Have Your Say

Re: Lab scandal threatens rich partnership, Dec. 5.

The retraction of a research paper published by a team at the University of Manitoba is significant. However, the proclamation by Arthur Schafer that this indicates either fraud or gross incompetence by the scientists, supported by the broad statement that "Sometimes scientists cheat," is presumptuous. I fully agree that the public and broader scientific community have a right to know.

If he has reviewed the primary data sets, conducted validated statistical analyses, acquired detailed knowledge of the scientists and circumstances in this research, and then had these analyses reviewed by independent scientists with expertise in plant science research to prove the conclusions published, he should reveal this. Without this, such statements would be both unscientific and quite unethical.

Kent T. HayGlass

Canada Research Chair

University of Manitoba

Religious history wrong

Re: Muslims around world to celebrate Eid-ul Adha, Dec. 7.

I would just like to state that people can believe whatever they wish in our free democracy, but sometimes they need to be reminded of the truth of events referred to in religious literature. The Hebrew scriptures, also known as the Pentateuch, the Torah, the law and prophets, the Old Testament in the Christian Bible (all written many, many hundreds of years before the Qur'an was written, or Mohammed's birth), clearly state that it was Issac, the son of promise and child of Abraham and Sarah, not Ishmael, son of Sarah's handmaid Hagar and Abraham, ultimate forefather of the Arabic peoples, whom Abraham was going to sacrifice. This truth is also repeated and reaffirmed many times in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The N.T. books were written at least 500 years before Mohammed's time by Jews who had become followers of Jesus, the Messiah, the promised long-awaited one who fulfilled all the Hebrew Scripture prophecies.

I have read the Qur'an and corresponding commentaries three times and was not too impressed with the way some of the historical events and stories found in the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and New Testament were rewritten. I also am quite aware of the reasons Islamic teachers give for the changes found in the Qur'an regarding these biblical events.

Richard Staub

Winnipeg

Christians will be missed

Re: University library bans Christmas trees, Dec. 7.

So, another institution has decided to ban Christmas trees (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill). Too bad non-Christians feel so threatened by us nasty, mean and uncaring Christians. If they only knew that our laws are based on biblical principles, many charities were started by Christian organizations, the Declaration of Independence in the U.S.A. was written by Christians and meant to keep Christian liberties, not suppress them. Someday when the rapture takes place, all these people who want to get rid of Christians and their displays (Christmas trees, nativity scenes, crosses, etc.) will have their way. Maybe then they will realize that we weren't so bad after all. Their world will be void of anything Christian. Unfortunately, life will be a lot worse than it is now. Enjoy your time with us now because you will miss us later.

Marilyn Friesen

Winnipeg

Stop demonizing cocaine

Re: Cocaine dealer not entitled to sympathy, Dec. 7.

Robert Marshall tells us Kevin Hiebert is not entitled to sympathy because "Cocaine means fast money that destroys families (Hiebert's has disintegrated since his capture) and neighbourhoods. It is a major contributing factor to global social disorder characterized by kidnappings, beatings, amputations and murders." Marshall mistakes the consequences of cocaine with the consequences of drug prohibition. None of those evils go on in Peru where the coca plant is part of the cultural fabric rather than a demon to be destroyed at all costs. The proof is in the pudding in that cocaine used to be in a lot of consumer products such as Coca-Cola without any evidence of the mayhem Marshall writes about.

The fact of the matter is that drug prohibition, not drug use, has destroyed millions of lives all over planet Earth in a misguided attempt to control the natural right of man to self-medicate. The consequences of cocaine use are akin to the consequences of caffeine use absent the prohibition law as evidenced in Bolivia and Peru and everywhere else the plant is native. There are no kidnappings, beatings, amputation and murders attributed to coffee distribution since coffee is no longer outlawed as it once was. No one is tempted to smuggle coffee anymore, either.

Evo Morales, president of Bolivia and former union representative of the Coca Growers Association, has been trying to bring respectability back to the coca plant and showed up at the United Nations with one coca leaf to make his point. The biased reporting of prohibitionists unable to separate the effect of drugs and the effects of the law are proving to be the greatest challenge to ending worldwide drug prohibition as supported by Christian-based countries.

The government has no more right to control the substance people choose to use than the government has right to control ideas.

Chris Buors

Winnipeg

Cut down on animal protein

Re: It's worse than you think, Dec 6.

The simplest, most sensible thing we can do to take a crippling bite out of the global grain crunch is to eat less meat, milk and eggs from grain-fed animals -- or eat none at all.

Currently, nearly 40 per cent of global grain production is fed to farmed animals, squandering eight pounds of plant protein (on average) to produce one pound of animal protein.

It's not that the animals should be denied their food. Most of them, born and raised in confined feeding operations or factory farms, would be better off having never been born at all. It is we who breed them into a world of pain.

By eating more grains and beans instead of meat, eggs and milk, we can achieve four social goods:

"ö Make more grain available to the global poor at cheaper prices.

"ö Improve human health and longevity (as the research shows).

"ö Reduce global warming (livestock production generates far more greenhouse gases than plant production).

"ö Save animals from the abuse that is the hallmark of modern livestock production.

Syd Baumel

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 10, 2008 A12