PAGE 16, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTFMBER 2,1987 Try to imagine a future when people know about tigers and cheetahs, polar bears and grizzlies, only in the way people today know about dinosaurs and dodoes - as picture in an encyclopedia or synthetic skeletons in a museum. Think of the world's seas without whales, its rivers without crocodiles, its skies without eagles or condors, and its forests without wolves and orangutans. Think hard, because if you are under 40 there is a good chance that you yourself will live in such a world. More than 900 species and subspecies are now en- dangered - 310 mammals, 320 birds, 190 reptiles and em- phibians, and 90 freshwater fishes. And some wildlife ex- perts estimate that a century from now very few animals will be left on earth - except for various pests and the few domesticated animals that man may choose to keep alive for his food and clothing. So what? We haven't done so bad without mastedons and dodoes. Why would the disappearance of tigers and alligators mean that much? The most common answer is that the threatened animals must be preserved for cultural and aesthetic reasons - for the sheer pleasure of seeing them and knowing they exist. But more is at stake here than man's pleasure. As a matter of fact, it is from an entirely dif- ferent perspective that we should make a case for ending the continuing sacrifice of entire species to man's momen- tary needs and desires. Each species has its own niche in the earth's scheme of things and man cannot eliminate a single one without it having repercussions on the whole tightly knit fabric of life. A small example. Golden eagles are still being slaughtered in spite of legal prohibitions. Besides the delight they give soaring through the sky, eagles share with the condor, the falcon and other raptors a less VIE WPOINT by.ROXANNE*REVELER Predator and prey ethereal, more useful role: they eat mice, rabbits, squirrels and the like. As a result of the killing of these birds of prey, the rabbit and rodent population bas been dramatically increasing. These have then been fought with poisons which have worked their way up the food chain to the remaining birds of prey, reducing their num-- bers still further. This predator - prey relationship is even more clearly shown in the case of the wolf. For the most part, wolves, too, live on rodents, but what gives wolves a special ecological importance is their role in preying on the "sur- plus crop" of deer, moose, and caribou. Since. like all other creatures (save perhaus man). wolves eat to sustain themselves, it would do them no good to expend more energy catching a meal than they could realize from eating it. Hence, they tend to bring down the weak, the old and the sickly. As a result, the general fit- nes§ of the herd is heightened, while at the same time, the population is kept at a level where the food supply will be adequate. Thus, predator and prey help each other, as they have done through eons of time. What man fails to realize is the' consequence of his own clumsy intervention by way of wolf bounties and campaigns of whole extermination. The American red wolf is now on the verge of extinction, and coyotes have multiplied on the additional prey that once belonged to the red wolf. Wilier and more aggressive, coyotes have become a plague to farmers and ranchers where the wolves never were. Beyond the ecological risks and economic folly of wan- tonly eliminating an animal species, one must finally take account of the benefits to humanity that may have been sacrificed. For example, take the lowly fruit fly, that seeming dispensable insect. Had that been wiped out a century ago by some early and successful pesticide, it is doubtful scientists today would be as far advanced in genetics. It just happens that the fruit fly has a.life cycle of less than two weeks, remarkable fertility, and other advantages enabling scientists to observe scores of generational changes within a few years. The natural world is still so full of wonders, with such potential of illuminating life, that when man pushes any species to extinction, he jeopardizes his own future in ways he cannot yet conceive. But, he is doing just that, not viciously as a rule, but mindlessly. It is curious logic that lets him wilfully club to death the last of the great auks, and a half century later reverently value an auk's egg in a museum at $2,000 as an awesome relic of a vanished past. And "awesome" is surely the right word. For, as the great naturalist William Beebe put it: "When the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be found again." And that also is the way it looks to me. Reflections of a Golden Age By MABEL M. McCABE The provincial election is right around the corner and if you are as confused as me it's a toss-up. I'veheard more promises than I can count on all my fingers and toes. If only a small number of them are kept it will cost more money than I can even dream about. Where do they get these figures anyway? Twenty billion for da-da- da and sixty million for tra-la. You get the picture? If only one politician came across as truthful and caring about the people of the riding he or she is going to represent, he or she would get my vote. The glib smooth talk that all revert to when asked