ok, its hump day...just two more days to save the world before the weekend comes...

so I got to talk to this really handsome sounding constable this afternoon...just one of those deep, masculine, I'm-so-buff sounding voices. I spoke to him for about 15 minutes on the phone, but I think I am going to have to invent an excuse to speak to him in person...I want to see the body that goes with that voice :-) Good looking guys are in short supply here in this one horse town...the gene pool is a little shallow if you get my drift. The constable in question is actually in another town, so chances are that he might be good looking.

Big uproar in Cape Breton about a "sex booklet" which is an information booklet the Department of Health wanted to release to teenagers in grade 7-9 through the schools. The ultra conservative school boards of this island voted a resounding NO. The booklet talks about such things as masturbation, oral sex, anal sex and homosexuality, as well as safe sex, rape, stds, and self esteem. My guess is that these ultra conservative people here feel that if they don't give their kids these booklets, then they will never know about it...or it won't exist...gawd, what rock are they hiding under??? Look to prime time tv and you will find ALL of it. Why not offer them honest, reliable, educated answers to their questions through such a document that was prepared following extensive research by the Department of Health. Its time for Cape Breton to open their eyes...what a bunch. When I wrote to the public relations gal from the dept of health requesting the booklet, this was her response...

"Hi Jude,

Unfortunately the book is still in draft form and we were sharing only
with school board representatives right now to see if they were willing
to distribute it through the public school system. So I can't share the
draft publically at this stage.

The book is very well researched and written. They did extensive
consultation with youth - asking them what they needed to know or wished
they had known earlier to help them make safer, healthier decisions.
There was also consultation and review by experts in sexual health ,
particularly youth sexual health.

The book deals in an honest and straightforward manner about issues of
sexuality, healthy relationships and decision making, sexual assault and
rape, how to talk to your parents, a doctor, etc., how to say no,
preventing STIs and pregnancy. It's not really new information...it's
taking the information available from a variety of sources and
repackaging it in a format that is easy for youth to access, read, and
understand.

If we can't distribute the resource through the school system, we will
look at other ways to make it available, such as through local public
health offices.

Right now, though, we're still in early stages and don't have the
finished document. I'm sure that when it is ready, you'll hear about it
through the media! If you'd like a copy then, please send me an e-mail
and we can get you one.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Wendy

Wendy Barnable
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of Health Promotion"

You can bet I will be looking for my copy!