Opinion War in the Gulf: Pray for a quick end The tragedy of war has come into Peninsula homes via television, but viewers are not feeling the impact as hard as Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Lynn Hunter While speaking in the House of Commons against Canadian involvement in the Persian Gulf last week, Hunter received word that the Americans began shelling Baghdad. A note passed to the New Democrat member made her pause, then sob, as she understood the implications of what is now happening. Hunter knows what the reality of war feels like, after working for Oxfam Canada in Northern Ethiopia when government forces began bombing rebels there in 1986. She told the Commons that being part of a war is not like watching it on television, Canadian Press reported. “When you're in a bunker, with the ground shaking, with shells going off around you, it is real. It’s not a movie,” she said after composing herself. Watching television on a daily basis has calloused the Canadian public against violence. Even recent pictures of prisoners of war, speaking words that are not their own, are dismissed by some. Because of censors in the Iraq government, and propagan- da artists in the U.S. government, limited information is reaching the North American public. Television viewers are receiving a sterilized version of the war — void of pain, agony and anguish. Hunter is confused at how people can be dispassionate about war. “When you've actually seen il, you can’t be dispassionate.” - That’s understandable, considering her experience. But for the average Peninsula resident, getting only a partial picture of the actual events of war, being dispassionate is easy. When American news networks broadcast the realities of war in Vietnam, filmed by journalists who risked their lives in the field, citizens far and wide were moved to respond with peace rallies, protest marches and vocal demonstrations. It was a different war, fought under different terms against a much different enemy. But the result of that war in terms of human sacrifice will not be much different from the result of the war in the Middle East. Perhaps letting the North American viewing public see the realities of the Middle East conflict on television, with all its horror and inhumanity, would be preferable to what is happening now. Perhaps then, viewers can experience the same emotions Hunter felt last week, and stand for what they truly believe is wrong. Only then will governments around this world realize the horror of war should never be repeated. Letters to the editor must be signed and contain the writers address and telephone number. Letters should not exceed S00 -words in length and may be edited for clarity, legality or taste. TheReview Serving The Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9726 ist Street Sidney, B.C V8L 3C9 or RO. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C. V8L 3S5 Second Class Mail Registration #0128 Published every Wednesday 656-1151 Publisher: Vic Swan Editor: Glenn Werkman AN ISLAND PUBLISHERS NEWSPAPER PP -.59) PRIZEWINN Epc _OIAR COMME < ae a _ VERIFIED. CIRCULAT:ON B Areas 253% +) e 3S = WEwspapras COn CONTROLLED Volume 77 Issue No.4 TheReview Wednesday, January 23,1991 — A6- Boy best in boots Editor: Regarding the article “Dog droppings upset beach walkers,” (The Review, Jan. 16)-I say with just cause. This subject has been annoying me for the past 12 years that I have lived in Sidney, It wasn’t too bad as an adult to dodge dog droppings especially at the beach. I had my son and from the time he was a toddler to present day it’s best to have rubber boots on him, even in the summer at the beaches around Sidney. . : People that own dogs seem to ‘think that the public access beaches are a great place for their dogs to relieve themselves. There are a lot of communities who have passed laws to make people clean up after their ani- mals. Why not Sidney!? To me the people that don’t are_ just showing a lack of respect and responsibility to all of us who would like to enjoy our beaches. It would be nice if they would clean up their acts! M.A. Parr Sidney Anyone in favor of taxes for pension? Editor: Is there anyone out there want- ing to contribute more in taxes to enable the medical profession to collect a pension at retiring age? We already pay income taxes, sales taxes, manufacturer’s taxes, goods and services taxes and heaven alone knows how many more hidden taxes. We have a national debt, a deficit, and steady but crippling inflation. How much more must we take before we throw open our windows and yell “1’m mad as hell and I won’t take any more?” I don’t have any personal fight with doctors — although it does concem me that I am hearing more and more stories of misdiagnosis and incorrect and unmonitored medication. But that is a separate issue. Observation tells me that my own doctor puts in a full day and is often on call during the night hours. He and his colleagues are usually dedicated to their profes- sion, giving the best of their skills and time with cheerfulness and consideration. Observation also tells me that these same paragons of virtue are able to take very pleasant vaca- tions. They are better paid in this province than in any other and, whilst they have the expenses of office premises, staff and many other necessities of their profes- sion, it is right and desirable that they should have an income that enables them to rest and recoup in order to serve us better. My pointis that I and my spouse have budgeted all of our lives in order to pay into voluntary pension schemes. The medical profession as a whole enjoys a much higher income and standard of living than -was, or is, the case for most of us in Our own working lives and I see no reason why they should not be able to budget to provide for their own retirement years. I am certainly not prepared to support them in this and am pro- testing strongly to my Member of Parliament and to the Premier of British Columbia. Won’t you do the same and let us bring a little sanity to the eternal digging into our pockets to finance unneces- sary schemes. Dorothy Smith Sidney Time for Lochside residents to come Editor: Re: Lochside promenade. The Town of Sidney has taken the initiative to construct a pro- menade between the shore and Lochside drive. In about one year this walk will reach the Sidney/ North Saanich boundary. There is little doubt in my mind that the question will soon be asked, by those using the promenade, whether it is going to be continued or if the walk is to be terminated on the border. My motion in North Saanich council, to have staff investigate the feasibility of continuing the walk, included concern for the owners of the properties involved and the recommendation that they be contacted. I stated that the manner in which Sidney had constructed the walk was rather sterile by removing all shrubs and trees and the placing of a featureless stone wall. If the walk is to be continued, I want it to be done in a more pleasing manner. Another concern I had was the slow erosion of the shoreline through wave action, which could possibly be stopped by the type of large concrete-block construction used on the Sidney side. In my opinion, it is part of good government to anticipate such problems and concerns, to give those interested plenty of time to State their opinions, rather than wait for the last moment and have the local residents presented with a fait accompli. Ald. Edo Nyland North Saanich Ag land losses affect our future Editor: This organization is unalterably opposed to the Maber Flats golf course proposal. Millions of hectares of produc- tive land have been and are being lost on this planet. These land losses from desertification and urban sprawl have serious implica- tions for the future, especially with an increasing population which will demand more food produc- tion. A report from the Environmen- tal Council of Canada states “Over half of the highest quality (CLI class 1) agricultural land in Can- ada is within 80 k of the 23 major urban centres in the country. Urban and industrial growth, together with improved transporta- tion and the Canadian penchant for rural living have led to conver- sion of significant amounts of the best agricultural lands to other uses during the past three to four decades. The effects of such con- versions on the long term sustaina- bility of agricultural production in Canada are inadequately appreci- ated.” As transportation energy costs rise, they will be reflected into food production and the ultimate purchase price to the consumer. It is therefore imperative that arable lands close to urban centres be protected and utilized for now and the future. The implications of future glo- bal warming are such that many lands in more southerly areas may lose their productive capability. Thus, lands within the temperate Continued on Page A8