Response to "Western Isles oil reserves worth trillions"

Response to "Western Isles oil reserves worth trillions":  http://www.hebrides-news.com/western-isles-oil-reserves-worth-trillions-14914.html

Assertion

"The seas off the Western Isles could be in line for a new oil boom, according to a new independent industry report."

Response

The report is a 989 word document written by Oil and Gas People Ltd. and published on its own website.  It has not been published in any industry or academic publications, and has not been peer reviewed.

Reference

http://www.oilandgaspeople.com/news/1039/scottish-west-coast-untapped-oil-and-gas-reserves-worth-trillions/

Assertion

"The report suggested the west coast alone could provide oil and gas for at least 100 years with an estimated value of more than £1 trillion."

Response

Professor Dorrik Stow, the only academic quoted in the report, stated, "It's clutching at straws to suggest that sort of level and I’m surprised to be quoted in that context."

Reference

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/scottish-independence-1-trillion-oil-claim-1-3529183

Assertion

"Oilandgaspeople.com, the world’s largest oil and gas industry jobs board, and independent North Sea oil and gas industry experts…"

Response

Oil and Gas People Ltd. is a small company registered to a detached house in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.  As a recruiter for oil and gas employees, it has a vested interest in promoting the industry in Scotland.

Reference

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//wcframe?name=accessCompanyInfo

Assertion

"The report said there is a "consensus among industry experts and companies that it’s not a case of if, but when oil and gas reserves larger than in the North Sea will be discovered in the Atlantic Margin.""

Response

No expert industry sources are provided to substantiate this statement.

Reference

http://www.oilandgaspeople.com/news/1039/scottish-west-coast-untapped-oil-and-gas-reserves-worth-trillions/

Response to "Westminster politicians will say anything to keep power in their hands"

Response to "Westminster politicians will say anything to keep power in their hands":  https://www.facebook.com/YesScotland/photos/a.447127981964784.249120.410177615659821/864728046871440/?type=1&relevant_count=1

Assertion

"ASDA: 'not saying prices have to rise in an independent Scotland'"

Response

In context, ASDA stated that, "Already it costs more money to get groceries to people in Scotland, our taxes are higher and our margins are lower. Our systems are set up for one single UK market. These are not arguments for or against independence, but a simple recognition of the costs that change would bring.  I am not saying prices have to rise in an independent Scotland.".

It is possible that prices would have to rise if Scotland becomes independent.

Reference

http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-the-large-retail-levy-just-does-not-add-up-for-our-customers-or-for-us.22918258

Assertion

"TESCO: 'no truth' in No claims"

Response

Tesco stated that the claims of price rises by the No campaign were "entirely speculative".  All economic forecasts for an independent Scotland are speculative.

Reference

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29087393

Assertion

"RBS: 'it is not our intention to move jobs or operations'"

Response

RBS stated that, in the event of Scottish independence, it "intends to retain a significant level of its operations and employment in Scotland to support its customers there and the activities of the whole Bank.".  However, it will "re-domicile the Bank’s holding company and its primary rated operating entity (The Royal Bank of Scotland plc) to England".

In the event of Scottish independence, RBS will pay its taxes in England.

Reference

http://www.rbs.com/news/2014/09/statement-in-response-to-press-speculation-on-re-domicile.html

Assertion

"Everyone just laughted at this one [A new, worldwide 'great depression']"

Response

Deutsche Bank stated that "A Yes vote for Scottish independence on Thursday would go down in history as a political and economic mistake as large as Winston Churchill’s decision in 1925 to return the pound to the gold standard or the failure of the Federal Reserve to provide sufficient liquidity to the US banking system, which we now know brought on the Great Depression in the US."

Reference

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/independence-referendum-german-banking-giant-4249873

Response to "Top 10 Reasons Why Scotland Could Be Great On The World Stage".

Response to "Top 10 Reasons Why Scotland Could Be Great On The World Stage":  http://nationalcollective.com/2014/09/01/top-10-reasons-why-scotland-could-be-great-on-the-world-stage/

Assertion

"The current negotiations with Iran on her nuclear programme are slightly hamstrung by the hypocrisy of five of the six members of the contact group having nuclear weapons and making little or no attempt to disarm themselves, despite the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty explicitly stating that they should do so."

Response

There has been a "reduction of more than 70% in the potential explosive power of the [UK nuclear] deterrent since the end of the Cold War".

Reference

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmdfence/451/451vw06.htm

Assertion

"Becoming a modest, constructive partner in world affairs allows Scotland the opportunity to aspire to emulate the likes of Norway’s diplomatic success in 1991 in getting Israel and the Palestinians to sign the Oslo Accords."

Response

"Norway played a mediating role as a small state between vastly unequal parties and had to play by the rules of the stronger party, acting on its premises."

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Accords#Norway.27s_role

Assertion

"The UK’s delusions of grandeur and fight against post-imperial decline lead to a fairly arrogant and pushy foreign policy. Shedding ourselves of such pomposity will foster a far more amenable environment with other nations making beneficial co-operation more likely."

Response

The use of hyperbole such as "delusions of grandeur", "fairly arrogant and pushy" and "such pomposity" suggests a biased, emotionally driven argument with little foundation in fact.

Assertion

"The recent raising of the threat level in the UK is a timely warning that the likes of Islamic State and Al Qaeda view the UK as a legitimate and important target in their global jihad. An independent Scotland would stand firm in the alliance against such forces of extremism but would have the opportunity to take a more respectful and less arrogant view of the world. This would serve to move the fierce glare of focus, currently placed upon the UK and US, from Scotland by these organisations."

Response

"ISIL follows an extreme anti-Western interpretation of Islam, promotes religious violence and regards those who do not agree with its interpretations as infidels or apostates."

"As Salafist jihadists, [Al-Qaeda] believe that the killing of civilians is religiously sanctioned, and they ignore any aspect of religious scripture which might be interpreted as forbidding the murder of civilians and internecine fighting."

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant#Ideology_and_beliefs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda

Assertion

"Clearly we must be careful as the smug wha’s like us attitude would wear thin very quickly. Instead, a modest approach that builds on this door-opening goodwill will allow Scotland to rebuild its international networks, conclude mutually beneficial trade deals and constructively engage in international organisations."

Response

This is mitigation of the negative affects of independence, rather than a reason for it.

Assertion

"However, we will actually get to sit at the EU table rather than watching on TV in the next room (this actually happened to a Scottish minister when part of a UK delegation)."

Response

Scotland will need to have "the capacity to cope with competition and market forces in the EU" and "adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union" to be considered for EU membership, which is not guaranteed.

Reference

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/policy/conditions-membership/index_en.htm

Assertion

"At present many US companies have their European bases in and around London. Should they find themselves suddenly cut off from the European single market they will very quickly start to look for a base within the EU."

Response

Even if the remainder of the UK leaves the EU, the internal [European single] market is open to non-EU states via the European Economic Area.

Reference

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_market

Assertion

"Far from "throwing up borders" as unionists argue, Scotland’s continued membership of the EU could, in the face of the withdrawal of the rUK [sic] in a few years time, be an incredible advantage."

Response

Scotland is not a member of the EU.

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Union#List

Assertion

"…we already attract some of the world’s brightest to study here [in Scotland], if we have the power to convince them to stay and utilise their Scottish-honed skills to the benefit of our economy, and their personalities to Scotland’s wider cultural wealth, we will all truly benefit."

Response

Supposition.