Time for action
Dear Editor:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released this month has been a shock for us all.
What has packed a real punch is that the time for climate action is now. Our politicians must go to this year’s climate conference, COP26 in Glasgow, with clear and powerful statements about making the deepest emissions cuts.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made this statement in response to the IPCC report: “The solutions are clear. Inclusive and green economies, prosperity, clean air and better health are possible for all if we respond to this crisis with solidarity and courage … I count on government leaders and all stakeholders to ensure COP26 is a success.”
I hope we can all take this to heart, and have hope that our politicians will respond to our need for clean water, fresh air, and food that doesn’t slowly sicken us because it is grown with killer pesticides. If you haven’t felt that your voice is being heard, you can join one of the many environmental groups in your area, like Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) in Erin, Wellington Water Watchers in Guelph, Credit River Conservation in Wellington County. There are dozens of ways you can give your time and energy, and even though we are in the era of COVID-19, we can still communicate on Zoom, write letters to all our politicians, call them. Ask questions that will provoke them into thinking seriously about the future of our town, county, province, country, the planet!
I am at an age when I should be able to sit back and enjoy the flowers, my grandchildren, the love of friends and the kindness of neighbours, but as satisfying as that all is, I can’t help thinking about what my grandchildren will think when they are struggling to survive in a polluted world.
What will they think of me if I don’t let them know that I am working hard to protect them now…not giving them gifts that will become useless and irrelevant in a world that does not feed them, support them, and give them hope for the future because our generation has squandered the abundant resources of the planet to make veggie spiral cutters, watches that will tell us whether we are alive and functioning and plastic stickers for our oversized vehicles!
Gerry Walsh,
Erin
‘Grow up’
Dear Editor:
As children we are expected to learn to respect the rights of others!
As grown ups we teach our children to consider others’ rights. We are justly proud of their maturity, when they learn this lesson.
I wonder what our teenagers think of adults who insist on “having their own way” when it comes to wearing a mask?
Surely adults can consider the health of the community, even if it means a small inconvenience to themselves? Grow up, please!
Sytske Drijber,
Rockwood
Won’t run, won’t vote
Dear Editor:
I have received many enquiries as to whether I am running as a candidate in the Sept. 20 federal election. It is shameful that since fixed election dates were legislated that the prime minister, at this difficult time, would now, opportunistically and selfishly, seek a majority to be the controlling dictator of the corporation called Canada Inc.
I will not be running again in any election. I do not want to give legitimacy to a system that, I now see, is illegitimate. For that matter, I will not be voting either.
The people and policies of the Christian Heritage Party are exemplary. I have met the best people there. Unfortunately, by design, when a politician is elected, he swears allegiance to the corporation who employs him, and he ceases to truly represent the people. The shuffling of the deck chairs on the sinking Titanic will continue until men and women educate themselves on the true history of our country and the law of God, who rules over all.
The politicians and judges who run the Corporation of Canada Inc. will answer for the harm they have caused “we the people”.
I ask you, “What’s in the contract you are buying with your vote? Do you have full disclosure? Was the last contract fulfilled? Why are you willing to contract again?”
500 years ago, Etienne de La Boetie wrote a short booklet titled The Politics of Obedience – The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude. His premise is simply, “remove consent.” Stop giving the government authority they do not have, nor deserve.
The vaccine is authorized for emergency use only. Since the emergency orders were rescinded June 9, 2021, would it be legal to vaccinate anyone after that date? Which companies got rich because of the lockdown, and which were disenfranchised by the unlawful orders?
What recourse does the common man have? First, read the Bible – the word of God. It is the book of the law and of contracts. Then educate yourself on the law of contracts, notices of liability, affidavits, notices of claim, maxims of law and court rules. File injunctions, to make them stop! Take a short online law course on how to win in court.
May God keep our land, glorious and free!
Irma DeVries,
Minto
Editor’s note: Anyone concerned about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine should consult their physician. All COVID-19 vaccines currently in use in Canada are authorized for use by Health Canada under an interim order.
Not enough officers
Dear Editor:
RE: “Unnecessary fatality” and “Opposes speed bumps” (Aug. 19).
Both letters suggest many solutions, but miss hitting the main problem which is that we do not have enough police officers to take care of these things.
We need to at least double the present number of patrolling police officers and continue to do so for the next five years at least. There is big trouble ahead if we fail to do so, in my opinion.
Malcolm McCulloch,
Fergus
Seeking information
Dear Editor:
I am researching for a book, which will mention Kenneth Neil Lewis (1914-1998). He married a local woman in Coningsby, Wellington County in 1959, I think the name was Day.
