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PAGE A6 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ May 24,2006 Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-In-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Janice O'Neil, Cheryl Haines Composing Managers Todd Blayone Interactive Media Manager Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Eijc Canadian Statesman Opinion | MAY 24, 2006 durhamregion.com Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., Oshawa ON L1 H 7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 infodurhamregion.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to ncwsroom@diirhamrcgion.com European trip far from a waste Some will say the décision to send eight representatives on a garbage junk-et to Europe is well... more than enough. . While taxpayers can quibble about the number of regional councillors (three) on this one- week trip, the need to send along Regional Chairman Roger Anderson, Chief Administrative Administrative Officer Garry Cubitt, Works Commissioner Cliff Curtis, waste management staffer Mirk- ka Januskiewicz and incineration consultant Dave Merriman can hardly be disputed. The purpose of the trip, which, began last Wednesday and concludes concludes today, is vitally important to this Region's future. For years we have spun in circles circles and put our collective heads in the sand when it comes to dealing with our garbage. When we ran out of landfill space in Durham, our sad, quick- fix solution was to truck the trash hundreds of kilometres across an international border to Michigan. Michigan. And if we hadn't sent it to Michigan, we would have sent it by rail to. the Adams-Mine pit in Northern Ontario. That hardly counts as progressive, progressive, long-term thinking. What's, worse is that the Michigan Michigan State legislature is champing at the bit to slam the border shut to our refuse. Only the U.S. Congress and the President stand between us and no answer for our garbage problem. For. many years, Europeans, probably because they have far less landfill space than we do, have been finding alternative alternative solutions for waste disposal. Their reuse, reduce and recycle programs put us to shame. They don't have much waste going to landfill but what they do have is disposed of in innovative ways. Turning waste into energy through high-tech incineration is certainly the way to go. And that brings us to the purpose purpose of this trip. It's hoped regional councillors councillors Marcel Brunelle of Whitby, Nester Pidwerbecki of Oshawa and Rick Johnson of Pickering, all of whom sit on the regional regional works committee, will learn plenty in the whirlwind tour of facilities in Denmark, Holland and Sweden. The knowledge these staff members and councillors bring back will be critical for the future of waste management in Durham Region. There simply has to be a better way to get rid of our trash than to dump it somewhere. We're running out of time and we need the kind of answers we'll hopefully glean from this journey. BACKWARD GLANCE Elephants take a walk, 1991 Statesman file photo Michael Hackenberger and Ted Strickwerda walk with Bow- manville Zoo elephants, Sheba and Angus, during a local stroll in 1991. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lower flag only on November 11 c-mail letters to newsroom @durhamregion.com ■ Da Vinci Code Three cheers for doesn't deserve John H. Foote's an audience comments To the editor: - Re: Flag shouldfly at full mast throughout the war, Dr. Keith Billett letter, May 10; Mom lias right to say what she thinks about war, Laura Feeney-letter, May 12. I do not believe we should place our national flag on a yoyo yoyo system of ups and downs. The flag conveys vigour, decency and : hope when it sits boldly atop its mast. It should be lowered to half staff only on Remembrance Day to help us remember and respect those fallen heroes. In support of my views, I write as a veteran of the Second World War who served seven years in the military, six of them overseas. I lost two friends who drowned ■ in the Mediterranean in 1941. Their bodies were never recovered. recovered. I lost two more in the deserts.of deserts.of Africa and I lost another from the bombing of a hospital ship in 1942 by enemy aircraft. I was a survivor of that incident, although already wounded. I lost my dear father, who served in the First World War, but was killed due to an enemy air raid in 1943.1 was not allowed leave from my military service in Italy, because war was still being waged and every person was needed. No flags were lowered for those heroes. On Nov. 11 each year, our flag, when lowered, symbolizes respect for those dearly loved ones who gave everything for us all. We are all tearful that day and we remember all heroes. Sometimes, at half-mast,T think the flag itself has lowered its eyes and cries. The next day, we raise the flag to give hope, once more, to encourage us to do all we can to preserve world peace, Les Trotman Newcastle , To the editor: Re: Relax: The Da Vinci Code is just a movie, John H. Foote column, May 14. I agree with John H. Foote that The Da Vinci Code should not, change the mind of any Christian whose faith is grounded in the word of God, but should people patronize this movie at the ticket office? Absolutely not. Because anyone who truly has à ' personal sâving relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, not just religion, should not view anything that brings shame and reproach to the matchless name of Jesus Christ -- and I believe this movie, The Da Vinci Code, does just that. It is trash and devout Christians who love Christ and his word should apply the wise rule: "Garbage "Garbage in - garbage out." The Passion of the Christ, unlike: The Da Vinci Code, was brilliant because it was faithful to the scriptures - which is why it was not popular with Hollywood. Hollywood. Further, Dan Brown, in his book The Da Vinci Code, does not state it is just a work of fiction. fiction. On the contrary, he claims many of the