Election Fever

The advance pole for the provincial election was held this week and today was the last day to get your say before election day on Thursday. The ladies of the house went to vote a couple of days ago and their names were not on the list. They had to go through that song and dance to vote but they did. Today I was greeted with the same message, my name was not on the list. Normally I would have given them a hard time but it was not their fault but the people who are in charge of the enumeration. It would seem like a simple job but apparently not as there were pages of people who had to register at the voting station.

This election is a very close one as the three parties have each a defined niche and the NDP is on the upside of the surge after the death of their very popular Federal leader Jack Layton. The Grits and Tories are in a dead heat or so the poles say but this week will be the clincher when the sober thoughts of the electorate will cause them to polarize. Once the voters feel there is a winner the people will rush to that side and we still could have a majority.

Normally elections are exciting but figures show that apathy leads only some of us to use our vote. Statistics show that we as a nation have turnouts of between 55% and 65% on a good day. Maybe this year we will do better and fool the experts. The issues are many but many of the real bread and butter issues are not being discussed. Care for our mentally ill citizens, the environment, aging populations and all the economic ramifications are barely touched on because everyone is concerned about the economy and jobs.

There is a real divide in the North American political  picture. The right wing conservative movement is growing here and in the USA and the left wing liberal and social parties are being smothered. Less than 25% of workers are protected by some form of a union and legislation is being developed and passed which will take away any teeth or power they have to protect the workers. The divide between the rich and poor is becoming greater every year. There is less sharing of the wealth of the country as the middle class is shrinking at a devastating pace. The very guts of a country is not Bay Street or Wall Street but the little entrepreneur who works for himself and the worker who produces the goods and services.

There is something wrong when CEO's are making up to 300 times the salary of a worker. There is something wrong when CEO's get bonuses worth millions when the company lost money and workers are asked to take a lesser wage and loss of benefits. This election will not solve all these problems but my wish is for everyone to be heard and when the dust settles we send people to the government which will represent our needs and hopes for a better Ontario.

Sunnybrook Health Center

I had the good fortune to pass a day at the Sunny Brook health center. I was there for a series of tests to determine whether I was allergic to penicillin. After fighting traffic to get there on time there was not one empty space at the many parking lots. Finally I spotted a car leaving so drove very fast to capture this prize. Several other people had the same idea so it was a race. Happily I was there first and entered the $23 for all day parking. Trying to hurry back to my car with the ticket to display it on the dashboard I realized that I had but two minutes to make my entrance at the reception desk.

Theresa was not with me so I had to put all my organizational skills to the test. It is so much easier when you have a partner to do the thinking for you and to find your way in these large institutions. I came ready to share my day with the hundreds of people milling around. I was lucky as all the serious work for me was done in one location this time. After getting the many needles I had ti settle in for a 2 and then four hour wait.

I decided to look around and consulted a large map on the wall. This place is huge and home to thousands of workers. I wandered through corridors and a dozen waiting rooms and while taking a break struck up a conversation with an elderly couple. They happened to have a cottage on Trout Lake near Barrys Bay and their neighbour was from Pembroke. We had many mutual friends so an hour of the wait was shared with good company.

We departed and I found myself in the area where people with copd were being treated. Gasping for air, coughing and some choking gave me the idea that young smokers should see this and they may think more clearly before taking that first puff. Many people there were not smokers but the majority were but the end result was the same. My empathy was building and I moved on. The next area was concerned with people who required limbs and other devices to aid their ability to cope with life.

I have been in hospitals before and observed sick patients but here at Sunny Brook the sheer number of people with problems overwhelmed me. The variety of malfunctions being treated was stunning and  you could not be a visitor there without realizing the tremendous responsibility placed on our medical system .Probably because of the election there is a focus on the costs associated with this service and it not difficult to see why many people are upset. We here in Southern Ontario are right in the middle of one of the most modern and up to date systems but many who live away from the hub have less than satisfactory medical attention.

My mind wanders for the last hours of waiting time and I people watch. Every nationality is represented in this group and the many languages spoken makes you realize just how multi-cultured we really are. IT is fascinating to live in this complex society where a visit to a hospital forces you to see the real Canada. My hours at this health center gave me a healthy respect for the work being done by our care givers and my wandering about makes me a strong supporter of our health system.

Me To We

 I had never heard about this exciting program until my grand daughter Darcy became involved with the movement. She embraced the Me to We program and became a believer to the point where she attended a leadership academy one summer and spirited her school chums to become involved in building a school in Costa Rica. She was so enthusiastic that her feelings motivated many with whom she connected. She travelled to Costa Rica and was involved in the actual construction of the school.

