Loading...
Times Advocate, 1989-08-02, Page 16Page 16 Times -Advocate, August 2,1989 Don't be careless with propane TORONTO - Propane and gaso- line power a raft of summer activi- ties from lawn care to recreation. They can also spark fatal accidents if carelessly use, experts say. Last year alone, Ontario officials reported 27 deaths caused by fuel - related accidents. Of those fatali- Four-year study of rural Iife at Guelph GUELPH - Changes in global trade practices and environmental concerns have made the future of rural life uncertain. In Canada, Eu- rope and the United States, policy researchers are trying to understand this new reality and identify meas- ures to deaf with the changes it will bring. Helping to do that is Tony Full- er, a professor in the University of Guelph's School of Rural Planning and Development, who is leading a four-year comparative research pro- gram to study common issues af- fecting rural sustainability in Eu: rope and North America. The first priority is to understand how trade liberalization will affect various aspects of rural lie, says Fuller. This is where Canada can team directly from the European ex- perience. "There will be winners and losers," he says. "in the EEC (European Economic Community), with its plans to form a single Eu- rope by 1992, there are specific programs to assist the regions that are expected to suffer. Here, we don't even know who will lose, so we don't have any measures in place. We should be trying to plan ahead as they are doing in Europe." Economic changes will create new forms of rural poverty and will place additional stresses in rural family life, says Fuller. "We need to establish where, how and when • this may happen," he says. The program will also compare approaches for coping with con- flicting factors, such as the envi- ronment, the economic costs of current farming practices and the need for sustainable, diversified ag- riculture. Informal research links have been o rating for some time among the Ulfversity of Guelph, the Canadian Agriculture and Rural Restructing group (AARG), the Arkleton Trust of Western Europe and the Aspen Institute in the United States. The project's aim is to formalize these links and establish an international information network that can have a direct impact on rural policy in each of the participating countries. The Donner Canadian Founda- tion, through its international af- fairs program, recently provided $80,000 to AARG to assist in the formation of a Canadian agenda. Scholars from each region will come together to work on short- term comparative policy research projects in Canada. An annual rural policy seminar will serve to dis- seminate the research findings. But Canadian input will not come from acadeinic sources alone, says Fuller. To ensure that a com- prehensive picture is obtained, rep- resentatives from hath aoricultural and non-agricultural communities, as well as members of rural policy- making bodies, will also take part. The final outcome of the project will be a number of publications at the academic, policy and popular levels, he says. Public discussion of all these findings will be encour- aged. An eventual television docu- mentary series is planned , bring tireissue of Nort'I American rural restructuring into sharper public fo- cus. Exeter Atom 1 soccer team 3 shut -outs EXETER - In regular season play Exeter Atom 1 minor soccer team 'recorded threc.struigiw i a-'--i-,..- centl ties, seven involved propane gas. "Both gasoline and propane are safe, efficient fuels as long as they are properly used," says Dennis Conway, an expert with the Onta- rio Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations (MCCR). "Unfortunately., familiarity can breed carelessness, just as readily as unfamiliarity can lead to mistakes. That's why we continually stress careful storage and handling, espe- cially at this time of year when summer fever hits. Everywhere you look there are barbecues and lawn mowers working overtime." To help Ontario residents make this season safe, the ministry put together the following list of "Fuel -proof Tips": *Never light a propane barbecue with the lid closed. Vapors can built up inside and may cause an explosion when the burner is lit. * Check barbecues for leaks eve- rytime a cylinder is attached and af- ter any lengthy periods of disuse. Brush a soapy water solution over all hoses and connections, The ap- pearance of bubbles indicates a leak. Don't use the barbecue until it's fixed. * Never start up a propane -fuelled refrigerator that has not been cleaned and serviced this season or after being moved. Debris can clog burners, causing improper combus- tion and the production of poison- ous carbon monoxide gas. An average of three people die annually because of this problem. As a result, MCCR recently banned the sale of propane fridges that do not vent directly outdoors. "We are also strongly advising owners of indoor -venting models to move them outside or replace them," Conway says. "Your life is well worth the price." * Never refuel a lawnmower or any other equipment when the en- gine is hot. * Do not store or transport gaso- line in makeshift containers. Use only those containers approved for the purpose. * When transporting fuels, prop trunks open or secure the container upright inside the car, leaving the windows open. Don't smoke. * Never. leave fuels in direct sun or store them inside the house or car. Ministry brochures are available on the safe use of propane applianc- es and portable gasoline containers. For copies, contact the Consumer Information Centre at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H6 - (416) 963-1111 or toll free at 1- 800-268-1142. Ontario residents with an 807 area code may call the 416 number collect. The TTY/TDD line for the hearing/speech impaired is_(416) 963-0808. 4•• Soccer action - The above action comes from a weekend sehior soccer game in which Chatham defeated the Exeter Centennials 4- 1. FROM CANADA GRADE "A" FRESH BEEF CHUCKS • no preservatives • no fillers (9-(o . . and only ey i owned Arva 4- 0 in Arva. Two days later they blanked Grand lend 5,0 and &feat- - cd Nairn 6 -0 -last Monday night, July 24. .The.cm.ro r_aostins► Astra v1 -1c. scribed as their best of the year. - David Farquhar, who had a hot week scoring goals, picked up a pair against Arva, while Chris Genttner and Greg Geoffrey each scored once. Against Grand Bend, Farquhar picked up another pair, Brent Hart- man also scored twice and Jeff MacLean picked up a single. Farquhar also scored twice against Nairn, Scott Gilfillan picked up a pair and singles were scored by Jonathan Triebner and Geoffrey. Wingers Gilfillan and Jeff Maver played cxtre well for Exeter. The locals played in ttia Atom Tou n Exeter on Oft weekend. In the first game Exeter recorded b another shutout 4-0 over Nairn, but fell to Exete� 2 in the second game, 4-4. . 4 OEBICA .fir—•"'..�,...,,•`�<.w.�. u«��:C�'� s;��"�"i' "',c;r�sl