The air was moist and cool. Thick clouds hung low in the evening sky. But it was not quiet. The echoing sound of a bagpipe could be heard well into the distance. A young boy was playing his pipe in the field behind his house. His deep brown eyes looked out into the distance as he played. At once, the back door opened and a woman came out.
“Angus, supper is ready! Come and eat!” she called to him. Angus nodded in return, but continued playing for several more minutes until his tune was done. After he had finished, he went inside and laid his instrument down with care. It was not an exquisite bagpipe, but a simple one, as only a fully-fledged piper employed by a noble could ever have the highest-quality instrument. Angus knew he would have the opportunity to play a truly superb bagpipe soon enough.
Angus sat down at the dinner table with his mother, father, and younger sister. “Eat up, Angus,” said his father. “You have a very important day tomorrow.”
“I know,” replied Angus. “I know what I have to do. I’m confident I can do it.”
Later, as Angus readied himself for bed, he had only one thought running through his mind, “Tomorrow, I will play perfectly.”

“Good morning Angus,” said the old man, his sharp eyes looking down at the young pupil.
“Good morning Mr. MacKay,” replied Angus. Angus had known his teacher since he was 4 years old. MacKay believed that every piping student should start at age 4. No younger, because they would be too young to understand, and not too much older because they would not be able to maximize their potential ability. He was well known for only accepting students that were 12 years or younger.
“Angus, let me hear the tune just once today,” said Mr. MacKay.
“Just once?” asked Angus. “Are you sure?” Angus was used to playing a tune many times over for his teacher.
“Yes, once is fine. You know this tune well, and I’m sure you will play it flawlessly tonight,” MacKay told him. “Let me hear it just once.”
Mr. MacKay sat down on his old oak chair and gazed into the green hills in the distance. Atop the largest hill sat a castle overlooking the valley. This was the Laird’s castle, and MacKay knew the place well.
While MacKay was recalling memories of his own youth, Angus began getting his instrument ready. He spent no more than five minutes tuning it to perfection. Then, he began the tune. MacKay’s ear was caught by the tune, and he listened to the melodic flow of the tune he himself had played to secure his future.
Two minutes past, then four, then eight, and finally twelve before the tune had finished. But time seemed to stand still as the old tune was played and its story told.
As Angus finished the final cadence at the end of the tune, MacKay opened his eyes and looked up at the lad with almost a sense of wonder. The boy seemed to look much less a boy than a young man.
“That’s exactly it Angus,” he said. “That’s exactly how it should be played.”
“Thank you…” Angus murmured. He was quite surprised not to hear some important critique of the tune, but instead only praise. A moment of silence passed before Angus spoke again.
“How many others are playing tonight?” Angus asked.
“About 10 or so I believe,” answered MacKay. “But, you shouldn’t have to worry about most of them. The only one who might be able to play as well as you is a boy called Cameron, taught by the MacLeods. But I’m sure if you play as well as you just did, you will have nothing to worry about. Now, you should go and get ready for tonight; it is important that you look as good as you sound.”
“Ok,” Angus agreed. So the two then parted for a few hours, both to eat lunch and then prepare for the evening’s contest.

It was about half past 4 o’clock when Angus left his house to wait by the road, wooden bagpipe case in hand. He and his mother had been fiddling with his hair and attire for a few hours, and Angus was glad to get outside again. A few minutes passed as Angus waited, and soon enough he heard the tell-tale sound of stones being overturned by cart wheels and could see a horse-drawn carriage coming his way. Looking at the carriage as it approached, Angus wondered again how his teacher might have become wealthy enough to afford having both a carriage and a driver for it.
“Come on Angus, hop inside,” said MacKay. “It’ll take us about thirty minutes to get there.
Angus climbed into the carriage and sat down without saying a word, and was quiet for the length of the trip. MacKay understood this, and recalled how he had been the same way. Angus stared blankly out at the verdant green hills as they passed, with only one thought running through his mind, “Tonight, I will play my tune perfectly.”

