27 September 2008
gateway to the next frontier
Gentle reader, these words are being written on a computer in the Java Lodge, Prince Rupert B. C. Rambling Rose is busily packing her bags and a breakfast for an early start tomorrow morning--5:30 a.m. is the scheduled check-in time for walk-on passengers embarking on BC Ferrries Inside Passage sailing to Port Hardy. Fittingly, the name of this new ferry is the Northern Adventure-- brought into service to replace the Queen of the North that sank two years ago a little bit farther down the coast.
Prince Rupert owes its beginnings to one man's vision that this harbour on Kaien Island was the perfect terminus for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and would open up trade to the Far East. Unfortunately, the dreamer who dreamed the dream never lived to see its full realization as he was aboard the Titanic when it sank. A full century later, RR noted two Via freight trains carrying container cargo--each so long that she could not count the rail cars. **
Tonight's home away from home, the Java Lodge B & B, has been an absolutely wonderful find. The B& B is housed in the upper floor of a restored 1910 neo-classical Bank of Montreal building; downstairs is the Java Dot Cup Internet Cafe which appears to be quite popular with locals. The large rooms are quite spacious with high ceilings, each equipped with a computer and Internet connection; there's a large well-stocked kitchen, light-filled dining room, and a living room with fireplace and DVD library with hundreds of movies for guests to enjoy. Upstairs and down the walls are filled with paintings: traditional, new artists and First Nations art. Great coffee, huge muffins, and big bowls of ice cream (RR's choice: Mango Tango).
Prince Rupert (est. 1910, pop.15,000) is the mid-point of RR's latest adventure that is bookended with visits to dear friends in Calgary and Vancouver. As well, this trip's itinerary was mapped out to include portions of Alberta and British Columbia RR has long wanted to see and experience: the fabled Inside Passage Cruise and more of wonderful Victoria. In other chapters of her life, RR was fortunate to have been able to call each of these provinces home.
Canada's power base has shifted to Calgary (est. 1833, pop. 1,000,000) now and just this year, the city was rated as third best place to live in Canada. It's a fresh, clean, thriving, most modern city with construction everywhere.
Most of RR's time there was spent visiting with her friend who took her on long excursions into the foothills and through the rolling ranchlands just west of the city. We enjoyed several fall colour tours with the dark green of the forests accented by golden aspen everywhere; ever present in the distance was the blue of the snow-capped mountains and overhead ever-changing cloud formations rolling eastward to reveal the bluest of blue skies smiling on us.
There are two memorable highlights of Calgary that RR shall link you to: 1) the Stephen Avenue Walk National Historic Site -- two blocks of heritage sandstone buildings superbly restored ---surrounded by postmodern steel and glass skyscrapers; and 2) the Glenbow Museum's two remarkable current exhibitions available online. The first exhibition, Mavericks An INCORRIGIBLE History of Alberta, turns the dry stuff of history textbooks into a fun, entertaining experience; the second, Niitsitapiisinni our way of life, tells the story of the Blackfoot Peoples and how their way of life depended on the buffalo and how their traditionalvalues continue to inform their lives today. By the way, this is the first museum RR has visited where there are signs posted that read, "Please do touch." Touch RR did-- a thick silky buffalo hide.
RR covered the 1,847 km. distance separating Calgary and Prince Rupert via an overnight Greyhound bus trip with transfers in Edmonton and Prince George. The greatest portion of the route follows the Yellowhead/Highway 16. The Yellowhead is another one of those remarkable Canadian engineering stories***: initially begun near end of World War II by American soldiers stationed in Prince Rupert, Highway 16 today provides an east-west route through the northern portions of the four western provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). As of last night, RR has now completed travelling the entire length of Highway 16 and the Trans Canada (Highway 1); still awaiting completion? the Governor's Road-- the old Highway 2 that connected Windsor to Kingston Ontario.
RR's enjoyment of the bus trip was greatly enhanced by new folks she met on this journey. There's the young 20-something Englishman, who dissatisfied with his job at home, set out to see the world--two months in Canada followed by two months in Australia. He began with Halifax (no one was there to tell him how to get to Newfoundland by bus) and will end his stay here in Vancouver. He's seeing the country on a 60 day Greyhound bus pass @ $850 cost & is staying at the Pioneer Hostel just down the road. RR will see him on the ferry tomorrow again. His first impression of Canada? he finds that each city where he has stayed is unique and socio-culturally different from all others. As well, he is awed by the vastness and incredible distances that one must cover to see all of Canada.
