6 - Sunday, February 25, 1990 - North Shore News INSIGHTS Is ‘sustainable growth’ still an option at ail? THERE'S A nice comforting ring to the name of the biggest event to be held in Vancouver since Expo 86. And that’s what may be wrong with GLOBE 96. A combined trade fair and con- ference dedicated to the environ- ment, it will draw some 600 exhib- iting companies and over 2,000 conference delegates (o the Trade & Convention Centre and B.C. Place from March 19 to 23 — enriching the city by an estimated $16 million or more, The theme of GLOBE 90, as you may guess, is today’s buzz-word *‘sustainabie growth’? — the long term strategy proposed by the UN’s 1987 Brundtland Commis- sion for maintaining our standard of living (and eventually spreading it to the other three-quarters cf the world’s people who lack it) without destroying the planet in the process. Prominent names provide lead- ership for the show. Its president is Patrick Reid, Expo 86’s commis- sioner-general. Commons speaker John Fraser heads the interna- tional advisory board. Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norwegian prime minister, will give the keynote address. Big multi-nationals like Boeing and Chevron will be there, with peers from Europe and the Pacific Rim. And altogether the 2,000 gov- ernment reps, academics, scien- tists, financiers, environmentalists, industrialists and business types at- tending the event will listen to about 400 speakers covering 18 environmental areas from agriculture, fisheries and forests to transportation, energy and chemi- cals. Meanwhile, as the saying goes, “where there’s muck, there’s money.”’ With the environment a top priority nowadays for gov- ernments of the western industrial another two years. for years. ning. on expedient solutions. Hazy compromise EST VANCOUVER District Council’s deci- sion to allow backyard burning by permit for another two years is a compromise that will piease neither pre nor anti-burning factions. Pro-burners won’t be any more amenable to a ban on burning in two years’ time than they are now, and anti-burners will be upset that West Vancouver will continue to condone a practice that has been shown to be damaging to planetary and personal health. If West Vancouver Council has admitted that a total ban on burning is the inevitable cuteome of the debate, a moratorium should be implemented now. There is precious little benefit to be gained from waiting And it should rot take that amouni of time for West Vancouver to come up with a system for diverting un- burned yard clippings from the landfill. Other municipalities, whose systems have been ex- plained to West Vancouver aldermen, have been suc- cessfully composting their communities’ organic wastes Although a commitment of funds is required to operate such a system, financial returns would be harvested by selling the organic compost to such cus- tomers as growers, garden wholesalers, parks depart- ments and other bulk compost users. The two-year extension being granted enthusiastic outdoor burners is a betrayal of all those whose health has suffered over the years as a result of outdoor bur- it is a compromise long on political savvy but short nations, helping to clean up the mess already made and minimize future damage has become a highly lucrative business in itself. Which is where the trade show comes in, of course. The high-tech environmental in- dustry comprising all aspects of environmental management — planning, research, products and consulting —- already grosses over $100 billion annually in North America, $10 billion in Canada alone, and is growing at a phe- nomenal speed. So GLOBE °90 seems like a significant milestone on the path towards saving the earth from the human race. But one nagging question remains: is continuing material expansion, even if con- sirained, any longer an option at all? i ghee . < a GRACE McCarihy ...honoring a memory. Just 40 years ago the world's people totalled 2.5 billion. Today they number 5.5 billion. They're increasing by the equivalent of the population of China every decade or so, on the way to 10 billion dur- ing the coming century. And some 75 per cent of them are still gener- ations removed from our own quality of life. Unless soaring world population can be halted — and in light of the ravages already inflicted on the planet by the high living standard of a mere 25 per cent — we may already have reached the limit of sustainable growth for Earth as a whole. One at least hopes that the ques- tion is on GLOBE ‘90's agenda. kee WRAP-UP: Among speakers at the “Frank Baker Night’’ Thurs- day, Mar. 8, in the Italian Cultural Centre overtown will be Grace McCarthy, Joe Kapp, Hugh Pickett and Don Bellamy. The fundraising $100-a-plate dinner will honor the memory of one of Vancouver’s and West Van's most colorful personalities — for tickets call 669-3640 ... Once again, teports Beth Lawrence (984-7588), the ladies of St. John's Church, North Van, are putting on their traditional pancake supper at 6:30 p.m. Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the church hall. At $5 (children $3) it’s the best dinner bargain in town! ... And salute to Capilano Lion Tom Nordstrom on being named a Melvin Jones Fellow — the highest honor awarded io a member by the Lions Club Inter- national Foundation. ake WRIGHT OR WRONG — The seven ages of man according to Richard Needham: spills, drills, thrills, oills, ills, pills, wills. Property owners must be responsible OPEN LETTER TO WEST VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention some aspects of the lengthy power guiages and damages that occurred on Saturday, Jan. 27 and Wednes- day, Feb. 7. In nearly all instances the power interruptions were caused by trees breaking under the weight of snow and falling onto hydro lines. The trees which caused this damage were located on both public and private properties. We are continually working to minimize service interruptions through our vegetation control and tree removal programs. Much of this work requires the cooperation of the property owner or municipality in terms of granting permission to s¢move or top irees. While, generally speaking, we have been able to get permission to do the necessary work, we have experienced an increasing reluc- tance to allow BC Hydro to top or Publisher Associate Editor Shore Second Class MM Subsceptions North and ¥ Mating rates availatle ¢ welcome tule we cannot acc anscncted mater HANUSCADIS ANG De VAIO SROGIGE De at Op 4, eovelope Peter Speck Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart 45 puptisnend + nay Uy North Snore Frow door an tt: Nort feutnbes Gwe nwa Stamped addrese t NEWS photo Mike Wakef WHO NEEDS HAWAT!?...Cheryl Richardson (left) and Tina Mensink catch the spirit of ‘“‘Club Ree — A One-Night Vacation for Aduits” Thursday, March 1, 7-11 p.m. at West Van Rec Centre. Happy hour, wine-tasting, slide show, patio pool party, dancing, open bar and much more. Free babysitting. Tickets $10 from the Rec Centre and Seniors entre. MaiLBox Wa for the cost of repairs and other damages that may arise, par- ticularly if the owner has been previously informed about the potential hazard. We recognize that service inter- ruptions or damages caused by trees cannot be completely elimi- nated. However, recent events serve to illustrate the point that property owners, both public and private, must begin to assume a greater responsibility for trees growing on their property. remove trees, In situations where the trees causing damage are located a distance from Hydro’s right-of- ways we rely on the property owner, both public and private, to take appropriate action to ensure that their trees will not damage power fines. We feel it is reasonable for BC Hydro to expect this consideration, just as if the trees in question pres- ented a danger to a neighbor's home or other property. Where preventive action is not John P. Sheehan taken it is also reasonable for the Vice-president property owner te be held liable BC Hydro Customer Services- Maple Ridge hospital congratulated cloth diapers in the maternity ward, It also should be given credit for taking this step to help cut down on the unhealthy pollution in our environment. Dear Editor: It was written in your Dec. 17 editorial: ‘tLions Gate Hospital can be applauded for being the on- ly hospital in B.C. to use cloth diapers in its maternity ward.” This statement is incorrect. Maple Ridge Hospital also uses Mary G. Turland North Vancouver tie voce UF OTH AND WEST VANE OL Display Advertsing 980-0511 Classified Advertsing 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 . Distrouhon 986-1337 oe Sil eersl Subscriptions 986-1337 SUNDDAS -— WEONESDAY + FIGs Fax 985-3227 1139 Lonsdale Avenue. North Vancouver, BC V7M 2Ha §9,170 (average. Wetinesday Friday & Sunday) MEMBER a)