_ Keeping a - water — on tap | oat Camp Julien — ch By. CHANTAL MEUER «THERE ‘ARE no. trees. or: a Water. like -he’s used: to.’ - in? BsCo and: Ontario. -& There” are: ‘dust storms: * “and: spiders ~ ‘that. “eat j ~ scorpions, But. for Mike. ~ Hewitt; a. ‘Canadian. civil- an.working:in Kabul, Afghanistan, | it's:all-part ofthe: experience. , oan ‘Hewitt, 29; is. water . ‘Technician/botling ‘plant “supervisor at Camp Julien, - ‘~ the-base. for. some. 1,700 Cai adian ~ ‘ peacekeepers ik rid 350 civilians. ; “The? mountains here : emind me of the ones’ in MIKE HEWITT, born and raised in. Terrace, is a water‘technician at Camp Julien. * ‘the .. "stare “Who! was. born - in’ ‘Terrace, o-. Mississauga, ‘ 98 after eraduar. ent, "know: the cap. = the’. “camp” 1. trailer.” "dad, "Nepal. ‘South Africa: Their ne things interesting. ° e was. then ‘escorted to: : ban. regime.. ‘The following is an edited excerpt from her’ latest letter home., capturing: all the crazy. English spelling I see. - “in the the e sément:above -the shop! What the. heck: e; séllering?”. Celery? Cellars? ontinues to amuse me; and why not? There precious. little else that does here! | 2 We have all been’ suffering. through’ the.con- ai comer, Were.-a huge: disappointment,: We only i the ‘gardeners to take home: and ‘eat: : The soil needs.lots of work to get it. ‘strong, - big: composts, nurturing it to ready stage... ‘ers are part-time: at-the park’ad part-time "side. We and: they. are, SO protd ‘of: their Work. : outside “-- readying ourselves forthe sudden. and siill-ex- a and _me‘in‘four. Weeks. - : to a northern. valley called the’ Hazarajat. - “Meanwhile, Iam; counting the’ days til] go * beaming’ nc now: when’ they come: 10: cut, out cloth, the camp in a light arm-- J...) oured vehicle: called. a° ar ~ Bison. There he was issued’ | » personal: protective. equips’ * |. °:- -ment: ~ flak’ jacket, -vest,. | , helmet; ID card:— and: told -, to take. the: next. two days: } © off to‘adjust to. the 5,900 ft: elevation and ™ to “Bet to Camp » Julien:. sits “on” ° ‘what was once: a garden a’. between: thie King’s’ dnd “the ‘Queen’ s Palaces... +2 °° ~- Hewilt’s: first: ‘project at} a’ the camp. “was-to- put up'an | + Instant Sprung: Shelter-over ||" : the ‘water. treatment: plant, . job that required. ‘Afghani, 7 labourers: ‘and heavy.equip- :- he. ‘ment. Another part of his” -job- ‘required : building an: -enclosure . to house © the: ope a comipréssors. "for the. camp! Cae ae ‘water-bottling, plant”). : 4. a “Accommodations | are in’ -eight-person © “tents,” ve Hewitt, said,” speaking. of. in facilties," . “"There’ sa pretty . good - “: gym,,.a-ball.- -hockey.’ tink =f “anda head-to- head gaming, “varied back, : ‘grounds: and” rigins make-- : +. Heccites, as’ dn’ exam." 2 ple, the. knowledge. he’s ‘gained - from’ the: Nepalese” employees. under. his. train -or ‘sit. and stitch. It’s. really won- "ER | BELLAMY is ~ helping. disadvantaged . ifehan women learn: employment skills :by -re- building a garden. oasis for women-and orphans. 1 Kabul destroyed by neglect during the Tali- ~ some skills: that will help | them a ° hand ‘to: mouth: and- come in. ; rags, but. love. and: such ‘simple: - NE OF THESE days T. ‘It have. to" 1° grab ny. nd..a- taxi ‘and = ‘just. ‘gO around: town. such. beauties!’ One lady named *f ~~ Pekai, which: i is‘close to gulpee.-f Again: this. niorning T saw_one.as. we. ‘drove: «which means: cauliflower'(1 call ” past .