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Another amnesty week at the dump has come and gone and if you talk to many of the people who salvage, they get a little misty-eyed. Here are some comments and insights I overheard about the experience.

Several people mentioned to me that they were a little upset because they were out of town for amnesty week and it didn't seem fair that they didn't get to take advantage of it. They suggested that the city should give out amnesty passes or rain checks for those who unfortunately miss the event.

Someone else, who had picked up a TV and some electronics to take home and see if they really worked, thought that people should have a free return week after amnesty week so they could return free of charge all the stuff they had salvaged but that they were having second thoughts about. It would in effect be an amnesty for the excesses of the first amnesty.

A friend was looking for a chest of drawers and sure enough found one Sunday afternoon. But she then found a better one and a nice coffee table just as the dump guards were chasing people out. Her question was why couldn't they set the good furniture aside for people to salvage later and why does it all have to be ploughed under? It is a good question because the YMCA transition house and other groups are always looking for good used furniture.

Other people took my advice about garden soil and one person collected two large plastic garbage cans full of soil, which was only a fraction of the soil available there. She also got a rubber plant and an ornamental Norwich pine. So at least two houseplants were saved from a cruel fate and found a good home. Maybe someone should start a Society Against Cruelty to House Plants.

One day I was at the dump and a fellow pulled up with the back of his truck just full of pots and planters. He proceeded to dump all the soil and flowers out. I got to talking to him and apparently he did this every year so he could store the empty containers in his garage.

Then every spring, his wife just bought new soil to fill them. On the one hand I can sympathize with the storage problem, but throwing away all that good soil into a garbage dump is just plain wrong. If the city were serious about the ecology they should set up a soil area at the dump. Good soil is in short supply up here and it seems such a waste to throw it into the dump.

Now if you read this article on Friday September 28, then there are only three sleeps left until the Territorial Election. Can you feel the excitement, the anticipation and the hoopla building? What will be the priorities of the new government? What will they come up with for a vision for the Northwest Territories? Will they seriously tackle social, economic and ecological issues? Will they seriously address alternative energy for isolated communities and work towards solving our garbage problems?

It is important to remember that political leaders are only one element in the equation of problem solving and to building a good future for the NWT.

Everyone has a stake in it and a role to play. So congratulations to everyone who is running and to everyone who makes the effort, to go out and vote on Monday. That's what helps make democracy work.

- Walt Humphries is a well-known Yellowknife artist and prospector