Obfuscated Thoughtlessness Inversed

"The previous Liberal government ratified the Kyoto Protocol knowing Canada wasn't ready to take the tough measures needed to address climate change and would likely miss the deadlines for reducing emissions, says a top adviser to former prime minister Jean Chrétien." - from Cullen on Climate Change

Tell our political leaders to stop the rhetoric, take action, and do something real for the environment. It will take you 20 seconds. - from David Suzuki Foundation e-mail

To: Stéphane Dion (Liberal Party), Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Québécois), Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Conservative Party of Canada), Jack Layton (New Democratic Party)
From: Morgan

If I were Prime Minister... I would condemn my predecessors incessantly for their crimes against humanity for failing to act to avert the environmental crisis that is overcoming our world.

Hey Stephen & Stéphane its time for action!

Get your butts in gear and stop holding up effective solutions in committee.

After you send a note; sign this petition.

Labels: cons, democracy, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, leftist content creation, ndp, online campaign

With a speech from the throne and the crack of an enabling act, the BC Legislature is back. It only took three seasons, made up of the normal two month hiatus for winter, a four month "cancellation" because democracy makes the Liberals look bad often called autumn, and the regularly scheduled four months off for summer before that. Finally, we have a democratic legislature in session once again.

And, fancy that, it looks like Gordon Campbell has gone from being a drunk driver to a hybrid driver. No idling limousine outside for Campbell, I guess no one told the Lieutenant Governor about the contents of the speech she was about to read. She still idled her limo outside the legislature while she read it.

My favourite quote in response to the throne speech has to be:

"I'm pleased that the speech mentions climate change, but one has to wonder why the premier is suddenly embracing his Inner Eco-Warrior when his government has paid virtually no attention to this area," says CUPE BC president Barry O'Neill.

That comes from this press release. Here's another gem from the CUPE BC release and O'Neill:

"Once again, like last year, there are platitudes about 'unacceptable' homelessness, but no recognition that it's the government's own policies and cutbacks that have led to the crisis in Vancouver and other cities. They talk about 'sunshine legislation' for school district companies' business practices. Maybe they should consider 'sunshine legislation' for their own public-private partnership agenda, which is notorious for its secrecy."

Meanwhile, talk of the future of BC was the hot criticism of Campbell's hot air filled throne speech. After cutting $50 million from Child-Care the question had to be asked, why is Gordon Campbell seriously jeopardizing the future of BC by putting the lives of BC's youngest last on the priority list. Items like this from today's headlines really bring the point home: For today's family, time's not on their side [as] hectic schedules, longer work weeks contribute to less togetherness than in 80s and Canada mediocre about child welfare.

This BCGEU press release hammers the point home so many times you could have built it into a house:

"Gordon Campbell has done nothing to restore the cuts to child care let alone provide funds to improve the system," said George Heyman, BCGEU president. While the government talks about communities being caring places for children, the government says nothing about improving our child care system. They have the money to improve and expand child care. The premier’s own Progress Board, parents, and others have all said that the improvements are necessary."

Now, I don't want to hear any whining about how it was the federal Liberal government that didn't get re-elected that resulted in the $50 million not being available either. Dion had 10 years and his Liberal buddies had 3 more to deliver on the child-care promise they made in 1993. The money never arrived. period. end of story. You lost the election and you never delivered on the child-care promise. Let's refresh, in 1993 that promise was:

"Quality, accessible child care is an economic advantage for Canada...The objective of the Liberal policy on child care is to create genuine choices for parents. A Liberal government, working with the provinces, will implement a realistic and fiscally responsible program to increase the number of child care spaces in Canada." - from The Red Book, 1993 via Voices for child care Canada

And, when those same Red Book Liberals presided over the largest cuts to social programs in Canadian history the BC NDP government protected those same social programs by cutting elsewhere. The Campbell Liberals instead are running a surplus and cutting the $50 million.

So this leaves it up to the NDP to hold the government accountable and get results. It looks like they are up to the challenge:

“It’s clear that Gordon Campbell read the climate change plan put forward by B.C.’s New Democrats,” said James. “The question now for British Columbians is can they trust Gordon Campbell to deliver. Every year, Gordon Campbell picks a new priority for his Throne Speech and every year he fails to deliver. Last year, Gordon Campbell’s priority was health care, but 12 months later all B.C. saw was more cuts, longer ER waits, and hallway medicine.

Stay tuned to your local parliamentary channel, for the full response to the throne speech, by the NDP official opposition, later, today.

Labels: alternatives, bc ndp, bcmedia, democracy, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, health, leftist content creation, ndp, opinion, union

The news that anti-whaling heroes Karl Neilsen and John Gravois were found safe after 7 hours adrift in Antarctic waters is exhilarating and relieving.

