Today is a Good Day to Die - June 21/08

In the words of Crazy Horse, a holy man of the Lakota, he often rode into battle unafraid of the bullets whizzing past his horse. His words, "Today is a good day to die". His courage was his acceptance that all life is a cycle, or circle. Such was today, National Aboriginal Day, at Wells Hill Park. We all who were there had an opportunity to share in this experience watching as the dancers spun in their worlds knowing they were part of a larger world and perpetuating the cycle as the drums resonated the rhythm the earth.

This was actually my first Pow Wow and for a while I sat on the side of the hill and eventually began to feel the rhythm of the drums and dancers' footsteps through my hands on the earth - "it was a good day to die".

In these days of Truth and Reconciliation I found it of particular importance to hear Prime Minister Harper deliver that day of June 11, 2008, 10 days previous, the historic and powerful "Apology" to all the first nations peoples in the residential schools, dead and alive, of the abuses they received in the 19th and 20th century to erase their culture, languages and history. I was much impressed at the words and the semblance of sincerity but as with Paul Martin's impressive promise to Bono I would give it a little time. As I hold government leaders in high skepticism when they make powerful pronouncements, my head was flooded with these words that convey one of the ‘inconvenient truths’ of Canadian history. It can even be sung to the tune of “Oh Canada”.

As the descendant of Canada's National Dreaming Whitemen and ignorant exploiters of natural resources and indigenous life, I have penned on behalf of my ancestors' and me a personal truth and reconciliation anthem (if anyone hears it) to the tune of “Oh Canada”.

Hopefully there is nothing yet in Harper's State that would consider this seditious in any criminal sense. So as I summon my courage to face the truth and exorcise the demons of my ancestors and my own soul, kindled by the first cracks in his “Apology” at Toronto’s largest outdoor Pow Wow, I felt this was a good day to die.

I observed no presence or any congratulatory reference in the program any member of Harper's government that paid any acknowledgment to this particular and significant event. Perhaps as the closest member, Mr. Van Loan was elsewhere or perhaps it would make little difference to him, or, giving them all the benefit of the doubt, they were stung by the arrows of vicious typos and never made it into the program. Also during the several hours I was at the event, I had the honour of meeting Jack Layton, leader of the NDP and the Hon. Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Liberal member of that riding who gave an opening address, and yet no Conservatives.

I bear my breast…

Oh Canada
Our home on native land.
We lost our way
For India was our plan.

With fire sticks
And quill pens
The treaties we did make.
As the years passed by
We changed our minds
The treaties we did break.

Don’t whine to me.
The ride is never free.
Just keep in mind
We’ve done this thing before.
So it’s nothing personal
We’ve done this before.

Harper's Jelly Beans and Flaherty's Peanuts

Harper is brilliant to the point of being an evil genius. He is a master of distraction and has the devious nerve to offer us "jelly beans" with regard to the SSP 2007 Leaders’ Summit in Montebello, Quebec.

“Is the sovereignty of Canada going to fall apart if we standardize the jelly bean?” asked our Prime Minister with a smirk. “You know, I don’t think so.”

And now Harper's guardian of the Mother Hubbard ministry, Jim Flaherty, is saying the cupboard is bare yet less than a week ago he was looking at an unexpected billion or so from The Canadian Tar Pits.

Please Mr. Harper can I have the standard black jelly beans?



Flaherty has been 'hollowing out' the piggybank since his budget last fall which trumpeted a slashing of 1% off the GST and cutting taxes to Canada's 'hollowed out' corporations by $60 Billion in order to show us the cupboard is really bare - proof! And all I can see as a citizen is peanuts in my pocket which I might as well feed the corporate elephant too.

And the military too is getting a big raise.

And the Tax Free Savings Account? Unless I was moderately wealthy I am scrambling to pay my ever increasing energy bills and gassing up old betsy. And how come the subway fell apart when I was trying to get to work this morning?

