WARM WELCOME . . . Eight new members of Katimavik group were ‘Govender. Leader Cindy Santord and group are in Castlegar to work greeted at Tuesday night's Castlegar Kiwanis Club meeting. Pictured on various projects. One project is renovations to the scout hall, are members of group meeting with Kiwanis Club president Val Hard to predict future By KEN SMITH CP Economics Writer No news is supposed to be good news, but sometimes it can be plain confusing. Just look at the situation economists find themselves in these days as they try to predict what is going to happen to the country during the next few years. Check the news for a couple of days and you'll find highly qualified experts offering a gamut ranging. from unbridled hope to dismal! pessimism. It's not really their fault. They simply don’t have some of the essential material they need to work with. There's no shortage of basic data as Statistics Canada and other agencies pour out facts on what has been happening in recent months. But in both Canada and the United States few details are available on what gover prog are going to be adopted. Without that information, everyone is indulging in a high-stakes guessing game. There's been plenty of talk about the need for a strong and growing economy that will bring fresh benefits for everyone; it’s hard to find fault with that as a general statement. The difficulty is that governments haven't told us how they propose to bring it about. Tax laws, for example, are going to be reformed — fine, everypne it's about time. But what does “reform” mean? Higher taxes? Lower? or just shifted? There's a lot more involved than the question of how much you fork over to the various levels of government. It will be a key factor in helping decide what social programs Canadians can expect, what financial resources will be It’s part of an economist’s job to peer into the future. There's general agreement that next year Canada will see further growth, but less than the country experienced during the last 12 months. This outlook, however, is based on extrapolating figures from past performances — an important segment of any future assessment but not the entire picture. CHANGES PROMISED All forecasts carry the warning, spelled out or implied, that any significant policy shifts by governments could throw the figures completely out of whack. Policy shifts have been promised, but details still are lacking. Obviously, rushing into changes just for the sake of seeming to be doing something can be worse than delaying action for further studies. Postponements must be seen to be justifiable, however. For instance, the Macdonald royal commission on Canada's economic prospects was criticized in its early days on grounds that it wasn't likely to uncover any fresh material or ideas during its months of public hearings Better, its critics said, to invest the time and money in an in-depth examination of something like the long-term effects of high technology on employment. Then employment and training programs could be established with a fighting chance of Members of the group come trom all across Canada. U.S. reacts positively to bill WASHINGTON (CP) — The U.S. government reac- ted positively Friday to Ot tawa’s proposed foreign in- vestment legislation replac- ing rules that have frustrated and angered American busi nessmen for years. A State Department state. ment said “we are pleased by what we understand to be the thrust of this legislation — the encouragement of for. eign investment and the re. moval of discriminatory treatment.” A State Department offi cial added that reaction to the fine print of the bill — such as suggestions that for eign investors should buy Canadian parts and services — will depend on how it is Economists, however, have one large advantage over governments when they work on something affecting the future. If conditions change rapidly, economists can always shrug, go back to their computers and come up with a new ilable for in Pp and whether the very flavor of life will be enhanced or diminished. Governments may not have the privilege not, at least, without harming many people. Canada could control market JOHANNESBURG (CP) Already suffering from depressed world uranium markets, South African producers will be the big losers when Saskatchewan's Cigar Lake deposit, reputed to be the richest in the world, finally yeilds the strategic mineral, say industry sources. South Africa is currently the second-largest producer in the world but “Canada will soon be able to control the market and make a lot of money at South Africa's expense,” says Chris Von Christierson of Nuexco, a California-based mineral consulting firm that sets the monthly world price for the mineral. “She will be able to cut the market and get the bulk of the business if she chooses,” he said in an interview David Sinelair-Smith, general manager of Nuclear Fuels Corp., which markets uranium for South Africa's mines, does not dispute the richness of the find Although he refused to discuss the matter in detail, he noted that Canadian project engineers still have to figure out the best way to mine the mineral and decide when to bring it on stream, a process that could take another three years But he said: “We clearly do not welcome a high-grade deposit of that size.” The development of the Cigar Lake deposit — estimated to contain more than 230 million pounds with a grade of 10 per cent — comes during a period when worldwide demand is at a record low and production continues to exceed consumption as U.S. utilities that have ceased operations liquidate their inventories. The spot