Page 6 March Cassiar Courier _ Orthodox Christmas Let’s dance the Zorba Dance I must say, I really enjoyed that party!!! Thanks to everyone, it was great! We’ll see you all again next Christmas F. J. Cook, THE GREAT ENERGY SCAM The ideal of the free enterprise system is an autonomous market where prices are controlled only by the contingencies of supply and demand. But does this ideal, upon which the American way of life is supposedly based, really exist? In respect of the major component of the market place—energy-it is Cook’s contention that it does not. The price of petroleum and other energy pro- ducts is controlled, not by the laws of supply and demand but by the avaricious and insatiable ap- petite of the oil companies for profits. Cook begins his investigation of the petroleum industry in 1979. This was the year of the second great energy scare. Corner service stations ran out of gasoline, and the price of number 2 heating oil actually exceeded the price of gasoline, leaving many elderly people in America to die silently in their homes of hypothermia. And yet, while the taps had run dry, and price increases came one af- ©2000 000008 OO OOOO OO OS OSOOOOOOOOOOS® B.C. PHOTOS: FOR ALL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGEMENTS CUSTOM FRAMING OR PHOTOS, PRINTS OR OILS METAL OR WOODEN FRAMES MOUNTING BOARD, MAT BOARDS, NON GLARE GLASS BILL & CECILE PRATT 297 Carmacks St. Phone 778-7568 IF WE'RE HOME, WE'RE OPEN. occccccecccvcoseccccocccccoooocce FO CCCOCOOO OO SOLOOoOOCCL0CCCy Seussdeaddescdeuccceres Geese Best wishes in 1984 - Maria, Dragan, Mitch and Slavica. BOOKER EWI EW) ter another in dizzying successions, OPEC was worrying about a glut on the oil market that threatened their enormous profits, storage tanks at coastal refineries were full to capacity, and tankers at sea were ordered to move at the slow- est speed possible because there was no room to off-load their cargoes of oil. President Jimmy Carter spoke on television to the American people about the great energy crisis that was upon them, and about the need for everyone to make cut-backs and sacrifices in or- der to protect America. His Energy Control Agency fed him statistics to prove that America was running out of oil, arguing in favour of de- regulating the oil industry, allowing prices to rise in order to stimulate increased exploration for new petroleum reserves. His experts told him that prices would rise by no more than | cent a gallon. No-one seemed to notice something was wrong when the price went up more like 20 cents. a gal- - lon, and the price of cheaply-produced heating oil skyrocketed to exceed, before retail taxes, the price of expensive gasoline. Even when the con- spiracy that had created an energy shortage while | storage facilities were full to overflowing was ex- posed, price increases kept coming, even though supply was exceeding demand. The free market system had broken down, and American petrol- eum companies, conveniently blaming it all on ‘the Arabs’, were bankrupting the rest of the American industrial complex while reaping profits that reached the obscene levels of 200% . and 300% above former levels. (One of the hardest- hit industries was the airlines, who, in the course of a few short months, saw the price of jet fuel go from 6 cents a gallon to well over 1 dollar. _ What went wrong? The blame rests chiefly on the greed of the oil companies; but some must be attributed to Jimmy Carter, who was simply a tool of Big Oil, and the Energy Control Agency, many of whose top executives were formerly on oil company payrolls, some of whom returned to | Big Oil after they left the Agency, and not a few of whom remained on Big Oil retainer while they were employed by the Agency. In other words, the Agency, whose role was to regulate the oil in- dustry, was owned by the industry, and did what- ever the industry wanted, to the immense hurt of American industry and the world economy. (Whatever the problems of the Liberal govern- ment’s National Energy Program in Canada—and they were many—it at least sought to protect the country from the rape being committed by Big Oil south of the border.) The situation today is one of proclaimed en- ergy shortage, a commitment to oil, and a denial of natural gas as a viable alternative. But evidence shows that, in the last five years, unbelievably - vast quantities of recoverable natural gas have been discovered beneath the North American con- tinent. Some estimates suggest there is enough natural gas to fuel the