No right to an opinion
I read your article.
(“Time to restore wildlife balance,” Saanich News, Feb 4)
The first few paragraphs described accurately some of the unreasonable conditions wildlife is forced to endure because of the overabundance of people and the displacement people cause.
The next several paragraphs completely change direction by way of your support of culls and using the casualties as a “tasty traditional food source.” You go on to sing the praises of hunting and hunters, and go on to state that “it is actually doing Mother Nature’s job.”
Then you switch direction again by stating that “we are the ones disturbing the natural order of things,” and “it is humans that have upset that balance.”
This is what your article taught me:
You have no right to speak to the “natural order” of anything living, breathing, birthing, surviving, defending, nurturing, suffering or dying.
You have no right to speak of “emotion or reaction,” because you obviously have never experienced what it is like to be hunted or taken at the hands of those who choose to inflict themselves on anything unarmed.
You use questionable judgement when singing the praises of hunting, as too many do it not for food and necessity but for sport and cruelty.
You need to learn that “cull” (aka eliminate) and “overrun” (aka getting in the way or easy target) are distorted human perceptions to excuse our actions. Nowhere in the real natural balance (excluding the human species) do creatures cull creatures. That’s why it is [or was] referred to as a “balance.”
How dare anyone claim such arrogance regarding “Mother Nature’s job.”
And if all that was not enough to demand you never write of things you should not, you state (re: hunting) “It would be harder here as we have neighbours to think about, but where there is a will, we know there is a way.”
What the hell does that suggest to the masses reading your “article’’?
Ugly or cute may be the issue for some. Respecting life, be it two, four or eight-legged, is the issue for the morally sound. One does not have to be overly sentimental to be considerate and civilized.
You have much to learn about writing and much more to learn on this subject. I trust my local Saanich News will avoid your content in the future.
Janet Cass
Saanich
Clean up Jordan River
Now’s a great time to clean up JR. The task is as small as picking up all the broken, collapsed, forgotten and rotten signs left behind by real estate agents, developers, businesses, etc., and as large as cleaning up the river and creating a healthy habitat.
Western Forest Products and SUNRO copper mine have left the river sterile and uninhabitable for most species. BC Hydo is in control over the Jordan River watershed and their disruptions extend beyond the river’s natural boundaries.
I would like to see all parties get together with the Capital Regional District and plan a rejuvenation of not only the upper Jordan River watershed but more importunely the lower Jordan River basin.
Together we need to clean up toxic debris and substances and create ecological value in the area. The CRD has a deal in place for some of the flood-plain area and the log sort future is uncertain. These areas could be used to support Jordan River as a salt water marsh.
These decisions are being made as you’re reading this and with the recent publicity over the lands right now it’s a good time to step forward and demand Jordan River be cleaned up and returned to a functioning habitat.
Matt Haine
Jordan River
History passes with Cpt. Jack
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Sooke News Mirror and to Elida Peers for the wonderful article on Jack Homer in the last issue of your paper.
I enjoyed reading about Captain Jack’s fishing adventures on our wild West Coast, and was sad to learn that he went to the big fishing grounds in the sky after a long and productive life of nearly 100 years.
For many years I remember admiring the beautiful 44-ft Secretary Isle with Cpt. Jack at the helm in the wheelhouse as he took fishing charters near Sooke.
With Cpt. Jack passes a lot of this area’s history. He will be remembered by many.
V.A.Preto
East Sooke
Update on Sooke baby
I wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and all the kind gestures.
My family and I are now at home and beginning to get back to daily life. Ethan is doing well and his prognosis is good. He still has future follow ups for the next year but it seems that his last operation fixed the problem with his lung.
We have been overwhelmed with offers to organize benefit events in our name since the Sooke News Mirror featured an article on us. My family and I appreciate all the concern but never expected the outpouring of help to grow to the magnitude it has.
I want to clarify that we did not sanction any of these events although we agreed to the auction after many people expressed a desire to help. My aunt and our dear family friend took it upon themselves coordinate the event. The auction was originally supposed to be a small scale fun event for our friends and family only. Armed with the best intentions those who we love have definitely come to our aid.
Things have been difficult and we are not very public people and we did not in any case request any of the assistance we have been given though we do appreciate all that has been offered.
Thank you.
Kelly Steenbergen
Sooke
Balanced viewpoint
Re: “Time to restore wildlife balance.”
I’m very grateful for your balanced writing in that article. It was just what the Capital Regional District needed to hear to overcome the increasing polarity about deer, rabbits and geese. You may enjoy these two quotes about animals that made me think about the issue too, one from Alice Walker, the author of movie The Color Purple, and the other one from All Great Quotes:
“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men.” –Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple.
“If you love an animal called pet how can you eat an animal called dinner? http://www.allgreatquotes.com/animal_quotes4.shtml
The very best at Sooke News Mirror.
Larry Wartel
UVic Radio
Victoria
Cull makes sense
I was so happy to finally see a sensible editorial.
In all practicality, we need to take steps to reduce overpopulation of wild animals in urban areas. Since we have basically eradicated the predators that prey on these animals, we need to help Mother Nature. I agree with you that the deer, especially would make good eating, and feed a lot of people.
When there are too many wild animals in an area, disease becomes a very real threat, and especially in the case of rabbits, that disease may be transmitted to humans.
However, common sense says that all of the animals would be better off if they were reduced to a reasonable number.
Tongue in cheek: our police are well trained in the use of firearms, and are required to practise regularly, I wonder if “practise sessions” could include some actual hunting?
I know that it is dangerous to use firearms in urban areas, which is a large reason for the “no hunting” stand. In all honesty we really don’t want unskilled hunters taking pot shots at animals, and perhaps only wounding, or worse yet, hitting a person, but we do need to get rid of many of the animals, and a clean kill is best and then the meat could be used.
So I applaud your editorial. Thank you for writing it. Sincerely,
Janet Parker
Saanichton
Drug strategy
Are you proud to live in Sooke? If so, are you frustrated when you see the impact of drugs and alcohol on our community?
Are you tired of hearing news of a tragedy that has occurred as a result of the use of drugs or alcohol?
Are you saddened at the prevalence of these substances within our community, and concerned for our future as we cross our fingers and hope things won’t get too bad, and our kids will make it safely through to adulthood?
The Sooke RCMP investigated 1,178 files in 2010 involving drugs and alcohol, and nearly 6,000 in the past five years. Countless more occur without being reported, and we all collectively bear the brunt of their impact. So what can we do? I’m glad you asked.
The Sooke RCMP are seeking community- minded citizens to help implement a new drug prevention strategy. Sooke is full of great people who share the common goal of making this community as healthy and developmentally sound as possible. Through prevention, we can reduce the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse in the first instance, and alter its progression in cases where it has already begun, to reduce the prevalence of drug use and its impact on our community. In so doing, our youth will walk unabated on a path toward fulfilling their potential and we will all reap the rewards.
That’s a win for our community’s families because they will be able to move forward with confidence that their kids will be safer, healthier and have more hope for their future. It’s a win for the community’s businesses because they will reap the rewards of a greater drug-free influence, and reduce the frequency of bearing the social and financial costs of graffiti, vandalism, thefts, frauds and other business related crimes. It’s a win for emergency responders, because the frequency of bearing the social and financial costs of having to react to the aftermath of poor decisions (ie. drunk driving, overdoses, assaults, trafficking, domestic disputes, sudden deaths, to name a few) will go down, allowing time to focus on more proactive initiatives. And finally, it will be a win for everyone who lives in or has occasion to visit Sooke for the simple reason that it will be a healthier and more vibrant community.
Are you interested in being a part of this change? Are you wondering what you can possibly do to contribute? It’s not hard. It just takes great people who want to make a difference. I know that we have great people here. Give me a call, or send me an e-mail, and I’ll fill you in. It’s been said that the best day to plant a tree was 20 years ago. Failing that, the second best is today. Let’s get started.
Cpl Scott Hilderley
Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service
scott.hilderley@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
250-380-6295
