A recent investment advice column in the Globe and Mail (by David Milstead, August 3) highlighted some surprising facts about Mexico’s economy. The bullish author suggested Mexico will be a global economic powerhouse in future years thanks to pro-business policy shifts (like the new plan to open up the petroleum
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: A Breathtaking Look at the Changing Face of the Far North
The Guardian has posted a fascinating audio-slideshow, Above Zero, narrated by photographer Olaf Otto Becker who chronicled the Greenland ice sheet and how rapidly it is changing. They’re quite amazing photographs that deserve a look.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the ‘Highs and Lows’ of Weed. CNN! (VIDEO)
Here is the full length CNN commentary by Dr. Grupta that blows the lid off much of the establishment view of marijuana. A credible turnabout for the doctor misled about weed as are a great many of the medical profession and politicians.
Continue readingEnvironmental Law Alert Blog: Spot the difference between two gas industry maps
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Remember when Enbridge accidentally left hundreds of islands off the maps it submitted in support of the environmental assessment of its Pipelines and Tankers project? Well, it turns out that Enbridge is not the only cartographically-challenged oil and gas company. Can you see what's missing from
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Climate Wars – Ranchers Versus Frackers in West Texas
Ranchers in Texas are reeling from years of drought and heatwaves. Now they’re seeing what little water remains being taken by frackers. With a “bought and paid for” state and federal government, those ranchers are pretty much in a David & Goliath battle only Goliath has cornered the rock market.
Continue readingLeDaro: Egypt and ongoing turmoil
Mostafa Darwish / EPA, Egyptian security forces move in to clear one of the two sit-in sites of supporters of ousted president Morsi, Wednesday. It is sad to read about the turmoil in Egypt. People gave their lives to get rid of a military dictator. There was an election and
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: How Agri-Business is Poisoning Our Lakes and Oceans
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) calls them “biological deserts.” They are the dead zones that are spreading along our coasts and inland waterways. “Habitats that would normally be teeming with life become, essentially, biological deserts,” NOAA says. While there are various causes for dead zones in different
Continue readingWarren Kinsella: The carnage in Egypt
As I wrote a few weeks ago – and whether you liked the Muslim Brotherhood or not – they were democratically elected, and then were overthrown in a military coup. You cannot be selective about democracy. You are either a democrat, or you are not. And, as of today and
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Caricnogenic Pollution in Lac-Mégantic at High Levels
The real story of the Lac Megantic Train Wreck is yet to be fully told by the MSM. However credit to CBC for this piece including videos. It is a start. The explosion is telling us that bitumen is far more volatile and dangerous than the previous oil spills that
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Distracted
“From One Second to the Next” is a 35-minute documentary German filmmaker Werner Herzog produced for AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign about the lethal hazards of texting while driving. “The only thing moving was the horse.” From McClathy: Director Werner Herzog’s unflinching film examines aftermath of texting while driving.
Continue readingwmtc: dimanno: let’s make sochi the gay games
When I read Stephen Fry’s open letter to the IOC, and the continued calls to boycott or move the Sochi Games because of the horrendous and institutionalized homophobic violence within Russia, I couldn’t help but think of the Beijing Games. I absolutely understand the uproar over Russia’s anti-gay laws, and
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Another "New Normal" – Western Wildfires
NASA has announced another climate change-driven “new normal.” This time it’s the sharp increase in the number, size and intensity of western wildfires.NASA and U.S. Forest Service officials, who have been using satellites to analyze weather patterns and better predict each wildfire season, said the new pattern is likely here
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: At Last, a Climate Change Winner
Climate change has a lot of losers but it also has a few winners. It’s good to learn that, among the winners, are the giant redwoods and sequoias of coastal, northern California. Since the 1970s, some coast redwoods have grown at the fastest rate ever, according to scientists who studied
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: The Hudson’s Bay Retail Sweatshop
Sweatshops ‘R Us! Ripping off employees by paying them less than a living wage [the Metro Vancouver 2013 living wage is $19,64], all to pad shareholder profits, is the glory of exploitative capitalism! Long live capitalism! Oh wait, what happens when your own employees can’t afford to shop at your
Continue readingThe World Famous Dan Shields: 6323…Today Is A Magic Day
Earvin Johnson, formerly of Lansing, Michigan, currently of Los Angeles, California, turns 54 today. Better known as Magic Johnson, this man is one of the most prominent businessmen in America, concentrating on iniatives in the inner cities. He also, along with Larry Bird, helped save the NBA from late night
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Renewable Energy Predictions Way Off
They were vastly underestimated. .@theturner And yet @SaskPower as recently as 2013 was highlighting a #solarpower study from 2000 to guide their grid planning. #skpoli— John Klein (@JohnKleinRegina) August 14, 2013 Here’s info about that out of date solar power study that SaskPower was touting. @JohnKleinRegina Maybe mention to @SaskPower
Continue readingLeDaro: Piper Kerman: ‘Orange Is the New Black’
It is a fascinating story. Piper Kerman wrote a book ‘Orange Is the New Black’ which is her life story. Now a comedy-drama series “Orange Is the New Black” has been made based on her book. Chris Hayes of MSNBC interviews Piper Kerman. It is worth watching. It touches on
Continue readingThe World Famous Dan Shields: 6322…Rob Ford. I’m Lovin’ It!!!
Hey you gotta admit he looks like he is having a time. The mayor likes to party all the time, party all the time, party all the time.WFDS
Continue readingThe World Famous Dan Shields: 6321…Coming To A Stephen Harper Near You
Voter suppression. The home of Andy Griffith, North Carolina, is leading the way. Check this out from ThinkProgress.org: On Monday, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed into law a massive voter suppression bill compiling numerous different provisions used to restrict voting in other states. Among other things, the bill includes a strict
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: The Reaction to Edward Snowden Parallels that of Julian Assange
Whenever we learn something new and impactful about what our governments or other institutions of power are doing, we owe ourselves a public discussion of these new revelations. Perhaps we accept the revelations as acceptable or desirable, or perhaps we find them unacceptable and harmful in which case the public discourse can
Continue reading