Working Hard to Safeguard Paddling Assets for All Canadians

All about Whitewater

All about Whitewater
A Blog about River Preservation and the need to protect our free flowing whitewater resources

Sunday, December 25, 2011

The first three paddlers to successfully kayak Le Grande Chute - Kipawa

The first successful descent of Grande Chute by kayakers occured in 1998
In the pictures you'll see Brent Cooper, Ben Aylsworth, and Mike McCubbin

Remarkable, dangerous, and exceptional accomplishment.




The white and the light

From the deep and the dark
A space where sound does not exist
Where the heart is felt but never heard
We are called to witness the coming of the light
The light of day, the light of God and the light of life
a gift and wish inspired
Reached out in infinite rays
from a beginning so impossible
to conclude beyond thought and belief
An event borne of inspiration
both magical and implausible
revealed in prophesy
then realized one moment in time
with the promise of a future
where life and death converge
The moment of light is a moment of white
of such fright yet with the hope of life
The moment of truth
wrested from emptiness
on wings of design
not once in that instant
but three at a time
near grey rocks and water
and sun kissed besides
Yet arms raised high in victory
knew brief reward
they emptied quickly
with the flight of life from fright
leaving flickering knowlege
of the white and the light

kayaky

Rafting on the Kipawa 2005 vintage sequence

**********Have a Nice Day**********
Davey Jone's Hole, Hollywood Rapid as it pours into Lake Temiskaming




Picnic Rapid Surfing

Saturday, December 24, 2011

It was possible then, it is possible now

I think it is vital to study our history and learn from it, and to use our knowledge of the past to prevent the despicable past from repeating itself.
As you look at these images taken from the landmark BBC series "The Nazis: a warning from History" consider what is going on today in North Korea.


This scene looks remarkably similar to the one extracted from the National Geographic series: Inside North Korea.




The people by fear or faith idolized their leader and in each case it led them to murder and suffering.

Unlike the Italians who themselves deposed Mussolini and turned against the Nazis, where do the North Koreans have to turn?


And today the issues in our society are very similar. When we are well fed, and our jobs are secure we become apathetic in our democracy. This merely means that the marginal benefits from resisting the status quo do not outweigh the marginal costs.

Only in the middle east, particularly Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya and soon Syria where life has become unbearable do we see the population finally rise up. The status quo has become unbearable. The marginal cost of resistance is finally exceeded by the perceived marginal benefits.


In effect the work of resistance will set them free.

There will be a cost.


Meanwhile back in Canada, the conscientious objector is marked as the lunatic fringe but by God, I have no doubt that it is all of our responsibility, in a democracy, by the power of rule of law, to be ever vigilant.

The price for not doing so is too great.

As predicted by Gerald Celente, this has grown to be a worldwide phenomena. Time Magazine has identified "the Protester" as man of the year.




Currently in Russia, the disgruntled electorate, sensing blood, and indignant about a perceived rigged election are taking to the street.

And again in Greece, but for different reasons, the IMF's attempt to sell off Greeces heritage assets and islands, anything of value really to impose austerity.
Notwithstanding, a debt so large that it cannot be repaid, will not be repaid.


Back home in North America, the glimmers of protest manifested themselves in the Occupy Wallstreet movement, which then led to the Occupy "your"street movement.
The meaning is clear: the status quo is not acceptable. Rule by the 1% will no longer be tolerated by the 99%



They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45,
by Milton Mayer explains why many appear to be such whipped dogs today. What happen? Here is a quote:

"You see," my colleague went on, "one doesn't see exactly where or how to move. Believe me, this is true. Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow. You don't want to act, or even talk, alone; you don't want to 'go out of your way to make trouble.' ... In the university community, in your own community, you speak privately to your colleagues, some of whom certainly feel as you do; but what do they say? They say, 'It's not so bad' or 'You're seeing things' or 'You're an alarmist.'

"These are the beginnings, yes; but how do you know for sure when you don't know the end, and how do you know, or even surmise, the end? On the one hand, your enemies, the law, the regime, the Party, intimidate you. On the other, your colleagues pooh-pooh you as pessimistic or even neurotic... the one great shocking occasion, when tens or hundreds or thousands will join with you, never comes. That's the difficulty. If the last and worst act of the whole regime had come immediately after the first and smallest, thousands, yes, millions would have been sufficiently shocked... But of course this isn't the way it happens. In between come all the hundreds of little steps, some of them imperceptible, each of them preparing you not to be shocked by the next. Step C is not so much worse than Step B, and, if you did not make a stand at Step B, why should you at Step C?"

The only difference is that they won't only becoming after Jews this time.


The above as cited in:b http://lewrockwell.com/wenzel/wenzel154.html

Friday, December 23, 2011

About the 489 Billion Euro Bail out from the European Central Bank...

"It may be presented as a good deal, but borrowing at 1% to get a 5% return is not all that attractive when you have a 50% chance of an 80% haircut... "

from http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com

"Why the U.S. was downgraded…

• U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
• Fed budget: $3,820,000,000,000
• New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000
• National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
• Recent budget cuts: $ 38,500,000,000

"Let's now remove eight zeros and pretend it's a household budget…

• Annual family income: $21,700
• Money the family spent: $38,200
• New debt on the credit card: $16,500
• Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710
• Total budget cuts: $385 "

posted by – Anonymous within the Stansberry Newsletter

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Banks borrow at 1% - lend at 5%

Nice work if you can get it...

The ECB lent long-term money to European banks at 1% interest. Those banks can then pay down their existing short-term debt to the ECB or invest in longer-term European sovereign debt and collect 5%-plus.

Banks borrowed money nearly $500 billion.

The ECB (European Central Bank) got its money for this european style of quantitative easing by printing it out of thin air.

Buy Gold, Buy silver!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Photo by Derek Folmer - simply kayaking

Taken outside the bird sanctuary in Montreal, paddlers on their way to see "Big Joe"


Spin City (from surf city jan and dean)

I bought a second hand kayak and they call it a Honcho – (Spin city here I come)
Though its not very cherry its still got me feeling macho –(Spin city here I come)
It don’t have much leg room, or a place to stow
But that boat still gets me where I wanna go…

Cause I’m going to spin city gonna pull some blunts
Yes I’m going to spin city gonna spin some stunts
Well I’m going to spin city though theres lack of funds
I’ll still go to spin city then go drink some suds

Two boats for every guy (gal)!

Now when I’m sitting in the eddy and I’m waiting in the line up (Spin city here I come)
And its hot and its hazy and the boaters’ getting’ fed up (Spin city here I come)
I’m not gonna blow my cool - I’m ready to go
And if it gets too damned sticky then just go for a roll!

Cause I’m going to spin city gonna have some fun
Yes I’m going to spin city gonna get some sun
Well I’m going to spin city - not the only one
I’ll still go to spin city ‘least if my car still runs

Two boats for every guy (gal)!

