The Forth Replacement Crossing is to be a cable-stayed bridge upstream of the existing road bridge.
The option agreed by Ministers will be delivered in the quickest possible timescale and at the lowest cost. It will also improve transport connections and reduce the CO2 emissions generated by the current crossing.
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Scottish fishermen were yesterday given the green light to catch more cod next year after a decade of cuts, in return for their pioneering approach to conserving the fragile stock. for more click here
Alarmed as a scientist by global warming trends, ten years ago I published a book called “Jane Austen and the Black Hole of British History. Colonial rapacity, holocaust denial and the crisis in biological sustainability” (see: here ). My argument was a simple and straightforward one about rational risk management – history ignored yields history repeated, genocide ignored yields genocide repeated, or in 21st century terms, spin-based denial or ignoring of horrendous realities permits their continuance because of lack of requisite ameliorative action. for more click here
The largest survey of Scottish young people has revealed a remarkable snapshot of the nation’s views.
Nearly 3000 young Scots were questioned on a whole range of issues for Youthlink, the national youth work agency, primarily in a bid to inform policy-makers.
More than one-half believe they enjoy a healthy lifestyle but many are unhappy with their figures. for more click here
One has big hair, a $2.9bn fortune and an ego the size of the moon. The other is a former racing tipster whose own prodigious vanity is swollen by the knowledge that he is his nation’s most impressive politician. for more click here
SCOTLAND HAS been accused by the European Union (EU) of 65 violations of laws meant to prevent pollution, protect wildlife and control waste, according to a secret government database released to the Sunday Herald.
The number of alleged breaches of European legal directives over the past six years is twice as high as previously admitted, prompting accusations yesterday that Scotland’s record was “shocking” and had been “covered up”. for more click here
Delegates at the UN summit in Bali have agreed a deal on curbing climate change after days of bitter wrangling.
Agreement was reached after a U-turn from the US, which had wanted firmer commitments from developing countries. for more click here
SCOTTISH MP Mark Lazarowicz is to introduce a bill to tighten up the regulation of ship-to-ship oil transfers around the UK following a row over plans to conduct them in the Firth of Forth.
Responsibility for authorising applications is currently split between port authorities, local councils, the UK-wide coastguard and maritime agency and environment agencies. for more click here
Australia has ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in his first act after being sworn in this morning. for more click here
LAST week’s Scottish housing statistics, which show a decline in the number of new-build completions from 26,000 to 23,700 this year, highlight the problem of housing supply. for more click here