Two of RR's bus drivers have been wonderful tour guides as well. The driver doing the Prince George to Smithers portion drew her attention to all the bands of blood red coloured conifers that indicated the devastating extent of the mountain pine beetle infestation that is destroying the vast forests of northwestern BC-- RR had read about this and had already planned to blog about this issue within the context of climate change-- to actually see what one has read about makes a big difference.
The next driver who completed the Smithers to Prince Rupert run noted for her all the portions of mountains that had been clearcut by logging companies as well as the subsequent landslides that brought considerable hardships to the these remote, isolated communities in northwestern B. C. When RR remarked upon the frequent crucifixes she was noticing adjacent to the highway as it paralleled the Skeena River portions of the road, her driver filled her in on the full significance of the "Highway of Tears" appellation of the Prince George to Prince Rupert Highway 16. RR had assumed the crucifixes and shrines had been erected in memory of one of the 30 women who have vanished along this stretch of highway since 1974. Not so, each memorial is located at the scene of a tragic highway accident. He noted, "In the summer, this highway sings with promise; come winter the highway turns deadly without warning." The woman who gave RR a ride back to Java Lodge told her that she never ventures out from Prince Rupert during the winter months--ever.
Tourist brochures singing the praises of this beautiful town located on Kaien Island surrounded by mountains on all sides never speak of the constant rain. It rained yesterday morning and then again in the evening as we got closer to Prince Rupert. It has rained off and on all day today. In spite of that, RR has walked this town, visited its museum, and tasted its halibut. As a precautionary measure for tomorrow's cruise, she is adding an umbrella and a windbreaker into her carry-on bag. She is also re-framing this experience by telling herself: 1) fog is an opportunity for great atmospheric photographs; 2) Record photographer David Bebee always shoots no matter what the weather and some of his best photos have been taken in rain, in snow, in foggy conditions; and 3) a stranger is just a friend one has yet to meet.
I leave you, gentle reader, with a few snippets from local papers perused along the way.
Source: (1) Rob Budde, Oploparax Horridus* and Me, Northwood Oct/Nov08.
Notes: * the devil's club plant growing in northwestern BC forests; ** BC shipped 1 billion board feet of lumber to the Chinese market in 2008; *** RR is currently reading Pierre Berton, The National Dream The Great Railway 1871-1881(vol. 1)
Prince Rupert owes its beginnings to one man's vision that this harbour on Kaien Island was the perfect terminus for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and would open up trade to the Far East. Unfortunately, the dreamer who dreamed the dream never lived to see its full realization as he was aboard the Titanic when it sank. A full century later, RR noted two Via freight trains carrying container cargo--each so long that she could not count the rail cars. **
Tonight's home away from home, the Java Lodge B & B, has been an absolutely wonderful find. The B& B is housed in the upper floor of a restored 1910 neo-classical Bank of Montreal building; downstairs is the Java Dot Cup Internet Cafe which appears to be quite popular with locals. The large rooms are quite spacious with high ceilings, each equipped with a computer and Internet connection; there's a large well-stocked kitchen, light-filled dining room, and a living room with fireplace and DVD library with hundreds of movies for guests to enjoy. Upstairs and down the walls are filled with paintings: traditional, new artists and First Nations art. Great coffee, huge muffins, and big bowls of ice cream (RR's choice: Mango Tango).
Prince Rupert (est. 1910, pop.15,000) is the mid-point of RR's latest adventure that is bookended with visits to dear friends in Calgary and Vancouver. As well, this trip's itinerary was mapped out to include portions of Alberta and British Columbia RR has long wanted to see and experience: the fabled Inside Passage Cruise and more of wonderful Victoria. In other chapters of her life, RR was fortunate to have been able to call each of these provinces home.
Canada's power base has shifted to Calgary (est. 1833, pop. 1,000,000) now and just this year, the city was rated as third best place to live in Canada. It's a fresh, clean, thriving, most modern city with construction everywhere.
Most of RR's time there was spent visiting with her friend who took her on long excursions into the foothills and through the rolling ranchlands just west of the city. We enjoyed several fall colour tours with the dark green of the forests accented by golden aspen everywhere; ever present in the distance was the blue of the snow-capped mountains and overhead ever-changing cloud formations rolling eastward to reveal the bluest of blue skies smiling on us.
