A Will Against Oil
A Will Against Oil
In July, when WWF-Canada launched their Do Not Drill campaign, they had two goals. One was to get 40,000 signatures on a petition asking Prime Minister Paul Martin to speak out on the U.S. plans to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The other goal was to have the Prime Minister make that statement publicly.
Congratulations to WWF-Canada for reaching both of those goals!
To date:
•WWF-Canada has more than 71,000 signed petitions that have been delivered to Mr. Martin.
•They've personally met with Mr. Martin, along with a few other prominent Canadian conservationists.
•On August 12, the Minister of Environment, Stéphane Dion, made a public statement in opposition to drilling in ANWR.
• On August 23, Mr. Martin himself publicly reaffirmed the Canadian government's opposition to this drilling.
• They've personally met with Frank McKenna, our ambassador to the U.S., in Washington. He has also personally met with key members of Congress and continues to do so.
• They participated in a massive rally in Washington, attended also by Robert Kennedy Jr., John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, to speak out against drilling in ANWR.
The vote that may allow drilling in ANWR has been delayed, but I am anxiously waiting to hear the outcome.
If you have any questions or concerns relating to WWF, please
e-mail: ca-panda@wwfcanada.org or phone: 1-800-267-2632.
Game Plan Is Indeed In Order
I'm a little slow to pick up on this news release, but considering its relevance to my earlier post, I think it deserves a mention. Cheers to Bill, he warms my heart.
News Release
Bill Estabrooks (Timberlea Prospect)
September 14, 2005
ESTABROOKS CALLS ON MUIR TO PROVIDE GAME PLAN FOR ENERGY COSTS IN EDUCATION
Halifax - NDP Education Critic Bill Estabrooks is calling on the
Minister of Education, Jamie Muir, to face the impact of rising energy costs
throughout education, and give school boards, universities, and students
assurance that they will not have to absorb increased expenses
alone.
"I don't know how this Minister thinks he can just hide from reality
when the rest of the educational system is trying to figure out how it is going
to afford to get through the winter,"says Estabrooks.
"Everyone has questions right now and the Minister and his Department are
dogging the issue.
There are school boards and universities supposed to find the money to
cover huge fuel bills?
School boards can't run deficits and universities have committed not to
raise tuitions. So what are they supposed to do? It is this Minister's job to
come up with those answers."
In July Saint Mary's University president Dr. Colin Dodds told the
Standing Committee on Human Resources that a 15% increase in electrical rates,
as requested by NSPI, would increase his operating costs by $150,000. Dodds
noted that one of the few ways he could source those funds would be by an
increase to tutitions - a measure that would be in violation of the Memorandum
of Understanding signed between university presidents and government. Since then
student leaders have asked for an assurance that this option would not be
considered. This week school boards have also expressed concern over rising
heating costs, in view of the fact that they, like district health authorities,
are not allowed to run deficits.
"It's time now for leadership",says Estabrooks. "And I
don't think we have ever seen that from this Minister"
-30-
Bear With Me
I am trying rather desperately to take more of a philosophical approach to political discussion as opposed to that of a formal debate. Partly because I've been challenged to do so and partly because lately I appreciate provocative ambiguity by excess as opposed to the assumption that our opinions and thoughts have fulfilled the appropriate conditions to be such. As you’ll see however, I am by no means there yet, and I am not entirely certain I'll ever truly get there.
A Side Dish of Politics
One of my very best friend's, Katie Fisher, moved to Toronto some time ago to study political science at York University. She recently returned home for a (far too short) visit and invited me to dinner at her house last Friday evening. I have been privileged enough to enjoy many delicious meals at Katie's house over the years. Usually the meals are a joint effort of Sandy (Katie's Mom) and Michael Coyle (Katie's step father) and they are always a beautiful feast. Although for many reasons I enjoyed this meal in particular. Partially because of the length of time that’s passed since I had last seen Katie, and partially because of the engaging political conversation which took place while we all enjoyed a fantastic Seafood Fettuccini in cream sauce (and of course some Blomidon Ridge wine). Mike Coyle is a managing partner at the law firm of Muttart Tufts Dewolfe & Coyle, he is also quite involved with the Federal and Provincial New Democrats and is Co-chair of the NDP Elections Planning Committee (along with Susan Dodd). As well as numerous other committees and activities of which I could scarcely begin to list. Nearly needless to say, Mike has fantastic (left winged) insight into Canadian and Provincial politics, and much of dinner was spent enjoying his stories, from running for Halifax-Citadel back in 81 to his personal conversations with Dr. Hamm. My favourite story Mike shared was actually that of Tommy Douglas' tale of Mouseland. I'm certain most people are familiar with the story, in fact it probably gets posted on blogs quite often, but in honour of great political discussion and great socialists everywhere, I'd like to share it as well. Mouseland
As told by Tommy in 1944
It’s the story of a place called Mouseland. Mouseland was a place where all the little mice lived and played, were born and died. And they lived much the same as you and I do.
They even had a Parliament. And every four years they had an election. Used to walk to the polls and cast their ballots. Some of them even got a ride to the polls. And got a ride for the next four years afterwards too. Just like you and me. And every time on election day all the little mice used to go to the ballot box and they used to elect a government. A government made up of big, fat, black cats.
Now if you think it strange that mice should elect a government made up of cats, you just look at the history of Canada for last 90 years and maybe you’ll see that they weren’t any stupider than we are.
Now I’m not saying anything against the cats. They were nice fellows. They conducted their government with dignity. They passed good laws–that is, laws that were good for cats. But the laws that were good for cats weren’t very good for mice. One of the laws said that mouseholes had to be big enough so a cat could get his paw in. Another law said that mice could only travel at certain speeds–so that a cat could get his breakfast without too much effort.
All the laws were good laws. For cats. But, oh, they were hard on the mice. And life was getting harder and harder. And when the mice couldn’t put up with it any more, they decided something had to be done about it. So they went en masse to the polls. They voted the black cats out. They put in the white cats.
Now the white cats had put up a terrific campaign. They said: “All that Mouseland needs is more vision.” They said:”The trouble with Mouseland is those round mouseholes we got. If you put us in we’ll establish square mouseholes.” And they did. And the square mouseholes were twice as big as the round mouseholes, and now the cat could get both his paws in. And life was tougher than ever.
And when they couldn’t take that anymore, they voted the white cats out and put the black ones in again. Then they went back to the white cats. Then to the black cats. They even tried half black cats and half white cats. And they called that coalition. They even got one government made up of cats with spots on them: they were cats that tried to make a noise like a mouse but ate like a cat.
You see, my friends, the trouble wasn’t with the colour of the cat. The trouble was that they were cats. And because they were cats, they naturally looked after cats instead of mice.
Presently there came along one little mouse who had an idea. My friends, watch out for the little fellow with an idea. And he said to the other mice, “Look fellows, why do we keep on electing a government made up of cats? Why don’t we elect a government made up of mice?” “Oh,” they said, “he’s a Bolshevik. Lock him up!” So they put him in jail.
But I want to remind you: that you can lock up a mouse or a man but you can’t lock up an idea
