Sandra Finley

2012-07-30 Privacy advocates condemn licence plate scanners used by B.C. police

 Privacy of Personal Information; Charter Right; Surveillance; StatsCan Censuses & Surveys  No Responses »
Aug 022012
 

http://www.vancouversun.com/Privacy+advocates+condemn+licence+plate+scanners+used+police/7014353/story.html

Devices being used as surveillance tools, activist says

By CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS, Vancouver Sun

Sgt. Rick Stewart explains the workings of automated licence plate cameras, which scan and check the status of vehicle licences.
Sgt. Rick Stewart explains the workings of automated  licence plate cameras, which scan and check the status of vehicle licences.

Photograph by: ian lindsay , Vancouver  Sun

Provincial RCMP and Vancouver police are using the same automated licence  plate scanners that landed the Victoria police department at the centre of a  B.C. privacy commissioner investigation Monday.

Privacy advocates say the scanning devices are being used as covert  surveillance tools to track citizens and capture unnecessary personal  information about their whereabouts without consent.

“Tracking the movements of innocent drivers represents a serious threat to  Canadian privacy rights — rights which are essential to our freedom of  expression and association,” digital rights activist Kevin McArthur said  Monday.

McArthur is one of three independent researchers behind a report that  prompted the privacy commissioner’s investigation.

Along with journalist Rob Wipond and University of Victoria graduate student  Christopher Parsons, McArthur found much of the scanner data in Victoria was  being saved and stored for undisclosed purposes.

“Authorities have frequently represented the [Automated Licence Plate  Recognition] program to the public as having been ‘reviewed and approved’ by  Canada’s privacy commissioners, but that’s not true,” Wipond said.

But Supt. Denis Boucher, head of RCMP Traffic Services in B.C., said no new  information files are created in the scanning process.

“It’s not used to gather intelligence, it’s used for enforcement action based  on a valid criteria.”

If a plate number is linked to any documented illegal activities, a “hit” is  created, which the officer runs on an in-car computer to verify the  information.

creynolds  AT  vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

2012-07-26 Key Senate Staffer on Military Issues Got Big Payout From Lockheed Martin

 Freedom of Speech. (Remove some wrong postings from category), Lockheed Martin, War Economy (includes Cdn Census & Trials)  No Responses »
Jul 262012
 

http://www.propublica.org/article/key-senate-staffer-on-military-issues-got-big-payout-from-lockheed-martin

By Justin Elliott

Lockheed Martin has big business in Washington, with Defense Department contracts representing more than half of the company’s $46.5 billion in net sales last year. And now, Lockheed has a former top lobbyist in a key position on Capitol Hill overseeing the company.

Former Lockheed vice president Ann Elise Sauer was hired by Sen. John McCain in February as the top Republican staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Ann Elise Sauer

Ann Elise Sauer

The revolving door swings regularly in Washington, but the size of the compensation package Sauer received from Lockheed when she left the company is notable. A financial disclosure form shows the defense giant gave Sauer $1.6 million in compensation around the time she took a buyout in January 2011.

At the moment, the stakes for Lockheed in Washington are even higher than usual, with the company leading the military contracting industry’s charge to convince Congress to avoid a $492 billion, 9-year cut in military spending set to be triggered in January.

Lockheed CEO Robert Stevens was on the Hill this month warning that the company would have to lay off 10,000 employees if Congress does not make a deal. “Most tragically, we feel we will be unable to provide the equipment and support needed by our military forces,” Stevens told the House.

As staff director for the minority on the Senate committee, Sauer has an important role in the battle over the possible military budget cuts. The committee regularly makes decisions that determine the fate of Lockheed’s business.

There is no law barring lobbyists from entering public service on Capitol Hill. But Ben Freeman, national security investigator at the Project on Government Oversight who wrote about Sauer Thursday, says that the presence of a former Lockheed executive in a key position overseeing the company is cause for concern.

“Some of the biggest issues in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee right now deal directly with Lockheed Martin programs,” Freeman says. “These are big-dollar programs that are going through some troubles and need some oversight.”

One example is Lockheed’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which has been plagued by cost overruns and other problems.

Brian Rogers, a spokesman for McCain, said in a statement that the senator made an “unsolicited offer of employment” to Sauer and that she accepted the offer “on a stop-gap, temporary one-year basis.”

“When Ms. Sauer accepted Senator McCain’s offer to lead his Armed Services Committee staff, she did so at her own financial detriment, as she was required to liquidate all remaining Lockheed stock and options in compliance with Senate Ethics Committee guidelines,” Rogers said. (See the full statement.)

Sauer, who has spent much of her career on Capitol Hill in various capacities, is a specialist on the federal budget. She spent 23 years as a Senate staffer, including 14 years with the armed services committee, and a stint as McCain’s legislative director. She left Capitol Hill to join Lockheed in 2000. (Sauer did not respond to a request for comment.)

Sauer spent a decade at the company, rising to be Lockheed’s Washington-based vice president for acquisition policy, logistics, and budget. For most of the time, she was a registered lobbyist who lobbied in the Senate and elsewhere, according to disclosure filings.

“She was the corporation’s federal budget expert,” according to her bio posted on the site of the group Women in Defense, “responsible for tracking and analyzing the federal budget, both defense and non-defense. At various times, she was responsible for managing the corporation’s senior-level interfaces with senior Executive and Legislative Branch officials on a wide array of programs and policy issues.”

She briefly started a military consulting firm specializing in “federal budget and fiscal policy information and insights.” Sauer’s financial disclosure, which is required of senior congressional staffers, lists $55,000 in consulting fees paid by another defense giant, BAE Systems.

Her financial disclosure forms show her final payments from Lockheed included $660,000 in salary and bonus, $769,000 in deferred compensation, and $232,000 in “retired pay.”

Rogers, the McCain spokesman, said that Sauer’s compensation was made up of pay from the buyout program, “normal annual incentive compensation” and “significant deferred compensation.”

Lockheed declined to comment.

Sauer’s case has a precedent. Last year, the House Armed Services Committee hired Thomas MacKenzie, a Northrop Grumman lobbyist who received a large bonus from the company before starting his job on the Hill.

11. Ballantyne

 X Ballantyne  Comments Off on 11. Ballantyne
Jul 202012
 

2012-07-20  Laliberte:  Answer to question from Complaints Officer re competency of submissions

 

George Laliberte

211 Avenue R South

Saskatoon SK

S7M 2Y9   Ph: (306) 979  9315

——————————————————————————————————————————-

July  20, 2012

TO: John H.B. McIntosh

Law Society of Saskatchewan

Designated Complaints Officer

#201-12 Cheadle St West

Swift Current, SK   S9H 0A9

Ph: (306) 778  5240

RE: Timothy Froese and George Laliberte: Law Society File # 80-11818

Dear John McIntosh:

Thank-you for your letter dated July 5, 2012.

