Weaning the West off Russian oil and gas is going to be one of the biggest challenges of the war against Putin.
Britain made the right move yesterday by following the USA by banning any imports of Russian oil.
The UK is not reliant on natural resources from Russia but as the noose of sanctions tighten on Moscow the global price of oil will spike far higher.
From heating homes to petrol, we are going to feel the squeeze.
The war with Russia is a reality check on our dependence on oil. It may be that the new world order strengthens the case for sustaining North Sea fields for longer than was envisaged but the crisis encourage the move to alternative energy sources.
A massive expansion in offshore renewables, already licenced at bargain basement prices by the Scottish Government, will have to be considered.
A proper assessment of nuclear power, with debate about how civil nuclear plants are not the same as nuclear weapons, has to be part of the conversation too.
When it comes to infrastructure, the massive undersea power grids that take wind from the oceans to the cities on the Atlantic coast have to factored into the budget. As does the network of charging points for the electric car revolution.
This is a much harder path to travel for European nations on Russia’s doorstep. They import 40 per cent of their gas from Kremlin-controlled sites.
But the whole of Europe is going to have to rethink energy and end its dependency on oil and gas from West Siberia.
It it doesn’t, Putin will continue to wreak misery and havoc.
Women injustice must be tackled
Misogyny and sexism are still depressingly common features of everyday life in Scotland.
Women not only face unequal pay but they are also victims of sexual harassment and even murder by violent men.
Baroness Kennedy’s eagerly-awaited report, published on International Women’s Day, contains many welcome suggestions.
It calls for the creation of a new law which would include a statutory aggravation of misogyny.
Stirring up hatred against women and girls would be criminalised and there would be a new offence of harassment.
Many of these recommendations are long overdue and the Government has responded positively.
Kennedy’s report was also published on the same day Nicola Sturgeon issued an apology to people accused of witchcraft hundreds of years ago.
The First Minister said the convictions and executions, mostly of women, had been an injustice on a “colossal scale”.
Injustice against women should be tackled wherever it occurs, both in the past and the present.
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