The New Agora February 2010

The Issue 3

February 2010

www.TheAgoraNational.ca

A

gorA

Olympic Stand Down

The Disappeared of Canada

Childhood Arthritis and Vaccines

The AVATAR Generator

Ellen Atkin

Kevin Annett

Dr Sherri Tenpenny

Carl Chaplin

Free

Yemen a Geopo- Dialogue with my litical chokepoint Loving Friend, to Eurasia Wings of Light

William Engdahl

Maitreyi

The Silenced Side of Aspartame

Avatar and Empire

Dr Janet Hull

Naomi Wolf

oly mpi c s pec ial Page 3

I

n late October the city ordered the removal this mural. Though it was later reinstalled; the power struggle over free speech and censorship overshadowed message the artist was trying to convey. Jesse Corcoran is an artist and support worker in the Down Town East Side. This is what he had to say about the piece.

"I created this piece, the olympic rings with four unhappy faces and one happy face mostly hoping to get people talking about this issue. I work on the DTES with the most marginalized population in vancouver, who's lives consist of constant suffering. The government tells us there is not enough money to spend on programs to end this suffereing but on the other

hand we have the ability to shakle our children to a mounting multi billion dollar debt for a two week sports event. The powers that be seem to be ok with the majority suffering for the enjoyment of the minority.�

Jesse is now making t-shirts with this design.

For information on how to get one please contact him @ letsmakeachangetoday@gmail.com.

p2

2

Haiti: An Unwelcome Katrina Redux

By Cynthia McKinney

h m t l do a e ee H r F

2

Table of Contents The Agora: Leading the Canadian Media Revolution

In Canada, a handful of corporations control nearly all news media. As the consequences of this monopoly on information become increasingly apparent, dependence on these outlets for reliable and relevant information becomes unacceptable. The cynicism and apathy built up within this society are now in need of remedy.

With the development of the internet it has become possible for anyone to bypass the monopoly of big media and get the word out on an endless range of issues. This technology has rapidly ignited a renaissance in freedom of expression. The paper you hold in your hands is dedicated to carrying this renaissance through into a full blown revolution in the realm of print media.

We provide a professional platform to all the news and views you have not been seeing in the dying corporate press. We are committed to a revival of true print journalism, to being a newspaper befitting of our times. In order to accomplish these goals while retaining integrity, we abide by an open source philosophy of content generation. This means that no one voice may use money or undue influence to drown out others. To be sure we do not become beholden to any one editorial bias, we have populated our editorial crew with feisty humans who disagree on practically everything.

Who knows better what information you should and should not be exposed to: A few monolithic corporations? The Government?...Or you?

olympic Special ellen Atkin garth Mullin The APC Shosanna gold Chris Shaw Dana gabriel

olympic Stand Down Dear Bud Where Will We Be Post Apocalympics?

Censorship and Lies Why resist the 2010 Winter olympics The War on Terrorism and the 2010 olympics

3 3 4 5 6 7

Childhood Arthritis and Vaccines The Silenced Side of Aspartame Full Body Scanners May Damage DNA Unreasonably happy hypnotherapy

28 30 35 11 18

The Myth of human Nature Big Brother Big Sister Your Business and the Internet Dolphins Should Be Treated As humans Spy Drones to Monitor UK Citizens

8 14 14 15 19 29

generator, a review of Avatar Manifesto of real Democracy

12 10

The Disappeared of Canada Poisonous Trees

13 16

health Dr. Sherry Tenpenny Dr. Janet Starr hull Mike Adams Janice Skoreyko Sherry M. hood

Science Matthew Berkowitz eric Partikian rik Ferguson Clive Fletcher Lin edwards News Byte

reviews Carl Chaplin Chris York

Crime Kevin Annett Issac oommen

Culture Maitreyi Pepe Danza Thor Plukoshko Jordan Turner events guide

Wings of Light ocean of Sound Cereal Junkies Artist Spotlight

19 20 20 39 21

Politics Cynthia McKinney Naomi Wolf William engdahl Dee Nicholson Beverly Krawczyk Jeremy Arney Bruce Sprigsteen Joe Quinn Infowars.com Paul glumaz Kurt Nimmo Birgitta Jonesdottir The Agoraphile

haiti: An Unwelcome Katrina redux Avatar and empire Yemen: a geopolitical Chokepoint Practically Speaking Beverly Who? open letter to Stephen harper harper Talks Stability at Davos Arun gandhi and the Jewish Conspiracy ron Paul:“The CIA runs everything” American healthcare reform Defeated Chavez:“US Used earthquake Weapon on haiti” Support Iceland Against Financial Blackmail Vancouver Prorogation Protest

26 29 32 22 24 24 24 34 36 36 37 37 38

Blood and Iron The V Spot Its expensive, Why Me?

9 17 25

Letters to the editor Damian

Disclaimer The Agora is a periodical that presents opinions and articles on a wide variety of issues and disciplines to its readers. The Agora is edited for appropriate content, and the authors swear that all articles are original and appropriately sourced. Neither The Agora nor its editors are liable for any damage incurred by the material printed herein. To the best of our knowledge all images and content are not copyrighted material. The opinions expressed are those of the contributor and may not reflect those of the Agora or the businesses that advertise with us.

Advisory Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music.

-Marcus Brigstocke

Contact Us Advertising advertise@theagoranational.ca Article submissions submissions@theagoranational.ca general information www.TheAgoraNational.ca 778-828-8246

Subsciption Information 1 month: Canada $5 - North America $7.50 - World $10 6 months: Canada $25 - North America $37.50 - World $50 12 months: $45 - North America $67.50 - World $90

Columnists Lee Smith Vera Zyla Boyd Adams

I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.

-Albert Einstein

Dear Agora

17

Bulk subscriptions available upon request.

To subscribe go to www.TheAgoranational.ca A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read.

-Mark Twain

Vancouver

3

Olympic Stand Down Ellen Atkin is an aerial photographer based in Vancouver. www.ellenatkin.com

G

rumble, grumble, grumble, Olympics, grumble, grumble... Oh I could shoot myself in the foot for voting for that stupid thing in the Plebiscite of 2003. The good thing is, I am 4000 kilometers away in another country, BUT, that doesn’t stop me from hating the whole thing: The corporate takeover of public space, the street closures, the fare increases, the surveillance implementation, the shit eating grins on the political front, the cost …

Ever since the bid came in, people have tried to optimistically reference some co relation to selling my products (aerial photos) with the event. What the heck am I supposed to do? Stand on the street corner and sell 4x6 prints? I doubt that would last longer than a Coca Cola commercial before I got hustled off to bylaw infraction enforcement purgatory.

For years my photo agent has asked for images of our fair west coast “for the Olympics”. Finally, one related image sold last month for a grand total of 75.00 in my pocket. What a payoff.

Chris Shaw is right, the Olympics are the biggest sports franchise in the world and they amount to the biggest hoodwinking of good will, altruistic intentions and public funds for private profit in our times today. Are we not supposed to notice that every publicly funded service and/or refuge has had their budget slashed or removed indefinitely? How is it that government has no problem pulling billions out of a hat

We see too many red flags right now in the most politically active city (Vancouver) within the best country in the world (Canada). We see the same security firm used in the London Underground during the 777 bombings providing “security” for Vancouver International Airport. John Hamfor a 2 week party but when it comes to public services, mil warns us, “We strongly question the wisdom of allowing that our taxes are supposed to pay for, (including building Verint Info Systems, a heavily discredited company with a bridges and roads), we are told there is no money left or terrible track record, and well documented ties to the CIA, we will need to pony up? Strange disconnect.

Mossad, and MI6 to provide security for YVR during the Let Vancouver be the first Olympic city that draws Olympics.” international attention to the outdated, overrated, We see a conspicuously timed and unprecedented acoverblown, corrupt, financial tion taken by our federal government to susdisaster masquerading as an athpend parliament until just after the letic event with dignity, intelliIf there is any Canadian repreOlympics. We see our laws in 2008 changed gence and poise from the activist to allow foreign troops on our soil in the sentative fool enough to go community. Let the police exevent of a “terror attack.” We see almost a press their disgust and distaste along with a false flag terror billion dollars spent on “security” for “the for averting their duties for this attack on Canadian soil, there games.” We see a documented timetable by test practice in unprovoked the Council on Foreign Relations to build a heavy handed militancy upon will be no gain. That battle is North American community by 2010. We innocent citizenry. Let Olympic see the only way they could adhere to that lost.

Better now to be a hero. committees self implode and timetable would be via a "9/11" style co-intel cower in shame pledging to New orders: STAND DOWN. pro operation. We see and we are watching. never again bring this blight We do not need a false flag terror attack upon humanity again. Perhaps at the 2010 Winter Olympics. There will be it will happen as Intrawest goes into receivership and govno trade off. If some such thing happens we will know that ernment is prorogued. it was not “Al Qaeda”. The real perps will not get away with Personally, I think it is great that the government is it. Right now, everybody knows that 9/11 was an inside job. halted. The less government tries to govern, the better.

Everybody knows that almost every government on the Everything they do is wrong, so best not to have them tryplanet is controlled by a psychopathic circle of elitist, hell ing. However, there is a darker presentment lurking in the bent on destroying humanity. The jig is up. If there is any shadows of this auspicious action by Stephen Harper; that Canadian representative fool enough to go along with a false the stage is being set for a major false flag terror event to flag terror attack on Canadian soil, there will be no gain. That provide a pretext for world government and population battle is lost. Better now to be a hero. New orders: STAND enslavement.

DOWN.

Dear Bud: by Garth Mullin is a member of the Olympic resistance network

and long time activist. When asked to write about the aggressive surveillance tactics used by the Vancouver 2010 integrated Security unit, he wrote this; a Dear John letter to Bud Mercer, head of the Vancouver 2010 intergrated Security unit, and long time protest buster.

You can find Garth on the interweb here garthmullins.blogspot.com and here myspace.com/punklegallyblind.

Dear Bud: didn’t want to have to write this letter, but while flattered, I feel your attentions might have gone a little too far. You really know how to make a boy feel special, you know, wanted. And you are such a good listener.

I know you and all your little cupids have spent a lot of time and money on me. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.

You look on from afar, but I’m really not that interesting.

Worried about my safety last month, you snuck one of your pals in as the Olympic Resistance Network’s bus driver to Victoria. I know how Jamie is an old romantic fool and wanting the world to know of your thoughtful actions, blabbed to a reporter.

Yet more of your friends followed me during the whole Olympic torch relay in Victoria. I assume you were worried if my mittens were warm enough. They were!

I am moved that you care for me so much that you sent three pals to check on me at City Hall – maybe you wanted to know if I told the mayor and council about us?

And that beautiful summer’s day, when you had two

I

of your finest wait for me all afternoon until I got off work – so sweet :) Your love was clear in their ambush and fevered questioning.

But Bud, tell them that no means no.

Your jealousy reared its green head when my neighbour told me you’re little love messengers had been banging on doors in my apartment building. Maybe you thought I was cheating, with another jurisdiction. And, unsure of my virtue, you sent a blitz of your cupids to many of my friends, colleagues, their parents, businesses, work places and even coffee shops! I felt cared for, but also smothered.

But Buddy, bringing in thousands of video cameras with bio-metric software so that you might better observe my porcelain skin and platinum locks is getting a little, well, weird. Don’t let the technology come between us.

I know you even plan to put up fencing around dozens and dozens of our special places, to restrict access. There are even special laws that further your, um, proclivities.

And now a little bleep-bleeper tells me that you even want to listen to meat home.

Bud Mercer is head of the Integrated Security Unit, which is responsible for securing the 2010 olympic games

Bud, I’m flattered, if a little scared, but let’s face it, I know I’m not the only one. I know it would take more than just me to cool your passions. I know you’ve been “seeing” other people. I know you are interested in groups other than mine.

And when your wing-man Steve-o talks about all the community outreach and consultation he’s been doing, well, I don’t feel so special any more.

We have had some good times but my friends all warn me about you, that you’re no good for me, that your love too rough. Buddy, we’re all wrong for each other. I don’t like Nickleback or the smell of pepper on a crisp November morning.

I’m writing this to try to let you down easy. I don’t want things between us to get out of hand in some kind of embarrassing, ugly confrontation, in, say mid-February.

Breaking up is hard to do. There will be others, so very many others. You can keep your CDs, tactical squad, dress uniform and Joint Intelligence Unit. I’ll keep my coffee pot, the special photos of us at APEC and my civil liberties.

Friends?

4

Vancouver

Where will we be post Apocalympics?

By The AnTi-PoverTy CommiTTee is an organization of poor and working people, who fight for poor people, their rights and an end to poverty by any means necessary. The poor face constant attack under the capitalist system.

APC is committed to fighting brutal policies through direct action, mass mobilization, and casework. We oppose racism, sexism, homophobia, and all other forms of oppression. APC is an independent and democratic organization open to anyone who agrees with our basis of unity. We are committed to working in solidarity with the struggles of progressive movements — locally, nationally, and internationally — to end poverty and injustice.

(For those of you who like to plan a ride home after a bender) THE APC ASKS - "WHERE WILL WE BE, POST APOCALYMPICS?" (But first, a local quote) "The Olympics are not about the human spirit & have little to do with athletic excellence; in reality, its a multi-billion dollar industry backed by powerful elites. Real estate, construction, hotel, tourism and media corporations, working hand in hand with government officials & members of the IOC. Their only goal is massive economic growth, despite the many negative impacts on people and the land.

--- zig zag WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING OTHER GLARING ISSUES (ie. native land claims and mindless nationalism to name a few) THE APC IS MOST COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING The development process of the Olympic Village is a case study in the broader long-term impact of the games on the people of Vancouver. Big pandering promises for housing subsidies to push the bid through, followed by a gradual process of repeals, cuts and scapegoating until the reality is the complete opposite of the starting premise.

When the end result is so contrary to the sales pitch, it’s a safe bet you were being cynically manipulated from the start, a perfect analogy for the entire Olympic circus.

The city in turn, loudly announced it’s own promises for new subsidized housing; in practice, this amounted to little more than photo-ops, empty lots and cooked books on housing stats, as local slumlords allowed existing housing to decay to the point of being condemned, after which the empty buildings are sold for redevelopment, taking advantage of the Olympic real-estate bubble. It's difficult to imagine this pattern completely escaping the city's attention.

NPA housing promises were mostly hot-air, propaganda for the municipal election, and also pre-empted much of the criticism that follows the Games wherever they go.

The APC salutes our previous municipal government for their initiatives in misdirection and sleight of hand.

We can only hope Gregor Robertson and his cronies and paymasters are able to fill those shoes.

CRIMINALIZATION OF THE POOR In early 2007, the civic government enacted Project Civil City, a series of bylaws that targeted the poor in Vancouver. Former mayor Sam Sullivan and city councilor Kim Capri spearheaded this project, but Vancouver’s largest business lobby, the Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA), was the original author.

The DBIA's idea of civility appears to be that only their potential customers are welcome on the streets of Vancouver.

A sort of logical extension to the bathrooms-for-customers-only policy, from their perspective.

With strong emphasis on the downtown east side, the project was designed to curb the behaviors that allow many of Vancouver’s poorest residents to survive; dumpster diving, pan-handling, squeegieing and street vending were all to be reduced dramatically by the start of the games. The new bylaws also made it illegal to sleep in public parks, or erect any kind of structure for shelter, forcing the homeless underground.

Even being in a public park after 10pm was a violation.

Presumably because the sight of grinding poverty is so distasteful to Vancouver's more affluent citizens, and the massive influx of tourists and international press to come.

You can bet the APC loses a lot of sleep over the emo-

tional wellbeing of these folks.

The yuppies who risk spilling their lattes as they chant "I don't have any change" like a mantra on the walk back to wherever they parked the Lexus. They are such a large voter demographic after all, can't let the lower classes mildly inconvenience them.

In 2009 the provincial government announced the Olympic Kidnapping Act (formally known as the Assistance to Shelter Act), which granted police the powers to forcibly remove the homeless from the street and place them in a shelter. If there are no shelter spaces available then jail is an option. Vancouver’s inadequate shelter availability is widely known and the act does not specify which shelters they could be taken to. There have been numerous reports of Vancouver’s homeless showing up at shelters and food banks in Chilliwack and Kamloops.