In reply to your suggestion “it would be useful to me to know who may have given you any such guidance . . . ”

It will come as no surprise that many First Nations people have gained a lot of experience working within the criminal justice system, in the process gaining thorough knowledge of the law. At the same time, we have numerous relatives who are now First Nations lawyers and Judges that we can turn to for legal advice. I am little familiar with it myself through personal experience working as a First Nations advocate for many years, including being entangled with the law and becoming incarcerated myself in my younger days.

Between that and the fact that there’s always someone who is good at internet research, processes such as “examination for discovery” are becoming common vocabulary for people who frequently have had to deal with the courts, especially First Nations people, survivors of Residential School System.  And as such it is no longer the case that “Some of the terms you use, for example, examination for discovery, would ordinarily only be used by or known to lawyers.”

I consider it a compliment your statement “perhaps has contributed to (my) correspondence being so well written from a legal perspective”.   I am good at conveying and expressing ideas, I am not well versed in writing them down.   And so I had my friend Robert Ballantyne draft my intentions as to be effective and concise in expressing my grievance. Robert has many years experience working as an advocate for Aboriginal peoples in trouble with the law up North, and also has a University degree. With him and a few supportive allies, we collaborate on the wording/drafting of my grievance. With our current communication technology, electronic email correspondence means that we can share documents quite easily, as more heads are always better than one.

In the early stages I did not know which way to turn, I just didn’t want to deal with it period.  It was very upsetting and I became very depressed by the whole situation.  Robert made me come to grips with things.  He said we should no longer allow the dominant society and its institutions use First Nations people as pawns in their agenda to advance themselves.  We have to stand up in order to defend/protect our dignities as individuals and as a Nation and stop the “victimization”.

I hope this answers your questions, if you have further inquiries I am always on a standby to respond to your investigation. Thank you.

 

Yours in harmony & wellness,

 

__________________
George Laliberte

2012-07-13 StatsCan Surveys, Complaint to the Privacy Commissioner

 Lockheed Martin, War Economy (includes Cdn Census & Trials), Privacy of Personal Information; Charter Right; Surveillance; StatsCan Censuses & Surveys  6 Responses »
Jul 152012
 

“In fostering the underlying values of dignity, integrity and autonomy, it is fitting that s. 8 of the Charter should seek to protect a biographical core of personal information which individuals in a free and democratic society would wish to maintain and control from dissemination to the state.”

See:  2010-12-23  Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 8 Privacy, associated Case Law: The Queen Vs Plant protects a “biographical core of personal information” from the state.  Statistics Canada cannot meet the “Oakes Test” to override the Charter Right to privacy of personal information.

 

I submitted a complaint to Federal Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart:

UPDATE, reply received, see:   2012-10-31  Lockheed Martin Census:  follow-up,  complaint to Privacy Commissioner 

STATUS, January 2014:  in the beginning I did follow-up to ensure that the complaint is addressed.  In the end, the matter is buried in the halls of the bureaucracy I suspect.  The following well-docmented complaint has not been answered.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

July 13, 2012

Sandra Finley to Federal Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart

 

COMPLAINT FORM

4.  Summarize your complaint. This is the crux of the matter:

Statistics Canada uses coercion and actual lies to force Canadians to supply information that is personal and protected by the Charter.   StatsCan uses intimidation to take away Canadians’ Charter Right to privacy of personal information.

Note that this happens for StatsCan `Surveys` that fall outside the census.

  • Coercion and intimidation: citizens are told “it is the law”.  If you do not hand over the personal information to Statistics Canada you are liable to be prosecuted;  the sanctions can be a $500 fine and three months in jail.
  • Lies: Statistics Canada uses this force on Canadians, not only during census-taking, but also for “surveys” that take place in between censuses.

The law for surveys is spelt out in the Statistics Act.  Section 8 says that Statistics Canada can collect data in between censuses.  When that happens, it is not called a “Census”. It is called a “survey” and where such information is requested section 31 (jail time and a fine) does not apply in respect of a refusal or neglect to furnish the information.”

 

THE LAW READS:

Section 8 of the Statistics Act.

” Voluntary surveys (Note that the TITLE of Section 8 is “Voluntary surveys”)

8. The Minister may, by order, authorize the obtaining, for a particular purpose, of information, other than information for a census of population or agriculture, on a voluntary basis, but where such information is requested section 31 (jail time and a fine) does not apply in respect of a refusal or neglect to furnish the information.”

The Minister doesn’t have the legislative authority to choose whether to make a survey voluntary or mandatory… he just has the ability to authorize a survey.  If he had the choice to make it mandatory, it would be a charter breach.

  • Evidence that Statistics Canada is using coercion, intimidation and lies on an on-going basis:

I receive a small, steady stream of questions such as “what is the law on StatsCan surveys?” and “what can I do, I am being harassed by StatsCan?”.

I  run an email information service, with a supporting blog,  http://www.sandrafinley.ca .  There is detailed information on the census and surveys.  (I did not fill in a 2006 census form and was charged.  The trial is on-going since 2008, the judge’s decision is under appeal, which is why I am familiar with the territory.  I am on trial over the census – – nothing to do with the `surveys`.)

The questions I receive from other citizens tell me what is happening, but in addition, the “site statistics” for my blog show which pages on the blog are being used and what phrases people used in search engines to find my blog.

The site statistics, in conjunction with the questions/stories I receive, tell me that StatsCan is collecting data on citizens on an on-going basis in between censuses.  AND they are using the threat of legal action if citizens don`t cooperate in supplying personal data to StatsCan.  As pointed out, this is contrary to the law under the Statistics Act, and most explicitly to surveys.

The summary page on my blog about  LockheedMartin, War Economy (also info on Census, Trial)has links to more information, including this – –  questions and stories from Canadians who are the subject of StatsCan’s use of intimidation to take away the Charter Right to Privacy of personal information:  (link)

Don’t know what to do about the census or surveys? What’s happening to other people? some actual questions and answers might be helpful.

The link takes you to some of the input, questions and my responses.  Most of it is in relation to the census, but questions continue because StatsCan is using the same intimidation for on-going surveys.

Phrases entered in search engines that have brought people to my blog, examples:

  • July 13, 2012:  edmonton woman threatened by statistics canada
  • July 12, 2012:  do you have to answer stats canada survey
  • July 11, 2012:  can you be aressted for not filling out a census survey?

