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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-07-28, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1999. Writer not happy with newspaper’s coverage THE EDITOR, I am writing to you to express my continuing disappointment with coverage selection methods used by The Citizen. Specifically, I am writing with regard to the July 2 I Coverage of firefighter not enough THE EDITOR, Across Huron County and Ontario this past week hundreds of firefighters attended the funeral of “one of their own” who died in the line of duty. At the time of this tragedy, Blyth Fire Department was on a mutual aid call helping Clinton with a wheat field fire. It could very well have been a Blyth firefighter who died as well as one from our neighbouring community. Along with the firefighters, their partners and families felt the impact of this tragedy. I was totally appalled to receive our newspaper this week and see how a firefighter who died in the line of duty, who lived only within IO miles (16 kms.) of Blyth received a totally unacceptable small mention in some obscure spot in the middle of your paper. Being a volunteer firefighter comes with many challenges and risks as we also remember the firefighter from Brucefield who lost his life going to a fire when the tanker rolled a few years ago. The firefighter who died last week, Doug Cantelon, was to receive his 25 year medal that very evening of the day he died. Blyth’s Fire Chief Paul Josling and Firefighter Dave Lee received their 25 years of service medals and certificates that same evening. How could a small town newspaper with any integrity be so edition of The Citizen. As you will know, the cover story in this particular issue, “Airy Fun.” Under the said caption, a picture of two children blowing soap bubbles appeared. It should be noted that oblivious to something that affected so many people in Huron County? I hope in the future The Citizen will look at the bigger picture and cover issues in Huron County that are relevant to the lives of their reading population. Last week a firefighter in Huron County died in the line of duty. So why was the biggest story in your paper on “Safety for Seniors when Travelling”? Brenda J. Burkholder Blyth. Editor’s Note: Typically there would be no response to letters to the editor. Writers need to be given an opportunity to express their views without fear of reprisal. However, in the case of these two letters the comments attack the integrity of this publication without a complete understanding of what the business is about. Firstly, The Citizen covers north Huron (Blyth, Brussels and the Twps. of West Wawanosh, East Wawanosh, Morris, Grey and north Hullett and McKillop). We cannot feasibly cover all the news in Huron, nor do the other commu­ nity newspapers. With regards to the death of a Clinton firefighter had he been a member of the Blyth department, or Brussels or Grey Twp.' s, I can safely assure our readers that the story would have been treated with the respect and detail these local volunteers deserve from us. the picture and article in question consumed approximately 30 per cent of the entire front page. Although I do not feel that the aforementioned is particularly newsworthy, I am willing to concede that perhaps, if the staff at The Citizen is unable to locate anything more worthy of print, this type of material represents acceptable filler. With that being said, I strongly feel that there were indeed more appropriate stories available within the required time period. In fact, if one were able to stay awake Ion g enough, you would find that, on PAGE THIRTEEN (of the same paper), there was a headline that read “Clinton Firefighter Dies.” It should also be noted that this article was a mere one column wide and thirteen lines long. Needless to say, I was shocked when I Writer responds to council THE EDITOR, Regarding “Council reconsiders decision on prayer” (Citizen, July 14/1999), I would suggest Brussels council get acquainted with what the principles of democracy and court rulings actually mean. Firstly, Brussels council has violated one of the essential principles of democracy, the separation of church and state. Government at all levels do not have the right or responsibility to support or promote any one particular religion. This principle not only guarantees people the freedom to practise any religion they wish, but also guarantees non­ believers the freedom from religion and religious interference in their discovered that this obvious public interest story was passed over in favour of “Airy Fun.” I guess that the editorial staff felt that it was of less interest to the public than children blowing bubbles! I do not want to be labelled as a complainer however, this is not the first time that this type of oversight has occurred. We will all remember the tragic accident that claimed the lives of local youths just outside of Varna. Most will also recall the subsequent criminal trial. I am pleased to say that the Clinton, Goderich and Seaforth papers opted to provide substantial coverage. In most cases, every newspaper in the county (including the London Free Press) reported the events surrounding this story. I regret to say that once again, The Citizen did not recognize the interest and/or importance of the above. In conclusion, I would dealings with the state. This principle also applies with the swearing in of a new council, in short the minister does not belong. Secondly, the courts have ruled The Lord’s Prayer and Bible readings in public schools violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other human rights documents. The schools are a public institution that must support the principles of democracy. They do have a responsibility to teach about all religion, not just Christianity, in the high schools