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The Citizen, 2002-05-29, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Sales, Alan Young and Mary Jean Bell The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.00/year in U.S.A. and $100/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels: Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are' C Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron'scsintemet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna + CNA Member of the Ontario Press Council mAttatll tie 01444 anthrtesp4tveinconnet Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2002 • Editorials & Opinions Smoke gets in their eyes Politics is the art of the possible but what happens when it becomes impossible to convince people that they must suffer today in order to have a better future. Such is the hard road politicians must travel when dealing with global warming issues. It's all well and good to persuade people that we must do something to cut down on greenhouse gases before we suffer the long-term damage, but how can a government maintain a long-term program to do that if people lose their jobs in the short term and turf the government out before the program is completed? „ The federal and Alberta governments are at odds over the feds' decision to implement the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement to cut greenhouse gases that scientists say cause global warming. The federal government says it must live up to its international obligations. Alberta points to the decision of the U.S. government to pull out of Kyoto and says we will be uncompetitive if we adopt rules that put more hardship on companies and individuals than the Americans have. There are so many forces at play in the issue of global warming that it seems impossible we might actually solve the problem. First of all, the problem is nearly imperceptible to ordinary voters. It's going to be hard to convince most Canadians there's a problem with global warming, for instance, after they've lived through the oold May we've just suffered. Many might think a little global warming might be a good thing about now. Yet the effects of global warming are so erratic that our cold weather might actually be a side-effect of the global warming issue. The problem is nobody can prove it one way or another. If scientists are right, we could be facing a possibility as scary as the prospect of nuclear war was two decades ago, yet it's much harder to impress that fact on ordinary citizens who must support the painful changes that Kyoto and other anti-pollution solutions will bring. While it might be hard to understand the long-term danger of global warming, it's easy to understand, and oppose, the short-term reality of higher gas prices which both provide more revenue for governments to implement anti- pollution programs and act as an incentive for us to burn less gas. It would be easy to understand if you get, laid off because you employer is affected by new anti-pollution regulations. Then there's the problem of there being no easily evident solution, even if we upend our society to create a more environmentally-friendly world. It has taken years to create the problem we're facing and it will take decades to solve it, scientists say. By comparison, the Cold War was a blip in time. But in a democracy, it's hard to hold the interest of citizen/voters for long periods of time. If someone comes along who preaches that this danger is just the figment of some wacko-left-wing-hippie-tree-huggers, many voters will be ready to change course if it means cheaper gas and more jobs. And of course there's the problem that global warming is a global problem that must be dealt with locally. The international world got together and agreed on a course of action. The U.S. rejected that plan, yet the effects of the U.S. continuing to create more than its share of greenhouse gases will be felt by people thousands of miles beyond the U.S. border. The U.S. government wants world unity when it's fighting terrorists, but refuses to let the rest of the world tell it how to conduct environmental policy. Seeing the U.S. reaction, Alberta insists we must have a made-in- Canada plan to combat greenhouse gases. Alberta has proposed options "that better reflect Canada's position in a North American context," says' Alberta Energy Minister Lorne Taylor. The economics are continental, the problem is global. Our national government has the right to negotiate international agreements but Alberta claims the right to ignore that agreement for the good of its citizens. What if what's good for Alberta is bad for the world? And if one country can't agree, what are the chances for the world? We've got a problem which, if scientists are right, could endanger the future of mankind, yet if we can't make people see the danger, we won't have the political will to find the solutions. — KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, Before we send out our perennial swap membership list, Hosta's For Hollyhocks, we would welcome any new gardeners. Now is the time to divide most of the 'perennials and we would like you to take advantage of this offer for a nominal $5 fee. Also June 1 the