![CELEBRATE: Vision Australia and the world-wide blind community will take part in International White Cane Day on October 15. CELEBRATE: Vision Australia and the world-wide blind community will take part in International White Cane Day on October 15.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/QCWxNXm2Zu7MVAKrvEafBf/31e98931-50ae-4aa5-b7cf-a58260d894ba.JPG/r0_105_3368_2178_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Leave our water natural
I HAVE sent a copy of this to the mayor of Indigo Council.
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I do not want fluoride in my water. I have plenty of fluoride already in my toothpaste and I don't want you putting stuff in my water because you think you can. I have a cup of water to rinse my teeth after using fluoride toothpaste. I don't need anymore. And who says I do? The rest of my water goes down the toilet or shower.
I water my lawn, I wash my car and all this water ends back in the river full of fluoride. Now the cows and sheep drink it and I will say that fluoride is a by product of aluminium production and is classified as far as I can see as a poison.
Has anyone ever studied the effects this may have on farmland watered by this stuff, or on the animals that are now forced to drink it? We are so stupid to put fluoride in our water to supposedly look after a few of our teeth, but it doesn't matter that we have poisoned our water supply.
Maybe the livestock are getting sick because of it? Every time I water my lawn or wash my car there is way more going onto my property and therefore into the water stream than a simple mouthful when I wash my teeth.
Never in my life until now have so many pets been put down because of cancers. I think that is because we have way too many chemicals at our disposal. I had dogs when I was a kid and they lived very long lives.
Even some pesticides are now banned because of carcinogenic properties. Please advise me on why you are wanting to do this instead of leaving our water supply as natural as possible. This is very disturbing for my future family.
ROSS BUSCALL,
Rutherglen
Celebrate White Cane Day
EACH year, on October 15, Vision Australia and the world-wide blind community celebrate International White Cane Day.
The white cane is a recognised mobility aid that indicates the user is blind or has low vision.
On International White Cane Day Vision Australia celebrates this mobility aid and how it helps thousands of people to live independent lives.
What most people don’t know is that the majority of people who use a white cane have some level of vision and are not totally blind.
While we celebrate the positive impact that the white cane has for many people who are blind or have low vision, this misunderstanding about what a white cane user can and cannot see gives rise to discrimination.
Vision Australia conducted a survey from June to July. The results revealed that more than half of white cane users responding to the survey have experienced negative comments or behaviour while using their white cane in the community.
The majority of white cane users reporting this discrimination had this experience in a shop, cafe or restaurant and more than half had this experience while on public transport.
While this research reveals discrimination against white cane users, the majority of the public have a great deal of understanding and respect for white cane users.
We thank members of the public for their thoughtfulness around white cane users and we encourage everyone to celebrate the difference that white canes have made to the blindness and low vision community on October 15, International White Cane Day.
Maryanne Diamond, general manager, Vision Australia
Need more paramedics
WHEN the ambulance service calls for more paramedics for Albury, why does the NSW Ambulance Service spokeswoman say there’s no immediate plans for more staff?
Surely the ambulance service is one of the most important services in Albury.
They are sick and tired and that’s not a good combination for them or for us.