Her mother was struck with the same magic as this movement is contagious arising from a humble beginning with two Canadian boys - Craig and Marc Kielburger - who had an idea to create change - to world recognition within a few years.This movement is a young people's thing with raw commitment to become leaders, agents of change and contribute to society by being a citizen of the world. It appears to be a youth thing at first sight but becomes a people thing where everyone has value and helping people to reach their own potential is important. Started 15 years ago as Free the Children by 12 year old Craig, the offshoot program Me to We has caught on to the extent that it now has world recognition.

Every year there is a We Day event held in cities across Canada and now spreading to the U.S. Thousands of young people and their teachers fill the Air Canada Center and are inspired by celebrities, social justice speakers and musical performers and reaffirm their commitment to "be the change". My daughter was an early believer and travelled to Kenya with Darcy to volunteer, school build and learn about the challenges faced by the people there. She is committed and preaches the word when possible. It has become a family thing and another of my grand daughters went to the Free the Children leadership academy this summer and claims it was a moving program and a life changer. Darcy interned for We to Me this summer and will always be a follower of this movement.

I have been brain washed and have written about this youth movement on occasion. Oprah W. had the Kielburgers on her program and they were a big hit; she strongly endorsed their work by sponsoring a program with FTC. While in Kenya my family members were inspired by the women  who were being empowered with the help of FTC and saw great potential in raising the level of education and life in general. I mentioned that women in particular were empowered because their skills were a source of economic value because the structure was put in place to sell their beautiful handmade artisan products in Canada and the USA.

If  I were a young person this movement would seriously challenge me to help make this world a better place. It captured my family's interest and I believe everyone who discovers this movement will be equally impressed. So Tuesday is We Day, do something that makes that Me  a We by sharing yourself with others.

Darcy learning the art to spackling at the Kisaruni Girls' School build in Kenya

Working on Kisaruni, first girls' residential secondary school in the Mara region.

Masaai women teaching their intricate beading techniques

Fall Cleanup

With fall only a few days old and our planning a short Florida holiday I thought it was time to get busy. Cutting the Lillie's and other early flowers before they turn brown is risky but I have to prepare for planting some more perennials. My neighbour has an overgrown backyard. She offered me as many flowers as I need and I took her up on the offer.

It is a little early for transplanting  but time is of the essence. We have moved from annuals except for a few and have filled the space with easy to care for perennials. Our vegetable garden does not want to quit as the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and Russel sprouts along with the Swiss chard keep on producing. We had such a dry summer that when the rain came the gardens took off and we now have the growth that normally comes in June and July.

Regardless of this situation we are trying to get everything completed for winter.The last few rains we experienced were greatly appreciated as the trees were showing major stress and warnings were given to home owners to water their trees before winter. With climate changes we probably will have to make some major adjustments to our gardening habits in the future.

We who live along the 49th parallel will not be affected as much as the people in the sun belt or further north. The sun belt will experience long periods of drought and extreme heat for long periods of time. This will become a major concern in the next few years. The people further north will be granted a gift of a longer growing season and a widening of the growing area. This could be a financial benefit to the world as agriculture could be balanced between land lost to land gained.

An interesting observance this year was the move north of the bird populations. People are reporting sightings of birds which traditionally summer over further south,  much further north. Animals and insects are also making similar changes in their habitat.

Well I will be making my regular migration south but could be convinced to come north earlier if climate changes dictate an earlier spring.

Shore Coal In Cape Breton

Probably one of the few places in the world coal can be dipped with a net from the sea was Sydney Mines, Cape Breton. The Princess Colliery was a submarine coal mine which operated continually for over a hundred years and,washed the coal before exporting. This washing process involved dumping many tons of coal in a huge washer and after the washing it was loaded into coal hoppers and exported. This washing process was not very efficient and for every 100 tons of coal washed many tons were lost. The lost coal and water was dumped into the nearby Sydney Harbour adjacent to the washplant.

With millions of tons mined yearly you can imagine the amount of coal which ended up in the harbour water.After years the coal, being lighter than the sand in the harbour water became stratified and formed a layer of pure coal near the mine site. When a storm blew in the harbour the coal would move and settle in the coves in the harbour. This layer of fine coal would be exposed at low tide and my father and I ,along with several other owners of horses would load the coal on waggons hauled by horses and piled on the shore above the tidal line.