There are two memorable highlights of Calgary that RR shall link you to: 1) the Stephen Avenue Walk National Historic Site -- two blocks of heritage sandstone buildings superbly restored ---surrounded by postmodern steel and glass skyscrapers; and 2) the Glenbow Museum's two remarkable current exhibitions available online. The first exhibition, Mavericks An INCORRIGIBLE History of Alberta, turns the dry stuff of history textbooks into a fun, entertaining experience; the second, Niitsitapiisinni our way of life, tells the story of the Blackfoot Peoples and how their way of life depended on the buffalo and how their traditionalvalues continue to inform their lives today. By the way, this is the first museum RR has visited where there are signs posted that read, "Please do touch." Touch RR did-- a thick silky buffalo hide.
RR covered the 1,847 km. distance separating Calgary and Prince Rupert via an overnight Greyhound bus trip with transfers in Edmonton and Prince George. The greatest portion of the route follows the Yellowhead/Highway 16. The Yellowhead is another one of those remarkable Canadian engineering stories***: initially begun near end of World War II by American soldiers stationed in Prince Rupert, Highway 16 today provides an east-west route through the northern portions of the four western provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). As of last night, RR has now completed travelling the entire length of Highway 16 and the Trans Canada (Highway 1); still awaiting completion? the Governor's Road-- the old Highway 2 that connected Windsor to Kingston Ontario.
RR's enjoyment of the bus trip was greatly enhanced by new folks she met on this journey. There's the young 20-something Englishman, who dissatisfied with his job at home, set out to see the world--two months in Canada followed by two months in Australia. He began with Halifax (no one was there to tell him how to get to Newfoundland by bus) and will end his stay here in Vancouver. He's seeing the country on a 60 day Greyhound bus pass @ $850 cost & is staying at the Pioneer Hostel just down the road. RR will see him on the ferry tomorrow again. His first impression of Canada? he finds that each city where he has stayed is unique and socio-culturally different from all others. As well, he is awed by the vastness and incredible distances that one must cover to see all of Canada.
Two of RR's bus drivers have been wonderful tour guides as well. The driver doing the Prince George to Smithers portion drew her attention to all the bands of blood red coloured conifers that indicated the devastating extent of the mountain pine beetle infestation that is destroying the vast forests of northwestern BC-- RR had read about this and had already planned to blog about this issue within the context of climate change-- to actually see what one has read about makes a big difference.
The next driver who completed the Smithers to Prince Rupert run noted for her all the portions of mountains that had been clearcut by logging companies as well as the subsequent landslides that brought considerable hardships to the these remote, isolated communities in northwestern B. C. When RR remarked upon the frequent crucifixes she was noticing adjacent to the highway as it paralleled the Skeena River portions of the road, her driver filled her in on the full significance of the "Highway of Tears" appellation of the Prince George to Prince Rupert Highway 16. RR had assumed the crucifixes and shrines had been erected in memory of one of the 30 women who have vanished along this stretch of highway since 1974. Not so, each memorial is located at the scene of a tragic highway accident. He noted, "In the summer, this highway sings with promise; come winter the highway turns deadly without warning." The woman who gave RR a ride back to Java Lodge told her that she never ventures out from Prince Rupert during the winter months--ever.
Tourist brochures singing the praises of this beautiful town located on Kaien Island surrounded by mountains on all sides never speak of the constant rain. It rained yesterday morning and then again in the evening as we got closer to Prince Rupert. It has rained off and on all day today. In spite of that, RR has walked this town, visited its museum, and tasted its halibut. As a precautionary measure for tomorrow's cruise, she is adding an umbrella and a windbreaker into her carry-on bag. She is also re-framing this experience by telling herself: 1) fog is an opportunity for great atmospheric photographs; 2) Record photographer David Bebee always shoots no matter what the weather and some of his best photos have been taken in rain, in snow, in foggy conditions; and 3) a stranger is just a friend one has yet to meet.
I leave you, gentle reader, with a few snippets from local papers perused along the way.
"This place can kill you. The fast, tough rivers, the challenging landscape, the difficult highways, the bad drivers, the large carnivores: they all can hurt you. A Cree elder taught me that the first relationship with the land and its creatures has to be one of piteousness--
I am subject to this place, not it subject to me." (1)
Source: (1) Rob Budde, Oploparax Horridus* and Me, Northwood Oct/Nov08.
