Letters to the Editor

Editor:rnAir quality report shows Okanagan residents breathing in smoke-filled air.
This headline in the Kelowna Daily Courier on December 16, 2004 was based upon B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall's annual report. Forest industry activities, agriculture burning and wood stoves are the main sources of this pollution.
We are all aware of the health risks associated with second hand tobacco smoke but few are aware that research findings indicate that second hand wood smoke may be even more dangerous to your health. Burning wood releases harmful pollutants both indoors and outdoors which can seep into your neigh-bours' homes through cracks, windows and ventilation systems. Poor burning techniques and inefficient wood stove appliances are major contributors to poor air quality. The smog alert in Toronto in February was the result of wood stoves and fireplaces contributing half the particulate matter in the air.
The many temperature inversions this winter trapped smoke in the valley bottom for days on end. Under these conditions everybody is breathing harmful pollutants.
Now for the good news. Recent initiatives by your Federal, Provincial and Regional Governments provide an opportunity for cleaner air. These are:rn-Provincial legislation enabling regional districts to make their own bylaws to control the generation of smoke.
-the Regional District has established an air quality committee to bring forward recommendations to address the problem. Mayor John Slater is a member of this committee and invites your inquiries.
-the Provincial and the Federal governments have installed an air monitoring station at Osoyoos. Daily air quality reports could soon be possible.
What can you do to improve air quality?rn-Learn about the air quality problem so you can make good choices for heating and disposal of wood wastes.
-Consider installing a high-efficiency stove that can cut emissions up to 90% and burn a third less wood.
-Never burn outdoors during a temperature inversion and support initiatives to grind up the wood wastes and return the fibre back to the soil.
-Inform your local, regional and provincial governments that you want clean air. Govern-ments at all levels are motivated by public opinion.
Art PurdonrnOsoyoos

Editor:rnOpen Letter to Hon. Wayne Easter; Parlia-mentary Secretary.
It appears that special interests and in particular, big business, have pressed govern-ment into the chore of asserting their property interest in seed whose genetic codes they unravel and then claim as their own.
Plant Breeders Rights legislation is another one of those laws which, once passed, will contribute further to the weakening of government which grows more and more out of touch with reason and natural justice.
The patents issued by the dwindling authority of the Government of Canada will be inad-equate to the chore because seed saver resistance will be constant and unre-pentant.
Dr. Vandana Shiva of India and Percy Schmeiser here in Canada provide good and credible leadership to seed savers worldwide.
The farmer's right to grow, harvest and sow their seed is a natural right.
To exercise that right and to assert that right is a just endeavor which will be undeterred by the machinations of governments and their monied bosses.
Wayne, I am unclear what role you have been given by your people in respect to any legislative changes affecting those who save, sow and harvest their own seed.
I would suggest that you side with seed savers who remain in the right here and in the long run are those best entrusted as keepers of the land and what grows out of it.

Dave CursonsrnCawston

Editor:rnGoose hunting season from Feb. 21 to March 10 was covered by a story in the Osoyoos Times on March 9.
You sure gave the public a lot of time to discuss this controversial project.
Project, that's a nice clean word for what really took place.
According to the town, the sheer numbers of geese in the town are creating significant problems like damaging and fouling public and private lands.
We humans have a lot of nerve making that statement while we poison these birds water and home with pesticides, saturate their food with fertilizers and use their home as a dumping ground. Stand on the bridge crossing the lake and have a look along the shore and in the water, then tell me who is fouling public lands.
But these beautiful creatures have learnt to adapt to this and live amongst us. We on the other hand can not live with their poop in our parks, so we have resorted to our favourite final solution, we killed them.
I wonder how many of you parents who complained of the poop in the parks would have taken your children to watch that slaughter you help promote. These creatures were only doing what came natural to them. The earth is changing, warmer winters, less need to migrate so they need a place to live.
They were even willing to move out when our gold rush of tourists arrive each summer, but that wasn't good enough for the town so we killed them.
One day in the near future when the developers have gobbled up all the green spaces you will wish you could have walked your children amongst these majestic birds and observed their grace and beauty. It looks like the trumpeter swan and mallard populations are higher this year on the lake, are they next?rnMike ClancyrnOsoyoos

Editor:rnThe town of Osoyoos has experienced major growth in the past five years, bringing new residents and tourists from further and further afield.
A criticism I continue to hear, though, is that there is a limited variety of activities to engage in once you arrive.
This means residents and tourists take their dollars and support to other communities – year round.
For a town that has built its livelyhood on tourism, it seems very short sighted to even consider removing a facility that has the potential to provide a variety of activities and opportunities that will help to build Osoyoos' reputation as a year round tourist destination.
Horse enthusiasts travel great distances to participate in equestrian events and to do this, disposable income is a must.
Why not expand Desert Park and have them leave some of their dollars in the South Okanagan? And at the same time, provide residents with a year round multi-use recreational facility.
The location of Desert Park is prime for higher end condos, houses and golf courses but an equestrian facility that could boast of an incredible view and opportunities to access the surrounding hills, could attract a different type of tourist and give Osoyoos something competing communities don't have! I'm in favour of an Osoyoos that demonstrates diversity and creativity in its efforts to grow, and this includes an expanded Desert Park.
Bev Deets, Osoyoos

Editor:rnThis week's coffee shop banter centres around the news the town has hired a bounty hunter to kill Canada Geese.
We wonder whether this is a growth industry?
Will the bounty hunter next target prairie chickens and snowbirds?
Some people feel that they too are a blot on the scenery.
Will prairie chickens and snowbirds be given advance notice of any pre-emptive strike?
Is the room tax a warning or will we just find ourselves under unfriendly fire as we head to stores, offices, churches, golf courses, pubs, restaurants, coffee shops, etc?
Should we be in town for only a few weeks or a month to decide which of the many available condos to purchase, will we still be bountied?
I realize we are usually unkempt staying here for months without a trip to the barbers, the beauty salon or the fitness centres. Forgive us Father for we have sinned.
At least we know how the Biblical Samaritans and lepers feel.
Ralph ClarkrnAged prairie chicken from Manitobarn