Sandra Finley

2011-03-25 Fair Vote Canada announces federal election results

 Voting System (Proportional Representation vs Winner Take All/FPTP)  No Responses »
Mar 262011
 

Two short messages from Wayne.

1.     ———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Wayne Smith

March 26, 2011

Fair Vote Canada announces federal election results

Although the writ has barely dropped, Canada’s citizens’ movement for electoral reform reckons it’s not too soon to announce the results of the coming federal election.

“Our dysfunctional voting system throws up erratic and irrational results,” says Bronwen Bruch, President of Fair Vote Canada, “but some outcomes are sadly predictable.”

So, the national grassroots movement is confidently predicting the following:

  • Most Canadians will be “represented” in Parliament by somebody they voted against. Under the current, winner-take-all system, votes for losing candidates do not help to elect anybody and are essentially wasted votes.
  • Canada will elect less than 25% women to Parliament. That’s about as good as it gets with our voting system. Fifty countries do better than we do in this regard, most of them using proportional voting systems. Every democracy with at least 30% women in its legislature uses a proportional voting system.
  • The Conservatives will win every seat in Alberta, or all but one, with about 65% of the votes.
  • The Liberals will win almost all the seats in Canada’s major cities, with about half the votes.
  • The NDP will get one million more votes than the Bloc Quebecois, but the BQ will win almost twice as many seats.
  • The Bloc Quebecois will win two-thirds of the seats in Quebec with half the votes.
  • The Green Party will get one million votes (enough to elect 25 Conservatives) but will not win any seats.
  • Voter turnout will be the lowest in history, or close to it. When your vote doesn’t make a difference, why bother? Unprecedented amounts of negative campaign advertising will deliberately foster apathy and cynicism.

“Our antique voting system is not really competitive,” added Fair Vote Canada Executive Director Wayne Smith. “Two-thirds of Canadian voters already know who will be elected in their riding, before the votes are even cast. Really, it’s a tribute to Canadians’ sense of civic duty that any of us bother to vote at all.”

-30-

Contact:

Wayne Smith

416-407-7009

Wayne.Smith  AT   FairVote.Ca

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2.    SECOND MESSAGE FROM WAYNE

Sent: March-25-11 7:40 PM
To: fvcchapters
Subject: [FVCchapters] that other election

FVC organizers and chapter leaders:

Here we go!

For the next 35 days or so, our “dry, technical, boring” issue is newsworthy and relevant in the eyes of the media and the public. This is our moment to step forward and speak out for a better democracy in Canada!

Already, I am happy to report, new memberships, donations, and signatures on the Declaration of Voters’ Rights are pouring in. The Declaration is sitting at  9247 signatures as I am writing this. It would be sweet if we could announce the 10,000th signature during the election campaign!

It’s time to mobilize your local group and develop a plan of action for your area. Call a meeting!

Here’s what we need to do:

  • Distribute flyers.
  • Talk to our friends, our neighbours, our co-workers, the people on the bus, anybody who will listen.
  • Go to the all-candidates’ meetings. Ask a question, such as, “This is for all the candidates—do you think it’s acceptable that we have a voting system under which most of us are ‘represented’ in Parliament by people we voted against?” or “Do you think it’s acceptable that we have a voting system under which a single political party that gets 40% of the votes can win a ‘majority’ government and have unaccountable power for four years?”
  • Write a letter to the editor.
  • Call a talk show.
  • Saturate the Web with posts and comments on Web sites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and news pages.
  • Let people know about Fair Vote Canada, and encourage them to sign the Declaration, make a donation, become a member, and volunteer.

The most devastating thing politicians say to me when I talk to them about changing the voting system is, “I’m not hearing this on the doorstep.” So let’s make this the “Take It To The Doorstep” campaign! When the candidates show up at your house, tell them we need a new voting system, and hand them a flyer.

And let’s put flyers in mailboxes! It’s OK during an election campaign. You can hit a few hundred houses in an evening, a few thousand over the course of the campaign. And find a few other people to do it with you.

The most cost-effective way for us to distribute material is for you to download material from the Resources page of our Web site, http://www.fairvote.ca/en/resources, get copies printed yourself and hand them out.

However, we will be printing and shipping some commercially printed flyers too. HOW MANY DO YOU NEED? Let me know right away. We have only a few weeks to get them and distribute them.

It looks like there is a very high level of dissatisfaction out there with the hyper-partisan nature of politics these days. Unprecedented amounts of negative advertising, deliberately designed to promote apathy and cynicism, are drawing attention in the media. We know that all this is fostered by the winner-take-all nature of our current voting system, and we need to make sure every voter and every newspaper columnist and editor gets that message too.

Proportional voting promotes diversity and rewards cooperation. It requires sharing power, and fosters a more consensual type of government and a more civilized style of politics. Promoting civil civic discourse is what we are all about. We are passionate, but always polite. We get our message across, but we listen more than we speak.

Oh, and “coalition” is not a dirty word. Coalition government is the normal way of doing things in most developed countries!

Start by reviewing some of the introductory material on our Web site. It’s alway helpful to know what you’re talking about. But keep it simple! Give people a simple message (We need a new voting system.)  and save the details for answering questions. Don’t waste time and energy debating the merits of this or that hypothetical system.

