We live in exciting times. It used to be a curse that. You weren't supposed to tell children "May you live in exciting times", apparently living in boring times is...well probably more condusive to one's health and welfare. But whether our parents and grandparents could have foreseen the moments and technologies of today that have created the exciting times that swarm our lives, they surely never would have guessed.
To offer you a crosscut section of the insanity of technology in my personal life.
My friends in Victoria are organizing themselves and doing an internet televised marathon. They are raising money for a charity called Child's Play by having call-in guests, auctioning items both live and silent, and issuing challenges to their viewership.
Since they started on Friday, they are now halfway through their marathon, and have already raised 180 Thousand dollars. 180 thousand dollars, a sketch comedy troupe in Victoria that are operating with a bunch of laptops, small cameras, a boom mic, and a lot of heart and volunteers.
Child's play as a charity is about trying to raise money to donate toys, video games, and movies to sick children in hospitals around the world. It partners with existing facilities and departments (Usually a hospitals own Child Quality of Life department) in order to facilitate donations of handheld video games, televisions, game consoles, lego blocks, puzzles, everything. All in the name of the idea that a hospital is a pretty scary place for a child, and games help alleviate suffering.
I've been following Desert Bus for two years now, and it never ceases to amaze me the sheer incredible generosity of the world at large for a good cause. Desert Bus is just one community driven arm of many branches in Child's Play that helps the charity kick off. There are also huge charity dinners, galas, donation drives, you name it and gamers like myself have jumped on it in a frenzy. At Pax, which I regularly attend, there is even a cookie brigade which sells cheap cookies for Child's Play donations.
Ten years ago, something like this would've been near impossible. Oh for sure there were the television marathons of the past, those 24 hour phone in and donate so on and so forths. But now there's a community, you're not alone on your couch watching the tv. There are websites and connections, twitter and emails, a chat room that runs too fast for most of us to read (and I read pretty damn fast). People from all over the world have come together and are part of this one. As us North American's go to sleep around 3 or 4 in the morning, Asian gamers and European gamers log in to pick up the slack.
The global community literally comes alive for events like this one (one of many), for a good cause.
The Child's Play Website Here
http://childsplaycharity.org/
Desert Bus for Hope, the Event Organized by Loading Ready Run in Victoria
http://desertbus.org/
On the flip side of technology, we are also witnessing a revolution on the ground. I've written an Occupy blogpost that hasn't been published yet, but it's an ongoing sense of wonderment, and frankly is somewhat terrifying.
Images iconic are diffused across the internet, spread between friends and acquaintances about what they are seeing on the ground. Innocent people (or not so innocent as your perspective may be) are being shot with tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, flashbangs. All of this is captured, recorded, disseminated, distributed to the world entire. Data is being stored and uploaded, filed away and shown. Names are recorded, actions are witnessed, and half a world away some of us are seeing things in Oakland, New York, San Fransisco, Seattle, and Portland and commenting on them from London, or Edmonton, or Toronto.
We are sharing the collective outrage, we have opinions, and thoughts, and we are WITNESSING it unfold, these events are now a part o our global consciousness. They are unavoidable. Technology has made us both strangers and peers of everyone else.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Jack Layton Passed Away Today
A tragic day for Canada today.
Where many of me and my peers woke up this morning, sleeping off hangovers and fringe exhaustion, we were greeted by some truly saddening news.
Where many of me and my peers woke up this morning, sleeping off hangovers and fringe exhaustion, we were greeted by some truly saddening news.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Firing Back, "What Makes Art So Sacred?"
Yesterday some time, Kathryn Marshall fired back against the angry letters, emails and critical writing that we have been amassing on the internet against her widely disputed interview with Ezra Levant. The link is posted below to her personal blog so you can read it for yourself. Megan Dart pointed it out to me this morning, and I had a chance to read it, go grab a cup of tea and think on it.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Thoughts from 'Artists'
I always feel weird putting up posts or smart, insightful words my friends put up and know that the main categorization that I put them under is 'artist'. The word 'artist' is something easy for the public to separate a sense of 'us' and 'them' from. But in truth, I do fundamentally believe that everyone has artistic talent, everyone has a desire, and capability to express themselves artistically. Which is not to detract from us who make a career out of it, some of us choose to do it professionally, whatever that means.
But in the interests of making 'artists' less faceless, less like French mimes, less like your high school Drama queen who waxed Shakespeare at you, less like that hippie chick you always see walking down the street with a sketchbook, artists are people, Canadians, in this case, who are interested in presenting ideas, truths, and stories to their audiences. As wide and as varied as our nation is, we produce artists of ever walk, vocation, media, and message there is. Here's some interesting snippets of responses since the Sun Media explosion.
