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With predictions of possible water rationing in the region this summer, homeowners should note new lawn watering regulations for Waterloo. Evenâ€"numbered properties will now be able to water lawns and gardens on even numbered days of the month between 6 am and 10 am and between 7 pm and 11 pm. _ _ _ _ c e Oddâ€"numbered properties can aim for green lawns and beautiful gardens on oddâ€"numbered days during the same hours. The regulations are part of a new water use byâ€"law has been adopted by Waterloo council to control excessive use of water for air conditioning, cooling and lawn watering. The regulations, passed Feb. 29, are aimed partly at bringing city practice in line with regional regulations. _ Air eonditioningoand cooling systems which do not reâ€"use water are now prohibited. Commissioner of Public Works Jim Willis told the Chronicle the regulation is mainly aimed at large businesses using outâ€"dated equipment. He adds that he does not expect Waterloo has many such businesses. Asked how the byâ€"law will be enforced, Willis said, ‘"We have our ways. We‘re not going out looking." The regulations are aimed largely at large users, he said. It‘s not easy being a refugee in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo. That, in essence, is the finding of a study of Central American Refugees in Kitchenerâ€"Waterlco sponsored by the Kâ€"W Council of Churches. Now hold on, before some of you begin seeing red and pick up a pen for a heartfelt letter, listen to some of the refugees‘ comâ€" ments for a minute. First, let‘s remember what a refugee is. As the introduction to the study says, "Central American refugees believe that they are in danger in their own countries and therefore have fled to other countries, like Canada, for protection or for economic reasons because the economy of Central American countries has been disrupted by war." The difference between refugees and immigrants revolves around this. Immigrants come to Canada seeking higher living standards. Refugees come here out of necessity, not choice â€" either for survival or to earn even a basic standard of living for themselves and their families. If they had a choice, they‘d be in their own land. The rgon documents refugees who can‘t forget the horror of their past (6ften includinf war experiences, beatings, jailing and torture), who feel guilt at having New water use _ Bid to help fund groups bylaw adopted _ feeding students nixed Many have faced discrimination, in its many facets, since arriving here. Comments about their work experience include, "They (Canadians) look down on us at work". "‘There are factories that won‘t hire refuâ€" gees". "The factory supervisor gave us the hardest work". "I feel antipathy, rejection, and ‘ice‘ at work". eacared while others â€" often family â€" did not; loneliness for their own country. â€" Attempts to socialize with Canadians outside of work met with varying degrees of success among those int.erviewed..r&)me discovered that Canadians are "cold" on the outside and do not easily befriend foreigners. "When a Canadian does open up, it‘s a great thing," says one. On a personal note, as a child immigrant from Wales, my initial experiences with Caguadians were similar. current system forces many refugee claimants to survike on welfare while awaiting a decision as to their soâ€"calléd legitimacy as refugees. The deprival of the feeding children who are coming to school hungry was dashed by trustees of the Waterloo County board of education last Thursday. While several trustees spoke in favor of trustee Gary Ferguson‘s motion to provide financial assis tance for a breakfast nutrition program, others felt it wasn‘t the role of the school board to assure children did not go to school hungry. Ferguson said a survey of teachers in December made a conservative estimate that 2,000 students in the county go to school h . Considering the board‘s $200â€"millionâ€"plus m. Ferguson said, $10,000 is not too much ask. Trustee Ted Clare said the same concern was brought up during a recent meeting in Toronto with John Sweeney, minister of community and social services, and the minister was emphatic that it was not the role of boards of education to be feeding students. "He felt if there was a need it should be Pauline Dimech, chairman of the graâ€" duating class of engineers at the University of Waterloo presents Kathy Loosemore, representln? the Central Ontario Developmental Riding program with a $500 saddle. The class raised money for the o'g:clally designed saddle throughout the year. chronicte photo Each of the six areas of the policy were discussed one by one providing trustees an opportunity to ask questions. While several trustees raised