tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42612373640966095952024-03-18T13:41:57.282-07:00Swims With SealsThoughts on happenings that in some way connect to the Vancouver waterfront - by Nelson QuirogaNelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-73433862447849231022024-03-18T13:41:00.000-07:002024-03-18T13:41:01.934-07:00A Tale Of Two Cities/Pools<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dGT5sOVFG3Wg3TQekRaAUHBWoRrg0jciOqHrvA8Mgv1TMITtH7k_MoryJPVoqiioSJwIyhTSVbpfjqFMxS40bkyHKIItU_ZzomZJyER53FF_szhcn6NsmiDnBoDVg7HNlM8MnrU1slEhzGs4suoP_XYyaFdiPRIH4EBjjTRaKO41WsJ6AzywCqDQdTe0/s1075/vancouver-aquatic-centre-collapse-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1075" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dGT5sOVFG3Wg3TQekRaAUHBWoRrg0jciOqHrvA8Mgv1TMITtH7k_MoryJPVoqiioSJwIyhTSVbpfjqFMxS40bkyHKIItU_ZzomZJyER53FF_szhcn6NsmiDnBoDVg7HNlM8MnrU1slEhzGs4suoP_XYyaFdiPRIH4EBjjTRaKO41WsJ6AzywCqDQdTe0/w640-h330/vancouver-aquatic-centre-collapse-f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Between the slowly deteriorating Vancouver Aquatic Centre and the rapidly deteriorating Kits Pool, residents of the Westside might be wondering where they are going to be able to go for a swim in the near future. The Aquatic Centre was recently partially closed for roof repairs after a power washing of the moss (that appears to be holding the facility together) caused pieces to fall off inside. This was only a year or so after the front of the building fell off thanks to a rusted out frame. Meanwhile over at Kits Pool the cumulative damage of winter storms and high tides have destroyed the seawall around the pool and cracked the deck to the extent that it is leaking 30,000 litres per hour.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwVE6da8QesF9pmP8FOaWGFDgrTsE_Qw2vDtRNMwZjC1yi3DjgZ8YA6Up_XIGcbU2bPfhT2IXtm3jtwOnVi1L11lKEmYU-TyxsvUstp1S_8gIMxu98wZZuEIb2zFeuO2yF_3BgkC3ybXm1MsGjrOqev2xOqagMFfJe3ee7-f4HVmBk-e-Bn9LmZPJK-1n/s1020/kitsilano-pool-1-5859797-1649814659406.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwVE6da8QesF9pmP8FOaWGFDgrTsE_Qw2vDtRNMwZjC1yi3DjgZ8YA6Up_XIGcbU2bPfhT2IXtm3jtwOnVi1L11lKEmYU-TyxsvUstp1S_8gIMxu98wZZuEIb2zFeuO2yF_3BgkC3ybXm1MsGjrOqev2xOqagMFfJe3ee7-f4HVmBk-e-Bn9LmZPJK-1n/w640-h360/kitsilano-pool-1-5859797-1649814659406.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />In spite of an architectual firm being hired to design a new Aquatic Centre and money raised to pay for its construction there is still no information as to where or when it will be constructed, never mind if it will get built before the old facility collapses. As far as Kits Pool goes there is no plan or budget whatsoever for its repair or replacement. Is it any wonder the public is fed up with the Parks Board?<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILeWTSTOF7NWVA9R7vHAtnkYzBmeEKTKAZdHFmyap8UVa-kQ1G_qRFvrQYWGEW0mLULzsvge9mmvbaFEXQ0kuRi2uKscQ53ptvPn3vtChcfJDXgoQ47-cMWder6RTFHMkzb3KIAPOsbERJ_HOBVaBCabXAqClGoQBOiVF0-47VTS0e9Zl5QguB0mEw5Nt/s1188/UBC01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1188" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILeWTSTOF7NWVA9R7vHAtnkYzBmeEKTKAZdHFmyap8UVa-kQ1G_qRFvrQYWGEW0mLULzsvge9mmvbaFEXQ0kuRi2uKscQ53ptvPn3vtChcfJDXgoQ47-cMWder6RTFHMkzb3KIAPOsbERJ_HOBVaBCabXAqClGoQBOiVF0-47VTS0e9Zl5QguB0mEw5Nt/w640-h538/UBC01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Hopefully by selecting the same firm UBC used to redesign their swimming facility we might end up with something that takes advantage of the stunning oceanside location and makes use of glass and light instead of the brutalist bunker style design we've had to put up with for the past 50 years.<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p4XORs7Pwax3NdNWy4GzoXVGMkd8DNgU88D7_pJycYpUIYtyJIAcUPst1Hc0AlTy29YQ2FoSMEMhWvdx5gZMCjgbpqIlHy06WPNeY5ELhq4D3ei-iAiJCvih6e5So7m1NPMtJ_k6TPN4X_5brOIcRVLnoPJALo6Nj6DOy_0OjgIZ_SItBn13fHX9voon/s1072/vancouver-aquatic-centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1072" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p4XORs7Pwax3NdNWy4GzoXVGMkd8DNgU88D7_pJycYpUIYtyJIAcUPst1Hc0AlTy29YQ2FoSMEMhWvdx5gZMCjgbpqIlHy06WPNeY5ELhq4D3ei-iAiJCvih6e5So7m1NPMtJ_k6TPN4X_5brOIcRVLnoPJALo6Nj6DOy_0OjgIZ_SItBn13fHX9voon/w640-h332/vancouver-aquatic-centre.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IVihKgFR8jV2lO7EZ05GXIpjHNBN2FcRVet6KnkzD9w5CtIUoE44UqFSfRVkSbTQoMNfu7GNPGmbZECFlKdN7h8Qd-RmFvfr5AetLf-CiJv2Fp7lDgPHb5EiqeNDVinWh7xaPr6vsUTaggn9nLIkvO7fTI4aNZkuLdY6je1d1WjToq0PPtY5tKpoU4v3/s1075/vancouver-aquatic-centre-exterior-bike-lane-beach-avenue-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1075" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IVihKgFR8jV2lO7EZ05GXIpjHNBN2FcRVet6KnkzD9w5CtIUoE44UqFSfRVkSbTQoMNfu7GNPGmbZECFlKdN7h8Qd-RmFvfr5AetLf-CiJv2Fp7lDgPHb5EiqeNDVinWh7xaPr6vsUTaggn9nLIkvO7fTI4aNZkuLdY6je1d1WjToq0PPtY5tKpoU4v3/w640-h330/vancouver-aquatic-centre-exterior-bike-lane-beach-avenue-f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While there is hope the new Aquatic Centre may be built in the next 5-10 years, sadly there is no timeline for Kits Pool. For anyone wanting an outdoor, next to the ocean, swimming experience the only other pool is at 2nd Beach. Built in 1996 the public is still waiting 28 years later for the changing facilities, washrooms, and showers that have been promised and not built. Yet another example of Parks Board incompetence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2lhtTgDXbeBm6PkLyNNwe_14x7JV3nExgeTCqumYW4jqfmGZv1dY_z6le_GUtmmsYD8LvwZxNRjau5_MWq5wHtN1Euh2NW7_4axjg2PfnwijS4J-LGvHUm6mwamjXyEZLSjZYa6aLEH8DOvk9lFzuTGGuDwZiQlNG2hVYZYtILEd-qKGZQ_iqIWCmKZd/s1920/Beat-the-Heat-in-Vancouver-Embracing-Aquatic-Bliss-with-Outdoor-Pools-and-Refreshing-Misting-Stations.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2lhtTgDXbeBm6PkLyNNwe_14x7JV3nExgeTCqumYW4jqfmGZv1dY_z6le_GUtmmsYD8LvwZxNRjau5_MWq5wHtN1Euh2NW7_4axjg2PfnwijS4J-LGvHUm6mwamjXyEZLSjZYa6aLEH8DOvk9lFzuTGGuDwZiQlNG2hVYZYtILEd-qKGZQ_iqIWCmKZd/w640-h360/Beat-the-Heat-in-Vancouver-Embracing-Aquatic-Bliss-with-Outdoor-Pools-and-Refreshing-Misting-Stations.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is however another possible solution for combining an indoor and outdoor experience and for that we could look at what Paris has done in time for the 2024 Olympics. Here they have taken a 100 year old facility (built for the 1924 Olympics) and completely renovated it with a retractable roof. Swimmers have the best of both worlds (indoor and outdoor) and 90% of the construction waste will be reused or recycled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW5rc9hs1ziwCe6AbIjwGCG6rB_RQ04Lttq25kIEXCgr7Xym2h6kGIhkOMtbRkwb3liSbHgRPiIjKIM9wEP9EBI3Hem-zkbMwE-KlJ7rKFu7hPnTw3BR1UXyRzgG39nqtUb4yfcgHeWUG8vRgoZDTNYYfYsQL0fGOTBR1PaPIp5qzPdd9xw49ghUA842e/s720/1924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW5rc9hs1ziwCe6AbIjwGCG6rB_RQ04Lttq25kIEXCgr7Xym2h6kGIhkOMtbRkwb3liSbHgRPiIjKIM9wEP9EBI3Hem-zkbMwE-KlJ7rKFu7hPnTw3BR1UXyRzgG39nqtUb4yfcgHeWUG8vRgoZDTNYYfYsQL0fGOTBR1PaPIp5qzPdd9xw49ghUA842e/w640-h360/1924.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HNDmBcmStRSHBw1YGfG2m7x-epeOP5rBb-LaZI7Tm2wwn80g794PJ6X7HXsTQDtTbS0SSd6EtvVkcMsd5t2UaunZPt1_hpmrLf6aW68FjLVLkzhKKny77d87E-PfAcVHIVhXeyxQuR5EuDEHkrjrekqFEYE_KvO0a-HZ3VAcB94QuziLvGFYYigZKWpQ/s1500/2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1500" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HNDmBcmStRSHBw1YGfG2m7x-epeOP5rBb-LaZI7Tm2wwn80g794PJ6X7HXsTQDtTbS0SSd6EtvVkcMsd5t2UaunZPt1_hpmrLf6aW68FjLVLkzhKKny77d87E-PfAcVHIVhXeyxQuR5EuDEHkrjrekqFEYE_KvO0a-HZ3VAcB94QuziLvGFYYigZKWpQ/w640-h432/2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A little wit and imagination can go a long way in solving problems if there is a will to look at options and take a lead in addressing issues instead of ignoring them until everything falls apart. Swimming pools are a vital component of city life and we need to demand more from our elected officials in how they are designed and maintained. Getting rid of the Parks Board is a start.</div><p><br /></p>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-89277968690329842442024-02-03T07:28:00.000-08:002024-02-14T09:42:42.208-08:00In The Long Run<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YDzIeYw-ISAngC2XDhRKiDDU58AiBAWM0Jcbs4X0MwtKiSNqnRqXAlznln3H0MjfNICapN6-2AyXL45wrSdmpMat-xYI4Ksjkhx650XHUzXibY0ZZqUVYekdwcuPaRmaxyGOiBcWMuVFl7AxLew3RgQURWIYbqMPcw5lt2maP6TFpK_vOjwriXKTt08p/s598/BC_Assessment_Lower_Mainland_2024_Property_Assessments_in_the_Ma.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="598" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YDzIeYw-ISAngC2XDhRKiDDU58AiBAWM0Jcbs4X0MwtKiSNqnRqXAlznln3H0MjfNICapN6-2AyXL45wrSdmpMat-xYI4Ksjkhx650XHUzXibY0ZZqUVYekdwcuPaRmaxyGOiBcWMuVFl7AxLew3RgQURWIYbqMPcw5lt2maP6TFpK_vOjwriXKTt08p/w640-h338/BC_Assessment_Lower_Mainland_2024_Property_Assessments_in_the_Ma.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Like most other homeowners in B.C. I recently received my 2024 Property Assessment Notice and the first thing I noticed about the taxable value (which is 4.5 times what I originally paid for the property) is that the land value makes up 85% of the total and the building itself is only 15% of the total. My apartment is in Vancouver's west end, where older buildings are selling for $1,000.00 per square foot and newer ones anywhere from $1,500.00 - $3,000.00 per square foot. However, according to various sources, the actual construction cost is only between $100-$300 per square foot and the rest is all land cost.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAs54vnz44hZhmnjvgKVJ_GnERne4M4hobhAN9YqT4oMOK-R6NyKsnVC8g3ZBQs01N20tuGXSw1sMz5FC_unIWxhyphenhyphenT1DO_m48OHkQwohSgLPPjDoARI-418ry8-Lntm_WDCpwpdbehUt2a9HuA_LpS5VoCBJy1fb0icdouDgFET1KEIzkDiiHYhWwz2h7/s1600/4887_ab941b5c_RASP_-_June_2023.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAs54vnz44hZhmnjvgKVJ_GnERne4M4hobhAN9YqT4oMOK-R6NyKsnVC8g3ZBQs01N20tuGXSw1sMz5FC_unIWxhyphenhyphenT1DO_m48OHkQwohSgLPPjDoARI-418ry8-Lntm_WDCpwpdbehUt2a9HuA_LpS5VoCBJy1fb0icdouDgFET1KEIzkDiiHYhWwz2h7/w640-h388/4887_ab941b5c_RASP_-_June_2023.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Clearly it isn't the cost of construction that is driving the insane prices that have plagued the Greater Vancouver area over the past 20 years, it's the land values. And when you consider that buildings only depreciate in value as they age, the numbers are even more disturbing. But, rather than point fingers at what may or may not be the forces behind this rise in property values, perhaps this is an opportunity to look at things a little differently in order to solve a problem that is vexing anyone who lives here.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzeIYOau_JnAboK9aVqIJxZGh9F9fhO6azS8_sxQN7r31JbmFqzZrwHHmHTrLYN1S477_srd4TOumEX_32c_KcBhymUUYlc0T_ArgYvfq5wmLqTF4Iit-eeGbhkrP-FYV4XgTWR_y6xoWrQPXM9d5SCJ7de5ehmv_YeX4gku-WmZA35B2G51gM7-AiDb_/s1920/Land-Lease-Agreement.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzeIYOau_JnAboK9aVqIJxZGh9F9fhO6azS8_sxQN7r31JbmFqzZrwHHmHTrLYN1S477_srd4TOumEX_32c_KcBhymUUYlc0T_ArgYvfq5wmLqTF4Iit-eeGbhkrP-FYV4XgTWR_y6xoWrQPXM9d5SCJ7de5ehmv_YeX4gku-WmZA35B2G51gM7-AiDb_/w640-h360/Land-Lease-Agreement.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div>Instead of trying to own the land, why not just lease it instead? It's the new model for any land the First Nations own and are developing. It's also the way the kings, queens, and assorted nobility in the U.K. do it. Go ahead and try to buy land in Mayfair or Knightsbridge, you can only lease. You can own your apartment or townhouse but not the land it sits on. For that you have options, like paying a monthly lease payment or having the lease payment built into the cost of the apartment. The lease can be 100 years or more and it can also be renewed when it expires. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mhfv79TocCLAaYm5HDa-JVuTorwJn0jyu9Ds4zIwaJeAxdoCfTUB65knbHbxU-DHcNE5wPimbui3nd3ZZoc3WWkbZ6DXpQmOPZcobzFSgc3m3Sv50CL71tGkJ3rwuuiX0_3euL_69XSNvz2R66CKnPlFFEo7s4XBwrTCGC72FMJ7i8trJc4DyvhQ-TrF/s1000/False-Creek-south-lands-e1634266279925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="1000" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mhfv79TocCLAaYm5HDa-JVuTorwJn0jyu9Ds4zIwaJeAxdoCfTUB65knbHbxU-DHcNE5wPimbui3nd3ZZoc3WWkbZ6DXpQmOPZcobzFSgc3m3Sv50CL71tGkJ3rwuuiX0_3euL_69XSNvz2R66CKnPlFFEo7s4XBwrTCGC72FMJ7i8trJc4DyvhQ-TrF/w640-h222/False-Creek-south-lands-e1634266279925.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The trouble with leased land in Vancouver is there isn't much of it. Most of the land around the south side of False Creek is city owned land on lease to the various tenants but the vast majority of land is freehold. So how can we free up more land for leasing?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRD2601s9okoh5s1FimD2QJ0QppMR2ze6XCdoSWOqU8ob_NgqXhPXtfn32ynHHaVR8fXiNFBOIU8f6gYXeIfkkD1QW3zhhc1pVZ-NWs_w9XGvmvlvU9KtKYOQ4Vd7jxLJgO_r4ts3StlVOzjRjZSmJrIwBA55CA8CsRsqeYId3YQgYRrb7xqogVnROK35/s2144/jericho.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2144" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRD2601s9okoh5s1FimD2QJ0QppMR2ze6XCdoSWOqU8ob_NgqXhPXtfn32ynHHaVR8fXiNFBOIU8f6gYXeIfkkD1QW3zhhc1pVZ-NWs_w9XGvmvlvU9KtKYOQ4Vd7jxLJgO_r4ts3StlVOzjRjZSmJrIwBA55CA8CsRsqeYId3YQgYRrb7xqogVnROK35/w640-h328/jericho.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The proposed Jericho development is one place. Here the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, who have bought the land, have formed a company called MST Developments and their plan is to develop the site with a mix of 13,000 rentals and leasehold condos. In keeping with their philosophy that nobody can really own the land, the First Nations are taking a long term rental/lease approach that will provide them with an income stream that lasts forever.</div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTdiQ4zShvqNVpKRUUx6oS8Qper74HARsZoG0rosAgLixLyn1XAmGe0VC5A-PItMIs7XY9XCnItSZgxx23fmWHDdzwqjPgmV1onWkcjYS0t0mGjfJPf9TOnqbjPPugs1cApFdTw_40oHHiR-s4FnuvYIWxIUFZWxLcOSg2_a76yQOkt2Qx2zJ5FLPQ_bj/s772/vancouver_land_tax_2-772x751.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="772" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTdiQ4zShvqNVpKRUUx6oS8Qper74HARsZoG0rosAgLixLyn1XAmGe0VC5A-PItMIs7XY9XCnItSZgxx23fmWHDdzwqjPgmV1onWkcjYS0t0mGjfJPf9TOnqbjPPugs1cApFdTw_40oHHiR-s4FnuvYIWxIUFZWxLcOSg2_a76yQOkt2Qx2zJ5FLPQ_bj/w640-h622/vancouver_land_tax_2-772x751.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div>Perhaps another contributing factor to Vancouver's high land prices is the exceptionally low property tax rates. Raising the rates would not only provide the city with more revenue to support parks, recreation, and transit services, it would make the land less attractive to investors and lower the price. But with Vancouver property owners mostly land rich and cash poor perhaps a program, whereby the government buys back the land from individuals and then leases it to them on a monthly basis, would be a way to add more leasehold property to the available inventory and build up an income stream that would last into perpetuity.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAVKyqXtsfEBlrAtPoge9HXmataQ9FjF6fY9T_V72rrmDfXLjezNTwWWIEy5malxlVV2QPGmTbayutH2JA3hVDEpsDvEmmea6HflqZrKgwWOpDAgMO6RkbXhWApzC_2-Ui1mpHY6LPYZZOZAodzhnrkzSHFRzRYl_uWpcvYbSzSXITmhe-wVfmP2ZX17h/s1000/profileoffirstnationsjanuary20142-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1000" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAVKyqXtsfEBlrAtPoge9HXmataQ9FjF6fY9T_V72rrmDfXLjezNTwWWIEy5malxlVV2QPGmTbayutH2JA3hVDEpsDvEmmea6HflqZrKgwWOpDAgMO6RkbXhWApzC_2-Ui1mpHY6LPYZZOZAodzhnrkzSHFRzRYl_uWpcvYbSzSXITmhe-wVfmP2ZX17h/w640-h564/profileoffirstnationsjanuary20142-3.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Under this plan people could still buy and sell their home but without ownership of the land the price would be easily affordable to just about anyone. A brand new 2,000 square foot home would be no more than $600,000.00 and an older home would be considerably cheaper as it would be depreciating every year. Instead of thinking of a home as an investment it should be viewed as an affordable place to live and raise a family. Let the government and First Nations own the land it's the most cost effective solution in the long run.</div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-73956494584085464022024-01-04T11:08:00.000-08:002024-01-04T11:08:12.029-08:00Life & Death In Stanley Park<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5Tq1fJrGM38M8Z3-KCYnFC8DLOPhuO1kbnbdW9BnG0GN8v5UJFlaYUXkOIrKf4QDsWOBOwAMxJ4ZJ_yLMtHAQXevspXjNmhjmSOeJXau6n9pTj0lIbXeSqduQPno3VJVEosP9hKxgTQJEzT7SPkHA2Hm_UimkbU5KZVtfx-8mhdMrn_bQaeAsMZvDd1j/s1361/IMG_20231221_105446264_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1361" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5Tq1fJrGM38M8Z3-KCYnFC8DLOPhuO1kbnbdW9BnG0GN8v5UJFlaYUXkOIrKf4QDsWOBOwAMxJ4ZJ_yLMtHAQXevspXjNmhjmSOeJXau6n9pTj0lIbXeSqduQPno3VJVEosP9hKxgTQJEzT7SPkHA2Hm_UimkbU5KZVtfx-8mhdMrn_bQaeAsMZvDd1j/w640-h414/IMG_20231221_105446264_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>There have been a couple of sights in and around Stanley Park that have really caught the eye of the locals lately. One of them is the collection of sea lions, seals, and seagulls that have suddenly congregated around the end of Coal Harbour. They have all come for the herring which have mysteriously appeared and are providing a surprise Xmas feast. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMV80Y_ClJrfVAs9zhvaQcLjV3GCArZcoXIcONdw3fZP4GHrDng2a4PGJT1GMVTrNXbljV7ghBHj8QjIOzsVMeE6Fbo8wTKFMeh4NLGxdla_-fZdrNEx81C2ip9ccjBeMAS086o1bmJIOmpz8umE79uhiAgKbHVtcfY-LqVZZX9qQtkW7GmN27i_u82CP/s1920/Herring-roe-BC-1920x1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMV80Y_ClJrfVAs9zhvaQcLjV3GCArZcoXIcONdw3fZP4GHrDng2a4PGJT1GMVTrNXbljV7ghBHj8QjIOzsVMeE6Fbo8wTKFMeh4NLGxdla_-fZdrNEx81C2ip9ccjBeMAS086o1bmJIOmpz8umE79uhiAgKbHVtcfY-LqVZZX9qQtkW7GmN27i_u82CP/w640-h426/Herring-roe-BC-1920x1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Herring used to be the most plentiful fish in B.C. until the commercial fishery nearly wiped them out in the 1960's. This had a profound impact on First Nations culture and the coastal ecosystem. Herring are one of the most important fish in B.C. as they are the principle diet of other fish, seabirds, and sea mammals and are critical to the diet of Chinook salmon which in turn are the primary food source of the Southern Resident Orcas. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfWP9p8oIqZPMBMAVQVcS5bKgrcA8G0PMKdk04CxBlZgDwvUwig3ngMIX09qbs5I4GehyDi4u79XmVy8QbaqVQ217viLb7yXq6WdQxgzkU5H4vlOYrWqxtJ8OJRs_8e4vkwp8XHz7sQcmJ-oRr3jnlLLMpkTKdnXUk8kZQV1XuNJ1DqxCz1EA_Ps_dTtU/s1920/Herring-pulse-BC-coast-1920x1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfWP9p8oIqZPMBMAVQVcS5bKgrcA8G0PMKdk04CxBlZgDwvUwig3ngMIX09qbs5I4GehyDi4u79XmVy8QbaqVQ217viLb7yXq6WdQxgzkU5H4vlOYrWqxtJ8OJRs_8e4vkwp8XHz7sQcmJ-oRr3jnlLLMpkTKdnXUk8kZQV1XuNJ1DqxCz1EA_Ps_dTtU/w640-h426/Herring-pulse-BC-coast-1920x1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Herring spawn by the millions with each female laying 10,000 eggs or more, and when the males release their milt to fertilize the eggs they turn the ocean into a milky aquamarine colour that can stretch for miles along the coastline. Unlike salmon, herring are repeat spawners and once they have matured they can live for up to 10 years. However, just like salmon they have a homing instinct that allows them to return to where they were originally born.</div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiDTAfwfERuBPDfbSbNtb-sUYBNA9RkZejEcy3gOOqQDmAigo_WbXeYk4QtfDynSREfHT_XUez9Ujw1PIU4w4sDEuleTaNrnrjLoYeD3kHNwRxTzGPLfJhw4EOLhYL9XfXdtMiA24IjZskdEUiEdxCqkxW_5GnrwE4vEryuCODq_AC7sQ0womzDkNVuLa/s1000/harbour-green-park-coal-harbour-squamish-streamkeepers-herring-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1000" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiDTAfwfERuBPDfbSbNtb-sUYBNA9RkZejEcy3gOOqQDmAigo_WbXeYk4QtfDynSREfHT_XUez9Ujw1PIU4w4sDEuleTaNrnrjLoYeD3kHNwRxTzGPLfJhw4EOLhYL9XfXdtMiA24IjZskdEUiEdxCqkxW_5GnrwE4vEryuCODq_AC7sQ0womzDkNVuLa/w640-h584/harbour-green-park-coal-harbour-squamish-streamkeepers-herring-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />A group called the Squamish Streamkeepers has been successful in re-introducing herring to False Creek using artificial spawning substrate panels for the eggs to lie on instead of eel grass, the native spawning substrate. In 2021 they expanded the program to Coal Harbour. But another key factor are dock pilings, which in the past used to be creosote which is basically toxic to herring. New docks, like the ones at the end of Coal Harbour, made out of concrete and steel provide a habitat that is more conducive to spawning herring. It takes 3 years for the eggs to hatch and mature at sea but it seems the program is a success as evidenced by the feeding frenzy going on. Hopefully they won't eat everything and the fish will have a chance to spawn.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifV2bt2mIoyh4DSiwMG_hPQxzlqbsIl3dwxHpmyc4sH7iwz05iN8Rs6-Ol0rJc8QDN7DVdXG7UpEllAZWcteKkby7RjmqP-GXVbflKLhkiOrefwF8TGPQrLvNmA_T-NznEizfSZjFvBQP-Zet8w5nmxP9pZcT5Ber7ggXhxlfgMAV2SkAfbmggACDXu5ys/s1171/IMG_20231226_120828944_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1171" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifV2bt2mIoyh4DSiwMG_hPQxzlqbsIl3dwxHpmyc4sH7iwz05iN8Rs6-Ol0rJc8QDN7DVdXG7UpEllAZWcteKkby7RjmqP-GXVbflKLhkiOrefwF8TGPQrLvNmA_T-NznEizfSZjFvBQP-Zet8w5nmxP9pZcT5Ber7ggXhxlfgMAV2SkAfbmggACDXu5ys/w640-h480/IMG_20231226_120828944_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Meanwhile over in the Park itself another type of harvest is underway, and one not nearly as positive, as workers try to cull all of the infected hemlock trees. Over the past 5 years an ongoing infestation of the Western hemlock looper moth has devastated the Stanley Park forest as well as many trees in North and West Vancouver. While it's a native insect that normally attacks trees in 20 year cycles, conditions have allowed the moths to persist way beyond their normal time frame and now a staggering 166,000 trees have to be cut down in order to prevent injuries from dead and dying trees.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo2C5oWdj5UM02pP4uEHIAfyA-iRTXSzvNV9FIV_mogpn8iJi2_-XeBZ4o8dBDeUXGjWIpy8nb1Vw4vzNzDc7xdQiEaNBoDr2ENZZ2bnRqtm7C3o6Shhi_qI92-n5U0lLRdcK7BngAjU5jGhIqyhvRnw6QPwuxhK2ULh6I2VctVJFPCQT2D0F0d3UYld1/s1200/Hemlock_Looper,_Bon_Echo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1200" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo2C5oWdj5UM02pP4uEHIAfyA-iRTXSzvNV9FIV_mogpn8iJi2_-XeBZ4o8dBDeUXGjWIpy8nb1Vw4vzNzDc7xdQiEaNBoDr2ENZZ2bnRqtm7C3o6Shhi_qI92-n5U0lLRdcK7BngAjU5jGhIqyhvRnw6QPwuxhK2ULh6I2VctVJFPCQT2D0F0d3UYld1/w640-h324/Hemlock_Looper,_Bon_Echo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>According to the Forest Service the Western hemlock looper is one of the most destructive forest defoliators in B.C. They overwinter as eggs laid on the bark and then hatch in late spring. The larvae then feed heavily on the foliage of mature stands throughout the summer. The larvae are wasteful feeders gobbling up both new and old foliage and leaving behind partially consumed needles. In late summer the larvae pupate and are in flight until early fall.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZPlfZNcTa-JmORpWL6KOfNx2NtMLZGxZB8ZghYnYwdn3Uxp2QczVvu_ysE-ZzSyhLIyQWo0g1emq0y0AVpaAlryJhXy3vCtvo17yPhlm1_M8R2AjcYw7u3Y_g4wFTpzJY8zpF-v2OiO7ei_0ZoGOMRo1GqBXiBZ6-146szAzrdhreZzu2sP3QEXZPQuA/s1171/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1171" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZPlfZNcTa-JmORpWL6KOfNx2NtMLZGxZB8ZghYnYwdn3Uxp2QczVvu_ysE-ZzSyhLIyQWo0g1emq0y0AVpaAlryJhXy3vCtvo17yPhlm1_M8R2AjcYw7u3Y_g4wFTpzJY8zpF-v2OiO7ei_0ZoGOMRo1GqBXiBZ6-146szAzrdhreZzu2sP3QEXZPQuA/w640-h480/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Severe defoliation leads to top kill and tree mortality and if you walk through the Park you can see that almost every hemlock tree is nothing but black branches and the trees are all dying. It's a sad and depressing forest and a huge mess to clean up. Fortunately the Red Cedar and Douglas Fir trees seem to be spared. Most of the wood is being left behind as nursery logs but the branches and brush have to be cleared away in order to not become fuel for a forest fire which is increasingly becoming a real possibility.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZGJr2Mew-wRWt8Q05RqIC2hmgCj_eEirEPX16RBq0ReAz6chNzEmbfe_0WUIIUEeLXyqr5lNv_94h3JCXkAayscPUY63gAt2KUjRiiZhc7he7Sk2OGvupTB1ShxNfDayIhRtLaH9AfQ4RnnW2jhc49DRcqGEtxJtbv5SOb5t0TrVxOYGv7bqAMrEhOvt/s1171/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1171" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZGJr2Mew-wRWt8Q05RqIC2hmgCj_eEirEPX16RBq0ReAz6chNzEmbfe_0WUIIUEeLXyqr5lNv_94h3JCXkAayscPUY63gAt2KUjRiiZhc7he7Sk2OGvupTB1ShxNfDayIhRtLaH9AfQ4RnnW2jhc49DRcqGEtxJtbv5SOb5t0TrVxOYGv7bqAMrEhOvt/w640-h480/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>So on one side of the Park we have what looks like a successful return of the herring while inside the Park the trees are dying at a furious rate. It's Life and Death in Stanley Park but it sure provides a lot of photo opportunities.</div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-34791003786765410982023-12-01T13:32:00.000-08:002023-12-29T12:01:15.140-08:00Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-eWLUeLydtfkSgEUKjeT-YFpo0N6KUbs4FXZFyG7k5Xfad63icUFV8yaTkJTJZfS1MdARakF1V3oOwB1tulgSh7307FhVFA0Oa7goSmtxOVoXdkNwAHaHU2ZfcfB5itwwYD3EgCOT79BCksi15NmlcgI0XW1M-oo2rXhfv_-uwjfBB63dWnKgeRaaQK3/s1280/stanley-park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-eWLUeLydtfkSgEUKjeT-YFpo0N6KUbs4FXZFyG7k5Xfad63icUFV8yaTkJTJZfS1MdARakF1V3oOwB1tulgSh7307FhVFA0Oa7goSmtxOVoXdkNwAHaHU2ZfcfB5itwwYD3EgCOT79BCksi15NmlcgI0XW1M-oo2rXhfv_-uwjfBB63dWnKgeRaaQK3/w640-h360/stanley-park.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>As 2023 comes to an end and we take a breather on all the horrific events of the year it's nice to reflect on some of the things that went well in our own backyard. With the voters having kicked out the grossly incompetent and ideologically deranged park board commissioners at the end of 2022, the new ABC commissioners got busy cleaning up the mess that had been left behind. By summer the Parks Board and City engineering crews had removed the mix of concrete barriers and cones that had created a separate bike lane and a traffic nightmare for all other forms of transportation, not to mention nearly bankrupting all the restaurants in the Park. It was an incredible waste of money to set up the barriers and almost as much to remove them, but common sense finally prevailed and the Park is once again open to everyone.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4Ez_kKIOJ7Ils-PudiwMTQVfK8Ds_TqonIUUXlXA8AG_7feYctYEuvZoQTDk5S8kjRj7lDXY238idojntTT3HG6NnPiFWHiytooCkksZrXFU5BZ6TeI0cE6USdDEShHTOzBQLIE3lb-IOPmKpVqdq1kVpoFGOv0g9kEvqINJ0WjDp5eiI1pLh2FlUT-4/s696/stanley-park-train.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="696" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4Ez_kKIOJ7Ils-PudiwMTQVfK8Ds_TqonIUUXlXA8AG_7feYctYEuvZoQTDk5S8kjRj7lDXY238idojntTT3HG6NnPiFWHiytooCkksZrXFU5BZ6TeI0cE6USdDEShHTOzBQLIE3lb-IOPmKpVqdq1kVpoFGOv0g9kEvqINJ0WjDp5eiI1pLh2FlUT-4/w640-h468/stanley-park-train.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The beloved Stanley Park train had also been out of commission for the past two years thanks to Parks Board neglect. Qualified mechanics are hard to find, as are the parts yet, in spite of the train being a revenue generator and year round public favourite, with specially decorated trains at Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. But the Parks Board just let the whole operation grind to a halt. Thankfully once again the new Parks Board took stock of things and managed to get the train back up and running in time for the Christmas season.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BnSyI6t0ltrikUuj8ngihrNNQ2ILYC6XtI8Dx4RC1-K4O7NemethkpAvlLZkR73p9f1AYIOkxC3_50uD7VmN4QZEdRDz_jOZ5V-reVxnMjqIYgA7AL16wE8Nz5UlfI3pZodDk6kEjdva6q5v3641_SjfMJMdYPff_6FqqTmV4xFgro8ToQhdFq30cQ3V/s1075/Vancouver-Aquatic-Centre-.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1075" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BnSyI6t0ltrikUuj8ngihrNNQ2ILYC6XtI8Dx4RC1-K4O7NemethkpAvlLZkR73p9f1AYIOkxC3_50uD7VmN4QZEdRDz_jOZ5V-reVxnMjqIYgA7AL16wE8Nz5UlfI3pZodDk6kEjdva6q5v3641_SjfMJMdYPff_6FqqTmV4xFgro8ToQhdFq30cQ3V/w640-h330/Vancouver-Aquatic-Centre-.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The other major item of neglect of course is the heavily used Vancouver Aquatic Centre, which has been decaying right before the eyes of the Parks Board for a number of years. The budget for a replacement facility was also approved in the last election but unfortunately it takes a lot of time to design and build a facility of this magnitude. The obvious solution would be to keep the existing Aquatic Centre operating while the new one is built alongside it in the vacant Sunset Beach parking lot, but the Parks Board haven't been very forthcoming on the timeline or location of the new facility. At least the Parks Board has selected an architect to start the process but there's clearly a lot more to be done.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB3yKgTwBB6ReM8naRJ8uc247k0wpnElQQ36VZ9HJC9vYTcRR13R4S1BzCg6w3c3bUpe7CdY2jb9KEPwwZOXDltiz10wr7ttDEsWh5GJ9WbeqFspW6o7Dj2kxx6JxKQ-QPXy3qbX0lwuH3BciEGEsnabe_ERSUA3c8hT_LYNKq938zqVeyKc2FmNzPQpF/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB3yKgTwBB6ReM8naRJ8uc247k0wpnElQQ36VZ9HJC9vYTcRR13R4S1BzCg6w3c3bUpe7CdY2jb9KEPwwZOXDltiz10wr7ttDEsWh5GJ9WbeqFspW6o7Dj2kxx6JxKQ-QPXy3qbX0lwuH3BciEGEsnabe_ERSUA3c8hT_LYNKq938zqVeyKc2FmNzPQpF/w640-h360/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>In the meantime Stanley Park has been completely taken over by an epidemic of the nasty Looper Moth which has consumed 25% of the Park's trees (hemlock in particular) and a massive logging operation is now underway to remove the hazard of 160,000 dead trees. It's a natural occurence, like bark beetles, but that's small comfort to a Parks Board trying to do their best in dealing with something that for once isn't of their own making. At the end of 2023 fixing two out of three problems isn't bad and I wish them good luck with cleaning up the mess in the forest.</div><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-90683483964865857672023-09-30T13:51:00.001-07:002023-09-30T13:59:41.239-07:00Orange Shirt Day/Orange Is The New Black<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7xmTeTwS14Md1-T2B1r6Ogmrn3_mplJVwlrsZVqm-i5ixnhyoVi1PtIAJo5u7LJdOTgqr63dsM68v6GsXHZ54FSzkneUh2FFNMUcipEV4lX4EhelzsKcVA3Ebl5b4Bz5ze7qlh6_hjJ3tf5RKbDjuGvo8EXuBIeX6jPgMWMRNi9ReZMpPVGWLSPIsZAv/s2500/Orange-Shirt-Day-7-2500x1280-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7xmTeTwS14Md1-T2B1r6Ogmrn3_mplJVwlrsZVqm-i5ixnhyoVi1PtIAJo5u7LJdOTgqr63dsM68v6GsXHZ54FSzkneUh2FFNMUcipEV4lX4EhelzsKcVA3Ebl5b4Bz5ze7qlh6_hjJ3tf5RKbDjuGvo8EXuBIeX6jPgMWMRNi9ReZMpPVGWLSPIsZAv/w640-h328/Orange-Shirt-Day-7-2500x1280-1.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>National Truth & Reconciliation Day or, Orange Shirt Day, as it is more commonly referred to, is slowly starting to become a part of the national consciousness and that has to be a good thing on many levels. Sadly, it took the discovery of children's graves on the grounds of residential schools to finally give us a collective wake-up call but it worked. Through the story of a little 6 year old girl, who had her new orange shirt stripped off and taken away on her first day at the Mission school, we now have a recognizable symbol for the movement that is now engaged in a wide range of initiatives seeking redress for past wrongs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N9-n6tZMbi4e2Ql21SDYpuxFI4wopXYs4onY7RHKtcizyOCe0JbYFdPdGEFA-y7S2OxZgkUCjM322O0EAFC0QAg3RHomZxUYuncRRdw_G9CS1Zdbva_Omzwn3O1gDKCSvF0fJS3Phgy-NiCRV5lEvfbVaqEjRGpbxd-WGGedGJzHm2qpuQSk1pb2YWhw/s2048/00INDIGENOUS-SCHOOLS1-superJumbo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N9-n6tZMbi4e2Ql21SDYpuxFI4wopXYs4onY7RHKtcizyOCe0JbYFdPdGEFA-y7S2OxZgkUCjM322O0EAFC0QAg3RHomZxUYuncRRdw_G9CS1Zdbva_Omzwn3O1gDKCSvF0fJS3Phgy-NiCRV5lEvfbVaqEjRGpbxd-WGGedGJzHm2qpuQSk1pb2YWhw/w640-h426/00INDIGENOUS-SCHOOLS1-superJumbo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>And it's about time, because ignoring the abusive and discriminatory treatment of First Nations people is turning out to be a very expensive head-in-the-sand approach. The horrific, well documented, and ongoing saga of the residential school abuses has at long last wound its way through the legal system and survivors have been collectively awarded $3 billion in compensation. A further $23 billion was later awarded to First Nations for the discriminatory underfunding of Child and Family Services programs and to implement the Jordon's Principle, a child-first, needs-based policy to provide access to all government funded services to all First Nations children whether they live on or off a reserve.