entire American industrial and consumer requirement for 2,500 years. Yet the Energy Control Agency, swallowing: the Big Oil line, continues to say that natural gas reserves are dwindling, and cannot be considered an al- ternative. While hundreds of gas wells are capped, and deep-level deposits of gas have been discover- ed in enormous numbers, the oil industry is lobbying for the de-regulation of natural gas _ prices, in order to force them up to match or ex- ceed oil prices and thus protect Big Oil. And the consumer continues to pay and pay and pay. Since Ronald Reagan is even more a Big Oil pup- pet than Jimmy Carter was, there is little pone for . relief in the future. This is an angry and impassioned book in the best tradition of investigative journalism. Cook is an award-winning journalist, and is here at his best. He has done Big Oil a great service in expos- ing their greed, their rip-off of the consumer that is so big it cannot be comprehended. Now it’s time for someone to do the same pening: for tthe ‘Banks! . Bolten Choices, the computerized career library, is once again being actively used at Cassiar Secondary School. After a delay in getting the proper discs we are finally on our way this year. Last year all students in Grades 9 - 12 were given the op- portunity to use the Program. Thusly, this year we will first offer it to the current grade 9’s and then open it to the rest of the student body. What is Choices? Choices is a computerized career library which will pro- vide information about occupations and will help students in career exploration and decision making. Students begin the CHOICES program by taking a hard look at them- selves. Via a guide book and councelling they are asked to take stock of their needs, abilities, aspirations.and inter- ests. Once they have developed an accurate profile of themselves the computer is utilized. From the information the student has gathered about himself/herself the com- puter produces a list of occupations that the student is willing to become qualified for. It must be stressed that this list is not all inclusive. It is based on what the stu- dents have said about themselves. However there is room for change and modification of answers and with this -change comes realization and exploration. — e.g. Student A said he only wanted to complete grade 10,’ but he doesn’t like the occupations the computor printed out. If he wants other occupations he will have to realize he may need more schooling and thus will have to change some of his plans. With counsell- ing the students can been to make the right choices for themselves This year CHOICES can also be utilized by members of the public. Employees of Cassiar Resources have the op- portunity through the training department. Other interest- ed individuals need only give the school a call to set up an appointment although the students have first priority. For more information give us a call 778-7367. WORK EXPERIENCE Work experience activities took place for Grade 10 stu- dents during the week of February 6 - 10th 1984. Students were placed around the community at the fol- lowing businesses/agencies. Public Health Office Ministry of Human Resources (In and Around Cassiar Secondary school Hospital School Board Office Snowridge Elementary Cassiar Secondary District Resources Centre The School would like to thank the above as well as the Company for sponsoring the students. Unfortunately, due to the accident and the subsequent disruption students were not able to participate at the company this time as they have in the past. ACCREDITATION The ministry of Education has agreed to review our ac- creditation follow-up report and consider an extension of our accreditation period as was originally planned. This re- view should be completed by June 1984. HANDWRITING In an attempt to promote and encourage the almost ob- solete art of good handwriting, the week of January 16 - Jan. 20 was declared “Handwriting Week’’ at Cassiar Sec- ondary School. Students and teachers were asked to at- tempt to improve their own personal handwriting during this week. Students who displayed good or improved hand- writing had their names placed in a draw for a free lunch . at the cookery. Congratulations to Patricia Quash, Grade 8 , Hilda Blackburn, Grade 11 and Mr. Kroeker as winners of the handwriting draw. Special thanks to Cassiar Re- sources for their kind donation of the lunches. NORTHERN B.C. WINTER GAMES Congratulations to the following Cassiar Secondary School Students who represented Cassiar in the recent Northern B.C. Winter Games. Pat Moth Badminton Rob Best Curling Shawn Penno Ce re ie Elizabeth Gwilliam ey Lisa Joseph i Lee Callow Skiing John Sethen 2 David Duke ~ Hockey Ken Price z Jim Kollar 2 R.C.M.P. DRUG PRESENTATION On January 31 and February 1, Corporal Bob Bowen of the R.C.M.P. presented a drug information program to all grade levels at the school. It consisted of a slide tape presentation with a question and answer period. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lies in a good education. —Plutarch 2nd TERM HONOR ROLL Grade 9 Shawn Penno Grade 8 - 1 Corrina Boyes Sonia Girardin Asha Lekhi Grade 10 Tammy McDougall Jacqueline Molan Ken Price. . Catherine Pewsey ; Grade 8 - 2 Grade 11 Amarjit Athwal Sylvia Girardin Andy Gowan Lenora Moth Mary Molan CASSIAR STUDENT’S SOCIETY The year is half over and has been most interesting so far. The auction was a success and the recipe books are selling well. There could not be a more supportive community than Cassiar. We thank you. Writer’s Corner CHARLIE Charlie has looks that grab girls eyes, When his great looking body walks by. When he talks, his voice is “Oh so smooth”, And he only laughs when he’s in the mood. His clothes are in style and his legs are so long. His head’s in his hands cause he’s tired all day long. His angular body is elegant and neat, When he is sitting in his favourite seat. Colleen Johnson ILIGHTS COLLEGE After two last minute cancellations because of poor snow conditions the beginners cross country skiing and the advanced skiers’ telemark courses were held in Cassiar during January. Both courses were very successful and the participants praised the techniques and patience of the in- structors, Jim Gilpin of Cassiar and Hector Mackenzie from Tagish. February is another busy month with new courses in pot- tery and computer science. The pottery course. will be directed by Warren Cocking while. the instructor for the computer course has still to be decided. Both these cour- _ ses are already fully registered but could be repeated . In- terested locals should add their names- to the pottery and computer waiting lists. (Phone Ellen Corcoran 778-7638), The College is providing an Apple computer for future course work. It should arrive this week and will be housed at the Secondary School. This computer will also be avail- able to the school for daily computer course work. The Fitness Course planned for the week-end of February 18-19 had to be cancelled because of conflicts with. other local activities. Cassiarites should never. complain about “nothing to do”. Finding time to do everything. seems more the problem. No more news concerning the mobile learning unit. to.be stationed in Cassiar.. The College has accepted Brinco’s offer to provide rental accommodation for the instructor and is. searching for the Bas person, Who knows, perhaps next month, . y ARAN, NORTHERN Parent Advisory The Parents Advisory Council held an open meeting on February 8th, in the Library of the Secondary School. The main reason for having an open meeting was to dis- cuss with parents and educators the format of the report cards used in the District, since these cards are to be under review at the administrators conference also held in Feb- ruary. = The Ministry has indicated that ees grades be used. In Snowridge Elementary the Intermediate grade report cards also show a percentage as do the high school report cards. ; All of the parents present were pleased with the re- port cards and wished to keep the percentage marks on the cards. The feeling of the parents was that it helped them understand how their children were doing. Most par- ents were satisfied with the primary report cards as they are, although one parent stated that they are not as in- formative as those for the intermediate grades. It should be pointed out that there were less than 10 parents pre- ‘sent other than those who are members of the Parents Ad- visory Board, the two principals and our two representa- tives from the School Board. Mr. Corcoran was also pre- sent-to answer any questions which the Advisory Board or ‘parents may have had. ciros phot _ PORTRAITS, PASSPORT PICTURES _. MORTIFEE _MUNSHAW DEALER | FOR. COLOR & .. ENLARGEMENTS, FILMS, CAMERAS & ACCESSORIES FOR SALE, CAMERA REPAIRS, WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS, B.& W. DARKROOM FINISHING “775 Malozemaft 778-7345 Telair Services Ron Bruns Telegraph Creek B.C. 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