But in the interests of making 'artists' less faceless, less like French mimes, less like your high school Drama queen who waxed Shakespeare at you, less like that hippie chick you always see walking down the street with a sketchbook, artists are people, Canadians, in this case, who are interested in presenting ideas, truths, and stories to their audiences. As wide and as varied as our nation is, we produce artists of ever walk, vocation, media, and message there is. Here's some interesting snippets of responses since the Sun Media explosion.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Megan Dart on Taking The Fight to Sun News
Artist, Writer, Blogger and Social Media Guru Megan Dart took the time this morning to write a detailed post about what we can do as concerned Citizens about misleading and untruthful journalism that Sun News Network is perpetuating.
Check out her post here.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/megan-dart/seven-things-you-can-do-to-stick-it-to-sun-news/10150233563938865
If you don't have or don't like facebook, you can also find it here.
http://yegartsandpolitics.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/seventhings/
Also I got the video uploaded into youtube after a ripping job, apologies for the low quality but I didn't want to run more passes or spend more than half an hour on it today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRdHyxKZkTw
Check out her post here.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/megan-dart/seven-things-you-can-do-to-stick-it-to-sun-news/10150233563938865
If you don't have or don't like facebook, you can also find it here.
http://yegartsandpolitics.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/seventhings/
Also I got the video uploaded into youtube after a ripping job, apologies for the low quality but I didn't want to run more passes or spend more than half an hour on it today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRdHyxKZkTw
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sun News Network Attacks Artists
This has literally just made its way across my desk. I'm in rehearsal right now composing on the fly while stage managing and now am having difficulty doing either until I write about this.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Jim Flaherty's Followup Comments on Summerworks
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty weighed in today with some followup comments to the breaking story across the nation about Toronto's Summerworks losing their funding.
His response? "Don't count on it."
His response? "Don't count on it."
Monday, June 27, 2011
Summerworks Sees Funding Cut
Now obviously Globe and Mail is looking directly at the connection of Summerworks' presentation of Homegrown last year as the direct reason Summerworks lost its funding. For those not in the know last year Summerworks, a curated festival for many artistic directors across the country presented Catherine Frid's play Homegrown. Homegrown is a play about a woman's relationship (the playwrights actually) with the convicted terrorist Shareef Abdelhaleem, one of the so-called “Toronto 18”. Whether that's truly the reason or not...well
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Well That Happened
Well that happened. What we now look forward to is a 4 year Conservative Majority. I actually had to take a day off to process those results and think on it. I think in part we're still waiting a little bit to see what the actual totals were of people who voted, in many's the way, the internet, facebook, twitter, gave 'progressive' people perhaps a slightly skewed sense of the world. As is what always happens, the constrains of our reality give us a warped view. For example, on my facebook I know or can link immediately to about 750 people. Of this 750, perhaps a dozen were openly Conservative supporters. You would think those odds somewhat indicitave, but they of course are not. Many of my friends are arts industry in some form or another, or tend to share my similar viewpoints.
There was definitely a moment of deep sadness, perhaps even slight impending terror as I watched the numbers climb higher and higher. For many in my industry, it is representative of a government which is doing its best to silence us, to kill us, to literally remove our work and erase its possibility of happening. I was in a heated debate with a non-artist who countered that under Harper's tenure thus far, he had created a 75 dollar per child program for those enrolled in arts. It's true, he did that. But that program does not help those of us who are career artists, unless we are directly involved in promoting youth arts. What about arts for adults? What about arts and stories exclusively for adults?
There was a moment where I briefly considered that this would be a good time to study abroad, work abroad. Kelsey even mentioned that this would be a great time for us to go work Cruise ships, which is also true. Then I realized that it isn't what we should do. Arts, and artists in Canada are here to stay. We won't be strong-armed out by a government. Even over four years, what seems like an insurmountable amount of time, he cannot outright kill institutions like the Opera, or the Symphony. Some companies in our cities operate on tens of millions of dollars, employ hundreds of people. There is an infrastructure in place of developing artistic creativity, that as much as the Harper government wants to politically silence, there are simply too many of us.
I am reminded that we are Canadian people. That we are unbowed, and free, free to create and work and explore. We face challenges now, yes. We will assuredly face bigger challenges in the years to come, but we are not going to run and hide. If anything, I deeply hope our work will flourish under persecution. That's my fervent wish, much as I would like a more social, more democratic and engaged Canada...well they always say that your best work happens under the gun.
I will of course be updating this political blog less now that the election is done, but will continue to report on interesting news and articles as they develop. An Election is a first step in democracy, not the last. It's up to us to continue to be engaged over the next 4 years, to draw attention to the issues, to hold our representatives accountable, to ask questions and demand answers.
I leave you with a quote by a great man. No it isn't the Martin Luther King mis-attributed one, but rather from David Van Belle, whom I had the pleasure of working with earlier this season.