There was something I saw on the news the other night, five, or maybe six, of the highest bank towers in the heart of the financial district have been exempted from paying property tax as they claim to have overpaid their share for a number of years totalling an amout of $6 million! No wonder they complain that their obscene profits are not obscene enough to them. Well the citizens will have to cover their obscene butts 'til they deem justice is served.

Call it what it is, the Harper is selling us a crock of peanuts and before you buy into this crack one open to see if they haven't hollowed them out too.

Transparently Opportunistic

John Dorion's letter to the StarPhoenix, " Appointment best serves northerners" Thursday, January 31, 2008 is a poorly calculated risk to align himself with Ralph Goodale and those who believe they hold the reigns of Power in the Liberal Party. As much as Ms. Beatty's achievements are to be praised, Mr. Dorion's acheivements can be lauded as well. But what more and more Canadian people are looking for in their representatives is consistency.

We are sick of strategists. We feel we are being used as fodder in their meaningless political wars. We are tired of 'jumpers' and 'drop-in's'. The Liberals should have learned a lesson when Ignatieff was dropped into Lakeshore/Etobikoke South. Such was another monkey on the back of a Martin government that was falling apart from all directions. You never learn.

They had better take seriously the local backlash. Goodale and Dion and Dorion have miscalculated the "tempest in a tea pot" that is being read on everyone's computer from coast to coast to coast. To yourself this may only have originally have been an out-of-the-way affair. It's not the size that matters here, it's the principal, democracy. It's not surprising that you are nervous weighing your inconsistent values.

We all know David Orchard. Canadians all across the country have known him for years because, above all, he has been consistent. Whether consevative or liberal, he more than most represents what Canadians dream of being as a country. He is the type of person who has proved to have made a difference.

See below...

Appointment best serves northerners

The StarPhoenix, Thursday, January 31, 2008

Appointment best serves northerners
by John K. Dorion

The recent uproar over Joan Beatty's appointment as the Liberal candidate in the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River byelection is really nothing more than a tempest in a teapot.

After our MP resigned last summer, I threw my hat in the nomination ring, and toiled for months – meeting people, raising funds and selling memberships as I criss-crossed the vast expanse of northern Saskatchewan. Had there actually been a nomination meeting in November, I have no doubt that I would have trounced my opponent – political gadfly David Orchard.

Of course I was disappointed when Stéphane Dion pre-emptorily appointed Beatty, but I understand that a leader sometimes must make tough decisions in the best interests of the party. As a longtime loyal Liberal, I fully support his choice.

Like myself, Ms. Beatty is an aboriginal person from the riding and has my full and unequivocal backing. That she was a cabinet minister in the Saskatchewan government shows that she has developed certain skills that can benefit the people of northern Saskatchewan. Her election can address a gender inequality in Parliament today.

However, I am profoundly dismayed over the antics of Orchard. Whatever his agenda, it's not one that has the interests of the people of northern Saskatchewan foremost. Nor does it help the Liberal party.

It's true that he helped Dion win the leadership of the Liberal party. But a few short years earlier, he also played king-maker at the Conservative convention and was pivotal in Peter MacKay becoming leader.

Orchard does well when it comes to picking leaders (in whatever party he happens to be in at the time), but his subsequent actions prove that he has enormous difficulty in abiding by the rules (of whatever party he happens to be in at the time). Orchard now should join the next party on his list, or failing that, start his own to keep himself at the center of attention.

During the last election, farmers at the southern fringe of this riding voted Conservative. The rest of the riding is predominantly aboriginal – Dene, Cree and Métis. We pulled together as Liberals and won by 67 votes.

It is important that we stay united and work hard to get an aboriginal person elected as our representative in Ottawa. We don’t need Orchard coming here to tell us what is best for us.

From such ground breaking policy initiatives as the Residential School Settlement and the Kelowna Accord, to strong action on the international scene in support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples, the Liberals have shown us time and again that they are the best way for us to advance.

Withdraw Canadian Troops from Afghanistan

Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan

Harper's "blue ribbon panel" is an apt choice of colours such that blue is
the traditional colour for the Conservative Party. So it is not surprising
that Harper choose its members to reflect this colour.

