Lautens article a disservice to public Dear Editor: As an. epidemiologist specializing in HIV/AIDS, 1 would like to take this op- portunity to respond to the editorial colurnn’ written by Trevor Lautens in the Oct. 8 ‘issue of the News. Lautens’ claims that ‘“‘a heterosexual, unless practising sodomy with a_. so-called bisexual ... has scarcely more chance of acquiring the AIDS virus than he or she has of being hit by the proverbial flash of lightning.’”’ ] -would Jike to inform Lautens that for the first time, HIV epidemiologists in British Columbia have ob- tained an estimate of tke number of HIV- infected adults across B.C. Approximately: 6, 000 adults are estimated to be HIV- infected across the province, . among whom 600 are likely to be women. « |... These figures'were reached ‘}: through ‘a. variety. of -means, :: including anonymous, “unlinked ‘studies of the B.C. general population, , results from HIV-positive. tests per- formed -at the’ ‘provincial ‘health. laboratories, . and. a complex statistical ‘technique called back-calculation. In: short, the number of : AIDS cases at any one time is primarily ‘a- reflection: of the individuals who were infected . eight to 10 years ago. Thus, we cannot simply assume that ‘because the ma- jority ‘of - people with - full- ‘blown AIDS are homosexual -men at the present time, the incidence’ of. HIV. infection among heterosexuals is low: Lautens’ discusses at length the ‘‘psychological pitiable’’ sexual behavicr of gay men. IT ,would. like to point out that, to a large extent, the gay community has been quick to adopt safe sex practices. _ Although we: are lacking information on, young’ gay men and bisexual men, data | from the Vancouver Lym- phadenopathy AIDS Study, the largest, longest “running . study of gay’men in Canada, suggests that the rate of new HIV infections among... this group is currently less than 1% per year. : - With these figures in mind, it would be irresponsible and imprudent to ignore the risk of HIV infection among heterosexuals, bisexual men, intravenous drug users and their sexual partners, Steffauie Strathdee, BSc MSc The Vancouver Lym- phadenopathy AIDS Study THE FIRM Nightly 6:45pm, Sat. & Sun. 8:00pm Mature, sone violence, coarse tang., sugg SEARCHING FOR BOBBY Fi FISHER 15pm, Sat. & Sun. 4pm & 8:45pm acceler 7 . posed . Okay, So the election promises are fannuer than your cartoons Maybe th would help if you tried levitaLine MJ. Deep Cove rezoning will take away sweeping view Dear Editor: . Re: Seycove Marina Property .- 2890 Panorama Dr. I'm deeply affected by the pro- rezoning of. the Parks, Recreational and Wilderness Area to Single Family to put.a subdivi- sion for seven private lots on the . above property. - Compared. to the millions of dollars which this may ‘bring to the marina owners, my complaint is small. This rezoning would mean that I would tose a flat walking route to a destination, the only easily - available PRO spot that offers a ‘sweeping view of the Indian Arm from Deep Cove. Over the years,. I have seen , More and more tourists and leisure stroliers taking walks to this same spot which 1 took for granted liv- ing in this community. These tourists bring ambience to the community and business to the “local merchants. Looking | at the proposed zoning pian, if it is accepted it will mean ‘that neither I nor the visitors may be able to take a walk to my favorite spot: without facing threatening signs’ such as ‘‘Private - No Trespassing, Public May Be Prohibited’’ — that is ‘if we could ever get any where past private gates these types private property developments usually bring. So why on earth should I or the” district accept this proposal? What do we,.as a community, benefit from this deal? Who gains but one family —- the owncrs who will make millions of dollars? What kind of privileges do they have, to come into the community and take ‘our ‘long-established simple pleasures for their own greed and gain? Haven't they paid for property accordingly as is and for what it is? How dare they try to profit from this comraunity by ruining it for their own selfishness. Jane Kwon North Vancouver ‘Skill level improvement for WV superintendent overdue? Dear Editor: With respect to the controversy surrounding the superintendent of the West Vancouver School District, 1 would tike to make the following points: 1) If academic qualifications form part of a public ‘sector job description, the onus to’ acquire such accreditation should be en-. tirely on the prospective employee, not on the employer. 2)1f, advanced academic qualifications are not part of a public sector job description, the employer should not incur fiscal _ liability while employees seek such CINEMA 2 FREE WILLY Nightly 6:45pm, Sat. & Sun. 3:00pm General MAN WITHOUT A FACE Nightly 8:35pm, Sat. & Sun. 4:55pm Malure, occ. Sugg. lang. Sugg. scenes accreditation or ‘pay surcharges once the qualifications have been _ achieved. Superintendents’ with PhDs and. school teachers with masters degrees are a few relevant exam- - ples. 3) In the case of “Mr. Player, I hope the discipline in which he is currently being educated is business administration, since the published records suggest an in provement in his skill levels in this area is overdue. D.S. Jamieson North Vancouver MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Nightly 7pm & 9pm, Sat. & Sun. Spm Mature ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Sat. & Sun. 3:05pm General of ‘exclusive . the . H Canadian deaths by motor B Canadian deaths in Boer War, WW IW, Korean - H Total: 114,710 PUBLIC NOTICE One of North Vancouver's well known, established carpet dealers is closing its doors forever. GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE! Example: Persian Heriz 10X13 reg. $6,400 Sale Price $1450 Persian Tabriz 7x10 reg. 11,500 Sale $2,990 Persian HamadanSx8 —reg. 2,750 Sale $495_ Persian Qumsilk 3.6 x 5.6 reg.9,200 Sale $1,990 We guarantee the lowest price in town ‘Cr it's yours FREE ‘Hurry, at these prices,stock won't last. ORIENTAL RUGS 1434 LONSDALE AVE. - 937- 3365: NORTH! VANCOUVER - Open dally 10am - 6pm Sunday 10 am-5 om 41 years of . drownings Canadian deaths by | secidental drowntn: ~ 1950-2991 TTT TTTTTITTTATLITLALLLELL LLL LLL LULL Total: 49,150 “ B 41 years of ° road tolls’ ftertttetttetttrttrtertittttrtettttrttttittttttt SAR OREROS RARER URSRERRURUIRUDISRIRGRRCUEOOEIEOR AGI veer EEtTtTTtttttttttttettttttttertittttttttttttttttt | 1950-1991 A Total: 194,381 SETTER TEETER EE TEE TTT ETT TTI ©1117 yeats of warfare : a é SRCRMUURMUURRSDRGUOSORULELIEPORCROSRNRSORREGRLERS LUGRSCASRALEALAREACEASULICIOLACLAARLESEEALELILAL i trttttttittih : War, Persian Gull Wer 1950-1991 Vital Statistics for drownings and motor accidents from Statistics Canada, No. 84-522 - 1950-184, No. 84-203 - 1965-1970 and 1974-1985, No. 82-003512 - 1986- 1991, No. 84-206 - 1971-1973. Warfare Statistics from Veterans Affairs Canada. Vital Statistics for abortions from Statistics Canada, No. 82-211. After 1986, No. 82- 0035. All 1990-1991 figures are estimates based on average from other years. Each cross represents 1,000 deaths. For information on biomedical and ethical issues like aborticn and euthanasia call fhe Resource Centre at 984-9094. (Ad sponsored by the North Shore Pro Life