Skip to comments.
Unpaid bill douses 'eternal flame'
The Australian ^
| March 18, 2004
Posted on 03/19/2004 1:15:19 AM PST by Piefloater
A SO-CALLED "eternal flame" erected in the central British city of Birmingham to promote world peace has been extinguished after little more than three years in a row over who pays the gas bill, a report said Thursday.
The 10m sculpture topped by a flame, paid for by the city's Anglican churches, was lit amid great fanfare on Millennium Eve by British pop singer Cliff Richard, a well-known Christian.
However, according to the Daily Telegraph, Birmingham City Council has refused to pick up an annual gas bill of around 12,000 pounds after an initial period of commercial sponsorship ended.
The council has additionally argued that the flame contributes to the problem of global warming.
"In a world where we are increasingly aware of greenhouse gases, we need to consider whether burning 12,000 pounds of gas every year is a responsible attitude to the environment," Ian Ward, head of the council's leisure department, was quoted as saying.
A spokesman for the Bishop of Birmingham, John Sentamu, called this argument "mildly pathetic" and called for renewed funding for the flame.
"I think it offers hope to all, not just the Christian community but all people in Birmingham," he told the paper.
"I don't know how you place a price on hope but I suppose it is a council's job to do that."
TOPICS: United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:
The council has additionally argued that the flame contributes to the problem of global warming. This whole situation seems to contribute more to the problem of global idiocy.
To: Piefloater
A town like that has got to be an Islamofascist's dream.
2
posted on
03/19/2004 1:25:41 AM PST
by
Moonman62
To: Piefloater
I am convinced that those who express ecological concerns in public are exhibiting a symptom of a deep seated mental health problem. We all care about the environment, but when people focus on it, they simply go off the deep end. This eternal flame is supposed to be damaging the earth. LMAO
To: Piefloater
All is not lost.
Perhaps the metal in the statue could
find future utility...
as low value coinage, or ammo brass.
To: Piefloater
I have a few eternal flames of my own; but I call them pilot lights.
To: Piefloater
Plenty of stupidity to go around on this one, from all sides.
6
posted on
03/19/2004 3:16:51 AM PST
by
dfwgator
To: Piefloater
When I first glanced at the article, I saw the mention of a liberal church and the words "eternal flame," and I thought the story had something to do with gay bishops.
7
posted on
03/19/2004 3:34:08 AM PST
by
Wilhelm Tell
(Lurking since 1997!)
To: Piefloater
This whole situation seems to contribute more to the problem of global idiocy.
Hehe you're right there. "Eternal Flame of Peace extinguished in row over gas bill" sounds like a headline from The Onion to me, or a subject for a "Yes Minister" episode. I'm sure there's something witty and deeply profound to say about it, reflecting human nature or something but I can't think of anything offhand.
8
posted on
03/19/2004 4:13:57 AM PST
by
ScudEast
To: Piefloater
We should send them pictures of our eternal flame at Arlington and let them know how long it's been burning.
9
posted on
03/19/2004 4:17:32 AM PST
by
rabidralph
(Fear the Turtle.)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson