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6 — Wednesday, July 5, 1989 -

North Shore News

Second thoughts on that

condoms-for-the-kids video

COULD IT JUST BE POSSIBLE that Premier Bill
Vander Zalm had a valid point when he declined to sponsor

a rock video promoting ‘‘safe sex’’ for teens through the use

of condoms?

At first blush, condoms for kids
seem a realistic and logical idea.
Since nearly half our high school
students nowadays ‘‘do it,”’ they
need all the help possible in guar-
ding against AIDS — whether
school condom dispensers, heavy
metal commercials portraying sex
as a teenager’s sole aim on even-
ings out, or whatever else it takes.

Nevertheless, the condoms-for-
kids campaign — with coin
machines already being installed in
Qualicum High School and also
recommended for Junior Highs —
raises some interesting social and
economic questions.

For example, if condom ads
directed to teens in movie houses
are deemed to be okay, why are
such ads for adults a no-no in
newspapers, on radio and TV?
And if Qualicum High provides
students «-ith a convenjence hither-
to confined to third-rate motels
and bars, massage parlors, whore
houses and bus stations, why can’t
the adult patrons of classier
hosteiries and places of entertain-
ment enjoy the same fully visible
amenity?

Under the Charter of Rights this
must surely be discrimination bas-
ed on age!

More serious are the questious
of money. Will youngsters from
poor homes be able to afford con-
doras? What about the hungry
14-year-old, torn between a burger
with fries and the girl at the next
desk? is there any prevision for
free condoms in cases of urgent
need? Must a kid risk AIDS
because Mom is on welfare? And
if a condom proves defective, can
he demand a refund — or even sue
the School Board for damages?

The kids themselves, as you’d

convenience.

engine.

Fuel for thought

T’S TIME to get the lead out — literally.
With the looming December 1990 ban on leaded
gas, some consumers are already anticipating hav-
ing to junk their lead-hungry older cars. They com-
pisia that the ban is too soon and that it will cause in-

But if we hope to halt the destruction of the earth
and its atmosphere, we will have to suffer more ‘in-
conveniences’ and support the government’s en-
vironmental initiatives. Already the government has
decreased the amount of lead in leaded gasoline from
770mg/L in 1976 to 290mg/L in 1987. The ban on
leaded gas is anything but premature.

While consumers are justifiably concerned that the
elimination of leaded gas will lead to premature wear
on engine valves, preliminary studies have shown iat
older cars running on unleaded fuel should not experi-
ence valve seat recession, provided they do mot operate
at high speeds for extended periods.

There is also the option of prolonging the life of the
car’s engine by adding valve saver additives, or the
more costly options of rebuilding or replacing the

Those of us who rely on oid cars te get around may
not be able to afford a new car, but, on the other
hand, none of us can afford to continue polluting ihe
environment with the ill-effects of our luxuries.

expect, say neither rock videos nor
school condom machines will in-
fluence their sexual behavior. Still,
one can't help wondering a little
about the 53 per cent cf Grade
li-ers in B.C. who are NOT yet
sexually active. Will Anxious Ar-
thur and Nervous Nellie — who've
hung back purely from fear of the
consequences — now see school

condoms as the green light?

Meanwhile, whatever happened
to the surest defence of all against
sex-borne disease — EDUCA-
TION? All high schools have fami-
ly life programs encouraging stu-
dents to make wise sexual choices
by teaching appropriate uses of the
word ‘‘no.’’ Are condoms now a
part of such programs? Or a con-
fession of failure?

Protection against AIDS has
nothing to do with ‘‘morality,’’
nor can condoms alone promise
100 per cent ‘‘safe sex.’’ That can
be guaranteed only by the MIND

Publisher ._.. Peter Speck
Managing Editor... Barrett Fisher
Associate Editor .... Noel Wright

Advertising Directur Linda Stewart

— by the sight personal decision

based on clear awareness of the

odds. Which is what I suspect Bill

was really trying to say.
eee

A MINI WHO’S WHO of the
North Shore turned out last
Thursday to fete North Van

NEWS photo Mike Wakssteid
INTO THE SOUP...wanning up for North Van’s famous Clam Chowder Contest, July 23 at Waterfroat Park,

are (foreground, left to right) City Hall ‘‘“Ciamikazis” team members Francis Caouette and Percy Melviile;
behiad them (left to right) Sailor Hagar’s Seamen team, Brad Williams, Mark Burns, A! Riedlinger and Paul

SUNDAY + WEDNESDAY + FRIDAY

North Shore News. founded i 1369 as an woependen t

ban newspaper qQualihed under Schedute 111,
on a Fs the Excise Tax Act, is published each
tiday and

1139 Lonsdaie Avenue,
North Vancouver, B.C.

Wednesday, Fi Sunday by North Shore Free
ere arg Saw wins Repairer Navee SESS be 70 (en
lau pstration
Slosenplene f Nosth and West Vancouver, $25 per year 59,170 (average, Wednesday
Maxwg rales avaiable on request Submissions are Friday & Sunday)
bul we cannol accep! responsibihty tor
oroshenes matenal wctuding manuscnpts and pctures. e

wtuch should bc accompumed by a siamped, addressed

envelope

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Entire contents © 1989 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chamber of Commerce manager
Peggy Pitt-Nrooke at ber retire-
ment dinner after 22 years’ service.
Among the 90-odd guests were
Energy Minister and Seymour
MLA Jack Davis; both North Van

and Stelta Jo Deas; School Trustee
Aone Macdouaid; half a dozen
past presidents of the chamber;
Davis Bekewell, Roger Cayferd
and Joarm Fester from the West
Van chamber; Valerie Yerk and

and well-known names galore from
, North Shore business, industry and
the professions.

Mayor Marilyn enceed the roast
with delightful humor and the
dozen gentle roasters left Peggy
done to a turn, so to speak, after
three stancting ovations. A singu-
larly warm and happy evening of
tribute to oce of North Yan's most
popular and dedicated citizens.

oe :

WRAP-UP: Incoming 1959-90
president of West Van Kioranis
Club is Bi Davidsra, supported
by veepees Doavirk EueugGreys
and Tom Mie... Cap College's
Brian White (oridoor recreatiou)
hes been chosen to conduct a fea-
sibility study for Rajanean Gla
Technical Institute in

degrees from Gzeiph University,
Ontario.

2n
WRIGHT OF: WRONG: Tie Ficst
Rute of Holes: If you're in one,
stop