01/04/04

I discovered on a website a group of churches in the south of England had spent £20,000 on cinema bookings. This is happening during the season of Lent, when sacrificial giving is supposed to be for the poor.

Peter Mullen states the film presents a religious truth but it is seriously flawed because the Jewish law of that period required the daily sacrifice to be an unblemished lamb and the opposite is dramatically portrayed.

Mel Gibson creates his drama of the crucifixion in isolation from the temptation in the wilderness, where the events leading to the crucifixion actually began with the confrontation between Jesus and Satan. The two characters in this episode give a clue to why the film was made.

Mr Gibson's use of film production methods coupled with modern marketing management has ensured it will vibrate around the world like a Mexican wave.

The distribution of the film has been perfectly timed with the intention of making maximum financial gain.

It would be ironic if Mr Gibson returned to Australia with his fortune, purchased the state of Victoria and then renamed the capital Melbornagain. - Thomas Conlon, Spennymoor.

EUROPE

TO describe the EU constitution as 'merely a tidying up exercise' is a lie on such a scale that it defines absolutely the dangerous, contemptuous and treacherous nature of this Government.

This pernicious document effectively spells the end of Britain as a sovereign, self-governing nation. Our rights to determine our own foreign, defence, economic, asylum and immigration policies will be removed and handed to the EU in Brussels. The EU constitution effectively creates the United States of Europe, with Britain being reduced from being a free, independent nation to that of a mere province with no more power than a parish council.

Yet, on an issue as fundamental as who governs who, we, the people, are adamantly refused a voice in the form of a referendum. What arrogance, what utter contempt.

Using the recent tragic events in Madrid as an excuse to put the constitution back on the table should demonstrate to all the vile and devious nature of New Labour.

The Conservatives merely promise to renegotiate this treaty if they become the next government. The Tories, however, are still adamant that they would never contemplate EU withdrawal under any circumstances. Some opposition.

Let there be no mistake, allowing this Government to sign and ratify the EU constitution will destroy the fundamental principle of democracy where you, the electorate have the power to elect, and more importantly dismiss, governments. We will be governed in every respect by powers who are accountable to no electorate, cannot be dismissed, and are immune from any laws.

Demand a referendum - they must not prevail. - George Springer, Hartlepool.

WITH an obscene barrage of misrepresentative propaganda, the Godfathers of the EU have shamelessly used the recent terrorist outrages in Madrid as a pretence for resurrecting the EU constitution. Tony Blair announces that he concurs with the new timetable of reaching agreement by June 2004.

This Government is a principle free zone and despite reassuring noises about red lines, nothing is more certain that in three months time this treasonous document will be signed.

The federalist intention of the constitution is clearly stated and would obliterate the constitution of the United Kingdom, 900 years of evolved democracy wiped out at a stroke. Once this deed is done we cease to be citizens of the UK and become citizens of the Union with all associated responsibilities.

All control over our own affairs will be surrendered. Trusting Tony Blair with the sovereignty of our nation is akin to appointing Rose West to run a children's home. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, UK Independence Party, Hartlepool Branch.

COUNCIL TAX

JOHN Prescott stated that council tax bills should rise by only low single digits this year. Nick Raynsford said between 5.6-six per cent.

Darlington Council has slapped on a totally unacceptable 9.6 per cent which means that since 2000-1 Darlington council tax bills have increased by more than 67 per cent.

Anyone with half a brain will realise that such increases are unsustainable, but any complaint to the council is met with the bleat "our rates are the lowest in the region".

This is true, but it was this promise of lower council taxes that secured the vote for a unitary authority free from the expensive shackles of Durham County Council.

I have written to Nick Raynsford with a demand that he puts a rate cap on Darlington Council. - K Peacock, Darlington.

TERRORISM

WE keep boasting about our precious democracy, and comparing it to the tyrannies of other lands, yet I read that with Tony Blair shaking hands with Gadaffi (below), this country is now set to train Libyan officers, and supply arms to that country.

We are going to make Libya the regional superpower with the help from the Americans. Shell is within days of signing a huge deal for gas exploration off the Libyan coast.

The West would collapse without oil, and the men who rule the oil countries have either to be bought or conquered.

Is this what British people want? The big oil companies and arms companies rule the world. Tony Blair and George Bush are simply tools in the hands of the big capitalists.

Forget Lockerbie and the murder of a young policewoman. Big business rules. - Jim Ross, Rowlands Gill.

TONY Blair has said he will fight terrorism with "all means possible".

Well, if he means this and is true to his word he must start deporting people who are in this country hiding and preaching against the West.

We are a haven for terrorists and the whole world knows it.

One of the worst things the Common Market has done it to open the borders of all these countries to anyone and anything and there is now no check on the people entering these countries.

The arrogance of these people in Brussels who think they can govern a continent when every country in the world is in turmoil. - A Parkin, Bishop Auckland.