As for the segment of the homeless population who avoid the shelters, usually citing violence, drug use and lack of privacy as cause, these individuals will be dealt with as police and security personnel see fit. We of course, have Vancouver Police Chief Constable Jim Chu's assurances that the uniforms will be respectful in their conduct. How comforting.

2010 POLICE STATE Some 12,500 police, military and security personnel will be deployed for 2010, along with 40 km of crowdcontrol fencing, CCTV surveillance cameras and special security zoning around Olympic venues. For 3 weeks, Vancouver will effectively be an occupied Police State.

To date, there have been attacks on Olympic Resistance groups, arrests of protesters, office raids, extensive overt surveillance, and media smear campaigns along with cuts to social programs, all to undermine 2010 resistance.

The security budget for the 2010 winter games is 1 billion so far.

You can almost smell the cost over-runs from all this enthusiasm, and for what?

Vague allusions to a terrorist attack of 9/11 proportions, and a couple of political cartoons found on facebook.

No one can deny the ongoing psychological trauma of the western world from 9/11 but damn we're sick of it being used to lobby security spending. You'd think any self-respecting con-artist trying to fleece the tax payer would have come up with some new material by now ...

F***! Use your imaginations assholes ... not too much to ask?

As for the cartoon ... (the image was of olympic mascots dressed in black, armed with bricks and molotovs) It's funny. That's all it is. Cartoons can't hurt you ...

PUBLIC DEBT The budget has been characterized by a disturbing lack of transparency that looks more and more like a middle finger waving at the taxpayer. Among other things, it’s remarkable that an organization as well funded as VANOC can’t be bothered to take minutes during their own meetings, which co-incidentally makes Freedom-OfInformation requests pointless.

The 6 billion dollar figure we have to date, doesn’t include the still-climbing security budget of an additional billion, and doesn't include other infrastructure spending that was necessary to win the bid, but arguably isn’t “true” Olympic spending.

Speaking of the bid, the security budget was originally $175 million.

THE OLYMPIC INDUSTRY/CORPORATE

INVASION Government and business use the Olympics to attract large investment. In BC, the Liberal government has streamlined application processes, cut taxes, and offered other incentives to advance mining, oil & gas interests as well as tourism and resource booms which call for large increases in transport systems; new ports, bridges and expanded highways & rail-lines. This is all part of their Investment to 2010 Strategy. It is causing record-breaking growth in these industries and is resulting in greater environmental destruction and still more corporate power & influence over our daily lives.

Many of the main corporate sponsors of the Olympics are themselves responsible for ecological destruction and human rights violations, including McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Petro-Canada, TransCanada, Dow, and Teck Cominco, while others are major arms manufacturers (ie. General Electric, General Motors, and Bombardier).

Some might say "corporate circle-jerk" is a crass analogy ...

ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION In spite of predictable claims of sustainability and the “greenest Olympics ever” the 2010 winter games will be among the most environmentally destructive in history, with substantial deforestation for the Sea-to-Sky Highway expansion and Olympic venues in Whistler, as well as dredging of local river beds for tons of gravel used in all the construction associated with the games.

Anyone not familiar with the environmental actions staged at Eagle Ridge Bluffs and the police reaction, look it up.

Little old ladies dragged away in cuffs and jailed for weeks, in one case, resulting in death from health complications.

Still feeling the olympic spirit?

FUN HISTORICAL FACTS The modern Olympics are well known for their corruption, including both top IOC officials involved in bribery scandals and constant use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes.

But more interesting is the long dark history of racism and worse, from early founding members to recent IOC presidents. The 1936 Berlin games empowered Hitler’s Nazi regime and both the 1988 Seoul and 2008 Beijing Summer Games helped legitimize authoritarian regimes.

The 1968 games in Mexico City were preceded by a massacre of over 300 student protesters days before the opening ceremonies. IOC President Avery Brundage, an infamous Nazi sympathizer, never acknowledged the massacre, but days later stripped the medals from two US athletes who raised their fists in a Black Power salute. Another wellknown fascist IOC president was Juan Antonio Samaranch, formerly a spanish government official in Franco’s regime.

He was president of the IOC until 2001.

The torch relay itself was implemented during the 1936 Berlin games, providing Hitler’s so-called Aryan superman the opportunity to run across nazi-occupied Europe as a potent symbol of racial and cultural dominance. This stark slice of history puts the ceremony in Athens every 2 years in an interesting light. You know the one, where actors dressed in ancient greek costume dance around in a theoretical approximation of a pagan ritual, embellished for dramatic effect to the point of absurdity.

Not sure whether to laugh or vomit? Then we’ll see you in the streets!

Eyes on the ORN (Olympic Resistance Network) for details. http://no2010.com/ http://olympicresistance.net/

Vancouver

5

Censorship and Lies, the Sign Bylaw Scam

By Shosanna Gold

Bylaw no. 9908 Section 1.2, definition: “sign on a street” mean any design, device, display, illumination, inscription, material, medium, notice, object, structure, or visual projection on, in or above any street or anything on a street, including it's structure, supports, framework, lighting system, or other components, and attachments, ornaments or other features that is: a. freestanding, stationary, portable, or moving b. located on a street, and c. capable of use or used to convey information or direct or attract attention for the purpose of announcement, advertisement, business promotion, promotion of a product, activity or service, or promotion of an idea, or of providing direction, identification or information.

T

here has been much said about the Olympic Sign Bylaw passed by the Vancouver City Council in August 2009. The definitions contained in this bylaw are explicitly designed to outlaw opposition to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. The BC Civil Liberties Association and other groups of concerned citizens banded together in a campaign to force the City to amend the controversial bylaw. After a huge public outcry and much media attention the City announced that it would sidered a sign if it is “capable of use or [is] used to conamend Bylaw 9908, and so they did, in early December with vey...” Let's stop here; the object doesn't even need to be Bylaw 9962. The unwashed masses were placated, and the actually conveying anything, just capable of doing so. noise died down.

Wording this vague leaves the door open for all sorts of We were duped. I read Bylaw 9962. The problems applications, entirely at the discretion of the enforcers. It with Bylaw 9908 are the definitions of both “sign” and goes on, “...to convey information or direct or attract at“street.” These were not changed. Not even a little bit. Also tention for the purpose of announcement, advertisement, troubling are the enforcement procedures set out in an business promotion, promotion of a product, activity or equally appalling piece of BC legislation called Bill 13. Bill service, or promotion of an idea, or of providing direc13 remains untouched. tion, identification or information.” (Emphasis added) The Sign Bylaw Amendment is a scam perpetrated by This is why we know that this bylaw was created to outCity Hall against the people of Vancouver. It was facilitated dissent.

They have made it illegal to promote an idea. law by a media that reported Bylaw 9962 as a victory for the There is not even an attempt to disguise it. It is explicit.

BCCLA and free speech without even bothering to read it.

Citizens must not promote ideas. It has been reported that The following is an exploration of the frightening scope of our honourable mayor doesn't plan to use this bylaw to these laws. curb free speech. He claims its purpose is solely to protect Take a moment to reread the above passage from Olympic sponsors from so called “guerrilla marofficial Bylaw 9908. It is pretty all encompassing. The definition keting.” Bullshit. More proof is provided in Bill 13. It inof a street is huge. It could be anything “on, in or above any cludes an amendment that “strike[s] out 'advertising street.” This of course covers any sidewalks, store fronts, matter'...and substitut[es] 'signs or other advertising'.” balconies, windows, etc. It is also “anything on a street, inNow why would that change be necessary if it is not cluding it's structure, supports, framework, lighting system, meant to broaden the scope of the law to include non or other components...” (italics added) This covers utility commercial (activist) signage? poles, bus stops, the asphalt and conBill 13 consists of amendcrete that is the literal street, building ments to several Acts including faces and so on. This definition of After a huge public outcry the Vancouver Charter. It prostreet has such breadth that it essenvides the teeth for this bylaw, tially covers the entire city. There is and much media attention increasing maximum penalties nowhere in the city that is not covfor bylaw violations from the City announced that it ered by this definition of street. $2000 a day to $10 000 a day So this bylaw applies everywould amend Bylaw 9908, and six months in jail. Ten where in Vancouver. So what is a thousand dollars a day and six and so they did, in early sign? A sign is “freestanding, stationmonths in jail for a “sign!” (Reary, portable, or moving.” At first December with Bylaw member, the sign could be glance it seems like there may be a you.) Though I think it is un9962.

The unwashed loophole here as it does not cover likely that any court would sensigns that are not freestanding, so masses were placated, tence someone so harshly under anything pasted/taped to a structure this bylaw; it gives enforcers and the noise died down. is okay, but that of course is considthe power to detain the thought ered graffiti and is already criminals, if only for the duraillegal(even on private property). So tion of the games. Fun fact: it it is anything that stands on its own, is not affixed to the also has a provision allowing the city to bill you for costs ground and is moving or not moving. This creeps me right incurred while invading your home to take down the ofout. I fall under this definition. So do you. Though I am sure fending sign. Our honourable mayor has stated that he our honourable lawmakers would deny it, bullet a. of this doesn't plan to use these powers. Politicians lie. definition was written to include “signs” on people. Don't Every time any of our honourable lawmakers have worry about it though; it only applies if we are “located on been pressed on the issue they have insisted that the powa street.” Phew. ers granted by these laws will not be used. This begs the Bullet c. truly takes it all the way. Something is con-

$

question, why were they granted in the first place? If this bylaw is truly intended only to protect official Olympic sponsors then why didn’t they change the definition? Why have they made it illegal to promote an idea?

This bylaw is designed to protect the flow of billions of dollars from public coffers into the hands of developers; it protects the right of mega corporations to saturate an entire city with their shitty products. Most of all it protects the IOC, a secretive and powerful boys club that answers to no one.

The rhetoric spouted by City Hall is not entirely untrue, this law was designed to protect the Olympic family; from us. This law is designed to keep the world from hearing about the negative impacts of the Games on the host city.

Our honourable lawmakers are trying to keep us from telling our friends what terrible guests the Olympic family are. This bylaw is designed to protect the flow of billions of dollars from public coffers into the hands of developers; it protects the right of mega corporations to saturate an entire city in their products. Most of all it protects the IOC, a secretive and powerful boys club that answers to no one.

City Hall and the Vancouver Police have asked us to trust them. They say this law will not be used to curb free speech or punish dissent. I ask you this; can we trust the people who would pull such a dirty trick? City Hall lied to you. They did it because their interests do not align with ours. They did it because they don’t care about the rights that are the basis of our free society. They did it because they think we are too stupid to figure it out. Let’s not let them get away with it.

# !

$

) ! %" $* '/0

"& & )

)

(*,$ +! + "&* +' $,*! 0',) "&+ )& $ ') " $ * ! )% ,$ % + $* ."+! 0',) '.& 0 *

$

!

&* 0 +! & /+

&*"& 0',) $'' ') &* *#"& 0',) .!'$ ' 0 & ) *"& "%%,&"+0 ) "*"& $+!" ) $" ') $$ "& $, "& ( +" &+* *, )"& )'% $$ ')%* ' & ) "%%,&"+0 "*') $'' ()'*+ + '&*+"( +"'& +" , *+ %"& " + * & &0 '+! ) ! $+! ()' $ %* -

& $ 0

!

- 1 (

"

/

0

+! +'/"

$$ ',&+* "& )* !)'&" "*

'&

)"

"* ! )

*

%

( +" &+* $"- ) *#"&

(%

6

Vancouver

Why resist the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver?

By Chris Shaw

“

The Olympic Games are coming and you can’t stop them, so what’s the point of protesting now?” is a question I get asked virtually every day. Sometimes the question is posed by journalists sincerely puzzled by the fact that opposition to the Games still exists and seems to be growing just a month before the opening ceremonies. Other times, the query comes from members of the public or even from friends and family. Inevitably, the tone is akin to, “It rains a lot in Vancouver so what’s the point of bitching about it?” The usual tag line to both is “If you don’t like it, stay home” or “Move somewhere else”.

Unlike the rain, which is beyond the power of normal mortals to control, the Olympics are not a force of nature, rather one of human construction whose impacts have been acutely harmful to a lot of people. Most of us grew up or moved to Vancouver knowing it was going to rain a lot, a fact we chose to accept as part of life. The Games, however, were not the outcome of a fair choice, rather they were foisted on the city by a small band of developers and politicians who stage-managed a plebiscite (functionally an opinion poll) involving only 12 percent of British Columbia’s population in order to get a desired result.

The rest is history: the bid organizers and later the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee, lied about virtually everything that followed as they proceeded to trash the place with their preparations. Games costs that were to be completely accounted for never were; the “greenest Games ever” wound up destroying Eagleridge Bluffs; social inclusivity and homes for those in need in the Olympic Village never materialized; the stated $175 million in total security costs, obvious even then as a lowball estimate, mushroomed to almost $1 billion. Instead of kept promises, we got catastrophic impacts on the poor and homeless, egregious environmental destruction, outrageous and still largely unaccounted for costs, and a virtual assault on civil liberties.

We haven’t even seen the traffic nightmares that are just days from being imposed. Nor have we yet calculated the fiscal impacts on individuals and their businesses as they discover the realities of hosting a party for the rich in the midst of a security free-for-all. Add to the above the lost opportunity costs—that is, what $6-billion-plus could have bought instead—and a more cohesive picture of the full impact emerges.

In spite of this, some people still love the Olympics and Vancouver’s role and will continue to support the Games regardless. Nothing I write here is likely to change this.

What follows, then, is really for those who are still on the fence and looking for an answer as to why some of us keep fighting back. Keep in mind in the following that this is my opinion and not necessarily representative of others who oppose the Olympics.

First, going out into the streets in February to call attention to the harm done by the Olympics is not a pointless exercise, rather the equivalent of bearing witness, basically a moral response to something many of us believe to be fundamentally damaging to our lives and communities. However, there is more to opposing the Olympics than being

games costs that were to be completely accounted for never were; the “greenest games ever” wound up destroying eagleridge Bluffs; social inclusivity and homes for those in need in the olympic Village never materialized; the stated $175 million in total security costs, obvious even then as a lowball estimate, mushroomed to almost $1 billion. against the local developers’ or even the International Olympic Committee’s avarice and the disruption it causes. The Olympic Games in Vancouver represent in microcosm a pathologically flawed economic and social structure that has dominated the world for a long time, a one-dimensional world view that puts profit before all else. Shining a light on any part of the Olympics in Vancouver re-creates a larger global picture.

For example, focus in on the displacement of the homeless in Vancouver and the image that emerges is one of impoverishment of peoples around the world by many of the same organizations that bankroll the IOC. The war on the poor in Vancouver mirrors the war against poor farmers in Afghanistan. The destruction of Eagleridge is reflected back as yet another corporate assault on the environment, from Athabasca’s tar sands to the rainforests of the Amazon, unsurprisingly with many of the same sponsors promoting and being promoted in turn by the IOC and Vanoc. The exploitation of First Nations in British Columbia for land and resources, not to mention misuse of their culture for tourist dollars, resembles the theft from indigenous peoples across Canada and around the world. The organizing slogan of the Olympic Resistance Network, “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land”, thus has a local as well as a global context as part of a struggle against the conjoined twins of capitalism and colonialism that have devastated so much of the planet.

Our response to the sins of omission and commission of the Olympics, just as for the sins of the larger entities that the IOC represents, is not to become apathetic and withdraw in defeat or run away, but to stay and fight back—in other words, to resist. Resisting the Olympics seeks to reclaim the streets of our city for our common purposes, reasserts our fundamental natural and civil

rights, and sends a message of strength and solidarity to those around the world who are fighting for the same goal of a just society.

Resistance is not defined as a circumscribed set of actions, but is rather a state of mind, an emergent construct that refuses to be awed by the power of the Olympics and its corporate sponsors or the levels of government that actively do their bidding. Resistance is similarly not deterred by a security apparatus that desperately hopes to keep a lid on Olympic protests to avoid embarrassing the IOC. Creative Olympic resistance can be active or passive.