It was half and hour later when Angus and Mr. MacKay arrived at the castle. Their carriage rode up to the castle in the midst of many other carriages. After they had parked, Angus and MacKay got out. Angus looked up at the castle in awe.
“It’s magnificent, isn’t it?” MacKay remarked. “This is where your future awaits, Angus.”
The two of them, among other teachers and students, were led inside the castle by a guardsman. Angus admired all the scenery that passed; the castle grounds and gardens, and the outer hallways, richly decorated with statues and tapestries. Angus considered that he might very much enjoy living here.
Minutes later, Angus, MacKay, and all the others arrived in the great hall of the castle. It featured golden trimming all about the room, large stained-glass windows, and was brightly lit by hundreds of candles placed around the room. A grouping of chairs were set at the right end of the room, and a small head table with a single large chair behind it was placed just in front of the wall in the mid-length of the room remaining. On the table was something Angus recognized instantly as being the prize pipe of the contest. It was extravagant and covered in engraved silver fittings that sparkled and shone brilliantly in the candlelight.
“Please sit here, and wait for the Laird to address you,” instructed the guard.
Angus and MacKay took seats in the front row. Angus looked around at the other boys sat around him, each with a wooden case much like his. As Angus turned fully around, the boy sitting behind him looked right back at him.
“Hello,” whispered the other boy, “I’m Cameron.”
“I’m Angus,” Angus whispered back.
“I’m going to win tonight,” said Cameron.
Angus was stunned. He paused for a few seconds, and then turned his back to Cameron. Almost immediately, a door in the corner of the hall creaked open, and another guard stepped out onto the floor, followed by a man dressed in a magnificent crimson kilt and a gold-trimmed jacket.
“Attention everyone,” the guard began, “Laird Drummond will be adjudicating tonight’s contest. We will begin shortly.” The guard then made his leave, and Laird Drummond addressed the group.
“Welcome, gentlemen and young masters,” he said. “I would first like to make clear the terms of tonight’s contest. Ten of you will play for me, and the best performer will be granted a 20-year term to serve as Piper to me and my castle. We will begin the contest in fifteen minutes. Competitors may tune up before their performance in the room directly to your left. Meanwhile, I urge everyone to check the order of play posted on the wall beside the room. Good luck to all.”
Angus and MacKay both went to check the list, as had everyone else. Angus managed to squeeze through the crowd to check his position. He was to play ninth out of ten. This was considered a good position to be in, but something else had caught Angus’ attention. The tunes that each piper was to play were listed beside their name. But the tune Angus was to play was not the one he had spent so much time preparing. Instead, it was a different tune, a tune Angus had learnt more than a year ago, and had not played since. Angus looked around at his fellow competitors, and saw similar looks of worry. A second look at the list confirmed his tune was there though. It was beside Cameron’s name. Angus squeezed back out of the crowd to Mr. MacKay.
“Mr. MacKay, my tune is the one from last year!” Angus exclaimed. “We have to get it changed!”
“What? Are you sure?” MacKay asked. “But you cannot ask a tune to be changed, it will not be appreciated by the Laird and you risk being excluded from the contest.”
“What do I do then?” Angus asked in a panic.
“You will have to play the old tune,” MacKay said. “Don’t worry, just think of the tune. Remember what it sounds like and what it feels like. Remember how I taught you to play it.”
“Ok, I’ll try.” Angus wistfully agreed.
So, the two went back to sit down and wait for Angus’s turn to play. Angus thought long and hard about the different tune he now had to play. Angus was so deep in thought while the other competitors played that he did not notice how many of the other competitors made mistakes and that some were not even able to finish their tunes. He thought to himself, “I must play this tune and not make any mistakes. I will play this tune perfectly.”

MacKay nudged Angus. “Angus,” he whispered, “Angus!”
Angus finally snapped out of his preparatory trance, and looked his mentor in the eye. Angus knew it; it was his turn to use the tune-up room. Without saying a word, Angus took his wooden case and disappeared through the doorway.
A few minutes past, and then Angus emerged from the room. He made his way out onto the floor, saluted the Laird, and then struck up his pipe and began his tune. A beautiful melody flowed over the room, lasting 9 minutes. The Laird, who had held a crease in his forehead throughout every other performance thus far, sat relaxed in his chair.
Angus finished his tune successfully, saluted the Laird again, and left the floor of the hall. A rousing applause roared. No other competitor thus far had got through their performance perfectly. But no one was more impressed than Mr. MacKay, who had wondered whether Angus could actually pull the performance off.
Angus returned a few minutes later, his wooden case in hand once again, and sat back in his seat beside Mr. MacKay. Angus look at MacKay, MacKay nodded at Angus, and Angus gave a careful smirk in return. Nothing needed be said. But they would still have to wait for the final competitor to play.
The crowd waited a few minutes, and then the final competitor stepped out from the tuning room. It was Cameron. Like Angus did, Cameron saluted the Laird, and then began his tune.
Cameron’s pipe sounded magnificent. Like Angus, he displayed a perfect sense of calmness and control in his playing. But, what threw Angus off the performance was the musical treatment of the tune, which was the one that Angus had originally prepared to play in the contest. Whatever it was, the style or interpretation of the tune, Angus didn’t like it. It seemed as if the long notes were too long and the short notes too short.
However, Cameron also finished his tune successfully and to another rousing applause. The contest was now over, and no one could do anything now but wait to hear the Laird’s decision.

After a few minutes that seemed to last an eternity, the Laird finally rose from his chair.
He addressed the group solemnly, “I am very disappointed in what I have seen in many of the performances tonight. It seems some competitors did not know their tunes well enough to even get through them. However, while many performances lacked severely, there were two performances that stood out as far superior to the rest. These performances were by pipers Angus, and Cameron. It was not easy to decide upon a victor between these two young masters.” The Laird paused before continuing. Angus had never been more nervous in his entire life than he was at this moment.
After a moment of pause, the Laird finally announced, “The winner of this contest… is Angus.”
Shaking slightly, Angus stood up in acknowledgment. A somewhat reserved applause sounded.
“Angus,” the Laird began, “I felt your performance was superior because of the feeling that you so evidently put in your music. I am extremely impressed with your ability.”
“Sir, thank you very much,” Angus responded proudly. “I will be pleased to serve as Piper to you, Laird Drummond.” Applause sounded again.
“Then, my Piper,” began the Laird, “I would like to present to you this prize pipe. It has served many years in this castle already, and in your hands it will be the most superb of instruments. I ask you; will you give me one more performance tonight, on this pipe? Do you have another tune prepared to play?”
Angus answered promptly, “Sir, I do have another tune to play for you. I would be honoured.” And so Angus took the silver pipe and played the tune he had originally prepared for that evening. The Laird, along with everyone else in the room, was both astounded and enthralled by the performance Angus gave. It was just that much more than his earlier performance. It was truly beautiful music, and it sounded nothing like Cameron’s rendition of the same tune earlier that evening. The Laird did not even recognize it as the same tune, but was swept away by its echoing poetry.
However, one person was touched by the performance more than any other. In the back of the room, it could not be seen, but tears dripped from MacKay’s eyes. Underneath them though, was a smile.

