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Q -OrQno WeeklyTiries, Wedneý,sday, May 20, 1998 -- Subscriptions $2 1.50 + $150 G.S.T.= $23.00year. Publications Mail Registration No. 000368 Publishing 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1MO 1E-Mail Address: oronotimes@speedline.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher/ Editor Marg Zwart Water -- we'have it, others need it The recent flap over a Sauli Ste. Marie company hav- ing a permit to seli Great Lakes water, demonstrates how possessive we are of our fresh water supply. The Nova Group had a provincial permit to draw up to 10 million litres of water from Lake Superior. The company hoped to make a profit by selling water to drought-stricken coun- tries in Asia. A news item out of Newfoundland last week brought to light a proposai in that province for the export of water, both bottled and in bulk shipments from a lake near the top of Fortune Bay.1 Bob McDonald, host of CBC Radio's science program 'Quirks and Quarks,' had some interesting comments recently on the Ontario plan. McDonald's comments should make us take a second look at how we treat t he fresh water supply we've been entrusted with. McDonald says the greatest drain on our fresh water supply, is the wasteful way we Canadians use it. According to McDonald, we use 350 litres of water a day, which is more than twice as much as Europeans use. "We spray more [water] on our lawns than we drink," says McDonald. Water is a totally recyclable resource, and if il were used more wisely, there would be more than enough to go around. Through an elaborate systemt of weather and wctlands, nature removes impurities, from the water we drink. That is until we add heavy metals and chemi- cals that don't come out. OJur waste and pollution is the greatest threat to one of the world's greatest fresh water supply - the Great Lakes, according to McDonald. Water will become the most valued resource in the next century, and Canada will be under great pressure to spread its wealth. "But before we start complaining about how the export of water to those in need will threaten our precious supply," stated McDonald, "we should take a look at what's happening in our back yard." Good old BLOCK PAR- ENTS! A community program we ail know (and take for granted?). Well maybe not for much longer. The Clarington/Newtonville Block Parent program lias reached an unfortu nate crossroad. The past several years have seen slow but steady decline in willing volunteers to keep the local Block Parent pro- grams active. Only 6 schools in ahl of Clarington have a chairperson (the person responsible for co-ordinating the Block Parents in that area). Without a local co-ordi- nator, a communitys Block Parent program stagnates - few new Block Parents are recruited and cuitent Block Parents don't receive the encouragement needed to continue their commitment. Your community's safety Is compromised. Does this concern you? Think long and hard! Don't parents dread trying to arrive at a balanced safety talk - one that gets across the serious- ness of the issue, without inhibiting our kids natural enjoyment of life? How con- venient to be able to end that talk by reas 1suring your child that, "In an emergency they can go to a Block Parent home for help, anytime, any- where. Lost on that visit to Grandma's? Hurt yourself on a bike hike? Block Parents are safe strangers you can ask for help." Isn't it nice to know your teenager can cail home for a ride should they ever end up in any of those "situations" you tell them they should avoid? Our seniors can walk the community knowing help is just a phone cail away at a Block Parent home. We al travel with the reassurance that, should our car break- down or a medical problem occurs, we have access to a QRONO WEEKLY Tnvws - . . E. . ----- - - - ~ -- - ~ safe place to get help from... that is IF that comrnunity has an active Block Parent pro- gram. Unfortunately unless more volunteers corne forward our Clarlngton/Newcastle Block Parent program is in danger of folding. If you would like information on how to help as a Block Parent or an area chairperson, please cali Cathy Kilauke at 623-7957 or Colleen Groeneveld at 623- 5665 or Sharon Steele 786- 2593. SAFE KIDS DAY Highlights of the Safe Kids Community, day hosted by the Durham Regional Police Services and Carol Hailman and Susan Forsyth of Excel Realty Inc. will include demonstrations and displays by members of Police Specialized Units, tours, and visits from special guests. There will befree draws throughout the day, hot dogs and refreshments wilI be served at no charge. The excitement begins ai il a.m. this Saturday, at the Clarington Community Police office on Reg. Rd. 57 and Hwy #2.