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The Citizen, 2019-04-18, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019. Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, The recent report from Environment Climate Change Canada (ECCC), a federal organization, is very sad and disconcerting. The report states Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world and that this level of warming is now “effectively irreversible”. What a tragic report to receive and to contemplate. The suffering our children and grandchildren will have to bear as a result of our individual and collective levels of lack of awareness, lack of concern and inadequate responses to the national and global effects of climate change is frightening. The failure of the political parties of the world to effectively unite and address this national and international crisis of all crises will be recorded in history as one of the greatest failures of our era. One of the huge shortcomings of modern Canadian politics, at both the provincial and the national level, is the politicizing and divisive nature with which they approach climate change. The unprecedented threat climate change presents demands nothing less than a truly collaborative, rapid political response. The climate has declared war on all species. Politicians of all stripes need to change the channel, unite and work tirelessly to address climate change. This is a global war, the likes of which our species has never had to address, with the exception of nuclear annihilation. Canadians need federal and provincial politicians to see the absolute enormity of the challenge of climate change and to start working cooperatively and urgently on this issue. Individuals also need to continue to reduce their personal and family carbon footprints. There are many in Canada who have set amazing examples as to how to do this. Unfortunately, most of us have failed to curtail our level of consumerism and associated larger- than-necessary carbon footprints. Most of us still have much to offer by reducing our own footprints. In the meantime, what we are offering future generations is a more inhospitable, a more unpredictable, a more diminished and a more dangerous world in which to live. Some say that Canada is such a small player in terms of its collective carbon footprint that there is no need for Canada to act unless and until the countries with a much larger collective carbon footprint first diminish their footprint. However, statistics reveal that individual Canadians have the biggest carbon footprint on the planet! Other studies have estimated that the average American footprint is 250 times larger than the average Ethiopian! If a relatively advanced, prosperous and well educated country such as Canada does not set a global example and lead, then how can we expect a less prosperous country with fewer means to lead the path to renewal? When the ECCC provides scientific facts which strongly suggest Canada is already past the tipping point, there can be no stronger force to unite Canada and Canadians to address this perilous issue with utmost zest and haste. Time is not on our side. Sincerely, Jim Hollingworth, Goderich. THE EDITOR, Projected government spending is $22.8 billion over five years, or $4.56 billion per year. This year’s deficit is projected to be $14.9 billion and will go to $19.8 billion in 2020, or add $4.9 billion to the deficit. This is all borrowed money and we cannot afford government using our money to get elected. The government will take $2.2 billion from the federal gas tax for municipal projects and First Nation spending. The First Nation spending is $8.8 billion over five years or $1.76 billion per year. This leaves $44 million for municipal projects. The increase in gas tax will be the federal carbon tax. What happened to the revenue neutral federal carbon tax? The money was to go back to the taxpayers. It is in the income tax forms, but somehow we got shortchanged by $2.2 billion. I will leave it to the individual reader to make their own judgement because mine is unprintable. Yours truly, Barry Currie. Report a concern: Hollingworth Lions make changes to village duck race As I write this, April is fulfilling its fame with April showers. The hardy spring flowers are attempting to cheer us up with their bright colours, but the sun just refuses to shine for long. But take heart, the warmth has always come back. This year Easter is celebrated this month, next Sunday, April 21. Easter Monday, the next day, is Earth Day. If it isn’t still too wet on April 26, the last Friday of April, we can all celebrate Arbor Day. Wow, I remember during my public school days we were all dismissed from classes to scour the schoolyard cleaning up winter’s remnants. And it was a large yard! April 28 will have the members of the Londesborough Lions Club serving up their Olde Tyme Country Breakfast again until 11 a.m. The next Saturday, May 4, is their annual Fish Fry. You may be out of luck if you don’t already have your