The Sea Shepherd's two anti-whaling ships (and as a result Greenpeace too) have finally caught up to the Japanese Whaling fleet after searching since early December in the Antarctic, will hopefully mean significant interruption to the slaughter of whales.

"Japan plans to harpoon up to 935 minke whales and 10 fin whales under what it calls a scientific research program this year. However, it admits that whale meat from the hunt ends up on restaurant tables." - Lost whaling activists 'lasso iceberg' from Melbourne's The Age

That is Japan is up to, but what of Iceland you ask? After ceasing whaling in 1986 as a result of Paul Watson's critically important direct action sinking of Iceland's entire factory whaling fleet has returned to commercial whaling. Iceland killed 36 whales again for the first time since 1986 under scientific auspices in 2003.

Send the following note, today:

Prime Minister of Iceland Mr. Geir H. Haarde
Prime Minister's Office
Stjornarradshusinu vid Laekjartorg
150 Reykjavik
Iceland
Tel: +354-545-8400
Fax: +354-562-4014
E-Mail postur@for.stjr.is

Dear Prime Minister Haarde,

I write to express my disappointment at Iceland's recent decision to resume commercial whaling and international trade in whale meat.

Iceland now joins Norway and Japan as the world's three rogue whaling nations. Your country has become the North Korea of whalers displaying complete contempt for international conservation law and total disrespect for conservation and world opinion.

Iceland's announcement to kill 30 Minke and nine fin whales defies the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling - a decision accepted by your government in 1982. It was Sea Shepherd Conservation Society that convinced you, in 1986, to finally stop your illegal whaling.

Twenty years ago, on November 16, 1986, Sea Shepherd crew sank half the Icelandic whaling fleet and destroyed the whale meat processing plant in Reykjavik. That action was taken in response to Iceland violating the global moratorium the first year it was imposed.

Icelandic authorities refused to charge the Sea Shepherd crew despite Captain Watson turning himself in to the authorities in Iceland to demand that they lay charges. Your country refused to charge Sea Shepherd because Iceland knew it was in violation of international law and it knew Sea Shepherd were put on trial it would be putting Iceland's whale killing on trial in front of the watchful eyes of the world.

Sea Shepherd is making plans to return to Iceland next year to confront these ruthless Icelandic pirate whalers once again and I fully support this. Whaling has no place in the 21st century. It is cruel, unnecessary, and immoral.

I reiterate my opposition to the Government of Iceland's plans to resume commercial whaling and meat trade. I urge Iceland to focus on developing its far more lucrative and sustainable whale watching industry.

Please, make sure that your country doesn't need to stand trial to the world's opinion again.

Sincerely,


Your name here

Labels: alternatives, environment, go veggie, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, historical, leftist content creation, link, online campaign, opinion, whale rights abuse

"Since 2001, the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act has exacerbated the systematic racism, discriminatory criteria and arbitrary decision-making of Immigration Canada, creating more obstacles for people to qualify as refugees and permanent residents. Additionally, the asylum procedure for refugees lacks an appeal process, and bureaucracy has created an enormous backlog. Yet, day by day, this growing underclass of exploited clandestine workers, deprived of all rights, fuels the Canadian economy." - The four demands of Solidarity Across Borders

The on-going genocidal and xenophobic practices of the Canadian government must change now.

"[Ahmad Jaballah] said he believes security certificates were issued - the first in 1999, from which [Mahmoud] Jaballah was released after seven months and then the second in 2001 - because his father had refused to work for Canada's spy agency.

"CSIS has their own agenda. I believe they're out there to get my dad," Ahmad Jaballah continued." - from Inside Toronto

The on-going hunger strike by security certificate detainees must be stopped by creating a positive resolution to the crisis it highlights. Mahmoud Jaballah is on day 78 of this courageous stand against the injustice of detention without trial and without the opportunity to see the evidence against him.

"Mr. Jaballah, Mr. Almrei, and Mr. Mahjoub have been detained for over five and six years without charge or conviction, under the provision of security certificates." Conservatives vote against Siksay’s motion seeking an end to Kingston hunger strike

Don't forget, if they can do this to "them" they can do this to you and I. Some slopes are much more slippery than others.

"dem come for de rasta and you say nothing
dem come from the muslims you say nothing
dem come for the anti-globalist you say nothing
dem even come for the liberals and you say nothing
dem come for you and will speak for you? who will speak for you, who ?"
- Asian dub foundaton

Labels: alternatives, anti-war, canada, day, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, human rights abuse, ndp, online campaign, spy-watch, yay immigration

The end of hunger is nearby. Nearer than your fridge. Nearer than your country's continued obesity. It is right under your nose and above your chin. It is as simple as what you cram into your mouth.

