The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Take a bow all you Half Triathlon participants
Just a brief note to express my thanks for your brilliant coverage of the 2011 Port of Tauranga Half Triathalon. Congratulations to the many competitors. Regardless of your time, the fact you completed such an arduous task is regarded by the thousands of us bystanders as a fait accompli, you all deserve a medal.
Let's not forget the tremendous job also done by the race organisers.
Thank you again to BOP Times and staff involved for your excellent coverage of such an important and gruelling event. After 52 years subscribing to your excellent paper, I hope to keep subscribing for a few years yet.
PETER SANDERS Pyes Pa
Injustice continues
As we return to work after spending time with loved ones over the holiday period, let us give some thought to those who are away from their families because of state-sponsored persecution.
Seven leading figures of the Iranian Baha'i community were detained in 2008, dragged through two years of interrogation and trial that violated due process, and were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. That was reduced to 10 years by an appeal court. Yet their legal counsel, the Nobel Laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi, said no credible evidence was presented against them.
The appeal court ruling simply confirms that the authorities, knowing full well that there was no basis for the charges that the accused had acted against the interests of Iran, then unscrupulously distorted and misrepresented the religious beliefs of the defendants and their service to the Bah� community in order to declare them guilty.
In defiance of all reason, the prisoners are now in the third year of what is shamelessly termed "temporary" detention.
Tauranga Bahais are concerned that such injustices are also afflicting many of their fellow citizens that yearn to be liberated from the prejudice and religious fanaticism that is currently afflicting the Iranian society.
NANCY RISHWORTH Local Bahai Public Information Officer
Booze and pressure
Social worker Maree Saunders said "98 per cent of cases Women's Refuge saw stemmed from booze and financial pressure".
One wonders how much of the "financial pressure" was caused by booze.
Yet the liquor interests continue to state "we have broken no laws - it is not our fault".
May I remind them of a greater law, judge to whom they are answerable, and to whom money means nothing, and one to whom all things are known.
H M CRAIG Tauranga
A better place
I read the other day that we cannot make the world a better place but we can make our place a better place in the world.
Thankfully in New Zealand our recent calamities like the mine disaster and the earthquake whilst traumatic don't have the widespread impact on the surrounding community as we have seen overseas where there have been floods, snow, sectarian violence and riots.
To make our place better all you have to do is pay your rates and taxes, don't break the laws of the land and respect your neighbours and other persons.
Also don't harbour envy against the bride and the groom and the guests at the million-dollar wedding. We're happy and our Reserve Bank was happy as the overseas funds in the millions brought in helped reduce our overseas funds deficit.
REX OCONNOR Tauranga
A rare breed
Re: Appeal to keep dogs under control (News, January 17).
Our dog really was a rare breed on the beach. No matter what time/day we took her to the beach at Mount Maunganui she was the only dog on a leash (We bought one of those retractable ones especially for the beach).
The number of dogs that ran up to her was unbelievable - most of their owners had no control over them and some were oblivious as they were either way ahead of their dogs or even in the water.
Most dogs were friendly but the odd one did try to attack her. We are responsible owners but find that some people were giving us a wide berth simply because the dog was leashed. We thought that dogs had to be kept under control at all times when outdoors - maybe the law should be that all dogs must "be leashed" when outdoors. The words "under control" means nothing to some.
SUSIE JONES Tauranga
Bring it on
Bring on satellite radio as broadcast in the US.
No advertising, no boring repetitive ad nauseum playlists and definitely no boorish comperes who bang on about themselves all day.
Back to excellent music, the genre of which is the listener's own choosing.
Entrepreneurs; step forward.
E MUNRO Mount Maunganui
TEXT VIEWS
* just 2 say how much I enjoy reading Eva bradleys column - go the bop times!!
* Brandons men r not men they r Richard craniums if they die no great loss if they get injured they dont get ACC get a life Brandon make yr community proud like Willie Apiata he leads Men not losers like u
* Teachers, it's not your place 2 try and keep up with J Cameron at a technological level. Try English and Maths. And it's pronounced 'L-tar'.
* NZR'S underarm bowled again. Residents pay the same taxes but get treated like serfs. They will likely get nothin frm donations from here. So much 4 ANZAC mateship.
* Drugs and P r the end result of 2 much Alcohol avail bad parenting up the age limit. cut drinking hours
* 2 the boyracers moaning bout VTNZ, the police sticker u cos u the DODGY ones, who get wof then make changes 2 cars once leaving station. Gd luck with times interview cos no1 with intelligents cares wht u gota say! T smith.
* If it not the boy racers throwing al the bottles on our roads then who is it.
* 2 the aggreived boy racer NOBODY IS LISTENING !
* Re fluorid - neva mind da teeth wot about us renal failure people!! not good.
* Somthing about free parking. Did you know putting notes on car is brake th law. That is tapping with privet cars. So is it alright 4 shopkeeps 2 brak law. ?? If i ever see this I WILL REPORT IT 2 THE POLICE.
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