Now that boat seems to vibrate when I’m crossing the eddy line - (Spin city here I come)
Then my Honcho just starts spinning like its freestyle time -(Spin city here I come)
I don’t do a thing cause it just finds me the groove
Like a hotrodding engine that’s a revving to move

Cause I’m going to spin city just like every one
Yes I’m going to spin city though I’m out of funds
Well I’m going to spin city - cause its lots of fun
I’ll still go to spin city til my days are done

Two boats for every guy (gal)! Oh yeah!

kayaky


Big Joe

Theres a little surfing spot down by the bird sanctuary
The waves are big and they're fat and its a little bit hairy
You've got to line up your boat with some trees - then say go ...
and hope the line you just took doesn't treat you unfairly

Well there's boils in the eddies, and current is pushin'
You've got to hustle to the middle or its surf you'be missin'
Cause the mighty St. Lawrence won't be giving much thought
To your little kayak or any fresh air that you've got.

Surf across that wave and spin away all summer day its the latest craze

Yeah the riots are there cause they're all Montrealese
They make those stinkin play boaters seem so hot so balsey
There's another one surfing the wave on the left while
They go out two at a time to the pit and the pile ...

When you're all done surfin you can blow off the wave train
hit the river sized eddy and start all over again
Theres a platform on the river and they're getting some sun
cause after playing all day they're plain tuckered from fun

Surf across that wave and spin and play all summer day its the latest craze

Gone surfin' at Big Joe- Just Spinnin' in Joe's hole
No cares for tomorrow -Gone surfin' at Big Joe

kayaky

THE US DEBT CLOCK

I've circled the active numbers as at 1500 2012 12 20

I think the problem is fairly obvious....


Watch the numbers whirl yourself at http://www.usdebtclock.org/

DEBT CLOCK


Whats all this about Kim Jong Il?




The first woman sets the pace: one by one, out of a thousand they follow the "need to praise the Great General"





First you have to understand: you don't understand North Korea - at all.

To get a glimpse at the lunatic fringe that is at work, first look at this National Geographic Documentary - ostensibly about eye surgery, to really get a handle on the cult of personality, and the state of fear that exists there.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/national-geographic-channel/shows/explorer-1/ngc-inside-north-korea.html

Then be afraid, very afraid. They have a 1 million man army, they still think they are at war with the US, they have nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them.

Isn't this why we followed the American Dream? The alternative is North Korea.


Now the "Great Leader" is dead and his son, Kim Jong Un has "taken over". But Korea is filled with people, like the ones in this clinic, seeing for the first time in many years after cataract surgery who direct, either by belief or fear, all their thanks to the posters on the wall not to the physician team that restored their sight.

Its frightening.


What would they not do for their newly appointed wing nut?

Some like this last gentleman, don't hide their animousity.


After years of state control, fear and indoctrination, mind control, there is no distinction between mind control, fear or belief.




This is the embedded feature in its entirety. The National Geographic Society has done a tremendous job preparing this material - I highly recommend you watch it.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Family Holiday 2104


Things are going to get basic. Multiple jobs to make ends meet, coallescing families, changes in diet, clothing and pastimes, less free time, possibly debt slavery.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Time Names "the protester" as man of the year

GLOBAL INSURRECTION AGAINST BANKER OCCUPATION! (from MaxKeiser.com)


Can you say "rehypothecation" - the banks use your own home for security against their bets, and like MF GLOBAL can assign them willy nilly to others for their own bad bets. Time to clear out your brokerage accounts! Hold the physical stock certificates.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

JP Morgan Bank versus the price of Silver

**********Have a Nice Day**********


Notice the timing and general pattern of the drop in JP Morgan stock price and the price of silver. What does this say about the interdependence of these two. It seems to speak to the matter of manipulation.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Oh - Canada - Our Heads are in the sand about climate change

**********Have a Nice Day**********

Glaciers receding, Sea ice diminishing, average mean temperature rising: Hey, let's burn our children's fossil fuel inheritance to get oil out of the tar sands... who thinks this stuff up?

666? what if it actually is 999?






You can't buy or sell without the mark 666 on your hand or your forehead?

That's biblical.

But what if it was all a misinterpretation: the real number is .999 and that is the purity requirement for buying and selling....Gold and Silver!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Excerpts from http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/12/08/f-vp-stewart.html

ANALYSIS | Brian Stewart: The covert war in Iran
By Brian Stewart, special to CBC News
Posted: Dec 8, 2011 7:45 PM ET

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/12/08/f-vp-stewart.html
Last Updated: Dec 8, 2011 7:44 PM ET

Timeline: Iran and the West — a history of tensions

Iran focused war-hawk messages in the MSM mimic those propeling the U.S. into the Iraq war in 2003. A fiasco.
Newt Gingrich claimed recently that the U.S. "could break Iran in a year." despite what we know of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan..
Why support Israel? It is likely covertly attackingIran's supposed nuclear weapons sites.

There is now covert war that involves kidnappings and assassinations of scientists, the possible use of computer viruses to destroy information networks, and mysterious explosions at Iranian nuclear sites, all of which seem to be escalating.
Last year, two leading nuclear physicists were killed and the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization was wounded by car-bomb attacks inside Iran, attacks Teheran blamed on Israeli and U.S. operatives.

Months later, Iran's nuclear program was sabotaged and put back at least a year by the Stuxnet computer virus which made secret adjustments to centrifuges at Iran's uranium enrichment site. Who would do such a thing? USA, Israel?

Nov. 12 this year, an enormous explosion virtually obliterated a top secret base near Teheran that was being used for developing long-range missiles and killed the head of Iran's missile program and 17 others, including key experts in the field. Not likely an accident.

Two weeks later, another large explosion damaged the key uranium enrichment plant at Isfahan.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard brought down a US spy drone electronically over its northeastern border with Afghanistan in November 2011. Iran has been directing Shia militia in the roadside bombings that killed and maimed American troops in Iraq, and it is a strong backer of Hamas and Hezbollah in their clashes with Israel. There was a bizarre plot to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington and blow up his embassy. Iranian demonstrators stormed the British Embassy in Teheran last week shouting "Death to Britain."

The Mossad and CIA are widely reported to be working with Iranian exiles of the MKO (sometimes called MEK) — the military wing of the National Council of Resistance, which has strong links to U.S. conservative groups favouring action against Iran.
Patrick Clawson at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, believes these campaigns of assassinations and cyber-war and only vaguely acknowledged sabotage mark a new form of conflict in our world where it's never made clear who is doing what.

The descent into chaos started a long time ago.
General Wesley Clark (ret.) told "Democracy Now" (2007) that ten days after September 11, 2011 another general had told him that the Bush government was planning to invade: Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan and Iran. What they have in common is that they were not members of banks within the Bank of International Settlements, and most of them have lots of oil.

The military industrial complex will tell you anything to get in your bed, and its hands on taxpayers money.
A lot of these unnecessary wars about oil and greed could be avoided if those pushing for war had to enlist and serve in a combat role or, at least have someone in their immediate family do it.

All the candidates for the Republican leadership, with the exception of Ron Paul use war rhetoric which is truly disturbing. The leading wingnut is Gingrich.Ron Paul's "misguided and extreme views" on Israel include ending subsidies to Israel, Pakistan, Egypt etc. and to strenuously oppose a military attack against Iran.
He wants to ditch the Fed too and people like Bernanke have targeted him with public criticism.

