Oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico; what have we learned?
May 16, 2010
As usual, the Harper government buries its head in the sand whenever crisis occurs. Its ability to deny reality and ignore data has attained "article of Faith" status.
Example in point: The oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico; and what have we learned?
Pierre Trudeau set a moratorium on off- shore drilling in BC; which the Lib government kept. The question is will the Harper government lift that moratorium?
Yet, every question from the Liberal opposition about the federal government's plan for off-shore oil drilling and oil-tanker traffic in BC, or anywhere in Can., gets the same answer: "We have the toughest regulations in the world..."
I was in Louisiana last week for a Canada/ US Parliamentarian meeting. The news is grim. Not only is there sensitive ecosystem damage but the economic livelihood of shrimp, crab and crawfish fishers from Texas to Florida is at risk for generations. The Gulf sport fisheries for Marlin, Tuna, swordfish will be gone. The fish and wildlife will be extinct or polluted for decades.
After two weeks, the leak in the Gulf cannot be contained. Underwater leaks especially at levels of 50,000 feet are difficult to stop; unlike land wells.
Despite the best laid plans of mice and men [things] go awry.
Somethings these accidents are remediable in a short period of time. Accidents like underwater oil leaks cause decades of damage. So what's the solution?
How do we explore fossil energy without damaging our long term economic and environmental future. This government doesn't seem to have given more than cursory thought to that question.
Have you? What's your take?
Maternal Health Policy
April, 2010
These goals have specific, measurable outcomes targeted for 2015 and supported by a comprehensive, concrete action plan, based on sound public health principles. Canada is signatory to the Millennium Goals and Plan of Action. It is also important to note that one of these desired outcomes is: “In 2015 an additional 50 million couples using modern methods of family planning."
By refusing to fund family planning and contraception, the federal government shows it either does not understand the link between cause and effect in public health or that it has allowed its ideology to dictates public health policy.
Medical evidence shows that frequency and spacing of pregnancies, chronic ill-health and infection increase the risks of post-partum haemorrhage and maternal death, still birth and unhealthy babies that fail to thrive.
Access to contraception and planning of pregnancies is a logical way to lower those risks. Moreover proper use of condoms prevents sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, which contribute to maternal mortality and millions of orphaned children each year.
Family planning also increases the number of healthy, wanted babies and significantly decreases the number of abortions. Decreasing the number of abortions is a desirable public health objective, since 70,000 women per year die from botched abortions, and millions more women suffer significant morbidity such as uterine puncture, and pelvic inflammatory disease, which are high risk factors in pregnancy and delivery.
The government's decision not to fund family planning is akin to implementing a plan to diminish cardiovascular morbidity by focusing on open heart surgery only and ignoring strategies to eliminate root causes like smoking, obesity and trans fat intake.
Public health policy based on ideology is dangerous. The goal should be to save lives using the best evidence based strategies. Canada does not deny access to family planning to our own citizens, surely the women of the developing world deserve as much.
100th Anniversary of Canadian Girl Guides
Saturday, January 17, 2010
In Trinidad, where I grew up, I became a Brownie at the age of six, then graduated to the Guides and later the Rangers. After I left high school and for the short time that I taught school, I was a Tawny Owl, leading small girls in a Brownie pack.
I guess you can say that being a Girl Guide was one of the experiences that shaped me. We were taught that girls could be and do anything. We learned the same activities as the boy Scouts. We learned how to work as a team and to belong to a group that shared the same values. We were encouraged to focus on and achieve clear goals ( I always strived to get the most badges and worked hard on each one sequentially). We learned to be competitive and strive for excellence; to be socially conscious and helpful to others by doing good deeds ( public service); and to be prepared for all eventualities.
While I did not imagine that I would ever be lost in a forest in tiny Trinidad; I was taught how to read and follow a trail, and leave one of my own; how to build a fire and construct a lean to; to find edible plants and protect my food store from wild animals.
Over the course of my life, many other mentors such as Rev. Mother Francis Xavier and my grand- mother shaped me into a strong woman. Going to an all girl school helped me to become assertive and competitive. And my dad helped me to also believe that girls could do anything. He encouraged me to take risks and accept responsibility for them.
