Canucks on Friendfeed

"Putting GHG emissions in context Climate change is now the most serious global environmental threat.1 Its potential impacts include global warming, sea level rise, increased extreme weather events, and altered rainfall patterns. Climate change is a direct consequence of elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere and feedback mechanisms. Since GHGs are emitted from fossil fuel burning, energy is the key policy category for tracking and analyzing climate change. The main challenge is to make economic growth less dependent on energy use and related air emissions, by improving energy efficiency and by developing and using cleaner fuels and low-emitting electricity sources.2 How does Canada compare to its peer countries on GHG emissions? Canada is one of the world's largest per capita GHG emitters. Canada ranks 15th out of 17 OECD countries on GHG emissions per capita and scores a “D” grade.3 In 2010, Canada’s GHG emissions were 20.3 tonnes per capita, significantly... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"Cynthia Hess-von Kruedener said her husband's mission was to report on the hostilities in the area and she believes that is why Israeli forces attacked the Israeli United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) post, despite Israel's claims that the bombing was accidental. "Obviously they were unhappy with what they were observing. Maybe that post was in the way as well," she said. "I know my husband was reporting war crimes. And I guess they don't want to deal with that." Hess-von Kruedener said she is speaking out this week because a Canadian Forces board of inquiry report issued recently about the bombing has left questions unanswered. The report, released Jan. 31, blamed the Israeli Defence Forces for the incident, but also found the Israeli military refused to provide documents other than a summary of its own internal investigation, "which lacked sufficient detail to explore certain issues to their fullest extent." The report said the UN also refused to provide documents... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

if you care about climate change, canada is now the crack dealer of the energy world.. - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"Canadians urged to prepare for 'doomsday' by Red Cross" - AJ Batac from Bookmarklet

"The Stop Harper Fund for Peaceful Direct Action Many people have generously offered to make donations to me, after I lost my page job. While I am thankful for these gestures, I do not want to personally benefit financially. I have, however, decided to create a fund to support organizations and individuals engaging in creative non-violent direct actions against the Harper government's agenda. Any money donated would go to training, legal advice and support for such actions. I hope that people who had thought to donate to me will instead consider donating to this fund. Decisions about which organizations or individuals will receive money will be made in consultation with an advisory committee that I will help form in the near future. A lawyer and registered accountant will verify that all funds are spent in accordance with the stated mandate. Please stay tuned to this web site for upcoming events and actions. --Brigette DePape" - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"Maude Barlow returns Diamond Jubilee Medal in solidarity with Chief Spence and Idle No More OTTAWA — In a show of solidarity with Chief Spence and the Idle No More movement, Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, announced that she would be returning her Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. “I encourage other medal recipients to also return their medals,” said Barlow. “We can’t accept this honour from the Governor General if he won’t honour the Crown’s commitment to First Nations by meeting with Chief Spence.” Naomi Klein announced on Twitter earlier in the day that she would be returning her medal." - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"Maude Barlow returns Diamond Jubilee Medal in solidarity with Chief Spence and Idle No More OTTAWA — In a show of solidarity with Chief Spence and the Idle No More movement, Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, announced that she would be returning her Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. “I encourage other medal recipients to also return their medals,” said Barlow. “We can’t accept this honour from the Governor General if he won’t honour the Crown’s commitment to First Nations by meeting with Chief Spence.” Naomi Klein announced on Twitter earlier in the day that she would be returning her medal." - daveeza from Bookmarklet

