Editor,
RE: "Youth Believe Drugs, Alcohol OK," The Chief, July 8:
A big part of the reason that kids think that drug and alcohol use is okay is because of the absurd and hypocritical messages we send them. The general message from adults to kids hasn't changed in the 36 years I have been alive: "Do as we say, not as we do."
In any given TV commercial break, we see commercials for alcohol, fast food, fast cars, and pharmaceuticals for everything from headaches and menstrual cramps to erectile dysfunction, mixed in with Weight Watchers and anti-smoking ads and "Don't Drink and Drive" messages. Do we think that kids don't notice how stupid and contradictory all of this is?
The worst part is how we lie to kids about cannabis. We tell them that using cannabis will inevitably lead to the use of heroin and cocaine, cause schizophrenia, impotence, brain damage, and cancer - despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence to support this. Once kids realize that they have been lied to about cannabis, they will naturally assume that adults are lying to them about everything else too, and who can blame them? Once bitten, twice shy, as they say. This puts kids into real danger when they come into contact with truly dangerous drugs like methamphetamine. "Adults lied about pot, I bet they are lying about meth toogimme a hit."
Our absurd prohibitionist polices, fear-mongering and propaganda have failed to educate kids properly to keep them away from drugs, and our legal policies make drugs easier for kids to access than either alcohol or tobacco. Therefore, it is obviously the fault of adults that kids use drugs. Adults have failed to keep kids away from drugs, and adults have failed even more miserably at keeping drugs away from kids.
Russell Barth
Educators For Sensible Drug Policy
Ottawa
Gieses travel on their own dime for Humanity Village
Editor,
Almost eight months have passed since a tsunami devastated the lives of millions of people along the coast of the Indian Ocean. In that time, the community of 撸奶社区under the 撸奶社区Humanity Village Project banner has accomplished a significant amount in helping rebuild the lives of the people in Wanduruppa, Sri Lanka.
Two SHV volunteers, Hazel and Jack Giese, are currently in Sri Lanka meeting with our partners, visiting the village and investigating how we will continue in this relief effort. Although they are representing 撸奶社区and SHV in Sri Lanka, they have travelled there of their own means and volition.
I write this simply to clarify something that was written in the Chief July 8 that indicated they were sent by the Society to Sri Lanka.
All donations to 撸奶社区Humanity Village Project go directly into relief work. None of the Society's funds pays for travel or administrative expenses.
The Society was formed on a strong foundation of passionate volunteers like Hazel and Jack who have dedicated time and money to help people in dire circumstances half way around the world.
Patricia Heintzman
President, 撸奶社区Humanity Village Society
'The Great 99' more than just a hockey player
The following open letter to B.C. Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon and B.C. Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts Olga Ilich was forwarded to The Chief for publication.
Dear Ministers Falcon and Ilich,
Back in January of this year, I presented a package of ideas to the Premier of BC. Among these ideas was one in relation to Hwy. 99.
In view of BC's hosting of the Winter Olympics in 2010, and in view of the numerous upgrades being made to the Sea to Sky Highway, the idea is simple: Add a new sport-alluding element to its current numerical designation by calling it "The Great 99".
The new designation of course alludes to the number once worn by Canada's foremost hockey icon, Wayne Gretzky.
The fact that Hwy 99 will effectively serve as 2010's "Olympic Main Street" connecting Vancouver and Whistler, the road obviously carries significant symbolic value. New York has Park Avenue, Paris les Champs-Elys茅es, and Beverley Hills Rodeo Drive. What name will rise above all the others in the world's memory when it comes to Vancouver?
Surely a road scenically worthy of the designation "Great".
This proposal of course does not require any deletion of the more traditional Sea-to-Sky reference. In fact if you think about it, calling the highway "Great" only serves to reinforce the promotional message that is already in such wide circulation.
Moreover, calling it "The Great 99" reinforces a number of other messages as well, among these our prowess as an ice hockey nation. And hockey being an Olympic program sport, of course makes it a natural fit.
Add to this the fact that the proposal to tweak the highway's name would stimulate a healthy public debate into the importance of acknowledging Canadian sports heroes in our culture. And paying tribute to one of our greatest winter sports heroes, a man who by the way played for Canada in the 1998 Winter Olympics, and who went on to manage Canada's gold medal team at the 2002 Winter Olympics, is an excellent place to begin.
Having attended the Olympics in Montreal and Lake Placid as a spectator, I can attest to the impact that iconic names like these leave in the minds of visitors from around the world during the Winter Olympic period.
I decided to share this concept so your project as well as members of the general public can begin to consider the possibility of incorporating it as an element into a larger communications plan which seeks to build an array of sport-supportive, sport-cognizant messages into the physical setting of the highway, which will in turn help to create the overall Olympic hosting image seen and felt by the world.
Paul H. LeMay
Vancouver
Bring back good old town
Editor,
"Selflessness"
My children, wife and I have had the good fortune of living in Britannia Beach for the past 19 years. Our community (撸奶社区included) has helped us bring up our two boys to be caring, loving and intelligent young men that have seen grass-roots politics coax a company town into what will be a beautiful, modern township.
They have learned of greed, power, selfishness, self will; of newcomers neglecting the past, of corporate takeovers, of insiders getting more than they deserve, of unabated pollution and of sheer neglect.
This old mine has cost residents and taxpayers dearly, but I believe Britannia Beach will survive and some of that good old small town feel will carry the day and make this place what it always was; against great odds, a selfless, caring community with a bright future. Who says you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! You just can't do it alone, or overnight.
Ron Fulber
Britannia Beach