NOTE:  the Government SAID they were going to make the ‘census long form’ voluntary.  They never did change the law.   Instead, the census long form is now called the ‘National Household Survey‘.   Under the law, surveys are voluntary.  For more information see my blog.

 

I am further concerned by the implications of the involvement of Lockheed Martin (sub-contractor IBM) in the Canadian census:

THE CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH EXCESSIVE DATA
ON INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS IS BEING COLLECTED,

UNDER COERCION AND ILLEGALLY:

  • In 2004 the B.C. Privacy Commissioner did a detailed inquiry into the implications of the Patriot Act for Canadian data bases.  Conclusion:  the Patriot Act overrides Canadian law.  American Corporations and their subsidiaries, if directed by the U.S. Government (the Pentagon) must hand over to American authorities, data bases to which they have access.  The owner of the data base (e.g. Government of Canada) is not notified when this is done.
  • Lockheed Martin has contracts for the American, Canadian and U.K. censuses of which I am aware.  At my trial Anil Arora, former head of the StatsCan Census operation, told how western nations are cooperating in their census operations.  I think it becomes obvious when you look at the questions on the American and Canadian censuses, for example.  They are pretty much the same.
  • If you look on Lockheed Martin’s website you will see that an area of business operations is “international surveillance”.

Look at the information in the public sphere:

(I believe “visa-free access” is a tactic of attempted intimidation to which Canadians should not bow.)

“… In exchange for continued visa-free access to the United States, American officials are pressuring the federal government to supply them with more information on Canadians, says an influential analyst on Canada-U.S. relations.

Not only about (routine) individuals, but also about people that you may be looking at for reasons, but there’s no indictment and there’s no charge,” Christopher Sands of the Hudson Institute told a security intelligence conference in Ottawa yesterday. . Canadian officials have said this country will meet the new standard, “plus or minus a little,” by 2011, he said. “But there’ll be tremendous pressure (from the U.S.) to get there faster.”

  • 2006 September:   The President of the Americas for Lockheed Martin, Ron Covais, active on the SPP with Stephen Harper, tells Macleans Magazine in an article entitled “Meet NAFTA 2.0” “We’ve decided not to recommend any things that would require legislative changes, because we won’t get anywhere.” The main avenue for changes would be through executive agencies, bureaucrats and regulations, he said, adding: “The guidance from the ministers was, ‘Tell us what we need to do and we’ll make it happen.’”
  • The year prior to the U.S. 2010 census, the Americans hired 100,000 workers to go building-to-building with a hand-held GPS locator device.  The purpose of the exercise is to marry GPS locator information to the individual census data record for each citizen.  Arora said they do not have plans to do this in Canada.  But I have doubts about the reliability of his testimony because of other assertions that were misleading.
  • from the evidence given at my trial by former StatsCan employee and head of the census operation, Anil Arora:   as of the 2006 census, the citizen’s name is on the computerized detailed census record (formerly, only a code number was on the individual record;  the code number could be used to find a microfiche record that had a name.).
  • I think it is a mistake to ignore the lessons of history:  2008-12-06  MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PAGE ON MY BLOG: The role of mechanized census data in Nazi Europe. Why we have a Charter Right to privacy of personal information. Edwin Black, IBM and the Holocaust, the Strategic Alliance Between Nazi Germany and America’s Most Powerful Corporation.

BACK TO THE COMPLAINT FORM:

4.    Continued.  Steps you have taken to try to resolve it. Please see #5, the next item.

5. and 6.  Have you attempted to resolve the matter with the Department?  … copy of correspondence.   Did you write to the Department .

I don’t know about the relevance of my communications with Statistics Canada for the purposes of the Privacy Commissioner.  Most of it was motivated by objection to Lockheed Martin’s involvement in the census.   Their involvement places the security of personal information at greater risk.  However,  that is a secondary factor.   Statistics Canada is blatantly violating the Charter Right to privacy of personal information at the first step which is collection of data.

(See APPENDED NOTE concerning WHAT they are demanding.) I have communicated with StatsCan about my concerns and objections:  (I first wrote to the Chief Statistician, Ivan Felligi, in 2004 but about Lockheed Martin`s participation in the Canadian census, not directly about privacy issues.)

2006:  I was back-and-forth in correspondence with Ivan Felligi, Chief Statistician, repeating that my objection expressed in 2004 is to Lockheed Martin’s involvement. He does not address Lockheed Martin’s public record of court convictions, fines, etc. in his responses other than to say that through NAFTA American corporations can submit bids.

In 2006 during the taking of the census I had a 45-minute telephone conversation with Anil Arora who was at that time head of the census operation.

2007 June:  The StatsCan mantra when you ask them about the morality of contracting-out to Lockheed Martin is “Not our responsibility. The contracts were negotiated by Public Works.”

2008 March:  I guess it`s a form of communication – – I was presented with a summons to appear in Court.

2010  July 24:  I sent a chronology of information to Munir Sheikh (Chief Statistician, later resigned). It explained a big part of the problem with the census and why many people will not cooperate with it.

2011-06-05  Cogent letter to Statistics Canada: my right to privacy is of utmost importance to me. (I did not write this,  it is another attempt by another Canadian to bring StatsCan to its senses.)

2011-02-11  I sent an email to the new head of StatsCan, Wayne Smith.  It centred on the problems with Lockheed Martin’s involvement in the census, but it did include the legal argument which is the Charter Right to privacy of personal information.   I received no response.

7.   Who have you dealt with?

Ivan Felligi, former Chief Statistician, now gone.

Anil Arora, former head of the Census Operation, now gone.

Wayne Smith,  Current Chief Statistician

Minister Responsible for StatsCan, Tony Clement  (sent an email to him, no response.)

Thank-you for taking my complaint under consideration.   My phone is 306 373 8078 if I can be of further assistance.

 

Sincerely,

Sandra Finley

2011-09-22 U of S documents concerning the CCNI (Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation). Includes Council Meeting Sept 2011 to approve the CCNI.

 Nuclear, Take back the University  No Responses »
Jul 142012
 
Please click on this link:    CCNI docs from U of S Council Mtg 22 Sep 2011
The document begins with
AGENDA ITEM NO: 9.3,
UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

PLANNING AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REQUEST FOR DECISION PRESENTED BY:

Bob Tyler, Chair, Planning and Priorities Committee
DATE OF MEETING: September 22, 2011

SUBJECT: Proposal to establish the Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation as a Type C Centre
DECISION REQUESTED

It is recommended:   That Council approve the establishment of the Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation as a Type C Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, and recommend the approval of the Centre to the Board of Governors.  . . .