The Iranians have the capacity and probably will block the Straight of Hormus where half of the world oil passes. The consequences of that blockage by Iran would immediatly send the price of oil thru the roof. This covert war where iranian scientists are coldly assassinated by professional killers unites Iranians against the west and now we have the downing of the drone.

War is makes a few people rich and everyone else suffers. I wish the poor would stop fighting a rich man's war. If they feel so passionately about fighting someone, make them do it themselves. I doubt we would have been at war this long if our politicians were the ones fighting. I'm sick of killing innocent people that just want to be left alone, ironically to spread freedom and democracy while our freedoms at home are being stripped away one by one.

If Iran decided to come forward with evidence of being attacked, it would be immediately mistrusted for the sole reason that it is coming from Iran (which the war machine's media has been attacking for months - who needs objective reporting anyways?). They seem to be out of reach of congressional or presidential oversight. Who do they take their orders from? So war with Iran seems inevitable, regardless of who gets elected President. Political pundits take for granted that a Republican in the White House would almost certainly mean war, and Obama seems to be going out of his way to steal the right's thunder. Obama sold the Israelis the bunker buster bombs that they needed to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, something even Bush refused to do. He has ratcheted up the rhetoric and the sanctions. Bush used the fiction of WMD as an excuse for war, Obama foists upon the world a most unlikely story of Iranian agents hiring the Mexican drug cartels to kill the Saudi ambassador to the US. All this strictly on the word of a paid FBI informant. At least Bush had a 5 star general spin his BS on the world stage.

As for the drone that was shot down, it is just a continuation of American covert activities in Iran which has been going on for years. These continued invasions of Iran's territory are acts of war in their own right and I fully support Iran's right to defend itself.

The greater force is not always the victor....Iran was once called Persia and was a great empire but was defeated eventually by a much smaller nation called Greece .

President Ahmadinejad did quote Ayatollah Khomein (the man who Israel was supplying weapons to during the Iran-Contra affair) to the effect that "this Occupation regime over Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time" (in rezhim-e eshghalgar-i Qods bayad as safheh-e ruzgar mahv shavad). This was not a pledge to roll tanks and invade or to launch missiles, however. It is the expression of a hope that the regime will collapse, just as the Soviet Union did. It is not a threat to kill anyone at all.

Iran has not launched an aggressive war in modern history (unlike the US or Israel), and its leaders have a doctrine of "no first strike." This is true of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as of Revolutionary Guards commanders.

Iran's military budget is a little over $6 billion annually. Sweden, Singapore and Greece all have larger military budgets. Moreover, Iran is a country of 70 million, so that its per capita spending on defence is tiny compared to these others, since they are much smaller countries with regard to population.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

We need more guys like this- Ron Paul, Nigel Farage

**********Have a Nice Day**********



Jon Corzine - writes his own epitaph and it lacks integrity

According to the New York Post (Dec 8th)

Jon Corzine

Former MF Global CEO —
former New Jersey Governor
former CEO of Goldman Sachs

...will not answer questions from a congressional committee seeking to get to the bottom of the brokerage firm’s collapse meaning that though he may know the whereabouts of the $1.2 billion in missing customer cash he won't be helping regulators. Rather - he's expected to plead the Fifth Amendment in response to most hard-hitting questions, or provide only a limited statement, — was not expected to “say anything of substance” during the hearing.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/exclusive_fifth_house_hearing_thursday_fnyYVnzW0F2i3LL6MqEhGN#ixzz1fxSznvj8

Monday, December 5, 2011

The loss of Moneyness

At the heart of the problem lies the loss of money equivalence of credit instruments previously seen as risk free. As 'moneyness' is lost, the effective money supply contracts, and does so very rapidly. This is deflation by definition.

Demand will evaporate, not because people do not have wants, but because they will lack the purchasing power to turn those wants and needs into consumption. Demand is not what we want, but what we can pay for.

Nicole Foss

Ah Yes - Democracy is comin'




Cap imposed on participant funding for the Site C dam assessment

Josh Paterson of the WCELA says “A maximum of $19,000 per group is an unreasonably low amount of funding
for community groups to participate in the multi-year Site C review process. This is a gigantic, nearly $8 billion project that will have
impacts on communities from BC right through to the Northwest Territories.”

“There's no way" this enough to allow the meaningful participation in a process filled with complicated evidence,legal
maneuvering and thousands of pages of complex data.

A Joint Review Panel Process will conduct hearings on behalf of both CEAA and the BC Environmental Assessment Office. “Effective
participation requires hiring experts who can review BC Hydro’s studies and hold them accountable,” says Andrea Morison, Coordinator for PVEA, which successfully prevented two previous attempts to get the dam approved. “This will cost us tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, something we, as a small, largely volunteer group, cannot afford” she adds.

"There is a long history of vocal public opposition to Site C,” says Tria Donaldson of the Wilderness Committee. “The paltry funding CEEA has set aside for non-profits is totally insufficient - it appears clearly designed to silence the very valid and very serious concerns of
non-profit groups,”

Josh Paterson, Staff Counsel at 604.601.2512 or toll free at 1-800-330-9235 x. 212

Saturday, December 3, 2011

A financial system that is in worse shape than ever



Ilargi - the automaticearth.blogspot.com

if we keep on spending ever more trillions to prevent Armageddon from arriving, surely we must invite it, by the very act of doing exactly that, to at some point come knocking on the back door. After all, you can't spend more and more, and then some, without ever being served with the bill for doing so.

So we’ve had all these rescue missions over the past 5 years. Behemoth-sized amounts of taxpayer money and future taxpayer money have been poured into our economies in this alleged attempt to try and save them.

Now, take a step back and tell me what you see. I'll tell you what I see: a financial system that is in worse shape than ever before during those 5 years. At least half of Europe is flat broke, most banks have lost 50%-80% of their market value, Bank of America, a major bailout recipient, is fast on its way to becoming a penny stock, China sees shrinkage wherev
er it looks and Japan is rumored to be awkwardly close to the chopping block.

...

We have a choice to make: either we save the banks, or we save our societies. Which are falling apart as we speak on account of the costs of saving an already deeply bankrupt financial system.

But we're not even starting to discuss that choice. All choices and decisions are being made -for us- in a one-dimensional vacuum theater by a small group of people who, to a (wo)man, flatly deny that such a choice needs to be made or even exists. Because making that choice doesn't fit their purposes and careers and fortunes and ego's.


Merkel, Blankfein, Sarkozy, Jamie Dimon, Obama, David Cameron, Mario Draghi and Timothy Geithner, they are all servants of the existing financial system, of the existing banks, which are broke but try to hide that from us. At our debilitating expense.

Yes, they've been able to stave off the inevitable until now. But that has only been possible because they have virtually unlimited access to your money, to the wallets of the 99%.

We should grow up and make these decisions ourselves, instead of letting a group of morally severely challenged suits with very vested interests make them for us any longer.

