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6 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 14,1994 Editorial Comment Changing Our Ways A recent press conference brought home the realities of living in the late 1980s and 1990s. Officials from Community Memorial Hospital in Port Perry met with the press last week to urge all patients who may have received a blood transfusion or blood products between 1978 and 1985 from the hospital to contact the Health Records Department. According to the hospital officials, the "Ontario Health Association has initiated a campaign "to launch a joint province-wide education program to get the message to the public that everyone who received, or may have received, a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985 should get an HIV test." The period from 1978 to 1985, accord- ing to Dr. Michael Gilmour, is when the disease which causes AIDS was first de- tected and when the Red Cross began screening the blood samples. It is estimated that approximately 700 to 800 blood transfusions were given dur- ing the period to approximately 200 to 250 patients. And although the hospital is not in any way saying the blood was tainted, the of- ficials have been directed by the OHA nonetheless, to get in touch with these people for a follow-up test. The hospital has already begun a back- ground search of all those still on record that received a transfusion during the per- riod, but have been stonewalled in some cases due to address or name changes. Once in contact with these people, the hospital will provide an answer as to whether the patient received a transfu- sion. If they did receive such a transfu- sion, it will then be suggested that they consult their doctor to have an HIV test conducted. The patients will not only receive the test, but also counselling on the effects and consequences of this disease. This is the frightening reality of life in this era. HIV and AIDS was once only known to affect people who chose to lead alternative lifestyles and risky practices. But it has now hit home that nobody is immune from this disease. From unprotected sex and exchanging needles to a harmless transfusion at an institution in which we could trust, we are all susceptible to the scourge for which there is no cure. There is no better reason to change our lifestyles than this. \\ OUC annual €1elds of Doms BASEBALL TOURNAMENT icome 10 al Year; OK LETS MAKE Supe YOU CL BT RE ITE Your CALL... ANp Your TEAM, AND YouR GAME. Jy / J, ad / / J, iz / / 4 / vy iN or -- - LITT W000 0070 7d 1d / 11, / IYI i x / yy. ey, Is / ya £127 / oY 7 / Or --" i / - / / A Sf Y/ ~-- \/ 4 I ETTERS Responds to advertisement on guns "fo the Editor: This is a letter written in response to the piece of literature I found on page nine in this week's Port Perry Star. I would like to run through it line by line, presenting the views of both myself and my peers on the topic at hand. 1. "....lies are being told. This time, by the left wing Socialists..." No arguments there. Socialists are telling lies every day. So are Capitalists, Property Managers, and Gun Owners. Wouldn't the world be nice if everyone would just speak plain instead of couch- ing their words in jingoism? 2. (the socialists say) "If we remove hand guns and semi-automatic rifles, the left wing version of an assault weap- on, crime will goaway." First of all, I have never seen or heard of a "left winger" calling a hand gun an "assault weapon." Furthermore, I have never been assaulted by a left winger with a hand gun. I can think of several types of small animals that are regularly agsaulted by right wingers with hand guns, but that probably doesn't interest Mr. Eastway. Second, if he finds me one government official of any political party who has stated that "if we remove guns, crime will go away," I will personally buy Turn to Page 7 by J. Peter Hvidsten NEED PLEDGES FOR RECREATION HALL There's been talk for years about the need for a second ice pad and a recreation hall at Scugog arena, and .it appears this year the community could get a least one of those items. Earlier this year Scugog received a $1 million gift from the federal government's infrastructure program, and council has ear- marked part of this towards a much needed 10,000 sq. ft. hall. < The township has already indicated its support for a community centre by desig. nating part of the grant towards the facility, but they are also asking the community to get involved and put about $100,000. towards the project. The Rotary Club gave it a good kick-off recently with its pledge of $20,000, but since then there have been no other publicly announced pledges. We understand at least one other group has suggested it would contribute to the construction of a hall, but if the project is to get off the ground money will have to be committed towards the pro- ject very soon. Construction of the Buy must begin - this year in order to qualify for the grants, so it is important the different user groups and other interested organizations through- out the township speak up quickly. An opportunity to build a facility of this size at such a small cost to the ratepayers doesn't come around very often. There is no doubt there is a need for a larger hall in the township. [t's important the groups who have been asking for this type of facility for many years react quickly and make the pledges which will ensure it is built. Federal, provincial and local govern- ments have all committed funds, so it's now in the hands of the community. If the project does not received the sup- port of user groups, the entire project could go down the drain. And that would be sad! SEPARATIST PENSION We received a news release from the National Citizen's Coalition last week ask- ing Canadians to support them in their attempt to get parliament to pass a law pre- venting Quebec MPs from collecting pen- sions if the province separates. NCC President David Somerville writes "on June 20, 1994 Lucien Bouchard will qualify for a gold-plated MP pension worth an estimated $850,000." He goes on to say that after only six years in the House of Commons, Bouchard will be eligible to receive an inflation-proof, lifetime pension, and under the current rules will continue to receive the benefits even if Quebec separates. (see letters) On this one I have to agree. Canadians in general are unhappy with the way pensions are handed out to our elected representa- tives, but to think if Quebec separates the likes of Lucien Bouchard will continue to be paid a pension by Canadians is almost incomprehensible. But to go one step further, there are prob- ably thousands of MPs and former MPs from Quebec already getting pensions. What about them? If Quebec, in its wisdom decides to sepa- rate, not only should Bouchard's pension be | revoked, but so should all those currently enjoying lucrative Canadian pensions. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Port Perry Star encourages its readers to make use of the letters to the editor column to express their opinions and viewpoints on just about any subject, as we feel a lively letters column will help make this a better community newspaper We insist, however, that all letter writers sign their name and include a phone number for verification Sorry, anonymous letters will not be published unless The Star believes it to be in the best interest of the public. We also reserve the nght to edit letters with respect to their length, content or libelous comments.