FOLLOWING the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission last week and the threat that Japan and Norway may soon ignore international whal- ing bans we were curious as to whether the “tradition- al” or “jurisdictional” arguments in favour of First Nation whaling kad any support hereabouts. Glad to see they don’t. Certainly the right of a “nation” to decide for itself whether it likes to cat whale meat has legal weight. However, any “traditional” argument seems a little thin based on the concept of “we used to do it.” England used to burn witches, use child labour and countenance slavery. That doesn’t give the country a traditional right to reprise any such behaviour. Morality evolves along with the species. The Makah gave up whaling more than seven decades ago and is no longer reliant on whale meat and oil. Indeed, the Washington tribe won a $4.5 million grant in 1995 to improve their marina and breakwater for “fi ishing, tourism and whale watching.” A few days later they proposed a whale hunt for “cultural and commercial purposes.” NORTH SHORE BEMOGRAPHICS YES NO 0% 98% inguiring reporter NO DON’T OPINION KNOW 2% 0% Gilbert Howden North Vancouver I don’t think so. I bet Japan . Julianna Csik North Vancouver No. Because there are not Maureen Coles North Vancouver oe Ba’ No. Just because the species, Dundarave/Ambleside British Properties Norgate/Pemberton Heights Capilano/Delbrook Highlands Lower Lonsdaie Central and Upper Lonsdale Lynn Valley Blueridge/Deep Cove TOTAL Martin Millarchip News Reporter martin@nsnews.com NORTH Vancouver District Coun. Glenys Deering-Robb doesn’t want players who abuse officials just spending time in the penalty box or sent off the field. She wants them and their teams out of district facilities, On Tuesday she asked council to support her in asking the recreation commission to establish and enforce a policy of non-violence for users of dis- trict recreation facilities. Quoting from a May 9 News = story _ headlined “Blowing the whistle on official violence,” Deering-Robb read to council: “Ron Ward went 18 years as an amateur soccer referee with- 0% 94% 2% 4% for the most part, has been has been hunting whales O% 81% 0% 87% 10% 86% 1i% 83% 9% 83% 2% 87% Se -- 5% 86% COUN. Deering-Robb: children go to our sports places and see adults doing what they shouldn't.” out being touched by an angry player. Then, on Nov. 1, fast year, he was pushed, punched, stomped and left face-down on the pitch of North Vancouver's Inter-River Park.” Decring-Rabb said a ten- dency to physically assault sports officials is emerging. “The rec commission is the common link,” said Deering: Robb. “My recommendation is to give the commission the 8% UG 10% 3% 3% 1% 6% OS 4% 4% 6% 5%. 8% A% 5% 4% in danger anyway. about | spe using those giant drift nets. They don’t care like salmon, that many left and they are dying on their own from our cnough tood. (Ninety-three grey found dead from Me pollution and not whales have been this past winter ico to Alaska.) E-mail your comments or question ideas to: martin@nsnews.com empowerment to start resolv- ing this problem.” She asked council to stand behind its stated policies of non-violence. “We have bully-proofing programs in the schools and then the children go to our sport places and sce adults loing what they shouldn’t. “In England, they are play- ing children’s soccer without officials because of the ab Said Mayor Don Bell, “! was a youth-hockey coach for quite a few years, and I think we do need to Snd the fine between enthusiasm for your team and abuse for officials and rival players.” After much discussion on the wording, council eventually passed a motion requesting that: W the rec commission require all tearn_ users of district’ facili- ties to produce and ensure a code of conduct advocating non-violence on the ficid; @ sports groups be required to sign a code of conduct when requesting a ficld/facility use permit; @ the rec commission, in con- sultation with sports groups and the Sports Advisory Council, recommend to coun- cila policy to bar from district facilities any and all individuals who breach the nen-violence policy, which would include verbal or physical assault of the officials. Commented Coun. Pat -Munroe, “I guess what we are doing here is recognizing the effect of sports entertainment on sports recreation.” Munroe, a former district representative on the rec com- mission, expressed surprise that the commission “doesn't have a policy in place, Iet alone a code.” But recreation director ~ Gary Young says the issuc is nat new and inas been discussed for years by advisory groups such as the Sports Advisory Council. “I'm sure they will be recep- tive to this,” said Young. “[ can’t imagine a sport group that would ever condone these things. It’s just finding a way of engendering respect tor officials into the system.” Sandy Fleming is the chair- man of the rec commission’s Sports Advisory Council. He told the News he’s not sure that the issue is “as significant as council thinks it might be. “I believe that the user groups generally have this in hand.” He pointed out the Richmond soccer team guilty of assaulting referee Ward has been kicked out of its league. “The league took care of it themselves and the team was given the boot. Most leagues do recognize the issue and take action.” Fleming was a hockey refer- ee for six years in Alberta, He ‘recalls that every year about sion asked for violence code half the refs would call it quits and hang up their stripes. But, said Fleming, “It’s not so much player abuse as fan pressure. People find they just can’t take it. “Are you going to penalize the kids on the ice because someone in the stands is yelling at the ref” He said that while he believes the user groups gencr- ally have the situation in hand, he doesn’t sce a problem with the rec commission adding a penalty or warning clause to any facility rental agreement based on a code of canduct. Bur, said Fleming, “I don’t think the rec commission can become a policeman.” Young agrees that much of the problem is fan abuse. “It’s completely inappropri- ate for an adult to say anything negative to a 13-,° 14- or 15- year-old as they do their best for the game and for the com- FOREST ALLIANCE wIRITis# COLUMBIA