They're leading us straight into Dante’s Ninth Circle of Hell. And last I heard, that's definitely not a place to raise your kids.

Friday, December 2, 2011

unwinding - what does it mean?

John Glover of Bloomberg (as cited on theautomaticearth.blogspot.com) said

What the inflationistas are missing is that Europe is actually suffering from a profound contraction of its money supply. This contraction is crippling the banking system and will bring the economy to a grinding halt if it is not allieviated.

It’s easy to miss the contraction of the money supply because it involves a destruction of financial assets that we do not usually think of as “money” but that, in fact, operate as money — or did until relatively recently.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Canadian Government At Work - This is called Housing - Cree Ultra dependence on Crown






**********Have a Nice Day**********

Moral Hazard? You May have heard this term - do you know what it is?

Moral Hazard - would you do the right thing?

This is in reference to bankers. If they make risky inappropriate bets and especially are they are considered to big to fail, then the government will rush in to save them if they become insolvent.

But if their risky bets work out, they consider themselves heroes, pay themselves and their shareholders big bonuses.

So there is no downside to their mistakes and total upside for their wins.

There is no difference between what is right and what is wrong - a free for all.

This is complicated by the interweaving of government and corporations, especially banks and the military industrial complex. Often senior bureaucrats and politicians end up working within the government and then for the corporations, backslapping and congratulating themselves every step of the way.

Naturally this can go on for quite a while - until the whole thing unwinds.

God bless America.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

CBC's Neil MacDonald Nails it Again

There is a pattern here: Small-time losers, and even a few of the meltdown's medium-size culprits, go to prison. The really big boys and girls, meanwhile, hide behind corporate anonymity, perhaps pay fines, and admit no wrongdoing.



The full story

In the United States - Justic is not blind... the big fish are being let go, and the poor schmucks are getting pasted.

There is now a glimmer of hope:

District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff rejected a, yet another, admit-no-wrongdoing SEC settlement, this one with Citigroup.

One of the largest banks in the world, Citigroup had, back in 2007, created a $1-billion mortgage fund filled with securities that, according to the SEC, it knew would fail.

The banking giant then placed bets against customers who bought these funds, so as to profit from their losses, which turned out to be another common practice during the subprime meltdown.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

CEAA Review abruptly cancelled by committee

Parliamentary Review of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act Abruptly Terminated‏


read about it **********Have a Nice Day**********

I just spoke to a colleague that said the occupy movement was wrong headed. To protest, you take your sign over to parliament hill and stand there, you don't camp out etc.

I said democracy was messy.

He said if he went to a park and camped out he'd be arrested in short order.

I asked him when it was the last time he knew that any protest had ever been successful?

He suggested some senator went on a hunger strike to save Katimavik.

Where are we going in this country? Brigitte Depape was right! Stop Harper.



Hill Times


House Environment Committee winds down review of Environmental Assessment Act

NDP Environment Critic calls exercise a farce,' accuses government of already drafting legislative overhaul of EA process.

Chris Plecash

The House Environment Committee is winding down its statutory review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, a process that committee vice-chair and NDP environment critic Megan Leslie is calling a farce, accusing the government of already drafting legislation to overhaul the federal environmental assessment process.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, which sets out the criteria and processes to assess the environmental impacts of development that receives federal approval, was amended in 2003 to require a committee review of the legislation on a seven-year basis.

Since beginning its review of CEAA on Oct. 20, the Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development has heard from a range of stakeholders on the need to amend the regulatory framework, including Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency president Elaine Feldman, and representatives from a range of industry, environmental, and aboriginal groups, including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Ecojustice, and the Assembly of First Nations.

After nine two-hour meetings on the merits and shortfalls of CEAA, the committee is at the conclusion of the review process. The time constraints on the review process have led Ms. Leslie to question the usefulness of the hearings.

We have these witnesses crammed on the witness list where they speak for ten minutes, we have a couple of rounds of questions, and everybody goes home, observed Ms. Leslie, who vice-chairs the committee with Liberal environment critic Christie Duncan (Etobicoke North, Ont.), and Conservative MP and committee chair Mark Warawa (Langley, B.C.).

I believe the government is already working on the act and what we're doing in the committee is not going to have any impact on what we see, Ms. Leslie added. The government isn't questioning environmental groups, they're only questioning industry. They aren't questioning native groups, they're only questioning industry.

The disparity between the number of questions that government MPs have asked of industry associations and the number of questions that have been asked of public interest groups has been noticeable throughout the review of the CEAA.

When Sierra Club of Canada executive director John Bennett appeared before the committee on Nov. 1, he used part of his opening statement to describe efforts to streamline environmental regulation through funding cuts as part of a wider anti-democratic campaign to marginalize and eventually silence the voices of the environment in Canada, but not before Conservative MP Michelle Rempel (Calgary Centre-North, Alta.) raised a point of order that Mr. Bennett's comments were rhetoric-driven.

We're interested in hearing fact-based testimony today, and we'd encourage the witness to do so as well, Ms. Rempel reminded Mr. Bennett.

In his statement, Mr. Bennett highlighted the lack of public input into CEAA's review, pointing out that his appearance came on the heels of the federal government's decision in late October to end its funding to the Canadian Environmental Network.

There has not been consultation with the stakeholders this time, Mr. Bennett told the committee. The decision to stop consulting environmental organizations and withdraw support for the CEN at precisely the time CEAA is being reviewed clearly is no coincidence. It sends a clear signal.

Conservative MPs did take the opportunity to question the Sierra Club's executive director on how CEAA could be improved, but the majority of questions from the government side of the committee were directed to representatives of the Canadian Water & Wastewater Association and the Canadian Electricity Association, who stressed the need for simplifying the environmental assessment process by eliminating the duplication of assessment steps by the federal government and the provinces.

There was a similar disparity between questions posed by government members to industry and those posed to public interest groups when representatives for the Assembly of First Nations appeared before the committee on Nov. 17.

Let the AFN be very clear, First Nations are not opposed to development, AFN strategist Roger Jones declared in his opening remarks to the committee. In these cases, First Nations have already determined that development is entirely consistent with our obligations to the Earth and to our peoples.

Mr. Jones went on to call for a more inclusive environmental assessment process that worked to reconcile First Nations' rights with industry interests, including the establishment of a Crown-First Nations process to reform CEAA.

The time and resources it takes to do so should be seen as an investment to get it right for all actors, rather than simply an exercise in First Nation engagement, said Mr. Jones.

The two-hour long hearings on Nov. 17 were shared between representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the Mining Association of Canada, and the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment.

AFN's strongly worded opening statement was overshadowed by the presence of associations representing two of Canada's largest industries. The overwhelming majority of questions from Conservative MPs were directed towards CAPP and MAC, while Liberal and NDP MPs the bulk of their questions towards AFN and the James Bay Advisory Committee.

However, Conservative MP and committee member James Lunney (Nanaimo-Alberni, B.C.) took exception to the suggestion that committee members from his party were only interested in hearing from industry.

I directed questions myself to AFN and to the James Bay Council, Mr. Lunney pointed out. I think that it's unfair to say that we have not engaged with other people at the table.

