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Environment . Human Rights . Politics . Atheism . Food . Toronto . Ontario . Canada
2.08.2010
Toronto Centre By-Election Results
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NOTE: These results are unofficial and are being provided for purposes of convenience. The official results will be published by the Chief Electoral Officer at a later date.
2.06.2010
Saturday Update
It's been a few days since I last posted, been pretty busy with work and lots of Green party work. So here's a little update.
Of course we had our Toronto Centre by-election with the Liberals purchasing the seat for former NDP man Glen Murray. In what was seen as a last ditch effort to buy votes the McGuinty government coughed up $15 million to save the Grace hospitals. NDP former street nurse Cathy Crowe placed a decent second while our own Green Party candidate Stefan Premdas finished with 3% of the vote.
The Green Party of Canada, Toronto Centre Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday night and I have taken on the roll of fundraising chair. It seemed like a natural fit since I am already organizing a fundraiser for the evening of February 25th. I'm super thrilled because Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Deputy leader Adrian Carr will both be attending along with our own wonderful candidate Ellen Michelson. Keep watching this space for more info on this! I'd love to have a full house and a wonderful show of support from our members in the GTA.
Here's a couple sites of interest that I heard about today, I hope you will check them out:
http://www.localmotiveproject.com/
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/recent/eiffel-tower-anti-nuclear-protest
I was in Paris when the stars were on the tower. At the time I did not know that they were sponsored by a nuclear power company. When I look at my own pictures of the tower now I'll be reminded of nuclear power.
In an unrelated Olympic moment, I personally think is is disgusting and stupid to be moving snow and pumping tonnes of carbon into the air just so this big doped up business can carry on under the false banner of national pride. Nothing about this scam makes me proud.
Of course we had our Toronto Centre by-election with the Liberals purchasing the seat for former NDP man Glen Murray. In what was seen as a last ditch effort to buy votes the McGuinty government coughed up $15 million to save the Grace hospitals. NDP former street nurse Cathy Crowe placed a decent second while our own Green Party candidate Stefan Premdas finished with 3% of the vote.
The Green Party of Canada, Toronto Centre Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday night and I have taken on the roll of fundraising chair. It seemed like a natural fit since I am already organizing a fundraiser for the evening of February 25th. I'm super thrilled because Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Deputy leader Adrian Carr will both be attending along with our own wonderful candidate Ellen Michelson. Keep watching this space for more info on this! I'd love to have a full house and a wonderful show of support from our members in the GTA.
Here's a couple sites of interest that I heard about today, I hope you will check them out:
http://www.localmotiveproject.com/
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/recent/eiffel-tower-anti-nuclear-protest
I was in Paris when the stars were on the tower. At the time I did not know that they were sponsored by a nuclear power company. When I look at my own pictures of the tower now I'll be reminded of nuclear power.
In an unrelated Olympic moment, I personally think is is disgusting and stupid to be moving snow and pumping tonnes of carbon into the air just so this big doped up business can carry on under the false banner of national pride. Nothing about this scam makes me proud.
2.03.2010
Toronto Centre Votes Tomorrow
If you haven't voted already, don't forget to vote on Thursday!
Polls are open from 9am to 9pm.
If you need to find out your polling station, please call the Returning Office at 1.866.566.9766 or look online here.
1.31.2010
Workout for TTC Employees
I saw this video response to Adam Giambrone's video on Youtube announcing that he is running for mayor. I would have made my own video response to Adams video but I don't need to thanks to 'Jogbird'.
1.28.2010
Attend GREEN – a reception event at one of Toronto-Centre's most well respected galleries
The Green Party Campaign for Toronto-Centre is organized and picking up momentum. This Friday, January 29th 2009 come and Party with us!! Attend GREEN – a reception event at one of Toronto-Centre's most well respected galleries in benefit of the campaign of Green Party Toronto-Centre Candidate Stefan Premdas. Hosted by The O'Connor Gallery and Octopus Business Solutions . GREEN is an event not to be missed! (Queen ST E of Sherbourne) Time: 7:00 – 10:00 PM Admission: all welcome, no charge Agenda: Fun!! Lots of FUN!!! 7:00 – 8:45 PM Mix & Meet 8:45 – 8:55 PM Introductions · Stefan Premdas · Mike Schreiner (Green Party of Ontario Leader), 8:45 – 9:15 PM Silent and live auction · Jewelery hand crafted by Stefan · Artwork, fine jewelry, local business services Menu: Fabulous munchies by local Green Caterers. Cash Bar: Speciality cocktails including an Organic "green" mojitos. Organic Wine Party with Toronto-Centre and support the February 4th Green Party of Ontario Campaign. Please forward this invitation to your friends, family and coworkers. Come out and offer Stefan Premdas your support. |
1.25.2010
Petropolis; A Review
This film is beautifully shot and the utter destruction displayed on screen is compelling. The sheer size of the tar sands project amazes me, as much as the ignorance and destruction of those responsible for it infuriates me. A tailings pond, at 3 KM across more appropriately described as a tailings lake, mesmerizes with its beauty. What looks like a close up of fine Italian marble is actually a very wide and distant shot of toxic chemicals, left to sit and settle while it leaches into the surrounding groundwater and land, polluting and killing.