</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPbG1rm-R44iYaRZyJen5AcJXH8345JfQRC5Vp-Gwei4SOfUxUazPdG42NWn03HhdOOeuPzKzUfaAWpc27NCHn98R1QelGDa0ptliJNForCxsqDLFNlzJAPE6v__5O_gzAehaIv6IHtLX0pHk09xY9OzqteZUUeJMEG1gE_pd35MjlP1MEy7Zq81SNPCBO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1180" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPbG1rm-R44iYaRZyJen5AcJXH8345JfQRC5Vp-Gwei4SOfUxUazPdG42NWn03HhdOOeuPzKzUfaAWpc27NCHn98R1QelGDa0ptliJNForCxsqDLFNlzJAPE6v__5O_gzAehaIv6IHtLX0pHk09xY9OzqteZUUeJMEG1gE_pd35MjlP1MEy7Zq81SNPCBO=w640-h356" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Even before First Nations groups were tricked into surrendering title to their lands on the prairies, so that railways could be built and farming homesteads could be established, they signed away title in 1850 to land around Lake Superior and Lake Huron in a pair of agreements called the Robinson Treaties. Negotiated by William Robinson, the treaties provided the Province of Canada access to the north shores of Lakes Huron and Superior for settlement and mineral extraction. In exchange, the Indigenous people of the region got hunting and fishing rights that lasted until the lands were settled, a one time payment, and an annual annuity $1.60 per person with an "escalator clause" that would increase as the revenues from the lands increased. In 1874 the annuity was increased to $4.00 per person but never increased afterwards, in spite of the hundreds of billions of profits generated by industry since. In 2019 this led to a retroactive court claim that was settled in 2023 for $10 billion for the Robinson-Huron treaty. The Robinson-Superior treaty case is still ongoing but First Nations are asking for $100 billion.</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-9pJNnmQtUs3v3yJPlC5SKb51NUaiP2z7PEXhUyqOMI9BHiEQAt6bJAkSajIC3YOkCu3pOXFFC1lPmFyie8A-bhBt0Jcc1ClCRVsfNI_61zd6s9v-hOm9ukQ_DEyok9gWyoDXC2KcKeWgL91vJGJ8ONKlqhgdWLkvmBlPix9JpUWcq-6VhnU4aCdnXsi/s800/Past-FirstNationsAgriculture-PreventingSuccess-peasantPolicy.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-9pJNnmQtUs3v3yJPlC5SKb51NUaiP2z7PEXhUyqOMI9BHiEQAt6bJAkSajIC3YOkCu3pOXFFC1lPmFyie8A-bhBt0Jcc1ClCRVsfNI_61zd6s9v-hOm9ukQ_DEyok9gWyoDXC2KcKeWgL91vJGJ8ONKlqhgdWLkvmBlPix9JpUWcq-6VhnU4aCdnXsi/w640-h480/Past-FirstNationsAgriculture-PreventingSuccess-peasantPolicy.webp" width="640" /></a></p><p>In the 1870's, when the so-called numbered treaties 1-7 were being signed to provide land for settlers on the prairies, reserves were also set up for the First Nations people, along with the provision for seeds, some tools, and supplies in the event of crop failure. The reserves were to enable them to make the transfer to an agricultural way of life now that the bison had been wiped out and, in the beginning, many of the First Nation farmers were quite successful. However, their success soon led to settler animosity and, in 1889, the government introduced the Peasant Farm Policy which restricted the types of tools First Nations could use, how much they could grow, and what they were allowed to sell. Farms were reduced to 40 acres, machinery was forbidden, and all planting and harvesting had to be done by hand. These policies soon put most of the First Nations farmers out of business and their reserve farmlands were then sold by the government to new settlers because the government claimed they weren't using the land properly. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgovngZ8l5CUiolO5HWCcfVU5tSi731dMPKfR9F1ZKjKJ_cZ8xBt-6rkqmfNXFF9irFOUdoMYNNGV7aj8cZ8oDCt6HMNo2NvpT8PWCMLycOqF1zNj7mns7zWQvptkWocLPLhH_wEmlOf-DkrqVDMT5NUTyAX2PMJ_DnKcWhIpS6Z4DI1HhcVObV9849oNJv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="621" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgovngZ8l5CUiolO5HWCcfVU5tSi731dMPKfR9F1ZKjKJ_cZ8xBt-6rkqmfNXFF9irFOUdoMYNNGV7aj8cZ8oDCt6HMNo2NvpT8PWCMLycOqF1zNj7mns7zWQvptkWocLPLhH_wEmlOf-DkrqVDMT5NUTyAX2PMJ_DnKcWhIpS6Z4DI1HhcVObV9849oNJv=w640-h422" width="640" /></a></div><br />As much as 20% of First Nations reserves were illegally sold off by the government between 1896-1911 and this continued up until the 1930's. To make matters worse the money collected by the government on the land sales wasn't always turned over to the band it belonged to. However, in recent years lawsuits were filed against the government to contest the illegal surrender of reserve land and, more than $3.5 billion has since been awarded to 56 claimants. This past August the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation alone was awarded $150 million, the maximum allowable. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ij4faQISpPIIPsFRTgaoABnqvB7MMEgADarwq4g5DRde52VpvGlI-i8VsBDK1NcQHwMnZCzLCbRnLAQe7gEAR1JJLDgh_CqYsUiNGTyLt4MGW8MqNCYkZ8trEIUnUfkOBL1vuAmIlR8k54FsPXTb95LiVuhWjvxKf5vHnCg0ZFpdX42eDYADby4n5iMl/s2560/2022-12-15-Gitxalla-hearings-Vancouver-16-min-scaled.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="2560" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ij4faQISpPIIPsFRTgaoABnqvB7MMEgADarwq4g5DRde52VpvGlI-i8VsBDK1NcQHwMnZCzLCbRnLAQe7gEAR1JJLDgh_CqYsUiNGTyLt4MGW8MqNCYkZ8trEIUnUfkOBL1vuAmIlR8k54FsPXTb95LiVuhWjvxKf5vHnCg0ZFpdX42eDYADby4n5iMl/w640-h396/2022-12-15-Gitxalla-hearings-Vancouver-16-min-scaled.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>British Columbia has the distinction of being the only Canadian Province to not have signed any treaties with the First Nations to get them to surrender their lands. B.C. First Nations, having learned from the mistakes of others, will never surrender title to their land now but this omission has led to countless court battles over their rights to control what happens to their territories. (Delgamuukw, Tsilhqot'in, Nisga'a etc.) This past week the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that First Nations must be consulted before any mineral claims are made in their territories. This ruling promises to have a profound impact on the current system for awarding mineral claims and other resource development.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaaACKBhIwCiJtuyYqj-tSzh6nUbcm_Z72n9mAQW6J_0wGHvx24l5Mj3HAJFc9LqqrmWSSk_Ih3EdGNQzfvfXTNJFWE91uv7ZrylVko2M2ujyzzNwhHaaZMRsl5DR-ZjTgDlxtFinEm_9_Z2F9Q2zF_b9T7xY5FZICU0IT5fLhVFFp10S9tKz4CqjfSHc/s616/undrip_anniversary.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="616" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaaACKBhIwCiJtuyYqj-tSzh6nUbcm_Z72n9mAQW6J_0wGHvx24l5Mj3HAJFc9LqqrmWSSk_Ih3EdGNQzfvfXTNJFWE91uv7ZrylVko2M2ujyzzNwhHaaZMRsl5DR-ZjTgDlxtFinEm_9_Z2F9Q2zF_b9T7xY5FZICU0IT5fLhVFFp10S9tKz4CqjfSHc/w640-h360/undrip_anniversary.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides a framework for reconciliation, healing and peace, as well as harmonious and cooperative relations based on the principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, non-discrimination and good faith, and this has been affirmed by both the Federal and Provincial governments. After all the court cases and residential school discoveries, surely it's time for all of us to realize the injustice needs to stop and we need to work harder and faster on reconciliation. Orange shirt day has been with us for three years now and every year more and more orange shirts can be spotted on the streets. The more orange the better because orange is the new black in this country and it's about time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBNRc0wk7Duh3P7HFAF57gYGpkYHnlEDtRrejiGRM7_af33IBmBNKWhWstIqtJUIY0YkowMsryl3ZS0QMu7zJDtWEXuLJahiAmQEatF5PGBYzO-pbAmN_5wwBYIP4oW84oFoKK5DO6cz1eRmmm2Ks5jFJph7-LDBDDWJjraWfMtMe_azzW2_E4KAcnnjS/s1000/OrangeShirtDay-Blog-1000x484jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="1000" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBNRc0wk7Duh3P7HFAF57gYGpkYHnlEDtRrejiGRM7_af33IBmBNKWhWstIqtJUIY0YkowMsryl3ZS0QMu7zJDtWEXuLJahiAmQEatF5PGBYzO-pbAmN_5wwBYIP4oW84oFoKK5DO6cz1eRmmm2Ks5jFJph7-LDBDDWJjraWfMtMe_azzW2_E4KAcnnjS/w640-h310/OrangeShirtDay-Blog-1000x484jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-80675376917868281832023-09-09T12:49:00.001-07:002023-09-09T13:10:05.404-07:00Flying The Unfriendly Skies Of Air Canada<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgViwVfG5a-xzJp4Ybfb8mh-Y4XBiSjtAWHjTLWX3UjDsluTi5pwhmr22TWwvSsmsEYIR8ck6EWjU1XAhzj1U4ISZbmWdHNvXvXxqV6WDRCea9ZEYQ3lwLGnudN9qOPRj101Mz9_Z_X9ixJ2O1VQUTFUdGiwKnNr-w67VJ7zy8Y6yjgih-HnsWdz_Byp0/s630/air.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="630" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgViwVfG5a-xzJp4Ybfb8mh-Y4XBiSjtAWHjTLWX3UjDsluTi5pwhmr22TWwvSsmsEYIR8ck6EWjU1XAhzj1U4ISZbmWdHNvXvXxqV6WDRCea9ZEYQ3lwLGnudN9qOPRj101Mz9_Z_X9ixJ2O1VQUTFUdGiwKnNr-w67VJ7zy8Y6yjgih-HnsWdz_Byp0/w640-h328/air.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />The latest complaint to surface about Air Canada has really taken first prize for customer abuse and it almost seems like the airline is running an internal contest to shock and awe its passengers. To try and force people to sit on a seat covered in vomit, throw them off the plane when they refused, and then make them pay for another ticket to fly home after threatening to put them on a no-fly list is like hitting a grand slam. Sadly this complaint is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to customer service with Air Canada, already at the bottom of the pile for North American airlines when it comes to reliability.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxV1OmvCEJpUJ-gd1s3sY-co5BTHnOjpwGDL0WQrO4HUBMcq65jq0DO9tnSlZw9koGl1IHOqQYasQFRWclUhx-SpswSJqJdT2GQBmqwtVsZg3ojna8CfziskouIa-UWuPVoK1ifa4D-dsL6icB0CsQa6mPODa7HfG-Kt6WtG7egX1AZyk8GI5G5cK8N7s/s1280/yvr-luggage-graveyard.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxV1OmvCEJpUJ-gd1s3sY-co5BTHnOjpwGDL0WQrO4HUBMcq65jq0DO9tnSlZw9koGl1IHOqQYasQFRWclUhx-SpswSJqJdT2GQBmqwtVsZg3ojna8CfziskouIa-UWuPVoK1ifa4D-dsL6icB0CsQa6mPODa7HfG-Kt6WtG7egX1AZyk8GI5G5cK8N7s/w640-h426/yvr-luggage-graveyard.webp" width="640" /></a></div><p>The tales of lost luggage, missed connections, lousy food, unsympathetic staff, and other horror stories plague all the airlines but the arrogance of Air Canada is in a league of its own and everyone has a favourite one they like to share. The fact that it's basically a monopoly is part of the problem but it's also the toothless/non-existent Passenger Rights in this country that allow Air Canada to flout its arrogance with such impunity. But it wasn't always this way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV-bSbUTxZGh7DeES1Vl09QBBOhG_aIlHQdQPc34mzsIxGhBaREbHksk9mmO-YjR_VivsEBb0yQB9nIlSQJ_Kf8gAsbW95n0ncyx4tfdU_nBVajBWLtYMHOXYRueG3LQyiCyaUXwJmyjNXbAcetBNVh0F7qPRTz5nMbcQR535YXMT6Yud1kvakN6miIdY/s323/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50Lmhzd3N0YXRpYy5jb20iLCJrZXkiOiJnaWZcL2FpcmxpbmUtdGlja2V0LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjkwfX19.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="290" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV-bSbUTxZGh7DeES1Vl09QBBOhG_aIlHQdQPc34mzsIxGhBaREbHksk9mmO-YjR_VivsEBb0yQB9nIlSQJ_Kf8gAsbW95n0ncyx4tfdU_nBVajBWLtYMHOXYRueG3LQyiCyaUXwJmyjNXbAcetBNVh0F7qPRTz5nMbcQR535YXMT6Yud1kvakN6miIdY/w574-h640/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50Lmhzd3N0YXRpYy5jb20iLCJrZXkiOiJnaWZcL2FpcmxpbmUtdGlja2V0LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjkwfX19.webp" width="574" /></a></div><br /><p>In the good old days flying was an exciting pleasure, not something you fretted over and dreaded. Friends and family could join you for a farewell drink at the airport bar before you boarded your flight and there were often standby passengers at the boarding gate hoping to get a cut-rate seat on the airplane if the flight wasn't sold out. If you had a change of plans you could sell your ticket to anyone and the airline didn't care as it was yours to do with what you wanted. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04gVOvBSsLKP8sr6tZ53hIBPa7kz9HuHIvIyM8p15AwChuC6IErGhGbc6fAaqSK7UHVkzz3vSwAyWtrEh_hBzMvXMWNYrLWMdBUcGOEPh1hIoXL8Jezn9SRRna6qwNOZEKJ9_pGTU4nehR-cdZAwRTxoD1WF9BIua8WUGnaGMjS6EXysZVIKa01aJmmzH/s800/5fc7f51f50e71a0011558825.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04gVOvBSsLKP8sr6tZ53hIBPa7kz9HuHIvIyM8p15AwChuC6IErGhGbc6fAaqSK7UHVkzz3vSwAyWtrEh_hBzMvXMWNYrLWMdBUcGOEPh1hIoXL8Jezn9SRRna6qwNOZEKJ9_pGTU4nehR-cdZAwRTxoD1WF9BIua8WUGnaGMjS6EXysZVIKa01aJmmzH/w640-h480/5fc7f51f50e71a0011558825.webp" width="640" /></a></div><p>Nobody had to show any ID and you certainly didn't have to have your luggage torn open, your belt and shoes removed, and all your liquid toiletries stuffed into a separate plastic bag. Your baggage would always arrive at its proper destination and there wasn't a charge for bringing it with you. Overhead bins were for small carry on bags and briefcases, and there was even a closet to hang suits and coats. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYo3N2_G90S_kvfe9plxV2oGEHTRmgmQEmT4fkds6Doql3AANsmtQiKgxWSWnxMYAO9rioEhzQEtD02O_XnyfCdQzbOIV33pBzfTLLnzcdSNilUPCImk-YLwPGY0B9gtw2tyVfy0-K5taVui40ceaRFY3JXSs6987duxAQTsRjNLC35OG8ap4eQG6yLUA/s800/599760bd38c3fb31008b4a32.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYo3N2_G90S_kvfe9plxV2oGEHTRmgmQEmT4fkds6Doql3AANsmtQiKgxWSWnxMYAO9rioEhzQEtD02O_XnyfCdQzbOIV33pBzfTLLnzcdSNilUPCImk-YLwPGY0B9gtw2tyVfy0-K5taVui40ceaRFY3JXSs6987duxAQTsRjNLC35OG8ap4eQG6yLUA/w640-h480/599760bd38c3fb31008b4a32.webp" width="640" /></a></div><p>Once everyone was comfortably seated, with a decent amount of leg room, a pleasant looking stewardess with a friendly disposition would come around after take-off and ask if you would like a cocktail. On overseas flights drinks of course were free and, after a couple of hours, a tasty dinner would be served, complete with real cutlery, cloth napkins and your choice of wine. Then, when the dishes had all been cleared away, coffee and liqueurs would be served.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ4icYpLViIDD2YZCSZsfwrWQPHtUhBkZ4xI7jy8Kli0tSN2En9eBvWsd_caRSUB7F2KmU7OxKiuIpu-YC0pJ_kK4xWaECLNU_tRI87ZN5Vf67m72T-qSoVreu8s2Y8gzJ_QsVA5nx97ZgH-ad8xq_yF9JFf5Yabh5WcflM6D8k16O1GqrgoiPeSP5y9o/s4043/nintchdbpict000303487730.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2928" data-original-width="4043" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ4icYpLViIDD2YZCSZsfwrWQPHtUhBkZ4xI7jy8Kli0tSN2En9eBvWsd_caRSUB7F2KmU7OxKiuIpu-YC0pJ_kK4xWaECLNU_tRI87ZN5Vf67m72T-qSoVreu8s2Y8gzJ_QsVA5nx97ZgH-ad8xq_yF9JFf5Yabh5WcflM6D8k16O1GqrgoiPeSP5y9o/w640-h464/nintchdbpict000303487730.webp" width="640" /></a></div><p>People used to get dressed up when they went on a flight, just like they used to when they went to work, most people were reasonably slim and trim so they fit into their seats, and flying was considered a step up from riding a bus. Not anymore. The cabin of a typical airplane now resembles a third world bus full of overweight passengers wearing beach wear and gym clothes and carrying bundles, baskets, and cages of half-dead chickens.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1attYhD05ksf3GkWwQs6wIBCdPpNNkzHa0Bz5itLcoD4f2HLraMJYeTnHtvb1dQMpDhde8TL4xkx0_0iOzffmKdtwbmZCABnAL2a-0Gdvh-mNKNNhXRcZc2aggVfR9TkE8oolTUiZj4Y1BJ3Pc5cogb48sIKDjL6EKJf31KIn-b_pqvIRrrqfthYZPvr/s1430/developing_world-1430x794.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1430" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1attYhD05ksf3GkWwQs6wIBCdPpNNkzHa0Bz5itLcoD4f2HLraMJYeTnHtvb1dQMpDhde8TL4xkx0_0iOzffmKdtwbmZCABnAL2a-0Gdvh-mNKNNhXRcZc2aggVfR9TkE8oolTUiZj4Y1BJ3Pc5cogb48sIKDjL6EKJf31KIn-b_pqvIRrrqfthYZPvr/w640-h356/developing_world-1430x794.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The trouble with airline travel is that, on top of the ridiculous security precautions everyone has to endure, it has become a race to the bottom. Everyone is looking for the cheapest ticket rather than the best service and, as a result, the whole experience has deteriorated into a glorified bus ride (unless of course you can afford to travel first class) with airlines doing everything they can to cut costs. Add to that a lack of competition and you have a perfect storm for guaranteeing a miserable experience.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbhp5Axh9SScqbOiuqXmira4NFu-m60UKi8Ih9xe-xeFDhIXm4n2V3_4szlM1JvNTfadAQn2vVzjO7WMySnmn9cH7jzVZUP5vQ5TgFd4HEoet-NUnE-fuYSKpwlBCQokY2uDmP0U7PfqC4cWi2y7AT9b2ASDW-0V_MMQWiomjE2bMayFdX7E8HWkvbFtI/s1200/Train_and_Cruise_Ship_Ashley_Heimbigner_d39184a0-8d7e-4147-85cc-e4c3008164af.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="1200" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbhp5Axh9SScqbOiuqXmira4NFu-m60UKi8Ih9xe-xeFDhIXm4n2V3_4szlM1JvNTfadAQn2vVzjO7WMySnmn9cH7jzVZUP5vQ5TgFd4HEoet-NUnE-fuYSKpwlBCQokY2uDmP0U7PfqC4cWi2y7AT9b2ASDW-0V_MMQWiomjE2bMayFdX7E8HWkvbFtI/w640-h258/Train_and_Cruise_Ship_Ashley_Heimbigner_d39184a0-8d7e-4147-85cc-e4c3008164af.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>There's an old saying that it's the journey not the destination that counts and with airline travel such a frustration it's no wonder train travel is making a comeback and cruising is more popular than ever. Yes airline travel is quicker but it's certainly not as pleasant and, with airline travel contributing to 10% of global emissions, it's not very environmentally friendly either. Sadly there's no going back to the glory days of air travel but the skies can be a lot more friendly if we simply avoid having anything to do with Air Canada. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMpk8-6O86sHoyEeljGbGu1_KanDu0Wk6DP66Ge8RX7G0XP1G4JwimA9Qe7em-bMZqBzJkIVQ-yKsihWWgnLg3-T5iHAkPMroyb_5T8m2rJMPQRdlEWK4z4nyjm_ZDTIHTfH_VlDi2mz2NPsl5pMQt0zwk53ApSK1AQH5gH65XH0VplSVGpjXuJFxT_a6/s1000/happy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMpk8-6O86sHoyEeljGbGu1_KanDu0Wk6DP66Ge8RX7G0XP1G4JwimA9Qe7em-bMZqBzJkIVQ-yKsihWWgnLg3-T5iHAkPMroyb_5T8m2rJMPQRdlEWK4z4nyjm_ZDTIHTfH_VlDi2mz2NPsl5pMQt0zwk53ApSK1AQH5gH65XH0VplSVGpjXuJFxT_a6/w640-h640/happy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-23816550712418628432023-06-02T16:35:00.001-07:002023-08-02T10:30:37.824-07:00Time To Abolish The RCMP<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0QD6tk98t1sgup_mDKWIMUqr7PEkcENhMDmnB2NOnahtkoaurcC4CgtW4FoPxAeXU0xNYnBUD1ZMyr1t9wnX4wLcy9zos7m5b2-nTrOWlfQVxsR5E6ljyYTGpLRFWV-VcrrGPahkhIBoisZnJJiossLOX3uIQ53R3hqGBv2l0kV_hlGOC90NgAstKA/s384/1091769-historycorner-nwmp-originalcrest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="339" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0QD6tk98t1sgup_mDKWIMUqr7PEkcENhMDmnB2NOnahtkoaurcC4CgtW4FoPxAeXU0xNYnBUD1ZMyr1t9wnX4wLcy9zos7m5b2-nTrOWlfQVxsR5E6ljyYTGpLRFWV-VcrrGPahkhIBoisZnJJiossLOX3uIQ53R3hqGBv2l0kV_hlGOC90NgAstKA/w566-h640/1091769-historycorner-nwmp-originalcrest.jpg" width="566" /></a></p><p></p><p>150 years ago in 1873, the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) were established to maintain peace and order in the Canadian North-West territories following the handover of Ruperts Land to Canada from the Hudson's Bay Company. Spurred on by the recent Cypress Hills massacre where a group of American bison hunters/whiskey traders had slaughtered 30 Assiniboine warriors, women and children and, fearful of U.S. Army intervention if the Assiniboine retaliated, the NWMP combined military, police, and judiciary functions in a highly mobile, group of mounted riflemen. Although they got off to a rough start establishing their base of operations the NWMP quickly stopped the whiskey trade and earned the support of various First Nations in the process. However with the passage of the Indian Act in 1876, relations with First Nations quickly deteriorated.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35JftjAjVJ7ubTGLwGy8QZCG8eaABIQagS5vt4PbzRg7GP_7y3PtTkn_V83tbwH1Gm85D4EW7D1IBsE-cDQr_Dvpy-q7Y6Tqwuisu8useVYxusHIpnpwGY80cVhdQwyoMkQJMyYlBvf-1ytv9_ZPosfRYfeXZdLoGqPnpBwZlaBWnAmU3DCcabDueUw/s480/Residential_School_Pass_Seeseequasis_Beardys_Ducklake_3JUN96_CROPPED_IMG_2829.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="388" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35JftjAjVJ7ubTGLwGy8QZCG8eaABIQagS5vt4PbzRg7GP_7y3PtTkn_V83tbwH1Gm85D4EW7D1IBsE-cDQr_Dvpy-q7Y6Tqwuisu8useVYxusHIpnpwGY80cVhdQwyoMkQJMyYlBvf-1ytv9_ZPosfRYfeXZdLoGqPnpBwZlaBWnAmU3DCcabDueUw/w518-h640/Residential_School_Pass_Seeseequasis_Beardys_Ducklake_3JUN96_CROPPED_IMG_2829.png" width="518" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The first issue was the illegal "pass system" brought in by the federal government that forced First Nations people to obtain a travel document from an Indian agent that would authorize them to leave and return to their reserves. It was another way of controlling the movement of Indigenous people and to prevent them from having large gatherings which the white settlers viewed as a threat. In conjunction with the "permit system" which regulated what types of produce Indigenous people could sell and where, and other discriminatory policies, the economic opportunities for First Nations farmers were severely limited. Both the pass and permit systems were enforced by the NWMP in spite of not being legal and this fact was kept from Indigenous people until the 1930s-40s when it was finally abolished.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7lOYlqHu4rPM86WmsQ5Sog9tHJ0l4Y1WnMrMrmXuGXkHtChAItf-0Ta4lZShbp_wZr6OdNPQdhXFd2C524trDiKYYZrxKqeUlcpqNXIxdcHtbz3TXRzu-hACcs6L8hJ6yd7D7wsEURV7EfjNknIYmonL_QSjhK7B7scW1ZA70QWyQlxIIbRWsRRx1Q/s1280/The%20Scream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7lOYlqHu4rPM86WmsQ5Sog9tHJ0l4Y1WnMrMrmXuGXkHtChAItf-0Ta4lZShbp_wZr6OdNPQdhXFd2C524trDiKYYZrxKqeUlcpqNXIxdcHtbz3TXRzu-hACcs6L8hJ6yd7D7wsEURV7EfjNknIYmonL_QSjhK7B7scW1ZA70QWyQlxIIbRWsRRx1Q/w640-h360/The%20Scream.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>But all of this pales in comparison to the RCMP's complicity or role as truant officers for the Canadian Indian residential School system from 1920 - 1996 (in 1920 the NWMP became the RCMP). Using force to assist Indian agents in taking children away from their parents and placing them in the various now notorious schools, the RCMP were direct participants in the cultural genocide of four or more generations of Indigenous people. Enforcing the pass system also prevented parents from visiting their children and stopped the children from returning home.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl249ctoiB3lkwegJq_ia5BtvA0wNrETQhK2FOq4rNl43Fz96vW6A_yv4dT8i7lggeM6kmno8N3EkDDieibgiAQnGuGxJ_-T7SS8WfxqFh_7Q2trhjfb1qt1LgPkCWGNB68VYqrntk6bSYo4jPBZwfD8bdb2Bql8uEaokPlzQIBWZyfDfC0zGsLAsrg/s812/Screen+Shot+2022-04-06+at+12.19.52+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="812" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl249ctoiB3lkwegJq_ia5BtvA0wNrETQhK2FOq4rNl43Fz96vW6A_yv4dT8i7lggeM6kmno8N3EkDDieibgiAQnGuGxJ_-T7SS8WfxqFh_7Q2trhjfb1qt1LgPkCWGNB68VYqrntk6bSYo4jPBZwfD8bdb2Bql8uEaokPlzQIBWZyfDfC0zGsLAsrg/w640-h324/Screen+Shot+2022-04-06+at+12.19.52+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In modern times there have been no shortage of heavy handed RCMP tactics when confronted with Indigenous protests with the Wet'suwet'en blockade being the latest in a series that included the 1995 Gustafsen Lake stand-off in 1995, the Oka Crisis in 1990, and the 1993 Clayquot Sound & 2020 Fairy Creek old growth logging protests. Despite the unarmed and mostly peaceful nature of the occupations the RCMP continue to send in heavily armed tactical teams, police dogs, and helicopters at great expense to uphold court injunctions for corporations operating in unceded territory and ends up enflaming both sides.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOW9LkT4n8J4yj9TGdMi3YnEKXQ2LOQ0E6dDk8roRDtipMRFNE5xs3dDEroJcLWcMJw-gx5JdupVp_7EaO87yUJbBCdScFKLZ-cpJpXaL-igp2U0cLEXqJqHDBSyYrx_EUPUGl1Fg1e845jmyLir7wnn-Kc8VDS_yoCBYd2VigZXP9X62ynrz8XdLFg/s311/nomorestolensisters.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="311" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOW9LkT4n8J4yj9TGdMi3YnEKXQ2LOQ0E6dDk8roRDtipMRFNE5xs3dDEroJcLWcMJw-gx5JdupVp_7EaO87yUJbBCdScFKLZ-cpJpXaL-igp2U0cLEXqJqHDBSyYrx_EUPUGl1Fg1e845jmyLir7wnn-Kc8VDS_yoCBYd2VigZXP9X62ynrz8XdLFg/w640-h514/nomorestolensisters.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>But by far the greatest modern stain on the RCMP track record is the inaction and cavalier approach to dealing with the shocking number of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Although Indigenous women make up only 4% of Canada's female population, they make up 24% of all the murdered women. While activists claim there are thousands of improperly investigated cases of missing and murdered women owing to police bias and racism, the RCMP themselves have acknowledged over 1,000 murdered Indigenous women over the past 30 years while the National Women's Association claims over 4,000. The RCMP claim they have solved 80% - 90% of all cases which still leaves over 100 unsolved including the 20+ along the infamous Highway of Tears in northern B.C.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMcMWgdG7Sr3fsHrHGHYNaK-XSWRFeR3Yi04ol4iGz4FGh4T9W5ejgpZhlqRvoWZ2otRlzbF5VtavMBP19VKmjp8LtywbVnY0CbsGdBloeeMTn82Z2BuRmvMtXjxOo0LxU7zdDtSrhb0S4CZSIZoPSdtchhxco7zKUojblfTdXBR4hfKbRkX0uYvxRQ/s986/Brenda-Lucki-files2-Feb15-scaled-e1676499611653.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="986" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUMcMWgdG7Sr3fsHrHGHYNaK-XSWRFeR3Yi04ol4iGz4FGh4T9W5ejgpZhlqRvoWZ2otRlzbF5VtavMBP19VKmjp8LtywbVnY0CbsGdBloeeMTn82Z2BuRmvMtXjxOo0LxU7zdDtSrhb0S4CZSIZoPSdtchhxco7zKUojblfTdXBR4hfKbRkX0uYvxRQ/w640-h480/Brenda-Lucki-files2-Feb15-scaled-e1676499611653.webp" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Brenda Lucki</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div>Then of course there is the violence and sexual assaults against female RCMP officers by their male counterparts that has now resulted in a class-action lawsuit against the RCMP by the over 500 women who came forward to represent over 3,500 claimants. All this while the RCMP is headed by a woman, Commissioner Brenda Lucki, who is helpless in dealing with the systemic racism, homophobia, and sexism that make up the force's culture. And while women make up over 21% of the RCMP, only 7% of the force are Indigenous people.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCzcBp1vD0c1sqb_05U4UhPz9SXLUSjzrxFnilGpwgQqVHTn0cFgYwNUkUG60G7PliuL_YHwKRE1mSj9AH4ss7iTGjP-lSYN1zbFSZNdfva9LMrj8_Z0xkRl0P54cN56Fk_jV7FCAcSwk-ia9Uhb6yAyaiT_3KfAJ7r-MBnDkv0U-OLkxbA2jF61xhg/s1020/1-6307453.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCzcBp1vD0c1sqb_05U4UhPz9SXLUSjzrxFnilGpwgQqVHTn0cFgYwNUkUG60G7PliuL_YHwKRE1mSj9AH4ss7iTGjP-lSYN1zbFSZNdfva9LMrj8_Z0xkRl0P54cN56Fk_jV7FCAcSwk-ia9Uhb6yAyaiT_3KfAJ7r-MBnDkv0U-OLkxbA2jF61xhg/w640-h360/1-6307453.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And to cap things off there is now the ongoing investigations into multiple members of the Prince George RCMP for the killing of an Indigenous man while in police custody and, even more disturbing, the sexual abuse and harassment of at least 10 Indigenous girls that involved a now deceased judge and a number of police officers. The worse thing about the case is the cover ups, obstruction of justice, and destruction of evidence that has been going on for 20 years since it was first reported and the lack of any charges being filed against the officers involved in spite of repeated promises to look into the matter. It took a retired RCMP officer to file a complaint with the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission to finally get a 33 page report produced that eviscerates the RCMP and then sat on Commissioner Brenda Lucki's desk for three years before the sordid story went public and was then handed over the BC First Nations Justice Council to decide next steps. But the Prince George debacle with Indigenous people is only the tip of the iceberg, with similar cover-ups and obfustications being played out at detachments across the country, most notably in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Thunder Bay to name a few.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzllgd3Y0IUL68484fpKRvOJAwM6bUbtYY-VflX7yfaeU8Cl5NWpdvG1FRsBFrDkAjzZhw9UhjMltP0hyBnoHDVhU-pvd7sCN3-dYTVRURxbb7FFwDEK5WsYuf24oac_KFJ9wTf4fycn6HAncWV8xzqnimW1Lc8G6-w_l8mSgateUSmCwsNr8_O7bkA/s242/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzllgd3Y0IUL68484fpKRvOJAwM6bUbtYY-VflX7yfaeU8Cl5NWpdvG1FRsBFrDkAjzZhw9UhjMltP0hyBnoHDVhU-pvd7sCN3-dYTVRURxbb7FFwDEK5WsYuf24oac_KFJ9wTf4fycn6HAncWV8xzqnimW1Lc8G6-w_l8mSgateUSmCwsNr8_O7bkA/w550-h640/download.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br /><div>Clearly after 150 years the RCMP have outlived their usefulness as a force to deal with Indigenous people and it's time to look for an alternative model. Whether or not we even need a federal police force or one that more closely resembles the FBI is another question. With First Nations people overrepresented in the criminal justice system as both victims and offenders something needs to change. Despite making up less than 5% of Canada's total population, they make up 32% of the country's prison population. Perhaps a local police force made up of Indigenous people would be more in touch with the people it seeks to protect and could help bring down the crime and incarceration rate. If nothing else it would address the systemic racism that has permeated the RCMP since its inception. The RCMP are never going to change their culture so instead of waiting for that to happen the time has come to simply abolish the institution.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-19403309568008889712023-05-02T10:51:00.004-07:002023-06-02T16:34:47.198-07:00Bitter Green<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUbdRrWtow0uRTx0uFjBJlgyez1LMvkdWwA3r6t4ZPHGc9nrIl0CgLBinCLeTDQyC1ub772Ny4ex7bSRwZKsqcU5pikkYbnjA-4qZv1A_Lw9EaMg8aNtkgLdIfv_ZNvbA3Ca5KkAyZhRFE6wqkGptAt_QCtwoxftdRnGc-BUgIejCv3xgFj1q7UNNfQ/s569/electric-Charging-Stations.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="569" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUbdRrWtow0uRTx0uFjBJlgyez1LMvkdWwA3r6t4ZPHGc9nrIl0CgLBinCLeTDQyC1ub772Ny4ex7bSRwZKsqcU5pikkYbnjA-4qZv1A_Lw9EaMg8aNtkgLdIfv_ZNvbA3Ca5KkAyZhRFE6wqkGptAt_QCtwoxftdRnGc-BUgIejCv3xgFj1q7UNNfQ/w640-h302/electric-Charging-Stations.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In our rush to save Earth from overheating it seems we have collectively embraced the concept of trying to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (the principal cause) by switching everything over to electric. First, of course, on the list is the automobile, of which there are approximately 1.5 billion scattered over the planet. With each one emitting of 4.5 tons of carbon dioxide every year that's a lot of potential greenhouse gas pollution (approximately 10% of global CO2 dioxide with airplanes contributing another 3%) that we could clear from the skies. But replacing gas powered vehicles with electric ones isn't the answer, more rapid transit is what we really need.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdSwDtoIAI7an1gXNtL8-zySn0jxRWO6qr8iRQF7dBXj-y7NIRTJ7C6PNuZjwmsZswMIFwzaMZWSnfKS5qHG3wVMqxWkLEAcDFGD2NgMKWPx8LnEX83NT7v1XSUNZvE7KPtmlM-pqARg2hlwerx-_QtnA6oBsa3js6S_ISuNNbQyYkCe7w2tSwY9w2Q/s1375/VCE_OC_Composition-of-EV-battery_Mar_31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdSwDtoIAI7an1gXNtL8-zySn0jxRWO6qr8iRQF7dBXj-y7NIRTJ7C6PNuZjwmsZswMIFwzaMZWSnfKS5qHG3wVMqxWkLEAcDFGD2NgMKWPx8LnEX83NT7v1XSUNZvE7KPtmlM-pqARg2hlwerx-_QtnA6oBsa3js6S_ISuNNbQyYkCe7w2tSwY9w2Q/w558-h640/VCE_OC_Composition-of-EV-battery_Mar_31.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Instead of a combustion engine, the main component of an electric vehicle (EV) is its battery which contains a number of expensive components, particularly lithium and cobalt. 