Page 4, Tho Herald, Thursday, June 14, 1979 TERRACE/KITIMAT daily herald Generat Office - 635-6157 Circulation - 635-6357 _GEN. MANAGER - Knox Coupland EDITOR - Greg Middleton CIRCULATION- TERRACE - KITIMAT OFFICE - 632-2747 . Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum Street, Terrace, B.C. A member ‘of Verifled Circulation. Authorized as second class mail, Registration number 1201. Pastage pald in cash, return postage guaranteed, Published by _ Sterling Publishers: 635-6957 NOTE OF COPYRIGHT The Herald retains full, comptete and sole copyright In any advertisement produced and-or any editorial or Photographic content published in the Herald. Reproduction ts not permiited. : LETTERS TO THE EDITOR meeting © which scheduled with Hamilton, Superintendent of Dear Sir: . was Thank you to each and Tape ete oe MRR beng ge SE ee ae by eek tenth : Mr. | every one who has made this the most successful ever, Red Sheild campaign. To Mrs, Nova Ferguson for her organization, every canvasser, whose gift of time and energy. was at the heart of this success and of course to @ generous {fublic who gave to ‘date? ih ‘excess of $2400.00 And finally to Mr: Brian Archibald and his volunteer, staff, who worked on into the. night. confirming tota, and | ~ receiving deposits. It is our. prayer that you may fee) an iatrical part of this” ‘Army, whether, at a summér,” camp, in emergency welfare’ assistance, or Addiction rehabilitation, ow help is your help, our success, your success. Thank you, , J Jak Strickland -Lieutenant- ‘An. open letter to Copper Mountain School Parents: I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the parents who were in at- Schools, and’ Mr. Phillips, principal of Copper Moun- lain School, The fact you made the effort. to be there at that awkward time of the day indicates your concern about the discipline problem at our séhool. The group of parents who: further—they displayed their determination t6 hang in there until their views can be presented to someone with the authority not only to listen to their complaints, but with the authority to rectify the’ prob ome marring daily attendance at our school. 1 have written a letter to the school Board requesting that our problem be placed on the agenda of the next meeting, Tuesday, June 19, at 8 p.m. Once again I would ask that all parents attend. Whether or not you agree with our’ stand, it is im- portant that you be there to speak up for yourself and to lend us your support, if we are to ensure a happier, more productive day for our children when they attend school next September. mained for the public | ‘meeting went one step packages provide us with oa tendance a Copper Moun- tain ch Ps rday, af- <, .. Sincerely yours, Sushi tneoclandt Sanden COMMENT by Greg Middleton In a previous column I called: student teachers a lacklustre lot. A hard and harsh generalization. It is “not completely true by an means, but it contains the germ of truth that every stereotype contains. * How does this come about? Why can you spot an- _ deducation student at about a hundred yards on any college campus? How does that relate to problems here in Terrace? The education system fosters conformity. It is nat much more, for the most part, than a giant social organization, designed to babysit so parents can get out and work and produce so to consume more, To run efficiently this system, like any system, requires a minimum of resistance and disruption. Those who conform the closest to the models in the system, are the students who are most like. the teachers, quiet and éasy to control, are encouraged to go further in that system. Those who rebel or question are discarded. We are now throwing students out of even the lower grades now because they are ‘behavior problems’. The teachers in the school system pick out students who are easy to handle, who co-operate and who conform to the system designed to keep a large number of children in buildings and out of other people's way. The students who are selected are en- couraged by the teacher to go-on in school. This teacher, who knows little about anything else other than the school system, says to this child that he or she should consider teaching as a profession. The child, - who has not much else to go by and is, because he or she has heen selected for those qualifications, likely to do just what he or she is told. So what you get are the hordes of unquestioning unresistant and pliable education students who, if they don’t rebel somewhere along the line, become teachers. Now, I know that this is.unfair to the many dedicated professionals who are concerned about the quality of education the children are getting. A great many teachers do develop both an awareness of