Zimmerman: A Settler’s Guide to IDLE NO MORE January 3, 2013 by J. Zimmerman aaa I used to be such a proud Canadian. So much so that I now have a red maple leaf tattooed forever on my left arm. I had just traveled from Toronto to Vancouver; I felt particularly patriotic and zealous at the time. That’s what happens when you decide things on a whim, but sometimes people have to make such decisions and live with the consequences. It stands as a reminder to me of a time when national boundaries and ideas of intrinsic national character mattered to me. All it would take is some decent education and experiences and the worldly upheavals of 2011 and 2012 to shake me out of this mentality. Most importantly though, looking to the situations involving Canada’s First Nations would make me realize that there was little to really be proud of. We see now happening in this country a major unprecedented movement, that is the Idle No More movement. Many of us have seen them on the news or in person,... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"The omnibus budget bill C-45 introduced far-reaching changes. Amendments include changes to complex land provisions in the Indian Act that compound existing problems. It also re-writes environmental laws, including Navigable Waters Protection Act, Fisheries Act and Hazardous Materials Information Review Act, which were used to promote and protect a sustainable environment, clean water and healthy oceans. The integrity of the environment is being assaulted, to the detriment of present and future generations. Canada is estimated to contain nearly 32,000 major lakes and more than 2.25 million rivers. Yet a new Navigation Protection Act reduces federal environmental oversight and covers only 3 oceans, 97 lakes, and portions of 62 rivers. Certain key rivers in British Columbia along the path of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline are not included. Resource development projects on traditional lands of Indigenous peoples will be much less likely to be subject to rigorous public... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"Sun Country Highway Ltd is a progressive Canadian owned company leading the electric vehicle movement across the nation by raising awareness and promoting the adoption of zero emission transportation. Founded by president, Kent Rathwell, Sun Country Highway was created to build the most sustainable electric vehicle infrastructure in the world. Vision Empowering Canadians to lead global change by adopting a model for economic and environmental sustainability. Mission To create the most ‘earth-friendly’ country in the world. Our aim is to empower Canadians to make choices that promote economic and environmental sustainability; we want to help green Canada’s highways by fostering a culture shift toward greener living. 2012/2013 Strategic Objectives Develop a national infrastructure for green vehicles" - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"To put it bluntly, Indigenous death and despair serve the government's purpose. Like exterminating the buffalo helped starve First Nations onto reserves, through underfunding and interference with local governance, the current government is starving people off reserves. The consequent destruction of Indigenous communities will make it easier for the government's friends in the oil, gas and mining industries to go about their business unhindered. Stephen Harper responds to only two motives, political expediency and the economic interests of those who put him in office. With his majority, his concern for micro-managing his political profile has decreased as the urgency with which he is pursuing the corporatist agenda has accelerated. If INM is going to prompt a reaction, it must speak to that motivation. Protesters wield a stick -- the January 5th closing of border crossings is one interesting example to come -- and they have a very large carrot in that resource extractive industries... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"B.C. has 10 active coal mines and another 20 in various stages of exploration and development. Several of those proposed projects, including Murray River, are backed by Chinese interests. “The last couple of years have really seen the demand turned on,” Coal Association of Canada president Ann Marie Hann said. Fast-growing Asian economies and flooding in Australia that disrupted coal shipments have helped drive the trend, she added. “Buyers looked elsewhere, and one of the places they have looked to is Canada,” Ms. Hann said. Most of the coal produced in B.C. is metallurgical (coking) coal used in making steel, although the province does produce some thermal coal, which is used in electricity plants. Coal exports have surged in the past decade; last year, revenue climbed to $5.2-billion from $3.4-billion in 2010, and accounted for more than 50 per cent of provincial mining revenues of $9.9-billion. Coal-handling facilities have spent millions to accommodate increased volumes. Neptune... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"A new open-pit coal mine next to the Elk River is a crazy idea,” agreed Sarah Cox, a Sierra Club spokesperson. “The Elk River already has alarmingly high levels of selenium from existing coal mines.” Selenium is a metal-like element that British Columbians will soon be hearing a lot more about. It naturally dissolves from coal into water and has been migrating at low levels into streams in B.C. for thousands of years. But environmental scientists have identified it as a serious, emerging threat now, because mining activity has greatly increased the flow of selenium into water. In the Elk River, selenium may have already reached a threshold point, beyond which the survivability of entire fish populations comes into doubt" - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"dle No More began with 4 women, Nina Wilson, Sheelah Mclean, Sylvia McAdam and Jessica Gordon, sharing a vision of bringing together all people to ensure we create ways of protecting Mother Earth, her lands, waters and people. The women began discussing the possible impacts that some of the legislation would carry if people do not do something. It became very evident that the women MUST do something about the colonial, unilateral and paternalistic legislation being pushed through the Government of Canada’s parliamentary system. They began with a piece of legislation called Bill C-45 which attacked the land base reserved for Indigenous people. The women decided that they would call a rally to inform the public that this bill intended to, without consent give the minister of indian affairs power to surrender the lands reserved. They felt that this would ultimately make room for oil, nuclear and gas industries to tear up the land for profit. From this rally they also informed the public... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"The report then recommended the government to establish highly protectionist trade agreements for corporations, writing: “Government can help companies plug into global value chains by removing impediments and securing the right trade and investment deals.” By definition, that is the opposite of “free trade,” which is why it is important that we call it “free trade,” when in actuality, it is highly protectionist, involving state intervention designed to undermine the ‘market’ and give corporations a subsidized advantage, thus, undermining competition. The last major recommendation was for federal, provincial, and territorial governments to “collaborate on a national blueprint for resource development that identifies the gaps to be filled – including in infrastructure, environmental protection, trade diversification, education, immigration, technology, and supporting sectors – and sets out how to address them, with achievable goals and deadlines.” In other words, massive state-capitalist planning and plundering is required.[9]" - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"With the coming into force of many of the provisions of the Copyright Modernization Act (Bill C-11) on November 7, 2012, Canadian copyright law boasts a new regime with respect to photographs. In short, subject to the caveats described below, photographs are now to be treated on the same basis as all other "works" (e.g., novels, poems, musical compositions, paintings, etc.) for the purposes of identifying the author and owner of the photograph and for purposes of calculating the duration of copyright protection for the photograph. The change is relatively dramatic (well, within the context of Canadian copyright law). Prior to the CMA, photographs were subject to unique treatment under the Copyright Act. First, with respect to ownership, old Section 13(2) of the Copyright Act provided that where a photograph had been commissioned, and the commissioner had actually paid for the photograph, then the commissioner of the photograph was the first owner of the photograph. In other words, it... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"In their grim report, titled Who’s the Boss?, the Samara researchers found Canadians awarded MPs the most marks for representing the views of their party, some 15 points higher than the score they gave for representing the views of the people who elected them. “In other words, Canadians feel MPs are doing the best job at the very thing Canadians see as a low priority: representing the views of their political parties,” the researchers said. In a 2011 study by Samara, many of the 65 ex-MPs it interviewed agreed they spent way too much time working in the interests of their party rather than for voters. Clearly, political parties are run by autocrats at the top. Some critics have gone so far as to describe Prime Minister Stephen Harper as dictatorial in how he controls both his cabinet ministers and backbench MPs. In effect, MPs are powerless outsiders, cut out of all areas of parliamentary influence from having input into public policy to voting their conscience on legislation. Sadly,... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