On a good day our mare Lady, would pull fifteen or twenty half loads up from the water to our coal pile. We used dump carts or Red River carts which were very useful when working in water and sand. When the tide came in and covered the coal we used dip nets to load the coal on to our carts. This was very hard work and when it was in the winter very cold. My father had a trick to keep our hands warm while they were wet. Before we started to work and while our hands were warm we would dip them in the water. They acted like a wet suit for diving. This only worked with knitted wool mits.

We used to sell this coal to regular customers but often large trucks would buy the coal there on the beach. One particular day we sold almost ten tons to a truck driver and after helping to load the coal by hand we received $20.  That was an excellent days pay . When we delivered the coal to houses a couple of miles away we charged $2 per dump cart full. When I was older,  around 14, Dad would permit me to go alone to make some money. I loved to work with our old horse Charlie. He was old but strong and steady.

The mine has been closed for years and there is no more coal in the water but for many years it gave us a chance to earn extra cash. One quality this fine coal had was being covered with a salt from the sea it kept the chimneys clear and clean. There was no dust and was clean to the touch. At our home we used this shore coal for many years.The good old days they say but I always think of them as the difficult days when good things happened.

September 22,1995

It was a old day in Ikaluktutiak ,Nunavut that day when I decided to do a little exploring. The ground was hard and cold. The rivers and lakes were frozen but the elders told me to be careful and watch for black ice. I never had my snow machine prepared so decided to use my ATV to travel to my fishing and hunting camp site some 11 miles out of town. The weather looked alright but at this time of year changes very quickly. I just acquired my new travelling partner Buck who was a half wolf and half malamute dog. Large by dog standards and wary of me as his new owner but prepared to take a chance and ride on the back of my ATV.

I made sure I had extra gas but only planning to be gone for a couple of hours broke my own rule by not taking my emergency kit. This kit contained everything you needed to survive 10 days on the tundra. The kit in my case was kept in a waterproof box and was quite large. Normally it sat on the wooden extra seat on my ATV but with Buck coming I took it off and took Buck instead. I was properly dressed for the occasion and started up my machine and as I lived on the north edge of the hamlet was soon out on the tundra.

The road I was following was hilly and slippery so I travelled at a reasonable speed.The occasional snowdrift  was crashed and snow would fly in all directions. I was enjoying this outing and began to speed in reckless abandon. I stopped here and there just to take in the scenery. Days were getting shorter and the sun was well below the horizon and before long it was pitch dark. I arrived at my campsite and let Buck run for a while as I tidied up around the campsite. Lumber had to be sorted and stacked for the winter. The door and windows which I had covered with a tarp were now exposed to the elements so I really had more to do than expected. A rule in the Arctic is to work but do not break a sweat. This is dangerous as exposure to the elements when sweating can lower your core temperature quickly.

I tried to be careful but in my anxious moments to get everything done I became overheated and then felt the cold creep into my bones. I stopped work and immediately lit a fire. I had loads of wood and a few boards with a tarp gave me shelter from the wind which seemed to pick up. I called for Buck being anxious to get home but there was no response. Since I had a sense of fear I talked to myself and admonished myself saying I would never fall into this situation again.

I warmed up but no Buck so I prepared for a longer stay. Snow began to fall so I covered my ATV with a tarp and hoped it would start when called upon. I had a store of military meals and began to eat but there was a certain uneasiness about the situation. I got up and started the ATV and called again for Buck. If necessary I would leave him as he would find his way home. Further fear crept in when the wind began to cause the snow to blow . Now I was worried so I sped off towards the hamlet. We had a very bright beacon in town as there was a Lauren tower there. The road became part of the landscape and I never knew if I was on the road or not.

The snow deepened and I was having difficulty with steering but I only hoped the machine would keep running. After what seemed like an hour I passed by the graveyard and the hamlet lights came into view. As I drove into my yard there was Buck chewing on a muskoxen bone and quite unconcerned. For me I had a life lesson, not really that bad but up there a small situation can be fatal. I vowed to be more careful and this was one rule I kept for the whole time I lived in that wonderful but cruel world. My diary entry that night was circled in red and I read it often as a reminder to be prepared every time you left the safety of your hamlet.

Protecting The Arctic Or Plundering??

I have been hearing a great deal about our desire to protect the environment of the fragile Arctic lands. Because of climate change and global warming the possibility of economic development of resources is now on the table. Our government spent a summer complete with photo ops of our recent concern for the Far North. Yes there are huge natural resources to be found or developed in that area which makes up to 30% of our geographic foot print.

