Pot, cellphones a scary combination
Re: “Pot users know driving high is bad but many do it anyway,” Nov. 22.
So do cellphone users. Two plus two equals scary.
Geoffrey Archbold
Saanich
Fossil-fuel use leading to our destruction
We, the people of the of the world, are in a life-and-death struggle to save all life on Earth from deadly global warming and devastating climate change being caused by the continued burning of fossil fuels. Our credible world scientists have warned we are reaching a tipping point at which global heat and devastating climate change will increase ever more rapidly and we will not be able to stop it.
It would be beyond stupidity to continue burning fossil fuel that will enable a few very wealthy people and multinational corporations to make billions of dollars in profits, but will cause terrible pain, suffering, death and economic destruction to all of us. We must stop the burning of fossil fuel and transition to the new renewable green energy technology that progressive nations are already doing, with Germany and Denmark leading the way.
This will be a massive and difficult transition, especially for people invested in the fossil-fuel industry. The only massive power that can bring about this transition is the power of the people united, dedicated working together for the good of all. It has been said that “when good men do nothing, evil takes over.” All people, especially religious and political leaders, must step out of their comfort zone and join the battle to save all life on earth from the suffering, death and destruction that the continued burning of fossil fuel will cause.
Francis Blundell
Victoria
Lottery corp. wastes its advertising dollars
Re: “ICBC calls on young drivers to test new technology,” Nov. 30.
Attorney General David Eby saw fit to cut the advertising budget of “beleaguered ICBC” to shift millions of dollars to focus on enforcement.
Is it possible for whoever is in charge of “beleaguered BCLC,” which is being investigated over money laundering, to shift some of the lottery corporation’s millions from the inane ads now showing on TV ad nauseam? We have bears playing in the snow, a woman running around her office crying because she’s won some lottery money and two men sitting in a car in a casino talking with their mouths full. Ugh.
And all that is supposed to make people rush out to a casino or buy a lottery ticket?
Maybe if they didn’t waste money on such ridiculous ads, there could be more money to distribute to the ticket buyers.
D.M. Marjanocich
North Saanich
Don’t study driving app, implement pilot project
Re: “ICBC calls on young drivers to test new technology,” Nov. 30.
The highest number of crashes are caused by males age 25 to 55. So, of course, ICBC targets the group that accounts for less than 10 per cent of crashes.
My cynical side attributes this to youth being the group that cannot or does not vote.
Be that as it may, I question the need to study an app that monitors a person’s driving habits. Rather than study, implement pilot projects.
My GPS already monitors my speed and indicates if I am exceeding the speed limit. It would be a minor adjustment to connect my GPS to my cruise control so that I could never exceed the speed limit.
Why not an app that disables the driver’s phone (except for GPS and perhaps radio and music)?
The courts already impose breathalyzer-monitoring technology for convicted impaired drivers.
Implement these technologies beginning with all learner and new drivers for five years. If that group has significantly fewer crashes, make it universal.
Ken Weatherill
North Saanich
Cut way back on Christmas clutter
Re: “Beware the costs of yule spending,” “Trim the tree, and the gifts” Nov. 29.
Christmas is drawing near, and once again newspapers, magazines and TV news are giving lots of advice on how not to go in debt and how to cut down on your gift list without making enemies.
Wake up, folks! The answer is simple. Ask yourself a few questions.
Have you heard about the great Pacific plastic trash gyre? Have you heard that plastic is being found in human bodies, as well as marine life?
Have you looked at the many unnecessary items in your own home and those of people you will buy for this Christmas? Have you seen how overpackaged in plastic almost every item we buy is? Have you checked out the overabundance of everything in our stores, including thrift shops? Have you heard the news about marine life being killed by the plastic debris in our oceans and other waterways?
If you have grandchildren, have you checked out the masses of toys and other clutter they already possess — before this Christmas adds to the chaos? Will anyone really appreciate getting more?
Let’s all cut back on spending on Christmas clutter, way back, and realize it is a win-win for everyone. Cutting back will help us live within our means and it will also mean less useless plastic pollution. Instead, give your time and consumables, not more junk, and help out a charity by giving them time, as well, a perfect thing to experience with grandchildren or other family members.
Yvonne Andre
Campbell River
Pollution’s effects are killing people today
Re: “Emissions killing Canadians,” Nov. 30.
It has always been a surprise to me that heavy pollution with its harmful emissions has not been stressed a great deal more than global warming.
We have known about the harmful effects of emissions for generations. London fogs were well known to kill lots of old people. Pollution is immediate, here and now and is killing people today, but catastrophic climate change is comfortably in the distant future.
I know that it is not really so distant, but at least two elections away and can wait. It might be possible to rouse people’s concern if it is their kids who are coughing and wheezing.
However, any attempt to cut down on fossil fuels generates public rage, so don’t count on it. “Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.”