70% of the world's cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo where the miners (often children) are working long hours in slave-like conditions digging by hand, without protective clothing or face masks in dusty tunnels and unsafe, crowded conditions for less than $2.00 per day. Lithium on the other hand is mined in the triangle area of Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile that produces 58% of the world's lithium. Bolivia alone has more than half of the world's reserves. The main method of producing lithium is through brine extraction mining which requires vast evaporation ponds to separate lithium from the salt and using enormous amounts of water in the process (2 million litres of water per ton of lithium). This in turn has created all sorts of water crisis issues in the surrounding area as a result of water contamination and unsustainable use of a critically diminishing resource.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuUAwoXIu6n91Kfx23J4VXLO6vYAYooIrkZDSDt8b8CtaXcsnSS2NR6g0sgSvW8Gpk5Cdeel0r34zXkcdzqGnj17SfLh7SxrpUBqJ3r4IqPt05AEC8Yd4uJMROt1CCzhyYvoExLN-GFOoJ6WaK2pqTy3A4LUKFX_yCetQ8i6CTqwzQG-gYHNtPtdUPw/s1600/cobalt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuUAwoXIu6n91Kfx23J4VXLO6vYAYooIrkZDSDt8b8CtaXcsnSS2NR6g0sgSvW8Gpk5Cdeel0r34zXkcdzqGnj17SfLh7SxrpUBqJ3r4IqPt05AEC8Yd4uJMROt1CCzhyYvoExLN-GFOoJ6WaK2pqTy3A4LUKFX_yCetQ8i6CTqwzQG-gYHNtPtdUPw/w640-h426/cobalt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cobalt mining the Congo</b></div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOCqpSGi8M1AGoRrr4QzEMjMskRZC_idN58MkQmc4QeHY2sKol8RAdY8e1YU9_uxPUk0SDpDG97QC-GBme2kh12J-uuHB7QW63f4tMoM17xdXkIeommDZkV3d7rZExHcMIMF32GkLaZEGT8JX2ll2AW6CznRwXlT5muZnBAlRpabL0fRpoq4Xyk8GOQ/s1600/Atacama-Lithium-Mine_Alamy-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOCqpSGi8M1AGoRrr4QzEMjMskRZC_idN58MkQmc4QeHY2sKol8RAdY8e1YU9_uxPUk0SDpDG97QC-GBme2kh12J-uuHB7QW63f4tMoM17xdXkIeommDZkV3d7rZExHcMIMF32GkLaZEGT8JX2ll2AW6CznRwXlT5muZnBAlRpabL0fRpoq4Xyk8GOQ/w640-h360/Atacama-Lithium-Mine_Alamy-small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Lithium brine extraction mine in the Atacama, Chile salt flats</b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How could anyone think that mining these components is any less devastating for the planet and its inhabitants? While we ride around in fancy EVs the people who work these mines are lucky to have a bicycle. And this doesn't even begin to address the environmental costs of producing the copper, nickel, aluminium, and other required metals or the one kg of rare earth elements that go into every EV for the magnets and other motor parts. For examble each EV requires 75 kg of copper which is triple the amount of a conventional vehicle, and rare earth elements (which by definition are not easy to find or mine) generate 2,000 tons of toxic and radioactive waste for every ton produced. Why is it okay to have all this radioactive waste lying around but not okay to run a nuclear power plant?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cbKMcUO56TWG0OzTADcn0Yeh9nORK7lCHhWZQ9iRMci7mu6J6_XhpN-Ebo6nbJvLvaSbG6bV2-7oyf4CMVqXh2ap8XffPbPm-_FxdBlQYKYleDPNpeBP2YL4aiEvyd4fTsQ7nAcLIi5J8hAZXE3wn2zyeJxVm39LBp5bOmZpuNNzw6uGJ_mSCPfZmw/s543/global_emissions_sector_2015.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cbKMcUO56TWG0OzTADcn0Yeh9nORK7lCHhWZQ9iRMci7mu6J6_XhpN-Ebo6nbJvLvaSbG6bV2-7oyf4CMVqXh2ap8XffPbPm-_FxdBlQYKYleDPNpeBP2YL4aiEvyd4fTsQ7nAcLIi5J8hAZXE3wn2zyeJxVm39LBp5bOmZpuNNzw6uGJ_mSCPfZmw/w582-h640/global_emissions_sector_2015.png" width="582" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even if we ignore the damaging effects of the mining on the environment to make these EVs, we have to figure out how to re-charge their batteries on a daily basis because the charge doesn't last that long. If everyone had an EV it would easily more than double the amount of electricity required for powering the electrical grid in our cities. With coal, oil, and natural gas being the primary fuel sources (> 75%) for most of the power plants in the world, which are already producing 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions just for heat & electricity, this is only going to make the problem worse. We need power plants that produce clean sources of energy but how?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb_sDFGIHG8xCXmoAlLjVO-7floOBz35Imy5eirTGDP2yVTLDcE1CMaYBY_a6ch0ESRD3a9TWQf1GU2zGOU_MnggHCrl4GoNCigfGalG2Lcbl6M70aZbKOjUm97KsyvmNTxKEvj_lbw5qpMPpMvABoJhLRhI5OCunek8eHHqupMT6jex2zgopKjZIBA/s657/__1376328307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="657" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYb_sDFGIHG8xCXmoAlLjVO-7floOBz35Imy5eirTGDP2yVTLDcE1CMaYBY_a6ch0ESRD3a9TWQf1GU2zGOU_MnggHCrl4GoNCigfGalG2Lcbl6M70aZbKOjUm97KsyvmNTxKEvj_lbw5qpMPpMvABoJhLRhI5OCunek8eHHqupMT6jex2zgopKjZIBA/w640-h446/__1376328307.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Renewables like wind, solar, or geothermal provide 2% of the energy in the world and no matter how fast they grow they will never be able to provide enough power to make much of a difference, and they are unreliable. Solar panels and windmills only last 20 years and, in addition to desecrating the landscape, they require enormous amounts of refined minerals to construct. For example, it takes 1.5 tons of coal to make one ton of steel and, according to the American Wind Energy Association, each windmill uses over 200 tons of steel. According to the Nickel Institute, each wind turbine also uses 2 tons of nickel which requires another 50 tons of coal to produce and, according to the Copper Development Association, each wind turbine contains up to 5 tons of copper which once again requires lots of coal to refine. So making the components for renewable energy is hardly a green proposition nor one that is scaleable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKG150oIFzNap3nB4A9zyskCiYkCLRZKNp7TQNiggcFD3nzKeQelKNKTOsRsUjMHNrfEJKKwLRpf3yaQoQlAjZyaAgzlJDseZjMgVcZaaOWwrBUxrwChnwMvogRuGXt-Fji_VuLgnBWEICItKlHr8K6UNydJOPQO0TwCF_8eXQdztukR0lKBYRo_dsw/s1500/site-c-aerial-may2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKG150oIFzNap3nB4A9zyskCiYkCLRZKNp7TQNiggcFD3nzKeQelKNKTOsRsUjMHNrfEJKKwLRpf3yaQoQlAjZyaAgzlJDseZjMgVcZaaOWwrBUxrwChnwMvogRuGXt-Fji_VuLgnBWEICItKlHr8K6UNydJOPQO0TwCF_8eXQdztukR0lKBYRo_dsw/w640-h480/site-c-aerial-may2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Site C dam under construction</b></div><br /><div>Then there is hydro power which, because it is renewable, is considered clean and green, but it's not. Dams destroy fish spawning runs, flood valuable farmland, and disrupt the ecology of hundreds of species. The destruction caused by a hydro-electric project like the Site C dam in northeastern B.C. is massive, with over 9,000 hectares of prime farmland and other habitat destroyed by the dam's construction and a 5,000 hectare reservoir. On top of that it's being built on unstable soil conditions which is now adding to the overrun costs and turning the entire project into a $16 billion dollar boondoggle that's twice the originally budgeted cost. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdbc29YEVu1ZFKcwXJ0-p8_rS5qMR2lXVDmQmTjRimKon9pqXXyxQet9W5B--AIdRfpwVLyp2xP5MH4HM3GTZZiqAWWBVGlmLFhvUb7hLQWll2Z1wxnTEtRugKLn15D2yNkMZ06qbADM5g3M17dvk-NJJhX8vnsdbQZu1Yo-zCkBKDIshW0ewb3GraQ/s2000/Civaux-Nuclear-Plant_France_web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="2000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdbc29YEVu1ZFKcwXJ0-p8_rS5qMR2lXVDmQmTjRimKon9pqXXyxQet9W5B--AIdRfpwVLyp2xP5MH4HM3GTZZiqAWWBVGlmLFhvUb7hLQWll2Z1wxnTEtRugKLn15D2yNkMZ06qbADM5g3M17dvk-NJJhX8vnsdbQZu1Yo-zCkBKDIshW0ewb3GraQ/w640-h426/Civaux-Nuclear-Plant_France_web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Nuclear power plant in France</b></div><br /><div>There's only one realistic alternative to replacing the more than 40,000 fossil fuel burning power plants in the world and/or adding more capacity to the power grid and that's by using nuclear power. The eco fanatics may dream of wind and solar but it isn't green nor is it reliable, and it will never supply enough energy to power the conversion to an electric world. Nuclear power on the other hand produces no CO2, the power plants are always producing energy regardless of the weather or time of day, and the fuel cores themselves last for 3-6 years before they need replacement. There have only been three nuclear power plant accidents in the history of its use; Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima and, other than Chernobyl where 29 people died from radiation exposure, nobody else has died directly. Every year air pollution and accidents have killed far more people working at hydroelectric and fossil fuel plants. Even the disposal of nuclear waste is no longer a technological problem as storage solutions have been developed, some of the waste can be re-used in the newer designs, and the latest designs have no waste at all. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3-lndXO8JsuEtZHgXA-WuXmkCl-anpPx4mkQwq7jA7qBdbrUQeAlbwnPAt3NHEEmLO6lIwC-2YCeGrm_XhnF43pFYSpQeauVl8uMJLFt1sZbryX2DoDV1QW1-AZ85ahFfO49-BBXfuvcBgEcxop7nkDVwKtXB4P4eZ8_PybLkmNsIajjEznE7UdpNw/s996/scary-monster-vector-878069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3-lndXO8JsuEtZHgXA-WuXmkCl-anpPx4mkQwq7jA7qBdbrUQeAlbwnPAt3NHEEmLO6lIwC-2YCeGrm_XhnF43pFYSpQeauVl8uMJLFt1sZbryX2DoDV1QW1-AZ85ahFfO49-BBXfuvcBgEcxop7nkDVwKtXB4P4eZ8_PybLkmNsIajjEznE7UdpNw/w502-h640/scary-monster-vector-878069.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We need to stop thinking of nuclear energy as some sort of scary monster. It's a myth perpetuated by oil companies and the like who hate competition and the ill informed half of the green movement who can't face facts. If we really want to reduce CO2 emissions we need to ensure every new power plant we build is a nuclear one and we need to start replacing old fossil fuel plants with new nuclear ones. Electrifying everything is only one part of the equation and if we don't embrace nuclear energy the world will turn out to be a very bitter green.</div><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-40840771874930854582023-04-27T16:13:00.001-07:002023-06-07T19:26:34.536-07:00No More DeadHeads<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzAa7-_4LZGGjmIYQccDdkmtJI4ilvjp6kNQ6rs3DjeHBfNpQf3FaEbov0UrEr11H7kNCE6MLtm5nFvmWx8N0hl3-b_CvFcQm71nH68zhLmCODyrCKWZ63TzPjEsWjV1zJC_F-NteddOB4x40z7YgRGy-ZCZDVTMXtxQVTVKyxIxy0gslJO5q6lhVxg/s734/2015_Polymer-hires-Commemorative-Note-Front--1200x400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="734" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzAa7-_4LZGGjmIYQccDdkmtJI4ilvjp6kNQ6rs3DjeHBfNpQf3FaEbov0UrEr11H7kNCE6MLtm5nFvmWx8N0hl3-b_CvFcQm71nH68zhLmCODyrCKWZ63TzPjEsWjV1zJC_F-NteddOB4x40z7YgRGy-ZCZDVTMXtxQVTVKyxIxy0gslJO5q6lhVxg/w640-h282/2015_Polymer-hires-Commemorative-Note-Front--1200x400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now that the Queen has passed away, and before Charles gets too comfortable on his throne, perhaps this would be a good opportunity to re-visit the idea of having a monarch's portrait on our currency. Why we still want to have a monarchy in this day and age is another discussion. But even worse than having a current king or queen adorning our money is having a deadhead, like one of our deceased Prime Ministers (most of whom seem to have lost the sterling reputation we embued them with in our history books) staring at us whenever we reach for our wallets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSLLwxVyJVSoUUmhqh1X-GfZ62OA1eqdyTxvjK2IZa09yhixDWbGdrjkcaIyNKVX3gjDM_9_d1_87Y5SwO5WsKZMOO6VkqjQzXjd24TsRvx8KZymilLikl8463ddQdY6F2VHfTaQLCzXNiimJqLHkVh0Y54UyuoGtQy1ZojbPP7lo6znuOU_cWE7Dgg/s1024/Viola_Desmond-1024x768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSLLwxVyJVSoUUmhqh1X-GfZ62OA1eqdyTxvjK2IZa09yhixDWbGdrjkcaIyNKVX3gjDM_9_d1_87Y5SwO5WsKZMOO6VkqjQzXjd24TsRvx8KZymilLikl8463ddQdY6F2VHfTaQLCzXNiimJqLHkVh0Y54UyuoGtQy1ZojbPP7lo6znuOU_cWE7Dgg/w640-h480/Viola_Desmond-1024x768.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Yes it was nice that we took a break from old Prime Ministers to acknowledge someone like Viola Desmond, a black businesswoman, who was an inspiration for the pursuit of racial equality in Canada but what about some of our First Nations personalities like Big Bear or Poundmaker who led the fight for Indigenous rights? Or better still, how about Mary Simon, our current Governor General who is an Inuit woman?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyfFK1HV2mQgrARmHKzNRkDpdBnUDaJYdRj8qmlXUh8gUsULyBENRqFjjI-WJ9uUY9uHiP_wz1hVHglmOipHKol8j8z5RJvB_5JAAGFOtHMniB-IZYv_Q6-Oiz_SEABnE4d720Jp4O88OSpGO8jR41d5VVndErPOgMm-IYD0QKqOYFgMcG_ozS2jWXg/s266/big%20bear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="189" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyfFK1HV2mQgrARmHKzNRkDpdBnUDaJYdRj8qmlXUh8gUsULyBENRqFjjI-WJ9uUY9uHiP_wz1hVHglmOipHKol8j8z5RJvB_5JAAGFOtHMniB-IZYv_Q6-Oiz_SEABnE4d720Jp4O88OSpGO8jR41d5VVndErPOgMm-IYD0QKqOYFgMcG_ozS2jWXg/w455-h640/big%20bear.jpg" width="455" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Big Bear</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HkUtCu9UFVBAwPV1saHmMbW8YexWaoGNtrLus7Mlea-WlFQS-26BHdLzXFYvQYcTtporiMDCR9xYWX_TBmo5_FtE2VE0dpVLNrbf3K_uWX2cX2kg4qBb1_SZ-XK9SDvMcsowajkrjY5QvmV3u4HThqAbF0J-C23YdeAVbWHhx6oZwBcpKaNXu3MMag/s3000/GG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HkUtCu9UFVBAwPV1saHmMbW8YexWaoGNtrLus7Mlea-WlFQS-26BHdLzXFYvQYcTtporiMDCR9xYWX_TBmo5_FtE2VE0dpVLNrbf3K_uWX2cX2kg4qBb1_SZ-XK9SDvMcsowajkrjY5QvmV3u4HThqAbF0J-C23YdeAVbWHhx6oZwBcpKaNXu3MMag/w512-h640/GG.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada</b></div><p>Maybe we should stay away from people all together and avoid any controversy over skin colour, ancestry, political beliefs, religion, or gender, and look instead to the animal kingdom to grace our bank notes. What could be more Canadian than the beaver for example, or the polar bear, or the Canada goose? For regional representation it could be the salmon or the killer whale for the west coast, the bison is surely the most iconic symbol for the prairies, and for the east coast what could be more appropriate <br /> than the moose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAC1DdvQLEkvS7inX8GHxqV7pxV8VL1LhiIEOlwntN9fDafiiqPz_Kv_D8-Zh0mwyLHk5fewbA4Lcm5cVMHw4Qv6SDOgrkC4sfsEi2AGBxjzkXVEbfyTTBfaSpHnCUfakmhcMRB4fpeOXU1wLeQMg87ZE3BhCN73st4Sv_19MWuFGcl0GYnLk9__4jw/s721/Beaver.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="718" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAC1DdvQLEkvS7inX8GHxqV7pxV8VL1LhiIEOlwntN9fDafiiqPz_Kv_D8-Zh0mwyLHk5fewbA4Lcm5cVMHw4Qv6SDOgrkC4sfsEi2AGBxjzkXVEbfyTTBfaSpHnCUfakmhcMRB4fpeOXU1wLeQMg87ZE3BhCN73st4Sv_19MWuFGcl0GYnLk9__4jw/s320/Beaver.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0ewyRBj4fMdBeiO-CoJmCn9xODA1KeQ2IRiWkaAggWdwNLUMyz5Ea1MZe4phin1V0hZHzLJgo4vPDJJ7rz2EVIQ1nK4u_QnUVdlbwOpfMAxNBtSpZjdAQ7J9hvhdm1iPRytxpc9IfWWn22BlY-2h9w_QlPYVxPQ4j6z5VenTog4w3fGbLoZiaAh1xw/s1200/polar%20bear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0ewyRBj4fMdBeiO-CoJmCn9xODA1KeQ2IRiWkaAggWdwNLUMyz5Ea1MZe4phin1V0hZHzLJgo4vPDJJ7rz2EVIQ1nK4u_QnUVdlbwOpfMAxNBtSpZjdAQ7J9hvhdm1iPRytxpc9IfWWn22BlY-2h9w_QlPYVxPQ4j6z5VenTog4w3fGbLoZiaAh1xw/s320/polar%20bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpmjMIZ7_PRfb7zL6pxBwrNNv1v0JsBWDHzFtSXjTv0m68HiKsqp4AQ-bgACfybSnb76QPlkLKbMGmk186pwtvSjQ8W_j05d9-HkvjYSlKg_RCH9BKBK4GL0UjqZYccIPwjs7ip_r7Z1WtK13Htin-u1wDGJe7hd3TSqJ6DuEDWteXEPc5852dTBgVQ/s855/canada-goose-0367-ron-dudley.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="855" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpmjMIZ7_PRfb7zL6pxBwrNNv1v0JsBWDHzFtSXjTv0m68HiKsqp4AQ-bgACfybSnb76QPlkLKbMGmk186pwtvSjQ8W_j05d9-HkvjYSlKg_RCH9BKBK4GL0UjqZYccIPwjs7ip_r7Z1WtK13Htin-u1wDGJe7hd3TSqJ6DuEDWteXEPc5852dTBgVQ/s320/canada-goose-0367-ron-dudley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR59oQrjSfMeOPzP91Li7zxJ7WFQw3WmJAXOXJS2qkfXC8L8pRSisgkuah5Cl0Tv8aW5pzcMGVJtP2Ow-JNpW9_pEDtUHCGYtXydwP1ONcOht8NtFmR000riVBSh5J8GR9Rb_C_qo940cRgv888IdPEgA0VLo_sP57yNHVzejZhkIew7ONkL_jCYYKyQ/s311/killer%20whale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR59oQrjSfMeOPzP91Li7zxJ7WFQw3WmJAXOXJS2qkfXC8L8pRSisgkuah5Cl0Tv8aW5pzcMGVJtP2Ow-JNpW9_pEDtUHCGYtXydwP1ONcOht8NtFmR000riVBSh5J8GR9Rb_C_qo940cRgv888IdPEgA0VLo_sP57yNHVzejZhkIew7ONkL_jCYYKyQ/s1600/killer%20whale.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJongMTVV0tt1kZRNcwFQ8NjgR1d_PNx50kkot05A13eYLEfiQySAtGvUKpg--cGRDRetQ5S2RkKnhQx_T8LIT7AGO66iLpuQZXJzP_mhVswDd1sxsRT48FBF6Hh08dIdtltRp37TXE45bA1Daay70YBaxvzp21omSKFNc5VqEqMsiFKduRKjzCiqjvA/s960/salmonspawning.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJongMTVV0tt1kZRNcwFQ8NjgR1d_PNx50kkot05A13eYLEfiQySAtGvUKpg--cGRDRetQ5S2RkKnhQx_T8LIT7AGO66iLpuQZXJzP_mhVswDd1sxsRT48FBF6Hh08dIdtltRp37TXE45bA1Daay70YBaxvzp21omSKFNc5VqEqMsiFKduRKjzCiqjvA/s320/salmonspawning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRRH1W0_V4HxUuJdyZiRIRZn0r4TrYH1Y19NZseFWiefw3K2gBIN6b4Dqx3ZV4WkIPs_E4b-I0COjmvZziwDAZm5L6sCY0OXmN-0D4GcBIUZsnoNxS-ozNI9UwCeYCY8Hoh2foFaImSHQ2EjFWLEDtLdNKuaOYZklSTGRFKLO8Yd8Rf1DuHI3O4EvZw/s2000/bison.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRRH1W0_V4HxUuJdyZiRIRZn0r4TrYH1Y19NZseFWiefw3K2gBIN6b4Dqx3ZV4WkIPs_E4b-I0COjmvZziwDAZm5L6sCY0OXmN-0D4GcBIUZsnoNxS-ozNI9UwCeYCY8Hoh2foFaImSHQ2EjFWLEDtLdNKuaOYZklSTGRFKLO8Yd8Rf1DuHI3O4EvZw/s320/bison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEqMOBNvCW9z4Z8QCEFDPOxUqysZx0BhfOJ6lnmxvMsn4hTrTFEnQAgK5xXj2HUPYXsPKI6XVTjIEA9AckrSkjlzZ238XKIrWf46I0aGG9Tv-2AEBIqI1xkb2FS5tAKIGjSyk5jQSIXhRI_rE2QEa44vb9sblnj81oBwo0fbtG6K2n7oaAUI0lYtOMQ/s800/moose.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEqMOBNvCW9z4Z8QCEFDPOxUqysZx0BhfOJ6lnmxvMsn4hTrTFEnQAgK5xXj2HUPYXsPKI6XVTjIEA9AckrSkjlzZ238XKIrWf46I0aGG9Tv-2AEBIqI1xkb2FS5tAKIGjSyk5jQSIXhRI_rE2QEa44vb9sblnj81oBwo0fbtG6K2n7oaAUI0lYtOMQ/s320/moose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HQ-_KZCs4fZDHsZDBuU7NP_eotvyWcMCVaYvuEjryyBmc-aYgwZ7_KFoy2DEbsOu7yV-A5Dk-9R3P1DpRx8FdpnxXeN1cEfiR4nUuz4VnV1voFEtYIRGjgYrRD3WVC_YWwU74HXqIbM8qSkQ0xfRtXFYSNM40R9LGRyLC6RC3c7F-F6wZQiZdmJ0bw/s371/Canadian_Frontier_Banknotes_faces.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="371" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HQ-_KZCs4fZDHsZDBuU7NP_eotvyWcMCVaYvuEjryyBmc-aYgwZ7_KFoy2DEbsOu7yV-A5Dk-9R3P1DpRx8FdpnxXeN1cEfiR4nUuz4VnV1voFEtYIRGjgYrRD3WVC_YWwU74HXqIbM8qSkQ0xfRtXFYSNM40R9LGRyLC6RC3c7F-F6wZQiZdmJ0bw/w640-h462/Canadian_Frontier_Banknotes_faces.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wouldn't pictures of these magnificent creatures be more colourful, and meaningful than the current deadheads adorning our currency? It might also remind us that we need to be looking after these animals and protecting the habitat that sustains them. The diversity of our wildlife reflects the diversity of our Canadian culture and, rather than looking to the deadheads of the past, why not instead let these iconic animals of the present serve as an inspiration to us as we confront the challenges of the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-76080134187974414922023-03-18T13:59:00.003-07:002023-05-14T11:00:57.880-07:00Justice For B.C. First Nations<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdfW1f1BKuR9ifZpbxhpKpXSYYjJF-grzGSmkw0X--5P0kUuUEIKqS5nM8B_ARv0gbyFwDD3sV920cI8505JwLZS9YaL8Ih0DpA-7VP53NpPYd6UruzhzIfe1w79z-FbJDajfL3PV-m_HXkBH2GbXLfCS_g8MwINYAsoOwdybZNbLVfmmMtAB3ZDq2g/s1369/courthouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1369" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdfW1f1BKuR9ifZpbxhpKpXSYYjJF-grzGSmkw0X--5P0kUuUEIKqS5nM8B_ARv0gbyFwDD3sV920cI8505JwLZS9YaL8Ih0DpA-7VP53NpPYd6UruzhzIfe1w79z-FbJDajfL3PV-m_HXkBH2GbXLfCS_g8MwINYAsoOwdybZNbLVfmmMtAB3ZDq2g/w640-h422/courthouse.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently I had the experience of sitting in on a First Nations land claims case in the B.C. Supreme Court, specifically that of the Nuchatlaht people who are one of the Nuu-chah-nulth (formerly called Nootka) communities on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It was a session for the lawyers on both sides to clarify a few key points for the judge and it provided me with some insight into the tortuous, overly complicated, process the Indigenous people have to go through to prove the obvious. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYluQJPY6dVP3JvAmtfNvRzgmDjFO3L6FVkoPNGnWMjT14Vme3PPMVYH-aP8XVr_L-dt5fssZvI_ob0ZQpZKtiKu6YMf5VS44bip9Bg5XZ5rWv6BUhxn81LAmPaMkIiUH4RKLuUJurF-fDMgJtTwVZ7X1qEFU5VL5euJG5q4lVQcAVU_iakcnrmLAGQ/s2048/Nuchatlaht-Traditional-Territory-2048x1151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYluQJPY6dVP3JvAmtfNvRzgmDjFO3L6FVkoPNGnWMjT14Vme3PPMVYH-aP8XVr_L-dt5fssZvI_ob0ZQpZKtiKu6YMf5VS44bip9Bg5XZ5rWv6BUhxn81LAmPaMkIiUH4RKLuUJurF-fDMgJtTwVZ7X1qEFU5VL5euJG5q4lVQcAVU_iakcnrmLAGQ/w640-h360/Nuchatlaht-Traditional-Territory-2048x1151.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In order to meet the standards of the Supreme Court of Canada for claiming Aboriginal title to the land, the Nuchatlaht have to prove they occupied the land exclusively since 1846, which is the magic year that Britain claimed sovereignty after signing the Oregon Treaty with the United States that settled the last part of the boundary dispute between them. Never mind that the Nuchatlaht people were already living there when Captain Cook visited the area in 1778 and sailed into what he thought was called Nootka Sound and, quite by accident, ended up starting a fur trade in sea otter pelts with China as a result of trading with them. The Spanish had already been there in 1774 to assert their Pacific Northwest claim under the Doctrine of Discovery but, to avoid warfare between Britain and Spain, the Nootka Convention in 1790 provided for both countries to share in the settlement of the Pacific coastline that Captain George Vancouver mapped between 1792-1794. Notice that neither Britain or Spain had to prove they occupied the land in order to claim it, but I digress.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMVDVCvpeHmuO7pnM2AdCU2v-BWny3yAXu8B_vjd2mVqHhsrNo8TIBimILSQJ975SKGvCqT1NVBN87IabKKcg8n5NrqSnKxkczdW3c68sU0OOUPwmGBY7AEuJpTteISjauXUqFsLO38D4DlqGBxP9vj_d0ocobppcERpMg9MFzqgQjc_MPSbo2G5c0w/s408/73385.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMVDVCvpeHmuO7pnM2AdCU2v-BWny3yAXu8B_vjd2mVqHhsrNo8TIBimILSQJ975SKGvCqT1NVBN87IabKKcg8n5NrqSnKxkczdW3c68sU0OOUPwmGBY7AEuJpTteISjauXUqFsLO38D4DlqGBxP9vj_d0ocobppcERpMg9MFzqgQjc_MPSbo2G5c0w/w628-h640/73385.jpg" width="628" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Russians also tried to get into the land claiming/fur trading act and, while they controlled most of the coast of what is now Alaska, they tried to expand further south but in 1824 they settled with the U.S. that their territory would end at the 54:40 latitude. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">South of Alaska, however, the coast was open to free trade and there was fierce competition between the British and Americans. The headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) was Fort Vancouver, built in 1824 on the Columbia River opposite the mouth of the Williamette River. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">To strengthen its coastal trade and drive away the American traders, HBC built a series of fortified trading posts, the first of which was Fort Langley</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, established in 1827 on the Fraser River</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> about 50 km from the river's mouth followed by Fort Simpson (1831),</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Fort McLoughlin</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (1833), Fort Stikine</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (1840), Fort Durham</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (1840), and Fort Victoria</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (1843). In 1846 the Oregon Treaty extended the border between Britain and the U.S. along the 49th parallel from the Rockies to the Pacific ceding Oregon Country to the U.S. but giving all of Vancouver Island to Britain. With Fort Vancouver now in American territory it was no longer profitable to operate so HBC closed it down and moved its operations to Fort Victoria. In 1849 Vancouver Island and the surrounding Gulf Islands were made into a colony and put under the administration of HBC and the Governor James Douglas. It wasn't until 1858 (following the 1856 Fraser Canyon Gold Rush) that the mainland was added to Vancouver Island and made into the Crown colony of British Columbia with Douglas assigned as its first Governor. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFoD84Nyh3PqwnL3Q0f6fUZwOxQrPZk89xmXS-j_O3QVw4buAeGOwkD2hcyIfrRoDPAwZTegJ-WxaGgQctn90rcbdD-w6W67RQwUxAq8KUv0hD0R070Ph3rdYX_deevxqdjjf_es5wPgy9qik0nQ_GubwCQGrCEy_nHqx7pS0evsw13D7RkL5of9j5w/s601/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="510" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFoD84Nyh3PqwnL3Q0f6fUZwOxQrPZk89xmXS-j_O3QVw4buAeGOwkD2hcyIfrRoDPAwZTegJ-WxaGgQctn90rcbdD-w6W67RQwUxAq8KUv0hD0R070Ph3rdYX_deevxqdjjf_es5wPgy9qik0nQ_GubwCQGrCEy_nHqx7pS0evsw13D7RkL5of9j5w/w544-h640/images.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">James Douglas</b><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Until Vancouver Island and the mainland became a colony, the Indigenous people were free to live as they always had with no restrictions on the resources of the land and water they used. With Britain now claiming sovereignty over the land, Aboriginal title had to be addressed, as per the requirements of the 1763 Royal Proclamation, before these lands could be settled or otherwise exploited. In order to establish settlements on Vancouver Island Douglas negotiated a few small treaties and also set aside some land as reserves for the Indigenous people but these were reduced or eliminated in 1867 by the Commissioner of Lands, Joseph Trutch, who went on to become the Province's first Lieutenant Governor after it joined Confederation in 1871. Under the terms of the Union, trusteeship of land for First Nations was supposed to be a Federal responsibility with land provided by the Province. But the Province refused to recognize Aboriginal title, so no treaties were signed that would have transferred title in exchange for reserves as had been done in every other Province and, as a result, B.C. became the only Province to join Canada on unceded land. It's also worth noting that in 1871 the ethnic makeup of B.C. was 25,660 Indigenous, 8,500 white, 1,500 Chinese, and 500 Black residents but in 1872 a law was passed that prohibited Indigenous and Chinese people from voting in Provincial elections.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeA0rPx313vd9hVVL_awSTpbzi5oyUMNxZ5UkpF0gLSwDxhsUsmSE5Vjgo-P_9aMCoAg9kBenyZHoo-76jAdZPiZGJeWt4JX3j8CNUWgv7MkFNX23Fdg_cAaKShm9XldseTP_c0z78ONsmfi956Eb9rS-g5i6JM9jgYNV2gF6RhwHjE-9wER_umElHg/s1024/Delgamuukw+v.+British+Columbia+1997+Supreme+Court+of+Canada.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeA0rPx313vd9hVVL_awSTpbzi5oyUMNxZ5UkpF0gLSwDxhsUsmSE5Vjgo-P_9aMCoAg9kBenyZHoo-76jAdZPiZGJeWt4JX3j8CNUWgv7MkFNX23Fdg_cAaKShm9XldseTP_c0z78ONsmfi956Eb9rS-g5i6JM9jgYNV2gF6RhwHjE-9wER_umElHg/w640-h480/Delgamuukw+v.+British+Columbia+1997+Supreme+Court+of+Canada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The 1997 landmark Delgamuukw trial ruled for the first time that Aboriginal title did in fact exist in B.C. and it also accepted that Indigenous oral history is valid evidence in court and must be given equal weight as written documents. Aboriginal title is a right to the land itself, not just the right to hunt and fish, and when dealing with Crown land the government must consult with First Nations people and may have to compensate them if their rights are infringed. Infringements can include the development of agriculture, mining, forestry, and hydro-electric power. However, to determine proof of Aboriginal title it must be demonstrated the land was exclusively occupied prior to sovereignty and that the occupation has been continuous from then until now.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIwWDeVZGFGoa0GbRVCumN6C73HdYUHUG-HZZ_5U0W153uxRdK4_gjU_4nYBPbd_TrOkqZx-TCsQbM_lkYOk8fZbNz--fnEaRi0uqbyLgSXCUosKM_Q7A-YwZxVRBHfAglty6gfj2zvAbppcWd-87rDZL--3DRTPBUAJkjOa3fkmSm360M-Jwgu3iEA/s268/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIwWDeVZGFGoa0GbRVCumN6C73HdYUHUG-HZZ_5U0W153uxRdK4_gjU_4nYBPbd_TrOkqZx-TCsQbM_lkYOk8fZbNz--fnEaRi0uqbyLgSXCUosKM_Q7A-YwZxVRBHfAglty6gfj2zvAbppcWd-87rDZL--3DRTPBUAJkjOa3fkmSm360M-Jwgu3iEA/w640-h449/download.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The 2014 Tsilhqot'in trial went even further in clarifying Aboriginal title. While asserting that Aboriginal title constitutes a beneficial interest in the land the underlying control is still retained by the Crown. Aboriginal title includes the right to decide how the land will be used, to enjoy, occupy and possess the land, and to proactively use and manage the land but the Crown can override Aboriginal title if they have carried out sufficient consultation and accommodation, there is a compelling and substantial objective, and the Crown's action are consistent with its fiduciary obligation to the Aboriginal body in question.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiBV6deeiKOkAcDKzyM5LA752yfkiy03unCg4Vj93dR4Xa9ecv2f1-Jo_BGGA6YxOdrs-Qe21PlEp_zP_0m9O7XqRYqjoeiK2aTb2ghxfmWiDjKa5ppdOhypsfEVlbZ3r4_cLrNWh9FewCvr7zLO5-YE_YiBwwLudaeFenGbEaijiKqW6ndaOk6TSKg/s616/undrip_anniversary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="616" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiBV6deeiKOkAcDKzyM5LA752yfkiy03unCg4Vj93dR4Xa9ecv2f1-Jo_BGGA6YxOdrs-Qe21PlEp_zP_0m9O7XqRYqjoeiK2aTb2ghxfmWiDjKa5ppdOhypsfEVlbZ3r4_cLrNWh9FewCvr7zLO5-YE_YiBwwLudaeFenGbEaijiKqW6ndaOk6TSKg/w640-h360/undrip_anniversary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">In 2019 the B.C. government passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act into law which is meant to align B.C. laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which states "Indigenous Peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired." It is also part of the </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Province's framework for reconciliation as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's "Calls to Action" and their supposed new approach to litigation which is supposed to lead to more negotiated settlements and less legal action.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkp7s21xjXmqaVQKuAJNCw_nQKnuL-2q3xCxSOhUE7ZX5rLzydpdvhbKkGFbHjMwYf2Nmd0xTmLJ9gWS5bwYuAy6u6xOB5ydCfr4Jfc2tF_Xlx5SWLNaJz2DmyfaKLReIqisvmxpx16-dgqIZFhfBsXCCHhfeNVaxmCCyi85qqzTId87OHkbZunPBNw/s1024/27_2022_NuchatlahtCourt_Romer-1024x683.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkp7s21xjXmqaVQKuAJNCw_nQKnuL-2q3xCxSOhUE7ZX5rLzydpdvhbKkGFbHjMwYf2Nmd0xTmLJ9gWS5bwYuAy6u6xOB5ydCfr4Jfc2tF_Xlx5SWLNaJz2DmyfaKLReIqisvmxpx16-dgqIZFhfBsXCCHhfeNVaxmCCyi85qqzTId87OHkbZunPBNw/w640-h426/27_2022_NuchatlahtCourt_Romer-1024x683.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">So with all the precedent setting legal cases spelling out that Aboriginal title is real and how to claim it, and with the Province finally on board with First Nations reconciliation, you would think this should be a slam dunk for the Nuchatlaht people. Not so. First off, for some reason nobody at the Attorney General's office bothered to tell the Crown attorney that fighting this claim was not something they should be wasting their time with. But the first thing the Crown attorney said was that nobody was living on Nootka Island which is where the bulk of their claim is. The Nuchatlaht had to then point out that clear cut logging and destruction of salmon streams made the Island uninhabitable. In other words they were forced off the Island without compensation. To prove they were there in 1846, after Captain Cook had long since left, they pointed to culturally modified trees, shell middens, forest gardens, and other evidence of human habitation that are still visible. The total claimed area is only 200 square kilometres and there are no conflicting or overlapping claims from anyone else, but the Crown is determined to contest things.