There is a lot going on right now in the news in Edmonton. Here is a brief
summary of some current issues, along with your chance to speak your mind about these situations.
No Smoking
City Council is mulling over the idea of banning smoking in all public places -- including restaurants.
Following on the heels of Vancouver, smokers would have to
"take it outside," so to speak. But is this an infringement on the rights of smokers? As it is, smokers
have to remain in separate areas of restaurants. However, smoke often drifts, affecting non-smiking patrons in some very negative ways,
especially those with lung problems or sensitivity to the pungent smell. Plus, we all know
the health consquences of smoking -- and that includes second hand smoke.
Rave Reviews?
Raves, all night teenage music and dance rituals, are in the news here and abroad. Not because
of the loud, trance-like music filling the developing brains of these kids for hours on end at ear-drum shattering volumes. Not because of the fact that some parents are letting their underage (sometimes as young as twelve) children
stay out until five in the morning without adult supervision. The main reason raves
are newsworthy is because of the variety of drugs that go around at these events; pushers
working the room and distributing bizarre pharmaceutical cocktails with deadly side-effects. That, and
as a recent stabbing incident in Calgary showed over the weekend,
these events can precipitate violence.
Should stricter controls be applied to raves, like constant police patrol and
time limits (in other words, everything is wrapped up by, say one a.m.)? Or, maybe they should be banned altogether!
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