There was definitely a moment of deep sadness, perhaps even slight impending terror as I watched the numbers climb higher and higher. For many in my industry, it is representative of a government which is doing its best to silence us, to kill us, to literally remove our work and erase its possibility of happening. I was in a heated debate with a non-artist who countered that under Harper's tenure thus far, he had created a 75 dollar per child program for those enrolled in arts. It's true, he did that. But that program does not help those of us who are career artists, unless we are directly involved in promoting youth arts. What about arts for adults? What about arts and stories exclusively for adults?
There was a moment where I briefly considered that this would be a good time to study abroad, work abroad. Kelsey even mentioned that this would be a great time for us to go work Cruise ships, which is also true. Then I realized that it isn't what we should do. Arts, and artists in Canada are here to stay. We won't be strong-armed out by a government. Even over four years, what seems like an insurmountable amount of time, he cannot outright kill institutions like the Opera, or the Symphony. Some companies in our cities operate on tens of millions of dollars, employ hundreds of people. There is an infrastructure in place of developing artistic creativity, that as much as the Harper government wants to politically silence, there are simply too many of us.
I am reminded that we are Canadian people. That we are unbowed, and free, free to create and work and explore. We face challenges now, yes. We will assuredly face bigger challenges in the years to come, but we are not going to run and hide. If anything, I deeply hope our work will flourish under persecution. That's my fervent wish, much as I would like a more social, more democratic and engaged Canada...well they always say that your best work happens under the gun.
I will of course be updating this political blog less now that the election is done, but will continue to report on interesting news and articles as they develop. An Election is a first step in democracy, not the last. It's up to us to continue to be engaged over the next 4 years, to draw attention to the issues, to hold our representatives accountable, to ask questions and demand answers.
I leave you with a quote by a great man. No it isn't the Martin Luther King mis-attributed one, but rather from David Van Belle, whom I had the pleasure of working with earlier this season.
-David Van Belle
Monday, May 2, 2011
Go Vote
There are a lot of reasons to vote.
If you don't vote, you can't complain. It's a small price of civic duty, kinda like being called to be on jury, to pay for being a Canadian citizen. In some countries, fairly modern ones too, you are expected to do mandatory military service. To think that Canadians, some 42% of us last election couldn't be asked to take an hour or two of time out of our day (paid for too by the way) to express our opinion? That's pretty crazy.
I'm not endorsing a question of who, because I believe who you vote for depends on your riding. But get out there. Democracy will not wait for you, in Ancient Greece when it was devised, I was told in Ancient History class that they had never conceived that there would be people in society who would be apathetic to the political, judicial, legislative process. They believed that all land owning men (or slave owning, hey I didn't say it was perfect) would be interested and engaged in process.
Let's get out there, Canada. Let's show the world that we do care, we are engaged. Let's be able to wake up tomorrow and no matter the results, know that we made the decision. Not someone else for us.
Go Vote.
If you don't vote, you can't complain. It's a small price of civic duty, kinda like being called to be on jury, to pay for being a Canadian citizen. In some countries, fairly modern ones too, you are expected to do mandatory military service. To think that Canadians, some 42% of us last election couldn't be asked to take an hour or two of time out of our day (paid for too by the way) to express our opinion? That's pretty crazy.
I'm not endorsing a question of who, because I believe who you vote for depends on your riding. But get out there. Democracy will not wait for you, in Ancient Greece when it was devised, I was told in Ancient History class that they had never conceived that there would be people in society who would be apathetic to the political, judicial, legislative process. They believed that all land owning men (or slave owning, hey I didn't say it was perfect) would be interested and engaged in process.
Let's get out there, Canada. Let's show the world that we do care, we are engaged. Let's be able to wake up tomorrow and no matter the results, know that we made the decision. Not someone else for us.
Go Vote.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Wikileaks On The Party Leaders
Wikileaks has released another cable, this time on the eve, more or less, of the election. The cables relate US Diplomatic messages covering a period of six years, ending in early 2010. The cables primarily target PM Harper, although there is some information on the Liberals, specifically Ignatieff himself, and about his speech work. The link is below.
An Article on The Leaks
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/05/01/wikileaks-canada-leaders.html
An Article on The Leaks
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/05/01/wikileaks-canada-leaders.html
Friday, April 29, 2011
I'm Afraid
- I don't disagree with anything you say, Lester. It's just that I have to be careful with what I write. If I write out anything too critical, too outspoken, it could be seen and I could lose funding for my company. I could lose my job and the people employ. I think you're brave, aren't you afraid that by being outspoken you might not get grants again?
I am afraid of that.
Angry Bairds
Okay, this should lighten up this blog just a little bit. In case it doesn't...you have no sense of ridiculousness.
Apparently a number of young Liberal Party coders put together their take on Angry Birds...aptly titled Angry Bairds. Basically you set up John Baird in a slingshot, while PM Stephen Harper looks on, and attempt to make cuts at organizations like the Wheat Board, Veterans, Health Care and the Long Gun Registry.