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwYL2V6gACIl2py4JFqhFKRu0DxnNREK_M_-rjXu0qEcWtUJyDHfaCfC8mnUd68gMYUS8lFgc7Aa9xoBDfKlQGvvBh0EPU50K4NmfidlLAxcEkbp_rRwSSMwbuYkJxU9dh428oEEoBjmY_uZNzxH-CR59saCAFeCezsL_DsRXDZlnjkjIVf_ixa1sFg/s903/IMG_20230316_135030339_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="538" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwYL2V6gACIl2py4JFqhFKRu0DxnNREK_M_-rjXu0qEcWtUJyDHfaCfC8mnUd68gMYUS8lFgc7Aa9xoBDfKlQGvvBh0EPU50K4NmfidlLAxcEkbp_rRwSSMwbuYkJxU9dh428oEEoBjmY_uZNzxH-CR59saCAFeCezsL_DsRXDZlnjkjIVf_ixa1sFg/w382-h640/IMG_20230316_135030339_HDR.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><br />In the meantime, while we all wait for a verdict, Themis, the Goddess of Justice, waits outside the courtroom, blindfolded and holding the scales of justice, impervious to all the injustice that has gone on for so long. Will this be another landmark case in favour of First Nations people or will it be another excuse to deny them what is rightfully theirs? We will soon find out.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaMkwDY5DndKm8j498OpTlUVcNMk0lu-6m7V-5bmyVQnrqgv7F69N8537y6fSpZBWGxILUJO9WTPa8FndWAsAXmIpfoLRZ-mu-LTcUFVYKvr6X-6g4baN4JFCgZoJY3J9bMzcyDOWMeF9HrWsV7SPdICLYZ64RdKtHV3Zcarh2mI72C6yUWkdyvUXig/s2500/nuchatlitz-nootka-island-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaMkwDY5DndKm8j498OpTlUVcNMk0lu-6m7V-5bmyVQnrqgv7F69N8537y6fSpZBWGxILUJO9WTPa8FndWAsAXmIpfoLRZ-mu-LTcUFVYKvr6X-6g4baN4JFCgZoJY3J9bMzcyDOWMeF9HrWsV7SPdICLYZ64RdKtHV3Zcarh2mI72C6yUWkdyvUXig/w640-h426/nuchatlitz-nootka-island-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">On May 12th, 2023 a B.C. Supreme Court judge issued his ruling and said the Nuchatlaht First Nation did not prove it had rights to the entire claim area. Because they are a coastal group primarily using canoes to get around and haven't established any trails between locations they don't meet the current test for Aboriginal title. As a result the test may need to be reconsidered but this has to be done by a higher court. In the meantime they can try to finalize some of the claim area. The Nuchatlaht have said they will work with the court to identify locations of their claim and appeal the decision to not grant title over the larger area.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-82722828763921518602023-03-02T16:23:00.001-08:002023-03-03T16:31:39.491-08:00Bird Flu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pH451QJitOtraT-4-bHP3zUoYCv7x_tq1ab4W3QXZJr_pt_rPD54dswyNpRC8PKZoCiat8MhDoD896tPNJR6IuLQhtP2Wv_rnBWCb9u7oikdSPu_nsoKXSmDsrDXfWnWwCQdaKKjMYGwJ1Rnlqdy3ArmVbLC2MBiYPtYKq0PZE5yCmMz9BX2wl1XBQ/s615/0_PERU-HEALTH-ANIMAL-INFLUENZA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="615" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pH451QJitOtraT-4-bHP3zUoYCv7x_tq1ab4W3QXZJr_pt_rPD54dswyNpRC8PKZoCiat8MhDoD896tPNJR6IuLQhtP2Wv_rnBWCb9u7oikdSPu_nsoKXSmDsrDXfWnWwCQdaKKjMYGwJ1Rnlqdy3ArmVbLC2MBiYPtYKq0PZE5yCmMz9BX2wl1XBQ/w640-h426/0_PERU-HEALTH-ANIMAL-INFLUENZA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>What do dead sea lions on the beaches of Peru, minks on farms in Spain, otters and foxes in the U.K. and dead grizzly bears in the U.S. have in common? Avian flu, otherwise known as bird flu. Along with thousands of pelicans, various migratory birds, and millions of domestic chickens, turkeys, and ducks, this recurring virus has killed, it has now managed to spread into a variety of mammals as well and is posing a potential threat to humans.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFknexehHqbW3EpMl-h9QqxqMEFM9nYZO5baxFpSLukZ6fEMTlbj0luOvacr5ADdHUQeSXlVjMsSGrpfs-NotlEabGPN8YYari146ZeBQh7KefEQHzv7uHbfEUKQd3DdEi1LfOQ5k0H5HGTuixgwlqZzXDe_JnmlPCeODmVXm1aIXPHvHFeH_nOf9TTg/s1157/VME-1037-Fig1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1157" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFknexehHqbW3EpMl-h9QqxqMEFM9nYZO5baxFpSLukZ6fEMTlbj0luOvacr5ADdHUQeSXlVjMsSGrpfs-NotlEabGPN8YYari146ZeBQh7KefEQHzv7uHbfEUKQd3DdEi1LfOQ5k0H5HGTuixgwlqZzXDe_JnmlPCeODmVXm1aIXPHvHFeH_nOf9TTg/w640-h422/VME-1037-Fig1.png" width="640" /></a></div>Of the three types of influenza that infect humans (A, B, C) it is type A that has the zoonotic properties, (i.e. animal to human and vice versa) we are worried about and there have now been 6 avian subtypes that have infected humans; H5N1, H7N3, H7N7, H7N9, H9N2, and N10N8.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTwJInSgEXLTpWUN6UXVfK1H5P-f7Vkhftwb8Kv40hVDIBel2uxMH7lWWq_fbaCr1K1JdxwlfVYF7bwqrji9ZOVA5aQP-UGSAnM12zVG5H_wfIyIQnD-NLZdiIp-1cv2r_JDn5HNU1ToQaZ6IncClNZp4_6BGajkktPng1fyy7GPxczZ5AcRU0EBZ_Q/s1200/group-of-chickens.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTwJInSgEXLTpWUN6UXVfK1H5P-f7Vkhftwb8Kv40hVDIBel2uxMH7lWWq_fbaCr1K1JdxwlfVYF7bwqrji9ZOVA5aQP-UGSAnM12zVG5H_wfIyIQnD-NLZdiIp-1cv2r_JDn5HNU1ToQaZ6IncClNZp4_6BGajkktPng1fyy7GPxczZ5AcRU0EBZ_Q/w640-h320/group-of-chickens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Avian flu infects the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract of birds and has been identified in more than 100 different species of wild birds around the world. Wild aquatic birds such as gulls, cranes, and shorebirds, and wild waterfowl such as ducks, geese and swans are considered natural hosts for bird flu viruses. Most wild birds with viruses are asymptomatic but can infect domestic poultry through their droppings. <div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi251YaF4znDcpDClF9WfytQPos9nCbl-EX5U8CQK2n20OB9J-lVYpuZayCL0XHdOocEJQ4RXVuBxHE423KzDoj3BVfvbQvEosFmGk8GMVTIzFL8Ek542wX-0nPDnmGmxrit4p5kywakigPrfiI-NZKL1kgnaBlEf0_Rwwv_uU7pRTsx7ma8OVqeydYaA/s880/geese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="880" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi251YaF4znDcpDClF9WfytQPos9nCbl-EX5U8CQK2n20OB9J-lVYpuZayCL0XHdOocEJQ4RXVuBxHE423KzDoj3BVfvbQvEosFmGk8GMVTIzFL8Ek542wX-0nPDnmGmxrit4p5kywakigPrfiI-NZKL1kgnaBlEf0_Rwwv_uU7pRTsx7ma8OVqeydYaA/w640-h378/geese.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>H5N1 first appeared in 1997 in China and killed millions of birds throughout Asia, Europe and Africa directly with millions more culled to prevent further spread. In 2022 alone there were over 50 million chickens culled in the U.S. and 5 million in Canada. However, the threat to humans has been low with only 1,000 people to date who have been infected, but more than half of them died with a mortality rate of around 60% or roughly 10 x that of COVID. Another strain, H7N9 also first appearing in China in 2013 and since then another 1,000 people have become infected with about the same mortality rate. The good thing is that avian flu does not appear yet to spread from human to human but rather from working with infected birds in the slaughter and plucking process. For the other mammals who died it was likely because they ate an infected bird.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfx5Uwjk1TVxaHxsnV-h_l-K0I0H4LyUkuMLYIb1jUyT2YoMD_4iDw5ZbnngE0TUedAJOE8jFxxAQIF0XBwiYGB0P8MPJeDihhNr8kK7t66BE4mJYydmypnFEc7gwsgZj16ygp9iv-CvyTlh4etyav221O93bwiTLjqeFj-wW4f_BMaVg_uQGzuB3MDw/s612/flu%20spread.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="426" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfx5Uwjk1TVxaHxsnV-h_l-K0I0H4LyUkuMLYIb1jUyT2YoMD_4iDw5ZbnngE0TUedAJOE8jFxxAQIF0XBwiYGB0P8MPJeDihhNr8kK7t66BE4mJYydmypnFEc7gwsgZj16ygp9iv-CvyTlh4etyav221O93bwiTLjqeFj-wW4f_BMaVg_uQGzuB3MDw/w446-h640/flu%20spread.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">However, with a mink to mink transmission of H5N1, the first among mammals, what is worrying health officials is the development of a human to human version of avian flu. Particularly in Asia, where the conditions there have humans, swine and poultry often in close proximity to one another, and able to infect one another, which could lead to a mixture of a pathogens that could create a human avian influenza. Recent research into the genes of the 1918 Spanish flu, which infected a third of the world population and killed 50 million or more people, indicate it was also a strain of both human and avian genes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9q2ZNPAlthMN4npHXjnvEMPe0lSQ-CBmcdgBqVaZTdb48spztDRKhMsYh350yxf_euVD7-Tr4-Bk9MGezJfHgTKw2KLEMF6w_2fWwwMDZZB3aOCY9wqOoX_jg21BOpLQQc9pIU_VusVjma_DQKFE0CLbLY0OkWs0WYbpraEhGK4vACgdc7BqyAxyGQ/s275/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9q2ZNPAlthMN4npHXjnvEMPe0lSQ-CBmcdgBqVaZTdb48spztDRKhMsYh350yxf_euVD7-Tr4-Bk9MGezJfHgTKw2KLEMF6w_2fWwwMDZZB3aOCY9wqOoX_jg21BOpLQQc9pIU_VusVjma_DQKFE0CLbLY0OkWs0WYbpraEhGK4vACgdc7BqyAxyGQ/w640-h426/download.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>After everything we went through with COVID I think it's obvious the world can't be trusted to handle another epidemic, but it seems it is only a matter of time before something like bird flu makes its appearance. When it does watch out and remember hope is not a survival strategy. In the meantime, if you see a dead bird don't pick it up with your bare hands, put it in a plastic bag and dispose of it in the trash.</div><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-33606944125383666242023-02-25T14:43:00.000-08:002023-02-25T14:43:55.129-08:00Life's A Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9-y1HUOi9JVLyHVrtXG_O3uoH1smU9b5sWZL6Gn1Xsbbuhm1HqRj8Ych679K33zY4jLeFf7dU180VVvBZinJFKvjvzhJKaxWoqQrUPrml5lCpZeMWUyXJaQwKxBMpq9SCJIdjxi6YL1uTsLDVFiikVJQTVARXMh5TUQnAr00IC-n4MYOiBHriEbogQ/s4160/IMG_20230219_100741671_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9-y1HUOi9JVLyHVrtXG_O3uoH1smU9b5sWZL6Gn1Xsbbuhm1HqRj8Ych679K33zY4jLeFf7dU180VVvBZinJFKvjvzhJKaxWoqQrUPrml5lCpZeMWUyXJaQwKxBMpq9SCJIdjxi6YL1uTsLDVFiikVJQTVARXMh5TUQnAr00IC-n4MYOiBHriEbogQ/w640-h480/IMG_20230219_100741671_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DwnDSXqC9R_7Q8NCQt7dlpCz_6FTuvESBpjyz8JXQ94soFlzlEwR7txqGZXTS72kOdI71dvkcc0NkvnGcjJ9zIEDcGfzz2-jruu6bzyzoU_CR5gP-ZyeM2dJxBdFKxkqeMmZ-Yymk51UP8GOjVUgaYOJ243TDisHLRsWqlDRtxXole7ZaAi143UMtA/s3120/IMG_20230224_104010777~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3094" data-original-width="3120" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DwnDSXqC9R_7Q8NCQt7dlpCz_6FTuvESBpjyz8JXQ94soFlzlEwR7txqGZXTS72kOdI71dvkcc0NkvnGcjJ9zIEDcGfzz2-jruu6bzyzoU_CR5gP-ZyeM2dJxBdFKxkqeMmZ-Yymk51UP8GOjVUgaYOJ243TDisHLRsWqlDRtxXole7ZaAi143UMtA/w640-h634/IMG_20230224_104010777~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another storm and more washed up sailboats around the city's beaches but more importantly is the ongoing damage to the seawall everytime a storm happens and how it highlights our failed efforts to try and push back against the ongoing erosion damage. Last year around the same time we had a nasty storm that took out the seawall and Kits pool and cost a few million to repair and experts say this trend is only going to get worse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtjVraNRKQj8OK6glWHN-n4QVHH_SLm8M_rmQ4seIvgXYK--fgYfhJL60kTXhiG2fdqID0AbzHuB-A4HX8YjtYzxorybWvAYifNWHCMfUYX1HVt1fbw07Ldsv7HR0wEmT3EOIFIKbyRq9Su9D_rGEONMgDM06DXH44k_vqTvS7qyd2koFQx5Q79q_Pw/s1204/IMG_20220109_083348039_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1204" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtjVraNRKQj8OK6glWHN-n4QVHH_SLm8M_rmQ4seIvgXYK--fgYfhJL60kTXhiG2fdqID0AbzHuB-A4HX8YjtYzxorybWvAYifNWHCMfUYX1HVt1fbw07Ldsv7HR0wEmT3EOIFIKbyRq9Su9D_rGEONMgDM06DXH44k_vqTvS7qyd2koFQx5Q79q_Pw/w640-h480/IMG_20220109_083348039_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiOFSXnxTkVL2KNfVkfaI1cmA7l9Ber_XLcNcDeC9nygqfCPw8TalMtB8L4qTpR6Z8XwXUYdLfQVhJ-v4VRy6dTtWpcK7fXeKNNudzF4ctr2qWvNASzVjf8fNBHyXLUKxVTPGy8kgpLLRSnxiXqgz2LtcyhO4m0FOAgmuUAUyjtPf_Tpv7rTAr5ApCw/s1204/IMG_20220109_084203641_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1204" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiOFSXnxTkVL2KNfVkfaI1cmA7l9Ber_XLcNcDeC9nygqfCPw8TalMtB8L4qTpR6Z8XwXUYdLfQVhJ-v4VRy6dTtWpcK7fXeKNNudzF4ctr2qWvNASzVjf8fNBHyXLUKxVTPGy8kgpLLRSnxiXqgz2LtcyhO4m0FOAgmuUAUyjtPf_Tpv7rTAr5ApCw/w640-h480/IMG_20220109_084203641_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8z4V5P8T-ZuXXo1qd3_fr-2t44-C-BP28WY3xSCRWsnLIl8RZNuH_63OBtwyQ19wo3rYsWq19oRrfI5ZrNY0--Sxn1WCdVB4PK3pC8P73lePF6u2lDJdrDeeg1C8g9suo0ZapPJA-5eE3rEWVJnqnTpc1T6n8KcH_M-s4uq-WRo5UuPc2WzYYLu80Q/s1075/stanley-park.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1075" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8z4V5P8T-ZuXXo1qd3_fr-2t44-C-BP28WY3xSCRWsnLIl8RZNuH_63OBtwyQ19wo3rYsWq19oRrfI5ZrNY0--Sxn1WCdVB4PK3pC8P73lePF6u2lDJdrDeeg1C8g9suo0ZapPJA-5eE3rEWVJnqnTpc1T6n8KcH_M-s4uq-WRo5UuPc2WzYYLu80Q/w640-h330/stanley-park.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgV2Xj0AFpU1_-zsR2jKgVcS8NYTFE2YHqA3nE3i4Qq2APu1kK-1oU6eHfRYomZj7C6jV0dOMsdSTCuzXA2HL7aVLKZXkItSKd2Xb002p19i4Y12et02tSA9Ungs52VI84ydwO7r7RSeQLH6FfjuXLK6azfwheL6qwb3dLO8DOXqDnoy0ZIJJEbARCUw/s600/king-tide-body.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgV2Xj0AFpU1_-zsR2jKgVcS8NYTFE2YHqA3nE3i4Qq2APu1kK-1oU6eHfRYomZj7C6jV0dOMsdSTCuzXA2HL7aVLKZXkItSKd2Xb002p19i4Y12et02tSA9Ungs52VI84ydwO7r7RSeQLH6FfjuXLK6azfwheL6qwb3dLO8DOXqDnoy0ZIJJEbARCUw/w640-h266/king-tide-body.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Ironically it's the seawall itself that aggravates the problem by increasing the waves energy as they get redirected after hitting the wall and then begin scouring the seafloor which ultimately results in the seawall itself collapsing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpiRmODsPCk3i5igBpmLuYtTEzmFE7tebIWPgPw7URu6zX9jpeKADJMCzy1EU7fHoMzaBKnDFOK4G9n6Aq_NKeIkZ-obz55Zrq89qwOfd8sL7pIJ7Yt24eQcvCLuM5LKD_90zLlBj1zSiyWwvV9kQsTNNczufw13qpdRZGcKRDq7Iy499GdUd-VIw9g/s1118/SeawallCollapse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="974" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpiRmODsPCk3i5igBpmLuYtTEzmFE7tebIWPgPw7URu6zX9jpeKADJMCzy1EU7fHoMzaBKnDFOK4G9n6Aq_NKeIkZ-obz55Zrq89qwOfd8sL7pIJ7Yt24eQcvCLuM5LKD_90zLlBj1zSiyWwvV9kQsTNNczufw13qpdRZGcKRDq7Iy499GdUd-VIw9g/w558-h640/SeawallCollapse.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Removing the seawall and allowing the beach to revert to its natural state and installing an elevated boardwalk along the shoreline might be the ultimate solution but according to Parks Board estimates the cost of replacing the seawall around Stanley Park would be at least $250 million.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJT-KIO2nstbD9P1hBNy-OZGsAJ9i4XrmyO-LRAfO37ISctCE_qKZfGLiTuBVTPIC6Sv1REQpVK41HdhR3PI9IIzrJgDyfwoC2DFWUQVYRYSsGRQUaE08MKgqHEDA9aBpKRxfGojbWBMzcajMr-_WnM3Ad2JIlXp8bVkrFdPKlpgTpjeAiElCGNdtow/s2367/visitors-on-estuary-boardwalk-billy-frank-jr-nisqually-national-wildlife-refuge-J-Whitehead.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="2367" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJT-KIO2nstbD9P1hBNy-OZGsAJ9i4XrmyO-LRAfO37ISctCE_qKZfGLiTuBVTPIC6Sv1REQpVK41HdhR3PI9IIzrJgDyfwoC2DFWUQVYRYSsGRQUaE08MKgqHEDA9aBpKRxfGojbWBMzcajMr-_WnM3Ad2JIlXp8bVkrFdPKlpgTpjeAiElCGNdtow/w640-h444/visitors-on-estuary-boardwalk-billy-frank-jr-nisqually-national-wildlife-refuge-J-Whitehead.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another approach to combatting beach erosion is to construct "living dikes" along the shoreline which means adding soil and salt marsh vegetation to low lying areas along with sand, rock and driftwood berms which is what the cities of Surrey and Delta are doing around Boundary Bay. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yiMDq9Y1gn6niV2RVie1nE85uqRaiFFNcmRTij31WdzUAiJxS3MPHmMp2jK434kDANVTg0KmU4CRJLiaQQWLUgiwy6jg2QNWR8gupD4Jlw-pzmxifK2DSigp__HOWmJgNL2BamizzM_sWKQVF38xTFqIHG_LQeXMqH50IwFBBKGAsqmVg_4UtRStjw/s900/living-dyke-render.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="900" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yiMDq9Y1gn6niV2RVie1nE85uqRaiFFNcmRTij31WdzUAiJxS3MPHmMp2jK434kDANVTg0KmU4CRJLiaQQWLUgiwy6jg2QNWR8gupD4Jlw-pzmxifK2DSigp__HOWmJgNL2BamizzM_sWKQVF38xTFqIHG_LQeXMqH50IwFBBKGAsqmVg_4UtRStjw/w640-h280/living-dyke-render.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A similar approach is building a "dynamic revetment" or cobble berm of gravel and cobble-sized rocks to mimic a natural storm beach. Unlike seawalls this allows wave action to rearrange the stones into a stable profile that disrupts wave action and dissipates the waves energy as the rocks move around. Eventually sand settles in between the stones and a beach begins to form. This is what they've been successfully building at nearby Washaway Beach in North Cove,Washington State to counter the massive erosion the community was facing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIR9Fu6h22JfU8dhAKxmrUGnGPh2bDIqxRg63wA8KrjPjdwpZM4yGC1LAkPDnz6FsFl7HxYEVVy7ghUJJkc6bNMtT4rJ_nYfjh0agfCwBMeCZPea0QcOi43VBnMllf4XUG29au30b3i2cx_EZYOm5KtEz2mpdUsA9o9646mnfLrYcvBYPSevg_htES8A/s1380/16473585_web1_WashawayRevetment-teaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1380" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIR9Fu6h22JfU8dhAKxmrUGnGPh2bDIqxRg63wA8KrjPjdwpZM4yGC1LAkPDnz6FsFl7HxYEVVy7ghUJJkc6bNMtT4rJ_nYfjh0agfCwBMeCZPea0QcOi43VBnMllf4XUG29au30b3i2cx_EZYOm5KtEz2mpdUsA9o9646mnfLrYcvBYPSevg_htES8A/w640-h402/16473585_web1_WashawayRevetment-teaser.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YbF8dz34cgwrKGGrWgdAfVqa895SvgyoHfaTOvayCRXEjL6jFrGHB0vP68zmRRB2vWPIswfURMlTxZveNtfN-eCvCUhuVQWjFdV3DxFI0d1oaf_y2uVixjgtLq9HQ4xPhouZfGyNQvuajKChYpboTbC1f0RVyimpSKRi_etoLKOH-564-aNiqo9tgg/s1500/david-cottrell-rebuilding-coastlines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YbF8dz34cgwrKGGrWgdAfVqa895SvgyoHfaTOvayCRXEjL6jFrGHB0vP68zmRRB2vWPIswfURMlTxZveNtfN-eCvCUhuVQWjFdV3DxFI0d1oaf_y2uVixjgtLq9HQ4xPhouZfGyNQvuajKChYpboTbC1f0RVyimpSKRi_etoLKOH-564-aNiqo9tgg/w640-h426/david-cottrell-rebuilding-coastlines.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both of these approaches also have the pleasant side affect of promoting the habitat that supports ecosystems for a wide variety of migratory birds, and coastal marine life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc4h1h6suhhhQ85wHzLkvD2DRPYrTUUaoPlbF-C5YpkQSulRhZvByROCkSImyx1csNxc9wu3zM5ZDUZGwnGQNtH5DYRQyz1iqQJVEoSnkZMh0ZzI5jUTAstZJSDU-bR6zx4n5JkuD8GGuWOV_8NmOBEFE7TObKNVCH6vl07qVj6SeOa4gMx_4gzRbsA/s1077/king-tide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1077" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc4h1h6suhhhQ85wHzLkvD2DRPYrTUUaoPlbF-C5YpkQSulRhZvByROCkSImyx1csNxc9wu3zM5ZDUZGwnGQNtH5DYRQyz1iqQJVEoSnkZMh0ZzI5jUTAstZJSDU-bR6zx4n5JkuD8GGuWOV_8NmOBEFE7TObKNVCH6vl07qVj6SeOa4gMx_4gzRbsA/w640-h326/king-tide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With tides and sea levels predicted to continue rising and winter storms only getting worse, how we approach the management of our shorelines will determine whether or not life's a beach or if we will even continue to have one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-22160279172919501852023-01-21T17:13:00.001-08:002023-01-22T08:21:04.398-08:00The Waiting Game<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dzUrwKlj3dNvIzeunJ-iI1sEB_YMQ-RLwxsRclbl8tVd-b4JWqNrp1UzHKvGQsTNlHZlwHR0SwAkmlE4Qn316-XcMjuyIiL6IX6H6OSQd2lGjPdM4aDugRV5riF_LX3Puws2temi3Jv3uIJk92vCcxWxCfGRuqyPNVYFu3HJF0g6P-UJZZFtcBRnUQ/s1266/4335-flu-influenza.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dzUrwKlj3dNvIzeunJ-iI1sEB_YMQ-RLwxsRclbl8tVd-b4JWqNrp1UzHKvGQsTNlHZlwHR0SwAkmlE4Qn316-XcMjuyIiL6IX6H6OSQd2lGjPdM4aDugRV5riF_LX3Puws2temi3Jv3uIJk92vCcxWxCfGRuqyPNVYFu3HJF0g6P-UJZZFtcBRnUQ/w404-h640/4335-flu-influenza.jpg" width="404" /></a></p><p>With our annual flu/cold season upon us in the midst of an ever mutating COVID epidemic, people are understandably focused on their health. Unfortunately they don't focus on the things that would make it less likely to catch these things, like wearing a mask, making sure you have lots of fresh air, and avoiding crowded areas. They don't want to make any changes to their routine and they expect a magic pill of some sort to immediately cure them if they do fall ill.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVVeaRA8FqSc1ilC989N--vV_S81CgpIPpbvmaKGMgmVuMLaWohZJgwNECejv3KGcjNGWGfIn_vwbgfc7uKtupcC9v6OJlR3JeZn57vG7vgEaYD-jrRqswRwTQrc_HflABdB_vyys8P7ARftvhsKgWyWeasFgCbLyYhzBrhnoK5cKrfdaYfVFsluiwQ/s1448/infographic-cmwf-en_0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVVeaRA8FqSc1ilC989N--vV_S81CgpIPpbvmaKGMgmVuMLaWohZJgwNECejv3KGcjNGWGfIn_vwbgfc7uKtupcC9v6OJlR3JeZn57vG7vgEaYD-jrRqswRwTQrc_HflABdB_vyys8P7ARftvhsKgWyWeasFgCbLyYhzBrhnoK5cKrfdaYfVFsluiwQ/w640-h640/infographic-cmwf-en_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Of course getting a pill or any other form of treatment would mean being able to access a doctor of some sort and currently over 1 million people in B.C. alone have no access to a family doctor, never mind the line-ups they face at the nearest hospital or the wait time to see a specialist. The reasons for this are complicated but they are basically for the same reason we have a shortage of nurses and other medical professionals. Our medical/nursing/technical schools have a very limited enrollment, we don't recognize the credentials of fully qualified and trained immigrants, and we can't even agree on a national acreditation standard or process for allowing Canadian trained professionals to work anywhere they choose.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzDFlcQkzR6HI1aE7vFC9DMxMYlTcWRz0xEMioZTOg9VRZfdT_ZeFbBz-GuCcNS7ANaufz6lJISsaWh7L1rPKljYqxX5iK2DItvJlz0yGpVwb2A3mYvQ6SvQXDw1Z7LGL7p66525tOMTRTToyzzYcz9rRzZ0hJWiSckMsFw7PiuDAHVgw-YvOgF4tiw/s802/1_6136892.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="802" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzDFlcQkzR6HI1aE7vFC9DMxMYlTcWRz0xEMioZTOg9VRZfdT_ZeFbBz-GuCcNS7ANaufz6lJISsaWh7L1rPKljYqxX5iK2DItvJlz0yGpVwb2A3mYvQ6SvQXDw1Z7LGL7p66525tOMTRTToyzzYcz9rRzZ0hJWiSckMsFw7PiuDAHVgw-YvOgF4tiw/w640-h640/1_6136892.png" width="640" /></a></p><p>Health care in Canada is now approaching $3.5 billion dollars annually. Half of that is split between hospitals, physicians, and drugs. Health care is mostly paid for through our taxes but it doesn't include all prescriptions, dental care, eye glasses or a wide range of other professional services not to mention home care and services for seniors . The average Canadian's medical services costs work out to $8,500.00 annually with this amount divided between the public and private sector at a roughly 75-25 split. Private health care services are paid for by patients primarily out of pocket and/or through private insurance.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVwq_-KUnfXQRYG3wG6xsRSPIJmDrTMcMMDJagxLmPVuybEvWSXnw2E4wb7JMBX1dSThO_ktjM8vmm8_JKXjn36bwpLikE4wY-GmXBgxyC-vZxdlGQKK_Wiqm18CHKA5C3ED0JmOVe0w894nHnv2U0taYziQq4YGHtKRuZBLAVtt6w30vaylmfqe_ZQ/s1280/where-is-most-of-the-money-being-spent-infographic-en.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVwq_-KUnfXQRYG3wG6xsRSPIJmDrTMcMMDJagxLmPVuybEvWSXnw2E4wb7JMBX1dSThO_ktjM8vmm8_JKXjn36bwpLikE4wY-GmXBgxyC-vZxdlGQKK_Wiqm18CHKA5C3ED0JmOVe0w894nHnv2U0taYziQq4YGHtKRuZBLAVtt6w30vaylmfqe_ZQ/w640-h640/where-is-most-of-the-money-being-spent-infographic-en.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KRYsUdurxI6i1LrxnulX-TM17ydD98ozsfNGLTG7T1iNS4jUP3z9nz7EvTdH0xQolNSY8CTjSAVXvjvNWYdCEXvGjat48WBMOpWlHE3QdyZrocz-AzkCv5AHBbdbZVGqsCKuUuNEKslEpA323GMlf3vZhEp8UmUn8ptwKlzwUNFdjTIDN4R4ZL21NQ/s604/cha%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="604" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KRYsUdurxI6i1LrxnulX-TM17ydD98ozsfNGLTG7T1iNS4jUP3z9nz7EvTdH0xQolNSY8CTjSAVXvjvNWYdCEXvGjat48WBMOpWlHE3QdyZrocz-AzkCv5AHBbdbZVGqsCKuUuNEKslEpA323GMlf3vZhEp8UmUn8ptwKlzwUNFdjTIDN4R4ZL21NQ/w640-h400/cha%20(1).png" width="640" /></a></div><p>But while the Canadian health care system is a federal creation with universal coverage, it's a provincial responsibility to deliver and herein lies the problem. While the federal government keeps expanding the scope of health care, the provinces are falling behind in delivering their part of the bargain. Without bothering to tackle some of the root causes within their own control, which include an antiquated family doctor system, bloated hospital bureaucracies, a professional registration system that operates like a closed shop union, underpaid health care workers, and no central electronic repository of health records, the provinces keep asking for more money and expect the federal government to pay for something it has no control over. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GkPlu54PhsvS0ov_ldcQM7_pFwfwjJ11IW31uIKVBeDZ7nvQabizzZlxOaWJc5e1gtWiroZwv-HFNSRKbTWnzZy2EXEZd3WvVVbu2OC36CSjOIi78WNZmNTf43k7XvNSq4d4Bwmu4XWeDmhYIjif_dabnzZPaJheFIwW8Mtt18zzaaWuRkpeEE0I2Q/s850/quote-you-can-t-manage-what-you-don-t-measure-peter-drucker-86-73-61.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="850" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GkPlu54PhsvS0ov_ldcQM7_pFwfwjJ11IW31uIKVBeDZ7nvQabizzZlxOaWJc5e1gtWiroZwv-HFNSRKbTWnzZy2EXEZd3WvVVbu2OC36CSjOIi78WNZmNTf43k7XvNSq4d4Bwmu4XWeDmhYIjif_dabnzZPaJheFIwW8Mtt18zzaaWuRkpeEE0I2Q/w640-h302/quote-you-can-t-manage-what-you-don-t-measure-peter-drucker-86-73-61.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div>There are no metrics for timely delivery of services, be they emergency or elective, and both levels of government have until now refused to allow private clinics to help with the heavy lifting. Why is it not a problem to find a family dentist? A well known business maxim states that you can't manage or improve what you don't measure and, before the federal government gives the provinces more money, they are saying, rightly so, that the provinces need to demonstrate they can set up some measureable delivery targets and hit them. Targets for wait times for surgeries, to see a specialist, and to be looked after in an emergency ward need be fair and they need to be achievable. Furthermore these targets need to be made public so that everyone knows what they are and can govern themselves accordingly. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x1tLfqSwsv_MEAhPWp_cRWWrbW8uA8u_Ww8Phh0d4ex0Xhf2_3IimOng7GsYSFRAfDqtMyMndms6TgBvNn6GDF7zsKkXJTFIHQAZ_nmXYkPc-D1Wo0Yz9uShwxugH5ucaBVOJTCowoWA3qLd0b1rW20OmWYrk8ITprAGQvpXw2cq-hPLajTywdVDuA/s611/7b292ad2275f39636dfc398318e64f22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="477" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x1tLfqSwsv_MEAhPWp_cRWWrbW8uA8u_Ww8Phh0d4ex0Xhf2_3IimOng7GsYSFRAfDqtMyMndms6TgBvNn6GDF7zsKkXJTFIHQAZ_nmXYkPc-D1Wo0Yz9uShwxugH5ucaBVOJTCowoWA3qLd0b1rW20OmWYrk8ITprAGQvpXw2cq-hPLajTywdVDuA/w500-h640/7b292ad2275f39636dfc398318e64f22.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime we could all do our own part in keeping ourselves healthier instead of complaining about the line ups. In spite of all the advantages of exercise the average person doesn't even go for a daily walk never mind jogging, cycling or swimming. It's not that exercise will make you live longer but it will certainly make your life more comfortable and easier to manage. That and eating and drinking properly. A little less time in front of a screen and a little more time outside moving around would do wonders. After all what could be more important than looking after your body? It's better than playing the waiting game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-25458506200433949882022-12-21T15:51:00.000-08:002022-12-21T15:51:37.842-08:00Boom Boom Out Go The Lights<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFcCyrvv-uNdSUN5ssvlPDlLcHp8BZ0e5fJh8KOm-FThsawhlRsPfxHTBLfB2PwKe9Q6sBUQq-gsp42wlnGCEaBMZRMoLiuCN86q1jddOj7BVyIPzF7HHtVCmKSryVTMaoYlvpto1ta5B7FmVIkQ56jn2Za-iYjilKUDSlLuwVIlU6sBT1n9wPW7ulg/s998/Luna.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="998" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFcCyrvv-uNdSUN5ssvlPDlLcHp8BZ0e5fJh8KOm-FThsawhlRsPfxHTBLfB2PwKe9Q6sBUQq-gsp42wlnGCEaBMZRMoLiuCN86q1jddOj7BVyIPzF7HHtVCmKSryVTMaoYlvpto1ta5B7FmVIkQ56jn2Za-iYjilKUDSlLuwVIlU6sBT1n9wPW7ulg/w640-h640/Luna.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Luna the Whale</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once upon a time the West End was a dark and dreary place as the days grew shorter and the winter season began. But in 2015, in a tribute to all the whales living in the waters around Vancouver, Luna arrived to brighten things up by sporting over 6,000 LED bulbs in a magnificent display of artistic genius. Created by the folks at MK Illumination, Luna was an immediate hit with the neighbourhood and, during the course of his winter sojourn, thousands of photographs were taken.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSvoqmFzEwlCXLAzNaEDHd1n05QTKBg0mFMO60OA6KU4xt5-WO4KFqObw9l9n-N6UmgrY-0GLphKuE9MvQ2c-bAJxRlMqhrMPUPkCDphR5h3jMXjaTnHXlecm_xJONGxNqiN2jzUhV4AtS0wPcDccLWLrpN_NsDTjj6hUuQBc1ZZ7KNcMjLN0xhmRiw/s640/Eugenia%20the%20Tree3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSvoqmFzEwlCXLAzNaEDHd1n05QTKBg0mFMO60OA6KU4xt5-WO4KFqObw9l9n-N6UmgrY-0GLphKuE9MvQ2c-bAJxRlMqhrMPUPkCDphR5h3jMXjaTnHXlecm_xJONGxNqiN2jzUhV4AtS0wPcDccLWLrpN_NsDTjj6hUuQBc1ZZ7KNcMjLN0xhmRiw/w640-h478/Eugenia%20the%20Tree3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Eugenia the Oak Tree - photo by Junie Quiroga</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2017 the MK folks added Eugenia the oak tree that plays homage to an oak tree that decorated the English Bay skyline for 30 years on top of the Eugenia Place residency. Lit up with 7,600 mini LED lights that are constantly changing colour Eugenia provided a magical entrance to the seawall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCbH4pnWLoEaH5pwLLWAO_JZgxS7JxTvdzkesd8wUw51dNKoIJtG0vs482JeNsbEH-OX3f7jv8HPyX6UbCQuJoir3MzWW5rg74Ry2zpNgD8z5h_H_q-YpR57QH9jH_oQInQHx5YSqRc0RHz7poP9LDlpZuNpDMuZl9RAI46P8yjHmDjWoOzU6Opw9DA/s640/Stanley%20the%20Heron2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="640" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCbH4pnWLoEaH5pwLLWAO_JZgxS7JxTvdzkesd8wUw51dNKoIJtG0vs482JeNsbEH-OX3f7jv8HPyX6UbCQuJoir3MzWW5rg74Ry2zpNgD8z5h_H_q-YpR57QH9jH_oQInQHx5YSqRc0RHz7poP9LDlpZuNpDMuZl9RAI46P8yjHmDjWoOzU6Opw9DA/w640-h474/Stanley%20the%20Heron2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Stanley the Heron - photo by Junie Quiroga</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2018 Luna was joined by a new friend named Stanley the Heron. With nearby Stanley Park home to one of North America's largest colonies of blue herons this MK creation was a perfect match and, standing 13.5 feet tall with over 10,000 LED lights, he gracefully lit up another section of the area around Morton Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyChnmfN9iVz-ixAipCVM4kJUHeJRwAf1-CwNmyMivINWE9wPcJdXp2Btn4QOQ5h97oWzORlACRGQ_KujUwN1tH18jLBY294sHoV8gc4PK9KyHDGgC0UOKIlhAit0Wv5dxxSYKuqH4JDX_gvPLRs8abhXL95O4vrKwV6eOzHUO95SzMmnVSYpd5MEew/s640/Davie%20the%20Bear3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="640" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyChnmfN9iVz-ixAipCVM4kJUHeJRwAf1-CwNmyMivINWE9wPcJdXp2Btn4QOQ5h97oWzORlACRGQ_KujUwN1tH18jLBY294sHoV8gc4PK9KyHDGgC0UOKIlhAit0Wv5dxxSYKuqH4JDX_gvPLRs8abhXL95O4vrKwV6eOzHUO95SzMmnVSYpd5MEew/w640-h474/Davie%20the%20Bear3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Davie the Bear - photo by Junie Quiroga</b></div></b><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">In 2019 MK Illumination really knocked it out of the park with a 24 foot tall Grizzly Bear named Davie who was lit up with more lights than anyone could count. While there aren't any grizzly bears in the Vancouver area anymore, the sculpture hightlighted the magnificence of these creatures and the need to protect them in their wilderness habitat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GbAxlYwUofPBP3moQx1QAk057VdQ1g-TK-Yyoa9bD4Vq21-px1Usgsyf30odYXbPQe6VTUzB3x6aG432V-mHvWkir2HA1floFgZ9OOXuLeavW_EnaUWy8FV_HcONmdvA_eivV4EmkPtYtggjeptnClNKku002_9k9MQYJxDGn88coFB_gD10TAHPTw/s1231/Barclay+The+Beaver+(Nigel+Pottle+Photo)+.