Communities in Bloom committee will be having a fundraising blitz on the car wash parking lot in Blyth from 10 a.m. - noon to offer ideas this year, planters celebrating 125 years as a village and pewter heritage ornaments. Gift certificates will also be available. If you would like to help in some small way to spring plant, fall cleanup, maintain a flower bed, please get in touch with one of the committee members or send a note to P.O. Box 516, Blyth, ON. We welcome any participants. People, Plants and Pride ... Growing Together. Sincerely, Bev Elliott, Chair of Communities in Bloom (Blyth). June 2, 1960 On the Brussels liquor vote Brussels voters were in favour of the sale of beer only under a public house licence for consumption on licensed premises to which men only were admitted by 310 to 187. For the sale of beer on licensed premises where women were permitted, the numbers were closer with 283 in favour to 209 opposed. Asked if they were in favour of the sale of liquor under a dining lounge license for consumption with meals in licensed premises, 289 said yes while 203 voted no. A total of 274 were in favour of the sale of liquor under a lounge license for consumption on licensed premises. Opposed were 216. Walt Disney's Kidnapped was the feature at Listowel's Capitol Theatre, while Peter Sellers starred in The Mouse that Roared at Wingham's Lyceum Theatre. Playing at the Llashmar Drive-in in Listowel was The Young Land with Pat Wayne and Yvonne Craig and The Last Blitzkreig with Van Johnston and Kerwin Mathews. At Brownie's Drive-in in Clinton it was They Came to Cordura with Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth. A 16-oz jar of Miracle Whip sold for 37 cents at McCutcheon Grocery. Twenty-oz. tins of York pork and bean were on sale for two for 33 cents. The king-size box of Super Fab sold for $1.05 at Willis's. May 27, 1987 Registration for swimming lessons at the Brussels, Morris and Grey pool matched those of the previous year with more than 300 children signing up. Sharon Scott was head supervisor and Anita Bos was pool supervisor, while Judy Ten Pas, Cindy Bernard and Shannon Rice were hired as new instructors. Returning were Karla King and Kim Fritz. Brussels Legion Pipe Band members celebrated its 35th anniversary. Kay Hesselwood of the Triple K Restaurant in Blyth received a community service award for her participation in an employment program for mentally-handicapped adults. Officers elected at the 85th anniversary of the Huron East District Women's Institute were: Margaret Shortreed, secretary- treasurer; Leona McDonald, past president; Frieda Klaasen, president; Ruth Galbraith, Tweedsmuir history co-ordinator; Margaret McMahon, first vice-president; Marion Feldskov, public relations officer and Leone Foerter, second vice- president. The new executive for the Brussels Legion was Kathy Burkholder, president; Eugene Janes, first vice-president; Forrest Whittard, second vice-president; Dave Taylor, secretary and executive members, Donna Black, Ruth Machan, Laverne Jamieson and Debbie Cann. Auburn Lions executive was Steve Campbell, past president; Don Haines; Dave Cartwright, president; John Bos, first vice-president; Gord Daer, treasurer; George Collins; Bob Worsell, secretary; Keith Lapp; Walter March; Lion tamer; Marinus Bakker, second vice-president; Bill Robinson, tail twister. May 27, 1992 Faced with a $3,460 deficit from the previous year, Blyth council raised taxes 3.9 per cent. Two area track and field athletes qualified to compete at the OFSAA regional in Toronto. Sherry Taylor of RR5, Wingham placed fourth in the Midget girls shot put at WOSSA with a throw of 9.43 metres. The F.E. Madill student also competed in the Midget girls discus event and came fifth. Kara-Lee Potter of Londesboro placed fourth in the.3,000 metre race with a time of 11.42 seconds. The Central Huron Secondary School student also did well in the 1,500- metre race. • L.H. Resource Management in Walton designed the new compost facility for Hensall. Glen Nixon, a former Belgrave- area resident, who was an active member of the Kinsmen Club of Preston placed first in the Kinsmen Oratorical Contest at district level in Collingwood. May 28, 1997 Spring temperatures three to five degrees below normal caused a domino effect in the agricultural sector. The season was nearing the optimum time for white bean planting, but many area farmers had not yet planted the corn or soya beans. The five candidates for the federal election, Dave Joslin, CHP; Jan Johnston, NDP; Doug Fines, Reform; Paul Steckle, Liberal; Colleen Schenk, PC, talked support for agriculture at the Huron Federation of Agriculture all- candidates meeting in Holmesville. Grey Central Public School principal, Paul Statia, received a plaque as a showing of appreciation from the township's 140th anniversary committee, for the staff and students' assistance in helping to make the celebration a success. Through the efforts of Bruce Armstrong's students at F.E. Madill and McNeils Auto Body, people at Brussels Homecoming would have the chance to Swat the Bug — with a sledgehammer. The Volkswagon was a bare shell that the students sanded and painted before installing a moveable axle underneath.