Now that the North West Passage is available for several months of the year, economic benefits are available. Huge or vast reserves of oil and gas  can be found in the waters surrounding Nunavut. Hungry eyes and greedy oil companies see the money to be made and our government is awakening to the fact that pressure will be made to make these resources available.

The time to act to protect these Canadian benefits was years ago but that being said we still have time. The first thing that should be done to keep the faith is to protect the people who have lived there for 10,000 years and give them the same right to a life with clean drinking water and a health plan that meets Canadian standards. Education and training for the local populations must be a priority for the new found jobs  or they will be left behind once more. These people know how to live in that harsh climate and is the greatest natural resource for that country in the future.

Legislation must be put in place to protect the fragile environment. Oil will be the great gift but the most dangerous element in the north where ice covers the water and land for many months of the year. There are three things that must be done to make sure we do not have a tragedy like the one suffered in the Gulf of Mexico.

Every well to be bored over water must have a relief bore hole at the same time as the producing bore hole. The relief bore hole would be made so as to be made operational within one day of a blowout. Next there has to be a cleanup plan to be completed before freeze up. What a tragedy if this was not done. Look to Russian problems caused by not doing this very thing. The third one is to make sure the permitting system protects and demands that every possible environmental condition can be verified and inspected on a regular basis. Recent cutbacks just recently withdrew the water quality inspectors leaving us with a system of self regulation. Crap..we all know the record of international capitalism; it must be regulated with service performance bonds. Oil companies will cry about the costs but they have plenty of money and make huge profits.

The tar sands have been developed before regulations have been put in place and regardless of what the oil company add say they are not sufficient. Less than 2% of the water used by these oil companies is returned into the water system in proper condition. The are trying but in many cases it is too late. Go to Fort McMurray and witness the mess. This can be avoided if we take care of business now.

The True North Strong and Free is part of our national anthem and should   be part of our commitment to that part of Canada which has so much promise.

Niagara Falls Visit With Friends

Theresa and I have friends { relatives} from New Brunswick for a week. One place that they talked about was the falls . On a perfect day we drove the 100 kms to Niagara Falls City and enjoyed the sights along the way. The perfect vineyards with their trimmed foliage made a great impression on the folks from out of town. There was just a hint of fall as some of the trees were turning colour but the vivid blue and green of the Niagara River was a perfect backdrop  to one of the wonders of the world.

Living so close to this magnificent wonder and visiting there rarely surprises me as I get the greatest satisfaction at watching that water tumble down to the gorge below. The thousands of people ho were there this day were treated to a perfect day and even the wet spray rearranging perfect hair doos could not curb the joy of just being there and listening to the power of the water. The folks we was entertaining were elderly in most cases but this venue perked up their gait and gave them a new vitality.

Walking along the mile or so of viewing area you had to be impressed with the international flavour of the people who were there. I am sure most countries of the world were represented. It is interesting that this wonder is shared by Canada and the USA. Looking across the gorge is New York State and they have crowds just as large and excited as w have here in Canada. The Horseshoe Fall in Canada is most spectacular but the American falls is beautiful in its own right. While there everyone can see both falls at the same time.

Our guests loved the visit and I am sure it will be the highlight of their visit.The visit was completed by a drive along the Niagara Gorge and passing through one of Canada's most beautiful communities, Niagara On The Lake. The comments by our travelling group was summed up in one word, awesome.

A New Beginning

During your life there are markers that tell of a new status in your journey through life. It was exciting when you got married and at the birth of your children new doors opened. You watched them grow and develop into adults. You were proud of their achievements and told anyone of just how wonderful they were. They became the center of your life and as a family you became a tight little society. You hoped it would never change but it did. Your children became adults and found partners who would be added to the clan. The outcome was an ever expanding and changing group with new dynamics and vitality.

Next came the grand children and with this event your whole life became a new adventure. You are swept away by the new vigor you feel and become so much more mellow. Grand children make you feel the way you should have felt when you had your children but this is different. You let your guard down and because you only have them for snippets of time you make every second count. They become your new children and you have a second chance to be what you always wanted to be but couldn't with your children. We all feel that change that is the reward for becoming grand parents.