Stop eating meat. I will even be happy with you eating one less meat centred meal a week. Or even spending some time reading about the impact of your meat addiction...

The livestock sector is by far the single largest anthropogenic user of land. The total area occupied by grazing is equivalent to 26 percent of the ice-free terrestrial surface of the planet.

The livestock sector is a major player, responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than transport.

Livestock are also responsible for almost two-thirds (64 percent) of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to acid rain and acidification of ecosystems. - from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Livestock's Long Shadow (thanks Stolen Moments)

You make a choice about what you eat every day. For the sake of the more than 825,000,000 people who are undernourished make the right choice, today.

There are 209.5 million undernourished people in India and a further 153.7 million in China. These two nuclear powers alone account for an undernourished population more than ten times that of Canada's total population. A Diktat from our country criticizing their governments choice to fund nuclear weapons before completely establishing food security could be issued, but given our complicity in providing Candu Reactors that helped both China and India go nuclear it would be hard to expect that to lessen the anger of those without enough to eat. Instead, just try to stop eating meat.

Labels: alternatives, anti-war, canada, go veggie, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, health, human rights abuse, nuclear waste, opinion, public power

Last night I posted about how I received visits last month from the Canadian Military. Tonight, I have the dubious honour of posting about a visit to this blog from a US Military computer/human operator.

I was hoping they were reading about how to flee war and go to Canada. But after reading the log-file I realized they were simply reading about being Welcomed to Canada.

Meanwhile, the US Military announced by declassifying a document that they were engaged in electronic disruption against their enemies, apparently including blogs like this one.

To quote from a BBC report:

The operations described in the document include a surprising range of military activities: public affairs officers who brief journalists, psychological operations troops who try to manipulate the thoughts and beliefs of an enemy, computer network attack specialists who seek to destroy enemy networks.

The fact that the "Information Operations Roadmap" is approved by the Secretary of Defense suggests that these plans are taken very seriously indeed in the Pentagon.

Thanks to Blogging Change and Verbena 19 for the heads up.

Labels: anti-war, canada, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, internal, leftist content creation, opinion, scary technology, spy-watch, tools

No deal has been cut with the Tories, but balance of power pressure is making a difference.

The Great Bear Rainforest, a series of beautiful and largely pristine watersheds up the BC Coast has some new funding to develop sustainable industries within the forest.

Saved permanently? Nope. Our world is still at risk. We need to keep up the fight but, for the short-term and for a just transition this is an incredible sign of the recognition of climate change. A realization that this is a gigantic intact tract of a disappearing and irreplaceable part of the world we live on.

18,000 km2 of protected area and 46,900 km2 to be sustainably managed forest. A government that 6 weeks ago wouldn't acknowledge climate change was anything but bunk science. Today, we have a Prime Minister forced into actively working against climate change and I don't mean just by replanting Stanley Park.

I'm not going to start blogging about how I like this government but, I sure like this house of commons and its balance of power.

Brad Lavigne's quote attributed by catprint yesterday, on Mike Duffy, sure seems apropos. Hey Dion.. "So you only needed 14 years, then it would have been done right?"

The NDP has shown that a couple of weeks in the pole position is enough to "Take the lead on climate change."

Thanks LeftCoastRant for the inspiration for this post.

Labels: alternatives, blogosphere, cat, cons, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, leftist content creation, ndp, public power

For five minutes. Tomorrow at 10:55 am PST and then again at 6:55 pm PST.

Why you ask? Does the OTI server need critical maintenance? Are you going to install Windows Vista?

No and No! The OTI server is a FreeBSD install and has no need for silly downtime during upgrades. As if you could install and test Windows Vista in five minutes.

Instead, the reason is that Obfuscated Thoughtlessness Inversed and conjoined twin sites (like http://morganstewart.org/) have been arbitrarily deemed to be participating in this Facebook/Chain e-mail event started by L'Alliance pour la Planète.

To quote:

Everybody to extinguish all their lights and illuminations and turn off equipment on stand-by on the 1st February 2007 from 18h55 until 19h00. (GMT)

The purpose is not just to save electricity for 5 minutes that day, but to draw the attention of citizens, the media and the authorities to the waste of energy and the need to initiate action! 5 minutes respite for the planet: that's not long, it costs nothing and will show our politicians that climate change is something which should figure prominently in political debates.

Why the 1st February? Because that is the day on which the latest report of the United Nations Panel of Experts is to be released in Paris.

Although this event is scheduled to take place in France, we should not miss this opportunity of drawing attention to the global climatic situation.

If we all participate our actions will have great public and political resonance, at an important moment in our political life!

