Letters, July 28

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/07/2023 (1043 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Another bad note

Re: Province replacing office responsible for protecting vulnerable in care following ‘sickening’ findings (July 26)

This just feels like another example of where the Stefanson government broke something, or at the very least turned a blind eye to it, and now wants the credit for fixing it. Just add it to the list I guess.

Brian Spencler

Winnipeg

 

Too good to be true

Re: German firm wants to build solar panel manufacturing operation in Manitoba (July 27)

According to this article, a German firm has a proposal to build a $3-billion solar panel manufacturing plant in Manitoba, with the potential to employ 8,000 workers, and to produce more than 20 per cent of the North American market for solar panels.

However, the deal hinges on the approval of the silica sand extraction plant in the RM of Springfield, currently under review by Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein.

Nor surprising, this story comes to light just as the minister ponders his decision.

Having lived long enough in Manitoba to see other grand plans by private and public sector fail to materialize, I would put this solar panel plant proposal in the category of “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Jukka Rislahti

Winnipeg

 

Sermons and semantics

Re: Major issue affects many Protestant churches in North America (July 23)

I was very disappointed that John Longhurst was unable to differentiate between “acceptance” and “agreement” or between “welcoming” and “affirming. He implied that churches which do not “affirm” — meaning “endorse the lifestyle” — were by definition “not welcoming” of the persons.

While I have not conducted a survey, I believe that almost 100 per cent of churches would welcome LGBTTQ+ people and their supporters to come worship in their churches. While there is no doubt that many churches could improve on making people feel welcome, they can nonetheless extend a warm welcome while not affirming or endorsing.

I should always be able to accept and love everyone regardless of their belief or lifestyle, but that does not require me to agree.

It would be very helpful if the media would put forth greater effort to make this point absolutely clear.

Henry Esau

Winnipeg

 

Give blood if you can

Give life.

I have been giving blood since 1975. I was, admittedly peer pressured to do so while attending university in 1975. To my surprise, I was deemed a “universal donor,” as I’m O negative. And later on, I was told I have some special little ingredient in my blood that is extremely helpful for infants fighting leukemia.

In fact, I would get emergency calls at my school from Canadian Blood Services because they had an immediate need. Of course, I and my administrator agreed that I should go.

I have no idea how many people I have potentially saved. What I do know is that my blood — the gift of life — is essential. I’m 67 years old, and I may have some kind of record of donations. I don’t care about that. I care about potentially saving lives.

I have no plans to stop any time soon. I feel that what I do is a good. I urge everyone who is capable to give up a little time and do a good. There are youngsters and people in general who need the “gift of life.”

Do a “good” folks. Give the gift of life, because you may very well need that “gift.”

Brad McKay

Winnipeg

 

Fight for a healthier future

Re: Pork giant, Manitoba firm join forces (July 24)

Born and raised on a farm, I appreciate the proper raising and care of swine. Pigs produced in a factory-type situation however, exist in conditions that are far removed from achieving humane animal stewardship status.

Bad ideas and poor operating principles are very costly for the animals, our environment and society. Since being elected, as government in 2016, the Pallister and Stefanson regimes — through their Red Tape Reduction Act — have taken the cue to further expand the industry by discarding much of the legislation that had been put in place to protect our environment, Lake Winnipeg and our Manitoba water sources

I often think there are those who won’t be pleased with anything short of a regulatory footprint so light it will allow hog barns to be built on floating platforms in the middle of Lake Winnipeg.

Our children’s future, the water sources, clean air and health are Human Rights. Causes that are worth fighting for.

John Fefchak

Virden

 

The world we want

In the last few years, I have experienced clarifying discernment regarding any number of controversial ethical challenges. I submit (I hope with humility), that a particular question might help us as a society come to ever better places of resolution and to ever more redeeming understandings of truth and reconciliation.

The question that has helped me is this: “Is it life-giving?” By which I mean, if we go this way, will it be life-giving to the people most affected by us going down this particular path?” Some people are claiming health and safety concerns as reasons to not search for the bodies of beloved daughters, beloved sisters. This is a perverse deflection. Don’t want to search because a colonial justice system is mincing its way through reams of paper? Shame!

On Wednesday this past week, I visited the camp at the Brady Landfill. The women there greeted me warmly and offered me soup and freshly baked bannock. We sat. And ate. And talked. I learned in a short visit what was life-giving. They invited me back. They said to bring others. That’s the world I hope to live in. Don’t you?

Mick Friesen

Gretna

 

Wiser to prevent war

Re: Nuclear threat from Ukraine war prompts Ottawa to update plans for catastrophe (July 19)

It’s extremely disturbing to read that our prime minister is preparing contingency plans in the event of a nuclear confrontation in Ukraine.

Tragically, Canada had a hand in bringing about this war; sheltering those attempting to overthrow Ukraine’s democratically elected government in 2014, training and arming Ukrainian nationalists attacking the Russian majority in the Donbas, championing the aggressive expansion of NATO, then providing tens of millions of dollars to help Ukraine prolong the struggle.

At every turn, Canada’s involvement has led to more death and destruction, rather than peace, negotiation or compromise.

Today, as we totter on the edge of a nuclear precipice, Canada urgently needs to stop fuelling the conflict and instead, to help bring Ukraine to the negotiating table.

It’s far wiser to prevent a nuclear war than to prepare for one, a holocaust that few could possibly hope to survive.

Mike Ward

Duncan, B.C.

 

R.I.P. Sinéad

I’m so sad to hear the news about the passing of Sinéad O’Connor. Her passionate voice and soulful songs will forever echo in our hearts. Rest In Peace, Sinéad.

Paul Bacon

Hallandale Beach, Fla.