John Baird was appointed in 2006 to the Treasury Board. In May of 2006, Baird was told to cut one billion dollars out of the budget. He did so, announcing them on September 25th, the same day the Conservatives announced their 13.2 billion dollar surplus. He announced he'd made cuts to sixty-six programs, including Status of Women, museum fundings, adult literacy programs, youth employment, social development, BC's ongoing pine beetle crisis, and most keenly the Court Challenges program.
Following the Cabinet reshuffle in 2007, Baird was reappointed to Environment Minister. He is a vocal opponent of Kyoto, noted by environmentalist David Suzuki as being a 'disappointment'. Target goals released by Baird are to cut emissions by 2020 or 2025, a full eight to thirteen years longer than were outlined in Kyoto.
Baird championed cuts to research in Canada on climate change, a move staunchly opposed by industry experts. He was derided internationally at the Bali Climate Change Summit, and at the Cancun Climate Change Summit, Canada was awarded the three Fossil of the Day Awards. Awards given by 400 international NGOs which recognize countries who have done the most to disrupt or undermine UN climate talks. The Canadian government, under Baird, is noted at Cancun as being the only country which signed weaker greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The Game Here
http://www.angrybairds.ca/
Wikipedia Article on John Baird
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Baird_(Canadian_politician)
Apparently a number of young Liberal Party coders put together their take on Angry Birds...aptly titled Angry Bairds. Basically you set up John Baird in a slingshot, while PM Stephen Harper looks on, and attempt to make cuts at organizations like the Wheat Board, Veterans, Health Care and the Long Gun Registry.
John Baird was appointed in 2006 to the Treasury Board. In May of 2006, Baird was told to cut one billion dollars out of the budget. He did so, announcing them on September 25th, the same day the Conservatives announced their 13.2 billion dollar surplus. He announced he'd made cuts to sixty-six programs, including Status of Women, museum fundings, adult literacy programs, youth employment, social development, BC's ongoing pine beetle crisis, and most keenly the Court Challenges program.
Following the Cabinet reshuffle in 2007, Baird was reappointed to Environment Minister. He is a vocal opponent of Kyoto, noted by environmentalist David Suzuki as being a 'disappointment'. Target goals released by Baird are to cut emissions by 2020 or 2025, a full eight to thirteen years longer than were outlined in Kyoto.
- Al Gore famously criticized Baird's plan, calling it "A complete and total fraud." and "designed to mislead the Canadian people."
Baird championed cuts to research in Canada on climate change, a move staunchly opposed by industry experts. He was derided internationally at the Bali Climate Change Summit, and at the Cancun Climate Change Summit, Canada was awarded the three Fossil of the Day Awards. Awards given by 400 international NGOs which recognize countries who have done the most to disrupt or undermine UN climate talks. The Canadian government, under Baird, is noted at Cancun as being the only country which signed weaker greenhouse gas reduction targets.
The Game Here
http://www.angrybairds.ca/
Wikipedia Article on John Baird
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Baird_(Canadian_politician)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wikileaks Takes Aim At CPC
It's nice to know that I'm not the only critical one. The American government's Ambassador has apparently some interesting words for the Conservative Policy of late:
Written by US Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobsen. He also said:
The US Embassy also had this to say about the Senate controversy.
Take from it what you will, it is a wikileak, which some people deride as being nothing but contextless statements, but they were just recently released. Also the later part of the cbc article and leak itself on Laureen Harper is just silly.
WikiLeaks takes Aim at Conservative Policy
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/04/28/cv-election-wikileaks.html
- "they have used the crime agenda to great effect, making it an essential part of their 'brand,' in spite of the fact that they have not actually passed most of their proposed crime and security legislation,"
Written by US Ambassador to Canada, David Jacobsen. He also said:
- "The PMO apparently provided no explanation why it will end up waiting four months to enact its own sentencing credit law, but the delay has not prevented the PM from using crime — and the bill — as a partisan issue and to prep for imminent Senate appointments,"
The US Embassy also had this to say about the Senate controversy.
- A leaked cable from December 2008 suggests that U.S. Embassy officials in Ottawa saw Harper's appointment of senators as "a major about-face for a PM and a party that long campaigned for an elected upper chamber. The cost of the eighteen new senators also conflicts with political messaging about the need for official belt tightening."
Take from it what you will, it is a wikileak, which some people deride as being nothing but contextless statements, but they were just recently released. Also the later part of the cbc article and leak itself on Laureen Harper is just silly.
WikiLeaks takes Aim at Conservative Policy
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/04/28/cv-election-wikileaks.html
Conservative Majority To Protect Our Border?
This one is stretching a little thin. Anyone watching the Conservative war room of late has noted an increasingly desperate message of "We need a majority to-" The ends to that sentence are rampant. Keep taxes low. Protect your pension. Buy fighter jets. Okay that last one they haven't directly said, but have at.