Notes: * the devil's club plant growing in northwestern BC forests; ** BC shipped 1 billion board feet of lumber to the Chinese market in 2008; *** RR is currently reading Pierre Berton, The National Dream The Great Railway 1871-1881(vol. 1)
Enter to win one of two special limited edition prints by Nuxalk artist Chazz Brandon Mack; details here aboriginalbc.com/win
Labels: history
19 September 2008
"The anchor of place has an impact on our sense of self, our sense of safety, the kind of work we get done, the ways we interact with other people, even our ability to function as citizens of a democracy.
As places around us change–the communities that shelter us and the larger regions
that support them – we all undergo changes inside.
The danger, as we are now beginning to see, is that whenever we make changes in our surroundings, we can all too easily shortchange ourselves by cutting ourselves off from the sights and sounds, the shapes or textures, or other information from a place that have helped mould our understanding and are now necessary for us to thrive."
--Tony Hiss in The Experience of Place
As places around us change–the communities that shelter us and the larger regions
that support them – we all undergo changes inside.
The danger, as we are now beginning to see, is that whenever we make changes in our surroundings, we can all too easily shortchange ourselves by cutting ourselves off from the sights and sounds, the shapes or textures, or other information from a place that have helped mould our understanding and are now necessary for us to thrive."
--Tony Hiss in The Experience of Place
Labels: built heritage, pensees
18 September 2008
courting power
Gentle reader, the following story appeared over the summer and prompted further research:"The Canadian corporate giants dominating Alberta oilsands extraction and refining lobbied the federal government intensively this summer, federal records show. The campaign began shortly after Liberal Leader Stephane Dion unveiled his plan for $15 billion worth of new taxes on carbon emissions. Oil and gas lobbyists held several meetings with Industry Minister Jim Prentice and Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn, one meeting with Environment Minister John Baird, and a string of meetings with top
government officials including aides to Prime Minister Stephen Harper." (1)
A local political pundit reminds us of previous election promises made by the current Prime Minister: "Harper promised that a Conservative government would be open and accountable. Yet he introduced an Accountability Act that amended the Access to Information Act so as to make it harder, not easier, for citizens to find out what their government is up to." (2) An investigative reporter following this story provides this information: "The... new lobbying law contains a truck-sized loophole that allows a registered lobbyist to arrange a meeting between a corporate client and a cabinet minister that might never have to be disclosed publicly*.....If the lobbyist arranges a meeting involving the lobbyist, the client and the deputy minister - but the lobbyist does not attend the meeting, no monthly return would be required regarding the meeting with the deputy minister. The rule would apply to all designated public office holders, including cabinet ministers and even the prime minister." (3) Political watchdog Duff Conacher, co-ordinator of Democracy Watch, points out that" the election promise to require ministers to record their contacts with lobbyists has been broken. It has been replaced by the less-onerous obligation for lobbyists to file monthly reports on their "oral and arranged" communications with federal officials. However, a requirement on reporting e-mails and letters between senior government officials and lobbyists has been dropped after lobbyists successfully lobbied the government for changes to the regulations." (4)
Meanwhile, the government keeps assuring the Canadian electorate that all is well with this new legislation: "Treasury Board Minister Vic Toews said the revised rules will give Canadians easy Internet access to track meetings between lobbyists and the ministers they hope to influence. Under the
proposal, lobbyists would be required to file monthly returns of their activities "if made orally and arranged in advance of the communication.' (5)===> How easy is it to track this information? Here are the links: LOBBYING ACT Lobbyists Registration Regulations:
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2008/20080430/html/sor116-e.html ; Registry of Lobbyists >> Communications Entry Search:
http://www.ocl-cal.gc.ca/epic/site/lobbyist-lobbyiste1.nsf/en/h_nx00274e.html
Be warned, gentle reader, as you are about to embark on a merry chase as lobbying continues to be a big business taking care of business in Ottawa. Cf. these statistics of the five most lobbied government departments: Industry Canada 2203; Finance Canada 1668; Members of
the House of Commons 1367; Privy Council Office 1363; Foreign Affairs and International Trade 1235 (Source: Canwest News Service, Source: Source: Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists).
Who are the lobbyists courting our elected officials? " Big corporations and industry associations are among the most well-represented players.