Please make this appeal as widely known as possible in your own circles and networks ! please also publish it on your websites and in your newsletters.

So don't just stop after this little event but carry on everyday being aware of the little things that you can do to save our world.

There seems to be some confusion about the exact right hour to do this at. OTI will participate twice at both 6:55 pm and 10:55 am PST...

For a daily tip on stopping climate change try coolmove.org.

Labels: alternatives, blogosphere, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, leftist content creation

"Individual actions do make a difference. We all have a role in protecting the health of our communities and reducing greenhouse gases. Project Porchlight is accomplishing both goals - one light bulb at a time." - Dr. David Suzuki

Given that Nuclear Power isn't my choice for an environmental solution, I'd like to refer you to an organization that does have a simple solution and workable solution. Won't fix everything, but it is a place to start with one change: Project Porchlight.



These guys are going door-to-door to drop off a Compact Fluoro Light at your house. The theory is that even changing a single light to a CFL Bulb will result in significant power savings.

From their website:

Project Porchlight staff and volunteers have delivered almost a quarter-million CFL bulbs this fall! To make some very conservative calculations, that'll mean more than $10 million in energy savings! And just to sweeten the deal, Ottawa residents will stop 100,000 tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted into our atmosphere over 5 years.

Labels: alternatives, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, leftist content creation, public power, scary technology, tools

Some posts are long.. others are short.

Tonight, we bring you a reference to a long story in a short form: Denise Savoie doesn't just rock the Literacy; she rocks on.

Education has the potential to increase our capacity exponentially. Let's get on with it and stop acting like the debt creating Liberals and the future hating Conservatives.

I Love my Member of Parliament.

Labels: anti-war, canada, democracy, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, opinion, personal story

We live in dangerous times, where doing your job as a civilian in the fashion of conscientious objection can lead to personal repercussions for your employer and you.

This scary report on the outcome of answering a request to ship to Iraq with this response:
We would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq, highlights how the all-consuming American military machine is reaching into civilian lives and with catastrophic consequences.

The scariest part about this story, is not the fact that a person can be fired for conscientiously objecting to military uses of civilian resources and definitely not the fact that this person saw fit to deny a military serviceman access to supplies. It also isn't that the US Military is so badly supplying their troops that those troops are busy trying to set-up their own supply lines. The scary part is that a group of thugs used their blogs to threaten the owner of the store's life, posted photos of his home and have put his on-line portal out of business.

Although I have not gone so far as to participate in the Boycott of the United States, yet, over their anti-democratic military aggression, I highly support people's right to abstain from participating in the war machine. I am opposed to conscription and support the campaigns to allow desertion and conscientious objection amongst those in the military.

We must stand together to protect those who are vulnerable in our society. Today, we can fight the nasty aggressive incitement to violence with words. Tomorrow, we may have to take more drastic actions... like electing a government that opposes illegal war.

Freedom comes at a price. Any other way would not be so nice.

If you are a currently enlisted person who wants to avoid killing people illegally, and is looking for support, we have a history in the anti-war movement of being able to:
a) get you out of the United States safely,
b) rally support for your conscientious objection, and
c) materially support you in Canada and support you in a refugee claim.

Contact the War Resisters Support Campaign. Need some inspiration? Watch this:



If you are not currently enlisted, take action to support resisters today!

Labels: anti-war, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, iraq, leftist content creation, online campaign, opinion, tools

The announcement by the Journal Nature that a part of the brain known as the posterior superior temporal sulcus is responsible for altruistic feelings, makes you think.

Am I too altruistic? Do I have an over-sized sulcus?

Is George W. Bush a warmongering fuckwad because he has the wrong sized brain? Wrongly apportioned? Generally damaged?

The answer might be yes, however there will be no Eugenics on this blog.

George W. Bush is evil because of who holds his purse strings. Capital is the cause of war, not one man's brain function.

I have a large size posterior temporal because I grew up in a place that needed more altruism and community spirit. My education and upbringing grew my brain. I think we all need to get out there and build for collective gain.

And this study definitely doesn't refute that idea, nor am I refuting this study. We likely are extremely complex chemical machines with no choice and a chemical will. But, don't give in to your inner chagrin. Choose the life you want to lead. Lead the change you want to see. Definitely don't worry about your chemicality as we can all be free.

So, help your superior sulcus grow and do right for your community, bro.

Labels: alternatives, anti-war, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, health

What the ....?

A 10% increase and they still don't have enough money to perform the basic functions they are instructed, by our government, to carry out. Functions like run the regularly scheduled patrols of our ocean borders?

We need to get out of the Persian Gulf part of the Iraq War mission. We must get out of Afghanistan.

