6 - Sunday, Auqust 7, 1994 - North Shore News legalize US and tie us up with ved {ape Chain gang URNABY-KINGSWAY MP Svend Robinson is right about one thing: the penal system in B.C. is “‘an abject fail- ure.” ; Unfortunately, that was not all Robinson had to say upon his release from the Ford Mountain Correctional Centre in Chilliwack. Robinson was sentenced to 14 days in jail for his cameo appearance at the Clayoquot Sound logging blockade last summer. He was released five days early for good behavior. i Recounting his jail days to members of the media outside the minimum-security prison, he spoke dramatically of his “extraordinary experience” inside “the joint.” But that “joint” looked to be anything but a prison. From the exterior the Ford Mountain facility appears more like a Langley condo than a jail — a place crimi- nals raight cheose as a tranquil retreat from the hurly-burly of life on the street. Rising at 6:30 a.m. from their digs, the Svend gang spent their days pruning trees and painting outhouses at three bucks an hour. At night they would sojourn to their spartan utilitarian rooms to serve their penance in air-conditioned silence. In the impressive prison vernacular of a lifer, Robinson berated the system’s “ware- housing” of people and charged that the wrong people are in jail. The 15-year veteran of Parliament recalled fellow inmates’ tales from the dark side: lives littered with abuse, unemployment and welfare cheques. But missing from Robinson’s observations were the equally sad tales of crime victims and how the system is failing to make crimi- nals accountable for their crimes and deter them from returning to places like Ford Mountain. “There is often little or no motivation ta break out of the black hole of dependency. Harvest believes in giving people a hand up, not a hand out.” North Shore Harvest founder David Foster, on a new project to outfit the down-and-out in donated suits. (From an Aug. 5 News story.) “We have post-office syn- drome in this department.” Publisher... ..Peter Speck Unionized North Vancouver District garbage truck worker Larry Perrault, on wildcat job action by CUPE in North Vancouver District and morale in the department. (From an Aug. 5 News story.) “I talk to people who bitch and moan and hem and haw and say how they can’t do anything. My response is, you have to go . out and make things happen.” Display Advertising 980-0511 986-6222 F: Classified Advertising 985-2131 Newsroom Distribution Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Subscriptions ‘ax Administration Deep Cove choreography Desirée Kleeman, on dance and taking risk. (From the Aug. 3 Now Spotlight.) “We're not trying to make a showcase of how people are dif- ferent, but of the talent.” Harmony Arts festival organizer Colleen Reed, on the philosophy behind the festival. (From an Aug. 3 News Now story.) 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 985-2131 North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualitied under Schedule 111, Paragraph 114 of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Prass Ltd. and distributed to every door on the North Shore. Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 0087238. Mailing rates V7M 2H4 available on request. Supmissions are welcome but we Cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited material including manuscripts and pictures which should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed anvelope. 1139 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver B.C. MEMBER cna SN SOA DIVISION culation, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday) oes) North Shore Managed Entire contents © 1994 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Debunking and the ancient law of physics YOUR FAITHFUL scribe’s favorite reference file — a fat one — bears the simple label “Debunking.” It is filled with clippings guaran- teed to restore one’s faith in humanity. Thanks to the mass media, an endless stream of dubious prophets constantly leads us decile modem mortals around by the nose, having brainwashed us into accepting their latest fad as the equivalent of the tablets Moses brought down from the mountain. So one gets a wonderful tift when — as always happens sooner or later — other prophets (equally dubious) liberate us temporarily by tossing their predecessors’ articles of faith inte the garbage can. Browsing through the “Debunking” file, one comes across such gems as the M.D. who warns us that impressive research has shown decaf coffee can ruin your health — if you-aim to reach a ripe old age, stick to straight coffee, preferably black. Mad at your kids for snacking on junk food? Wrong again, explains a leading U.K. nutritionist, who says french fries and pop are just what growing youngsters need to maintain a healthy energy level. Scared of the demon alcohol? Try telling that to the British Medical Association, whose presti- gious Lancet magazine has praised - moderate daily wine therapy as a safeguard against strokes and heart attacks. “Moderate” being in the eye of the imbiber — one such wine therapist prescribing up to 30 . glasses a week of the stuff. B.C.'s much touted “Year 2000” education plan (all you needed for grad was a pass in Self-Esteem 100) has been declared stillborn and decently buried. Education gurus are now exploring the possi- bilities of reading, writing, multi- plication tables and the strap. Those cute white baby seals Brigitte Bardot saved are also in trouble. Since the Labrador seal hunt was banned, they’ve multi- plied so fast that they’re said to have eaten almost the entire east coast cod stock — rendering most - of Newfoundland permanently job- less. For over 20 years our justice system has been busy rehabilitating criminals. Crimes were never their own fault, but simply due to the fact that they’d all had bad dads. Now, at long last, their victims are getting a little sympathy. Correc- tions heads have rolled for letting killer Danny Perrault walk away from jail. And the crusade for a tougher Young Offenders Act gath- ers more steam every week. Even high technology is taking its lumps. Modern phones can come with a giddy array of fancy features — including call-forward- ing, voice mail, memory dialling, call-blocking, locking and untock- ing. The only question being: who needs them? Researchers in Pittsburgh recently checked 100 subscribers who were given the latest cell phone with 11 special functicns. After several months only haif the users had learned to use even four of the functions, and weren't very interested in them anyhow. Latest item in the “Debunking” file is especially uplifting. Noel ae HITHER AND Datelined Washington D.C., the clipping reports that 20,000 teen- agers gathered there last weekend to declare the sexual revolution dead — and to launch a new era of virginity. The year-old program, we're told, has over 500,000 young adults across the U.S. who’ ve signed covenant cards not to have sex until marriage. As the ancient law of physics (and debunking) puts it: to every action there is an equal and oppo- site reaction. Eventually! SCRATCHPAD. For budding Gretzkys, a Power Hockey Summer School takes place at Hollyburn Country Club Aug. 15-19 (five days, $110) and Aug. 22-Sept. 2." (10 days, $195) with 90 minutes ice time daily — call Jack, 922-0161 for info ... “Homefront: Shipbuilding and the North Van Community 1939-1945,” a wartime exhibition by North Van Museum in Presentation House will be opened Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. by Mayor Jack Loucks ... “Give the gift” at the special blood donor clinic 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the BC Rail building, 221 West Esplanade ... Many happy returns of today, Aug. 7, to West Van Kiwanian Hank McAdams ... More birthday wishes tomorrow, Aug. 8, to North Van's John Treijs ... And the same again Tuesday, Aug. 9, to West Van Legionnaire Jim Irvine. WRIGHT OR WRONG: Nothing in the world is friendlier than a wet dog. JACK LOUCKS ... opens wartime exhibit. mayor