Reader has adverse reaction to paper’s HPV story

With regard to the sidebar to the recent article on HPV vaccine (News, Nov. 5), it states that “while health professionals touted the benefits, parents started raising concerns about safety...”

This contemptuously implies that parents don’t know what’s best for their children, and it completely disregards the concerns raised by numerous medical professionals. Further, your article did not mention the over 7,800 reported adverse events and no less than 15 deaths associated with this vaccine that have been reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

As for children under the age of 19 consenting to potentially dangerous medical procedures against their parents’ wishes, even doctors succumb to high-pressure sales from the pharmaceutical industry; school-aged children are not in a position to make life and death decisions without parental input.

The 10 year olds targeted by this campaign are unlikely to be aware that the manufacturer of the HPV vaccine is currently embroiled in extensive lawsuits resulting not only from negligence, but from concealing information about side effects – including death – associated with a number of its products. Ten year olds are unlikely to be familiar with the concerns raised by numerous medical professionals that call into question the safety and efficacy of the proposed vaccine, nor are they likely to receive that information from people intent on pressuring them into taking this vaccine.

Ten year olds are unlikely to know if they have a history of adverse reaction to previously administered vaccines, nor are they likely to be aware of a related family history, hence further increasing the likelihood of adverse reaction.

For the sake of balance, I hope that in future your newspaper will feature someone who has done extensive research into the potential dangers of vaccination. You owe no less than that to your readers.

J. Derksen

Victoria

Rail transit in region makes sense

I heartily endorse Mr Dick Faulks’ letter regarding rail transit for Greater Victoria (‘Rail transit in region clearly the way to go,’ Letters Oct. 31), however, I have a few comments.

I grew up in London, England at a time when there was a large network of ‘trams,’ i.e. streetcars. I would rather see trolley buses, which are more flexible in that they can pull up to the same stopping places as ordinary buses and change lanes as traffic conditions dictate.

Streetcars usually travel and stop in the centre of the road, resulting in a degree of danger to passengers crossing traffic lanes to the sidewalk. Vancouver uses trolley buses; I should like to hear comments from someone who has used these on a regular basis.

As far as rail transit goes, Mr. Faulks’ concern appears to be only with the West Shore. I should hope that there would be a second phase providing service to Mill Bay, avoiding the dangers of the Malahat (especially in winter). This should be combined with Park ‘n’ Ride facilities at Mill Bay for drivers from points north.

My final concern would be that the rail track, trestles, bridges and under/overpasses be thoroughly assessed and repaired, upgraded, built or rebuilt as necessary before any service began.

Victor Allen

Victoria

Responsibility absent in society

For someone who has resided within our quasi-socialist Canadian society long enough to, “raise children, pay taxes, support my family, and provide for the future” (Drinkwater, Letters Oct. 31), the writer doesn’t seem to have realized the one rule keeping this contraption running: Irresponsibility is rewarded by the fruit of the labour of the irresponsible.

Not to worry, I do feel your pain, every time my taxes and portions of my pay go toward funding a system that will reward the socially unconscious with comfort and care while I reap no reward for my contribution.
My taxes and others’ fund a system of health care which many responsible citizens will not need or ever use. These are the ones who do not smoke their lungs black, drink their liver into cirrhosis or poison their bodies with saturated fat convenience foods. The opposite type of activity is constantly endorsed by this society and those irresponsible enough to follow along can be assured that after years of self-neglect, they will be rewarded with top-notch health care at the expense of those responsibly funding the system.

Perhaps I and others should be able to opt out of this social welfare system that not only breeds dependence, but rewards those who live as if their rotting lifestyle will never be that detrimental to their health.


Homelessness is but a symptom of a much greater illness in this country and society.

This system of living removes responsibility from its citizens and replaces it with insurance, a guarantee that freedom can also be used for stupidity and knowledge that mistakes will be paid for by the responsible.

From this irresponsibility it is easy to see how so many everyday choose to opt out of this increasingly more confused society – and opt in for homelessness.

Scott Cortel

Victoria

Power projects need more oversight

Re: Downhill rush to power Whistler lifts (bclocalnews.com)

As with most so-called ‘run-of-the-river’ projects, the hype behind the Fitzsimmons dam belies a harsher reality: The time of year when ‘green’ power would be most useful for Whistler (i.e., ski season) is precisely the low point of flows on Fitzsimmons.

Average flows from October through April are a mere two CMS or less, while peak runoff of 10 to 15-plus CMS occur from June through August.

Although this project no doubt provides great PR for Whistler with the upcoming Olympic Games, the bigger picture – the cumulative impact and lack of environmental oversight associated with the current glut of ‘run-of-the-river’ projects in B.C. in the hands of private power companies – is a disturbing trend that needs more careful consideration on a multitude of fronts.

For a detailed treatise on the subject, please read ‘Liquid Gold’ by SFU associate professor of economics John Calvert.

Stephen Hunt

Saanich

Busways have poor track records

Why are the Liberals so gung-ho for busways when they have such an abysmal track record for getting people out of their cars?

Look at two cities, Calgary and Ottawa. which took very different directions at about the same time. Calgary built a light rail network and Ottawa installed a bus rapid transit system.

According to figures from the American Public Transit Association, between Oct. 1987 and Oct. 2004, Calgary transit ridership increased by 107 per cent.

Over the same period, ridership in Ottawa went up 15 per cent.

Over the same period, Calgary’s population grew roughly 20 per cent and Ottawa’s by about 13 per cent.

So the national capital’s growth in transit ridership barely kept up with population. In Cowtown, however, bus and LRT ridership has grown more than five times faster than the increase in number of people.

Rail transit supporters are forced to jump all kinds of ridiculous hoops to get any kind of funding, while blacktop projects swim in cash.

Louis Guilbault

Victoria

Candidate signs blight on landscape

The system is broke and needs fixin’. I’m referring, of course, to the proliferation of hideous election signs along our major streets and avenues.

On Nov. 15 in Victoria, we will choose our mayor from a list of eight candidates.

Also, 35 candidates are vying for eight available council seats. It’s a disgrace, however, to see so many unnecessary, unwanted and unsightly candidate signs lining our main streets.

The conglomeration of signs are ugly, they distract drivers, one’s vision is impaired on some corners and the signs do not help influence voters’ decisions on who they will vote for come election day.As the candidates are fully aware, there are other avenues open for candidates to expose their platforms, such as all-candidates’ meetings, door-to-door solicitations, pamphlets and literature, mailouts, radio shows and newspaper advertisements.

Even stand-up supporters holding signs would be preferable to posted signage. It seems strange that the council members, when elected, will have the responsibility to administer the city bylaws, which include signage bylaws. It seems to me that this particular bylaw isn’t even in effect during election time.

Several pamphlets from candidates extolling their virtues have arrived at our residence and have mentioned that they would “clean up our city.” Let me be the first to advise them where to start.

Martin Battle

Victoria