First we need to establish the basics:

  • Our current voting system is broken—winner-take-all means a few winners and lots of losers.
  • Elections are about choosing our representatives, and we are ALL entitled to representation.
  • It doesn’t have to be this way—proportional voting makes every vote count.

Here’s a slogan for you: “If we want politics to be different, we need a vote that makes a difference.” Say that to every human being you speak to for the next month, and use it as the answer to every question, including the ones about the weather. (Yes, we can learn something from politicians!) Say it to the dog, too, it’s good practice.

Give me feedback! Tell me what you are hearing on the street, what’s going well and what’s not, and I will share it in an election blog on FairVote.Ca. That’s how we learn together and build a team with spirit and momentum.

Now get to work.

Thanks!

�
Wayne Smith

Executive Director

2011-03-25 Democracy in Canada: Sign the Declaration of the Voices-Voix Coalition

 Freedom of Speech. (Remove some wrong postings from category)  No Responses »
Mar 262011
 

(See  2011-03-26.  I sent an email to the organizers of this event.   Suggested an addition to the Declaration based on the Myth of Democracy – – it’s actually large corporate interests working hand-in-glove with Government officials and some bureaucrats who are calling the shots.  That issue has to be addressed if we are to recover our democracy.   Public Private Partnerships (P3’s or PPP’s)  must be challenged.  They create corporatocracy.)

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A coalition of more than 200 Canadian organizations called “Voices – Voix” has asked all parties to sign an eight-point pledge to take action to restore and strengthen the state of democracy and human rights in Canada.    To sign the pledge, go to the Voices-Voix web site: http://www.voices-voix.ca/ 

 Voices – Voix will be holding a rally on Parliament Hill on Wednesday, April 6.  Everyone in the Ottawa area is invited to come out. 

Sign the Declaration of the Voices-Voix Coalition 

http://www.voices-voix.ca/en/sign-the-declaration 

Raise Your Voice !
Thursday, June 17th, 2010 

– – – – 

Since 2006 the Government of Canada has systematically undermined democratic institutions and practices, and has eroded the protection of free speech, and other fundamental human rights. It has deliberately set out to silence the voices of organizations or individuals who raise concerns about government policies or disagree with government positions. It has weakened Canada’s international standing as a leader in human rights. The impact and consequences for the health of democracy, freedom of expression, and the state of human rights protection in Canada are unparalleled.

Organizations that disagree with the Government’s positions and/or engage in advocacy have had their mandates criticised and their funding threatened, reduced or discontinued. In many cases these organizations have a long history of service to the public, such as KAIROS, MATCH International, the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, Alternatives, the Canadian Arab Federation, the Climate Action Network, the National Association of Women and the Law and the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. The Court Challenges Program, which funded many human-rights cases, has had its mandate drastically reduced. The Women’s Program at Status of Women Canada now effectively excludes many women’s groups that conduct research and work to advance women’s equality and participation in society. 

Individuals have been personally sanctioned in response to their efforts to defend democratic and human rights principles. Linda Keen, President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and three managers from the highly respected organization Rights and Democracy have all been summarily dismissed. Peter Tinsley, Chair of the Military Police Complaints Commission, was not renewed in his position. Diplomat Richard Colvin was intimidated and derided for his parliamentary testimony about the torture of Afghan detainees handed over by the Canadian military. Partisan appointments to the board of directors of Rights and Democracy resulted in the resignation of internationally renowned board members and have thrown the organization into crisis. 

Further, an unprecedented level of secrecy now shrouds a long list of government activities and decisions, making it increasingly difficult for the public to hold the government accountable across a range of fundamentally important issues. Robert Marleau, the Federal Information Commissioner, has reported that access to information regarding government action has been restricted. Diplomats, leaders of governmental agencies, public officials, senior military officers, and scientists at Environment Canada are being pressured to obey a law of silence and censored from communicating to the Canadian public. 

The Government has eroded freedom of the press by exercising central control of the information available to journalists. It abused the right to prorogue Parliament in order to avoid serious allegations that the Canadian military has been complicit in the torture of Afghan detainees.

The Government has taken positions domestically and within such key international bodies as the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council that undermine essential human rights, environmental and other global principles. The government’s actions have set back or weakened crucial international human rights initiatives such as global protection of the rights of Indigenous peoples, a worldwide moratorium on executions, more effective protection of human rights in the Middle East, protection against torture, the rights of gays and lesbians, the rights of women, and the rights of children. Among many distressing examples, since the Supreme Court of Canada found that Canada is responsible for continuing violations of Omar Khadr’s human rights, the government’s response has been grossly inadequate and a source of shame on the world stage. 

In this context, Canadian democratic institutions, civil society organizations, and human rights defenders have been weakened, marginalized and silenced. Their capacity to monitor and safeguard the respect for democracy, free speech, and other rights is in jeopardy. The quality and health of democratic life in Canada is under serious threat. 

United, we call upon the Government of Canada to: 

  1. Respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression 

Therefore,

Cease to deliberately target those who speak out against government policies with the use of smear campaigns, dismissal from employment, funding cuts, blatant and subtle threats, regulations designed to obfuscate and prevent public debate, and other acts of bad faith.

Commit to parliamentary hearings in the Fall of 2010 that address widespread concerns about the loss of democratic space in Canada. 

