The Kyoto accord on greenhouse gases set some very ambitious goals.

Taken in whole, it's understandable why industrial countries and economies dependent upon fossil fuels don't want to sign on the dotted line. Perhaps they should look to Yellowknife for inspiration.

Instead of embarking on a multi-million dollar retrofit of its operations, the City has taken a more even-handed approach.

It may seem like a little thing, but just reducing the temperature of water heated by a massive boiler has resulted in cutting fuel consumption by nearly two-thirds.

When equipment needs to be replaced, a more efficient model is chosen. When pipe needs fixing, longer lasting, insulated pipes are installed.

It all adds up to cost savings for operating the water system and environmental savings when it comes to the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere.

Or how about the solar wall at Weledeh Catholic School. When the school underwent renovations, forward-thinking students and educators took a $70,000 chance on a wall that could pay off in hefty fuel, and financial savings.

These may be small steps, but they are ones that are helping Yellowknife go green.

Perhaps environmentalists like Dr. David Suzuki who fly into town and rip off a sound bite blasting Yellowknifers for driving SUVs should look at what's really going on before shooting from the lip.

Resisting the green

You have to admire people who really do put their money where their mouth is and lose money in the process.

Members of Ecology North deserve such praise for sticking to their guns and turning down a national environmental award and $5,000 cash because the co-sponsor of the award was a global oil corporation.

Such a move only proves Ecology North is influenced by principle, not profit.

If kids are ready to learn, don't hold them back.

That's part of the rationale behind Yellowknife Catholic Schools introduction of full-time kindergarten. The district will continue to offer traditional half-time classes as well.

But with the disadvantages Northern students face, getting children into school earlier will help give them the boost they need.

According to some studies, full-day kindergarten classes give five-year-olds a head start. They are more involved in the classroom, showed better independent learning skills and make academic gains during their primary school years.

To make it happen, YCS had to come up with the $150,000 cost. It has the advantage of a surplus budget to allow it. Other districts do not.

Let's hope that when the department of education officials meet to discuss the idea next week, the first topic is how much it will cost to expand this program to Yellowknife No. 1 and to other schools throughout the Northwest Territories.

Our students need all the help we can afford.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

We can only hope the Char River Bridge is but one small topic of discussion come May 8. On that day, representatives from the Arctic office of the Canadian Coast Guard's Central and Arctic Region will be in Rankin Inlet. The group will meet with hamlet council and the SAO throughout the day, before holding a public meeting that evening.

There are a number of topics on the agenda to be discussed. The Coast Guard representatives will introduce a number of issues pertaining to environmental response, including a number of training opportunities.

However, the flap over the Char River Bridge is symptomatic of one issue that will be discussed, and that's the outlining of the Canadian Coast Guard's roles and responsibilities in the North.

The fact the hamlet of Rankin Inlet still has not received any information outlining the proper way for them to proceed at Char River should come as no great surprise to anyone.

One of the main beefs of Kivalliq residents, when it comes to water and boating regulations, has long been the lack of information in the region. For the most part, the Coast Guard and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have been more willing to enforce various acts than they have been to provide information on them.

The May 8 meeting will be a perfect time for local boaters and fishers to get answers to their many questions. It will also be a perfect opportunity to stress the need for better information in our region concerning marine acts and regulations.

In September of 2000, Victor Santos-Pedro, the marine regional director for the Prairie and Northern regions of Transport Canada, went on record in Kivalliq News, saying his department was looking at ways to convey better information to Northern boaters on proper certification for hauling cargo.

At the time, Pedro was addressing concerns surrounding the Avataq tragedy. And, while shortly thereafter boats were turned away from Churchill for not having proper certification, precious little in the way of information has ever perforated the region.

The Canadian Coast Guard has undertaken a number of positive steps in the Kivalliq during the past few years.

The next one would be to use its influence to ensure Kivalliq boaters and fishers receive the proper information regarding marine operations.

