empty rhetoric

how much more of it will we be bombarded with before real reductions are made?

PRIME MINISTER HARPER ADDRESSES UN CONFERENCE ON THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

May 28, 2008
BONN

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today addressed the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Prime Minister was invited to speak at the Conference by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and both leaders were presented with awards recognizing their nations' contributions to the protection of biodiversity by the Executive Secretary of the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In his speech, Prime Minister Harper congratulated delegates on their constructive efforts during the Bonn conference. He also described the work that Canada has done to preserve and protect biodiversity at home and around the world.

"Over 10 per cent of Canada's land mass, an area greater than the size of France and Germany put together, and three million hectares of ocean waters have been protected by federal, provincial and territorial governments," Prime Minister Harper said, as a collage of spectacular photographs of Canadian parks and natural landscapes appeared on large screens inside the conference venue. "These large protected areas include famous national parks like Banff, Fundy, Gros Morne, and Nahanni, of which our government announced a significant expansion last summer."

The Prime Minister noted that his Government has undertaken several new initiatives to further protect Canada's biological diversity, including:

Establishment of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, the world's largest freshwater protected area.

Working with the local aboriginal community to establish a huge new national park on Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories.

Investing in more than 1,000 projects to protect habitat under our Habitat Stewardship Program.

Significant investment to protect the Great Bear Rainforest in Northern British Columbia, home to the majestic white Spirit Bear.

And providing funds for the 13 biosphere reserves that UNESCO has designated in Canada.

Prime Minister Harper noted that climate change represents one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity, and a particular threat to Canada's Arctic. "That's why we have made the development of a comprehensive regulatory plan to fight against climate change one of the highest priorities of our government," said the Prime Minister. "We have to get past the empty rhetoric and take real action to require Canadian industry to make real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

Glory Without Guts

This is exciting, to say the least, from a technical standpoint. But whats the impact to personal responsibility for one's actions? or to social responsibility for the government's actions?
What will happen to guilt and honour when sacrifice is reduced to inconvenience? http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/05/26/regrowing.body.parts/index.html

reality bites...

... for an opposition party that becomes elected and accountable all of a sudden.
... for consumers having to pay more at the pumps.
... for the government to have so little ability to affect the price of gasoline.
... for Canadians to have a PM with such obvious contempt for democracy ongoing.

Then And Now: Gas Tax
Image: Brian Gable / The Globe and Mail.

role models?

funny, harper keeps referring to the US and Israel as role models, with exemplary records... they are obviously not using the same metrics.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2008/05/20/5617071-ap.html

Pro Valore

nice touch, repatriating the highest military honour. a little ominous, mind you.

GOVERNOR GENERAL AND PRIME MINISTER UNVEIL CANADA'S VICTORIA CROSS

PM HAILS NATION'S HIGHEST MILITARY DECORATION AS NOW 'TRULY CANADIAN'

May 16, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General Michaëlle Jean today unveiled Canada's newly minted Victoria Cross medal at a formal ceremony at Rideau Hall.

Until now the Victoria Cross, Canada's highest military decoration, was minted in Britain. All future medals awarded to Canadians will be minted in Canada. Though the design is faithful to the original design commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1856, Canada's Victoria Cross includes a number of small but significant Canadian design and content features. "Today the Victoria Cross becomes fully, truly Canadian," Prime Minister Harper said.

The original inscription, "For Valour," has been changed to the Latin "Pro Valore," on Canada's Victoria Cross. "We are using the ancient language employed by our English and French ancestors to express the universal ideal that they shared," said the Prime Minister. Other uniquely Canadian elements include metal from the 1867 Confederation medal, as well as metals from each of Canada's regions.

Ninety-four Canadians have won the Victoria Cross for displaying extraordinary courage, endurance and sacrifice in battle. The last living recipient, Second World War veteran Smoky Smith, died just over a year ago.

Every day, in military missions at home and abroad, Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen are putting their lives on the line for us", said Prime Minister Harper. "Someday, somewhere, one of those men or women will do something so brave, so gallant, so exceptional, that he or she will join the legendary cadre of the Canadian Forces who wear the pride of a nation on their chests".