the needs and desires of children to learn, and get the skills necessary to teach. The imparting of knowledge is not the main purpose of the education system as we know it, however, and those few teachers who are trying to really give children the tools they need and foater the ability to think things out are hampered by a system that doesn't want to see any disturbances. The feeling, that you can’t make waves, was ex: pressed to me by a teacher here in Terrace just recently. He said that there were growing problems in the schools. He indicated that the schools were not only not providing an education but were less and less able to do even the job of babysitting, but the school board here didn't want to know about it. And if the schools are to keep the children off the streets, what are the school boards for. Well, some school boards, and apparently this one is included, are to do that job at minimum cost to the faxpayer, but that is another column. They. claim bribery okay: WASHINGTON (CP) U.S. business interests seem to be waging a winning battle to convince the government that tough anti-bribery laws are hampering export sales and must be relaxed. . Reports this week say a White House task force in- cluding representatives from nine government agencies will recommend easing-".and eventually ‘dropping ‘legal prohibitions og*“aghinst payment of: bribes overseas by American orporations. The New York Times claims it obtained a draft copy of recommendations by a special task force on ex-' ports that faults the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, passed in 1977 after a series of disclosures about over- seas bribes, for the loss of about $1 billion annually in U.S. export business. The report caused some ripples in Washington. One commerce department of- ficial protested that it was "+ “pulting it a bit baldly” to say the task force wants the administration to ‘prepare the ground” for a re- sumption of bribery. The justlee department is conducting its own review of the anti-bribery law. A justice spokesman said the department won't comment now on the reported task ‘force recommendations, but _ WINNING SUPPORT By GLENN added that AttorneyGeneral Griffin Bell likely will make a statement shortly. A Chamber of Commerce ” official, Fred Stokeld, said in an interview the task force recommeendations seem to be “right on track” with its policy. He agrees with estimates that the United States is losing $1 billion or more“annually -because of hesitation to pay bribes to _ foreign officials. The 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it a crime for American cor- porations to bribe officials of foreign governments and prohibits them from falsifying accounting ‘records to cover payoffs. Carrying hefty fines and discretionary prison terms of up to five years for of- fenders, the law is the only one of its kind in a major industrial state. ‘Multinational ceor- porations, using such associations as the Chamber of Commerce and National Manufacturers’ Association, ‘have vigorously complained that the law puts them under constraints other foreign companies don't face. They particularly resent having the Securities and Exchange Commission police the law, SOMERVILLE because the, commission discloses information about many of their activities. . Ironically, the task force on exports was set up after President Carter's ‘public urging of American businessmen to become more aggressive in seeking export sales, The president said he would ask’ the’ Jiistite department i ease the foreign corrupt rections laws. But justice officiais protested this would amount to “suggesting what are legitimate bribes'' and hasn't provided the guid- ance, Since then, business lobbyists have been pursuing abolition or amendments to the law so that they can compete with other foreign companies on whatever basis is necessary. Inthe past, American mul- tinationals, including such aircraft manufacturers as Grumman Aircraft Corp. and Boeing Co., Fairchild Industries and Westinghouse Electric Corp., have been involved in publicized pay- offs in the Middle East, Japan and elsewhere. In one ease, . Westinghouse alleg- edly paid $322,000 toa former ‘defence minister, Bae Cuan uy CUA on Holm oda} ubivib | 81 fers ‘plagittratt ,) deputy pr pre epiler of E 4 \ grease’ the sAlerar Bear f: equipments - Pa bagel: The ©¢ e+) of Com- merce notes “patticularly difficulty in deciding what constitutes a “facilitating payment,” which is legai onder the corrupt practices law. It makes company officers: nervous trying to decide when facilltating — ideratitayijeat kas titutem dtibe: tieass An example arises in the case of Boeing’s admitted practice of selling aircraft in Canada under a dual