tickets. Perhaps the Lions members, or maybe the ducks, are tired of swimming/wading as this year there is to be a waterless duck race. Prize monies have undergone a change as well. The first duck drawn will be awarded $100 and the last duck drawn will receive $500, along the lines of an elimination draw. There will be five other money ducks between the first and the last duck. All three of these Lion events take place at the community hall. Paul and Nancy Buttar were in Londesborough United Church on Palm Sunday to cheer on their hero, Jesus Christ, as He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem in Matthew 21:1-11. During the children’s time, Paul explained to the boys and girls that Jesus rode on a donkey colt. Kings and leaders of that time rode on horses, especially in times of war. But Jesus, who came as the Prince of Peace, rode on a donkey to signify His mission. Flowers on the memorial stand were placed by the family of Bev Bromley, whose funeral was held in Blyth on Saturday. The church-sponsored Talent Café and Variety Night is set for the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, May 10. This café will be held at the Londesborough Hall and organizers are still looking for acts. Call Lynda at 519-482-7585 or Joan, 519-523- 9349. At dusk on May 4, a lantern walk is planned in memory of Rev. Terry Fletcher. Anyone wishing to walk should meet at the ball diamond between 8-8:30 p.m. that evening. Refreshments and reflection will follow at the church. Mary Fletcher plans to attend the event. NEWS FROM LONDESBORO By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO Time to celebrate On Friday night, the Blyth and District Community Centre was the place to be for students, teachers and parents connected to Hullett Central Public School, as the School Advisory Council hosted its annual spring auction. Here, Gillian Anderson, left, Autumn Anderson, centre, and Mia Haggitt, right, give the craft table a try. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Sarachman urges action rather than apathy Currie concerned with spending THE EDITOR, Someone once said, “sometimes we get what we deserve.” In a relatively short period of time, I’ve realized that voting for change, for change’s sake, does not make for good political decision making… at least for me. Another life lesson learned, as if I didn’t already know. I’ve tired of this ready-shoot-aim provincial government. The Washington Post slogan, “Democracy Dies in Darkness”, has resonated for me, as well as our citizenship responsibilities. We cannot sit idly back and watch things happen… politically, or otherwise. We should all be concerned, and be aware, of what’s being done to us, all in the name of being done for us. Apathy is not a viable option. As the Premier of Ontario recently said to the media “… good luck over the next three and a half years… I look forward to working with the media party”. Since The Citizen is a member of that party, as well as the “Official Opposition”, as described by the Premier, it’ll be interesting to see (and read) how your newly- designated role plays out locally, providing you unfettered questioning of our MP and MPP- Minister of Education. The Citizen, like any other member of the media, therefore, should expect to be able to ask the questions and expect answers on behalf of the electorate. I’ve not been getting a sense of that from my reading of The Citizen,but, now as the “Official Opposition”, I’m sure that’ll change. As “Official Opposition”, I for one, look forward to reading about your local interactions with our representatives to Ottawa and Queen’s Park when opportunity provides… keep them honest… truth to power, so to speak. Speaking of Queen’s Park, I’ve recently read where Minister of Education Lisa Thompson has used a new term for what will soon be overcrowded classrooms in high school. It seems it’s not about developing better learning experiences for students any longer, but about “resiliency”. Sadly, the rationale is, fewer teachers serving more students, which might very well deny those students needing additional attention. According to the Minister, students will learn resiliency. She also maintained that no teaching jobs will be lost, which somehow doesn’t seem to add up, given that 3,475 are in the cross-hairs. It seems as more and more students fall through the cracks, the rationalization will be, at least students have learned to become more resilient. Parents of high school students, or soon to be, should be understandably angered by this rationalization. Somehow this feels like the Mike Harris do-over, that many feared might happen… and here we are. By the way, what’s the antonym for progressive? So, Citizen, expect magnanimity in forthcoming responses from our elected official(s)… continue to access them and raise the questions – don’t accept being ignored by any politician – they’ll be seeking re-election on/before June 22, 2022. My suggestion for a new licence plate motto: “Ontario… Ours to Lose”. Greg Sarachman, Blyth.