He was born in Orsett, Essex in England and lived for a time in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. He lived in Coningsby from about 1958 until his death.
Grateful to make contact with anyone that might have known him, to hear about his time in Canada. Grateful for any help please. Thank you. Anyone with information can email mikegunnill@mac.com.
Mike Gunnill,
Woodruff Close, England
Faith in action
Dear Editor:
I trust in God and I brush my teeth.
I trust in God and I pay my bills.
I trust in God and I eat healthy food.
I trust in God and I look both ways before I cross the street.
I trust in God and I go for check-ups.
I trust in God and I don’t smoke.
I trust in God and I wear my seatbelt.
I trust in God and I get vaccinated.
My trust in God is not negated because I try to make wise decisions in my life. My faith is enhanced because I am expressing my love through the venues God has given me to love Him.
My call as a Christian is to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Loving Him with my heart and soul means loving others as myself and serving others by putting their needs in the forefront. Loving Him with my mind is about learning through the Bible, but also about learning through Science, which is the study of the world God made. Loving Him with all my strength means doing the best that I can to be a good steward of all that the Lord has blessed me with – my family, my friends, my time, and creation.
Getting the vaccine is a safe, simple, and effective way to put my faith in action. I was vaccinated joyfully and with thanksgiving. I hope you will be too!
Kathryn Bullock,
RR 1, Alma
Perfect weekend
Dear Editor:
Thank you to Riverfest’s Wish You Were Here weekend of great music and fun on the grounds of the Elora Centre for the Arts. It was the perfect summer weekend for a backyard scaled-down music bash. The water bottle-free event provided much missed entertainment and a chance to gather safely. Thanks to the team that made this summer weekend such fun.
Thank you also to our mayor and Team Centre Wellington for meeting with the new Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks David Piccini at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario gathering. Presently the threshold for commercial water bottling is 379,000 litres per day without municipal consent. Our team pointed out to the minister that 50,000 litres a day would be a more reasonable amount for municipalities such as ours that need millions of dollars worth of new wells for municipal drinking water.
Thanks for these messages about the respect for water in Centre Wellington.
Donna McCaw,
Elora
Waste of money?
Dear Editor:
Re: Aug. 19 editorial (Gratuitous election call).
You seem to sympathize with “friends” who resent the multi-million cost to taxpayers of what you call a gratuitous federal general election call.
Well, your apathetic friends may be right. But they are also short-sighted. They ought to consider that much of the cost of this and other elections will be spent on the recruitment, training and compensation of impartial election officials with various degrees of knowledge and responsibility.
Your friends might also consider that much of this compensation money will be spent locally. Consider election spending to be a version of economic stimulus.
Finally, if you and most of your friends are indifferent to Canadian history and Canadian politics now, it may be time to get informed and involved. We have a pretty good nation, but it’ll require imagination and drive to make it a great nation.
All of us need to become interested – your friends and my friends included.
Rolf Pederson,
Fergus
Emperor has no clothes
Dear Editor:
My comments relate to the article published on July 22 “the Ear to Groundwater Tour travels to Guelph/Eramosa, Puslinch.” I had the privilege of hosting the Wellington Water Watchers and Shane Philips at my farm in Rockwood. I believe that the article clearly summarizes what Mr. Philips and myself described concerning the potential effects of the proposed Hidden Quarry on an already stressed water system and the natural environment.
What does a stressed water system look like during an extreme weather event like we are having this week? My pond is much lower and the wetlands are drying up. In the article Mr. Sweetnam, VP of JDCL states that the proposed quarry will “operate with the natural environment rather than taking from the environment.” However, working with the environment in a climate crisis was not top of mind for JDCL or for the LPAT chair for that matter during the LPAT trial. No discussion of the climate crisis occurred during the eight-week trial. The only solution to changes in the natural environment due to the quarry operations were to stop extraction if the water table dropped more than 4 m at the quarry site. Oh and yes let’s monitor for the impacts to my pond (as well as other sites within the quarry).
This obvious lack of concern for what is happening right now to our natural environment reminds me of the Hans Christen Anderson fable “The Emperor has No Clothes.” Aggregate companies like JDCL would tell us as well as our government agencies that there will be no impact to our precious water systems and we should believe them even if we know there has been no consideration for the climate crisis. Similar to the vain Emperor who was told that his invisible clothes were real. Most of us who are going to be directly impacted can see the obvious “naked truth”. Yet another 50 acres of wetland and ponds will disappear in Ontario.
Stephanie De Grandis,
Rockwood