It can take the form of conventional protests or civil disobedience, including direct actions, or can be as simple as talking to tourists to help them understand that the “fun” party they came to attend has arrived at enormous cost to the rest of us. Some of these visitors might even be interested to know that a few streets away from the official “celebratory sites”, a very different community not willing to celebrate the Games will be promoting an alternative vision, one that rejects corporate profit ahead of people and distances itself from the of social myopia of Gordon Campbell and Stephen Harper and those like them. Resistance might include hanging an anti-Olympic/pro-people sign in a window or just refusing to cheer the circus as it moves down the street. Each act of resistance is synergistic with all the others.

Far from futile, resistance to the Olympics may be part of the rebirth of the anti-globalization/world-social-justice movement. Indeed, if there is any positive legacy to be found after February to Vancouver’s Olympic misadventure, it might just take this shape.

Chris Shaw is a professor of ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia and an anti-Olympic activist.

The 2010 Welcoming Committee invites you to...TAKE BACK OUR CITY: “Welcome” the 2010 Olympic Torch with Free Games, Free Speech, and Free Food!

Join us in a lively public festival at the Vancouver Art Gallery and a parade to BC Place Stadium on February 12, 2010, beginning at 3:00 PM. These events are set to parallel the opening ceremonies and the arrival of the Olympic torch from its Royal Bank and Coca-Cola sponsored relay. As the

Winter Olympics begin, we must show the world our unified message about the negative impacts of the Games on our communities and the environment.

The 2010 Welcoming Committee is committed to supporting the participation of parents and caregivers.

The 2010 Welcoming Childcare Committee is composed of individuals who are experienced in providing childcare. We have First Aid capacity in the group; however, we are not professionals. We will organize activities, play with, supervise and provide

nutritious snacks for your children from 3:00 6:30pm.

The childcare site will be announced closer to the date.

Registration is not mandatory, but it would help us provide appropriate care for each child. We do need an emergency contact for every child. If your child is under two years old and/or requires specific health, emotional, and/or cognitive support, please get in touch with us at 604-561-9831 or clairew89@gmail.com by Friday, February 5, 2010.

Vancouver

7

The War on Terrorism and the Countdown to the 2010 Olympics

by Dana Gabriel

T

he Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics will be the largest security operation in Canadian history. It will include more than 15,000 Canadian Forces, private security personnel, along with the RCMP and other police agencies. The U.S. will also provide security and support for the Games. With the Olympics fast approaching, the fear of terrorism is back in the public’s psyche. Although there has been no specific threats to the Games, more than anything it is the danger of terrorism which is used to justify the huge security operation. This is further advancing the militarization of North America and U.S.-Canada military and security integration. The Olympics will take bi-national security cooperation to a whole new level.

In the event of an emergency situation, the bilateral Civil Assistance Plan signed by the U.S.-Canadian military in February of 2008 could be activated. The agreement allows the military of one nation to support the other during a civil emergency such as a flood, forest fire, hurricane, earthquake or a terrorist attack.

Unmanned drones are patrolling the U.S. - Canada border as part of the war on terrorism and to curb smuggling, along with drug trafficking. It is unclear if they will be used for surveillance during the Games, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Juan Munoz-Torres has stated that, “If the RCMP or Canadian government believes they can make use of the aircraft for support during the Olympics, we will be more than willing to provide it.” In Afghanistan, Pakistan and other parts of the world, armed American drones continue to carry out strikes against suspected terrorists and insurgents. It is interesting that many of the weapons used in the war on terrorism overseas are later deployed for domestic purposes. The use of unmanned drones on the northern border will only add to the further militarization of North America.

In May of 2009, former Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano signed the Shiprider Agreement which grew out of a pilot project inspired by the Security and Prosperity Partnership. It was later tabled in the House of Commons as Bill C-60, the Keeping Canadians Safe (Protecting Borders) Act. The cross-border maritime security law would deputize U.S. officers operating in shared waterways during integrated operations, including pursuit on adjacent land. Stuart Trew of the Council of Canadians commented on the motivation surrounding Bill C-60, as well as several other pieces of legislation. “The effort seems purely aimed at appeasing U.S. concerns about Canadian security practices and is another step towards a perimeter approach to ‘securing’ North America as a whole.” As for the prorogation of Canada’s Parliament, he noted that, “although with C-60 off the order paper there is no legislative backing for the arrangement, U.S. police forces will be patrolling Canadian waterways on RCMP ships during the 2010 Winter Olympics.”

General Gene Renuart, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command(NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has given some indication as to the function both will play during the Olympics. He stated that, “We, in our NORAD role, will

maintain the air sovereignty both for the U.S. and Canada, the air security over the Olympic games.” He went on to say, “In our NORTHCOM role, we’ll probably provide some additional security and support…and consequence management response capability.” NORAD’s deputy commander Lt. Gen. Marcel Duval recently expanded on the bi-national organization’s responsibilities during the Olympics. “NORAD will do its normal airspace warning and aerospace control mission over the games using Canadian NORAD-region assets, (such as) Canadian CF-18s.” He also added that, “We’ll be supported by other NORAD assets like air-to-air refueling and airborne early-warning aircraft.” In regards to Canada Command, NORTHCOM and NORAD’s preparations for the Olympics, Duval acknowledged, “In many ways, the 2010 Winter Games have allowed the three commands to come closer, in terms of understanding, cooperating and collaborating.”

Canadian officials continue to work closely with their American counterparts in monitoring potential security threats to the Games and its shared border. The Olympic Security Coordination Centre in Bellingham, Washington, “will coordinate the security efforts for over 40 federal, state and local agencies on the U.S. side of the U.S. – Canadian border. This facility will provide a strategic response platform to facilitate critical response efforts during the Olympic Games and beyond.” In the event of an emergency situation, the bilateral Civil Assistance Plan signed by the U.S.-Canadian military in February of 2008 could be activated. The agreement allows the military of one nation to support the other during a civil emergency such as a flood, forest fire, hurricane, earthquake or a terrorist attack.

A U.S. State Department fact sheet is advising Americans attending the Vancouver 2010 Olympics to use caution and be alert of their surroundings at all times.

While it notes that there has been no specific or credible threats associated with the Olympics, it does warn of a possible Al-Qaeda attack. It states that, “As security increases in and around Olympic venues, terrorists could

shift their focus to more unprotected Olympic venues, open public spaces, hotels, railway and other transportation systems, churches, restaurants, and other sites not associated with the Olympics.” It goes on to say that, “Al-Qaeda's

Unmanned Predator B drone used for Canadian - U.S. border security demonstrated capability to carry out sophisticated attacks against sizable structures - such as ships, large office buildings, embassies and hotels - makes it one of the greatest potential threats to the Olympics.” In the aftermath of the failed Christmas day bombing attempt, once again terrorism is being used to create a climate of fear and insecurity.

Whether or not you buy into the War on Terror, it is being used to launch wars of aggression and further expand the American empire. It is also very much intertwined with the whole process of deep North American integration and plans for a continental security perimeter. The threat level for the upcoming Olympics remains low, but some are warning that the proroguing of Canada’s Parliament, along with the huge security apparatus being assembled for the Games might be setting the stage for a possible false flag terror event. This could be used to pass more anti-terrorist and other draconian pieces of legislation. It could also lead to a martial law scenario with American troops occupying parts of Canada.

Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, as well as other issues.

Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog site at beyourownleader.blogspot.com

Part of the Olympic Port Security Unit in training

By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it.

The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.

-Franz Kafka

8

Vancouver

The Myth of Human Nature

by Matthew C. Berkowitz

L

ast edition, I wrote an article that described the tenets of The Zeitgeist Movement, an approximately one-year old global movement, which is the activist arm of The Venus Project. If you are unfamiliar with these organizations, I invite you to visit: www.thezeitgeistmovement.com and/or www.thevenusproject.com; or watch the groundbreaking documentary, Zeitgeist: Addendum, which can be viewed online in various places (one of which is www.zeitgeistmovie.com). The Zeitgeist Movement advocates broad social reformation, which entails nothing less than the complete redesign of our culture—one that is updated to present day knowledge. The direction ignores politics, government, morality, law, religion, nationalism or any other “establishment” notion of human affairs, while it instead focuses on a scientific-based understanding of how we align with nature, of which we are a part.

One of the most common objections to The Venus Project’s feasibility is the assertion that the social direction it proposes is against “human nature”. The contention is that human beings are inherently competitive, greedy, and unelighteningly self-serving, implying that there will always be “corrupt” people who want to take advantage of others and seek dominance, irrespective of the environmental variables that influence us.

In No Contest: The Case Against Competition, the author, Alfie Kohn, points out that there tend to be two variants of the human nature argument: the first is that certain differences among particular groups of humans are innate, “purport[ing] to show that various findings in evolutionary biology and genetics prove that sexist and racist practices are unavoidable if not positively adaptive”; and the second, which this article is more focused upon, is that particular characteristics are an inevitable part of being human.1 “Human nature” can be defined as ‘the shared psychological attributes of humankind that are assumed to be shared by all human beings.’2 The implication, therefore, is that certain behaviours are pre-wired into all humans, and that we are supposedly born with certain predetermined psychological or mental inclinations.

I intend to address these popular beliefs by evaluating some of the scientific research behind this area of study, as well as by using deductive reasoning in ways that most do not consider.

I believe that most people are sincere about their assertion that humans have a fixed “human nature”, for, if we examine the historical record of the human species, we find an endless series of wars, power abuses and corruption.

Given that this is the general pattern we observe, it is simthe dawn of mankind, this behaviour must be unavoidable. ple to assume that it is “instinctual”, or part of “human Mark A. May and Leonard Doob reported 24 specific nature”, to behave in historically recurring patterns. findings based on “the existing knowledge represented by More specifically, it is common for people to attribthe survey of the literature of the field”, one of which being ute human behaviour to their genetic configuration. That that “[h]uman beings strive for goals, but striving with othis, we are slaves to our genes, which predispose us to an ers (co-operation) or against others (competition) are learned inescapable set of behavioural, psychological and mental forms of behavior…[neither of which] can be said to be characteristics. For example, “criminal” behaviour has more genetically basic, fundamental or [primordial].”6 Morbeen a large focus in the field of psychology. Is it a perton Deutsch, of Columbia University, contested that “it son’s genetic makeup that is responsible for his or her would be unreasonable to assume there is an innately deter“criminal” acts or is it the environment in which one is mined human tendency for everyone to want to be a ‘top reared that determines this? This brings up the traditional dog.’ ”.7 Sports psychologists, Thomas Tutko and William debate of “Nature versus Nurture”. Before we answer this Bruns, analyzed their experience with athletes of all ages, particular case, we must define exactly what we mean by stating that “[c]ompetition is a learned phenomenon…we “criminal behaviour”, a distinction that has indeed been inherit a potential for a degree of activity…[b]ut the will to invented by man, which has changed vastly over time. win comes through training and the influences of one’s famHundreds of years ago, Romans used to feed Christians ily and environment.”8 Sociologist, David Riesman, exto lions. Six hundred years ago, the Aztecs performed plained that there is “[a] paradoxical belief of Americans mass human sacrifices to their gods, often killing thouthat competition is natural – but only if it is constantly resands of people at a time. Today, in certain Middle Eastcreated by artificial systems of social roles that direct enerern countries where Islam is dominant, women can be gies into it.”9 To put it simply, we are socialized to compete, arrested for walking in public without wearing a burka. in our schools, workplaces, sports and at home. We should These examples merely exemplify the social customs of each time period and culture, while illustrating that the notion of criminality is temporal. It should immediately put into question the claim that humans are born as criminals, or inherently “bad”.

Many people will then shift their supposition to the idea that certain human beings are born with higher proclivities to engage in socalled criminal acts. Let’s examine this. Today, many psychologists and behavioural geneticists will narrow down this distinction by addressing “anti-social”, “impulBefore devising a proposal for a new social design, sive”, or “aggressive” behavioural Jacque Fresco, founder of The Venus Project, spent tendencies, as ambiguous and subsome time on the Tuamotus Archipelago. On these isjective as these may seem. Today, lands, the indigenous tribes walked around in the experts in this field will admit there is no such thing as a “criminal nude and operated without money. These two features gene”;3 rather, they tend to study generated drastically different values and social custhe effects of neurochemicals in the toms. Without the use (or need) of money, there were brain, like serotonin, which has enough resources to be distributed for all of the isbeen shown to be related to “antilands’ inhabitants, and thus the tribe escaped the social” behaviour.4 However, neurochemicals do detrimental consequences of a scarcity-oriented envinothing to instruct us how to behave. They set ronment: greed, crime, corruption, embezzlement, etc. propensities for certain physiological characteristics, which must be triggered by the environment The fact that such “primitive” societies exist should in which one is conditioned. As the widely re- prove to us that humans are capable of a wide range spected sociologist and professor of of behaviour and dispel the idea that humans invarineurological sciences at Stanford Uni- ably behave in one rigid manner. versity, Dr. Robert Sapolsky, has explained, “Genes are rarely about inevitability be concerned with the conditions that generate competitive especially when it comes to humans, the brain behaviour. or behaviour. They're about vulnerability, What is not usually considered is that human beings propensities and tendencies.” have lived in periods of great scarcity for thousands of years, Statistically speaking, most crimes comreinforcing the competitive drive of society, for this is esmitted are by people raised in economically sentially inevitable in a scarcity-oriented environment. The poor families. The ‘Merva-Fowles’ Study, same reasoning can be applied, for example, to a pack of conducted at the University of Utah, found oblions, which must fight amongst themselves for the limited vious connections between unemployment and amount food in their environment—not because of some imcrime. The study found that for each 1% rise mutable genetic configuration. So then, logically speaking, in unemployment there resulted in: a 6.7% inif scarcity was eradicated by unleashing science and techcrease in homicides, a 3.4% increase in violent nology to produce abundance, we should expect a different crimes, and 2.4% increase in property crimes.5 set of behaviours and values that correspond to this new enThe study demonstrates how economically devironment―one that is free of competition, (war, corrupprived environments tend to lead to higher tion, theft, greed, poverty, and any other monetary related rates of crime. While most people tend to recsymptoms) and instead allows large scale cooperation. As ognize this on some level, many still ignore sociologist, Philip Slater, wrote, “Scarcity is spurious…It these connections when evaluating the causes now only exists for the purpose of maintaining the system and motives of criminals. that depends upon it, and its artificiality becomes more palCompetition is another tendency that pable each day.”10 Founder of the Euro currency system, many people regard as innate, or part of a preBernard Lietaer, noted that “greed and competition are not programmed ‘human nature’. The argument is that since humans have been competitive since Continued on next page

Continued from previous page the result of immutable human temperament.” He continues, “I have come to the conclusion that greed and fear of scarcity are in fact being continuously created and amplified…The direct consequence is that we have to fight with each other in order to survive.”11 A study was conducted at Princeton University, where mice were genetically engineered to be stripped of a gene vital to their neurotransmitter system, selectively targeting learning and memory. Consequently, the mice were established to have great difficulty at various learning and memory exercises. Scientists subsequently placed the cognitively dim mice into a stimulating environment, and over time, the scientists found that the engineered learning disabilities were overcome simply due to the exposure to this nurturing environment. The environment re-configured neurological pathways that seemed not to exist, while it overrode genetic propensities.12 Before devising a proposal for a new social design, Jacque Fresco, founder of The Venus Project, spent some time on the Tuamotus Archipelago. On these islands, the indigenous tribes walked around in the nude and operated without money. These two features generated drastically different values and social customs. Without the use (or need) of money, there were enough resources to be distributed for all of the islands’ inhabitants, and thus the tribe escaped the detrimental consequences of a scarcity-oriented environment: greed, crime, corruption, embezzlement, etc. The fact that such “primitive” societies exist should prove to us that humans are capable of a wide range of behaviour and dispel the idea that humans invariably behave in one rigid manner.

