6 - Sunday, November 27, 1988 - North Shore News INSIGHTS South Africa’s editors don’t pull any punches THE ENDING OF APARTHEID is a noble goal. But South Africa bashers who like to rank that country with Hitler’s Germany or Stalin’s Russia should NOT read its newspapers. It could ruin their day. I recently received a bunch of those papers from North Van’s Roger Smith, a guest of this coi- umn back in July. He’s the BCIT instructor in diagnostic technology who was invited to teach for a semester at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital, made famous in 1963 by Dr. Christiaan Barnard who performed the world’s first heart transplant there. “As you can see,”’ writes Roger, “despite ‘censorship’ much gets said.’" That’s almost an understatement. Three brief ex- tracts from the editorial pages are typical of the tone throughout: “Whatever may be said of the government over which President Botha presides, its human rights record has become ever more dismal." “The tragedy of Pieter Willem Botha is that he will be remembered for the things he didn't do. He didn't go far enough and he didn’t give the country a ALD. BILL BELL butt-out! ---political further. hit and runs. a victim’s vehicie. $16 miliion last year alone. stop them from running. Stop them running HE INSURANCE Corporation of B.C. and the North Vancouver RCMP have struck upon a good idea with their campaign to combat hit and run accidents. But they should take it one step For the next month, signs will be posted in focal mall parking lots — where most hit and runs occur — in- forming witnesses how to observe and report details of Witnesses can also obtain wallet-sized cards from the malls and local police detachments on how to leave in- formation relating to an accident on the wisdshield of This will undoubtedly raise awareness and make the process simpler for witnesses who find reporting acci- dents burdensome, and may go a long way to help reduce the astronomical cost of accidents in B.C. — For the last three years, accident claims have been on the increase, resulting in higher rates for all drivers, and police statistics show that the number of hit and runs is increasing annually. If witnesses realize repor- ting such accidents will help keep their insurance rates down, they will be that much more likely to act. But the hit and run driver should also be made aware that failing to report an accident is a criminal offence which carries a fine. Signs posting the max- imum fine should be erected to warn drivers of the penalties involved for fleeing the scene of an accident. This may not stop drivers from hitting, but it should unifying vision for a new tomnor- row ... In short, he has been around too Iong.”’ “f pray for the day when the abomination called apartheid no longer pollutes the face of our fair Jand."’ (Reader’s letter.) Equally outspoken, hard-hitting criticism appears repeatedly in these September issues of the Cape Town Argus — including blunt references to the ban on reports of unrest (allegedly aimed at curbing ‘copycat’? demonstrations). True, that ban is bad, even if to a degree understandable. But with opinions and comment, the editors clearly feel under no constraint whatever to pull punches, and don’t — which makes any com- parison of South Africa with the tyrannies of Hitler or Stalin idiot- ic. No editor in Nazi Germany ever told Adolf he'd been around too long! te “SANTA FOLKFEST"” returns next Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. to the Centennial Theatre in the form of the North Van Folkfest’s fourth annual Christmas concert. This year, reports producer Stella Jo Dean, it includes the North Shore Gospel Singers, the re-enactment of the Nativity scene, Sincere Lam’s ensemble on guzheng hori- zontal harps and Mimie Ho’s _ Chinese dance group, just back from a month honing their skills in Beijing. Good family entertain- ment — and best news of all, ad- mission is free! een FOLKTALES: New face with a newly created title at Cap College is Frieda Wiebe who last month became the College’s first head li- brarian in charge of its Media Centre. Head librarian at Van- couver Community College for the past four years, Frieda brings some handy personal equipment to the job — a B.A. (Hons), an M.B.A. and a Master’s in Library Science, a diploma from the West German University of Tubingen, four lan- guages and consultant work for Vietnam’s Can Tho University ... Smokers who'd love to butt out, but can’t, might try City Ald. Bill Bell’s method. Erstwhile puffer Bill has bet Mayor Jack Loucks ‘Sao Es $300 that he’ll succeed in quitting and Jack’s holding the money — but not for himself. The deal is that if longtime NDP supporter Bill backslides, his 300 bucks will be donated to the Social Credit campaign chest! ... ‘‘On the bridge’ for 1988-89 with Com- _ © sunday branch +. - modore Mitchell Welters following Burrard Yacht Club’s annual meeting earlicr this month are directors Gary Salmon, David Buchanan, Derek Hale and John Hall ... Quote of the week from North Van Kiwinian Ernie Earn- shaw: ‘‘The best way to get people to wear seat belts is to make them illegal’’ ... and happy 29th an- niversary wishes to North Van’s William and Verna Smelovsky. kant WRIGHT OR WRONG: The best time to buy everything you want for Christmas is last year. O Candia toedun passin Pee NEWS photo Mike Wakefield MONEY TALKS...West Van Kiwanis Club of Capilano president Tim Christie presents cheques made possible by Shell Canada employees for taped books and cassette players to West and North Van librarians (left to right) Margaret Walters, Bette Cannings and Muriel Mason, while Club veepee Murray Henry looks on. Publisher Associate Editor welcome envelope. an Peter Speck Managing Editor... . Barrett Fisher bees Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111. 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