2.       Act in accordance with Canada’s democratic traditions and values 

Therefore,

Actively promote and support political diversity and public debate, instead of avoiding it.

Recognize and respect the vital role, expertise, and necessary independence of civil society organizations. 

3.     Be transparent 

Therefore,

Demonstrate full respect for and accountability to the Parliament of Canada and the Canadian People.

Allow complete access for Canadians to information regarding public policy decisions.

Base funding decisions for government and civil society organizations on fair standards and democratic principles, instead of partisan agendas. 

SIGN THE PETITION AT:   http://www.voices-voix.ca/en/sign-the-declaration 

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MORE:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/962022–walkom-yes-contempt-of-parliament-does-matter

2011-03-23 Lockheed Martin and FBI in biometrics. Census battle in Ireland April 10. UK is March 27. Canada in May.

 Lockheed Martin, War Economy (includes Cdn Census & Trials)  No Responses »
Mar 232011
 

Click on INDEX for a complete chronological listing of supporting information.

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I’m nuts,  this concerns me  (click on the embedded links for the full text):

  • 2011-03-08    Lockheed Martin is working with the FBI on a large centre for biometric identification of individual people,  “FBI Announces Creation of Biometric Database”
  • 2009-07-01    The American National Security Agency (NSA) is building a $1.6 billion storage facility in Utah to warehouse personal surveillance data.  They’re the people with a budget way larger than the FBI, who monitor all the phone calls and emails and . . .  you name it.  
  • Lockheed Martin is behind the American Census.  Most Americans do not know about LM’s involvement in their Census Bureau.  Lockheed would hold the same influence in Canada and in the U.K., except that they have been slowed down by public awareness here.  For people in Scotland and Ireland it is CACI Corporation instead of LM, but all the same, the American military-industrial complex.  
  • ALWAYS, in history, detailed files on citizens are the enabler of a police state.  Access to census data bases may be the last give-away.

10% is roughly the portion of Canadian Government revenue that goes to military spending.   The contracts for Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth bombers were untendered and not debated in Parliament.  The Government has racked up the largest debt, set to escalate because of the $16 to $32 billion dollars for the bombers. 

My Mother, bless her, is worried because I deducted 10% of my Income Tax and paid it to Conscience Canada instead of to Revenue Canada.  

It makes complete sense to me that I did what I did.  …  . . . .  We are coming to the place that former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower warned against.  

  • 2011-01-20    Amy Goodman (“Democracy Now”),  Footage of President Dwight Eisenhower on the dangers of the military-industrial complex
  • 2011-01-17    WATCH:  President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1961 farewell speech,  Plus,  Words of Wisdom from Eisenhower. 

Lockheed Martin, FBI, NSA, biometric identification, $1.6 billion dollar surveillance centres, census data bases in Canada, the UK, Ireland – –  It is pretty clear to see where the psychopaths are headed.   A small sampling from the  INDEX in case you need more convincing:

  • 2011-03-07   York Regional Police, Vancouver, Saskatoon Police, Ottawa — all with armoured vehicles (“Cougars”).    From  March 2010, Vancouver: “The RCMP said the so-called “Cougars for cops” is a national program, and residents of other cities can expect to see the vehicles on their streets too.”   
  • 2011-02-08   Lockheed Martin in Schools AND The Twisted Path From Cairo to Burlington by Laurie Essig.  We are all fighting the same battle.   
  • 2011-01- 15   video, an interview with William Hartung, author of “Prophets of War, Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military Industrial Complex“

“Vigilance” is hardly adequate.  We need to stop this, wherever and however we can.   If it means refusing to cooperate with Lockheed Martin Corporation, or non-violent resistance in the form of partial Income Tax payments to Conscience Canada, it is a small price to pay for democracy.  

Among the greatest war generals in history were Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr.   They used much smarter weapons, they were incredibly smarter than the military leaders we have today —  who are really only the stooges for making profits for Lockheed Martin and other weapons manufacturers.  They have no conscience.  They are arming the world with more and more lethal weapons.  Another force taking us to the brink for survival on this planet.   Think of all that money invested in a new way of being in the world. 

SMART WAR:   From the Museum of Non-Violent Resistance at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin:  (full text at 2011-01-13)

“… nonviolent resistance as a political force is still young, its possibilities not yet well enough known, and is thus seldom an incitement to the masses and is seldom encouraged by the media. For all that, those striving for human rights are dependent on our solidarity and the feeling is growing of an ever increasing threat through the power of dictatorships, the armaments race and the immobility of bureaucrats. 

Gandhi presented the principles of nonviolent resistance to the world, but the methods – corresponding to the various hierarchies – have to be very different, should they lead to success. Through the multiplicity of nonviolent resistance, so rich in ideas, it can be demonstrated that the most powerful effective opposing forces can be mobilized against every form of violence …” 

The Berlin Wall and the Communist regime in East Germany came down. The non-violent resistance that brought it down is graphically recorded in this homey, old, cramped museum. . . .

=- – – – – – – – –  – – – – – – – – – – —

Do not doubt the value of a couple of minutes.

That’s all it takes to think of ONE person who might know someone in Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales.  

Spread the word.  You cannot rely on the mainstream media to do it. 