There appears to be no convincing scientific evidence that our genes strictly determine our behaviour, or that certain behaviours and psychological traits are pre-wired into all of us. The concept of “human nature” is mostly mythological, stemming from primitive religious notions, like the ubiquitous “good” and “evil” concept many have been in-

Vancouver doctrinated with. No human is born “good” or “bad”, “creative” or “uncreative”, or “aggressive” or “passive”; rather, these labels have been generated as a result of a gross collective ignorance of the true causes of human behaviour. Regardless, there are still many people who resist the scientific evidence and formal logic, and prefer to use ad hominem approaches and preserve erroneous belief systems about human interaction. H.G. Wells noted, “The anti-progressives of the early twentieth century loved to assert that ‘human nature’ never altered; to imagine that the men of the Stone Age felt and thought like bank clerks picnicking in a cave, and the ideas of Confucius and Buddha were easily interchangeable with the ideas of Rousseau, Karl Marx or De Windt. They were not simply ignorant, but misinformed about almost every essential fact in the past experiences and present situation of the race.”13 Robert Boguslaw, author of The New Utopians explained, “As Norman R. F. Maier (and others) point[ed] out years ago, the term ‘human nature’ is characteristically used as a screen to hide our ignorance about man in general. And one of the more elementary oversights made in discussions of human behavior consists of ignoring the fact that the actions of men are set in motion by external as well as internal force.”14 As Peter Joseph, creator of the two Zeitgeist films and founder of The Zeitgeist Movement, explained, “The fact is, while [n]eurochemicals and physiological traits set propensities for a person’s reactions and social gravitation, it is the environment that really creates our values and behavior. There is no fixed, predetermined ‘human nature’. Our values, methods and actions are developed and derived from our experiences.”15 Human behaviour is just as lawful as any other scientific phenomenon, so the question we

9

should be concerned with is, “What are the factors that shape human behaviour?” Because our behaviours and values are triggered and ultimately determined by the environment, we should look to correct the environment when we encounter patterns of behaviour that are socially offensive or abusive. Accordingly, the legal system is a colossal social distortion that avoids examining the root environmental causes of so-called “criminal behaviour”. Instead, we condemn “criminals” to cold, concrete cells, which has been proven to exacerbate these people’s conditions, while doing absolutely nothing to address the true social problems that condition people to commit crimes. This is completely unacceptable, and it is time we shift into a new paradigm, one where superstitious notions of human affairs are surpassed and where society is updated to present-day knowledge.

Once again, I invite you to look into The Venus Project (www.thevenusproject.com), where much of this research has been incorporated into the proposal for completely new social design.

New location now open. Come visit us at

613 Front Street, New Westminister

I

ts time that we come to terms with what we mutter about in the coffee shops, the transit system, or on the street corner.

Our justice system is a running joke. It is a corrupt system that does not serve the average, peaceful citizen well; but rather seeks to make them a victim twice over.

So rather than the every day talk about sex we see in our lame and incompetent mainstream media, lets talk about self-defense.

Lets talk candidly about keeping you and your family safe. For decades we have been bombarded with ads telling us to call the police when ever there is a problem.

The indoctrination that all of us endure daily, instructs the good citizen to call a security guard, to tell the duty monitor on the playground or to whine to someone who will listen and stand up for you, whenever our basic rights are violated.

Rarely, (if ever) are we told to actually stand up tall, take action and prevent ourselves from being victims. For an adult in a modern day first world country, this type of mental castration through our school system is sad and pathetic. It seems that almost every Canadian expects a superman to come out of no where and whisk them to a safe place.

Consider that our understaffed police forces have a realistic response time of ten minutes plus, followed by a bumbling investigation of the crime. I think it is safe to assume that simple logic tells us, that you, the citizen, are much better equipped to protect your life from the jackals that seek to do you harm.

In todays desensitized world, the best solution is

knowing how to protect yourself and your family from the mangy drug addled scum dogs or sex depraved perverts that would harm you or your loved ones.

Realistically, you cannot reason with someone who has firmly decided that they are going to harm you. You need to understand that when you are dealing with an attacker, you are no longer dealing with a human being. Instead, you are dealing with the worst kind of animal.

It's true that some of these depraved scum are even known to rape the elderly, the mentally handicapped and even women in front of their children. A human being (and I use the term loosely) who would commit crimes like this, is one that cannot be reasoned with.

Before you criticize my harsh and unforgiving opinion I challenge you to ask yourself this: would you want this to happen to you or someone you love?

The fact is that criminals are getting harder, less moral, and more depraved. As a result we, the average person, must be willing to straighten up our spine and, when called upon, defend ourselves and our loved ones with vigorous and wrathful brutality. We must stop burying our heads in the sand and see that no matter how many weapons bans we put in place, the criminal elements will never observe these laws like the average law abiding citizen.

It is apparent (as well as ironic) that through our desperation to seek peace and safety, we are now leaving ourselves at the mercy of depraved, scavenging predators.

When you consider that our prisons give three hot meals and a place to sleep, gaming consoles and other amenities; we the citizen must understand that the ideal

Lee Smith H ead Instructor and Owner

of punishment and that of justice, is seriously undermined.

It seems that our prisons are no longer an applicable threat to the average offender. Rather, these institutions are a vacation from real labour, and furthermore a place for career criminals to better hone their vile skills.

We need to stop feeling sorry for these selfish evil people. Stop making excuses for their subhuman behaviour, and come to the understanding that some people are incapable of giving others basic human respect and dignity. They, as a result, need something that will scare them into being decent people.

Now if you must, you can begin quoting all of your pacifist scholarly philosophers... Absolve every one of these 'wayward sheep' from the consequences of their actions.

Understand that back in reality, the pacifist beliefs you hold so dear will not save you or anyone with you if one of these sick animals decides to take you for a mark.

Non Timetis Messor

10

Vancouver

Manifesto of Real Democracy: The Guide to Liberty, Equality - and Survival a book review by: Chris York

D

emocrates is the author of “Manifesto of Real Democracy: The Guide to Liberty, Equality and Survival.” This diminutive, paper-back book explains how the principles of the original Athenian democracy have been subverted by the Demockracy Fraud of modern republican governments and how, by establishing Circles of Democracy, we can recover the original democratic idea and begin once again to govern ourselves. The choice by the author to remain anonymous is enticing, especially considering the profound nature of the book he has written.

Following the traditional manifesto model the book is broken into parts, whereby the first two sections are devoted to stating the common problem as we, the majority of the population (that is the ruled) would view it, and the second two sections go about offering solutions of how we can ultimately empower ourselves to govern democratically.

In stating the problem, the Manifesto Of Real Democracy goes about outlining in historical and philosophic terms the role of various social models used to govern populations since the dawn of history and boils it all down to three governing systems implemented throughout the ages by the few to rule the many. These systems are Monarchies, Feudalistic States and Republics, which are all technically oligarchies. You’ll notice the system of Democracy is not mentioned in this group, and it is explained in the book that Athenian Democracy in the classic sense is not an oligarchy but rather a true representation of rule by the majority. Thus, for the Ruling Few, it is not a desired model of government.

Now you may be saying to yourself “Wait a minute. I live in a democracy!” Ah, but there’s the rub.

We’ve been told since birth that we live and flourish in democracies, but according to Manifesto Of Real Democracy there is no valid connection between a republic and a democracy. In fact they are antithesis’ of each other. Evidently we are deceived from cradle to grave about the very nature of the political system that governs us. All nations which promote themselves as Democracies are actually Republics in some form. According to the book we are in the midst of a transition from one governing system to another. Sometimes this transition happens quickly (like the Soviet Union breakup) and sometimes the transition happens gradually with this approach of over-laying one system on top of the other. These system changes happen from time to time, so the Ruling Few can revamp society and reform it to suit their emerging needs.

Since, according to the theory of the book, we can only be ruled by one of three oligarchic systems at a time (Monarchy, Feudalism or Republic), and we’re under a Republican rule now, that leaves the other two to transition into. The author claims we’re going into a Feudalist system, and goes about revealing how that is the case. He shrewdly uncloaks the mechanisms that have been at work for centuries, pulling away the curtain for the reader to see systems of control that have been beyond our understanding. The fact that the very premise of Democracy has been deceptively employed to cover the reality of Republicanism is unsettling.

Indeed, in the United States the deception was established from the very beginning by the Founding Fathers before they’d actually even created the country.

Their great trick was to imply they’d created a new type of government for and by the people when in fact they’d re-established a new-look Republicanism in the image of ancient Rome. The book even ties in the scam of the fact that present-day academics perpetuate the understanding that Greek and Roman civilizations are interchangeable, when in fact the opposite is true. Rome was a classic oligarchy that went from being a Republic into a Monarchyled empire, whereas the Greek city-state of Athens (in the

500’s BC) was a Democratic society, and as the book points out, probably the only one in the history of mankind.

The book also devotes some pages to how nations in the present day are converting from Republic models to Feudalistic models. The author analyzes the changes of the former Soviet Union and the recent emergence of China, as the Ruling Few of those countries use different methods of managing the transition. It is a fascinating expose of how the global players of the planet are transforming their respective domains into the Global Feudal system ordained by the powers-that-be. It becomes apparent that the race is on for the Ruling Few everywhere and it is up to them to position themselves to accept and embrace the irresistible approach of a new world system which is being made possible thanks to technology that has never existed in the history of mankind.

The Manifesto Of The Real Democracy also extends a solution about how the average world citizen can create a bubble of democracy within the Feudal system. It’s called a Democracy Circle, and the author contrasts the premise against the pyramid shapes of traditional oligarchic, top-down hierarchical systems. Visual people will love the symbolism- that the answer for freedom against the triangle is the circle, albeit with a few caveats. To be precise the book explains that to be successful the Democracy Circle must in fact be an “open, revolving, circular” organization, mimicking the true democratic model of the ancient Athenians. As in Athens, the number cited for optimal efficiency is 30 000.

The Manifesto Of Real Democracy retails at local, neighborhood book stores for $10. Not a bad price for a red pill of this caliber. Then you just need to round up 29 999 of your friends and off you go to bring about the second true democracy in the history of mankind!

The following links are associated with the book, and the website is as basic and pragmatic as the book itself. http://www.circleofdemocracy.net/ http://www.circleofdemocracy.net/find.php Chris’ Rating:

5 stars (out of 5)

We make T-shirts to INFORM, UNITE AND EVOKE CHANGE. We want to get the word out there, and we want thinkers to be able to find each other amongst the sheeple. We need to take advantage of our free speech while we still have it. We support grassroots activism for Freedom, Truth and Peace. Many of our T-shirts are made specifically for fundraisers for various activism campaigns with profits donated to these campaigns.

WWW.Vultureculture.ca

Vancouver

11

Unreasonably Happy Written by Janice Skoreyko and Colleen McGhee

H

ow did a human being, labeled as defective, disease-ridden and lifeless, become vibrant, powerful and unreasonably happy? After a long circuitous, painful journey, she began to eat only living and raw foods, and in so doing, cured her five "incurable” illnesses, reversed three “irreversible” conditions, uncovered joy and exuberant vitality in her body, and brought about balance in her life.

Born nearly two months’ premature, so tiny she could fit into the palm of her father’s hand, she spent months in an incubator. She developed acute and chronic asthma, poor digestion, allergies to both food and environment, physical weakness, and suffocating pain.

By age 5, she took steroids, gained weight, had allergy shots, lay propped up with pillows, coughed endlessly, expelled into a bucket, had acne, legs and arms with eczema, and low bone density. She was chronically fatigued from lack of sleep and oxygen, from allergens, pathogens, an over-tolerant immune system, and repeated emergency hospital visits. She was smothered with protection, lived with guilt for the disruptions to family, rarely went outside, experienced little sunshine, had few friends, and was introverted and sad.

By age 8, she was on regular allergy shots, had B12 injections, twenty-six different neutraceuticals for breakfast with a soy protein shake, and by 11, was fully developed as a woman.

A prisoner indoors, at age 12, with a passion for science she studied every encyclopedia in the house, medical journals, studied genetics, even cloning – perhaps new lungs from a future clone, and a “normal” life – then self-help books, such as The Celestine Prophecy, of children cured of allergies with various natural therapies, exercise, diet, and she began to imagine possibilities of being functional and positive. At 14, she created a fitness plan, incorporated a rebounder to drain her lymphatic system and gain cardiovascular strength in a safe and controlled environment. A lifelong yogi, she intensified her practice with postures to open the heart, increase circulation and diminish depression. Studies in sports nutrition, interest in the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet with its prominence of fruits, salads, olive oil and minimal dairy, and investigations into the diet of athletes, led to a new way of eating. Inspired by her neighbour, a female bodybuilder, and the encouragement of the junior-high running coach she eventually walked-ran 10 exhausting, frightening kilometers. Thus began a journey of listening to the body, building a foundation of knowledge of the components of food, how the body absorbs and utilizes, and of the resulting effects.

Although still with daily pain and stress, the move, in her 20’s, from Edmonton to Vancouver, with its rain more forgiving to congested lungs and its abundance of organic, vegetarian food, brought the joy of being outside and social.

Unfortunately this new lifestyle, with its junk-food, sulfiteloaded vegetarian diet, led her body to further deteriorate --

6 root-canal procedures in 6 months, endless infections, cardiac arrhythmia, increasingly violent asthmatic attacks, and an acidic, allergic, and bloated body. A medical report stated her body had aged 10 years in 6 months, and the profound question was posed: how long did she really want to live?

After a respite in the Mediterranean with colourful fresh food and healthy, happy, vibrant people, she returned to Vancouver with this knowledge, continued to study naturopathy, and pursued a career in yoga. She, nevertheless, developed bronchitis, then pneumonia, lost balance and interest in life, and one day, ill and alone, realized her soul was leaving her body. Turning to Chinese medicine as a lifeline, she prepared for travel to China, it being imperative to leave immediately in order to survive. She received a medical diagnosis forty-eight hours prior to her scheduled departure, that her heart had become nearly completely separated from her sternum; given she had regular chest examinations every three months, this was clearly a recent manifestation corresponding with her current emotional state.

Tenaciously, she refused to avoid both flying, and entering an intensely polluted country, and in so doing discovered the power of herself and raw food. There, still functioning and hopeful, she studied acupressure, meridian therapy, Chinese medicine, and how the people fared in such pollution. After 3 months of amoebic dysentery, she felt it necessary to change her diet from raw to cooked, with the result of eating food loaded with oil and MSG leading to headaches of insurmountable pressure, significant weight gain, a body puffed up hideously and too inflamed to continue yoga. Once more returned the relentless coughing and the certainty of pneumonia in at least one lung. This time came also excruciating pain as if ribs were broken and muscles torn, or as if having a heart attack.

Alone with a fever rising to 104 degrees, lapsing in and out of consciousness, she finally, reluctantly, sought medical attention to discover one lung completely collapsed, and another sad and emphatic decision to live. Refusing I.V., she returned to her apartment, her refuge. Completely connected with herself, for the second time in her life she was given the chance to decide to either stay or leave the planet.

A profound experience. Knowing she had more work to do here, she listened to the innate wisdom within, and forced herself sweating and crying further and further into the yoga fish posture in order to expand her chest, to reinflate her lung. She drank only coconut water and ate only fresh fruit. Recovering seemed impossible, until she discovered the Sanctuary, a healing centre located in the south of Thailand. Barely strong enough to carry her belongings she made the long journey there. What followed next is nothing short of divine intervention, a miracle. Upon her arrival she was met by the local healers who advised her

to eat only pineapple for the next three weeks. In agreement with their advice and that of her intuition she began the journey to vibrant health. Within the first three days her digestive system began to function normally, within one week the eczema was gone and her heart was no longer beating irregularly. Within two weeks her allergies had vanished, her skin was glowing and her formerly yellow eyes sparkling. Her new-found boundless energy and stamina due to a re-inflated lung and healing had her conquering terrain equivalent to the Grouse Grind. Ecstatic, she continued to study Thai Therapy and the raw food lifestyle for several months.

She returned to Canada filled with unreasonable happiness, empowered with information, and inspired to share the gift of raw food. She stopped first to see her Albertan family, all of whom were in awe of the glow emanating from the being in front of them; no longer did they see a lifeless, depressed, defective human being. They were so taken with the transformation, they were almost speechless, almost in tears.

