Happy New Year! What have we lost in our move ahead?
Paul Power
The Telegram
By the time you read this column the year 2001 will be three days old. It's hard to believe it was just a year ago we celebrated a new millennium across the globe. From extravagant lazer shows in Australia to an impressive display of local talent here at home, December 31, 1999 was a celebration of the start of a new era. A new century brought feelings of hope, excitement and renewal
The year 2000 was definitely filled with monumental events. Throughout the year the world witnessed a number of events and happenings.
In Newfoundland alone, we managed to turn a brief visit by the vikings over 1,000 years ago into a four month tourist extravaganza. Ongoing projects such as The Rooms and the Civic Centre indicated we expected to see a greater demand for local talent and events in the future. Both our province and the rest of North America witnessed enough political maneuvers and elections to last us until the next Millennium.
There was also a more serious side to the events of 2000in our province. Events that reminded us though we live on an island perceived to be isolated and somewhat separated from the goings on of our larger scale urban counterparts, we are not immune to the growing trends in other areas of the country and the world.
We were barely finished celebrating the sense of renewal that came along with 2000 when, in February, the entire province looked on in disbelief and horror as a search began for a missing youth in the community of Fleur De Lys. For seventeen days the community of 300 was in the media spotlight as police and volunteers searched for 13-year-old Samantha Walsh. The search ended on February 23 when the girl's body was found in some woods just outside the close knit community. Adding to the trauma of the situation was the discovery that Samantha had been strangled by a 17-year-old boy from the community.
Violence against a member of our young population made headlines again in August when a 16-year-old girl was attacked and stabbed in Labrador City. A masked man broke into the girl's home and stabbed her repeatedly. Her parents were away at the time.
A few days later, in early September, not one, but two brutal attacks were reported, this time in the capital city of St. John's. One was an assault and theft by youth. The other was an attack on a teenage boy in Belvedere Cemetery. The boy was physically and sexually assaulted and left to fight for his life. Officials at the time described the attack as viscous, evil and barbaric. Those familiar with the case agreed this was not simply an assault but also a malicious act of torture, leaving a young boy physically and emotionally scarred.
On a national level, according to Statistics Canada, crimes involving youth such as theft and property damage have been on the decrease over the past decade. But, in contrast, incidents of violence have been steadily increasing and Newfoundland and Labrador is no exception.
There was a time in the not too distant past that news reports from other areas of the country or from the United States detailing unthinkable acts of violence were met with a comforting "it wouldn't happen here" by fellow Newfoundlanders. However, this past year proved it can happen here - and very much beyond an isolated incident.
The New Millennium has been described more than once as a time for the future, a time to move forward. Isn't it ironic that as we make great strides in technology and science we seem to be taking two steps backwards when it comes to our social responsibilities - especially towards our youth?
What good is mass communication if we can't even figure out what our kids may be doing after 10:00 in the night? Who cares where increased and faster modes of transportation can take us if we are in danger of being attacked once we get there?
Last year, the scale and grandeur of our New Years celebrating conjured up images of moving forward both in technology and science - "the dawn of a new millennium" was a global theme. But, for many, the events that happened during the year made it very difficult to see the dawn. Instead many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians experienced some of the darkest nights in their lives.
Yes, we have made great advancements and achievements since the start of this century. However, all of these indications that we have advanced as a people are superficial when acts of violence are not only occurring, but becoming more frequent.
Despite many of the positive things that occurred in 2000 provincially, nationally and internationally, it is my hope that events that define 2001 will bare no resemblance to those that devastated our province this past year. And the first step we need to take as a province is paying attention to our youth.
If guardians can't keep track of where their kids are and what they are doing perhaps its time for municipalities or the province to step in. With mulitple announced investments in technology and infrastructure over the past year from government, clearly there are finances available to offer desperately needed programs and centres to keep you youth off the streets - especially in our rural communities. Too often our youth complain of "nothing to do" and that's where the problems start. While the phrase is now cliche - it still does take a village. While structured resources are not the complete solution to our rising acts of youth violence- it would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Stats Canada also indicates that many youth who engage in violence are repeat offenders. Currently the province treats each offender on a case by case basis when it comes to legal discipline. Perhaps what we really need to do is implement a zero tolerance to offenders. Is it too far fetched to consider a mandatory curfew for youth with a history of violent incidents? Going even further, I would agree to a curfew for all youth who have no place to go after 10:00 and find themselves loitering in dark playgrounds or empty parking lots. How about home? Parents, are you listening?
A year without fear, loss or tragedy. These achievements would be the real indication that we are in a New Millennium and have advanced as a people and as a society. Maybe next year we really will have something to celebrate.
