IFAW "No Humane Way" Whale PSA

HELP STOP THE CRUELTY

December 17, 2010 Eat Real Day.

Commit to eating healthy on December 17th. 

What's Eat Real Day?

Simple - no fast food on December 17th.

We all know the dangers of processed & pre-cooked fast food - to our health, to the animals, to the climate and to society.

Toronto and nearby cities have a multitude of good and diverse food to try from family-owned stores and restaurants and other unique small businesses. Try something from one, buy from a Farmer's Market or get some healthy local food for the day and try a new meal with friends - it doesn't have to be expensive either.

We have a broken food system. Let's do something about it, and start a discussion. Let's get the economy and our governments to act for health.

And see how the alternative tastes.  Please invite your friends.  Please visit the Facebook event for No Fast Food Day and invite your friends.

Nuclear heavy energy plan will double residential electricity bills

Source: Ontario's Clean Air Alliance

The McGuinty Government released their new 20-year electricity plan today.  This plan is a big slice of “Back to the future” with a major emphasis on costly, risky and completely unnecessary nuclear projects.

Here are its key features: 

Coal phase-out

The good news: The Government of Ontario is speeding up the coal phase-out.

-          2 of Nanticoke’s 6 remaining coal boilers will be shut down in 2011.

-          The Atikokan coal plant will be converted to biomass by 2013.

-          The Thunder Bay coal plant will be converted to run on natural gas and potentially also biomass.

-          The Government will make a decision in 2012 on the conversion of some or all of the remaining coal units at Nanticoke and Lambton to natural gas. 

These are important steps in the right direction given that Ontario has more than enough generation available to end coal use now. 

Nuclear

-          The Government plans to move forward with re-building the aging Darlington and Bruce Nuclear Stations and building two new nuclear reactors at Darlington.

-          According to the Government, its nuclear plan will cost $33 billion.  However, every nuclear project in Ontario’s history has gone massively over budget – on average by 2.5 times.  Therefore the real cost of McGuinty’s nuclear plan will almost certainly be $83 billion or more.  That means the total cost of McGuinty’s 20 year electricity plan will be $137 billion or more.

-          According to McGuinty’s plan, in 2030 Ontario will obtain 55% of its electricity from costly nuclear power.

Conservation

Ontario’s demand for electricity has fallen by 7% since 2006, yet our electricity consumption per person is still 35% higher than New York State’s.  But instead of ramping up conservation efforts to cut waste and improve efficiency, the McGuinty plan calls for a massive supply increase – Ontario’s total electricity generation capacity in 2030 (40,900 MW) will be 63% greater than our peak demand in 2010.  Apparently, the Premier has little faith in his government’s ability to truly create “a culture of conservation.”

Green Energy

According to the McGuinty Plan, wind, solar and bio-energy will provide Ontario with 15% of its electricity supply in 2030, up from up from 3% today.

New Peaker Plant for Kitchener-Waterloo

The McGuinty Plan calls for the construction of a large new, inefficient gas-fired peaker plant in Kitchener-Waterloo despite the fact that the region’s electricity needs can be met at a much lower cost with an integrated combination of energy efficiency, demand response and combined heat and power.  Will it be Oakville all over again?

Combined Heat and Power

The McGuinty Plan directs the Ontario Power Authority to establish a combined heat and power (CHP) standard offer program for projects of 20 MW or less.   However, new CHP procurement is capped at approximately 500 MW despite the fact that its cost per kWh is less than one-third that of new nuclear and Ontario’s total CHP potential is greater than 11,000 MW.  Why are we artificially capping cleaner, safer power sources?

Our Conclusion

The McGuinty Government’s plan will double residential hydro bills over the next 20 years to pay for high-cost new nuclear power.  This doesn’t make sense.  Ontario’s electricity needs can be met at a much lower cost with an integrated combination of energy conservation and efficiency, water power imports from Quebec, and small-scale, high-efficiency combined heat and power plants.