Do not cooperate with the census.  Use your census form to give a strong message to the Government: “No to Lockheed Martin”.   (or CACI)

2011-03-23    Census Scandal.  Irish people say NO to torture company carrying out their census.  The Census in Ireland is April 10th.

It seems that the level of awareness in Ireland about American military contractors in their census is low.  WHO do you know in Ireland? 

I didn’t realize that there is also an EU-wide census this year.  I don’t know which contractors are behind it.

Wikipedia:

A Census in Germany (German: Volkszählung) was held every five years from 1875 to 1910. After the World Wars, only few full population census were held, the last in 1987[1]. Germany, which since has relied on population samples, will participate in the EU-wide census in 2011.[2][3]

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/10182/2006/00000090/00000003/00000246;jsessionid=qs2nodt48ghb.alexandra 

Germany was the only country which did not participate in the EU-wide census in 2000. A traditional census was not feasible on political scale due to high costs and low acceptance by the population.      …  the census in Germany is in May.

If you know what Lockheed Martin and the American security forces are up to,

You would pass this along.

It is only through knowing and acting that we can prevent them from turning our world upside down.

2011-03-23 Irish Census Scandal. Irish people say NO to torture company carrying out their census

 Lockheed Martin, War Economy (includes Cdn Census & Trials)  No Responses »
Mar 222011
 

The census in Ireland is April 10th.

WHO do you know that knows someone in Ireland?    Please help spread the word – – census boycott.

  • CACI is the same corporation as the Scottish people are fighting in their census,  see  2011-03-07    Huge row brewing in Scotland:  Human rights group urges 11th-hour census U-turn over Abu Ghraib abuse concerns.  
  •  I sent an email of solidarity to the organizers in Ireland – it’s appended.

http://irishcensusscandal.org/

CACI (UK) to carry out the Irish 2011 Census

Posted: March 19, 2011 by Irish Census Scandal

Do you know anything about the foreign company that will be collecting your personal details for the 2011 Irish Census?  

Interrogation techniques  

CACI Interrogation Interrogation techniques  

 CACI are a US Intelligence gathering company who have been accused of providing staff to inflict torture and rape on innocent Iraqi civilians in Abu Ghraib interrogation camp just outside of Baghdad in 2004.

  • CACI staff interrogated prisoners held without charge or trial and did so under US rules of engagement that permitted sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation and intimidation by dogs.
  • CACI is alleged by former Abu Ghraib prisoners to have been responsible for their torture and ill-treatment in ways that went far beyond anything permitted under US rules of engagement including forced nudity, electrical shocks and mock executions.
  • These allegations are the subject of ongoing lawsuits in the US. They are supported by very substantial evidence.
  • CACI has so far refused to address the substance of the allegations but has instead chosen to argue that, as a US Government contractor, it is immune to proceedings under US law.
  • The Irish tax payer is paying €6.7 Million to CACI for carrying out the Census.
Innocent Iraqi Civilians

PLEASE HELP US INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. ALL DONATIONS GO TOWARDS PRINTING 100,000 LEAFLETS. 

THE LEAFLETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON SATURDAY 2ND APRIL

EMAIL OF SOLIDARITY SENT (March 22):

Hi!

I am from Canada.  We are fighting the involvement of the American military in our census, Lockheed Martin Corp (same as UK).  The Scots have CACI, same as you. 

I didn’t fill in my census form in 2006, and was charged.  Eventually found guilty and given an absolute discharge.  The guilty decision is now under appeal.  Our census is in May,  I am pushing the Court to hear and decide before then.

Good for you for standing up to psychopaths!  Please go to the button “Lockheed Martin …” at the top of my blog, www.sandrafinley.ca  – – you will see that the resistance is larger and larger all the time. 

The support is great – –  People in networks here will know people in Ireland – – I’ll send out a request for people to contact anyone they might know in Ireland.   Fight the good fight!   Best wishes!

2011-03-19 A HUGE WIN! GMO: Riceland Awarded $136.8 Million In Suit Against Bayer CropScience

 Food, Genetically Modified  No Responses »
Mar 222011
 

I love  to share good news!  

We have been following the GMO rice story (USA).    

  • 2006-08-31  USA has knowingly been shipping banned GM rice to Great Britain. US rice farmers sue Bayer CropScience over GM rice.
  • 2009-12         Bayer to pay two American rice farmers $1 million each for losses from Bayer’s GM rice.
  • 2010-02-01  EU urged not to approve Bayer’s GM rice. Staple food endangered.
  • 2010-02-11   Manipulators without conscience. This is your food. Bayer’s GM rice.
NOW THIS!  (makes me smile!)
US rice farmers were awarded $136 million in their lawsuit against Bayer CropScience over genetically modified rice. In July 2006, Bayer´s Liberty Link Rice, a variety that was not approved for commercial distribution or human consumption anywhere in the world, appeared in the harvest of American rice farmers.

The Coalition against Bayer Dangers which leads a campaign against the authorization of LL Rice welcomes the verdict. All info on the campaign: www.cbgnetwork.org/3193.html 

March 19, 2011 Arkansas Business News

Riceland Awarded $136.8 Million In Suit Against Bayer CropScience

A Stuttgart jury on Friday awarded Riceland Foods Inc. $136.8 million in its lawsuit against Bayer CropScience over genetically modified rice. The award is believed to be the largest in Arkansas history. The circuit court jury said Bayer CropScience owed Riceland $11.8 million in compensatory damages and $125 million in punitive damages.