Mr. Lunney specifically asked the James Bay Advisory committee for examples of mining projects that had brought development and employment to their region. He also asked the Assembly of First Nations how the controversial Prosperity Mine project on B.C.'s Fish Lake could gain the support of the area's First Nations.

If we start with no' as a beginning, how do we resolve issues like that, and is there a process? Is there going to be any hope of resolving this through process, without going to the Supreme Court, Mr. Lunney asked the AFN representatives.

[S]ometimes you have to look at it more broadly, Mr. Jones responded. That means you have to look at alternative options in terms of what is potentially available by way of economic development in that area. Is that the only one, or are there others that may in fact serve the needs and interests of everyone in that area?

The Taseko Mines Ltd. gold and copper mining project failed to pass a federal environmental assessment under former Environment Minister Jim Prentice last November, despite having passed a provincial environmental assessment by the B.C. government. Earlier this month the company submitted a new plan to CEAA that would spare Fish Lake from mine tailings, but the area's First Nations continue to oppose the project.

Mr. Lunney also defended the current committee review process for CEAA.

It's all about balance, but it's a balance and people are coming around to the perspective that socio-economic values should be considered as well, he told The Hill Times. There has got to be better ways to coordinate a response so that we can accomplish what we're setting out to do in terms of environmental protection and still not impair economic development and job creation.

A number of issues with CEAA have emerged throughout the hearings. The act currently uses a trigger process to determine whether or not a project is subject to a federal environmental assessment. In CEAA's present form, a project triggers an assessment if the federal government is the proponent of that project, or if the project receives some form of federal funding or assistance, utilizes federal land, or requires federal licences or permits. Under this criteria, installing a bench in a National Park requires some form of environmental assessment.

In Oct. 25 testimony Vancouver-based environmental lawyer Paul Cassidy suggested eliminating the trigger process for environmental assessments, replacing it with a defined list that bases assessments on the anticipated environmental impacts of a given project. Others have warned that such a framework would be unable to keep up with forms of development that have yet to come into existence.

Another issue that has dominated the hearings is the jurisdictional overlap between provincial and federal environmental assessments. The addition of a federal environmental assessment can add years to a project's approval process.

In his Nov. 22 testimony, Saskatchewan Assistant Deputy Minister of Environment Mark Wittrup argued for a one project, one assessment approach to environmental assessments.

Saskatchewan supports a vision that would redefine federal and provincial responsibilities in order to endow Canada with a system based upon a principle of one project, one assessment, Mr. Wittrup told the committee. Saskatchewan recommends CEAA acknowledge provincial environmental assessments as equivalent to a federal environmental assessment for all projects on provincial lands.

While government members of the committee have focused their questions on how CEAA could be reformed to eliminate duplication between federal and provincial assessments and reduce assessment timelines, opposition members have focused on how CEAA can be made to improve public input into the process.

If you watch the Conservatives, they are mimicking the exact language of the Environment minister about streamlining assessments for big energy projects, Ms. Leslie told The Hill Times. All the questions are directed to industry, and it's basically So, what do you want us to do?'

In their 2011 election platform, the Conservatives promised to streamline the regulatory approval process for mining and energy projects, which could signal significant changes to how the federal government assesses future development.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C.), who has followed the committee hearings closely, said that CEAA has been unfairly demonized by the government.

The environmental assessment process is ideally a planning tool to get better projects at the end of the day, said Ms. May, who has been. The Conservative members are so misunderstanding the process that they're treating it as though it's the enemy, it's red light/green light and they don't want it. So they're undermining the environmental assessment process.

Ms. May submitted a request to appear before the committee to discuss CEAA, but she is unlikely to receive an invitation. Committee chair and Conservative MP Mark Warawa (Langley, B.C.) told The Hill Times that he expected the CEAA hearings to wrap up by Nov. 24.

Last week the Conservative members of the committee also voted to go in camera following Ms. Leslie's motion to have Environment Minister Peter Kent (Thornhill, Ont.) appear to review his department's supplementary estimates prior to their Dec. 10 approval.

Obviously I can't tell you what happened in that meeting but I suspect that if you check the agenda for the coming week you're probably not going to see the Minister on it, Ms. Leslie said following the Nov. 22 meeting.

Mr. Lunney said that the committee had an obligation to review the supplementary estimates, but Mr. Kent's appearance depended on scheduling. Ms. Leslie had moved to have the Environment Minister appear no later than Nov. 29.

I think that some of the members are perhaps adjusting to the new reality of a majority, said Mr. Lunney. What we had in the last five years was not normal Parliamentary function, so there are some adjustments on the opposition side. When we were in opposition, when push came to shove we knew we might lose a vote, but in the meantime we tried to collaborate, communicate and do what we could to influence the agenda.


The Players:

Mark Warawa Mark.Warawa@parl.gc.ca>
Megan Leslie Megan.Leslie@parl.gc.ca> - NDP
Kirsty Duncan Kirsty.Duncan@parl.gc.ca>
Stella Ambler Stella.Ambler@parl.gc.ca>
Bruce Hyer Bruce.Hyer@parl.gc.ca>
Laurin Liu Laurin.Liu@parl.gc.ca>
Lise St-Denis Lise.St-Denis@parl.gc.ca>
James Lunney Lunney.J@parl.gc.ca>
Michelle Rempel Michelle.Rempel@parl.gc.ca>
Robert Sopuck Robert.Sopuck@parl.gc.ca>
Lawrence Toet Lawrence.Toet@parl.gc.ca>
Stephen Woodworth Stephen.Woodworth@parl.gc.ca>
Marie-France Renaud ENVI@parl.gc.ca>

Monday, November 28, 2011

WHAT DID OCCUPY WALLSTREET ETC REALLY WANT?

No 1 agenda item: get the money out of politics. Prevent boundless sums enter the campaign process.

No 2: reform the banking system to prevent fraud and manipulation, with the most frequent item being to restore the Glass-Steagall Act – the Depression-era law, done away with by President Clinton, that separates investment banks from commercial banks. This law would correct the conditions for the recent crisis, as investment banks could not take risks for profit that create kale derivatives out of thin air, and wipe out the commercial and savings banks.

No 3: draft laws against the little-known loophole that currently allows members of Congress to pass legislation affecting Delaware-based corporations in which they themselves are investors.

Naomi Wolf
guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 November 2011 12.25 EST
Article history

CEAA Review Wraps Up - A VERY UNSATISFACTORY STATE OF AFFAIRS

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C.), who has followed the committee hearings closely, said that CEAA has been unfairly demonized by the government.

“The environmental assessment process is ideally a planning tool to get better projects at the end of the day,” said Ms. May, who has been. “The Conservative members are so misunderstanding the process that they’re treating it as though it’s the enemy, it’s red light/green light and they don’t want it. So they’re undermining the environmental assessment process.”

Ms. May submitted a request to appear before the committee to discuss CEAA, but she is unlikely to receive an invitation. Committee chair and Conservative MP Mark Warawa (Langley, B.C.) told The Hill Times that he expected the CEAA hearings to wrap up by Nov. 24.

