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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2007-09-26, Page 4Page 4 September 26, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK IWO Walking is simple answer to many issues While global warming is the time bomb that just keeps ticking, it seems Canadians continue to do little to reverse the trend that threatens to devas- tate the planet. Environmental issues have received very little discussion during the current provincial election campaign and the federal government continues to tap dance out of any commitments to meet targets dor greenhouse gas emissions. We keep driving our carbon -belching cars without thought and using electricity without restraint. At the same time, a lack of physical activity is another time bomb waiting to explode into one of the many lifestyle diseases so common among Canadians. And yet, a half-hour event next Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 12:30 p.m. - that aims to break a Guiness World Record for the most people walking one kilo- metre at the same time - is, in a very simple way, bringing our attention back to healthy living and the environment. The current record, held by Western Australia with 100,915 participants in September 2006, was sought to give Australians a reason to get more active. And, while Ontarians can certainly benefit from more physical activity, another benefit of the one - kilometre walk is the encouragement of human - powered transportation. As David Suzuki puts it, "We were made to walk and for 99 per cent of human existence, that's how we moved, by walking." Six "World Record Walks" are taking place throughout Huron County next Wednesday, the closest to Seaforth being held in Vanastra. Happening during many people's lunch hours, the one -kilometre walk could easily demonstrate to participants how simple it could be to add a little physical activity into their lives - and, how enjoy- able it can be to leave the car at home once in a while. In Huron East, it could encourage more people to use the walking trails painted on sidewalks throughout Seaforth, Brussels and Vanastra. Walking one kilometre during one afternoon in October to break a world record is not the point. The event, however, is one more reason to walk consciously into a future of a healthier self and a healthier planet. Susan ilundertmark Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com Ctt OUEBKOlt MEDIA Canada .; ..:J 'We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Taking my time `growing up' is a path I'm glad I took According to the number crunchers at Statistics Canada, my generation is a lit- tle slow to grow up. They looked at census infor- mation from 1971 and 2001 and compared life transitions for people between 18 and 34 years of age. They found that people in that age group in 2001 are taking longer to reach the big five landmarks along the road from adolescence to adulthood: leaving school, leaving our par- ents' home, getting a full-time job, entering a "conjugal union" and having children. There's also more distance between each landmark. According to a press release from Statistics Canada, "On average, a 25 -year-old in 2001 had gone through the same number of transi- tions as a 22 -year-old in 1971. A 30 -year-old in the later generation aver- aged the same number of transitions as a 25 - year -old in the earlier generation." Having just turned 27 a few days ago, I can identify with these findings. While I can't speak for everyone my age, I lay blame - cred- it? - at the feet of "higher" education. I left school at 25, left my parents' home at 19 and entered the workforce full-time at 25. I'm not married and don't have any children. Those are my numbers, but they're a little naked. In the interest of clothing them - rather than in regaling you with my personal history - I'll add some context. Sure, I left school at 25, but that was after four years of university (where I earned a degree in criminology), a brief foray into the workforce and another two years of college (journalism). Yes, I left my parents' home at 19 - and stopped calling it `home' at about 20 - but they were happy to let me come back for about a year when I was 24. I had just bought a car - a necessity in newspaper journalism - and still had a year of college left; I wanted to save money. They helped me do that. I entered the workforce after finishing school, so not much context is needed there. I'm not married, but I live with my girl- friend in a happy, committed, monogamous relationship. We're not engaged yet, but have discussed it and know that it won't be long. As for kids, neither of us are settled enough in our careers to responsibly consider the option just yet. I'm older than either of my parents were when I was born and several years older than they were when they got married. While I've always been able to look around at my friends to confirm that I'm not the only one taking forever to "grow up", it's nice to have some numbers to back that up. And while I'd like to be a little further ahead than I am, I'm glad I didn't take a shorter path to adulthood. Who knows where I'd be or where I'd be going if I had. I like this path just fine. Ron & bave My paper's having a contest. Whoever gets the most new customers, wins a trip to a Tigers baseball game. But look at the news! Nothing but war and crime! Who's gonna want Au contraire v Cool...the to buy a paper with all that bad news? bro... Bad news sells the paper. It's by David Lace n (Of course. that's what the Free Market is all about. I can profit from all that what people want. misery? / LOVE THIS COUNTRYI r SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U,S.A,; 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occu- pied 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. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO Circulation Department P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK IWO Member of the Canadian Community NAvspaper Association & the Ontario Community Newspapers -Association Susan Hundertmark Editor Aaron Jacklin Reporter Bernie Pugh Sharlene Young Bolen Advertising / Office Composing Publisher - Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1W0 Maxwell Bickford Advertising Rep Dianne McGrath Front office -