In an e-mailed statement Friday night, Bayer CropScience expressed its disappointment with the verdict and said it was considering its legal options. It also noted that Arkansas law limits punitive damages to $1 million.

A Riceland spokesman, Bill J. Reed, said in an e-mailed statement: “We are pleased that the jury’s award recognizes the tremendous harm caused to Riceland and the entire rice industry when Bayer contaminated the U.S. rice supply with its Liberty Link rice. 

“Riceland feels vindicated that the jury also found that Bayer was solely responsible for the farmers’ damages resulting from the loss of the European Union market.

“Although Riceland sought more in compensatory damages, we respect the jury’s verdict.”

Riceland had alleged that negligence on the part of Bayer CropScience of Research Triangle Park, N.C., had cost Riceland, a farmers cooperative, $380 million in both projected and future losses since August 2006. That was when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Bayer’s experimental Liberty Link rice had been found in the U.S. supply of long-grain rice.

The European Union, which had been a major customer for Arkansas rice, refused to import any rice showing traces of genetically modified organisms, or GMO. With the USDA announcement that trace amounts of GMO rice had been detected, Arkansas farmers lost the multination market of the EU, and, they said, millions of dollars in sales. Arkansas grows more rice than any other state. Although the EU in June lifted its testing requirements for U.S. rice, other suppliers have moved into the European market and supplanted American farmers, according to advocates of U.S. rice farmers.

Since then, a number of lawsuits have been filed against Bayer. In April 2010, a Lonoke County Circuit Court found Bayer responsible for $5.9 million in compensatory and $42 million in punitive damages to 12 Lonoke County rice growers. Bayer appealed the decision. By Jan Cottingham

Coalition against BAYER Dangers
www.CBGnetwork.org (in English)
CBGnetwork@aol.com
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Advisory Board
Prof. Juergen Junginger, designer
Prof. Dr. Juergen Rochlitz, chemist, former member of the German parliament
Wolfram Esche, attorney
Dr. Sigrid Müller, pharmacologist
Prof. Rainer Roth, social scientist
Eva Bulling-Schroeter, member of the German parliament
Prof. Dr. Anton Schneider, biologist
Dr. Janis Schmelzer, historian,
Dr. Erika Abczynski, pediatrician

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2011-03-22 Greenpeace shuts down Darlington nuclear hearing

 Corporatocracy or Democracy or Administrative State or WHAT?, Nuclear  No Responses »
Mar 222011
 

Thank Goodness for these young people and for Greenpeace.  Maybe sanity will prevail. 

The battle has been waging in Ontario:

  • The Government is moving ahead with plans to build new reactors, in spite of what is happening in Japan. 
  • The issue of the transport of the radioactive generators from the nuclear plants through the Great Lakes to Sweden.
  • The industry working with the Government.
  • “Hearings” that don’t hear. 

Today’s news, Greenpeace drawing attention to the “hearings” is yet another example:  corporatocracy breeds civil unrest. 

The goals of the corporations are opposed to the goals of citizens. 

From  2004-09-13  J. K. Galbraith, “The Economics of Innocent Fraud”.   PPPs (Public Private Partnerships) 

“As the corporate interest moves to power in what was the public sector, it serves, predictably, the corporate interest.  That is its purpose.”  

  1. The Greenpeace notice is followed by news reports from
  2. The Toronto Star
  3. The Vancouver Sun

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

  1.   —– Original Message —–

From: Greenpeace Canada

Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:52 AM

Subject: LIVE: Greenpeace shuts down Darlington nuclear hearing 

With thanks to Elaine. 

Who writes 

video isn’t great but …..check it out!  Read the supportive Comments on the right-hand side

View this email online
Happening now: Greenpeace shuts down Darlington nuclear hearingGreenpeace activists have shut down hearings for new nuclear reactors in Ontario by locking themselves down in front of the panel at the centre of the hearing.Watch live streaming video from inside the hearings.

The four activists have locked themselves in front of the panel to prevent the hearing from continuin with a banner that reads “No nukes are safe – Stop Darlington”. Other volunteers have taped over their mouths, symbolically bearing witness to a flawed hearing process that fails to allow discussion of important issues such as catastrophic events and clean energy alternatives.

The government of Ontario is moving full speed ahead to build new nuclear reactors at Darlington, just outside of Toronto, even while a nuclear disaster continues to unfold in Japan.

Last week and again yesterday, Greenpeace and other groups called for the hearings to be suspended until more is known about safety concerns highlighted by the events in Japan, but this call has been ignored.

Take action with us: Email Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Opposition leader Tim Hudak demanding Ontario choose safe and clean energy alternatives.

Donate      View Online      Unsubscribe

2.       TORONTO STAR

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/957878–greenpeace-disrupts-darlington-nuclear-hearings

Greenpeace crashes Darlington nuclear hearings

John Spears Business Reporter

Greenpeace demonstrators have brought hearings into new nuclear reactors to a halt.

Around 9 a.m., demonstrations began by nine protesters, four of whom chained themselves to a table at the front of the room in a church in Courtice where a panel is hearing safety and environmental issues on the proposed new reactors.