2012-07-12 Carleton University admits to issues with $15-million donor deal for politics school

 Corporatocracy or Democracy or Administrative State or WHAT?, Take back the University  No Responses »
Jul 142012
 

 

Bruce Cheadle

OTTAWA — The Canadian Press (includes correction)

Published Thursday, Jul. 12 2012;    Last updated Friday, Jul. 13

730 comments

Carleton University says the $15-million donor agreement for its showcase school of political management, fronted by Preston Manning, does not reflect the university’s academic policies and will be renegotiated.

The concession comes as the Canadian Association of University Teachers prepares a broadside at what it calls “unprece-dented and unacceptable” provisions in Carleton’s secret deal with Calgary businessman Clayton Riddell.

The latest incident highlights what James Turk, CAUT’s executive director, called a worrisome trend in which some cash-strapped Canadian universities have given up their academic independence to the highest bidder.

“The integrity of what universities are is at stake,” Mr. Turk said in an interview.

“As soon as you allow people to buy positions in the university through their donations – to influence who’s hired, what the curriculum’s going to be, what kind of research questions are asked, what kind of answers are come up with – then really the public would lose, and should lose, its confidence in what the university is and the university would lose its distinctiveness.”

Carleton quietly released the donor agreement on the Friday afternoon before Canada Day after stonewalling The Canadian Press for almost a year to keep it under wraps.

The contract reveals the Riddell Foundation effectively appointed three of five people on a steering committee. That committee was given sweeping power over the graduate program’s budget, academic hiring, executive director and curriculum.

Said Mr. Turk: “That’s just unheard of.”

Mr. Manning, the former Reform party founder, chairs the committee, while his former chief of staff Cliff Fryers sits on it along with Chris Froggatt – the former chief of staff to Conservative cabinet minister John Baird – and two university representatives.

Carleton plans to “rework the provisions in collaboration with the donor,” spokeswoman Beth Gorham told The Canadian Press in an e-mail.

According to the university statement, the donor agreement “did not fully reflect Carleton’s policies and procedures with regard to budget management and selection of staff.”

Carleton stressed that all hiring decisions for the Clayton H. Riddell School of Political Management, which enters its second academic year this September, were made using regular, proper procedures.

“Donor participation at Carleton is not unusual,” the statement noted. “But there is a difference between participation and decision-making and it’s an important distinction. The university provides direction and makes decisions according to established academic policies, processes and procedures.”

The political management school was launched in October, 2010, to much publicity, with the stated aim of providing practical, “cross-partisan” training for aspiring political staffers.

Mr. Manning and his staunchly partisan conservative Manning Centre for Building Democracy were front and centre, while the university trumpeted Riddell’s $15-million pledge as “the largest single donation in Carleton’s history.”

“The vision and determination of Mr. Manning and the generosity and wisdom of Mr. Riddell exemplify the transformational power of individuals,” university president Roseann O’Reilly Runte said in a Carleton release at the time.

But when the particulars of the donor agreement were sought under Ontario’s access to information law, Carleton refused outright. A heavily redacted version was eventually released following mediation; the case was going to arbitration when the university released the full document on the eve of a summer holiday weekend.

Private donor agreements within publicly funded universities have been making news of late over issues of academic freedom, corporate control and public policy manipulation.

This spring, the CAUT threatened to boycott Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo if they did not “amend the governance structure for the Balsillie School of International Affairs so that academic integrity is ensured.” York University’s Osgoode Hall later cancelled a deal with the Centre for International Governance Innovation over similar concerns.

CAUT has studied the newly released Carleton agreement and “it raises all of the same questions,” said Mr. Turk.

“Arguably it goes farther than the agreement between Balsillie and Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier. It’s absolutely unprecedented and unacceptable for a university to give a donor or a donor’s foundation any voice whatsoever in hiring or curriculum or any other academic matter.”

Mr. Turk noted the irony that the suspect agreement comes from a school designed to train future political support staff who will advise the country’s leaders, but he absolved Mr. Riddell of blame.

“The bad guys, if I can put it that way in this, are the universities and not the donors. That donors would want to have influence is not surprising. But they only have influence if the universities give it to them.”

And given that the Manning Centre is proudly partisan, Mr. Turk said the decision to hand over control of the steering committee to Mr. Manning and Mr. Riddell’s proxies is perplexing.

“So the fact that the university then would agree to the governance of this program being in part given over to the donor just makes the whole program suspect. But in a more worrisome way it just makes the whole university suspect.”

While Carleton had argued its concern in releasing the document was over Mr. Riddell’s financial privacy, the redacted sections suggest otherwise.

Provisions blacked out by the university simply reveal the timetable for Mr. Riddell’s publicly announced $15-million donation, along with a provision that his foundation can assess the school’s performance after five years and withhold the final $10-million if it is not satisfied.

The existence, composition and function of the steering committee was entirely redacted.

So was a paragraph in an appendix stating, “This initiative enjoys the full support of Carleton University President and Vice-Chancellor Roseann O’Reilly Runte. She is working closely with an advisory group on the formation of this graduate program.”

That group included Mr. Manning, former NDP national party director Robin Sears, former Liberal cabinet minister and Newfoundland premier Brian Tobin, and Christopher Arterton, an American academic with connections to the Democrats who founded a school of political management at George Washington University.

The Washington-based Centre for American Progress published a study in October, 2010 that exposed numerous problematic deals involving American universities and major energy companies.

The study, titled “Big Oil Goes to College,” examined 10 agreements worth almost $1-billion and concluded that almost all of them undermined the schools’ independence and integrity.

In addition, news reports exposed that the billionaire Koch brothers have been giving universities funds for entrepreneurial studies provided their staunchly Republican foundation could pick the faculty and set curriculum. And since 2005, U.S. banking giant BB&T has spent millions to get colleges and universities to develop programs on Ayn Rand’s books and right-wing economic philosophy.

CAUT is currently conducting a study in Canada looking at collaborative research deals between universities and third parties. It has collected between 15 and 18 such agreements and will produce a report in the autumn.

“It’s becoming more pronounced in Canada,” said David Robinson, the director of research and advocacy at CAUT.

“This is something that’s relatively new. Unfortunately it’s not isolated just to Canada. It’s happening in the U.S., it’s happening in Europe as well.”

Editor’s Note: York University cancelled a donor agreement with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, to which Jim Balsillie is a minority contributor. Incorrect information appeared in an earlier version of this article.

2012-04-10 Mercury fillings: it looks as though they have never been approved for use? Canadian Dental Assoc (CDA) false and misleading statements.

