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Clinton News-Record, 1985-4-24, Page 31Nuclear war isa health hazard BY SUSAN HUNDERTMAR[a Along with the literature on heart disease, cancer and diabetes, pamphlets discussing a greater threat to mankind can be found in the office of Goderich doctor, Jim Hollingworth. Information on nuclear war and disarmament as well as a petition which collected close to 150 signatures in two weeks for Peace Caravan, point to the quiet conviction held by Dr. Hollingworth that the build-up of nuclear arms is today's greatest health hazard. "An increasing part of a doctor's work is advising patients about hazardous lifestyles and nothing comes nearer the threat to life than nuclear war," he says. •"My stand against nuclear war is in the same preventative mode as telling a workman to wear boots and a hard hat but it's at a planetary level for the whale of mankind." Dr. Hollingworth is a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, an international organization for doctors, which is committed to the preservation of health and life for all and therefore opposes the production, testing and deployment of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. He and several other Goderich-area doctors including Dr. C.W. Chan and Dr. David Walker are members and they often discuss the issue at meetings of the hospital staff of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. Although he says that taking part in peace marches increases the awareness of the problem, Dr. Hollingworth has chosen a quieter route to protest. Without pushing his opinion, he will speak to anyone who brings up the subject. He also .writes letters to newspapers and politicians and supports organizations such as Operation Dismantle and -Project Ploughshares. "Patients are more likely to say they agree with me than disagree but I have had quite a few comments that they're glad the pamphlets are available. Patients have also said they're glad I speak out saying, `Somebody needs to do it." While the idea of mutual assured • destruction (MAD) was bad enough, the more recent idea that a "limited" nuclear war could be won (called nuclear use theorists or NUTS) is even more dangerous, says Dr. Hollingworth. In nations directly attacked, tens to hundreds of millions of people would be killed instantly while those surviving the initial blast would face the prolonged agony and slow death of radiation, starvation and epidemics. Hospitals would be destroyed, doctors and nurses would be killed and those health professionals surviving would come no where close to providing adequate medical treatment. "How could I treat you? I may not even be here; I may be a victim myself," says the doctor. Radioactive contamination would spread to vast areas and pollute the biosphere threatening .all forms of life including the human species. "The idea of a limited nuclear war is ridiculous and physicians have to point out the loopholes in it," says Dr. Hollingworth. "We can only survive through the awareness of the fact that there's no such thing as the planet surviving even a limited nuclear war." Because doctors have a better appreciation of the horrors of nuclear war, Physicians for Social Responsibility may have a better chance at being heard by politicians, says Dr. David Walker. "It's a well-respected group which crosses international and political boundaries and heightens the awareness of nuclear build-up," he says. The fact that physicians from the U.S.S.R. belong to the organization adds credibility to it, he adds. Even if war is never declared, nuclear destruction could happen by accident, says Dr. Hollingworth. "Weapons are getting more and more sophisticated and the amount of time to declare a false alarm is diminishing. In the past two years, there have been 144 incidents of false sightings of missiles," he• says. "Star Wars is the great paradox.(U.S. President) Reagan is building more and more sophisticated weapons while talking peace. We have to be able to see that's invalid." The recent swing to the political right and the re-election of President Reagan in the U.S. represents fear, says Dr. Hollingworth. People are afraid to question the inbuilt respect for the top politicians who advocate the nuclear arms build-up. "We've failed to see at the deepest level that all people are human beings and we all inhabit this planet together." Economics also contributes to the escalation of the arms race. "Many people earn their living from building arms in the U.S. It keeps the economy rolling. But, if the money could be switched from weapons to the third world, hunger could be abolished in the next five years." Dr. Hollingworth applauds the courage of the countries New Zealand and Australia who recently made a stand against nuclear weapons in their ports. "Sometimes we get baffled by the rational, technical arguments about war plans but we don't need a PhD to figure out where it's going. All we need -is common sense. Why do they have to. be able to wipe out the world 30 times when they can already do it once?" he says. Though it's easy to feel powerless to stop the escalating arms race, Dr. Hollingworth says it's important to keep our hope and vision. Even discussing the issue over coffee with a friend can be effective. "My sense is that discussion and dialogue is bound to filter through to the politicians. Keep informing them about facts as you feel them; write a lot of letters." "When you've done something you believe in, you feel much better. It gives us back some personal power and we no longer consider ourselves to be totally invalid and powerless. I have the comfort of living my life knowing the falsehoods around the nuclear build-up." 1984 was an active and productive year for MVCA The Maitland Conservation Foundation (MCP) held its 1984 Annual Meeting on March 25, in Wroxeter. Established in 1975, the Maitland Conservation Foundation sup- ports the activities of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA). 1984 proved to be a very active and pro- ductive year . for the Foundation. Through the efforts of Charles Sauriol, Special Ad- visor to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Foundation received funds totalling $16,550 from Suncor, and the Richard Ivey Foundation for final payment en the Lake Wawanosh property first' acquired by the MVCA in 1978. The Foundation members also reported on sales of their publication "Windings, A History of the Lower Faitland River". Over 900 copies 'of "Windthgs" have been sold since November 84. David Gower sighted the popularity of the Authority's Naftel's Creek property. Gower recommended, "We must make people aware that these areas are free for us to use right now, but only .generous donations will allow this to continue. People, should be allowed to give what they can afford. rather than charging a set fee for these types of areas. All donations are helpful and ap- preciated, no matter what the amount. Nature appreciation should not be limited to those persons who can afford to pay a set fee" The largest, single, donation for 1984 was received from the Brussels Stockyards. The Stockyards has been very generous in monetarily supporting the MVCA's con- servation education program. The Brussels Stockyards provided funds to relocate a classroom portable, donated by the Huron Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board. Ideal Supply Company Ltd., in Listowel, provided heating materials for the MVCA's classroom facility at Wawanosh Valley. Foundation members noted the visible com- fort improvement heating has made to the classroom and also the resulting increase in bookings for the program. On the subject of Conservation Education, Jack Graul noted, "We must not ignore the elderly citizens in our watershed. Certainly children are our future, but seniors deserve equal educational opportunities. As a Foun- CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, Amu, 24, i985—Page 7A THE HO,RT OF DOWNTIMN,VAR$4 82-,!'03; dation, we must strive to make the MVCA's programs and properties .accessible to them". 1985 fund-raising endeavours will include: conservation education; Naftel's Creek, Wawanosh Lake and Saratoga Swamp pro- perty acquisitions and development and Gorrie Mill restoration. Dr. Thomas Sanderson, Foundation Chairman for two years stepped 'down from the position. Dr. Sanderson's progressive and goal -oriented attitude caused fellow members to accept his resignation with regret. This year's Board of Directors are David Gower, chairman, Ian Deslauriers, vice- chairman, Jack Graul, Bruce McCall and Vince Judge. The Maitland Conservation Foundation is a non-profit organization directing its ef- • forts towards raising money or donations of land from local individuals and businesses interested in furthering conservation work in the Maitland River Watershed. All dona- tions and bequests can be deducted as charitable gifts under income tax regula- tions. s OF DUBLIN , STOR FULL I EAUTIFUL F R;NITl RE , • On tltD Paull 'Street'.; 345-2250 t=ree :Dell cry JEWELLERY Genuine Sapphire with 12 Sparkling Diamonds. Terrific Value Compare Anywhere The Sapphire is almost a carat. Why not lay this ring away for Mother's Day NOW! 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