concern about wording, it appeared the policy and proceâ€" dures would pass without reference to opening and closing exercises or the race relations officer. Isobel Lawson Chronicle Staff Nearly three years after the idea was first conceived, Waterloo County board of education has a race and ethnocultural relations policy. _ Last Thursday the board accepted the policy and accompanying procedures. But before gaining board approval, the two contentious issues which drew much of the public‘s attention were brought out on the table and rehashed before they were put to defeat by narrow margins. The policy doesn‘t include the hiring of a race relations officer nor does it contain a clause reflecting a pluralistic society when conducting opening and closing exercises. A motion to give $10,000 to local organizations Near to the end of the lengthy discussion, Board of Ed approves race relations policy RIDING HIGH WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 16. 1988 â€" PAGE 3 People who work with refugees noted that, as well as refugees learning from our society, we can learn from them. "Central Americans could teach North Ameriâ€" cans to live a more relaxed life, take a different attitude towards ions and place a greater value on family life. i:y also mentioned that Central Americans could teach them to integrate faith with daily life even in dangerous circumstances and to see that the world‘s people are interâ€"connected." One Canadian said, "(They can teach us that) we are our brother‘s keeper. We are responsible not just for our little community, but for our brothers down there, ability to be selfâ€"sufficient is often painful. *"Since I was eight years old, I‘ve worked," says one claimant. "I‘ve always taken care of myself. The hardest thing here is not to be able to work." Many become very de&?md some turn to alcohol. Others find strength in church, their Canadian and Central American friends, and their families. Families often become closer under the challenge of adapting to Canadian society. Adapting to the reality of their situation can lead to positive attitudes. "I‘m already on the horse. Now I‘ve got to break it in," said one refugee. Precisely with lan Kirkby help any way we can," he added. â€" â€" Those opposing the motion questioned how the board should interfere where community groups have taken the initiative. identify and feed some of these hungry children. Money isn‘t the only way of helping. "I think we‘ve indicated that we‘re quit willing to While Hendry said he supported the spirit of the motion, he could not vote in favor of it. The board, he said, should wait until it knows the decision of a court case challenging opening excerises. Dependâ€" ing on the result, the ministry might find it necessary to change the Education Act. Following the meeting Trustee June Anderson, chairman of the race relations committee, said McFarlane‘s motion did not matter because, under the Act principals do have the authority to chose readings, with board approval. Overall, she said she is satisfied with the policy. "I think we‘ve got a good policy. I think we‘ve got a policy we can put into place." In supporting the motion Monteith said, ‘"We‘re not telling our principals they have to do anything. I think what we‘re trying to tell our principals using a varied program that we support them and we‘re behindthem." problem is in Sweeney‘s bailiwick. Trustee John Hendry said there are other ways in which the board can show its support of organizaâ€" Kitchener trustee Sue Coulter sought support to hire a fullâ€"time race relations officer for a threeâ€"year term. In order for the policy to succeed, Coulter said, the board must allocate funds and have someone rewonsible for its development. aterloo trustees John Monteith and John Henâ€" dry opposed the motion. Monteith said he had confidence in the board‘s staff which is responsible for implementing the procedures. At best, he said he could support a partâ€"time position. Chairman Elizabeth Witmer said MPPs David Cooke and Herb Epp have also been made aware there are children going to school hungry. Trustee John Monteith agreed "you can‘t teach a child properly if he‘s hungry" however he added the However, Monteith and Hendry did not agree with one another on Trustee Ian McFarlane‘s motion making opening exercises reflect the pluralâ€" ity of Canadian society. McFarlane said discussion to allow other religions, other than Christianity, representation during the opening and closing exercises, "touched a raw nerve amongst members of the community." The motion, he said, "does not remove or take away anybody‘s rights. It does and I have no qualms in saying this, it does remove privilege." _ __ _ handled by his department not the board of