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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 2, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS A DIVISION OF Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director TERI CASAS Business Manager MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Listen, here's a good idea All parents want their kids, whether toddlers or teens, to listen. Adults should ask themselves if they, too, listen. It would pay dividends to heed a message from local youths saying it is time for a change when it comes to the message about steering clear of the tobacco habit or eliminating it in its tracks. The youths are not advocating any change to the goal, but rather its title. After all, while we hope we all get the message, isn't it young people that we most want to hear it? It's great to get smokers to butt out. It's even better if youths are encouraged to quit -- better still if the message hits home before they ever start the nasty habit. However, key to that is connecting with young people and according to local youths, the annual Weedless Wednesday initiative of National Non-Smoking Week is missing the mark among young Canadians. Sure, those of us who have been around for a while know what it is, but according to a local survey -- conducted by young people, among young people -- most local teens believe Weedless Wednesday has something to do with marijuana -- if they know about it at all. The Halton Youth Action Alliance (HYAA) -- 21 high school youths employed by Halton Region to support youth tobacco prevention efforts in the community -- is recommending to the the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (CCTC) that it be left to youths across Canada to come up with a new name for the great cause. They have backed up their case with a survey, which they did locally, amongst their peers early this year. They are going to follow up on their suggestion. Alternatives could be titles such as QUIT (Quit Using It Today), TGIF (Tobacco Goes Invisible Friday) and Wheezeless Wednesday, as suggested by the HYAA. The group also urges a contest among Canadian youths be the vehicle for coming up with a new name -- something that would ensure its relevance with young people. As usual, Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal hits the nail on the head when he speaks of the HYAA saying it is of great value that peer leaders assist in making sure the health messages being promoted are clear to all residents, including youths. The HYAA and the young people on it are doing their job. Now it is our turn to do our job -- and listen. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Council shouldn't be influenced by pesticide industry lobby As debate about the pesticide issue intensifies in the lead-up to this Monday's Town Council meeting, Oakville residents can cut through the propaganda by asking themselves, "Who do I trust to put my family's interests first: health organizations and concerned citizens with no financial interest in the outcome or the pesticide/chemical industry?" Once again, the pesticide industry seems to be covertly acting in our community to try to sway the vote. This time those opposed to pesticide restrictions are taking out full page ads in the newspapers and funding websites. They are calling themselves a citizens' coalition and have named their campaign Respect My Vote. The pesticide industry appears to be hiding behind the skirts of citizens. This secrecy is outrageous. Of course this is not the first time the pesticide industry has intervened in our municipal affairs. In 2003 they also took out newspaper ads and put up, according to their own published reports, 500 lawn signs around Oakville. The pesticide industry and their lobbyists have used these same tactics in communities across the country. Nevertheless, 126 Canadian communities have enacted pesticide bylaws. We don't believe the chemical industry's deep pockets can buy the vote in Oakville. We believe that council will respect the public will expressed in numerous polls throughout this province that the majority of citizens want cosmetic pesticides restricted. We believe that the councillors who said they will vote for pesticide restrictions during the last municipal election will stick to their promises. We believe our councillors will heed the warning of medical doctors and public health officials over the propaganda of the pesticide industry. It's a matter of trust, and we trust in our councillors' good judgment. LIZ BENNEIAN PRESIDENT, OAKVILLEGREEN CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION RENEE LEHNEN SPOKESPERSON, GARDENS OFF DRUGS Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.