My photo :) http://www.flickr.com/photos... - AJ Batac from Bookmarklet

ok - GoodChoose Ru

"I put this on my back door when I had died into the cosmic light of the sacred. In my dreams I was both male and female because I had melted into the Oneness beyond this world" - daveeza from Bookmarklet

Posted: November 13, 2012 Renowned artist and ardent repairer of the image of the swastika, ManWoman (aka Manny Jack Lightning), died in the early morning of Nov. 13 after a courageous battle with cancer. As colourful as his art, ManWoman became known around the world for his talent and for trying to steer the public’s perception of the swastika away from the negative connotations associated with Adolph Hitler and the Nazis. “How can a symbol be guilty for the acts of a madman?” asked the founder of the Friends of the Swastika, which he built into a world-wide following. “If you see a swastika, that symbol of light and love, tattooed on someone, you can thank Manny. All of the spiritual and geometric tattooing that is exploding today owes his efforts a great deal of credit and thanks. Although he was often unknown by those he helped transform both physically and spiritually, like some benevolent and hopeful puppetmaster bard, he touched almost all of us in one way or another, and was... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"No one has done as much as Osgoode Hall law professor Gus Van Harten to educate Canadians about Harper’s investment treaty with China. I’d call it a true public service. If it hadn’t been for Van Harten’s early articles in The Tyee, the Globe and Mail and other newspapers, it’s doubtful there would have been as much of a political backlash to the unnecessary and highly dangerous corporate pact, or Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with China, that Harper could ratify, without debate, at any moment. Van Harten’s latest article in The Tyee will be useful to anyone (and there are tens of thousands of you) who has sent a letter opposing the China treaty to their Conservative Member of Parliament and already received a response. I got a form letter about the FIPA this week from David Sweet, a Conservative MP from nearby Ancaster, Ontario (I live in Hamilton). It contains many misleading and even false assertions about Canada’s FIPA regime, in particular about the... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"This Sunday, CBC’s Cross Country Checkup is asking “Is foreign investment good for the economy.” Host Rex Murphy will take calls and emails starting at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 28. The toll-free number for the show is 1-888-416-8333. This is a perfect opportunity to talk about the China-Canada investment treaty (FIPA), why giving corporations excessive rights to challenge sovereign decisions over energy, environmental and other public policies is wrong, and why Parliament has a responsibility to debate the FIPA before it is ratified, possibly as soon as November 1. Then listen to the show this Sunday and ask your friends to do the same. Foreign investment is not a bad thing for Canada. But on the terms of the China FIPA and other investment treaties Canada has signed, foreign investment can overpower other social priorities and undermine our basic notions of democracy. These treaties are one way — the public cannot use them to make sure corporations are held accountable for their... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

