The Myth of Water Abundance in Canada

Tonight I spent the first of three water-themed events I will attend in the next week. It was put on by the Sierra Club of Canada's Ottawa chapter at St. Paul's University and it was entitled The Myth of Water Abundance in Canada. 

The rundown:

MC Adrian Harewood, CBC Radio

Presentation by Maude Barlow, Global Water Activist, Council of Canadians
Published author: Blue Gold, Blue Covenant

Panel Discussion:
Stephen Hazell, Executive Director
Maude Barlow, Chair, Council of Canadians
Meredith Brown, Executive Director, Ottawa Riverkeepers
Clive Doucet, City of Ottawa Councillor, Capital Ward

Some notes:

• One of the causes of climate change has been the changes we have caused to the hydrologic cycle
• China is creating deserts the size of Rhode Island every year by draining watersheds
• Hot spots are being found around the world now (areas running out of water) - Middle East, Australia, 22 countries in Africa, SouthWest United States, Mexico City, India, Northern China...)
• Canada's last water legislation at a federal level was the NAtional Water Act of 1970
• Water is a tradeable good (i.e.: private commodity) in NAFTA, where there is a proportional sharing agreement so hypothetically corporations could sue if we ever restricted their water usage
• Nestle (and other companies across the country, and mostly around the Great Lakes) are getting water permits and taking water out at insane levels -at only the cost of the permit!
• Four trillion liters of water a day are removed from the Great Lakes
• Lake Michigan actually had its water flow reversed because of so much water removal
• Only 3% of the wildlife in the Great Lakes are native
• There are more than 300 chemicals in the Great Lakes, including nitrates and chemical fertilizers from livestock and industrial agriculture in the area
• Alberta's tar sands, described by Maude Barlow as Canada's Mordor, have shown exceptionally high cancer rates in populations nearby - including the unseen bile cancer in children 
• Most environmental groups are fighting for a National Water Strategy where there would be a ban/limits on commercial water exports, a right to safe drinking water for all, and sustainability in our water strategy

I'll post more notes after the next two events: the Flow movie, and the Blue Gold movie.

On Packing

Packing for The Big Move began a little over a month ago...but didn't really kick into high gear until the last two weeks. First came the books. We have two overflowing book shelves, and they took up no less than ten 2 cubic feet sized boxes.

Pretty much everything is packed up now... but the big thing left are the dishes. Yes, those in the cupboards....but more so the ones in the sink. I used to like doing dishes by hand. It was soothing and quiet and didn't take very long. Now I hate it. I like to say it's because it's greener to do dishes with the washer, but really I think it's just because it means being in my small, dark, music-less, window-less kitchen.

So. I've been avoiding those dishes until the very last minute where I'll have to wash and pack them. I'm actually considering packing them dirty and then just throwing them in the dishwasher at the new house. Would that be so wrong?

I'm avoiding doing dishes so badly, in fact, that I just spent the last hour packing and cleaning up the bathroom. Including o-mop-ing the floor behind the toilet where water had dripped for gosh-knows-how-long before we finally noticed and is now stained with rust coloured cirlces of dried water.

Maybe I'll just hire a maid for the new house to solve all my cleaning problems.

On Leaving

In four days we get the keys to our new house. Our first house. And in five days we move.

T mentioned he was going to miss the apartment and the memories, but not me. I have a bad memory and don't miss my parent's place (though I do miss the cottage) and I don't think I'm going to miss this apartment.

I never liked it, and I only moved here because T was already here. My dislike of things has turned to angry hatred and disgust in the recent months as I anticipate our perfect house (shut up, that's what it is in my head! Don't ruin it for me yet -- let me learn on my own.)

The kitchen here is small, has no counter space, and really crappy lighting.

There's no real suitable place to have a dining room table and guests.

The balcony is small and overlooks the parking lot.

The road that runs out past our window has three bus routes on it and seeminly too many idiotic drivers who live to rev their engines at 2 a.m. as they speed down the street.

The master bedroom is small and I have a computer desk and chair just a few inches from my nose as I sleep.

There is no air conditioning which has been disgusting these last two summers where the average temperature of the apartment is 26 C. Don't even think of turning on the stove or oven.

The TV and video games are on the other side of the bedroom wall which isn't good for sleeping for me when T wants to stay up.

I can only do laundry at certain times and on certain days which isn't conducive to my Martha Stewart ways.

Out-of-town guests have been sleeping on our couch, in our living room where we have a towel for a curtain on the balcony door.

I don't care for any fond memories here. Everything I want to remember I'm taking with me. The cat, my books, my music and T. What else do I need?

Well, seeing as you asked.

The new house has a large kitchen with lots of counter space and natual light pouring in through the patio door.

There's a dining room and a new dining room table and chairs being delivered.

The backyard is a decent size and will have a BBQ, a patio set and overlooks parkland. There is a library, community center, park, splash park, tennis courts and two baseball diamonds all within a ten minute walk out the backyard.

The street in front of us is residential but at the end of the street is a major road with a bus to take us both to work. Out of earshot.

