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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- January 24, 2005
Dear Editor;
For those of us who're enjoying the Hell out a this mild 'spell' and who would like to send a prayer or thank you card to whom or whatever is catering, we need do no more than shake each others hands; or, if we've loads o' time on them, the six or seven billion others of us in or on this increasingly airless hot house in space, a huge percentage of whom operate machines that pump poisons into the atmosphere and eventually the respiratory systems of every oxygen-breathing organism, constantly: that is, non-stop, around the clock, day and night, unceasingly ever and always, around the world.
In addition to the inversion thing endemic to valleyed communities, stagnant air masses tend to become storehouses for everything the atmosphere can contain, and, of course, the stock accumulates as the mass remains stationary - as well as the usual wood smoke, particles, etc., we have those nasty little toxic devil gases that escape the five billion or so tailpipes of the equally nasty, albeit comfortable and convenient, machines.
Again, for those of us who stop breathing only when we choose to; or die, it's pretty much business as usual - for others not so fortunate, it's another story.
Despite the reported 100,000 deaths directly related to air pollution in China for 2005, circa one billion nouveau riche Chinese are awakening to the joys of car ownership.
If we think we're in trouble now, in the not too distant future, respiratory problems may be so universally such that many will view past global catastrophes with nostalgia.
Your breathing apparati may be developmentally strengthened as to shield itself from toxic invasion - but, consider that of the new born babe.
- Michael McNulty, Princeton
Dear Editor,
The turning point in the election polls was the dreadful Boxing Day Shooting of a 15 year old girl in Toronto. The next day the Conservative support increased by 6%. Understandably, those persons polled, made an emotional choice. And the reaction by party leaders was immediate. Get tough on crime, mandatory minimums. However, the Conservative Party was the only party that did not make any effort to address the real issues that underlie violence.
If the Conservative Party becomes the ruling party, I fear for the country. Surely the people of Canada are smarter than to be sucked into "get tough on crime" rhetoric. It's all feel good nonsense that makes a surface appearance of doing something.
The gun violence in Canada has little to do with being "soft on crime" and everything to do with the highly unsuccessful American style "war on drugs", a drug war that the conservatives would support and perpetuate. A conservative win would mean more gun violence, not less.
Let's not forget the horrible violence during alcohol prohibition and how it stopped overnight when alcohol was made legal and became a regulated substance. Even right wing Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan has stated emphatically in a recent interview on CBC Newsworld that the gun violence problem in his city will not be solved by more "get tough on crime" legislation. He says that if we want the world to see a better Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics, we need to legalize and regulate drugs, something the Conservatives have vowed they will not do.
Who do you think the criminals will be voting for? You can bet it won't be a party that wants to legalize and regulate drugs. Drug criminals want drugs to be illegal. They are guaranteed a market and they don't need to abide by any standards for quality. And furthermore, no violent criminal believes they will get caught. So, all of the "get tough" legislation in the world will not reduce the violence. It only makes sense that the drug criminals will be voting conservative. I will not be voting conservative because I know that there must be something wrong with my values if I am voting with violent criminals. Are there other reasons that I won't be voting Conservative? You bet there are!
If you are thinking of voting Conservative, please reconsider. Think about what is truly best for the country. Please don't condemn our sons, daughters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren to death on the battlefield in a U.S. initiated war. Don't re-stigmatize our gay citizens who want to marry.
Don't condemn our young women, who choose abortion, to dangerous back alley surgery. Don't endanger our environment further by voting for a government that thinks nothing of breaking an international agreement by pulling out of the Kyoto accord.
And don't let the poor suffer while waiting for surgery, while our country's surgeons are busy operating on rich people who don't have to wait in line. Our children are depending on you to make the right decision.
Yours truly,
Katherine Couch, Nelson, B.C.
Dear Editor,
The upshot of recent events involving the Conservative candidate in the Southern Interior riding has had two crucial repercussions for the Green Party Candidacy.
I believe that many voters, like myself, have agonized about not wanting to split the vote between parties truly concerned with social justice. First, since many former Conservative supporters have expressed the intention to vote Green because it is fiscally conservative (and probably for strategic reasons as well), the probability of the party I truly want to support actually winning the riding, has become a reality. Furthermore If my candidate doesn't win it will likely be the NDP anyway, so this quells the fear of voting my Green conscience.
- Andre River MD, Nelson B.C.
To The Editor;
Why is there no deer signs up at the dump?
A concerned Citizen,
- Earl Husband,
Princeton