These are the years when time is on your side. You have time to indulge and enjoy the grandchildren because you are relaxed and should be free from the stresses you had as young parents. The stage of children rearing comes at a cost. You are faced with just developing your career, buying your home, trying to maintain economic stability and sharing your life with your partner. Any of these challenges is difficult but at this time you have to muster enough energy to do all and well. Your very existence is dependent on how well you juggle your time and love to be successful

Next the grand children find friends and partners and somehow become less visible. If you are fortunate, your children will be close enough to stay in the family but your grand children probably will be ushered into different geographic zones to make a living or satisfy a partner or a dozen other reasons. When they have children you might have the good fortune to be available to enjoy their life and share in some of their adventures. This life cycle is reality and so far I personally have been blessed in having the best of all worlds.I have my family intact, grandchildren I see frequently and reasons to be a proud parent and grand parent.

With the announcement of an engagement and and future marriage of one of my granddaughters I feel the excitement which comes from the close relationship I have had with this valued person over the years. I have watched her grow from an independent, self directed child to a mature loving adult with much to offer the world. At this moment my excitement and emotional high ushers me into the next dimension of my life. I as all of our family are so happy that her journey which is just beginning adds another block in our extended family and strengthens the family connection in a wonderful manner.

Women and Girls

For years I have been reading about how our money is used to help rising countries meet their needs and grow with limited resources. There has been a fear that our foreign aid was used by men to strengthen their military or line their pockets. In some cases this has bee true but studies show that private or institutional funds from groups like Feed The Children or Kiva  have a tremendous impact on the betterment of life in the communities in which they live.

It has been shown that resources given or investments made in the younger women in a community will raise the living standard by a whole lot. Women and girls are the hidden resource in every society as they set the standard of behaviour and ccivility in countries where the female gender in not recognized and their worth beyond work is marginalized. In countries where investments in education of the girls is considered important a vast change in the quality of life is realized. These girls become nurses, teachers and leaders and their mindset is universally recognizeded as a power for good.

Because the women of the world are the chief agent of influence in the raising of the children,  it would reasonably be expected that helping them become more educated and respected would be cause boys to be more compassionate as men. In countries where boy soldiers are taken away from their parents at a young age there is a terrible loss of respect and value of females by these people. This is one of the main causes of the slaughter and brutality shown to the females of these societies.

I have expressed on many occasions the true value in having more world leaders be women. In a world dominated by men in most of the third world countries our hope is that emphasis be given in our foreign policies for equal rights for men and women and educational opportunities will lead to a more civil society.I have personally seen the change in life in the far north where women have become pro-active in the community dynamics and are making a change for the better.

Rich countries like Saudi Arabia are seeing the need for the recognition of equal rights for women and are feeling the pressure of the world on their suppressive regime towards the females of their country. What a waste of  potential when we do not utilize everyone in our society and take advantage of the total population to make a better world.

Simple Words Can Mean A Lot

There are a thousand ways of expressing your feelings. A smile, a greeting to a stranger, a thank you when someone does a kind deed or saying nothing when you were about to show your negative self. Yesterday I was enjoying my green tea and the Toronto Star at 7.27am. The phone rang and I was sort of annoyed because we had house guests and I did not wish them to be disturbed. I answered the phone and it was Troy. Hi Papa...I missed my ride and could you drive me to school? Yes .I replied and added. Be outside at 8.am sharp.

I took my tea and went to our small car and had to adjust the seat, mirrors and spilled some tea on my clean T shirt. I muttered something and pulled out the driveway. My neighbour Grace waved as she was walking her dogs and I waved back. I drove down the street and counted 7 liberal sign and was becoming  even happier. As I drove into the parking area where Troy was to be ready, he was there. He got in the car and filled the air with gushes of news and things that were happening in his life, mostly football.

I listened and as we arrived at the school I asked why he called me and not his father. His reply made my day. I haven't see you in a while and just wanted to see you and say hello. He shut the door and left me without words. You see simple words do mean a lot. I was happy.

Back To University

In 1960 I was to have a dream fulfilled; I was going to university full time. I had attended Teachers College and taught for six years, five of those as a principal. During these days I managed to get married, fathered a child and saved a few dollars. It was always my dream to attend full time but with a wife and child to support I could only do just that; dream. Circumstances changed quickly as I was invited to attend Olympic tryouts for the half-mile. At the same time, I was offered a full time position as a teacher in a new federal program called Program 10. I would work evening shifts at the local secondary school between the hours of 5pm and 11pm. This was a well paying job and I had to make up my mind in a hurry.