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="1140" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GbAxlYwUofPBP3moQx1QAk057VdQ1g-TK-Yyoa9bD4Vq21-px1Usgsyf30odYXbPQe6VTUzB3x6aG432V-mHvWkir2HA1floFgZ9OOXuLeavW_EnaUWy8FV_HcONmdvA_eivV4EmkPtYtggjeptnClNKku002_9k9MQYJxDGn88coFB_gD10TAHPTw/w592-h640/Barclay+The+Beaver+(Nigel+Pottle+Photo)+.jpeg" width="592" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Barclay the Beaver</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2021 came Barclay the Beaver, all 12 feet of him happily chewing his way through a piece of crystal and reminding everyone of who Canada's national symbol really is. There are two beaver colonies in Stanley Park, in Beaver Lake and Lost Lagoon and, just like Barclay, the best time to see them is at dawn or dusk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgJfaHlfBCqBagLFOXSjlKel9EqpJfy-o45I9IPjXEnUdDksFvCbP6PqTxTfNwzrwJNXLSxJuoZoLau8CHPHEkrNSuEdH4djRazxkeYABbaOKalx5qM0KXqrAs5Yts05UkZnMh_3ZODGLMWetu05JKfHkSxaynosRKTYczTChzRzDw0OzpVNGZ4r1vw/s903/inuk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="677" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgJfaHlfBCqBagLFOXSjlKel9EqpJfy-o45I9IPjXEnUdDksFvCbP6PqTxTfNwzrwJNXLSxJuoZoLau8CHPHEkrNSuEdH4djRazxkeYABbaOKalx5qM0KXqrAs5Yts05UkZnMh_3ZODGLMWetu05JKfHkSxaynosRKTYczTChzRzDw0OzpVNGZ4r1vw/w480-h640/inuk.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But then something strange happened. After 7 years of enjoying all these light installations suddenly, without any warning, in 2022, they all disappeared. Not only were there no new creations, the old ones had been taken away somewhere and there was no public explanation. After submitting an inquiry to MK Installations I was directed to the West End Business Association who explained that costs to maintain, store, set-up and take down these iconic displays had gotten too expensive and they couldn't afford to continue. Apparently the old Parks Board (who thankfully have been kicked out of office) didn't want to contribute to sharing the cost and considered the fact they allowed the installations to be placed on Parks territory enough of a contribution. The West End was plunged back into the dark ages just as we were entering a very cold winter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRKrRUgCbb2iyxPblxP25gB_G4cHmYeG_1l7Auj_0_Csubq-dy9isD_lYGXEhGv_j7NCUrIQphVvfUZK7GLDPzrK_umc4SZFkcTYRWb-g44grK7qk_UsI23e7l1G1GstVWM2rCoZAtkwuSGOS2iZaVthNeJzD2BiiUWC6dIiaAJJmp9e_KaXiMtHs7A/s1107/sylvia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRKrRUgCbb2iyxPblxP25gB_G4cHmYeG_1l7Auj_0_Csubq-dy9isD_lYGXEhGv_j7NCUrIQphVvfUZK7GLDPzrK_umc4SZFkcTYRWb-g44grK7qk_UsI23e7l1G1GstVWM2rCoZAtkwuSGOS2iZaVthNeJzD2BiiUWC6dIiaAJJmp9e_KaXiMtHs7A/w640-h480/sylvia.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So while the heart of the West End is no longer lit up with festive creatures and folks are once again forced to stumble around in the darkness, thankfully there is one tiny beacon of light to guide them. This of course would be the Sylvia Hotel where the lights are always on and warm cheer can always be found no matter the weather or the Scrooge like behaviour of the Parks Board. When the lights go out everywhere else, at least there is one place you can still count on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Roboto Slab, courier, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-variant-ligatures: none;"><b>Eug</b></span></span></div></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-50234799671207210042022-11-29T14:14:00.003-08:002022-11-29T14:35:28.769-08:00Return To Sender<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPausE4_qRX-KbDALiU103s81_skeTzm-oJp3yS7mTPRWW_FOfZJTwqp3BVM8X7Gc5KJLIX4oHwxBSnVJN-vLG1dMRq_EuC15lsHyg-sX0x6EpXRJ38w3-PDACup1vajpboWjEbfttAp-rJcfmKrKj_rdJ2-A3aihwrPe7k1ODAw5ElRgzkArUEdz-rw/s2462/Lepidochelys_olivacea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="2462" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPausE4_qRX-KbDALiU103s81_skeTzm-oJp3yS7mTPRWW_FOfZJTwqp3BVM8X7Gc5KJLIX4oHwxBSnVJN-vLG1dMRq_EuC15lsHyg-sX0x6EpXRJ38w3-PDACup1vajpboWjEbfttAp-rJcfmKrKj_rdJ2-A3aihwrPe7k1ODAw5ElRgzkArUEdz-rw/w640-h454/Lepidochelys_olivacea.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Olive Ridley Turtle</b></div><p></p><p>On a recent holiday to Mexico, my wife and I had the opportunity to participate in a fascinating turtle release conservation project. There are 7 different types of sea turtles in the world; Green, Loggerhead, Kemps Ridley, Hawksbill, Flatback, Leatherback, and Olive Ridley and all of them are endangered. In many parts of Mexico there are efforts being made to protect and improve the status of these turtles, and approximately 50 km. up the road from Zihuatanejo, located on a deserted stretch of beach, was the turtle camp we were introduced to that was focused on the Olive Ridley Turtle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrX4rNRiRF6rv13jdwsktjwmZIBoB6kK8CnSV1qOHyk3zvDws2lATiSkpf4dzzCfZt_3Lc0UHJoKsjpX1M6LFYFI-hlaxvSrwE0U0q4DPEZAnkQsR0r4y0yDfhCHG2uFkSdWt89PKquSeMjpw2-Eqjo29gN0iWEHJkAMoFuAij13tzwit7VFp3mxSgw/s830/20221129_115243-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="830" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrX4rNRiRF6rv13jdwsktjwmZIBoB6kK8CnSV1qOHyk3zvDws2lATiSkpf4dzzCfZt_3Lc0UHJoKsjpX1M6LFYFI-hlaxvSrwE0U0q4DPEZAnkQsR0r4y0yDfhCHG2uFkSdWt89PKquSeMjpw2-Eqjo29gN0iWEHJkAMoFuAij13tzwit7VFp3mxSgw/w640-h640/20221129_115243-COLLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Female sea turtles return to the beach where they were hatched, to lay their eggs each year and, while in this part of Mexico nesting occurs throughout the year, peak nesting is between September and December. Nesting occurs at night when the female comes on shore and laboriously digs out a 1.5 feet deep nest with her hind flippers and deposits approximately 100 eggs. To save the eggs from predators, Felix, a tireless volunteer who had made his home on this stretch of beach, patrols the beach and carefully collects the eggs and re-buries them in carefully marked nests that are fenced off and kept shaded and watered to maintain the optimum temperature. Eggs incubated at temperatures of 31-32 degrees Celsius produce only females, eggs incubated at 28 degrees Celsius or less produce only males and eggs incubated at 29-30 degrees Celsius produce a mixed sex clutch.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxXyzYUJHUxLEvU9C7ab_K9SDPseYC9ACKDozDOPVXSMO6cBed0Ss1RNSBqKsqi81rAISGaLuQV8y5DTGDQYZGi1hRlretExXUDKwcn0aj_YMuO0Muk7wOJ9PWF7zDi2f67Gy8OuXN-oo3ZMFiIhYFebqm1HAOtKu1VBJJUG1DC21KcpQLpm4xuCv_A/s1107/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxXyzYUJHUxLEvU9C7ab_K9SDPseYC9ACKDozDOPVXSMO6cBed0Ss1RNSBqKsqi81rAISGaLuQV8y5DTGDQYZGi1hRlretExXUDKwcn0aj_YMuO0Muk7wOJ9PWF7zDi2f67Gy8OuXN-oo3ZMFiIhYFebqm1HAOtKu1VBJJUG1DC21KcpQLpm4xuCv_A/w640-h480/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd3--299GbRJ5R4couzuJyoK9aVuJefh1QiovuUc2n5AKR6vtv0c3SliZKr8i8hwcyoKtwCzEZa8R9UfC9RMDUrSfLqX-CsNuaiaBxafojTSBuLR05FFOX9XzWMdzkS8UcZCCJisIS3Ew1KW9GaMKMXK8GsbXxKzWZHpWOD4yuiQmmY8RilVdNB-9WQ/s830/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd3--299GbRJ5R4couzuJyoK9aVuJefh1QiovuUc2n5AKR6vtv0c3SliZKr8i8hwcyoKtwCzEZa8R9UfC9RMDUrSfLqX-CsNuaiaBxafojTSBuLR05FFOX9XzWMdzkS8UcZCCJisIS3Ew1KW9GaMKMXK8GsbXxKzWZHpWOD4yuiQmmY8RilVdNB-9WQ/w480-h640/2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr7r2hu17FJJkjZjGbegGzX6bw7oP0yafuD8v_gaiGgBK9e4JL6h0XC-GiRGUzKll2LXBI51Cbmm4S2BpXktMV_dSP3KuJY2PnNDibFXqGRh7I_O_RSQcyt3vruWJYO1ahQ-U-Skk8ZWyOCYHxh9f1Z7eG500Fla8hWvjw9k4gNpKsM7ZI6VFD1t7IQ/s830/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr7r2hu17FJJkjZjGbegGzX6bw7oP0yafuD8v_gaiGgBK9e4JL6h0XC-GiRGUzKll2LXBI51Cbmm4S2BpXktMV_dSP3KuJY2PnNDibFXqGRh7I_O_RSQcyt3vruWJYO1ahQ-U-Skk8ZWyOCYHxh9f1Z7eG500Fla8hWvjw9k4gNpKsM7ZI6VFD1t7IQ/w480-h640/3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvjU6qcYcunlQpcVAQ14Cky4sbOJPXHmYKU_cInPe9B_yxUhwDPEdwnm_sKYpAraWvsyrsW-qE3ov00-M7A-H3sqnL3xzy_YxmeERqkLwWzpObo1l7r79wML1yI4ji1T2gLEvaNsQDuwU0nec0i_j3Z03uWgKu3qmqbVkxdm10xzMdeo7F228AdX2TA/s830/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvjU6qcYcunlQpcVAQ14Cky4sbOJPXHmYKU_cInPe9B_yxUhwDPEdwnm_sKYpAraWvsyrsW-qE3ov00-M7A-H3sqnL3xzy_YxmeERqkLwWzpObo1l7r79wML1yI4ji1T2gLEvaNsQDuwU0nec0i_j3Z03uWgKu3qmqbVkxdm10xzMdeo7F228AdX2TA/w480-h640/4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The eggs typically hatch after 45 days and Felix directs us to one of the marked nests and shows us how to carefully dig out the baby turtles. Sure enough the squirming creatures are frantically trying to come out of the sand and we start collecting our 100 babies, each one a perfect miniature of a full grown adult, into a plastic bucket.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZN38ZJsWiKwyxasId1H6KPaLLGV_BdlbkCPpFAhI1-mx33xf9UHmDAfqfgi2pJAON_mjfLZh1mV6S7RgyLE6rLOU4Hz6PbAOmresjrskOEi1iTMrTwhAFlmcwGdS9lhzvj8zveZEpTNnd4-D-eG_V-cuHkvGsjJ-66H-4Y0KEY6-NtN7bQ6CfA_1qw/s830/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZN38ZJsWiKwyxasId1H6KPaLLGV_BdlbkCPpFAhI1-mx33xf9UHmDAfqfgi2pJAON_mjfLZh1mV6S7RgyLE6rLOU4Hz6PbAOmresjrskOEi1iTMrTwhAFlmcwGdS9lhzvj8zveZEpTNnd4-D-eG_V-cuHkvGsjJ-66H-4Y0KEY6-NtN7bQ6CfA_1qw/w480-h640/5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IlMrsrzWfJW6uDVuz2t_r2DlnKKtSxxODLmyn1MrIOGrq5T157ZGd2f-xaK5xWLP4IEIdsaOf9vFY_upE5DcGySOUkoY6Kn0fucHqz4Of4wCC4TyMZ7cOJbePR3gsCiOy5WYL2e3VGAeOoFMSyVbrqwj0ka54jMXaNihrqdooP9NU4FrISUsoH0TWg/s830/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IlMrsrzWfJW6uDVuz2t_r2DlnKKtSxxODLmyn1MrIOGrq5T157ZGd2f-xaK5xWLP4IEIdsaOf9vFY_upE5DcGySOUkoY6Kn0fucHqz4Of4wCC4TyMZ7cOJbePR3gsCiOy5WYL2e3VGAeOoFMSyVbrqwj0ka54jMXaNihrqdooP9NU4FrISUsoH0TWg/w480-h640/6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZCwi1ml-TxTiSxDbNndPaCaMGBkWnkjog924R-VNUpmDVuFjJVZswOhitA8QxsN53PdorW3phBzhZoZC8znAaDJOslDPzy2djCcooIb-8PwLC5BLInZM4vCWa6k72nrcYYEU03k3ZiZYm7ca_bn4YdAoxapiF01RD_ECylWEDa6ExeLcDYWUBosYJQ/s830/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZCwi1ml-TxTiSxDbNndPaCaMGBkWnkjog924R-VNUpmDVuFjJVZswOhitA8QxsN53PdorW3phBzhZoZC8znAaDJOslDPzy2djCcooIb-8PwLC5BLInZM4vCWa6k72nrcYYEU03k3ZiZYm7ca_bn4YdAoxapiF01RD_ECylWEDa6ExeLcDYWUBosYJQ/w480-h640/7.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Once we have made sure none of the little guys have been left behind we take our almost overflowing buckets to a table where the turtles can take some time to shake the sand off themselves and get comfortable breathing in a little ocean air. Proud parents of the most adorable babies ever, we of course need to pose with them a little.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o-KcAJOdakqLG7LNwyyeOR0GmvAYAt5CaEX7QPTol_gp-Stv9t1qalmMjitkptDPMj7-zUeeqEYdS_UjEh5q_Xcf2DN3lg5N4gsvYuNnm1WCBxFT6yy8MjprTInN9sposatG_2ScMti4zvJwj906GcX3DtQVehPy3TRcliFArcNYrMlUjlgEZqK3LA/s830/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5o-KcAJOdakqLG7LNwyyeOR0GmvAYAt5CaEX7QPTol_gp-Stv9t1qalmMjitkptDPMj7-zUeeqEYdS_UjEh5q_Xcf2DN3lg5N4gsvYuNnm1WCBxFT6yy8MjprTInN9sposatG_2ScMti4zvJwj906GcX3DtQVehPy3TRcliFArcNYrMlUjlgEZqK3LA/w480-h640/9.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56S7d4lMXAcC3yCA1lMfbV3EAP67-M5QWp0pKzo3XxJidUyF_WPI8zeoo7MfGX-puDbxFDIJtRqRGSkHroLejq0VzJa9Q9cHRnkurrdjMppZ4fvbEzk1kyTLtyRYHCBHSTnn0zHmbksL4Kb64yhOixbi1TpDvmw79bwp_1TW6POSYvWcigDONwaNR7g/s830/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56S7d4lMXAcC3yCA1lMfbV3EAP67-M5QWp0pKzo3XxJidUyF_WPI8zeoo7MfGX-puDbxFDIJtRqRGSkHroLejq0VzJa9Q9cHRnkurrdjMppZ4fvbEzk1kyTLtyRYHCBHSTnn0zHmbksL4Kb64yhOixbi1TpDvmw79bwp_1TW6POSYvWcigDONwaNR7g/w480-h640/10.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZt7Kd4G2qqAO-t9I3czAczkFlqjrT_9VhJFqIdJuI1_lxggigh-qQEkZlbSlNoQvyaZ9EqR6wvPD_aW8G0NIEFo6TVe5UI1TZWJcHikwPtoD3UPEnmTg-XA6VhJRoZuERLjpsauTjQ55mh4qDqu3SMJcPtZnTRW2e5tMV6q6xQycPUbWh8tiC0Hiqg/s830/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZt7Kd4G2qqAO-t9I3czAczkFlqjrT_9VhJFqIdJuI1_lxggigh-qQEkZlbSlNoQvyaZ9EqR6wvPD_aW8G0NIEFo6TVe5UI1TZWJcHikwPtoD3UPEnmTg-XA6VhJRoZuERLjpsauTjQ55mh4qDqu3SMJcPtZnTRW2e5tMV6q6xQycPUbWh8tiC0Hiqg/w480-h640/8.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As sunset approached it was time to join up with the others for the big race to the ocean. This was the event we were all waiting for, or rather the turtles were, and we were there to cheer them on as they unerringly made their way to the water with their little legs going as fast as they could. It only took a few minutes and they were in the sea.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawh7Qft1ZhxYmw6-WjFSS45Pl3zJfhcB0jJmYzYMCQY1g7Djldo3oa8zBp53JAIvoDjYvJHZfGOiU8Cbequ6adFRsLeYvO1yzj_SfoV04J_dD5WX4lo4NoBkMr77JRCAJAEArgzqj6mFtsixMknD8I2mOVOE9JBWftEUZQVfhlHwEhpKdAhnywEzpxA/s1107/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawh7Qft1ZhxYmw6-WjFSS45Pl3zJfhcB0jJmYzYMCQY1g7Djldo3oa8zBp53JAIvoDjYvJHZfGOiU8Cbequ6adFRsLeYvO1yzj_SfoV04J_dD5WX4lo4NoBkMr77JRCAJAEArgzqj6mFtsixMknD8I2mOVOE9JBWftEUZQVfhlHwEhpKdAhnywEzpxA/w640-h480/11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPdP6xsAE4UDqbwVfgaNT1srRzegWvk25riRMTdRiSjsy0Wjz6jdvtaKHNVLRFozlCeG68HF9qYruCu5m6asSe-2QtYqcVnJiCOQoizc917Xc-ttQEUZj-SM7OiAZkiTV7wcb0ASITSq0o-TtITttDTU40fUgnyymXNceDempBVp3gbqsE5UNACx8uw/s829/12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="661" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPdP6xsAE4UDqbwVfgaNT1srRzegWvk25riRMTdRiSjsy0Wjz6jdvtaKHNVLRFozlCeG68HF9qYruCu5m6asSe-2QtYqcVnJiCOQoizc917Xc-ttQEUZj-SM7OiAZkiTV7wcb0ASITSq0o-TtITttDTU40fUgnyymXNceDempBVp3gbqsE5UNACx8uw/w510-h640/12.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pD4DJBPbT22XHvdKjVcStjACdQtnL9GkjutvgN9HEAYQO2sbZH7eRMlvxK5WhT5-znp2Zial9CYYfdVaDpLTVaBYd-haP0WTRWxrLtCvpMKLq8nyfPslIxvuA_-jDkI7syi-nPYNiG3bNvFdAlfJ3mH67G4el1agvfnck9yzOtAYnRLmCvVVDsFGbQ/s1107/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pD4DJBPbT22XHvdKjVcStjACdQtnL9GkjutvgN9HEAYQO2sbZH7eRMlvxK5WhT5-znp2Zial9CYYfdVaDpLTVaBYd-haP0WTRWxrLtCvpMKLq8nyfPslIxvuA_-jDkI7syi-nPYNiG3bNvFdAlfJ3mH67G4el1agvfnck9yzOtAYnRLmCvVVDsFGbQ/w640-h480/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqhxEFRNyAnCsOAelCBtB9jvk4OQh90zXlZ1bKFGzSIpeP7YlAv0tTQXx_Nj6pvFB-Y__Djy_WXfC6H6OS56N1V7kvv58MssG_Sk28IsKmfXQwEjKKKJpaU-skkDbdow0TuynbksGn7MIPSlxP5Gc3JRIgvm05NzmOCIioU8zWeWok9Zyuyg4mFzGig/s1107/14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqhxEFRNyAnCsOAelCBtB9jvk4OQh90zXlZ1bKFGzSIpeP7YlAv0tTQXx_Nj6pvFB-Y__Djy_WXfC6H6OS56N1V7kvv58MssG_Sk28IsKmfXQwEjKKKJpaU-skkDbdow0TuynbksGn7MIPSlxP5Gc3JRIgvm05NzmOCIioU8zWeWok9Zyuyg4mFzGig/w640-h480/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was a perilous race to the water with seabirds trying to pick them off from the air and who knew what other creatures and hazards were waiting for them in the ocean, but everyone gave it their best effort and they all made it to the first leg of what would be at least a 10-20 year journey before they would mature and the females could return to the same place and repeat the cycle. On average however, only one of the 100 eggs in a nest will survive to adulthood, but we had our money on this little guy who was determined to return to his sender.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Du2wdCRm2BGSuvw0iSspOsFExbPRr98YtxAc_rMSFfUQVVqTjw7DiusrB5xfpzB-18knK5Jm20f83U2Kq40qm7ArAxeq9-B2yPoVFGVBpKwNjNS_8NoHdb3DyjGT7JIy5mTaQooffQwO6QsZgBeNyAS2nVRIG9mk7r5Bg145ejN-wS22egukytYo0g/s1273/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1273" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Du2wdCRm2BGSuvw0iSspOsFExbPRr98YtxAc_rMSFfUQVVqTjw7DiusrB5xfpzB-18knK5Jm20f83U2Kq40qm7ArAxeq9-B2yPoVFGVBpKwNjNS_8NoHdb3DyjGT7JIy5mTaQooffQwO6QsZgBeNyAS2nVRIG9mk7r5Bg145ejN-wS22egukytYo0g/w640-h416/15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nMiBCFxtnUFbv0cF_RvpT64FdMGW8BmceAV8l5W_ZYdJtOxHev3-cSbOpbAnG00ihXwjucU-MBQLHVfTm20FBm1vGP95EtVzOCOWk1nmeMdyH2trYjjHqkCbgmesf1Ze-4yHhRrpa002wVMPzKe7Q20TEo-JMg-mZKvibNk3DX3rWLh4tx4AFg7KYA/s525/16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nMiBCFxtnUFbv0cF_RvpT64FdMGW8BmceAV8l5W_ZYdJtOxHev3-cSbOpbAnG00ihXwjucU-MBQLHVfTm20FBm1vGP95EtVzOCOWk1nmeMdyH2trYjjHqkCbgmesf1Ze-4yHhRrpa002wVMPzKe7Q20TEo-JMg-mZKvibNk3DX3rWLh4tx4AFg7KYA/w468-h640/16.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBQ1bKaqh5bO1bQo5SQdSO-QRC1VgEK5w7ofjEATf19V4IlSGGH629HJkuxIX-NhKVeKzsHTXO4jAyacUFNNiY00rnoyDtO5EI-ALk0sR7Y1zjm8UQzn0HesCy1Q8q5CTNrdjOCg27Afrj_DEGvum9eKQ0haPbHMhqPWqixle5tv8nbOtsyxhtLnOfA/s1107/17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1107" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBQ1bKaqh5bO1bQo5SQdSO-QRC1VgEK5w7ofjEATf19V4IlSGGH629HJkuxIX-NhKVeKzsHTXO4jAyacUFNNiY00rnoyDtO5EI-ALk0sR7Y1zjm8UQzn0HesCy1Q8q5CTNrdjOCg27Afrj_DEGvum9eKQ0haPbHMhqPWqixle5tv8nbOtsyxhtLnOfA/w640-h480/17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-22376700520104391432022-10-22T14:35:00.000-07:002022-10-22T14:35:04.048-07:00The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGBui5LfJiHDyc-jbzCTSLk6B-rWKOkYdbKNdxjz5uuNfRdVHkT58HtHy9CPy-fV0GD19bom-o5peKZF1hZZ48dSniQdMECBCt5u5A3XlpAD2jONKCefDaaFpRRPYnxZwNp5E4Er4ay_6KuzF1_T3SFvDYtoEsr14iQ1IA6NgyOmxtVVffKCwW_ZV0g/s480/mountie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGBui5LfJiHDyc-jbzCTSLk6B-rWKOkYdbKNdxjz5uuNfRdVHkT58HtHy9CPy-fV0GD19bom-o5peKZF1hZZ48dSniQdMECBCt5u5A3XlpAD2jONKCefDaaFpRRPYnxZwNp5E4Er4ay_6KuzF1_T3SFvDYtoEsr14iQ1IA6NgyOmxtVVffKCwW_ZV0g/w640-h480/mountie.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></p><p>The murder of RCMP officer Shaelyn Yang, (immediately following the Province wide municipal elections where the number 1 issue was the out of control crime and stranger attacks by drugged out homeless people) couldn't have made the point any clearer that it's way past time to do something meaningful about this out of control situation. The bleeding heart woke crowd, who can't seem to acknowledge that everything they have tried to do up until now has only made things worse, need to step aside and let the rest of us, who believe in law & order and civil society, take charge. Reality has to take over and harsh measures are needed to get things back to some semblance of normality.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6ZE36R0O_bJR7_q7179ead0H2coO_XDwj2IM3mGX2k2ORpMxJrbWSc4F6KIpsIDciFMqJlrYufCRxDjjRozELNWwsTQ8kzYQxBq7eOQbtE_ZHqsRCpdO_oNLdS5f8Sm26jTKJlGxnj9pWUDsUd8QxLVVlwezratJJDPl8G4DKxH_8Y7fwYkUJnS-gQ/s1075/east-hastings-street-downtown-eastside-dtes-homeless-encampment-july-21-2022-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1075" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6ZE36R0O_bJR7_q7179ead0H2coO_XDwj2IM3mGX2k2ORpMxJrbWSc4F6KIpsIDciFMqJlrYufCRxDjjRozELNWwsTQ8kzYQxBq7eOQbtE_ZHqsRCpdO_oNLdS5f8Sm26jTKJlGxnj9pWUDsUd8QxLVVlwezratJJDPl8G4DKxH_8Y7fwYkUJnS-gQ/w640-h330/east-hastings-street-downtown-eastside-dtes-homeless-encampment-july-21-2022-f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrkSlnrJKFIxdlbbNG9qY9KOYL2eEhxB1DF9qufTxk2pqNYr84UQDTFKzfbslQHYk-FLW66OsE7adbD92cH68fr03x1N_FYYdqTzTS-3rjZhf00bYPuklzSfjQUn7NqGSNtBiNiQZ66dwm77ESPxvvLL7vRiKJenLeRi0VfUA1cn1xAupw_wMULcVaw/s480/stolen%20goods%20market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrkSlnrJKFIxdlbbNG9qY9KOYL2eEhxB1DF9qufTxk2pqNYr84UQDTFKzfbslQHYk-FLW66OsE7adbD92cH68fr03x1N_FYYdqTzTS-3rjZhf00bYPuklzSfjQUn7NqGSNtBiNiQZ66dwm77ESPxvvLL7vRiKJenLeRi0VfUA1cn1xAupw_wMULcVaw/w640-h480/stolen%20goods%20market.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvEkKy8bYGrSiAdTouRCiUXI9gkD4f5TjpjVzzGwDdEZ4nLqRYwx-qElIN-D9zwTJqJYRUlRUA2aio1ES9zBQPRdWptvEsKWlRw2xYwbN4iDeG69C-u4YNlHEVCLXcNF4sQkWCUbCIuuCHCnE2gpqlLEDej3NeCVvViizhGR9fGXiMnReZS94jtYzrw/s1300/hastings-street-sidewalk-vending-downtown-eastside-vancouver-british-GXFM1N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1300" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvEkKy8bYGrSiAdTouRCiUXI9gkD4f5TjpjVzzGwDdEZ4nLqRYwx-qElIN-D9zwTJqJYRUlRUA2aio1ES9zBQPRdWptvEsKWlRw2xYwbN4iDeG69C-u4YNlHEVCLXcNF4sQkWCUbCIuuCHCnE2gpqlLEDej3NeCVvViizhGR9fGXiMnReZS94jtYzrw/w640-h424/hastings-street-sidewalk-vending-downtown-eastside-vancouver-british-GXFM1N.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The tent cities, drug dealing, and stolen goods markets that have taken over the sidewalks of the downtown eastside are so beyond the pale that no sane person could imagine people living like they do. Photos of the area are now becoming postcards and the area is a tourist attraction for those foolhardy enough to think it will add a little colour to their vacation in otherwise beautiful Vancouver. The filth, squalor, and crime these people wallow in is only possible because they are hopelessly addicted to powerful drugs that bare no resemblance to any sort of recreational high you might get from smoking a joint or even dropping a hit of LSD.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8O5fBit7RixIs8Pvz541sceOhbdsoglB31M7VfRmKCvFgmMyFp6O67BbU8E2P5aB4KVcJdeTaGasDts9do0DcsvjohZZ0SzuwFq7Flp8WmlozP9pRhJiQAq-N3ZeyjuoUE-Bs22e-yQayATuONfkt1VfYAUG6MD2yVOLajTaB1aHVykghzhTQfxTQw/s2560/Riverview-Hospital-Essondale_s_West_Lawn._1914__C5-S01-SS02-EH.003_-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="2560" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8O5fBit7RixIs8Pvz541sceOhbdsoglB31M7VfRmKCvFgmMyFp6O67BbU8E2P5aB4KVcJdeTaGasDts9do0DcsvjohZZ0SzuwFq7Flp8WmlozP9pRhJiQAq-N3ZeyjuoUE-Bs22e-yQayATuONfkt1VfYAUG6MD2yVOLajTaB1aHVykghzhTQfxTQw/w640-h174/Riverview-Hospital-Essondale_s_West_Lawn._1914__C5-S01-SS02-EH.003_-scaled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIthgRqsFs-wKBVSMQiUHzCd0kU_nYK5cocAxxHedzppEyNAmZqvskNeAefamY_oF-3B_Cp8h-9OFCuKiJy92iNkbPgYovE8E4fUZfEba_S9P2EB3D5kip_wnzW7wOgPhzT8K2vaU_Srfey1OdOOSYVH34i5onzpyHp3uW5KjOgfSbp7WAlMz7dxGWg/s480/Riverview-Hospital-outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="480" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIthgRqsFs-wKBVSMQiUHzCd0kU_nYK5cocAxxHedzppEyNAmZqvskNeAefamY_oF-3B_Cp8h-9OFCuKiJy92iNkbPgYovE8E4fUZfEba_S9P2EB3D5kip_wnzW7wOgPhzT8K2vaU_Srfey1OdOOSYVH34i5onzpyHp3uW5KjOgfSbp7WAlMz7dxGWg/w640-h430/Riverview-Hospital-outside.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuH6M5oplu1twnpEVNjq3vqukePua3RvSg1Ot7zmJ-P9Vr5LAjlqSen6QDlKEzFc8-ij-wikAPq3tUFby2YfegVzN7STgAkCGVx-gHZEYl5_ogKCWVNQcNuL4a0Se2cp4pKZFzgTrn8Z52ifulsriYXCqeQefDZ4Or3GzAIFmFKhHE3s86hVpWtb2fQ/s1218/colony62.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1218" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuH6M5oplu1twnpEVNjq3vqukePua3RvSg1Ot7zmJ-P9Vr5LAjlqSen6QDlKEzFc8-ij-wikAPq3tUFby2YfegVzN7STgAkCGVx-gHZEYl5_ogKCWVNQcNuL4a0Se2cp4pKZFzgTrn8Z52ifulsriYXCqeQefDZ4Or3GzAIFmFKhHE3s86hVpWtb2fQ/w640-h490/colony62.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>It's no exaggeration to say that all these people living in the downtown eastside have a severe mental problem, and at one time we had a place for these people to live and get treatment for their mental illness. Located in Coquitlam, Riverview Hospital originally opened in 1913 with room for 480 patients but by the end of the year there were 919 living there. The population continued to grow until by 1956 the facility had more than 4,000 patients. The facility had a nursery, botanical garden and even a farm (Colony Farm) that produced over 700 tons of crops and 20,000 gallons of milk every year using patient labour. It also had an Industrial Therapy Building that had shops for teaching cabinet making, upholstery, furniture finishing, metal work, printing, electronics, tailoring, shoemaking etc. to the patients so they could have a vocation when they resumed life after being discharged from the hospital.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRWQbEAcapo9-6SV9WXEQIcKK4s6cZs_OqHR9dLM_DF3wxFiaZvfRjlVreNDJfqti9j6w0IlNNDOqWih3IG_XU4pmDsn_Cke4vhs3ouPSgKFDkDXX2OWC2_PubW_1TIcIBVpVW4DKjB-47mBnoJaMPFAMRJHvXohR6zRORnidLMoFaqsCJ4R1K4ioXg/s800/Rivervieweastlawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="800" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRWQbEAcapo9-6SV9WXEQIcKK4s6cZs_OqHR9dLM_DF3wxFiaZvfRjlVreNDJfqti9j6w0IlNNDOqWih3IG_XU4pmDsn_Cke4vhs3ouPSgKFDkDXX2OWC2_PubW_1TIcIBVpVW4DKjB-47mBnoJaMPFAMRJHvXohR6zRORnidLMoFaqsCJ4R1K4ioXg/w640-h424/Rivervieweastlawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>Sadly all of that is gone now and the remaining buildings are now only used as film locations by the film industry. Starting in the 1960's the government started downsizing Riverview with promises to build smaller, more regional facilities elsewhere in a phased in approach. By 2002 Riverview was down to only 800 beds and then in 2012 it was completely closed and the promised regional facilities were never built. The provincial government at the time said that institutionalization was not the solution to homelessness or drug addiction and it was gaps in the community health care system needed to be addressed. Unfortunately, the gaps were never addressed and the patients were left to their own devices with most of them moving to the downtown eastside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC5nA0wFqmIbOUZt4GWPalJ3DQDILowdW5kRipXS52-oyHKj6dxC5wMcFeTe6xzsGN6eX6r36as53QuUVcIg2-jtC8ByVlbiyDLrcLL4Q8up9gUbzXgbfxSegEK6UIovdBMl324fnTT6Lck1RHUs-UdyE10qMXh1KW-jK5OEo7l4t2lhWnSlWIGoGug/s1280/camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwC5nA0wFqmIbOUZt4GWPalJ3DQDILowdW5kRipXS52-oyHKj6dxC5wMcFeTe6xzsGN6eX6r36as53QuUVcIg2-jtC8ByVlbiyDLrcLL4Q8up9gUbzXgbfxSegEK6UIovdBMl324fnTT6Lck1RHUs-UdyE10qMXh1KW-jK5OEo7l4t2lhWnSlWIGoGug/w640-h360/camp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Almost immediately governments at every level realized this was a mistake and in 2015 the government promised to replace the obsolete buildings with new mental health facilities but, as of 2022, no new construction has started. In the meantime we have to endure the lawlessness taking over the downtown business area and creeping into every other neighbourhood. But there is a solution, and all that's required is rounding up these people and housing them in a secure, temporary facility with work camp style trailers. Once they are locked up they can undergo addiction and mental health treatment and then when that has been completed they can work on their vocational training before they are released. For those who can't make it on their own in society we need to put them in a permanent care facility, and this is something the government should be building with all speed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUL9vxsURY7Jxm1XOuNa0AhPzecBfkmNtm7UT0pJeia2iQgKNM8fmm_SLt4Znd5T1NbRPPZqUzF2jtG_hTXz2lWH5UxIHB85XKK4ANoooi_X1Nv7CCnpWfiOnv3z4-GZxBOSCjpcwN7G26VH7_hVP7-AR4YGgWpYqUhOuocN4YsWFkTEq5GpYCwz25A/s1420/modern.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1420" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUL9vxsURY7Jxm1XOuNa0AhPzecBfkmNtm7UT0pJeia2iQgKNM8fmm_SLt4Znd5T1NbRPPZqUzF2jtG_hTXz2lWH5UxIHB85XKK4ANoooi_X1Nv7CCnpWfiOnv3z4-GZxBOSCjpcwN7G26VH7_hVP7-AR4YGgWpYqUhOuocN4YsWFkTEq5GpYCwz25A/w640-h350/modern.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Over the years there have been many advances in psychiatric care, and modern hospitals don't bear any resemblance to the old lunatic asylums of the past. We need to start building a new Riverview right away and, in the meantime, we shouldn't be dragging our feet on getting treatment for those who need it, regardless if they think differently. It's time to clean up the streets once and for all, return the parks to the use they were intended, and quit kidding ourselves that the problem will just go away if we give everyone free drugs and handouts. Tough love is what's required. We once had good facilities, now we have nothing which is bad, and it's only going to get uglier if we don't make some radical changes.</div><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-35635415908792455222022-10-09T17:09:00.003-07:002022-10-19T15:02:15.221-07:00Give Thanks<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GgMfl7GAxiA8TGRl7mIjYku2KTRCEv0ixepPHytaKPNGJUZzeUjY5sn3AWhWDeWNmZ1RkeUvTKLR5qG5WceoM3qWr5bGWspcL6PiyZ98rBINqXwnsid8E2F-Rs3gUCHHVEKCv-P_AeE0rFs6WYghH1uXI-yksWzn49Bo8oNhUG_MrNTQmcM5ygPGvw/s639/WheatHarvest8_Adobestock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GgMfl7GAxiA8TGRl7mIjYku2KTRCEv0ixepPHytaKPNGJUZzeUjY5sn3AWhWDeWNmZ1RkeUvTKLR5qG5WceoM3qWr5bGWspcL6PiyZ98rBINqXwnsid8E2F-Rs3gUCHHVEKCv-P_AeE0rFs6WYghH1uXI-yksWzn49Bo8oNhUG_MrNTQmcM5ygPGvw/w640-h426/WheatHarvest8_Adobestock.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></p><p>Once again it's that time of year when Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving. Unlike the Americans, whose celebration marks the day of when they started their campaign of Indigenous genocide, ours is a time of giving thanks for a good harvest and celebrating being able to survive for another year. This year the wheat harvest in particular is set to be a record breaker which is good news for the farmers and even better for those in the rest of the world who depend on the harvest for their own diet. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bQCmUdBDj_vMcjq613FWwRT7QqAVfXcd0PnS29BmnM8yhKFYtYj3zmBJ6D9FBowC3O9fu_ZBKCSgGPkyzGS4HzRQB5_njvc0SBjY8_PLDgSY0bc9T0idSufIx6o8K_ClaifmAcnWEEwneEHNLBOVzmcDKqvPVmltqwlXXLN9ILNHZtP3Ne6F3eXulA/s640/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bQCmUdBDj_vMcjq613FWwRT7QqAVfXcd0PnS29BmnM8yhKFYtYj3zmBJ6D9FBowC3O9fu_ZBKCSgGPkyzGS4HzRQB5_njvc0SBjY8_PLDgSY0bc9T0idSufIx6o8K_ClaifmAcnWEEwneEHNLBOVzmcDKqvPVmltqwlXXLN9ILNHZtP3Ne6F3eXulA/w640-h480/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Meanwhile in the Horn of Africa they are experiencing their worst drought and famine in 60 years and between 12-18 million people are facing varying degrees of malnutrition and starvation. Contrast this with people living in North America who have an obesity rate of over 60% and climbing. A lifestyle of junk food, large portions, and too much sugar has brought on an epidemic of diabetes and tooth decay while at the same time ignoring the plight of those with nothing to eat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwtj5xcIdqF6-oN5FHG-ZbmS7k4v5lxKR9LSmCIagr8bJIBKz73M2Rb0zc0jCkjsEU23u7Zjx0AW76ExAHL3QQBrID0Vy7b3A9aTeGUyxvxazH3WYUVHkJpXrsCLECpmZD3zWcxx3RL6HxLG2G98iMITtSiXICpcKVVxmhiaDuT0_9DSSyRnRLekNRA/s634/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="634" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwtj5xcIdqF6-oN5FHG-ZbmS7k4v5lxKR9LSmCIagr8bJIBKz73M2Rb0zc0jCkjsEU23u7Zjx0AW76ExAHL3QQBrID0Vy7b3A9aTeGUyxvxazH3WYUVHkJpXrsCLECpmZD3zWcxx3RL6HxLG2G98iMITtSiXICpcKVVxmhiaDuT0_9DSSyRnRLekNRA/w640-h472/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>But it's not just food that we have too much of an abundance. We have too much stuff in general; too many clothes, too many things in our home, too many toys, and too many distractions. We've created a consumer culture that's a complicated mixture of competitive consumption, advertising, built-in obsolescence, and influencer trends that have become essential to keeping the economy running. But while consumer spending accounts for 60% of the economy it also accounts for an ever increasing level of household debt that now stands at $1.86 worth of credit for every $1.00 of disposable income.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDtMWOEjLqdNEcDoapBKmyWxJszr4EHv7w92Fz0aCVAzwm9PpGOPbB3pyT141ZDgnpwt2LQ5FiUNQKBg25YE9zeYTTQMJHnpizqaM7yXdB6AClx2c3WC_Oh03bz7jx1tI_fBvfnVPpDaSKwdacwkDDEJZmlDG1-yHocS5wddYa96x2XMGPbPYWopI9g/s639/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="639" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDtMWOEjLqdNEcDoapBKmyWxJszr4EHv7w92Fz0aCVAzwm9PpGOPbB3pyT141ZDgnpwt2LQ5FiUNQKBg25YE9zeYTTQMJHnpizqaM7yXdB6AClx2c3WC_Oh03bz7jx1tI_fBvfnVPpDaSKwdacwkDDEJZmlDG1-yHocS5wddYa96x2XMGPbPYWopI9g/w640-h478/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>And all this consumption generates a tremendous amount of garbage and packaging waste that ends up in our landfills, or worse, gets sent off to some impoverished country for them to dispose of. In fact, when you talk about waste, few Canadians realize that 58% of all food produced in this country is lost or wasted and yet 4 million Canadians, including 1.4 million children, struggle to access healthy food. The more you look at our lifestyle the more you realize we don't just have a culture of consumption we have a culture of gluttony.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK47dzKgmr-_8-bePbkGvp0mYcIh_JblNHxdVBgGxv6kd1efjkGS8dKiDbfY8dzNoAPQ2SQn9_4A8cKugwkgCRZ4RpIIn8YhcefuOWcChLAlpoejx7ZHZ0MjmBOnUdqxWh4yvNvYIFUvoAG07pBoXHzvM4W0mdazFytNCj9n8FqfCKBWIeT6B7g9pOqA/s640/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="640" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK47dzKgmr-_8-bePbkGvp0mYcIh_JblNHxdVBgGxv6kd1efjkGS8dKiDbfY8dzNoAPQ2SQn9_4A8cKugwkgCRZ4RpIIn8YhcefuOWcChLAlpoejx7ZHZ0MjmBOnUdqxWh4yvNvYIFUvoAG07pBoXHzvM4W0mdazFytNCj9n8FqfCKBWIeT6B7g9pOqA/w640-h230/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps we could put up with all this waste if everyone on this planet had a somewhat equal standard of living but the reality is quite different. Global inequality is something people are just starting to get their heads around and when they do there will probably be a revolution. How can we put up with the fact that 10% of the population owns 76% of the wealth and 52% of all the income while the bottom 50% have only 2% of the wealth and 8% of all the income. Even in Canada the top 20% have more than 67% of all the wealth while the bottom 40% have less than 3% of the wealth.