Times Advocate, 1991-01-30, Page 4Paas 4 .
Tines -Advocate, January 30, 1991
1
Publisher Jim Beckett
News Editor; Adrian Harte
Buslfl.0 Manager Don smlth
Composition Manager Deb Lord
Publishing EMM Wodasaday at 424 Maim $t.,
Exeter. Oster* .+.:M J.W. Publications Ltd.
asssoad Class Mal Rsdotradoe Menthol' 0986
st1BVRIPJIO RATES;
Canada: $27.00 plus $1.89 G.S.T. Per year;
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"Men are never so likely
to settle a question rightly
as when they discuss it
freely."
... Thomas Macauley
i;I)I"I'()1&I:kI.S
Environmental terrorism
I It seems rather strange, but it
is plain that the release of hun-
dreds of thousands of barrels
of crude oil into the waters of the Per-
sian Gulf has outraged the general pub-
lic more than anything else that has oc-
curred during this war so far.
Video footage of bombed out Iraqi
homes, Scud missiles slamming into
Saudi Arabian neighbourhoods, or di-
shevelled -looking captured pilots, is
dramatic, but somehow all accepted as
the grim reality of war.
However, show us a doomed bird,
coated with oil and choking to death on
the shores of a blackened sea and we
feel outraged. If indeed Saddam Huss-
ein has resorted to deliberately opening
the valves on an oil depot, then we are
witnessing a new era in warfare - the
destruction of the environment as a
means to turn public opinion against
the war: environmental terrorism.
It's a low, dirty trick, to be sure. One
that might even be leading ardent sup-
porters of Iraq to have second thoughts.
Nevertheless, it is having its effect as
the media and world attention have
switched from the battles -fought on land
to the battle being fought to save the
Persian Gulfs environment - if it is pos-
sible to do so with fighters and bombers
flying overhead.
Obviously, our outrage is definitely a
measure of the success of the "green"
movement of the past few years. We are
now beginning to understand that while
we can rebuild bombed cities, it may
take years or decades to repair the dam-
age to the Gulf s waters and shores done
by a simple oil slick.
What is interesting though, is that we
find it easier to find sympathy for the
struggling, pathetic animals and birds
caught up in this act of terrorism, than
we db for the people who spend their
nights, waiting for air-raid sirens.
The human face to this war is still
missing. *hen we begin to equate the
suffering of these defenseless birds with
the sufferings of the populations of Is-
rael, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, we will
come to terms with what this war really
means.
A.D.H.
Sticking to the cause
An interesting thing happened
at the Peace Vigil held in
Goderich, last Thursday.
Somewhere down the line, a very
good cause became lost in the shuffle
wherein several speakers vied for com-
munity support of thekr own group pro-
jects.
Several speakers came forth, and
granted some seemed sincere, but un-
fortunately more were sincere about
drawing parallels between their own
community causes and the Persian Gulf
war.
Two people in particular were guilty
of rhetoric in the first-degree.
One person spoke on personal rela-
tionships and physical violence for an
extended period of time, and then
asked, "Can you name me one funda-
mental difference between us and them
(Iraqis)?"
Unfortunately, no one responded.
Maybe some were too astounded to
speak. There are some very obvious
differences between us and them; cul-
ture, religion and all-round way of life.
Not to say the differences make Canadi-
ans morally superior, but they do exist,
and denying them is like denying reality.
In fact, one speaker's 10 -minute verbal
assault on humanity in general was so
befuddled with Freudian theories that
one aghast observer said, "It sounds like
Saddam invaded Kuwait because he
hates his mother."
For a community group to gather for or
against something especially with such a
strong issue, they should at least be true.
to their convictions. Although weather
conditions were relatively poor, the
small turnout and lack of individual
comment at the ceremony made a state-
ment in itself.
Perhaps Goderieh mayor Eileen Palm-
er inadvertently summed up the meaning
of, a Peace Vigil best ... "We are gath-
ered here tonight to pray for our local
men and women."
C.L.C.
It's spring, 1 know it's spring
Never mind the red liquid in
the thermometer is frozen. For-
get the snow on the ground and
ignore the icy wind.
I don't care what happens on
Saturday when the idiots with
their video cameras drag a
stuffed toy out of a hole in the
ground and decide when the
winter is going to end. As far as
I'm concerned, it's spring al -
.1 ready.'Oroundhogs be'datnned;'.
1 know, I ' promised myself I
would get in some more skiing
this season. I will, but I'll know
;I'm just killing time until the
snow fades away, any minute
now.
Today is January 30. February
is just around the comer, and it's
such a short month. March is
merely a torturous prelude to
April, which, if you ignore the
snowstorm the first week, is as
good as spring.
My main problem is that at the
last count, I own four bicycles.
You might consider that a little
'stupid, and you would be abso- 'the number two bike, followed
lutely right. Two of them I by a few stints on the fixed -gear
haven't yet ridden. A thins has
been in mothballs since I bought
my first car.
Once spring arrived, early last
week, I disassembled my fourth
Hold that
thought...
By
Adrian 1 #airte
and favourite bike to scrub away
the dirt and grime it accumulat-
ed last year. It's a job perfectly
suited for the winter months, but
it does have the disturbing effect
of making one eager for the
warm winds of spring. As I sit,
adjusting and spinning the per-
fect bearings of a Campagnolo
pedal, I imagine how easy it will
be to get in shape for the new
season. Yes, if I ski until the
last minute and then head out on
Letters to Editor
bike, there should be nothing to
stop me by the time May rolls
around. I will push higher gears
than ever before, no , hill will
stand in my way, small children
will gasp as I pass cars on the
highway... But, of course, it's
still January. What doesn't help
is the jealousy I feel when I see
those people smart enough to
own mountain bikes already rid- • .
ing ahem through,, tie: , slbshu'
covered street:"' 'Of ' tifyfblii''
bikes, not one is suitable for '
winter use, and I don't have
room for another.
