Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-09-04, Page 2v Huron r xpos! for SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 Incorporating Brussels Post 10 Main Street 527-0240 Published In SEAFORTH, ONTARIO Every Wednesday morning ED BYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Armes, Bessie Broome, Marlene Charters, Joan Guichelaar, Anne Hutt, Joanne Jewitt, Stephanie Levesque, Dianne McGrath, Lois McLlwaln, Bob McMillan, Cathy Malady, Pat Rattlsand Steve Walters. Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Ontario' Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union International Press Institute Subscription rates: Canada $18.75 a year (in advance) Outside Canada $55.00 a year (in advance) Single Copies - 50 cents each SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1985 Second class mail registration Number 0696 End apartheid now No sane people want violence, nor do they want the pain and carnage which result from it. Yet throughout history, it has seemed inevitable that people caught under the bootheels of oppression have seldom gained relief without creating a confrontation. Currently, one such violent confrontation is taking- place in South Africa, as black citizens of that country demonstrate their disapproval Of the country's racist policies. Apartheid has been around for a long time and the human rights violations perpetrated against the blacks by South Africa's white minority ruling class have been no secret to westerners. Yet it is only in the past year, since the anti-apartheid riots began to occur with alarming frequency, that the situation has received prominent media treatment. With the South African government beginning to show signs of wavering in their determination to preserve apartheid, the focus of media attention on the country is approaching fever pitch. The Canadian government has been a leader in forcing the backdown on apartheid, with its strong anti -racism statements. Now, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the policy near at hand, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney recently indicated his government may relent before the job is done. During a televised press conference, Mulroney indicated he has succumbed to pressure not to impose sanctions that could cause South Africa's economy irreversible damage. Granted, a total collapse of the country's economy would hurt South Africa's black population as much as their white oppressors. Still, if sanctions and trade embargos are the only ways to lend weight to the voice of disapproval, Canada has little choice but to impose them if it is serious about ending apartheid. With a solution to this inexcusable violation of human rights so near at hand, it would be irresponsible for any country opposed to racism not to fight apartheid to the bitter end. If the rest of the world backs down now, for fear of being too rough on a tyrancial regime, than all the death and violence that has occurred in the course of fighting South African segregation will have been in vain. — P.R. Spills bill unfair It seems incomprehensible that Ontario's new Liberal government, seeking as It is to gain the confidence of the province's electorate, has added such an unpopular provision to what should have been a very popular piece of legislation. Recent events such as the PCB spill in Northern Ontario provided the impetus to get the government working on some much-needed spills legislation. For acting quickly, the Liberal deserve credit. However by introducing a bill, which becomes effective November 29, calling for absolute liability on the part of the owner or person In charge of the chemical, regardless of fault or negligence in the spill, they have erred. The legislation is terribly short-sighted and so potentially unfair, that it becomes a dead giveaway to the Liberal Party's status as a novice in wielding power. The bill's provisions could mean that the farmer waiting for a load of pesticide to arrive, could be liable for spill damage even if the truck driver carrying it were involved in a traffic accident over which the farmer had no control. It's hard to believe that even the government thinks this situation is fair. If they do, they have a strange way of showing it -- because they have carefully exempted themselves from the absolute liability provision. Ontario Hydro nuclear operations are exempted from liability under this bill and oddly, transportation of radioactive fuels and wastes is also exempted. Obviously the government has exempted radioactive material for their own benefit. They are practically the only ones that handle it. The government's self -exemption from the provision places their conviction in it, in a position of extreme doubtfulness. The Liberals should give strong consideration to acting upon the old journalistic axiom, "if in doubt -- leave it out." —P.R. Skating backward The National Hockey League is skating backwards in its latest attempt to revive the sagging respectability of its annual mid-season All-Star Game. In allowing its fans, for the first time in NHL history, to vote for the starting lineups for the 1986 game, slated for February 4 in Hartford, is running the risk of damaging the game's dubious credibility even further. Major league baseball has fallen under heavy criticism in recent years, for its long standing tradition of fan voting. The average fan, baseball has found, does not keep well -enough apprised