Click here to send an email to Premier McGuinty.  Congratulate him on speeding up the coal phase-out, but please also tell him that you don’t want Ontario to spend $83 billion or more on risky nuclear.  Tell him that we can keep our lights on at a lower cost with a combination of energy conservation and efficiency, water power from Quebec and small-scale, high-efficiency combined heat and power plants.

Thank you for helping shift Ontario’s energy policy.

Sesame Street: Cookie Monster Auditions for Saturday Night Live

 

 This post doesn't really fall into any of my usual catergories, but I thought it was just as funny and worthy of sharing as the True Mud parody Sesame Street did recently.

It seems the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street would like to host Saturday Night Live and is trying to start a viral campaign (think Betty White) to make it happen.

It's a great parody with a great opening, Macrooner skit, fake news and much more!

Healthy food tops agenda for new councillors

As a new Council prepares for its December start, getting better food
on people’s plates has emerged as a priority for many new and incumbent councillors this
term. Solutions addressing food insecurity, health and sustainability have become widely
discussed as food centres, community gardens and food entrepreneurs continue to sprout
up across Toronto.

“I am excited by the number of councillors interested in healthy food and that it will
finally be getting Council’s attention,” said Darcy Higgins, Executive Director of Food
Forward. “Support for urban agriculture was a highlight of many successful candidates’
election platforms. Food Forward will be advocating to advance solutions,” he said.

Bureaucratic barriers and limited approvals have been the norm for community projects.
The City is working to remedy this through the Toronto Food Strategy, a comprehensive
approach to food policy which was passed unanimously by the Board of Health earlier
this year, which is expected to come to Council for broader support and implementation.

“I am impressed by the work of the Toronto Food Policy Council,” said Kristyn Wong-
Tam, Councillor-elect for Ward 27. “I welcome the opportunity to work with residents
and businesses to address general concerns about improving healthy food affordability
and accessibility in our distinctive neighbourhoods,” she said.

The newly elected Councillor in Ward 32 shares Wong-Tam’s interest.

“I am looking forward to working hard to promote urban agriculture in our great city,”
said Mary-Margaret McMahon. “I plan to work with residents to create more community
food gardens in Ward 32 as our current gardens have long waiting lists. Starting the
East Lynn Farmers' Market with my neighbours has been a wonderful and educational
experience. It is now a dynamic community hub promoting Ontario farmers,” she said.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
- John McCrae

Veterans Affairs Canada

What I Learned In Europe

1. Where there's castle, there's hill.
2. 'Foxy' brand tissues from Poland are the best tissues, and they're scented.
3. The Catholic Church and the Nazis are the mass murder champions of Europe.
4. People who design railway stations don't carry their own luggage.
5. The south of France looks just like the south of France and the Swiss Alps look just like the Swiss Alps.
6. The Swiss will almost always stop for pedestrians, the French almost never will.
7. The French love smoking and dog-shit, and they never check your train ticket (SNCF).
8. The Germans and Austrians don't like the Turks.
9. Cobblestone streets are pretty to look at. Asphalt streets are easy to pull luggage on.
10. If the service is poor, the tip is probably included on your bill.

Second Reading For OSPCA Bill

Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees today confirmed the date and time of Second Reading Debate on his Private Member’s Resolution to bring the OSPCA under provincial oversight.  The Resolution reads as follows:

“That, in the opinion of this House, the Ontario Legislature call on the Government of Ontario to review the powers and authority granted to the OSPCA under the OSPCA Act and to make the necessary legislative changes to bring those powers under the authority of the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services to ensure that there is a clearly defined and effective provincial oversight of all animal shelter services in the province, and to separate the inspection and enforcement powers of the OSPCA from its functions as a charity providing animal shelter services.”

The Resolution will be debated in the Legislature followed by a recorded vote.

Date:           Thursday, November 18^th, 2010
Time:           After 1:00 pm, following Routine Proceedings
Location:       The Ontario Legislature, Queen’s Park
All interested members of the media and the public are invited to attend. 