Never mind, as I console my-
self that I'm simply out of synch
with the seasons, I glance over
at the exercise bicycle in the
hallway. If I stand it in front of
the television set, install the ped-
als, narrow saddle and dropped
handlebars (the ones they come
with are useless, no wonder
most people hate indoor bikes) I
can ride every now and then to
get in shape. I have a couple of
months, so when the weather fi-
nally decides to catch up to me, ti
I'll be ready.
We are proud of you
Captain and Crew:
Sir, we areyou this
poster from the Leon Branch
167, in Exeter, with our heartfelt
best wishes. We hope that your
campaign is successful and short
We in Exeter are proud of you
people for doing your duty in a
Letter to Editor
Defense of Petro -Canada
To the Editor.
You're getting ripped off. And
not just by the OST.
As 1990 came to an end, news
reports focused on the hated GST,
the threat of war hi the Gulf, a
govenunent-vonsored recession,
cuts to the CBC and countless rips
in the fabric of the nadon. Pew
tiives had used their myjority in the
House of Commons to shut off de-
bate and sneak through a law to
sell Petro -Canada. Once this law
passed the Tory -stacked senate,
Pebco-Canada - ow national, pub-
licly -owned energy Company -
Wiil be gone. It won't reappear af-
ter the next electiono Ca nada
wig: 1= forever.
ass losing8 vital a-
ergy policy tool. No future stiation-
Pe-Canadato will be bneingreireig
able to use
oi1 oannpanies honer
one COmpaty we Chil NWO roe Io
C the pe pampa. Petra
� Myer be need SO help
keep energy profits in Canada for
reinvestment here. And Petro -
Canada can never be used to help
move us towards a ' Brea►
future by taking the lead in actively
promoting conservation and alter-
native energy sources (even such
modest steps as oellec thug, re^.y-
cling and sellin used engine oil
� ly)aiso lose billions
of dollars on the sale. A Calgary in-
vestment dealer appear -
Hbefore a
ouse of Com-
mons Committee
Weed "
that the people of
Canada are going to
entire a Mb on rte aite, the only
Manis how deep is the tub. So,
E sled a shake dosses so the law
to venom That the sale would at
Nat Iwo thotiveaed ler Canadian
the SS billion
&Wye
#
l�►Yt Beim
by boric the
Conservative and Liberal members
of the committee studying the bill.
What's even more mind-
boggling, the Conservatives are
giving the mclgey they raise from
the sale of Petro -Canada back to
the peopk who are buying it. It's
bluetit' I sold my house and donat-
ed the money back to the people
who bought it, you'd call it lunacy.
And you'd be right. But the $700
million raised by the sale of the
first 15 percent of the company
will be ploughed right back into
the company. And there is nothing
to prevent the Conservatives from
eying all the proceeds from the
sale of our company to the rich in-
vestors who buy it. That's a cruel
joke from a government claiming
to need more money!
Remember that the next time you
shell aut OST for a coffee and a
Sincerely,
Ross Harvey, M.P.
New Democrat Energy Critic
stressful time.
This poster is
but a few of the
people that are
behjnd you, onea)
hundred percent.
We hope every-
one returns home
safe and sound. Keep your spirits
up and your butts down.
Thank you.
. Yours truly,
James H. Merrlees
Leadership Chairman
Anniversary for March of Dimes
To the Editor:
1991 marks the 40th anniversary
of, the March of Dimes' Winger
Fund Raising Campaign in Onta-
rio. 'In the community of Exeter,
Lioness. volunteers will a:' n be
undertaking a community • • ' -to-
door campaign':,
'There are over 937,000 disabled
adults living in Ontario today. The
March of Dimes assist thousand of
these individuals .across the prov-
ince.
Forty years ago, a group of
Marching Mothers took to the
streets to raise funds in hope of
funding a cane for polio. Today,
10,000 vain-
teerse work to
ensure the pro-
vision of pro -
rams and services
far with
phy� sabili
ties.
The March of Dimes spends 90
percent of its budget on three ma -
or iervices which provide alterna-
tives for disabled adults. These ser-
vices include: Independent Living
Assistance, Employment Services
and Assistive Devices.
We wish to thank the residents of
Exeter for their support to this
campaign.
Linda Oliver
Lioness Chairperson
1
Want to clarify some points
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the
article in the January 16 edition
concerning the Huron Hockey
School not coming back to Huron
Park. There are a couple of points
I would 1i1ce to
Fust of all, Prank is the
arena manager.Whik Mr. Fannon
has a lot of dcisions to male on
his own about how to nm the are-
na, he also has an were bawd to
make some decisions. k was the
arena -b41sd who- put .the -price of
summer ice up to S77 per boor.
Like amoneyll arenas in the
area, we lose
Charlet we should
Nolo,and we
most
kids not nem overseasubsidizis
California or To-
ronto who do not pay tax in this
Secondly, the board also asked
Hoon Hockey School if they want
ed'10 meet with the board to discuss
rated of the arena, ao the statement
quote "his way or the highway" is
way out of line.
• Like all township boards we are
volunteers who do not get paid for
going to•meetings, but you can be
Sure that we are trying to do the
best possible job that we can.
Some decisions have to be made.
mad hopefully they will be for the
bette meet of the township.
On behalf of the Stephen
Township Arena Board
Denis Pfau, Chairman
Crediton, Ontario
•
A
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