“Wahid's SelleringBazaar,” If 1 hadn't... een, ‘the lovely. embroidered dresses flapping: a she- was the’ woman ‘who- last. -breeze ‘outside that shop, T'd be no’ furs: ~ informed as.to' what was for sale by. the: ‘ing: terrible mental ~ problems, ‘ 2. Now’she is just looking. so‘well, Atlyways; the lavish and- wild use: of. English ae oe thin and almost :toothless. and 2" ean’ tbe more: ‘than 35; and has ~ lotsof kids. She -is- quiet and” inuéd heat. wave, Our.women’ s park is rather’: parched ' ‘and’ salty. New. roses. we received. from. : ‘Holland:.Jast ‘month are. barely hanging~on, ~ some: ‘have died off with the, shock of: heat. and. “the: best : slitcher’ anid ‘as: we- _ praisé-her great handiwork and . : how fast’ she is ‘working, - rops.- we ‘planted -in: “our “fenced: off ~ in and: without! looking: us ‘in.the “eyes: ‘tells. us that she is having $0 mich: - fun, ‘she gets’ up .at- dawn: ‘and sils. and sews-while «the: ‘kids are still sleeping. I'sus- “pect she hasn't had*mueh fun in : the:drudgery- and ‘suffering | of her HEATHER BELLAMY will soon be preparing to return. ; home to Terrace. She's. been. 1 helping Afghan. women. .~ “» What/a- privilege’ 10 all learn jp skills... - ; these: -wornett friends. ‘Well next week ’ ‘we have ‘an. evening . ‘corn 2 roast! with. the. orphanage boys. who.were,in our : Darla, ‘and. U ‘keep: ‘at: “the ‘plans® for the: big: pi " Widows/Orphans parden- training © “centre,” ‘managed to’ sell“some zucchini and ‘the: ‘smiall- ‘cabbages ‘and. tunty: corn we: just’ ‘divided | ae ‘atid 0: the Women- doggedly: ‘keep at our. two. a We have-“'graduated” four of our 12: wotnen “0 full-time outside. employment; Several oth: --- pected delivery of the land we are asking:for.: » . Darla leaves: for home break in: three weeks,” Before, T:leave 1: will: take a a ‘three-day visit mn } i “ be*aware .of secilitity issies = and -t y- are having go much fui, their faces just. - s from ra “Dye : Tearned “taught. me-cinteresting r-consonaiits! language i is ‘phonetic: » Ona recent. ‘road ‘trip. in a Bison: ~ ‘Hewitt noted, snadian’. , camp,’ - : “Warehouse, ‘which. is.part, about’. their: caste: system:- It's-in- fluenced. from: both. India”... ‘and: China.” They’ ve -also-. “the. things “about their" alpha- ne: bets; They: have. ‘two. of. hiem,. one tor. vowels:and =" fi ; ‘Tearned “that” there-are"36° | “consonant sounds and each, ~ has 10-vowel sounds, The :* "nal. Brigade, ‘There .were- pedestrians. ‘and - cyclists. Tight, alongside” the: road. There ‘aré-no- undet/over . ‘passes’ “wait for’a’ break-in. traffic’ °°: “to. run: -AgTOSS. Atvone point there as’ a Buy. with. his ~ “town out. buildings” with -half? the’ ‘building collapsed. and » people: using the other: half, ‘-T- was. ‘We: werit:to: anotherGa=:" Camp: ience,. number of trees, though.” ~ When -asked what ‘he’ so a “learned from: this “exper-.” of, the. ‘Kabul Multi-Natio- 7 89° people -have to ._ of the. world. " ience will bring. : “iT camé: ‘here’ for the here. vane: ‘bombed surprised ‘by the” : types. of “Opportunities.” Hewitt, admitted, nar tases. are just beaming now. Aid: worker ‘and Terrace resident HEATH.-. . derful to seé that’ they can ‘learn : éarn a little. “Most. ‘of .them live. “barely -attention:-has. turned. them.-into. : her that just to make her laugh)’ year. was - ‘SO- sick her. hair and mails: fell’ out, and she. was, hay-- ‘Atidther. woman, - Razia, is séems to have very low self es-'. teem: but: ‘has. ‘turned cout: to be: She! Seems: ‘to..be drinking it lifes ble. snyways, it’s’ good: program this: springs We ‘Will bring the’ ‘barbe- ». cue and charcoal, and. roast: the: sweet ‘corn-in- ~, the-“husks- and’ ‘show. them how ‘we’ eat ‘them,, : -slatheréd j in butter and Tots of: salt. and pepper. = T Il: bring the Frisbees’-, should be funy >... ~¢ Had a-“wardens” meeting last evening: with “the Canadian Consular discussing’ what to-do if e things heat up here. Not