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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1975-08-14, Page 4Plage 4 - Zurich Citizens News, August 14, 1975 Noise pollution: the next environmental target Why should Joe Wheels, driving a roaring sports car or motorbike, be allowed to bombard the ears of a peace - loving public? Right now, he's within his rights. But he's operaing on borrowed time. New federal/provincial anti -noise laws are now in eff- ect. or soon will be, as environmental ministries crack down on the vroom -vroom offenders. In fact, a;; gasol- ine -powered vehicles will be primary targets of general noise control measures. These will aim both to hush mechanical equipment' (particularly those super -loud "mufflers" 1) and curtail show-off driving habits. How can. such laws be enforced? One plan is to set up a portable meter, like an aural radar trap, to record sound levels. Noise -makers who exceed legal limits will be summoned. However, don't expect that such steps will suddenly bring idyllic quiet throughout the land. To be practical, noise control must be enforced by stages. For while all new motors are due to conform to legal specifications, older motors can't be quieted without costly modifications. Nevertheless, relief from irritating traffic noise is in sight. Meantime, what can be done now to reduce its main causes? Drivers can be encouraed to avoid jack -rabbit starts. And, wherever sound -testing centres are available, drivers can have their vehicles rated and take corrective measures where indicated. Finally, manufactures of cars and accessories should stop catering to the young drag -racing, Indianapolis -style driver who causes accidents, wastes fuel and shatters eardrums. (contributed) The leisure years: boredom or fulfilment? Retirement. The word conjures up visions of endless hours of happy freedom. Why, then, is,it such a disillus- ioning experience for so manp people? The natural tendency is to look forward to devoting unlimited time to travel, hobbies, grandchildren, sports and entertainment. All of which are enjoyable. But when one actually comes to fill day after day in these ways, life can soon pall. Fulfilment is not achieved so easily. What's missing, according to psychologists and human relations consultants, is involvement in interests outside one's self. Taking part in community affairs, charities, church work or worthy -fund raising projects offers such opportunities. Can you teach English to a new Canadian? Offer volunteer service to some social agency or: hospital? Take a part-time job? There are many other ways by which you can make a worthwhile contribut- ion. As for hobbies, they can be wonderfully rewarding outlets for one's interests and energies. They can even prove to be the basis of a profitable second career. But to get the most out of any hobby, start taking it up in earl- ier years. Later, you'll have the necessary skill to allow you to get infinitely more fun and satisfaction out of your efforts. Especially if it's the kind of hobby you can share with others. Above all, leisure years are brightened by friend- ships, both old and new, and by maintaining a lively interest in the fascinating world around us. Given reason- ably good health, you may well find that the November - December years are the best of your life. (contributed) ZURICH Citizens NEWS PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZUIRICH HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385,+��e:� -fF�e Member: ,. CNACanadian Weekly. -NewspapeOntario Weeklyewspapers Association Ir rs Association ;'0 )g. •s l' Subscription Rates: $6„00 per year in advance in Canada; $8.00 in United States and Foreign; single copies 20¢ FEW LEADERS ARE SAFE The other day I saw a cart- oon in the newspaper showing Robert Stanfield reading his morning paper. There were two items shown. One was to the effect that Prime Minister Trudeau was off at the Hels- inki conference, the other was that General Gowon of Nigeria had been overthrown by a coup d'etat which he was attending a conference in Uganda. Upon meditation on the two items, Stanfield stated, "Cancel the Conserv- ative leadership convention next February. Mr. Stanfield is probably the last person in the world that would resort to a coup d'etat to come to power but the inference is that few leaders ae safe these days when they are out of the country, especialy if there is any unrest going on at the time. Gen. Gowon is not the first leader by a long shot to find himself out of a job while he was out of the country. However, most people wold have consider- ed Nigeria far down the list of any countries ripe for a revolution of any sort and so the removal came as some- thing of a surprise. While I knew that things were not all milk and honey in Nigeria which, by the way, is a mem- ber of the British Common- wealth