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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-03-26, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, March 26, 2014 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com Huron Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK 1 WO phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 wwwseaforthhuronexpositor SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company sr NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca MAXWELL BICKFORD Advertising Rep. max.bickford@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca WHITNEY SOUTH Multimedia Journalist seaforth.news@sunmedia.ca Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT RO. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. CanacM editorial The problem with phragmites There are weeds.... and then there are weeds. And phragmites are in the latter category, a category of weeds and invasive plants that are extremely diffi- cult to eliminate. In Sarnia-Lambton, phragmites have taken over shore- lines, drainage ditches and wetlands. A conservation spe- cialist with the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority says the Eurasian plant can be found throughout the watershed, and once it's here, it's most difficult to eliminate. "Nothing lives in is, nothing eats it, nothing nests in it, other plants can't grow in it," says Kim Gledhill, a member of the group, Friends of the St. Clair River. So why isn't the phragmite not found on Ontario's nox- ious weed list? That's what MPP Monte McNaughton wants to know. He's asked the Ontario government to add the reed to a list of 23 other plants, all of them considered to be noxious. McNaughton's request came last week, after the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food decided to remove milk- weed from the noxious list, mostly because the troubled monarch butterfly depends upon milkweed for survival. McNaughton, who first wrote to Premier Kathleen Wynne about the phragmite last October, says he fears that the invasive plant could eventually take over the region's farm drainage system. That should be of particular concern in Sarnia-Lambton, which has one of the most extensive farm drainage systems in Ontario, second only to Chatham -Kent's. Indeed, much of rural Lambton County was swampy forest before an organized system of farm drains were first installed well over 100 years ago. Whether or not phragmites are a problem right now in farm drains is unclear. But what's clear is the potential for great damage. The reed is already choking off shoreline properties. Lambton County is spending $50,000 this year to clear phragmites from its road ditches, and the battle against phragmites is reaching fever pitch on Stag Island. But will having phragmites on the province's noxious weeds list make any difference? Probably not. The noxious list is actually a legislative device that gives municipal weed inspectors the authority to make sure steps are taken control the weeds found on the list. But the government already knows about phragmites. It has produced a "best practices" document to help munici- palities and landowners that are battling the invasive plant. It has money for restoration projects, money that is being spent in Sarnia-Lambton. And the government has just introduced an Invasive Species Act, which it says will help with early detection, rapid response and eradication. Indeed, a spokesperson with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, told the Sarnia Observer earlier this week that phragmites "is a growing environmental and economic threat to Ontario." We know all we need to know about the phragmite. The problem is getting rid of it. All you need is love It's a pretty strong word. For most people, 'hate' is casually used to describe the personal hor- ror felt in regards to the taste of a certain vegeta- ble, or the annoyance of a common spe- cies of biting insect. But for others, hate is some- thing far more sinister. Whether we choose to see it or not, the world continues to become more and more volatile not only globally, but in our own communi- ties as well. An off-the-cuff com- ment, a small judgment or even a small joke, if rooted in ignorance can hurt as much as any punch. Bullying has become a hot button topic in recent years. The lack of respect and love for each other can divide and isolate us. Sometimes it can feel hopeless. Just look at television. It's hard to turn on the news without seeing some example of hatred. From screaming matches in government and missiles hailing down on broken buildings, to angry protests and marches, the shadow of hate is seems to fall everywhere. And when it comes down to it, a common motivator can be seen, the fear and hatred of some- thing different. It can be as complex as people with different views or religions, to something as simple as skin colour or living different lifestyles. Even in our own com- munities, hatred can bur- row into our hearts. But through all the anger and frustration, we need to remember it is love that can change the world. It only takes one voice to speak up and be heard. On Wednesday, March 19, 2013, a man died in Topeka, Kansas and his name was Fred Phelps. Often called "the most hated man in Amer- ica," he was the Column Whitne Huron E y South xpositor founder and leader of the famed West- boro Baptist Church, an organization who rose to infamy preaching an angry mes- sage of hate and intolerance. And in his wake he left something he didn't want and couldn't expect; groups of people from all over the world that saw his hatred as enough cause to rise up and take a stand for something they believed in. Because of this horri- ble, hate -filled man, oth- ers found the passion to have their voices heard and to support a world where tolerance and love are worth fighting for. If we can look at some- one like Phelps, who was full of so much anger, and find a positive outcome despite his message, we can learn to find the light in any situation. It's important for us all to remember, even if we never see eye -to -eye, and even if our opinions and convictions differ greatly from those of our neigh- bour, it's important to respect each other. Embrace our differences, after all, we're lucky enough to live in a country where it's ok to be differ- ent and where we can embrace the freedom to just be ourselves. All you need is love.