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjYTQs9B1bKczGKpfZ52Se7ztyQBcNB5V7SCG2LT6lqVXNxlHG8K0cfiMlZjD-6iuXlRoTp8T8jreodKL-II8eMJivKjph9HD-aGhh62YgtJlHoYCmfwq0jz6yD2Q2h_RZLrRUBAhl95Tt0TRjcsZYzjz7C_3oE6EmuBJcDrLwtB2z9EcEblesiJlXA/s639/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="639" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjYTQs9B1bKczGKpfZ52Se7ztyQBcNB5V7SCG2LT6lqVXNxlHG8K0cfiMlZjD-6iuXlRoTp8T8jreodKL-II8eMJivKjph9HD-aGhh62YgtJlHoYCmfwq0jz6yD2Q2h_RZLrRUBAhl95Tt0TRjcsZYzjz7C_3oE6EmuBJcDrLwtB2z9EcEblesiJlXA/w640-h426/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Maybe Thanksgiving should be time of thinking how we can make the world a more equitable place to live by finding ways of sharing the wealth. Wealth taxes for the rich are the most obvious but ideas like a guaranteed income or sharing the profits of natural resources, since they are owned by all, also come to mind. Since the poor are often the least educated, free education could also be offered as a way to lift people out of poverty. There are many possibilities and ideas if our business and government leaders really wanted to solve the problem before it's too late.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2Lv9keqOSRQAv9zry3pLABMKfnZGsVYf6qh0m148gtWRHgFtTF5fxPzwAzxCtzwchjSwX8NepaqJX8QI8GAiAtWHAo4xQh1WBhu0LUe_jCt6wCYi43Ct-oabDrooWNMuGFe2BRyWOPIlXwdhn0V-TodbLIBy_t4oqsJaviTEid64UMVkdx9b_XebRQ/s640/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2Lv9keqOSRQAv9zry3pLABMKfnZGsVYf6qh0m148gtWRHgFtTF5fxPzwAzxCtzwchjSwX8NepaqJX8QI8GAiAtWHAo4xQh1WBhu0LUe_jCt6wCYi43Ct-oabDrooWNMuGFe2BRyWOPIlXwdhn0V-TodbLIBy_t4oqsJaviTEid64UMVkdx9b_XebRQ/w640-h426/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>It feels good to share and at this time of year there's nothing more satisfying than sharing a Thanksgiving meal with friends and/or family. Perhaps it's that spirit of sharing that will inspire us to find a way to make the changes necessary so that everyone in the world can give thanks.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-38836720145660472412022-09-01T14:49:00.002-07:002022-09-02T17:11:37.267-07:00Down To The Waterline<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKE2IF_u2M-yi3wzPVa72QA8sq-gT_DWXmbgqXAd1Zi5fOhVTgNDhnEDv8NF414Y3j4uS_LZJ9OWGIEproQUTOydakUlos332XLnLQeA2fylz02-C1JD5NKge0yrEs91v1Jq7qAed3Op0Yo99zb-KhvTiGFJDORwtR0vVZdeEiyXcaNJgGs_g6jyfbeQ/s4000/mead.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2668" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKE2IF_u2M-yi3wzPVa72QA8sq-gT_DWXmbgqXAd1Zi5fOhVTgNDhnEDv8NF414Y3j4uS_LZJ9OWGIEproQUTOydakUlos332XLnLQeA2fylz02-C1JD5NKge0yrEs91v1Jq7qAed3Op0Yo99zb-KhvTiGFJDORwtR0vVZdeEiyXcaNJgGs_g6jyfbeQ/w640-h426/mead.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fVRNvbmGc6C8JtH0S7lPCQIDaaeh_Q-SOcaRvgcU9nwraR-91OVpZqjImlEFM9zEb0UXmu2QrZlbjd8r5ENAB-AipXYk0wdon9vHKieNiqO-0y5wDSUZoUEOZihHFbkqN5cn4weW3Wa4PV6S7p5PZqeNBzFyly28cAqmVApxQD3wn763z76HLiRvUA/s4000/LH2EYNXWHMI6ZAO3VQD2HFFINM_size-normalized.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2668" data-original-width="4000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fVRNvbmGc6C8JtH0S7lPCQIDaaeh_Q-SOcaRvgcU9nwraR-91OVpZqjImlEFM9zEb0UXmu2QrZlbjd8r5ENAB-AipXYk0wdon9vHKieNiqO-0y5wDSUZoUEOZihHFbkqN5cn4weW3Wa4PV6S7p5PZqeNBzFyly28cAqmVApxQD3wn763z76HLiRvUA/w640-h426/LH2EYNXWHMI6ZAO3VQD2HFFINM_size-normalized.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past summer there have been some disturbing photos about water, or the lack of it, in the news with Lake Mead being one particular example. A reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, it supplies electricity to 350,000 homes as well as irrigation and drinking water to 25 million people but, owing to a megadrought that started in 2000, it is now at a record low level. Currently the Lake Mead water level is 1,040 feet, a 160 foot drop since the year 2000 with the so-called "bathtub rings" on the hillsides indicating previous water levels. If the water level drops below 950 feet the Hoover Dam will cease generating electricity and at 895 feet a condition called "dead pool" occurs which means no water will flow past the Hoover Dam thus cutting off water to anyone in Arizona or California. In the meantime people are discovering all sorts of things that once rested on the bottom of the lake including boats, bodies, and assorted trash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHFtI74uDWp3qgJ3tG-cTbgc9nipI3GqiH0qH0LQsxYtefX-IbuB84h-CeFTVC6Dk67L41hxQEuukbag7qSe6j31M29px6v-jwybJRRqQEY7HgGB5Pi8gXxglmX7Xhyy-SFOWu_EUWV7NaTtATLJNHGBJ1IzbqBc9EtTtUkes5mMmF4x4baiTuxjfvA/s1000/rhine.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1000" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHFtI74uDWp3qgJ3tG-cTbgc9nipI3GqiH0qH0LQsxYtefX-IbuB84h-CeFTVC6Dk67L41hxQEuukbag7qSe6j31M29px6v-jwybJRRqQEY7HgGB5Pi8gXxglmX7Xhyy-SFOWu_EUWV7NaTtATLJNHGBJ1IzbqBc9EtTtUkes5mMmF4x4baiTuxjfvA/w640-h420/rhine.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Rhine River in Germany was another example of waterways falling to dangerously low levels and impeding river boat traffic. Ships are running aground and having to reduce their cargo so as to minimize the amount of draft, all of which is very costly and disruptive to the economy which is already struggling thanks to the war in Ukraine. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6FKe9S2hry-XgSiYe-GALnsHBWH0v8qe6o_Xsc7FlgTqHQPbOEK_EJQeOKIimRQYm04MknJOP5cWNHj6cz8-xTY6mf-21D7OtXcD2ZCR5sskNK_p08NhgEeLT_N6E5KDf9w0dljAdEYJL_Bv8TekoQni06ePa_SP4P08Ky_PYoqOzFfW9dv0h6VKcQ/s4000/danube.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6FKe9S2hry-XgSiYe-GALnsHBWH0v8qe6o_Xsc7FlgTqHQPbOEK_EJQeOKIimRQYm04MknJOP5cWNHj6cz8-xTY6mf-21D7OtXcD2ZCR5sskNK_p08NhgEeLT_N6E5KDf9w0dljAdEYJL_Bv8TekoQni06ePa_SP4P08Ky_PYoqOzFfW9dv0h6VKcQ/w640-h360/danube.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Over in the Danube River there's a similar situation with low water levels and one made even worse by the exposure of German warships that were scuttled in WW2 and whose explosive laden hulks now threaten any shipping.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-2-gyd-ShUV-C4o1mh5ywD5hP2uli7f74X1EcbRTANRNbfDMPfMSFm9MsT6qa3P7i5WTDtMeFH7f1hTpfmCfLRoxn7hEf_eWDH85sRlse2PTSGYswPMGqcBC3oTlPeYmjs7KdJbjufbitCWUXJ-f0bnzeSvUZsxDmpLSSBmbz9vU5rVfgZDlAK1CQA/s1024/spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-2-gyd-ShUV-C4o1mh5ywD5hP2uli7f74X1EcbRTANRNbfDMPfMSFm9MsT6qa3P7i5WTDtMeFH7f1hTpfmCfLRoxn7hEf_eWDH85sRlse2PTSGYswPMGqcBC3oTlPeYmjs7KdJbjufbitCWUXJ-f0bnzeSvUZsxDmpLSSBmbz9vU5rVfgZDlAK1CQA/w640-h360/spain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There was also the drought in Spain that has left reservoirs with less than half of their capacity and, as a result of the heat wave over western Europe, there were severe forest fires over Portugal, Spain and France.<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnVYPAB_3XfEmnOMlsAOItsJrVa2NzifZ3NtQN3hYjgxl1C3H-iNqyfDAvk8soSEqmC0i__rHHIYkPnE1Wf8BnSHgbjteIVE34mjYlJS6VIRUfIOdsV8c3HANMj-HqqIWiaHgwvaYrQUtupjCYcPZp6Be-QxVsJ84btN8VB6aJuxvyyswQdOULjmYGQ/s1920/China_Drought_40984.jpg-ff590-emiwen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnVYPAB_3XfEmnOMlsAOItsJrVa2NzifZ3NtQN3hYjgxl1C3H-iNqyfDAvk8soSEqmC0i__rHHIYkPnE1Wf8BnSHgbjteIVE34mjYlJS6VIRUfIOdsV8c3HANMj-HqqIWiaHgwvaYrQUtupjCYcPZp6Be-QxVsJ84btN8VB6aJuxvyyswQdOULjmYGQ/w640-h360/China_Drought_40984.jpg-ff590-emiwen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3te3-hayx8U1s95qsYBU8fSeJw9R7Q7-XbcIJnORMjLecd9ZdM2gs33cxCA9F69zERbrxfohfoDDcs09VPiXgvgDd_Hd72Y3Qilv6353DfoQXPVga5S3aF513nBIrYwmLCMjOeA6YQ2RsCK4eJWyfrLPEG7oke3N6-kaXtc988TQPeyKzWRCGeRGdw/s705/yang.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="705" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3te3-hayx8U1s95qsYBU8fSeJw9R7Q7-XbcIJnORMjLecd9ZdM2gs33cxCA9F69zERbrxfohfoDDcs09VPiXgvgDd_Hd72Y3Qilv6353DfoQXPVga5S3aF513nBIrYwmLCMjOeA6YQ2RsCK4eJWyfrLPEG7oke3N6-kaXtc988TQPeyKzWRCGeRGdw/w640-h428/yang.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><p>In China the drought has caused the Yangtze and other rivers to dry up which has not only severely impacted shipping but also caused disruptions at manufacturing plants because of reduced hydro electric output. To try and combat the drought China has been resorting to launching rockets with cloud seeding silver iodide in an effort to induce rainfall. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xlqkYLiJ4psaujZ3LSNO4BLtiClCPlfQbd-A-oI8RCF1Q_axcM2KbCdTpQXU8tVtmNQFK1KUCknvKSpROl8j5EV7GfoVZh1-TdzsgXmb8rdE6pcxsWid6QjMIRWkZ-czXyZBtU8r4fh7gIJdS3S7fo7BHj9ujkYdDr2JVsGQTFMNxtlhOZPLyaRhMg/s600/cattle.jpg_1718483346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="600" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xlqkYLiJ4psaujZ3LSNO4BLtiClCPlfQbd-A-oI8RCF1Q_axcM2KbCdTpQXU8tVtmNQFK1KUCknvKSpROl8j5EV7GfoVZh1-TdzsgXmb8rdE6pcxsWid6QjMIRWkZ-czXyZBtU8r4fh7gIJdS3S7fo7BHj9ujkYdDr2JVsGQTFMNxtlhOZPLyaRhMg/w640-h362/cattle.jpg_1718483346.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Drought in the Horn of Africa after four consecutive years of no rainfall has left millions of cattle dead as well as hundreds of thousands of people. The area is plagued with famine and war and millions are facing famine and water shortages. <br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Drx_cSBjRfrkCH2RRXPim5dInWEsbBoMVQbHySetVHI45-rdy109c_IUG1wwepeD2W9Hg7qQVSQjSXCB4jzbGK39unl2lTQeMcJblstz32cjJeOrZVmV2SZllH-rswnzD6Ip3fMbDJ1REFH05dXa-E1auSXPlNVsoYt6k-1mNBs63pXY26tdvvfj0Q/s1200/Change_in_Average_Temperature_With_Fahrenheit.svg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1200" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Drx_cSBjRfrkCH2RRXPim5dInWEsbBoMVQbHySetVHI45-rdy109c_IUG1wwepeD2W9Hg7qQVSQjSXCB4jzbGK39unl2lTQeMcJblstz32cjJeOrZVmV2SZllH-rswnzD6Ip3fMbDJ1REFH05dXa-E1auSXPlNVsoYt6k-1mNBs63pXY26tdvvfj0Q/w640-h576/Change_in_Average_Temperature_With_Fahrenheit.svg.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Global warming is of course the main culprit for expanding drought conditions around the world but pressure from an increasing world population, improving living standards, expansion of irrigated agriculture, deforestation, changing consumption patterns, and wasteful uses of water are also contributing factors. But in some places global warming is having the opposite effect of drought by bringing in extreme rainfall and causing glaciers to melt, which adds more fresh water run-off than areas can handle.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9byl9R-JHHEwhyU_tC2mRVM-ezDeBs-rKDFP7svvyKPqFRTb8Ujb3kJyiZP1o8ICPcpIfr5cv8GdgGm7TEmxnx7Ynd5TdCvCeSwagbmsPt3J9KJCHuRt9-fiTtNBqCuzSRe52nB1zGV6rr8Om_-iZZlDO_jIX8GuEsWPduPyQctMd27x3xKgmCz-Fpw/s1230/n5duqnvo_pakistan-flood_625x300_31_July_22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1230" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9byl9R-JHHEwhyU_tC2mRVM-ezDeBs-rKDFP7svvyKPqFRTb8Ujb3kJyiZP1o8ICPcpIfr5cv8GdgGm7TEmxnx7Ynd5TdCvCeSwagbmsPt3J9KJCHuRt9-fiTtNBqCuzSRe52nB1zGV6rr8Om_-iZZlDO_jIX8GuEsWPduPyQctMd27x3xKgmCz-Fpw/w640-h370/n5duqnvo_pakistan-flood_625x300_31_July_22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhZXhOHfUU3Ozo4K7lfd_NrvEUYWgEks7cUwPH1yV0_xncc8Hocur-PKBtsb-T1dxo7OXNDTvIS8V-KvWggp0MV0eu_u2MnHEhiIcGaSxXuyReTQSkUfFYCMGpaLZImUwkSSF781LSlD5ys_gE0Q28SYvzDH1pQcxGUp8FGvvcOsLDYjGYo7UdClgmA/s640/pak.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="640" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhZXhOHfUU3Ozo4K7lfd_NrvEUYWgEks7cUwPH1yV0_xncc8Hocur-PKBtsb-T1dxo7OXNDTvIS8V-KvWggp0MV0eu_u2MnHEhiIcGaSxXuyReTQSkUfFYCMGpaLZImUwkSSF781LSlD5ys_gE0Q28SYvzDH1pQcxGUp8FGvvcOsLDYjGYo7UdClgmA/w640-h438/pak.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This year epic flooding hit Pakistan and left it with 1/3 of the country under water, more than 30 million people affected, and a death toll rising into the thousands. Heavier than usual monsoon rains and more than normal glacier melt in the Himalayas are the culprits with global warming being the root cause for both. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcf4NXNZKu78Tv7LokDwA9i61pRWhiv0TjVM8RNtoPQDuF9XRHxvfJGJWAcPe0TE7m4IeNoO4GjbvhWmpsbylUUL0xD7RiScjrL-FxqQUiOgTb_TVCE3tetct_nBfgE4iOFQ1ERnWn0mUQ3oUC_L-sXKhzQhI05PGjVhB6fpNt-ijWdNT_Xdn26VD7Q/s1024/aus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcf4NXNZKu78Tv7LokDwA9i61pRWhiv0TjVM8RNtoPQDuF9XRHxvfJGJWAcPe0TE7m4IeNoO4GjbvhWmpsbylUUL0xD7RiScjrL-FxqQUiOgTb_TVCE3tetct_nBfgE4iOFQ1ERnWn0mUQ3oUC_L-sXKhzQhI05PGjVhB6fpNt-ijWdNT_Xdn26VD7Q/w640-h360/aus.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Australia was also hit with epic flooding this year as a result of shifting global weather patterns that are bringing in extreme rainfall.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb371gONvscA3W9rzogeKVxqWKCIum1K7oq3p8eEjimCQMvUoGauDYBfdBRIej7wxLtUytbRbdzUIuboUrvRNsRUL7Juby245e-ilcwiWM3Vrt-ARhPSCmbyNMJvBL_w7H77gYfVk7JWcs74cxhaVZWw8LT3V_8Apg08QlW5DaZEQQcj89q9YPxO7kg/s1425/Water_stress_2019_WRI.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1425" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb371gONvscA3W9rzogeKVxqWKCIum1K7oq3p8eEjimCQMvUoGauDYBfdBRIej7wxLtUytbRbdzUIuboUrvRNsRUL7Juby245e-ilcwiWM3Vrt-ARhPSCmbyNMJvBL_w7H77gYfVk7JWcs74cxhaVZWw8LT3V_8Apg08QlW5DaZEQQcj89q9YPxO7kg/w640-h280/Water_stress_2019_WRI.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Water scarcity is where there is a lack of fresh water to meet the demand. Water scarcity of course varies around the globe with particularly arid countries and/or those with high population densities typically affected the most. Worldwide there is enough fresh water to meet the demand but there is a mismatch between water sources and where the people actually live. This is called physical scarcity.<div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kxk6vcy_E4s33QCROXoVy6roGcFLXOlpoTYVpPMiLXZW8Uux32CLuFLDT1n98DJ_UKzR-iw8HyCtiSVY2lPajg4wcFADTN3bZufEAGbbXqB6uEJVJvPrNip1jrcFKcZtz4RjkUK6ZcscDUygv_EexZp9dFSEFdkJmRDeupKY8yB0jitQiUphDRqVaA/s800/WWDR4_Global_physical_and_economic_water_scarcity.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="800" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3kxk6vcy_E4s33QCROXoVy6roGcFLXOlpoTYVpPMiLXZW8Uux32CLuFLDT1n98DJ_UKzR-iw8HyCtiSVY2lPajg4wcFADTN3bZufEAGbbXqB6uEJVJvPrNip1jrcFKcZtz4RjkUK6ZcscDUygv_EexZp9dFSEFdkJmRDeupKY8yB0jitQiUphDRqVaA/w640-h324/WWDR4_Global_physical_and_economic_water_scarcity.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Of more interest perhaps is what is referred to as economic scarcity which is caused by a lack of investment in the infrastructure or technology required to draw the water from rivers, aquifers, or other water sources to satisfy the demand. Because this is about money it affects poorer parts of the globe with sub-sahara Africa being particularly affected.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutt1A26ZyM-tF3A8YwC701q6g6m5jwVwiUEDV7Ybq6jnHcuOYtExPpE3inOAygVuR-hpm4APbjfDV6jssD5PWTMmhyMdUmNfbUTZYAATGpyd36FvWl23WawgUT1tenfbpatHlTANqia2oAaHE4WTmHV27e4otuWa6izKMcfoeYV9lOxBRx5gau-jrDw/s435/Distribution-of-water-on-the-Earths-surface-Source-Courtesy-Earth-Update-CD-ROM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="424" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutt1A26ZyM-tF3A8YwC701q6g6m5jwVwiUEDV7Ybq6jnHcuOYtExPpE3inOAygVuR-hpm4APbjfDV6jssD5PWTMmhyMdUmNfbUTZYAATGpyd36FvWl23WawgUT1tenfbpatHlTANqia2oAaHE4WTmHV27e4otuWa6izKMcfoeYV9lOxBRx5gau-jrDw/w624-h640/Distribution-of-water-on-the-Earths-surface-Source-Courtesy-Earth-Update-CD-ROM.png" width="624" /></a></div><br /><div>97% of the world's water is saltwater and only 3% is fresh. Of that most is tied up in glaciers leaving less than 1% accessible. Of that the African Great Lakes take up 29%, Lake Baikal takes up 22% and the the Great Lakes of North America take up 21%. Without adequate rainfall the rest of the world is extremely vulnerable to drought unless they can access the groundwater in aquifers. For those of us living in British Columbia we should never complain about the rain because, unfortunately, the rest of the world is increasingly getting down to the waterline. </div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-73636065258176784502022-07-28T15:24:00.000-07:002022-07-28T15:24:18.595-07:00Colour My World<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxHdG-B7s7H4A4gBjfsAxdAElGLQmzX7-gEcHiTF5WPBrakZbCj_IUuC0CwzZ2W1ae1wCuR-Yncgsipfc-AoHNSJZvLsCaEIwh6DUWxGNJd25a6BzQOXK7Gy7R5OaRwKAbmb14aPhg3MU92vxeMvqtNIMuGwiDFzX6dg9b5EE_sfss9Z5GH7DSqtN-g/s2500/Joe-Average---Angelica-Stirpe---by-Mavreen-David---0M1A5886.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxHdG-B7s7H4A4gBjfsAxdAElGLQmzX7-gEcHiTF5WPBrakZbCj_IUuC0CwzZ2W1ae1wCuR-Yncgsipfc-AoHNSJZvLsCaEIwh6DUWxGNJd25a6BzQOXK7Gy7R5OaRwKAbmb14aPhg3MU92vxeMvqtNIMuGwiDFzX6dg9b5EE_sfss9Z5GH7DSqtN-g/w640-h426/Joe-Average---Angelica-Stirpe---by-Mavreen-David---0M1A5886.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />From August 4-14th the annual Vancouver Mural Festival kicks off once again and this year promises to add another 30+ murals to the more than 300 that now exist. Formed in 2016 as a grassroots organization dedicated to social sustainability, cultural diversity, and artistic excellence the murals have addressed a wide variety of socio-cultural issues in Vancouver while at the same time brightening up the city landscape. But a picture is worth a thousand words and just a few of these colourful installations quickly demonstrate the power of art to enrich us all. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbueZYCBiFd6OFnMkbrVy1KqFCKB47l7lBUa9Vk3ChZ5mC8l8x2xqdJjmjdiC6jKKiicuNgkjTZlxBtmglFKOtPLbokHJaHiQeeYwJr4Gqi7NybzWZEY53u4aookaPvRq6vJJJ1E2CXsldPKgP_oVGpIJ-jLdLgCIBZwOlKzIstbTWe2uY8uEh6O_4g/s500/Nada-Hayek---by-Mavreen-David---0M1A6113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbueZYCBiFd6OFnMkbrVy1KqFCKB47l7lBUa9Vk3ChZ5mC8l8x2xqdJjmjdiC6jKKiicuNgkjTZlxBtmglFKOtPLbokHJaHiQeeYwJr4Gqi7NybzWZEY53u4aookaPvRq6vJJJ1E2CXsldPKgP_oVGpIJ-jLdLgCIBZwOlKzIstbTWe2uY8uEh6O_4g/w640-h426/Nada-Hayek---by-Mavreen-David---0M1A6113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlErrDsN9u5L_TrRcBw12uv12-ZtiaMObiABHoYbGExgIjxl4MPK4w0bx2zosZvdIsKsUeB0UB_CP_if5UxwUxGZ4XwZQ4OVwD80AmyU7GtF-zGOxoQjJ_V7enPOblKR1p1hfcUZsRVmDqqp8CrQ4CaalaUDQo-tlJLGEWAHwmNhWX2U-MtmRjU_2sw/s1500/Artists+Lauren+Brevner+and+James+Mural++Harry+Mural+for+Bentall+Centre+at+Vancouver+Mural+Festival+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlErrDsN9u5L_TrRcBw12uv12-ZtiaMObiABHoYbGExgIjxl4MPK4w0bx2zosZvdIsKsUeB0UB_CP_if5UxwUxGZ4XwZQ4OVwD80AmyU7GtF-zGOxoQjJ_V7enPOblKR1p1hfcUZsRVmDqqp8CrQ4CaalaUDQo-tlJLGEWAHwmNhWX2U-MtmRjU_2sw/w640-h428/Artists+Lauren+Brevner+and+James+Mural++Harry+Mural+for+Bentall+Centre+at+Vancouver+Mural+Festival+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFku4gpKA2H4QImi2acg5K91umL3ceu4-9ltY7TUSB_VMrw4xEAz-Ahkm8YErvlnDC54TTMKG8lMGzeZBQrh5qpO90Y0G6ESv5Xuqw2pf80MJKAVvhLFT05G0kiI8w6daL5d_YSGN--al3b-o004MmcxGxXOBCafmM6k-2EL_nyfIcx6UwbD9JoH44w/s1072/1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1072" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFku4gpKA2H4QImi2acg5K91umL3ceu4-9ltY7TUSB_VMrw4xEAz-Ahkm8YErvlnDC54TTMKG8lMGzeZBQrh5qpO90Y0G6ESv5Xuqw2pf80MJKAVvhLFT05G0kiI8w6daL5d_YSGN--al3b-o004MmcxGxXOBCafmM6k-2EL_nyfIcx6UwbD9JoH44w/w640-h328/1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTsBMLQ5tRNF8YzrmW0Qk1TUVZGHiPqxWqZgA1-gc8TGIb4BPYat4BpwPP9mICVr0NJYVAY9k6AzVPJvTmSwMlqh43-MbPHoNT6cSR48WosLIcmaKs4bP1CrXiJHesN7POlQq6q3w5ewQgQlzpHRxrJ7_Cshlv8l6YFl5I3gX_nU7brdUkUKd6dQxeg/s1077/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1077" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTsBMLQ5tRNF8YzrmW0Qk1TUVZGHiPqxWqZgA1-gc8TGIb4BPYat4BpwPP9mICVr0NJYVAY9k6AzVPJvTmSwMlqh43-MbPHoNT6cSR48WosLIcmaKs4bP1CrXiJHesN7POlQq6q3w5ewQgQlzpHRxrJ7_Cshlv8l6YFl5I3gX_nU7brdUkUKd6dQxeg/w640-h326/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJySMZzySfG8DS43MjDqE2N6phcpcKSIHv_Sd83tLjCUluvwkYHbBDyoiA1NF1mf5svnUtY87VDC9bIwLdgekq8YA843fqsUqlXoPH4kW5iT-wAUdh0UF8x9f4LnZqmKjgut0x5qPtVfsekpN7NJqdEA7RMNR1Pz8yZHTWDYcsjedcOSLS0KqnxwQPqg/s620/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJySMZzySfG8DS43MjDqE2N6phcpcKSIHv_Sd83tLjCUluvwkYHbBDyoiA1NF1mf5svnUtY87VDC9bIwLdgekq8YA843fqsUqlXoPH4kW5iT-wAUdh0UF8x9f4LnZqmKjgut0x5qPtVfsekpN7NJqdEA7RMNR1Pz8yZHTWDYcsjedcOSLS0KqnxwQPqg/w640-h360/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq-jSKRlTkp_796zxUlrbslLDXfw-lByV3PuogOfAuaKqGTrcOeLH4_iYMfQzpRVZaryeSOG3goCWHTqmdDu2l8Kde4WgqA2dVkg0Gir8zEIsNTQ1Eb2LWp8MsIzE4q-S49RydmVoR5MIcVsDskpXrXqIKAjb15C7SNLig7PQmCszzSLmjhKvlhbucw/s300/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq-jSKRlTkp_796zxUlrbslLDXfw-lByV3PuogOfAuaKqGTrcOeLH4_iYMfQzpRVZaryeSOG3goCWHTqmdDu2l8Kde4WgqA2dVkg0Gir8zEIsNTQ1Eb2LWp8MsIzE4q-S49RydmVoR5MIcVsDskpXrXqIKAjb15C7SNLig7PQmCszzSLmjhKvlhbucw/w640-h358/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbAuLJdlXzZyuqiaw1AvV_-ZaC4JuiKG-dZrxzrgKzuUMFw0atDUVXs9f3PELa6ke_AHrR4ft5QgWWnjT-qTh3J6YhTMINnbUIdkVTmq1H86JsyDUeFIUFV43a93apwNsYe9QpnJjQ9CVISCR-SnGX1fhST5OL1VtPjvE4VvqD3-_uvdmMwL8mSRERg/s2500/6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1669" data-original-width="2500" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbAuLJdlXzZyuqiaw1AvV_-ZaC4JuiKG-dZrxzrgKzuUMFw0atDUVXs9f3PELa6ke_AHrR4ft5QgWWnjT-qTh3J6YhTMINnbUIdkVTmq1H86JsyDUeFIUFV43a93apwNsYe9QpnJjQ9CVISCR-SnGX1fhST5OL1VtPjvE4VvqD3-_uvdmMwL8mSRERg/w640-h428/6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-0pOm3B3tsOA7WHaShv-QdUbdW4kBZ-MwmZ_9XehciavkO2WZRBQItNMosyzFqoqZPrFpCNIqWG6nR0vJDE2h7C8joIxf4Ja8F58u1cDKZIwv-SSBXFCOTUq23O_--K7qXH63EcBz2F8o3sUQV2b0CcpqxII4Lhmcv9hzKeOEOqwtx-T43h1ik81VA/s1500/Mural+Artist+Drew+Young+and+Jay+Senetchko's+public+street+art+installation+for+Vancouver+Mural+Festival+(VMF)+of+two+portraits+in+flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1500" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-0pOm3B3tsOA7WHaShv-QdUbdW4kBZ-MwmZ_9XehciavkO2WZRBQItNMosyzFqoqZPrFpCNIqWG6nR0vJDE2h7C8joIxf4Ja8F58u1cDKZIwv-SSBXFCOTUq23O_--K7qXH63EcBz2F8o3sUQV2b0CcpqxII4Lhmcv9hzKeOEOqwtx-T43h1ik81VA/w640-h384/Mural+Artist+Drew+Young+and+Jay+Senetchko's+public+street+art+installation+for+Vancouver+Mural+Festival+(VMF)+of+two+portraits+in+flowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Turning bland or boring walls into something vibrant and eye-catching is a gift in itself to all who get to view it and, when it also provides a message of social importance and awareness, that's an added bonus. Some of the most beautiful ones are located in the Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood, where the festival began, but the murals can be found all over Vancouver's neighbourhoods including the River District, Marpole, Cambie Village, Strathcona, Downtown, and the West End. The best way to see them is by going on a walking tour in one of the neighbourhoods.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5BgwfM3A9RxGFiuPGjT0FiRy6vNRxfkMBJWvA751efXyjyS44YJtT_fSuvXG5w3lr1iwneP9zCh6S0UejQSE4JtA00zTBUotpJJ-MRfQk6uqe-opoe4CD6zBRECJN7qyDl0zNCJH-syye7zY7iB6kLOL0keXtQUAmYH0q0jo6RxUNwxwtVsrz4slEw/s1169/s1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1169" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5BgwfM3A9RxGFiuPGjT0FiRy6vNRxfkMBJWvA751efXyjyS44YJtT_fSuvXG5w3lr1iwneP9zCh6S0UejQSE4JtA00zTBUotpJJ-MRfQk6uqe-opoe4CD6zBRECJN7qyDl0zNCJH-syye7zY7iB6kLOL0keXtQUAmYH0q0jo6RxUNwxwtVsrz4slEw/w640-h454/s1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNFMq9WWysb2lXVb5GX7r7jdVYKQovFwz67eODUUHSoFF_wC5WMTeO74jGLnQEijXmvHKfVfWylTVSAwoGVQ0AlgGak6wNMF8DZZjcAqw8xlIi4tQfh03ZqMNZs5eMXSIocJH7lAD4j9-WQLErl-C9f_kTBUfDpNvE-2QmrGPNiF5uurTu300K7RpVw/s661/s2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="361" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNFMq9WWysb2lXVb5GX7r7jdVYKQovFwz67eODUUHSoFF_wC5WMTeO74jGLnQEijXmvHKfVfWylTVSAwoGVQ0AlgGak6wNMF8DZZjcAqw8xlIi4tQfh03ZqMNZs5eMXSIocJH7lAD4j9-WQLErl-C9f_kTBUfDpNvE-2QmrGPNiF5uurTu300K7RpVw/w350-h640/s2.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr67osDp6Zcri30FveHLctLSPBqrhRpnHlmYOUjLIbUN2eV_Wo1veLgeg4n759EqIx3M_cD736A3JK7gdu_lgrCBkaJkpVWVG_RYKy6saWRnQk-pL2wH7A1pZcw9tMY1eYQ5vfga5eZ1mdnaN6wmBBTGtcwiOAewPdQOk9IXwUwoDOuDGIzMxiDVOUQ/s830/s3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="559" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr67osDp6Zcri30FveHLctLSPBqrhRpnHlmYOUjLIbUN2eV_Wo1veLgeg4n759EqIx3M_cD736A3JK7gdu_lgrCBkaJkpVWVG_RYKy6saWRnQk-pL2wH7A1pZcw9tMY1eYQ5vfga5eZ1mdnaN6wmBBTGtcwiOAewPdQOk9IXwUwoDOuDGIzMxiDVOUQ/w432-h640/s3.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzMgtCQCM_nkicHuoW60A2ms-u465EJUImzUlZiFlfqJEHaCIVDWZmakixITe_TkgUOUL-FlVL71LuEiMmqCG9-1v9LDoxT1doX1-ulOKSXGHJ0K6ScZInmemIJjFCwLd6m24D-qhEzQdk-Xgm0t5JIlb0Cfob3r3o7PFClvp_ExiQcPT6bqDp-11Og/s994/s5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="994" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzMgtCQCM_nkicHuoW60A2ms-u465EJUImzUlZiFlfqJEHaCIVDWZmakixITe_TkgUOUL-FlVL71LuEiMmqCG9-1v9LDoxT1doX1-ulOKSXGHJ0K6ScZInmemIJjFCwLd6m24D-qhEzQdk-Xgm0t5JIlb0Cfob3r3o7PFClvp_ExiQcPT6bqDp-11Og/w640-h528/s5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">But murals aren't unique to Vancouver and, on a recent trip to Estepona, Spain, I was pleased to see the city had also sponsored a mural competition to brighten up various buildings while contributing to social awareness and artistic creativity. The tourist office even provided a self-guided walking tour map to aid in exploring them.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I36weP6tTT2VW6H1oTIWiQofXmBBnA3NvWx_3-FVAo7rgMdqrCI8rDC9umiudZihZ0adqj6PmeYuThYuONWzURcJwiiVgEwCbKMwWTtxUX8YC23Uu-Ts5RKJITYaxs-nymO4hCrb8gosX3cPjcZPL324OVJPiXYqNeEmq-3rWBHnY5H6dOq9GeXKbw/s830/IMG_20220701_150820086.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="676" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4I36weP6tTT2VW6H1oTIWiQofXmBBnA3NvWx_3-FVAo7rgMdqrCI8rDC9umiudZihZ0adqj6PmeYuThYuONWzURcJwiiVgEwCbKMwWTtxUX8YC23Uu-Ts5RKJITYaxs-nymO4hCrb8gosX3cPjcZPL324OVJPiXYqNeEmq-3rWBHnY5H6dOq9GeXKbw/w522-h640/IMG_20220701_150820086.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><p></p><p>But while art can be of social importance it can also be just for fun. Or colour, or whimsy as is the case with the Douglas Coupland murals that have been painted on the newly refreshed Berkeley tower on the corner of Denman and Davie streets. Eye catching from every angle this landmark building became even more of a landmark with its bright new coat of many colours. In a rainy city filled with bland concrete what could be more cheerful than this? A little colour in this world goes a long way in lifting spirits and is something to be encouraged.</p>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-47192280821359212112022-06-20T10:59:00.003-07:002022-07-07T16:08:11.449-07:00This Land Is Our Land<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2xYcwqGXm9kjZe2KUQpMJ1c7zQjLI4Gwz-3ktjWe5Hgw6Ny5wXGQF4V3CkfF_iOYU8A-MKBvXX_kkjImxWmlcvVxWczxzqGoTeSq4i3PAnT580MQ-eSSAxRK-Ip_lkaSnOCAmmK5v3M9Gie4iabma9tPHEy6GpJQBhFtbYMx09AfI9_5iFpC3UWF4w/s720/rcmp%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="720" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2xYcwqGXm9kjZe2KUQpMJ1c7zQjLI4Gwz-3ktjWe5Hgw6Ny5wXGQF4V3CkfF_iOYU8A-MKBvXX_kkjImxWmlcvVxWczxzqGoTeSq4i3PAnT580MQ-eSSAxRK-Ip_lkaSnOCAmmK5v3M9Gie4iabma9tPHEy6GpJQBhFtbYMx09AfI9_5iFpC3UWF4w/w640-h378/rcmp%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The current dispute over Wetsuweten land is just the latest in a long line of attempted appropriations inflicted on various First Nations as our settler society continues to think it can help itself to anything it sees with little or no regard for Indigenous people who may have already laid claim to it. Trying to separate facts from myths has never been easy in the context of Indigenous land ownership but slowly the courts are coming around to clarifying things and, in the process, the Canadian public is beginning to understand the First Nations position. With National Indigenous Peoples Day coming up on June 21st it's worth taking a look at some of the history behind the legal decisions being made today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalpeWeEqKOuM-EZmLbkhHjMsRi2rt_K6-LotpqoiWD4q-WymsnG2-_YoAEa8ng7zF-gr6hc1AvXPM3K1PQhuAmUAIrx2jZ7M3M8vuHYcdJYc_EYAprIToy5eM0WukVXHS1GQ5yxdhcXIwXzsyeiaOotDFM2yM_3E7jlj3-hQqHkvSDqXaU2n8CFl62g/s525/bf31b09f4fbe2eb38948458ba50ef1ed.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="460" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalpeWeEqKOuM-EZmLbkhHjMsRi2rt_K6-LotpqoiWD4q-WymsnG2-_YoAEa8ng7zF-gr6hc1AvXPM3K1PQhuAmUAIrx2jZ7M3M8vuHYcdJYc_EYAprIToy5eM0WukVXHS1GQ5yxdhcXIwXzsyeiaOotDFM2yM_3E7jlj3-hQqHkvSDqXaU2n8CFl62g/w560-h640/bf31b09f4fbe2eb38948458ba50ef1ed.webp" width="560" /></a></div><p></p><p>For the first 250 years of the European invasion, colonists from France, Britain, Holland, and Spain settled along the ocean shores and various rivers from the moment they landed, with little consideration for the Indigenous people already living there. While the First Nations people initially helped the settlers and even had reasonable trading relationships with them, conflicts soon developed over competition for land. In 1763, after the end of the Seven Years War, the French were out of North America and Britain was in control of all lands east of the Mississippi and as far north as Hudson's Bay. To try and end the murderous conflict between settlers and First Nations, the British king, George III, issued a proclamation that set aside land for the Indians. A line was drawn along the Appalachian Mountains that forbid any settlement to the west which was delineated Indian Territory, and it went all the way to the Mississippi River which formed the eastern border of the Spanish territory.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKw6EsEzloP6gvg-NzfT1LqMrsjGji3yeEFYHOtj1eIwQ2mMLOlsD35GFNxh05O93djgjWSimIGi4x20wKB4afBGQozpLuTPNf7i1v5tfD94askaxllYSRxOd-EYgLXODEjr5i_EuS4jJTESTWPCYI6nukqrLjCsKeOSeMlzgTKh-xlgMEaLiEV6BYA/s999/800px-Royal_Proclamation_of_1763.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKw6EsEzloP6gvg-NzfT1LqMrsjGji3yeEFYHOtj1eIwQ2mMLOlsD35GFNxh05O93djgjWSimIGi4x20wKB4afBGQozpLuTPNf7i1v5tfD94askaxllYSRxOd-EYgLXODEjr5i_EuS4jJTESTWPCYI6nukqrLjCsKeOSeMlzgTKh-xlgMEaLiEV6BYA/w512-h640/800px-Royal_Proclamation_of_1763.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This Royal Proclamation states explicity that all lands not ceded by or purchased from Indigenous people is reserved for them. It states the people should not be molested or disturbed in the possession of lands not ceded or purchased and are reserved for them as their hunting grounds. The Proclamation also prohibited any private person from directly buying Indigenous lands. An Indigenous nation could only sell their lands to representatives of the British monarch and it had to be done at a public meeting. <span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">The proclamation and access to western lands was one of the
significant areas of dispute between Britain and the colonies</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> and would, in the end, become a contributing factor leading to the American Revolution. </span>Nonetheless,
the Royal Proclamation has a particular place in the history of aboriginal
rights. It is the first legal recognition of aboriginal title, rights and
freedoms, and is recognized in the Canadian Constitution of 1982 which states
the Charter cannot override the aboriginal rights granted in the Royal