In your life there are times when a decision will have a tremendous impact on your future. This was one for me as I always dreamed both about the Olympics and university. But this decision would clearly cut one of these options out. After discussing this dilemma with my wife I had to make the decision to go back to university with a stable position and a definite future. The truth of the matter was that even though I was invited to the Olympic trials I would never have made the team. My times were poorer than three others that I ran against in the past so it wasn't a matter of giving up a podium finish.

I had only a matter of days before I had to report to Laurentian  University and work for the Sudbury School Board. Because we lived in Northern Ontario we decided to sell our worldly goods, and this was difficult, and purchase new items when we found a place to live.

This decision was possibly one of my best ones as we moved to Sudbury and I achieved two main goals. One was returning to university and the other was being able to support my family during the process. We found a small apartment and settled in and I prepared for my tasks. I was so nervous the first day of university with the registration and coping with the new surroundings. Laurentain was a new bilingual school with a small enrolment and you quickly got to know most of the fellow students. Small classes were a definite advantage and as I was taking philosophy and religious studies I was surrounded by books, books and more books. My problem was time to read all these.

My new teaching position was something else as my assignment was new to me. Mechanical drafting and science  so I had to keep one step ahead of the adult students. It was fun and a challenge.Within two months I was asked to be the on site principal and this gave me a little more money and some freedom as I had one less class to teach.

During this new year of adventures I discovered that education was indeed my niche and philosophy my passion.We as a family grew to realize this arrangement came at a cost. I was too busy and this placed a great deal of responsibility on my wife and family. This would be my fate for the next thirty years until I retired.

As I look back I still wonder if I could have won that race in Saskatoon and what would have been but the moment is temporary and I never regretted for a moment going back to university.

Global Village

When I was a young person living down the lane in Sydney Mines my world was only as large as what I could see. The dozen or so houses and my relatives who lived there made up my world. All this changed when we began to travel and listen to the radio and hear about places like Wheeling West Virginia. We could only imagine what it was like in those far off places. One Sunday we had a missionary speak at our church and this lady opened eyes and stirred our imagination with her word pictures. I personally hung on every word and something inside me was stirred up and from that day I could never satisfy my hunger to know about the other places in our world.

My oldest sister bought a set of books and they were like gold. The Book of Knowledge became my outlet for some of my wonders.At school we had a poor library and we were permitted to take a book or two home for a week. Often I would take more and Miss Smith turned her eyes as I pushed my luck to the limit. We used to have a belt to carry our books as backpacks were still not known. I couldn't get enough books to read. I might add that I rarely carried my school texts but the library books were my school books. My village was now becoming much larger. Our movie theatre called the Strand became my new found library and every Saturday we kids lined up and waited for the doors to open.

On the big screen we saw wondrous things. Western movies with Roy Rogers and the three stooges became our entertainment. Then in 1948 TV appeared in its crude form. Black and white and relatively expensive, it found its way into our homes. Our world changed as we became bombarded with news and stories from around the world. Pretty soon our world expanded to the point where we were learning more from the TV than in school. Much of what we learned was not so good but we did engage in much that was as we had quick reporting of what was happening around the globe.

With the space program making technical advances nearly everyone had a cell phone or a device that could become a camera, telephone,TV, radio, dictionary and a host of other processes which produced information instantly. Our sphere of knowledge became global and our village became the whole world. I see tiny tots going to school with huge backpacks and texting or using the cell phone .These changes over the past 70 years has made the world and its people much more open and available for help in times of natural disasters. When evil things are happening the world knows immediately and we truly are a global village.

Our earth is our global village but consider that our earth is but a dust particle in the big picture of our universe.We came so far but we have only begun to understand our place and role in the universe. I am sure in the next 70 years we will have new norms for religion, governments and nearly every institution which basis its role on knowledge and truth. While studying philosophy there was one statement that stays with me. There is no absolute truth but varying shades according to circumstances. This will throw some of our beliefs in a tailspin in the future as we begin to live in a universal village.

Canada's New Shift In Foreign Policy

I must be getting grumpy when it comes to Canadian political matters or I was not hearing well when I heard a quick shift to the right last eve when our Prime Minister was interviewed. It appears that the question about Canada's status in the world has been greatly enhanced because we were becoming a military power. Yes we did take a role in the fight against terrorism and have spent some ninety billion dollars equipping our forces with modern tools for warfare. Our soldiers should have the very best when our governments puts them in harms way.

The question that really hit home for me was why our status has been raised. Is it because we like the American armed forces have power because of their mighty war machine or because we are recognized for our contribution to world peace. Back a few years ago we as Canadians could travel anywhere on the globe and be recognized for our peace keeping ability. we were loved for our contributions to world health and green policies.

