Beekeepers' warning
We are beekeepers. We see the devastating effects of neonic pesticide use every day.
We have dealt with varroa mites, disease and strange weather patterns for decades and yet somehow managed to keep bee losses to a minimum (What's Killing Bees – letter, July 25).
The incredibly huge losses we now experience began when neonics were introduced into the environment. Tests conducted by Health Canada confirmed high levels of neonics in our dead bees, soil and water.
I often wonder how this would all be handled if 50 per cent of our cattle were dying or 50 per cent of our crops were destroyed.
Bees are just the canaries in the coal mine. Don't forget about butterflies, birds, aquatic life, our food supply and human health.
We cannot depend on chemical companies, which make huge profits off neonics, or on politicians to do the right thing: Consumers need to effect change with their dollars.
How do you start?
Demand that food produced with neonics be clearly labelled and be wary of fresh produce that looks "perfect."
Theresa Jerrard, beekeeper, Bobcaygeon, Ont.
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People in crisis
Re Are Police Soldiers Or Social Workers (editorial, July 25): While police should not be expected to carry the role of social workers, they do require more training in approaches to deal with people who are in crisis due to mental health, emotional or cognitive impairment.
The Ontario Association of Social Workers strongly supports the overarching theme in former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci's report that everything in police training should be geared to de-escalating situations where people are in crisis and toward finding solutions without the use of lethal force.
Chief Bill Blair reports that officers in the Toronto police force handle 20,000 calls involving "emotionally disturbed" people each year. Making mobile crisis-intervention teams available around the clock and including social workers on the teams are much needed steps in the direction of de-escalating crisis situations.
The use of taser guns is not a good solution to deal with people who are in crisis, and Mr. Iacobucci is wise to caution against their increased use without studies about the medical effects of these weapons.
Joan MacKenzie Davies, Ontario Association of Social Workers
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Harper vs. Putin
According to Stephen Harper, Vladimir Putin is a "throwback" to the days of the USSR (Harper Saw Through Putin From The Start – July 22). In many respects, this is true. Like his Soviet predecessors, Mr. Putin needs to continue exporting natural gas and crude oil to European markets to help support the Russian economy. The completion of the Nord Stream pipeline and the proposal to build the South Stream pipeline illustrate this, since neither uses Ukraine as a transit country.
Equally, Mr. Harper is a "throwback" to the Reagan administration at the height of the Cold War, wanting to block Russian energy exports to the European energy market. However, in Mr. Harper's case it would appear to be more than ideological. By convincing Europeans to reduce their reliance on Russian energy, Canadian crude oil and natural gas could gain access to a new market.
Larry Hughes, Halifax
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Botched executions
Spare me the bleeding hearts who claim to be horrified over botched executions in U.S. prisons ('Botched' Executions Revive Debate In U.S. – July 25).
We read the list of executions gone wrong, how each convicted murderer suffered when the lethal injections to end their lives failed. Where were the human rights groups when the victims suffered before their deaths at the hands of these murderers?
I feel no sympathy for the men listed as "botched executions" as they felt no sympathy when they murdered or, in some cases, raped and then murdered their victims. Perhaps these "horrified human rights groups" could direct their sympathies and their actions into more meaningful work, for example the families of victims who are left to get their lives back together after the murder of an innocent loved one.
As far as future executions are concerned, perhaps it's time to bring back the guillotine. It usually worked quite well the first time.
Pamela Jackson, Victoria
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Politics of charity
Re Pen And The Politics Of Charity (July 24): I was part of deliberations with then-Revenue Canada on allowable political activities by charities in the mid to late 1980s.
The crux of the matter at that time was when educational activities by charities crossed over into political activities. To give the matter context, this was in the middle of the public education (read: political activity) campaign by charities to limit smoking in public places. The reason you can now enjoy a smoke-free meal in a restaurant is directly related to this campaign; what I would call a public good.
There is not a level playing field.
Corporations can support causes, such as saying the tar sands are environmentally responsible, and can claim this "political activity" as a business expense. Tobacco companies did the same during the anti-smoking campaign.
Is the Harper administration playing favourites with charities?
It certainly is. It trots out charities to support its initiatives on a regular basis, such as evangelical churches backing its proposed prostitution legislation. These churches engage in "political activity" around this issue with the government's full support.
I'd certainly appreciate some consistency from the Conservatives in the whole debate.
Don McRae, Ottawa
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Let Pen Canada say what they want, but don't let them call themselves a charitable organization. They should stick to the fine words and beauty of the pen, and stay away from politics.
Ethel Gibbs, Winnipeg
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Chilled by 'might' do
Re Would-Be 'Terror Tourist' Gets 10 Years In Prison ( July 25): Upon my initial reading of the article regarding the sentencing of the Canadian poised to become a "terrorist tourist," I thought I might have missed an important piece of the story – the actual act for which he was sentenced.
It appears it is acceptable under Canadian law to punish based up-on intentions, rather than upon actual actions. While I applaud concern regarding protection of society against terrorist activities, I'm concerned about the potential loss of freedom to us all when citizens can be arrested, not for committing illegal or dangerous acts, but for what they might do.
Ann Birdsall, Bedford, N.S.
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You may be here
Seldom do I laugh out loud at comics. But Harry Bliss's map of the Metaphysics Dept. asking the viewer "Are you here?" made me roar (July 24). Thank you, Mr. Bliss and The Globe and Mail.
W. Baird Blackstone, Tsawwassen, B.C.