Taser guns similar to this one are used by various police forces

Since the recall of possible defective tasers, police across Canada continue to participate in new training standards set out by the manufacturer Taser International.

The high profiled death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski on October 14, 2007, stirred up a wave of public concern as to whether tasers are safe.

Dziekanski arrived at the Vancouver airport and was tasered five times when he was creating a public disturbance.   His death is still being debated. Two months after, the incident, Stockwell Day, who was then the public safety minister, called for a review on the products use and safety.

Tougher rules began in 2008 and the first tests in Quebec were held where 167 police tasers proved to be defective and were not working according to the manufacturers specifications.  Alberta discovered that 1 in 10 of their tasers were defective and British Columbia also joined the program and had their products tested resulting in 8 of them having to be destroyed.  Each test displayed that the product was dispensing a higher charge than the original estimated 50,000 volts. Concern was also found for rookie officers who had less than five years experience with the item and whether it was being used proper.

Taser International was notified of the faulty tasers which were either destroyed, repaired and retested for use.  A new manual has been produced by the company and police all over the provinces are continuing to participate in the new program.

Taser International reports in its documents “Should sudden cardiac arrest occur in a scenario involving a Taser discharged to the chest area, it would place the law enforcement agency, the officer, and Taser International in the difficult situation of trying to ascertain what role, if any, (the device) could have played.  This is to avoid any potential controversy on the topic”

It also advises the user, for these reasons, the user should not aim at the chest area, as was earlier believed the best way to stop someone.  Instead it states to aim at the knee or leg areas.  Mark Silverstein,  legal director of the ACLU of Colorado states “It’s a sea change, a passive acknowledgement that Taser International has indeed been over confident about its claims of safety.

The new policy document was sent out as a warning for any users of the weapon as striking the chest with an electrical current may place the suspect’s heart at risk.  Since the death of Robert Dziekanski, many others have had the same fatal outcome.  Many critics argue that they should be illegal.  Many tasers are illegal weapons in many countries including Canada where it is illegal to own one.

It is only legal for military personnel, RCMP, private security firms, certain law enforcement agencies and police force members to use with the proper training.  This has caused many to try smuggling them illegally across the border from the US.

Many models are available which release volts of electricity through metal probes and are able to go through clothing or skin.  Many who have been tasered report of either a small puncture wound to the skin or the feeling of having a sun burn.  Two small pointed probes are shot out of the taser and enter the skin of the suspect.  The electrical wires then transmit electrical impulses which cause the person to lose control of all muscle action, resulting in a fall to the ground.  Recovery is immediate and is said to result in minimal injuries.

Taser International states that the product is not 100% risk free, therefore they need new training procedures and requirements in order to continue the safety of the public.  Taser has done extensive testing on the product and it is now being used by military, law enforcement and correctional centres all around the world.  These products have saved many lives and stopped many criminals in their tracks.  Police state that they are even more effective than pepper spray and consider it an important life saving device.  Statistics show that out of the percentage of people who have had tasers used on them, many only sustained moderate, non fatal injuries which did not require any medical care.  This included abrasions, bruises and small cuts.  Others who have died while being tased were said to be not from the product itself.  Taser International is now getting ready to release new guns which shoot large shot gun shell types at the suspect.  Whether the public and the law enforcement agencies accept this new type of weapon is yet to be decided.

Tasers are now being put through extensive testing along with new training procedures in order to help avoid any unnecessary injuries or death.  The frequency of how often it should be used, who should be using it and in what types of situation it should be put forward are also being discussed.  Extensive training for all law enforcement officials who use this firearm are being conducted.  The recall of the defective devices are being questioned while the death incidents are still being fought.

Silverstein also comments “whether the taser is here to stay or not is something we shall know in the far off future”.

Inoculation against H1N1 was an important aspect of preventing the disease from spreading, according to officials

According the World Health Organization (WHO) a Pandemic may officially begin when the following conditions have been met…

• Emergence of a disease new to a population;
• Agents infect humans, causing serious illness; and
• Agents spread easily and sustainably among humans.

The Swine Flu or H1N1 of 2009 has been declared a pandemic, so why are so many people dismissing the flu and ignoring the warnings?

After an interview with a receptionist at the flu clinic (Thunder Bay Public Health Unit), it was easier to see why some people are reluctant to get the flu vaccine. Ashley Kruft, receptionist told reporters this, “lots of people are coming in to get the shot, but we expected larger numbers. It was surprising…the number of people refusing.”

The wait times where long averaging two hours per person, the clinic started at 2:00p.m. and ended at 7:00p.m. The shot itself is a deterrent for obvious reasons including pain of the poke and sore arm for two days after. Some news reports of risks such as Guillain-Barre syndrome where all people needed as an excuse to refuse the vaccine.