Ray Ferris
Victoria
Ships at pier are adding to air pollution
Re: “Pier extensions to boost cruise sector,” “Emissions killing Canadians,” Nov. 30.
I was struck by these two articles on the same day — one that reports on air quality that is declining due to pollutants created from greenhouse-gas emissions and addressed in several medical journals. Chronic exposure to these pollutants has devastating effects on human health as well as contributing to climate change.
I was disturbed that more and larger cruise ships would be calling at Victoria. These ships are not connected to ground power, but must keep their engines running while docked to maintain all the bells and whistles the passengers expect for comfort and entertainment — even though many are downtown filling the coffers of local merchants and contributing money to the economy.
In the meantime, these idle vessels are adding to the exhaust from vehicles in Greater Victoria. It begs a question to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority: Why are these ships not connected to cleaner ground-based power?
Last summer, with smoke from forest fires on Vancouver Island and the Mainland plus engine exhaust from vehicle traffic, the cruise-ship industry added to making air quality in Greater Victoria dangerously unhealthy.
Why doesn’t the industry contribute to the development of ground-based power for its floating resorts? Why does the authority not step up and confront the industry to help the cities in which they call?
Donna de Haan
Esquimalt
Make sure our drivers are competent
Re: “Speeding the real culprit in crashes,” letter, Nov. 25.
Once again, we have the safety mantra of those who cannot drive: Lower speed limits, more speed traps.
What is speeding anyway? Is it travelling faster than the road can be safely traversed at? Faster than what is posted? Faster than the rest of the traffic is proceeding at? Faster than the complainer can drive?
We had a widowed elderly relative who constantly bemoaned all the reckless fools who were blasting past him on the Patricia Bay Highway. I knew that was not logical, so one evening I followed him from his lady-friend’s house, where she fed him supper. Even in the 80-km/h zone, he could not get over 60. So who was the real reckless driver?
In my 57-plus years of driving, I have found that pretty much everyone else can travel on the roads and highways much faster and in greater safety than B.C. drivers seem to be able to, without the constant carping to cut speed limits. We should be using our graded licensing program to make sure drivers can actually understand how the car works and can keep it under control before we turn them loose with their “road access permits.”
A licence should indicate that an acceptable level of competence has been achieved and not be a receipt for the fees paid.
Paul Whitworth
Victoria
Scandal shows that history repeats itself
Being a born and bred Canadian and having lived in B.C. for over 46 years, I am embarrassed and horrified with what is occurring in the B.C. legislature.
I am incredulous that two respected officials of the legislature can be removed from their positions and escorted from the building by the police without being charged with an offence. This travesty of justice has gone on now for more than a week.
Since the fall session is now over and the house doesn’t resume until February, there is a heavy cloud hanging over these two gentlemen, especially over the upcoming festive season. I think that all involved in this disgraceful action should hang their heads in shame.
Obviously, the Ministry of Health firings under the former government, after which one of the researchers took his own life, doesn’t appear to have laid any groundwork for a better handling of today’s situation.
It appears that what is happening is proof that: “History repeats itself.”
Yet we live in a democracy?
Cathryn Bolton
Qualicum Beach
Poop obsession? Time to grow up
Re: “Toymakers cater to poop obsession,” Nov. 22.
A key sign of the growing infantile aspect of society is the rise in the “poop obsession” as reported in the article. A number of marketing sources we receive seem to be promoting it. Small children are becoming a rarity, so it isn’t they who are demanding this emphasis on feces. It’s more a reflection of the retreat from responsibility and adulthood.
Let’s all take a deep breath and grow up.
Jon Blair
Sidney
May’s engagement was covered too much
Re: “Green Party Leader May engaged,” Nov. 27; “Elizabeth May is getting hitched, but she’s firmly tied to her riding,” Nov. 28.
Really? Two large stories of schoolgirl gushings from our MP. Has the Times Colonist stopped being a newspaper while turning into a cross between Seventeen and The National Enquirer? What’s next, a five-page spread on Elizabeth May’s wedding and subsequent honeymoon? Please.
Bill Mylymok
North Saanich
A healthy mind in a healthy body
Re: “Canadian kids still not active enough,” Nov. 27.
The article brought to mind my schooldays in the late 1940s. At that time, we had eight classes each day and each 45 minutes long. These covered sciences, mathematics and other subjects that today might be described as social studies and languages.
In addition, we had homework subjects. Two per night, each expected to take 90 minutes, with no excuse for not handing in our work the following day. We had no television to distract us.
Students got to school in the most convenient way. I and friends rode bicycles in all weathers
Each week, we had five periods of gymnastics and sports, occasionally interspersed with cross-country runs. What this meant was that when we left school, most youths were reasonably fit and able to deal with our two years of National Service.
The foregoing led to an almost lifelong enjoyment of a variety of sports. One of the mantras of the time was: “Mens sana in corpore sano” (a healthy mind in a healthy body). This still applies today.
Neville Taylor
Qualicum Beach