just like Canada. I, too, was somewhat taken aback when I read the news. The coup d'etat does raise some interesting questions and, for this reason, I would like to look into the Nigerian situation a bit. It is generally assumed that the richer a country gets, the more stable its government is likely to be. Nobody in his right mind would think of a coup d'etat in such countries as Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, the United States or Canada, all of which are generally consid- ered to be the richest of countries. However, Nigeria was fast becoming a rich country, for the simple reason that it is one of the major producers of oil in Africa and it, along with the Arabs, benefitted from the drastic price increase which was imposed on the world over two years ago. Last year, Nigeria enjoyed an influx of oil money to the tune of $8,000,000,000, which will go a long way in a countryof 80,000,000 people. The unfortunate part of it is that some of this money may have gone a long way, but it also went the wrong way and ended up in the pockets of some people who were not meant to have it. The corrupt- ion that Gen. Gowon had promised to stop, still persist- ed and, in addition, the country, like many other young ones in Africa, suffer- ed from a shortage of comp- etent administrators. It was mainly because of this that the eight billion dollars did not do as much in Nigeria as it would have, for example, in Canada. Gen. Gowon was undoubt- edly one of the most level headed and honest of leaders. It should be pointed out that he runs a country, not of one tribes of people but of many tribes, not all of which see eye to eye. One has only to recall the Biafran uprising in 1967 to illustrate this point. It should be pointed out, in Gen. Gowon's favor, that he handled the reabsorption of Biafra into Nigeria with a great deal of tact and under- standing so that the civil war left as little a scar as possible. Today few people can even recall the details, which is some indication of how completely the war has been forgotten by every- body, even by those who took part. Perhaps Gen Gowon is the victim of a situation which is just now being realized. It may be that many of these countries that have rec- eived their independence since World War II are not capable of making an orderly political transition to full democracy without a few revolts, revolutions or coups d'etat along the way. In this connection, it is interesting to note that, at the same conference attended by Gen. Gowon, other African leaders, fearing for their jobs, brought along just about anybody who could be capable of staging an uprising. President Mobutu of Zaire brought along no less than 300, an astounding number for such a conference. For others there were sig iply so many potential revolut- ionairies that the leader decided to stay at home and not atend any part of the meeting. Perhaps Gen. Gowon is wishing he had done the same. Instead gone is one of the most respected leaders of Africa. The fact that it happ- ened to him must be giving everybody there food for thought. Vacation care for plants House plants should be placed in a shady area away from heat or conditioning vents while you are away on vacation, advised Consumers' Association of Canada. Make sure your plants have an adequate supply of water by moistening them thoroughly before you leave. To keep them moist, cover the plants entirely with a clear plastic bag and fasten the open end loosely to the pot. Place small pots in loosely packed material such as peat moss and moisten it well. Fertilizer does not need to be added if you are vacationing for only a short period. The plant can live off the nutrients in the soil. Be a conscientious gard- ener. TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN Jimmy is a golden -haired, blue-eyed charmer with fair skin, rosy cheek: — and a problem. Three-year-old Jimmy has a hearing loss, caused by an injury at five months. Otherwise his health is good. He is learning to talk with the help of a home visitor from the school for the deaf and he is a very vocal child, even when not using words. Jimmy is cheerful, contented, active and adaptable. He likes company but can entertain himself. He's a good eater and he sleeps well. It is thought that the injury which caused his deafness also affected his learning ability. He is a slow learner and will need special education. Loveable, appealing Jimmy needs special parents who will find joy in his winning personality and added joy in helping him to surmount his handicap. To inquire about adopting Jimmy, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social Services, Box 888, Station K, Toronto M4P 2H2. In your letter please tell something of your present family and your way of life. For general adoption information, consult your local Children's Aid Society. CHARMER WITH A PROBLEM