Okay we can stop talking about Frankenstorm now. Its over. It has served well, though as a distraction from the more important news that you aren't hearing about and which will affect all Canadians for most of our natural lives.
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Comments
qwerty
Posted on: 10/30/2012 21:49
Sorry for the jumbled writing and the typos. i was rushing and I always forget you can't edit out your typos after posting.
stardust
Posted on: 10/30/2012 23:06
Qwerty
Quick...Quick....Quick....!.....
I'll do exactly what you tell me to do because you are so very brilliant :)
I signed the petition and I sent it with articles to Facebook.
qwerty
Posted on: 10/30/2012 23:31
Great stardust. I was starting to feel a bit discouraged about how many people there are who will read about something like this and will disapprove but fail to do anything whatsoever to address the problem. In this case about the only thing one can do it's to voice your concern. For the most part, normal political channels are closed or ineffective.
InannaWhimsey
Posted on: 10/30/2012 23:46
Christ began what can't be stopped now -- a true global agape, which includes a global market :3
Which means abandoning your cherished notions of a nation and changing over to a citizen of the world...from thinking of 'i will fight to the death for that little bit of dirt' to 'i will give my life for humanity...'
Welcome to the beautiful future right now :3
Northwind
Posted on: 10/31/2012 00:27
Thanks for this qwerty......I will share and discuss. I will also check out that petition, and write to my MP.....for what it is worth. My MP, Bob Zimmer who is one of the very back back benchers, blocked me on Twitter for asking questions, and now seems to be ignoring me. He is a Harper groupie. Sadly.....
somegalfromcan
Posted on: 10/31/2012 01:32
Northwind - I think I would consider it a mark of pride to be blocked on Twitter by your MP! Perhaps your questions made other constituents think twice about voting for him again.
Qwerty - my next action will be to go and sign that petition.
Here's an open letter to Stephen Harper that everyone can sign also: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/281/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11824
qwerty
Posted on: 10/31/2012 10:23
I suggest Inanna that you read John Ralston Saul's work on the death of globalization and the record of transnational corporations in using this discredited notion to exploit and destroy the lives and futures of workers not only of third world countries but here at home and around the world.
You're good on You Tube. There are a couple of his lectures about this subject there.
Northwind
Posted on: 10/31/2012 10:54
Yes, in some respects somegal, it was an honour to be blocked by MP. He blocked others whose views did not align with his. Now, he seems to be ignoring me. He has slung labels at me in a couple of his responses (when he did respond) such as "lefty" and "your NDP". I do not belong to a party so that I do not have to sing the party line. I let him know that......and he has been quiet since.....hmmmmmmm
Inanna, I'd love to think your notion was possible. Unfortunately, I am with qwerty with this one. If this China deal goes through, or perhaps I should sadly say, when it goes through, we will lose a lot. If I thought our leaders were working towards achieving something that involved collaboration and cooperation, I'd be all for it. I do not think this is the case. If it were, there would not be so much secrecy involved.
I'm still waiting for the transparency and accountability the Cons promised......fortunately, I am not holding my breath on that one.
Jim Kenney
Posted on: 10/31/2012 12:12
Thank you somegalfromcan. Read and signed.
seeler
Posted on: 10/31/2012 12:24
Read and signedd. Thanks qwerty
Northwind
Posted on: 10/31/2012 13:59
Here's a good article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/pressure-mounts-with-tories-ready-to-ratify-china-trade-deal-by-thursday/article4783996/
graeme
Posted on: 10/31/2012 15:12
message sent. Thanks for the tip.
Harper is the only ideologue we have ever had for PM. And it's one hell of a shallow ideology.
graeme
Posted on: 10/31/2012 15:14
Oh, as a footnote to that, Harper has junked most legislation protecting streams and lakes in Canada. Of the lakes that surived with protection, 90% are in Conservative ridings - usually for the cottage country of the very wealthy. (Ottawa Citizen, Oct. 29).
somegalfromcan
Posted on: 10/31/2012 19:59
It occurs to me that I don't currently have an MP (I'm in one of the ridings that will be having a by-election in November). I wonder who I could write a letter in lieu of my MP?
Northwind
Posted on: 11/01/2012 00:13
Why don't you write to the "Honourable" Bob Zimmer, Peace River North........(or maybe that's Prince George-Peace River......) I'd love to see what kind of response you'd get from him.
You must be close to Elizabeth May's riding. You could encourage her.......
Lots of options.
graeme
Posted on: 11/01/2012 12:06
This is quite a useful write-in. Just on the original signing, I have received responses from the Conservtives, the Liberals, and the NDP. Lots of interesting information in there.
