January
      10,
      2006
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      ~
      Resolution
      or
      Disillusion
     
    
   
   
    
     
      ‘Sean
      Molloy
     
     
      Reporter
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      The
      tradition
      of
      turning
      over
      a
      new
     
     
      leaf
      and
      staying
      resolved
      to
      change
      or
     
     
      improve
      an
      aspect
      of
      ones
      character
     
     
      or
      life
      is
      a
      common
      practice
      this
      time
     
     
      of
      year
      when
      the
      calendar
      is
      reborn,
     
     
      unmarked
      and
      blank
      with
      possibilities.
     
     
      Everyone
      likes
      the
      idea
      of
      wiping
      a
     
     
      slate
      clean
      and
      starting
      fresh
      with
      no
     
     
      strings
      attached,
      to
      conveniently
     
     
      forget
      past
      transgressions,
      bad
      habits,
     
     
      and
      undesirable
      outcomes.
      If
      the
      idea
     
     
      of
      making
      a
      New
      Yeat’s
      resolution
      is
     
     
      so
      appealing
      —
      appealing
      enough
      to
     
     
      become
      embedded
      in
      our
      culture
      as
      a
     
     
      tradition
      —
      Why
      do
      so
      many
      people
     
     
      have
      difficulty
      honoring
      their
     
     
      promises
      to
      themselves?
     
    

    
     
      The
      first
      problem
      is
      that
      our
     
     
      sense
      of
      ourselves
      is
      not
      re-born
      every
     
     
      January
      1*.
      Our
      own
      self
      concepts
      and
     
     
      habits
      of
      behavior
      are
      cumulative
      —
     
     
      they
      form
      year
      after
      year
      as
      the
      residue
     
     
      of
      living.
      Living
      a
      life
      requires
      an
     
     
      orientation;
      one
      needs
      to
      know
      who
     
     
      they
      are
      and
      what
      the
      context
      is
      in
     
     
      which
      they
      live.
      Habits
      —
      even
      bad
     
     
      habits
      —
      offer
      this
      service
      to
      the
      human
     
     
      race
      —
      they
      give
      us
      a
      sense
      of
     
     
      continuity.
     
    

    
     
      On
      further
      inspection,
      the
     
     
      more
      I
      look
      at
      that
      first
      problem
      the
     
     
      more
      I
      realize
      that
      it
      is
      in
      danger
      of
     
     
      rising
      off
      the
      ground
      and
      drifting
      away.
     
     
      There
      might
      be
      something
      to
      it
      but
      at
     
     
      the
      moment
      it
      is
      amounting
      to
      a
     
     
      blustery
      gust
      of
      humid,
      hot
      air
      that
      is
     
     
      blowing
      recklessly
      over
      a
      simpler
      and
     
     
      more
      plausible
      reason
      for
      our
      lack
      of
     
     
      resolve
      to
      carry
      out
      our
      self
      —
     
     
      improvement
      projects.
     
    

    
     
      The
      fact
      that
      large
      quantities
     
     
      of
      alcohol
      are
      ingested
      around
      this
     
     
      time
      of
      year
      and
      that
      this
      practice
      of
     
     
      getting
      “altered”
      coincides
      with
      the
     
     
      tradition
      of
      making
      a
      resolution
     
     
      somehow
      is
      non-productive.
      The
     
     
      confluence
      of
      streams
      of
      alcohol
      and
     
     
      moral
      resolve
      create
      a
      confusing
     
     
      mixture
      of
      action
      without
      purpose
      and
     
     
      purpose
      without
      action
      —
      they
      both
     
     
      cross
      one
      another
      out.
      Of
      course
     
     
      everything
      is
      clear
      after
      a
      few
      beers;
     
     
      your
      sense
      of
      compassion
      is
      unbridled,
     
     
      and
      like
      your
      eyeballs,
      your
      sense
      of
     
    
   
   
    
     
      self-righteousness
      is
      floating
      along
     
     
      In
      this
     
     
      “pickled”
      state
      the
      moment
      is
      perfect
     
    
   
   
    
     
      meeting
      no
      objection.
     