of season to season changes in player performance to make an objective decision. The fan votes, as a fan should, with his sentiments. For this reason, a player such as Reggie Jackson was the starting right -fielder in the All-Star Game two years ago, despite not having set foot in right field for months prior to the contest. Fans remembered Reggie, as "Mr. October," and many casual fans had not realized winter had set in for the aging slugger. it is this same fan -voting system that year -after -year, keeps talented members of the Toronto Blue Jays from cracking the All-Star starting lineup. American fans, who make up the vast majority of the baseball audience, barely know who the Jays are despite the fact that they have figured prominently in every pennant race for the past few years. The NHL's All Star Game has already lost much of its appeal due to frequent format changes and constant criticism about half-hearted efforts and boycotts by players selected. Now, with fan voting on the horizon, the new complaints will focus on slumping, but popular players being, chosen to the teams despite mediocre seasons. All-Star voting should be left to either the sportswriters who, of necessity, must follow the game and iits statistics closely, or to the players themselves, who should know best of all which of their ranks should be honored. —P.R. 1. Bridge out by Patrick Raftis Journalism is valuable In a democracy there is no profession more valuable to freedom than journalism and so when journalists fail, their failure puts the whole system in jeopardy. Democracy demands that the general public make decisions and the current trend to poll citizens on how they feel on any issue of any national importance makes it essential that the public be properly informed so it can form opinions based on facts, not rumours or prejudices. W hen a country has a prime minister who won't make his mind up qn any issue until he sees how the polls read, an informed public is even more important. But how informed are we? How much are our journalists really telling us? The great issues of the day, free trade, Star Wars research, seem to be treated only with headlines. Seldom does anyone seem to do any indepth research to dig out the true facts and help us understand what's going on. Our news seems to be dictated by the modern methodS retevtstmrand"Peopie-magazine, where two paragraphs are supposed to tell us all we need to know Canadians' everyday lives are being affected by the growing protectionism of the United States. Our local farmers have been hurt, for instance, by American duties on Canadian pork imports. The Americans claim that we are stealing jobs from their lumber workers because our industry is unfairly subsidized BEHIND THE SCENES by Keith Roulston Canadians are a very fair-minded lot. If we are really involved in unfair trade that is hurting Americans few of us would disagree with the duties. But would somebody please explain to us what we are doing wrong? For instance, while the Americans perpetuate the myth that they are the great free enterprisers being hurt by socialist nations that just can't hack it without unfair trade practices, one survey showed that in farming, both the European and American farmer derives far more of his income from subsidies than Canadians. What are these subsidies our farmers get that they object to and what are the subsidies American farmers get? If we're wrong, let's admit It. If we're right, let's fight. Star W ars research has been much in the news of late. Should Canada get involved or should we stay clear? One recent poll showed a majority of Canadians in favour of participation in research, especially if it made more jobs in Canada. But how would they have voted if they all had listened to Gwynne Dyer the Canadian freelance journalist. specialist in defence matters who writes for papers around the world. Recently on television Dyer said something I'd never heard anyone else say in all the discussion of Star Wars. Ask people really involved in the military, Dyer said, and they'll admit that the most they really hope to accomplish if Star Wars is successful, it to protect a few specific spots in the U.S. from successful nuclear attack. The aim is to make sure that in event of an attack, U.S. missile bases would survive so that a counter attack could take place. There is the secret hope on the Part of many supporters of Star W ars research, that its success will free those of us in cities from the constant fear of annihilation by nuclear war. If Dyer's statement is true and if the general public knew it, how much support would there be for Star Wars? The journalists have a responsibility to research and explain these facts of life to us. If they fail, they are as responsible as the politicians for the horrible results Frogs can't be trusted It was an invasion! Hundreds of the little green creatures were bouncing around on our lawn. The frogs were marching. At this particular time of year the pollywogs from a nearby creek have all developed into small frogs. For some unknown reason, hundreds of them move onto my lawn. Several of the braver ones spend their time hopping around the walls of the house. With one minor exception, they are not an annoyance. Most visitors do not even notice them. The frogs spend most of their time in the grass. They blend in excellently unless you look for their little green bodies. The frogs keep themselves well dispersed. You