I took that photo :) - AJ Batac from Bookmarklet

Yay, AJ! I assume Ariana paid you the usual fee? - Spidra Webster

"There are procedural reasons why Premier Clark should demand an injunction, writes Gus Van Harten, an expert in investment treaties, in a letter to Premier Clark, published in The Tyee this week, which also calls for an immediate halt to the FIPA ratification. According to a 1998 B.C. government report on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), “Under the Canadian constitution, the federal government is incapable of unilaterally implementing international treaty obligations in areas that fall within provincial jurisdiction. Nor is it acceptable for the federal government to use its treaty-making powers to do an end run around the federal-provincial division of powers or in a way that diminishes Canadian federalism and democracy.” “It’s as if Prime Minister Harper is purposely trying to duck these fundamental constitutional issues and to avoid any real debate or discussion on the China investment treaty,” says Stuart Trew, trade campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “Ask... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"The more far-reaching deal is the second. It is the one my last column was focused upon without having seen it. It does, in fact, set out a series of obligations for Canada, new rights for Chinese state-owned enterprises, and fails to deliver on reciprocity for Canadian companies operating in China. Worse yet, it will not be voted on in the House. It will be automatically enacted 21 sitting days from when it was tabled in the House. By November 1, barring a miracle, Canada will be bound for the next 15 years (minimum) to these terms. If a future government wants to get out of it, a one year notice is required – and even once the treaty is cancelled, any existing Chinese operations in Canada are guaranteed another 15 years of the treaty’s benefits. Canada must promote and encourage Chinese investments in Canada (Article 3). Chinese government-controlled companies operating in Canada must be treated exactly the same as Canadian companies (Article 6)." - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"In 2014, the best in Canadian talent will take centre stage in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the 43rd annual JUNO Awards. “Winnipeg is an energetic city of music and culture, home to numerous Juno Award winners and nominees,” said Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz. “We’re known for our great food and great hospitality and we can’t wait to welcome the JUNOS to the Heart of the Continent!” Recently named one of the Culture Capitals of Canada, Winnipeg is home to such acts as The Wailin’ Jennys, Del Barber, Doc Walker, The Weakerthans, Imaginary Cities and many others. The city has a wide diversity of music genres, including award-winning Aboriginal and Francophone artists. “Manitoba has a rich and diverse musical history – it’s an integral part of our identity and how we’re known around the world,” said Carole Vivier, CEO/Film Commissioner of Manitoba Film & Music and co-chair of the JUNO Host Committee. “As we welcome the JUNOS back to Winnipeg, we could not be more excited about inviting Manitobans... more... - AJ Batac from Bookmarklet

"There’s no love lost between Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos and Canada’s big Internet providers: “It’s almost a human rights violation what they’re charging for internet access in Canada,” Sarandos said during the Merrill Lynch Media, Communications & Entertainment conference in Los Angeles Wednesday. Sarandos was referring to the low broadband caps in place at Canadian ISPs like Bell and Shaw, which force their customers to pay more if they exceed monthly caps that can start at just 15 GB. Netflix has sharply criticized broadband pricing in Canada before, with CEO Reed Hastings calling caps and overage fees like these “grossly overpriced.” However, Hastings had initially said that he didn’t anticipate the caps to be a problem for Netflix’s business in Canada. The company eventually adjusted its streaming rates in the country, making non-HD streams the default option for Canadian users, and now it looks like it’s acknowledging that the caps are having an impact on... more... - daveeza from Bookmarklet

"Low broadband caps in Canada put that country close to third-world countries, and overage charges almost amount to human rights violations: Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos blasted broadband caps and usage-based-billing employed by Canadian ISPs during an investor event Thursday afternoon." - AJ Batac from Bookmarklet

I don't know that I'd go /that/ far, but it is maddening when the network can handle it, and there's no physical reason to limit it. - Jennifer Dittrich