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Huron Expositor, 2006-09-20, Page 4Page 4 September 20, 2006 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOKAWO ebate As Huron East councillors continue a year-old debate about the location of Seaforth's compost facility, an essential question is still not being addressed. - F .. How can Huron East create a site that is truly about composting, where burning waste is neither intended or necessary? While council: decided a year ago to move the facility after a fire at the Harpurhey site engulfed the village with smoke, the debate has reignited after local seniors have complained that a six -mile drive to the Tuckersmith gravel pit is WO far to go. And, while the new location likely doubles the distance for many, convenience should probably come second to any environmental arguments. While it can be argued that more driving will def- initely add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere during a time when most of the world is trying to reduce its emissions and cease global warming, the need for controlled burns of large tree limbs and brush has the same effect, no matter what the loca- tion. Huron East council has gone a long way to get- ting its budget under control and as we move into campaigning for the upcoming municipal election, incumbents are boasting one of the most responsi- bly -managed municipalities in the county. Still, as investment in a potential beef processing plant in Brussels attests, council understands the need to spend money to improve its community. Investment in a chipper to aid the quick deterio- ration of yard waste and even create a marketable product - be it wood chips or compost - could help both the environment and the municipality's bud- get And, once the problem of fire, whether controlled or accidental, is dealt with, location should no longer be such a hot issue. As Huron East looks for ways to get itself recog- nized as a place to live and visit, any lig that create better environmentalractices can only Y be added to its selling features. Susan Hundertmark Video games not to blame for Dawson College shooting The recent tragedy at Dawson College in Montreal, that left one dead and 19 injured, has left the same sick feeling inside many of us. Once again, questions of safety at school is thrown into the spotlight. And, as was the case after the Columbine mas- sacre in 1999, people want answers as to why someone would enter a school and open fire on a crowd of innocent students. - However, as was also the case back then, many people - in their urgent need to have some closure - are pointing the blame in the - wrong direction. Since the shooting last week, we've been informed that the shooter, 25 -year-old Kimveer Gill, of Laval, was a frequent user of violent video games, namely one called Super Columbine Massacre, in which players recre- ate the tragedy that left 13 people dead. Another game he enjoyed is Postal 2: Share the Pain, in which the player goes on a shoot- ing rampage inside a post office. Many people are quick to blame these games as the reason behind the shooting, as if Gill, once playing these games had the urge to play out in real life some kind of sick fantasy. But this explanation fails to make note of the thousands of people who play these kinds of games every day and never once imagine committing such a heinous crime. But some will say that if even one person is By Jeff Heuchert inspired from a violent video game to commit a crime, isn't that enough? Well, if that could be proven, then yes that might be enough to ban certain games. However, the fact that most will play these kinds of game and never imagine committing a crime, proves that it takes other elements in a person's life to push them to a certain breaking point. So where then, does the blame lie? Or, is it a situation where - as comforting as it would be to know what caused a tragedy like this - there isn't one person or one thing to point our fingers at. Some people will say it's the parents' fault. I've read comments saying the parents should have been more affectionate with him growing up, or that they should have picked up- on some kind of warning signs. Then there are those that will lump all mediums together. It was violence in films and television and in music and video games that inspired him to go on a shooting ram- page. While those explanations would be conve- nient, they fail to provide any real answers - which only builds on the grief of those affected by this latest school shooting. And, with no clear solution, sadly, the door is left open for similar tragedies to happen again. Gaon & Dave "Tensions Increase in the Middle East".... "India and Pakistan Edge Closer to War".... "Third World Poverty on the Rise" So... What's, new today? 1"Tensions Increase in the Middle East".... "India and Pakistan Edge Closer to War".... "Third World Poverty on the Rise" by David Lacey Lucy pulled out the football just before Charlie Brown was about to kick it. 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