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.

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.

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

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.

Would you pollute the purest water in the world?

Take action, visit: http://www.StopDumpSite41.ca 
Form to write all Councillors: http://www.canadians.org/action/2009/10-Aug-09.html

It is the purest water at risk, not just my backyard. The water located at the proposed North Simcoe Landfill, Dump Site 41, is comparable to core samples of 5,000 to 6,000 year old artic ice. The dump site is a global concern attracting public figures, scientists, and politicians; such as Maude Barlow, who is the adviser on water to the president of the United Nations, and chairperson of the Council of Canadians; David Suzuki, one of Canada’s leading environmental scientists; and even Ralph Nader, past American presidential candidate.

Professor William Shotyk, of the University of Heidelberg in Germany, tested the water in 2006 and discovered the remarkable low level of heavy metals. In other areas water needs to be softened and filtered in attempt to remove pollutants and metals known to cause cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many other serious illnesses.

Pesticides, fertilizers, and pollutants are currently being filtered naturally through the glacial debris in the ground. The Alliston aquifer’s upper aquitard is being destroyed and will provide a direct channel for pharmaceuticals and toxic waste to the aquitard’s 13 rivers and streams, and the aquifer.

There is no need to throw this dump site into any backyard, when the other dump sites managed by the County of Simcoe could have more than 40 remaining years of their lifespan. Their lifespan could be longer when taking in consideration of the continuing advancement and innovation of recycling and composting.

The Alliston aquifer’s “backyard” from Georgian Bay to the Oak Ridges Moraine consists of many species with a better excuse than any other backyard: the purest water in the world; which makes the site the world’s backyard. As the world is running out of clean fresh water, we need to protect what we have. More and more Blue Wave People from around the world are standing up and putting out a call to stop Dump Site 41. This water needs to be celebrated, not polluted.

Dale Goldhawk fights back!

My previous videos on Site 41:

• 2007 Katy Austin, Simcoe-Grey NDP Candidate
• July 4th, 2009 walk
• July 25, 2009 Rally for a Moratorium