InannaWhimsey
Posted on: 11/01/2012 15:46
qwerty,
ty for pointing me toward john saul...i like his delivery and he seems to have a good sense of humour; how Canadian
qwerty
Posted on: 11/01/2012 22:24
I signed a petition available at the Green Party site against the FIPA treaty with China. The Greens' Elizabeth May has been one of the most pro-active of all parliamentarians in seeking transparency and consultation regarding this treaty. She sent the following e-mail in response. It is informative, so I am cutting and pasting it here ...
Thank you for your interest in the Canada-China Investment Treaty. Although Stephen Harper prefers to keep Canadians in the dark about this Agreement’s grave implications for our sovereignty, security, and democracy, I am hopeful that we can force the issue into daylight. Your letter proves that you recognize the seriousness and urgency of what is about to take place behind our backs.
While the Canada-China Investment Treaty will likely be our most significant treaty since NAFTA, Stephen Harper plans to sign it into law as early as November 2nd, 2012, without any public consultation, any consultation with First Nations, any Parliamentary debate, or even a single vote in the House of Commons. I do not accept such blatant disrespect for either the will of Canadians or for our democratic institutions.
Sadly, in addition to the anti-democratic process to approve this Agreement, it is the actual content of this investment deal with which I am most concerned. For the first time in Canadian history, the Canada-China Investment Treaty will allow investors (including Chinese state-owned enterprises such as CNOOC or Sinopec), to claim damages against the Canadian governmentin secret, for decisions taken at the municipal, provincial, territorial or federal level that result in a reduction of their expectation of profits. Even decisions of Canadian courts can give rise to damages.
Realizing what the Conservatives were attempting to do, in secret and without debate, and realizing that we will be bound by this destructive Agreement for up to 31 years once it is ratified, on October 1st, 2012, I made a request in the House of Commons for an Emergency Debate to allow Canada’s democratically elected Members of Parliament to study the implications of the Canada-China Investment Treaty.
Although my request for an Emergency Debate was regrettably denied, we have not given up and are continuing to pursue all available options to stop the treaty’s approval. Given what is at stake, we hope that you will join us.
In addition to the tools found on our Canada-China Investment Treaty campaign site at http://www.greenparty.ca/stop-the-sellout, I urge you to push back against this sell-out of our sovereignty, security, and democracy, and help to educate Canadians by talking to your friends and neighbours, writing letters to the editor in local and national newspapers, calling in to talk radio shows, and filling up the comment boards of news website.
Crucially, this is not a partisan issue, and it is only by coming together to stand up for Canada that we will succeed in stopping this agreement.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth May, O.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Saanich–Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
stardust
Posted on: 11/03/2012 15:45
Elizabeth is cool .
Here's an article in yesterday's Star:
Toronto Star - Eight questions on the China deal by: Tim Armstrong, a lawyer and formerly Ontario’s deputy minister of industry, trade and technology, was the province’s agent-general for the Asia-Pacific region from 1986 to 1990.
Quote: (This is much too long to c/p so please see the link re 8 questions. Its stalled as of yesterday)
The proposed takeover of Calgary-based Nexen Inc. by the China National Overseas Oil Corp. (CNOOC) would be the biggest Chinese acquisition of a Canadian company, and possibly just the start of an expanding Chinese stake in Canada’s energy sector.
The deal is now under review, but is the Harper government genuinely contemplating a rejection of the CNOOC bid, or is it just tweaking its rationale for acceptance — as most commentators speculate?
Those who raise concerns are accused by supporters of the deal of being either chauvinistic or anti-free market.
However, there can be little doubt that Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are intensifying efforts to dramatically increase their ownership of our oilsands sector. It began in 2005 when CNOOC acquired a minority interest in MEG Energy Ltd.
Since then, China’s other two huge energy SOEs — SINOPEC and the China National Petroleum Corp. (parent of Petro-China) — have established footholds.
The latest is the announced partnership between a Petro-China subsidiary and TransCanada Corp. to build a pipeline from Fort McMurray to Fort Saskatchewan.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1281332--nexen-c...
stardust
Posted on: 11/03/2012 15:48
Ottawa extends review: Nov. 3/12
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/energy-resources/Ottawa+extends+re...
Dcn. Jae
Posted on: 11/05/2012 21:46
Message sent
InannaWhimsey
Posted on: 11/05/2012 22:07
side note: "China" plans supermodern city
Jim Kenney
Posted on: 11/06/2012 15:02
Now Harper wants India to sign a pact similar to this FIPA. I hope the Indians are wise enough to say, "We will think about it" for the next 15 years.