SPECIAL UPDATE

UPDATE ON CHIEF TERESA SPENCE HUNGER STRIKE

From Huffington Post: Former PM Joe Clark and 16 MP's from the NDP accept her invitation to visit her on Sunday, Dec 30th at Victoria Island, Ottawa

 Spence invited MPs and senators to visit over a two-hour period Sunday at her teepee, situated on an island in the frozen Ottawa River looking up at Parliament Hill.

Former prime minister Joe Clark, the highest-profile visitor, made an appearance Saturday, meeting with Spence and issuing a statement that said honest conversation can often lead to common ground.

Members of both the opposition NDP and Liberals expressed concern Sunday for Spence's health.
"She's a very determined woman and she's heard the message from others that she's done what people think she needed to do, but she noted that the prime minister has not talked to anyone, or put out a message that he is willing to meet with leaders, and that's all she's asking for," said New Democrat MP Paul Dewar, who was among 16 of the party's politicians to be invited inside.

Both Dewar and fellow New Democrat Craig Scott said they were worried about her condition.
"She's very peaceful in her demeanour, but that goes along with being quite weak now," said Scott. "She talks about sleeping more than she had earlier, in the first two weeks. I think it's very clear it's starting to take a physical toll."

Concern is strong enough that some have urged her to give up and let Opposition politicians take up the fight — something Craig said he tried to convey to her.
"I spoke directly to her and said, 'You know, you've done more anybody could expect one person to do, and there's no reason you and you alone should have to carry this burden.' And she said, 'It's my burden to carry.'"

An adviser to the chief and band council said there is no backing down.
"The chief is a strong-spirited, determined individual," said Danny Metatawabin. "We need to get the message out to the prime minister of Canada.
"Although she is drinking her liquids of water and fish broth, you know, she is getting weak in body when you don't eat solids. The body tends to shut down. They should just come and talk to us. Why are we afraid to communicate with one another?"

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq joined other federal officials Friday asking Spence to accept a meeting with Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, but Spence rejected the recommendation.
The government points to a meeting it held last January with First Nations leaders as proof it is serious about improving their relationship, and adds it has spent millions on aboriginal health, housing and education.

But aboriginal leaders say they are being left out of the discussion the Harper government is having about how best to develop Canada's lucrative natural resources.

Joe Clark, who was a Tory prime minister from 1979 to 1980, said friends of his in the First Nations community had suggested he meet with Spence, chief of a remote reserve in Northern Ontario.
"My experience has been that direct and honest dialogue is always useful and sometimes essential, particularly in dealing with issues as complex and multi-faceted as the relations between First Nations and Canada," he said in a statement.
"Chief Spence expressed a humble and achievable vision — one which I believe all Canadians can embrace."

My Best Wishes For A Better Year In 2013

               

Chief of Attawapiskat, Theresa Spence made the decision to conduct a "hunger Strike" to protest the actions of the current Conservative Government and their unilateral decision making against her community and against all First Peoples of this great land.

Events (2012) Around Theresa Spence

     Jan. 23/24: - Crown-First Nations  gathering in Ottawa. 

                       - Harper and Grand Chief Shawn Atleo exchanged starkly different opinions
                       - They agreed on urgency and to have a report presented within one year
                       - Promises made on changes to Indian Act

     Nov. 15:  Grand Chief Shawn Atleo writes a letter to PM Harper and Aboriginal Affairs
                     Minister John Duncan on First Nations 'frustration'

    Dec, 10:  International Human Rights Day marked the beginning of Idle No More
                   movement

    Dec. 10:  2:00 pm Press Conference with Theresa Spence

    Dec. 11:  6:00 am Sunrise/Pipe Ceremony at Victoria Island, Ottawa
                   9:00 am Chief  Spence of Attawapiskat  stops eating solid food (hunger strike)

     
   Dec. 11:  Charlie Angus, MP, visits Spence in Ottawa

  Dec. 14: The budget bill, Bill C-45 was passed 50 to 27 and is set to become law

  Dec 18:  Assembly of First Nations and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
                support Cross Lake Elder action for change

 Dec. 26: Justin Trudeau visited with Theresa Spence on Boxing Day

"When our ancestors made treaties with the British Crown to allow the Queen's subjects to live in our territories, it was for as long as the sun shines, the water flows and the grass grows. The Crown's only legal access to our lands is contingent upon the fulfillment of the promises made in the negotiations of treaty."
                       Theresa Spence     
   

"Idle No More" gathering at City Hall, Portage la Prairie, Man.  Dec 28, 2012

 

INTERESTING THINGS FOR THE FUTURE ?