 Mercury poisoning, dental amalgams. See also Vaccinations.  No Responses »
Jul 142012
 
(I can’t get the formatting to hold)
Note: the Canadian Dental Assoc, like the American Dental Assoc, is seen as an industry group.
Dave: There is something else that I came across last night that is a little disturbing and I’m not sure what is going on but may be valuable for your conversations. The summary is that it appears that the Food and medical devices bureau (Health Canada) has never approved amalgams. They are however responsible for the safety of its use (if that makes any sense).
Health Canada Response to the Canadian Dental Association
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) had on their website some ‘questions and answers’ about amalgam which was effectively their policy statement about amalgam. In 1996 Dr Richard Tobin, director of Health Canada’s Medical Devices Bureau, urged the dental association to correct wrong information about amalgam fillings it has been sending to dentists: 510
Canadian Dental Association (CDA) information:

Q. Is dental amalgam approved for use in Canada?
A. Yes, dental amalgam is approved for use in Canada by Health Protection Branch.

Rebuttal by Dr. Richard Tobin, Canada Health:
‘ This statement is categorically false.   Dental amalgam has never undergone pre-market review in Canada because it was in use before the Medical Devices Regulations were established. The CDA previously published this misinformation in a paper in the CDA Journal in May 1995. At that time, we informed the CDA of this error, but CDA has repeated it here. ‘
Canadian Dental Association (CDA)

A. Scientific literature on the topic, as a whole, supports the position that amounts released are generally less than mercury picked up from natural sources.

Dr Richard Tobin, Canada Health:
“This may be a misleading over-simplification. The World Health Organization states that dental amalgam is the largest single source of mercury exposure for persons not occupationally exposed (World Health Organization, 1991. Inorganic Mercury. Environmental Health Criteria 1 18. International Program on Chemical Safety. Geneva).”
Robert Gammal BDS � 2011  22
Canadian Dental Association (CDA)

Q. Is the mercury which is released from fillings absorbed into the body?
A. Yes, but in extremely small amounts, i.e. in MILLIONTHS of a gram (this is very small amount, 0.000001 grams).

Dr Richard Tobin, Canada Health:
“This answer is rather condescending and insulting to the intelligence of readers. By emphasizing only how small a microgram is it implies that a microgram of toxic material could not be harmful.  What is significant is not how many zeroes there are in a microgram, but how many micrograms of mercury are released by and compared to the number of micrograms required to cause illness. The fact is that a level of only one hundred millionths of a gram of mercury per gram of Creatinine in urine is considered to indicate clinical mercury poisoning.”
This from Robert Gammal’s letter available here http://www.robertgammal.com/PDFs/Open-Letter-to-Deans.pdf.    I
don’t know if you have read this, but it is a damn good document.
B)   In addition to this, the wording on the Health Canada website (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/md-im/applic-demande/pubs/dent_amalgam-eng.php) on amalgam still remains as this.
In January 1994 dental filling materials were explicitly excluded from the list of devices subject to pre-market review under the Medical Devices Regulations.
Even though dental materials are not subject to pre-market review, they are subject to the general safety provisions of the Food and Drugs Act and Medical Devices Regulations. The Branch has the authority to regulate the sale of such materials if there is a safety concern. To date, no regulatory measures have been invoked with regard to amalgam.
It appears that there is some reviewing of amalgam and other previously exempted  dental materials.  This isn’t the environmental exemption, this is the medical devices deal.  Did we prepare anything for this… I didn’t know of this until now.   Time to have some conversations and see what is going on.

Bruce Power siting of reactor, attempts to buy options on land in “Big Bend“ of the North Sask River

 Nuclear  No Responses »
Jul 102012
 

1. Early 2009.  I received an anonymous call.  The person, a man, did not want to say anything that could be used to identify him.  He is from the area north of Lloydminster.  He was seeking information and assistance. He found my name by googling.

The former MLA had approached him. The former MLA was well-liked in the area, a friendly guy,  (not well-liked after this.  Residents felt betrayed.) and was acting on behalf of Bruce Power. The former MLA wanted to buy options on this man`s land for the building of a nuclear reactor.  He impressed on this man that the conversation was confidential, by law.

The man had not said anything to his neighbours for fear of getting into trouble with the law.  I offered as much assistance as I could, referred him to Clean Green for more, and told him he should feel comfortable about discussing this with his neighbours.

He had not entered into a contract, there was no exchange of money, there is no case at law, the former MLA was using the threat of a lawsuit as an intimidation tactic to keep people from talking with each other about BP`s plans to assemble land upon which to build a reactor.

I gave the man my email address. And received email from him after the veil of secrecy and fear was lifted.

2.  That was the first call. I remember it best.  It wasn`t long before other people from the Paradise Hill – Hillmond area got in touch with CleanGreen and anti-nukers in Alberta.

3.  In another phone call and through conversations at the subsequent Community Information Meeting in Paradise Hill, the story was the same.  This former MLA approaching people to try and buy options on their land, stressing that the conversation was confidential, they were not to talk about it to anyone else, they could get into trouble with the law if they did.   (The Public Meeting in Paradise Hill drew between 400 and 500 people, of all backgrounds, some from Onion Lake First Nations, some Hutterites, people came from Alberta along with local townspeople, farm and ranch families (Saskatchewan).)

The former MLA responded to a question by one rancher with the information that they wanted land in the `Big Bend` because the reactor would then have water flowing by on more than one side.

4.  We went to people in the area of the River north of Saskatoon where there is another `big bend`.  A local person looked up the landowners.
All the landowners were contacted with an alert about Bruce Power`s attempts to buy land for a reactor.

2009-07-08 NUKE: University presidents join legislators and business leaders, “first time ever”. Idaho certification in Energy. Intro to PNWER. Wall and University strike deal on small nuclear reactor. Already have a small reactor at SRC.

 Nuclear  No Responses »
Jul 082012
 

Pacific Northwest Summit (Government and Business):

  • 15 University Presidents will be in attendance.    See  below, (2)   PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUMMIT STARTS SUNDAY.

Note:

  • The Idaho National Laboratory role is a nuclear one.  Both Alberta and Saskatchewan have signed contracts related to nuclear collaboration with Idaho N.L..
  • You will see below the programme at Idaho University whereby elected officials can attend a training course and obtain certification in North American Energy policy.
  • The Pacific Northwest Summit was in July 2009.   In June 2009 the Western Governors and Premiers had their usual annual meeting, after which it was announced that Brad Wall is “co-spearhead of the largest on the planet, Canada-U.S. Western Energy Corridor”.    See  2009-06-15 Premiers, governors promote Canada-U.S. energy corridor. Brad Wall co-chair, “largest on the planet” . . .
  • There are no laws in Saskatchewan to prevent political contributions from corporations.  Brad Wall was in Alberta prior to getting elected, and after, raising money for the Saskatchewan Party.

