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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 6, 2010 · 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 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends 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: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional 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 Fill the cupboard It's summer ... little or no traffic, a less than hectic pace at the office, not to mention fewer bodies -- many of whom are likely basking at the cottage or the beach or some other exotic locale. What are the odds they're lazing about with thoughts of food shortages and poverty back home? That news is what's uppermost in the minds of the folks at Kerr Street Ministries (KSM). Food banks across town -- yes, there are at least three in affluent Oakville -- have been struggling for some time. As visit numbers soared because of the ailing economy and donations, which may have remained generous, began falling short just because of sheer numbers, food bank officials began fearing the worst. KSM announced the worst this week -- the cupboard is bare. Summer is a traditionally a slow time between Easter and Thanksgiving for food drives -- a long, hot haul that worries those in charge of food bank shelves. However, the impending crisis is not due to a lax attitude on the part on KSM -- even more food drives have been held this year. Sheer numbers of those in need is the culprit here. For those who are not in need and still in town, either home from holidays or awaiting our turn on the sand, it wouldn't hurt to remember how very lucky we are to be in the middle of a sizzling summer, in a beautiful town that is the toast of our country, and to make an extra stop to donate food items at KSM or at the mailbox to send in a few bucks for some grocery shopping. Priority needs are canned fruits and vegetables, rice, healthy cereal, diapers and pasta sauce. Cash donations can be made through www.kerrstreet.com. Cheques can be mailed to Kerr Street Ministries, 485 Kerr St., Oakville, ON, L6K 3C6. Food can be dropped off at 485 Kerr St. Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There are many who would appreciate the help -- more than 14,000 here live below the poverty line -- and may find that in having a full tummy, can also relax and enjoy the beauty of summer in Oakville. And their kids won't have a bad taste in their mouth when they reflect on the age-old query, "What did you do on your summer vacation?" 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. Letters to the editor Accidents happen Accidents happen -- the grim reminder of the Sunrise Propane explosion two years ago reminds us of how easy it is for a disaster of this magnitude to happen. Laws were in place, but faulty equipment and human error came together and people's lives were forever changed. It was discussed at the time of this disaster that a safe parameter must be established where gas/propane products are handled. The proposed gas-fired power plant in Oakville does not have a safe parameter around it. The plant is 400 meters from family homes, schools, businesses and major transportation arteries. A wind turbine system would require a greater margin yet the government will not back down and reassess the location of this plant. If there is an accident at this plant, it will have far reaching implications. Accidents happen. That is a reality. There is no question that Ontario needs more power and cleaner power but not when it involves putting human lives at risk. The location of this plant needs an independent third party to come in and confirm the location is safe and that the margins around the plant are sufficient to cope with a major problem with the plant. Accidents happen, human error happens and equipment fails. The responsibility of the government is to ensure that we, the citizens of Ontario, are safe. SANDRA BLANE, OAKVILLE 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. Publicly thanking the mayor We wish to publicly express our delight at Mayor Rob Burton's pledge to join Mayors For Peace. Our mayor will be joining the mayors of Toronto, Hamilton, Detroit, London, Amsterdam, Delhi and 4,000 others in an organization founded by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to put pressure on the nuclear weapons-possessing nations to begin negotiating the abolition of nuclear weapons with determination and thoroughness. Mayor Burton's commitment is very appropriately timed because Aug. 6 is the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima. There are now at least 20,000 nuclear weapons in the world, most of them many times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Japan. Any See Promoting page 8 Pud BY STEVE NEASE neasecartoons@gmail.com Road closure too long Re: OPP collision closes Trafalgar, July 29, Oakville Beaver. How wrong is it that they close Trafalgar Road for six hours to investigate a fender bender. Yes, I know that a police car was involved, but to inconvenience that many people for that length of time -- they must have been paid by the hour. ROY TREGENZA, OAKVILLE