incidents and details researched in this book are accurate accurate and based on facts he has used. Finally, apart from denouncing The Da Vinci Code for what it is - modem day heresy under the guise of fiction -- I do not see any such fury among Christians, as Mr. Foote reports, over this movie. They are going about their business as,usual secure in their faith. ' Rayburne Winsor Oshawa To the editor: Re: Relax: The Da Vinci code is just a movie, John H. Foote column, May 14. . Three cheers for John H. Foote's sensible comments regarding the Da Vinci Code. He is absolutely right! The movie is just a movie and the novel is just fiction. . , As a Christian with a deep faith I do not have any doubts about my religious convictions and the Da Vinci Code is not about to change that. In fact, as an Anglican, L was disappointed when Rowan Williams, Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury, decried both the book and the upcoming movie. ' Mr. Foote's final question says it all - "If a film, based on a work of fiction, can change the mind of a devout Christian, how strong was the person's faith in the first place?" Amen to that! . Irene Taylor Oshawa LETTERS We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission submission in 30 days. We decline •announcements, poetry, open ■ letters, consumer complaints, congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the right to edit copy for length, style and clarity The newspaper newspaper contacts only those people people whose submissions have been chosen for publication. FAX: 905-579-1809; E-MAIL:. Newsroom ©durhamregion. com. The elephants had no place in court Local zoo owner goes through a trunk-full of trouble to prove his animals are educational Elephants may have good memories, but apparently, they don't necessarily transfer that quality to all of those they come into contact with. Exhibit A: Toronto bylaw inspector Peter Freeman, who, on the stand at Old City Mall courthouse courthouse last week, couldn't even recall seeing a second elephant, which was indeed present (he day Mr, Freeman laid charges against Bowmanvillc Zoo and one of its owners, Michael Ilack- Jennifer Stone enberger. . Elephants, you sec, aren't really really just allowed to be in Toronto without good reason. They must be there with a Canadian Association Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facility (they were - - Bowmanvillc Zoo has such accreditation), and be part of an educational program, which several expert witnesses for the defence argued they were. Caesar Caesar and Limba, two of the zoo's elephants, were at a charily event, where Mr. Hackenberger and his wife, veterinarian Wendy Kor- ver, along with a few other zoo staffers, were talking to people and handing out informational brochures about elephants. Had Mr. Freeman been around post-lunch break on the day of the trial, he would have needed needed incredibly thick skin -- not unlike that of an elephant -- to. withstand the castigation he and his investigation into the Oct. 29 event took, by both the Justice of the Peace and defence lawyer Clayton Ruby. The inspector was likened to nilwit-ish television characters of yore - the bumbling Inspector Clouscau and Hogan's Heroes • buffoon Sergeant Schultz -- by Mr. Ruby. Justice of the Peace Kevin Madigan commented on (lie "inadequacy, insufficiency and negligence" of the investiga tion, in which Mr. Freeman failed to take notes even on those items on which the case hinged, such as a very large, very brightly coloured sign on which a variety variety of educational material about elephants was printed, He should, said the clearly frustrated Justice of the Peace as the prosecution conceded defeat, have "taken the time to jot down what the sigh sliid, because quite frankly, the ease could have been dealt with on the basis of what the sign said, probably," Wryly, Justice Madigan said, "I mean, he's not a member of the homicide squad ... (but) he utterly failed on this occasion." Really, it got so some in the courtroom started to feel sorry for the poor guy, who took a jumbo-sized verbal beating, lie shouldn't have been alone in taking taking the blame -- evidently, he conferred with a superior (whose last name, strangely enough, he also' couldn't recall), who advised him to go ahead with the charges. If that superior, Mary Lou What's-her-name, was in- court, she most certainly didn't leap to the defence of poor hapless hapless Mr. Freeman. The case, it could be argued, was a bit of a white elephant for the City of Toronto, whose , own lawyer seemed a little put out late in the day, moving for acquittal of Mr. Hackenberger and the Zoo in a voice so quiet the Justice didn't'catch it at first, But, it was a memorable victory victory for the two jumbo-sized creatures whose "charm," said their owner, won the day. Reporter Jennifer Stone s column appears every other Wednesday. E-mail jstone@durhamregion, com. CLICK AND SAY Today's question: Are you in favour of changes being made to the greenbelt in Durham Region? Yes No Cast your vote online at infodurhamregion.com Last week's question: Are you in favour of more nuclear reactors in Durham Region? No 23.6% Yes 76.4% Votes cast: 1,200 HAVE YOUR SAY Do you think it was fair that Bowmanviile Zoo owner Michael Hackenberger was charged for bringing his elephants elephants to Toronto? Fitzroy Samuels "No, I don't think so." Roger Brady "I think it's ridiculous. I'm sure they have better things to do." Brandon James "No I don't. It was a ridiculous charge. The judge said it, was a waste of time." Lynda Bergeron "Np I don't, it was for charity." The Canadian Statesman is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanviile Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Commerce, Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Canadian Community Newspaper . Assoc., Canadian Circulations Circulations Audit Board and the • Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman is copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction is prohibited. r,