News reports claim the flu to be a killer but death rates are low worldwide. Many people believe that the news and have ‘cried wolf’ too many times.

“While roughly half of those surveyed believe the outbreak is a “somewhat” or “very” serious problem, just as many say it is not particularly or not at all serious.” – Poll CBC News

Nearly a century ago A/H1N1 also known as the Spanish Flu killed more people than both the first and second world wars combined. The Spanish Flu was in fact of the same strain as the flu we are dealing with today. One notable future of an influenza virus is mutations and adaptations over time. The flu although slowing down has by no means disappeared. It is adapting and mutating into the second wave which has yet to hit.

Who is most at risk? This is a debatable subject for many health experts however it is a general consensus that the following are high risk. Children of school age, pregnant women, people with immune disorders or experience poor health, and the elderly are high risk. The population of healthy 20- to 50-year old is also at risk however contracting the virus is most likely not fatal. It has been noted that Canadian Aboriginals are at a greater risk than the average population; this is simply because of the lack of cleanliness on the reserves. As far as denomination the aboriginal peoples are at no greater risk than the general population.

A H1N1 study was conducted on 168 critically ill patience who where in the hospital (intensive care) this is what was found; the H1N1 was favoring women 65% female, 30% were children, 25% were aboriginal, and 29 people died (21 women & 4 children). This study was completed by JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)  and was broadcast through CTV News. People are afraid of the flu and the flu vaccine. They would rather deny its existence than heed the warnings. This week the total of deaths from H1N1 rose 4% worldwide, making to total number of deaths to date 13,277. The H1N1 is life threatening and whichever stand we many chose to take regarding the flu as serious or silly, we all need to protect ourselves.

What can you do to protect yourself…get the flu shot and washing your hands! There is no such thing as washing your hands too many times in a day. Eat healthy foods and take your vitamins do everything you would to prevent getting a normal seasonal flu. If you have food storage it would be wise to stock up on non-perishable foods, because if the H1N1 gets out of control everything will close down including the grocery store. This is part of an emergency act. Symptoms of the H1N1 flu are very similar to that of a regular flu; chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness, and general discomfort.

Two items that every household should have is surgical masks (available at most pharmacies and are inexpensive) and safety glasses. If you or someone in your household has the symptoms of H1N1 they should be bed ridden wearing a mask and safety glasses. If you need to come into contact with the ill person wash your hands and wear both the mask and glasses handling everything the person touches with the greatest care (gloves are also recommended for picking up tissues, etc…).

Protect yourself and your loved ones, take precautions and be prepared. Prepare for the worst, but pray for the best. The population is divided on the seriousness of the H1N1 hype, however it is better to be safe than sorry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic

http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/6038460/Doctors-told-to-watch-for-Guillain-Barre-syndrome-during-Swine-flu-vaccination-programme.html# http://www.mcgill.ca/health/h1n1symptoms/

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/index-eng.php?gclid=CJG-yond0J0CFRHxDAodYn_trw

Interviews locally (Thunder Bay) conducted by myself on November 2^nd/3^rd, 2008

Special Thanks to Ashley Kruft, Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Photo by Grant Neufeld

Poverty is a rising problem in Hamilton and is getting worse as time continues.

Poverty: the state or condition of not having enough money or goods to support you. Hamilton is a big city that is filled with poverty. Poverty is a huge issue, though it is not only one issue. This issue of poverty turns into many other issues as well: sickness, young death, violent behavior, divorce, teen pregnancy, homelessness, high school drop outs, and drug use. These are all issues that may be the result of poverty and there are many more too. Poverty is serious and needs to be stopped.

According to a report done by the Social Planning & Research Council of Hamilton, over ninety thousand Hamiltonians are living under the poverty line. This means that they spend more than half their income on housing and food. So, they cannot afford enough food, clothing, shelter and necessities for a healthy life and family. Families living in poverty sometimes have to choose between paying the rent and buying groceries. Statistics from the Hamilton District School Board show that 15,000 Hamiltonians rely on food banks for their monthly groceries. Even with the help of food banks, they do not have enough. Right now, the food banks in Hamilton are running low on supplies as more families are using their services and there are fewer people giving to the food banks.

The groups of people who are most affected by poverty in Hamilton are single parents, immigrants and those with disabilities. The reasons are mostly because of lack of jobs for those types of people. Single parents, either they were never married or they were divorced, have a hard time working and supporting their child at the same times. Often they do not receive child support from the other parent.  A report done by Social Planning and Research Canada showed that 81% of children in Hamilton under the age of 6 living with a single mother were living in poverty. Immigrants cannot find work, either because they do not speak English well enough or their training is not recognized. Disabled people cannot work because of physical or emotional problems. Even full families and single adults are struggling with poverty now, though. Poverty is affecting all people in Hamilton.

The issue of poverty is not just about lack of pay from employers or lack of support from the government. There have been many job cuts and companies closing because of the recession and Hamiltonians are losing a lot of work. The NPD has said that that the minimum wage is not high enough. People need to be paid more to support themselves and their families. All these things are problems but the real problem, overall is that families cannot support their children and their spouses. According to the Hamilton District School Board forty percent of people living under the poverty line are too young or too old to work. People may point the finger at the government, employers, or the poor people of Hamilton. Poverty is a complex problem, caused by so many things. All that needs to be realized it is not about pointing the finger but about fixing the problem.

