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7SOOV in, i-me 5S®w-- f. 16 The Canadian S talesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, July 27,1994 Sadness and Anger Over Theft of Memorial Plaque T-Shirts Promote Clarington Day at the Ex on August 31st To the Editor: In response to Diane Hamre's remarks remarks recorded in The Canadian Statesman of July 20, and to Laura Richards's column in the same issue: I would like to add my voice to theirs and place on record my response response to the desecration of the memorial, memorial, dedicated less than a year ago, to the fourteen women who were killed on December 6, 1989, and to all other female victims of violence. As I stood beside the large rock to which the memorial plaque had been attached, I noted the remnants of the mortar, and the two remaining heavy bronze screws that those of us who were instrumental in installing the memorial had hoped would be sufficient sufficient to withstand any attempt to remove remove it. The feelings I experienced, as I looked at what resembles a scar on the face of the rock, arc somewhat difficult to express. First, there was profound sadness that the community which had produced produced a man, whose feelings of compassion compassion and anger at such a senseless killing had matched our own, and prompted him to offer to donate the bronze plaque to FOCUS, had also produced those whose silent act of violence violence contains within it the seeds of future acts of violence against women. women. Sadness was followed by a sense of de ja vu. I believe that each one of us who had been present on the day of dedication, much as we had hoped otherwise, anticipated this. Only then did anger start to stir, anger that arose from the almost certain certain knowledge that even this act would not provoke the kind of outrage outrage that a similar act of desecration, carried out against the war memorials that exist in every community throughout the western world, would provoke. The war that is waged against women goes largely unrecorded and largely unmounted. It is ongoing. There is no armistice. It is insidious for the enemy is not always easily identifiable and often strikes when least expected. Our plaque was one of a very few across this country that records and publicly mourns that violence. violence. The act of one man who had in his possession a weapon capable of terminating, in one brief moment, the lives of a group of gifted young women who dared to dream of walking walking where, traditionally, only men had walked before, stands as a stark reminder of the violence that threatens threatens women on a daily basis. His was an act of hate and anger carried out against an identified target. It is not always so. It could have happened, could still happen, to any one of our daughters, sisters, mothers, friends, to ourselves. A small group of women wished that the deaths of the women killed in Montreal five short years ago, along with those of other female victims of male violence, especially those who have died in our own community, will be remembered. Obviously, some in our community resented our efforts. The screws left attached to the rock carry a sinister message. Lest we forget. We shall remember remember them. With acts like this one, can we afford to forget? Philippa Schmiegelow Newcastle, Ontario. Clarington Mayor Diane Ham re and her councillors David Scott, Ann Dreslinski, John O'Toole, Mary Novak, Larry Hannah and Carson Elliot were looking great in their new t-shirts. The shirts proclaim: proclaim: Clarington Day at the CNE -- August 31,1994. Those who really don't know just where Clarington Clarington is need only read the front of the shirts. The message on the shirt-fronts says: 'Where is the CNE? 45 minutes west of Clarington! ' Of M.P. Pensions Dear Editor: The Commission to Review Allowances Allowances of Members of Parliament ■has achieved the impossible. It has managed to make Canadians even more cynical about the political process. process. Made up of former politicians or by those sympathetic to politicians, this commission was established by active politicians back in January to make recommendations on how to reform reform the pay,- perks and pensions of MPs. That's a lot like asking former tobacco tobacco lobbyists to recommend reforms reforms to our smoking laws! It should not surprise anyone that the Commissions's recently released report was very kind to MPs. In fact, it even recommended that they get a big fat pay raise. The federal government, government, to its credit, quickly rejected this. When the report came to MP pensions, pensions, however, it was a complete sham. MPs qualify for a gold-plated, lifetime, inflation proof pension after only six years in office regardless of age. The Commission recommended an age requirement of 55 but that's it. The Commission failed to recommend recommend lowering the super-high benefits, benefits, it failed to recommend slowing the super-quick accumulation rate and it failed to recommend scrapping the unlimited inflation protection features features of the plan. In short, the MP pension would continue to remain a lavish MP perk and a costly burden for taxpayers. Canadians expect and deserve better. better. Prime Minister Chretien should quickly introduce real MP pension reform, reform, which would help to restore Canadians' respect for their elected representatives. Yours truly, David Somerville, President The National Citizens Coalition Agri-Food Course Enters Classroom Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. (OAFE) is pleased to announce, "Ontario "Ontario Agri-Food Advocate", an exciting exciting new training program for volunteers. volunteers. Designed to enhance Agriculture in the Classroom activities, activities, the program will provide training, training, resources, and ideas for practical hands-on activities for giving classroom classroom presentations. "Volunteers, selected from across Ontario, will participate in a 30-hour training program in exchange for a commitment to 50 hours of volunteer work, including community-based training for other volunteers", said Carolyn Fucrth, Chair of Ontario Agri-Food Education. "The Ontario Agri-Food Advocate program provides provides volunteers with an understanding understanding of Ontario's education system, user-friendly resource materials and builds confidence in making classroom classroom presentations." The weekend training conferences will take place this coming November November in Kingston and London, Ontario. Participants will get great value for their $50 registration fee. In addition to the fee covering training, accommodation, accommodation, meals and resources, those attending will receive an annual OAFE membership valued at $50.00. The deadline for applications is September September 9, 1994. To learn more about becoming an Ontario Agri-Food Advocate contact the Rural Community Advisor in your local office of the Ontario Ministry Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or by contacting Ontario Agri-Food Education at (905) 878- 1510. Citizens' Coalition Pushes for Reform y. £. tZoceui&Utt 9 tyea OtcU*K&&ile (Zaditùzc 0& td "--X m ' V __x Mon. - Thurs Friday Saturday 00 00 SALESHOURS 00 00 00 00