I HAVE no doubt that religious beliefs and the religious practices that follow from them can be a force for good in most, if not all, societies.

The church, chapel, mosque, temple, citadel, synagogue or whatever can be a place of comfort and support in an often harsh world.

However, throughout all known history and up to the present, organised religion can also be a major source of hostility and division both within and between families, communities and nationalities.

In an increasingly secular society which has witnessed more than 30 years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, the 9/11 bombings in New York and the 7/7 atrocities in London, I see no reason why any faith group should get a financial subsidy from the State.

I care not whether this subsidy takes the form of an inbuilt Anglican ‘lobby’ of bishops in the Upper House of Parliament, the many new denominational schools that are opening all over the country or meeting the cost of the Pope’s so-called ‘state visit’ to the UK last summer, to mention but a few.

All of these have been justified by governments of whatever colour on the grounds that they believe the people of this country to be more religious than most of them actually are.

It is for this reason that I shall be ticking the box which says ‘No religion’ in the forthcoming national census.

If Governments want to continue their divisive practices, they must do so without my support.

J Brian Harrison-Jennings

Stocksmoor

Faith in humanity

I AM writing as a supporter of the British Humanist Association (BHA).

I would like to encourage all readers to think carefully about the question on religion in the 2011 Census.

The results of the question are used by government, local authorities and service providers to decide how to run services and create policies.

Many people in the last Census ticked the ‘Christian’ box yet do not hold Christian beliefs, go to church or identify as Christian in any meaningful way.

By ticking ‘Christian’, rather than ‘No religion’, this has influenced central and local government policy.

It has led to an increase in divisive and discriminatory faith schools, (which the majority of the population are against), huge amounts of money for ‘faith groups’ in local areas and the appointment of ‘faith advisors’ to government departments.

I strongly urge readers who do not practise or strongly identify with any particular religion to tick the ‘No Religion’ box in the Census this month.

As the 2011 Census may be the last one ever held it is doubly important that policy can be based on accurate statistics and people who live good and meaningful lives without religion are represented.

A Happy Humanist

Netherton

In search of hidden facts

HAVE you got yours? The 2011 Census is available to be completed ‘online’ in 57 languages although, oddly enough, not in Gaelic or Welsh.

How wonderful it would be if this document could bring us the information which this government either cannot or will not tell us – that is, how many people there are taking advantage of our hospitals and schools who arrived here in the UK uninvited and have no right to be here.

Somehow I doubt the Census will take us any way towards that truth.

Leymoor Lad

Cowlersley

A criminals’ charter

THIS is an open letter to the Deputy Prime Minister following comments in the press by the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire:

‘Dear Mr Clegg, will you please get this into your head. I want more ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) not less. I do not want you to carry out your plans to handicap the police by curtailing their use of technology. I would be delighted if my insurance was checked by ANPR every time I took my car on the road.

‘That is because I am insured, always have been and always will be and I resent the fact that it costs me twice what it would if everyone else was insured as the law requires.

‘I resent the risk of a collision with an uninsured driver especially if I am walking at the time because there will be no compensation. I also resent the fact that any fine an uninsured driver is given is only a fraction of the cost of insurance.

‘You say CCTV with ANPR is spying and an invasion of privacy. It certainly is and I am all for it!

‘You are a real hero, Nick! But only of the feckless, the irresponsible and all flouters of motoring law. ‘Restoring civil liberties’ you are so proud to announce is a criminals’ charter, actually reducing the liberties of honest citizens. Can’t you see this?

Mark Mercer

Golcar

A truly great man

IT was with deep regret that I read of the passing of Paul Croset OBE, the creative co-founder of Holset Engineering.

Like Sir Frank Whittle, who invented the jet engine and Jack Kilby who invented the ‘chip’, Mr Croset was a technological trail-blazer.

Indeed, it is people like this who ‘think out of the box’ that makes a region and a country great. For without the intuition and innovative thinking that these special people nurture, leading businesses would not evolve. To me, Mr Croset’s belief and wisdom in something revolutionary clearly indicates that Huddersfield is and always has been a centre of leading innovative and creative thinking.

In my young days I had the pleasure of meeting this great man and I am sure his immense legacy in some ways will continue to drive Huddersfield’s industrial heritage in the future. The only requirement is that it is allowed to do so. Indeed, Kirklees has to build on these dormant strengths of hidden technological prowess that would make our area the envy of the world once again.

In this respect, the 21st century will be the technological century and whoever holds this technological mantle holds the secret of both social success and unprecedented wealth.

Mr Croset should be remembered by our ‘town fathers’ as he provided thousands of jobs over many years for the people and families of Kirklees. Not many have done this and this should be recognised.

Dr David Hill

Executive Director,

World Innovation Foundation Charity

Lovely old Meltham

WHAT a beautiful picture of Folly Dolly Falls, featured recently in the Examiner!

This feature of our local landscape used to be regularly cited as ‘a classic example of a fault-line waterfall’. The Greenway may possibly have been used to test tractors, but when I lived in Meltham Mills in the 1940s and 1950s, tractors were driven from the end of the production line, down the village main street, across the Meltham/Huddersfield road by Quarmby and Sykes mill and then up the sett-lined access road to the railhead at Meltham station.

Bruce Jackson

Lockwood

A helping hand

UP to 200 people die in Kirklees each year as a direct result of alcohol abuse.

But when does having the odd glass of wine to help you relax at the end of a stressful day become an addiction? I don’t know, but it can and it did. My habit got out of control and alcohol started to ruin my life.

Eventually I became desperate to find a way out of this miserable addiction. Despite years of regular visits to my GP I could not give up on my own. KAAS (Kirklees Alcohol Advisory Service), together with initial help from Lifeline (now On Trak), has helped me find the strength to stop and stay sober. The support offered by the people at KAAS has been invaluable, not just to me but for many others for over 30 years. Meetings are run by people who understand, people who have battled with their own alcohol problems and so they offer genuine empathy, inspiration and hope. Adults from all walks of life and of all ages attend.

I, like many others, have managed to change my life. I no longer need or want to drink. I am now in control of my life and alcohol isn’t. I can not thank KAAS enough.

I urge anyone who feels that their drinking is getting out of control to firstly seek medical help through their GP who should be able to refer them to the appropriate services for assessment.

Nobody makes the choice to become an ‘alcoholic’ but everyone can make a choice to seek help. There is no shame in admitting you have a problem.

GL

Huddersfield

(KAAS meetings are at the Methodist Mission, Lord Street, Huddersfield from 7-9pm: Monday – ladies only; Wednesday – mixed group; First Wednesday of every month – carers’ meeting.

Tuesday – mixed group held at Salvation Army Centre, Bradford Road, Batley, 7-9pm)

Fuel prices a ‘rip-off’

IT is patently clear that UK motorists are being ripped off yet again by the major oil companies.

A week ago I went on a trip to Spain and was conscious of the price levels of petrol and diesel here at home.

Throughout the week I noted the prices of fuels at Spanish service stations, especially those of the major oil companies, and at no stage did the prices change in a whole week.

On my return I see that the ‘majors’ have once again hiked their prices to profiteering levels, despite the country having several months stock of oil for processing.

In the Huddersfield area alone an 8p per litre differential in the price of diesel fuel from one service station to another is an utter disgrace.

GB

Shepley

There in an emergency

I WOULD like to thank the staff at HRI A&E and Wards 1 and 6 for their care and devotion during my recent illness. Also thanks to the ambulance crews on duty Saturday and Sunday, February 26/27. Without them there would be no letter to write.

John Sutcliffe

Bradley