The master bedroom is large, and though it is currently pink and mauve, it will soon be transformed into a nice oasis for us to get some fantastic shut eye in our new king sized bed...and maybe something else.

The computer and video games will all be in the basement -- also out of earshot of sleeping Laura.

I can do laundry whenever I want.

We will have A/C so we won't have to go "condo swimming" as my friend puts it (showering/bathing repeatedly before bed to try and cool off -- often ends in sleeping naked and wet to keep cool).

Our out-of-town guests (the first of which will be two weeks after we move in!) will have their own bedroom and bed to sleep in. With real curtains in their room!

I can't wait.

Time to make new memories.

When you're bored

LAYER ONE:
Spell your name with bands/artists
LoudLove
Arcade Fire
U2
Rebel Emergency
A 311...ok I couldn’t think of another A band


LAYER TWO:
-- Name: Laura Anne Marie Nicol
-- Birth date: August 13, 1983
-- Nicknames: Laur , Laura-loo, Laura-lee Laura-loo, chaton
-- Current Location: Ottawa
-- Eye Color: Blue
-- Hair Color: Brown
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty.
-- Best friend(s): Theo, Salma, Daniel, Christine, Nicole ...

LAYER THREE:
-- The shoes you wore today: black flats to and from work, 2 in black heels at work
-- Your perfect pizza: sauce, green peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, cheese OR bbq sauce, chicken and cheese
-- The last time you cried: Probably like a week ago

LAYER FOUR:
-- Your best physical feature: Eyes? Breasts?
-- Most missed memory: I have a horrible memory. I miss my memory. And the cottage. :>

LAYER FIVE:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Coke
-- McDonald's or Burger King: McDonalds
-- Adidas or Nike: neither
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: meh
-- Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
-- Cappuccino or coffee: French vanilla

LAYER SIX:
-- Curse: I don’t know what exactly this is asking?
-- Do you sing: Yes...when I’m alone.
-- Take a shower everyday: Usually.
-- Do you think you have been in love: Yes
-- Want to go to college: Went to university and took college classes in PR. I’d go back in a heart beat
-- Get motion sickness: rarely
-- Think you're a health freak: nope
-- Get along with your parents: yes.
-- Play an instrument: I can play guitar, bass and drums in Rock Band 

LAYER SEVEN:
In the past 3 months...
-- Gone to the mall: yes
-- Kissed someone: yes
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos: no, but I did share one with Mat and Theo
-- Eaten Sushi: yup
-- Been on stage: no
-- Gone skating: noooope
-- Made homemade cookies: Not cookies—but cupcakes and banana bread
-- Stolen anything: nope

LAYER EIGHT:
Have you ever...
-- Gotten in big trouble with your parents: not really
-- Used a fake id: Hmmm maybe? I don’t recall. Don’t think so?

LAYER NINE:
-- Age you hope to be married: No rush...but maybe by 27-28
--Number of Children: 2

LAYER TEN:
In a guy/girl...
-- Best eye color: don't care
-- best hair color: ditto
-- Short hair or long hair: ditto


LAYER ELEVEN:
-- Number of people I could trust with my life?: 10ish?
-- Number of cds you own: tons!!
-- Number of piercings: 4
-- Number of tattoos: none

LAYER TWELVE:
--The one place you never want to go back to: cottage, montreal, kap, toronto, NYC, D.C., boston, Vegas
--The one place where you want to die: wherever home is
--The one feeling you have never felt: loss – true, deep loss
--The one person you would like to meet: Hmmm...does 311 count as a person? If not, George Stroumboulopoulos. I’d love to go to a concert with that guy.

Banksy

I've been a fan of Banksy for a few years now. I don't recall how I first came across his graffiti/political art ... but I especially adore his recent work in Palestine/Israel. It's not mindless tagging on public property type graffiti - it's always got a point.




At Urban Outfitters I found a book of some of his work. Some of my favorite quotes:

"Once upon a time there was a Bear and a Bee who lived in a wood and were the best of friends. All summer long the Bee collected nectar from morning to night while the Bear lay on his back basking in the long grass.

When Winter came the Bear realised he had nothing to eat and thought to himself 'I hope that busy little Bee will share some of his honey with me.' But the Bee was nowhere to be found - he had died of a stress induced coronary disease."

"The human race is the most stupid and unfair kind of race. A lot of the runners don't even get decent sneakers or clean drinking water.

Some runners are born with a massive head start, every possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on their side.

It's not surprising a lot of people have given up competing altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk and shout abuse.

What the human race needs is a lot more streakers."

"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves."

Banana Bread

I tried studying his face while he spoke on the phone. It had been 12 hours since we'd heard any news.

Normally I can hear the conversation because her excited voice carries through the 680 km of airwaves to his cell phone and loud enough for me to hear sitting next to him. Not tonight.

"Why didn't you call?" in a frustrated tone. Does he normally chew his bottom lip? Are his eyes welling up or is that the lighting in the room?

"When will you know?" in an anxious tone. He lets go of my hand. Am I making it worse by watching him?

