Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 21, 1998, Winnipeg, Manitoba Our separation anxieties far from unique by Leslie Adler Reuters Brussels from the tree lined canals of Flanders in the North to the rolling Hills of the ardennes in the South Belgium s quiet exterior belies a troubled fractious soul. Tensions Between dutch speaking Flemings in Flanders and French speaking balloons in the South increasingly tear at the seams of this country of 10 million. Flemish nationalists Call for a separate state while the Walloon sorry that they Are losing their identity. It All sounds strangely familiar to Canadian ears the talk of constitutional change the concerns about bilingualism the Calls for separation. Differences Between the flemish majority and the traditionally aristocratic Walloon Sare not new but this summer has been marked by ongoing disputes Between the two leading up to a general election next june. The differences Between the groups grow from Day to Day said Lionel Vandenberghe chairman of the flemish nationalist movement committee of the Yser pilgrimage. Where ethnic divides in some other countries Are marked by bombs and terrorism in Belgium it is largely a War of words. But in a dual language country with six million Flemings and four million balloons words Are the real Symbol of Power and authority. A report by a Swiss member of the Council of Europe Dumenil Columbert recommending that Belgium become More bilingual sparked Sharp reactions from both French and dutch speakers. Blame other Side Vandenberghe himself prompted a flurry of headlines this summer when he criticized a speech by King Albert ii that called on belgians to learn the cultures and languages of the other one must remember that there Are two Peoples in Belgium Vandenberghe said. That is what i said to the lung. We Are not the provocateurs. We speak French. It s the other Side the balloons who understand flemish less and although the balloons traditionally were Belgium s ruling minority Flemings now dominate government and finance. The Coal mines and steel Mills of Wallonia have fallen on hard times. Flanders meanwhile has become Home to booming High technology and financial industries. But the Long history of the Flemings As a weak majority ruled by aristocratic francophone continues to Colour attitudes and the Flemings still bristle Over what they say is a failure by their French speaking compatriots to learn their language. The Call for self Rule was launched during the first world War by flemish soldiers defending the one Small Corner of Belgium not occupied by the germans. The soldiers were 80 per cent flemish their officers 95 per cent francophone. Increasing autonomy the soldiers wrote to then King Albert i who replied in flemish marking the first time the King had used the language publicly. In recent years Belgium has moved to increase autonomy for the two major ethnic groups. In a series of reforms the country devolved the government creating regional governments for Flanders and Wallonia and a joint government for the capital Brussels the country s Only officially bilingual City. Vandenberghe is among flemish nationalists calling for autonomy to be taken a step further splitting Belgium into confederated states. The extreme right such As the Vla ams Blok party simply wants separate countries. Prime minister Jean Luc Dehaene has said he does not want a big change in the Constitution. But we have said we want a big change in constitutional Law Vandenberghe said adding that he wants evolutionary rather than revolutionary change. Many belgians insist that the separatist Call is simply the work of politicians and does not reflect the Public View. It s just 500,000 Hothead who want separate countries said a flemish Stock Market trader. It s the politicians who want a separate state because they need something for the elections said a francophone store Salesman in Brussels. But he admitted some flemish complaints Are justified. Go to Namur in the heart of Wal loonie and one in 10 people Speaks flemish he said. But go to Ostend on the coast in Flanders and maybe three out of 10 speak Canadian five others honoured for cancer research word a who be on aut Opac. Manitoba Public insurance invites you to find out the whys and Hows of your Auto insurance at our annual series of Community meetings. The meetings will include Mph speakers who will discuss How aut Opac premiums Are determined. Well also cover such topics As Cost control loss prevention and financial stability. This is an Opportunity to get some of the answers you May need. Join us and share your views and comments. Brandon monday september 14, 1998 7 00 pm Regency room Royal Oak inn 3130 Victoria ave. West Dauphin tuesday septembers 19987 00 pm auditorium or. Vernon l. Watson Art Centre 104 1st ave. New Winnipeg thursday september 24,1998 7 00 pm theatre room 170 Maples collegiate 1330 Jefferson ave. For More information Call 985-7000 in Winnipeg 1-800-665-2410 outside Winnipeg 985-8832 deaf Access try add Manitoba Public insurance associated press new York a Canadian and five other scientists have won Albert Lasker awards for research that shed Light on cancer. As Well a special achievement award from the Albert & Mary Lasker foundation was won by a researcher with a Broad array of achievements. Three scientists were honoured for Basic research into the machinery that controls cell division a process that goes out of control in cancer. They Are Yoshio Masui professor emeritus of zoology at the University of Toronto Lee Hartwell president and director of the Fred Hutchinson cancer research Centre in Seattle and genetics professor at the University of Washington and Paul nurse director general of the Imperial cancer research fund in London. Three other researchers were cited for studies of the genetic roots of cancer. They Are or. Alfred Knudson jr., former president of the Fox Chase cancer Centre in Philadelphia and now a scientist there or. Peter Nowell a professor of pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania school of Medicine and or. Janet Rowley a professor of Medicine molecular genetics and cell biology at the University of Chicago medical Centre. In key  a 2 year lease on a Brand new Volkswagen  Over $10,000 in draperies  Over $10,000 in landscaping  $7,000 in furniture  1st year property taxes to june 1999  $2,000 in to Mutual funds  $2,000 on visa Gold  and More 3dcdc8 in sponsored by the suspect cruelly Deville. Of course a family of dogs had her number in this animated classic. 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