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economist sunsimtribune tsunami relief saturday jan 8 2005 t h e wmmttytfuiwhci e season to teeecycle the holidays may be over but there is still one more thing to give your holiday tree during the week of january 1014 place your holiday tree at the curb on your regularly scheduled waste collection day for pickup we will recycle your tree into compost for town of markham parks please make sure all decorations and tree stands are removed from the tree and do not cover it in plastic remember trees must be at the curb by 700 am on your regular waste collection day for pickup 905 4157535 wwwmarkhamca multifaith service to honour victims a multifaith service to honour vic tims of the tsunami disaster will be held sunday in the markham council cham bers at 2 pm our deepest sympathy is extended to those in our community who have lost a loved one mayor don cousens said markham has pledged 2500 to the relief effort and will continue to support this effort in the days and weeks ahead the town is hosting the service with the rapid reaction initiative a recently formed group of community agencies faiths participating in the service include christian hindu buddhist jew ish and muslim the town is flying flags at halfmast until the end of tomorrow york regional police chief armand la barge is encouraging residents to attend the service its an opportunity for the communi ty to come together in support of the many people in our region who have lost loved ones the chief said markham council is holding this service to show support for the families of many diverse cultures and communi ties who are affected by this disaster councillor khalid usman said markham mayor cousens noted through partnerships and the gen- don cousens diverse communi ty aiding residents in more than 11 countries markham mayor says erosity and prayers of our citizens who help make markham such a diverse community we are coming together to assist residents in more than 1 1 coun tries affected the council chamber is in the markham civic centre at 101 town cen tre blvd in the hwy 7 and warden avenue area joan ransbetry muslims answer call by mike adler staff writer relief money is flowing to local mosques as muslims react to the south asian disaster by giving we look at it as a test of our faith and our compassion zafar bangash presi dent of the islamic society of york region said thursday we must not fail in that though the devastation is terrible and muslims cannot explain why so many innocent people have perished or are suffering the local community has faith in gods plan and its incumbent on us to open our hearts and wallets and do the utmost to help the markham publisher said many are answering the call at sunni mosques across greater toronto which are trying to raise 1 million its really a trauma for everybody everybody wants to help said akbar warsi a markham resident helping to run the campaign from the islamic foundation of toronto mosque in scar borough which raised 40000 in one hour friday donations at banquets both the nugget avenue mosque and the islamic society of york region mosque on stouffville road in whitchurchstouffville will hold fundraising dinners sunday expecting donations of at least 50 a plate gta muslims are organizing relief camps and sending medical teams to disaster areas in sri lanka and indone sia the worlds most populous muslim country they eventually hope to build hous ing and orphanages in both countries while local offices watch how the contri butions are spent we want to keep full control of the funds mr warsi explained while the federal governments response is not as good as it could be canadians have been incredibly gener ous in the face of the disaster mr ban- gash said khalid usman a markham council lor arranging a municipal campaign in the town with a citizens group called rapid reaction initiative said the gen erosity of residents makes him feel proud to be canadian people are helping victims of the tsunami as if it has happened to us thats the spirit thats around now he said tamilswrongto say aid blocked while many in york regions tamil community warned areas of sri lanka might not receive aid due to civil conflict between tamils and the islands sin haleseled government otlier residents dismissed these charges as propaganda some tamil groups are trying to gain political advantage from the disaster said sanath kodikara of markham argu ing the tsunami did not discriminate among ethnic groups and the sri lankan government wont either this is all about humanity added mr kodikara who lost two relatives in his village near the west coast town of galle but learned his mother and broth er escaped the waves they managed to run to the high est point in the village which was the temple there was not one iota of discrimina tion in the relief effort added a state ment this week from the sri lanka unit ed national association of canada which complained canadian tamils painted a false picture by claimingthe disaster hurt sri lankas tamil northeast most whilst the north and east was rav aged by the tsunami tidal wave the densely populated south and southwest was equally affected with a larger num ber becoming displaced honorary pres ident mahinda gunasekera said mikeadler