Proclamation.<div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL9aMrUBdJeV87CeTUK1agf4dGtDOP369FTGtpnbisRGk610-t-uqUtjYnoO6nbsIQlbBQoSSQkMNcGNoc4wL9APTed-tjEuWQLCRO9rhyM5o0g1HBlVI3WJDaAdXXXXOxF-tAMeMH24vLy9NJsGkqrado7xXhhfZw3N69k8S7f_j2vsKZhVRrg78Jg/s402/13545dd10ea1bb23a702a8bdf1cc6616.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="344" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL9aMrUBdJeV87CeTUK1agf4dGtDOP369FTGtpnbisRGk610-t-uqUtjYnoO6nbsIQlbBQoSSQkMNcGNoc4wL9APTed-tjEuWQLCRO9rhyM5o0g1HBlVI3WJDaAdXXXXOxF-tAMeMH24vLy9NJsGkqrado7xXhhfZw3N69k8S7f_j2vsKZhVRrg78Jg/w548-h640/13545dd10ea1bb23a702a8bdf1cc6616.gif" width="548" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Unfortunately war broke out in 1775 with the 13 British Colonies seeking independance from Britain and, after it was over, the new country of the United States was awarded the bulk of this Indian Territory which they had no intention of maintaining for Indians. The first test of Indigenous rights came when the Loyalists, who had fought against American independance, fled to British North America and needed land to settle on. Referred to as the Upper Canada land surrenders, these various 30+ treaties that were negotiated provided Indigenous peoples with cash payments, goods, and sometimes reserves to live on depending on the particular treaty, in exchange for providing land to the settlers. Whether the terms of the treaties were fair is another issue but the rights of the First Nations to their land was confirmed.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7e6AXJNM6E7pPaSOzugQK3e2PN4gBdMtp4saRTRWY0J1aWxJEReVVZxMe48U4vfTQaDVdyYIAtS8RkLfChiIe4Qrn5NzXAytwqbZkmBo0xVd3--Rl0XdX7zpPwZHgkMcMR6Bazn_o_O4rzqln4J7f9meLL4iS3pvePQKc6yj5WEPF-RzzBmAj4p9zQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1180" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7e6AXJNM6E7pPaSOzugQK3e2PN4gBdMtp4saRTRWY0J1aWxJEReVVZxMe48U4vfTQaDVdyYIAtS8RkLfChiIe4Qrn5NzXAytwqbZkmBo0xVd3--Rl0XdX7zpPwZHgkMcMR6Bazn_o_O4rzqln4J7f9meLL4iS3pvePQKc6yj5WEPF-RzzBmAj4p9zQA=w640-h356" width="640" /></a></div><br />The next group of treaties to be signed were the Lake Superior and Lake Huron Robinson Treaties in 1850. Beginning in the 1840's various mining companies had sent prospectors and surveyors into unceded territory to identify potential mineral deposits. They then acquired licenses from the colonial government to mine the region in spite of not having a treaty that surrendered the lands. The Abishnawbe protested and demanded compensation and, after a violent clash erupted between miners and First Nation warriors, William Robinson was dispatched to negotiate a treaty and buy up land. One time payments and annual annuities were agreed to and huge tracts of land were surrendered. First Nations were also granted the right to hunt and fish in the treaty territory as long as there weren't any settlements or mining operations in place and land for reserves was also set aside. Despite the fact the annual annuity payments were never were adjusted over the next 200 years and are now the subject of a lawsuit, Indigenous land claims once again were confirmed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmbakGXmdm5DREzOVdIxvoYYhjE1GFeP6pZO2_5wLtjpPFuRhFK5OFqp7vGkP28h88KGQ0osC4G7LHipg-_I2k5FJr2Bhr1-QqXJ55XirT1ZgqLYVIB9ouzCziMtYAwVtAXQvrhmtcVEDFV-Rr_pYiaOpOXDUCQFMXit3kgscB19UQlHsSEuemiLg9g/s256/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="256" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmbakGXmdm5DREzOVdIxvoYYhjE1GFeP6pZO2_5wLtjpPFuRhFK5OFqp7vGkP28h88KGQ0osC4G7LHipg-_I2k5FJr2Bhr1-QqXJ55XirT1ZgqLYVIB9ouzCziMtYAwVtAXQvrhmtcVEDFV-Rr_pYiaOpOXDUCQFMXit3kgscB19UQlHsSEuemiLg9g/w640-h493/download.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From 1850-1854 another series of 14 treaties were negotiated by James Douglas, the Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island, for small parcels of land for settlements, mining and sawmilling operations, and Hudson Bay Company trading posts. Aboriginal signatories relinquished any claim to the lands specified in the treaties in exchange for payment in goods and the right to hunt and fish on unoccupied ceded lands. The rest of Vancouver Island was presumed to belong to the First Nations living there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYioUK2A0bnYkPC2r4Q59SR1qCoVdHzX8VtqFrj5DcUCMBulPPwyCup6yyo3k8CMO58CRRr8Xx5za-mL5FF7d_ijUC98bM5l1vlkf7NH_9BAhlTgpzTkmHIJCN2psftY2STUbSbcosDjmEQ_NiyWDMUk4qZtyiRJ7-mE2zzK7KUWDu9k7c6PvBonGXg/s1280/1280px-Numbered-Treaties-Map.svg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1280" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYioUK2A0bnYkPC2r4Q59SR1qCoVdHzX8VtqFrj5DcUCMBulPPwyCup6yyo3k8CMO58CRRr8Xx5za-mL5FF7d_ijUC98bM5l1vlkf7NH_9BAhlTgpzTkmHIJCN2psftY2STUbSbcosDjmEQ_NiyWDMUk4qZtyiRJ7-mE2zzK7KUWDu9k7c6PvBonGXg/w640-h440/1280px-Numbered-Treaties-Map.svg.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">After confederation, in 1867, the newly formed Confederation of Canada
looked to expand its borders from sea to sea. Even though the government had acquired
the former Rupert’s Land (the entire Hudson Bay drainage system that had been granted to the HBC 200 years earlier) they failed to have full control and use of the land
as this transfer only provided sovereignty over the area. Title had reverted
to the First Nations living there. One of the conditions to ensure British Columbia would
join Confederation at the time was the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway which would connect it to the rest of the nation. In order to satisfy British Columbia's request and the growing need for land by eastern settlers and new immigrants, treaties would have to be created with the First Nation people in the interior of the newly acquired land, which was all First Nation territory.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">The Numbered Treaties are a series of
eleven treaties signed between the First Nations and Canada from 1871 to 1921. These treaty agreements were created to allow
the Government of Canada to pursue settlement and resource extraction
in the affected regions, which include modern-day Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and parts of Ontario, B.C. and the Northwest Territories.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">These treaties came in two waves—Numbers 1 through
7 from 1871 to 1877 and Numbers 8 through 11 from 1899 to 1921. In the first
wave, the treaties were key in advancing European settlement across the Prairie regions as well
as the development of the CPR. In the second wave, resource extraction was the main motive for government officials.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">In these treaties, the First Nations were coerced and tricked into giving up aboriginal title</span><span style="color: black;"> to vast
amounts of land, in exchange for small reserves</span><span style="color: black;"> for their exclusive use and various promises
of schools, food, and farming assistance as well as other entitlements such as
hunting and fishing rights. Unfortunately none of these treaty terms were ever completely adhered to but the fiction of recognizing First Nations ownership was maintained.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VrcJiEkdfcsFICeKHncsbHcBm98o6SPTsdOvJih_4oVpdK1oAAb4gRhp87PY93L7nm-QlG6o8bGs1IjK4kNWEIBzhv6iPZftyV3XYi3kFsLK99H4ljczcC7JD_vWwS8YShwW2bYMcJ6oUloM1eMQ7IetkZCnIFyDCHfAOgAh9Zb8BUVTWIh6378_1g/s317/claimed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="290" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VrcJiEkdfcsFICeKHncsbHcBm98o6SPTsdOvJih_4oVpdK1oAAb4gRhp87PY93L7nm-QlG6o8bGs1IjK4kNWEIBzhv6iPZftyV3XYi3kFsLK99H4ljczcC7JD_vWwS8YShwW2bYMcJ6oUloM1eMQ7IetkZCnIFyDCHfAOgAh9Zb8BUVTWIh6378_1g/w585-h640/claimed.png" width="585" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">When the Colony of British Columbia joined Confederation, in 1871, it did not recognize Indigenous title so it felt there was no need for treaties and, other than the Douglas Treaties and Treaty 8 signed by the Federal government to resolve problems related to the Klondike Gold Rush, treaties were not signed with any First Nations for the rest of British Columbia. With most of B.C. now considered unceded land, this was clearly both a mistake and a shorted sighted strategy. In 2000, the historic Nisga'a Treaty went into effect and set a precedent in forcing the issue of unrecognized Aboriginal title. This has resulted in over 50 other Indigenous nations in B.C. now negotiating agreements at various stages of the treaty making process.</p><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVcCBJ7zrSZwBQf4GQhgbGcDh6pwHQazqD_kiLCmuFMcvssislJBPaMpZFcDWqw2zKZL_g1SGOeW0xjsA41yNPzJBz4O-q4H22R_kt-xDlcyNX4Pvb7ttpnduN5Em9_f8q_h4jTnH6eTBXaHXWlXniGmC1RY0Or0kUXVwOVGT8zBHP-xcHnHtPB5JlQ/s1442/modern%20treaties.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="1442" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVcCBJ7zrSZwBQf4GQhgbGcDh6pwHQazqD_kiLCmuFMcvssislJBPaMpZFcDWqw2zKZL_g1SGOeW0xjsA41yNPzJBz4O-q4H22R_kt-xDlcyNX4Pvb7ttpnduN5Em9_f8q_h4jTnH6eTBXaHXWlXniGmC1RY0Or0kUXVwOVGT8zBHP-xcHnHtPB5JlQ/w640-h438/modern%20treaties.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Elsewhere in Canada modern treaties have been signed that include the James Bay agreement in Quebec, various agreements in the Yukon, and the largest and most significant of all being the Nunavut agreement that ended up creating a brand new, self-governing territory out of the Northwest Territory. While it's obvious now that many of the older treaties were hopelessly unfair, didn't represent what was agreed to orally, the negotiations were duplicious, and some of the written terms were not lived up to, they at least showed recognition of Indigenous title. First Nations today have access to the finest legal minds for their negotiations, in contrast to being forbidden legal assistance in the past, and the courts have recognized they have exclusive rights to the land and to associated benefits and profits, and must grant their consent before any economic development occurs. This land was always their land, not ours, and it was confirmed by a Royal Proclamation over 250 years ago. We need to remember that.</div><div><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-79106562490060167852022-05-07T16:07:00.002-07:002022-05-08T09:01:35.120-07:00Cold War<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwsD461AmJ_VKQvbwN0aihVLVbT6fIzgDVx8Rx1iAAU6H2WIHCfE1nHeZh5RAk3ay3t2zgeRaPJxbjAwmHKAtfjm79U-4RZO8hJ9vdR6nyPUTGLh4PO_8ka8pKccEU7S3ixsnGcW9bqkg6bpCJ3RShbsd11ENmnOaiIPRQRVQNMjmQOa3KX1R9JkDZw/s900/1646329647_ukraine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="900" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwsD461AmJ_VKQvbwN0aihVLVbT6fIzgDVx8Rx1iAAU6H2WIHCfE1nHeZh5RAk3ay3t2zgeRaPJxbjAwmHKAtfjm79U-4RZO8hJ9vdR6nyPUTGLh4PO_8ka8pKccEU7S3ixsnGcW9bqkg6bpCJ3RShbsd11ENmnOaiIPRQRVQNMjmQOa3KX1R9JkDZw/w640-h356/1646329647_ukraine.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoVW7YLTLkvKtRv-0XLQklrqlYhFgWU63WOhw6aWfeZmG3cHqTzaVB2f0YID15OSo0ZifBGlHygsG-icnZnXhumEG5hwUcd9xEWZVV_JBgdxW3J9m1r3yyOKeRyJeIOSH-4OgmJfO1cZF6bvxmbz9M7D3nyaocTjz3djXiDjcsSk9TWDZsxgeGnXeag/s2500/ukrainian-refugees-berline.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2500" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoVW7YLTLkvKtRv-0XLQklrqlYhFgWU63WOhw6aWfeZmG3cHqTzaVB2f0YID15OSo0ZifBGlHygsG-icnZnXhumEG5hwUcd9xEWZVV_JBgdxW3J9m1r3yyOKeRyJeIOSH-4OgmJfO1cZF6bvxmbz9M7D3nyaocTjz3djXiDjcsSk9TWDZsxgeGnXeag/w640-h374/ukrainian-refugees-berline.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Faced with all the heartbreaking images of bombed out buildings and long lines of refugees in the Ukraine, there's no question Canadians are feeling lucky these days living where they do in a world far removed from the war in Europe. Whether it will turn out to be something even larger is yet to be seen but it has governments everywhere increasing the size of their defense budgets in anticipation of changes to the world order. After more than 30 years since the end of the Cold War it's hard to believe it could all be starting again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hacuB6xQkYlNGYLIx0TDFnb7C53i-zYrM-_BpgLIpQrJy5G7vxtYFyfek9eDl20Bm79zZ7eZCWcSIa7f39Vaav5Yh68PkJ-w6Xuu62YdowtfMR5G-thVZuynOtVnGvcRmFFCSioKQLQpd-QqnkNKogGSppHbsJHcm2NhB5N47vYt4tYNEVorzzwOVQ/s228/220px-Dew_line_1960.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hacuB6xQkYlNGYLIx0TDFnb7C53i-zYrM-_BpgLIpQrJy5G7vxtYFyfek9eDl20Bm79zZ7eZCWcSIa7f39Vaav5Yh68PkJ-w6Xuu62YdowtfMR5G-thVZuynOtVnGvcRmFFCSioKQLQpd-QqnkNKogGSppHbsJHcm2NhB5N47vYt4tYNEVorzzwOVQ/w618-h640/220px-Dew_line_1960.jpg" width="618" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim5CCegEBta0avBHHtF1p9aCyPVqlEhakdaDYJy7nvRixHQUfpPwdgEr0Z9gqbyx0z46FAa4eJtwf4vYQIwl2SY1lglEKChqewXga2W9yzj-I9hSHxNlhZx7ONtlNFQSaBak_O5qjMj2brDQJxDPYGpdCmpSbMaNVmJBndUV8yNdQmLY6kSjaYhwSCA/s281/dew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="281" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim5CCegEBta0avBHHtF1p9aCyPVqlEhakdaDYJy7nvRixHQUfpPwdgEr0Z9gqbyx0z46FAa4eJtwf4vYQIwl2SY1lglEKChqewXga2W9yzj-I9hSHxNlhZx7ONtlNFQSaBak_O5qjMj2brDQJxDPYGpdCmpSbMaNVmJBndUV8yNdQmLY6kSjaYhwSCA/w640-h410/dew.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) was a system of 63 radar stations installed across the Canadian Arctic in the 1950's to detect incoming Russian bombers or any sea and land invasion. A classic Cold War initiative that lasted until 1988 when it was replaced by a jointly operated upgraded radar system called the North Warning System that could detect intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The North Warning System has now been declared obsolete and it will in turn be upgraded to handle the new hypersonic missile technology that Russia and China have developed. The more things change the more they stay the same and the money spent on this oneupmanship is truly mind boggling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucN4Fzc0F-uDKNEvFkUFCAjiUd_eX_RPttujn1DyI7uAiAvExWVIdbdo1XSQIICLxU8zB4qnTJrlpdQwgr09vUiR03sOGQBlS25QJPvvemeVwORAp355qM64m8uStz-fzLwo3pwy0sZ0hoDb2SYDSSSHk-Zl6COvmrcHVaUJz3SP7oO4LN56uvDjRzQ/s1280/north.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1280" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucN4Fzc0F-uDKNEvFkUFCAjiUd_eX_RPttujn1DyI7uAiAvExWVIdbdo1XSQIICLxU8zB4qnTJrlpdQwgr09vUiR03sOGQBlS25QJPvvemeVwORAp355qM64m8uStz-fzLwo3pwy0sZ0hoDb2SYDSSSHk-Zl6COvmrcHVaUJz3SP7oO4LN56uvDjRzQ/w640-h462/north.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When you look at the world from an arctic perspective, Russia and Canada are much closer than you would think. Yes they are separated by an ocean that is mostly frozen year round but that's rapidly changing, and both countries have identified passages through the Arctic Ocean that could serve as a major Euro-Asian shipping lane and shortcut to the traditional shipping routes. While both routes are within each country's 200 mile limit they also have the potential to be disputed as an international strait allowing free and unencumbered passage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXeEgb1c4mzdvt5vWdT8hbXK6tMvnAkJFO2ImrN5omDtZubiNJcW-ITCKv1GZY_hz82Xaom-uNoieSyvr8VPgiTSoEkmifrQtUiGpcbjDrJmWAafNxINKLb46sSx6Eaq-WY0__Qv_Na2PdUwUKLcstXMdsVhyD5-RCRa3AqmOTLA4kOuPnZltR3ootg/s645/Russian_claimed_territory_in_Arctic_Ocean.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXeEgb1c4mzdvt5vWdT8hbXK6tMvnAkJFO2ImrN5omDtZubiNJcW-ITCKv1GZY_hz82Xaom-uNoieSyvr8VPgiTSoEkmifrQtUiGpcbjDrJmWAafNxINKLb46sSx6Eaq-WY0__Qv_Na2PdUwUKLcstXMdsVhyD5-RCRa3AqmOTLA4kOuPnZltR3ootg/w476-h640/Russian_claimed_territory_in_Arctic_Ocean.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As Canada, Russia, the U.S. and others file competing claims of sovereignty over parts of the Arctic, a new Cold War rhetoric is being heard. The U.S. rejects Canada's sovereignty claim to the Northwest Passage and is disputing the maritime border of the Beaufort Sea while meanwhile Russia, Denmark and Canada are disputing ownership of the Lomonosov Ridge as an extension of their respective continental shelves and claim to the underwater resources. To try and assert its sovereignty in addition to committing to a new radar warning system, the Canadian government has promised to open up the Nanisivik naval facility on northern Baffin Island which will service the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard's new fleet of icebreakers and arctic offshore patrol boats currently under construction. With 18 icebreakers Canada has the second largest fleet in the world after Russia which has more than 40, including 6 that are nuclear powered. Russia also has 13 arctic ports compared to Canada's two.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJtnXe_rZdbPMvb3GVeFtBHlTXwF_WZPYNV-2e1fmTnxXkaBRAS93y-ouTrl_tuIMMnwikzHvLqUUl9lEaFC6AhAHUTiMb7RA4OE5aBfUz1ITe2d3g6T6u56lsRbPLx6HWyATgKMncAJYMdIMWzup-EuKeY0ScltUfWjJ3zICX1_XAlHJFHyzyZVrRA/s1280/1280px-HMCS_Goose_Bay_moored_at_the_future_site_of_the_Nanisivik_Naval_Facility,_during_Operation_Nanook,_2010-08-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJtnXe_rZdbPMvb3GVeFtBHlTXwF_WZPYNV-2e1fmTnxXkaBRAS93y-ouTrl_tuIMMnwikzHvLqUUl9lEaFC6AhAHUTiMb7RA4OE5aBfUz1ITe2d3g6T6u56lsRbPLx6HWyATgKMncAJYMdIMWzup-EuKeY0ScltUfWjJ3zICX1_XAlHJFHyzyZVrRA/w640-h428/1280px-HMCS_Goose_Bay_moored_at_the_future_site_of_the_Nanisivik_Naval_Facility,_during_Operation_Nanook,_2010-08-20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1F1rNyxRWmV8GdfjmTTIZrNvDQ4LHNVquBYpk7htoyUnPSKMRUQKH4wGsaueJoW9bq7XxSBjwfDfo1JjjkakX9ybE579wiHO-ACv3E_zG3w0LSdmKFBhR7RpnP2TBY8viVyMv8TnEdis1yA4ykElaoKh5sCVrkJVaZJ7T6heyipWFpEsGARgTK6fTw/s1430/Canadian_Coast_Guard_Canadian_Coast_Guard_2020_Arctic_Operations.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1430" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1F1rNyxRWmV8GdfjmTTIZrNvDQ4LHNVquBYpk7htoyUnPSKMRUQKH4wGsaueJoW9bq7XxSBjwfDfo1JjjkakX9ybE579wiHO-ACv3E_zG3w0LSdmKFBhR7RpnP2TBY8viVyMv8TnEdis1yA4ykElaoKh5sCVrkJVaZJ7T6heyipWFpEsGARgTK6fTw/w640-h480/Canadian_Coast_Guard_Canadian_Coast_Guard_2020_Arctic_Operations.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSq1JhuOEK87VviP9fBVADmUcaBu2-j9LIl2fogU1lJpgw44qJKPf0bhsfaKFtwbt9gH0RMiemrnEl_nqF28FrBohvD8BlmCsYfCZobtNC_NTPH98rbBGDSpsr050yC0Ns_TtFIjUwJJenCWsuy6oYel-xwhyhwZiQJg1l0Sp_kM32HaOYShzlKPseQ/s1280/HMCS_Harry_DeWolf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSq1JhuOEK87VviP9fBVADmUcaBu2-j9LIl2fogU1lJpgw44qJKPf0bhsfaKFtwbt9gH0RMiemrnEl_nqF28FrBohvD8BlmCsYfCZobtNC_NTPH98rbBGDSpsr050yC0Ns_TtFIjUwJJenCWsuy6oYel-xwhyhwZiQJg1l0Sp_kM32HaOYShzlKPseQ/w640-h428/HMCS_Harry_DeWolf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXHjWFu9m3PEXzcPlA18DTRwkb9ewP-nDhc0AXvD67DVsZq9Yo8aoqIqm13nrRwrFJftr5dgQnHXjSPml4ITJmXaj2x7BzCOup9blv9xer6PYB5U0NJXORtx4bHon3I6ygzA_nk6kn16KoZ6l0lc3azULjYoRIEG_gLxsDszjMter0u2h_Qqbz52c-w/s1024/CCGS_Martha_Black_Nicolet,_Quecec_March_2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXHjWFu9m3PEXzcPlA18DTRwkb9ewP-nDhc0AXvD67DVsZq9Yo8aoqIqm13nrRwrFJftr5dgQnHXjSPml4ITJmXaj2x7BzCOup9blv9xer6PYB5U0NJXORtx4bHon3I6ygzA_nk6kn16KoZ6l0lc3azULjYoRIEG_gLxsDszjMter0u2h_Qqbz52c-w/w640-h480/CCGS_Martha_Black_Nicolet,_Quecec_March_2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile the 40,000 predominantly Inuit people who live in the 25 landlocked communities of Nunavut, the largest and northernmost territory of Canada, that is accessible only by plane or boat, are wondering if some of the billions spent on warships couldn't be better spent to improve their living conditions. If you really want to assert sovereignty in an area then you need to have people living there and make it habitable. In addition to a chronic housing shortage, many communities also have a clean drinking water problem, and suffer from pervasive food insecurity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYwyVxDyao2NAxgeMLm1u6uKzFKnIGZ7RvVw-JHkaxADChcSoEvPswPBpuDFvOz_s2dTMe23fzge3c5ntAP7ro2TeE4JmcgWyxOGXu-Q8fClDhEoz5LEzqj-tVq0zEllFjN2sEHn6IJKityzv8d3SKZa1WHfKyFdJo9kuMErFmWsRfnco-ZvlY22D4w/s1800/Nunavut_municipalities.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1559" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYwyVxDyao2NAxgeMLm1u6uKzFKnIGZ7RvVw-JHkaxADChcSoEvPswPBpuDFvOz_s2dTMe23fzge3c5ntAP7ro2TeE4JmcgWyxOGXu-Q8fClDhEoz5LEzqj-tVq0zEllFjN2sEHn6IJKityzv8d3SKZa1WHfKyFdJo9kuMErFmWsRfnco-ZvlY22D4w/w554-h640/Nunavut_municipalities.png" width="554" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4ZViGegDqK7L3tgdyTLsVBqHAiRtqyBfTEbT1VbbWwb2SZmwllmYvWL1ikwdKwFE1CcH_nylPinni2oJgqe5oDZ5-I0o6Ds43ififZzaw_s9zMgjq08yzQdf4y9HJcnWeIQbBCj40ooIuodM8QkYrvByEvxT0YDwcjuk7yBXXhaIx0yy5uU79qFUA/s1200/iqualit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNc4ZViGegDqK7L3tgdyTLsVBqHAiRtqyBfTEbT1VbbWwb2SZmwllmYvWL1ikwdKwFE1CcH_nylPinni2oJgqe5oDZ5-I0o6Ds43ififZzaw_s9zMgjq08yzQdf4y9HJcnWeIQbBCj40ooIuodM8QkYrvByEvxT0YDwcjuk7yBXXhaIx0yy5uU79qFUA/w640-h428/iqualit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Iqaluit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In a country that has to endure bitter cold winter for half the year, the words "cold war" have many connotations. In spite of our proximity to Russia we hope it doesn't mean another military front. But with global warming we are losing the real cold war and, over the next few decades, the country will see itself becoming more and more open to development and traffic in the North. How we balance the northern challenges of harsh living conditions, resource extraction, and territorial sovereignty, will determine the winners and losers of the next cold war.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwacKH8G-wDPENOsoF3zjR3ObDXNuombbIkQaocY9kgTeS_rJ8OcZ_OJdD_MLdLALUmXuWCL88V9_d3VylDohGVpD-4cF5wyMR08loBiZ6T_8sSc4bAzDbrrmGA-zLMdrg2_ah1H_5dExSBfUrOVev3yvccTIWXh_8TCJiSGe3krnWOosJB1yOeNCDRw/s436/poLar%20bear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="436" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwacKH8G-wDPENOsoF3zjR3ObDXNuombbIkQaocY9kgTeS_rJ8OcZ_OJdD_MLdLALUmXuWCL88V9_d3VylDohGVpD-4cF5wyMR08loBiZ6T_8sSc4bAzDbrrmGA-zLMdrg2_ah1H_5dExSBfUrOVev3yvccTIWXh_8TCJiSGe3krnWOosJB1yOeNCDRw/w640-h404/poLar%20bear.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-15427674473067435922022-04-14T09:59:00.000-07:002022-04-14T09:59:57.773-07:00Nature's Way<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hpisbR-3MUFY5F8AlsDYuK8vUkWzHAcUlAcOVBd9NzSA3xdI7n9ADZkn2MM7BHE7UP98NfKQqkl7olvWEYwY-stzvLOuvwIDcZydmCdoKuzpN7nEQ7UQRGYKX-879WdUn8iFcBo4fd0jAr7j-naHq9Ehzi4skPUXT0oSRyR3ImY7X1FJ9nGSyw3QPg/s960/vancouver-aquatic-centre-damaged4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="960" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hpisbR-3MUFY5F8AlsDYuK8vUkWzHAcUlAcOVBd9NzSA3xdI7n9ADZkn2MM7BHE7UP98NfKQqkl7olvWEYwY-stzvLOuvwIDcZydmCdoKuzpN7nEQ7UQRGYKX-879WdUn8iFcBo4fd0jAr7j-naHq9Ehzi4skPUXT0oSRyR3ImY7X1FJ9nGSyw3QPg/w640-h414/vancouver-aquatic-centre-damaged4.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaSUiFKGm4nVQ4YFfqjMquKA9oAtZucrXo5Z_nbXZujHfurK5jN-ZPs6y4yGvpxrVOPXsmNwSirSbk7efpDDrPXHgegGyCcnt0n_XrXbZhm_Ukx-5_Afcr7YaB1RBoObCwK5DuOb-sKtBF3EPDoQXagbjytKXODoz6cC0YCHWFLZ2krnU0yHfz_alqQ/s1076/aq3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1076" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaSUiFKGm4nVQ4YFfqjMquKA9oAtZucrXo5Z_nbXZujHfurK5jN-ZPs6y4yGvpxrVOPXsmNwSirSbk7efpDDrPXHgegGyCcnt0n_XrXbZhm_Ukx-5_Afcr7YaB1RBoObCwK5DuOb-sKtBF3EPDoQXagbjytKXODoz6cC0YCHWFLZ2krnU0yHfz_alqQ/w640-h482/aq3.png" width="640" /></a></p><p>You could be forgiven if you thought the Aquatic Centre had been bombed or had suffered a fire or something the other day but no, it was just the rusted out facade that had suddenly decided to give way and crash to the ground. Luckily nobody was injured in the crash even though it was at the entrance to the facility. Built in 1974, the Aquatic Centre is 48 years old now and clearly showing its age. Of course being next to the ocean doesn't help with all the wind and salty air. Like all forces of Nature, mold, mildew, and rust never sleeps. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBSWN4Q96RBe0vR8cJPJIVfBpbrZBT6TT3hGAJI6uYo_5u9CDaCGNG636qnbtrLxRWd1QM6Zco8Q0Gs40T8w6V53bwp09IyjDZJAvm9x3czkmLU-hLUO3Ccgnn1tzKNXiSC_2QvAK9V6P102WpPigDhpmCfKuoHsXPw0L3mlZpcLPD9MKyobp2xI8xQ/s1080/aq2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBSWN4Q96RBe0vR8cJPJIVfBpbrZBT6TT3hGAJI6uYo_5u9CDaCGNG636qnbtrLxRWd1QM6Zco8Q0Gs40T8w6V53bwp09IyjDZJAvm9x3czkmLU-hLUO3Ccgnn1tzKNXiSC_2QvAK9V6P102WpPigDhpmCfKuoHsXPw0L3mlZpcLPD9MKyobp2xI8xQ/w640-h480/aq2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Seemingly held together by the moss and mould covering the exterior, you would think that for appearance sake, not to mention maintenance, the Parks Board would power wash the building once in a blue moon. They might even want to give it a coat of white paint while they're at it to try and lighten up its Stalinesque neo-bunker appearance. It's not that we have a shortage of water in these parts.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLRSSl9pO9J1RV70Wguu6UfjaJWo3IJxo1GW_S9fqPa7A5_MeYNwmb5etqsAKG9lOo6nclbc050NKcjDOuuVY_s0PU1KTr9CmJe6wadIVtjbhAKYCLmojcDUlWryIVpkd4TQ8s4JAqZWgow4iZRHdMn_3EvVoRjfWNpnuBaBcTN9WOU8OGdj98d9iMQ/s1855/IMG_20220406_135416251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1855" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLRSSl9pO9J1RV70Wguu6UfjaJWo3IJxo1GW_S9fqPa7A5_MeYNwmb5etqsAKG9lOo6nclbc050NKcjDOuuVY_s0PU1KTr9CmJe6wadIVtjbhAKYCLmojcDUlWryIVpkd4TQ8s4JAqZWgow4iZRHdMn_3EvVoRjfWNpnuBaBcTN9WOU8OGdj98d9iMQ/w640-h252/IMG_20220406_135416251.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRst4yci5VGei_zyoN4zHscPhLxbt1OnG3vJ9pKuSe5Z-SUycQImuTxFybgHu44NbcaJtOGa_rrckycbZe5M1w9tYxDSWZWFT5ixphrnhTHPdQJ8LB3uzripu5VSGgbOcQJVTtdLUT0ux8H2l3Vk-osI-hfTzSJPnz5UTqz9zdV892ff8UIpCKI5jnLw/s1612/IMG_20220406_135445669_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1612" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRst4yci5VGei_zyoN4zHscPhLxbt1OnG3vJ9pKuSe5Z-SUycQImuTxFybgHu44NbcaJtOGa_rrckycbZe5M1w9tYxDSWZWFT5ixphrnhTHPdQJ8LB3uzripu5VSGgbOcQJVTtdLUT0ux8H2l3Vk-osI-hfTzSJPnz5UTqz9zdV892ff8UIpCKI5jnLw/w640-h322/IMG_20220406_135445669_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>At least the pool at 2nd Beach is getting a nice spring cleaning in preparation for what will be a very busy upcoming summer. The even more popular Kits pool won't be opening after all the damage it sustained during a nasty storm this past winter that flooded the pool, and repairs haven't even started yet. So 2nd Beach will have to do double duty for Vancouver residents even though there is very limited parking for them thanks to the Parks Board obsession with bike lanes. They will be even more surprised to find there are no proper showers, change rooms or lockers either even though they have been promised since 1995 when the pool was first built. There aren't any showers, change rooms, or lockers at English Bay either.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzhA9BrEQ3VcX7x-IagSgl84X6r22SKJC_xkOMjUTwafoNCxJrgyv-F3wN0ikW1WSoOk0aIiSC9O5M7ME_d2edWW6sh6i8DHw5sL8U9YYSUiWJjseza2HrGUjO3DLNUuHRP-axpVIlQmeHkxd7VvJUI08bXT8FYbsr7uNLfIQB4tvWk1gYELgn4nh4g/s1020/kits1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzhA9BrEQ3VcX7x-IagSgl84X6r22SKJC_xkOMjUTwafoNCxJrgyv-F3wN0ikW1WSoOk0aIiSC9O5M7ME_d2edWW6sh6i8DHw5sL8U9YYSUiWJjseza2HrGUjO3DLNUuHRP-axpVIlQmeHkxd7VvJUI08bXT8FYbsr7uNLfIQB4tvWk1gYELgn4nh4g/w640-h360/kits1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkZxL7FYmGFDU8v563-fbqyeCBkA4cPgxW9ywho_dExW0mZvgo5TyVlX3CgMebHzPGL38LRso-O5uA4ikgO0p6oWeuLHW-6qZwvfuYCorkslg0bVSAaYMaJ4ffcNw9Nzb8kTlo7O1s6f4Ux9qdAnm998ygX--C34O5gmlCXzmIE7itWuX3SDMNIZN0g/s960/kitspool-storm2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="960" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkZxL7FYmGFDU8v563-fbqyeCBkA4cPgxW9ywho_dExW0mZvgo5TyVlX3CgMebHzPGL38LRso-O5uA4ikgO0p6oWeuLHW-6qZwvfuYCorkslg0bVSAaYMaJ4ffcNw9Nzb8kTlo7O1s6f4Ux9qdAnm998ygX--C34O5gmlCXzmIE7itWuX3SDMNIZN0g/w640-h358/kitspool-storm2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjNmCUYOXA-jsP6k3TNLtUe76cZGx4FyvE-bzJZ4Y43zjlG81muA3iiLPw_uC5VhF8x7GVYJRvEgl7GBt0VKGM2YeDhh-R_EXyVhw5-gGNOmtPBrSbMSXITIx-sVQzEiJj3bCcA1NbPpCPpwvONG0m1QI5Uxy9yPqAApVq6L4V2-iC8e8N6bIRfl4vQ/s1595/Kitsilano-Pool-damage-January-storm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1595" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjNmCUYOXA-jsP6k3TNLtUe76cZGx4FyvE-bzJZ4Y43zjlG81muA3iiLPw_uC5VhF8x7GVYJRvEgl7GBt0VKGM2YeDhh-R_EXyVhw5-gGNOmtPBrSbMSXITIx-sVQzEiJj3bCcA1NbPpCPpwvONG0m1QI5Uxy9yPqAApVq6L4V2-iC8e8N6bIRfl4vQ/w640-h318/Kitsilano-Pool-damage-January-storm.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The winter storm didn't just damage Kits pool, it did serious damage to the seawall as well. This is another critical piece of the City's beachfront that is fighting a losing battle with the forces of Nature. Every winter the damage gets worse, the repairs more costly, and a longer term solution postponed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGDQZJuXATwG2PwpD8DbpKjRdZ8YlOYitaEfeFuPyo9vBOlLysbhspAgwVGhuHhzh2D3SSfpPTdiIjuMt17t7sn5ni1u5DHGQTu79iZBpt4FMfL8r0keiPm_-UerBQ4i7Ol0fRRZ4pZZK2l38F2bdHUkxp1NkHYUCF5srOJXDljuACJNqTJdyXPaAww/s1080/s1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGDQZJuXATwG2PwpD8DbpKjRdZ8YlOYitaEfeFuPyo9vBOlLysbhspAgwVGhuHhzh2D3SSfpPTdiIjuMt17t7sn5ni1u5DHGQTu79iZBpt4FMfL8r0keiPm_-UerBQ4i7Ol0fRRZ4pZZK2l38F2bdHUkxp1NkHYUCF5srOJXDljuACJNqTJdyXPaAww/w640-h480/s1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CFMGKOCZDgkE3eH3uJSu4T4A4d6S25F0firIS-RE5ySDKOZANshGhUDjQmnmVmgoQt8xaaCE7u3w3XrBD2wgl8arQsOsYlVhENvp9mq2qgTw5DZKnl61W9C2xBLWBychyL_3YzDz1bgDSOw2Wm4H-FYdzpWEioNMuzQvco1Q9LBBr-piIub2Lg3x-w/s1080/s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CFMGKOCZDgkE3eH3uJSu4T4A4d6S25F0firIS-RE5ySDKOZANshGhUDjQmnmVmgoQt8xaaCE7u3w3XrBD2wgl8arQsOsYlVhENvp9mq2qgTw5DZKnl61W9C2xBLWBychyL_3YzDz1bgDSOw2Wm4H-FYdzpWEioNMuzQvco1Q9LBBr-piIub2Lg3x-w/w640-h480/s2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFGoGG_FQC6U7jueYveBKkSMFevF3Sxb57USeJdnYPpUI7-Y0f08cXn-JSDBP7dcZxAuYlaVDJr1OY4446fFULekjW4pwgod3N1Sy5QxIRxsh4mB1Oa39My-7F9zJ9Jc2PYBh3xHAxGWMLQ5GPlJPV1IG-qxj6_9QU6eGMoNpCpNJLPNqJPWWDbbxKA/s1080/s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFGoGG_FQC6U7jueYveBKkSMFevF3Sxb57USeJdnYPpUI7-Y0f08cXn-JSDBP7dcZxAuYlaVDJr1OY4446fFULekjW4pwgod3N1Sy5QxIRxsh4mB1Oa39My-7F9zJ9Jc2PYBh3xHAxGWMLQ5GPlJPV1IG-qxj6_9QU6eGMoNpCpNJLPNqJPWWDbbxKA/w640-h480/s3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SeRP4tzf8snwaLBp7sWkEkCDwtXE-IxrqXXhJhhB-7qAuGHAZnrZsakSushZ5LuYz-KBC6KxhEH2FtkIeD2skEgCyKWVAnIqTy7n1IoOZq5wY5Gs9b9966hsTVhVS5WFZ4AyXd5vgsV6g-jG3mqGFlj5IPDDKsotVi1D80YdeoeoSTddDAs5ltRnKw/s1080/s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SeRP4tzf8snwaLBp7sWkEkCDwtXE-IxrqXXhJhhB-7qAuGHAZnrZsakSushZ5LuYz-KBC6KxhEH2FtkIeD2skEgCyKWVAnIqTy7n1IoOZq5wY5Gs9b9966hsTVhVS5WFZ4AyXd5vgsV6g-jG3mqGFlj5IPDDKsotVi1D80YdeoeoSTddDAs5ltRnKw/w640-h480/s4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzH-0Rx4fcl9gyVj3XhoqojRzkK5UfIpSjRixmKZPD9jLFG_YFF8MFypThMRZ-qp4_Yxwg2caAAyRchgpRlb_mKCxknL3-xQmoje2NOrwT3_GiTfkldGe08AXdMGXONRF-BhsXF2xTJbF0rr6UUnvlTGWpoFQQJrop8LfV3WhiVBQgDJgeWow4avErg/s780/s5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzH-0Rx4fcl9gyVj3XhoqojRzkK5UfIpSjRixmKZPD9jLFG_YFF8MFypThMRZ-qp4_Yxwg2caAAyRchgpRlb_mKCxknL3-xQmoje2NOrwT3_GiTfkldGe08AXdMGXONRF-BhsXF2xTJbF0rr6UUnvlTGWpoFQQJrop8LfV3WhiVBQgDJgeWow4avErg/w640-h360/s5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTloMHmf5xNS7auDjjdcuZ9aVTiYQ1A3DGq6UQxtSS1TpAUYpL_VGL8nNXvHnkRNkzAZv8n1a9oNSUAiCc4zi_WlUip6vJqj5XWLrZfwSdUcaQlJ0FuHhF3EeF2RidPyE0-p6EPaN0WcrnjTXPoQXmxVo1falB9VsRx-a2uSSrfHpHedjoTzZXgmQCg/s1020/s6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTloMHmf5xNS7auDjjdcuZ9aVTiYQ1A3DGq6UQxtSS1TpAUYpL_VGL8nNXvHnkRNkzAZv8n1a9oNSUAiCc4zi_WlUip6vJqj5XWLrZfwSdUcaQlJ0FuHhF3EeF2RidPyE0-p6EPaN0WcrnjTXPoQXmxVo1falB9VsRx-a2uSSrfHpHedjoTzZXgmQCg/w640-h360/s6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The logs and debris that comes in from the ocean and covers the beaches is endless. The clean-up crew has a full time job just trying to keep up with the mess on some of the main beaches around English Bay. And that doesn't even count the litter and trash left by people addicted to junk food and take away beverages and the disposable containers they come packaged in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaSGPHR8JuyNGyc_Y9pB-3f1lGk-MZUqRZ05pFPeVnUfbTMtu3byLl9OehwrC9yPUwXYawhNvqNML_a0Gx-VkGhFrqcb9OePexifQAultSrYfKj45hvLxXhbV4PhK5q_MobdD0hYhhxNd1xgpdRGzAy4H6G9IY987HJlGJjAyUV3xmBGjPkJAPKSL6A/s1080/e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaSGPHR8JuyNGyc_Y9pB-3f1lGk-MZUqRZ05pFPeVnUfbTMtu3byLl9OehwrC9yPUwXYawhNvqNML_a0Gx-VkGhFrqcb9OePexifQAultSrYfKj45hvLxXhbV4PhK5q_MobdD0hYhhxNd1xgpdRGzAy4H6G9IY987HJlGJjAyUV3xmBGjPkJAPKSL6A/w640-h480/e1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3cz0nciDkBFO1upz_hsh9MBSi3YbmguGIh0eYBxGwvkVnWCjC55Arp9X4NVCb75vFlmw1LFDL5AWcxd_zVvxPZSFjd7XKVjRsxAFqIXMaT6Lqp0OMGLMSB1XvB_5xaYIIi3L1EWvRGoMgfhLkYKsOglSeJWWSq2KxnF3XgwfJKHZ1n9Weccd1EqB-w/s1080/e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3cz0nciDkBFO1upz_hsh9MBSi3YbmguGIh0eYBxGwvkVnWCjC55Arp9X4NVCb75vFlmw1LFDL5AWcxd_zVvxPZSFjd7XKVjRsxAFqIXMaT6Lqp0OMGLMSB1XvB_5xaYIIi3L1EWvRGoMgfhLkYKsOglSeJWWSq2KxnF3XgwfJKHZ1n9Weccd1EqB-w/w640-h480/e2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GghxRO89UU-GCITUdwtKR4BVWFRjW_yreCu5Uv5w8uw_8OqELroYernqcWSIju5L5f3gJX16P5Uw1-69iAp4xkOCasrWhpsBB7cPjQLw5uZ7MPx4cDdZR1L2dGVCngxKxbVG6P-UHzKNACgVDslAaGF7fRZRIYcv1ERC8OIa3kyK8KxOOtpRnwh8bQ/s640/2ejx497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="640" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GghxRO89UU-GCITUdwtKR4BVWFRjW_yreCu5Uv5w8uw_8OqELroYernqcWSIju5L5f3gJX16P5Uw1-69iAp4xkOCasrWhpsBB7cPjQLw5uZ7MPx4cDdZR1L2dGVCngxKxbVG6P-UHzKNACgVDslAaGF7fRZRIYcv1ERC8OIa3kyK8KxOOtpRnwh8bQ/w640-h406/2ejx497.