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The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-01, Page 6Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Editorial www.goderichsignalstar.com Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers, P.O. Box 220, 120 Huckins Street. Godericlt, (httario N7A 4B6 EDITORJAL Not a cure-all, but Earth Hour is a good start For at least one hour, the world did its part to diminish its carbon foot- print as people around the world embraced the second global Earth Hour Saturday. While it is no panacea or solution, the rapid international growth of the event launched in Sydney by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007, has raised worldwide awareness of the dangers of climate change and the urgency for everyone to become a participant in the solution. So now, from the Acropolis in Athens to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the CN Tower in Toronto,' more than 1 billion people around the globe spent at least an hour in darkness, an increase of more than 50 million partici- pants. Earth Hour grew to include participation from more than 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries this year, including China, a first-time partici- pant. Last year only 35 countries took part in the global exercise. In Canada, about 250 cities participated, including towns like Goderich, where organized events and candle -lit businesses invited energy -con- scious citizens to carry on with life in an electricity -diminished setting. While critics condemn the exercise as a one-hour token designed to make people feel better about their lack of effort on a consistent and sus- tained basis, the annual event does leave an imprint on the world and could be influential in promoting conservation on a regular and more frequent basis. From time zone to time zone, people around the world, who have been preoccupied with a global economic mess, enthusiastically dimmed non- essential lighting in a symbolic and real gesture to highlight the urgency of curbing emissions of heat -trapping gases. Earth Hour is growing and while its effects appear to be minimal in the grand scheme of things, the effort and its effects on people's awareness and psyche, cannot be trivialized. Let's hope the spirit of Earth Hour pervades. Surely people can incor- porate energy conservation into their lifestyles on a daily basis. It's the least we can do. The earth depends on it. (D.S.) Flying the flag of common sense Some common sense finally prevailed in the Ontario Legislature this week when Legislature Speaker, Steve Peters, issued a directive that Ontario and Canadian flags bought for members of the provincial parlia- ment be manufactured in Ontario. Or, at the least, made in• Canada. Ontario's MPPs are given an annual budget of $1,000 for lapel pins and flags purchased by the province's procurement office. The government office, it turns out, was purchasing flags from China, which are about $5 cheaper than flags made in Ontario or Canada. While it is a small step it's one of those issues that looks as bad as it really is. A little common sense can go a long way, especially in government. Sometimes, finding and applying it is another matter. (DS) osno The Goderich Signal -Star, published every Wednesday at Goderich. Ontario is ane of The Signal -Star Publishing Group of Community Newspapers, a division of Bowes Publishers. The Goderich Signal Star shall not he liable for failure w publish an ad fur typographical error in publication ereept to the erten( of the cart of that portion of the ad in which the emir uceurled. The Goderich Sign al.Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The (loderich Signa! -Star is a proud Member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association ICCNA) and The Ontario Comtnu,rity Newspapers Association (PCNAI. 074.1001:01116111041• Editorial Deadlines... Advertising Deadlines... Deaths, Friday at 3 pm Monday at noon Monday at noon Entertainment, Births, In Me»norianns... ,Classifieds... Display Advertising... Telephone rax.... Publisher... Reporters... IT SAYS HERE THATPIiiSM` IS CopiNG TO HttROK1 CWIJTY' MEATHEAD , IT 5 A BRAP$O NEW EsstRtNV( CALL- 00T SYSTEM DE - 51W4ED TO WARN Afl`ELT'ED CITilEr15 oi' iM M i NEWT DA144,ER OH 6REAT... ANOTHER A BEEN BAND i=ROM THE 70'5 TtkYiNG TO CASH its ON THeiP (,Lofi`4 YEARS So P40 Row cKDN6 GuITAA RIOS THEN? Tiniest losses are sad nonetheless To the Editor; Across the street from our house on Elgin Avenue we had an avenue of dark -red blossoming crab apple trees. In the five years we have lived here, every spring was lavishly celebrated by the blooming of these sweet-smelling beauties. Last week, when we left our house, we :aw that the six trees had been chopped off. When w.' asked, we were told that it was possible that the trees had been damaged by roadwork and had needed taking out. It is so sad that there will be no show of blossoms Letters opinion this spring nom these trees. oine wouia can it a uny loss, compared to the hard times suffered around the world currently, But it is sad nonetheless. The world would have been a little less grim because those trees in Goderich were blooming. Sincerely, Jane and Bruce Morgan Goderich Auto sector suggestions beg for answers To the Editor; Recent • suggestions that demands by auto worker's unions have destroyed the automobile manufacturing industry beg a response. Why the surprise at these actions? Isn't this how our capitalist free enterprise system works? Doesn't everyone ask for as much as they can get and give as little as possible in return? Are not prices of merchandise for sale as high as possible but just low enough that a competitor doesn't under cut? Isn't that why our economy has been strong, pro- gressive and very rewarding to most segments of soci- ety? Why are managements left out of the criticism'? Isn't management part of negotiations that result in workets wages? Unions don't make the decision alone. Management is involved as well. Management execu- tives get the big bucks, then expect a bonus, even if the Monday at 10 am • 519-524-2614 519-524-5145 Dave Sykes 1)onliniylie Milburn Gerard Creces Denny Scott company is headed for the rocks. Management is part of the decision -making -process, surely they deserve some of the criticism. What about the board of direc- tors? They must approve management's decisions or replace them. What about consumers? Objections have been raised about the type of vehicle the North American auto industry has been producing. Consumers have been buying the product until just recently. Don't they share the blame? It seems to me in our present circumstance there is enough blame to go around. We shouldn't dump it all on the workers. Gordon Hill Varna, Ontario Classifieds & Subscription... Accounting... Office Manager... Display Sales... 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