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PAGE 4 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, FEBRUARY 26, 2003 www.durhamregion.com Tim Whittaker Publisher Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief Chris Bovie Managing Editor Judi Bobbitt Regional Editor Fred Eismont Director of Advertising Eddie Kolodziejcak Classified Advertising Manager Kirk Bailey Distribution Manager Lillian Hook Office Manager Barb Harrison Composing Manager Chrington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 Œfjc Cmmbmu Statesman 0 0 Feb. 26,2003 Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Phone 905-579-4400 Classifieds 905-576-9335 Distribution 905-579-4407 General Fax 905-579-2238 Newsroom Fax 905-579-1809 E-Mail newsroom@durhamregion.com 865 Farewell St., OshawaON L1H7L5 Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 mfodurhamregron.com EDITORIAL e-mail letters to ncwsroom@(l iirhitmrcgion.com UN, inspectors need time to do things properly F or all its faults, the United Nations still remains remains the last, best hope we have to find solutions solutions to what appear to be insoluble insoluble global problems. As Winston Churchill once said in reference to democracy but could have said about the UN, "it is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried." That's why attacks by United States senior officials and even the president himself himself on the role of the UN Security Security Council with regard to weapons inspections and, indeed, indeed, to an invasion of Iraq, are troubling. After all, the United States and United Nations need each other and cannot effectively effectively exist in this world without mutual support. The UN and its peacekeeping forces remain the final arbiter ■ for ethnic groups and peoples across the globe who feel their human rights have been trampled on. When it comes to dealing with despots like Saddam Hussein, as it did in 1990-91 during the Gulf War, the UN is the necessary place where convincing arguments need to be made to the entire world before action is taken. Russia, France and Germany, Germany, countries with large Muslim populations who fear retribution within their own borders should the United States unilaterally attack Iraq, have clear misgivings about war. The hundreds of millions of people represented by these nations have a right through the UN to be convinced convinced no other option but war is the answer with Iraq. Canada too, is wise to look to then UN for guidance on this and all other multilateral multilateral issues. It's always difficult difficult for our leaders to avoid wholeheartedly endorsing the actions of our close neighbour. neighbour. We have so much in common and our interests in numerous ways from trade to security are similar to those of the United States. However, However, we also need to take into account arguments made by countries which feel military action is not the proper way to deal with Iraq. In addition, the millions who have protested against use of force, including hundreds hundreds of thousands here in Canada, may feel they've gained some attention front those in the US eager to go to war. More protests are planned in March and, should they gain intensity in the US, may give pause to leaders who would rather fight than negotiate. The latest polls in the US suggest citizens want a clear mandate from the UN before an invasion takes place. The latest actions by US leaders would suggest they are keeping keeping a close watch on public opinion among their own people before taking further action. More time, more inspections inspections and more diplomacy may ultimately yield results without bloodshed. Saddam Hussein's recent interviews with western journalists indicate indicate the Iraqi leader may be willing to negotiate and could be open to persuasion by western leaders. To quote Mr. Churchill once again, "To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war." LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-m Let's use trash compactors to reduce landfill To the editor: I have been amazed at all the articles I have read on reducing reducing garbage bags at the curbside. I keep hearing/reading hearing/reading we need to compost and recycle recycle more which is great, but I keep wondering about one other point that would help reduce reduce landfill space enormously- enormously- How about promoting garbage compactors? We have ail letters to ncwsvoomtflUlurhiimrcgioiij had one for approximately 10 years. My parents have had one for at least 25 years. Two of my sisters have had one for 10 years. These devices greatly reduce reduce the size of garbage and therefore would reduce the space of landfill sites. There are also some more benefits to . garbage compactors; compactors; you already have to separate food scraps from the dry garbage because of odours. . Since a trash compactor bag lasts for approximately four weeks with a family of four, you could imagine having scraps of food in there for that period of time. Compactors and composing go hand in hand. I never understood why municipalities municipalities along with the provinces never promoted the benefits or never investigated this device in order to reduce landfill space. Just the amount of green garbage bags saved going to landfill sites would be of great benefit. Municipalities could offer some incentives to purchase compactors like they did when they introduced recycling recycling boxes. There seems to be a lot of lip service front different levels of government about reducing trash going to landfill sites, tyut. not creating bylaws to make it' happen. They could make it part of the building code. There are ways of reducing garbage if the politicians are really serious about it. A little bit of common sense could go a long way in reducing landfill space. Joe Ouimet Oshawa OPINION OPINION e-mail letters to news room® diirlinmregion.com Oh, give me a Hillsdale home I f you have ever visited a relative relative in a run-down hospital or nursing home you may know intimately the feeling of wishing to escape as soon as it was reasonably polite to do so. It isn't that you want to abandon your loved one but in some of these institutions, built during a time when austerity measures were given precedence precedence over comfort, the feeling of impending death seems to seep out of the sterile walls and echoing corridors into your soul. My greatest admiration has always gone to the caring nurses and other staff members who work to make these places as cheery and homelike as possible. possible. But the reality is there is only so much you can do to make a dreary institution institution into a place inspiring inspiring life for those already battling frailty and illness. On a recent cold, dreary February morning I made my way through the Hillsdale Manor parking lot with remembrances of other facilities visited in the line of duly, usually to capture the wisdom of our oldest members members of society, whose minds are often spry even as their bodies fail them. Some facilities facilities were pleasant enough bill others left me desperate for the exit