Fixing the one problem, which is poverty, would be fixing a lot. Studies show that children who grew up living in poverty were more likely to get involved in criminal acts, for example, drugs and violence. Young girls raised in poverty are more likely to become pregnant. Both of those things could lead to high school drop outs. Poverty is also a leading cause in family issues like divorce. Parents are more likely to be stressed or be depressed if in poverty because of the financial problems. It is not only psychological problems like depression that comes out of poverty though; physical problems are also more likely if in poverty. People do not have the time or money to deal with sicknesses and cannot afford the right healthy foods, causing young death and more health problems for people living in poverty. An article done by the Montreal Gazette shows a quote from a Canadian government report saying this: “Children between age 0-17 living in extreme poverty have 13,500 more visits to a hospital every year compared to the wealthy.”  Poor children have more trouble at school; there is now a new rating system for schools that takes into account the number of poor and immigrant families in the neighbourhood. Poor families cannot afford books, tutors and music lessons for their children. Many problems in society can be brought back to one thing: Poverty.

Poverty is a huge problem that affects many other problems. Many problems are growing because poverty is growing. The problem has to be fought. Poverty needs to be stopped in Hamilton because to help stop young deaths, teen pregnancy, depression, violence, drug use and many other problems first poverty must be fixed. This is for the benefit for all Hamiltonians and the Hamiltonians of future generations.

Protestors make chalk outlines outside the Canadian border crosssing in Cornwall, Ontario. Photo by ThisTideHasNoHeartbeat

The Canadian border in Cornwall has been closed for almost 8 months now, causing many problems to the neighboring communities.

On May 31^st last year, the people of Akwesasne closed down the Canadian border post located on their island because of the approaching law.

The new law, promised in May 2006 by the Conservatives, which was coming on going to be in effect June 1^st, stated that all border guards would now carry a handgun. Because the Canadian Border is on Mohawk territory, the CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) has a “Duty to Consult” and a “Duty to accommodate” the First Nations since they were here a long time before the Canadians or the Americans. This was not done concerning the new law and it upset the people of Akwesasne. In addition to that, the people of Akwesasne have faced a lot of prejudice and unjustified mistreatment in the past and feared that firearms would only increase the gravity of this problem. To top it all off, the border crossing is near a children’s bus stop and parents feared for their children’s safety.

The border was not actually closed down; the border guards feared for their lives and had to leave for their own safety, leaving the building with no staff. A group of over 100 First Nations decided to protest very strongly and openly to the point where the guards had to leave to protect themselves. A few guards had to take some days off work for health and stress reasons. During the month of July, a temporary border was set up because the conflict was still unresolved. (This temporary border, which was set up in July, is measured so a snowplow can fit through it.) Now the people of Akwesasne and anyone going to the United States has to do a complicated route through Cornwall and wait, for sometimes hours, to get to their destinations.

The Mohawk territory of Akwesasne is located between Canada and the United States. It is actually right in the center. This means that the people of Akwesasne need to go to the Canadian border to travel from the North side of Akwesasne to the South. Parents who want to pick up their children from school have to come an extra 6 km to Cornwall, wait at the border for hours and then pick up their children. This complicates things and the people of Akwesasne brought it up to Justice McHavish. She recognized that this disrupted the lives of the First Nations but she did not take a position. Her ruling was appealed on Dec 21^st, because it only represented the beginning of the issue and not the end.

Not only are the people of Akwesasne affected, so are the border guards, the people of Cornwall and the businesses all around. The border guards are now working in an unsafe environment because the temporary border is not as protected as the official one. The people of Cornwall who work in the United States or on Akwesasne have to budget in more time to cross the border. The communities of Cornwall and Massena (US) have also had bad press because of this issue. The community of Cornwall has also been affected by the lack of business that has ensued after the problems. It is too complicated to travel to Cornwall from the United States for most people and so business has not been very good. The same setback applies for the United States from Cornwall.

Brendan White, the Communications Officer for the people of Akwesasne, was contacted and gave a lot of good information on the issue from the Native’s point of view. His main points were that the people of Akwesasne were as hurt by this issue as the surrounding people. He did say that the Mohawk have become closer together as the Northern Mohawk Council, the Southern St Regis Mohawk Tribunal and the National Council of Chiefs have come together to resolve the issue. He also kept stressing that polite, positive and encouraging communication was needed from both sides. When asked what he thought would be the best solution, he dodged the question. At the end of the interview, when he was asked if he thought the two communities would ever be able to resolve the issue, he chuckled.

Communications with the CBSA have been unsuccessful.

The people of Cornwall have many opinions on this issue. Marlene L said, “I don’t think the people of Akwesasne actually want to resolve the issue.” she said the temporary border will probably become permanent. Judy M. who is one quarter native, and shops in Massena very often had a lot to say about the issue. When the issue first started, she was worried about her son who was coming to visit after time in Iraq. She was glad she got the chance to tell him the bridge was closed before he left. When asked what she thought of the people of Akwesasne who were complaining she said that the people of Akwesasne made the problem and now they need to “suck it up”. The most she’s had to wait at the border was an hour. She has felt frustrated that a third line wasn’t open when there obviously was enough staff. She thinks the best solution would be to rent or buy land on the US side unless the First Nations accept the guns at the border. If a new border is built on US territory, she hopes that the Canadian border offices on Akwesasne will be taken down. “Those things are bullet and bomb proof. They shouldn’t have access to that on their land.” She also feels the Mohawk’s reasons are hypocritical since 90% of them carry firearm. “When they were fighting each other on the St-Lawrence with their machine guns, you could hear it! They didn’t care if it hit us.” Coralie L. says that the First Nations people only want attention. If they wanted the problem resolved so much, it would already be resolved.

