Tuesday, June 26, 2007

How Times Change

Huge papier mache statues of the great builders of Quebec were among the flags and marching bands in a boisterous parade Sunday that marked Quebec's Fete nationale provincial holiday. Former premier Rene Levesque was featured along with explorer Samuel de Champlain in the march,

Samuel de Champlain father of New France, founder of Quebec City, would be considered a pederast by today's Harpocrite government.

And while Conservatives and conservatives hearken back to the good old days of traditional values, this is not a 'traditional value' they support since they have lobbied for twenty years to change of age of consent from 14 to 16.


Champlain achieved at the beginning of the winter an important gesture:
on December 27, 1610, aged at least 30 years, he signed a marriage contract with a 12-year-old girl, Helene Boullé. Because of her youth, it is specified that the marriage was to be carried out only after two years had elapsed. The engagement took place two days later and, on December 30, the bridal blessing was given in the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, in Paris. Promised a dowry (6 000ª), Champlain received 4.500ª the day before, which is an invaluable supplement for his company.


Of course this wasn't a sexual/love marriage but one for financial purposes. Merely a marriage of convenience. Altogether now let's repeat; Marriage is a sacred institution.

Luckily for Champlain his marriage would not be annulled under Bill C-22.

Bill C-22 was passed by the Justice Committee on Thursday, April 19th, 2007 with one amendment. The government’s original Bill, which raises the age of sexual consent from 14 to16, would have allowed an exemption to the new law if the couple involved in the existing relationship were married, or in a common-law relationship or were in a relationship which had produced or where they were expecting a child. The Bill, as amended by the Committee, proposes to allow relationships between 15 year olds and adults who are more than five years older, to continue to be legal, as long as the people involved are married.

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Quebec Fete Nationale is Pagan

How pagan rites are revised to fit political purposes.

The reporter assumes that the Roman Catholic establishment in Quebec was not being political when it changed this ancient rite of Summer Solstice to a celebration of John the Baptist. Ironically a major festival for Freemasons, the political opposition to the RC establishment in Quebec.

Fete nationale began as a religious holiday back in 1615 to mark the summer solstice and the birth of John the Baptist.

But in years since, particularly with the waning of the influence of the Roman Catholic church in Quebec, it became more political. In recent years, efforts have been made to make it more inclusive and less political.

Quebecers celebrate Fete nationale more enthusiastically than Canada Day but one of the main reasons for that is because July 1 is the province's annual moving day and people are busy hauling boxes and furniture to new homes.


How to make Canada irrelevant, millions of dollars spent by Sheila Copps to supply Quebecers with Canadian flags, they can wave as they move with all their belongings festooned with Canadian
decals, stamps, bumberstickers, etc.

While Quebec and its Roman Catholic Aristocracy adopted St. Jean de Baptiste as their patron saint for their Nation State the Freemasons did the same but for the promotion of the brotherhood of man.

On June 24th, we observe the festival of summer sun and on December 27th, we observe the festival of the winter sun. The June festival commemorates John the Baptist and the December festival honors John the Evangelist.

These two festivals bear the names of Christian Saints, but ages ago, before the Christian era they bore other names. Masonry adopted these festivals and the Christian names, but has taken away Christian dogma, and made their observance universal for all men of all beliefs.


The Baptist is patron of tailors (because he made his own garments in the desert), of shepherds (because he spoke of the "Lamb of God"), and of masons. This patronage over masons is traced to his words:

Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight all his paths. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, And the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. (Luke 3, 4-6.)
All over Europe, from Scandinavia to Spain, and from Ireland to Russia, Saint John's Day festivities are closely associated with the ancient nature lore of the great summer festival of pre-Christian times. Fires are lighted on mountains and hilltops on the eve of his feast. These "Saint John's fires" burn brightly and quietly along the fiords of Norway, on the peaks of the Alps, on the slopes of the Pyrenees, and on the mountains of Spain (where they are called Hogueras). They were an ancient symbol of the warmth and light of the sun which the forefathers greeted at the beginning of summer. In many places, great celebrations are held with dances, games, and outdoor meals.

