The Cadre + 2February 1999

Misery and instability

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from local to global levels — civil society — are becom- ing more active in opposing economic globalization and proposing a different model of development. It was civil society that put pressure glo- bally on governments to in- stitute a ban on land mines. Civil society in Canada and elsewhere mobilized effec- tively to stop the spread of corporate domination through the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI).

In addition to support- ing the call for capital con- trols, Oxfam Canada and reversed.

Oxfam International stress the need for civil society to be more involved in all spheres of economic deci- sion-making, particularly where the IMF is involved. The focus for any economic reforms must be human de- velopment considerations, suchas health, education and poverty alleviation, and not cutbacks and high interest rates.

We have the re- sources to meet everyone’s basic needs; the growing disparity between rich and poor is obscene and must be

Letter to the editor

Re: Pipelines

Over the last year or so I’ve read in newspapers, and heard on the radio, multiple news reports about pipelines developing stress fractures, gas leaks, explosions, and fires.

I ask why we feel compelled to run a pipeline through our communi- ties, forests, nature camps, and over

rivers and streams. Oh yeah, I forgot that econom!

growth at all costs and profits for multinational corporations are very important. Or so we are led to believe.

In disbelief,

There is a good reason why my last name rhymes with the state of being named in the title of this column. I hold grudges. I never forget. I am a student, and someday will graduate, and then the world

will pay. Ill figure out just how later -- right now I’m too swamped with papers.

On a recent shopping excursion, I decided to do a little sociological experimen- tation (even though I’m an English major). I have the advantage (so I’ve been told — “you'll appreciate it when you’re older”) of being a twenty-one year old individual with a face that looks as if my high school prom isa fardream away. Although this condition frequently serves me well, in- voking sympathy from profes- sors expecting on-time essays, or prompting people to carry heavy objects for me, in the world of shopping, it isa handi- cap. Sales associates don’t like teenagers (as | am pre- sumed to be). Teenagers are rowdy and their fingers are stained with ice oes french fry grease, whic rubon various articles of cloth- ing. At least, as far as | can

gather, this ishowsales people ing.

lentered arather uppi clothing store, the kind whic

sells garments that poo my age refer to as “ol lady

clothes.” Here, I browsed among tweeds

+ ee

Ideas

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Kyte Spyte

with Lindsay Kyte

mixes that made me yawn, and tried notto audibly at the price tagso that would supply enough Kraft dinner to feed anentire Psych 101 class. As I strolled nonchalantly about, I glanced frequently at the sales clerk, who appar- ently had nothing better to do than stare at a point above my head. | was not offered help, orevena smile. I assume that it would have cracked some strategically placed Estee Lauder foundation.

Because | am spiteful, | left the store, and returned with my friend who is a few years older than me and actually looks herage. We talked loudly enough for the sales person to hear about my u coming twenty-fourth birthday (okay, so I lied a bit) and I pulled out every long-winded Anne-like word I could find from my English major hoard that re- sides, | think, above my left

. The clerk did not miss this golden opportunity, and sauntered over to us, in- quiring if she could be of serv- ice. We stared at the invisible flies that apparently had trans- ferred from above my head to hers, and left without respond-

Why is it that young people are in such a manner? I . It cer- tainly can’t be on the basis of our . Perhaps inthe eight- ies, when Corey Hart reigned

supreme and the Bangles were

a Oar Og ee

still fanning that eternal flame, big bangs and ankle-zipper jeans contrasted with a linen- clad older generation. But in the present day, when Nana Kyte and I could swap ward- robes without anyone noticing, it is fashionable to be well dressed in respectable dress clothing. Sonow, the only way to discriminate whether or not an individual deserves atten- tion in some areas of the serv- ice industry is by the presence or absence of visible smile lines.

I write this article to draw attention from any Cadre- reading merchant or prospec- tive business owner to the un- fairness of the treatment of the young, and how we will not forget our mistreatment. Con- sider the situation | have pre- sented you with previously. Now, let’s factor into the equa- tion that I am actually twenty- one, in my final term of study, and will go on to school for a career in, let’s say, jour- nalism. In two years time, I will return to Prince Edward Island with my slightly older face (by then, | should look at least seventeen), a need for professional clothing, and a major grudge against the store that i me when I was a student. And guess which establishment will not be ben- efiting from my two hard- earned degrees? It is not only old ladies who deserve the best

possible service se

Aaron Koleszar pier ae Melville, PEI |

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