www.pgcitizen.ca | Thursday, March 19, 2009 15 news Which witch is which? Gambia accused of drugging 1,000 in witch hunt The Associated Press DAKAR, Senegal -- Authorities in Gambia have rounded up about 1,000 people and forced them to drink hallucinogens in a witchhunting campaign that is terrorizing the tiny West African country, an international rights group said Wednesday. Amnesty International called on the government of President Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup and has claimed he can cure AIDS, to halt the campaign and bring those responsible to justice. Gambian officials could not immediately be reached for comment and the government has issued no statements in reaction to the report. Authorities began inviting "witch doctors," who combat witches, to come from nearby Guinea soon after the death earlier this year of the president's aunt. Jammeh "reportedly believes that witchcraft was used in her death," the Londonbased rights group said. Since then, "witch doctors" have forcibly taken about 1,000 alleged witches from their villages and spirited them to secret locations, Amnesty said. REGISTRATION FOR HIRED EQUIPMENT May 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010 The City of Prince George is now accepting registrations for equipment such as, but not limited to loaders, graders, backhoes, trucks, crawler tractors, sweepers, etc. for summer construction and maintenance projects as well as winter snow clearing operations. This registration is for hires on an as-required basis from May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. Registration forms are available on the City web site www.city.pg.bc.ca or from the Transportation Division, located at 505 - 4th Avenue. Registration forms must be submitted to the Transportation Division no later than 4:30 P.M. Friday, March 27th, 2009. Additional information may be obtained by calling the Transportation Division at 561-7660. 00658471 A plume of smoke escapes into the air as Dr. John Semple, chief of surgery at the Women's College Hospital, demonstrates a common surgical procedure. CP photo Transportation Division, 505 - 4th Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3H2 Telephone (250) 561-7660 Fax (250) 561-7502 Surgery can be dangerous to surgeons' health Sheryl Ubelacker The Canadian Press TORONTO -- The surgeon touches an area of exposed flesh with a cauterizing tool for less than a minute, sending up a cloud of noxious smoke that quickly wafts across the room and catches at the eyes and throat. It is only a demonstration - the flesh is actually raw turkey - but the result illustrates the hazard that doctors, nurses and even patients can be exposed to during operations that employ lasers and other tissueburning tools. Known as "plume," the smoke is laden with all manner of potentially toxic substances and diseasecausing microbes that can make their way past surgical masks and into the lungs. "According to one study, exposure to (vapours from) one gram of laser-cut tissue is like smoking three unfiltered cigarettes," said Suzanne Kiraly, president of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), which on Wednesday released new guidelines for capturing and disposing surgical plume. "Thus far, researchers have identified more than 600 organic compounds in plume generated by vaporized tissue," Kiraly told a news conference at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, where the demonstration took place. "Many of these compounds have harmful health effects that have been documented, and these effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, liver and kidney damage, carcinogenic cell changes, headaches, dizziness and drowsiness, to name a few." While many Canadian hospitals already use plumeevacuation systems, there are many that do not, said Susan Taylor, a nurse educator at St. Joseph's Health Care in London, Ont., who was part of the expert committee that designed the new standards. It's not known how many Canadian hospitals do not use the equipment, she said, but their adoption has the "potential to improve the quality of life for thousands of health-care workers in Canada." Patients have the lowest risk for inhaling the vapours, as they are usually on a breathing machine during surgery, said Taylor. The new voluntary standards are aimed at hospitals, dental offices, veterinary clinics and esthetic spas that use tissue-burning tools. The guidelines are aimed at helping such organizations decide what kind of equipment to purchase, how to use it properly and how to maintain it. Dr. John Semple, chief of surgery at Women's College, said the hospital has been using plume-capturing equipment in