con- tract system, making payments to ‘‘consultants" helping Boelng win con- tracts. A similar system was used in several countries and Boeing concedes it doesn’t know whether some: of the money was used for bribes to customers or government officials to buy Boeing jets. In the Canadian case, an RCMP investigation last mbnt: ade oa ‘year found no grounds for laying charges in‘ the Canadian sales. But ‘the new Allah McKinnon, recently asked for a new investigation, McKinnon says he isn't satisified there was no wrongdoing and says ‘double - _ payments may amount: to bribery, or at least to evasion of Canadian i income tax laws. ; . | TORONTO iCcP; While attending an en- vironmental conference last week, Ontario En- vironment Minister Harry Parrott was awakened at 6:30 a.m. by a telegram telling him the problem of acid rain has developed into a national emergency. But the telegram from an Ontarlo legislature committee drafting a report was a day late. _ Parrott had spent part ef the previous day bringing the problem of acid rain to the attention af other provincial en- vironment ministers and the federal government. Acid rain, a com- bination of sulphates and nitrates dissolving Into rain and snow, has been causing havoe in Ontario lakes in the last few yea While the acid content is not high enough to be directly harmful to humans, it does kill off aquatic life in lakes and streams, In Ontario, it has COMES FROM U.S. By caused the death of about - 140 lakes near Sudbury and ministry officials concede that an ad- ditional 48,-000 lakes, including those In the popular cottage areas of Muskoka and Haliburton, are endangered and will go the same way unless something is done on an International scale. Parrott said in an in- terview that recent ministry tests have shown that the nine-month shut- down of Inco Metals Co, in Sudbury, Ont., ‘a large source of —_ sulphur emissions, had little ef- fect on the level of acid rain. Officials gingerly place the blame on United States sources since the province’s rainfall largely is the result of warm, Y moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. As air masses pass through the industrialized eastern U.S., they pick up pollutants such as eniphur and nitrogen. Parrott told the Acid rain causing problems|| MARY CLAREHAVEY legislature that the problem has to be dealt with in a global context, “We have got a huge problem on our hands and it will require the full support of the American government to control that particular problem." Each year, about 15 million tons of ‘sulphur dioxide and 24 million tons of nitrogen oxides enter air masses from northeastern U,S., compared with two million tons of sulphur dioxide and 660,000 ‘ons of nitrogen oxides from Ontarto sources, Consequently, the minister has said the most effective ne- gotiations should be among ‘ industrialized sections of the U.S. The major cause is the increased use of fossil fuels, especially coal and oil, needed to penerale power in the U.S. . But the U.S. govern- ment, faced with a strong anti-nuclear protest, hus promised more coal-fired ’ environmental ‘has ranked acid rain ag generating plants, On the other hand, the president's committee or quality the second-most impor- tant environmental issue facing North America. Ontario enviranment | officials admit that the’ province has little recourse -but to: urge in- ternational abatement programa. ‘ The federal govern- * ment has shown some Interest by establishing a study group to investigate *- acid rain, which also caused loss of lakes in’ Nova Scotia. .. The Ontario = en-. - vironment ministry is spendin, $500,000 on acid- rain related studies, in- cluding a scientific team: stationed at Dorset, Ont., more than 100 kilometres northeast of Orillia, © The teani take air and‘ water samples and — analyses ir - content, As well, ‘provincial lottery funds ave heen — granted for university research. 7 ‘ Psi | . ~ CONSUMER A certain lady recently had the embarr: easing ex! perience of serving her guests petrified pizza, and ‘all because she had not bothered to read the preparation - instructions on the. label. They were there for her benefit; but like the other information on the package; it could not, help net i she ‘didn’t “read -.it. - “that food labels and ain facts, and if we’ take the time to.read them, they will help us to make tuiritious and ‘economic pruchazes. The regulations alsu exist-to protect us from fraudulent or deceptive practices in packaging, and so if we know our labels and get into the habit of paying attention to them, 6... shopping trip can be a somewhat less haphazard experience. ' . ‘Here are some of the things to look for! - -Federal legislation, ped : Product description-The