At Home: Bylaws block veterinary college from putting horses out to pasture
The barn is half finished, but Charlottetown’s Atlantic Veterinary College needs to tame local bylaws before it can put its teaching horses to pasture.
As this CBC article reports, the pasturing facility is ready except for the proposed barn. The structure would include a synthetic fabric roof, which are ?commonly used for modern horse barns.?
For the animals, there are several benefits to this type of barn: it allows light in, and provides good air exchange and ventilation.
Greg Clayton, director of facilities management, told reporters, ?It’s been proven that it reduces horses being spooked in the facility.?
The fabric roof would be a plus for the AVC as well, because It’s economical to build and does not require electricity. However, local bylaws prohibit synthetic fabric roofs, ?to make sure buildings look tasteful.?
A proposal to amend the bylaw for the college was discussed but has been rejected. David Macdonald, city councillor for the area, hopes to find a solution but so far the barn remains uncompleted and the pasture empty.
In Foreign News: Google Street View blocked in Greece
Authorities in Athens have blocked Google’s Street View cameras from Greece?at least until they can decide whether the service invades people’s privacy.
In a report from The Telegraph, the nation’s data protection agency has prohibited Google’s street mapping service from taking to Greece’s streets. The agency is requesting more information from the browser giant, including ?guarantees that the service did not invade personal privacy.?
An unnamed government source told reporters, ?We are not going to allow our country to become a Big Brother society.?
A Google spokesperson denied that Greek authorities have banned the cameras, but did acknowledge that the government wants more information. In a statement, Google asserted that ?We have received a request for further information from the Greek authorities, and we are happy to continue discussing these issues with them and provide information they request.?
Controversy has followed Google’s recent Street View launches in other countries, including the UK. A formal complaint was lodged with the Information Commissioner’s Office, but the ICO denied the claim, saying that Google Street View did not breach the Data Protection Act.
