I REFER to the graphic reports of the events taking place in what at times appears to be our benighted world ("UN demands full access to site of Ukraine crash tragedy" and "Gaza death toll tops 500 as Obama voices concern", The Herald , July 22).

It is clear that man has not yet discovered his purpose in this world when we are faced with the slaughter of the innocents on the monumental scale displayed in Ukraine and Gaza. Man has still to find his purpose when we have fellow human beings, going about their normal workaday activities, being blown out of the sky and when we have women, children, and even patients in hospital being killed in Gaza. The profound effects of these horrific episodes on families and communities must be devastating and long-lasting.

I do not intend to dwell on the rights and wrongs of the use of armed force in residential areas by the Israelis and the rocket firing by Hamas, or on the respective positions of the Ukraine government and the separatist movement in that country. However, the concerned onlooker wonders how many more innocent people are to die as a result of these conflicts before the inevitable dialogue and negotiation takes place.

Harry Reid in his column ("A happier place than at any time in my life", The Herald, July 22) describes how , in his view, Scotland is a "happier and more optimistic" country than at any other time in his lifetime. I have certain doubts about that proposition when one considers, for example, the increasing numbers of dysfunctional families (where spouses /partners have separated/divorced) and the number of people on prescription drugs for depression . Taking a global view, however, I am sure that we are not "happier" and not "more optimistic" when we have incidents such as those occurring in recent times in Ukraine and Gaza.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.