Logging watersheds by chopper a bad idea Dear Editor: The July 20 helicopter crash of a Hughes 500 in the Capilano watershed is further evidences of mismanagement in the water- sheds by the GVRD staff and mayors. The helicopter wis being used fo transport Joggers into a forest that is being clear-cut because of a perceived threat of a major for. est fire to this old-growth forest area, which has seen one small fire in the last 200 years. This is the first experiment of using helicopters to log in the watersheds. What other surprises are we in store for? The huge Sikorsky helicopters used to haui out logs operate with limited fuel to reduce their weight; as a con- sequence there is greater amount of flammable gas in the tanks at any one time. If one of these machine. dropped from the sky a small spark could cause a violent explosion. The GVRD would at last have a major fire to deal with. Helicopter crashes come in two varieties, small ones such as the July 20 crash or explosive anes causing instunt destruction of the machine. With 20,000 litres of jet fuel stored near the site, this would not be good. The “hands-off” approach to forest management in the watersheds sounds better all the time. The Sikorsky is costing tax- payers approximately $3,000 an hour to operate, so that a wel coustal rainforest can be fallen to the ground with the exposed soils eroded by the upcoming heavy rains of the winter. The GVRD mayors should toke another look at their deci- sion. It is net too late to say “no.” Ross Muirhead North Vancouver Honk if you love the testy Canada goose Dear Editor: About Bob Hunter's article in the North Shore News, a feath- ered metaphor: You must be a good writer because your articles either honk me off or I think they’re the best ever quilled. Firstly, the Canada goose prob- ably wondered: “What nincom- poop would continue to throw french fries at me when it's obvi- ous I don’t like them. I would have gone for the first one instead of letting those other nincom- poops have them. Doesn't he know I’ve just had a humongous meal of my favorite grass?” (Bob, A clear case of NIMBY Dear Editor: Two recent articles (North Shore News, July 27; The Sun, Aug. 11) described how children on Montroyal Boulevard in North Vancouver are “playing hockey as usual on Montroyal” (News) and how “‘kids use the street to play their gaines” (Sut). Local residents are opposed to an extension of Montroyal to Lonsdale, planned 10 years before the first houses were sold in the area. Let me see if I've got this straight. Residents who knowingly bought homes on a strect designed you must love Canada geese — they are also vegetarians.) Secondly, having grown up around geese I know they can be downright vicious when they're honked off and have been known to bite and attack with their great gigantic and terrifically strong pectorals, Follow this metaphor through with the Canadian public. And thirdly, lastly, but certain- ly not least, if you think that a people heavily taxed by three lev- els of government are lazy and well-fed, well, you're just a “silly goose.” Sharon Christian West Vancouver and built as a local east-west route for upper reaches of development now want Montroyal permanently closed so that their children can play on the street. : These same residents (Sun) also advocate “upgrading existing routes” (local side streets not designed for through traffic) to carry traffic intended for Montroyal. NIMBY may mean “Not In My Back Yard,” but in this case it seems to mean “Not In Mentroyal's Back Yard.” A.R. Casselman North Vancouver ICBC CLAIMS? Call GRETCHEN H. CLEVELAND j OWEN: BIRD Barristers & Solicitors 2900-595 Burrard St., Vancouver 888-0401 or Direct, 24 hour line 691-7509 Free Initial Consultation Sunday, August 21, 19 9 In an emergency, dial 9-1-1 Dear Editor: Tread with happiness and dismay your article in the Aug. 3 paper about the gentleman who was revived out- side the West Vancouver District Council chambers on July 25. Lum happy because the gentleman survived due to the quick action by the West Van firemen and the B.C. Ambulance Service paramedics who responded so quick- ly and effectively. But, bam also dismayed. 8 your story and the chain of events are in fact correct, they demonstrate that even peo- ple with first aid training can make errors in judgment, The correct course of action for anyone finding them- seives involved ina medical emergency situation, be it soingone with chest pain. a moter vehicle accident with injuries, oc a person who is sich, anything thal requires medical attention, is to call 9-t-1 and ask for the ambo- lance service. The 9-1-1 dispatcher will then connect you with an ambulance dispatcher who will send paramedics as well as the fire department, if and when required. In addition, and most importantly, the ambulance dispatcher is trained to give you telephone instructions on how to help the patient until help arrives, Unfortunately, many people don't understand the dif- ferent roles played by the B.C, Ambulance Service and the various fire departments around our province with regards to providing medical aid. The B.C. Ambulance Service is responsible for pro- viding emergeney medical care to residents of British Columbia, and ace in charge of all weatments provided in the pre-hospital settling. The fire departments assist the paramedics with first responders who generally arrive first. assess the situation, provide only basic first aid and in areas where they are equipped, will attempt to defitirillate a patient who is in cardiac arrest. As soon as ambulance paramedics arrive, they will provide more advanced treatment, and transport the patient to the most appropriate medical facility, {fF the procedure for calling 9-1-f and asking for the ambulance dispatcher is followed, any delay caused by calling another agency directly will be avoided. Sn addition, you will receive instructions on how to assist the person in distress, . People should be informed of the fact that not all fire departinents are equipped with defibrillators, and the best judge of which resources are required to provide the best medical treatment for the patient, is the ambulance ser- vice dispatcher. R. Whiting North Vancouver New monument insensitive Dear Editor: Re. “Monumental flap.” Aug. 14. Lam writing to convey how incredibly insensitive and inappropriate I feel it was for the members of the Women's Monument Comunittce to not change the wording on the monument. It infers that all men wage violence against women. Itis very prejudicial to single out a certain race or sex, as we all know. If the monument committee wants to work along those lines then statistics show that more children are murdered by women than women murdered by men, therefore should we erect a monument that states: “In memory, and in grief for all the children murdered by women ...."? Would it not be more accurate and prudent to dedicate a monument that states: “In memory and in grief for all the women murdered by acts of violence, for women of all countries, all classes, all ages, all colors. Lance Sherst North Vancouver Onl LETTERS TO the editor must be legible (preferably type- written) and include your name, full address and tele- phone number. . Due to space constraints the North Shore News cannot publish all letters. Published letters may be edited for brevi- ty, clarity, accuracy, legality and taste. Letters can be faxed to 985-2104 but still must be signed and fully addressed. y 12 minutes from the Second Narrows Bridge, take Exit #33 aléng Canada Way te Queens Avenue and 12th Street in New Westminster. We are open Sunday to serve your needs ~ not ours! Drive a little — save a lot at Westminster Chevrolet-Geo-Oldsmobile 521-7731 New V6, auto, airbag, 7 passenger, ci ir-cond. rom 919,888 soot meaa VANTAGE VANS! Best in luaury ride and travel. 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