The United States (the world's largest military power and supposedly our largest ally) continues to threaten our human rights. Is our military prepared to defend the environment? Why is it that illegal fishing such as drag-netting is a lower priority than enforcing an oil-embargo against a now deposed Iraqi regime (the reason given when we sent ships to the gulf)?

We may not even have the basic patrols to assert sovereignty over our territory that the United States is fundamentally changing with their intolerable disregard for our Earth. Meanwhile our government re-announces programs cut from the agenda of a prior governments that did nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Check this campaign at ceasefire.ca:

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

I do not agree with Canada's military role in Afghanistan. I urge you to end Canada's combat mission, and work with our allies and the Afghan government to establish a comprehensive peace process for the country.

A 10% increase in military spending is a shameful legacy of your new government. Please do not allow this excessive increase in military spending to threaten other vital programs.

Thank you.

Labels: anti-war, democracy, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, human rights abuse, leftist content creation, online campaign, opinion

Chilean office workers told to shun neckties to ease air conditioning costs is an idea that is anything but the Oddity that the CBC has labeled this story as. The idea of forcing people to wear clothing appropriate for a British winter in the middle of a southern hemisphere summer is ridiculous. What is worse is then air conditioning to make up for it.

If we are forced to chose between planet earth and the fashion norms of the past I choose a future with creative new ideas free from global warming. Now if only we can give up coal, gas-fired and nuclear as power generation sources. Not in British Columbia. At least the NDP are calling Gordon Campbell on this insanity.

Labels: bcmedia, democracy, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, health, nuclear waste, opinion, public power

Most people hold beliefs, ideas and concepts that are clearly wrong when tested logically. Skeptics and humanists have often pursued rigorous logical examinations of these clearly false ideas to encourage the scientific method.

This kind of strict logical analysis is often unacceptably harsh on those who have spent most of their lives believing that which is obviously false. It is hard to admit that you have made decisions without logic as a base. Many people would rather cling to ideas that are incomplete, wrong or wrongheaded than allow themselves to be educated with the cost of ridiculing their past.

The following eight questions about whether you are really a Christian from Way of the Mind:

1. Do you believe homosexuals should be killed? Not just “they’re going to hell”, but actually executed?
2. Do you believe women are inferior to men, should remain submissive, and can never be allowed to teach men or have authority over them?
3. Do you believe slavery is OK?
4. Do you believe disobedient children should be killed?
5. Do you believe that, when waging war, it is proper to commit genocide, killing every man, woman and child in the enemy nation — except for, in some particular cases, female virgins, who can be taken as “spoils”?
6. Do you believe that anyone who suggests to a Christian that he follow other gods should be killed?
7. Do you believe that an old grandmother, who lived a life of caring for others, bringing joy to dozens, will be condemned to an afterlife of eternal suffering if she didn’t accept Jesus as her savior?
8. Do you believe that there are cases in which a raped woman should be killed along with, or even instead of, the rapist?

Is a dangerous way of changing people's minds. Of course the questions are both funny and apropos. The strict teachings of Christianity are no longer acceptable in our world. Those who believe a watered down version can rightly be asked:

1. What do you really believe and why?
   
2. Aren't there substantial internal contradictions within your faith?
   
3. Don't these contradictions make you doubt your entire faith?

A progressive teaching of Christianity and for that matter a modern teaching of Islam and Judaism don't openly accept the above listed tenants. Using the logical fallacy of thinking in extremes may question the hypocrisy of the majority of believers, but those who do it should realize that there is a danger that the people confronted with in the extreme may blindly go back to their religious teachings and accept a more absolute and arbitrary renewed belief in their faith as an answer. Many people believe ideas without having ever examined why or how they came to these beliefs. Many more do not have any capacity to undertake such an examination. It is extremist understandings of faith that ultimately are much more dangerous to truth than debatable ideas that can come as a result of a respectful conversation in which forms of gentle logical persuasion may be established.

So, the alternative is a middle path. While skeptics must continue to ask tough questions and not abandon that which is clearly true to avoid offending. These questions should not be asked without teaching an alternative at the same time. It isn't enough to remind believers in the idiocy of an arbitrarily pure interpretation of faith. Those who have had access to alternate interpretations of our existence must make every effort to establish rigorously how that alternative exists.

We should understand the tenants of faith that those around us hold in a compassionate and in-depth manner while gently ridiculing our idealogical opponents towards understanding.

Labels: alternatives, faith, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, opinion, scary technology

The cost of producing power at Kemano is about $5 (Canadian) a megawatt hour. The proposed agreement would have seen B.C. Hydro pay an average rate of $71 a megawatt hour. - Ruling Puts Smelter in Limbo the Globe & Mail

If the Nechako water system was the bathwater, yesterday's announcement by the BC Utilities Commission saved the baby. Not approving the Alcan - BC Hydro deal to sell us back our own power destroy's a key part of Gordon Campbell's ridiculous privatization plans that threaten to throw out an incredible resource for this province.