I just wish these guys would address the fact that we’re running out of hydro-carbons, instead of investing gargantuan sums of money in nuclear reactors to hasten the depletion.

There will be INsignificant money for the development of conservation and alternatives.  They are not dealing with the real issue.  Which only ensures a hard landing, economically and environmentally.

I am outraged that all of this work is done between “legislators” and “business leaders” and now university presidents.  Public participation is non-existent. This is not democratic government.  It would not be so bad if they were at least making wise decisions.

– – – – – – –  –

Hi Sandra

I found some interesting info when I was surfing last night. I looked up the Idaho National Laboratory and searched Saskatchewan on their site. The agreement between SK and INL is definitely about the North American Energy corridor, it includes water as well as energy, and it includes developing nukes for tar sands. I’m attaching documents and links for you to see.

Cathy

http://owlsandroosters.blogspot.com/2009/05/sask-on-board-with-idaho-national.html
Joe Kuchta’s blog, quite a bit of info on the agreement between SK and INL

http://www.ptac.org/links/dl/inlcanada.pdf
VERY interesting – its a few years old but it is record of a strategy meeting between an official delegation from Canada and the INL

The attached documents are power point presentations on the NA energy corridor and US strategic interests in Canada’s fossil fuels, water and nuclear resources.

/Cathy

CONTENTS

(1)    U.S., ALBERTA TO STUDY NUCLEAR ROLE IN OILSANDS

(2)   PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUMMIT STARTS SUNDAY

(3)   REACTOR PARTNERSHIP REACHED: GOVT, U OF S TO PURSUE MEDICAL ISOTOPE PRODUCTION

(4)   NEWS:  OILSANDS COULD GREEN IMAGE WITH NUCLEAR

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(1)    U.S., ALBERTA TO STUDY NUCLEAR ROLE IN TAR SANDS

EDMONTON (CNS) –

The Alberta Research Council and the U.S. energy department’s main nuclear laboratory in Idaho have signed an agreement to investigate ways to use electricity, heat and chemical byproducts from reactors proposed north of Edmonton for oilsands development.

“This is a marriage made in heaven,” said Bill Rogers, associate director of the Idaho laboratory.

Although no budget for the collaboration was announced, he said all his operation’s 3,800 scientists can potentially be drafted into the Alberta project.

In the U.S. view, Alberta stands out for reliability and stability as a supplier, he emphasized.  Elsewhere, “we face nationalization of resources in countries that are hostile to the U.S.,” Rogers said.

(FULL TEXT, see  http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=6334)

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(2)   PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUMMIT STARTS SUNDAY

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-08-2009/0005056956&EDATE=

Media Advisory – U.S. and Canadian Legislators, Business Leaders to meet at Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Summit in Boise

BOISE, ID, July 8 /PRNewswire/

– The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) will host its 19th Annual Summit July 12-16, 2009 in Boise at the Boise Centre.

PNWER is the only forum for collaborative bi-national planning and policy development involving both the public and private sectors. Leaders from government and business will come together at the 2009 Summit to address a number of priorities for the Pacific Northwest region, including energy efficiency, water policy, invasive species, agriculture, cross-border livestock issues and innovation.

A detailed program and agenda is available at  http://www.pnwer.org/2009summit/Home/tabid/1376/Default.aspx

Scheduled speakers include:
–   Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter
–   David Bieter, Mayor, City of Boise
–   Congressman Walt Minnick
–   Premier Floyd Roland, Northwest Territories
–   Jack Lemley, Executive Advisor, Lemley International
–   Dean Allen, CEO McKinstry
–   Steve Wright, Administrator, BPA
–   Steve Reynolds, CEO, Puget Sound Energy
–   Doug Bloom, President, Spectra Energy Transmission West
–   Hon. Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport and 2010 Olympics (Canadian Federal Government)

Other highlights:

–   University President’s Roundtable – first time ever University Presidents from both the US and Canada will meet to discuss Innovation and collaboration in the region (15 University Presidents will be in attendance)

–   Cross border Livestock Health Summit

–   First Energy Horizon Legislative Institute

– 30 Legislators from throughout the Region to be certified on Energy Policy by University of Idaho, PNWER, and National Conference of State Legislators

–   Northwest Food Processors Association to feature energy efficiency strategy for the Region

–   Water Policy to focus on water management policies and overview of the Columbia River Treaty

–   Energy – Regional roundtable on Carbon and Energy Policy; Energy Efficiency and Conservation; Meeting the Challenge with Renewable and Emerging Technologies – wind, solar, ocean and river. Admiral John Grossenbacher, Idaho National Laboratory, will chair a session led by INL on emerging regional interests in nuclear energy, western energy corridor – Opportunities and Leadership; and Plug in Hybrids

–   Building Transmission for the future – Session to address regional transmission projects

About PNWER

The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is a regional U.S.-Canadian forum dedicated to encouraging global economic competitiveness and preserving our world-class natural environment.

Its member states include: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Yukon.

PNWER is recognized by both the United States and Canada as the model for regional and bi-national cooperation because of its proven success. PNWER is a respected voice and resource for the region, and provides the public and private sectors a cross-border forum for dialogue that capitalizes upon the synergies between business leaders and government who work to advance the region’s economic strength and sustainability. To learn more visit www.pnwer.org.

SOURCE Pacific Northwest Economic Region

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(3)  REACTOR PARTNERSHIP REACHED: GOVT, U OF S TO PURSUE MEDICAL ISOTOPE PRODUCTION

Check out Brad Wall’s unequivocal statements about developing nuclear reactors in Saskatchewan for use in the tar sands.  For example:

  • 2007-05-23 Brad Wall spells out “small reactor technology” to “develop our oil sands”.   (Prior to forming the Government.)
  • 2008-03-28 Wall says he has big plans for nuclear power.  (After winning the 2007 Election and becoming Premier.)
    in Sask.

 

Read the following with a grain or five of salt.

 

By James Wood, The StarPhoenix July 9, 2009

The provincial government and the University of Saskatchewan have struck a partnership to pursue a nuclear research reactor that will produce medical isotopes in Saskatoon, Premier Brad Wall said Wednesday.

Work continues apace on a proposal that will be submitted by the end-of-the-month deadline to the federal government as it considers how Canada can secure a long-term supply of isotopes, Wall said.