Many of these same fire festivals are also practiced on Walpurgisnacht and Beltane; May Day. Another pagan festival of great social importance.


See:

Fete Accompli


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Fete Accompli


Once again the PM missed attending the party of the year;

Hundreds of thousands flock to TO Pride Parade

Instead he was feted in Quebec, as he feted Quebec Nationalism.
Huge parade, concerts and fun mark Quebec's Fete nationale holiday

Huge papier mâché statues of the great builders of Quebec were among the flags and marching bands in a boisterous parade yesterday that marked Quebec's Fête Nationale provincial holiday. An image of former premier René Lévesque was featured along with that of explorer Samuel de Champlain in the march.

The links between Levesque, a sovereigntist icon, and the celebration of the Fete nationale were obvious to Yvon Trudel, who marched in the parade with the nationalist Mouvement Quebec Francais.

"It represents the future - the future country that we want," he said when asked what the day meant to him.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Roberval, Que., where he praised the contribution of Quebecers to building Canada.

"The first people in this country to call themselves Canadians were the French-speaking settlers who built their first community on the banks of the St. Lawrence then followed our rivers to places like Lac St-Jean and then across our land envisioning a country from sea to sea," he said.

And my how times have changed .

It was a far cry from the days when riots plagued Fete nationale. in 1968, Pierre Trudeau won a majority government the day after he stared down rioters at a St-Jean Baptiste Day parade in Montreal.


For Harper Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Transgendered Canada is more of a threat than Quebec Separatism.

Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal
have been named Canada's five top gay-friendly tourist destinations by an American magazine.


One challenges his machismo the other embraces it.


SEE:

Harpers Legacy

Avoiding The Issue

Some Same Sex Marriage Ok Say Tories

Harper Gaffe #2: SSM

Intolerant Blogging Tories

Mortons Homophobia Rebuked

Harper

SSM

Same Sex Marriage


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Monday, June 25, 2007

War Is Peace

Quebec Premier Charest addressing the Van Doos on Friday who are about to go to Afghanistan.

"You are the acting arm of Quebec pacifism," Charest said.



I think he mistook pacifism for pacification .





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CBC Blog Watch

CBC has added a Technocrati blog watch to its stories. Oh and did I mention I got linked.


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No Two State Solution

There is no two state solution to Israel's occupation of Palestine.

It's been forty years, and yet Israel has become married to the settlements and to an ideology that sees a Jewish state with inherent rights over its non-Jewish citizens, but more critically it as an expansionist state that believes in the right to permanent domination of the lands it controls. The only way to break down a racist and exclusivist structure is to chip away at its base and force an alternative reality. This would require not only ending the occupation, but looking internally at the Israeli state, a Jewish state, a state which doesn't and can't function as democracy for all its people. Many Palestinians leaders and supporters within Israel have come to realize this and have been ostracized for bringing this notion to light, namely Azmi Bishara, while many more will be undermined and attacked in the future. Yet, divestment, boycott, and sanctions coupled with a movement forward for both Israelis and Palestinians to live as equals in a shared society is the only hope for true peace.


See:

Israel

Palestine


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Belus?


That's what the Globe and Mail is calling the idea of the merger between Telus and Bell (BCE).

In this latest poll you find that those of us who have experienced Telus are opposed to the merger for the reasons I have given here and here.


The Angus Reid poll found that 48 per cent of Canadians believe the government shouldn't permit a merger between Vancouver-based Telus and Montreal-based BCE. Another 27 per cent supported it, while 25 per cent weren't sure.

The highest levels of opposition to such a deal came from British Columbia and Alberta at 57 per cent and 61 per cent, respectively. "What surprised us the most is the high level of skepticism from Alberta and B.C., where virtually everyone deals with Telus on a daily basis," Mr. Canseco said.

If such a merger were to go through, 62 per cent of the poll's respondents didn't expect better customer service. Moreover, 68 per cent said it's somewhat or very likely wireless rates would increase, while 62 per cent said the same thing for Internet prices.

See:

Monopoly Capitalism in Cyberspace

Telus

BCE


CRTC


Bernier

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

A Tale Of Two Canada's


Hundreds of thousands flock to TO Pride Parade


Canadian Anglicans vote no on blessing same-sex unions




See

Whose Family Values?