(courtesy of Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine)

1) The bicymple : Sort of like a two-wheel unicycle

 

The rear wheel can be used for steering the bicymple

2)  Harvard researchers fold proteins with D-Wave quantum computer

Many were skeptical when, back in 2007, Canadian company D-Wave announced that it had built the world's first commercially viable quantum computer. Now a study published in the August issue of Nature's Scientific Reports co-authored by D-Wave and Harvard researchers proves the D-Wave One is the real deal.

***

 LOOKING BACK - AND FORWARD

CARS

      - 10 concept cars in 2012 (from Gizmag)
      - Volkswagen Hover Car ( it travels above the ground - good for parallel parking ?)

    Canada's Role In Space

     - Canada's role from 1839 to 2012
     - Astronaut Chris Hadfield returns to space for a third time to become the first Canadian Commander of   the International Space Station during the second half of his six-month mission.
     - Canadian Space Ageny 2010 - 2012 news releases

Idle No More - Update

     Groups of First Nations people have been joined by others as they hold a widespread series of protests carried out under the banner of "Idle No More". These totally non-violent gatherings and blockades across Canada are to bring attention to 14 pieces of legislation included in the federal omnibus Bill C-45, and have been going on for two weeks (although largely ignored by the media until recently).

      There is an official page on Facebook as well as separate ones with current members as shown: Northern Manitoba (1100), Winnipeg (1680), Thunder Bay (3800), and Morley (1300).

   
     Bill C-45 brings changes to the Indian Act that will fast-track the process for aboriginals to surrender their reserve lands by lowering the threshold of community consent needed to hand over territory. The legislation also includes clauses that will cut the number of federally protected waterways, potentially jeopardizing the lands they rely on and change environmental regulations. Most non-native Canadians will be directly or indirectly affected adversely by these changes. Typical activities (all nonviolent)  have been:

     * a demonstration on Parliament Hill late last week

     * outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.
     * a three-day-old blockade of the CN rail track in Sarnia, Ont.
     * a round-dance flash mob organized at a mall in Portland, Ore.
     * in a tent on an island in the Ottawa River

     Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat has been living in a teepee on Victoria Island, not far from Parliament Hill, since Dec. 11. She has vowed to continue her hunger strike until Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a representative of the Crown agree meet with her to discuss treaty rights and provisions of Bill C-45. So far PM Harper appears to be oblivious to the situation, although he has found time to meet with Justin Bieber and to play cribbage with a group of old people. There is at least one petition to PM Harper on her behalf if you wish to add your name.

    

TOO FUNNY FOR COMMENT

1) A tattooed, 230-pound Florida fugitive ends up in one of the coldest major cities (Winnipeg) on the planet just days before Christmas and allegedly robs a bank while dressed as a busty female clown.

2) Tim Hortons has officially opened three kiosks in Iqaluit, meaning the iconic coffee and doughnut chain now has locations in every province and territory in Canada.

***

"Kinder Surprise" are banned in the USA because they pose a danger to small children.

***

HARRY POTTER'S INVISIBILITY CLOAK 

(It does exist - just not in full production yet)

B.C. Maple Ridge-based HyperStealth Biotechnology Corp. in has claimed to have developed a fabric that creates an illusion of invisibility by bending light around a person or object.

The fabric is being called “Quantum Stealth.” There have been similar inventions over the years but his is the only one with a 360-degree view.

Previous attempts to make an invisibility cloak include:

- Feb 2011 Chinese researchers created a structure that changes the way radio waves interact with a - copper cylinder so that it appears to be composed of another material altogether. 

- Sept 2011, a system called ‘ADAPTIV’ patented in Sweden, and developed  by BAE, operates over infra-red and other frequencies but is visible to the naked eye.

- Duke University  created a centimeter-scale (coin size) shield made of  meta-materials for microwaves.

- Peter Van Loan, the government House leader, argued that since the Conservatives hold a majority in the Commons, the outcome of votes was preordained, and hence Parliament did not need to vote on bills. The Speaker of the House emphatically disagreed with him.

