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October 2010 issue	Climate propserity issue Table of Contents What is climate prosperity? Global warming health impacts South Saskatchewan River runs dry Halifax Harbour’s rising waters Climate change and Canada’s future Discovery The Inside Story Editor’s Notebook Reverberations Book Reviews ----------------------------------------------- Past issues

Borderline comments
The article “Through thick and thin” (July/Aug 2010), about the International Boundary Commission (IBC), notes that the boundary vista is maintained with “weed whackers and wile.” Yes, and, between the late 1950s and 1977, also with toxic and pernicious herbicides not greatly different, if at all, from the infamous defoliant Agent Orange. I worked six summers for the IBC between 1968 and 1973, with particularly high exposure to the chemicals in 1968. Making direct causal links for any cancer is difficult, but I have strong suspicions that this exposure is an important factor in the lymph and prostate cancers I have had to deal with in recent years. Yet the IBC seems to be resolutely incurious when it comes to identifying and addressing herbicide impacts on its many workers over that period, and on the persons living along the border and their properties. The extent and duration of this exposure, particularly for IBC crews, make that of the military personnel at Camp Gagetown pale in comparison.

Doug Peterson
Victoria

Canadian Geographic contacted the International Boundary Commission for a statement about its policies and practices regarding herbicide use, but no comment was forthcoming. — Ed.

On page 35 of the latest issue is a list of books relating to the Canada–United States border. As someone with a special interest in cultural representations of the border, I recommend two additional non-fiction explorations of life along the international boundary, the first Canadian, the second American: Walking the Line: Travels Along the Canadian/American Border by Marian Botsford Fraser and North Country: A Personal Journey Through the Borderland by Howard Frank Mosher. Mosher, who hails from northern Vermont, has also written several novels about life along the Vermont–Quebec border. Those who enjoyed Jake MacDonald’s fascinating article about Smuggler’s Inn would like Border Songs by Jim Lynch, a gentle satire about smuggling at the western end of the British Columbia–Washington border in the post-9/11 period.

Albert Braz
Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and English,
University of Alberta
Edmonton

The issue refers twice to Estcourt, Que., as one of those towns right on the border. This community, Saint-Pierre d’Estcourt, has not existed since it was amalgamated into the municipality of Pohénégamook in 1973. Estcourt exists today only as a neighbourhood of Pohénégamook. For more information, go to the municipality’s website: www.pohenegamook.net.

Paul Sharkey
Casselman, Ont.

Rodeo counterpoint
As a retired grain farmer and rancher, I thoroughly dislike rodeos because they do not reflect the “real McCoy” of the life. We do not ride bulls or ride horses bareback. We do not use spurs on the range horses or hang bells near the scrotum of herd bulls. Ranch hands do not fall from horses to twist steers into the turf.

The only roping done with cattle and calves is to gather the calves for the November branding if a metal chute is not used, or to treat ailing cows with an antibiotic. Furthermore, the calves are roped at the hind legs, not the neck!

Rodeo is a cruel sport for city fanatics. At the Calgary Stampede this year, too many horses died unnecessarily. It is a very stressful event for horses, steers and calves. The quicker the event is cancelled, the happier I will be.

Since 1962, when I started teaching rural high school students, I have experienced the loss of four adolescents who did not survive bull riding. They gained neither fame nor fortune; just a wheelchair or a grave.

William Pender
Fort Macleod, Alta.

Circling the square
The back-page column “A bale of a good time” (“In habitat,” July/Aug 2010) talks about square bales of hay, but the illustration shows a round hay baler and round bales in the field.

Clayton Fulford
Middleville, Ont.

Yes, haying is fascinating, as long as you don’t have to do it yourself. Big round bales haven’t cropped up much in New Brunswick yet, so the cows can still get a square meal.

Harold Welch
Clandeboye, Man.

Lost lake
I was very disturbed to read the article “So long and thanks for all the fish” (“Discovery,” June 2010). British Columbia is famous for its natural beauty, and it is unthinkable that its government would approve of any of its beautiful lakes being converted into dumping grounds for mine waste. I think it seriously needs to reconsider this plan.

Christi Kepe
Calgary

Thirsty trees
The article “50 million trees” (June 2010) shows there are a lot of good reasons for expanding our forests in southern Ontario: shade, clean water, erosion control, biodiversity, carbon absorption. However, forests are also powerful ecological agents that control timing and magnitude of water flow by intercepting rain and snow and transpiring large amounts of water through their leaves. Some Ontario water managers likely would not want to significantly decrease spring flows that flush the system, ensure fish migration to headwater lakes or flood surrounding wetlands. Are the current planting programs considering water? 

Paul Egginton
Lanark County, Ont.

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* Letters may be edited for length, accuracy and liability.