Marx on Bigamy


Paul Goodman


Libertarianism

Five Things Feminism Has Done For Me

Gay Marriage

SSM

Same Sex Marriage


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Rain Rain Go Away

Enough already if I had wanted to live in B.C. I would have moved there. We have had this weather forecast for the past two weeks. From Spring to Summer. I thought solstice brought the return of the sun not rain and clouds. Enough. My garden needs sun not more water. Unfortunately next week looks like much the same.


SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING. THIS IS AN ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES TAKE IMMEDIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
THUNDERSTORMS ARE DEVELOPING OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND SWAN HILLS THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVED NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE PROVINCE. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL, HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND GUSTS.


Sunday
Overnight
Monday
Morning
Monday
Afternoon
Monday
Evening

Chance of thunder- showers Rain Thunder- showers Cloudy with showers
Temperature 9°C 11°C 14°C 12°C
Condition
Chance of thunder- showers
Rain
Thunder- showers
Cloudy with showers
P.O.P. 80% 90% 60% 90%
Wind NE 10km/h N 15km/h NW 15km/h NW 20km/h
Humidity 93% 100% 96% 100%
Rain close to 5mm 5-10mm 5-10mm close to 10mm

From Sunday Overnight to Monday Evening we expect 25-30mm of rain.

Long Term Forecast


Tuesday
June 26
Wednesday
June 27
Thursday
June 28
Friday
June 29
Saturday
June 30
Sunday
July 1

Cloudy periods Mainly sunny Mainly cloudy Cloudy periods Thunder- showers Scattered showers
High 19°C 22°C 20°C 25°C 25°C 25°C
Low 10°C 10°C 14°C 15°C 16°C 15°C
Condition
Cloudy periods
Mainly sunny
Mainly cloudy
Cloudy periods
Thunder- showers
Scattered showers
P.O.P. 30% 0% 30% 10% 80% 40%
Wind NW 20 km/h SE 25 km/h SE 25 km/h NW 10 km/h W 5 km/h NE 10 km/h


See:

Wetmonton




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Steady Eddie in Decline

Repeat after me; I am not Harry Strom. Really. I am not Harry Strom.

Premier Stelmach's own approval ratings have slipped from our last sounding, with a bare majority (54%) of Albertans saying they approve of his performance as Premier, down 12 percentage-points from April. Of that, 15% "strongly approve" (down 6-points) while 39% "moderately approve" (down 6-points). Notably, Stelmach's approval rating is much lower in Calgary (42%) than in either Edmonton (58%) or the rest of Alberta (63%).



Beware of the wrath of the Party of Calgary.

Stelmach Tanks

After the blow out in Calgary Elbow the Stelmach government tries to make amends by appointing three more Calgarians, and one Edmonton MLA who is Ukrainian and a popular a former Liberal, to cabinet.


To add insult to injury they are not even real cabinet ministers, they are mere 'associates'. You know like WalMart Associates.


Unfortunately it is too little too late.


Honeymoon Officially Over For Stelmach Government

CALGARY/AB--(Marketwire - June 23, 2007) - A new Ipsos Reid poll finds a substantial decline in support for the Ed Stelmach-led Progressive Conservatives. The Progressive Conservatives currently have the backing of 47% of Alberta's decided voters, down 12 points from 59% just two months ago (April). This returns the Progressive Conservatives to the same level of voter support they achieved in the 2004 Alberta provincial election. In fact, all four major parties have returned to exactly where they stood in the last election. Among decided voters, 29% say they would vote Liberal, 10% would vote New Democrat and 9% would vote for the Alberta Alliance Party.

A look at voter support by region produces some telling results for the Progressive Conservatives. In Calgary, Stelmach's party has the support of 42% of decided voters. This is a decline of 8-points from the 50% support the Progressive Conservatives achieved in the last election. In contrast, the Progressive Conservatives are up 12 points in the Edmonton CMA (47% today vs. 35% in election) and up 2-points in the rest of Alberta (53% today vs. 51% in election).