This issue has affected all the people of Akwesasne and Cornwall, as well as the border guards. Would it all have been avoided if the CBSA had reported the change to the First Nations? Or would the problem still have occurred because of the Mohawks’ not wanting handguns on the Island? There really is no way to know, and dwelling on the past will not solve anything. Communication is the key to this problem and although this issue dates from May 2009, a solution does not seem to be in view yet.

Clean drinking water is often taken as something for granted

Durham regions water source is from a 2,100mm diameter intake pipe, with a diameter of 9m and a depth of 18m, which draws water from Lake Ontario.  The pipe extends 2,506m into the Lake.  Durham Region supplies water to the Town of Ajax and the City of Pickering’s residents, being approximately 195, 525 residents.  Our treatment plant utilizes the following unit processes and systems: water storage, direct filtration, low lift pumping, high lift pumping, screening, zebra mussel control, pre-chlorination, ETC.  The whole process our drinking water goes through is monitored by a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system.

“The distribution system delivers the treated water through approximately 693.17 kilometers of water mains in six (6) pressure zones and includes three (3) reservoirs, one (1) elevated tank, and five (5) booster stations. Additional chlorination is applied at one (1) of the booster station facilities.”[1] The quality of our drinking water is very important; if something is wrong with the water it can cause many health hazards to your family, neighbors, and yourself.

On any adjacent rural areas, homes do not have any connections to municipal water and sewer lines. “Homeowners rely upon privately owned or communal (shared) wells as their drinking water source, and individual septic systems to treat and discharge their wastewater.”[2] When dealing with a well for your source of drinking water it can sometimes pose a health threat to your family or neighbours because of a malfunctioning well.  When using a well for your water supply there are three different things to consider, the well system, the water quantity, and the water quality.  There are three different types of well systems, dug, bored, and drilled.  Bored and dug wells are usually used to produce water from shallow surfaces and are usually prone to contamination from surface water infiltration and to water shortages.  The other kind of well is a drilled well, and this is usually used to penetrate deeper aquifiers but this provides a safer source for drinking water.

When your source of water comes from a well it means your water is coming from aquifiers, which are zones of saturated permeable soil or rock.  When a well is having problems pulling water from its source, it could be many reasons; some of the solutions to a dry well include digging a deeper well, unplugging a fouled well screen or replacing a corroded well casing or screen, and water conservation in the home.

When sourcing water from a well it is very important to make sure the quality of the water is ok.  If the water quality is poor it leads to poor health in your home and residents close to you.  Also, when there are problems with the quality of water from a well it can lead to unpleasant tastes and odors, costly treatment systems and the costly use of bottled water.  Well water can be easily contaminated with bacteria and chemicals.  Some of the common sources of contamination include manure runoff, pet waste, road chemicals and dissolved chemicals from the groundwater such as sulphur, chloride, iron, or calcium.

The following are some of the health indicators; E. Coli or Faecal Coliform is a “bacteria that lives in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals, including wildlife, farm animals, pets, and humans, and are excreted  in their feces”[3] (e coli is short for Escherichia coli), total coliform is one of the least harmful bacteria but if in high numbers it can be potentially harmful, nitrate is dangerous for babies because if there is high levels of nitrate it can cause methemoglobinemia – “blue baby syndrome”, can cause birth defects, and there is a potential link between high nitrates and gastrointestinal cancer and gastic cancer, sodium/potassium chloride, sulphate in small amounts pose no health concerns however, if large amounts are present a problem can occur, and lead which is a metal and is said if high levels in water can cause lower IQ’s in children.  The following are some of the aesthetic indicators; hardness is due to dissolved calcium and magnesium, “a water’s softener’s effectiveness depends on how hard the incoming water is”[4], chloride in small amounts also pose no health concerns however, if large amounts are present problems can occur, iron is a element found dissolved in ground water and causes stains after oxidation and precipitation, causes colors in the water, and the taste to change, manganese is an element found in water sometimes that causes black stains in laundry and plumbing fixtures, and pH levels is the potential of hydrogen, “the neutral point of 7 indicates the presence of equal concentrations of free hydrogen and free hydroxide ions.”[5]

The residents in Durham Region are very aware of the quality of their drinking water and our town gives us many chances to read and learn about the quality and quantity of our water through the internet, Durham Region Works Department and by bi-annual newsletters to residents.  Every year they put up an annual report of our drinking water, what is being done with it, and all the water treatment chemicals that have been used in their water during that reporting period.  It also shows our community how much money will be going towards repairs and provides details on notices of the Safe Drinking-Water Act and reported to Spills Action Centre.  Also, there are many concerned residents starting a strike/petition because York Region is trying to build a pipe through Pickering for sewage, which is costing people their homes.  Residents are concerned about how many liters of sewage this pipe is going to bring into our lake, and potentially risking our drinking water.  “York Region’s Big Pipe proposal will send more than 80 tones of phosphorous into Lake Ontario every year.”[6] When it comes to Durham’s drinking water we work as a community to try and keep it as clean as possible, we do not want our fellow residents becoming very ill and risking losing lives from outbreaks of chemicals, for example the outbreak of E. Coli in Walkerton, Ontario in 2001 killing 7 people and leaving hundreds sick.