price, which peaked at $43.50 U.S. a pound in 1978, has dropped to $16 from last month's $17.50 and could fall to as low as $13 in the next few months, Von Christierson said. STOCKPILES ORE South African companies prefer long-term contracts at higher-than-post prices and, with demand low, they have been stockpiling what they cannot sell at a time when the prime rate stands at 25 per cent However, these higher-priced contracts are renegotiat ed each year and the sagging spot price will likely force down contract prices and reduce revenues, Von Christierson said. ercorn RG? He eh © ewer ae me ems iggy : Se POG Bg 8 TERRA NOVA MOTOR INN Ironically, the plummeting South African rand — now worth about $1.43 U.S., a drop of 40 per cent since September 1988 — has helped mining companies retain earnings at just above last year's levels. jouth Africa's existing markets in Europe and the Far East are fast becoming fully supplied and producers will soon have to decide whether to try to increase sales dramatically to the United States at low spot-related prices. The alternatives are stockpiling or shutting down high-cost facilities and throwing thousands more out of work. If South Africa waits too long, the spot price may be too low and Canadian uranium may have arrived on the already highly competitive market — factors that would severely affect South African producers, Von Christierson said. South Africa's only saving grace may be that countries and foreign firms often like to spread their sources of supply around because of the strategic nature of the mineral. But political controversy may be the one problem that especially in the United States. d the new Progressive Conservative government. In addition category * Just write a short story of up to 300 words beginning with the line and cold on the night betore Christmas” and ending with the line: “Everyone agreed it was the besfChristmas ever Calvary Baptist Church 009 Merry Creek Rd., Castlegar 365-3430 or 365-2808 DECEMBER 16 — 9:45 a.m, Sunday School, Babes to Seniors. 11 a.m. Morning Service, 7 p.m. Cantata "A Song, A Stor, A Son” by Derrie " Johnson. Choir Director — Kay Nelson, organist of seling also drove the stock | — Al Webber. Pianist — V. Walper. to i narket to a new four-month B Og cEMBER 23 — 10:30 - 12 noon. A Family Ser- vice, 6:30 Sunday School Concert, a full programme of singing and a play. In New York, a late wave International Business Machines, the No. 1 holding of investing institutions, was & prominent casualty, as it had been in the market's de- clines earlier in the week. DECEMBER 24 — 7 p.m. Xmas Eve Service. Carols and Musical Evening DECEMBER 31 — 8 p.m. Watchnight Service. you lo GIVE A SELKIRK COLLEGE FITNESS / ACTIVITY PASS Semester Pass (Jan. - April) Adult - $80 Junior (18 and under) $55.00 Monthly Pass Adult $35 Junior (18 and under) $20.00 HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:15.a.m. - 10:30 p.m Sunday 12:30 - 8:00 p.m. Saturday - Closed except for special nts Gymnasium — Weightroom — Danceroom — Raquetball Handball — Squash — Lockers and Towel Service Available Bankcards accepted — Available at the gymnasium Selkjri College CASTLEGAR CAMPUS Box 1200, Costlegor, B.C. VIN 3J! 365-7292 Surprise your Family, Friends, Neighbors and Relatives by having a story published in the Castlegar News. All you have to do is enter the... Christmas Short Story Contest Sponsored by the Castlegar Public Library and fhe Castlegar News It's simple to enter: 11 wos snowing Mail or bring your story into the Castlegar Public Library (Kinnaird or main branch) or to the Castlegar News by 1 p.m., on Wed., Dec. 12 Include your name, address, age ond telephone number The Christmas Short Story Contest has been divided into 3 age categories Eight and Under Ages 9, 1\0and 11 Ages 12, 13nd 14 The three stories in each group chosen by the judges os the bes? in each group will be published in the Castlegor News! Christmas Greetings Tabloid on Sundey, Dec. 23. $15, $10 and $5 will be awarded as first, second and third prizes in each Amnesty group helps Interest Calculated Daily & Paid Monthly — > With Total Chequing Convenience in prisoner release Editor's note: the following is the conclusion of a two-part journal by Castlegar’s Sally Williams. This part documents the local Amnesty International group's work over the last six months for the release of an illegally detained young black man in Ngmibia/South West Africa, a territory illegally occupied bya Africa in defiance of the United Nations. By SALLY WILLIAMS July, 1984 After the disappointing news that Lazarus Haukongo was not among the 54 detainees released by South Africa from Hardap Military Detention Centre in Mariental, Namibia, we have decided to press our case still further. If we cannot help to secure his release, perhaps we can try to ensure he is kept alive until circumstances change. Thinking of new ways to publicize our prisoner's plight keeps our motivation high. So far we have sent out 100 white postcards designed by the high school student, Jeff Mair, followed by 100 green, so this next batch will be on yellow cards. Other Amnesty International groups from California, Toronto and Hamilton are also sending cards. Sylvia Weldon of Vancouver wrote to tell us she had written 20 letters for Lazarus. August 1984 At the “Peace of the Kootenays” Festival in Nelson, many people signed our petition requesting Lazarus’ release. It encourages us to see total strangers reaching out to help him. Letters have been sent from individuals and groups thapughout Europe and North America in reponse to our call fohelp Towards