October 13, 2004 | News Page 3 Vancouver Island MLA Collapses While at UNBC ees. ees “e~ scene. >> photo Submitted Vancouver Island MLA Arnie Hamilton injured himself after collaps- ing while on a tour of UNBC last week. Island struck his head on the cement floor of the Library Building’s con- but quickly regained consciousness. Hamilton was taken to Prince George Regional Hospital, and a brain scan revealed internal bleeding, which prompted doctors to perform emer-: gency surgery on Hamilton, after which he was transferred to Kelowna general hospital. Nursing student Peytra Eichstadter was on hand when Hamilton col- lapsed, and helped provide first aid until paramedics could arrive at the “T was doing research on one of the 29, knocking himself unconscious and igi a gg gen incurring a brain injury. The Liberal MLA from Vancouver Nurs ing student crete stairwell. on hand when According to witnesses, Hamilton : blacked out while ona tour of UNBC, Hamilton collapsed, computers near the main entry to the library, when I heard a crash, I thought someone had knocked some- thing over. It wasn’t until I heard someone say “call 911” that I realized Peytra Eichstadter was and heiped provide first aid until para- medics could arrive at the scene. Eichstadter. “I grabbed my bag (where I have a pair of gloves) and ran over.” Luckily for Hamilton, few people at the scene were more qualified to help out than Eichstadter. “I have done first aid training every couple of years since I was quite Hamilton in Critical But Stable Condition by Kathleen De Vere >> News Editor Visiting MLA Arnie Hamilton of Esquimalt-Metchosin collapsed while at UNBC on Wednesday, September young,” she explained. “In grades seven and eight, I took first aid in school, then trained to be a lifeguard and have been for the last five years. I did work experience with The British Columbia Ambulance Association in high school. I also have my level one and two industrial first aid.” “T ensured that Mr. Hamilton had stable vitals, reassured him, made him comfortable and immobilized his neck. Fortunately other MLAs had witnessed the incident and could tell me exactly what had happened. Once campus security arrived, we worked together. ambulance arrived quickly,” she said. “I helped because I think it’s impor- tant to give to other people, to keep in mind that we are all interconnected. The first responders and Whenever I have come across situa- tions such as these, I am grateful to have the knowledge to be able to help.” According to Hamilton’s early signs are good, and he is expected to recover in time. Neurologists, Senate Calls for Honourary Degree Nominations by Corey Scofield >> Staff Writer It’s that time of year, and once again nominees are being sought for two of UNBC’s most presti- gious public awards. The UNBC Senate Committee is now accepting applications from students, faculty and staff here at UNBC for UNBC’s Honorary Doctor of Law Degree and UNBC’s Friend of the University of Northern British Columbia Award. Past recipients of UNBC’s Honorary Doctor of Law Degree have included such distinguished individuals as world-renowned Haida artist Bill Reid, forestry industry leader Ike Barber, and Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo. Campagnolo, Barber and Reid all received their awards in recog- nition of their prominent achieve- ments within the fields of scholar- ship and research, teaching, cre- ative arts and public service with- in the northern British Columbia region. UNBC’s Friend of the University of Northern British Columbia Award, whose past recipients have included local dig- nitaries Mary Fallis and Harry Gairns to name a few, traditionally has been presented to those indi- viduals who have significantly contributed to the life of the uni- versity, and of northern British Columbia as a whole. The award seeks to honor those who have unselfishly given of themselves to create, promote, or foster the development of UNBC, and have made outstanding contributions towards the university’s financial support and development. Those interested in submitting nominations should contact senate secretary Allyson Truant in the senate office on the second floor of the administration building (960- 5795) or visit UNBC’s Senate Committee Website, at ww.unbc.ca/governance/senate/main. htm, where one will find a down- loadable nomination form as well as honorary degree and award policies and procedures. -coffees - pastries - gourmet food CINDY & BING LU 304 George Street, Prince George, B.C. V2L 1R3 Bus & Fax: 562-3338 « Home 964-0987 By Executive Cannot Return by Charles Thrift >> Staff Writer Through an order in council, the UK government has over- turned a high court ruling which ordered the British Government to allow the return of the indige- nous people of the Chagos Archipelago to their homeland, Diego Garcia. The British Foreign Office justi- fied the decision stating that the islands are uninhabitable. Instead, the islands will continue to be leased to the US as a mili- tary base. In the 1960s, the US conducted surveys throughout the Indian Ocean to find potential sites for a military base. After selecting the Chagos Islands (including Diego Garcia), the US convinced the British government to relocate the indigenous population. Against multiple UN motions, the Chagos islands were separat- ed from Mauritius (a British colony 2000km away in the Indian Ocean), and leased to the US. After 1967, all Chagossians who left the islands (e.g. to seek medical treatment) were prevent- ed from returning home to their families and belongings. Britain teduced the number of supply ships going to the islands, lead- ing to dangerously short supplies of food and medicines, forcing more islanders to leave. Finally, in 1971, the British Government forced the remaining population onto cargo: ships, and dumped them in Mauritius. The Chagossians mounted legal challenges to their forced relocation, and finally, in 2002, Order: Indigenous People Home the High Court in London ordered the government of the UK to arrange the resettlement of the Chagossians to their home- land. However, in June, 2004, Britain changed the law, over- turning the court ruling so that the islanders could be prevented from returning home. “The British Foreign Office justi- fied the decision Stating that the islands are unin- habitable. Instead, the isiands will con- tinue to be leased to the US as a mili- tary base. ” To bypass Parliament, the Foreign Office used. an order in council to change the law. “Not since the days of King John has anyone tried to expel British citizens from the realm by executive order,” said Richard Gifford, a lawyer representing the islanders. The Secretary General to the British Commonwealth, Don McKinnon, harshly criticized the UK government for its actions, saying “people do not like being lifted up and taken away from their homes. It is not the kind of thing you could get away with today.” : Mauritius has threatened to leave the Commonwealth over the issue so that it can begin legal action to regain control over the islands and allow the islanders to return home. Instead of being allowed to resettle in their homeland, the Foreign Office has offered the islanders a short visit to the Chagos Archipelago (excluding Diego Garcia) to look at the graves of their ancestors. Bill Rammell, minister of the Foreign Office, justified the deci- sion of barring the return of the islanders by suggesting that the islanders would not be able to support themselves, that resettle- ment would be too costly, and that due to the threat of climate change, it is not in the islanders best interest to return to their homeland. The US Navy Support Facility describes the islands as “the best kept secret in the navy” - a “beau- tiful retreat” because it has remained “unspoiled” and “untouched since the days of the early copra plantation.” The islands are strategically very important to the US military, which uses the base for surveil- lance throughout the Middle East. Diego Garcia has been used to launch air strikes in both of the Iraq wars, as well during the war in Afghanistan. For more info, check out: David Vine, “War and Forced Migration in the Indian Ocean: The US Military Base at Diego Garcia,” International Migration 42 (3) pill available in the UNBC Library.