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Oakville man helps build fish farms in Uganda By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, September 10, 2009 Give a man a fish; you have fed him today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime. The Oakville based non-profit organization H20 4ALL is going well beyond this time-honoured saying in its latest project, which will see two needy Ugandan villages taught how to build and operate fish farms. The non-profit group has already completed a number of projects in Uganda aimed at water treatment, but is moving towards fish farming in hopes a whole new level of sustainability will be created among the villages it intends to assist. "We want to find sustainable solutions for people who are poor," said Tim Muttoo, co-founder of H20 4ALL. "We chose fish farming because once the people have clean water and have taken care of their bathing, hygiene and sanitation needs, now we're moving into the realm of agriculture and farming where they can now start to grow their own food." The project, which began on June 22, will see 170,000-litre tilapia ponds established within the villages of Suubi and Kiballe. Tilapia are favoured throughout the world and are high in protein meaning that once the ponds are established the fish will be an important part of the villagers' diet. The process of creating a habitat for these fish is far more involved than simply providing them with water to swim in. The success of the ponds hinges on giving the fish clean water. Fortunately, creating clean water systems is exactly where H20 4ALL excels. Muttoo noted that to keep the TIM MUTTOO / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER TEAMWORK: Villagers and volunteers from H2O 4ALL work together to install large water tanks to catch and treat rain water for use in the tilapia fish farms. The low cost, easy-to-use water treatment system was supplied by Genieye Systems of Oakville. fish alive automatic skimmers will "That project will be an example "It sets up a small business be in place to keep debris out of the project that that community will that allows them to make ponds. mirror and start doing all over in Special systems are also being enough money so they can different villages. We had 20 established to control the ponds' start looking at sending their African gentlemen on site, every circulation and temperature. day, and we're training them how children to school or feeding The ponds will also be equipped to build this and what to do," said their family or getting more with waterfalls to oxygenate the Muttoo. resources for the necessities water. "Then they can go back to their When fish are actually added, of life." own villages outside the area and Muttoo said the pond will be dividtake that project on. It's easy to get ed into several smaller ponds so Tim Muttoo, co-founder the little fingerlings (baby fish) the larger fish do not eat the baby of H2O 4All because those tilapia come from fish. the Nile, so then they can start Muttoo also pointed out that all eyes of local residents so the ponds doing this themselves." of this design and construction is can be maintained and brought to When completed in October, being done under the watchful other communities. the fish farms in Suubi and Kiballe are expected to feed more than 2,000 people, however, Muttoo notes there is a side benefit to the project in that the villagers can sell the fish they don't eat. "It sets up a small business that allows them to make enough money so they can start looking at sending their children to school or feeding their family or getting more resources for the necessities of life," said Muttoo. "The problem with poverty is you get caught in a poverty cycle where you are really able to just live, barely survive and unless you get something like a trade or a craft or some type of education you will never get out of that cycle. This project gives them just enough to help the next generation get out of that cycle." Muttoo noted the project is significant because it will allow the Ugandan villagers to break this cycle on their own. In the end, teaching a village to operate and build a fish farm will create an independent village and not one that relies on handouts. For Muttoo, getting a village to this point is the result of a decision he hopes more people will make. "I grew up in Canada, I was born in Mississauga and I think my motivation to help came when I went overseas for the first time and I really realized that 80 per cent of the world's population does not live how the Western world lives," said Muttoo. "I needed at some time in my life to give back for all of the blessings and all of the opportunities that I've had. Once I started to travel to Third World countries I realized that it doesn't take a lot of effort it just takes a decision to help." Anyone interested in helping H20 4ALL with its projects can call 905-330-6644. Judge rules automatic jail term unconstitutional Continued from page 1 unless Griffins' ruling is successfully appealed. The law, enacted two years ago, requires no criminal intent when speeding is 50 km/h over the speed limit; proof alone of someone doing this is sufficient for a conviction, something considered "absolutely liability" under law. Essentially, the conviction is automatic -- and upon conviction there must be a fine of between $2,000 and $10,000, which may also be combined with jail term of no more than six months. The original Justice of the Peace decision found her guilty, but reduced that minimum fine even lower because of the circumstances. Since punishment may also include jail, the judge ruled this violated Section 7 of the Charter, which specifies no one can be deprived of "life, liberty and security of the person... except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice." This section is "unconstitutional as it creates an absolute liability offence for which one can be imprisoned," the judge wrote. James Morton, a lawyer who is past president of the Ontario Bar Association, said the ruling is "important across the province," noting the decision is binding on all Justices of the Peace, though not on other Ontario Court Justices. He added, however, that the Crown will assuredly appeal. "The statute could have been upheld under Section 1 of the Charter, that talks about a reasonable limit in a free and democratic society," Morton said. "But for reasons I'm unaware of, the Crown conceded that it could not be so upheld. And I thought that was surprising. Because if I was the Crown, I probably would have agreed that it breaches Section 7, but then said, `Having breached Section 7, it's reasonable because, well, look at the carnage on the road,' and stuff like that, which I think is a pretty good argument." Sgt. Dave Woodford of the Ontario Provincial Police said the judge's ruling was highly specific and that the stunt racing law has been instrumental in reducing fatalities since it came into effect in September 2007. The judge specified in his concluding remarks that his "unconstitutional" ruling on this specific section of the Provincial Offences Act would not affect the ability of OPP officers to automatically impound cars or suspend licences.