This broadcast covers Aboriginal legal action against tar sands; Grassy Narrows mercury poisoning; RCMP’s new submachine guns; product safety with children; Re:Sound music licensing; film pirate Geremi Adam; Israeli attacks in Canada; governmental hacking; Obama’s privatization of space exploration; eco-destruction and economic fear; April 22nd Aboriginal HST protest.
Since the leader of the Ontario Greens, Mike Schreiner, is from Toronto, why doesn’t he try running at home in his own riding? First Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, and now Simcoe–Grey? He should be running in Parkdale–High Park, against one of the many great leaders of a real green party, Cheri DiNovo of the Ontario NDP. Schreiner brings Simcoe–Grey a new meaning to supporting local.
This broadcast covers holocaust soap, drowning seal pups, Ottawa’s federal energy bills, Helena Guergis, Quebec’s budget, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Victoria police brutality, border crossings, the WHO and H1N1, Obama and offshore oil drilling, World Water Day, and nuclear fear.
This broadcast covers the prorogation of Canadian Parliament, and Jack Layton’s motion to prevent minority Prime Minister Stephen Harper from acting as a “king.” Today’s broadcast also looks into the torture of Afghan detainees, the Province of Toronto, bloody protesting, and health concerns relating to diesel trains. Stay tuned to RootsMedia.ca for bi-weekly broadcasts, with new segments.
Have you seen the game Tar Nation yet? It allows you to blast Ignatieff and Harper out of the tar sands using limited supplies of oil. Click here to play the game.
After blasting them out of the ballpark, the Polaris Institute asks you to partake in a campaign to send precomposed letters to the leaders of Canada’s leading political parties. Here is my edited version of the letter:
Subject:
Get [IN] the tar sands
Body:
Dear Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff, [(and cc Elizabeth, Gilles, and Jack)]
I am deeply concerned that you are both stuck in the Alberta tar sands. [Aren't we all? Is the sand actually sticky?]
The tar sands represent the wrong direction for Canada. With three to five times the greenhouse gas emissions as conventional oil [(*chokes*)], severely damaging environmental and social impacts, and negative economic consequences for other provinces, the tar sands are taking Canada in the wrong direction.
[Let's get in the tar sands. Have a leadership debate on the valuable soil itself. Let the public hear and see where each of you stand on the soil. Let's hear what you think the course of action should be. Let's hear ideas for Canada to take global leadership in ecological innovation. Do we need to make use of the tar sands resource? We can save it, for a better day, with better technology, when it will be worth far more than what we get for it now. Because cutting off the flow, or rather stopping the digging, will impact the economy, and cost to stand up to corporations and nations, does not make the tar sands the right direction. Canada has an opportunity, with the right resources, to turn a new leaf. What would it take to create a beneficial green economic shift? It starts with good governance; and for that, we need co-operation of government, and the nation. You are the elected leaders of our nation. Get together, and represent. Have a televised debate, aside from the Circus of Uncommons, and show off your colours. The world is looking for change; let's take real leadership. You, are Canada's elected leaders.]
It is not too late to invest in the new energy economy of the future and turn your back on the tar sands. [We may never need to look back . Go get your fingers in the soil, and report back on it's stickiness; please.]
Sincerely,Ernie Hilts
We miss you Natalie. August 23, 1998 – December 9, 2009
#1 http://rootsmedia.ca/2009-10/86-rally-4-accountability
#2 http://rootsmedia.ca/2009-10/142-police-brutality-western-universit
#3 http://rootsmedia.ca/2009-10/144-balloon-boy
#4 http://daretoremember.com
#5 http://rootsmedia.ca/2009-10/118-families-share-stories
September 22nd, 2009, the County of Simcoe passed a motion by Adjala-Tosorontio Deputy Mayor Doug Little to discontinue construction and future development of North Simcoe Landfill Site 41. The County Council had the motion first on the agenda, and quickly dismissed the dump; wiping their hands clean. Even Warden Tony Guergis, who was the opposition’s main opponent, made a complete turn-around by voting in favour to stop the dump.
Although the County passed this motion, there is still concern over the CoA, Certificate of Approval, being sold to a private company with the land. The CoA, issued by the province, permits development of a dump site on the land. Chris Carrier, Mayor of Collingwood, proposed an amendment to include the CoA in the motion “so there [are] no such values attached to any potential land sale discussion to private development.” Carrier’s amendment motion was not carried. Carrier told me it could be raised again at a later date as a seperate motion. George Lawrence, Deputy Mayor Township of Tiny, at recess following the vote said he will check with the province if the CoA can be transferable.
The sacred fire was ceremonially put out at the camp across from Site 41. Until clarification of the CoA, my “PROTECT OUR WATER,” “STOP DUMP SITE 41″ sign will remain at the front of my house.
Dump Site 41 Stopped!
"A step forward" for democracy. -Steve Ogden
August 25 was a big day, not only for the County of Simcoe, but for the planet.
To further investigate the environmental impacts on the surrounding area, including the purest water, Simcoe County Council voted in favour for an one year moratorium to halt activities of North Simcoe Landfill (Dump Site 41). Also a motion was tabled for next month to stop Dump Site 41 for good. Steve Ogden says it is a “step forward” for democracy.
The following day Tony Guergis, County Warden, in an interview on A Channel News made a complete turn around saying it is time to shut down Site 41. This is not the first time Guergis changed his mind; when running for Mayor he was elected for being in opposition to the dump site, once elected he was in favour. Just because he said this now does not mean he will not change his mind before next council when they discuss the motion to stop Dump Site 41.
The fight is not over yet; the county still needs to completely dismantle the idea of Dump Site 41.
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