A small reactor focused on nuclear material science and isotope production could cost somewhere in the range of $500 million, the premier said outside a meeting of the Saskatchewan Party cabinet at the legislature.

“We could just be a world leader in this and again it has to make sense. There are some longer-term funding issues here. We think there is a role for the federal government. We’re not rushing into anything but there is an opportunity for our province to lead and I think we should at least explore it aggressively,” Wall told reporters.

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. announced Wednesday its problem-plagued Chalk River reactor — supplier of one-third of the world’s medical isotopes before being shut down in May — will remain closed at least until the end of the year, causing a significant worldwide shortage of the isotopes used for cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Wall has attracted criticism for his pursuit of a nuclear research reactor before public consultations are completed on the findings of the government-appointed Uranium Development Partnership, which aims to “add value” to Saskatchewan’s world-leading supply of uranium.

He said again Wednesday the government is working against tight federal timelines, but will listen closely if it is found there is strong public opposition to a research reactor.

The research reactor working group formed by the government, the university and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is being co-chaired by U of- vice-president of finance and resources Richard Florizone, who chaired the UDP, and Crown Investments Corp. vice-president and longtime Sask. Party insider Iain Harry.

The UDP report said a medical isotope reactor by itself did not make economic sense for Saskatchewan, but recommended the province pursue a broader research reactor that could produce medical isotopes, the tack the province is taking.

Florizone said the university is developing the concept of an interdisciplinary centre of nuclear excellence and sees a research reactor as a potentially good fit.

There is also a strong potential research tie-in with the Canadian Light Source synchrotron located on campus, he said, noting facilities such as the one in Grenoble, France, have research reactors and synchrotrons located together.

While that is an attractive option, safety and environmental questions would need to be dealt with, said Florizone. He added a reactor would not necessarily be located on campus but would be situated somewhere in the Saskatoon area.

“We’ve had faculty that are interested in this. We have an issue of national importance. We see a reason why the U of- and the province could assist in this national issue. We see how it could help the country. We see how it could build on the university’s research strength,” he said.

There are also possible industrial research applications for a reactor and the university is investigating potential revenue sources.

Wall acknowledged the research reactor could be a money-loser for the province for some time, but said he believes there would be a long-run economic benefit for the province.

“Governments should be involved in pure research. I think that’s one of the ways we can diversify our economy away from relying on commodities,” he said.

Saskatoon is already home to a small 20-kilowatt research reactor located at the Saskatchewan Research Council facility at Innovation Place that tests water, soil, vegetation and animal tissue.

The province is embroiled in debate over Saskatchewan’s nuclear future, with the UDP recommending the development of an electricity-generating nuclear reactor and Ontario-based Bruce Power contemplating a two-reactor power plant capable of producing 2,000 megawatts.

Peter Prebble, director of energy and water policy for the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, notes a research reactor would be significantly smaller, likely around 10 megawatts.

But the history of the Chalk River plant, with its most recent shutdown stemming from a radioactive water leak, illustrates there are issues with research reactors that need to be examined thoroughly before any decision is made, he said.

A research reactor also produces radioactive waste, although on a much smaller scale than a nuclear power plant.

“The issues are the same but the scale is very different,” said Prebble.

“In the case of a power reactor, in Saskatchewan we have much better alternatives. In the case of a medical isotopes research reactor, this may be a circumstance where the benefits outweigh the risks. But there would definitely still be risks.”

jwood  AT  sp.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

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(4)   NEWS:  OILSANDS COULD GREEN IMAGE WITH NUCLEAR

(I don’t think they have an option:  if they are going to develop the tar sands as they intend, they have to have an energy source to replace the use of natural gas.   “ . . . And that cost could include the addition of four large nu-clear power plants and around two dozen small nuclear energy facilities by 2030,under one of the scenarios . . “

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Oilsands+could+green+image+with+nuclear/1587496/story.html

Oilsands could green image with nuclear

By Dan Healing, Calgary HeraldMay 12, 2009

“Green bitumen” — an oilsands product that is acceptable to environmentally sensitive buyers — can be achieved, but it will come at a high cost, according to a study released overnight Tuesday by the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI).

And that cost could include the addition of four large nu-clear power plants and around two dozen small nuclear energy facilities by 2030,under one of the scenarios painted by the Calgary-based think-tank.

The study from the energy economics and policy research institute, which is sponsored by governments, the University of Calgary and private companies, says the oilsands must counter its “dirty oil” image or face losing key markets in the United States and Canada.

It notes that with California adopting a low carbon fuel standard, and the U.S. Congress pro-posing a national one, business can’t continue as usual.

“There has to be some sort of certainty,”said CERI research director David McColl. “First, you have to have compliance costs. (Companies) have to have a reasonable idea what it’s going to cost to emit five or 10 years from now.

“Once you know it’s going to cost you to emit, then you can look and ask,’Is it is cheaper for me to pay a penalty and emit or is it cheaper for me to capture my emissions and sequester it?’ It doesn’t matter if it’s federal or provincial(regulation),what matters is that industry finds the plan credible.”

According to the report, going green means replacing natural gas as a fuel source with nuclear energy or gasified coal or coke or, if natural gas or synthetic gas are still to be employed, cutting overall air emissions through carbon capture and storage.

But Simon Dyer, oilsands director of the environmental Pembina Institute, said nuclear energy is unacceptable because of the pollution it creates on the uranium mining side and with disposal of wastes.

“People who are talking about nuclear are talking about it as a way to move away from fossil fuels, not to actually increase fossil fuel production.”

As for carbon capture, he said, it’s not yet been demonstrated to be physically or economically possible in oilsands, although it is promising for coal-fired electrical plants.

McColl said the oilsands industry needs to cut 40 million to 60 million tonnes per year, something that can’t be done overnight.

Convincing the industry to clean up will require incentives, the report notes.  Alberta’s current penalty of$ 15 per tonne for carbon emissions over limits would rise to$65 by 2018 under CERI’s scenario.

“If you were to impose $65 a tonne today on the oilsands industry, they would have no choice but to pay it,” saidMc-Coll. “They couldn’t build a carbon capture network overnight.”

Dyer agreed the $15 is inadequate.

Nuclear power is a cleaner way to create the electricity, hot water and steam that oilsands projects need, McColl said.

“It makes sense, in the sense of, if you want to go green you could use a zero-emission source,” he said.

But he added carbon capture will have the biggest effect on emissions levels.