In the town of Ajax your water can be tested anytime you have a concern.  The town will test or you could have it tested by an outside source.  There are home kits for testing the quality however; these kits may not always be accurate.  The best course of action is to start with the municipality and if not satisfied contact an independent company.  I have found in speaking with people in the area, those with concerns in the past were satisfied in the municipalities handling of their concerns.

“Water Education” January 10^th 2010. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education2/76-chloride-sulfate.htm

“Buying a House With a Well and Septic System” January 7^th, 2010. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education2/76-chloride-sulfate.htm

“2008Annual Report Drinking-Water Systems Regulation O. Reg. 170/03” January 1^st to December 31^st, 2008.  January 6^th, 2010. http://www.region.durham.on.ca/departments/works/reports/2008/AAjax08.pdf

“Raising a stink over … The “BIG PIPE”” Sharon Lem. October 19^th, 2009. January 8^th, 2010. http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/10/19/11446066-sun.html

“Water Quality Reports” January 6^th, 2010. http://www.region.durham.on.ca/works.asp?nr=/departments/works/reports/reportsinside.htm

“Glossary” Sanatoga Water Conditioning, Inc. January 11^th, 2010. http://www.sanatogawater.com/glossary.htm

“Total Coliform – Testing Water for Bacterial Contaminants” January 9^th, 2010. http://www.inspectapedia.com/water/ColiformBacteria.htm

“What are E. coli and Fecal Coliforms” January 11^th, 2010. http://www.mnbeaches.org/science/ecoli.html

“93.3M for York, Durham Wastewater Improvements” August 4 2009. January 10^th, 2010. http://watercanada.net/2009/93-3m-for-york-durham-wastewater-improvements/

“Water Treatment Plant” January 11^th, 2010. http://www.region.durham.on.ca/images/works/water/watertreatplant.gif

[2] Buying a House with a Well and Septic System January 7^th, 2010.  http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/buho/buho_003.cfm

[3] What are E. coli and Fecal Coliforms January 11, 2010. http://www.mnbeaches.org/science/ecoli.html

[4] Glossary Sanatoga Water Conditioning, Inc.  January 11, 2010. http://www.sanatogawater.com/glossary.htm

[5] Ibid

[6] Raising a stink over…The “BIG PIPE” Sharon Lem. October 19, 2009.  January 8, 2010.  http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/10/19/11446066-sun.html

MADD says a high percentage of teen are considered heavy drinkers

MADD Canada statistics show prevalence in heavy drinking among youth and students ages 15 to 25 and local residents share their thoughts on drinking trends.

The Canadian Addiction Survey found “15-24 year olds has  highest rates of weekly and monthly heavy drinking.” The average percentile of both weekly and monthly heavy drinking was found to be the highest for youth ages 18-19 at 16.1% weekly and 51.8% monthly. This makes for a drastic comparison to the all-ages average of 6.2% weekly and 25.5% monthly. The same age group also had the highest statistic of drinking more than 5 drinks on a typical drinking day. Good stats, but a bit hard to follow.

This means that student age youth are drinking roughly twice as much as the average for all ages of Canadians, and more of those days spent drinking are spent drinking heavily. This is far clearer than the previous paragraph. Maybe it should come before it.

“Among the most troubling…” were the words used by the study, first published in 2006, to describe these findings.

MADD Canada found similar statistics in subsequent, and more recent, surveys. The portion of a survey done in Ontario reveals that “more than 61% of all high school students reported drinking in the past 12 months,” and “nearly 10% reported drinking weekly.” In addition, the study also states, “More than 26% of students reported binge drinking (5 or more drinks on a single occasion) at least once in the 4 weeks prior to the survey.”

On average, a quarter of Ontario high school students binge drink at least once per month. This is a lot of drinking for an age group that is under the legal drinking age in Ontario. In further detail, “Binge drinking rates were lowest among grade-7 students (4.4%) and highest among grade-12 students (48%).”

Local residents of Orangeville were asked what they thought about these statistics. Some were kind enough to share their reactions and thoughts.

Mrs. June Button is an office administrator with Orangeville Police Services. She stated that she was not surprised by these statistics. “I find, over the weekend, we get a lot of kids that are drinking. Depending on how their condition is, if they have someone with them that can take them home, that’s fine, if not, if they’re not taking care of themselves, they get taken in and locked into the station,” said Button. However, she also felt that younger adult drinkers were less likely to drink and drive. “Dinking and driving seems to be more the older adult. The younger kids, they are more of the partying and drinking and, walking the streets, they will cause mischief. But, they usually don’t drink and drive,” Button said.

