By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff St. Simon‘s Anglican Church recently hosted a Hunger Lunch to address the issue of poverty and starvation, both in Third World countries and locally. Lunch conâ€" sisted of water, dry bread, and soup. Donations went to the Primate‘s World Relief and Development Fund which provides humanitarian support to underdeveloped countries and is administered by the Anglican Church of Canada. Since common sense doesn‘t seem to be enough to keep drivers out of designated fire routes, the Oakville Fire Department has hired someone fullâ€"time to ensure the law is enforced. The first speaker, Lynn Corfield, represented "Ten Days for World Development" (sponsored by five religious denominations and the Canadian International Development Agency). On April 5th,a Fire Control Officer â€" on loan from the Town‘s Building St. Simon‘s workshop on Third World hunger The purpose of "Ten Days" is to provide education about severe problems occurring in developing nations and to encourage the govâ€" ernment to make positive and beneâ€" ficial changes. Lack of nourishment in various countries was described and it was indicated that 35,000 people â€" mostly children â€" die daily from starvation. Canada and other developed countries hold awesome power over the world‘s resources with 20% of the world population controlling 80% of the world‘s resources, and 77% of the world population earning only 15% of world income. Factors contributing to such inequities include the colonial past of some nations, unfair trade, neglect of rural people, authoritariâ€" an governments, war, debt, poverty, and population. Corfield urged all of us to work with Third World partners, to listen to their concerns and to provide sustainable developâ€" ment especially for low energy proâ€" jects that met their present needs. Crack down on fire routes abusers The second speaker, Birgitt Bolton, is the executive director of Wesley Urban Ministries, an inner city mission concerned about poverâ€" ty in Hamilton. Hundreds of homeâ€" less street people are provided with various forms of support each day, and one in four people in Hamilton is a recipient of one, or more, types of assistance. Some of the more critical issues which need to be challenged include: programs for street youths; a system which penalâ€" izes welfare recipients for working; and an updated monitoring system for those newly released from govâ€" ernment institutions. The provincial government‘s recent miniâ€"budget stated that home owners would no longer qualify for welfare. People in this category who are forced to sell their homes will end up requiring even more assistance. The lack of a secure home as well as a shortage of food was cited as the greatest obstacle for those in need. Food assistance must continue to exist for all those welfare â€" 40% of whom are Department for the next two years â€" hit the streets to keep an eye on the 153 fire routes covered by local bylaw. In addition, he will enforce infractions to handicapped parking and respond to complaints on private property. So far, more than 300 tickets have been issued. : "It‘s been a high level of enforceâ€" ment because we can now devote time to that," says chief fire prevenâ€" Both speakers emphasized an urgent need to write to political leaders to initiate change concernâ€" ing the Third World, some of which is visible today in Canada. Lubrication Oil Filter Only Includes Inspection of Air System (freon extro) f FOURTH LINE AUTO 559 SPEERS RD 842â€"3001 x O gge0® Air Conditioning Special SSSSSSSSSSS DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE + 183 LAKESHORE ROAD EAST 8§45â€"8911 DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON 389 BRANT STREET 639â€"6165 OPEN THURS. FRL i1 9 p.m. Father‘s Day, June 20th Complete Oil Change MEA Alr tion officer John Peters. "The Traffic Department, with the workload they have, could not treat fire routes as a priority. The department entered into an agreement with Public Works and for a twoâ€"year period we will adminâ€" ister and enforce those fire routes." Up until now the Parking Division of Public Works was responsible for enforcing meters, handicapped zones, private property and fire routes. The job has its pitfalls. The officer has been subjected to both verbal and physical abuse and has had his life threatened. This past weekend he was hit by a car driven by a motorist he was in the process of ticketing. "We‘re just asking for coâ€"operaâ€" tion from the public. The officer is a caring person but he has a job to do," explained Peters. "The bylaw was written with everyone‘s safety in mind. Seconds save lives." "The Parking Division still does fire routes and handicapped parking but we are doing it at a higher enforcement level," said Peters. Nothing has changed except that now there will be another pair of eyes on the street. Since the Fire Control Officer is often onâ€"site while other infractions are taking place (like those involving handicapped parking) he will deal with them rather than call in a second enforcement officer. The fire routes covered are only those designated under bylaw 1981â€" 66, meaning they conform to a series of requirements involving width (six metres) height (five metres) and turnâ€" ing radius (12 metres.) "This is to make sure any emerâ€" gency vehicle can get to any place of public assembly such as a church, school or hospital without any obstructions," explained Peters, who Clip and Save this weekend for Father‘s Day, June 20th! Good only at Garvey‘s on the purchase of any two Gant summer items. E.g: Pants, sweaters, sport shirts, knits, shorts, swimwear or outerwear. _ Offer good until June 19th, 1993 in both stores. (ARVEYS said that earlier this year a fire truck sustained minor damage when it struck a vehicle illegally parked near a school. Those who break the law can expect to shell out $50 for parking in a designated fire route, $100 for doing so in a handicapped spot. According to Peters, tickets are issued at the officer‘s discretion, although the bylaw is strict if need be. For example, vehicles that are merely stopped with the motor running and not engaged in picking up or dropping off passengers, can be fined. Most drivers offer the excuse that they are not actually parked, but ignorance of the law is no excuse, says Peters. "Under the definition of the bylaw it is still an infraction," he says, adding that if a car is left completely unattended the officer has no alternaâ€" tive but to write it up.