Individual companies tend to lobby on specific contracts or regulatory changes that would benefit them directly, while industry associations usually target broader "macro-policy" issues. Numerous charities, non-governmental organizations and other groups retain their services,
including the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Environmental, Defence and the Assembly of First Nations. Since 1989, when lobbyists were first required by law to register with the federal government, their number has nearly doubled to 4,971 from 2,575. Lobbyists typically charge
monthly retainers of $3,000 to $10,000, or hourly rates of $150 to $500. Lobbyists spend a lot of time and money getting to know these people [i.e. contacts who provide access to decision-makers] and getting to be known by them. (6)
Apparently there is a close connection between those being lobbied and those doing the lobbying in Ottawa. Here are some examples of how party politics and the lobbying industry are intertwined in a near incestuous relationship on Parliament Hill:
- lobbyist-to-government moves/government to lobbyist moves i.e. hypocritical "revolving door" between the Conservative government and the lobbying industry: (1) Kory Teneycke, the former executive director of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, was hired this fall to lead the Conservative research bureau, which prepares talking points for Tory MPs and digs up dirt on the opposition; (2) Mike Van Soelen, Baird's communications director, left to work as a lobbyist in Ottawa; (3) Darcy Walsh, who served as Fortier's director of parliamentary affairs at Public Works, quit last month to join Hill and Knowlton Canada; (4) Baran (lobbyist fort Earnscliffe Strategy Group) will join Conservative House leader Jay Hill's office next week as his new chief of staff, clearing the way for his key organizational involvement in the election campaign but can still return to Earnscliffe and work as a "consultant" for people wanting to do business on the Hill. " (7) (8)
- use of friendly lobbyists as plugged-in pundits on news shows: Norquay, of Earnscliffe Strategy Group, has confirmed that he has received talking points from the Conservatives for his appearances on CTV and CBC news; Norquay is doing work generally reserved for government communications officers such as Sandra Buckler, Harper's director communications. Per Norquay:“I provide strategic advice to my clients and mostly talk to public servants." (9)
"No people . . .
who have access to the type of information that pervades government
should be working for a lobbyist for five years."
–Environment Minister John Baird (10)
who have access to the type of information that pervades government
should be working for a lobbyist for five years."
–Environment Minister John Baird (10)
"Politics will no longer be a stepping stone
to a lucrative career lobbying government."
-- (Young blue eyes) Stephen Harper, current Prime Minister of Canada(10)
to a lucrative career lobbying government."
-- (Young blue eyes) Stephen Harper, current Prime Minister of Canada(10)
"The unethical, undemocratic revolving door between lobbying and the government is still
pretty much wide open, even though the government pledged that they would close it.” (10)
--Duff Conacher, co-ordinator of Democracy Watch.
pretty much wide open, even though the government pledged that they would close it.” (10)
--Duff Conacher, co-ordinator of Democracy Watch.
Notes: *ah yes, the election conveniently distracts from further investigations into former prime minister Brian Mulroney's dealings with German lobbyist Karlheinz Schreiber who met frequently and privately with Canada's sitting prime minister to give him stashes of cash (aka bribes).
Sources: (1) Oil giants lead government charge, The Canadian Press August 25, 2008; (2)GEOFFREY STEVENS, How voters feel about the Conservative leader may well decide this election, The Record September 08, 2008; (3)Tim Naumetz, 2008 Major loophole in new federal lobbying law even surprises lobbyists, The Canadian Press August 18, 2008; (4)Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Lobbyists maintain close ties to major parties despite tougher regulations, Ottawa Citizen January 22, 2008; (5)Critics cite major loophole in proposed rules, The Canadian Press January 05, 2008; (6)Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Thriving lobby industry just another cog in wheels of government, Ottawa Citizen January 21, 2008; (7)Bruce Cheadle, Lobbyists in, lobbyists out despite Tory promise to stop 'revolving door', The Canadian Press November 11, 2007; (8)Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Lobbyists maintain close ties to major parties despite tougher regulations, Ottawa Citizen January 22, 2008; (9) Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Lobbyists maintain close ties to major parties despite tougher regulations, Ottawa Citizen January 22, 2008 ; (10)Bruce Cheadle, Lobbyists in, lobbyists out despite Tory promise to stop 'revolving door', The Canadian Press November 11, 2007.