Shortly after 11 a.m., a police officer and hearing officials asked the four chained protestsors if they would move to the back of the room.

If they didn’t move, the officer said, “you’re going to be removed, and arrested and held for a bail hearing.”

The protestors declined.

“We’re continuing to disrupt the hearings that are happening today that we feel are unjust, especially given the situation that’s happening in Japan,” said Laura Severinac, one of the four.

“We feel that nuclear energy is dirty, dangerous and expensive and we want these hearings suspended.”

The five women who had not chained themselves to the table agreed to move to the back of the hearing room with their protest sign.

But the four who had chained themselves to the table refused to budge.

“We’re not prepared to leave until they stop the hearing,” said Alex Speers-Roesch, one of the four.

The four demonstrators who had chained themselves to the table held up banners reading “No Nukes are Safe, Stop Darlington.”

Although the protest wasn’t physically preventing the hearings from proceeding, Chairman Alan Graham called an adjournment when he asked them to move.

Five of the demonstrators have taped their mouths closed.

“We don’t want these hearings to be used as a promotion for OPG’s project,” said Greenpeace spokesman Shawn-Patrick Stensil.

“This process shouldn’t be used to legitimate that project.”

Ontario Power Generation, or OPG, wants to build the new reactors.

The demonstration follows a request Monday by environmental groups who had asked the panel to postpone the hearings in light of the nuclear crisis in Japan. They had argued for a pause to that more information on the Japanese crisis could be gathered.

The panel refused to delay the hearings, and they had been due to resume this morning.

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3.        VANCOUVER SUN

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Greenpeace+activists+delay+nuclear+hearings/4483521/story.html

Greenpeace activists delay Ont. nuclear hearings

Postmedia News March 22, 2011 8:03 AM

Hearings into Ontario’s plans to build new nuclear reactors were delayed Tuesday following a protest by Greenpeace demonstrators.

Four demonstrators chained themselves to a table at a church in Courtice, Ont., where the hearings were being held. The demonstrators held up banners reading “No nukes are safe” and “Stop Darlington.” Five more demonstrators with a similar banner taped their mouths shut.

Allan Graham, the chair of the hearings, adjourned the second day of proceedings after the demonstrators silently refused when asked to move. The hearings were expected to resume later in the day.

The hearings are investigating environmental and safety issues surrounding Ontario Power Generation’s plans to build new nuclear reactors at the province’s Darlington nuclear power plant.

Staff from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission were scheduled to present their conclusions on Ontario Power Generation’s environmental assessments Tuesday morning.

Greenpeace campaigner Sean-Patrick Stensil tweeted from the hearings, saying “GP activists lock down Darlington hearings.”

On Monday, Graham had rejected calls from several groups for the hearings to be postponed.

The hearings are scheduled to run until April 8.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

2011-03-21 Trial, Lockheed Martin: Request that Appeal be heard and decided before the May census

 Lockheed Martin, War Economy (includes Cdn Census & Trials)  No Responses »
Mar 212011
 
From: Sandra Finley    Sent: March 16, 2011 10:17 AM
To: Steve Seiferling
Subject: Census Lockheed: R v Finley, timing of Appeal hearing vis-a-vis Census in May (CA52011)

Hi Steve, 

REQUEST: 

Please have a conversation with the Court to see if it is possible for the Appeal to be heard and a decision delivered in time for the Census in May.  Unless there is some reason that you see,  not to. 

MY POSITION:

The rule of law is critical to peace and good governance.

But citizens have to know what the law is, as a prerequisite to the rule of law.

I work to strengthen the rule of law, not diminish it. 

CURRENT SITUATION VIS-À-VIS THE CENSUS:

Citizens do not know what the law is. 

We do not know if we have a Charter Right to privacy of personal information, or not. 

SCHEDULING AT COURT OF QUEEN’S BENCH,  THE TRANSCRIPTS ARE NOT A REASON FOR DELAY:

I spoke with a person at Queen’s Bench (933-5137)  re scheduling of the Appeal.

He explained that the transcripts had to be ordered, bound and received before they would set a date.  It could be in the fall.

I explained that most of the transcription has already been done;  transcripts were ordered by Judge Whelan at various times during the trial in Provincial Court. 

Please proceed with conversations to see if CA52011 can be heard and decided in time for the May census.  Unless you would advise otherwise.   And enjoy the fine days. 

Thanks!

Sandra

– – – – –  — – –  – —  – —

REPLY,  MARCH 21:

I have contacted the Court, and they are waiting for transcripts of the Argument (the one day of transcripts that we do not have yet). They will schedule a date shortly after that. I’ll see what I can do to get it scheduled sooner rather than later.
Steve 

Steven Seiferling 

McKercher LLP

Direct Line: 306.664.1339

www.mckercher.ca

2011-03-21 Wow! Director General Al Jazeera, Situation in Middle East. You are witnessing change in history. Action in solidarity, Conscience Canada.

 Corporatocracy or Democracy or Administrative State or WHAT?, Lockheed Martin, War Economy (includes Cdn Census & Trials), Peace or Violence  No Responses »
Mar 212011
 

This video of the Director General of Al Jazeera (Item # 1) pops my heart out of my chest shouting, “YES!”.

