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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-12-10, Page 1212 News Record • Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Farmers boycott pesticide forums QMI Agency The organization repre- senting Ontario's 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers is asking its mem- bers to boycott upcoming provincial forums on a con- troversial pesticide blamed for bee deaths. The Pollinator Consulta- tionforums, organized by the Ontario government, which started this week with a ses- sion in London on Tuesday. Southwestern Ontario, home to the province's larg- est farm belt, is a major field crop producer — with the use of neonicotinoid pesti- cides a hot topic for many. Ontario's Liberal govern- ment, citing a finding by a federal agency that there's a link between bee deaths in Ontario and corn and soy- bean seeds treated with so- called neonics, has set a tar- get to dramatically reduce the number of hectares planted with the treated seed by 80% by 2017. That's sparked a backlash by the Grain Farmers of Ontario, which argues the near -ban isn't thought out and will have serious nega- tive effects on farmers and the environment. Similar debates are raging elsewhere in North America. In a notice to members, Grain Farmers of Ontario president Henry Van Ankum said the organization won't take part in the consulta- tions in London, Toronto and Kingston. "As farmers and primary stakeholders in this regula- tion, it is not appropriate for the government to receive our input in public forums — our input is far too impor- tant to be diluted at urban venues by non -stakehold- ers," Van Ankum said. "We advise farmer mem- bers to refrain from partici- pation at these venues as OMI Agency file photo The Ontario government has set a target to dramatically reduce the number of corn and soybean seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides by 80% by 2017. The government is hosting a number forums on the topic but The Grain Farmers of Ontario has asked its 28,000 members to boycott them. well," he wrote. Instead, the organization will provide a response at a separate forum for the agri- Holiday Deadlines... Our office will be open Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri. with the following exceptions... CLOSED DEC. 25, 26 CLOSED JAN. 1 Please note these deadlines for advertising and editorial departments: PUBLISHING DATE DEADLINE WED. DEC. 24 WED. DEC. 31 DEC. 18 AT 2:00 P.M. DEC. 23 AT 2:00 P.M. From All Of Us To All Of You! We hope you have an extra special holiday, and that you are with those near and dear to you. It's been our pleasure serving you, and we thank you for being such a loyal reader. From all of us at... Clinton News Record 53 Albert St., Clinton 519-482-3443 Ume audt:iKsit._! rn1 culture industry, he said. Anyone who wants to attend the public forum is required to register in advance. ABOUT NEONICS • Common family of pesti- cides typically applied as a seed coating. • Protect plants from insects. • Blamed by many for bee die -offs, which pesticide industry rejects. • Banned in Europe, under growing scrutiny in Canada. • Ontario wants to sharply reduce neonic-treated crops. Letters from Home: Lifeline in time of war Soldiers and families share their stories Special To The Signal Star An upcoming event at the Huron County Museum will share the intimate family stories of three local soldiers. Letters From Home is a per- formance presentation and part of the joint project activities of the Blyth Arts and Culture Initiative 14/19 Inc., Women's Institute (W.I.) Project and the Huron County Museum. This presentation shares the stories of soldiers Lance Corpo- ral, Harold Turner and William "Billy Anticknap. According to a media release, "The letters included in this evening have been selected from a remarkable cache of first-hand documents and pho- tographs archived at the Huron CountyMuseum:' On Thurs., Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m., the audience in the museum will gain a fresh per- spective of one of Canada's most profound experience of war through an interactive evening of storytelling and let- ter reading. "You won't find listings of generals and battles" said archi- vist Jenna Leifso. "These are sto- ries of the families and their sol- diers. By presenting these letters we are able to explore and share not onlywhatthe sol- diers were thinking and feeling, but also what their loved ones - parents, siblings and girlfriends - might have felt about the war" The audience members will hear about the stories of those who served, through the letters theywrote back home to loved ones, friends and family. "This unique presentation offers a first-hand learning experience, exploring the thoughts and experiences from seasoned soldiers and new DAPPFR Haircuts Winter Specials Adult Cut & Style $1400 Students $125° Seniors 1 0% Discount Kids Under 10 Pay Their Age WALK IN TUES. - SAT. MAIN ST. CLINTON 519 -606 -HAIR (4247) recruits in the theatres of war, organizers said the media release. After leaming about the sol- diers' family and their history, the audience members will be invited to create a letter of their own that they might have sent back to the soldiers, responding with their own feelings, trying to support their soldier. Letters From Home is part of a much larger project - The Women's Institute (W.I.) Pro- ject currently being developed byBlyth Arts and Culture Initia- tive 14/19 Inc. and the Huron CountyMuseum. Duringtheproject's develop- ment, Stratford -based theatre artist Marion Daywill teach the art of performance to commu- nity players and direct local choirs. Small scenes will be pre- sented annually at various events, with the largerpresenta- tion produced in its entirety in the summer of 2019. It will be an environmental piece taking place in venues across the County of Huron - indoors and out. `For Home and Country' was the motto that led the Ontario - based Women's Institute to focus on war work that included not only outfitting a hospital ship, financing a field kitchen and supporting a motor ambulance, but also included donating tons of canned goods, jams and knitted items during the Great War. In 1919, the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario was organized to give women a stronger united voice. To this day, the Women's Institute is a strong advocate for change that supports their vision of 'an Ontario where women work together for safe, healthy families and communities while pursuing an enriched and balanced lifestyle.' Blyth Arts & Culture Initia- tive 14/19 Inc. is driving social and economic renewal through arts and culture. The project includes a $3.2M reno- vation of the Blyth Memorial Community Hall - the village cenotaph and home of the Blyth Festival. "The project re - energizes the creative impulse that drove the community, led in part by the Women's Insti- tute, to build a living cenotaph where they could envision a community celebrating the freedoms that were so val- iantly won," the media release stated. For more information con- tact Karen Stewart at 519-441- 7629 or visit www.blyth1419. ca