Sources: (1) Oil giants lead government charge, The Canadian Press August 25, 2008; (2)GEOFFREY STEVENS, How voters feel about the Conservative leader may well decide this election, The Record September 08, 2008; (3)Tim Naumetz, 2008 Major loophole in new federal lobbying law even surprises lobbyists, The Canadian Press August 18, 2008; (4)Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Lobbyists maintain close ties to major parties despite tougher regulations, Ottawa Citizen January 22, 2008; (5)Critics cite major loophole in proposed rules, The Canadian Press January 05, 2008; (6)Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Thriving lobby industry just another cog in wheels of government, Ottawa Citizen January 21, 2008; (7)Bruce Cheadle, Lobbyists in, lobbyists out despite Tory promise to stop 'revolving door', The Canadian Press November 11, 2007; (8)Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Lobbyists maintain close ties to major parties despite tougher regulations, Ottawa Citizen January 22, 2008; (9) Jack Aubry and Andrew Mayeda, Lobbyists maintain close ties to major parties despite tougher regulations, Ottawa Citizen January 22, 2008 ; (10)Bruce Cheadle, Lobbyists in, lobbyists out despite Tory promise to stop 'revolving door', The Canadian Press November 11, 2007.
Labels: politics
15 September 2008
oil and gas: the new great game?
Photos 1-3 taken at Bothwell-Zone Oil Museum, Bothwell ON: Oil was first discovered seeping into the Thames River, west of London ON in 1792 by the Moravian Indians. In 1863 John Lick, an American, struck oil and the boom gave Bothwell immediate recognition in world news. The 1896 Bothwell-Zone Oil Powerhouse was built by Carmen & Fairbanks and remains fully operational. The Bothwell Oil Museum is open 24 May to 30 October, Admission $2.00. Fourth photo of the Imperial Oil (Esso) worker's camp outside of Rainbow Lake, Alberta allows RR to indulge in a sensory memory trip back to northwestern Alberta with its reeking oil and gumbo sticking to everything. At the time, RR consoled herself that her community out in the boonies was keeping folks here in Ontario warm. Recently she asked the man filling the tanks at her gas station whence our local supply? His answer--this week Venezuela-- could be anywhere in the world but definitely not Alberta. Of course, Alberta supplies the U. S. A. 
"The New Great Game in Central Asia is a geopolitical game among the world’s Great Powers for control of energyresources. The geopolitical game is openly analyzed in U.S. think tanks,...is well reported in the Asian press. It is hardly visible in Canada. The term Great Game dates back to the 19th century, when it was popularized by Rudyard Kipling in his novels of British India. At that time, the rivalry was between the British and Russian empires. The epicentre of conflict was Afghanistan, where the British fought and lost three wars....Countries playing the New Great Game want energy to flow in directions under their control: north to Russia, west to Europe (bypassing Russia), east to China, south through Afghanistan. The players are U.S.A., China and Russia; regional powers such as Pakistan, India, Turkey and Iran; and
NATO countries, and by extension Canada through its NATO membership....Pipeline routes are important in the same way that railway lines were important in the 19th century. They connect trading partners and influence the regional balance of power. When a pipeline crosses more than one country, each country becomes a stakeholder. The countries are bonded physically, economically and diplomatically." (1)
A recent news report provided the following information:- "Afghanistan and three other countries agreed in April to build the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline @ US $7.6-billion natural gas pipeline starting in 2010. This pipeline would deliver gas from energy-rich Turkmenistan to energy-hungry Pakistan and India and is strongly supported by the U.S. because it would block a competing pipeline from Iran that would bring oil to India and Pakistan. It would also reduce Russia's dominance of the energy sector in Central Asia. The pipeline will follow the main highway from Herat to Kandahar, through the heart of the insurgency & would be a massive target for Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.
