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12 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, September 6, 1989 L.etters tothe editor 0ff The Top by Rob Streich NIMBI - Now | must become involved Anyone who has been around environmental discussions, or paid attention to the plight of the small citizens' grou against the powerful industrial giant, is probably familiar wit the NIMBY syndrome - an acronym for, "Not in my backyard!" While it was originally created with good intentions in mind, it has become a call for developers to poke fun at protest groups and their overly simplistic - "anywhere, just not here". Last week, | heard about a couple who has had enough of polluters, and are willing to stand up and do something about it. Pat and Chuck Potter are what one might call active advocates - they practice what they preach, and brother can they preach! They have a boat which patrols about on Lake Ontario, sampling water and gathering evidence of illegal pollution (as if there could be legal pollution). They send their samples to Uni- versity labs to establish what toxic chemicals are present and probable ways they could have been created - to aid officials. Aboard the good ship NIMBI, the Potters provide educa- tion for those students who want to learn about preserving and observing the environment around them - several thousand each year. Their rationale is that they see children as the only hope for our planet. Pat says that adults are jaded, they have been molded to only value the eternal buck. If there is an op- portunity to decide between a few dollars, or doing the morally correct thing, they rationalize their way out of it; "I'll do the right thing next time, really." The ever present NIMBI should make people realize that every time counts; it'll eventually catch you. Children do not have the set attitudes and perspectives of their parents holding them back. They are naturally more curi- ous and often willing to try new things and stick with them. That is why the Potters hope to influence the next generation favourably, for they have all but given up on the last few. NIMBI is the flagship for another idea, that of Environmen- tal Bounty Hunters. The Potters have approached the provin- cial government with the idea that since the bureaucracy is too convoluted to provide investigators for catching all the many in- dustrial polluters in Ontario, why not open it up to the private sector. If consultants were offered some percentage of the substantial fines which are prescribed by environmental legisla- tion in this province, they would be more than happy to free- lance and investigate polluters in hopes of such a reward. While the government has not been very supportive of the idea of bounty hunters, neither has it rejected it outright. Just like the Crime Stoppers program, people with a conscience or just an interest in a little extra spending money may soon have the opportunity to do something to protect our environment. Maybe things are really starting to look up. If we won't change by ourselves, our children will change us. Sorta like teaching an old dog a new trick, and a beneficial one at that! It is time for NYMBI - Now You Must Become Involved! This is a plea for a mature decision to stop creating this prob- lem for our children - they don't want to inherit this earth! For mor formation on De oF Matias Pp of d P.O. Box 28. Peterbor: 3 -- Ontario K9J 6Y5 (705) 748-6324 a Doctor explains why you wait... (From page 7) phoning about a patient that needs attention, the Toronto con- sultant returning your phone call from several days ago regarding a patient's care, the arrival of critical lab results requiring im- mediate attention, relatives phon- ing long distance to ask about a loved one's care, patients waiting in the pharmacy to have prescrip- tions renewed. These all require our time, but scheduling them is almost impossible. Thirdly are the perceived emergencies. These are symp- toms, such as some kinds of bleeding, which are very frighten- ing to the patient, but which the physician knows are not serious. They frequently have to be seen urgently because the patient's fear needs to be allayed. Fourthly are the potential emergencies such as chest and abdominal pains. Only a few of these end up being heart attacks, or require urgent surgery, but must be checked as if they might until the diagnosis can be made. If only we could tell ahead of time, the many not serious causes could be scheduled later! Fifthly are what I would call treatment or diagnostic oppor- tunities. These arise when in the course of a patient visit the physi- cian becomes aware of previous- ly hidden anxieties or fears, which if belittled or ignored may never be revealed again, and the source of the patient's trouble never found. Patients and their illnesses are not predictable time manageable units to be placed neatly in a business schedule. Each person is unique and has their own needs. Each disease presents