Aug. 23, 2007 (LPAC) - Today's issue of The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland) features an article entitled "Joined-up thinking: plan for bridge from Scotland to Ireland'' and states that "A 21-mile bridge or tunnel connecting Scotland and Ireland would provide a 'massive' boost for both countries, according to an Irish think tank.''The article is based on a paper written and released by Andy Pollak, the director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, an institute established in 1999 and based in Armagh (Northern Ireland) and Dublin to research and develop cooperation in education, health and economic projects between the Republic of Ireland and British Northern Ireland.

The Herald states that such "a link would provide a massive social and economic boost to both parts of Ireland and Scotland.'' Such great projects also generate optimism in the population. As Scotland continues to debate re-establishing its independence from London, and with national elections approaching, it is not coincidental that real economic development projects are starting to be discussed.

The idea for constructing a connection between Scotland and Ireland was proposed by LaRouche-associate Mark Calney in his 1996 book, published in Scotland, 'Robert Burns & the Ideas of the American Revolution.' The proposal, called the "Shamrock and Thistle Tunnel,'' stated, in part:

"Now that the Channel Tunnel between England and France is fully operational, Ireland is the largest land mass in Europe to be completely surrounded by water. To remedy that, and to serve as an economic driver for both Ireland and Scotland, a tunnel can be constructed under the North Channel from Larne, Northern Ireland (about 15 miles north of Belfast) to a site several miles north of Cairnryan, Scotland. Though more research needs to be done, preliminary investigations for such a "Thistle & Shamrock Tunnel" shows that the North Channel is not too deep as a crossing site. The tunnel would be approximately 36 miles long, five miles longer than the Channel Tunnel.

"Such a project will stimulate the economy in the region as a whole, and help to integrate Northern Ireland into the Irish Republic.''