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6 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 EDITORIAL with Frances Niblock In praise of women What do you bet that there are no public celebrations of International Women's Day (Thursday) in Afghanistan where the president recently endorsed a voluntary code of conduct that's a huge step backwards for women's rights. Under certain circumstances, husbands may beat their wives, women can't travel without a male guardian or mingle with strange men in public places like schools, markets of offices. The president's endorsement of the edits issued by a council of clerics wipes out some of the advancements made in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion by the USA when women couldn't go to school and had to be covered by a head-to-toe burqas. Organizations, governments, charities and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues. This year's theme "Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures" has been widely used by hundreds of organisations including schools, universities, governments, women's groups and the private sector. On this 101st International Women's Day, celebrate, recognize and appreciate women for their economic, political and social achievements. TRAVELLING TALES: Halton Hills Librarian Vicki Firth discussed some of the books available at the Acton Branch with Pat Jones and Gloria Vermeulen during the monthly Coffee, Books and Conversation event last week at the Acton Seniors Centre. ­ Julie Conroy photo Dear Editor, I'm Hunter Rushlow. I'm thirteen years old. I'm writing to The New Tanner because this is a very important subject: bullying. This is a very important issue because it's affecting people in a lot of ways. I was bullied from grade two to four because I didn't change my clothes for four days and didn't brush my hair in the morning. This is also affecting lots of people in Acton and beyond. To make the bullying stop we can Dear Editor, I am writing to you about smoking. It's a project for school. Smoking really bothers me because I hate the smell of it and it makes me cough. Most places you go people are smoking. I see the non-smoking signs everywhere, like at school and at hospitals. There are posters in some stores and on TV commercials and how it's bad for you. Smoking can kill you because it messes up your lungs and if you're around someone and you are smoking they are being exposed to second hand MSB students find their voices help the victims that are getting bullied by saying "Stop. Why are you doing this to him? What did he ever do to you?" or you can just say "Hey. Leave him alone," and take the victim away with you to go have fun. I'm willing to stand up for victims of bullying because it's bad and if it doesn't stop, the victims can't take it anymore, they may choose to commit suicide, which is not good at all. I have already stood up for people and I always will. Two months ago a boy was getting bullied by a few grade sevens, so I went over to them and said "Hey. Stop bullying him! What did he do to you?" They said that he's annoying as heck, but that doesn't give anyone the right to pick on someone! So, stop the hate on innocent people. Stop it, don't watch it. Sincerely, Hunter Rushlow Grade 7 at McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School Acton, ON Looking Back · Acton pharmacist Gary Barton is named Citizen of the Year for his common sense, thoughtfulness and compassion which helped many Acton residents through tough times. · Two Acton skaters brought home Gold medals after their respective teams competed at the Canadian Synchronized Skating championships in Kitchener. · Two Good Samaritans, Acton's Elyse Schultz and Rick Pyman of Ballinafad, were killed during a freak snow storm as they tried to help other motorists in a multi-vehicle accident on Trafalgar Road, north of Five Side Road. · Some Acton land may have to be expropriated if Hydro One gets approval to twin its Bruce to Milton power corridor. Ten Years Ago smoke and the resulting diseases could kill them. I think smoking is almost like suicide because you're the one who's smoking and hurting yourself, so it's like suicide. This issue is important because people are dying, it's really addicting and hard to stop. They need to advertise the products that would help stop smoking. It really isn't affecting my life, but it is affecting others lives because they could smoke or they could live with someone who smokes and they get second hand smoke from being around them. It could affect Watch for more next week you by being with them because their breath smells or their teeth are yellow and walls in their house could be yellow if they are smoking inside their house. A possible way to stop it is to reduce the sales every once in a while. More ads about the products that would help you stop smoking like the gum or patches would be helpful. That is why I am writing to you. Sincerely, Connor Crowe Grade 7 Student McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School Five Years Ago Publisher Ted Tyler Editor Frances Niblock Angela Tyler Distributed to every home in Acton and area, as well as adjoining communities. Every effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is correctly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without charge that part of an advertisement in which an error may occur provided a claim is made within five days of publication. All articles, advertisements and graphic artwork appearing in The New Tanner is copyrighted. Any usage, reproduction or publication of these items, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher of The New Tanner is a copyright infringement and subject to legal action. Editorial Contributors email: thenewtanner@on.aibn.com 373 Queen Street East, Unit 1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2N2 Advertising and Circulation Marie Shadbolt (519) 853-0051 Fax: (519) 853-0052 Composing Traci Gardner, Iain Brennan Typesetting Melissa Paul