The report is no more than a murky spin on Harper's agenda to extend the
mission indefinitely. I cannot trust the government to tell the truth and
if Mr. Dion chooses to support this travesty of democracy he will add
another millstone around his neck. I will join the Bloc and NDP and not
support it.

How difficult would it be to convince a few countries to send 1000 troops
to the Southern Afghanistan. Should he succeed how long would these
countries commit their troops to combat in this violent zone? Is there a
stipulation? There will have to be negotiations with what results? We have
no answer to these questions before Harper calls a vote to recommend that
Canadian troops continue the undefined role of combat in a war that is not
supported by the Canadian people.

As to more military equipment I'm sure that more reticent democracies can
use this as a commitment substituting sending people in to battle and
would be acceptable to the terms of Harper's Manley Report.

Canadians are being insulted if this is how Harper thinks he can sucker
us. We have been suckered by better Liberals and turfed them when we
could.

In these uncertain environmental and economic times we have a legitimate
cause to spend $100 million a month rather than maintaining Canada's
unlimited extension of the Afghan Campaign.

That would get my definite support.

Jan 14/08: The Border – CBC TV Episode 2

For some reason my comments on The Border's Blog bring it to a halt. Here's the second review and if you can tell me why I have a terminating effect please let me know.

My first comment on another post was submitted following the first episode and can be read here, "http://www.cbc.ca/theborder/blog/2007/12/longtime_documentarian_peter_r.html#comment-682423"

As I said on my original post, I would watch this several times to decide if I will continue to watch it or not.

I have always enjoyed CBC programs as they had writing that reflected a 'Canadian style' as opposed to copying non-Canadian productions. Unfortunately these are fewer and far between as programming has to compete for market share and advertising dollars. Such is the original American way and as such popular programming has to compete with American programs flowing across "The Border".

Two minutes into the second episode the situation was absurd. Canada was being invaded by Homeland Security but how could it be Canada when it was on First Nations Mohawk land? Try to suspend my incredulity? Sorry, not only is it just plain dumb, it's an insult to all First Nations.

The plots are predictable such as when I knew the second the prisoner being led out into the parking lot was going to be shot. or unpredictable, yet again dumb, when they were able to track the US Agent to the island when her secret GPS device was chucked at the casino dock.

Maybe you think I'm being unfairly picky after all it's just TV. But this is stuffing CBC into a new envelope complete with gore in its most graphic.

I will spare you with further observations but I doubt I will catch the third episode as I get a negative reaction when I feel I'm being dumbed down. I'll leave Global, CITY and CTV to Americanize Canada.

Posted by: John Warren | January 16, 2008 05:16 AM

Good Cop Bad Cop - The Border – CBC TV Premiere

"The Border"

Is the CBC really sticking its political neck out again with this one?

The first episode’s major plot is decidedly in he left zone of the spectrum and will undoubtedly be voraciously attacked by the Harper Zone. The last fifteen minutes said it all, CSIS, Foreign Affairs, The Attorney General, the PMO for heaven’s sake, the CIA and Homeland Security are, full caps, BAD! Not only is Immigration and Customs, full caps, GOOD they are all great looking so they are, full caps, COOL! But then, as Harper would be quick to point out, it was the Liberals under Chretien that provided the theme for this episode, the ‘Extraordinary Rendition’ of Maher Arar.

Sensationalistic production and dialogue using familiar mainstream media soundbites familiar to most Canadians has been packaged into one hour of hyper-entertainment. From the adrenaline pumping first few minutes to the first commercial after ten minutes we are subjected to guns, human-bombs and hack lines, chase scenes, crowd panic, confusion. CBC is looking for a ratings hit

After the first half hour I am left with the inescapable impression that The Border is totally unrealistic; characters, plots, sub-plots, dialogue – Thank God its just TV! In any other context I think I would be living in Bush’s America, turning truth into fiction.

But one achievement, to me anyway, is that the geek on junk food, Hieronymous, has me loopy! What the Hell does Maggie put in those brownies? Speed?

