Food for thoughtWednesday, May 14, 2008
This response is regarding the comment "Is it local enough?" in Friday's Yellowknifer, May 2, in It's your turn.
Yellowknifer suggested that Ecology North's Earth Day Fish Fry was deficient because our attempt to promote the greater environmental sustainability of local foods was not 100 per cent local. The 150 fresh fish burgers we dished out (in the blowing snow squalls!) were made with Great Slave Lake whitefish, purchased directly from the local fish plant, supplied by our local fisherman, Archie Buckley. The buns were baked locally at, and purchased from, our local Co-op store, which also donated the condiments. On the whole, the lunch provided (for the price of a voluntary donation) was a good example of a delicious, environmentally sustainable meal option using mostly locally produced food. Our customers certainly appreciated it.
We congratulate Yellowknifer for getting the point we were trying to make about eating locally.
A 100 per cent local diet would consist of caribou and locally-grown garden vegetables (without bannock or butter or salt), or the whitefish without the bun or tartar sauce.
Our objective was not to insist that everything be 100 per cent local - although this was certainly the environmentally sustainable norm until just a few generations ago - but that people THINK about their food choices, the distances that imported foods are transported, and the associated environmental costs.
Making conscious decisions to provide more of our diet from locally grown or locally harvested organic foods is a step in a more sustainable direction.
Another factor to consider is the fish burger buns made from distantly-grown flour did make the fish easier for our "walk-by" customers to carry away, without using disposable packaging.
Limiting the amount of garbage produced is another goal of conscious consumption.
Ecology North thanks reporters for their good coverage of a number of our Earth Week events. Happy spring!
Tasha Stephenson
Yellowknife
Ecology North director and local fish burger slinger
Give kids skills, not garbage bagsWednesday, May 14, 2008
Re: Youth litter pickers the way to go? Yellowknifer, May 9. While I understand the surface logic of paying homeless youth to pick up garbage, this idea is clearly problematic.
Firstly, homeless youth are not homeless because of their own accord. I'm positive that most homeless youth would, quite frankly, prefer not to be in their situation.
What they are lacking are adequate supports and skills with which to build a better life. If homeless and other at-risk youth are willing to work, and can be paid for their efforts, wouldn't it be preferable for them to do public service that teaches them applicable skills?
Helping out with construction, painting, repairs, and basic typing are a few to come to mind. Picking up litter, while it may earn them a few dollars, will not provide these youth with valuable work experience.
Secondly, everyone should be responsible for the community they share. All youth should be responsible for picking up litter - all citizens should be responsible for picking up litter, and for not littering in the first place.
If you pay homeless and at-risk youth to pick up litter, you risk stigmatizing the activity. Though it is not the truth, it is frequently assumed that homeless individuals are at fault for their situation.
If you give them a task that individualist dogma influences people to shirk, you are reinforcing the idea among our youth that not only will others pick up their trash for them but that picking up litter is beneath them.
As well-meaning as this idea seems, it would serve only to reinforce stereotypes, normalize irresponsibility, and provide a quick fix where deeper and more long-lasting change is desperately required.
Bryany Denning
Yellowknife
Skating club won't be bulliedWednesday, May 14, 2008
This is a letter regarding the King of the Cage "Terror on the Tundra" event cancellation for May 31, 2008.
The YK Skating Club (YKSC) had the venue of the Olympic Multiplex booked way in advance and Aurora Productions just went ahead and printed posters and advertising stating the May 31, 2008 date without checking with the City of Yellowknife to see if the Multiplex was available.
Once it was brought to the attention of the City and Aurora Productions, Aurora Productions emailed our club asking if we would be interested in moving to the YK Community Arena, giving the impression that he had it booked and could trade. He did not have it booked, but the City did advise it was available. After careful consideration by the board of the YKSC, we did not feel that it would be in our best interest to move the Monster Bingo. We are a non-profit club and a $50,000 bingo is a big fundraiser for us. Aurora Productions is NOT a non-profit organization and did not book the venue ahead of time.
We did not want to be pressured into moving just because he had everything lined up. In this day and age, we are trying to tell our children that "bullying" is not right ... let's set an example.
I was pleased with the City that they stood behind the booking policy and indicated to Aurora Productions that they could not book the Multiplex Olympic for them until they heard from YKSC (as we had it booked and paid for). This year is the YKSC's 40th year of existing in Yellowknife. We believe in fair play and ensuring that all athletes have a chance to compete and train in their chosen sport. We have worked with other organizations in the past and will continue to do so.
Laurie McLean
President, Yellowknife Skating Club
Fight promoter hopes for a re-matchWednesday, May 14, 2008
It's very unfortunate we had to cancel our Yellowknife event. We still hope to bring a show to Yellowknife in the future and we appreciate the patience of our fans.
As most of you know, the (Yk) Skating Club had booked the venue for May 31 and it would be unreasonable for us to expect them to change facilities. It was no fault of theirs as they have done nothing wrong. We hope all our fans support the Skating Club and the Bingo on May 31 and we will work on another King of the Cage event soon.
Ken Kupsch
President
KnK Promotions Ltd. King of the Cage, Canada
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