The problem I found, along with other viewers (as I discovered during the Q & A) is that so much of what you see has no real context to it. There are just the visual images accompanied by the sometimes haunting and almost always irritating industrial soundtrack. During the first few minutes of the movie we are provided with a bit of on screen text giving us some facts and figures, but for the bulk of the film there is nothing until a sudden voiceover near the end, which I found quite jarring.
It is difficult to imagine the sheer size of some of what is presented. The speaker afterward said the vision for the film was for something less 'preachy' than traditional Greenpeace messages, which tend to rhyme off facts and figures and that sort of thing. She said that it was meant to be artistic and visually beautiful and not just a 'talking head' type of movie. Although if you don't know that, you find yourself with many technical questions about the film. The website does have more interviews, fact and figures, and I hope you will take a look at it. Hopefully the additional materials and interviews will make it to the DVD, which is coming out soon from Mongrel Media.
Take action against the tar sands project!
Petropolis; Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
Shot primarily from a helicopter, filmmaker Peter Mettler's "Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands" offers an unparalleled view of the world's largest industrial, capital and energy project.
Canada's tar sands are an oil reserve the size of England. Extracting the crude oil called bitumen from underneath unspoiled wilderness requires a massive industrialized effort with far-reaching impacts on the land, air, water, and climate.
It's an extraordinary spectacle, whose scope can only be understood from far above. In a hypnotic flight of image and sound, one machine's perspective upon the choreography of others, suggests a dehumanized world where petroleum's power is supreme.
We are going to see this film tonight. Should be interesting. I'll definitely let you know my thoughts. I'm hoping to be able to host a screening for Green Party members at a future date. You can view the trailer for the film here.
Petropolis is to be screened at the Royal, Toronto (608 College St.) for 6 days, starting Friday 22nd January and running until Wednesday 27th January!
Not only will you have the chance to see the film on the big screen, there will be Q+A sessions with a host of great speakers each night - including writer/director Peter Mettler and Greenpeace Canada’s Executive Director Bruce Cox.
If you didn’t get to see Petropolis at TIFF in 2009, don’t miss out this time. Tickets go on sale at the Royal half an hour before each performance (7pm each night with an extra 4:30pm screening on Sunday) so arrive early! Tickets cost $10 (general admission) $8 (students+seniors)
1.24.2010
1.23.2010
Thousands Of Canadians Rally for Democracy!
This video posted on Rabble.ca shows some of the thousands of protesters who came out today at Yonge Dundas square in downtown Toronto to let Stephen Harper know they are not please with prorogation of parliament.
I'm was there with several friends, Green Party members, supporters and Green Party Toronto Centre candidate Stefan Premdas. More pictures coming soon.
If you haven't already joined the Facebook group please do so. This is NOT over! I saw Harper on the new tonight essentially ignoring us and commenting that the opposition should find something constructive to do. This is your Prime Minister people, and his attitude it one of entitlement and condescension towards the voting public. That is YOU!
DO NOT allow this arrogant pig to take away your rights and freedoms. DEMAND that parliament be treated with the respect it deserves!
I will be uploading my own pictures from the rally soon.
I'm was there with several friends, Green Party members, supporters and Green Party Toronto Centre candidate Stefan Premdas. More pictures coming soon.
If you haven't already joined the Facebook group please do so. This is NOT over! I saw Harper on the new tonight essentially ignoring us and commenting that the opposition should find something constructive to do. This is your Prime Minister people, and his attitude it one of entitlement and condescension towards the voting public. That is YOU!
DO NOT allow this arrogant pig to take away your rights and freedoms. DEMAND that parliament be treated with the respect it deserves!
I will be uploading my own pictures from the rally soon.
1.21.2010
Green Leader Denounces Unfair Liberal Deal
Green Party of Ontario Leader (GPO) Mike Schreiner is denouncing a deal by the McGuinty Liberals to sign an unfair energy deal with Samsung. The contract which gives a special price to a foreign multinational corporation flies in the face of the goals of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, designed to create community energy projects by supporting municipalities, co-operatives, First Nations and farmers.
“Rural Ontarians have been asking me when the Green Energy Act will support their communities. They are seeing foreign investments in their backyards without proper input, and a lack of transparency that has resulted in expensive energy deals.” – Mike Schreiner, Leader, GPO
Ontario businesses and communities are losing out as the Liberals set aside over half the transmission capacity in Southern Ontario to Samsung, allowing a single company to jump the line and undermine community power initiatives. The deal has been widely criticized by Ontario producers and by members of the McGuinty cabinet and again shows a government without any real energy plan.
