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Letters: C4's Christmas message

Friday 08 December 2006 01:00 GMT
Comments

C4's veiled woman does not speak for British Muslims

Sir: Your article "Veiled Muslim to deliver C4's Christmas message" (6 December) quotes Allen Jewhurst, the producer for Chameleon's alternative Christmas message describing the veiled woman as "an everyone who can articulate the views of British Muslims".

Given much of Chameleon's programmes, I am not in the least bit surprised that his research team should suggest that this individual can in fact represent the views of the ethnically, politically, and economically diverse slice of society that is labelled "British Muslims". Considering that less than 1 per cent of Muslim women in Britain actually wear a niqab, who on earth can deduce such a pitiful figure as being representative of such a group?

Yet again, British Muslims are being misrepresented in the media, portrayed only in their most extreme incarnations, rather than as the vast and overwhelming majority of British citizens they are; dressing in contemporary clothing, contributing to the economy, society and culture of their country, pursuing relationships with people of all cultures, nationalities and faiths, and respecting and cherishing the (albeit diminishing) freedoms and rights that living in a modern British secular society affords them - one of which is increasingly under threat: the right to practice their religion freely and without persecution or prejudice.

When will the British media stop giving a voice to these extreme elements and foolishly and irresponsibly conferring upon them a status they do not hold amongst the community they are imagined to represent?

MS REWA BOUJI

LONDON SW8

Brown's 'green' tax changes hit biofuel

Sir: Far from having delivered a green budget Mr Brown has just taken another step to killing off the embryonic biofuel industry in this country.

When he announced that road fuel duty was to be increased on petrol and diesel he also announced that the differential for rebated fuels would remain unchanged. Two of these rebated fuels are biodiesel and bioethanol, both of which are manufactured from renewable plant sources and are both carbon neutral and have extremely low emissions. Mr Brown has just increased the road fuel duty on these biofuels without saying as much.

The tax rebate for biodiesel is such that with a following wind it is just about possible to match the pump prices for fossil-based diesel - but with virtually no margin. Prices for raw vegetable oil, which is the key ingredient in its manufacture, fluctuate significantly and many of the producers are relatively new businesses that need all the help they can get.

Not only do we need to raise public awareness of the availability of these fuels, which can be used in today's cars without modification, but we also need to increase pressure on the vehicle manufacturers to take biofuels seriously, which at the moment they do not.

Most of the businesses involved in the manufacture of biofuels do it because of a passionate belief in the fight against carbon emissions and maybe the hope of profits some time in the future. Many of them have already closed down. Mr Brown has not helped.

RICHARD OPPENHEIMER

HILL CHORLTON, STAFFORDSHIRE

Sir: How dare anyone describe the Chancellor's autumn statement as containing "green taxes"? Not only are his measures far too little, far too late - we have actually gone beyond the point at which any level of taxes could be sufficient on their own to address the crisis of accelerating climate change.

Perhaps a couple of decades ago, when the Green Party and others in the green movement began warning about the dangers of global warming, increasing taxes on fossil fuels might have been enough to begin changing behaviour to avoid the situation we now face. Relying on taxes now - especially at the levels which all three major parties are prepared to contemplate - is like trying to put out a blazing building with a child's water pistol.

Only if taxes are backed up by steadily decreasing personal carbon allowances or quotas will we stand any chance of avoiding the worst consequences of 20 years of inaction and complacency.

Real green policies are as much about spending as taxing: spending to invest in the clean renewable technologies that can power acceptable lifestyles for all in decades and centuries to come, and social welfare policies which, along with fair carbon quotas for all, will ensure that the burdens of change do not fall on the poorest citizens, whilst we create a truly sustainable society.

BRIG OUBRIDGE

LLANFYNYDD, CARMARTHENSHIRE

Sir: As another "year without a winter" wears on, and in the absence of serious leadership on climate change, I have just adopted my own transport policy. It's called "Is Your Journey Really Necessary" and it's applied to every journey I make in a car or aeroplane.

