March 31, 2004 Stolen Words Kali Thurber Opinions Editor On a late night stroll al seawall, I passed a group drinking a big bottle of cheap red wine—la RameesSS Tey tTes and probably believing they were solving the world’s prob lems with their wine-induced babble. When I passed them I heard one young man explode with enthusiasm as he said, “Indiana Jones—the man all men should Nau hion com oY I turned to see who had spo ken these words, but through the dusk haze the only image visible was a mass of skinny teenagers and the large bottle. | Indiana Jones wonder what would think of these city youngsters aspiring to be him. _ Science ‘Matters «.. Listen To The Birds David Suzuki David Suzuki Foundation Most everyone has heard the analogy of the canary in the coalmine. Miners used to take the birds, which are hypersensitive to deadly hydrogen sulphide gas, down into the shafts. If the birds keeled over, miners knew to get out—fast. Today, birds are warn- ing us once again, only on a much larger scale. A recent report from the conservation group, Birdlife International, has found that one in eight of the world’s bird species is facing extinction and a third are at risk. It’s the first time that one paper has brought | together status reports of bird | populations worldwide for a true global analysis. The findings are pretty grim. More than 1,200 bird species face extinction, with some 200 on the critical list. Around the world, from the Canadian prairies to Africa and India, bird popula- tions are in trouble—largely because human activities are damaging their habitats. Converting prairie grassland to farmland, for example, has resulted in a 60 percent decline in native prairie bird species. Similarly, in Africa, 50 percent of all birds are threatened by agri- cultural expansion. And unsus- tainable forestry practices in the tropics threaten hundreds more species. Some birds are threatened in seemingly bizarre and unexpect- ed ways. Long-line fishing, for example, kills tens of thousands of albatrosses every year. The birds die when they swallow freshly baited hooks, which then sink, pulling the birds down with them. Literally hundreds of mil- lions of hooks are baited on long lines, and albatrosses have come to see fishing boats as a food source—albeit a very dangerous one. Six species of albatross are now critically endangered due to long-line fishing. In India, three vulture species face imminent extinction from eating livestock carcasses tainted with diclofenac, an anti-inflam- matory drug. Diclofenac is wide- ly used to treat livestock, and the drug remains in the. animal’s body for days. If the animal dies during this time, vultures are such good scavengers that it is not uncommon for hundreds of vultures to find and feast on a single carcass. Unfortunately, vultures are so sensitive to the drug that most will then die. In fact, 85 percent of vulture deaths in India can be traced back to this drug, which has resulted in a 95 percent population decline of these species in just eight years. Birdlife International calls this the fastest bird species extinction in 150 years—the worst since the demise of the passenger pigeon. Developing countries face the greatest pressures, yet have the fewest resources to protect birds. Nigeria, for example, which is about the size of Ontario, has more than ten times the province’s population and a mere fraction of the wealth. Conserving bird species in such a land where people are more con- cerned with finding food and shelter is extremely challenging indeed. In spite of Canada’s natural and economic wealth, however, we aren’t doing a good job of protecting our birds either. New federal endangered species legis- lation has promise, but has yet to show any success. With some two dozen bird species in Canada endangered, the legislation had better prove it’s worth soon because for some birds, like the spotted owl, there isn’t much time left. Many people might remember the spotted owl as the poster child for forest conserva- tion in the US, but the owl is actually far worse off in this country. Just 14 birds are known to be left in the wild here, but logging in their habitat is still allowed. We must hope that Canada’s endangered species act shows some teeth—as much for our- selves as for the birds. Bird pop- ulations are widespread and well studied. Their health tells us something about the environment as a whole, and if it suffers, we all do. “Canary in a coal mine” was originally a literal reference that became a metaphor for a warning signal. Today, the metaphor has become literal once again. Only this time, the coal mine is the earth and we have nowhere to run. Take the Nature Challenge and learn more at . NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS REGARDING BY-ELECTION TO DOUGLAS COLLEGE BOARD A by-election to the Douglas College Board will take place April 8, 2004. This notice is to advise all stu- dents regarding the Nomination Process. There is 1 position for the Douglas College Board. The term of office is from April 13, 2004 to August 31, 2004. Nominations must be RECEIVED by the Registrar at the New Westminster campus no later than 4pm, March 31, 2004. Nomination forms are available at the Registrar's Office and at the Student Union Office at both campuses. For more information please contact the Registrar, Trish Angus, at 604.527.5358. The elections, if required, will be held on April 8, 2004. Polling stations will be available at both cam- puses. The polls will open at New Westminster and Coquitlam from 9am to 4:30pm. WHERE WILL STUDENTS VOTE? Students who are taking courses at more than one campus must vote at the campus where they are taking more than 50 percent of their courses. Students who are registered in courses evenly split between campuses will vote at the New Westminster campus. A student polling station is determined by the registration in courses as shown on the Douglas College Student Information System. Opinions e¢ the other press © Third Degree Angela Blattmann OP Photographer Do you give change to panhandlers when you pass them on the street? Name: Catherine Answer: Yes Name: Harry Answer: | do occasionally Name: Norm Answer: Sometimes http://www.otherpress.ca Page 7