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"Earth's clock [} t [J] k ® Thus planct carth is an unhappy place these days Rioters and looters wok 0 the streets of Toronto a couple of weeks ago and racial issues are threatening 10 detenorate even more, perhaps some day reaching the extreme ugliness that wore apart Los Angeles and left scores of people dead in the streets. In what used © be Yugoslavia there is a bloody civil war going on with tal dis-regard for human life Even the blue-beret forces of the United Nations, there 10 "keep the peace" had © race from the battle zones 10 avord death . Civil unrest is erupung in Thailand and it is bubbling and seething just below the surface in other countries of the globe such as Peru, South Africa, Afghanistan, and the entire Middle East For countless millions who don't face a daily barrage of bombs and bullets, 3 different kind of struggle takes place every hous, every manute: the struggle to get enough 10 cat. to find basic shelter from the clements, medicine 10 heal even the smplest kind of iliness and milments In the so-called industnalized world, a deep recession has caused severe economic dislocaton Businesses go bankrupt, even giants like Olympx and York. factones shut down or move clsewhete, poo ple never out of work a day in ther lives suddenly get a pink ship savings cvaporaie 10 cover the necessities of life True, these probiews pale when compared to the life and death struggles in war-ravaged or drought-stncken lands. but for many this has been a cruel decade and it's only two years old For the first ume since World War 2, one hears people speak of genuine concern for the future of their children and grandchildren job opportunities, higher education, health care, social services, clean ax, fresh water, quality of hfe As for the global pacture" War, disease and hunger, the three age old curses that have walked arm in arm with the human race since the beginning of ume are still very much with us i this the final decade of the enlightened 20th century Overly gloomy and wo pessimisuc' Not at all Even the World Bank has gazed deep into a crystal ball and does not like what it sees, not one bit A report Monday just weeks before the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, paints a future for the planet the banks nself terms as "very gloomy indeed " By the year 2030, or when today's Kindergarten kids are in thew mid-forties, the world's population will have added another 3.7 bil- lion people. This will double the demand for food and triple the demand for energy But more importantly, the Bank's report states, this additional 3.7 billion people (currently there are 5.5 billion souls) "brings with it the risk of appalling environmental damage * And, it warms, drastic action must be taken soon to forestall the coming catastrophe. One way 10 do this is with money, lots and lots of it, spent on om J and social pr in the world. In fact, the amount should double by the end of this decade from $65 billion 0 $130 billion, every year, almost all of it in Asia, Africa and Latin America. This is not the first report churned out by some agency Or interna tonal organization which says that uncontrolled population growth and the corresponding growth in the demand for food, 'energy and other resources add up to a recipe for disaster In the past, the world had the Cold War and the Arms Race J take its mind off other problems. Is it not the iromy of all ironies that for 40 years, most of the world went 10 sleep each night worrying about nuclear war. Over the next 40 years, the worry will be food, fresh air, clean water or even the ability to stay dry, warm or cool It has been said before many ways, but worth saying again. The world is in a mess. In about four weeks, global leaders will gather in Rio for the Earth Summit on the environment (good choice of loca- tion -- one of the most polluted cities anywhere). More words, more platitades, mountains of paper, and if past per- formances are any indication, no action. Too bad, the clock is ticking. Just step outside and sniff the air EE / SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM FITTING IN TOA TOWN THATS READY TO BUILD A MARKET FOR GIANT FLEAS! ~ b-- Tired pr being classified ; as a transient To the editor | am not a "gypsy" and | can't sit back any longer and listen to the whining that is taking place with regards 0 refreshment vehi Je hcenses Five years ago, | applied for a vendors licence and started my business (Udder D-Lite) at the intersection of Highway 7A and Simcoe Street. Since then, | have employed more than 30 persons, spent thou- sands of dollars in Jocal newspa- per ads, supporied dozens of char ities, and bought what supplies | could from local businesses. My business does not require a lot of space--200 square feet 10 be exact. My business is not hooked to the sewer system. | pay for hydro and waler and rent. One point 1 want to make is that most outside vendors are sit- ated on lots that house existing businesses that pay business taxes 10 the Township. If the outside vendors are charged taxes or excessive licence fees, then the Township is collecting double the money for the same lot. Secondly, | want to that the clientele of these are generally "impulse buy They are people out for a drive or a walk and seeing the vendor cre- ates the need for the product These same customers would not have bought the item if they had not seen the vendor Also, because of their size, the vendors can't offer the variety the permanent shops can. The cus- out tomers of the permanent shops/businesses frequent these because they want the vanety and in the case of restaurants, to be able 10 sit down and relax I feel that overall, the cus- tomers of cach business arc enure- ly different and therefore no-one 1s "sicaling" business from anyone cise Thirdly, if local florists are "seeing red." why don't they march down to the Township office and apply for a licence to sell their products on the busy cor ners. it seems they are missing a great increase their sales with im buyers, as well as receiving some great exposure and possible future sales. Finally, if any complaining should be done about outside ven- dors, it should be by the down- own merchants when events such as Festival Days are held. It is dur- ing this event that Country Style has a booth just down the street from Hanks; the Chipper Truck is half a block from the Galley, and independent craftspeople set up on the street in front of Lukes and Pentlands. I can't believe we are carrying on and on about something that the town's image. Another suggestion would be 10 have two different bicenses: one for the daily vendors and one for those of us who are here year in and year out. | am a "permanent fixture" in this own and resent being classi fied as a "transient." A divided licence application is the answer, in my opinion. Wendy Lockie, Udder D- Lite, Port Perry. A real gem To the editor: Recently, at the Community Memorial Library, | was privi- leged 10 view the artistic display of the creative work by Ralph Price. Within my vocabulary, | search in vain for a word tw describe its effect on me. Al first glance, | was aware of all this wood, showing a vague uch of sameness, that gradually, as | gazed and studied, became a truly up-lifting and spiritual expe- rience. It is there, just pieces of wood from our beautiful trees, in this really is self g itself. In Scugog Township, there can't be more than half a dozen "outside vendors." The by-law keeps more from establishing. Since the Township council must approve them before they can start, per- haps the council should only allow these vendors who will enhance ly small room, truly a hap- pening, which | hope nobody will pass by un-observed. It will set you thinking in a realm beyond the confines of your daily life. | congratulate Ralph for this gem that he shares with us Grace Hastings, Port Perry. ot Outre. Commumty Newapopen Amecitien. dhe Conadien Commmty imation [> <n