And, more importantly, that they are shown how to implement the requirements to ensure safety on the water for everyone.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

I have to tip my Pendleton to the fortitude of the first novelist from Fort McPhoo.

Robert Alexie is a guy who wrote for the sake of the story; because the words that mattered flowed from his heart, to his veins to his brain to the pages -- pages that were printed by one of the country's most respected book publishers.

What's more, he did it without a government grant, a scholarship or a bursary. He told the story because that's what great storytellers do.

Before the book, he wrote for those who knew him; his friends, family and even politicians. Those who read him, inspired him and that was enough of a grant to him.

Now he writes for the world.

I haven't yet had the pleasure of reading his work, but meeting the man, I know it came straight from his heart.

I hope like hell Alexie makes a pile of money off this book and inspires every other would-be writer out in the Delta to do the same. Good luck on this one and the even more for the next one Robert!

Muskrat love

Last week's rant ran a little long and I never had space to tell you how much I enjoyed the Muskrat Jamboree.

It was a great time, despite what the blizzard threw at us.

Huddled inside the recreation centre kinda brought the town a little closer and I think that's what we all needed anyway -- some time to rub elbows with the people you've missed all winter.

Sunday and Monday were a little kinder and the organizers never skipped a beat, catching right up with all the activities that couldn't be done indoors.

While I got my butt kicked in the log sawing, it sure gave me a greater appreciation for this dense Delta timber. I have a whole year to train for next year and I intend to give that MLA a run for his money.

Recycled romance

There's something sweet out at the dump that's gonna draw more honey bees than ravens. It was my sincere pleasure to meet Inuvik's newest newlyweds last week.

This work often mires us in the weight of our world of politics, cops, courts and other social disasters, but meeting folks like Barb and Albert really keeps me in the game.

You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices, that true love has found a home at the landfill.

I couldn't help but get misty when I saw those work-mittened hands slip together, when they thought they were alone, and when I watched them kiss, even when they knew they weren't.

Thanks for sharing that sweet love of the land and love for each other, kids. You give us all reassurance that true love exists.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Courage comes in many forms.

Baring the most excruciating details of your life in hopes of affecting change - that would definitely qualify as courage. That's exactly what Stan Sanguez has done.

The husband, father and chief of the tiny community of Jean Marie River has stepped forward with a poignant personal account of the devastating effects his addictions have had on him and those around him.

It's a powerful story, at times heartbreaking, but with a potentially happy ending. It won't be easy, though. Sanguez has taken the first crucial steps toward sobriety by admitting he has a problem and seeking help. But it's 28 days of treatment versus 32 years of habitually drinking to excess.

The road to recovery is long and full of temptation. Many people have started out on that journey only to go astray, others continue to press ahead, never looking back.

It's with great sorrow that we observe people lost to addictions: eyes glazed, gait unsteady, babbling incoherently. Sometimes it leads to violence, sometimes to death.

We feel powerless to help these people. Their requests usually sink them deeper in their dependency: a loan, more alcohol, a place to stay.

Then, once in a while, someone finds the wherewithal to fight back, to take control of his life. He seeks counselling, attends a treatment centre.

It's at these times that we must listen when needed, be morally supportive and offer encouragement.

Stan Sanguez has told his story candidly. It is one of many such stories in the Deh Cho, across the country and around the world. No matter the location, the scars are hideous and the root of the problem must be brought out into the open and vanquished. That won't happen on one's own.

Blending of cultures

It was reassuring to hear elder Leo Norwegian speak of the need for aboriginals and non-aboriginals to have mutual respect and help each other. Addressing delegates at a governance conference in Fort Simpson, Norwegian said there's no desire among aboriginals to return to life in the bush on a permanent basis. He added that there's no need to try to drive non-aboriginal people from the Deh Cho either. Rather, he suggested that the best of both cultures can be united in what will be a future regional Dene public government.

Those are undoubtedly the sort of words that will be welcome by non-aboriginals, some of whom have received mixed messages -- or at least inferred a degree of hostility -- about their presence in an aboriginal homeland.