usually see only a few of them at any one time. The only difficulty we experience with the frogs, happens when we cut the lawn. Most of them get out of the way. and we are able to avoid the majority of those that don't. For those people who are interested, running a frog down with a lawn mower is not a pleasant experience. I like living in the country Frog invasions make the rural atmosphere more interesting. They visit us about this time e.'ery year. They stay for a couple of weeks and then leave again Our family has learned to accept them. COUNTRY CORNER by Larry Dillon They do no harm and probably provide a benefit by eating mosquitoes and other insects. Many of the other wild creatu that we see around our home make excellent neighbors. They are fun to watch, and their company makes us feel closer to nature. There are many disadvantages to living in the country, but there are compensations. We have an opportunity to learn about and enjoy the wildlife around us. There ate simple pleasures, like watching a wild duck explore our patio while we have a morning coffee. We experience the thrill of having a deer stand by the bush and watch us. We can enjoy watching the young Canada geese grow up in the pond out behind the barn. in the fall flocks of ducks and geese drop by on their way south. The geese usually announce their arrival with steady honking while they fly low over the house, before landing. This is also the time of year that we are more likely to see wild deer in the area. In the winter we have rabbits that explore our yard each morning. In the spring there is an annual visit by a snow white flock of whistling swans. If we watch in the trees at that time of year we can see the occasional raccoon. During the summer, we can watch the majestic red-tailed hawk, or the blue heron that spends it's time wandering through a creek near our home. We have enjoyed visits by pheasants. owls, cardinals and many birds that I am unable to name. It is a wonderful educational experience for the children. They see newborn animals developing and growing up. learn beautiful nature can be. They have also learned, from a snapping turtle, who happened to be wandering by, that animals can be dangerous. Living in the country is fun. I think that i even enjoy the visits by the frogs Safety regulations. The government and Members of the Legislature continue to work through the summer, with the government making several announcements affecting a wide variety of issues The first of these announcements was a statement by Consumer and Commercial Relations Minister Monte Kwinter. Mr. Kwinter unveiled new regulations concern- ing the safety of amusement attractions and go-kart tracks. Beginning early next year. the Ontario Government will initiate measures to im- prove or establish ride inspection, design safety, accident reporting and qualification standards for operators. At present, only a minority of municipalities have programs covering these aspects of the industry. While Ontario's record of ride safety is a good one, industry, municipal governments and the general public have spoken of the need for stricter regulation as a way to reduce the possibility of accidents. Persons interest- ed in making comments or suggestions are invited to make their submissions to the attention of the Minister at: 555 Yonge Street, 9th Floor, Toronto, Ontario. M7A 2H6. Meanwhile, the Consumer and Commer- cial Relations Minister made another an- nouncement this week, respecting market JACK'S JOTTINGS by Jack Riddell, MPP access for small producers of Ontario beer. in future, "Microbreweries" (those breweries producing less than 550,000 gallons of beer annually) will be permitted to sell their products directly to local outlets. Because these small businesses make a product sensitive to temperature and movement, direct distribution by entrepreneurs will guarantee a fresher product for consumers. Ontario had added its voice to the increasing world-wide pressure to bring an end to apartheid in South Africa. The Ontario Cabinet has approved the immediate cessa- tion of the sale of South African wines and liquors in LCBO outlets. in making the announcement, Premier Peterson said existing stocks of these products will be sold off, and that no new purchases of South African wine will be made until such time as "apartheid policies of (South Africa) are ended." In another area of concern for the province, Environment Minister Tun Bradley recently visited the New York side of the Niagara River. The visit was to highlight the effect on Ontario of toxic chemicals leaking into the Niagara River. In particular, Mr. Bradley visited the Hyde Park landfill site. There, 2,000 pounds of Dioxins buried underground pose a serious threat to the drinking water of millions of Ontario residents. Mr. Bfadley has recom- mended that New York authorities take steps to excavate the site in order to remove the threat once and for all. "There is a clear need for U.S. authorities to bring the source under control. THere should be immediate consideration to excava- ting Hyde Park," Mr. Bradley said. The Minister made the visit after New York officials confirmed the presence of,hazardous dioxins in a water sample taken in the area. Mr. Bradley also visited other sites in the region, including the Love Canal area, where toxic chemicals were found near the homes of residents. Their homes were shut down and they were moved by New York State officials. 4,