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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 21, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 905-845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington 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 OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Say no to bullies Bullying is just so not cool. If you see it happening, or if it's happening to you, stand up and say, `No.' Remember, you are not alone. Since bullying can't thrive unless it has an environment of isolation -- likely a key attraction to cyber bullying -- the fact that others will stand with you is key to making this serious social issue go away. It's all very well to say someone is bullied for this reason or that, but likely they're a target because no one has taken a stand with them. The first step in finding such support is in sharing the information that someone or a group are attempting to pull off this loathsome, cowardly act. The first line of defence is to tell a parent, teacher or someone else in a position of authority. These are the people who stand beside you through thick and thin and it is with them that you will be able to tackle the problem head-on. This month, organizations -- including the Family Channel and local schools -- are busy promoting how `uncool' it is to be a bully. Reaching epic proportions and rearing its ugly face via the Internet, bullying is an age-old concept found not only in schoolyards and on the Web, but in crime scenes, domestic violence and on the streets. Bullies come in all shapes, sizes and can be found in almost all age groups. What appears to be new, and key to the equation, is the advice to stand up with and for others. Too many people, for too long, have turned a blind eye believing it is easier to not get involved. When something runs into an entire system -- from individuals, families, teachers, schools and the community as a whole -- it's unlikely it will gain a foothold. We salute everyone who is doing something to say no to bullying this month. A particular note of thanks is due to the women members of the May Court Club of Oakville. For they are and have been on top of this issue, not just this week or month, but for years. The club has for more than 30 years used puppets as enchanting instruments to teach children in SK to Grade 3 about safety and bullying. The local service club has just launched its revamped anti-bullying puppet show, What Would You Do? It's a trendier, slightly more sophisticated production aimed for the first time at students in Grades 4 and 5. It features songs like Stand Straight, Stand Tall, Throw Those Words Away and You've Got the Power and will reach 2,000 Oakville students this year. The club takes this show to any school that requests it -- for free -- by contacting maycourtpuppeteers@hotmail.com. 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. EMR needs attention Letter to the editor 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. Wreath laying `political' Due to work schedules in the past, I've never had the opportunity to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at George's Square until this year. It was such a beautiful day to stand quietly and reflect on how privileged we are and what it meant to just `be here' because of the sacrifices of so many courageous Canadians. I was quite dismayed, however, that the part of the ceremony devoted to the laying of the wreaths was turned into something so political and commercial. Surely this is not the place to aggrandize or advertise local retail establishments, politicians, school trustees, real estate agents and the like, by reading out their names. I found this to be quite disrespectful to those who we were gathering to remember, and whose names we apparently did not have time to mention (or remember). I trust this was an isolated occurrence that won't be repeated. Wayne Stephen, Oakville Highway will tear through escarpment Re: Buying local a good idea editorial, Oakville Beaver, Nov. 2, 2012 Please tell Mr. McGuinty he can't have his carrot and eat it too. Buying local is a good idea -- I couldn't agree more. Halton can boast of exciting initiatives to grow, buy and share locally -- I wholeheartedly support them. The article quotes McGuinty who wants to "promote local foods and celebrate innovators." But beware -- McGuinty, as well as Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak's party, both plan to plow a brand new, multi-billion dollar highway through the treasured Niagara Escarpment including the greenbelt and farmlands. Stop the Escarpment Highway and preserve our local farmlands. For information, visit www.Stophighway.com. Geoff Brock, co-chair, Stop the Escarpment Highway Coalition (SEHC), a coalition of 14 groups supporting sustainable transportation alternatives I am writing to thank The Oakville Beaver for its insightful coverage of the issue of health effects of electromagnetic radiation from cell towers in Oakville. This subject has brought a diverse group of local residents together seeking better set backs, a degree of local authority in siting of cell towers, and less loop-holes in requirements for notification before installing towers and antennae. Despite amazing local efforts and the engagement of Town council, we know that long term solutions to providing a safer environment for our families rest at the provincial and federal government level. As a result, we have been building and are now launching a national organization called Citizens For Safe Technology (C4ST). C4ST is a not-forprofit, volunteer-based coalition of parents, citizens and experts whose mission is to educate and inform Canadians and their policy makers about the dangers of the exposures to unsafe levels of electromagnetic radiation from technology and to work with all levels of government to create healthier communities. Canadian and international experts have agreed to be our advisors. Our aim is to represent one million Canadians who are concerned about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic radiation. C4ST has one critical goal: that all levels of government acknowledge that current assumptions about the safety of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) are outdated and must be revised to protect children in schools and protect families in their homes. We invite the people of Oakville to help. Please see five steps you can take to reduce your exposure, and find out more on our website www.C4ST.org, and follow us on www.facebook.com/ c4st.org. Thank you for continuing to cover this emerging public health issue. Wendy Perkins, Oakville