Anyway the next one is that the NDP are not interested in maintaining our border...against our American Invaders. That's right.
Well that's not exactly the message being sent, I'm being sensationalist. But Harper is talking about how jobs are linked to our American counterparts. And how the earlier trade agreements signed this year help foster growth while protecting security against 'terrorists'.
Except that border, customs officials, and local offices aren't biting. Noting that constant reduction over the last year has trimmed their jobs, closed entry points, and forced office hours to slim. We'll see if this latest rhetoric will hold any weight, but I am forced to at the very least ask:
We live in Canada, since when has working together become so repugnant? Why do you need a Majority, Mr. Harper?
CBC Article on Border Jobs
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/04/28/cv-election-harper-ndp-1148.html
Anyway the next one is that the NDP are not interested in maintaining our border...against our American Invaders. That's right.
Well that's not exactly the message being sent, I'm being sensationalist. But Harper is talking about how jobs are linked to our American counterparts. And how the earlier trade agreements signed this year help foster growth while protecting security against 'terrorists'.
Except that border, customs officials, and local offices aren't biting. Noting that constant reduction over the last year has trimmed their jobs, closed entry points, and forced office hours to slim. We'll see if this latest rhetoric will hold any weight, but I am forced to at the very least ask:
We live in Canada, since when has working together become so repugnant? Why do you need a Majority, Mr. Harper?
CBC Article on Border Jobs
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/04/28/cv-election-harper-ndp-1148.html
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
On The Choice of Vote
While my blog has been notably...let's say anti-Conservative, and pointedly anti-Harper. I have generally attempted to not be particularly partisan in my support of either Liberals, NDP or Green. Or Pirate for that matter, although Mikkel Paulson has struck me as a rather nice and well-informed guy.
The reason for this is that there are a multitude of salient points which should influence any Canadian citizen on who deserves their vote.
First and foremost, let me say that even though it is perceived as naive, I honestly believe that the Candidate matters as much, if not more than the party. The particular Candidate you vote for must be someone you believe will represent you. They and their party might not agree with every point you and your fellow constituents perceive, but their job is to represent you. You elect them. Don't let them ever forget that.
In Calgary, I voted in past elections against Diane Ablonczy. Over the course of my adult life, I have written in excess of a hundred physical letters, innumerable emails, and made a daunting number of phone calls. Diane Ablonczy, the incumbent Conservative MP of Calgary-Nose Hill has never responded to any of my concerns with anything more than a form letter. When parliament was prorogued last year, approximately 5000 fellow constituents of mine in Calgary - Nose Hill wrote a substantial petition and signed it, we received no response to our inquiry other than that it had been received.
I truly believe, truly, that Diane Ablonczy values her party above her constituents. And that if push came to shove, if our entire constituency rose up in referendum over an issue we took particular umbrage against, I don't know what that would be, but if it occurred, I fundamentally do not believe she would cross the floor and represent our views. I believe her party ties to be stronger than that of any sense of civic responsibility to her constituents. Certainly since I came of majority, all my inquiries have been steadfastly ignored, disregarded, or marginalized.
This year, I am voting in Edmonton City Center, as has been my home for the last three years. I am blessed in that there are two candidates whom I truly believe listen. Who will accurately, and fairly represent the constituents if they were elected. Mary MacDonald and Lewis Cardinal are challenging Incumbent Laurie Hawn.
So I believe the first choice should be who your candidate is. It's hard to not be partisan about this, but the awful truth is that generally Conservative candidates have a bad history of choosing party over constituents. There are far fewer cases of Conservative candidates crossing the floor than there are liberal ones or independents.
The second thing is to recognize that there are two wars of policy being fought when it comes to the parties, and by extension their leaders.
The first one is more straightforward. It is the economic one, the fiscal one. Literally the platform upon which the parties reside. The truth is that I will confess, I am generally fiscally a Conservative. I would prefer if the government intervened less in taxation, I do think there are a number of sectors and industries that can govern themselves and regulate themselves accordingly. You have to think for yourself and find out which party generally aligns with your beliefs. Do you support public healthcare, private, or a mix of both? What do you think of crown corperations? Do you think big business should be taxed more or less as a cost of existing in our nation, do you think it's fair what they pay now, do they not pay enough, do they pay too little?
What about education, veterans, First Nations people, do they deserve money, do they deserve attention, or should they be self-regulating.
I am naturally of a skewed opinion in that I literally work in the arts and culture industry, I deal with that sector every day of my career, and have seen the continual decline of it since the Conservatives took power. In that sector, I believe government intervention is necessary. That government intervention isn't or shouldn't be in the form of payouts though, just because I'm an 'artist' I don't expect someone to just hand me a cheque. Rather we need to form organizations, granting agencies, cultural connections between our own nation and the international stage, we need to create lasting impressions and exchanges of art to enrich both our lives, and the lives of the greater human condition.