The flooding of the Nechako system to create the Kemano power station included the drilling of a 16 km tunnel the width of a two lane highway through a mountain 50 years ago. In the history of mega-projects the first Kemano project was a giganta-project. It reversed the flows of more than 75% of a major tributary of the Fraser River (which in turn drains an area of 220,000 square kilometres).

Having caused the environmental destruction of 120,000 acres of the Upper Nechako valley and the massive environmental damage that went along with that flooding, some 50 years ago, now is not the time to sign a contract with Alcan to supply that power back to our publicly owned utility BC Hydro. Especially, at these ludicrous prices. BC doesn't need the power as a solid continuation of the PowerSmart campaign could produce a larger amount of available power than this deal ever would. However, if we did need it I think there are two simple and viable options, buy the power directly from Alcan while introducing a tax on the water going through the tunnel or nationalize the power production parts of the Alcan operation at Kemano in the public interest.

I know, these two suggestions will go over as well as my 2002 motion at the UVic Board of Governors to use the board's expropriation powers to produce revenue for the avoidance of a tuition fee increase (this motion didn't receive a seconder). This land, water and power were stolen from the local First Nations and should not continue to be held by a company that is unwilling to commit to the future of British Columbia.

It is the position of the town of Kitimat that the 50+ year old deal that created the Alcan smelter at Kemano prohibits the sale of electricity. I don't think it matters if the deal prohibits it or not, the public interest in this substantial of a land-use decision should put this power in the hands of our provincial power utility, not provide $66 markup on a product we gave the company in the first place. It appears the BC Utilities Commission agrees at least in part, declaring the deal "unenforceable and not in the public interest."

Let's hope the ominous words from the Premier's office today, expressing disappointment with a commission, that can ultimately be replaced by this Government don't result in that outcome. I'm sure the public outcry would be deafening, but I have a feeling the Premier of British Columbia may already be deaf.

Labels: environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, nationalization, public power

Or don't!

This holiday season consider the following free solutions...

These are my favourite picks for free open source/web based applications. It might not make a 10 year old happy finding a step by step instruction sheet on how to access these applications under the tree, but these pieces of software could make your neighbour pretty happy or your co-worker jump for joy. Supposed to buy something for less than $10? Get them one of these.

Number one on my list is the Google Docs & Spreadsheets application. This Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel replacement combines a fully functioning spreadsheet/word processor with a web based interface that'll knock Microsoft's socks off. Office 2007 be damned, these applications work great and from anywhere you have an internet connection. You can find them at: http://docs.google.com/

Number two on my list is the other half of the Google Office suite: GMail and Google Calendar. Google Calendar will track your appointments for you with a web interface that beats Microsoft Outlook's neverendingly slow and oft-broken shitshow of an e-mail program. Want the functionality of a shared calendar? No problem, just create one with your favourite events and share it. No more broken down office e-mail or Yahoo Groups, this shared calendar is accessible to anyone and can be placed on any website. More can be said for these two products though. The interaction between GMail (your super-fast new e-mail program with nearly 3 GB of storage built-in) and Google Calendar allows for one-click addition of appointments that arrive in your e-mail. Need to manage your contacts? No problem, import them into GMail, easy as pie.

Number three is for the die-hard software installationist in all of us. For those of you who can't wrap your head around a web based interface, you can get for free OpenOffice. OpenOffice is already at version 2.0 and going strong. This Office Suite also kicks Microsoft's ass. So much so that many large organizations have been using it on many of their desktops for years. Drop the Microsoft and go for the free stuff already. OpenOffice is a full office suite of software including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation maker (think Powerpoint), database and calculator.

Ok who has time for a couple more freebies?

How about #4 on my list Scatterchat? This instant messenger built on a Gaim base will have your opposition spending millions trying to decrypt your random chatter with your friends in a continent away. Seriously, if you need military strength encryption for your day to day interactions; this software will do it for you. All you have to worry about now is the guy looking over your shoulder and the person with the keystroke logger. Everyone else will be seeing a lot of gibberish.

Number 5 is Ubuntu. This completely free Linux distro is available at http://www.ubuntu.com. You will find it to be a pleasant and complete replacement for your crappy Windows installation. It is easy to use and best of all, like everything else on this list, free! It can also be used as a server software.. but see my next list choice instead.