But, the Girl Guides and the leadership of Olave and Agnes Baden-Powell who founded the Commonwealth-wide movement a hundred years ago, helped me understand that 'Girl Power' when harnessed globally, can change the world.
Today a hundred years later, the Girl Guides have evolved. They now teach 21st century skills. But, the values of self esteem, achievement, public service, determination and courage still run like an unbroken thread throughout it all.
Congratulations. Girl Guides of Canada. Here's to a hundred more.
http://www.girlguides.ca/
Let's Really Support our Troops!
Hey, let's really support our troops!
Much has been said and written about supporting our troops. The Conservative Government bogusly accuses the opposition of not caring any time we ask valid questions.
But as we prepare to exit Afghanistan and possibly dispatch our valiant and over stressed men and women to Darfur, or to other areas of civil strife, there are some valid questions to be asked by those who really do care.
Supporting the troops is not just about murmuring politically correct slogans, nor is it only about providing them with the physical support systems and equipment in the field. Indeed, the Chretien government had initiated a risk pay bonus.
But, we still continue to send our troops into battle, too often ill- prepared, psychologically for the mental trauma that awaits them. When they return we have no system in place to automatically assess them for sub- acute or other signs and symptoms of burn out and or "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder".
We need more resources in place to assist their families with grief counseling and support for the reality of post-war living.
After all they went out there at our and government's behest, to serve. We have a moral responsibility to take care of both their physical and mental health, preparing them before they leave; and being accountable for the same when they return.
Ask Senator Roméo Dallaire
Housing, Homelessness and Hunger Strikes
So, my colleague Libby Davies is undergoing a hunger strike to raise awareness of and demand a National Housing Strategy!
Laudable, Libby but surely you know that Jack Layton could have saved you the trouble?
I do not doubt Libby's concern for the issue of Housing and Homelessness. You'd have to be completely divorced from reality not to see that this is an urgent challenge for Canadians across the country, and not only in urban areas. When I was in Vernon at a round table, a year ago, the number one issue was homelessness and lack of rental and affordable housing.
I also know that housing and homelessness has not been at the top of Stephen Harper's agenda; since he cut the total homeless budget and renamed it in one of his sleight of hand political magic tricks. Why? You'd have to ask him... And we all know how he responds to pesky unwelcome questions! Kinda like the red queen in Alice in Wonderland.
But the real question of the day, and it relates to Libby's hunger strike, is why did it have to come to this?
The NDP leader, Layton who professes to care deeply about housing, etc was asked personally by Paul Martin, in autumn 2005, when he threatened to bring down the Liberal minority government; ( something he seems reluctant to do with Harper) to hold off until the Spring budget (a mere 3 months) when three issues that he was supposed to care about, would be announced with 5 year funding mandates. This meant that if he later colluded with Harper ( as he did)to bring down the Liberals, these issues would remain enshrined and funded, passed by Parliament. Harper could not have canceled them (though in the light of the latter's unilateral nose- thumbing at Parliament, who knows).
What were the three issues? A National Housing Strategy, a National Child care and Childhood Development Strategy and the Kelowna Accord which dealt with housing, education and health- care for Aboriginal peoples.
All of them 2 years in the making and negotiating with provinces.
Layton passed! If he had agreed, we could have been in the 5th year of these 5 year plans. Libby would not have to do the ultimate hunger strike and we not be in a crisis of lack of housing, lack of child care spaces and aboriginal frustration at worsened conditions.
The question is why? Why did the NDP leader turn down the offer? He could still have kicked out the Liberals in March after the budget? He could have had that proverbial cake and eaten it too. There is no doubt that the election results would have been the same as it was:
Jack would have gotten his few extra seats. Harper would have won his minority government. The Liberals would have lost. But, the people of Canada would have been the net winners of some much needed public policies.
Now there's a question?
Remember that NDP boast that in a Liberal minority government they influence great public policy? Well I guess that would have been under a Tommy Douglas, a David Lewis or an Ed Broadbent...
But today we live in the house... or lack of...that Jack built, that Libby protests
and that citizens bemoan... Go figure.