the end of this month, looking for something a bit different to do to let the South African government know that Lazarus was not forgotten, we phoned the detention camp in which he is being held. We asked the officer on duty if we tould send money to prisoners and to Lazarus Haukongo in particular. We have to send a money order care of the Officer in Charge so we will arrange this through a local bank. A letter from the South African Ambassador to Canada, Hene..tk Guldenhuys, who received an Amnesty delegation in Ottawa last April including Castlegar repr P Tim Richards and Lyle Kristiansen, contains som potentially hopeful information — “It should be mentioned that the Administrator-General of South West Africa/Nam- ibia announced in May that the release of the detainees would occur in stages and that a third have already been released.” George Richards wagers we will have Lazarus out in six months! October 1984 We have been busy this month with AI's annual Prisoner-of-Conscience Week activities which highlights cases of human rights violations around the world. Our prison cell in downtown Castlegar one Saturday draws considerable interest from passers-by and 200 letters were mailed away, signed by residents, on behalf of women prisoners in particular. We have started another round of post cards for Lazarus — this time we choose pink card. A total of 400 have been printed since May November 1984 We have had quite a bit of mail recently from the AI Research office in London which regularly updates us on the situation in Namibia. This morning there was another airmail envelope from London in the mail box The headline on the first page read “Release of remaining detainees at Mariental” and went on to state“... the 75 remaining men (prisoners) were released 18 October.” I looked at the names in alphabetical order of those released. “Lazarus Haukongo — Canada, Group 66”. He was out! I could have hugged every postal employ in the place. It is hard to describe the elation we feel at this successful conclusion to 18 month's work during which hundreds of letters, postcards and petitions were mailed to South Africa and Namibia. It is appropriate that Lazarus, by chance, was released during Prisoner-of-Conscience Week. We can at last plan our celebration. The 36th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is commemorated Dec. 10. This Declaration is the most often quoted document by Amnesty letter-writers. It would be fitting for our plans to coincide with this weekend Back downtown went the prison cell, this time full of helium balloons, appropriately enough in front of the giant Christmas tree put up by the City. We flung open the cell door and watched the balloons soar into the sky and hoped that Lazarus’ first Christmas as a free man since 1978 would be a joyful one We would not have been able to close the dossier on Lazarus Haukongo without the assistance of Castlegar and other local citizens. Those people who bought baked goods at our bake sales, greeting cards at our information tables, those who signed petitions and postcards, wrote letters and prayed for or asked after Lazarus, gave donations for postage costs — all these people helped release him The Castlegar News and CKQR generously donated space and air time to publicize our work Meanwhile our letter writing goes on for our other prisoners — for a young engineering student, Hunai Yusif in Syria who is imprisoned for having political unacceptable to his regime; for Horst Gnadig of the GDR (East Germany) imprisoned for trying to leave his country; for Ryszard Sluma detained in Poland for participating in a commemorative demonstration for the banned trade union Solidarity; for Stanislaw Kotawski detained for transporting “illegal” foreign literature across Poland. However, the successful conclusion of Lazarus’ case fills us with renewed hope — Amnesty works and we hope to prove it again and again views . 28 6 Note: Group 66 is always in need of assistance. Please write to Box 3683, Castlegar if you wish to find out more about the work of Amnesty International | ADVENTURES IN INDIA WITH WORLD YOUTH ORGANIZATION Last September a team of young men and women arrived in Castlegar en route for a three-month tour of duty in India. They were one of a number of similar groups which form the Canadian-originated and spon sored Canada World Youth Organization (Jeunnesse Cawada Monde), which has as its aim the creation of an increased awareness of the culture, tradition, and history of both their own and other nations in the world. During their brief stay in Castlegar they were able to arrange for billets, line up work areas and acquaint themselves with the area. They returned the hospitality by putting in a day's work on the Zuckerberg Island Park, with a lunch break on the Charters’ deck overlooking the island On their arrival in India they were given a 10-day orientation training period, including some basic training in the local dialect “Kannada.” They were then teamed with their Indian counterparts who are known as NCC Cadets and sent to live with Indian host families. Doug Preston, their liaison officer in the B.C. regional office in Vancouver, has kept me posted through their letters. They seem to have adapted well, and despite some concern over the assassination of Prime Minister Indira and the sporadic violence which followed, their experience has been a rich one and shortly, Castlegar will have the opportunity to share both their experience and their volunteer service efforts. Some indication of their adventures, as well as a little twinge of envy can be gained from the