Canada's Victoria Cross was produced through a collaboration of the Departments of National Defence, Veterans Affairs, and Natural Resources, the Royal Canadian Mint and Rideau Hall.
The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

all hail king Garth!

I was just watching CPAC. Garth Turner (now liberal) was asking why the finance minister was sitting back idly watching mfg jobs evaporate. Naturally, the neo-con stand-in for the finance minister gave the default response (he avoided the subj and attempted to discredit him by saying "the only job you're worried about is your own") [he crossed the floor some months ago after saying that any MP that switches parties should automatically force a byelection - needless to say, that didn't happen]. After a few more minor exchanges, Garth pointed out that [to the best of my memory] "the average working Canadian family income is $60,000(?) after years of training, but the Finance Minister's speech-writer makes $300,000 and the only pre-req is to be a Conservative."

not bad, if you can get it. job may be a little insecure, however, but heck, that's FIVE TIMES the average family income. If cabinet ministers surround themselves with people in that kind of salary bracket(!), is there any wonder they don't think there's a problem?

Anyway, thanks for pointing that out Garth, keep it up!

tipping point

Cartoon creator Mike Adams www.NaturalNews.com

"[...]the collapse of honeybee populations is just one sign of many that humans have pushed Earth's ecosystems over the edge. We've polluted the skies, the land and the waters. We've raped the planet of its minerals, slashed and burned its rainforests, depleted its soils and devastated its wild animal population. We've dumped chemicals, radioactive waste and endless mountains of trash into the oceans and waterways. And then we balk when nature hiccups. We scratch our heads, wondering why some element in nature that we've exploited for so long suddenly stops behaving in the way we want. Why are the ocean fish populations collapsing? Why are our food crops nutritionally depleted? Why are infectious diseases now threatening to unleash a new pandemic? Why are honeybees going on strike?

The answer, of course, is because humans have turned planet Earth into a toxic world. We've poisoned the one thing in the universe that openly and unselfishly offered to give us so much for free. Yet instead of appreciating Mother Nature, we've chosen to betray her. We've turned what was once an Eden into a toxic world, and it's only a matter of time before the destabilizing, harmful practices we've adopted to feed an expanding human population come back to haunt us in a devastating way."

CANADA FIRST DEFENCE STRATEGY

"Beyond strengthening our security at home and abroad, the Canada First Defence Strategy will deliver significant economic benefits for tens of thousands of Canadians," said Prime Minister Harper. "Moreover, by investing in new military equipment and technologies, the Strategy will benefit Canada’s knowledge and technology industries, which will produce lucrative civilian commercial spin-offs," said Prime Minister Harper.

Uhm, this doesn't seem to have paid off for the Americans for the past 20 years, why does Harper think it'll work for us now? Could it be the American industrial-military complex is looking to expand its power-base oops I mean market?
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2095

ray of grim reality

WHO SHOULD MDs LET DIE IN A PANDEMIC? REPORT OFFERS ANSWERS
By Lindsey Tanner
Associated Press in Physorg.com
May 5, 2008
"Now, an influential group of physicians has drafted a grimly specific list of recommendations for which patients wouldn't be treated. They include the very elderly, seriously hurt trauma victims, severely burned patients and those with severe dementia.
The suggested list was compiled by a task force whose members come from prestigious universities, medical groups, the military and government agencies. They include the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The proposed guidelines are designed to be a blueprint for hospitals "so that everybody will be thinking in the same way" when pandemic flu or another widespread health care disaster hits, said Dr. Asha Devereaux. She is a critical care specialist in San Diego and lead writer of the task force report."
"To prepare, hospitals should designate a triage team with the Godlike task of deciding who will and who won't get lifesaving care, the task force wrote. Those out of luck are the people at high risk of death and a slim chance of long-term survival. But the recommendations get much more specific, and include:
-People older than 85.
-Those with severe trauma, which could include critical injuries from car crashes and shootings.
-Severely burned patients older than 60.
-Those with severe mental impairment, which could include advanced Alzheimer's disease.
-Those with a severe chronic disease, such as advanced heart failure, lung disease or poorly controlled diabetes."
The full article can be found at: http://www.physorg.com/news129180991.html

Coming soon to a government near vous

or can I say "tu?" never quite sure. must be that darn American influence.



http://newquebec.blogspot.com/2008/05/bloc-qubcois-party-wants-to-block.html

ruling like a king

and tasking the real sovereign's representative. anyway, where better to send the GG than out of reach of canadian media during Quebec's quadricentenial? is he worried she'll say something unscripted and inconvenient to his political ideals?