different- ly in each patient - sometimes ob- vious, and sometimes mysterious- ly challenging. Unfortunately, the severity of the complaint and the time required can rarely be predicted in advance, either by the inexperienced patient or the seasoned physician. me in the future, but I also pro- mise them that their health, their fears, and their problems will be given my time whenever it is necessary, and I trust that others will patiently share their time with another's need. In a world aimed at fast food and instant gratification, I do not feel that "fast medicine' is something to be desired. While I might occasionally en- vy the leisurely businessmen's downtown lunch, I could imagine no profession more challenging, interesting, or personally rewar- ding, and while the above addi- tions to each days work often frustrate and take away from my lunches and dinners, I will likely continue providing care when it is needed, for as long as it takes. I appologise to all those who Sincerely, have waited for me in the past, John I. Stewart, M.D. and to all those who will wait for Port Perry. ONTARIO'S WETLANDS HOME SWEET HOME MUSKRATS, BASS, DUCKS. TURTLES. NEWTS. MOOSE. BEAVERS. PIKE. GEESE. SNAKES, OSPREYS, SNAILS, HAWKS. RACCOONS, DEER, SALAMANDERS HERONS, BITTERNS. FROGS. MUSKELLUNGE. - MINK, CLAMS, LOONS, " - © ™ PERCH. DRAGONFLIES, 5 WOODCOCK. - KINGFISHERS. CRAYFISH, - ONTARIO FEDERATION ST ous Installed Er Dashwood All-You-Pay- adds with JT A cu a Ds A Sen decorating flexibility. Heavy duty brass brass lever and bolt all ensure smooth operation. Remember When? (From page 7) Canadian Trucking Association's Bursary of $500. for Universi- ty Education. Mr. and Mrs. Carleton Graham were guests of honour at a party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ira G. Travell, Oshawa, on the occasion of their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations to Clerk-Treasurer, John F. Raines, who recently received the Canadian Water Works Quarter Century Service Award. The certificate presented to Mr. Raines by Reeve J.J. Gibson on behalf of the Association, stated it was presented, "in recognition of devoted service in water works, contributing to the national growth and progress and to the health and welfare of the people of Canada." 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, September 11, 1969 It is doubtful if any lady taxi drivers can match Mrs. S. Sweetman in years of service to the public. She has just started on her 21st year in the taxi business in Port Perry and says she . has no intention of quitting. Mrs. Sweetman has just expanded her business by the purchase of the Charles Brignall Taxi Ser- vice and she promises a 24 hour service. Port Perry High School shows a tentative registration of 825 pupils on September 2, 1969. Port Perry Council at the last regular meeting, approved recominendation of three additional members of the Fire Depart- ment. The new members are - Wm. Salter, Robert Rodd and Ray- mond Penny. Miss Geraldine Cooper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Cooper, Port Perry, recently graduated from Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto. Miss Cooper accepted a nursing position for the United Church Missions at Bellacoola, B.C. Rev. W. Mark Reeves was inducted as the new pastor of the Port Perry Pastoral Charge last Thursday. Rev. and Mrs. Reeves have four children - Nancy, Alistair, Christopher and Merilee. Mrs. Moon and Clifford, Seagrave, are in Toronto this week with other members of the family. Clifford will be registering for training at Teacher's College. 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, August 29, 1979 The Scugog Public Library Board has abandoned any plans it once had for a new building on lakefront property & now has asked council to endorse three variances to local by-laws which would allow construction of a 5000 sq. ft. addition to the existing War Memorial building on Queen St. Durham Region police officer was called to the Bell Canada building on Queen St. last week to ask picketer from Local 28 of the Communications Workers of Canada to move off the sidewalk to allow trucks driven by management & supervisory personnel to leave the yard. The Scugog Township treasury dept. has completed the in- dividual calculations for the approximately 7,000 tax-payers in the Township who will get refunds or credits on a $97,000 over- levy which was discovered earlier this summer. About 70 relatives & friends attended the birthday party last Saturday afternoon at Fairview Lodge to wish Mrs. Myrtle Fisher a happy birthday. JDASHWOOD WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE 1200 Phillip Murray Ave., {| OSHAWA 438-1344 * Modific ations 10 opening size may increase price DID YOU KNOW? Community newspapers have multiple readers and deliver an average of 4.68 readers per copy. That translates into a potential of 32,760 readers of the Port Perry Star every week. For Advertising Made Easy call the STAR at 985-7383