Well somehow, unlike the CBC’s subtle and far more believable, TV series, “Intelligence”, they are looking for the magic quarter mill (that’s half a million eyeballs) and have thrown at us as many hooks in the book as any American show can get into one hour. Where did I read that this was “slick”? Well it is and maybe because it’s done in Toronto whereas “Intelligence” was filmed in Vancouver.

Boiling down the issues to Good vs. Bad sounds all too familiar as we watch Fox news, rendering us incapable of using our imaginations much will surely dumb us down. Funny, propaganda can do this too but I can only hope not.

Defend the Border: Why CBC's new show can only help "the bad guys"
Submitted by Justin Podur on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 19:01.
Published on ZNet Jan 5/08


Border between thought and action
Jan 07, 2008 04:30 AM
Vinay Menon

Good cop/Bad cop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Rabble/Babble

Good Cop Bad Cop - The Border – CBC TV Premiere

"The Border"

Is the CBC really sticking its political neck out again with this one?

The first episode’s major plot is decidedly in he left zone of the spectrum and will undoubtedly be voraciously attacked by the Harper Zone. The last fifteen minutes said it all, CSIS, Foreign Affairs, The Attorney General, the PMO for heaven’s sake, the CIA and Homeland Security are, full caps, BAD! Not only is Immigration and Customs, full caps, GOOD they are all great looking so they are, full caps, COOL! But then, as Harper would be quick to point out, it was the Liberals under Chretien that provided the theme for this episode, the ‘Extraordinary Rendition’ of Maher Arar.

Sensationalistic production and dialogue using familiar mainstream media soundbites familiar to most Canadians has been packaged into one hour of hyper-entertainment. From the adrenaline pumping first few minutes to the first commercial after ten minutes we are subjected to guns, human-bombs and hack lines, chase scenes, crowd panic, confusion. CBC is looking for a ratings hit

After the first half hour I am left with the inescapable impression that The Border is totally unrealistic; characters, plots, sub-plots, dialogue – Thank God its just TV! In any other context I think I would be living in Bush’s America, turning truth into fiction.

But one achievement, to me anyway, is that the geek on junk food, Hieronymous, has me loopy! What the Hell does Maggie put in those brownies? Speed?

Well somehow, unlike the CBC’s subtle and far more believable, TV series, “Intelligence”, they are looking for the magic quarter mill (that’s half a million eyeballs) and have thrown at us as many hooks in the book as any American show can get into one hour. Where did I read that this was “slick”? Well it is and maybe because it’s done in Toronto whereas “Intelligence” was filmed in Vancouver.

Boiling down the issues to Good vs. Bad sounds all too familiar as we watch Fox news, rendering us incapable of using our imaginations much will surely dumb us down. Funny, propaganda can do this to but I can only hope not.

Defend the Border: Why CBC's new show can only help "the bad guys"

Border between thought and action
Jan 07, 2008 04:30 AM
Vinay Menon

Good cop/Bad cop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Rabble/Babble

Martyred by a Martyr

We are told that extra security for Bhutto was ignored by Mushareff and therefore is considered complicit in the assassination. The question has to be asked, if Bhutto was America’s, and all of Democracy’s, ‘shining light’, how is it that Bush did not see to it that her protection was assured to the best of it’s capabilities to protect its interests in this nuclear armed country?

Bhutto was aware of the risks, after the last horrid attempt on her life, and despite the threats from all extreme Islamic radical groups and the military, one is led to believe that her knowledge and acceptance of these risks verges on a death wish or in our Christian fundamentalist terms, martyrdom.

Everyone knew full well the rage and destruction that would result in the successful attack on her life. Everyone knew the disastrous effect it would have globally in the “War on Terror” particularly timed to disrupt the national vote there in two weeks and the election year in The States. And above all everyone knows that when you mess with Pakistan that you are playing with nukes.

I can see at this moment Naomi Klein furiously writing a revised edition of her latest book, “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism”.

