasty? If Class 222 Meridians are so wonderful, why is East Midlands Railways so keen to get rid of them? A final question: has our nation become Glaikit Scotland, a land of numpties so lacking in gumption that we'll meekly accept long-distance trains foisted on us that utterly lack in every area of real rail quality? Gordon Casely, Crathes. Just picture, a lot of rubbish This might help Jane Lax (Letters, June 18) picture what 600,000 tons of waste looks like. A ton of waste is one cubic metre so if Jane can imagine a pile of used nappies, tattie peelings, empty baked bean tins and other sundry detritus that is about four miles long, 30 feet high and 30ft wide she won't be far away. Although she should be, because the pong will be something else. Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven. Scotland's ban on sending municipal waste to landfill is due to come into effect at the end of the year (Image: Colin Mearns) A waste of effort I write in response to Catherine Hunter's recent article ('Call for more education on recycling as Glasgow rated among worst for action', The Herald, June 12). I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment expressed. However, I recently visited Dawsholm Recycling Centre, where I carefully distributed the material I had brought in the appropriately designated areas only to see a bulldozer move the garden waste and mix it with the non-recyclable material. I note in your article that a Glasgow City Council spokesman had said that 'substantial investment is being made in improving recycling services in Glasgow'. Perhaps, in addition to educating the public, the council should pay attention to what is happening on its own premises. Ian Watson, Glasgow. Heartbroken Several correspondents have written of the delights of Walter Scott. At school, every couple of months, we had to read a book and write a critical review. Returning from a family weekend, in Glencoe, halfway down Loch Lomond side, my normally laid-back brother announced in a panic-stricken voice that he had to hand in a book review, first period on Monday and he had not read the book. "What book?" my mother asked. "Heart of Midlothian," wailed John. David Hay, Minard.