A FEW MISCELLANEOUS THINGS

1) Justin Bieber to appear in a sit com ?

2) Air Canada to start its "Rouge" low-cost division  on July 1 with four aircraft, two narrowbody A319s and two widebody B767s.  Rouge will fly to Europe and the Caribbean.


3) Attawapiskat Chief Teresa Spence continues her hunger strike started Dec.11. She will end the hunger strike when the federal government agrees to meet with First Nations leaders and involve them in the legislative process. She is requesting a meeting with PM Harper and the Governor General.

HANG ON - HERE COMES THE END OF THE WORLD

(AGAIN)

The Mayan Calendar predicts the end of the world for December 21st, 2012. You can check the exact time for where you live. NASA says it won't happen.  The Mayans have their reasons.

In this March 20, 2010 file photo, a man performs a ritual as he looks toward the descent of the Kukulkcan serpent, whose image is seen illuminated along the edge of the stairs of the Mayan Chichen Itza pyramid.

NOTE: clock now displays the time SINCE the "end" of the world. 

           WINNIPEG, Manitoba,  time      

For count down for other places of the world 

                                                  ***

HOW TO AVOID THE TRUTH WITHOUT LYING

  (as with the F-35 fighter jet fiasco)

1) For three years don't release information on the expected cost of 65 fighter jets other than that is the only "fifth generation fighter jet available to meet the requirements. When required by vote of the Canadian Parliament to release cost and specifics, refuse to do so. When the Speaker of the House threatens a contempt of Parliament charge, prorogue Parliament and cause an election (2011).

2) State the total cost of the jets as $9 billion dollars and totally ignore maintenance and other costs as required in the governments regulations.

3) Have photo ops of the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense posing in the pilot's seat of a MOCK-UP of  the F-35 aircraft as if it were real. Also, as often as convenient, show pictures off the F-35 flying and doing maneuvers even though the plane is an experimental design without undertaking a full test flight.

4) For 3 years, answer all questions about the F-35 with the sound-bites,"as we have said, the cost of the F-35 is $9 B.", and "not a single dollar has been spent on the acquisition of this plane". Ignore the fact that some $600,000 had been spent on the process of preparing for the acquisition of the experimental plane.

5)  When the Parliamentary Budgetary Officer reports the expected cost to be $15 B attack his competence and ridicule his report. Say it will be $9 B and that there is a contract signed (actually a  memo of understanding)

6) When the Auditor General suggests the cost over 20 years would be $25 B set up an Independent Audit committee and begin distancing the government from the whole project.

 7) When the committee reports that the cost over 40 years (the updated predicted life-span of the  planes) would be in excess of $45 B set up another committee to look into possibly of having an examination of the needs of Canada and the availability of other 5th generation fighter jet.

8) Repeat that the total cost has been capped at $9 B as they have always said its would be. Don`t mention that will mean there will be 11 fewer planes purchased than the number previously stated as the minimum for Canada`s safety. When questioned, say you are pressing the "reset" button. Then keep pressing it.

Note: The timeline for the delivery of  the first  F-35 to Canada (2019) is dangerously close to the estimated end of the current CF-18 fleet life (2020).  There are 8 "fifth generation" fighter jets currently under development with production dates from 1990 to 2020.

     The F-35 has three main models; the F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing variant, the F-35B is a short take off and vertical-landing variant, and the F-35C is a carrier-based variant. Which one is everyone talking about?  Or don't they care? They are not all the same price but it seems price is not an issue.

 

HOW THE MEDIA SELECTS NEWS ITEMS

Two items competed for coverage last week. One received extensive media coverage the other did not.
Which do you think was front and centre of the news?

  

Item 1:

 APTN National News 
OTTAWA –Facing mass country-wide protests under the banner of Idle No More, the Conservative government unveiled its plans for proposed First Nations legislation Tuesday only to have it met by immediate derision.

Item 2:

CBC LIVE ONLINE: The Ikea monkey and Canada's exotic pets

     The "Ikea Monkey," as he's come to be known, has been dominating news headlines, Facebook status updates and water cooler chatter all week - possibly even inspiring some body art.  

The cute monkey in a nice coat won hands down in the media. One cute monkey was by

 far more newsworthy than country-wide First Nations protests with one of their leaders (Chief Theresa Spencer) going on a hunger hunger strike.

