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Operation Red Nose Ottawa’s 2012 season closes
Radio station posting sparks some negative reaction
EMC news - Closing out the 2012 campaign on New Year’s Eve, Operation Red Nose Ottawa finished with its most successful night to date. The 10th night saw 79 volunteers attending to complete 66 rides serving 146 local residents and receiving over $1,800 in donations. Here’s how ORN Ottawa did overall in 2012: • Days in operations – 10. • Volunteers – 592. • Calls answered – 395, serving 762 residents. • Kilometres travelled – 17,963 • Donations received – $10,883. Comparing the results to the inaugural 2011 season, the desired goal for an increased use of service was met and were it not for unfortunate weather conditions, service would have broken all previous records. ORN Ottawa is grateful for the inspiring community response received this year. In 2013, ORN’s goals include: • Volunteers – 800. • Calls answered – 600, serving 1000 residents. • Receiving donations – $14,000. The growth of the service over the past two seasons illustrates the growing community demand and the ORN Ottawa committee hopes to continue fostering this trend by acquiring these long-term supports: To get involved with Operation Red Nose Ottawa or to stay updated on ORN Ottawa activities and information please email info@rednoseottawa.com or visit online at www.rednoseottawa. com. The phone number 613-820-NOSE (6673) will be back in service for the 2013 season.
Nevil Hunt
nevil.hunt@metroland.com
EMC news - An Ottawa rock radio station has posted a picture on its Facebook page that some people say crosses a line and a university instructor calls “Stone Age.” CHEZ posted a posed rear view photo of a woman wearing a skirt. Written on her leg are assessments of her virtue based on how high the skirt is hiked up her leg. The lowest word, written on the lower calf, is “matronly,” and nearer the model’s buttocks are the words “asking for it,” “slut” and “whore.”
The page has attracted comments on the Facebook page that criticize the posting. “Asking for it? Really? It’s this type of sexism that allows girls to get raped. ‘Girl was asking for it’ is not a defense. Nothing is asking for it, unless you’re literally asking for it. This is disgusting,” writes one visitor to the Facebook page. Another poster writes, “”Asking for it”? Asking for what, exactly? Sexual abuse? How is a woman’s skirt length a cause/excuse for rape? This post is straight up sexist.” Some posts simply compliment the model’s legs. Carleton University associ-
ate professor Doris Buss studies social issues and sexual violence. She called the radio station’s posting “regressive.” “It’s Stone Age,” Buss said after reviewing the picture. “No one ever asks to be raped.” She said that when viewed as a political statement, the picture alone “calls attention to expectations placed on women.” But Buss added that the introductory paragraph added by someone at CHEZ – “girls in this city could use this reference guide” – changes any political meaning into social criticism. “The words are calling on
women to judge themselves,” Buss said. “Women’s behaviour is still regulated.” CHEZ program director Gayle Zarbatany called the station’s Facebook page is “an extension of what we do on the radio.” “The majority comes from other websites and from the listeners,” Zarbatany said of the content of the Facebook page. She said staff who post material should not post “racist, sexist or degrading” material, adding that the picture of the model with words written on her leg does not cross that line.
Think twice before venturing onto the ice EMC news - Last winter, the Ottawa fire department responded to 49 calls for help from persons in distress, lost or feared drowned. The Ottawa Drowning Prevention Coalition wants to remind residents that when the temperatures go down, awareness of the dangers of being on or around ice and open water needs to go up. When water begins to freeze on rivers, lakes, the Rideau Canal and other open bodies of water it may look solid but is often still dangerous. If you want to go out onto the ice, re-
member the thickness should be: • 15 cm for walking or skating alone. • 20 cm for skating parties or games. • 25 cm for snowmobiles. • 35 cm for fishing huts. Colour indicators
As a guideline, clear blue ice is usually the strongest; white opaque or snow ice is half as strong as blue ice. Grey ice is unsafe. The greyness indicates the presence of water. Water levels this year are higher than
usual and are accompanied by soft, slippery banks that are treacherous, particularly for young children, adults and the family pet. Lifesaving guidelines
Before venturing onto the ice, check the Lifesaving Society’s guidelines for staying safe, and review guidelines by the Canadian Red Cross on what to do if you get into trouble on the ice. When in doubt, simply stay away from the ice, period. R0021864709
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