News (Media Awareness Project) - Do some deaths count more than others? |
| Title: | Do some deaths count more than others? |
| Published On: | 1997-10-09 |
| Source: | Toronto Star, Page A26 |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-07 21:37:44 |
The death of a whale attracts a lot of attention in Vancouver. It's like
the loss of a friend a controversial friend. So naturally the death of
Finna, a killer whale at the Vancouver Aquarium, has a lot of people choked
up.
How many human deaths does it take to merit the same attention as one
whale? Apparently a lot.
All (Tuesday) people were commenting on how sad it was that Finna died.
Debate ensued on whether he should be replaced.
Contrast that with the deaths last week of six HIVpositive injectiondrug
users in Vancouver's downtown east side.
As an AIDSHIV epidemic spreads from the povertystricken neighbourhood
into New Westminster, Surrey and other Lower Mainland communities, response
is muted.
Nearly half of the 6,000 to 10,000 addicts in the downtown east side are
believed to be infected with HIV passing it from one to another but
the death of Finna appears to be generating more emotion.
The VancouverRichmond health board has declared the situation a public
health emergency, and the incident rate is believed to be the highest in
the developed world higher than Bangkok and New York. Silence is the
reaction.
In Ottawa, the response is much the same. Health Minister Allan Rock says
it's a justice issue. Justice Minister Anne McLellan says it's a health issue.
Workers in the field and top health officials say radical measures are
needed to stem the problem; they want a debate on former chief coroner
Vince Cain's suggestion to allow limited legalization of some drugs, a
process that has met with success in Liverpool and Switzerland. But the
death toll continues to mount as politicians wring their hands and pass the
buck.
They need a kick from the public, which mobilized in great numbers on such
issues as nofault car insurance and negativeoption cable billing.
Unfortunately, the public doesn't seem to care.
As health researcher Steffanie Strathdee put it: "In general, people don't
seem to care about drug users and wish they would just go away."
The problem won't go away by ignoring it. In fact, it's getting worse, and
it will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions in the long run if bold steps
aren't taken now. "We have a responsibility," says frustrated health board
chairman David Levi. "Not only morally, but from a health perspective."
Anyone listening?
the loss of a friend a controversial friend. So naturally the death of
Finna, a killer whale at the Vancouver Aquarium, has a lot of people choked
up.
How many human deaths does it take to merit the same attention as one
whale? Apparently a lot.
All (Tuesday) people were commenting on how sad it was that Finna died.
Debate ensued on whether he should be replaced.
Contrast that with the deaths last week of six HIVpositive injectiondrug
users in Vancouver's downtown east side.
As an AIDSHIV epidemic spreads from the povertystricken neighbourhood
into New Westminster, Surrey and other Lower Mainland communities, response
is muted.
Nearly half of the 6,000 to 10,000 addicts in the downtown east side are
believed to be infected with HIV passing it from one to another but
the death of Finna appears to be generating more emotion.
The VancouverRichmond health board has declared the situation a public
health emergency, and the incident rate is believed to be the highest in
the developed world higher than Bangkok and New York. Silence is the
reaction.
In Ottawa, the response is much the same. Health Minister Allan Rock says
it's a justice issue. Justice Minister Anne McLellan says it's a health issue.
Workers in the field and top health officials say radical measures are
needed to stem the problem; they want a debate on former chief coroner
Vince Cain's suggestion to allow limited legalization of some drugs, a
process that has met with success in Liverpool and Switzerland. But the
death toll continues to mount as politicians wring their hands and pass the
buck.
They need a kick from the public, which mobilized in great numbers on such
issues as nofault car insurance and negativeoption cable billing.
Unfortunately, the public doesn't seem to care.
As health researcher Steffanie Strathdee put it: "In general, people don't
seem to care about drug users and wish they would just go away."
The problem won't go away by ignoring it. In fact, it's getting worse, and
it will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions in the long run if bold steps
aren't taken now. "We have a responsibility," says frustrated health board
chairman David Levi. "Not only morally, but from a health perspective."
Anyone listening?
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