EDIT: I also want to point this out. Fiscally, Harper inheritted a fairly stable economy. Over the previous four years of the Chretien/Martin Liberal tenure, the liberals had managed to eliminate 42 billion dollars from the deficit. It was their own deficit to be sure, but the economy was on the upswing. Martin was also the one who instigated tighter banking controls that had helped weather the Canadian Economy. As of January 2010, the federal deficit did an abrupt turnaround down 36 billion dollars. How much of that you attribute to the recession, conservative or not, is your own business I suppose.
The second war of policy is considerably more obfuscated, more grim, and more difficult to understand. It is no less important.
What I am about to say will sound to a great number of people as being sensationalist, partisan, 'dramatic' or any other number of words that are of similar nature. We live in Canada. Our rights, and freedoms, are being slowly eroded. A small nip here, a tuck there, an incident here, an event there. Tiny moments, tiny things, incidences that reveal a changing world.
A girl had a picture on facebook of herself and Ignatieff. An officer took her name, screened her, looked at that facebook picture, and had her removed from an event for students. A peace officer literally went online, searched out her name, saw an image and violated her right to attend a rally her peers were allowed to go to.
On June 26th and 27th of 2010, 1105 people were arrested, detained, denied representation for hours, without formal charge. They were detained on cold concrete, packed in so tightly that often there was not space to sit for hours, without access to food or water. Widespread reports of police brutality surfaced, police told protesters on multiple occasions that martial law had been declared, (which was wholly falsified), abuse of female detainees. Amnesty International, called for an investigation, which has not happened. At one point, facing accusations of brutality Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair unveiled a number of items he alleged were seized from protesters, when confronted however he confessed some items were unrelated.
Diplomat Richard Colvin brought allegations that the Canadian Forces were at least somewhat, if not wholly complicit in the handing over of detainees, many of whom proved innocent, for systemic torture by Afghani forces. Colvin alleged that the torture involved beatings, whipping with power cables, the use of electricity, knives, open flames, and rape. In an EKOS poll, 83% of Canadians surveyed believed that the Canadian government was aware that torture was going on, and were at least partially complicit in a war crime. Instead of going right to the heart of the allegation, Harper instead chose to prorogue parliament. The High Court of Whales has since corroborated Colvin's accusation, and predicts with a high degree of probability that torture occurs in Kandahar. While the first specific allegations of abuse surfaced more than three years ago, there has been no official public inquiry. MPs in the House of Commons voted 146 to 129 in favour of a motion to set one up, but the Prime Minister has refused to consider it, stating that "the government of Canada has taken all necessary actions in all instances where there is proof of abuse of Afghan prisoners."
In 2007, The Canadian Association of Journalists awarded Harper the Code of Silence award, for literally maintaining his "white-knuckled death grip on public information". They cited that the Prime Minister's Office regularly demonstrated contempt for the Public's right to know. They followed this up in 2010 with an open letter, as seen here. During the early part of the election, reports were notably kept in 'steel pens' at a stop in Halifax. Since the election has gone on, the Prime Minister only accepts 5 questions per stop, all pre-approved. Once when confronted with recent controversial issue over support from a terrorist group, media and campaign managers incited the PC crowd to cheer, drowning out the journalist.
The problem is that are perceptions of these incidents depends on our own personalities. Some people fundamentally believe the government is filled with idiots, certainly that is one perception. Another is that they are maliciously whittling away social rights, norms, and values in order to push their own agenda, whether that be Fundamentalist, Pro-Life, Anti-Gay, what have you. What I submit though, is that more troubling than any particular 'stance' or 'spin' as it were, is that there is a flagrant disregard for Democracy in the way our government is run. As Canadians, we should be almost up in arms. Every single one of us, every single one who reads this blog is practically a second-class citizen in Canada. We are abused, and at the behest of government politicians seeking to build upon their own legacies, reap the rewards of their social positions. We are made to think, throughout our lives that we will never be able to aspire to politics, never be able to grasp at politics.
The vitrol of the media is pointed as such, as youth we are told endlessly that we are uninformed, that we are too young, that we have not paid enough in taxes to truly understand. It's not that hard, Canadians.
The truth is there, all over. Read what's out there, talk to your peers, have an opinion, think about what matters most to you. The choice of vote is yours, and yours alone to be exercised. We live in a time when you can access every and any form of media at your fingertips, global tv, ctv, cbc, newspapers, national post, blogs, twitter. Everyone is saying something about this election.
It's yours to listen to, and to shape. That's who you should vote for.
The reason for this is that there are a multitude of salient points which should influence any Canadian citizen on who deserves their vote.