The Telegram
By the time you read this column the year 2001 will be three days old. It's hard to believe it was just a year ago we celebrated a new millennium across the globe. From extravagant lazer shows in Australia to an impressive display of local talent here at home, December 31, 1999 was a celebration of the start of a new era. A new century brought feelings of hope, excitement and renewal
The year 2000 was definitely filled with monumental events. Throughout the year the world witnessed a number of events and happenings.
In Newfoundland alone, we managed to turn a brief visit by the vikings over 1,000 years ago into a four month tourist extravaganza. Ongoing projects such as The Rooms and the Civic Centre indicated we expected to see a greater demand for local talent and events in the future. Both our province and the rest of North America witnessed enough political maneuvers and elections to last us until the next Millennium.
There was also a more serious side to the events of 2000in our province. Events that reminded us though we live on an island perceived to be isolated and somewhat separated from the goings on of our larger scale urban counterparts, we are not immune to the growing trends in other areas of the country and the world.
We were barely finished celebrating the sense of renewal that came along with 2000 when, in February, the entire province looked on in disbelief and horror as a search began for a missing youth in the community of Fleur De Lys. For seventeen days the community of 300 was in the media spotlight as police and volunteers searched for 13-year-old Samantha Walsh. The search ended on February 23 when the girl's body was found in some woods just outside the close knit community. Adding to the trauma of the situation was the discovery that Samantha had been strangled by a 17-year-old boy from the community.
Violence against a member of our young population made headlines again in August when a 16-year-old girl was attacked and stabbed in Labrador City. A masked man broke into the girl's home and stabbed her repeatedly. Her parents were away at the time.
A few days later, in early September, not one, but two brutal attacks were reported, this time in the capital city of St. John's. One was an assault and theft by youth. The other was an attack on a teenage boy in Belvedere Cemetery. The boy was physically and sexually assaulted and left to fight for his life. Officials at the time described the attack as viscous, evil and barbaric. Those familiar with the case agreed this was not simply an assault but also a malicious act of torture, leaving a young boy physically and emotionally scarred.
On a national level, according to Statistics Canada, crimes involving youth such as theft and property damage have been on the decrease over the past decade. But, in contrast, incidents of violence have been steadily increasing and Newfoundland and Labrador is no exception.
There was a time in the not too distant past that news reports from other areas of the country or from the United States detailing unthinkable acts of violence were met with a comforting "it wouldn't happen here" by fellow Newfoundlanders. However, this past year proved it can happen here - and very much beyond an isolated incident.
The New Millennium has been described more than once as a time for the future, a time to move forward. Isn't it ironic that as we make great strides in technology and science we seem to be taking two steps backwards when it comes to our social responsibilities - especially towards our youth?
What good is mass communication if we can't even figure out what our kids may be doing after 10:00 in the night? Who cares where increased and faster modes of transportation can take us if we are in danger of being attacked once we get there?
Last year, the scale and grandeur of our New Years celebrating conjured up images of moving forward both in technology and science - "the dawn of a new millennium" was a global theme. But, for many, the events that happened during the year made it very difficult to see the dawn. Instead many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians experienced some of the darkest nights in their lives.
Yes, we have made great advancements and achievements since the start of this century. However, all of these indications that we have advanced as a people are superficial when acts of violence are not only occurring, but becoming more frequent.
Despite many of the positive things that occurred in 2000 provincially, nationally and internationally, it is my hope that events that define 2001 will bare no resemblance to those that devastated our province this past year. And the first step we need to take as a province is paying attention to our youth.
If guardians can't keep track of where their kids are and what they are doing perhaps its time for municipalities or the province to step in. With mulitple announced investments in technology and infrastructure over the past year from government, clearly there are finances available to offer desperately needed programs and centres to keep you youth off the streets - especially in our rural communities. Too often our youth complain of "nothing to do" and that's where the problems start. While the phrase is now cliche - it still does take a village. While structured resources are not the complete solution to our rising acts of youth violence- it would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Stats Canada also indicates that many youth who engage in violence are repeat offenders. Currently the province treats each offender on a case by case basis when it comes to legal discipline. Perhaps what we really need to do is implement a zero tolerance to offenders. Is it too far fetched to consider a mandatory curfew for youth with a history of violent incidents? Going even further, I would agree to a curfew for all youth who have no place to go after 10:00 and find themselves loitering in dark playgrounds or empty parking lots. How about home? Parents, are you listening?
A year without fear, loss or tragedy. These achievements would be the real indication that we are in a New Millennium and have advanced as a people and as a society. Maybe next year we really will have something to celebrate.