PRIME MINISTER HARPER ANNOUNCES STATE VISIT TO FRANCE BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL

May 4, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will represent Canada on an official visit to France from May 6 to 10, 2008.

The Governor General will travel to France to highlight the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City and participate in celebrations commemorating Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 1945. The Governor General will visit Paris, Ouistreham, Bény-sur-Mer, La Rochelle and Bordeaux.

This visit will provide an opportunity to highlight both the historic ties that unite the two countries and their common values, which include respect for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

France is an important partner on the international stage. 2008 is a significant year for the bilateral relationship, with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québec City, but also Canada's hosting of the Francophonie Summit and the Canada-European Union Summit, coinciding with France's presidency of the European Union. The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

royal visit

harper seems to be wading (ahem) pretty deep into provincial jurisdiction here...

PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER TOURS FLOODED AREAS IN NEW BRUNSWICK

May 2, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today was joined by New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham and Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson to view some of the worst-hit flooded areas in the St. John River valley. The Prime Minister saw firsthand the flood-ravaged region from the air aboard a Department of National Defence Griffon helicopter. The Prime Minister also made stops at Maugerville and Edmunston N.B., two of the hardest-hit communities, where he met with flood victims and volunteers.

"The combination of heavy rains and melting snow have created some of the worst flooding Fredericton, Maugerville, St. Anne, Edmunston and other communities in this region have seen in thirty years," Prime Minister Harper said. "Hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes and scores of houses and businesses have been inundated by the near-record floodwaters. This is a very difficult situation, and our Government is working closely with local and provincial authorities to minimize the damage, monitor the continuing threat, and provide shelter and support for flood victims."

Federal government support for the flood response and relief effort so far includes:

Tents, heaters, tables, chairs, off-road vehicles and an engineer barge from CFB Gagetown.

Rescue craft and landing barges and crews from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard.

Pollution monitoring and meteorological data from Environment Canada, including Dash-8 aircraft from Transport Canada for pollution monitoring.

National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS) depot in Ottawa put on stand-by.

"Fortunately the river did not crest at record levels in this region as had been feared," noted the Prime Minister. "But the threat remains high for the Saint John region in the south and we are monitoring the situation closely."
The Prime Minister's Office - Communications

Time to Stop PMs from Ruling Like Kings

Stephen Harper has taken the government to a 'new level of centralized command and control,' he's the latest in a line of prime ministers to pull power to the centre. The shift, however, has so profoundly redefined the roles and relationships of Parliament, cabinet, political parties and public servants that Donald Savoie, a leading scholar on public administration, argues it's time for a public debate over what they should be.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=42acc6a7-2523-42ff-8b27-5abeb908f633&k=64398&p=1

Good racket to be in, if you have no morals

Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each.

The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10, and as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort.

He further announced that he would now buy at $20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again.

Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it!

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of him. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers. 'Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each.'

The villagers rounded up all of their savings and bought all the monkeys. Then they never saw the man nor his assistant again, only monkeys everywhere!



Now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.

Stop junk mail

http://www.ambysoft.com/ideas/reduceJunkMail.html

Only YOU can prevent deforesting for flyers!

we're gonna need the BFG for this one

It's worse than i thought.
All this time I've been optimistic, thinking society is finally coming to its senses. Meanwhile, Christian fanatics have been multiplying quietly in the sidelines like cockroaches in a closet, and with the internet, somebody finally opened the door. What a mess.

---------- Forwarded message ----------


http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1b5bd6e3e034d00b4f73