its operating rooms for the last decade. But before that, surgical teams could be exposed to hours of toxic vapours during lengthy operations. Welcome BONNIE STROM, GBA GroupHEALTH North is pleased to welcome Bonnie Strom to our organization as an Account Manager. Bonnie brings over 10 years experience in the Employee Group Benefits field to her new position. Her expertise will be an asset to our dynamic Employee Group Benefits team. Bonnie looks forward to seeing all her friends and acquaintances in her new location. Bonnie Strom, GBA 492 Victoria Street Prince George, BC V2L 2J7 Ph 563-8877 Fax 562-7666 Email:bonnie@grouphealthnorth.ca www.grouphealthnorth.ca 00655426 Tourist line up to see the flag raising on Tiananmen Square. AP photo Tiananmen attack still a vivid memory The Associated Press TENGZHOU, China -- Even 20 years later, the shooting, chaos and death of the final assault on Tiananmen Square remain vivid in the mind of former soldier Zhang Shijun. Today, he has become one of the few to publicly voice regret. In bearing witness about his role in the military crackdown on the 1989 student demonstrations in Beijing, Zhang says he hopes to add momentum to calls for an investigation and reassessment of the protest movement - and to further its ultimate goal of a democratic China. "I feel like my spirit is stuck there on the night of June 3," Zhang, 40, said in an interview at his home in the dusty northern city of Tengzhou, referring to the date in 1989 on which the final assault began. Zhang's tortured memories have gained a global audience among the Chinese dissident community in the weeks since he published an open letter to president and Communist party leader Hu Jintao online. Zhang was just 20 when his units were ordered to Beijing on April 20, 1989. There, they camped on the capital's southwestern edge while citizens erected barricades to block their progress toward Tiananmen. On June 3, their orders came: Drive through to the square and get it cleared. Zhang said other details were still too sensitive to tell, suggesting atrocities such as the shooting in the back of unarmed students and civilians. These allegations remain impossible to independently confirm. After their withdrawal, Zhang said he asked for and eventually obtained an early discharge, never having expected to be sent to fight ordinary citizens. After returning to Tengzhou he began a discussion group promoting market economics and politics, but was arrested March 14, 1992 and sentenced to three years in a labour camp for political crimes. He regards the charges as trumped-up retribution for his leaving his unit early. UNBC This Week By Rob Van Adrichem UNBC This Week March 19, 2009 Climate change is blamed for things like the mountain pine beetle infestation, but could it also lead to wars between countries? Gwynne Dyer thinks it might, and he'll be presenting his ideas on the topic in this year's annual Bob Ewert Memorial Lecture. The Ewert Lecture was established several years ago by UNBC, the Northern Medical Society, and the Prince George Community Foundation to mark the establishment of the Northern Medical Program. It has become a major community event and fundraiser for the Northern Medical Programs Trust, which supports medical and nursing students at UNBC. Recent speakers have included David Suzuki and former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. The 2009 speaker, Gwynne Dyer, has more than 20 years of experience as a journalist, columnist, and broadcaster. He spent a year travelling the world talking to scientists, politicians, and soldiers about whether global warming will cause wars. His short answer is yes, but he'll give a longer answer during his talk on April 4. Tickets are available from the UNBC Advancement Office or by calling 960-5750. FACT: The Northern Medical Programs Trust has raised more than $5 million to date in support of future doctors and nurses who want to practice in northern or rural communities after they graduate. The Trust has been supported by two-dozen northern BC communities. Take advantage of our Spring Break specials. You'll melt for our spring getaway packages. You can relax in comfort, or stay in touch with free Internet and local calls. Either way, you've earned it. www.unbc.ca typically receives close to 1000 visits per day. thaw from the winter blahs. 1 - 8 0 0 - 6 6 3 - 1 1 4 4 / w w w . c o a s t h o t e l s . c o m ALBERTA Calgary . Edmonton Downtown . Edmonton East . Jasper . Medicine Hat BRITISH COLUMBIA Abbotsford . Campbell River . Kamloops . Kelowna . Langley Nanaimo . Osoyoos . Prince George . Prince Rupert . Revelstoke . 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