a pertinent question grates my nerves. Al the polls that are taken give the impression that many folks have made up their minds on the party they will back. I wish they would come forward and let me in on the secret. I think possibly all those confirmed people are dyed-in-the-wool party followers. It is a fact that there are people out there who would vote for a perfor- ming elephant if it was running under a specific party's banner. That's the sad part about elections. Many good honest campaigners should be voted in but they do not have the big bucks behind them or they are known as people who will not vote the party line in a pinch. So much fo'r the constituents who depend on the representative to look atßer their concerns. Voting is a precious privilege that we all must use before someone takes it away. As the old saying goes we get the gover- nment we deserve. If one does not vote then they should not com- plain about the things the government does. I carry no party card and I'm working hard trying to make some sense out of the declarations of the leaders but it's like chasing rainbows. One statement is made on a Monday but on Tuesday it is amended to mean the exact opposite. It's a difficult choice. Ill not say for sure who or what party I'll support until after I've cast my ballot. I'm sure by the time I get to the booth I'll have seen things and heard things from all comers that will give me the clue I need to make an intelligent decision. In the last cast of the dice we all take a chance on what will roll up to give an answer. I do know that the best government for the panple of Ontario is a minority. If one party gets in with a large majority we in Ontario will be faced with the same mess that we have in Ottawa right now. It does not matter what the people want if they have the numbers. They can ram any measure through and we are stuck with it. Make sure you get out to vote and then send up a prayer that we can live with the choice we make. Brownies, guides to register Brooklin brownies, guides and Sts. pathfinders registration will be Sept. 8 at Brooklin United Church 2nd Brooklin beavers, cubs and at 6:30 p.m. Also the annual family scouts registration will be Sept. 14 corn roast at Robinson farm, Ash- at Meadowcrest Public School, 6:30 burn Rd. and Hwy 7, will be on Sept. p.m. Annual registration fee is $25. 15, starting at 6:30. In case of rain it A parent or guardian must register will be held in St. Thomas Anglican the boys. Leaders will be on hand to Ladies bake to support church By ROXANNE REVELER Built in 1908, Myrtle United Church has a place in the history books of this area. But for many years now, the question is whether the charming old landmark would be able to survive a dwindling population and keep abreast of eçonomics threatening to close its doors. The congregation of the church have had other ideas, however, and the members of the United Church Women (UCW) at Myrtle have done their utmost to ensure the church doors will remain open as they have done for the past 80 years. For several years now, the UCW members have baked up a storm during the latter part of August and this year is no exception. On Labor Day weekend, they will be holding a pie sale. On Sept. 3, 4 and 5, the public is given the opportunity to purchase excellent pies at the church. The Farmers hold yard sale Brooklin Junior Farmers have never been a group to sit around for very long. Once their endeavors to put a float in the Brooklin Spring Fair Parade had been realized, they were busy planning food drives to help the less fortunate. And now, they have yet another project in the wind. The young people will be holding a giant yard and bake sale in Grass Park during the Labor Day weekend. On Sunday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 7, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., they will be manning their tables. Anyone who would be willing to donate goods for the yard sale is asked to call the Walthams at 655- 4719, or Brian Jones at 655-4264. This year marks the 50th an- niversary of Brooklin Junior Far- mers and some of the money raised will be used to assist them in celebrations to mark the occasion. Group to meet 2nd Brooklin group committee members will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Thomas' Anglican Church parish hall. The regular monthly meetings will resume the first Monday in Oc- tober. money raised goes to paying the oil costs to heat the church during the winter months. And according to parishioners, without the support of area residents, the church would not be able to keep its doors open from October to May each year. The pies being offered are not run-of-the-mill, but all homemade and with only fresh fruit, nothing canned. The ladies spent an entire afternoon peeling and coring apples donated from the orchard of Fred Gaul, a local resident. They also picked their own strawberries earlier this year. The types of pies for sale will be apple, cherry, peach, raisin, rhubarb, strawberry, apple-raisin and strawberry- rhubarb. Hours of sale will be from noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. until everything is sold on Saturday. LEADERSHIP THAT'S WORKING ELECT DIANE HAMRE in Durham East Committee Rooms: 985-9736 623-9474 Authorized by Bev Wakefield CFO