- "The U.S. ... has backed the TAPI proposal for over a decade. Two U.S. administrations -- Bill Clinton's and George W. Bush's -- negotiated with the Taliban on the project. In a twist that has spawned numerous conspiracy theories, negotiations with the Taliban broke down in August 2001 -- one month before the Sept. 11 attacks....At a 2006 NATO summit meeting, the U.S. proposed that NATO start guarding oil pipelines and sea lanes. Furthermore, the U.S. also proposed to amend NATO article V commitment (an attack on one nation is an attack on all) to
include energy resources. - "Afghanistan is a key part of the pipeline politics of Central Asia," Foster said. "What we don't know is where does Canada stands in regards to what is called the 'new Great Game.' Does Canada support (U.S. objectives) or what?" he [Foster] asked. (2)
Has the Prime Minister made a decision as to where Canada stands and answered the above question? It would appear so from his election promise to withdraw Canadian troops from Afghanistan by 2011 according to the Globe & Mail: "Conservative Leader Stephen Harper pledged yesterday to withdraw Canadian troops in 2011 from not just Kandahar, but all of Afghanistan, leaving no room for transfer to a safer region of the country." (3) A different version of this election promise appeared on the CBC website: 'The mission, as we've known it, we intend to end,' PM tells reporters." (4)That promise was greeted thus: a) "Under his watch, Harper agreed this mission would keep terrorists from re-establishing the Afghan bases that could be used to attack the West. Meanwhile, Canadian soldiers could make Afghanistan a more fertile ground for democracy as well as social and economic development." (5) & editor went on to decry this decision as being unsound and politically motivated. Elsewhere, a reader tracking the CBC version of what this election candidate promised had this to say: Quote:"At that point, the mission, as we've known it, we intend to end." One short sentence filled with loads of wiggle room. Mr. Harper is very sly. On the surface one would think that our troops will come home in 2011, but he has actually left the door wide open for him to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan. To keep his "promise" all he need do is shift the troops to another role or location within the country. Only the incredibly naive would fall for this being a hard commitment to exit Afghanistan." (6)
More from the Foster report (1) to ponder:
- "Speeches by the top ministers of the Canadian government omit Afghanistan's strategic importance in the geopolitical rivalry for control of the energy resources of Central Asia." ( p.2) but cf. this statement by top government official who affirmed in 2007," Our relationship with the USA is central to our foreign policy....It is imperative that Canada support an engagement with the US on multiple fronts." (p. 7)
- "In Canada, hardly anyone talks about the pipeline, despite the fact that it would run through the heart of the insurgency [=war] where Canadian troops are deployed [at cost of $1 billion per year to Canadian taxpayers + 97? 98 or 100 Canadian lives lost so far?]. With notable exceptions, politicians and press have remained silent...The Canadian government and media have focused mostly on short-term military operations and development." (Foster, p. 6)
- "Iran [ remember US president Bush's axis of evil?] is negotiating with Pakistan and India for a pipeline(called IPI after the names of the three countries) to supply Iranian gas along a relatively secure route...Russia's Gazprom has expressed willingness to help build the IPI line....In 2007....a senior [US] state department official stated.....'the U S government ...remains absolutely opposed to pipelines involving Iran." (Foster pp. 7 & 8)
- Foster's report also references Canadian-Russian deals to have Russia supply liquefied natural gas to eastern Canada & the Alberta Tar Sands cf. previous blog below. (Foster p. 12)
- The Manley report said that Canadian governments have failed "to communicate the reasons for Canadian involvement [in Afghanistan]." (Foster, p. 140)
“The prolonged hammering by a country with 1.1 million soldiers [i.e. Russia] of a much smaller neighbour with an
army of just 37,000 [Georgia] is a message delivered in bullets and expletives to a wider audience.....To NATO which has...been expanding eastward towards Russia, as well as to the United States, which has just failed to defend a staunch ally, the message is:
“This is Russia’s backyard. Keep out– or else.”
To the European Union, which relies on Russian as well as the natural gas that flows through a pipeline across Georgia, the message is:
“Behave. The taps can be turned off.'
Cf. the Record's tally of this short war: Six days of fighting in Georgia...South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Aug 7 through August 12. ===> 2,100 killed 112,000 displaced. (7)
army of just 37,000 [Georgia] is a message delivered in bullets and expletives to a wider audience.....To NATO which has...been expanding eastward towards Russia, as well as to the United States, which has just failed to defend a staunch ally, the message is:
“This is Russia’s backyard. Keep out– or else.”
To the European Union, which relies on Russian as well as the natural gas that flows through a pipeline across Georgia, the message is:
“Behave. The taps can be turned off.'
Cf. the Record's tally of this short war: Six days of fighting in Georgia...South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Aug 7 through August 12. ===> 2,100 killed 112,000 displaced. (7)
Taliban spokesperson Qari Muhammad Yussef said,
"Yes, I know that the election is being held in Canada.
That is why our attacks on Canadians are increased.'' (8)
"Yes, I know that the election is being held in Canada.