We're off to number 6 and that's my favourite server software. FreeBSD. This software has been my fav in serving since FreeBSD version 2. I've also been using it as my on/again off again desktop operating system. Ok stop looking confused. Just go to www.freebsd.org and follow the instructions on installing it on your computer. Next thing you know you will have a working server install with a gui (graphic user interface).

NUMBER 7. Mozilla Firefox. You would be amazed at how many people aren't using this free and excellent piece of software. Don't know what it is? See that's my point exactly. It is a web browser. It is what you should be using to read this. But no, you are still using Internet Explorer for some reason aren't you. Bleh. Burn it to a cd. Wrap it up and give it away. Or drop by their house with some egg nog and install it on their PC for them.

Number 8 has to go to Skype. What you are still paying to make long distance calls in North America. WTF for. Skype is free to install and so are the calls (this is apparently a limited time offer.. but who knows). Download it right now and stop being so stupid. Wait, you aren't being stupid, you already have free North America wide calling, it is your neighbour who has $200 phone bills. Exactly my point. See just because it is free to you, doesn't mean it won't be the best present they get this holiday season. This program works well with old microphones and yellow headphones from 1980's era walkmen, people have sitting in their old boxes of electronics. Have fun digging them out with them or make your old pair a part of the gift.

Numero nueve is VNC. Already purchased a license for Office 2003 and want to use it from the ski hill? This simple program gives you the ability to server your desktop from anywhere to anywhere. Make your computer completely accessible from your office or even from your handheld. Easy to install and dangerously insecure. Check it at http://www.realvnc.com/.

Number ten is an oldie but a goodie. WinAmp is the perfect MP3 player for those of you still wedded to the idea of running Windows (hint, you don't need Microsoft for any of the above.. just this one). Get it at http://www.winamp.com/ and start burning those CD's to a library.

I'll leave it at that. Please remember that some of these open source solutions are built by people like you and me for free. Contribute what you can!

Once again the list is:

1. Google Docs
2. GMail and Google Calendar
3. OpenOffice.org
4. Scatterchat
5. Ubuntu
6. FreeBSD
7. Mozilla Firefox
8. Skype
   
9. RealVNC
10. WinAmp
    

PS: These applications have the potential to save your boss's business thousands of dollars. Need help convincing your boss? Drop me a line.

Labels: anti-microsoft, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, tools

Back on October 13, 2004 shortly after the now infamous debate between Kerry and Bush wrapped up CNN held a poll with the following question: Who do you think won the debate?

This of course is a relatively innocuous question. Unless you plan on doing what CNN did that night. I don't know why, but I did catch them at it. Why you ask haven't I posted this on the web sooner? Well, I actually did, I posted it on Victoria Indymedia and Indymedia internationally at that time. I just felt like resurrecting this story for my blog. Particularly, since it didn't gain any particularly exposure at the time.

If you look closely at the pictures above, what you will see is two screen shots captured 2 minutes apart showing the results of the poll. In the top part of the image you will see Kerry is leading by 83% to 17%. In the bottom screen, taken, just two minutes later you can see Kerry is leading by just 56% to 44%. Now this isn't that amazing unless you consider:
a. that the poll had been open for more than half an hour at this point,
b. that in the first half an hour more than 20,000 votes were cast with a result favouring Kerry 83% to 17%, and
c. then in 2 minutes an additional 29,000 votes were suddenly "cast" favouring Bush 63% to 37%

Here's those numbers again for you in long hand:

	8:34 pm	8:36 pm	Diff.	Perc.
Bush	3449	21698	18249	63%
Kerry	16852	27498	10646	37%
	20425	49413	28988

I'll be the first to admit that CNN polls state right on them that they aren't scientific in nature and are unlikely to reflect anything about the viewers or the populace of the United States. However, I'd say this poll definitely showed something. It showed something about the political bent of CNN.

Labels: alternatives, anti-war, blogosphere, democracy, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, leftist content creation, opinion, pro-choice

Canada and Spain are the targets of a recent Greenpeace flash animation featuring 4 underwater South Park like creatures. Check it at: weblog.greenpeace.org

As a willing participant in destroying the economies of whatever countries destroy these delicate underwater ecosystems through bottom trawling I fired off the following missive to Stephen Harper:


To: Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Subject: Canada: It’s time to support deep sea habitat protection
(how would you like it if your habitat got scooped?)

Re: Canada joining the majority of the international community in support of a UN moratorium on high seas bottom trawling

To: Prime Minister Stephen Harper,

I am concerned and disappointed that Canada's new government continues to support high seas bottom trawling.

Just for a moment imagine how you would like it if a giant net came down and scooped up all of the Ottawa area (including the toxic mud at the bottom of the Rideau canal). Then dumped you and everything else in the net that wasn't an allowable catch (ie. a Chretien era sponsorship scandal linked Liberal) in a muddy pile. I bet you would be pretty happy to have a ban on these giant nets in place, wouldn't you. I think you would be pretty mad about your civil rights being trampled and your eco-system being destroyed.