First and foremost, let me say that even though it is perceived as naive, I honestly believe that the Candidate matters as much, if not more than the party. The particular Candidate you vote for must be someone you believe will represent you. They and their party might not agree with every point you and your fellow constituents perceive, but their job is to represent you. You elect them. Don't let them ever forget that.
In Calgary, I voted in past elections against Diane Ablonczy. Over the course of my adult life, I have written in excess of a hundred physical letters, innumerable emails, and made a daunting number of phone calls. Diane Ablonczy, the incumbent Conservative MP of Calgary-Nose Hill has never responded to any of my concerns with anything more than a form letter. When parliament was prorogued last year, approximately 5000 fellow constituents of mine in Calgary - Nose Hill wrote a substantial petition and signed it, we received no response to our inquiry other than that it had been received.
I truly believe, truly, that Diane Ablonczy values her party above her constituents. And that if push came to shove, if our entire constituency rose up in referendum over an issue we took particular umbrage against, I don't know what that would be, but if it occurred, I fundamentally do not believe she would cross the floor and represent our views. I believe her party ties to be stronger than that of any sense of civic responsibility to her constituents. Certainly since I came of majority, all my inquiries have been steadfastly ignored, disregarded, or marginalized.
This year, I am voting in Edmonton City Center, as has been my home for the last three years. I am blessed in that there are two candidates whom I truly believe listen. Who will accurately, and fairly represent the constituents if they were elected. Mary MacDonald and Lewis Cardinal are challenging Incumbent Laurie Hawn.
So I believe the first choice should be who your candidate is. It's hard to not be partisan about this, but the awful truth is that generally Conservative candidates have a bad history of choosing party over constituents. There are far fewer cases of Conservative candidates crossing the floor than there are liberal ones or independents.
The second thing is to recognize that there are two wars of policy being fought when it comes to the parties, and by extension their leaders.
The first one is more straightforward. It is the economic one, the fiscal one. Literally the platform upon which the parties reside. The truth is that I will confess, I am generally fiscally a Conservative. I would prefer if the government intervened less in taxation, I do think there are a number of sectors and industries that can govern themselves and regulate themselves accordingly. You have to think for yourself and find out which party generally aligns with your beliefs. Do you support public healthcare, private, or a mix of both? What do you think of crown corperations? Do you think big business should be taxed more or less as a cost of existing in our nation, do you think it's fair what they pay now, do they not pay enough, do they pay too little?
What about education, veterans, First Nations people, do they deserve money, do they deserve attention, or should they be self-regulating.
I am naturally of a skewed opinion in that I literally work in the arts and culture industry, I deal with that sector every day of my career, and have seen the continual decline of it since the Conservatives took power. In that sector, I believe government intervention is necessary. That government intervention isn't or shouldn't be in the form of payouts though, just because I'm an 'artist' I don't expect someone to just hand me a cheque. Rather we need to form organizations, granting agencies, cultural connections between our own nation and the international stage, we need to create lasting impressions and exchanges of art to enrich both our lives, and the lives of the greater human condition.
EDIT: I also want to point this out. Fiscally, Harper inheritted a fairly stable economy. Over the previous four years of the Chretien/Martin Liberal tenure, the liberals had managed to eliminate 42 billion dollars from the deficit. It was their own deficit to be sure, but the economy was on the upswing. Martin was also the one who instigated tighter banking controls that had helped weather the Canadian Economy. As of January 2010, the federal deficit did an abrupt turnaround down 36 billion dollars. How much of that you attribute to the recession, conservative or not, is your own business I suppose.
The second war of policy is considerably more obfuscated, more grim, and more difficult to understand. It is no less important.
What I am about to say will sound to a great number of people as being sensationalist, partisan, 'dramatic' or any other number of words that are of similar nature. We live in Canada. Our rights, and freedoms, are being slowly eroded. A small nip here, a tuck there, an incident here, an event there. Tiny moments, tiny things, incidences that reveal a changing world.
A girl had a picture on facebook of herself and Ignatieff. An officer took her name, screened her, looked at that facebook picture, and had her removed from an event for students. A peace officer literally went online, searched out her name, saw an image and violated her right to attend a rally her peers were allowed to go to.
On June 26th and 27th of 2010, 1105 people were arrested, detained, denied representation for hours, without formal charge. They were detained on cold concrete, packed in so tightly that often there was not space to sit for hours, without access to food or water. Widespread reports of police brutality surfaced, police told protesters on multiple occasions that martial law had been declared, (which was wholly falsified), abuse of female detainees. Amnesty International, called for an investigation, which has not happened. At one point, facing accusations of brutality Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair unveiled a number of items he alleged were seized from protesters, when confronted however he confessed some items were unrelated.
