I WAS very moved by a report in The Herald ("Hunter killer submarines told not to take on pod of whales”, The Herald, April 23). It is gratifying to think that the Ministry of Defence is so concerned about the lives of cetaceans that it will actively seek to avoid harming them.

I just wish that it was equally concerned at the prospect of other forms of life suffering because of their activities, in particular the species homo sapiens, whose very existence is threatened by its willingness to use nuclear weapons.

Is it too much to hope that their sense of compassion will extend to their fellow human beings, and that it will forswear the use of nuclear weapons on its brothers and sisters in the human family?

After all, on July 7 last year, 122 states agreed on a treaty banning nuclear weapons at the United Nations in New York. The nine rogue nuclear states – naturally – boycotted this. But why can’t we do what the overwhelming majority of humanity want?

Brian M Quail,

2 Hyndland Avenue, Glasgow.