. wT

Government expecting three years before recovery

from earthquake disaster ©

Tanya Colledge

staff reporter

 

earthquake shook the South American country of

Chile, and government officials are claiming that
it will take as long as three years for the country to
rise from this tremendous devastation.

An 8.8-magnitude quake erupted through the
city of Conception last week leaving the city in pile
of rubble. Another six aftershocks followed the next
morning, the largest being one of 5.1-magnitude.
Since the initial shock, the country has continued to
endure smaller aftershocks, each bringing more horror
and destruction. The city has now been reduced to
mounds of debris from buildings and homes, rotting
fish covering the streets from the tidal wave.

The death toll stands at 452 dead, however,
hundreds are still missing and unaccounted for.
Officials fear that those who managed to survived the

| t has been just over a week since a massive

 

quakes are in greater danger—that of virus outbreaks
or disease due to unclean drinking water and
insurmountable piles of debris.

High hopes have been set for the new Chilean
president, conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera,
who will take office next week. Pinera has already
named new governors for the hardest-hit regions
of the country and told them to get to work on his
immediate priorities: finding the missing; restoring
law, order and utilities; and helping the injured.

The new president has also said that he will work
closely with military on the disaster frontlines and
attempt to fix the lack of coordination this tragedy has
uncovered about the current government.

A call for medicine and shelter has also been
made to the United Nations, which has already settled
into the crumbling city to administer tetanus and
hepatitis shots to the survivors. However, the country
faces some major health care problems, pharmacies
have been heavily targeted with the looting of drugs
and medicine, leaving local doctors and relief teams
with little to no supplies. U.S. field hospital doctors
are expected to arrive this week to help with relief
efforts.

 

Douglas College Wrap-Up

By Kristina Mameli

Douglas’ Paralympic showcase
Athlete profiles lined the concourse of the
New Westminster Campus Wednesday
showcasing main players in upcoming
Paralympic events such as biathalon, alpine
skiing, nordic skiing, curling, and sledge
hockey. The profiles included those of
summer sports such as goal ball, boccia,
cycling and swimming. On the concourse,
there was free popcorn and a slideshow to
be seen.

The event, put on by the Therapeutic
Recreation Program, also featured two
screenings of a film called Sled Head about
a Sledge Hockey Team and a presentation
by Team BC goalie and Paralympian
hopeful Joe Skillen.

In the gym, athletes of all abilities
could sign up to try their hand at Paralympic
sports including curling, sledge hockey,
sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball.

Win $400 in tuition!

On Wednesday March 10 at the New
Westminster Campus, Douglas will hold a
free university transfer information session
in room 2203 at 5 p.m.

The information session will give
incoming and existing students the
opportunity to learn about university
transfer courses and talk to representatives
from UBC and SFU as well as Douglas
professors and students who have
transferred.

Those who attend the information
session are also eligible to win one of three
$400 tuition vouchers in celebration of
Douglas’ 40" year of university transfer
preparation.

For more information contact the
Office for New Students at
604.777.6095 or information@
douglascollege.ca.

Teaching information session

On Monday March 22 and Monday March
29 at the New Westminster Campus in room
2214 and at the David Lam Campus in
room A1130 respectively from 4:30-5:30
p.m., the Faculty. of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Associate of Arts-Future Teachers
presents an.information session on SFU’s
teacher training program, Professional
Development Program (PDP).

SFU’s PDP Admissions Manager,
Diane Kelso and Faculty of Education
Advisor, Jacquie Breadon will present at
the session, outlining the program and its
admission requirements.

For more information email Associate
of Arts Degree coordinator Mike McPhee:
mepheem@douglas.be.ca