FOR THOSE of you who would like to change the world, but can’t find a babysitter, a North Vancouver-based group may just be able to provide a solution. 20/20 Vision is a non-profit society started in 1990. Its en- vironmental and peace lobbying initiatives are designed to take up 20 minutes of a member’s time a month at a cost of $20 a year. “Our organization is for people who are concerned, but don’t feel they have very much time to deal with environmental and peace issues and they certainly don’t feel they are informed enough on these issues,” said Steve Macdonald, 43, Canadian 20/20 Vision found- er and North Vancouver resident. “What we do is inform our subscribers and suggest an action they can take. Anyone can write a letter to a politician, but if you don’t come across informed, you are not going to be taken very seriously,’ said Macdonald. 20/20 Vision informs its 300 subscribers, 23% of whom live on the North Shore, through the tnonthly mailing of a postcard that contains information, front and back, on a range of subjects that have included endangered species, *s international arms bazaar called ARMX (pro- nounced arm-ex), and most recently, watershed logging in the Capilano, Seymour and Co- quitlam watersheds. The postcard identifies the sub- ject, gives a condensed but com- Prehensive background, suggests an action to be taken such as writ- ing .a letter or phoning a specific By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter policy-maker and also gives that policy-maker’s address and phone number. Every six months, subscribers get an update on issues previously addressed in postcards. *“We (the 13-person core group that puts out each postcard) keep in close touch with about 15 peace and environmental groups, especially with iegislative specialists in those groups,”’ said Macdonald. **We ask them what our subscribers could do this month that would be the most effective,”’ said Macdonald. He said all the postcard infor- mation is double checked, but admits ‘‘they are only human’’ when it comes to being on top of a multitude of complicated en- vironmental and peace issues. Some of the organizations 20/ 20 Vision relies on for informa- tion include West Coast En- vironmental Law Association, Save Howe Sound Society and the Sierra Club of Western Canada. 20/20 Vision was actually started in the U.S. in 1986 by a former Vancouver resident living in Ambherst, Massachusetts. Sev- enty chapters are now established in the U.S. Macdonald had to ‘‘Canadiani- ze”’ the only 20/20 Vision on this side of the border as U.S. chapters were built up around lobbying congressional districts. “We started when four or five North Shore people got together informally once a month to talk about issues concerning us,’’ said Macdonald, who works as an adult education teacher on the North Shore. “We would get together and write a rough draft (letter) to a policyemaker and then take it home to fine tune,’’ said Mac- donald. “I found out about 20/20 by teading about it in a magazine and I thought it was more focused than what we were doing,’’ he said. At that time, the original group was involved in Beyond War, a peace organization whose focus was to change outdated reasoning about the consequences of wars. Macdonald said Beyond War was nof’active enough in making any concrete change and 20/20’s approach was more appealing to people who wanted to work more actively in influencing government policies. Macdonald feels one 20/20 Vi- sion group can easily service B.C., but he encourages other 20/20 groups to form in other provinces. And Macdonald doesn’t foresee the day when 20/20 will run out of subjects. “Not as long as the planet needs help,”’ said Macdonald. For more information about 20/20 Vision call 984-2643. PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING Re: Proposed Maplewood Neighbourhood Pub 1970 Spicer Road, North Vancouver 368098 BC. Ltd. (Wayne Hussey) Applicant: Date: Location: Time: The Proposal: March 25th, 1992 Maplewood Community School 420 Seymour River Place 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Plan Viewing 7:30 p.m. Formal Presentation To rezone 1970 Spicer Road from Light industrial Zone (13) to Public House Commercial Zone (C6) — to redevelop the property for a “Neighbourhood Pub”. The proposed structure is approximately 3740 square feet to include 48 parking spaces and 1 loading bay at the rear. PTA ow, WY Wf / fi’ 1970 Spicer Road North Vancouver The meeting is in compliance with the District of North Vancouver Council Policy — Information packages have been distributed to all affected parties within a 350 metre radius of the site. To receive a copy or obtain more information, con- tact the Planning Department at 987-7131 or the Ap- plicant at 988-2314 or bring your questions and comments to the meeting. . Note: This is not a Public Hearing. Council will receive a report from staff on issues raised at the meeting and will formally consider the proposal at a later date. Please join Mr. Hussey at this meeting to discuss the proposal. SEEING ENVIRONMENTALLY straight and getting things done in 20 minutes are gceals of 20/20 Vision, which prints an en- vironmental newsletter for lobbying purposes. 20/20 Vision’s core-group member Julia Hedley is shown with a sample of mon- thiy postcards (in foreground) concerning environment and war issues that the group has produced since its 1990 inception. Better than the rest”! | Custom Lease owners Corliss and Andrew Maquire have all their winclow coverings supplied by A Shade Better. Corliss says, “They provide excellent service and very § competitive prices which dont ofien go hand in hand J anymore. They have supplied the window coverings In 5. our business on Marine Drive as well as our North Shore “residence” Levelor (Riviera) 5%, Sp Mint zinc, ‘A SHADE BETTER | Ne) | a: y) d 4 Specializing in Blinds and Draperies for over 7 years 4877 Marine Dr., N. Van. 984-4104 #4-38018 Progress Way, Squamish 892-5857 7 Whistier 932-6617