Up for discussion today: Jim Weir’s move to Brechin City, Christianity and biomass technology.
Honour been kicked out of football
Sir,-The move of Arbroath FC manager Jim Weir and his management team to Brechin City epitomises the lack of honour and integrity which is now corrupting even the lower reaches of the game.
No formal contract was breached but trust and respect certainly were. Poaching and tapping up seem to be integral to football at the top level.
However, when the likes of Brechin feel no ethical compunction in making a predatory approach and Jim Weir no pricking of conscience about leaving on the spot, I sense the game has plumbed the depths.
Will the new club and manager be able to trust each other in future?
Arbroath are the injured party, but perhaps can reap an unplanned advantage by now replacing the management team that got them relegated.
R. D. Allen.28 Viewforth,Buckhaven.
Christians playing persecution card
Sir,-Reverend David Robertson’s diatribe against Dundee Degree show art exhibition (an art exhibition I suspect he has not even seen) is a typical reaction from Christians.
They like to play the persecution card and claim anyone with a different opinion to theirs is being prejudiced.
Whether it is Jerry Springer the Opera, the Corpus Christi play, The Life of Brian, the line is always the same: our faith is precious to us so we should not be mocked, questioned or subjected to any criticism.
Mr Robertson says some stories in the Bible are fictional.
Perhaps he would like to tell us which ones? Does he, for example, believe in Genesis’ account of creation of the world by God in six days 10,000 years ago, or the much more rigorously and scientifically provable theory of evolution through natural selection?
Does Mr Robertson believe in the Biblical account of the flood?
He tells us Christianity encourages children to think for themselves. This is an utter joke. Religion attempts to indoctrinate and stultify children’s natural curiosity.
It tells them lies about going to hell if they don’t believe in Christian dogma. Mr Robertson might also want to study his history a bit more closely before making accusations of extremism.
It is not free thinkers and atheists who are behind current and most historical wars, but religious extremists.Alan Hinnrichs.2 Gillespie Terrace,Dundee.
Little hope for mankind
Sir,-If George McMillan is correct in his assertion that “mankind has produced no higher set of principles than those to be found in the New Testament” then I hold out little hope for mankind.
Aversion to evidence and demanding we think and act like children accepting far-fetched stories on faith, abandoning one’s family, even to the point of hating one’s relatives, support for slavery, appalling homophobia, threats of hellfire and damnation for disbelievers, and belief in demonic possession are all to be found in its pages.
As for the Old Testament, Jesus supported every one of its often petty and cruel laws.(Dr) Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington.
Neither clean nor green
Sir,-Biomass involves incinerating any non-fossil fuel that is arguably “organic”.
This can include contaminated wood waste, crop and animal waste, energy crops, trees, gas from digestion of sewage sludge and animal waste.
Forth Energy, the developer of Dundee’s proposed port biomass plant, has indicated material would be imported from Europe and America due to insufficient local material.
However, these sources include as biomass fodder trees planted to extract arsenic from land contam-inated by chemicals.
Forth Energy maintains there is no certification scheme for biomass fuel. The company is awaiting development of an EU biomass standard.
Renewable energy policies are neither clean nor green. They merely indicate that an energy source can be replenished relatively quickly.
The proposal to site a vast biomass plant redistributing emissions over the whole of Dundee and beyond would be a disaster of epic proportions. Studies in Europe show start-up emissions can reach nearly 1000 times the EU limit, equivalent to more than twice the normal annual operations-and uncertainty of fuel supply could mean regular start-ups.
Dundonians should stand up and be counted as no planning application will be lodged locally but approval sought directly from the Scottish Parliament.Hilary Watson.Craigievar,Albany Road,Broughty Ferry.