much. they’ could do. as. oes - We.are So many” here. Tight now, Over: 300 in a heme, Ihave a neighbourhood ladies group of« “Kabul alos ce “ ing “ii ‘And a quick evacuation vouldn' t "be: possi- stay. inthe Idop'and: -meéting is. often “a meal! too which is. paid’ for’ by. the’: a Canadian. embassy 80° 5 am happy to'sé my tax dollars. at. work, ‘ha hal. There: has-been’ an increase. in rocket: a al- fae tacks: on the city,: mostly aimed’ at the. military ae ~bases,-and. most: people: foresee an ‘increase ins. such efforts: to «destabilize the: country: and: block. the electlons coming up Oct. 9. With’ different. leaders: ‘realigning. them: ‘nervous about’ some attempt at’a takeover, so some days.we see a lot‘of the army, and police patrolling: the streets keeping an ‘eye ‘out for. - Heather "Dear Sirs. * “There. isa trade: off be-" tween’ “stability, ? ‘comfort’ * ‘and privacy for ‘the oppor- tunity: ‘to: see different Parts “ ‘selves: the’ government and ISAF. (International: :: ecurity . Assistance. Force)’ military.“ gets: ‘ The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 11, 2004 - AS CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD ~The Mail Bag “Shroom Prices drop: Aa open letter to: | ppruceF Fraser ‘and. the Forest Practices Review: ba : Board. eo . Dear Sir: oA a : : - T'm a:19-ycar picker who read your: fecent words on. ‘fe inushraom’ picking in’ The Terrace Standard: Quoting “: your ‘words, “pickers inthe Kelowna‘area. have’ this ‘season been’ harvesting. as much’ as: $140,000-'a' day: . worth of more! on: land consumed by forest fires.” . What-aré you ‘on’: Kelowna pickers. were starving, . and unable to-go. home. The’ ‘Kamloops paper’s front ° page in the’ third week: of May showed: pictures of long: time: ‘pickers. starving: with their ice: cream pails almost. empty.: ‘Forest-: wardens’ ‘were ‘chasing. them, Sround, handing out fines for picking park: lands. 7 {-- > Barriere bound ‘pickers, however, were picking 60- _ 80 pounds per day at $3-$4/per ‘pound: I know, I was there;-and belween-my. partner.and myself, we. picked ... - 120-150 pounds per: 10-12 ‘hour ‘days, and have -- pictures to prove it, The brokers. who normally’ ay. $8. °° “10 dollars per pound ‘made all the: ‘Money, < ; ‘As for-pine mushrooms, ‘which T've sold for’ as high pound, the’ price has been: increasingly sliding over the last eight. years. Last year, we' saw. $3-5. dollars per pound when the season popped:: Ts‘that:i dn your report, a “Bruce? The brokers kept all: ihe money. . ‘Golden’ chanterelles don’t grow plentiful endugh in Terrace to. bother, picking them. “all day,” blue chanterellés ‘are’ few. ‘and” far’ :between and ‘while. “chanterelles: don’ t grow here." King. boletes: crops are “generally wormy. and can't’ be. picked most seasons. Chicken: of. the: woods. is a tasty ‘treat, but: forget. ‘|. paying off that credit card; 2 : _. - Lobster mushrooms started’ at, $14 per. pound last season: This’ ‘year..they. started at $5 per. pound.and are ~ = sliding fast'in price. When you add. your Nass ‘Valley - - picking - pass ‘and ‘a’: ‘two-hour: ‘drive, it ain't _ Worth. ~léavitig:the house, 2" ‘...* So: to-you and ‘your board, ‘tax’ it up “and: watch the:. a ‘capable of: Christmas ‘gifts. for their ‘children, and . for - Most of.us we'll have ta come.up with.a'new way to. pay: off that, crédit” card. Not everyone is paid big . ‘money to-sit-om their fanny: and. talk about messing up B, C.’ "s last honest open. resource. : ms Ed Dollemore, Terrace, B, iC, : Reoyoling can be done. “TP agrée: ‘with’ lelter. writer Brad: Robisoii that ‘it is : : disgusting that-in the: year 2004 Terrace-and area "still. ; -:does not havea comprehensive recycling. program, “Nearby communities such ‘as: Kitimat, Port Edward. With talk of needing: a new landfill it is a ‘shame to. of the existing Jandfilt had_steps been taken, to reduce the amount of: material. being” dumped, I. hope, the Regional: ‘Disthic oF Kitimat: Stikine fand”th City ‘of. | ; |. Terrace will look’ ‘at: programs to Feduce: costs down — ‘ travel,: the. experience ‘and’: “the opportunities. ‘My.con= -: tract’s’ only for one year, -: “but E. believe ‘it -will-open. “| up’ better» possibilities a ‘down:the toad.T-intend to" continue” pursning « these. - a the road andi increase the health of our. ‘environment. ] Rave’ worked : for the ‘Northern. Environmental: _ ‘Action: Team (NEAT), in Fort St. John: NEAT operates ‘| the: waste: management. ‘program funded--by ‘the Peace - River Regional: Disirict;; They. provide. education on. ‘recycling’ and. composting through ‘a. “quarterly ‘|; community .newsletter, website,’ school: programs, . business audits, : community. displays; ‘and a telephone: hotline. The Peace River. ‘Regional. District ‘also. provided recycling. drop-off bins :in all communities. . There were. ‘also’ private | ‘and non-profit. recycling - depots in, veach community... “It: i8 -amazing’ the . difference-in’ priorities between regional: districts: - |. Anyone interested. in’ promoting: Tecycling area: can 7 contact, me. at cdprice@uniserve. com: - : “ Deidre Price,’ Thornhill, B.C. - | - Nothing to be gained _ Dear: Sirs -” -We.were dismayed. to ‘hear the: Skeena’ Mall lias allowed an: exhibition’ of caplive- Siberian. tigers, onits - premises: Tigers, whether ‘captive-bred or wild: -caught, *, retain . their~ wild instincts and -behaviours.. They require : the.’ ‘space’ and - environment ‘necessary ‘to |. express those’ behaviours. ‘Putting’ tigers in cages’ in. | --shopping: malls for human amusement is: a verucl: |. denial of these’ animals’ ‘needs. 5 Thesé kinds of exhibits’ have. bean ‘virtually. dtiven = : out of the. Lower, Mainland, because, of public trices “education “they, are ‘merely cusing: animals | as- - entertainment, No ‘tigers will..be. saved’ by. shoppers ~ |) gawking’ at them. in’ malls. and: ‘no children: will. learn’ ‘about real tigers in the wild whien. they ‘observe. these pathetic: captives. Nothing: is ‘tobe gained, except money for the showmen who “rent” thesé animals out, It.is. also worth: “hoting that holding these animals in — - the: Skeena Mall isa. breach: -of ‘Terrace's animal | : ~ control: bylaw:: which: prohibits’ the ‘Keeping of animals {other ‘than . domesticated: animals)" in. the: city, © . When. alerted to this breach, oily. bylaw. staff. agreed “this. was:so, but said. exceptions - were made for non- ‘Permanent exhibits; What a ‘shame... _ - Peter Bricker; Vancouver Humane Soctety, oe dpe Vancouver, B.C. About the Mail Bag : “Our ‘addrass is 3210: Clinton. St, Terrace, B: C: N8G 5R2.. You. can fax, bs at'250-638-8492 or: eo mail us ‘at newsroom @tertacéstandard.com.. No : {tachments, ‘please. We: need: ‘your. hame,. - addtess: and phone: number for-verlfication:-Our. “deadline Is‘noon Friday: of-noon: “Thursday. it Ite. aA. long weekend, oo nn as: $450. per. pound, -but. used to’ ‘average $30-$40/per _ cal: food - bank -go. wild. Some: ‘families won't. be © © “and: Prince Rupert. recycle. Surely. there ‘must be some. ar . q way. to: combine-forces to ‘increase’ recycling. As. for. his- plans. after: ~ Camp. Julien, Hewitt said. | he's locking’ forward’ ta | jew: ‘challenges this. ‘exper othink. how: many - ‘More:years we could: have golten: out ~ eardboard,«-milk- ‘jugs ‘and: all Encorp. return-it. items.) -- ' to:seé ‘there ‘isa business-thar has: taken some ~ _