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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-04-01, Page 4' J • , - • - - . $ Page 4 Aprill 1, 2009 • The Huron Expositor • • I A •1 Opinio _ n„,.....,„..e.:_,, ._4,._ _,..„...c.,„,_;,,,..,,,, -..„.•,y.„4,,,,;,,_ Proprietor aid Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK IWO ., . • Earth Hour raises For at lest one hour, the world did its part to di- minish its carbon footprint as people around the world embraced the second global Earth Hour Sat- urday. While it is no panacea or solution,The rapid inter- national growth of the event launched in Sydney by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007, has raised world- wide awareness of the dangers of climate change and the urgency for everyone to become a partici-. pant in the solution. So now, from the Acropolis in Athens to the Eiffel Tower m 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 participants. Earth Hour grew to include participation from more than 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries this year, including China, a first -tune participant. Last year only 35 countries took part in the global exercise. In Canada, about 250 cities participated, includ- 4 ing towns like Goderich, where organized events and candle -lit- businesses invited energy -conscious citizens to carry on with life in an electricity -dimin- ished setting. While nothing was formally organized in Huron East, there were households - likely filled with kids whose schools promoted the event - who made sure their parents unplugged for an hour Saturday night to observe the environmental exercise. 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 sustained ba- sis, the annual event does leave an imprint on the world and could be influential in promoting conser- vation on a regular basis and more frequent basis. From time zone to time zone, people around the world, who have preoccupied with a global economic mess, enthusiastically dimmed non-essential light- ing in a symbolic and real gesture to highlight the urgency of curbing emissions of heat -trapping gas- es. Earth Hour is growing and while its effects ap- pear 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 incorporate energy conservation into their lifestyles on a daily basi;4. It's the least we can do. The earth depends on it. Goderich Signal -Star • „ Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 Publisher - Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street, Seaforth telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 MailingAddress P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON, NOK Visit our home page at Cip www.seaforthhuronexpositoncom CanadW OUESECOR MEDIA livE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, THROUGH THE PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROORAM (PAP), TOWARD OUR MAILING COSTS." •••_t 7.. • Thanks to the Internet, nobo appreciates where news comes from • , ‘--,-",".*:44-; • t. • '• t-, Farmers have long been frustrated by the fact that an increasing number of people, young and old, have little, if any, ideE.t where their food comes from. - - Each year, as the local Ag and - Water Festival rolls around, we hear that kids - mostly7urban but even some from rural areas - believe that their food comes from the -grocery store and haven't made the connection that piants and animals grown on farms are the actual source of their nutrition. And, because they haven't made that essen- tial connection,. consumers are often -unsup- portive of farmers and the challenges they face as they continue their attempts to - feed the planet's population. As a newswiperjournalist watching in alarm theindustry I've worked in for the past 2.0 ears seems to be self-destructing in large part use of the Internet, where news is offered up for free, I'm facing a similar frustration. That's- because, in fact, news usually origi- nates on the pages of a local newspaper before it shows up on the Internet. Nobody. from Google or Yahoo sits in on Hu- ron East council meetings, brings their camera to the Seaforth arena to capture sports action or generally collects news of any kind. If the dark day ever arrives when we're with- out newspapersi there is going to be very little newt.; on the Internet for bloggers to comment about or for reader', to read. And, of course the loss of re- searched, edited and organized. newspaper reporting by profes- sionals who have been trained in ethical, balanced and respon- sible journalism is going to neg- atively affect the democratic Hu ark health of any community Researchers looking at the ef- fect on communities by the closure of U.S. newspapers have discovered that there are fewer candidates running for election and even smaller voter turnout when there is no news coverage Asnewspaper subscription ._numbers drop and advertising revenue.d.ries up with every- one driving on the information superhighway, newspapers should also be taking.: a second look at their eagerness to be part of the Inter- net revolution. While we've all been gleefully posting our stories online •for the past decade, none of us have figured out how to make it pay And, that's just a bit of a glitch when it comes to continuing the fifth estate, such an important cornerstone of democracy. Like the "Farmers Feed Cities" campaign, maybe. journalists need to launch our own campaign with the slogan, "Newspapers Cre- ate Informed Communities." But, as long as news continues to be offered free on the Internet, readers are going to be- lieve it appeared there magically, similar to the way they think food appears on the shelves of their local grocery store. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 38.05 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS: - 36.14 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $195.00 postage, plus G.S.T. iLLSJA.,;,_ 38.05 a year in advance, plus $99.84 postage, plus G.S.T. Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Maln SI., Seaforth. Advertising is accept- ed on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signa- ture, 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 bo 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. • _. e. ;4.-1, • 4. • 'Or? PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605 Susan Huntkrtinark Editor seaforthnewsebowesnet.com For any non deliveries or delivery concerns please call 519-527-0240. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Circulation Department, P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK ^IWO Member of the Canadian al* Oita* Coortairolty , 44.01 PP. Bernie Pugh Advertisin / Offic(, neLoom Dan Schwab Reporter seafortheditorial@boweanet.com Plp,“ voo. I.', fit, lit ft• Maxwell Bickford Advertising Rep. seaforthads@bowesnet.com Dianne McGrath Front, Office segforthatissiikdAitiVemacOln .