I keep the right to say "yes", for whatever reason I choose, but always asking the question does make me figure out whether it's worth burning petrol and jet fuel for that particular purpose. I expect to be cancelling more and more trips as a result. Sorry Chancellor, sorry Ryanair, but it's the only way to travel.

JULIAN CALDECOTT

SHAFTESBURY, DORSET

Don't blame US for the plight of Iraq

Sir: I would not blame the Americans for leaving Iraq to its own future, and what is more I do not think that it would be a defeat for them.

I remember after the invasion, when the US was spending large sums of money on reconstruction, the insurgents were blowing up electricity pylons so that the Americans could not claim a moral victory by making the people's lives better. I also remember the insurgents attacking the UN with a catastrophic car bomb which forced the retreat of the UN aid effort from Iraq. I remember the insurgents kidnapping, killing and beheading contractors who were being employed to reconstruct the place, with obvious knock-on effects.

The Americans have spent billions of dollars and many dead in trying to rid the country of a dictator and to try to implement democracy through elections; the blame for the current Apocalypse Now scenario (reports, 7 December) should rest squarely with political Islam.

MATTHEW WOOD

ST PETER PORT, GUERNSEY

Apologies for ancient wrongs

Sir: Tom Derbyshire (Letters, 2 December) neglects to mention the reason for Swein Forkbeard's invasion of England. This was, at least partly, in revenge for the murder of his sister Gunnhild in the St Brice's day massacre of 13 November 1002, ordered by King Aethelred as an act of genocide against the Danish population of England.

In Aethelred's own words: "It will be well known that a decree was sent out by me with the counsel of my leading men and magnates, to the effect that all the Danes who had sprung up in this island, sprouting like weeks amongst the wheat, were to be destroyed by a most just extermination."

I think it is also worth pointing out that during the wars which followed, culminating in Aethelred's exile and Swein becoming king of England, Danes and Englishmen fought on both sides. Most notorious on the English side was ealdorman Eadric Streona of Mercia, while Ulfcytel, the Danish ruler of East Anglia, is credited by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles with the defeat of Swein's invasion in 1004.

As regards Tom Derbyshire's demand for an apology, I cannot speak for the present Danish government, but I suspect they might legitimately raise the issue of two attacks by the Royal Navy on Copenhagen in violation of Danish neutrality during the Napoleonic wars.

A J WELTON

ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE

Britain tarnished by bar on Bulgarians

Sir: I wholeheartedly concur with Richard Thomas's eloquent letter regarding Bulgaria's entry into the EU, and the UK government's shameful limitation of the rights of Bulgarian (and Romanian) migrant workers (6 December).

As one of those property-mad Brits who "made the dash east" in recent years, I have received nothing but courteous, friendly treatment from the Bulgarian people; on my most recent visit last week I felt ashamed to show my passport at Sofia airport.

Not only have we flown in the face of everything that the former Warsaw Pact countries once admired and envied about the West (and the UK in particular), but we have acted to restrict a mythical flood of migrant workers which Bulgaria's ambassador, along with many of his compatriots, believes will never happen anyway.

Bulgaria has historically had closer ties with Italy, and shares a long (and occasionally porous) border with Greece. Romania has much closer links with France than with us. A large part of the reason for the influx of Polish workers in recent years is the extant Polish community in the UK; in Manchester's Cheetham Hill there has been a Polish Social Club for years and many workers have family in the UK, or family members who have at least lived here before.

Our government has acted to tarnish Britain's reputation in Eastern Europe, and far from being a champion of the new member states against the reactionary old guard of France and Germany (which we were only a few months ago), we are now seen as part of the same cosy cabal of "Old European" vested interests.

ANDREW BAKER

MANCHESTER

Save Christmas from PC absurdity

Sir: The local Surestart magazine details the "Winter Celebrations" taking place at the local toddler groups. I am disgusted to see that Surestart have given in to the ridiculous PC terminology which is swallowing traditional Britain. I have no objection to other cultures and religions celebrating their own festivals and values but I strongly object to losing Christmas.