Why martyrdom might work
Dec 29, 2007 04:30 AM
Mitch Potter
EUROPE BUREAU

Bush, Musharraf, and the Slaying of Bhutto

Environ Mental #6 dot 1 – Special Short Issue

Environ Mental #6 dot 1 – Special Short Issue

I feel the presence of the Philosophers’ Stone when copper turns into gold!

Results are in!




Perhaps Alter Eco is not so mental after all, but I wouldn’t go so far as to change the Newsletter title. Mental processes can hardly begin to describe the fuzzies on being recognised with an award underscoring our 5 year’s vision and work - awareness of our impact on the environment and all the humanitarian consequences.

I was informed today by Diane Blackburn of the Recycling Council of Ontario, that the results of the Awards had just been posted to their website and I could hardly contain myself to share it with all of you have been so supportive of Alter Eco’s efforts.

The 2007 Ontario Waste Minimization Awards Gala

I share this award with all of you!

Cheers!

John

STOP THE PRESSES!



This just in: We have gone beyond the fuzzies and are experiencing the buzzies! Alter Eco has been published in the “Resource/Art” category of Coach House Books’, “GreenTOpia: Towards a Sustainable Toronto”. We are more than thrilled to be associated with this publisher for the high quality of their works.

The book will be launched Sunday, November 11, with a day-long book launch. The party begins at the Gladstone Hotel at 2:00 p.m

For more information go to their website: http://www.chbooks.com/

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There's Gold in Them Thar Copper!!

Recycling Council of Ontario Gold Ontario 2007 Waste Minimisation Award for Excellence and Committment to a Sustainable Environment!!
This recognition is a giant step for Alter Eco for which I am truly thankful to my creative partner and wife, Marie Van Schie, for her years of committment to the effort and initiating the recycling of copper for her jewellery making. We would secondly like to express our appreciation to Rhonda Nolan Designs for promoting us to the RCO. And to Diane Blackburn of RCO for your business, support and encouragement over the past two years.

Pictured above is Joanne St. Godard, Exective Director, the Recycling Council of Ontario presenting the award to Alter Eco.

Environ Mental #6

Environ Mental #6
Alter Eco Newsletter
October 17th, 2007

Halloween is fast approaching! A scary reminder that time, along with the leaves, flies.

Since the last newsletter in January we have been quietly and not so quietly, developing the art and music.

On May 3/07 I played ***live*** at the Lakeview Lunch, 1132 Dundas St W, @ Ossington, a genuine 40’s diner and almost in it’s original condition – like me! It is an open mic organised by Maria Kastaan, a genuine singer-songwriter and an original Yorkville denizen. I got to play all the songs on the CD in 2 sets.

I was feeling alright.
I coulda played all night.
But my pickin hand
Had a case of stage fright.

Down at the Lakeview Lunch

Came off well but room for improvement. All enjoyed it and were very supportive. More on that in the near future.

Also launched the new music website, "This Old Guitar". It can be accessed from the main Alter Eco website. It is still under construction, but has pics and other content. Check it out!

The BIG story, of which we are extremely pleased and honoured, is that we have been asked to be part of an advisory council at the Recycling Council of Ontario, for matters relating to the arts. This is the first year that they have expanded their Awards categories to the arts.

From their website:
“The Recycling Council of Ontario is a not-for-profit organization committed to minimizing society's impact on the environment by eliminating waste. RCO's mission is to inform and educate all members of society about the generation of waste, the avoidance of waste, the more efficient use of resources and the benefits and/or consequences of these activities. Since its inception in 1978, RCO has actively assisted municipalities, corporations, other organisations and individuals in reducing their waste.”

And bigger and more exciting yet is that we have been nominated for an Award to be presented at their Gala Event Thursday, Oct 18th. So by the time you read this history will have unfolded as it should!

Upcoming shows we are doing are the Planet in Focus International Environmental Film and Video Festival, Community Eco Exchange
Saturday, October 27th & Sunday, October 28th, 11:00am – 5:00pm, Innis College (2 Sussex Avenue, in the University of Toronto) - Free Admission

Also on Thursday, November 29th, 10am – 5pm, we are doing the CBC Christmas Crafts Sale. It is located in the CBC Atrium at 250 Front St W. – Free Admission

We look forward to seeing you there and in the mean time hope you are all well and too busy to be scared and check the art website for the results of tomorrow night!!