AND, in solidarity with

  • this man, Wadah Khanfar
  • the people in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, etc.

I again deducted 10% from my income tax instalment payments – – the part that represents my tax dollars used to subsidize the war industry.

  • Reference  2011-03-10 Myths for Profit: Canada’s Role In Industries of War and Peace’.
  • Reference  2010-09-24 Income Tax to Conscience Canada, not Revenue Canada.

My understanding:

  • The war industry keeps making more and more sinister weapons, SIMPLY AS A WAY TO MAKE MONEY.   We’ve seen tasers and  infrasonic weapons (see item #4 ) added to the arsenal,  which have already been used against citizens in the U.S.
  • The war industry equips ruthless regimes with the violent means for controlling people.
  • As Buffy St Marie explains (item #3), WE are actually responsible because we are the ones who supply the money (through taxes) to the war industry.
  • Some Westerners complain because people from the Middle East (many are Muslim)  are flooding into Europe and North America.  Well, what do they expect? Where exactly do they expect the citizens will go when the West bombs Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.?   WE are creating millions of refugees.
  • The war industries are dependent upon the demonization of  “the other”.   The propaganda and war machines are very good at making enemies out of people.
  • See  2011-03-07 York Regional Police, Vancouver, Saskatoon Police, Ottawa — all with armoured vehicles (“Cougars”).   So who are the enemies in our cities?
  • Look at 2011-03-21 Great Touching Photos (item #2).  We know there is a better way.

CONTENTS

  1. DIRECTOR GENERAL OF AL JAZEERA EXPLAINS THE SITUATION IN THE ARAB WORLD
  2. GREAT TOUCHING PHOTOS
  3. BUFFY ST MARIE’S “UNIVERSAL SOLDIER”
  4. INFRASONIC WEAPONS

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

1.  DIRECTOR GENERAL OF AL JAZEERA EXPLAINS THE SITUATION IN THE ARAB WORLD

Listen to what Wadah Khanfar has to say!

SHARON writes:  Are you familiar with ted.com? My niece mentioned this on Facebook.

Wadah Khanfar: A historic moment in the Arab world | Video on TED.com

As a democratic revolution led by tech-empowered young people sweeps the Arab world, Wadah Khanfar, the head of Al Jazeera, shares a profoundly optimistic view of what’s happening in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and beyond — at this powerful moment when people realized they could step out of their houses and ask for change.

EXCERPT TRANSCRIBED (by Sandra):

We have a chance to create a new future in that part of the world  …  Values of democracy and the freedom of choice  that is sweeping the Middle East at this moment in time  is the best opportunity for the world, for the West and the East to see stability, and to see security and to see friendship and to see  tolerance emerging from the Arab world,       rather than the images of violence and terrorism.  Let us support these people, let us stand for them  and let us give up our narrow selfishness in order to embrace change  and in order to celebrate with the people of that region a great future and hope and tolerance.  The future has arrived and the future is now.

. . .    This is a great story.  It is beautiful.  . ..   You are witnessing change in history.  You are witnessing a birth of a new era  and this is what this is all about.

… The youth in the Arab world are much more wiser and capable of creating the change than the old  (political elites, intellectual elites, cultural elites, ideological old regimes).  ….

We discovered …   People care about this great transformation …  people care and  people want to know . .  50% (of the increase for Al Jazeera English)  is coming from America   …  this is the moment to celebrate  through connecting ourselves with those people in the street …   and expressing our support to them , and expressing this …  international feeling of supporting the weak and oppressed to create a much better future for all of us.

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2.  GREAT TOUCHING PHOTOS

Click on  2011-03-21 Great Touching Photos    (A fairly large download file).

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3.  BUFFY ST MARIE’S  “UNIVERSAL SOLDIER”

Please click on:  http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=5230 (Moved to a dedicated posting because it is so important.)

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

4.  INFRASONIC WEAPONS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_weapon

Demonstrated infrasonic weapon

The U.S. DOD has demonstrated phased arrays of infrasonic emitters. The weapon usually consists of a device that generates sound at about 7 Hz. The output from the device is routed (by pipes) to an array of open emitters. At this frequency, armor and concrete walls and other common building materials allow sound waves to pass through, providing little defense.[6] This presents logistic problems regarding operation of infrasonic weaponry without exposing operating personnel to the potentially damaging effects.

Physicist and researcher Jürgen Altmann, however, has suggested that infrasound “does not have the alleged drastic effects on humans” in his paper “Acoustic Weapons.” While many sources make reference to military research into infrasonic weapons beginning with the work of Dr. Vladimir Gavreau, it is unclear as to whether or not these devices have potential use in conflict.

Research

See also: United States Department of Defense policy on non-lethal weapons

Some common bio-effects of electromagnetic or other non-lethal weapons include effects to the human central nervous system resulting in physical pain, difficulty breathing, vertigo, nausea, disorientation, or other systemic discomfort. Interference with breathing poses the most significant, potentially lethal results. Light and repetitive visual signals can induce epileptic seizures (see Bucha effect). Vection and motion sickness can also occur. Cavitation, which affects gas nuclei in human tissue, and heating can result from exposure to ultrasound and can cause damage to tissue and organs.