with their mind-numbing banality. Upon entering the new Hillsdale Manor, which will he joined by a second new building building opening in 2005, I was taken by the contrast to the weather outside. It was warm, inviting and I was overwhelmed overwhelmed by the cheerful, well- planned layout that was more like a vibrant community than an institution. With every step I became more enthralled with the idea that my tax dollars are actually going toward creating a place family will want to visit, where I'd want to stay myself when I could no longer manage independent living. Here was a place that wasn't a poor alternative to bunking with my kids but a preferred choice where I'd get nursing care and three squares daily with the dignity befitting those in the last stage of life. And, because it is a non-profit facility run by the Region, I won't need to be a robber baron to afford these digs. The Region operates three facilities in Durham though it is only required by provincial legislation to run one. Some might suggest privatizing die whole industry would he more effective for the taxpayer. The private sector certainly has a role to play in providing choice to a burgeoning population population of elderly, some who can afford a more luxurious option and should he able to get it, But the Region has a role io play in providing universal quality care. As long as the Region's standard is set by the new Hillsdale Hillsdale Manor, I won't mind paying paying now for the assurance of proper care later. Jacquie Mclnnes Staff Writer ' e-mail letters to nctvsrooin@(liirliunircgion.coin Premier's lifestyle isn't that of an average guy P remier Ernie Eves has laid out his first priority in an election expected soon. He wants to get rid of his image as a high flyer. The Progressive Conservative Conservative premier started to make the case he is an average guy in his first, highly personal words in the TV commercials that are his first shots in the campaign. Mr. Eves began by saying, "My dad worked at a factory in Windsor. My mom grew up on a I arm. 11er parents came from the Ukraine. They worked hard to make ends meet." The premier stopped short of saying lie was born in a log cabin, but went on to claim his humble origin origin .shapes his thoughts and gives him passion for making life better and assuring an equal chance for all. Premier Eves's emphasis suggests polls have discovered many voters still have an image of him as someone who lives in affluence and cannot identify with them in their struggles to pay their bills, despite his efforts so far to change it. This exists because, as a reasonably reasonably well-off lawyer, MPI' and minister he was noted for his expensive clothes, fastidious grooming and fondness for restaurants where a meal costs more than the average voter spends on food in a week. A messy divorce showed he spent $30,00(1 a year on clothes and jewelry, $3,000 a month renting a Toronto condo and $700 a month on toiletries, laundry laundry and dry-cleaning. This politician really could claim he was squeaky clean. He also moved to live with his partner, Isabel Bassett, a former former Tory minister and wealthy widow of John Bassett, once part-owner of the Toronto Telegram, CFfO TV and Maple Leaf Gardens. Gardens. The pair set up house in her Roscdalc and country homes. Then Mr. Eves was lured away from politics politics to a $1.2 million-a- ycar job in the more financially financially rewarding world of finance. When he gave up that post 15 months ago to return to politics and run for premier, his first words were he fell more comfortable back on Main Street than on Bay Street. He also revealed he eats at Tim Hortons and is a regular at a Canadian Tire store and butcher shop and he is now seen often in open-necked shirt and faded jeans. Many voters will have difficulty difficulty viewing Mr. Eves as an average average resident, however, because he tried to put through a law that would give business more access access to surpluses in pension funds. The funds were created partly by employees and the law was prevented by average-guy protests. Premier lives also allows tax credits to parents who send their children to private schools, a perk lew average guys can lake advantage of. Voters also are wary of elect ing those who live high off the hog. John Bassett and another media tycoon, Roy Thomson, arc among those who tried to get elected to public office, but were rejected. Most premiers before Mr. Eves similarly tried to hide any affluence they had. Tory Mike Harris, whose father owned several several small businesses, liked to declare, "I'm the guy next door. I'm a working stiff." New Democrat Bob Rac, a lawyer and son of a career diplomat, diplomat, insisted lie lived frugally and had to pay off a mortgage and car loan like everyone else. Tory William Davis, a lawyer and son of a lawyer, pictured himself as an ordinary, plainspo- ken guy dispensing wisdom from his front porch in smalltown smalltown Brampton. Tory John Roharts, a lawyer who married into wealth, let it be known he started in the rank of ordinary seaman in the navy in the Second World War. Liberal David Peterson was comfortably off and never tried to disguise it and was seen so often at events in tuxedo and crimson cummerbund the Tories accused him of having a "lifestyle of the rich and famous," famous," the title of a popular TV show, and this extravagance was among the reasons Mr, Peterson did not last. Premier Eves's problem is most people will accept he was once an average guy who just stopped being one as soon as he could, Uric Dowd him spent decodes covering provincial politics as a freelance columnist based oat of Queen's Park Eric Dowd Queen's Park CLICK AND SA^ Today's question: With Durham beginning to provide the service in some communities and looking to eventually expand region-wide, would you commit to a composting program and greater recycling-? □ Yes □ No Cast your vole online at infodurhamregion.com Last week's question: Do you support the U.S. and its Allies going to war without the backing of the United Nations? □ Yes 50.3% □ No 49.7% Votes cast: 292 HAVE YOUR SAY Question Are you at all concerned about nightclub safety in the wake of the two nightclub tragedies in the United Stales? Brian Harris "As long as it's not overcrowded overcrowded and you're not dealing with pyrotechnics, pyrotechnics, it's OK." Adam Walton "I feel comfortable comfortable with my surroundings surroundings and feel safe with the people I'm with." Nat Fair "As long as the bar doesn't go over its capacity limit and clearly marks their exits." Anthony Cairns "I feel the clubs are more responsible here." <Eljc Cnnabinu Statcsiumi is one of the Metroland Printing, Printing, Publishing and Distributing Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a member of the Bowmanville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. advertisement. Credit (or advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman Is copyrighted. copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction reproduction is prohibited. 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