I leave and go to the kitchen. I open my recipe book to the banana bread page and immediately start throwing the ingredients into a large bowl. Not in order. I didn't sift the flour. I had no vanilla extract but used homemade vanilla sugar instead. That looked about a quarter cup. Blend. Butter pan. Pour mixture into pan. Bake at 350 for 60 minutes. Wash, wash, scrub dishes. Clean countertop. I feel better. At least if I have to go anywhere tomorrow I can bring a banana bread. Banana bread helps everything. As a recent recipient of one of my banana breads noted: Banana bread is the greatest stuff ever as it serves as a snack, breakfast or dessert. It's a disorganized mother's best pal. A disorganized mother and an anxious girl.

I'm an anxious eater. And apparently an anxious baker.

Why we should NOT pass Bill C-10 in Canada

For those Canucks who haven't heard about Bill C-10.... it essentially gives the government the power to not fund Canadian movies with "controversial" subject matter.

Yeah. Ok. Censorship much?

GREAT interview by George Stroumboulopoulos here: Charles McVety on The Hour

From the Facebook group: Keep your censoring hands off of Canadian film and TV! No to Bill C-10!

Please concentrate your letter writing/lobbying on
the Senate Commerce, Banking and Trade Committee.

General email:
banking_banques@sen.parl.g

c.ca

General mail:
Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada, K1A 0A4


Here is a list of email addresses of the Standing Committee members:

anguswd@sen.parl.gc.ca, goldsy@sen.parl.gc.ca, bironmi@sen.parl.gc.ca, rokosg@sen.parl.gc.ca, harbm@sen.parl.gc.ca, jaffem@sen.parl.gc.ca, massip@sen.parl.gc.ca, meighen@sen.parl.gc.ca, moorew@sen.parl.gc.ca, ringup@sen.parl.gc.ca, tkachd@sen.parl.gc.ca

Angus, W. David Chair - C - (Alma - Quebec)
Goldstein, Yoine Deputy Chair - Lib. - (Rigaud - Quebec)
Biron, Michel - Lib. - (Mille Isles - Quebec)
Eyton, John Trevor - C - (Ontario)
Harb, Mac - Lib. - (Ontario)
Jaffer, Mobina S.B. - Lib. - (British Columbia)
Massicotte, Paul J. - Lib. - (De Lanaudière - Quebec)
Meighen, Michael A. - C - (St. Marys - Ontario)
Moore, Wilfred P. - Lib. - (Stanhope St. / South Shore - Nova Scotia)
Ringuette, Pierrette - Lib. - (New Brunswick)
Tkachuk, David - C - (Saskatchewan)

Grain Farmer Claims Moral Victory in Seed Battle Against Monsanto

Grain Farmer Claims Moral Victory in Seed Battle Against Monsanto

On The Fire

My lovely and very talented pal Teresa is completing her Masters at Carleton -- working on education and the environment. Her very cool blog is tracking some of the things she's coming across in her research/interest and she's looking for feedback on some of her thesis thoughts...

Check out On The Fire.

Entries of interest:

Vampire Energy/Phantom Load
List of Foods that Contain GMOs (2003)

Terminator Seeds

I've written before about Terminator, or Suicide, Seed technology, but I wanted to include a few more links and facts from a forum I attended here in Ottawa. There were three speakers - Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher of ExoNexus, U.K.; Susan Walsh, Executive Director of USC Canada; and Colleen Ross, Women's President of the National Farmers Union. Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network hosted the evening.

First some notes from Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher's portion:

Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURTs) is used in Terminator seeds to render them sterile in the second generation (ie. the seeds this plant will produce will be sterile). Terminator seeds DO NOT prevent cross-pollination - or contamination - of other fields/plants. Other problems with transgenes/GURTs:

• By definition, any biological system is not static, but dynamic, it changes.
• Evolution, genetic adaptation, metabolic adaptation
• Mutations (alteration of DNA sequence)
• Gene silencing (epigenetic changes - as a defense mechanism within the seed)

Therefore - no biological system is 100% reliable.

There is insufficient data for assessment of environmental, socio-economic and cultural impacts, as well as economic, legal, societal and food security impacts.

Have we even considered if we NEED this technology?


From Susan Walsh, who presented on Terminator technology and Farmers from the Global South:

• 1.4 billion people are dependent on seeds farmers save (seed banks - both formal and informal)
• Biodiversity is even more important with climate change already showing its head
• To buy new seeds every year the Canadian Wheat industry (85%) would cost US$85 million according to the ETC Group.
• The companies behind Terminator technology say that this is too expensive for farmers in developing countries and therefore wouldn't affect them -- this is not so. Farmers around the world receive seeds via farm aid, food programs, and cross-pollination.

From Colleen Ross' portion on Farming in Canada:

• Not all technologies are good
• We embrace it -- doesn't mean it will embrace us!
• Canola, cotton, corn, and soybeans are often genetically modified
• 85% of farmers have off-however -- this isn't profitable for the farmer, and isn't healthy either
• We're losing 2% of our diversity every year

So -- what can you do to stop this?

• You can take action to Ban Terminator here
• Educate yourself - tell your friends and family. Get a great discussion started with this Seed Map
• Article on Doomsday Seed Vault