following excerpts from their letters. Hello everyone Everything is running smoothly in our community even though many parts of the country are facing some trouble. Indira Gandhi's death on Oct. 31 has shocked us all. According with Hindu custom, the mourning goes on for 12 days throughout India There has been a lot of turmoil in the north, but everything is calm in the south. Hopefully, with the passing of time, matters will be back in order. We are confident that the new Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, can handle affairs efficiently and bring the country back to normalcy Now we could like to introduce our host families to Lisa and Mala Hi folks! My counterpart Major Suri and I are living with the BR Srinavasin family. Srinavas is a farmer, he grows grapes, mangos, ragi (a kind of millet) and John Charters Reflections & recollections Kannada, so is quite insistent that I learn as she is very eager to speak with me. We spent a lot of time laughing when I have difficulty with the language, which is most of the time Both Rikka and Srinavas are university graduates and speak excellent English. Rikka studied commerce and specialized in farm accounts. Srinavas studied law They both lived and worked in Bangalore for a few years after graduating but decided they preferred village life. Since 1982 they have been back here in Bijwarra village on the farm that belonged to Srinavas’ father before he died. Everyone in the village knows the family well, so there are always lots of visitors here In the evenings we have wonderful discussions about eucalyphs. He and his wife Rikka are about my age and their young son has just begun pre-school in Bangalore Rikka is an excellent cook so we spend hours sitting on the floor in the kitchen. She prepares food every day for the laborers who work on their farm, as well as for ourselves and the family. The organization alone is a big job Srinava’s mother lives with us as well. She daes a lot of work and supervision on the farm. She only speaks > nal relations, politics and almost everything else. We're all learning a great deal from each other We hope all is well for you in Castlegar and are really looking forward to getting there. All the participants are anxious to start skiing, so hopefully we'll have some good snow this year Hil people of Castlegar Here we are back to you again to tell you something — Mary Lindsay about the family we are billeting with The family we are staying with is one Mr Munniswamappa’s family (65 years) who is an ex-member of village-panchayat. The unique feature of our family is that it consists of four generations the great-grand parents of about 95 years of age, followed by the grand parents of about 65 years of age, i.e. Mr. Munniswamappa whom we call “Appa” and his wife, who have sons and daughters who are married. One of the sons staying here has five children (four daughters and a son), the youngest of whom is four years of age. Oh yeah she is very sweet — a naughty little kid! The family speaks only Kannada and no English so knowing Kannada is essential to.communicate with them The house is quite big with about 10 rooms and we have a big spacious room for ourselves which is upstairs with a ceiling fan, chairs, cots, and a big TV in the centre We also have a cute little terrace beside our room where we spend our evenings watching the beautiful sunset They are a very warm and hospitable family and they do their best to make us feel at home. The kids are very cute and loving and they like us very much, especially the chapaties we make and the chocolates we get for them. They love it! WORLD YOUTH... Canadian World Youth members will be back in Castlegar next weekend with their Indian counterparts os part of an exchange program. Members are shown here during their visit to Castiegar in September when they hel ton Zuckerberg Island Park (From left): Lisa Wray Claudette Sandeki Robert Renaud, Manouve Hebert, Jim Cambon, Lisa Maloney Eric Janosz and leader Mary Lindsay They are very curious to know about us and our family. Our billeting mother is a very concerned person. She makes sure that we get everything we require and like to have. Our billeting father and Appa are also very considerate whenever any of us is unwell they really worry about us and do their utmost to make us feel better. Weare enjoying our stay in this large family with so many nice people around us and it is going to be difficult for us to say goodbye because we are sure to miss them very much. And it is going to be difficult for them, too, as the billeting mother expressed her feelings to us one day that she and all the kids have developed a great liking for us. The kids play with us, enjoy our songs, like to be with us and we too enjoy their company very much Claudette and Rasika Group leader Mary Lindsay and Major Suri will be arriving in Castlegar on Wednesday and will be contacting billeting families to make certain that all is in order The group will leave Vancouver for Castlegar at 6 a.m. on Saturday and arrive in the Safeway parking lot at approximately 4:30 p.m. We trust that their visit and experience will be as pleasnt as that in India. In spite of the fact that the group will already be in Castlegar when the Dec. 16 edition of the Castlegar News comes out, I will run a second selection of their letters which arrived only last week since I feel that they have much to tell us. Moreover, since the group and their leader have already committed themselves to give talks to schools and clubs in the area on their experiences, the letters offer something of a preview to future listeners.