They stood in amazement, uttering “you look amazing! so healthy! so happy! so slim! you’re absolutely glowing!” It was obvious they were as delighted as she was. Excited to hear her story and share in her meal plan consisting of primarily mono meals, they lasted only a day or two, and from this, she understood a transitional diet was important for most people to successfully change from eating cooked food to eating raw food. She decided to study with the great raw chefs and natural health educators -- Alissa Cohen, Dr. Gabriel Cousens, Dr. Douglas Graham, David Wolfe, Victoria and Sergei Boutenko -- and learned to create the best food the mainstream population had ever tasted. After all, if it was better tasting and better for them than their cooked food favourites, why wouldn’t they adopt the raw food lifestyle?

The endeavor was successful, so successful it was clear to her this was her purpose.

Throughout her journey, the consistent thread has been her passion: passion for healing, for empowering and inspiring herself and others with food, for encouraging others to uncover the innate wisdom and unreasonable happiness in each of us, and to discover the energy connecting all of us, making us one, the raw foundation.

Nowadays, the unreasonably happy being in this true story, Janice Skoreyko, Founder of Raw Foundation Culinary Arts, is devoted to empowering and educating both home and professional chefs to prepare delicious, raw meals, and lecturing to groups on various topics related to the benefits of a raw plant-based diet.

Raw Foundation’s teachings emphasize a focus on life force energy, living foods, intuitive eating, fresh air, exercise and a positive mental attitude as being essential for health.

Janice’s techniques make food preparation and eating fun, adventurous, and deliciously gourmet. The result each time for the individual, is a feeling of vibrancy and a commitment to this lifestyle, this being due to a sense of fulfillment, rather than discipline.

raW FOunDatiOn Culinary arts institute Discover the magic of Living Food for Living People!

In class answering questions

ClaSSES:

indulgence- Guilt Free Desserts!

Gourmet raw Chocolate - Pure rapture!

Peak Performance - raW Food For athletes!

Global Cuisine- Your ticket around the World!

Certifications - raw Food Chef and instructor!

Photos by Jackie Mattey

Discover the magic of organic raw food for radiant health!

Inspiration and Empowerment Lives Here: www.rawfoundation.ca Unleash Your Inner Chef! Call Us Today 778.839.8424

12

Vancouver

Generator: A Review of AVATAR

by Carl Chaplin, artist

I

t is inevitable that someone will accuse James Cameron of advocating eco-terrorism.

Have you made your own avatar yet?

What color will you make it?

What archetype will it portray?

Will you have a tail?

In the previous age, before avatars, when films were in 2D, people didn't worry about having tails. Hollywood took care of all our tales for us. For better and for worse the movie moguls entertained us. And on a couple occasions they blew our minds - like when the Jazz Singer actually sang in the first “talky” in 1927.

Or in 1939 when The Wizard of Oz went somewhere over the rainbow and coloured the silver screen along with everybody's gray matter forever.

Is it a comedy or a tragedy?

If every good story must be one or the other, then did Avatar's plot start off in despair and get better and better until the angry gods intervened and all was lost?

Or did the Navi's version of Eden dissolve into chaos only to get saved at the last minute and everyone lived happily ever after?

What if you both laughed and cried?

Can a simple story with spectacular landscapes be a great inspiration?

Watch Out of Africa. But Avatar isn't a simple retelling of Dances With Wolves, or Pocahontas. It is so much more. It is in a class by itself and has possibly created a new meta genre – more surreal than sci-fi. It is one of the few eco stories that does not end like Children of Men, or The Road, or No Blade of Grass.

Two over the top, but important lines: "If you keep playing with it, you'll go blind." (Self-explanatory) And the revealing name of the exotic new element that's way off the periodic chart.

"Unobtainium, this is why we're here."

One can only presume that anything that can make mountains float would carry corporate greed to new heights. New heights?

Hmmm. Did I say that. Maybe the killing machines in Avatar are more fantastique than the latest 21st century military marvels here on Earth, but the numbers of aliens Cameron managed to slaughter is minuscule compared to the actual massacres of Earthlings in my lifetime.

For his next thriller, Cameron would be advised to jack the body count way up if he wants his sci-fi warnings to keep pace with reality.

Torches and pitch forks A friend said she did not want to see any movie that advocates or glorifies violence. How about War and Peace, the Soviet Union's six hour film epic(1968). Every line of dialog from Tolstoy's masterpiece was in that movie along with a more realistic and graphically moving Battle of Borodino. Does that Soviet glorification of the Russian defeat by Napoleon devalue the writer's heartfelt desire for peace? Can antiwar art successfully use images from battle to make a point?

Be prepared. This is a war story. But so was Casablanca. Great stories are made not so much by their brave heroes, but by the depth of their villains. The worst villains are real people who just happen to do really bad things. Sure there are scary machine villains such as Frankenstein or Terminator (Cameron's first

film), but they are the creations of men. And like Mary Shelly, or Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times (1936), Cameron says straight out that men do really bad things when they create machines that kill everybody. And, the only hope for life is to fight back and destroy the machines.

Oh dear. Are the kids too young for theatrical violence?

Well then send them off to see a couple of important educational documentaries about their place in history: Guns, Germs and Steel from National Geographic and Collapse, an analysis of the future with Michael Ruppert.

Or if both drama and reality are too hard for the kids to handle then read to them from The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales.

"We have an indigenous population here - the Navi. They are very hard to kill."

A quick search of Jane's military website might help the novice, or those that have been too busy, to acquaint themselves with what is presently available. But Cameron is thoughtful, if there were too much blood and guts splattering all over the 3D glasses, the ladies might avoid coming to the theater. So the Avatar generator also focused on the other side of a good story – reproduction. In fact one reviewer went so far as to call this movie alien porn. But it's closer to Decker's lust for the forbidden Rachel in Blade Runner than either Darwin's Origin of Species or Flesh Gordon.

So when the aliens and the audience demand to know "Did they mate?"

Cameron discretely replies - It's none of your reproduckin' business.

Gaia I've left the name of the Titan/Goddess of Earth till last because it might have sounded too pompous or mythical to start this review with questions about “who are we” and “where are we going.”

Or worse, the name might have conjured up James Lovelock's Gaia Hypothesis, the paradigm shifting insight into how life works, where fungal mycelium and airborne pollen help the biosphere maintain homeostatic conditions favourable for life.

No this is neither biblical nor scientific in nature, it's just a damn good adventure.

Chaos, mayhem and adrenalin rule, while underneath Cameron's bright blue skin is a heart of gold and a deep understanding of green.

And underneath that flapping loincloth is a desire to have intellectual intercourse with both the audience and the critics.

The envelope please For creating the first real-looking computer animation. (Anyone following computer graphics over the last 40 years will know this is the highest honor.) And the winner is SirReal James Cameron, generator of Avatars! *** One memorable Christmas I graduated to a 48 box of Crayola crayons and got a colouring book called Space Cadets. It was full of black and white line drawings of exotic alien worlds crying out for some kid to bring them to life. It sprouted my lifelong search for colourful aliens. James Cameron's Avatar has stirred my imagination more that any other movie. I wish him long life and look forward to his other worlds.

How to see Cameron in 3-D without glasses Line yourself up perfectly square to the image and stare at the middle of the centerline. Look cross eyed to see double then slowly go uncross your eyes until the left and right images of Cameron merge into a third between the two in 3-D. It isn't as easy as it sounds - practice for a couple minutes.

Keep your head level. Tilting it even slightly to one side or the other will cause you to lose alinement. When you get close try tilting your head a bit to what happens.

Vancouver

13

The Disappeared of Canada: How and Why the Killings Have Never Stopped

by Kevin Annett Note from the author: It is my belief that the criminal actions described in this article represent the behaviour of a minority of officers in the Vancouver police department, and I therefore appeal to the majority of officers to do their duty as public servants, and help expose the corrupt and illegal actions occuring within the Vancouver Police department, in order to protect the weak and the innocent.

“

Ten of the last dozen women to be taken to the killing site at Piggy’s Palace were accompanied

by Mounties or regular cops. You think it was just Willie Picton who was killing them?”

Marion, sex trade worker, downtown eastside of Vancouver , May 10, 2006 In October of 1992, when I was still a United Church clergyman, I was approached by a colleague at my first Presbytery meeting in Nanaimo . The topic of child abuse came up, and after a few moments, the other man, a retired minister, smiled and gave me a sort of insider’s look.

He lowered his voice and said to me, “It’s easy to get a child in this town.” I must have looked shocked, for his smile faded.

“What do you mean?” I said.

“Nothing” he replied. “Some people are, you know, interested in that sort of thing.”

It all felt like an offer, masked but real, like a sort of masonic handshake: something known to insiders only.

The same man had worked in the United Church ’s Alberni Indian residential school for years, and piloted one of the “mission boats” that visited coastal Indian villages.

One of my native parishioners later accused him of raping her as a child, but the RCMP threatened her not to press charges.

Later, after I was fired from the church for asking too many questions, I learned of the well-protected child trafficking network that linked the coastal residential schools with wealthy men and clubs in Vancouver . Just how many children disappeared into those clubs and never emerged is unknown; but they are among the more than 50,000 residential school children who cannot be accounted for.

“No crime ever disappears; it just adapts” a journalist once told me. And in British Columbia, the crime of abducting people is rampant, on the rise, and very lucrative, since it is part of a deadly international network in human trafficking.

George Brown is a retired aboriginal RCMP officer who was part of a community-based “Missing Persons’ Task Force” in Vancouver . His group documented hundreds of missing people until their work began to identify the complicity of local police, politicians and businessmen in the disappearances. At that point, George’s group disbanded.

“We didn’t want to get killed” George told me during a videotaped interview in the summer of 2005.

“I was called up by a senior officer in the force and

told, ‘George, the number of disappeared women is nine, and it’s going to stay at nine. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong or you may lose it.’ The fact is I personally know two fellow Mounties who were linked with Picton and making money by bringing girls out to his place. None of the girls ever came back. Everybody knows about it.”

I asked George who “everybody” was. The worldweary man shook his head sadly.

“The Mayor. The Chief of Police. All the senior press people. Hell, you can’t get into those positions without making a deal with the drug lords who run this town.

The days of organized crime as a separate thing are over.

It’s all business run and legit now. It’s organized corporate crime now – the drug importers from Asia and the real estate developers and the off shore investors, they’re all part of the same gang. The cops all work for them. And body snatching pays well.”

George Brown’s group documented a link between the disappeared women of the downtown eastside and the trans-pacific organ trafficking network based in China .

According to sources within the network, at least a dozen women and men are abducted and murdered every month in Vancouver, their bodies disposed of in protected grave sites on the north shore, and their organs shipped overseas.

Most of the disappeared are homeless men, transient youth or sex trade workers.

A year after I interviewed George Brown, I was given more confirmation of his groups’ claims. I received a message to meet a woman named Annie Parker at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouver ’s downtown eastside.

Annie was a short, timid woman with haunted eyes and scars along her neck and arms.

“I got these by threatening to go to the press with what I knew.” she said matter of factly, pointing to the scars.

“Who did it to you?” I asked.

She told me the man’s name, a senior RCMP officer, and then said, “Who doesn’t matter. They’re all doing it. It’s called the ‘hooker game.’ The Vancouver cops will pick up girls off the street, drug them with scopolamine and film them as they fuck them, in a cop club downtown on Georgia street. Then sometimes they kill the girls and film that too, and sell it for $25,000 as a snuff film.”

I asked her what happens to the bodies. “That was one of Steve Picton’s specialties. I met all the Pictons.

Steve runs a snuff film operation in Coquitlam and then he dumps the bodies at a hunting camp about ten miles up from Horseshoe Bay, near the Sea to Sky highway.

There’s a special grave site there with sealed containers in a metal cistern. I was taken there, I seen it. It’s watched over by the Mounties.”

Les Guerin is an aboriginal man who lives and

EMERGENCE: EMER GENCE: Level Level 1 Conscious Conscious Communication Communication Facilitator’ Facilitator’s Course Course Originator: Elijah Ignatieff “The Raging Grannies probably weren’t the easiest first test group.”

E Enquiries: nquiries: elijahignatieff@gmail.com elijahignatieff@gmail.com

Benefits to Participation: Individual Learn the INFLOW MATRIX, a values centered holistic way to think.

Be part in the creation of a new organizational structure, the Shared Knolwedge Community.

Get access to the NEW PARADIGM TOOLKIT, an evolutionary breakthrough in human interaction.

Gain great leverage in empowering those individuals, groups, organizations, and communities that you want to support.

([WHULRU

Januar y, Februar February, y, March 12 Module Course January, Module ule per Week $50.00\ Module + Materials 1 Mod $50.00\Module 27 Student Limit online offline interaction

Consciousness Sacred Geometry Information Flow Systems Thinking Communication Accelerated Learning Mind Mapping Spiritual Activism

Our species needs a severe course correction that will only come from a higher level of consciousness. We need to learn, to communicate, to create, and to heal in a completely innovative manner. This course will teach you how to activate this in others.

,QWHULRU

Bring YOUR GIFT into the world and design your ideal work situation.

Over 20 Years Research:

Group

com olofconsciouscommunication.com www www.schoolofc

works as a maintenance man on the Musqueam Indian reserve near the University of B.C. He claims that the reserve holds at least two body dumping sites from which he personally has excavated human remains, and had them forensically examined.

“As far back as 1989 I saw a man who I later identified as Willie Picton drive onto the Musqueam reserve and bury several large bags. Later when I saw his face on the news, I dug up the bags and had them examined at a lab at SFU. The report says they contain human and pig bones remains, including the humerus, pelvis and skull pieces of a young woman in her twenties.

“The weird thing is I told the Vancouver Police, the press, everybody about this, and nothing was ever done. I sent the police the forensic report, me and my buddy Jim Kew, I told the CBC and even the lawyers for the families of Picton’s victims. Nothing. The cops roped off the site in 2006 and that was that.”

A signed letter from Musqueam Band Housing Officer Glenn Guerin dated October 29, 2004 indicates that Dave Picton was employed by the Museum Indian band for a three month contract during 1990 to provide land fill for local street construction.

Frustrated by the lack of police response, in December of 2005, Les Guerin mailed the bone fragments he obtained from the Picton deposit, along with the forensic report, to Amnesty International’s head office in London , England.

The package was returned unopened the following month.

This month, the eyes of the world will be on British Columbia and its Olympics. But will those eyes perceive the missing men, women and children whose remains lie scattered in hidden graves – and the authorities who put them there? Will the visiting world media record the truth of those who continue to disappear?

Most important, will the killings be stopped?

That depends on us.

Kevin Annett is a community minister, educator and awardwinning film maker who lives and work in Vancouver’s downtown eastside. www.hiddenfromhistory.org 250-753-3345 Read and Hear the truth of Genocide in Canada, past and present, at this website: www.hiddenfromhistory.org , and see the trailer to Kevin's award-winning documentary UNREPENTANT film on the same website.

Soon to be released feature film, THE DIARY, based on Kevin Anett's epic struggle to bring to light genocide in Canada - see the trailer at: www.thediarymovie.com/trailer ................................................

“Kevin is more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than many who have received it in the past.”

- Dr. Noam Chomsky Institute Professor Emeritus Massachusetts Institute of Technology “A courageous and inspiring man." (referring to Kevin Annett) - Mairead Corrigan-Maguire Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Belfast , Northern Ireland "As a long time front line worker with the Elders' Council at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, I stand behind what Kevin Annett is trying to do for our people.

The genocide that continues today and which stemmed from the residential schools needs to be exposed. Kevin Annett helps break the silence, and brings the voice of our people all over the world."

Carol Muree Martin - Spirit Tree Woman Nisgaa Nation "I gave Kevin Annett his Indian name, Eagle Strong Voice, in 2004 when I adopted him into our Anishinabe Nation. He carries that name proudly because he is doing the job he was sent to do, to tell his people of their wrongs. He speaks strongly and with truth. He speaks for our stolen and murdered children. I ask everyone to listen to him and welcome him."