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNMrLVz84DRJNB4s9C7uTkQo3UGN36vTmLM6yTvCm_73-wvZuwI2Jp16vxlXOs16MXbk9EDjxyVbPkcyTZKqi8RtCB-dRSSU3u93bjfyOW-15EWdDprBTHdq2vhifdmozJNwaACGl9gRXfAOVRvG4vsnGb8XdaUIaNIj3KpACHLZHElM0yP1H5xXGIw/s640/Loader&Cleaner%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="640" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNMrLVz84DRJNB4s9C7uTkQo3UGN36vTmLM6yTvCm_73-wvZuwI2Jp16vxlXOs16MXbk9EDjxyVbPkcyTZKqi8RtCB-dRSSU3u93bjfyOW-15EWdDprBTHdq2vhifdmozJNwaACGl9gRXfAOVRvG4vsnGb8XdaUIaNIj3KpACHLZHElM0yP1H5xXGIw/w640-h316/Loader&Cleaner%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh and did I mention rain? Yes it occasionally rains in Vancouver and guess what we don't have any culverts, drains, or anything else to deal with the run-off so it just pours down the sidewalks and either pools there or washes away sections of the beach. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGIvJ76YCeoVceX3KBHu_E6SPBOD_c4H_2yh_4Nq2a1vfCuZh_S88fn10LtPGE1hVmwvqc_SK3WNiQpKMr9ietKxWUzVVoAH6N_46e0mELu1zk4KfGKiHC-nWmiU2-fjLwtGOVSTnn9C4Qpfi9UwMPyn3jiEl6d78X0Xjok02Ec13x_7uenvfamKXlg/s640/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGIvJ76YCeoVceX3KBHu_E6SPBOD_c4H_2yh_4Nq2a1vfCuZh_S88fn10LtPGE1hVmwvqc_SK3WNiQpKMr9ietKxWUzVVoAH6N_46e0mELu1zk4KfGKiHC-nWmiU2-fjLwtGOVSTnn9C4Qpfi9UwMPyn3jiEl6d78X0Xjok02Ec13x_7uenvfamKXlg/w640-h480/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtjYXcABCTciljXDic4lD_cy2C4YB4h_X2UltrZDhADbHEXpks-MIIewllRORy7-qcmXnEolcQkBDIZ8rmaU1dcuyboBDxivDgwRRnavq9NRBUCVZieR8ilK0D2RDkpMGbtPKnxQx-H-1OCFIiQQQ8Q4Oe4sis1rf29TdDBfPUaH9sEtyodbNJnkMjQ/s640/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtjYXcABCTciljXDic4lD_cy2C4YB4h_X2UltrZDhADbHEXpks-MIIewllRORy7-qcmXnEolcQkBDIZ8rmaU1dcuyboBDxivDgwRRnavq9NRBUCVZieR8ilK0D2RDkpMGbtPKnxQx-H-1OCFIiQQQ8Q4Oe4sis1rf29TdDBfPUaH9sEtyodbNJnkMjQ/w640-h480/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The cherry on top of all this mess of course is the stupid barge that nobody can figure out how to remove. Caught on the rocks of a breakwater that was installed to absorb the force of incoming waves and slow the rate of erosion it sits there as yet another testament to the hopelessness of trying to fight Mother Nature.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenpCUkd-OJDVf7bWLcWdBQ9ZcXhadd3jeUBqH_v75hFnwDyMF5kB4vEMFY9cZA8VDhUQ86nOJ1jG3qMBGdsY66akd6yc4cha0_fP9wbZPJSWk32BUaSOLHSGhHS7Nyugqf2IdznBNem-p7t77qJh2HYe0gLmYx4NniRHlt_qvnUWrnG6Fnw5Im3nAfQ/s1255/barge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1255" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenpCUkd-OJDVf7bWLcWdBQ9ZcXhadd3jeUBqH_v75hFnwDyMF5kB4vEMFY9cZA8VDhUQ86nOJ1jG3qMBGdsY66akd6yc4cha0_fP9wbZPJSWk32BUaSOLHSGhHS7Nyugqf2IdznBNem-p7t77qJh2HYe0gLmYx4NniRHlt_qvnUWrnG6Fnw5Im3nAfQ/w640-h306/barge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Walking along the seawall from the Burrard Street bridge to Stanley Park should be a lovely experience but instead it's a dreary litany of decaying buildings, poorly maintained walkways, and substandard swimming facilities. If it wasn't for the beautiful flower gardens around English Bay it would be truly depressing. Every year things keep getting delayed until finally it all starts to fall apart. If we really want to get the most out of the fantastic location our city is in, then we're going to have to spend a lot more money and be a lot more creative in how we approach our beachfront infrastructure and the facilities we need. Blame it on climate change, global warming, or anything you want but it's all Nature's way and we have to accept it and move forward.<div><div><br /></div></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-63167971867969102282022-03-13T15:40:00.000-07:002022-03-13T15:40:14.984-07:00The End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghQpFLpoJR2gTiMNYC7t1E37Iy7urgl9WeRvvwLdtrvP9zWD0RJoiRh8damZ5IJXh05TnMVBQvVl_LJmI29ycXce2CNRccEFIIe80tYheSsUkbjfFZJRd3nMYK51_hAxMiU4k5abWR15jwVFGc4rpR9EQrW0mdDQZMsKihbSHRT-K1eLsEFGNmexiEdw=s1900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1900" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghQpFLpoJR2gTiMNYC7t1E37Iy7urgl9WeRvvwLdtrvP9zWD0RJoiRh8damZ5IJXh05TnMVBQvVl_LJmI29ycXce2CNRccEFIIe80tYheSsUkbjfFZJRd3nMYK51_hAxMiU4k5abWR15jwVFGc4rpR9EQrW0mdDQZMsKihbSHRT-K1eLsEFGNmexiEdw=w640-h270" width="640" /></a></div><p>Almost two years to the day it was first officially acknowledged as a world wide pandemic, governments everywhere are now announcing COVID has ended. Maybe not the disease itself but certainly all the masking, vaccine passports, and social distancing. The people couldn't stand the inconveniences any longer, no matter how minor they were or how effective they were at keeping the annual flu/cold season at bay. Furthermore they wanted to get back to travelling and they wanted that to be free of testing as well, even though travel is what caused the disease to spread so rapidly around the world in the first place. What will we do if a biological threat of something much more lethal than COVID appears, either natural or man made?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLQF0fgU8OrymTlmsMQrFgQSxrmPb4pIVeBhpzKRoT2VZU5A3v96yXRUJrxwvij41YFpOmAiT0gkrkXlZyvaR_uZYv4XYDIlQoIaF5hZuJUX4eE8KUUcCfTmO_Cj39UjvF4fIe7b9SkmIbBYWcAcEoqSKIJbg9P17SRo3e1PtIL8DyAwQa90oXHm_0Zg=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="640" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLQF0fgU8OrymTlmsMQrFgQSxrmPb4pIVeBhpzKRoT2VZU5A3v96yXRUJrxwvij41YFpOmAiT0gkrkXlZyvaR_uZYv4XYDIlQoIaF5hZuJUX4eE8KUUcCfTmO_Cj39UjvF4fIe7b9SkmIbBYWcAcEoqSKIJbg9P17SRo3e1PtIL8DyAwQa90oXHm_0Zg=w640-h514" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn5DrrV7X4MfS4Y5n2KG5TlYSgHnSejXxYy_K176UZOOOF2QL9oyRN8-foEMcuMGd_JyDgp1MwdSTsZIy-0fJTClbqSLRjKd3eKJvWvlXKi3gI2Km1swan0LGV5lqRKW-CfvyNU_m3IN941J9s7lm9w9b6GLlrCSqCY16v6vC9SIyVxhx06AYdlSiCtg=s507" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn5DrrV7X4MfS4Y5n2KG5TlYSgHnSejXxYy_K176UZOOOF2QL9oyRN8-foEMcuMGd_JyDgp1MwdSTsZIy-0fJTClbqSLRjKd3eKJvWvlXKi3gI2Km1swan0LGV5lqRKW-CfvyNU_m3IN941J9s7lm9w9b6GLlrCSqCY16v6vC9SIyVxhx06AYdlSiCtg=w504-h640" width="504" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLhOTkRN7uQgbcm6EqAhvtUWCamb4hEZOg1ssKfQneUVsNYpG9DiNeQ8obyPG434VUTCcCSR7Ri6mEs1WDsZmxQQ8L2IKshSv6Ccc8lA6pVOzYEakj78MlzKLnduT9OxweuKlKAo20mJcozrIWN9fwRSeax3mXBcOUNQd-rXMGkCyKeE7K8qFfGaECmw=s1217" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLhOTkRN7uQgbcm6EqAhvtUWCamb4hEZOg1ssKfQneUVsNYpG9DiNeQ8obyPG434VUTCcCSR7Ri6mEs1WDsZmxQQ8L2IKshSv6Ccc8lA6pVOzYEakj78MlzKLnduT9OxweuKlKAo20mJcozrIWN9fwRSeax3mXBcOUNQd-rXMGkCyKeE7K8qFfGaECmw=w420-h640" width="420" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder if these people could even imagine the inconvenience of living through WW2 where for over 5 years there was rationing of food and fuel, absolutely no travel anywhere, and conscription had every able bodied man over the age of 16 having to register for the armed forces. Unlike the Europeans, North Americans were spared any bombing damage, but that didn't prevent friends and family from getting killed every day while fighting. The cost of the war and the destruction it left in its wake are something the world has never experienced since, no matter how much we were inconvenienced by COVID and all its supply chain disruptions.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVX3V7MWIIgTq7QWTfpJk-eii6n0r7IIOEbTG8hpTIIHnjL6WXb1wnYPh-kKzB1DdUuHtjzzXIv6UkM5BoMOo5XwxQ6fiSfsTmULFToQSy5Qka8m9JdWiRZO6ex6OET1tXI1Dh8JlwNx8HOMYXmku2yR6qrIuIcOOKXIyBBtPbA0MnWqr5Xr0Fa-9oUw=s715" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="715" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVX3V7MWIIgTq7QWTfpJk-eii6n0r7IIOEbTG8hpTIIHnjL6WXb1wnYPh-kKzB1DdUuHtjzzXIv6UkM5BoMOo5XwxQ6fiSfsTmULFToQSy5Qka8m9JdWiRZO6ex6OET1tXI1Dh8JlwNx8HOMYXmku2yR6qrIuIcOOKXIyBBtPbA0MnWqr5Xr0Fa-9oUw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh61OnaqlpceLForf1aXofqODNtCTXz3p_0hTcMqhT-1eQfOy3kEhghYEHpMhXLVPwLxwoQ7RaJPjTDnIh8bBg_hObk64CWs7AZs32ywCqOEu_HXwTTB3RvQK-g0itURopleBsCdMhGqOh8nKVcjaHRtnRfl4DpMaDQMFZXWHj9ZmNMaCTCX0nCXj-keQ=s2200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="2200" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh61OnaqlpceLForf1aXofqODNtCTXz3p_0hTcMqhT-1eQfOy3kEhghYEHpMhXLVPwLxwoQ7RaJPjTDnIh8bBg_hObk64CWs7AZs32ywCqOEu_HXwTTB3RvQK-g0itURopleBsCdMhGqOh8nKVcjaHRtnRfl4DpMaDQMFZXWHj9ZmNMaCTCX0nCXj-keQ=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_pG9-VmnkDUc-nDREFBR4XAHrTBt7D7Nrkeg3rHt3NJSq8zuEPleXFmXdN9zSr0JMjJF0QLGYteyHXFQ062GqVngomQazOWZTC09cbrj3uMwcDDLL7XbxQV6xu5pR20reVZxf0yCJ5E3i99AmdC8lvhVJmMj4bE6yVrR5RFE9YpXsgSQ3_ACj9H-lyw=s1000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="1000" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_pG9-VmnkDUc-nDREFBR4XAHrTBt7D7Nrkeg3rHt3NJSq8zuEPleXFmXdN9zSr0JMjJF0QLGYteyHXFQ062GqVngomQazOWZTC09cbrj3uMwcDDLL7XbxQV6xu5pR20reVZxf0yCJ5E3i99AmdC8lvhVJmMj4bE6yVrR5RFE9YpXsgSQ3_ACj9H-lyw=w640-h250" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And then just as we were getting ready to celebrate the end of COVID the war in Ukraine started and once again were were looking at bombed out European cities and unimaginable suffering. Regardless of the reasons for the war to have started innocent people are getting killed, refugees have no homes to return to, and the cost to repair all this will be enormous. Even worse is the spectre of nuclear war that is now being either threatened or considered. NATO and Russia each have 6,000 nuclear warheads which is more than enough to completely wipe out the entire living world.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip4K8-2RAU6Fhjuk97y469O7sielW14Z-g9OG6JQkL9CeNY5lX0C5mbwW-q39RMG6C9xJ81HEHKQhdrMJhlc_uC4JIGrI0Ck5wA4fidgLkE6WKZZxTpHXhBVGX63O4cH0QWly1_JEQE5d_EH73121OoO3fWr64dx0Whsra4F4Z1cNwPI1afKZnSfxVQg=s810" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="810" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip4K8-2RAU6Fhjuk97y469O7sielW14Z-g9OG6JQkL9CeNY5lX0C5mbwW-q39RMG6C9xJ81HEHKQhdrMJhlc_uC4JIGrI0Ck5wA4fidgLkE6WKZZxTpHXhBVGX63O4cH0QWly1_JEQE5d_EH73121OoO3fWr64dx0Whsra4F4Z1cNwPI1afKZnSfxVQg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And with all our attention now taken by the Russian-Ukraine war, the threat of global warming has taken a back seat in our conciousness. In fact the main concern is keeping the gas and oil pipelines going from Russia into Europe working until other supplies can be arranged. The wishful thinking of wind and solar power enthusiasts coupled with the short sighted closing down of nuclear power plants has made Europe even more dependant on fossil fuels and anyone with these resources, (i.e. Canada) is rushing in to take up any slack in supply.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC1FpSbDRzwa5u7J6jKu-2_Tn2F-XIRAmssRslEyIQsRpB5AAi4_hi8K8QhaYHlJdXuidk8v1_DSP3O9MVEyOinK19KcopEjowyZN1c8r-N3u7oNUpPYJvo1m7rSViO7B62pAaB9LEXuYWaysqnnlGcwxcsBPxSLoG4xhD3_QEPwZTqaFya1v10L-flg=s1400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC1FpSbDRzwa5u7J6jKu-2_Tn2F-XIRAmssRslEyIQsRpB5AAi4_hi8K8QhaYHlJdXuidk8v1_DSP3O9MVEyOinK19KcopEjowyZN1c8r-N3u7oNUpPYJvo1m7rSViO7B62pAaB9LEXuYWaysqnnlGcwxcsBPxSLoG4xhD3_QEPwZTqaFya1v10L-flg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In 1945 Albert Einstein and the other scientists who helped develop the atomic bomb created the Doomsday Clock, a graphic that counts down the time to the apocalypse (midnight) by the threats to humanity and the planet. The Clock has become the universally recognized indicator of the world's vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, climate change and disruptive technologies. Every year it's set and as of 2022 it's now at 100 seconds to midnight, the closest ever to civilization ending apocalypse.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpXlgmON0g4XAbexGKhYEk-_QyDEZIwFo6NWRSNGpfm5Q7uhrJ3xdD-Iu22FzU1qXmy3WtfrRuP1w6fQZ8JSe1qxfe68IiX7CMWzX5o62RZbNA-jP1hQ3BNpXrj3xZlSbsO_YGOZSou3FNlFQ7UVl5G6b2Mb79O_7JQxltLad67l0C_zpcHm-nxqI9kg=s855" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="855" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpXlgmON0g4XAbexGKhYEk-_QyDEZIwFo6NWRSNGpfm5Q7uhrJ3xdD-Iu22FzU1qXmy3WtfrRuP1w6fQZ8JSe1qxfe68IiX7CMWzX5o62RZbNA-jP1hQ3BNpXrj3xZlSbsO_YGOZSou3FNlFQ7UVl5G6b2Mb79O_7JQxltLad67l0C_zpcHm-nxqI9kg=w640-h420" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">With the origins of COVID still to be determined, no meaningful attempts to slow global warming, and the looming threat of nuclear war, we could all be excused for thinking the planet is going to hell in a handbasket. Combine this with the unrelenting false news and disinformation being spread by social media that polarizes discussion and paralyzes any consensus, and we are left rudderless in our response. What we really need right now are leaders who can heal the divisiveness in the world and bring about real change otherwise we are heading for a nasty end.</div></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-9475099806696966462022-02-10T15:33:00.001-08:002022-02-10T16:34:07.074-08:00All Washed Up<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe9pgdmzylIMZw1cff6cU1QzUu9H0omDeZzce4zuVUsSdtzuwZLvwvBSiaZgJsrzDNepUo92COtJ1aREzlrVNggdlwmxfO_XX9o2KylqnLQHovWUtP5UEZR3yx_502wacib5rOm2QKQgfWOkscZ0GIobwlaPyTODWLXZzEnM194OLKFdniL5DMY7pxyA=s1255" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1255" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe9pgdmzylIMZw1cff6cU1QzUu9H0omDeZzce4zuVUsSdtzuwZLvwvBSiaZgJsrzDNepUo92COtJ1aREzlrVNggdlwmxfO_XX9o2KylqnLQHovWUtP5UEZR3yx_502wacib5rOm2QKQgfWOkscZ0GIobwlaPyTODWLXZzEnM194OLKFdniL5DMY7pxyA=w640-h306" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Sitting on the beach in English Bay, after coming loose in a storm, sits an empty barge that has become a major tourist attraction during COVID. It's also a poster child for the once glorious forest economy that in its heyday employed thousands of workers in the forest, booming grounds, sawmills, and pulp & paper mills throughout B.C. Barges like this used to haul chips, sawdust, and even logs up and down the coastline but not as much anymore.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz3dDOhZCSPl6SHp0d9Lh5047DnBPn5Gn1RiRP4tVUYpoTrJthg151lNomZsQxZIqqV9rqapGU9CXwHIl8D-q1NSNJiT6QzsvjuOiQEXwxOMARpXu69w32OHa162NeRPYfxMa2Up9CZpuah0Jf_TuNfm4wWMgmAXqxi9VAhWXCz8zOpZm--ygFgclG_w=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz3dDOhZCSPl6SHp0d9Lh5047DnBPn5Gn1RiRP4tVUYpoTrJthg151lNomZsQxZIqqV9rqapGU9CXwHIl8D-q1NSNJiT6QzsvjuOiQEXwxOMARpXu69w32OHa162NeRPYfxMa2Up9CZpuah0Jf_TuNfm4wWMgmAXqxi9VAhWXCz8zOpZm--ygFgclG_w=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0JyBovJJVUNSV4SAsl3nYyZ25KZrEM1hvAV7y239TtXqeCNVOLJ7eiv1eBLLxyKg6d4TKCj3VunZOI--sKoMFYzpAWKqmBNS2JSF1AZvrBNDk-zBqCyRdkQnW2QIj35Oj_ywhVMfRCar6itUJQZHXhlNovwbazq-YUprmkObTKQuPqbr-uikIC-3SRA=s2400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2400" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0JyBovJJVUNSV4SAsl3nYyZ25KZrEM1hvAV7y239TtXqeCNVOLJ7eiv1eBLLxyKg6d4TKCj3VunZOI--sKoMFYzpAWKqmBNS2JSF1AZvrBNDk-zBqCyRdkQnW2QIj35Oj_ywhVMfRCar6itUJQZHXhlNovwbazq-YUprmkObTKQuPqbr-uikIC-3SRA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgztMIyfxO7_CEqbs8lRYqTqneJ1QLxYSAZs--y-zuyxCwtfzvLUO4G3ePTVNYS8TnAwv8BOcuzEvr-3iIak9hqhA8nMxv0DPDs0nLfoRvpjnQItBP9D2vOWLvrSV8QtCJ8DW0dvKxC8KFvIkonuaweApXe063PwhSHUMUezRXtUr3RtNirH2I7gc1XTw=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgztMIyfxO7_CEqbs8lRYqTqneJ1QLxYSAZs--y-zuyxCwtfzvLUO4G3ePTVNYS8TnAwv8BOcuzEvr-3iIak9hqhA8nMxv0DPDs0nLfoRvpjnQItBP9D2vOWLvrSV8QtCJ8DW0dvKxC8KFvIkonuaweApXe063PwhSHUMUezRXtUr3RtNirH2I7gc1XTw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After over a century of clearcut logging most of the big trees and virgin forest have all but been wiped out and, whatever remains, is being hotly contested by forest companies and protesters, with the Fairy Creek debacle this past summer being the latest example. Yes millions of trees have been planted as replacements but they will take another 100 years to grow and, in the meantime, the ecological balance and rich interconnectedness of multiple species that was maintained by the giant "Mother" trees has been destroyed. A tree farm is not a forest. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOoVSWllmNDU0mmRNv1XjV61rciqTcPbxTSjz3DMSYwBe3BCHmha6Wh2d_US0IvV_bH7CXOVh967IlPTRb65O3M9G3mxVgYVserRUouMA7Kx5W5R6SSohLZ6PLZLFzrnx0P50TdU2zsFUFdEpfMIzl9V7j2u1grNtsCc2NzGvj42SF8ulnV5waz2QKRQ=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1920" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOoVSWllmNDU0mmRNv1XjV61rciqTcPbxTSjz3DMSYwBe3BCHmha6Wh2d_US0IvV_bH7CXOVh967IlPTRb65O3M9G3mxVgYVserRUouMA7Kx5W5R6SSohLZ6PLZLFzrnx0P50TdU2zsFUFdEpfMIzl9V7j2u1grNtsCc2NzGvj42SF8ulnV5waz2QKRQ=w640-h396" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Technological advances, industry consolidation, and a shortage of timber has resulted in the closing of sawmills and pulp & paper mills almost every year with thousands of jobs lost in the process. According to Statistics Canada, the number of people employed in the forest industry is half what it was even 30 years ago. To make matters even worse the Province allows raw logs to be exported instead of ensuring the wood gets at least partially processed here at home. Forestry mismanagement has also led to the spread of bark beetles and resulting forest fires that have devastated entire communities and washed out highways.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLSPSBhf-RZ9CXsCEbUmgXws7Wl4GzTE5FHtZGws5OJe5QmYq2fgZBy_h5-sRa3qVANe3ZkwWOLdXsEVzp2lGIVv43ciQtatWIiYGLB-W3JNQBg3_doo70iBoluMAS39KO-tbdfq13lbS2F-zb-DzqO-NCoqrCJt5Dht4hQpJt4jul2LkoojZdykOcuA=s613" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="524" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLSPSBhf-RZ9CXsCEbUmgXws7Wl4GzTE5FHtZGws5OJe5QmYq2fgZBy_h5-sRa3qVANe3ZkwWOLdXsEVzp2lGIVv43ciQtatWIiYGLB-W3JNQBg3_doo70iBoluMAS39KO-tbdfq13lbS2F-zb-DzqO-NCoqrCJt5Dht4hQpJt4jul2LkoojZdykOcuA=w548-h640" width="548" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Logging used to be a respected profession that was characterized by danger, hard work and good pay but times are changing and a greater awareness of the environment is driving new approaches on how we view the forest industry. Trying to achieve that perfect balance between industry, First Nations, and environmentalists won't be easy but the effort has to be made. The forest industry is heading in the same direction as the fisheries and the barge on the beach is a symbol that, if they aren't careful, then one day soon it's going to be all washed up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4261237364096609595.post-44394623350710356992022-01-16T10:52:00.001-08:002022-01-20T17:41:55.003-08:00Going Up The Country<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivAo5XERh1kJogouoeTVmQ97ClO230WSXgvAzdToUSMY1ENNsj0rjujkPxHg7DjEWwnvy0d3j80KkkGUhuZDRlPaQB6DE-YvtV1GFvOY6DThRz7ht9gBWNY5iD4R1LhX78atTn7A0Z0gpo9VDVQ9pasZnfUJwWuGkf5PwDG6pDr5IJfVDUB_GD5wm9wA=s605" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="605" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivAo5XERh1kJogouoeTVmQ97ClO230WSXgvAzdToUSMY1ENNsj0rjujkPxHg7DjEWwnvy0d3j80KkkGUhuZDRlPaQB6DE-YvtV1GFvOY6DThRz7ht9gBWNY5iD4R1LhX78atTn7A0Z0gpo9VDVQ9pasZnfUJwWuGkf5PwDG6pDr5IJfVDUB_GD5wm9wA=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>There were two surprises for most B.C. homeowners as the year began; yet more snowfall after already enjoying a white Xmas, and a dramatic increase in their property value. In Vancouver itself the increase in property values was between 7-16% on average depending on whether you owned a condo or a house but as you moved out to the suburbs the increase was much more dramatic with 12-26% in Coquitlam, 18-34% in Surrey, 23-37% in Maple Ridge, 21-38% in Abbotsford and 40% in Chilliwack. Leaving the lower mainland it got even crazier with increases on the Island between 22-47%, in the Thompson Okanagan it was 17-42%, in the Kootenays it was 17-53% and in the North it was 6-58%.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy6ogS8Lg4_ImzQEoTJfgYudAyEcnF8aXUSdt5KSuGj8b2gfXfLarCeRLurBeoNh-6aU1J_bDo1_xkIA2CWWfxBw-Muut4f9uuggdoYO5zzLJjKdmWAOkGZmnxy7p74hH7dqpds-rglZDtgwjzVS8QfYiyzhLxsos7e3ZPJ9hxf1PNi9uoaUz4C8UNKw=s1300" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1300" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgy6ogS8Lg4_ImzQEoTJfgYudAyEcnF8aXUSdt5KSuGj8b2gfXfLarCeRLurBeoNh-6aU1J_bDo1_xkIA2CWWfxBw-Muut4f9uuggdoYO5zzLJjKdmWAOkGZmnxy7p74hH7dqpds-rglZDtgwjzVS8QfYiyzhLxsos7e3ZPJ9hxf1PNi9uoaUz4C8UNKw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The increase in property values is driven in large part by thousands of people leaving Vancouver for the hinterland to avoid the congestion and high prices but to also take advantage of being able to work from home. But is the grass really greener on the other side?</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQycFEPmTNR_9NgjkJhf-IVBWl07djPKIoXIa91mSVergIFOhhLmrIofuaeuEZDhWSAybvJpy_50HuStrBVK3GRwRtCr_bHu7KRYO6TaBB2HIvRQ6D_pvcBp935dcdMIxw1HgTeofszf9Zrzx7SSAc6PiWjawM0r7_Ahs6kBc9FQcAuFdVuhHhVUpdBg=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQycFEPmTNR_9NgjkJhf-IVBWl07djPKIoXIa91mSVergIFOhhLmrIofuaeuEZDhWSAybvJpy_50HuStrBVK3GRwRtCr_bHu7KRYO6TaBB2HIvRQ6D_pvcBp935dcdMIxw1HgTeofszf9Zrzx7SSAc6PiWjawM0r7_Ahs6kBc9FQcAuFdVuhHhVUpdBg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></p><p>This past summer there were forest fires that ravaged the Interior for the 4th or 5th year in a row and many people lost their homes. Added to that was the smoke everyone had to put up with for weeks on end. Then to top things off this was followed by the torrential rains that washed out entire communities and all of the major roads in and out of the Interior.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB-2kzlJaoqcbRVOcQVmAfW7ZM1SPzMPav8NnLJ8IPAIIf0r0AYunw1vOezPUsEo6TkpK2AbwOF3RGxfaHgNx91x-k5hJvpPHSnJ12krxzmdZIxJGF66UmFdWfLBQgmWq2MUqcDQGgXtIL8OEZUkXfTyXRDWWNezBwvwoceJzbsFBur_YKd0fKRDTqdg=s1079" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1079" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjB-2kzlJaoqcbRVOcQVmAfW7ZM1SPzMPav8NnLJ8IPAIIf0r0AYunw1vOezPUsEo6TkpK2AbwOF3RGxfaHgNx91x-k5hJvpPHSnJ12krxzmdZIxJGF66UmFdWfLBQgmWq2MUqcDQGgXtIL8OEZUkXfTyXRDWWNezBwvwoceJzbsFBur_YKd0fKRDTqdg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the atmospheric rainfall the Province experienced this past autumn, the idea of living anywhere near the lower mainland floodplain around Abbotsford and Chilliwack surely must make a person think twice. The wretched condition of the dikes along the Fraser River isn't going to improve anytime soon and every year there's a chance of flooding with the annual spring run-off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwvKEkWuO8FKgGYCaMetSGf5cV4RA-WJ18eeDvHpQzmYS_DDUXgtqVjcXiDzT5eYp7Z9GjQjbMji8e3562KHs3T9SMX2XTfJs4xNE4mHU-9XMAn8S-1A-xIe31uok26aZuoURZozOGMa2JKZ7j7EC9rCxGqXLy31z-JN4hK_Z96PsTUW8dh0spl7FrBw=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwvKEkWuO8FKgGYCaMetSGf5cV4RA-WJ18eeDvHpQzmYS_DDUXgtqVjcXiDzT5eYp7Z9GjQjbMji8e3562KHs3T9SMX2XTfJs4xNE4mHU-9XMAn8S-1A-xIe31uok26aZuoURZozOGMa2JKZ7j7EC9rCxGqXLy31z-JN4hK_Z96PsTUW8dh0spl7FrBw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Yes, the Okanagan with its lakes and vineyards seems to offer an idyllic place to live, especially in summer, but these past summers haven't been without some severe challenges, including a record setting heat wave that claimed hundreds of lives, and in winter it's very cold.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhemo-_RQPPc_0b_oQ5c50dhbWJ_YdyTaudTlRwgSt2nfQEnB4vIZvfOTcyBPFRdRAonCxCDhI4YcsvONucTuH_Wvmz3K8zcuhcxIvIkSOfHnNFWcUM9qmAt2qkUhLEC7Yih0reNurfgrBE8JAF_2016eaI4zakPbPOx4S0XwjCUGjkinNTLEJLVFbd2Q=s1704" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1704" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhemo-_RQPPc_0b_oQ5c50dhbWJ_YdyTaudTlRwgSt2nfQEnB4vIZvfOTcyBPFRdRAonCxCDhI4YcsvONucTuH_Wvmz3K8zcuhcxIvIkSOfHnNFWcUM9qmAt2qkUhLEC7Yih0reNurfgrBE8JAF_2016eaI4zakPbPOx4S0XwjCUGjkinNTLEJLVFbd2Q=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>There's a reason people continue flocking to Vancouver, quite a few in fact. Besides all the cultural attractions of a big city (restaurants, sports, theatre, universities) and job opportunities, it is surrounded by ocean and mountains that can be enjoyed year round. It's never too hot or too cold, there's no humidity, and there are no bugs or poisonous snakes. Vancouver also has plenty of water, unlike the Sunshine Coast or Vancouver Island that experienced a Level 4 Drought this past summer. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfLowo6SUvkK-aJHa67rNa_qm5mpEJejnvkYAtZx-W5XMp__fgNLKMwr6UsRQUigAx323dpaftoLLmn9RHEmxAiR6ZWSyTX4CdnxZXyI5lYdSNFGmvp0Ko_Hd8YUZDlWF4KkkaG6jHlvUxSTahKQao1ZROa-gI-3-oQgUkGzuzQxh1O-Vpki08gx2Ylg=s554" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="554" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfLowo6SUvkK-aJHa67rNa_qm5mpEJejnvkYAtZx-W5XMp__fgNLKMwr6UsRQUigAx323dpaftoLLmn9RHEmxAiR6ZWSyTX4CdnxZXyI5lYdSNFGmvp0Ko_Hd8YUZDlWF4KkkaG6jHlvUxSTahKQao1ZROa-gI-3-oQgUkGzuzQxh1O-Vpki08gx2Ylg=w640-h486" width="640" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>But while Vancouver is an attractive place to live it unfortunately hasn't been very good at providing affordable housing for people wanting to move here. Thanks to zoning that hasn't moved with the times most of the city is still single family dwellings so, with the exception of downtown, there is no way to increase the density and no place for new residents to live. As a result, most of the population growth has been in the suburbs where, over the past 25 years, more than 80% of the million people who have come to the Lower Mainland, have settled.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVDCOsLCSkVm7ZKj2L1oifsXiqtP6BjF_Mn2XebdRPqNbfCu2k8J_AgccdnVMbN-MugW5btKOZXmwqnq-tKbu8zYl6iXGH_5ICroZXiwdDYZlgx6Q11iUgxh44kTkSTBVUIgQpjx0uj6RJvren74VmMtdeJz-S9gMzCQ1o8DFnCV0TwfSyipGFem9X7A=s1245" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1245" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVDCOsLCSkVm7ZKj2L1oifsXiqtP6BjF_Mn2XebdRPqNbfCu2k8J_AgccdnVMbN-MugW5btKOZXmwqnq-tKbu8zYl6iXGH_5ICroZXiwdDYZlgx6Q11iUgxh44kTkSTBVUIgQpjx0uj6RJvren74VmMtdeJz-S9gMzCQ1o8DFnCV0TwfSyipGFem9X7A=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This has resulted in horrendous traffic jams that have now made Vancouver the most congested city in Canada and the worst in North America, even edging out Los Angeles. This urban sprawl eats up farmland, hillsides and forests and robs residents of the recreational opportunities these areas could have offered while putting even more pressure on existing parks and waterfront. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEig1USXByAbEaSS1bXPbS5F-IKGga2PPT1acQh4u7qtSepFoZGSQzHAZu4tzLSE8vdLSSQ1IapZPin5KM98B4oy8s_wOTsZp4zSmsYEOevgQOJtQlaAeAVGzZN8yr-G4vNYYvLV66bYXzrLiisdZethKxtic5bxKZ--JjD5NdtJrKhVHQE49g2RYv_oZQ=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1000" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEig1USXByAbEaSS1bXPbS5F-IKGga2PPT1acQh4u7qtSepFoZGSQzHAZu4tzLSE8vdLSSQ1IapZPin5KM98B4oy8s_wOTsZp4zSmsYEOevgQOJtQlaAeAVGzZN8yr-G4vNYYvLV66bYXzrLiisdZethKxtic5bxKZ--JjD5NdtJrKhVHQE49g2RYv_oZQ=w640-h592" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #525252; font-family: Lato, serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.4px; text-align: right;">Metro Vancouver sub-region map: Yellow – North Shore; Red – Burrard Peninsula; Green – South of Fraser West; Blue – South of Fraser East; Purple – Tri-Cities; Orange – North East. (Metro Vancouver Regional District)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Over the next 25 years Metro Vancouver is projected to add another million people, an average of 35,000 people a year. Over 400,000 will be settled south of the Fraser River but the Burrard Peninsula will still add 340,000 residents. How the regional land use and transportation planning proceeds will determine if this growth will make for a more livable lower mainland or add to the unpleasantness.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggRCH1CtecKMbZBS_YQnVqZsJ7wunH0ogIFkPHaBBPVnszJ3Hx4E9CIaULhzEKAgpmLpI_ZSejsHDa0BcpDkfiNLWycwEtwzG29vUaZPAH-MYOFN432mcn1qH3-H6IfdgtgN6v3dPV6NbQTG-9AJ43S-aWBajSoZJ3l5AFWpj77H_TsuORkWrleNBz0w=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggRCH1CtecKMbZBS_YQnVqZsJ7wunH0ogIFkPHaBBPVnszJ3Hx4E9CIaULhzEKAgpmLpI_ZSejsHDa0BcpDkfiNLWycwEtwzG29vUaZPAH-MYOFN432mcn1qH3-H6IfdgtgN6v3dPV6NbQTG-9AJ43S-aWBajSoZJ3l5AFWpj77H_TsuORkWrleNBz0w=w640-h334" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But maybe there is another way of handling population growth and making a more livable city and for inspiration we can look at Paris. Both cities are roughly the same size, 100 square kilometres within city limits, but Paris has a population density of 20,300 per square kilometre vs. 5,400 for Vancouver. While Vancouver may have the highest density of any city in Canada it's only a quarter of what exists in Paris and they do it without high-rises. Instead, Paris has a more or less uniform building height of mid-rise apartments spread across the entire city, and there are no single family dwellings. They also have an excellent subway system to move people around.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglWuvv8LY4k8dtaHHphjBaNeEWxRh_YCm5a7yXZWgfVcf9q-MOC5sSohgCEdw7jwGOgwPGhRL8QVsZhlwhoydSEKtTAViMV7SIrW0lLfK5w3xXHDEIb71S2SDIOI9guBudp4fmcUJaN953C836Ca_uVDwVI-zT_LnmMrvZkXS2f6uf8TOMFJcz1rdgmA=s850" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="850" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglWuvv8LY4k8dtaHHphjBaNeEWxRh_YCm5a7yXZWgfVcf9q-MOC5sSohgCEdw7jwGOgwPGhRL8QVsZhlwhoydSEKtTAViMV7SIrW0lLfK5w3xXHDEIb71S2SDIOI9guBudp4fmcUJaN953C836Ca_uVDwVI-zT_LnmMrvZkXS2f6uf8TOMFJcz1rdgmA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To further improve on what is already one of the most attractive and desirable cities in the world the mayor has articulated a new vision for Paris called the 15 minute city. This means creating self-sufficient communities within each neighbourhood where essential services like grocery stores, schools, health centres, cafes, bakeries, and parks will be just a short stroll or bike-ride away from people's homes. Unlike Metro Vancouver which is focused on urban sprawl that is dependent on cars for getting around, vehicles in Paris will eventually be phased out and bike lanes will be established on every street.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9-mq4i2bN6XoCQ-LidpxR3ZiEvNurIzwUwmetNKSxzjdyHU8yuilXry2KywWGY5lSsOKKOhOTkKRwjHAUm-rBdNqCRAJsSFydNkIZtiLqW-cHoZYVmwPhz7L2mw3dDZFARWvhKA_JQ035APrOx1NYXVfPIM0neUXCqmKWPJukeFJkZNFYl9nCAJulDQ=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="960" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9-mq4i2bN6XoCQ-LidpxR3ZiEvNurIzwUwmetNKSxzjdyHU8yuilXry2KywWGY5lSsOKKOhOTkKRwjHAUm-rBdNqCRAJsSFydNkIZtiLqW-cHoZYVmwPhz7L2mw3dDZFARWvhKA_JQ035APrOx1NYXVfPIM0neUXCqmKWPJukeFJkZNFYl9nCAJulDQ=w640-h334" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Maybe if Vancouver borrowed a page from the Paris playbook the stress of living here could be reduced and we could have more time to enjoy the beauty and advantages it has to offer. Housing prices would come down to Earth, air pollution would be reduced, and traffic jams would become a thing of the past. Life would be simpler, the environment would thank us, and the lure of going up the country would disappear. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Nelson Quirogahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07910634937416574646noreply@blogger.com1