Given the analogy I think you can see that destroying entire underwater eco-systems is not the right way to support fisheries in the long term.

This type of fishing is ludicrous. Given the known impacts of bottom trawl gear on the ocean floor, our lack of knowledge about deep-sea habitats and species and the complete lack of regulation on an estimated 75% of the high seas, it is essential that Canada take action.

I urge you to join responsible nations like the United States, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. in their support of a UN resolution establishing a temporary "time out" from destructive bottom trawl fishing. Canada does not have any bottom trawlers fishing on the high seas, thus supporting a moratorium poses no threat to the livelihoods of Canadian fisher. It does, however, have much to gain. A moratorium on high seas bottom trawling would solve the long-standing problem of unregulated bottom trawling on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks.

In June of this year, your Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn said that, "bottom trawling does damage to the stocks, and it does damage to habitat". Having acknowledged this, Canada has a responsibility to take leadership on the international stage and support a moratorium. By joining with nations like Spain (which is responsible for most the high seas bottom trawling) in opposing the moratorium, Canada is allowing the destruction of un-charted habitat in unregulated seas to continue unabated.

Prime Minister, please reconsider your position on high seas bottom trawling. Listen to the scientists, fishermen, Canadians and the global public who are calling for protection of deep sea life. Become a deep-sea defender and support a UN moratorium on high seas bottom trawling.

Damn!


PS: Now it's your turn. Don't worry there is a form letter if you aren't feeling creative.

Labels: green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, leftist content creation, online campaign, opinion

The BC Government is examining the possibility of allowing commercial development in BC Parks. I took a moment to express my views on this and here I share them with you (aren't you lucky).

To: Gordon Campbell, Premier premier@gov.bc.ca
Barry Penner, Minister of Environment barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca
CC: Carole James, Leader of the Official Opposition carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca
Subject: 13% Commercial Free Please

Dear Gordon & Barry:

I am writing today on the topic of commercial development within BC Parks.

Your current proposal to allow development in the wonderful protected areas of our province is akin to the City of Victoria allowing a McDonald's in Beacon Hill Park. Allegorically, I'm not saying you should shut down the Beacon Hill Drive-in, just that you don't need a McDonald's overtop of the duck pond, or at the top of Beacon Hill.

Having trouble picturing what I am talking about? It is a five minute walk from your office. I know you Gordon and Barry personally aren't likely to be reading this e-mail, but may I suggest to the person who is, that you get up from your desk and take a field trip for the next 15 minutes and walk through to Beacon Hill park to think about this. It might not change your mind or the decision maker you report to, but I guarantee that it will be an enjoyable, quiet walk away from hubbub of commercial development and the office you work in.

An entire generation of British Columbians sacrificed economic growth to set aside the 13% of our land base that makes up the protected areas of British Columbia. This was the right decision and it is incomprehensible that you would allow private development within these parks. If we had wanted to develop these areas we could have. British Columbians made a reasonable choice to set these areas aside as parks free from commercial use. All of them were created with the possibility of building commercial enterprise on their edges. Accessible yet external. Once land claims and sovereignty issues are settled in British Columbia there would be few opponents to commercial interests building a "drive-in."

Sure, my generation could have grown up with a higher level of income in our province if we had allowed the kind of forestry and mining that had been proposed. We all would have benefited from increased spending on textbooks or teacher's salaries. Instead we got the chance to visit beautiful areas like the Carmanah Valley on field trips and the hope to be able to do the same with our grand children.

Please let me remind you of Judge Begbie's decision from 1884 about Beacon Hill Park. "The park alias the pleasure ground, is to be used for recreation and enjoyment; and therefore, I think, in no other manner; not for general purposes of profit, or utility, however great the prospect of these may be. A trustee cannot go beyond his "express trust at least cannot do anything inconsistent with it."

Let the intent of the public good guide you as you think of the future stewardship of our BC Parks.

You both know what Judge Begbie's nickname was! I am certain that the BC electorate's judgment could be equally severe at the next election if you make the wrong choices on such key issues.

-Morgan.


PS: My advice to the faceless reader of this e-mail at the Premier's office could also be given to you (or me for that matter).. it is always time for a fifteen minute walk through Beacon Hill Park.

Labels: alternatives, environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, leftist content creation, online campaign, unfolding

Kleercut.net is an action based site against turning our old growth and ancient forests into tissue.

Go here now and save the forests.

Labels: environment, green isn't just a colour it's an imperative, includes photo, leftist content creation, online campaign, personal story