common name’ of the product and the net quantity must appear on most prepackaged foods, as well as a listing of ingredients | in descending order of proportion. The name and principal place of business of the manufacturer, “packer, or distributor must also appear. Shelf life-Prepackaged products with a shelf life of 90 days or less must show a “best before” date on the - label which indicates how long the product can reasonably be. expected to keep its normal nutritive. value- and remain at its peak of .freshness when properly stored. The date no longer applies once the package is opened and some of the food removed, but . normally, refrigerated foods will remain safe to eat . somewhat longer than the expiry date, although there ‘may be a Joss, of quality. i Storage-If products requiring best before dates require storage.at other than room. temperature, - ‘storage instructions must appear on the label. Frozen products-If meat or meat by-products have ‘been frozen before being offered for sale, the words “previously frozen” must appear on the label or on a sign near where the food is displayed .in.the store, If products até made froma combination. of fresh and frgzeh, meats, then the words ‘made from fresh and {frozen portions” must ‘appear. “ie Iustrations-When a picture on a label illustrates the product; it mustbe a factual representation of that ‘oduct: Fér'éxample, if a package of fish shows a spleture ‘of five pieces of fish, then the package must aentain dive pieces, Labels on artlficlally flavoured Jprisiicta:which.ilhustrate the natural product being imitated must'state that artificial flavouring has been ‘wddedi‘Ifvitamins-or minerals are added, thelr ad- “hub sted ih be clearly stated onthelabel. = - $5 remember, all of this information is right there _on the product package when you buy it and it is there ‘for your benefit. It only makes sense then to read that ‘label and know just what you are getting for your money. . oF ab bAtan ; UR Ga ‘NAD ara a ne a They have been waiting twelve years for the ‘men from Mars. The landing .pad for the Martians sita in ‘St. Paul, Alberta, north ‘east of Edmonton. *, During Canada’s Cen- tennial celebrations there was no place with more ‘zestful creativity than St, ‘Paul. ideas exploded. The ‘initiative was mostly with the ‘Frincophone group. They’ were estatic about wishing Canada a happy tbirthday. Outer space technology ‘in'the U.S.A. caught the imagination of Jean Lagasse and other leaders “in St. Paul. Why not make “St. Paul the avant garde ‘town of the space age? St. Paul announced plans to "+ ybuild the first landing pad for visitors from other _ clippings planets, Contractors from: afar wanied to bid. on the project. Architects vied for the opportunity to design the unusual pad. Press tumbled like falling leaves on Jean Lagasse’s desk, The town responded by adopting space age aym- bols; barbecues were fitted with sparkling lights, kites were launched with flash- ing gadgetry, restaurants served cosmic peas ‘and milkyway potatoes. The Martians never came but The Pad makes a fine stage for the many cultures of St, Paul and in safekeeping are all those press clippings. John Fisher, Executive Vice . President of the Council for Canadian Unity was Canada’s Centennial Commissioner. ie “TODAY IN {HISTORY June 14, 1979 . . The city) of Munich, sjGermany, was founded 821 “years ago today — in 1158, It »,,Was first called Munichen, ‘meaning home of the monks, because it traced its origins to a Benedictine monastery at Tegernsee. It became capital of Bavaria in 1255, but did not expand toa major city until the last century, ; ‘When the — art-loving Bavarian kings built it up as 4 “modern Athens.” Munich was the scene of Hitler's ~ political rise in the 1920s and his beer-hall putsch cf 1923, 5 It later became his party headquarters Nearly half of ty, including much of an its’ most famous beautiful architecture, was destroyed during the Second World War, but most of it has since been restored, 1800 — Napoleon defeated the Austrians at the battle of Marengo, . 1808 — The firat Methodist church in Montreal. was built. iso — The Germans oc- cupied Paris. 1954 — Winston Churchill was invested as a Knight of the Garter. 1970 — Ceylon’s leftist coalition government an- nounced: that it wottld break away from the Com- monwealth. Tt now is known as Sri Lanka. Letters welcome The Herald welcomes tts readers com- ments. Ail letters to the editor of general public Interest will be printed. We ‘do, however, retaln the right to refuse fo print - letters on grounds of possible libel or bad -taste. We may also adit letters for style and length. All letters to be considered for publication © = must. be signed, - COMMENT, |