Since we have moved to the right we have given up our place in breaking our agreements in regards to green house gases and are berated for our policies on the exporting of death dealing asbestos. We are even being considered for sancions by some countries because of these policies. How far we have travelled because of our leaders giving way and accepting the copy cat foreign policies of America.

We have become a much more powerful military country but at what cost. The cost of the war alone could have given every young Canadian a free university education. These young, educated people could lead the world in technology and we would be recognized for our ability to out perform or at least compete with the rest of the the world. I guess I just liked it when I knew being Canadian meant something more than being part of that power struggle which garnishes you hate and danger from the third world. We do so much good as a country and should carve our reputation built on being a peace loving nation and a Stewart of our environment.

Provincial Election 2011

Every four years we are treated to a election to decide who will be making decisions on behalf of the electorate.This year we are faced with a situation as all places are where there is too little money and far too much to do. The needs of the ordinary person were never more clear and because of the deficits that governments built over the years they stare us in the face . Decisions have to be made. All the talk is about cutting services and downsizing government but since this means laying off staff there is a human outcry.

We have been so used to having the government look after us that the thought of taking care of yourself hardly enters the picture.Many people are wholly dependent on one level of government or another. The burden of providing these services become critical when fewer and fewer people pay to support this responsibility. Seniors are becoming more numerous and it seems that they live longer so the cost of health services becomes the major expense .Providing health, police, fire protection and education sends the costs through the roof. This is without mentioning the costs of our roads, armed forces and the many social services required to meet the needs of our citizens.

There is a strong right wing movement sweeping across North America and with talks of expanding the penal system and building more prisons it seems to fly in the face of good research and common sense. Our air force is demanding new war planes which will cost 35 billion dollars over the next ten years also does not make sense. These planes are strictly a offensive weapon and will do little to keep our country safe as I don't see any enemy threatening Canada.

This move is one which has bothered me for some time as Canada has always been a peace keeping people and buying these weapons make little sense. Better to use this money to improve our ability to

A Hint of Coolness

My friend Don  came out with this expression some time ago and we all laughed because it sounded so poetic. This morning when I went out to pick up my paper there was more than a hint of coolness as a brisk breeze with 10 degree temperatures gave me the signal that fall was really here. It was rather refreshing to wear a T shirt and a light sweater. When Theresa and I went for our evening walk around our block we noticed signs of fall. The most remarkable was the white oak dropping its acorns. This tree hangs over the sidewalk and is prolific in its ability to cover the walk every year with the biggest acorns. Four black squirrels were filling their pouches  and scampering off to their winter storage hid away.

Other signs of fall creeping up is the yellow buses are on the road again, slowing up traffic and causing people to get frustrated because they never counted on the extra ten minutes it takes to get to work on time. A sure sign is our neighbour leaving her house with orange jacket and signs of her job, she is a crossing guard. At nearly eighty years of age she never missed a day on the job and loves her time on the street regardless of the weather.

Golf rates go down a little and with falling leaves it is harder to keep your eye on the ball and some time is spent looking for elusive or stray golf shots. It is also the best time of the year for golfers as the courses are not crowded and kids are in school. As the leaves turn colour and the days become even shorter there is a sort of urgency to get in as much golf as possible before you have to put your clubs away.

Fall ushers in a small migration to the universities. This year again two of our grandchildren go off to get new and wonderful experiences at places of higher learning. With eight grandchildren there has been a succession of our kids leaving. This enriches the discussions we have at family gatherings. With five of the eight already in the process the other three are about to move on as their cousins did and I can just imagine what a great time we will have when politics or religion is on the discussion paper. There is no sadness when these young people move on as  they have the privilege of contributing to their own better life. We miss them when they leave for short times but love their return with new and exciting ideas.

Yesterday I rotor tilled the small garden where cucumbers, potatoes and  carrots grew. The Swiss chard will last until heavy frost. It was a dry year and as I tilled the soil I could see how the dryness had a negative effect on our gardens and wish for a rainy fall. The trees especially need moisture before the winter and there have been warnings this year that many of our trees have been stressed  and could be damaged during the dry winter months.

Yes there is a coolness in the air but with a provincial election coming up we could see some heat generated and the temperature rising.

