Stop Donald Trump
"Today the world is run by three of the most secretive institutions in the world: The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, all three of which, in turn, are dominated by the U.S. Their decisions are made in secret. The people who head them are appointed behind closed doors. Nobody really knows anything about them, their politics, their beliefs, their intentions. Nobody elected them. Nobody said they could make decisions on our behalf." Arundhati Roy
Globalisation and the excesses of corporate power are at the heart of what is wrong with the world today. I believe that every small move that is made to stem the creeping, power hungry magnates is a step in the right direction.
Donald Trump is one such magnate. Mr Trump claims that his proposals are altruistic - that his plans to build a golf course at Menie Links in Aberdeenshire are motivated by job creation and empowering the local economy. I do not believe him. I believe that this is an exercise in extending the Trump bank balance by building a housing development disguised as a golf course. I believe that his interference in plans to build an offshore wind farm are arrogant in the extreme - but this is what happens to the rich when we give them power, they become paternalistic and try to tell us how to run our world, how to provide energy for ourselves.
In building a new Trump theme park at Menie Links, we must consider the fuller impact. This goes beyond the destruction of sand dunes which have existed for thousands of years, beyond the destruction of a vibrant and important ecosystem and even beyond the destruction of archaeoligical heritage dating back 7,000 years. This goes into the territory of the future - the pollution that will be wrought by proposed transatlantic flights and the increase in road traffic. This future view includes Scottish heritage being exploited to line the pockets of a magnate and his cronies with no real interest in the local fabric.
There are close to 300 golf courses already in Scotland - why do we need a Donald Trump extravaganza? Why can't the people of Scotland motivate themselves to encourage tourism?
Do we really want to believe that a man who publicly makes statements defining a woman as a "big fat pig" is a man who is mature enough, evolved enough, to be hugely involved in the economics of Scotland? I think we can do better without that type of person, don't you?
So I'm compiling here as much information as I have gathered and collecting things from previous blogs I have written in an effort to raise awareness about this issue. I hope you will add your voice and pass this along - you do not need to be a resident of Aberdeenshire, or indeed Scotland, to register your objections. Be aware though that "Neil" from Trumpland will tell you that Scottish people are in favour of this project, which isn't true really.
Questions have arisen about Jack McConnell's conduct and whether he has broken ministerial code by aligning himself with Trump. Can we be assured of a true democratic process on this issue if the First Minister is openly courting this deal?
McConnell Broke Rules News Story
McConnell promotes Scottish golf tourism in China as Trump negotiations begin
Stone Age Hitch to Mammoth Golf Plan
Quote - Mr Trump added that if there was any suggestion from residents that his plan was not welcome, he would go somewhere else. "I am doing this to a large extent in honour of my mother," he said. "But if people do not want this I will go elsewhere."
Source - http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article360837.ece
Will Donald Trump honour his word???
You can send an email: neil@trumpgolfscotland.com
Trump's own website has long bothered me due to the way he speaks about the airport and road upgrades as if they are guaranteed - when they patently are NOT.
A word of warning also, Trump has his eye on a site in Ireland should his plans be scuppered in Scotland:
Please help to stop this going ahead by going HERE , clicking on "Comment on Application" and lodging your objection. If this link does not work, you can go HERE and use the search box for application APP/2006/4605. My sister created a document which you are welcome to copy and paste into the comment box to save you time:
Donald Trump application
I write in objection to the planning application from Donald Trump regarding the Menie Estate at Balmedie.
My objections are for the following reasons:
1) Why do we need another golf course development when there are over 70 listed on the following website in www.golf-grampian.co.uk/directory.asp . Surely some of these could be improved if they are not already world-class championship courses.
2) Roads in the North-East are over congested already. The A90 is already a very busy mainly single carriageway road which will not be able to accommodate a development of the size. Roads into Aberdeen and within Aberdeen, especially at the Bridge of Don, are often gridlocked. All southern traffic will have to come through Aberdeen to get to the Menie Estate. The proposed increase in tourism will increase the number of cars coming from the airport at Aberdeen. Transatlantic flights will terminate in Edinburgh or Glasgow, and with poor rail networks in the North-East, this will only lead to more cars coming through Aberdeen. The A96 is also horrific single carriageway road. The Western Peripheral Route and the runway extension at Aberdeen are not cast in stone.
3) This development will lead to increased noise and air pollution from air and road traffic. The resulting carbon emissions will lead to increased global warming. These are quality of life issues. We enjoy a quiet pace of life in the North-East that is why we live here. We do not want it to end up like some Spanish Costa with traffic bumper-to-bumper from Barcelona to Malaga. In fact, in Spain, there are now laws to prevent development within 500 m of the coastline.
4) I have heard Donald Trump talking about how this will be good for everyone's house prices. House prices in the North-East are already far too expensive for most people's pockets. Luxury developments are popping up all over the place. What people need in the North-East is affordable family housing. I believe there is a rule that says that 25% of any new development has to be given over to affordable housing. Personally I have not seen this happening in developments. Increased house prices will not be beneficial to local people.
5) We live in a sensitive ecosystem which requires biodiversity of species in order to survive and flourish. All species play an important role in nature. Sand dunes are an important natural habitat and many are being preserved throughout the world. Sand dunes provide an important breeding ground for birds. Birds transport seeds which aid biodiversity. Many insects live in sand dunes which provide food for other species. Bees which are facing extinction also thrive in this environment. Bees are highly important for cross pollination of plants, which also provides food for variety of species. This habitat provides enjoyment for local people. Humans have a lack of knowledge of how important nature is to sustaining life on earth. Destruction of sand dunes is equivalent to destruction of the rain forest. We must act now to preserve natural landscapes which are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. This is contributing to global warming. Global warming is real and is affecting human populations including those in the North-East of Scotland.
6) Scotland is a beautiful country with breathtaking landscapes. This is the true tourist attraction. The Trump development is not in keeping with the beauty of Scotland. It will be a blot on the landscape. A piece of over-developed America in the north-east of Scotland. Why would anyone want to come to Scotland to see an eight storey hotel or apartment block?
7) Will the houses be energy efficient, water conserving, carbon neutral homes? Why has Trump made such a fuss about Renewable Energy Turbines close to his development? Climate change and carbon emissions are at the top of the current affairs agenda at the moment. Let's stop being backwards in the North-East.
8. Economically, this development is bound to create a few jobs locally. But the Trump Organisation will make its money from residential development (no clear details yet) and the hotel complex. This money will go straight into Mr Trump's pocket. This development will be designed in a way that keeps all the money coming pouring into the Trump pot. Everything will be available on site making it unnecessary to go off-site for anything.
9) This development would spoil our way of life will only benefit one person in the end and that is Donald Trump. Trump has chosen this land because most of this type of landscape has already been over-developed.
Please really think about this development, and what it will mean for local people and the environment. This development is a residential development being disguised as a golf course. This planning application must be refused.
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Tags: aberdeen, donald trump, menie estate, north east
Posted on February 18, 2007 in Environment, Opinionated, Sustainable Living.
since I’ve already done my letter, I’m passing this along to some folks of Scottish descent who may join their tribe in a letter or two.
keep up the good fight.