Chief Louis Daniels - Whispers Wind Elder, Turtle Clan, Anishinabe Nation Winnipeg, Manitoba

14

Vancouver

By Eric Partikian

I

remember the shock, anger, and disappointment I felt when I saw that Translink had gone ahead and installed Verint surveillance cameras on Vancouver’s electric buses, and which will soon be installed on all of our city buses, not to mention the virtual forest of surveillance equipment already everywhere on our Skytrain (I say “our” because it is after all you and I who paid for the Vancouver transit system with our tax dollars, and still do).

So here we are! Our ever trustworthy and benevolent governments, both provincial and federal, have decided for us, the ones they are purportedly serving, that for our “safety and security” they are going to have to keep an ever-watchful eye on all of us for our own good. And, not only is the government going to put surveillance cameras just about everywhere, but these cameras can be, and probably already are coupled with facial-recognition technology so that, ostensibly, our comings and goings can be carefully catalogued and potentially stored for future reference (remember the digitized driver’s licenses and passport photos you were told not to smile on?). For those who think “it doesn’t bother me, I don’t use public transportation", think again: ; just about every major intersection in Vancouver has cameras installed atop the traffic lights and the infrastructure now exists for you to be tracked via license-plate reading technology.

“So?” I often hear. “I’ve got nothing to hide”, goes the refrain. Oh really? Are you aware that throughout history, the one human societal construct that has been responsible for the most deaths, in the most horrifying ways imaginable, the most wrongful imprisonments, political and religious persecutions, genocide, and terrorism against foreign and domestic populations have been governments? Germany, prior to the rise of Nazism and Adolf Hitler was a democratic republic not a whole lot different from Canada’s current system. Are we so sure that such things could not happen here? Is it ultimately wise and prudent to passively allow our supposedly servant government to build what could very easily be turned into a very potent instrument of tyranny if and/or when the right crisis – which always seems to very conveniently occur for would-be despots – comes along?

Having studied a bit of history and having observed what power and the desire for it does to people, I must say that I tend to agree with George Washington when he said “Government is not reason, it is not eloquent, it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant, and a fearful master.” For what price are we willing to compromise our freedom to come and go as we please without being monitored by an ever expanding and increasingly intrusive government? Many people have told me that electronic surveillance of public spaces makes them feel safe. How safe would they feel if those very same public spaces eventually became monitored by a government they

strongly disagreed with and which did not respect the rule of law? Have we all forgotten that our very own current government in Ottawa has allowed former U.S. President George W. Bush, on three separate occasions recently, to come here and give lucrative public talks when there is no doubt at all that he and his administration are guilty of the most serious of war crimes (waging a war of aggression, targeting civilian populations, and torture) under the Geneva Conventions which are law here in Canada. Apparently, our current government believes that there is, or ought to be, one law for “the peasants” (that is, you and me) and another for “the elite” (big business and government officials).

Is this the kind of government that can be trusted to keep an eye on all of us? When are government officials going to have 24/7 surveillance on them so that we tax slaves can keep track of what they’re up to? Seeing that governments are responsible for the most enormous and heinous atrocities ever committed throughout history, would this not be advisable?

Move over Big Brother, Sister ELENA is here

by Rik Ferguson

O

n January 1, this year German employers became subject to a new legal requirement, one that has their own data protection authorities, trade unions and civil rights groups appalled.

ELENA knows where you live.

From the beginning of 2010 every German employer must now submit detailed information on a monthly basis to the so-called ELENA database. ELENA is an acronym for Eleketronischer Entgeltnachweis, which loosely translates to Electronic Payslip. This sounds innocent enough until you consider exactly what information employers are obliged to provide.

The information will cover every worker’s salary, all absenteeism and their participation in strike action whether legal or illegal. This data is to be submitted to a central hub and from 2012 it will be used to determine whether to pay out or refuse social benefits. Plans are in place to relieve employers of the necessity of printing paper-based pay statements for their employees and to instead issue each worker with a plastic “jobcard”, again by 2012. This card would then need to be produced should the holder ever need to apply for benefits allowing for data retrieval to determine eligibility.

Peter Schaar, the German Information Commissioner is reported as saying “I’ve got a big problem with this. Until now, such information on salary declarations has not appeared, and their general storage in a central file is not legally nor constitutionally allowed.”

My own (German) wife’s reaction to this news was more succinct “I thought these people had agreed that the Stasi was a bad thing?” The German blogs I could find seemed to be equally opposed to the idea.

For now though, the legislation has entered into force and the reporting has begun. We can only hope that appropriate measures have been taken to store the data in a secure location, using appropriate encryption; that the data entry and retrieval mechanisms are protected with strong encryption and multi-factor authentication and that the appropriate organizational policies and procedures have been put in place to protect this highly sensitive data.

It is an absolute certainty that a centralized data repository of this size and significance will attract the hacking and cracking attention of criminals, script-kiddies and “hobbyists” alike.

“As Senior Security Advisor for Trend Micro, Rik is recognized as an industry thought leader and analyst and is regularly quoted by the international press on issues surrounding Information Security, Cybercrime and technology futures. With over fifteen years experience in the IT Industry with companies such as EDS, McAfee and Xerox, Rik’s broad experience enables him to have a clear insight into the challenges and issues facing businesses today.

As Solutions Architect for Trend Micro, Rik interacts with CIOs from a wide variety of European and Global multi-national blue chip enterprises, government institutions, law enforcement organizations.”

Vancouver

15

No Silver Bullet, Your Business and the Internet

By Clive Fletcher – cfletcher@web2me.net

M

ost small businesses need to have a presence on the internet in some shape or form. The internet is the easiest point of access for people to find detailed information about your services/products, about who runs your business and where you are located etc. The internet also provides what is probably the most cost-effective way to advertise your business.

So where to start? Firstly, consider opening a free account with Google - providing that you are OK with your business location being identified on a map. You do not need a website to list your business on Google (please check as this could change at any time). With a Google account your business should appear in the maps section at the top of the search listings for your type of business. To see examples, type in a subject followed by a location in the Google search bar such as "plumber vancouver" (without the quotation marks).

Consider subscribing to a business directory such as www.yellowpages.com which is generally considered a trusted resource. Their internet directory is modern and extremely well laid out for people looking for a service or product. It is also low cost and not full of dead businesses that you find in some of the free directories, and it represents (in my opinion) good value for money. That said, subscribing to multiple free business directories can be a good option and many offer enhanced listing options for which you pay a small fee - check out www.ourbis.com, www.hotfrog.ca www.vancouverdirect.info, www.canpages.ca and www. weblocal.ca. There may be less well known directories for your particular locality, so take a look around the internet for these.

People that are looking for a business on the internet often use search engines (such as Google) instead of business directories. Although businesses in these directories sometimes appear in the search results, Google and other search engines often change their search algorithms to ensure that the 'natural' or 'organic' entries appear at the top of the search listings. It is important to note that membership in a business directory will not provide your business with a web address, so anyone who has picked up a business card or has seen a printed advert cannot (in most cases) go directly to your business information on the internet. For these reasons a website is a necessity. There are several points that should be considered when creating a website: 1) Content. A website with too much content can discourage the reader. Remember the audience - the customer needs specific information that is relevant to your type of business. On the other hand more content means a higher search ranking, so make sure that you organize your information in an easily readable manner if you have a lot of content.

2) Being Found. If the main target audience for your website is via business cards and other advertizing IE direct references, then issues regarding being found 'cold' via a search engine become less important. If being discovered through a search engine is important then make sure that you research 'Search Engine Optimization' (SEO) and write

zhe5ph

your website content accordingly. Note: It can take a while (months in some cases) for your website to be fully indexed by the search engines, so having links into your website is important. You can create your own links by subscribing to business directories and if you have connections with a complementary business then also consider a 'link swap' EG a plumber could recommend an electrician on their website and vice versa.

3) Perspective. If you are a sole proprietor of a ser ice based business (as opposed to a product based business) then the dialogue on your website should normally be written in the first person ('I') and not the third person ('they' - as if an external observer was describing your business).

4) Presentation. Application of both graphics and grammar depend very much on your type of business. A lawyer who has spelling mistakes and uses poor grammar is unlikely to gain much business. On the other hand, a great artisan that has a few pictures of their work and a couple of testimonials is likely to succeed irrespective of poor writing abilities.

5) Clarity. Many studies have shown that people decide very quickly (in a few seconds) about whether to stay on a website. Too many websites adopt moving graphics that may look very pretty but are likely to backfire when it comes to retaining a person's attention. Keep the use of moving graphics as brief as possible unless it is essential for your particular business. It is also worth noting that information content placed in graphics is not detectable by search engines.

6)About You. Your website is an introductory point for your potential customers, so consider having a friendly looking photograph (not an old passport photo!) and some information about yourself and/or your team.

Check out websites that have adopted this approach and you will understand how it builds a connection with your audience.

7) Design. Check out websites that reflect your type of business. You can pick a few designs and then provide these to a web designer for quotes.

8) Development. Building a website is mainly a one-off cost and most advanced systems allow you to update the website content as and when you like (usually referred to as a Content Management System or CMS).

There are plenty of products that enable you to create your own website. However, remember that first impressions for a potential customer are very important so 'don't spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar' and consider allocating a few hundred dollars for a properly designed website.

9) Domain (website) Name Registration. Now, if you really want to find out why people get thoroughly fed up with trying to establish a web presence then this is the place to start. A domain name such as www.cbc.ca (the www prefix is actually not a part of the domain name) is completely separate from your website and your web hosting provider. It just so happens that most domain registrars will also offer web hosting and other facilities, and

before you know it you have signed up and committed to a web hosting contract. Some domain registrars such as www.domainscanada.ca deal ONLY with domain registration (although they only handle .ca domains and not others such as .com) and they do not get involved with hosting etc.

If you have found a decent web designer then it is easier to leave this to them to sort out as they should be aware of the issues and how to tie your domain name to your website.

10) Domain (website) Name Selection. There are many websites where you can check to see if your choice of name is available such as www.whois.net Sometimes a good name is important although it depends on your particular type of business. In some situations the customers simply do not care either what your domain name is. If I were, say, a plumber in Burnaby then I would seriously consider having a domain name such as www.plumberinburnaby.ca since it is guaranteed to be given a high ranking by the search engines (and less need to spend $$$ on Search Engine Optimization!!).

11) Domain Name Emails, example: yourname@yourdmainname.ca. If you are a small business then this is probably unnecessary unless you believe that your business profile is best served by having one. You can have an enquiry form on your website where people can submit messages - this is one of the ways to avoid spam and you do not need to state your email address. If you wish to display your email address on your website then present it as a graphic as this will escape most of the automated processes that crawl the internet harvesting emails for spamming. You can also opt for a free Google email (Gmail) address for your business, example: mybizname@gmail.com.

Your Strategy - Work Backwards!

Sequence: 1)Select your designer (or DIY system) 2)host & domain registration. Find a website designer or identify the best tools for building your website if you choose to go down the DIY route. If you go down the DIY route then check out the demo and free trials for the website builder, since the tools will dictate who hosts your website.

Once you have taken these steps then set up your domain name (this is usually done in conjunction with signing up for the web hosting). If you are not sure what to write and how to organize your information then write a summary covering all the essential elements and ask the web designer to format and structure it for you.

Please note. Some of the points above are generalizations and do not necessarily apply to all types of businesses.

For instance, if you are in the music, film or photographic businesses you are likely to require the graphics, audio and video etc. and these types of businesses are also far more likely to be involved in social marketing such as Facebook.

Being on the internet is no magic bullet for attracting new customers, however it has become essential for all businesses to have a presence. With a Google account, listings on some business directories and also a web site you will have covered the main bases and provided your business with the best chance of getting noticed.

Exvlqhvv#zhevlwhv#wkdw#ilw#|rxu#exgjhw#$

fxvwrpl}deoh#

uhdg|#wr#jr#zhevlwhv .#IOH[LEOH###.#IDVW###.#HDV\ zzz1zhe5ph1qhw##00#::;#673#67;3

16

Vancouver

Poisonous Trees Isaac Oommen is a nomad writer, originally from Dubai and now residing in Vancouver. He traveled extensively through the Middle East and south-central Asia before settling in Vancouver to write

things, then should they not be prosecuted for those rather than this one trumped-up charge? spent a much-needed weekend in AbThe Bacons have supposedly committed a slew botsford, relaxing and catching up with of crimes, after which we are supposed to old friends. Rather than talking about the breathe a sigh of relief because they happened new shows on television or the growing number to slip up on something so minor. It reminds me of apartment buildings in town, the discussion of when the Americans finally caught al Capone, often centered around the flurry of gang violence not for any of the many murders he had carried the “city in the country,” as Abbotsford advertises out, but for paltry tax evasion. If this is the sucitself, had seen. cess of the legal system, it might as well not The biggest hullaboo at the moment was exist. being caused by the fact that a Surrey provincial There are a few simultaneous issues related court judge had allowed the use of evidence to the case, such as the fact that the policemen against Jamie and Jarrod Bacon despite the fact shadowing the Bacons the night on which they that said evidence had been procured in violation were targeted in a shooting broke off from detail to the pair's Charter rights. just before the brothers' house was riddled with Judge Jean Lytwyn, who handed down the bullets. Also, for three men said to be leaders in decision, went so far as to say that the reputation the Red Scorpion gang with former affiliations of the justice system would take a bigger hit if the to the United Nations gang, the Bacons are getevidence were disallowed. ting shot at a lot in comparison to the shootings The evidence in question were four loaded of which they are accused. semi-auto handguns retrieved from the Bacons' Charter rights violation remains the biggest Suburban, found in a secret compartment. issue. The idea that only the guilty should be The reactions from a lot of people I talked to subjected to such violations is a slippery slope; was of frustration more than anything else.

I cannot think of a single human being that I “They're bad boys and it's about time something could trust to make the pick of who deserves stuck,” was the most trumpeted sentiment. Cersaid violations. Not to mention the fact that you tainly, the number of allegations made towards the have already gone with the assumption that Bacons versus those that had stuck were disprothose you have picked are in fact guilty. portionate. A couple of charges had led to one of I can end this post only one way: with this the brothers pleading guilty. The brothers had been shocking quote from Judge Jean Lytwyn that implicated in a number of drug-related offenses, sums up the justice system to date. and had recently been linked to the Surrey Six “Although there were multiple Charter vishootings that took the lives of two innocent byolations, some of which were serious, they were standers. in the context of a lengthy investigation where a Thankfully, a few did seem concerned about number of steps were taken to respect the Charthe actual Charter violation. The police had, after ter rights of James and Jarrod Bacon.” an attempt on the Bacons' lives by a rival gang, responded by searching the brothers' Balmoral Tower High Rise, The house without a warrant. They did get a warrant to install a tracking device on location of the Surrey Six Shootings the Suburban, whereupon they discovered a secret compartment that held the guns.

Certainly frustration at the legal system is nothing new in BC. I've heard a number of groans about criminals whom some felt had been released too early and into communities in which some felt they would be notable threats.

Law enforcement's tardiness at stepping into the Abbtosford gang war added to the frustration. When Abbotsford and neighboring Mission replaced Saskatoon as Canada's murder capital in Statistic Canada's 2009 listings, people were even more agitated.

This kind of agitation is the very sort that leads to people being okay with rights violations. The biggest argument is that the person accused deserves it because he/she is openly known to be a criminal, though hard to catch.

Thinking like this begs the question: but if they did all these horrible

I

Vancouver

17

The V-Spot With Vera Zyla

, otherwise known as V to my inner circle. Suffice to say that all that is sexual is my passion and if I am not talking and teaching seminars on the topic I am reading about it or doing it!

I acquired a degree as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Acupuncturist prior to the career shift into the pleasure realms so my knowledge has a holistic Taoist bent at times. After discovering this passion for pleasure I helped pioneer a unique education based sex shop in Kits called The Art of Loving.

After 8 successful years and many learning opportunities that involved the latest research, state of the art toys, the sex positive community, the kink world as well as hearing thousands of personal stories from people, I am here to offer up my knowledge.

