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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-02-12, Page 17rnmun.r ® Entertainment 9 Features . Religion * Family • More SECTION POSTSCRIPT Skidaddle and Snow Blitz make winter fun The Port Albert Skidaddle and the Snow Blitz weekend in Goderich provided a variety of events for people to get out and enjoy the ,winter season. Top left, Liesa Beth Hartman watches Clete Dalton water his horses before she enjoys another sleigh ride at the Port Albert Skidaddle. Below left; Harold Leddy, middle and Dave Hamilton and Sue Ceddy, in the bottom pic played ball in the snow at the Snow Blitz Snow Pitch.. Tournament held at the Goderich Agriculture Park, Saturday; In the picture below right, Kim Brownlee, left and Angie Skelton, right took part in the Fancy Dress Skating Carnival. . There's new hope foe) Haiti's future After enduring 28 years of repression under the regime of "president -for -life" Jean-Claude (Baby Doc) Duvalier and his father Papa Doc, the world's poorest country is celebrating. After ridding the country of one of the world's most cor- rupt and brutal despots, Haitians turned somersaults through the streets in ex- ultation while radio stations played the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah. Then, rage followed on the heels of the rejoicing and Haitians rioted in the streets, ransacking wealthy businesses and killing members of the Tontons Macoutes, Duvalier's secret police. It's all quite understandable in a coun- try ouptry where less than half of one per cent of the country's six million people control 40 per cent of the wealth, in a cotry where $380 was the annual per capta itllcome last year and in a country wh re sewage runs into the same streams used as drinking water. In a country where a small minority live in extravagant luxury and the rest barely survive, it's no surprise that the government has been the target of pro- test for the past two months. What is sur - .prising is that only 50 people died before Duvalier fled the country preventing the violence that seemed inevitable as long as he remained. And, though Duvalier continues to have doors slammed in his face throughout the world during his gpest for political asylum, he has at least left the door open for development in his own country by deserting it. Depending on what sort of regime replaces. Duvalier's, it is a time of great hope and possibility for the people of Haiti. It seems a time when the country's glaring problems—widespread erosion, agricultural problems,polluted water and gross inequities between the rich and ,.poor= -have a -chance at being solved. . And, for the- rest of the world, It's a time when foreign aid could do the most good. As pointed out in an editorial in the London Free Press, "Without Duvalier, there is also the prospect of increased foreign aid from nations that had wearied of the embarrassment of his human rights abuses and the way aid funds seemed to end up in the pockets of his cronies." I suggest, that with the recent turn of events in Haiti, now may be the time when Goderich council could re -open its file and do some more thinking about the possibility of twinning with the Haitian city of St. Marc. After seeking more information about St. Marc froin Ken Davis, president of the Canadian Foundation for World Development, council filed the issue with little disc__quissjon in December. Reaso'llig not to pursue the issue fur- ther , . included . the - arguments that Goderich would not gain anything from the twinning as it could in tourist dollars from its twin, Bay City, Michigan, that Goderich has its own problems to deal with and that because nothing concrete was suggested by Davis to aid Haiti, Goderich would only be .paying lip ser- vice to St. Marc's poverty by twinning with it. ' It can also be argued that issues such as international aid should be left to the federal government since municipalities have neither the mandate nor the budget to help third world countries. . But, I think that with some innovative thinking, Goderich can both make a con- tribution to Haiti's de`felopment (especially at such an exciting, hopeful time in the country's history) and gain from it. One of the most obvious ways would be to contribute financially to the trip Mia Dalton is planning to Haiti this July. Dalton says the group will proceed with its plans to travel to Haiti if the political environment is stable in -Way. Oth rwise, it will travel to another third world'cQQun- try such as Mexico, Peru or t. Vincent "We wouldn't endanger anyone. The main reason we're going is to sensitize people to third world countries," she says. Another way to contribute could be looking through the town's inventory and sending old machinery or equipment in consultation with Davis' organization. As Davis suggested to council, an old tractor that council wants to replace could con- tinue to work in a developing country though its resale value for council would be minimal. Matching the amount of money spent by the town to participate in activities with Goderich's twin, Bay City and sen- ding it to an orphanage in St. Marc is another suggestion. Or, . challenging another town to a day -long event similar to the Participaction Challenge and rais- ing money through sponsors could also help. By itself, Goderich cannot and should not . expect - to come close to solving Haiti's problems. But, by doing its small part, Goderich could acknowledge the good fortune and prosperous economy it enjoys while fostering in its citizenry a Willingness to share its wealth aiid a sen- sitive awareness of other people. • Snow Blitz weekend is fun for all ages Fifth Annual Snow Blitz Winter Weekend is a success Mild weather at the beginning of last week created some moments of anxie- ty but the snowstorm on Friday ushered in the fifth annual Snow Blitz Winter Weekend in grand style. The Goderich Figure Skating Club got' things off to an early start Saturday morn- ing with the Snow Blitz breakfast. The baseball fanatics were on the field by 10 a.m. for a game of snow pitch baseball at the agriculture park diamond which saw . , ppaiyers navigate slippery baselines and deep snow in the outfield. The field condi- ' tions only added to the enjoyment of the sport. Presechool and elementary school children participated in the fancy dress skating Carnival Saturday afternoon. Prize winners included Vanessa yeats for the' most comical and Nicole Smith for most original in, the five yea rs and under category. Irene Hullah for most comical and Angie Skelton for most original in the six to nine year category. Emma IIoll- in orth for most comical and Paula Gles . foil most Original in the 10 years and over category. Dana Lunby was judged best overall. Mayor Eileen Palmer was "celebrity of the day" at the Worth Huron Big Brother Association second annual Celebrity Day Bowl For Millions. Big and Little Brothers and friends raised pledges for the weekend event but the total sum of money raised for the association was not available at press time. About 30 people participated in the Trivial Pursuit Tournament Saturday afternon in the meeting room at the grand- stand. First prize was won by the Goderich Little Theatre , team of Maureen Penn, Daphne Davidson, Stuart Davidson and Floyd Herman. Second prize went to Spare Parts, Greg Hansen, Michelle Hansen, Don Parker and Brenda Parker. Third prize was won by Myrtle McNair, Wayne Bauer, Debbie Bauer and Jim Bowie. The Salvation Army tea and bake sale on Saturday afternoon was well attended. Proceeds from the event go towards the Army Home League Fund. The only disappointmeni!s of the weekend., were the snow sculpturing con- test which had to be cancelled because of poor snow for scultping and the Kinsmen ski-a-thon which interested only 10 skiers lin the event. Those who participated rais- edapproximately $400 for cystic fibrosis research.