Veterans Week 2010. November 5-11

This November, Canadians from coast to coast to coast will come together to mark Veterans' Week.
At hundreds of ceremonies and events, we will remember and recognize the sacrifices and accomplishments of our veterans those of past missions and conflicts, and those who are still returning home today.

So, how will you remember?

Hudak & McGuinty: Stop Darlington!

Toulousse Market

Monday, November 1, 2010

We are on our way to Paris now and should arrive by midnight. In the morning we fly home to Toronto.
 Our plan had been to spend the day in Carcassonne and head out to Toulouse in the afternoon, but we'd seen all we wanted so we set out early and then spent a few hours in Toulouse.

We didn't see any major attractions, or anything really nice for that matter other than another great bike sharing program.

We did find a market on a side street that kept us busy for awhile, but with the exception of one lady who was selling homemade soap and a guy selling local honey it was all made in China crap that you will find in any city.

Toulouse Maple Leaf

Toulouse Train Station

SNCF TGF High Speed Train

Carcassonne, France. The Old City

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

We got up early and went for breakfast. It was going to be a full day of walking and I didn't want to get tired too soon so we called a taxi to take us to the old town.

Carcassonne, is famous for being the best surviving example of a medieval military city in Europe. The city was next on the hit list for the Christian Crusaders after the sacking of Beziers. 

It Gets Better Canada

Carcassonne, France Arrival

Saturday October 30, 2010

Today we are taking it easy because tomorrow will be a full day of walking in the old city of Carcassonne. We  took a short walk around to scout out where we want to shoot tomorrow to get the wide shots of the old city.

Musees des Beaux-Arts, Beziers, France

Friday, October 29, 2010

We have another day in Bezier and have decided to visit the Musees des Beaux-Arts, which is actually two museums. A paltry two Euro will get you into both and it is well worth it. The two buildings are completely separate old houses and its about a three minute walk to get from one to the other. 

Le Petit Montmartre, Beziers France

Thursday, October 28, 2010

We asked the staff at our hotel desk to recommend a restaurant and it was  suggested we visit Le Petit Montmartre. Since we now weren't going to be visiting Montmartre in Paris, due to the strikes in the city, we decided to check it out.

Beziers, France

We arrived in Beziers and checked in to our hotel. It is a mid-sized city and looks much like others in the area.

Beziers if famous for three things; The first is it's four day bull fighting festival in August of each year; Feria en Aout. That may soon end, as it has in nearby Spain. Animal rights activists are trying to have the grotesque 'sport' banned. We did not attend a bull fight.

Lyon Layover

Our 'high speed' train turned out to be a low-speed train, but we made it to Lyon and are killing time here by wandering around the big mall near the train station and having a bite to eat.

 

Mall food is mall food everywhere and the 'service' (I use the term loosely) at this restaurant was terrible and so was the food. At least they are consistent. 

I am happy to see that Lyon has a great bike sharing program with more than 300 locations! Lyon saw a 500% increase in bicycle ridership following the unveiling of the system in 2005.

 

Later the same day...

We have arrived in Montpellier. Our hotel room is small and spartan, but it is all we need. It is late and we are just sleeping here tonight and catching a train to Beziers  in the morning.

We went for a walk to get some juice and beer. I have never seen so much dog shit on the streets of a city in all my life. There is much more to Montpellier than the few streets I saw, and I'm sure some of the attractions are nice. But my current opinion, based on what I saw is that this place is disgusting and I will not be rushing to visit again.

Just google; dog, shit and France and see what comes up!

Goodbye Switzerland. Hello France.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

We have left Brig and are on our way to France. First stop Geneva, Switzerland where we will swtich trains and get on the French high speed train the TGV (which I love). We then continue on to Lyon where we have a stopover of several hours. We may take in a museum or some sights if we can find a luggage storage at the train station.