So send me those burning questions or maybe those flirting thoughts about something you can’t bring yourself to talk to your intimates about. I hope to share my V-verbiage and answer your questions straight up with zero Viagra.

of sexuality. Thanks to pioneers like Betty Dodson who started talking about it and teaching about it openly and without shame, things have changed. Check out her book “Sex for One: The Joy of Self Loving” it’s a great book for getting comfortable with masturbation specifically.

Guys generally masturbate even if they are in a relationship and you may or may not be aware of their self loving routine. I suggest you have a show and tell night with each other. You can each take turn masturbating while the other watches. It will be a hot way to incorporate it into your intimate play together and you might learn a thing or two about how your partner likes to be touched.

Here is my quick check list as to why masturbation is great!

Dear Vera: I am always stumped at what to get my girlfriend for Valentines day and was thinking about a vibrator but am thinking it might be a bit sketchy. We have talked a bit about it so I think she is open to it but what freaks me is I dont want a toy to take time away from our make sessions.

Thinking Ahead...

Dear TA: People worry about women getting more attached to their vibrators than to their partners and that standard f***king just wont happen anymore. Truth of the matter is most women need direct external clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm and anything that vibrates can do that job very nicely. Tongues and fingers can do great job but a toy, electric toothbrush or water running from the tap in the bathtub for that matter can do it in a different way and can be helpful for women who do need extra stimulation to reach orgasm.

A few things can happen-women can get used to heavier stimulation. The antidote is to mix it up. Just as there are numerous ways to f*** there are numberous ways to play with toys. Remember that sexual intimacy can be much more than just intercourse. Communicate and educate yourselves about what is working for you and your bodies in terms of turn on and orgasm.

If your partner has the best orgasms using the toy so what? Get over it. As long as she is having great orgasms that's what counts right? Keep making out together with as much gusto as before. Its not an either/or situation. Get involved with using it on her. Try some hands on experience, you can be using your fingers or mouth on her while you’re

also adding the vibe for penetration or external stimulation. If your tongue gets tired flicking that clit than go for the toy. The toy can be your friend as much as your girlfriends. Well, almost.

-V Hi Vera, I walked in on my boyfriend masturbating in the tub in the bathroom. It was awkward for him and for me.

I know its normal and most likely everybody does it. The strange thing is neither of us has brought it up or talked about it? Should I just let it ride or say something?

Sudsy Solo Sexplorations Dear Sudsy, Masturbation has had a bad rap and it wasn’t until the 70’s that it was considered “normal” and an OK part

1. Its 100% safe, no pregnancy or sexual transmitted diseases.

2. It’s a super form of stress reduction and it relieves sexual tension.

3. It leads to relaxed sleeping conditions.

4. It can be done when you are not available and hey, its better than him cheating on you.

5. It allows him to participate in sex more frequently if you’re not around.

6. It’s a way to release endorphins – and that can bring a smile to his face.

7. For men it helps build resistance to prostate infections.

8. Excellent cardio work out.

9. It can help you learn what you like sexually and then you can share that with your partner.

10. Its empowering!

11. It helps keep the pelvic floor muscles strong.

12. For women it can help relieve cramps related to the menstrual cycle, keeps the vagina lubricated, and builds resistance to getting yeast infections.

13. It will help you think more positively about your genitals and stop you from fig leafing your life.

-V

Letter to the Editor Dear Agora, A

s a long-time reader and advocate of alternative information, I would just like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to your newspaper for providing a due glimpse of what is really happening to our country: one which is engulfed in corruption, evasion, and deceit, but where social organization is gathering thrust so as to do away with antiquated ideas and selfish values. I am often dismayed at the extent to which ordinary citizens, people who have nothing to gain from political ideologies and the coming Olympics, bring about their own misfortunes.

When is the appropriate time to take action, if not now? We are at a stage where collusion abounds in the ranks

of those once culturally presentable figures. How does one, for instance, repose any assurance or trust in the police, whose declared motive is to serve and protect, but by whose string of perverse antics we feel obligated to protect ourselves from them.

Those who have made the bold decision to frequent the streets of Vancouver during the course of the Olympics, will be reminded of the $900-million security budget which has to be paid to keep people like me and you as prisoners so that we do not voice our opinions too stridently in the wrong direction. I hope, however, to be one of those who proudly speaks out for people who are too timid of what consequences may arise. Freedom of

speech applies not only to those opinions against which we can raise no objection, but also, and more importantly, as a test of one's tolerance, to those opinions which challenge our own assumptions.

Thanks to all of you for presenting the best "newsworthiness" I have yet to encounter.

Regards, Damian, 22.

18

Vancouver

''-

%%

'

$()'* )%'

%*$

"$ " )*' ' &) $ + '( )- % " ')

%%! &' + ) -&$%) ' &- ( (( %$ ''- %% ,) -&$%) ( ,

) # "-

$

#$ $%$ & )! $ " !) #$ )! $ " !) $" ##" %"# ($ # & )! $ " !) (! " $% $# $# " )! $ #$ #$ " )! $ #$

"# &

$ "

!

%"# !" & $ & ") !" # & %"" % % # ) ) "# ! # #' " ' $ % #$ )! $ " ! #$ "$ $

Hypnotherapy

By Sherry M. Hood M.H., C.CHt.

H

ypnotherapy, as a form of complimentary therapeutic intervention, has a lot to offer to clientele and to the medical profession.

Hypnotherapy is often confused with hypnosis and each must be distinguished from the other. Hypnosis, by itself, is not a therapy or a treatment.

Hypnosis is a natural state, intrinsic to every human being. It is a state of focused attention and a heightening of the senses and concentration that allows a client to bring about desired change. Hypnosis is characterized by a slowing of the brain waves. This is a natural part of everyone’s day. For example, daydreaming or being absorbed in a book or movie creates a similar slower brain wave state as one might experience during hypnosis. Hypnosis can be formally induced by a Hypnotherapist.

Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapeutic intervention that utilizes deep relaxation to activate a client’s inner resources in order to facilitate behavioral, emotional or attitudinal change, to treat stress and anxiety, phobias, pain management, addictions, weight management, childbirth, promote healing, work through past events, beliefs, emotions and more.

Studies’ using functional MRI’s show that experiences suggested while in a hypnotic state is much different than an imagined experience. In other words, parts of the brain responding during hypnotherapy are the same as if the experience were actually taking place in a client’s waking state. For years, scientists knew that hypnotherapy worked, they just couldn’t explain exactly which mechanisms allowed this to happen. They knew that there was a slowing down of brain waves and a bypass of the conscious critical faculty while in hypnosis. Now they can look at the brain and see that while in hypnosis, the client does not differentiate between a real and an imagined experience. A good example to illustrate the power of the mind would be as follows; a hypnotherapist suggesting that their client is confident in social situations. They might take the client through a guided experience where he is meeting and talking with others in a social setting while feeling confident and in control. There may be a component of the session that takes the client back to the initial sensitizing event or root cause of the problem and then deals with releasing of past negative beliefs. Later, in a real social setting, he or she is able to meet the responsibilities in a much more relaxed and calm way. I have applied the same principles to prepare a pregnant woman for the birth of her child without stress or anx-

iety and have even assisted in very comfortable and enjoyable birthing experiences.

Nausea and vomiting (Hyperemesis gravidarum) is the most common medical condition in pregnancy. This usually resolves by the end of the first trimester but some women continue to have symptoms throughout their entire pregnancy. Hypnotherapy can act as a natural remedy for morning sickness as well as nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy treatment.

Hypnotherapy treatments lend themselves beautifully to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS attacks that are stress related can be reduced significantly. Pain relief through hypnotherapy is well documented and can have tremendous benefit to anyone suffering with IBS. Symptoms can be relieved and often, prevented altogether.

Many hypnotherapists work in the area of pain management. There are excellent studies that confirm and give evidence that hypnotic analgesia is effective for chronic pain management. Researchers can look beyond the peripheral nervous system to understand how humans perceive pain. Hypnotherapy treatment has a direct effect on activity in the central nervous system sites that are associated with pain. A skilled Hypnotherapist can facilitate effective hypnotherapy techniques to help the client alter his perception of pain and therefore empower the client so their quality of life may improve.

Hypnotherapy can assist clients facing invasive medical procedures and dental work and is especially helpful to anyone with dental anxiety. Recently, one of my hypnotherapy students bit into something and broke her tooth off at the root. The class was on their lunch break with about ten minutes left to go. This student had dental anxiety, so the fact that she broke her tooth was quite upsetting but the thought that she had to go to the dentist and undergo a procedure caused her extreme anxiety. I took my student into my office, did a rapid induction to hypnotize her and proceeded to facilitate the release of her fear and anxiety. We were able to use a technique called “anesthetic glove” to numb the area and decrease the pain. She was given an anchor that she could use by placing her forefinger and thumb together on her right hand if she felt any anxiety at all. Later that afternoon, my student phoned the school to tell us that she was completely relaxed, calm and free of pain. Throughout the long drive to her dentist, throughout the dental procedure and afterwards, she had no pain or discomfort. My student was thrilled with the outcome. This emergency hypnotherapy session was ten minutes at the most and had a very profound effect on my student.

Some hospitals have Hypnotherapists on staff helping patients with pre-surgical anxiety, post-surgical healing and hypnoanesthesia in surgical procedures, invasive treatments such as burn care, birth etc. Helpful assistance can be given to patients in the area of palliative care. A Hypnotherapist can be called in by family to assist a loved one with relaxation and comfort near the end of their life.

Children are particularly amenable to hypnotherapy.

Parents often seek the skills of a hypnotherapist to help a child endure medical procedures, injections, coping skills surrounding major illness, enuresis, nightmares, confidence, divorce, study and exam anxiety and more.

We have all known people that have been on a diet, lost a significant amount of weight only to gain it back again. This is because they have not removed the beliefs that tell them they are overweight. Hypnotherapy can work to release past negative ideas and concepts that are out of date or no longer useful to you. Hypnotherapy can address motivation to exercise, making healthy food choices, control cravings, help a client differentiate between physiological hunger and emotional hunger, increase water intake and help strengthen the client’s body image.

Considerable hypnotherapy work has been done in the area of addictions and in particular with smoking cessation.

If a client is ready to make a change, we can often help him become a non-smoker. I am currently involved in a study with The University of Alberta using my intensive single session smoking cessation intervention. Clients are followed up through an independent researcher working at the university. Preliminary data confirms a minimum 50% success rate at one year with no side effects and no weight gain.

Everyone can be hypnotized if they want to be, but the experience will be completely unique to every individual.

Depending on a client’s hypnotic assets, the experience may be visual, auditory, olfactory or kinesthetic or have a full sensory experience. Others may simply feel relaxed and focused during hypnosis. Not everyone that is hypnotized will be able to experience hypnotic analgesia but they will be able to benefit from hypnosis and hypnotherapy. A well trained Hypnotherapist will be able to assess a client’s level of hypnotic assets during the consultation session. It’s important to teach clients self hypnosis techniques that they can use on their own as well.

After many years in full time practice I recognized the need for a quality education facility to graduate individuals that are competent, confident and demonstrate excellence in this fascinating field. If you are interested in becoming a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, please contact The Pacific Institute of Advanced Hypnotherapy for more information.

Vancouver Poems

by

maitreyi: DeDicateD

19

to all the sen-

sitive souls who have haD their wings cliPPeD. Dialogue with my Loving Friend

Wings of Light

Oh You silly fool sitting up there

My wings are back growing

Why did you let them clip my wings?

They are growing wide

I know you always have a reason for such doings

Bigger and bigger, more filled with light

Ok this one better be good

One wave brings back focus

I called and exerted when I needed to be resting I tried flying when I needed to be nesting

Two brings in respite.

Be patient my love, I hear you say

Three to love and include

Breathe and be, even if you are in agony This too shall pass and the time will come When you shall grow the biggest wings You’ll see the pruning was to bring.

More shape, richness, beauty and flow On anyone else I could have let them grow But on you, my darling, my most precious, my favourite one, Oh no.

Like milk or baby teeth those wings had to go.

Hmmm I say…….hmm…hm..hm… OK…ok now. If YOU say so.

Yogacharini Maitreyi is a Practical Mystic who is creating conscious community world wide. She is a yoga guide originally from India and will be sharing the teachings each year in Vancouver during summers.

She will be facilitating short workshops, corporate consultations and workshops, teacher trainings as well as individual sessions.

Maitreyi9@hotmail.com

www.arkaya.net

Four to stand up for what is right The fifth wave clears restlessness And six makes me still and happy Oh so happy, so happy, so happy to be alive.

Seven to explore the inner garden And eat of its fruits Eight fills me with love and abundance and Nine to share with the world the truths

Scientists say dolphins should be treated as non-human persons PhysOrg.com is a leading web-based science, research and technology news service which covers a full range of topics.

Launched in 2004, PhysOrg’s readership has grown steadily to include 1.75 million scientists, researchers, and engineers every month. PhysOrg publishes approximately 100 quality articles every day, offering some of the most comprehensive coverage of sci-tech developments world-wide. Quancast 2009 includes PhysOrg in its list of the Global Top 2,000 Websites. You can find us at www.physorg.com

by Lin Edwards

T

he behavioral studies show dolphins (especially the bottlenose) have distinct personalities and self-awareness, and they can think about the future. Research has also confirmed dolphins have complex social structures, with individuals co-operating to solve difficult problems or to round up shoals of fish to eat, and with new behaviors being passed from one dolphin to another.

Several examples of learning being passed on to other individuals have been observed. In one case a rescued dolphin in South Australia, taught to tail-walk during recuperation, in turn taught the trick to other wild dolphins in the Port Adelaide river estuary when she was released. According to marine biologist Mike Bossley it was "like watching a dance craze take off", with the dolphins apparently learning the trick just for fun, since tail-walking has no natural function.

Work carried out by professor of psychology at the City University of New York, Diana Reiss, showed dolphins could recognize themselves in a mirror, and could use it to inspect other parts of their bodies, an ability previously only demonstrated in humans and a few animals such as apes, elephants and pigs. In another study Reiss was able to teach

captive dolphins a rudimentary language based on symbols.

In anatomical studies of the dolphin, zoologist Lori Marino and colleagues from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia in the US, used MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans to map the brains of dolphins and compare them with the brains of primates. She found the ratio of dolphin brain mass to body size to be second only to the human brain, which means dolphin brains are relatively larger than those of chimpanzees.

The neocortex and cerebral cortex of the bottlenose dolphins were particularly large and the cortex had similar convoluted folds to those found in human brains and strongly associated with intelligence. Cortical folds increase the volume of the cortex and its capacity for interconnections to form. Marino said the findings on brain anatomy and intelligence of dolphins mean we should reexamine the treatment of dolphins, especially when their treatment results in suffering.

Reiss and Marino say their behavioral and anatomical findings and our new understanding of dolphin intelligence mean it may not be ethical to keep dolphins in aquatic amusement parks for our entertainment, or to kill them for food. Around 300,000 whales, dolphins, and

porpoises die each year, with some being killed for food, such as the annual killing of thousands of dolphins and small whales in Taijii, Japan, or even to prove the manhood of those killing them, such as the slaughter of Calderon dolphins at Faroe Island, in Denmark.

Reiss and Marino will present their findings at a conference in San Diego, California next month. Also speaking at the conference will be professor of ethics and business at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Thomas White, who said the new research adds weight to his ideas that dolphins should be regarded as "non-human persons" with the right to be treated as individuals. White is the author of the book "In Defense of Dolphins". © 2009 PhysOrg.com

20

Vancouver

Ocean of Sound By Joseph 'Pepe' Danza

is an electrifying percussionist and multi- instrumentalist.

A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, he began classical guitar studies at age eight, and started his professional career at thirteen. He continued his studies in guitar as well as in piano, composition, music history and the physics of sound at the National Conservatory. All along he was naturally immersed in his native Candombe rhythms, the national groove of Uruguay and a fundamental element in the identity of all Uruguayans.

www.pepedanza.com

S

o… the proverbial shit has hit the fan. Festivals are going down… Artscan, the yearly audition for arts in the School System, is not happening this year for lack of funding… the government is cutting funding to the Arts to a tune of 80%. The great Olympics is not the boon to artists that we thought it would be... etc…

What is a ”regular Joe” to do?. Shrug the shoulders and say “that’s just how things are”?... Start a revolution?...

