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Friday, July 13, 2012
editor@thecourier.es COURIER POSTBAG: YOUR VIEWS ON OUR NEWS
WITH reference to The shame of Donna's blasphemy" (Issue 72), Donna did ask for views from Christians - but as a non-believer
Donna’s Divine write
I feel I may have a view, too! So Jacqueline-Anne is "extremely upset" by Donna's "flippant use of sacred speech". This religious person feels her views are beyond criticism and flippancy. Why? What makes them so different to the rest of us? No doubt I have critics for my views but I am not so arrogant as to want an apology every time someone disagrees with me. So your feelings were hurt, so what! People should have the right to
be offensive about religion. That doesn't mean I think it's OK to harass religious people, I don't but it does mean I believe in free expression. Just because you think there's an imaginary friend up there doesn't mean others have to believe it. I don't delude myself with iron-age fairy tales. Thank goodness a new wave of reason is sweeping across the world. If a god truly is all powerful then why would someone writing in a flippant way about God in a public
newspaper be any sort of threat? This complainant is being irrational and trying to press her fundamental, personal views on others. In my opinion Donna should write what she wants about religion, praising or criticising; t's a free press. PAT PHILLIPS
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WHAT a load of tosh! As a committed Christian, I was in no way offended by Donna’s article, and in the context it was written no possible offence
should have been taken. In fact, on reading your recent articles on Machi the Miracle Man, this morning I made an appointment with him for this coming Friday morning. Hope he is as good with me as he was with you. JESS THOMSON
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It’s nice to know that the born-again Christian who accused me of blasphemy is not representative of the community. And good luck with Machi, Jess!
ANIMAL MAGIC New youth punishment really fits crime
THREE cheers for Senor Jorge Cabré, the Minister for Justice and Social Welfare, in sending young offenders to work at the animal sanctuary Sociedad Protectora de Animales y Plantas de Alicante at Bacarot. A brilliant idea for these young people will not just have a criminal record but will have brought home to them the abuse, cruelty and neglect suffered by animals. The staff at Bacarot do a brilliant job with limited resources and it is obvious that they really care about the animals – but they are always in need of more volunteers and donations as they have no collecting tins and no fundraising shows put on for their benefit. I have taken many people there over the years, some with animals they have found abandoned or are no longer able to care for, others just to have a look around. And without exception they have all been impressed by what a beautiful, well-run sanctuary it is. I have known Raul Merida since he opened this shelter in the 1990’s – and what a good man he is. Raul has also set up FIPARM (Fundacion Internacional para Animales Raul Merida) and under this umbrella he has set up the Brigada Azul, which is run along the lines of and is affiliated to the RSPCA in the UK. Clinivet veterinary practices around Alicante which will treat animals at a reduced cost, ROAL, a
Jorge Cabre... brilliant idea
sanctuary for exotic animals such as lions, tigers, wolves, lynx, apes etc many of which are imported illegally into the country, some come from travelling circuses, others from the sanctuary at Guadalest which had to close down. All of these animals he endeavours to re-home in zoos around the world and as you can imagine the food bill alone runs into thousands of euros every month. Raul is instrumental in involving SEPRONA, the arm of the Guardia Civil responsible for the environment including animal welfare, in bringing
Nobody’s fuels YOU appear to be the only newspaper that has picked up on the winter fuel allowance case in Switzerland. It hasn't been mentioned in any other free paper, or the British TV news. Is this because most free papers are politically biased?. Or are you on the ball and making us ex-Brits aware of what is going on? Whatever the case I do hope you will look into this
and keep giving us pensioners the information as to how we can apply for this allowance, and, if necessary, how we can get together to foil Iain Duncan Smith’s attempts to deprive us who live in the South East of Spain the allowance we have a right to. Thank you for bringing this sensitive issue to the fore ELAINE SAUNDERS
prosecutions in cases of cruelty and abandonment of animals. He also goes into schools to talk to the children about animal welfare and to encourage them to respect all animals. If you would like to know more, please call into my charity shop in Quesada and read the literature in the window. Our summer opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am until 1pm. JOE (THE CAT MAN) PS. Rumours abound that I have passed away. Sorry to disappoint whoever started this but at 85 I am still very much alive although stone deaf.
interested in your article in Issue q72I WAS re new prescription rules. There is also another twist - I believe that many items that were available on prescription will no longer be so and that we will have to pay the full cost of the items. I have just had an eye infection and my doctor gave me three prescriptions, one on the usual red printed form and two that were just all black printing on a white sheet. I got the normal red printed one by paying 10% but the other two I had to pay the full price. I have been told that this will apply to over 400 items previously available on normal prescriptions. ROBERT TREHARNE
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How much is a child’s life worth? HOW much is the life of one of our children worth? The President of the Vista Azul 2, Urbanisation, Alan McPhail, is saying €3,800. Our Urbanisation is now 12 years old and is below the size which would make it compulsory by Spanish law to have a lifeguard. But a decision was made at an AGM 12 years ago for the safety of all to engage a pool guard for July/August - and this decision has been carried through until now. Mr McPhail, his VP, and our Administrator have held a private meeting and decided not to engage a pool guard. I would like to point out that according to Urbanisation and Community law they do not have the authority to cancel the guard, this can only be done at an AGM. I would like to ask our President, VP and Administrator, if a child dies in our pool because of the illegal decision taken by the three of you, are you going to accept responsibility? GEORGE DAVIS, Vista Azul 2
Help us, please
I WOULD really appreciate your help.. We need more volunteers to help those in need, but we also want to help those in need anywhere in the Quesada, Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja areas. We understand that the Social Workers at Torrevieja Hospital have closed their department till September. This will cause serious problems for patients who have no one at home to look after them. We had two clients discharged
from hospital this week who said this about the Social Service Welfare/Workers, they normally offer some kind of help if required, but not now, is this due to the cutbacks? We can help these patients, we need more volunteers to do so. With your support, I am sure we can all benefit from helping each other. NORAH BOND President, Help At Home Costa Blanca