    
   
   
    
     
      to
      end
      world
      poverty,
      eliminate
      the
     
     
      value
      of
      oil
      or
      invent
      the
      perfect
     
     
      political
      system
      -
      I
      do
      think
      James
      Watt
     
     
      invented
      the
      steam
      engine
      after
      a
      few
     
     
      to
      many
      single-malts
      but
      that
      is
      an
     
     
      exception,
      it
      is
      Scotch
      after
      all.
      Change
     
     
      takes
      consistency,
      the
      ability
      to
      string
     
     
      together
      a
      series
      of
      moments
      that
      are
     
     
      dedicated
      to
      an
      outcome,
      not
      by
      a
      beer
     
     
      drenched
      moment
      that
      is
      diluted,
     
     
      singular
      and
      intoxicated
      with
      its
      own
     
     
      whimsical
      nonsense.
      Basically
      we
     
     
      have
      a
      cultural
      confliction:
      We
      want
     
     
      change
      that
      requires
      dedication
      but
     
     
      we're
      only
      willing
      to
      commit
      to
      that
     
     
      end
      if
      it
      is
      comfortable
      —
      in
      short,
     
    
   
   
    
     
      serious
      resolve
      and_
      alcohol
     
     
      intoxication
      cannot
      exist
     
     
      simultaneously!!
     
    
   
   
    
     
      This
      is
      beginning
      to
      take
      on
     
     
      the
      complexion
      of
      a
      very
      boring
      essay
     
     
      with
      unnecessary
      digressions.
      I
      guess
     
     
      what
      it
      all
      comes
      down
      to
      —
      unless
     
     
      you’re
      incredibly
      good
      at
      negotiating
     
     
      compromise
      and
      achieving
      balance
      —
     
     
      is
      what
      do
      you
      value
      ‘more
      from
      a
     
     
      New
      Year:
      A
      great
      kick-ass
      party
      or
     
     
      the
      chance
      to
      re-invent
      yourself?
      The
     
     
      first
      is
      much
      easier,
      or
      at
      least
      it
      should
     
     
      be.
      The
      second
      is
      a
      bit
      more
      difficult
     
     
      to
      navigate.
      It
      requires
      taking
      an
     
     
      inventory
      of
      yourself
      and
      asking
     
     
      sharp,
      honest
      questions
      like:
      Who
      am
     
     
      I?
      Where
      do
      I
      want
      to
      go?
      How
      can
      I
     
     
      be
      a
      better
      person?
      The
      combination
     
     
      of
      self-inquiry
      and
      persistent
      effort
      is
     
     
      probably
      the
      reason
      most
      resolutions
     
     
      lose
      momentum
      or
      are
      never
      started
     
     
      in
      the
      first
      place;
      they’re
      just
      too
      much
     
     
      work
      for
      some
      people.
      I
      personally
     
     
      have
      a
      New
      Year
      resolution
      that
     
     
      involves
      achieving
      more
      balance
      in
      my
     
    
   
   
    
     
      life,
      not
      the
      least
      of
      which
      is
      taking
     
    
   
   
    
     
      the
      best
      from
      a
      commitment
      to
      change,
     
     
      and
      of
      course,
      enjoying
      all
      the
      perks
     
     
      associated
      with
      a
      great
      party!
      IfI
      can’t
     
     
      balance
      the
      tricky
      weights
      and
     
     
      measures
      of
      fun
      and
      personal
      growth,
     
     
      well,
      there
      is
      always
      next
      year
      isn’t
     
     
      there.
      Have
      a
      great
      2006!
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      THE
      CADRE
      e
      715
     
    
   
   
    
     
      ~
      UPEI’s
      New
      Greenhouse
      Houses
      Project
      on
     
     
      Wild
      Roses
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Michelle
      Wark
     
