6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday August 22, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 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: NEIL OLIVER Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER President Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY 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 ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager To walk without fear Last night, residents from across Halton gathered in Oakville to Take Back the Night. This is the 18th year for the international event designed to spread the message that women and children have a right to be free from violence in their lives. It's hard to imagine that after all this time we still need to plan for such events. But when you consider that 51 per cent of Canadian women will experience at least one incident of sexual or physical violence in their lifetime then you can understand why Sexual Assault Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) knows its work is never done. In fact Halton Regional Police recently released its mid-year statistical report on crime in the area and sexual assault has increased while other violent crime is decreasing. According to Halton police, there were 50 sex assaults in 2007 compared to 59 during the same time frame this year. Sadly, Take Back the Night is needed more than ever. SAVIS ensures that its march is more than simply a campaign against violence. Organizers have turned it into a family-friendly event offering, among other things, entertainment and children's crafts. However, the march continues to be just for children and women -- providing them with the freedom to walk safely at night without having to ask a male family member or friend to accompany them. SAVIS is keenly aware that violence against women has no boundaries and affects individuals from all walks of life. However there are certain communities at a higher risk for experiencing violence including, among others, immigrant and refugee women, women of colour and those with disabilities. SAVIS has numerous partners including Halton Regional Police Service, Halton Women's Place, Halton Community Legal Services and Halton District School Board. It is encouraging to note that all these groups work hand in hand to ensure a safer place for all of its residents. Ed. Note: If you know someone who needs the support of SAVIS, they can contact 905-825-3622, email savis@savisofhalton.org, or visit www.savisofhalton.org. 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. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Forget energy drinks -- good night's rest is best cure for yawning There's a new variety of a particular soft drink on the market that you may have seen. This variety of the beverage claims to contain additional caffeine and guarana (a stimulant). It displays a sequence of contiguous yawning amongst a group of overtly exhausted individuals. Now I remember a time (not too long ago) when corporations were boasting their "caffeine-free" and "reduced-caffeine" beverages. Why has this change occurred? Also, how can this come at a time when we are fully aware of the consequences of sleep depravation and exhaustion? Answering these questions is not a simple task. Our understanding of metabolic dysfunction (causing such diseases as diabetes and obesity, both of which can be the result of long-term sleep depravation) is constantly changing. The demands and stresses of daily life greatly impact our overall level of health. Corporations are very aware of our trends and tendencies and act accordingly, producing products that meet our current "requirements". What remains unchanged, however, is the need for adequate nutrition, sufficient exercise and at least six to eight hours of sleep every night. There's no doubt that these requirements may not be met from time to time. But, truth be told, if you find yourself yawning uncontrollably, it may be the pillow you need to reach for as opposed to the pot of coffee or other stimulating beverage. LISA VARADI, NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR, OAK PARK WELLNESS CENTRE Give China a break on deception Re: Chinese deception at opening ceremony Let's not be so morally condescending and judgmental on China for the vanity of replacing a child performer on beauty grounds during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. As despicable as the deception was, especially when considering the self-esteem effect on the replaced child, the West is not without sins and should not be ready to throw a stone when it created and still holds beauty pageant contests. There appears to be the mood of finding the slightest error to degrade the success of the organizing of the games. Is there a gold medal for jealousy? BILL FLORES 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. Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com