The Times Advocate, 2005-01-19, Page 4TIMES ADVOCATE
4
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
=CNA
Editorial Opinion
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Jim Beckett
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EDITORIAL
Get
tough on
polluters
TThe federal government is sending out
the wrong message on pollution. The
Canadian Press reported over the week-
end that the government is considering dra-
matically easing requirements for large indus-
trial polluters to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
How can the feds expect everyday Canadians
to get serious about cutting back on the energy
we use when large polluters such as gas and oil
producers, manufacturers and electricity sta-
tions are apparently now only going to be
forced to cut their emissions by a fraction of
what a 2002 deal stated?
The Kyoto agreement comes into force Feb.
16 and news the feds are letting Canada's big
polluters off the hook shows the country isn't
serious about meeting the accord's require-
ments.
Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation
said if the government goes ahead with its plan
to ease cuts required by large polluters, it will
be nearly impossible to meet Kyoto's emission
reduction requirements, which calls for a six
per cent cut in emissions from 1990 levels by
2010.
Instead of showing leniency to big polluters,
the government should come down harder on
them, forcing them to clean up their act.
The aforementioned big polluters are respon-
sible for about half Canada's emissions.
It's fine to encourage Canadians not to let
their cars idle and to use less energy in their
homes, but the nation's air will never get clean-
er unless the big polluters — the factories and
industries — are made to stop spewing filthy
fumes into the environment.
As the world's second biggest nation and a
major polluter, this country has a responsibility
to the rest of the world to get serious when it
comes to cleaning up this planet.
I don't care what they did in
Newfoundland... taking down our flag
won't force the liberals to scrap the GST,
or fix healthcare, or come clean on.
Adscam', or end child poverty, or
abolish the senate, or reduce taxes,
or stop cronyism, or...
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Life with the furball
About the Times -Advocate
For the last month or so,there has been an addi-
tional mouth to feed around the place which howls
constantly, demands to be fed around the clock and
uses just about whatever it feels like for its bathroom
breaks.
And no mom, there's nothing I haven't told
you. Unfortunately I'm now a cat guy.
To be honest, I've never liked cats and
they've never liked me. I'm a dog guy. All I
ever wanted was a big dumb hairy dog;
instead I got a two -pound ball of fur, claws
and teeth with an attitude to match. But the
feelings of mutual dislike go back a long way.
Unlike the dogs I grew up with on the farm
which could actually perform a service in
exchange for their daily rations, cats seemed
to have little purpose besides skulking
around thinking they owned the place.
The cats had little patience for the games a
six year old thought were fun such as tying a can to
their tails or being used as target practice for what-
ever was the weapon that day, preferably something
with cold water.
But when a four legged fleabag showed up at my
door in a snowstorm three days before Christmas,
with the girlfriend standing beside me, it had me
beat and we both knew it.
From the start it was a battle of wills and a clash of
personalities. The methods that get the attention of
dogs and kids to stop misbehaving, such as snapping
fingers and yelling at it have little effect on the cat
sauntering across the counter in search of the
lasagna left out.
The only response it brings is the amused smirk
saying "we both know you're too lazy to get off that
couch to stop me."
Even naming a cat is more difficult than
picking one out for a dog. Dog names such
as Patton, Ripper, Brutus, Snaggle-tooth
and Jaws don't fit a furball that spends
much of its time eating and licking itself
(Not such a bad life, when you think about
it).
On the plus side, food spilled in the usual
eating areas such asin front of the TV or in
bed that had to be swept up at least every
couple of weeks now is no longer a problem,
disappearing quicker than it ever did before.
But overall, it's a losing battle. While dogs
are content to wait until they get fed in the
morning, cats take a more proactive approach, with
a swat across the face around 6 a.m often the first
indication they're hungry.
Stumbling around barefoot first thing in the morn-
ing can be another adventure, with a paw snaking
out from underneath a chair to sink into an
unguarded toe, which for some reason, cats view as
an appetizer for breakfast.
But for now, it looks like we're stuck with each
other and the war of wits will continue. As I said, it's
a losing battle.
PAT B
BACK 40
VIEW
OLEN
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