That is why our attacks on Canadians are increased.'' (8)
Sources: (1) John Foster, A PIPELINE THROUGH A TROUBLED LAND: AFGHANISTAN,
CANADA, AND THE NEW GREAT ENERGY GAME, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Volume 3, No. 1 • June 19, 2008==> cf. p. 11 for summary of 8 proposed pipelines from Central Asia, pp.3 and 5 for maps; (2)Josh Visser, Canadians could be defending Afghan gas pipeline, CTV.ca Jun. 21 2008; (3) C. Clark, S. Chase, and Jane Taber, "Harper pledges Afghan pullout by 2011," Globe and Mail 11 September 2008; (4) Harper says 2011 'end date' for Afghanistan mission, CBC NewsUpdated: Wednesday, September 10, 2008; (5) Harper uses troops to win at home, lead editorial The Record September 12, 2008; (6)Fed-Up Even More wrote: comment on Harper says 2011 'end date' for Afghanistan mission, CBC news cf above source 4; (7)Russia’s win is the West’s loss, editorial The Record 13 August 2008; (8)Tobi Cohen, Election reason for increased violence, Taliban say, The Canadian Press September 10, 2008.
Labels: oil and gas, politics
10 September 2008
“Photographers are the eyes and conscience of society.
Our photographs illuminate the dark corners of our cultural and environmental tapestry.
These images record, for all time, the split second that the shutter remains open.
Life in the present becomes history in the future.”
Our photographs illuminate the dark corners of our cultural and environmental tapestry.
These images record, for all time, the split second that the shutter remains open.
Life in the present becomes history in the future.”
Labels: pensees
09 September 2008
belonging
The Virtual Quilt
"The Quilt of Belonging consists of 263 11-inch fabric squares, 70 representing all Aboriginal groups, 193 featuring all immigrant nationalities in Canada and the Canadian block....
Quilt of Belonging is a collaborative work of art that: recognizes Canada's diversity, celebrates our common humanity and promotes harmony and compassion among people.
This monumental artwork, Canada's most comprehensive textile art project, is the work of volunteers from Victoria to Newfoundland to the Arctic Circle."===> Canada is typically profiled metaphorically as a mosaic; however, a brief trip to view various blocks in this quilt online may convince you, gentle reader, that as a nation we resemble a quilt and continue the process of nation-building in that most traditional Canada artwork-- the process of making a quilt together in community.
Photos copyright Sandamara Images 2008: E & E Cloth Creations store in Newton-- a short jaunt northwest of Waterloo (20 minutes north of Millbank) offers fabulous range of quiltmaking supplies and quilts for sale. Worth looking at!
Labels: history
04 September 2008
ad mare usque ad mare....
Reading list additions*:
- Cole Harris, The Reluctant Land, UBC Press: 2008: "Sprawled irregularly across a continent, and settled at different times by different peoples, Canada is not an easy country to know. French then British settler colonies were superimposed on Native peoples, and discontinuous patches of European settlement were bounded by rock, frost, and eventually, the border with the United States. In various ways, Canada has been a reluctant creation. No European country has anything like its past, nor does its neighbour, the United States. The American past has to do with extension and abundance, the Canadian, slowly worked out near or beyond the northern continental limits of agriculture, with discontinuity, paradox, and limitations -- with boundaries at almost every turn. There have been no a prioris, no master plans, no first principles. There has been an evolving patchwork of settlements, and in each of them an accumulating experience with the land and peoples nearby that eventually would be combined into a country... The Canadian public.. is hesitant about the nature of Canadian identity and the meaning of being Canadian."
- Douglas Cole, Captured Heritage:The Scramble for Northwest Coast Artifacts, UBC Press 1995: Between 1875 and the Great Depression, the scramble for skulls and skeletons, poles, canoes, baskets, feast bowls, and masks went on until it seemed that almost everything not nailed down or hidden was gone. The main North American museums with Northwest Coast collections -- the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History, the Royal British Columbia Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa -- were intense rivals in the race against time. View some of these artifacts online here:http://www.civilization.ca/collect/colethne.html
- Ever so slowly but better late than never: Report by Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, available online
"This is still the age of discovery,
a discovery of the true meaning of the history
of the New World
and
a discovery of the true meaning of the history
of the New World
and
of the Native people's rightful place in that world."
-- Thomas Berger, 1991, former justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
* cf U of W, WLU libraries for availability
Labels: aboriginal, history
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