SEE

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Ding Dong Tories


Even if it meant protecting Canadians who elected them from being subjected to a communications monopoly, the likelihood that the privatizing Conservatives, whose love of big business is expressed my its Industry Minister , would do anything like interfere in the market well ferget about it. Canada telecoms merger up to regulators: Harper

A consumer advocate warned Thursday that a proposed $50-billion merger between Bell Canada Inc. and Telus Corp. would be a loser for customers of the two telecom giants.

"The government and the regulators should simply turn down this merger," said Charles Tanguay, communications manager for Quebec's Union des Consommateurs. "This is critical because it would weaken competition in both the traditional wireline and wireless markets and expose consumers to continuing high prices and second-rate services."

Canadian consumers already pay almost twice the average per-minute charged in the U.S. and Europe and the market has too few players, Tanguay noted.

"A monopoly would be worse than today's duopoly, influence regulated markets unduly and freeze out new entrants."





See:

Monopoly Capitalism in Cyberspace

Telus

BCE


CRTC


Bernier

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My Post To the Carnival of Anarchy

Here is my post to this weekends Carnival of Anarchy on Anarchism and Ecology.

Murray Bookchin An Apprectiation

While the Mainstream Media, and the right, have been focusing on Rachel Carson, whose 100th birthday is this year, and her work Silent Spring as the foundation of the modern North American ecological/environmental movement it is important for anarchists to point out that Murray Bookchin was also a founder of the modern ecology/environmental movement.


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Saturday, June 23, 2007

Afghan Civilian Deaths No Accident

Accident, murder is the word, murdered not by accident but by deliberate strategic air attacks.

Afghan police said overnight bombing in Helmand province left 25 villagers dead, which by one count would mean at least 250 civilians have died by accident this year under fire from international forces and their Afghan allies.

By one estimate, that suggests civilian casualties are running at twice the rate of last year. Human Rights Watch has estimated that NATO and U.S. military operations killed 230 civilians in 2006.


And its not International forces, its American air support.

Americans are infamous for air support friendly fire incidents in Afghanistan, where they have killed our own troops, and in Iraq, where they killed British troops. Let alone the regular civilian casualties which have occurred this year almost every time air support operations were launched in Afghanistan.

Which is why land based tank and infantry missions are more successful in NOT killing villagers. You can see who the bad guys are, while from the air everyone looks the same, little blips on the computer screen.

This is a great way NOT to win hearts and minds. And all the PR fluff about the Taliban using human shields cannot cover up the fact that air support is a sure fire way to get civilians killed.


Also See:

Friendly Fire


Afghanistan

War




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Friday, June 22, 2007

Anarchy and Ecology


Beginning today, though as per usual with our little anarchist cooperative someone posted early and someone will likely post late, the Carnival of Anarchy will be hosting a weekend of blogging on the topic of Anarchism and Ecology. Green Anarchy, environmental anarchy, social ecology,etc.

Dust off your old Murray Bookchin books.

The period of contribution runs from Friday June 22nd to Sunday June 24th.


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Land Mine?

As I have posted here and here Afghanistan is a country full of land mines. And why does this incident have to be anything other than another land mine accident.


Three Canadians travelling between two checkpoints just a few hundred metres apart died Wednesday in Afghanistan when their all-terrain vehicle hit a roadside bomb that insurgents apparently managed to plant without being detected.



Worse yet the soldiers were unprepared, unprotected since they were riding in an unarmored ATV. An ATV for gods sakes.

The small John Deere-made open-top six-wheeler had no armour to protect its occupants.

Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, commander of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, shrugged off questions about what soldiers were doing riding around dangerous trails in an all-terrain vehicle primarily used to whip supplies around military bases. The risk seemed manageable and, besides, it was about the only type of vehicle that could weave through the tight off-road trails in the area, he argued.

While the accident could force the military to give its procedures a second look, the sketchy details suggest the military has already decided this is a tragic accident and not a case of procedural or protocol carelessness.

"The vehicle was appropriate for the task at hand and the terrain that they were travelling in," he told reporters.


Chart for Landmine casualties

Also See:

Friendly Fire


Afghanistan

War




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