Friday, November 25, 2011

CEAA review hits the wall

a deadline of 5pm Eastern time for written submissions on CEAA is now imposed by the ruling majority;

the Library of Parliament analysts until December 6 to produce “a draft
version of the Committee’s report to the House of Commons (“the draft
report”) regarding the statutory review of the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act (CEAA), with recommendations including:

1. The inefficiencies of current practices and the need for improving
processes;
2. Duplication of environmental assessment activities which cause
unnecessary delays in the overall process;
3. Ambiguities which exist in the current CEAA legislation;
4. Other timeline issues;
5. How to address small projects;
6. CEAA triggering mechanisms;
7. Concerns brought forward by project proponents and stakeholders;
8. Substitution and equivalency as options for EA;
9. Simplifying the process when and where possible; and
10. Improving predictability and consistency in processes.”


In other words,.. the TAR (oil) sands seems like a great idea!

Friday, November 18, 2011

What the F$$K - MF Global disappears segregated funds?



In Canada brokerages are "insured" or insure their clients money via their membership in the Canadian Investor's Protection Fund the CIPF.
Fund resources. CIPF is funded by its Members.

The CIPF Board sets the size of the fund to be maintained for the client assets it protects. It also sets the quarterly Member assessment and the policy on how monies in the fund are to be invested.

Fund size: The Board uses a model to assist it in setting the fund size. The model weights client assets for the relative risk of the Member that is responsible to the customer for those assets. Members with strong internal controls, profitability and capital will have lower risk scores.

Assessments: The model is also used to determine the amount of the quarterly assessment that is allocated to each Member. Members with relatively more client assets, or a higher risk rating, will pay a larger percentage of the total assessment. CIPF also levies an additional assessment on Members that have not complied with the industry rule that requires them to maintain positive capital at all times.

Investment Policy: All investments must be in highly liquid Canadian or provincial government guaranteed debt obligations that mature over an 11-year period.

Other resources

For liquidity purposes the Fund has two lines of credit provided by two Canadian chartered banks totalling $100 million.

The Fund has also arranged insurance in the amount of $116 million for any one loss and in the annual aggregate in respect of losses to be paid by CIPF in excess of $100 million in the event of Member insolvency.

To put this into context:

The losses at MFGLOBAL are in excess of $600 million.... Poof!


The term for this is "taking a haircut" the investors must take a haircut....

Is anybody upset about this?

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Some Thoughts on "Occupy" Wal nuts

from the commments
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/11/16/f-rfa-macdonald-occupy-wall-street.html

"The people won't make a revolution until revolution costs less than status quo".

The tent cities have mostly come down. The problems that encouraged their advent have not gone away.

From Neil MacDonald, CBC
Wall Street, in the years leading up to the crash in 2008, created what amounted to a giant, multi-leveled con, packaging and selling garbage, while secretly placing bets against the very products they were peddling.

When it all collapsed, the 'Masters of the Universe' turned to the politicians they'd helped install in Washington, to be rescued with a few trillion in taxpayer dollars.

The business model here was nakedly obvious: privatize profits, socialize loss."



Don't make saints out of the Silicon Valley types. Much programming and data centre work is farmed out to developing countries so they can pay much smaller wages taking jobs from domestic markets.


OWS has focused media attention on the 1% corporate-government kleptocracy in a way that Neil and his complacent colleagues somehow failed to do -- despite their messaging virtuosity and fine hygiene -- over the decades that this system of organized looting has taken shape.


1. Revamp tax law to close loopholes. Not until you plug the holes can you have time to fix the sinking ship.

2. Remove Corporations as people in law. Make executives directly accountable for their actions and decisions.

3. Better distribution of pay in business, perhaps like a military pay scale.

4. End Too Big to fail. If a business can't maintain itself it doesn't deserve tax-payer bailouts. Add regulation to stop that from ever happening again.

5. Limit the number of lobbyists per business sector. It's ridiculous right now.

6. Government prints their own currency again. Every dollar borrowed from the central bank is repaid with interest. You can not get rid of debt by adding more debt


Take heed, we have only seen the beginning of a revolt, that will not go away Neil, mark my words.
Now that they have a clear message(s), bigger and general strikes are bound to be the next level in this bar of social revolt. Look Out!!

MSM press performance is something to be either 1) explained or 2) ashamed of.



To say the Occupy Movement has thrown it all away or that it's over and done with when the unfairness of the current social structure is becoming more obvious and affecting more people as time goes on seems quite premature at this point. The media should not be too quick to tie a neat bow on this and move on to the next sound bite. It's not over yet.

Citing Apple as somehow 'good' or at least not as bad as Wall Street shows a misunderstanding of the extent of the rot. Apple products are made by virtual slave labour at Foxconn (13 suicides) in China. Apple is an advocate of software patents which act to stifle innovation.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the
support of Paul.'
-- George Bernard Shaw


The movement is more than tents in a park. It's profoundly anti-death-of-the-planet, profoundly opposed to life as a series of opportunities to consume. It is the antithesis of the trivialization of the human being. It is revolutionary, not reformist.
Note, as well, it is occurring before the massive cuts in social spending coming down the line.
It is a majority opinion that bourgeois media will not be successful in ridiculing. Time is on its side.
The problems won't go away with the tents


let me get this straight. A group of people who do not have the capacity or resources to function well in a complex capitalist society cannot articulate precisely what needs to be changed in order to give them the capacity and resources. Well, I guess that means everything's okay then.


Me?

I agree with what Neil has said.

Those encampments are being pulled down, but the people are still riled.

By removing them, the government may be creating a subterranean monster, out of sight and much more deadly.

It isn't over until its over.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Nicole Foss Lecture


We had 50 people come out to Nicole's lecture. It was enough to pay her speaker fees but in the end it did not break even.

Still I was happy to have brought her in.

It raises the question: what would I have to have done to get more people to attend?

Friday, November 11, 2011

Dimitry Orlov Nails it

"However, it was cheap energy, in the form of fossil fuels, that has enabled this cultural and industrial progress, and the recent recognition that world oil extraction has peaked surely signals the prospective collapse of industrial economy, and, with it, the dissolution of its core institutions."


from his blog ... ClubOrlov.blogspot.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

What about those nasty CDS's

"Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou backed away from his controversial referendum plan Thursday, saying the government is ready to move forward on talks with the opposition as the country tries to find a way out of its economic crisis."

okay why are the cds holders paying premiums if this is not a default. A 50% loss of principle doesn't sound like all is well in Euroland.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Determining the Health of the Kipawa River

Fundamental characteristics of a healthy rivers include:

A natural flow

that varies in magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change. A natural flow regime is a critical component for a healthy river because the flow of water provides the base on which all other river functions are built. The plants, fish, and wildlife in any given river have evolved to adapt to that river's unique rhythms.


Transportation of sediment and nutrients.

Rocks, gravel, sand, silt, and organic debris are important components of a healthy river, creating floodplains, sandbars, riparian areas, and nourishing a river's bed and channels. A healthy river in equilibrium does not allow too much erosion or excessive scouring of the riverbank and riverbed.


