Newsmakers

“Global warming is not a hypothesis. It is a fact. It is a fact as much as the sky is blue,” said Dr. Andrew Weaver (earth and ocean sciences) in The National Post (Sept. 5). Weaver was reacting to a suggestion by Stephen Harper, leader of the Canadian Alliance, that the Kyoto accord is unnecessary and that he was not convinced of the legitimacy of the “greenhouse effect.” “It’s very strange,” said Weaver of Harper’s statement. “Where does he think smog is coming from? It doesn’t happen naturally.”

“The tourist industry would be well-served by supporting this [brochure],” said Dr. Bonnie Leadbeater (child and youth care) of Tourism Victoria’s refusal to stock and distribute a brochure discouraging the child sex trade in Victoria. In The Vancouver Sun (Sept.2) Leadbeater stated that the brochure could be an effective tool to raise awareness. “The more you see these things, the more aware of the issue you become,” she said. “They should be coming out and saying that this is a city that cares about its children. It’s a mistake for them to sweep this under the carpet.”