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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 6, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Be prepared Are you ready for an emergency? Right now Halton residents might be thinking more about planning their summer vacations than threatening situations. In fact, according to a recent survey, Canadians recognize the importance of emergency preparedness but many aren't sufficiently prepared. In the survey conducted by Leger Marketing for Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, more than half of respondents said they believe an emergency will happen in the next 10 years, but only 58 per cent said they're prepared. The survey was held to coincide with Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9), and as confirmed cases of the swine flu continue to rise in Ontario, the timing couldn't be better. What have you done to ensure you and your family would be able to cope in case of a pandemic, blackout or major storm? Are you prepared for the real possibility of food or water contamination, accidents and intentional acts causing a crisis? So what should you do? Halton Region advises residents to first, understand the risks and respond by making a family plan. According to Dr. David Butler-Jones, chief public health officer of Canada, preparing and discussing a household emergency plan is vital in case communications networks break down. Decide on a meeting place for your family if telephone, cell phone or e-mail systems aren't available. Some emergencies may impact clean water supplies or your ability to leave your home to buy food. Get an emergency kit that contains food, water, a radio, a flashlight and batteries to get through at least a 72-hour period. From the top levels of government to the family dinner table, emergency preparedness and response is a shared responsibility. Residents can visit www.halton.ca/beprepared to find out more information and download resources such as Halton's Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide and information for people with special needs or disabilities. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Stop the cycle of violence against women I recently had the occasion to speak to a volunteer from Halton Women's Place, a local facility that provides refuge for women and their children who are fleeing from abusive men. It seems disgraceful that such a place is necessary, and almost always full. What kind of society have we created where men think it is acceptable to abuse their partners? What is it about the way we raise boys in our culture that some of them behave so horribly? Violence towards women is usually learned in the home. Children who witness abuse in their families tend to repeat this behaviour as adults. We need to break this cycle. I appeal to all men in our community to do some soul searching and look for ways to correct our collective attitudes towards women so that one day Halton Women's Place will not be necessary. DAN FULCHER Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Tips for maintaining mental wellness There are many things that people can do to increase their sense of well-being and invest in themselves; here are just a few from the Mental Health Staff and Consumer Advisory Committee at Oakville Trafalgar HospitalHalton Healthcare Service: · Be easy on yourself and others. Avoid the blame game, a positive outlook is contagious. · Eat Healthy, include lots of greens in your diet and avoid excessive caffeine. · Avoid drugs and excessive use of alcohol. This can have a significant effect on your mood. · Get a good night sleep. Do not engage in stimulating activities right before bed. Sleep is essential to your overall well being. · Participate in moderate exercise by taking a walk at lunch time or after dinner. Exercise is Mother Nature's "antidepressant." · Practice relaxation techniques (deep breathing, massage, take a hot bath), meditate or do yoga. · Maintain social activities, such as being with family and friends, and do not isolate yourself from others when you are feeling down. · Always know that there are other options, no matter how big the problem is. · Talk the situation over with your family, a friend, your doctor or call a crisis helpline for support. · Don't compare yourself to others; everyone is special in their own unique way. · Don't think you are alone in life...you're not. There are lots of supports out there that can help you. Count your blessings and always be grateful for what you have. · Invest in spirituality. · Pursue an interest or hobby or volunteer work JOHN REYNOLDS, CHAIR, CONSUMER ADVISORY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE, HALTON HEALTHCARE, MENTAL Health Services This week's poll This week's question is: Are you concerned about getting the H1N1 flu virus? · Yes · No To vote, visit oakvillebeaver.com Last week's poll: Do you agree with the Ontario government's ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides? · Yes 21.69% · No 78.31% Total votes: 83 votes