COMMON SENSE IS A RARE COMMODITY

     The CBC radio show "This is That" recently presented a deadpan parody suggesting there was a proposed Montreal bylaw requiring all dogs in public parks to be bilingual and that dogs should obey commands in both English and French to avoid confusion.

     The issue went viral after the show posted a segment on its website about the "untenable chaos" that was rife in Montreal dog parks because some animals were receiving commands in French and others in English.      Many readers and viewers took the "bylaw" and even the added suggestion that dog parks be language-free and dog owners must use "tones and hand signals" seriously.

     It was all a joke (duh?).

                                                                           * * *

Canada's Debt VS Deficit

      Canada’s Finance Minister (Flaherty) recently said that our Federal yearly budget (deficit) will not be "balanced" until 2016-17. That just means we will not be increasing the debt after that date.  

      The Prime Minister contradicted him three days later and reaffirmed the government's plan ". . . . to  balance the budget prior to the next federal election (2015)." They disagree by only a year or two of increases to the debt.

     The following updating "clock" shows the TOTAL debt that Canada has accumulated to date. Our children can pay it off some day. Reducing the yearly DEFICIT by adding to the DEBT may make good sound bites but it doesn't change reality. The following updating "clock"  can be downloaded from Taxpayer.com.

.

 GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN CANADA

1) University of Waterloo student team earned the title of this year’s Facebook hackathons Champions over teams from U.S, Canada , Brazil, and Ukraine. It isn't really "hacking". It is more of an APP for finding  groups of your :friends.

2) Maybe it is not a big deal, but the Parti Quebecois (Quebec provincial party) has approved having the Canadian Maple leaf flag fly beside the Quebec Fleur de Lis in their National Assembly. For the party devoted to the separation of Quebec this is a major concession. The fact that a recent poll showed 57% of Quebecois had strong positive feelings for the Maple Leaf flag.

3) Somewhat related to the above, an online survey of 2,287 Canadians found that just 55 per cent are very or somewhat satisfied with the way democracy works in this country. That’s sharply down from the 75 per cent who expressed satisfaction in response to an identical question in 2004.

"Atypical" Canadian Happenings

1) National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations opened a three-day strategy session for First Nations leaders from across Canada with a call for unity in a "shared struggle" for change.

Some of the chiefs went to Parliament Hill, where MP's were to begin voting on the government's second omnibus budget implementation bill. A brief scuffle ensued after security guards stepped in to prevent some of the chiefs and First Nations members from trying to enter the House of Commons.

2) And speaking of scuffles, near the end of the session Wednesday, Peter Van Loan, the government's House Leader, crossed the floor of the Commons to confront his NPD counterpart, Nathan Cullen. Microphones were shut off but tape recorders showed "in-the-face" shaking of fingers complete with use of "f***" words. It was on the way to becoming more typical of a hockey game than the Canadian Parliament when the combatants were physically separated. Not typical of the staid old Canada I used to know.

Why We Need The USA

1) The XL Foods plant was at the centre of an E. coli outbreak in September that led to the largest meat recall in Canadian history. The contamination was discovered by US border inspectors who notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Sept 3rd.
    Until Sept 16th the Canadian government continued to say publicly that the meet was safe. On Sept 16th CFIA sent out its first alert warning with recalls continuing to increase past Nov.16th.  Check the timeline.

2) The RCMP opened an investigation into the spy activities of Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle, a Halifax navy intelligence officer, several months after it received a letter from the FBI notifying them of the possible security breach. The RCMP investigation began only after Delisle voluntary turned himself in as a spy for Russia.

SIGNS THAT CANADA WILL SURVIVE

THE GREEN PARTY IS ALIVE AND WELL

1) The recent three by-elections indicated a strong Green presence in two of them:

                - Calgary Center, which has for decades been a solid Conservative riding in the middle of the oil sands, was seriously threatened by the Liberal and Green Party (37%, 33% and 26%).  There was only a 30% voter turnout.

                - Victoria was won by the NDP with the Green Party a strong second (37% and 34%). The Conservative candidate was a distant third at 14%.

2) Elizabeth May, currently the sole MP representing the Green Party in Parliament, was voted “Parliamentarian of the Year” . However, her clear thinking and straight forward discussions earned her the title by a vote of ALL MP’s without regard to party lines. How very Canadian in our usually dysfunctional Parliament.

