At the end of a U.S. election campaign that has ignored climate change and global warming, Mother Nature has weighed in with a persuasive argument.
Sandy's wake-up call couldn't have been any more loud or clear. (note - the link to the Huffington Post article is not working at time of posting due to power outages effecting the site's operations)
Numerous cities and towns along the U.S. eastern seaboard have experienced flooding and damage on a scale never seen before.
Despite tragic loss of life and billions of dollars worth of damage that has already occurred, it seems that we may have dodged a bullet to some extent. If the water had been one foot higher, or the winds a little stronger, no telling how much worse it could have been.
Unfortunately, the latter scenario is exactly where we're headed.
Worldwide temperatures are on the increase. The sea level is rising. Extreme weather events are becoming larger, more frequent and more extreme.
Katrina was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Sandy, another once-in-a-lifetime event. How many lives do we get?
This year, the Arctic ice cap melted down to 20-30% less than the previous record low level, which had been set in 2007.
The increasing pace of melting ice packs and rising sea levels, combined with higher global temperatures, can only mean more severe and more frequent weather events in the near future.
Sandy is telling us that measures to reduce co2 emissions are desperately needed.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Alexandre Trudeau: embedded in Justin's campaign.
According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Sacha Trudeau is "stepping up" to act as senior advisor to his brother Justin's campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Unlike the story in the WFP, I would never stretch this so far as to mention "Jack and Bobby" in the second paragraph of the story. (oops)
Nor would I mention that I saw this coming and predicted it here. (oops)
But I will say this: anyone who thinks that the Liberals under Justin Trudeau will be "same old same old" may well want to reconsider.
Sacha is probably most well known for his film, Embedded in Baghdad, which he made before, during and after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Certainly no lack of courage, conviction or imagination in this young man.
Given the low profile Alexandre has kept, it is difficult to say what his influence will be and how much he will have. Just a gut feeling that he could be bringing a leftish perspective to things, but this could be altogether wrong. His role will probably be more that of the trusted confidante, rather than a strategist or policy advisor.
Indeed, I could see a Liberal Party under Justin (best case scenario) that would transcend left and right, neutralizing this whole "Fox News vs Daily Show", "right vs left" sham of political discourse that exists. When one considers that the vast majority of Canadians (and Americans) really live outside of "left" and "right" interest groups, it becomes plausible to hope that there is room for other more valid movements.
Anyway, Justin's first week on the campaign trail has been a success and I presume it will be very interesting to keep an eye on as the campaign unfolds...
Unlike the story in the WFP, I would never stretch this so far as to mention "Jack and Bobby" in the second paragraph of the story. (oops)
Nor would I mention that I saw this coming and predicted it here. (oops)
But I will say this: anyone who thinks that the Liberals under Justin Trudeau will be "same old same old" may well want to reconsider.
Sacha is probably most well known for his film, Embedded in Baghdad, which he made before, during and after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Certainly no lack of courage, conviction or imagination in this young man.
Given the low profile Alexandre has kept, it is difficult to say what his influence will be and how much he will have. Just a gut feeling that he could be bringing a leftish perspective to things, but this could be altogether wrong. His role will probably be more that of the trusted confidante, rather than a strategist or policy advisor.
Indeed, I could see a Liberal Party under Justin (best case scenario) that would transcend left and right, neutralizing this whole "Fox News vs Daily Show", "right vs left" sham of political discourse that exists. When one considers that the vast majority of Canadians (and Americans) really live outside of "left" and "right" interest groups, it becomes plausible to hope that there is room for other more valid movements.
Anyway, Justin's first week on the campaign trail has been a success and I presume it will be very interesting to keep an eye on as the campaign unfolds...
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Alexandre Trudeau: “It’s not my show tonight”
For anyone tempted to speculate that the Liberals under Justin Trudeau would be "same old same old", there was one new face in the crowd last night whose influence may yet become powerful, even if not necessarily front and centre.
Trudeau’s younger brother, Sacha, was on hand with his young family, too, but politely rebuffed reporters’ questions. “It’s not my show tonight,” he said.
The operative word being, "tonight"(?)
Trudeau’s younger brother, Sacha, was on hand with his young family, too, but politely rebuffed reporters’ questions. “It’s not my show tonight,” he said.
The operative word being, "tonight"(?)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Canadian Business Innovation Tanks Under Harper
Canadian business innovation has dropped from 11th to 22nd place in the world over the past year.
Earlier this month, and for the second consecutive year, Canada dropped two places overall in the annual ranking of global economic competitiveness by the World Economic Forum. Canada's economic competitiveness has now gone from 9th to 14th since 2009. This is just a small part of the story though.
The real story came out a couple of days ago in a report issued by the Conference Board of Canada, entitled Who Dimmed the Lights? Canada’s Declining Global Competitiveness Ranking.
In this report, it is revealed that Canada's innovation and business sophistication dropped 6 places, from 15th to 21st over the past year. Even worse, the report says that Canada's innovation performance dropped from 11th to 22nd.
The innovation performance indicator measures factors such as such as "university–industry collaboration in R&D, quality of scientific research institutions, capacity for innovation, company spending on R&D, and government procurement of advanced technology products".
Don't tell me - sending raw materials to Asia and buying stuff churned out over there in sweatshops no longer qualifies as "thinking outside the box". Combine this with the Conservative government's war on science and it is easy to see how Canada has dropped so quickly.
I don't even know how this all meshes with what's going on on the street. For example, at least four pharmaceutical multinationals closing major research labs in the Montreal area alone this year. The latest of these, Boehringer Ingelheim, will result in 170 high tech job losses.
