Of actions and words

How pleased I was to see Darrell Pasloski’s letter about the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

In particular, I was struck by Darrell’s comment that, “Not only was this relay a symbolic gesture…” but “a great time to do whatever each of us can to help beat this disease.”

Does this mean then that Pasloski will stop selling cigarettes — the number one cause of cancer — in his drugstores?

Michael Purves

Whitehorse

Animals have rights

Open letter to Environment Minister Dennis Fentie:

The Yukon Wildlife Act Review public consultation took place on December 11 last year.

The Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board has made confidential recommendations to your department on the hunting of wild animals.

Why all this secrecy around a public consultation?

When will a formal media release be coming from your department to explain the changes to the wildlife act?

The only news I read about this was an unofficial report, which indicated there will be an increase in the allowable number of wolves, bison and now elk that may be killed.

Farmers will have the right to chase away wildlife from their fields. Let’s think about why wildlife are attracted there in the first place.

We have a right to know exactly what the final decisions are on changes to the wildlife act, as well as the rationale behind these decisions to harass and destroy the lives of (even more) animals.

Animals are not resources to be exploited — they are individuals that deserve the right to have their own lives to themselves.

Mike Grieco

Whitehorse