A chart in the report projects that a 100,000-barrel-per-day upgrader sourcing Athabasca bitumen from a mine now emits about 65 kilograms of greenhouse gases per barrel of synthetic crude. That could drop to 15 kilograms with a combination of gasification and carbon capture and to zero kilograms with nuclear power.

Similarly, a 30,000-bpd in situ thermal project could cut its emissions from 83 kilograms per barrel to 22 with gasification and carbon capture and to zero with nuclear energy.

dhealing AT  theherald.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

2009- Nuke. The Empires dissect us. Why I won’t quit. Ogoni, Saro-Wiwa, Royal Dutch Shell, Niger Delta oil, local destruction and poverty.

 Corporatocracy or Democracy or Administrative State or WHAT?, Energy  No Responses »
Jul 082012
 

American corporate interests and the Chinese are in a turf war in Saskatchewan.  Who will “own” us and our resources?   Control of oil and gas (tar sands) with the nuclear reactors needed for tar sands expansion.

I wonder: BEFORE the destruction, in the lead-up to Royal Dutch Shell’s “development” of the oil and gas reserves in the Niger Delta, did the Ogoni people have any idea – did they have a resistance movement?  Or did they only find out when it was too late?

What was it like in Alberta BEFORE the devastation of the Tar Sands became known?  They, like the Ogoni, are dealing with things TOO LATE, after the destruction has occurred.  Same story as for the Aamjiwnaang of Sarnia ON, after Suncor’s petro-chemical plants set up shop next door to them.

In Saskatchewan we have the luxery of peering over the border.  We know with absolute certainty what is coming down the pipeline.   It has already started – – the acidification of lakes and land in northern Saskatchewan, some already past critical load limits, downwind from the tar sands belching out the poisons.

It’s not just for us, the people of Saskatchewan. … I am reminded of David Orchard’s book, The Fight For Canada.  Canadian history is one of attempted invasions by the Americans.  I wonder whether my generation will go down in history as the one that gave up and succumbed to the take-over.

Maybe it won’t be the American Empire that takes and poisons the resources and water of our place in the world.  Maybe it will be the Chinese who have bought into the tar sands to the tune of $1.2 billion dollars.  And who will be in Saskatoon October 19 – 22 for a Chinese – First Nations Economic Development Exposition.

It is surreal, like Frodo and the Lord of the Rings.  The ordinary person called on to do his job.

As I see it, “we” must win the battle over the nuclear reactors which means we keep the power at the community level which means we win the battle over tar sands development which means we move onto the path of renewable energy sources that don’t destroy the Earth.

If we DON’T WIN that battle IN SASKATCHEWAN, if we don’t make the transition to a different way of viewing the world, to conservation, renewable energy sources, and social democratic government, we will leave our children the legacy of impoverishment.  Look at the Ogoni.

On October 21st George Bush (who dropped bombs on Iraq  to secure American corporate interests in oil) will be addressing an audience in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (if we are unable to force Canadian Border Services or the RCMP or the Saskatoon Police to bring charges against him for violations of Canadian and International Law).   On Saturday past,  two American senators and the Governor of Montana visited us.  Unheard of.

RE the Chinese:  “there is an economic development conference (CHINEX2009) between China and First Nations in Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, October 19 – 22. This is an excellent venue in which to protest the tar sands development as this is a high profile event and also this is about our own people taking part in the destruction of our environment… do you know people who can come and protest here?  I will help out with communications and meetings …”

If EITHER the American corporate interests or the Chinese prevail, northern Saskatchewan will be like northern Alberta.  They will only stop when the destruction of the Earth and water is complete.

In order to halt their agenda I think we have to be successful in joining hand-to-hand without regard for individual background.  Everyone possible has to be empowered, and responsible.   All hands on deck!

THE SIGNIFICANCE of your visit:   just the fact of your coming has already helped to build more and strengthen the existing connections between native and non-native groups in Saskatchewan.

Karen was the one who proposed your name as a powerful speaker.  It turns out to be a stroke of genius – not even planned.  Karen has heard you speak in the past and has great respect for you and your work.  When she said, “Winona LaDuke would be great, if we could ever get her!”  it was not out of a strategic plan to involve First Nations people.  It was simply on the basis of you.

It is as things continue to unfold that we come to understand the inspiration behind Karen’s suggestion.

Before you have even arrived there is a great deal of excitement and working together as I have never seen before in my days in Saskatchewan.  I believe we can prevail.

– – – –

“ . . . massive and proven oil and gas reserves”.

Tar sands.  Mineral resources.  Water resources.  Alas!  They attract the oil and gas corporations –  American, Chinese, Dutch, whatever.  “Petro-states” replace democratic government.

(I think that great young fellow from Greenpeace, Mike Hudema, might have recently convinced the Norwegians that their state-owned oil company should vacate the Tar Sands.   Wonderful work on behalf of sanity – many thanks Mike!)

The story of the Ogoni in Nigeria, Patrice Lumumba in the Congo (copper mines), “Saro-Wiwa and eight of his comrades in MOSOP were hanged on November 10, 1995, by Nigeria’s then military regime after a controversial trial in which the writer and politician was accused of ordering the murder of four prominent Ogonis.

The executions sparked international condemnation — Nigeria was kicked out of the Commonwealth — and most Ogonis still believe that Saro-Wiwa was framed because he opposed the government and Anglo-Dutch oil firm Royal Dutch Shell.

Ogoni land is a tract of densely-inhabited forest and farmland lying along the fringes of the Niger Delta wetlands north and east of Port Harcourt. It is home to around 500,000 Ogonis and massive and proven oil and gas reserves.

Shell owns the rights to pump Ogoni oil and was already earning large revenues from the territory in the early 1990s when MOSOP began to mount protests.

Saro-Wiwa argued that Ogoni farmland and fishing areas were being damaged by oil pollution and that the industry’s profits were not being shared with local communities. The military reacted with savage punishment raids, driving thousands of Ogonis into exile.

Mitee said that Shell would not be allowed to return to Ogoniland until it found a way to prevent pollution poisoning the region and paid full compensation to the community.

In 2005 the Nigerian government set up a committee, headed by a Roman Catholic cleric, Matthew Hassan Kukah, to reconcile Shell with MOSOP. The panel has made little progress, however, and Shell officials say they are in no hurry to return.

Shell has always insisted it had nothing to do with the decision to try Saro-Wiwa, but in the face of local anger and an international consumer boycott it shut down its Ogoni operations in 1993 — before the executions took place — and has yet to reopen the pumps.

Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 but, while Ogoniland has been spared much of the violence that has raged elsewhere in the delta in recent years, Saro-Wiwa’s people remain politically weak and mired in poverty.”

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