Climate-changed out
Having just flipped through your Earth Day special issue (NOW, April 16-22), I couldn’t help thinking of that old Brady Bunch refrain “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia,” or in this case “climate change, climate change, climate change.”
There’s really nothing new to report on this topic. Having just gone through two severely cold winters that were dominated by polar vortices, I think we all know climate change is real.
Yes, our planet is slowly dying. Yes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the oil sands are bad yes, pipelines are bad. Blah blah blah.
Frankly, I am climate-changed out. When most people go to sleep at night they’re probably more worried about their unpaid bills, the rent and their lousy underpaid jobs (if they’re lucky enough to be employed). The world will survive or it won’t. Please tell me something I don’t already know.
Andrew van Velzen
Toronto
Global warming’s cowspiracy
Thank you for highlighting the topic of global warming and climate change in your Earth Day special. Despite being informative, the features neglected to include animal farming and the profound detriment it causes to the planet.
We should be feeling a greater sense of urgency about this matter by virtue of the fact that we are consuming a lot of meat in North America and the livestock industry is singly one of the greatest contributors to climate change. It’s responsible for 18 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation. I highly recommend the documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, by Kip Andersen. I salute your magazine for taking a step in the right direction, but we must recognize that this topic should not take a back seat to any topic on any political agenda anywhere in the world.
Laila Plavins
Toronto
R.I.P. Jonathan Crombie
I will never forget propelling Jonathan Crombie (NOW, April 18) onto the stage during the Scarborough Theatre’s production of Carousel. He endeared himself to all of us through his wonderful personality, kindness and, yes, a bit of mischievousness. May his family find some peace in knowing that he had a wide range of friends and fans.
Sheila Almack Smith
From nowtoronto.com
No bike helmet required?
Is it NOW policy not to support the wearing of bike helmets? It would appear that if you have wonderful hair like your Cycling Special cover subject, Yvonne Bambrick (NOW, April 9-15), bike helmets are only an option.
Ever since Ontario premier Mike Harris eliminated mandatory bike helmet legislation in the 1990s, there have been those who advocate that cyclists not wear helmets. The cover photo – maybe unintentionally – comes down on that side.
What about role-modelling for our kids? I regularly see parents in Toronto riding bikes with their kids – kids with helmets and parents without.
The photos on NOW’s cover and inside the related article send the same message.
David Kidd
Toronto
Mike Duffy’s drunken smorgasbord
If Mike Duffy was not even eligible to sit as a senator for PEI, since he’s lived in Ottawa since 1971, then was it not illegal for the PM to appoint him in the first place (NOW, April 13)?
[The job of the Senate] is “necessary sober second thought.” But it sounds like they should really call it a “drunken smorgasbord of wasted taxpayer dollars.”
Paul Benoit
Oakville
Free art never pays
Re H&M and OCAD Contest Exploits Students (NOW, April 17). H&M’s contest is unfair to students, but it’s par for the course at OCAD. It was the same when I was there. There’s absolutely no reason why the winner couldn’t be given a $1,000 award for the artwork.
People are going to tell you that in the art world you’ll have to work for free. That’s bullshit. Oh, I’m sure one in 100 free jobs will [lead to] some sort of paying work, but is it worth it? I’ve been successful in the industry for 15 years, and free work never pays.
This company makes billions. Some small change won’t hurt them at all.
T. Hunter
From nowtoronto.com
Mile-high cannabis club
I enjoyed Matt Mernagh’s article on Cannabis Culture (NOW, April 16-22). It reminded me of the time I caught the red-eye from Denver to Seattle – at 3 in the afternoon.
Martin Baker
Toronto
Hey, that’s my cheesecake!
I came across your article about the best cheesecakes in Toronto (NOW, April 23-29) and am quite glad that Arepa Café made the top 10. Unfortunately, it was not mentioned that it’s my cheesecake that is sold at Arepa. I am a catering/wholesale company. You can find my cheesecakes at the Brick Works Market every Saturday.
José Arato
Toronto
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