Cheers as always,
John

Environ Mental #5 – Special CD Issue

Environ Mental #5 – Special CD Issue
Jan 17/07

Are you racing while others are lacing? Or was it the other way around? Hey! It’s snowing!!

You know that CD I have been on about, “Trying to Keep an Open Mind”? Well it’s done…What’s the connection between the CD and the weather? I was hoping to get it done for the Winter Solstice and celebrate it with the track “Standing Still Sun” but unplanned things happened. So, appropriately as I watch the snow falling and the temperature is going to plunge for the second time this winter (sic) here in Toronto, it will be welcomed in with the track “Wintertime” not to mention the rapidly approaching Groundhog Day. This Groundhog Day is particularly auspicious as it coincides with a full moon and you must hear “The Groundhog Day Slaughter”. A damning indictment of NAFTA, Global Warming, conspicuous greed, revenge, sex, conspiracy…sex? Have I got your attention?

This is what I’ve been doing during my 18 month sabbatical but did manage to do a wonderful commission for the Recycling Council of Ontario supplying copper frames for their awards. See one for the Royal York Hotel. Many thanks to Rhonda Nolan for the recommendation.

As some of you know, I have been writing songs and poems on and off since puberty but was sparked by a comment from an old friend I hadn’t seen for decades who melted my heart when she told me that “Night Trains” was a favourite of her daughter’s. Soon after I heard that TVO (TV Ontario) was having a songwriting competition and decided to enter it. It was a ‘winner’ in the sense that I committed myself to putting together all my songs & poems and recording them with a cool, open source, recording software Kristal Audio Engine, my trusty computer, Darthcricket productions (me - my alter ego), Marie’s patience and all the Angels that reside in “This Old Guitar”.

In the next few months I will be developing a website for the music but in the meantime I have an online publisher, Lulu.com, where you can hear all the samples and enjoy them - hopefully enough to buy individual tracks or the whole album, 13 tracks (37 mins) as mp3’s. You can purchase it directly from me a personal copy for $15.00 playable in any CD player. If you think that you know someone who is interested, passing it on to them is very appreciated.

So I hope you are all waxing your skiis and sharpening your edges because it will go a long way to reducing the damage to the ozone and turn commuting into a healthy pursuit.

Cheers and all the best to you in 2007,

John aka Darthcricket

An Honourable Concession

 Dear Mr Ignatieff

I sincerely feel, with no reservations, that you have run the gauntlet of returning to Canada and will genuinely win the hearts of many more Canadians having heard your final speech of the Leadership race. With generosity, grace and encouragement to those who supported you, you underscored the uniting of the Liberal Party. This act of leadership will be remembered.

I was a supporter of Mr. Dion after David Orchard, whom I greatly respect, asked me to consider him, I informed myself as best a possible all the candidates. I must admit I had great doubts as to the mechanics of your choice by certain parties in the Liberal organization. This and other issues were an unfortunate disadvantage to you but in the end, on that stage you conceded with honour and you have my greatest respect.

Welcome to Canada.

John Warren

Stephane Dion - Leader of the Opposition Party

The Hon. Stephane Dion: Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

Congratulations Mr. Dion on your successful bid to become Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. I saw it as a natural unfolding to begin healing the division of the Liberals and putting Canada back on track as a Nation worthy of it's previous global respect. Congratulations also to Michael Ignatieff who was graceful and generous and emphasized the greater need to unite the Liberals. Congratulations to all the candidates who brought their passions and visions for a 'Canadian' government and not a 'New' government. I look forward to a re-claimed Liberal Party in the spirit of the dynamic new times as it is the legacy of the party to make the Canadian vision happen.

And let one thing be your first lesson, never brag that your mike can't be cut.

Cheers to all of Canada,
John Warren