Rating: NNNNN
re mine shaft (now, november 20- 26). I’ve frankly grown bored with this dance: industry bad, grassroots environmental activism good. The environment is one thing we should all agree on, and its problems demand co-operation and innovation from all parties, monied or otherwise. I think Pollution Probe’s strategy to reach out to mining companies like Inco is worth a shot.
I don’t automatically assume that Pollution Probe will simply get bought by Inco.
Imagine how much better served the environment would be if its so-called eco-advocates stopped fighting these bitchy little turf wars and pooled their energy.
Emma Roberts, Toronto
i was amused by alan young’s article about the cops acquitted in the Otto Vass beating death (NOW, November 20-26). In his first sentence he states factually that the “four cops who beat Otto Vass to death… were acquitted.”
Later on he says “it is not for me to comment on whether or not justice was served… as I did not hear all the evidence put to the jury.”
You would think that a professor of law would at least be able to work through an essay without making a fool of himself.
What kind of law is it you teach Mr. Young? Or do you just hate the cops so much?
Jay Waters, Toronto
with all due respect, i think letter writer Terry Parker Jr. is wrong about Alan Young (NOW, November 20-26). I’m sure Alan has broad shoulders and can bear a few insults, as well as speak for himself. Notwithstanding that, Parker has forgotten that no other lawyer even stood up to the system before Alan came along. Quite frankly, all of Parker’s beefs ought to be vented at outgoing Prime Minister Jean Chretien. More precisely, his anger should be vented at Canadians who support politicians who support drug prohibition, prescription rights and drug patents that cost us dearly at the pharmacy.
Young has never pretended to have all the answers. He’s always been a straight shooter. The battle for drug liberty is a political one and not a legal one. And in that battle, Alan has been a beam of enlightenment.
On behalf of many other activists who know of and appreciate all the hard work and sacrifice Young has dedicated to the cause of restoring dignity to the justice system, may I say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Chris Buors, Winnipeg, Manitoba
re jack takes stock (now, november 13-19). Jack Layton considers it noteworthy that a couple of Green Party of Canada officials have recently switched to the federal NDP. It would have been interesting to hear why these people made the switch. Were they attracted by Layton’s leadership, or was there more to it? I’ve known these individuals for a number of years, and in my opinion they left because the Green Party of Canada recently shifted its political philosophy to become a true “green” party, in which they no longer feel comfortable. The party now considers left-right thinking increasingly obsolete. The members who switched to the NDP didn’t accept this change.
Greens seek to achieve left-wing ends using right-wing means. We wouldn’t subsidize housing but would instead shift taxes from buildings onto land so the market would build plenty of low-cost housing on less land, without interference. Additionally, a Green government would invest only in defensive weaponry. We would finance more of the federal debt through the Bank of Canada. We would use creative tariffs to assist value-added production and reduce raw resource exports. Green taxes would be applied to reduce sprawl, phase out fossil fuels and nuclear power, and eliminate garbage and pesticides.
Our ideas may not be for everyone, and a few may move to other parties, but many more are joining us.
Frank de Jong , Chair of Council, Green Party of Canada
i read with interest your article on the manoeuvrings of the Reverend Douglas Stoute to gain control of the property on which St. James’ Cathedral sits (NOW, November 13-19). Who and where are his minders? And why is he permitted such unquestioned authority? If another minister tried half of what he’s been up to…. It would be interesting to find out why he is being permitted such latitude. Thanks to the St. James Preservation Society for putting up the good fight.
Marta Mullis, Toronto
i would like to congratulate Alice Klein and NOW Magazine for printing My Journey Into Mayan Time (NOW, November 6-12). At the risk of sounding ridiculous, I hope you continue to give coverage to new ways of thinking about ancient ideas, despite negative criticism by some. Although the article is lacking the depth the subject is due, this is not a flaky issue. Our perceptions of the universe are changing. We’re so steeped in calcified ways from the past that it prevents us from making the necessary changes for humanity’s survival, from how to deal with garbage to how to conduct international relations.
This is about uniting, wherever we come from, in finding a path toward peace and sustainability on earth.
Unfortunately, Klein was misinformed about the 13-moon calendar and the 260-day cycle. The first is a mathematically perfect count of the days in a year – 13 months of 28 days each (the number and duration of the moon’s revolution around the earth), seven days in a week, four weeks in a month, plus one day out of time equals 365 days. No need for leap years it is totally natural and exact. The 260 cycle is not arbitrary. It was discovered by the Mayans as a fractal of the 26,000-year cycle of our galaxy. It is also reflected in the 260-day period of human gestation in the womb.
Ines Gallegos-Santinoli, Toronto
belvedere is listed as “poppy punk” in your concert listings (NOW, November 13-19), but they are far from it. One should listen to their music before slapping a label on it, and “poppy punk” would not be it.
Sarah Mann, Toronto
not that i disagree with the subject matter of your article on David Miller and your ward-by-ward voter’s guide (NOW, November 6-12), but I found it strange that more than usual, your “news” section, which by definition should be driven by facts, was very much opinion-based. I realize that many papers do this, but I thought you went a little over the top on this one.
Simon Eisner, Toronto
i was surprised to read your reasons for supporting Anne Johnston in Ward 16. You think she deserved to be re-elected because of her long years of public service and because she’s the possessor of a “distinguished political career.” Last I heard, public leaders were elected to meet the needs of the people rather than vice versa.
Julia Michener, Toronto
please be advised that i voted against the bridge to the Island Airport. I am proud of my reasoned position on this matter. You may be using the vote on the settlement of the Port Authority agreement with the city of Toronto as your reference point. I would be happy to discuss how the two issues need to be separated. Please be more careful in the future. I have a great respect for your paper and the role it plays in Toronto.
Brian Ashton, City councillor,
Scarborough Southwest
just having seen the film elephant,I had to write and say how far Cameron Bailey’s 5-N review of the film (NOW, November 6-12) was off the mark. I felt so ripped off that I debated asking for my money back. For those who haven’t seen it, it sucks. The first half of the film is destroyed by the unforgivable amount of time that the camera focuses on such thing as on the backs of cast members’ heads, supposedly an attempt to replicate the shooting video game that the killers played.
The whole “switching perspectives” idea could’ve been accomplished with far less celluloid.
Don’t get me wrong. I went into the film expecting that it was intentionally superficial and shallow. It didn’t work. In terms of actual substance, Elephant was disappointingly empty and frivolous.
Van Sant obviously did no research on the subject. If he had, the film could have been subtle and disturbing. Perhaps he might have taken an honest second look at the gay shower scene to see how silly and gratuitous its inclusion was.
What this film needed was a good editor.
Dana Sixty, Toronto
i don’t know about you guys, but the U.S. is starting to scare me more and more. This whole insipid Michael Jackson affair, which was on all the major news channels, was like watching a pack of wild dogs chewing on a carcass out in the middle of the Nevada desert.
I felt a pain in my gut thinking of all these brainwashed people taking it in like gospel. Pathetic. I’m no fan, but this looks like a witch hunt to me.
Jim Lamarche, Toronto
no offence to tyler clark burke, but why is she in your fashion section (NOW, November 20-26) and not on your cover?
Kevin Singh, Toronto
