My Best Wishes For A Better Year In 2013

               

Chief of Attawapiskat, Theresa Spence made the decision to conduct a "hunger Strike" to protest the actions of the current Conservative Government and their unilateral decision making against her community and against all First Peoples of this great land.

Events (2012) Around Theresa Spence

     Jan. 23/24: - Crown-First Nations  gathering in Ottawa. 

                       - Harper and Grand Chief Shawn Atleo exchanged starkly different opinions
                       - They agreed on urgency and to have a report presented within one year
                       - Promises made on changes to Indian Act

     Nov. 15:  Grand Chief Shawn Atleo writes a letter to PM Harper and Aboriginal Affairs
                     Minister John Duncan on First Nations 'frustration'

    Dec, 10:  International Human Rights Day marked the beginning of Idle No More
                   movement

    Dec. 10:  2:00 pm Press Conference with Theresa Spence

    Dec. 11:  6:00 am Sunrise/Pipe Ceremony at Victoria Island, Ottawa
                   9:00 am Chief  Spence of Attawapiskat  stops eating solid food (hunger strike)

     
   Dec. 11:  Charlie Angus, MP, visits Spence in Ottawa

  Dec. 14: The budget bill, Bill C-45 was passed 50 to 27 and is set to become law

  Dec 18:  Assembly of First Nations and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak
                support Cross Lake Elder action for change

 Dec. 26: Justin Trudeau visited with Theresa Spence on Boxing Day

"When our ancestors made treaties with the British Crown to allow the Queen's subjects to live in our territories, it was for as long as the sun shines, the water flows and the grass grows. The Crown's only legal access to our lands is contingent upon the fulfillment of the promises made in the negotiations of treaty."
                       Theresa Spence     
   

"Idle No More" gathering at City Hall, Portage la Prairie, Man.  Dec 28, 2012

 

INTERESTING THINGS FOR THE FUTURE ?

(courtesy of Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine)

1) The bicymple : Sort of like a two-wheel unicycle

 

The rear wheel can be used for steering the bicymple

2)  Harvard researchers fold proteins with D-Wave quantum computer

Many were skeptical when, back in 2007, Canadian company D-Wave announced that it had built the world's first commercially viable quantum computer. Now a study published in the August issue of Nature's Scientific Reports co-authored by D-Wave and Harvard researchers proves the D-Wave One is the real deal.

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 LOOKING BACK - AND FORWARD

CARS

      - 10 concept cars in 2012 (from Gizmag)
      - Volkswagen Hover Car ( it travels above the ground - good for parallel parking ?)

    Canada's Role In Space

     - Canada's role from 1839 to 2012
     - Astronaut Chris Hadfield returns to space for a third time to become the first Canadian Commander of   the International Space Station during the second half of his six-month mission.
     - Canadian Space Ageny 2010 - 2012 news releases

Idle No More - Update

     Groups of First Nations people have been joined by others as they hold a widespread series of protests carried out under the banner of "Idle No More". These totally non-violent gatherings and blockades across Canada are to bring attention to 14 pieces of legislation included in the federal omnibus Bill C-45, and have been going on for two weeks (although largely ignored by the media until recently).

      There is an official page on Facebook as well as separate ones with current members as shown: Northern Manitoba (1100), Winnipeg (1680), Thunder Bay (3800), and Morley (1300).

   
     Bill C-45 brings changes to the Indian Act that will fast-track the process for aboriginals to surrender their reserve lands by lowering the threshold of community consent needed to hand over territory. The legislation also includes clauses that will cut the number of federally protected waterways, potentially jeopardizing the lands they rely on and change environmental regulations. Most non-native Canadians will be directly or indirectly affected adversely by these changes. Typical activities (all nonviolent)  have been:

     * a demonstration on Parliament Hill late last week

     * outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.
     * a three-day-old blockade of the CN rail track in Sarnia, Ont.
     * a round-dance flash mob organized at a mall in Portland, Ore.
     * in a tent on an island in the Ottawa River

     Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat has been living in a teepee on Victoria Island, not far from Parliament Hill, since Dec. 11. She has vowed to continue her hunger strike until Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a representative of the Crown agree meet with her to discuss treaty rights and provisions of Bill C-45. So far PM Harper appears to be oblivious to the situation, although he has found time to meet with Justin Bieber and to play cribbage with a group of old people. There is at least one petition to PM Harper on her behalf if you wish to add your name.

    

TOO FUNNY FOR COMMENT

1) A tattooed, 230-pound Florida fugitive ends up in one of the coldest major cities (Winnipeg) on the planet just days before Christmas and allegedly robs a bank while dressed as a busty female clown.

2) Tim Hortons has officially opened three kiosks in Iqaluit, meaning the iconic coffee and doughnut chain now has locations in every province and territory in Canada.

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