When asked why she thought young adults would drink heavily, Button replied, “That’s hard to say. I’m thinking myself that some of these kids that are drinking could possibly be drinking more as a social thing, but more so to drink rather than to do drugs. That is the lesser of two evils.” She also commented on the current legal drinking age, and that she felt it should not be decreased nor increased. “When they’re 19, I think they’re old enough to handle it better.” said Button, referring to the responsibility of the youth.

However, Button stated that she did not see drinking trends decreasing, but she felt it was more likely that trends would remain the same. “I know that in the years I’ve worked with the station, I haven’t seen much difference, it’s pretty well basically the same thing. Monday morning, you have all your tickets, and especially if somebody has a big party, then it does get out of hand.”

Mrs. Sheryl Bottschen is a wife and mother of two young children. When asked what she thought about the drinking statistics, she responded, “Actually, it does surprise me. It frightens me, to be honest.” Bottschen stated she believed that the cause of heavy drinking in these young adults is social. “Absolutely 100% based on peer pressure, social environment, and what’s expected at that age. This is just what you do,” Bottschen said.

Bottschen also shared that she felt that the level of drinking in this age group should be reduced “substantially.” Bottschen added, “But I don’t expect it to… But, it would scare me if it increases even more. Which, it seems that every generation seems to get worse. So I mean, as generational parents, as I am, you pray that you’re putting enough in that there’s other things in life you can do. I would say, I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually increases.”

Andrew Dale, age 18, shared an interesting perspective on the matter. He stated that the statistics do not surprise him. He said, “I think some people; it goes back to the younger ages, drinking. In my opinion, if you start younger, you’re not going to want to drink as much when you’re of legal age, because the effect wears off.” In addition to this, Dale also felt social conditions played an important role. “I think it’s the surroundings as well, who you are in school, and friends. If you’re with that kind of group of people, and they do it, then you’re obviously going to want to do it as often as they are so you don’t feel left out,” Dale said.

Dale’s perspective really became interesting when asked what changes, if any, should be made to current trends. Dale said, “I think it should be spread out, rather than decreased. A lot them do it in one spot, and if it were more spread out it would have a different impact on people. But, I can actually see it going up instead of going down, just because of the generation gap, and just what people will do now for attention, or for their own thrill.”

Clearly, there are a variety of opinions out there. However, one thing always remained constant. Everyone that was interviewed agreed that the current trends of heavy drinking among young adults will either remain the same, or increase. Most believed trends would increase.

Readers can visit the MADD Canada website at www.madd.ca for additional information and statistics.

A number of illegal drugs are available to high school students

The issue of drug use in Ontario high schools is, perhaps, an overlooked subject. That may be because people are unaware of how severe it is, or that we just do not want to comprehend how bad it truly is because we are in fear of what we have brought upon ourselves.

There are many different types of drugs that are constantly being trafficked around and, sometimes inside, high schools in Ontario, the most popular being the sale of marijuana, also known as “dope”, “Mary Jane”, or “weed”.

According to a SADD survey, 25.4 percent of students in high school have sold, given or been offered illegal drugs in their school boundary, which shows that students using these drugs are likely to have these items hidden behind their locker doors or in some area of school property regularly in fear of bringing them home or somewhere else, or that this area is the best place for them to exchange. It is a severe issue that can shape how our future generations will form and act, seeing as the affect of drugs even to the minimal use can affect a person’s future mental and physical state in a negative manor.

The “in” crowd in high school usually and most likely have done or are currently participating in group activities to do with drugs and alcohol which contributes to the survey that a whole 32.4 percent of grade twelve students have smoked marijuana in the past year.

So, we understand how pressured some youth must feel on a daily basis when they are trying to own up to the popular kids but avoid their bad habits. They are getting the impression that in order to be popular, you must be willing to experiment and try different types of drugs to fit into a specific social group.

According to an SADD survey, 50 percent of teens admitted to using illicit drugs by the time they completed high school.

The long-term effects of drug use are severe to students especially as they are at such a young age and their bodies have not yet fully developed and therefore are more prone to the aftermath of drug use.

Many common long-term affects of drug use are depression, confusion, issues with the liver, and paranoia. With such severe effects resulting from their own decision, it is important for them to be informed of what they are choosing and what the results can be.

The easiest drug to access, said by 23 percent of teens, is known to be the sell of marijuana. These teens have said that marijuana is easier to buy than cigarettes or even beer. However, although this is an easily accessed drug, improvement in this issue is happening the way that statistics show that the use of marijuana in high school students has lowered from 32.7 percent in 2001 to 30.3 percent in 2002.

However, the amount of students using drugs does not change the fact that it is still an issue. The long-term damage drugs have on an individual can be traumatizing depending on the situation, so it should be an issue we make an effort to fix.

Also, it is proven that students who use drugs on a regular basis are less likely to excel in their schoolwork due to distractions and the aftermath of drug use due to the conditions that come along with the decision made. This can affect their choices later in life in regards to career choices, lifestyle choices, and choices in relation to relationships, marriages and family.

So, it is true that the affects of drugs can affect one’s decisions and choices of lifestyle because of the results, which can generally create a chain to affect other people in turn.

Some schools have made the decision to teach and warn high school students about the affects of drugs by having sessions during health classes and such about it, which are usually fairly informative discussions that can help guide to the students into making the correct decision that will shape their future.

http://www.drug-rehabs.com/high-school.htm

http://www.sadd.org/stats.htm

http://www.gdcada.org/index.htm