“Rural Ontarians have been asking me when the Green Energy Act will support their communities. They are seeing foreign investments in their backyards without proper input, and a lack of transparency that has resulted in expensive energy deals.” – Mike Schreiner, Leader, GPO
Ontario businesses and communities are losing out as the Liberals set aside over half the transmission capacity in Southern Ontario to Samsung, allowing a single company to jump the line and undermine community power initiatives. The deal has been widely criticized by Ontario producers and by members of the McGuinty cabinet and again shows a government without any real energy plan.
1.19.2010
All-Candidates Debate
Several All-Candidates’ debates are being held in this by-election. In order to ensure everyone in the community has an opportunity to meet the candidates and to ensure community and LGBT issues are at the forefront of the campaign, The 519 and Xtra will host an all-candidates debate at The Centre.
Toronto Centre 2010 By-Election All-Candidates Debate
Co-Hosted by The 519 and Xtra!
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 FROM 7:00 TO 9:30 PM
The 519 Community Centre Auditorium
Members of the public are encouraged to submit potential questions either electronically through our website or in person at The 519. Questions will be accepted until 7:00 PM on the day of the debate. Due to time constraints, opportunities to ask questions from the floor will be very limited. For more informatoin about the debate, debate hosts and how to submit questions, click here.
1.13.2010
Banned In China
I was recently informed by someone who visited China that my blog is banned there. My first thought upon hearing this news was 'no surprise there'. My second thought was, 'I should make a badge for my blog'.
I'm a bit busy these days, but I still wanted to proudly display my newfound censorednessism, or whatever one is when one is censored. So, rather than make a badge I simply googled 'banned in china' and I found pictures of t-shirts like the one on the right, which are available for purchase at Zazzle.com
I don't get a cut if you buy one, but I figured if I'm using their pic, I should give them credit. Maybe one of these days I'll create my own badge, but for now I'll let people think the fit dude in the picture is me.
I'm a bit busy these days, but I still wanted to proudly display my newfound censorednessism, or whatever one is when one is censored. So, rather than make a badge I simply googled 'banned in china' and I found pictures of t-shirts like the one on the right, which are available for purchase at Zazzle.com
I don't get a cut if you buy one, but I figured if I'm using their pic, I should give them credit. Maybe one of these days I'll create my own badge, but for now I'll let people think the fit dude in the picture is me.
1.12.2010
ALL-CANDIDATES DEBATE
(Provincial By - Election Toronto Centre on 4th February, 2010)
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Wellesley Community Centre- Room B
495 Sherbourne Steet
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Date : Monday 18th January, 2010
Time : 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m
Candidates :
Glen Murray (Liberal Party)
Pamela Taylor (Conservative Party)
Cathy Crowe (New Democratic Party)
Stefan Premdas (Green Party Of Ontario)
Knowledge is power - elect the right person!
Present the social issues and needs of the St. James Town Community and Area For more information call :
Gene Lara : (416) 934-0171
Everett Collrin : (416) 929-7358
A public service of the St. James Town Safety Committee and The Warehouse Mission
1.11.2010
Stefan Premdas unanimously elected to be the Green Party of Ontario Candidate for Toronto-Centre by-election.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1978, Premdas immigrated to Canada with his family as a young boy and has lived in Toronto-Centre for many years. He spent that time investing his energy into making his community a better place to live.
Premdas has been involved in numerous charities and community service programs over the years and is currently a member of Casa Loma KIWANIS.
As Certified Job Creation & Employment Specialist, Premdas has provided workplace accommodation, job coaching and pre employment life skills training the past 4 years, with 2 years of previous experience as a certified community health ambassador for South Riverdale Community Health Centre.
In his role as an Employment Specialist, he worked collaboratively with 29 disability employment agencies, acting as the service sector rep to the airline, banking, social/charitable services sectors, advocating for equality & diversity within the workplace.
As Certified Job Creation & Employment Specialist, Premdas has provided workplace accommodation, job coaching and pre employment life skills training the past 4 years, with 2 years of previous experience as a certified community health ambassador for South Riverdale Community Health Centre.
In his role as an Employment Specialist, he worked collaboratively with 29 disability employment agencies, acting as the service sector rep to the airline, banking, social/charitable services sectors, advocating for equality & diversity within the workplace.
“I am very pleased to have Stefan Premdas represent the Green Party of Ontario in this by-election. He personifies the type of community building that the Green Party believes in with his extensive community experience. I am very proud to have him carry our party’s banner.”
- Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario
- Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario
“I am very excited to be the Green Party of Ontario candidate for this by-election. I will work tirelessly to listen to residents in Toronto-Centre and to share with them our Green vision.”- Stefan Premdas, Green Party of Ontario Candidate for Toronto-Centre
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