The Observer, October 5, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 6
News You Can't Use
Senior balk at ban on free doughnuts
Amidst the bustle of daily activities at a senior center in Mahopac, N.Y., seven residents, average age 76, were picketing outside, demanding free doughnuts.
Their protest signs proclaimed "Give Us Our Just Desserts" and "They're Carbs, Not Contraband."
The seniors are protesting a decision made by Putnam County officials to refuse free doughnuts, pies, and breads that were being donated to the senior center. Officials believed that the county was setting a bad nutritional example.
The seniors aren't protesting the lack of free sweets, but that they weren't consulted before a decision was made.
"Lack of respect is what it's all about," said Joe Hajkowski, 75, a former labor union official who organized the demonstration. He said officials had implied that seniors were gorging themselves on jelly doughnuts and were too senile to make the choice for themselves.
However, some were glad to see them go.
"It was disgusting the way people went after them," said 80-year-old Rita Jorgensen. "I think the senior center did them a favor by taking it away."
But several caregivers pointed out how this debate illustrates the difficulties in balancing good nutrition with what the seniors want.
Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, noted that seniors often have higher rates of high blood pressure and heart disease. Providing such goodies would only increase those problems.
Orangutan fights French tourist for her bag
During a trip to the zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week, a French tourist was attacked by an orangutan that snatched the woman's backpack and then bit her while pulling off her shoes, socks, and pants.
The tourist, who asked to be identified as Odile, was photographing Delima, a female orangutan roaming free in Malaysia's Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center when the incident occurred.
"She had scratches and bruise marks on her knees and thighs," said Wilfred Landong, chief park warden of Malaysia's Sarawak state, adding that park rangers gave her medical treatment.
Odile said that she was merely interested in taking the orangutan's photo and had not touched or harassed the animal.
Referring to the animal as a he, Odile wrote in a statement to the Associated Press that, "He took my shoes and socks off, and then tried to take off my trousers. As he couldn't with his hands only, he tried with his teeth and that's when I got bitten. As soon as he got my trousers he went away."
Park officials consider the incident to be an accident, not an attack, and warn tourists not to get too near the orangutans.