at an appropriate age level. The fact that there are five churches or that it is a rural area is Continued on page 15 respectfully suggest that the staff at The Citizen should be more cognizant of the wishes and feelings of the general public when selecting stories. Failure to do so will further damage the reputation of the paper. A decision must be made; is The Citizen a newspaper or a tabloid publication? If the latter continues to be most accurate, I would recommend that the subscription price of the paper be increased. The citizen could then use the increased revenue to provide a pair of rose coloured glasses to every reader! Sincerely, Greg McClinchey, RR1, Londesboro. Thanks! Continued from page 4 for donating his time and antique fire truck for the morning tour, to my husband, John, Graham Jackson, Barney and Brandy for their many hours getting ready for the afternoon tour. Many thanks to Bill and Murray for their commitment in getting the village spic and span, flags flying etc. Also a big thanks to all the participants in the horticultural contest. It is great to see so much enthusiasm. Thanks to the folks who opened their gardens for the judges to tour. Whether we win four blooms or not this year, we are winners anyway. Our village looks great and I’m sure the judges went away with a lasting impression of Blyth. Now we wait until Sept. 25 for the results. Sincerely, Bev Elliott Chair of Blyth Blossoms in ’99. What do Canadians need to be healthy? By Denise Avard What do Canadians need to be healthy? Good genes, a clean environ­ ment, access ‘o doctors and medi­ cine, a balanced diet, exercise? These are probably the most com­ mon answers. And while all of these factors are important, research shows that there’s much more that goes into good health. Besides the physical factors, there are social ones, such as education, employ­ ment, literacy and freedom from poverty. That’s where Famdies & Health comes in. Health Canada has been studying what makes Canadians healthy for more than 25 years. In 1974, the Lalonde Report, A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians, introduced the concept that health is the result not only of biology, but also of behaviours, medical care and environment. The report stimulated awareness of the health risks associated with person­ al behaviour and lifestyle. These included, for example, the role of fitness and nutrition in promoting good health and the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol. In 1986, the World Health Organization paper, the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, and Health Canada’s report. Achieving Health for All: A Framework for*%. Health Promotion, broadened the approach to include social and eco­ nomic factors. These factors include income level, education and where one lives and works. Both perspectives have been reunited under the current approach adopted by Health Canada. In 1994, the determinants-of- health approach was officially endorsed by federal, provincial and territorial ministers of health in a report called Strategies for Population Health: Investing in the Health of Canadians. “This approach seeks to under­ stand why it is that some people are healthier than others,” says Dr. Clyde Hertzman, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. “Environments in which there are high levels of social and economic inequality, social isolation and a lack of social cohesion are widely believed to adversely affect health. “Each of these factors also makes it hard for families to create positive environments for their children,” he says. A newsletter from Families & Health is based on the following beliefs: • Health is determined by com­ plex interactions between individual characteristics, social and economic factors and physical environment. Strategies to improve the popula­ tion’s health must address the entire range of factors that determine health. Health determinants do not exist in isolation from one another. • Improving health is a collective responsibility that requires the development of-public policies in areas outside the traditional system. • All children and youth must have the opportunity to participate »ELF-DEFENCE Defend yourself from the damaging, aging effects of the sun." 222 Josephine St., Wingham Buy Now And Save % on all natural qJ sunblock by « in discussions about their own development and decisions about their health. • Children’s physical growth and emotional and cognitive develop­ ment suggest that early experiences have life-long influences on their health. That means that policy efforts directed at children and their parents are critical. • And, finally, all of these deter­ minants of health come together with the family. All children have early experi­ ences in which those around them shape and contribute to their health, their health practices and behaviour. Though the definition of family may vary over time and according to culture, families exert a powerful influence on children’s health. eaithward_______ ^BOUND^ MIND BODY & SOUL ! ■ ... .T. ~ — ■ .1 ! — —I —■ . I I , .j T— *1 Health Foods Health Related Books *) Great Gift Ideas *) Supplements 40 East Street, Goderich 519-524-6651 The first and most fundamental elements of health education take place in the family. Parents play a big role as models for children’s health awareness and behaviour. “Families are perhaps the central determinant of health, the central influence in the lives of individuals, that determine their health status and their chances of survival” says Robert Glossop, Executive Director of programs and research at the Vanier Institute. “The health deter­ minants identified by Health Canada do not operate on their own. In fact, it is through the family that each of the determinants - poverty, social support, gender, education - have their impact.”