Diplomat Richard Colvin brought allegations that the Canadian Forces were at least somewhat, if not wholly complicit in the handing over of detainees, many of whom proved innocent, for systemic torture by Afghani forces. Colvin alleged that the torture involved beatings, whipping with power cables, the use of electricity, knives, open flames, and rape. In an EKOS poll, 83% of Canadians surveyed believed that the Canadian government was aware that torture was going on, and were at least partially complicit in a war crime. Instead of going right to the heart of the allegation, Harper instead chose to prorogue parliament. The High Court of Whales has since corroborated Colvin's accusation, and predicts with a high degree of probability that torture occurs in Kandahar. While the first specific allegations of abuse surfaced more than three years ago, there has been no official public inquiry. MPs in the House of Commons voted 146 to 129 in favour of a motion to set one up, but the Prime Minister has refused to consider it, stating that "the government of Canada has taken all necessary actions in all instances where there is proof of abuse of Afghan prisoners."
In 2007, The Canadian Association of Journalists awarded Harper the Code of Silence award, for literally maintaining his "white-knuckled death grip on public information". They cited that the Prime Minister's Office regularly demonstrated contempt for the Public's right to know. They followed this up in 2010 with an open letter, as seen here. During the early part of the election, reports were notably kept in 'steel pens' at a stop in Halifax. Since the election has gone on, the Prime Minister only accepts 5 questions per stop, all pre-approved. Once when confronted with recent controversial issue over support from a terrorist group, media and campaign managers incited the PC crowd to cheer, drowning out the journalist.
The problem is that are perceptions of these incidents depends on our own personalities. Some people fundamentally believe the government is filled with idiots, certainly that is one perception. Another is that they are maliciously whittling away social rights, norms, and values in order to push their own agenda, whether that be Fundamentalist, Pro-Life, Anti-Gay, what have you. What I submit though, is that more troubling than any particular 'stance' or 'spin' as it were, is that there is a flagrant disregard for Democracy in the way our government is run. As Canadians, we should be almost up in arms. Every single one of us, every single one who reads this blog is practically a second-class citizen in Canada. We are abused, and at the behest of government politicians seeking to build upon their own legacies, reap the rewards of their social positions. We are made to think, throughout our lives that we will never be able to aspire to politics, never be able to grasp at politics.
The vitrol of the media is pointed as such, as youth we are told endlessly that we are uninformed, that we are too young, that we have not paid enough in taxes to truly understand. It's not that hard, Canadians.
The truth is there, all over. Read what's out there, talk to your peers, have an opinion, think about what matters most to you. The choice of vote is yours, and yours alone to be exercised. We live in a time when you can access every and any form of media at your fingertips, global tv, ctv, cbc, newspapers, national post, blogs, twitter. Everyone is saying something about this election.
It's yours to listen to, and to shape. That's who you should vote for.
Vandalism Hits Closer to Home Today
An Edmonton Businessman in Strathcona was vandalized sometime before Tuesday morning when his NDP sign and door were spraypainted, with the words 'Anti-Alta'. While it is difficult to picture Ryan Hastman with a balaclava and a can of spray paint, likely the grafitti was done by some young punk with too much time on their hands over Easter weekend, the words themselves have touched off a whirlwind of debate about what 'Albertan Interests' are as far as political parties go.
Disenfranchised Albertans have been coming out to Advance Polls in droves, whom they've voted for will continue to be a mystery until Election Day, but the debate rages about the fiscal perogitives of the CPC. Questions about the oil-sands and development of our Albertan north are among the foremost of many Albertan citizens. And the hotly contested battleground of Edmonton-Strathcona is one of three that may be indicative of changing public opinion.
Regardless, we hope the police catch the vandal and put him or her to work with a bucket of soapy water.
Disenfranchised Albertans have been coming out to Advance Polls in droves, whom they've voted for will continue to be a mystery until Election Day, but the debate rages about the fiscal perogitives of the CPC. Questions about the oil-sands and development of our Albertan north are among the foremost of many Albertan citizens. And the hotly contested battleground of Edmonton-Strathcona is one of three that may be indicative of changing public opinion.
Regardless, we hope the police catch the vandal and put him or her to work with a bucket of soapy water.
Catch The Keys Megan Dart Talks Wrecking Ball
I couldn't attend Wrecking Ball on Monday due to being under the weather, but Catch The Keys Organizer Megan Dart graciously caught me up to speed and answered some questions about the Political Arts Event that took place all over the country, and right here in Edmonton at the Avenue Theatre.
A big thanks to the Wrecking Ball Team, All the Artists Involved, Catch the Keys, and Megan Dart for the following interview:
A big thanks to the Wrecking Ball Team, All the Artists Involved, Catch the Keys, and Megan Dart for the following interview:
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
aurora torontrealis: 2011 Election Endorsement (La plainte d'un jeune c...
aurora torontrealis: 2011 Election Endorsement (La plainte d'un jeune c...: "If you read the news, you're probably aware that after the 2008 crash the financial problem was 'fixed' by injecting skrillions of dollars i..."
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