Strong and varied plant communities.

Native plant species provide critical habitat for fish and other riverine animals, regulate water temperatures, prevent excessive erosion of riverbanks, and can remove pollutants from river water. Vegetation as it decomposes is also an important source of nutrients and habitat.


Productive and diverse habitat

that can support numerous animal species. The natural movement of sediment throughout a river creates riffles, pools, side channels, and backwater areas providing both spawning and rearing habitat for many species of fish.


Good water quality.

A healthy river has temperature levels, dissolved oxygen content, salinity, turbidity, hardness, acidity, and alkalinity (water pH) that are all within a natural range for that river and its species. A healthy river will also have minimal amounts of pollution and toxics, such as pesticides, nitrogen, phosphate, fecal coliform, and heavy metals.


Many macro invertebrates (bugs!).

Aquatic insects are the primary food for many riverine species. Abundance and diversity of insect species can be a strong indicator of river health.


Diversity of fish and wildlife species.

While the number of fish and wildlife species will vary with each river, a diverse number of species is often an indicator of river health.


A community that protects it through wise management and community planning. For example community groups work to ensure that new development is as river-friendly as possible or organize river clean up days and engage other community members in issues related to river health. A healthy, caring community is an essential facet of a healthy river.


From http://www.elkhartriverrestorationassociation.org/river-education/how-healthy-rivers-work/


River friendly things

clean-ups,
plantings,
reminders,
recreation activities etc

These show the "authorities" we care about OUR river.

Build up a body of knowledge about the river,
Form a network of individual experts and demonstrated public support that make us the "river experts"

With this "expertise" and recognition from various decision makers - begin encouraging a partnership with the appropriate authorities to help maximize the use of the PUBLIC SPACES associated with the river.

.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Old yet sage advice for the ages - why democracies fail

Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747-1813), a Scottish-born British lawyer once wrote:

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasure. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most money from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world’s great civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, from dependency back to bondage." - Anonymous

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

FOSS TAKES

on Finance and Economic Bubbles:



on Nuclear Energy



on Cheap Energy



on Decoupling



on Alternative Energy




After listening to these: go have a drink!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

7 Year Review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

Based on our case with the Federal Government: the CEAA was a waste of time and effort. It saves nothing, protects nothing.

But here we have the seven year review - already a year and a half late in starting.

Nonetheless:

We should

1. Mobilize groups which belong to environmental NGO's.

2. Mobilize other ENGOs, NGO's and affiliated organizations given the same fate has befallen them.

3. Mobilize national, provincial, and local unions and labour organizations.

4. Which "target audience" can influence the decision makers. Who in the target audience may have the greatest impact.

5. We cannot count on traditional main stream media (papers and TV) to cover the story. Implement social media to influence MSM to cover this issue.


Make the case that EA and regulation and monitoring is a health and safety issue.

["Mobilizing" entails assessing what are the values and core concerns that move the respective communities to action. Arguments must be at the emotional level rather than the rational/technical/legal level.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Does anybody else see a real problem with this?

Quote from Ron Paul, future USA president:

Regarding the execution of Anwar al-Awlaki

"If the American people accept this blindly and casually that we now have an accepted practice of the president assassinating people who he thinks are bad guys, I think it's sad."

People aren't getting executed right and left, as far as we know, but what if they were?

Sometimes there is an innocent implicated - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maher_Arar

Friday, September 30, 2011

Silver Spot Price Versus Physical Silver Price

Date * Spot Price * Maples * 1oz bar * diff * diff * 1oz bar premium

20110718* 40.3 * 43.56* 43.07* 3.26* 2.77* 6.87%
2011 09 30 1300 *30.36 * 36.57* 36.04* 6.21* 5.68 *18.71%

Blah,blah,woof woof spot price but physical silver is getting more expensive by the day. Try and buy some. By the time you add shipping, taxes and administration fees: You'll have added another 10% on 100 ounzes.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Finance and Economics Lecture with Nicole Foss


Nicole Foss (Stoneleigh) has agreed to present her ideas (http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com
6:30 PM -10:30 , November 15, 2011
St. Paul's University Auditorium, 223 Main Street, Ottawa www.ustpaul.ca
Admission Fee: $10.00 Students: $8.00


Greek default? Italian default? US debt ceiling? This will be an engaging review of the state of world economics with a focus on whether the next big thing will be Hyperinflation or Deflation (unwinding) of debt.


Event: Nicole Foss Lecture - Understanding our Deflationary Predicament

Nicole Foss (Stoneleigh of http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com) will compare and contrast deflationary and hyperinflationary scenarios falling out from our current financial crisis of sovereign debt, peak oil and global climate change. Foss is a leading thinker in this field, traveling the US, Europe and Canada discussion the main issues and the urgent need for building local community resiliency. After the talk questions will be received from the audience.

Category Courses & Workshops

Start Date:Tues Nov 15, 2011

End Date:Tues Nov 15, 2011

Date Notes:This is a one time lecture a leading thinker on our current economic situation

Time: doors open 18:30 lecture at 7:00 PM

Cost:$10 adults, $5.00 students with card

Venue: St. Pauls University Auditorium

Address:223 Main Street, Ottawa, Ontario

Postal Code:K1K 1K9

Contact:Peter Karwacki

Contact Email:kayaky@hotmail.com

Phone:613-842-5448 (home line)

Website:http://allaboutwhitewater.blogspot.com

Location Details:

Plenty of Parking availabe on site, for $4.00. The auditorium is called Guigues Hall. Volunteers will be taking admission at the door. This is a fundraiser for the non profit river preservation group: Les Amis de la riviere Kipawa (www.kipawariver.ca)

Money Masters - These experts trace the sources of debt based money



In this video the improbably named Bill Still stirs the pot. His analysis is thorough, exhaustive, and no doubt disturbing to central bankers.

Friday, September 16, 2011

What's new pussy cat? - Silver Wheaton does a trick


All this happened near the end of the trading day: If I didn't know better smart money is telling us where silver is going before the end of the weekend.

This is 23 times its normal volume about 24 million shares all within the space of what, five minutes?

Been around...

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Who Speaks for Canadian rivers?

I speak for Canadian Rivers? - Error 404, Dead on arrival.

Canadian Rivers

Canadian Rivers
I speak for river users too!

The Queen is not amused!

The Queen is not amused!
http://www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.ca/

The Damned Dam - 2005 -

The Damned Dam - 2005 -
22nd Annual Kipaw Rally has modest turnout. - 23rd does better

The Ashlu river: it could happen to you

The Ashlu river: it could happen to you

Whitewater Ontario

Whitewater Ontario
Working Hard to Protect Canada's Paddling Resources

Whitewater Ontario - Mission Statement

It is Whitewater Ontario’s mission to support the whitewater paddling community through the promotion, development and growth of the sport in its various disciplines. We accomplish this through the development of events, resources, clubs, and programs for personal and athletic development, regardless of skill level or focus, to ensure a high standard of safety and competency; We advocate safe and environmentally responsible access and use of Ontario’s rivers. Whitewater Ontario is the sport governing body in the province, and represents provincial interests within the national body Whitewater Canada and the Canadian Canoe Association http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/page/mission.asp

Kipawa, Tabaret, and Opemican

Kipawa, Tabaret, and Opemican
If Hydro Quebec is not actively pursuing Tabaret what is that bite out of Opemican for?