Labour Day

I was born into a large family in Cape Breton. My Father was a coal Miner and a union man.His union was UMW District 26 and supported the many miners who worked in the dangerous coal mines in that area. In 1948 there were thousands of miners working for less than $10 a day. The president of the union called the men out on strike supported by John L. Lewis who was the international president of the UMW. This was the year that my oldest sister attended Normal School in Truro , Nova Scotia. You can imagine the problems that this strike had on our family.

My Mother and Father were very resourceful. We had a piece of land where we grew potatoes and vegetables. Mom looked after chickens and we had a cow and horse. Relatively speaking we were well off as we always had food.Many people were less fortunate and poverty became epidemic and my school mates suffered greatly.  The Red Cross gave we children a jam sandwich and a half pint of milk daily and on Friday we received a sandwich made of jam and peanut butter and chocolate milk. This was a godsend for many and is a lasting memory.

The union fought for the men and after months  the talks resumed  and the men went back to work with little or no compensation for their trouble.In those days unions played a great part in getting better working conditions and a safer work place. Money was important but the workers rights became the most important issue. As a result miners and other workers advanced their status and families benefited greatly. There were other strikes as well for the same reason and slowly life for the miners and others improved but the need for coal almost vanished with the railways moving away from steam power and the shutting down of our steel mills. Imported coal from the USA was cheaper to produce and cleaner to use in the coal fired energy plants so the coal miners lost their jobs

Today there is hardly a coal mine in the Maritimes and none at all in Sydney Mines which was the coal capitol of the east. The unions were a necessary part of society during those days and every year they were celebrated by Labour Day holidays across the nation.Today there are less than 25% of workers protected by labour unions and governments find ways to take the teeth from those that do exist by anti-union legislation. During the past year we have seen the government legislate unions back to work and denied their right to strike. I am not saying that this is good or bad but the matter still stands that there is a strong anti-union message shown by our governments. Unions are under attack and this will reflect the working conditions and safety factors for our working people.

Labour Day and Unions should be celebrated for their struggles in the past and there still is a role for them to play in the future. We live in a changing world where most of our manufacturing is done in countries where workers are not protected by some form of a union and we know the drastic effect it has on our ability to compete on a level playing field. Time will tell whether unions will make a comeback in these other nations and workers will be represented by fair unions to fight for their rights to a proper work place and fair wages.

On this Labour  Day I shall think back to the contributions made by unions for working people.

Construction Record

Our city has a schedule for road paving which was to include us during the month of June. Testing proved that more than paving was required so a complete overhaul was ordered. This involved curbs, storm sewer basins and sidewalks were to be undertaken. On Tuesday we were awakened at 6 am to the sound of construction equipment moving into our area.

By the end of the day huge machines were digging up the top 8 inches of our roadway and hauled away. In one day this was completed without interruption to our access. Wednesday curbs were cleaned and repaired where necessary and the next day new gravel was spread over the surface. The roadway was compacted and today ,Friday the paving was started and will be completed by evening.

For me this was a record. Usually we are left with a dusty road for weeks and everyone is grumpy because of the delays in completing the task. For once I saw a construction company move in a positive way and made all the residents very happy. If only every job could be done so well and quickly.

Birthday Party For Doris

The years just seem to fly by and Doris never changes. She will be celebrating her 94th tomorrow. Most people look their age or older but Doris seems to have that quality which keeps her eternally young looking. We are having her birthday party a day early so as to accommodate her well wishers who have plans for the long weekend. As Theresa and I were preparing for the family and friends gathering, Doris would not be denied the fun of helping with the food and organizing and was there right in the middle of the mix. She even helped herself to the cake pan and licked the last little bit of batter as she did when her mother baked cakes for the family.

There is no putting on airs with Doris as she reminisces about her life back in Coot Hill, N.B. Her memory of those early days are filled with the happy moments and are missing those times which must have been trying for everyone who lived through the depression years. Being the only girl in a family of six brothers gave her special status and has fond memories of her father and mother and admits she was her father's favourite.

Doris is a great traveller and has been to many places during her later life and even in her nineties she drove to Florida with us every year and never slept a moment because she never wanted to miss anything. Her love of trees is amazing and as we travelled through the American countryside she always comments about the trees. Her love of nature probably comes from her early life in beautiful rural New Brunswick.

Doris is an inspiration to our family and has had this role as grand old lady down pat but never wishes to be thought of as old. In Florida she loves to swim every day and take walks in the neighbourhood with us or alone. There is a major re-construction job here where we live and she gives adequate supervision to see the job is properly carried out. I have written about Doris on every birthday for the past 13 years and my wish is that this tradition will continue for many more. So Happy Birthday Doris and many more to come.