LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
More reasons Kinder Morgan is a bad idea
A recent reputable scientific study by the American National Academy of Science states that the world must dramatically reduce its greenhouse gases in as little as 10 years to avoid runaway climate change that will make the world uninhabitable for humans and many other species. A second study, by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, shows that acting aggressively to reduce greenhouse gases within the next three years will generate a $26 trillion economic global windfall, create 65 million new jobs, and avoid 700,000 early deaths linked to air pollution. Expanding the Kinder Morgan pipeline will only add to the world’s fossil fuels, worsening the climate situation and reducing the benefits from acting quickly.
However, there are other economic reasons for not expanding Kinder Morgan. Another recent study predicts that the demand for fossil fuels will peak in the 2020s and then collapse, when renewable energy approaches 6 per cent of the global energy market, just as the horse-andbuggy era was replaced rapidly by automobiles. The first fossil fuels to go will be the most expensive to produce and the most carbon-intensive, including the Canadian tar sands. At the same time, the International Maritime Organization is requiring marine diesel to have its sulphur content reduced from the current 3.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent by 2020.
Because the tar sands are high in sulphur, this will impact the tar sands particularly strongly.
Together, these reports show that government money (our money) spent on expanding Kinder Morgan may be totally wasted before the pipeline is even completed. The time to stop the Kinder Morgan expansion is now. Alan Slavin, professor emeritus, Trent University. Otonabee
An open letter to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals
Stop willfully misleading us. Recent data received through Access To Information Program requests have proven that this government is twisting data out of context to fit a now obvious agenda of confiscating lawfully obtained private property from law-abiding Canadians. You already have all of the necessary information.
It is your data. Use it with integrity instead of in the corrupt manner that we have recently witnessed.
Stop focusing on the object and focus on the behaviour. It is already against the law to commit murder. Enough. The object used to commit the crime does not make any difference. A murder victim is still a murder victim regardless of the object used to commit the crime. Clearly we do not have a gun violence problem; we have a criminal behaviour problem.
Stop making laws that reduce penalties for criminals and increase legal jeopardy for the bulk of Canadians that are not criminals.
Bill C-75 reduces penalties for criminals. Seems like a really backward tactic to take when your role is to protect Canadians from crime. Bill C-71 and any proposed ban of firearms only aims at law abiding Canadians. Watching the news clips confirms that your current level of prohibition on firearms is not working; a lot of what I see are firearms already prohibited and are not available to law abiding Canadians. Seems the criminals are not paying attention to you and your current laws. Do not burden us with new ones that they will still not follow. Stop giving false hope to those Canadians that are still naïve enough to believe that you have their best interest at heart. They have easily been misled by your rhetoric, to believe that you are interested in protecting Canadians. Your Bills and a proposal to ban handguns prove that you are not. Instead, it shows that you are trying desperately to look like you are concerned for the safety of Canadians by just “doing something.” Give real hope to Canadians. Punish criminals fully. No easy passes. Spend police resources on finding and prosecuting them, instead of wasting their precious time on restrictive fiream laws.
Leave law-abiding people alone. Allow them to enjoy their property in “the true north strong and free.” Ronnie Lucas, Hastings County
Sad to see schools walk away from Terry Fox Run
In response to the high schools cancelling participation of the Terry Fox Run, I am shocked and disappointed. For many years ALL Peterborough schools have created fantastic spirit and rivalry in raising money for a great cause: cancer research. Students can easily relate to Terry.
The Terry Fox Foundation was created by the Fox family (and Isadore Sharp). They have stayed actively involved to keep Terry's dream alive. 82% of fundraising goes to cancer research. This puts the Terry Fox Run ahead of ANY fundraising charity. This is accomplished by working with a zero budget, donations, and volunteers at the run sites.
The Terry Fox Exhibit is at the Peterborough Museum until December 9th, showing memorabilia from the Marathon of Hope. I encourage students and staff to attend this and visualize what you are walking away from. I applaud the schools St. Peters, Holy Cross, Norwood, and Kenner for deciding to continue. I wish you much success. Sue Mason, Peterborough
Terry Fox was a Canadian hero
There are many characteristics that make a hero, here are some. A hero has to be kind and selfless. A hero puts others first. A hero has to persevere. They can’t quit the moment it gets hard. They have to keep going. A hero has to be optimistic. They have to believe things will get better. Terry Fox was all this and SO much more. He didn’t care about fame or fortune. He only cared about helping others ,and making the world a better place. Terry Fox kept going. He always ran, rain or shine. Terry only had one leg but he didn’t let that stop him. He persevered. Terry Fox had a growth mindset. He saw his struggles as an opportunity.
Terry didn’t care if it was hard. He just wanted to try. Terry Fox was 100 per cent a hero. Hannah Lam, Grade 7
Teach students the importance of community
No one can deny the many benefits local institutions like Trent University and Fleming College bring to the City of Peterborough and its many residents.
With the annual Homecoming and Head of the Trent event of this past weekend, the results of booze-driven heavy partying in previous years comes to mind. The event begins at Trent’s Nassau Campus, but then spills over into the city, as late-night revelers pour downtown. In previous years there has been vandalism to city streets in the form of vomit, broken beer bottles and deliberate damage to shrubs along the way. I run a store downtown and I’ve seen it happen year in year out and it’s not acceptable. I think it is incumbent on Trent University to impress upon its student body the importance of showing respect for our city, and promise swift justice for those caught in acts of vandalism, drunkenness and general mayhem. This type of behaviour should never be allowed or accepted, or to become a part of “the tradition” of the university. Jimmy Reedyk, Parkhill Road West
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