Kipawa Dam: After

Kipawa Dam: After
Laniel Dam at 2006 Rally

Where is the Kipawa

Where is the Kipawa
Kipawa flows into lake Temiskamingue, running from Kipawa Lake, under hwy 101 in Quebec

Kipawa Dam

Kipawa Dam
laniel dam at 2004 River Rally

Tabaret is a Bad Idea

About the Kipawa



The best thing paddlers can do to help the cause of the Kipawa:

1. attend the rally and bring others including non paddlers to attend and buy beer and have fun

2. write your MP /MNA and raise the issue and post your objections -1 letter = 200 who didn't write

3. Write Thierry Vandal the CEO of Hydro Quebec strongly opposing the 132 MW standard decrying the use of "diversion" as the most environmentally inappropriate method of power production

4. Write Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec protesting that either the algonquin or the tabaret project will eliminate all other values on the Kipawa River by turning it into a dry gulch.

5. See if you can get other allied groups interested by showing your own interest, ie the Sierra Defense Fund, Earthwild, MEC, and so on.

6. Demand further consultation

7. Currently we are at the point where we need to sway public opinion and raise awareness.

However, if all else fails, don't get mad, simply disrupt, foment, and protest . The Monkey Wrench Gang.

Have you read Edward Abbey?

Important Addresses
CEO,Hydro Québec, 75 boul René Levesque, Montreal, P.Q., H2Z 1A4Caille.andre@hydro.qc.ca



Tabaret is a Bad Idea (Part Two)

Les Amis de la Riviere Kipawa is poised to use an application to the Federal Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus to ensure the Minster does what he is supposed to do, protect the public's right to navigate the water control structure at Laniel, Quebec using the Navigable Waters Protection Act. (see http://www.kipawariver.ca/)

In the now gutted Navigable Waters Protection Act lay the means by which the Minister of Transport could keep the public right of passage down our great Canadian Heritage, our rivers and streams which are threatened especially by resource corporations and power brokers such as Hydro Quebec.

These powerful entities continue to petition that 'this' river or 'that' stream is not navigable and therefore not protectable.
I don't say that dams and bridges should not be built, only that if they are, historical navigation rights should be considered and preserved by making reasonable accommodations for recreational boaters.

It is the Minister of Transport, in exercising the right to allow or disallow work on or over a navigable waterway is what keeps boats and recreational boaters plying our waterways.

To many recent cases launched in the Federal Court concerning the Navigable Waters Protection Act, most recently the case of the Humber Environment Group of Cornerbrook Newfoundland versus the Cornerbrook Pulp and Paper Company indicates that the important oversight is not being faithfully performed. Have we really come to the point now where we must say "such and such a stream is one foot deep, possessing so many cubic feet per second flow and so on?" The answer to this is... YES!

The honourable Mr. Justice John A. O'Keefe, ruled that it had not been shown that the river was navigable. How convenient was that to the Minister? But either the Minister of Transport acts to protect our rivers and streams as a public right or he does not and that means rivers and streams currently enjoyed by kayakers and canoists.

Enough of the cheating, and double-talk. Canadians! our rivers and streams are our own, lets urge the Minister of Transport and the our government to protect them.

Peter Karwacki

Tabaret is a Bad Idea (Part Three)

10 Reasons WhyTabaret is a Bad Idea1) Tabaret is too big. The station is designed to useevery drop of water available in the Kipawawatershed, but will run at only 44 percent capacity.We believe the Tabaret station is designed to usewater diverted from the Dumoine River into theKipawa watershed in the future. 2) The Tabaret project will eliminate the aquaticecosystem of the Kipawa River.The Tabaret project plan involves the diversion of a16-km section of the Kipawa River from its naturalstreambed into a new man-made outflow from LakeKipawa. 3) Tabaret will leave a large industrial footprint on thelandscape that will impact existing tourismoperations and eliminate future tourism potential. 4) The Tabaret project is an aggressive single-purposedevelopment, designed to maximize powergeneration at the expense of all other uses. 5) River-diversion, such as the Tabaret project, takinglarge amounts of water out of a river’s naturalstreambed and moving it to another place, is verydestructive to the natural environment. 6) The Kipawa River has been designated a protectedgreenspace in the region with severe limitations ondevelopment. This designation recognizes theecological, historical and natural heritage value ofthe river and the importance of protecting it.Tabaret will eliminate that value. 7) If necessary, there are other, smarter and morereasonable options for producing hydro power onthe Kipawa watershed. It is possible to build a lowimpactgenerating station on the Kipawa river, andmanage it as a “run-of-the-river” station, makinguse of natural flows while maintaining other values,with minimal impact on the environment. 8) The Kipawa watershed is a rich natural resource forthe Temiscaming Region, resonably close to largeurban areas, with huge untapped potential fortourism and recreation development in the future.Tabaret will severely reduce this potential. 9) Tabaret provides zero long-term economic benefitfor the region through employment. The plan is forthe station to be completely automated andremotely operated. 10) The Kipawa River is 12,000 years old. The riverwas here thousands of years before any peoplecame to the region. The Tabaret project will change all that.

Problems on a local River?

  • There is more to do as well but you have to do your research and above all, don't give up.
  • IN the meantime prepared a document itemizing the history of navigation of this spot and its recreational value. Use the Kipawa river history of navigation as a guide: see www.kipawariver.ca
  • Under the Ministry of Environment guidelines you have a set period of time to petition the change under the environmental bill of rights, you may have limited time to take this action. But it involves going to court for a judicial review of the decision.
  • 4. contact the ministry of natural resources officials and do the same thing.
  • 3. contact the ministry of the environment and determine if they approved the project
  • 2. determine if the dam was a legal dam, approved under the navigable waters protection act.
  • 1. research the decision and timing of it to determine if an environmental assessment was done.

Minden Ontario

Minden Ontario
Gull River Water control at Horseshoe lake

A History of Navigation on the Kipawa River

Prior to the environmental assessment there was no signage at the Laniel Dam

T-Shirts Area: These are available now!

T-Shirts Area: These are available now!
Send $25 and a stamped self addressed envelop for the Tshirt, and for the bumper sticker, a stamped and self addressed envelope with $5.00 for the bumper sticker to Les Amis de la rivière Kipawa, 80 Ontario St., Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 1K9 or click the link To purchase a Les Amis "T" contact Doug with the following information: Number of shirts:Sizes: Ship to Address: Method of Payment: cash, cheque and paypal, Shipto address:

Bumper Stickers Now Available

Bumper Stickers Now Available
Get your bumper sticker and show your support for the Kipawa Legal Fund ! - send $5.00 in a Stamped, self addressed envelope to: Peter Karwacki Box 39111, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 7X0