     
      Contributor
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      Many
      students
      may
      have
      noticed
      the
     
     
      new
      greenhouse
      which
      has
      recently
     
    
   
   
    
     
      been
      built
      behind
      the
     
     
      Duffy
      science
     
     
      building
      and
     
    
   
   
    
     
      wondered
      “what’s
      in
     
     
      there
      ?”.
      The
      fully
     
     
      computerized,
     
     
      climate-controlled
     
     
      greenhouse
      is
      the
     
     
      center
      of
      an
      exciting
     
     
      and
     
     
      research
      project
     
     
      taking
      place
      in
      Atlantic
      Canada.
      The
     
     
      project’s
      investigative
      team
      includes
     
     
      scientists
      across
      the
      region,
      carrying
     
     
      out
      research
      on
      wild
      roses
      from
      both
     
     
      agricultural
      and
      bio-medical
     
     
      perspectives.
      It
      is
      the
      agricultural
      part
     
     
      of
      the
      project
      that
      involves
      the
     
     
      greenhouse.
      Jim
      Kemp
      of
      the
      Biology
     
     
      department
      at
      UPEI,
      Kevin
      Sanderson
     
     
      of
      Agriculture
      and
      Agri-Food
      Canada
     
     
      PEI,
      and
      Wilf
      Nicholls
      of
      Memorial
     
     
      University
      of
      Newfoundland’s
      Botanic
     
     
      Garden
      are
      the
      key
      collaborators.
     
    

    
     
      Recently,
      I
      spoke
      with
      Sarah
     
     
      Clark,
      the
      greenhouse
      technician,
      who
     
     
      explained
      the
      project
      to
      me.
      The
     
     
      greenhouse
      will
      be
      used
      to
      establish
     
     
      eatly
      growing
      procedures
      for
      wild
      roses
     
     
      so
      that
      roses
      can
      be
      planted
      as
      a
     
     
      commercial
      crop
      on
      Prince
      Edward
     
     
      Island.
      In
      particular,
      it
      is
      the
      fruit
      of
     
     
      the
      plant,
      known
      as
      a
      rose
      hip,
      that
     
     
      has
      huge
      economic
      potential
      for
      its
      use
     
     
      in
      the
      cosmetic
      and
      nutraceutical
     
     
      industries.
      The
      roses’
      project
      is
      part
     
     
      of
      the
      mission
      of
      the
      Atlantic
      Canada
     
     
      Network
      on
      Bioactive
      Compounds,
     
     
      which
      is
      centered
      within
      the
      Faculty
     
     
      of
      Science
      at
      UPEI
      and
      funded
     
     
      through
      the
      Atlantic
      Opportunities
     
     
      Agency,
      Technology
      PEI
      ,
      and
      the
     
     
      private
      industries.
     
    

    
     
      But,
      why
      would
      wild
      roses
      be
     
     
      a
      potential
      crop
      in
      the
      first
      place?
      The
     
     
      rose
      hips
      contain
      high
      amounts
      of
     
     
      Vitamin
      C
      and
      antioxidants.
     
     
      Antioxidants
      are
      compounds
      which
     
     
      have
      the
      potential
      to
      reduce
      harmful
     
     
      oxidative
      stress
      which
      occurs
      in
      the
     
     
      body
      on
      a
      daily
      basis.
      They
      have
      been
     
     
      shown
      to
      contain
      health
      promoting
     
     
      benefits
      such
      as
      decreasing
      risk
      of
     
     
      certain
      cancers,
      decreasing
      risk
      of
     
     
      heart
      disease,
      and
      even
      potentially
     
     
      slowing
      the
      aging
      process.
      In
      Europe
     
     
      especially,
      rose
      hip
      extracts
      are
      used
     
     
      in
      the
      cosmetic
      industry
      in
      soaps
      and
     
     
      shampoos
      and
      also
      in
      the
      natural
     
     
      health
      products
     
    
   
