A tourist tax helps fund the upkeep of Salou and the wider region
AFTER a two year wait I returned to Salou in Spain after a slow return to normality.
I paid my 10 day tourist tax and within hours of arriving in Salou I saw the benefit. The tax directly funds the upkeep of the resort and the region. Between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., a well-staffed team not only sweeps the streets, but also flushes them at high pressure.
The public toilets are clean and open all day. Garbage cans are emptied continuously and there are many recycling bins available.
Every street crossing has a lowered sidewalk, something that has helped my mobility van. There are virtually no potholes or serious defects in sidewalks or roads. The police are visible at all times.
The only criticism I have is that tourists don’t respect the litter and smoking laws.
Spain is a country suffering from inflation, unemployment and other problems that are obviously worse than those of the UK (if you believe the propaganda of Her Majesty’s Government and Boris Johnston).
One wonders how these less populated, poorly funded countries manage to maintain year-round civic well-being. Maybe it’s pride and better management – something we lack in the UK.
William McKissock, Clarkston, Glasgow.
THE REAL STATE OF NATURE
IN the Earth Overshoot Day article ‘Root out environmental threats to save this land of plenty’ (19 May) it was claimed that NatureScot research ‘shows that Scotland has already lost almost 25 per cent of its wildlife’. That’s wrong.
The latest State of Nature Scotland report finds that since 1994 the relative abundance of 352 monitored species has fallen by an average of 24%.
As there are around 60,000 organisms (excluding microbes) in and around Scotland, this finding is based on information from 0.6% of Scottish species.
Furthermore, the State of Nature authors do not claim that these species are representative of Scottish wildlife: they are restricted to four iconic groups – moths, butterflies, birds and mammals; no plants or fungi are included; no marine species; no beetles or flies, Scotland’s most diverse group of insects.
The story goes on
Equating an average 24% decline in the abundance of an unrepresentative 0.6% of Scottish species with the loss of almost a quarter of Scotland’s wildlife is a misrepresentation of the data.
dr Iain Wilkie, Strachur.
ELECTRICAL GENEROSITY
I was almost 80 and was delighted to receive a letter today saying I would be getting an extra 25p a week (net of tax) from my milestone birthday. That means I can enjoy about two minutes of electricity every day over a 24-hour period absolutely free.
What generosity!
James Watson, Dunbar, East Lothian.
A GOOD FOLLOW-UP QUESTION
DAVID Miller (“How much to follow, follow?”, May 21) poses the question and somehow links it to complaints about the cost of living. This is still a democracy and we have the right to choose how we spend our money. I wonder if David has ever asked other sports fans how they spend their money. I suspect it really is Rangers supporters that are bothering him.
John Gilligan, Ayr.
* SO, Milngavie’s David Miller is questioning the ability of some 50,000 working-class people to make their way to Seville?
David should come to terms with this fact: these people preferred not to live in leafy suburbs (so-called spam valleys).
That’s why they don’t have to think twice about spending 400 euros to follow their team.
I never thought that I would defend the follow-follow brigade.
Stevie Campbell, Hamilton.
CARRIAGE OF ETERNAL FIRE
THE death of Greek composer Vangelis has been reported.
I note that he explained that the film’s trademark, Chariots of Fire, was “just another piece of music”. He wrongs himself.
There can’t be many people who have heard the music who haven’t hummed or whistled to the tune at some point in their lives, or just listened carefully to it.
It’s one of those remarkable compositions that will continue to resonate with so many people.
Rest in Peace Evangelos Odysseys Papathanassiou.
Ian W. Thomson, Lenzie.
WHY THE FUTURE IS DEFINITELY VEGAN
THE argument against eating red meat is clear and simple—don’t do it (Claire Taylor, “Big Read: The Case for Eating Red Meat Is a Clear and Simple One,” May 17).
Eating meat increases the risk of colon cancer – a link that has been known for years – and clogs arteries, and can also lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Peta welcomes the sensible and compassionate call by a group of Scottish clinicians and GPs to remove meat from hospital menus.
A diet high in plant-based foods can add almost a decade to your life compared to people eating a typical Western diet.
Animals suffer immensely from human meat addiction. In the UK, even under the best conditions in the industry, calves can have their horns gouged out and piglets have their tooth tips and tails clipped without pain relief.
All animals used for food endure the horror of transport, being hanged and having their throats cut, often while still conscious. “Ethical” meat is a myth.
Meat production is also one of the main causes of the climate catastrophe. The carbon footprint of Scottish beef can be 20 times higher than that of plant-based proteins. This is a global emergency that threatens to destabilize entire economies and send millions to an early grave.
The United Nations is urging a global shift to a plant-based diet that can provide all the nutrients children and adults need.
Some Scottish farmers are already moving with the times, growing oats for the booming plant-based milk sector and switching from harmful aquaculture to compassionate seaweed production.
The future is vegan.
dr Carys Bennett, Corporate Projects Manager, Peta Foundation UK, London.
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