 The Legoland Discovery Centre 

is being billed as an interactive and educational two- to three-hour indoor experience geared to families with children aged three to 10.Construction is set to begin this summer on the $12-million centre at Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre, about 30 kilometres north of Toronto, leisure giant Merlin Entertainments announced Thursday. Maybe the park will feature the LEGO Stephen Harper doll that an Ottawa man had created and advertised for $50 on Kijiji.

No more Canadian asbestos exports

Canada's last asbestos mine is being closed after many years of controversy about the deadly product  being sold to Third World countries without proper labeling . Quebec's Jeffrey Mine is being used to simulate the Mars mission initiated by Canada's space agency. Thanks to the newly elected Parti Quebecois provincial government which cancelled its $58 million loan

Recreational Marijuana to be legal 

- for adults 21 in Washington State on Dec 6^th .

- Public consumption of marijuana can mean a $50 fine, similar to alcohol consumption in public.

-  It will be illegal to sell marijuana for recreational use anywhere except state-licensed marijuana stores.       Those stores won't open until at least December 2013.

Major Canadian city mayors vs the law

1) Toronto mayor Rob Ford found guilty of “conflict of interest” and ordered to leave office in 14 days.

        He refused to repay some $3150 obtained for a charity (using official "mayor" letter head and voting in favor of himself (conflict of interest). It wasn't much money (and he did not benefit financial from it) so why is the mayor of Canada’s biggest city being removed from office?  Very simply, the law states that it is the MANDATORY sentence.  This is a prime example of why the Federal Gov't omnibus Criminal Justice Bill 10 calling for of mandatory minimum sentences - like marijuana possession - is a BAD IDEA.

Mandatory sentences are a BAD IDEA - the judge cannot use his/her own judgment in sentencing. Our federal government with

2) Laval (Quebec):  GillesVaillancourt resigned because of corruption allegations although no formal charges.

3) Montreal (Quebec):  Gérald Tremblay resigned over allegations that he turned a blind eye to corruption.

4) London (Ontario): Fontana is staying in office after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and forgery

Car of theYear - Telsa

Tesla Model S: Motor Trend "Car of theYear" Award

(The first electric car to win this award)

 The Tesla S, which is assembled in California, carries a sticker price of $49,900 to $97,900.

 It has a range of 265 miles and accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds.

The company is also building a network of charging stations that run on solar power.

MY CANADA IS DISAPPEARING - FAST

(just like the Arctic Ice and clean atmosphere)

1) $2-million in toys and donations have been stolen from Salvation Army warehouse, just as their annual Christmas "kettles" are appearing on the streets all across Canada. There have always been individuals stealing a few dollars from a single kettle, probably rationalizing their theft as: "well the money is for the poor, and I am poor. I am just helping them with distribution of their money." But $2-million? Who steals toys from needy children at Christmas? And in Canada?

2) Robocalls In Canada.

       Canada has been arguing about the use (or non-use) of robocalls in our Federal Election with great rhetoric, pointed accusations and partisan fury ever since the election (May 2, 2011).  

      Just when the furor seemed to have died down, recent information in the form of emails between Election Canada and the Conservative Party headquarters and their lawyers has re-opened this disquieting chapter of our political scene.

3) The Council of the Confederation is a meting of all the Canadian provincial premiers. This year it is meeting for two days in Halifax to discuss the economy and other matters of importance to all Canadians. As usual, Prime Minister Harper has been invited and has declined to attend without even giving a reason. And he is in Canada at that time.

 4 ) Our Federal government used to be centered around the parliament and the elected Members of Parliament. Over the past few years there seems to be deliberate move to emasculate the Parliamentary process and denigrate its usefulness.

      It began with having government announcements (including presenting the budget) made in locations such as Tim Hortons coffee shop and business establishments. The ultimate affront to Canadians, in my opinion, was the recent signing (in Russia) of a trade agreement between Canada and China, without any significant involvement of our elected Parliament. It would seem that such a major trade agreement could at least have been signed in Canada or China. There are more government announcements (such as the plan to raise the age for pensions) made by the government in foreign countries rather than in our Parliament. 
     This trade agreement is binding for 31 years (compared to NAFTA which can be terminated  or amended on six months notice). It will give Chinese firms in Canada, and Canadian firms in China, 31 years of “protection”  from environmental, human rights or resource conservation measures they don’t like.