   
    
     
      innovative
     
    
   
   
    
     
      sector
      as
     
    
   
   
    
     
       
     
    
   
   
    
     
      nutraceuticals.
      Nutraceuticals
      are
     
     
      foods
      which
      are
      marketed
      as
      having
     
     
      some
      health
     
     
      promoting
      effect
     
     
      which
      makes
      them
      a
     
     
      blend
      of
      food
      and
     
     
      drug.
      Although
      both
     
     
      rose
      hip
      tea
      and
      rose
     
     
      hip
      syrup
      are
     
     
      commonly
      used
      in
     
     
      Europe,
      the
      potential
     
     
      for
      rose
      hips
      has
      not
     
     
      been
      fully
      realized
      in
     
     
      the
      North
      American
      market
      yet.
     
    

    
     
      Wild
      roses
      grow
      abundantly
      in
     
     
      Atlantic
      Canada,
      but
      until
      now
      no
      one
     
     
      has
      attempted
      to
      grow
      them
      in
      large
     
     
      quantities
      commercially.
      If
      these
     
     
      plants
      are
      to
      be
      used
      successfully
      as
      a
     
     
      commercial
      crop,
      optimum
      growing
     
     
      conditions
      must
      be
      established
      first.
     
     
      There
      are
      several
      variables
      being
     
     
      investigated
      in
      this
      project,
      including
     
     
      which
      species
      to
      use,
      which
      part
      of
     
     
      the
      stem
      to
      cut,
      which
      time
      of
      year
      is
     
     
      best
      to
      plant
      and
      harvest,
      and
      how
      to
     
     
      space
      the
      plants
      in
      the
      fields.
      The
      ideal
     
     
      would
      be
      to
      find
      a
      set
      of
      growing
     
     
      conditions
      that
      produces
      the
      highest
     
     
      yield
      of
      rose
      hips
      with
      the
      highest
     
     
      amount
      of
      antioxidants.
      As
      part
      of
      the
     
     
      project,
      investigators
      are
      taking
     
     
      cuttings
      from
      wild
      roses
      across
      the
     
     
      region,
      propagating
      them
      in
      the
      new
     
     
      greenhouse
      and
      then
      transplanting
     
     
      them
      into
      field
      sites
      to
      determine
     
     
      growing
      conditions.
      Agriculture
      and
     
     
      Agri
      Food
      Canada’s
      farm
      at
     
     
      Harrington,
      PEI
      is
      a
      major
      field
      site,
     
     
      but
      several
      farmers
      in
      PEI
      and
      other
     
     
      provinces
      have
      made
      land
      available
      as
     
     
      well.
     
    

    
     
      Along
      with
      the
      economic
     
     
      potential
      of
      this
      crop,
      there
      are
      >
     
     
      environmental
      advantages
      as
      well.
     
     
      Wild
      roses
      have
      prodigious
      root
     
     
      systems
      which
      hold
      the
      soil
      in
      place
     
     
      making
      them
      an
      appropriate
      buffer
     
     
      zone
      crop.
      Farmers
      could
      plant
      these
     
     
      along
      waterways
      to
      prevent
      run-off
      of
     
     
      soil,
      while
      at
      the
      same
      time
      receiving
     
     
      a
      cash
      return
      on
      what
      might
      otherwise
     
     
      be
      unused
      land.
     
    

    
     
      I
      am
      amazed
      that
      all
      of
      this
      is
     
     
      taking
      place
      right
      here
      on
      campus.
      I
     
     
      have
      walked
      by
      the
      Duffy
      greenhouse
     
     
      many
      times
      and
      wondered
      what
      was
     
     
      inside,
      but
      now
      I
      know
      that
      inside
      is
      a
     
     
      truly
      innovative
      and
      exciting
      project
     
     
      with
      huge
      potential
      for
      Prince
      Edward
     
     
      Island
      farmers.