On the link above, there is a table which further breaks down the indicators into sub categories. Canada is worst in Nature of Competitive Advantage (81st), Value Chain Breadth (53rd), Government Procurement of Advanced Technology Products (47th) and Quantity of Local Suppliers (33rd).
Solving the problem won't be a matter of simply ramping up university graduate numbers though - Canada is already 6th in availability of scientists and engineers.
Exactly how we're going to turn this around, I don't know. One thing for sure is that current Harper government policies have us headed in the wrong direction with a bullet.
Earlier this month, and for the second consecutive year, Canada dropped two places overall in the annual ranking of global economic competitiveness by the World Economic Forum. Canada's economic competitiveness has now gone from 9th to 14th since 2009. This is just a small part of the story though.
The real story came out a couple of days ago in a report issued by the Conference Board of Canada, entitled Who Dimmed the Lights? Canada’s Declining Global Competitiveness Ranking.
In this report, it is revealed that Canada's innovation and business sophistication dropped 6 places, from 15th to 21st over the past year. Even worse, the report says that Canada's innovation performance dropped from 11th to 22nd.
The innovation performance indicator measures factors such as such as "university–industry collaboration in R&D, quality of scientific research institutions, capacity for innovation, company spending on R&D, and government procurement of advanced technology products".
Don't tell me - sending raw materials to Asia and buying stuff churned out over there in sweatshops no longer qualifies as "thinking outside the box". Combine this with the Conservative government's war on science and it is easy to see how Canada has dropped so quickly.
I don't even know how this all meshes with what's going on on the street. For example, at least four pharmaceutical multinationals closing major research labs in the Montreal area alone this year. The latest of these, Boehringer Ingelheim, will result in 170 high tech job losses.
On the link above, there is a table which further breaks down the indicators into sub categories. Canada is worst in Nature of Competitive Advantage (81st), Value Chain Breadth (53rd), Government Procurement of Advanced Technology Products (47th) and Quantity of Local Suppliers (33rd).
Solving the problem won't be a matter of simply ramping up university graduate numbers though - Canada is already 6th in availability of scientists and engineers.
Exactly how we're going to turn this around, I don't know. One thing for sure is that current Harper government policies have us headed in the wrong direction with a bullet.
Monday, June 18, 2012
The fossil fuel industry does not need subsidies
"In 2011 the five largest oil companies made $137 billion"
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Omnibus Scandalbus
Recently Canadians have begun to take notice of the Harper Conservatives' tactic of piling dozens or hundreds of pieces of legislation into one supersized bill, so that most of what is in it slips under the radar of public scrutiny and accountability. Much of the content of this legislation goes unnoticed and undebated, as has been well documented in the case of the 2012 omnibus budget bill, for example.
What many of us haven't noticed, unfortunately, is that they have brought this same tactic into play in another sphere of politics. This would be the always fertile branch of creative corruption and scandals.
Rather than throw all their transgressions and wrongdoings into one or two baskets, such as the Liberals or previous Conservative governments have done, so that the opposition can yammer on about them for years or decades, the Harper Cons have perfected an excellent new strategy.
The new strategy is called the "Omnibus Scandalbus". The Omnibus Scandalbus has room for all the Conservative MPs to ride in luxurious comfort (no need to upgrade your seat, Bev Oda!), while reflective windows and tight security protect the MPs from any prying curiosity seekers or journalists.
All questions for any passengers, from accredited stylists and party enthusiasts, are to be submitted a month in advance and will answered by a professional bus driver most knowledgeable in right turns and obstructions.
The Omnibus Scandalbus is a highly efficient means of scandal management pioneered by Harper's brilliant strategists, enabling the Conservative government to ride in air-conditioned comfort, while, all around outside, the cacophony of a supersized gaggle of scandals fades into the innocuous hum of background noise.
What many of us haven't noticed, unfortunately, is that they have brought this same tactic into play in another sphere of politics. This would be the always fertile branch of creative corruption and scandals.
Rather than throw all their transgressions and wrongdoings into one or two baskets, such as the Liberals or previous Conservative governments have done, so that the opposition can yammer on about them for years or decades, the Harper Cons have perfected an excellent new strategy.
The new strategy is called the "Omnibus Scandalbus". The Omnibus Scandalbus has room for all the Conservative MPs to ride in luxurious comfort (no need to upgrade your seat, Bev Oda!), while reflective windows and tight security protect the MPs from any prying curiosity seekers or journalists.
All questions for any passengers, from accredited stylists and party enthusiasts, are to be submitted a month in advance and will answered by a professional bus driver most knowledgeable in right turns and obstructions.
The Omnibus Scandalbus is a highly efficient means of scandal management pioneered by Harper's brilliant strategists, enabling the Conservative government to ride in air-conditioned comfort, while, all around outside, the cacophony of a supersized gaggle of scandals fades into the innocuous hum of background noise.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Japan PM to Restart Nuclear "Under Intense Pressure from Banks"
The PM of Japan has approved restarting nuclear reactors despite public opinion running at over 70% against the move.
According to this report in Bloomberg, the decision was taken under "intense pressure from banks". With the peak summer season approaching, there has been concern that electricity shortages could result in slowdowns at factories.
Meanwhile, there are new reports of radiation entering the global food chain from the Fukushima disaster.
Procedures to restart reactors are said to be beginning immediately.
According to this report in Bloomberg, the decision was taken under "intense pressure from banks". With the peak summer season approaching, there has been concern that electricity shortages could result in slowdowns at factories.
Meanwhile, there are new reports of radiation entering the global food chain from the Fukushima disaster.
Procedures to restart reactors are said to be beginning immediately.
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