Dear Editor: lam responding to letters and articles printed in your paper on the subject of whales kept in cap- tivity. I am not in favor of this Practice and have never been, regardless of what arguments are put forward in its defence. Tkose who keep large marine mammals in captivity in the 90s continue to do so because they fear that without them, attendance at aquariums or marine parks would decline. For the most part, they are probably right; I don’t think that the Vancouver Aquarium would deny the fact that the whales are their biggest draw card. The whales in our local waters MAILBOX Should study whales in the wild are the most studied in the world. I am sure that most whale resear- chers who are not employed by the Vancouver Aquarium would agree that there is little to be learned now from keeping them captive. If people who visit the aquarium and wander around the exhibits in the whale section take the time to read the vast amount of information gathered mostly from the study of wild whales, and then go to the viewing win- dows and watch these magnificent creatures swimming aimlessly in circles, if there isn’t somewhere inside of them a pang of compas- sion or pity for the life these whales are forced to endure, then they have learned nothing of any Violence on TV has devastating effect Dear Editor: . Cheers to the North Shore News for a number of editorials recent- ly. One a while back stood out: “Spirituality lost in a material world’’. by Catherine Atyeo, and must give us pause to stop and think what is really happening in our society. *Innecessary and extreme vio- leace and sex in almost every movie and TV series is having 2 devastating and horrible effect — not only on children in their for- mative and sensitive years, but on teens and adults, too. Parents seem to have given up criticizing TV and movies, feeling they can’t get anyw' anyway. ft is time to do something con- structive. Look. at MADD and what they have accomplished to everyone’s benefit. __- It distresses a lot of us and it’s all very well for some to say “If they don’t like it they don’t have to watch.”* You're into it before you realize and there is so much of it, there is little choice. They are forcing it on us. It is time to make a stand. No wonder there is so much vi- olence and crime in the world. Everyone is becoming callous and hardened. That is the danger; man is not an animal — he does have a spirit and a soul and we ignore or - bludgeon it to cur peril. In the last five years violence has increased alarmingly. See the North Skore News movie review by Karl Schmitt (Sept. 27) of Terminator Hl, “‘incredibie vio- lence.”” Five years from now will be too late. Let’s wake up, be aware and do something about it now. Gwen McDowall North Vancouver Local seniors group srateful Dear Editor: . The North Shore Volunteers for ’ Seniors wishes to compliment our local merchants for their support ’* in‘our ‘presertation of a workshop held for Junior Services, a pro- ‘gram for. students: who want to work and interact with seniors. The event was held on Satur- day, Sept. 21 and attended by North Shove high schoo! students, seniors, and volunteers. The stu- dents will put thé information they learned (facts and fallacies of aging, biological age changes, wheelchair safety, and com- munication skills) into use in the local care facilities. The following merchants from the City of North Vancouver pro- vided the lunch free of charge: The Salmon Shop and Waterfront Produce in Lonsdale Quay; The Muffin Spot at 1262 Marine Dr.; : Save-On-Foods at 1250 Marine Dr.; Super-Valu at 3030 Lonsdale Ave.; and the Muffin Break at 1764 Lonsdale Ave. Our luncheon was a great suc- cess and we are grateful for the unselfish contribution b, our neighborhood businesses. Wendy E. Hanna N.S. Volunteers for Seniors | North Shore News Mailbox policy LETTERS 70 the editor must in- clude your name, written legibly, your full address and telephone number. Due to space constraints the North Shore News cannot publish all letters. Published letters may be edited for brevity, clarity, ac- curacy, legality and taste. SILK PLANT use from their visit. Today it is not, and should not be, acceptable to treat animals in this way — to imprison a whale (that frequently travels as much as 100 miles in a single day) in what amounts to little more than a goldfish bowl, deprive it of its right to swim freely in the oceans and separate it from its irmmediate family and other pod members for life. People who want to continue to keep whales captive should ask themselves how they would feel if one day their child or a close fam- ‘ily member were suddenly taken away never to be seen again. If people are so fascinated by these creatures and want to sec them, then they should go and Wednesday, October 16, 1991 - North Shore News - 7 view them in the wild, especially in the summer months. They should take one of the many in- expensive whale-waiching trips, or better still, view them from the shore from certain locations where they can frequently be seen. Sooner or later the practice of capturing and keeping whales in captivity will cease. 1 don’t hold out much hope that Sealand’s or the Vancouver Aquarium’s whales will ever see freedom again but | would hope that if ever there was an attempt to capture and confine any more marine mammals, public opinion and pressure would be strong enough to stop it. Lee Watson North Vancouver ARDAGH HUNTER TURNER Barristers & Solicitors a Personal Injury AFTER HOURS FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION FAX Criminal Mane Only | 986-4366 | 986-9286 #300-1401 LONSDALE, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC. DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN CUSTOM DRAPERIES AND VALANCES Labour $7.50 per parel untined, $8.50 lined CUSTOM BEDSPREADS AND COVERS Low, low prices om biinds amd tracks For FREE Estimates Call 987-2966 Serving the North Shore for 19 years UNITED COLLECTION AGENCIES INC. LIQUIDATES entire assets of PERSIAN & ORIENTAL RUGS * We have a limited time to liquidate our client's entire inventory. Choose from a wide selection of designs & colours to enhance every room in your home. Thece unique rugs make wonderful gifts. EXAMPLES © AFGHAN TRIBAL 2 BOK HARA ROY: OVAL We are overstocked! eg. 6’ Fig Tree S119 (req: $149-169) All pols 30% WAR RUG - * irom Afghan) * AUBOUSAN rom « PERSIAN TABRIZ 2126 BURRARD (at 5th) 737-9958 Open Daily - Mon. thru Sat. 10am-7pm; Sunday 12 noon-Spm CAP WEEK Business Capilano College is looking for winter placements for its Business Computing Co- operative students. All of the students have compieted an academic year of studies in computer applications, programming and business. Students are paid approximately $10/hour and are available January through April, 1992. Call 984-1735 for more information. Be Using Drama in Business Exercises that actors use to prepare themselves can be applied in business, community and social settings. You'll find these and other drama training techniques in a new workshop, “Using Drama in Business and the Real World,” on Saturday, Oct. 19, 9:00-4:00 p.m. Dot Bristow, well-known agent, acting coach and casting director will lead the workshop. Call Extension Programs at 984-4901 for information and registration. Starting in Janvary 1992, Capilano College will again offer its successful 10 month Computer Systems Management Program, equivale;t to a two year - diploma program. Emphasis is placed on microcomputers, business systems and the latest programming languages. A minimum of seven years work experience —~ not necessarily computer related — is required. For moze information, cal! Business Management at 984-4960 between 8:00 and 3:30, Monday co Friday. pe Beyond the Fridge: Children’s Art The education exhibition, Beyond The Fridge: Art by Preschool Children, is now on view at Capilano College. Organized by the Surrey Art Gallery and guest curated by Rosslyn Anne, an early childhood educator at Capilano College, the exhibition offers information for patents and educators of young children on the importance of understanding the ages and stages of children’s art. Until Oct. 21 in the Studio Art Gallery, I Building, 9:30 -4:00, Monday to Friday. CAPILANO COLLEGE 2055 Purcell Way N Vancouver British Columbia