I telephoned my local Surestart office. I was told that it has been a matter of discussion but since Surestart advocates no one religion they do not necessarily feel it is a problem.

I run a toddler group myself and the Muslim women and their children who attend will be coming to our Christmas party next week, just as they invited us to their Eid celebrations. If we're all capable of this, why must Surestart bury a part of our culture in order not to offend people who come to join us anyway?

J WRIGHT

SHEFFIELD

Sir: Thank you Janet Street-Porter ("Ignore those killjoys", 7 December). Normally when the issue of how we celebrate Christmas in a way that is inoffensive is raised, I tend to switch off or just become cross inside, but this year there is a difference.

As a Christian, I intend to celebrate the love of Jesus, who was willing to give up the riches of heaven to be born in a mucky stable, of poor refugee parents. This year is different for me because in the spring I came near to dying and feel so very fortunate, indeed, blessed, to still be here and able to celebrate Christmas with my husband and two young sons.

I make no apology for either God's love shown to us in this astounding way, nor the heritage that has grown over the years into the festival that most people in this country, believers or not, enjoy year by year. Cultural diversity is one thing, and thank God for it, for a world of clones would be very tedious, but denying each of us the right to worship, whatever our faith, is another. In the words of Christina Rossetti, "Love came down at Christmas" and thank Christ for it.

RACHEL HALL

BRISTOL

Sir: Janet Street-Porter's description of Christmas as including "drunken office parties" and "a marathon of television watching" goes against her own argument for having Christmas. These days as a festival, as a religious time, or even as a pathetic excuse to behave like schoolchildren, it has no meaning and it is devoid of any value beyond padding the accounts of retailers.

Those of us who recognise this should not be criticised for taking the very sensible attitude that it's a stupid, irritating time of year and one to be ignored as far as possible.

PAUL HARPER

FOLKESTONE, KENT

Garden climate change

Sir: My small olive tree was planted in my garden four years ago (letter, 7 December). It has been producing olives every year ever since. Back in July I counted 16 olives on it.

MICHAEL RUSTOMJI

LONDON NW7

Unwelcome applause

Sir: I am a regular theatre-goer in London and have become increasingly irritated by the requirement to applaud at every opportunity through a show. Live performance, done well, creates an electricity between those on stage and the audience. Every time the audience decides to applaud it kills the moment and the continuity. This has been especially true in brilliant performances of Cabaret and Porgy & Bess I have seen recently. Keep the applause to the end and maximise everyone's enjoyment.

ROBERT WARE

BASSINGBOURN, HERTFORDSHIRE

Perilous pedestrians

Sir: The day after your correspondent (4 December) nearly got knocked down in Fleet Street, I almost ran into a dozen pedestrians crossing the road in Putney who chose to ignore both the traffic signals against them and me on my bike in my highly visible jacket. Like him, I didn't get an apology. The last time I came off my bike it was at low speed on a slippery corner and I fractured my arm: travelling at 15-20mph and colliding with a pedestrian would be much more serious. And people wonder why cyclists wear helmets.

CHARLES EDWARDS

TWICKENHAM, MIDDLESEX

Sporting triumph

Sir: Those in despair about the state of the Ashes might take comfort from GB last week beating Australia 19-2 in the world team croquet championship. It cemented this country's current domination of the sport after also beating New Zealand 15-6 and the USA 19-2. Included in the British team were Robert Fulford, the current world champion, and Chris Clarke, former world champion. Playing doubles, the pair were undefeated during the entire test series. Croquet ("snooker on grass") is a growing sport, with 140 clubs in Great Britain.

KEVIN CARTER

BEENHAM, BERKSHIRE

Monster of the deep

Sir: If the "Watchdog fails to put bite on loan sharks" (letter, 4 December), then perhaps the knifetooth dogfish (Scymnodon ringens) would be more up to this task.

PETER STOCKILL

MIDDLESBROUGH

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