Studies have found that exposure to high intensity ultrasound at frequencies from 700 kHz to 3.6 MHz can cause lung and intestinal damage in mice. Heart rate patterns following vibroacoustic stimulation has resulted in serious negative consequences such as atrial flutter and bradycardia. [7] [8]

Researchers have concluded that generating pain through the auditory system using high intensity sound resulted in a high risk of permanent hearing damage. Organizations in a research program which included the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (Groton, Connecticut), Navy Experimental Diving Unit (Panama City, Florida), SCC San Diego, Navy Medical Research and Development Command (Bethesda, Maryland), Underwater Sound Reference Detachment of Naval Undersea Warfare Center (Orlando, Florida), Applied Research Laboratories: University of Texas at Austin, Applied Physics Laboratory: University of Washington, Institute for Sensory Research: Syracuse University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Boston University, University of Vermont, Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University of Rochester, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois, Loyola University,[disambiguation needed] and the State University of New York at Buffalo, involved high intensity audible sound experiments on human subjects.[citation needed]

The extra-aural (unrelated to hearing) bioeffects on various internal organs and the central nervous system included auditory shifts, vibrotactile sensitivity change, muscle contraction, cardiovascular function change, central nervous system effects, vestibular (inner ear) effects, and chest wall/lung tissue effects. Researchers found that low frequency sonar exposure could result in significant cavitations, hypothermia, and tissue shearing. No follow on experiments were recommended. Tests performed on mice show the threshold for both lung and liver damage occurs at about 184 dB. Damage increases rapidly as intensity is increased.

Noise-induced neurologic disturbances in humans exposed to continuous low frequency tones for durations longer than 15 minutes has involved in some cases the development of immediate and long term problems affecting brain tissue. The symptoms resembled those of individuals who had suffered minor head injuries. One theory for a causal mechanism is that the prolonged sound exposure resulted in enough mechanical strain to brain tissue to induce an encephalopathy.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ skepdic.com. infrasound
  2. ^ “The ghost in the machine”. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research (62): 360–364. 1998.
  3. ^ “Cruise lines turn to sonic weapon”. BBC. 2005-11-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4418748.stm. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  4. ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4857417
  5. ^ Weaver, Matthew (2009-09-25). “G20 protesters blasted by sonic cannon”. The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2009/sep/25/sonic-cannon-g20-pittsburgh. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  6. ^ Low Frequency Noise Report 2003
  7. ^ Exploiting Technical Opportunities to Capture Advanced Capabilities for Our Soldiers; Army AL&T; 2007 Oct-Dec; Dr. Reed Skaggs [1]
  8. ^ Air University Research Template: “NON-LETHAL WEAPONS: SETTING OUR PHASERS ON STUN? Potential Strategic Blessings and Curses of Non-Lethal Weapons on the Battlefield”; Erik L. Nutley, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF; August 2003; Occasional Paper No. 34; Center for Strategy and Technology; Air War College; Air University; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; PG12 [2]
  9. ^ “Non-Lethal Swimmer Neutralization Study”; Applied Research Laboratories; The University of Texas at Austin; G2 Software Systems, Inc., San Diego; TECHNICAL DOCUMENT 3138; May 2002 [3]

External links

2011-03-19 UToronto and York Students call for divestment in Lockheed Martin

 Lockheed Martin, War Economy (includes Cdn Census & Trials)  No Responses »
Mar 192011
 

(I’ll contact Robyn Urback)

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/category/blogs/robyn-urback/page/2/

UToronto and York students launch BDS campaign

(Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights was initiated by Palestinian civil society in 2005, and is coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), established in 2007. BDS is a strategy that allows people of conscience to play an effective role in the Palestinian struggle for justice.)

Demand universities divest from companies “involved in violations of Palestinian human rights”

On Monday March 7, the first day of Israeli Apartheid Week in Toronto, Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) at the University of Toronto announced the official launch of its joint Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions [BDS] campaign with SAIA at York University.

Making brief reference to a similar campaign going on at Carleton University, SAIA U of T announced the new campaign, demanding that the university divest from four companies, claiming that “current investments in these four companies suggests it is complacent in war crimes.”

BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Hewlett Packard and Lockheed Martin were identified as contributors to “violations of international law by the Israeli state,” and named as the target of the York/U of T campaign.

According to SAIA’s research, the University of Toronto holds $1,746,000 and $1,157,000 worth of shares in BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman respectively. (Figures for Hewlett Packard and Lockheed Martin were unknown.)

Students are demanding that the universities divest from the four companies and refrain from investing in other companies that are “involved in violations of international law.”

The petition demands are posted below.

We, the undersigned, demand that:

(1) The University of Toronto and York University divest from and refuse to reinvest in BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Hewlett Packard and Lockheed Martin;

(2) The University of Toronto and York University refrain from investing in all companies involved in violations of international law. With respect to Palestine, this entails following the guidelines put forth by Students for Justice in Palestine in the historic divestment by Hampshire College:

The University of Toronto and York University should refrain from investing in companies that:

a) Provide products or services that contribute to the maintenance of the Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the Syrian Golan Heights;

b) Provide products or services that contribute to the maintenance and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories;

c) Establish facilities or operations in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories;

d) Provide products or services that contribute to the maintenance and construction of the Wall;

e) Provide products or services that contribute to violent acts that target either Israeli or Palestinian civilians.

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