Go to the streets and make a noise?... Write a letter to who knows who?

Are music and the arts a luxury that has to necessarily go when things get tough?

I grew up in troubled times in South America, and learned early enough that the line between good guys and bad guys is very thin when the game is politics and power.

What if we changed the game altogether? Can the Arts be a political and social force capable of showing us new possibilities…? Can they bring us together to create a vision that will propel us into a world where partnership rather than domination is the ruling principle, where love rather than fear is the driving force?

I confess that I have never, since coming to Canada, voted. Why? I refuse to pretend that we live in a so called Democracy and I have a real choice. I’d love to see what would happen if we all stopped voting and said “we don’t play this game any more!”

When we get together to celebrate culture we are playing a different game. Documentaries such as “Rize” and “War Dance” are a powerful statement of how important Culture and the Arts are to our very survival, or, more accurately, the survival of our Spirit.

The true Revolution right now is to come into our full potential as human beings and heal the parts of ourselves that can be manipulated and dominated through

fear. The true Revolution is to create strong communities with shared values and alternative economies.

The artist carries the flagship, the power to heal and inspire, the power to magnetize community and create a New Myth. If for a moment we pretend that there is such thing as Dark Forces that intend to dominate the world, it is easy to see how their first target would be the Arts and Culture. That’s where the very Sprit and Voice of the people reside.

It’s so easy to stay home and watch a video… I do it all the time. But make sure that you stay awake and creative, and that you support those in the community that are bringing Light and Inspiration through the Arts.

Every dollar you spend is a vote you are casting.

The politicians won’t do it… we have to do it ourselves. It will take time and sweat. The Dominator/Patriarchal mode has been around for a long time and it won’t lose it’s hold easily, but a Big Change is happening as we speak… we can all feel it in our “guts”.

Ask the right questions and the answers will come… and in the meantime… celebrate and uphold our Mother Earth with Music, Song and Dance.

Cereal Junkies

by Thor Polukoshko

Vancouver

21

Vancouver Events “ T h e i r S p i r i t s L i v e W i t h i n U s ”: A n n u a l Wo m e n ’s M e m o r i a l M a r c h f o r M u r d e r e d a n d M i s s i n g Wo m e n At noon on February 14, 2010 we will gather at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver) where family members speak in remembrance. At 1 pm, the mar ch takes to the s tr eets and pr oceeds thr ough the D ow ntow n Eas ts ide, w ith s to ps to commemor ate w her e w omen w er e las t s een or f o und; s peeches by community activ is ts at the police station; a healing circle at Oppenheimer Park around 3 pm; and finally a community feast at the J apanes e Language H all.

Greenest Games?

Or Freeway Olympics?

The 2010 Winter Olympics have been branded the ‘Greenest Games,’ but the Games are linked to a massive Freeway Expansion scheme which is already boosting consumption of tar sands oil and funnelling dirty money into the pockets of the Olympic sponsors above.

The Olympic Sea-to-Sky highway expansion was not needed — the existing rail line and highway would have been sufficient. But Olympic insiders insisted on an $800 million freeway, deciding that a few minutes travel time for VIPs is worth increasing global warming and destroying wildlife habitat.

The Sea-to-Sky highway is only one part of a massive freeway-building binge in BC. Just two of the ‘Gateway Program’ freeways in Metro Vancouver (Highway 1/Port Mann and the proposed South Fraser Freeway) would cost about $5 billion. Freeways increase dependence on gas-guzzling cars and dirty tar sands oil, while siphoning billions away from transit, housing, health care, and other priorities.

Gateway is only partly funded, and the post Olympic financial mess will provide a unique opportunity bring it all down. IT’S NOT A DONE DEAL. OLYMPICS = TAR SANDS = GATEWAY = CLIMATE CRIME GatewaySucks.org calls on climate activists everywhere to take action on the Tar Sands Greenwash Olympics

Join GatewaySucks.org at the Take Back our City Festival, followed by a parade to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games.

Friday, February 12, 2010, 3pm Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia Street, between Howe and Hornby) More info at GatewaySucks.org

First Fridays at The Eldorado Presented by Legs 1st Friday of Every Month (FEb 5th) cheap cover & cheap beer.

Featuring: WHITE LUNG NU SENSAE BLACK WIZARD Doors at 9 5 buck cover

22

National

Practically Speaking: There is Practically Nothing Left of Our Rights Winnipeg-born Dee Nicholson describes herself as a “Truth Seeker". She takes pride in her special ability to see through propaganda and paradigms, and wields her pen like a sword for our rights as Canadians and part of the human family.

The author of two books, she is a degreed metaphysician, Reiki Master, and life coach, as well as an activist for human rights, especially the right to choose our food, medicine, and health care.

Today finds Dee delving into the real nature of the health care system world-wide, and exposing the fist of controls tightening around our health freedoms, notably through the World Health Organization’s Codex Alimentarius Committee.

She was one of the first in the health freedom movement to point to Canada’s expanding loss of sovereignty and ultimate vulnerability to regulations set by foreign, unelected committees of her trade group memberships.

Dee is the National Director of Communication for Freedom in Canadian Health Care, which is a charter group member of Canadians for Health Freedom (www.canadiansforhealthfreedom.org). She is a frequent blogger on the site, offering commentary on a wide range of topics.

S

everal “muses” played a part in writing this, my humble opinion: a bill (C-6) that overtly threatened our rights; a dictatorial Prime Minister sending Parliament on a forced vacation; and the Minister of Justice, the Honorable Rob Nicholson, to whom I am, thankfully, not related.

Each one of them stirred a few brain cells into activity, making some dust fly, and concurrently reminding me that these thoughts are not in the day-to-day dimension of the average Canadian. More’s the pity.

I received the following note from a friend, who got it from a friend, who seems to be wise beyond the norm, in that she points out that even the astute among us, who have trimmed the wool from our eyes, are having difficulty seeing all the way to the big picture: "Today in Haiti they called 12000 US troops an occupation. The stories of violence are marketed, not true. Yet we will have that many troops in Vancouver for the Olympics. And what do we call it? Hell, most people I speak with do not even know they voted for it. All these scares keep us busy, researching, debunking. Yet their real game is to keep us so busy debunking we do not research or even conceive of what they are really up to."

to let them steer the ship of state, unsupervised, for a term of several years, and having voted, go back to their nuclear lives saying, “Its the government’s problem, let them handle it. That’s what we pay them for.”

When you think about it, in practical terms, that is equivalent to handing the keys to a jet plane to a five-year-old, and telling Junior to ‘take her for a spin’. Seriously, what do we really know about the people we elect, beyond slick campaign speeches, a lot of glitz and glamour, Leona Aglukkaq, and that they must be ‘terrific’ people, because their brochure said they were? Or because they Canadian Health Minister happen to be endorsed by the right party? What knowledge do we really have of the inner workrights be defended, and they actually performed their job, ings of a candidate, what makes him tick, and what he which is to give “sober, second thought” to all legislation might do if he thought nobody was watching? What, in put forth by the Lower House, and to ensure that it does not fact, beyond the dog-and-pony show of politicking, and offend the Constitution or the Charter of Rights and Freethe very expensively-designed and rigorously-enforced doms. party talking points, do we really know? How can we be Leading the charge were feisty Alberta Senator Tommy so casual about the governing of our very lives?

Banks, along with Senators Jerry Grafstein, Joseph Day, Jim But I digress.

Munson, and George Furey, all Liberals, and Senator Elaine Let me assure you, the realization of how deep the McCoy, who is listed as a Conservative, but broke ranks to deception of ‘democracy’ has become, or indeed always defend our rights. “It seems to me that an operational probwas, had none of the flavor of a typical “Eureka!” molem should be solved operationally,” she said, cutting right ment; in fact it was, to me, the omen of more dark realto the chase. izations to come. All of these lead irrevocably to the same Elaine McCoy’s reasoning was that if all Health conclusion, that there is an unseen hand running this Canada wanted, by its proposal that it be given the right to planet, and it isn’t the least bit associated with Heaven. warrantless search and seizure, was to make sure they could

The first muse: Bill C-6

Joseph Goebbels As Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, once said: “How fortunate for the governors that the governed do not think!” Fortunate, indeed, I would say. Most people are under such a heavy burden of stress in their lives that they hand over the reins of government to people they could not possibly know well enough

The late, unlamented Bill C-6 was a real pip. Even more of a pip was the performance given by our Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, whose pleadings for her pet bill included the floating of the possibility of ‘dead babies’ stacking up, if the Senate did not pass C-6 unamended.

She put on an animated show for the media, wearing her oh–so-serious spectacles, and outdoing them in her demeanor.

The corporate media, ever the darling of the real governors of the world, the money masters, spewed Aglukkaq’s take on C-6 across headlines, while in back rooms, highly-paid toadies were couching those ubiquitous talking points in phrases guaranteed either to confuse or manipulate people into believing that there were no Constitutional violations in the Bill. Rather, Aglukkaq insisted, the stated purpose of this legislation was to protect the Canadian public from things like badly-designed baby seats and toxic toy products, and save Canadian lives. For that purpose, she whined, her demonstrably overzealous agency needed overreaching authority, like warrantless search and seizure, denial of due process of law, and the administration of this kangaroo court process to be determined at ministerial discretion, for a start.

Here’s where it got interesting.

While the corporate media fell totally under the charms of the horn-rimmed Minister of Health, and dutifully parroted her claims of Bill C-6 being for the good of the Canadian people (pardon me while I upchuck), the Liberal-dominated Senate of Canada was fighting hard to enforce the Constitution. They pointed out the thousands upon thousands of letters they had received from Canadians across the land, from people demanding that their

get immediate access to a warrant, why were they not simply

The corporate media, ever the darling of the real governors of the world, the money masters, spewed Aglukkaq’s take on C-6 across headlines, while in back rooms, highly-paid toadies were couching those ubiquitous talking points in phrases guaranteed either to confuse or manipulate people into believing that there were noConstitutional violations in the Bill.

looking into ways of expediting the process?

Perhaps it was the requirement that an Affidavit, delineating and supporting the probability that a search is reasonable, be presented to a judge; considering the fact that Health Canada has a hair trigger, the inconvenience of having to validate the ministry’s concerns in a legal document must have been anything but minor! Good heavens, what if Continued on next page

Continued from previous page Health Canada were prevented from going after those dastardly vitamin-traffickers, who might do a midnight flit, unless armed officers could burst in on them with the element of surprise?

(Read the story of the guns-drawn Health Canada raid on Dr. Eldon Dahl and his entire family in Agora, Dec.23rd, 2009) It is important to note one critical fact: Bill C-6 had passed the three readings of Parliament unanimously. Unanimous votes don’t happen by accident, they happen at the direction of the Leader. And while the Senate appears to have an arm’s-length relationship with the Prime Minister and the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, they tend to be loyal to the party that appointed them: gratitude for a really good job that you can do until you’re 75, with all kinds of perks and a pension that rivals those in the corporate domain, must run deep.

So, while Leona Aglukkaq and other big-cheese Conservatives were slamming the Liberal Senate majority for “stonewalling” Conservative legislation for no other reason other than that they could, and asserting that they were ramming an insult up the Prime Minister’s nose at the expense of the ‘safety’ of Canadians, in effect, the entire Liberal Senate Caucus was breaking ranks with Michael Ignatieff, because his Parliamentary caucus voted unanimously to pass C-6 with its Constitutional violations intact!

Ignatieff’s ‘arm’s length’ relationship with his Senate caucus appeared cut off at the wrist.

That means the Senators were doing their job, while the leader of their own party would not do his, protecting and defending the Constitution and the rights of all Canadians. By amending Bill C-6 in such a way as to resolve most of the Constitutional issues in its language, the Senate forced the Bill back to Parliament, to start all over again --- this time to face a barrage from health freedom advocates and their fired-up hordes of angry Canadian consumers of natural health products and their right to sell them and consume them, the moment they got back from Christmas vacation.

One thing the Senate missed, however, was the clause that I believe to have been the most dangerous to all our freedoms. In Sections 2 and 14 there lurked language making Canadians subject to the dictates of unidentified foreign authorities. Stunningly, this language generated not a peep out of either of the Houses of Parliament!

In case you haven’t thought about that, consider this: how many trade groups does Canada belong to? How many international agreements does our government sign, most without the slightest murmur in the mainstream media, while those which do garner some attention are suitably prettiedup for public consumption?

All those international agreements, according to the World Trade Organization, are actually binding contracts, and they have us by the short hairs on that: we can withdraw from our affiliations, but we lose the “benefits of participating in the group”. Canada has one vote at that table, and there are over 190 other guys sitting down with ours. They aren’t Canadian. They might not have anything against us,

“

One thing the Senate missed, however, was the clause that I believe to have been the most dangerous to all our freedoms. In Sections 2 and 14 there lurked language making Canadians subject to the dictates of unidentified foreign authorities.

Stunningly, this language generated not a peep out of either of the Houses of Parliament!

”

but they vote on behalf of their own country, not Canada.

One vote. Over 190 foreigners. So much for sovereignty.

Ah, but what about those pesky rights of ours? How does a Prime Minister make the people swallow the dictates of foreign authorities, when under their Constitution, they have the right to, say, refuse a vaccination that has been made mandatory, against Canadian law, because the WHO says they have to roll up their sleeves?

You do see the problem, don’t you? And do you now

National understand the probable cause for Leona Aglukkaq’s being so serious about C-6?

Personally, I am not often given to flights of fancy, and take some pride in my objectivity. Mr. Harper and Ms. Aglukkaq would no doubt say they wondered what I’d been smoking, but that’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it. I just figure that one clause, the one nobody wanted to talk about, like the elephant in the drawing room, had to be important. And gee whiz, look what it could do to our right to be Canadian!

There was way too much emphasis on C-6 for me to believe that all this hoo-hah was over a product safety bill.

Health Canada used all the propaganda tricks in the book: they passionately described C-6 like a glowing panacea for all their problems in protecting the lives and safety of Canadians, then blithely dismissed the loud demands of scads of Canadians by saying, “We do not feel the bill violates the Constitution”, and calling activists “conspiracy theorists”. Then they brought out the big guns in a desperate last gasp: a warning from Leona Aglukkaq that they shouldn’t amend Bill C-6’s Constitutional violations, because a whole bunch of babies would die.

The Senate still lobbed the bill back to Parliament substantially changed, leaving Aglukkaq in a disempowered huff and Harper without his loophole to avoid abiding by our rights as Canadians, as well as stuck with an obstinate Liberal majority in the Senate.

The second muse: Pass the prorogation, please A rather sticky wicket for the besieged Stephen Harper, who had his feet to the fire over the Afghan detainee torture issue, and was floundering in the polls, buoyed only by the relative ineffectiveness of the saturnine Michael Ignatieff. The ultimate fate of Bill C-6, I believe, became a driving force behind the second muse, the prorogation of Parliament until March 3rd.

You have to understand, when I read stuff in the paper, I immediately go in the other direction to see what I might find. In this case, I looked at what had befallen C6, and the options left to Stephen “Not-me!” Harper, and it turned out that prorogation did a huge favor to Harper that nobody seemed to be saying much about.

Michael Ignatieff and Jack Layton were both howling about what a coward Harper was, “running away from criticism” and “hoping Canadians would forget” the specter of torture haunting the halls of power, while “stacking the Senate with new appointees”. Harper, while getting outfitted for his trip to the Olympics, lobbed back that “Canadians don’t care much about torture”, a rather insulting retort which somewhat ensured a shortened lifespan for his troubled minority. He shamelessly admitted he’d be appointing new Conservative Senators. And back and forth it went.

Prorogation allowed him an option that nobody, but nobody, expanded upon, but which to my mind was the lynch pin to what was going on: the re-striking of all Committees in the Senate, which was only possible with prorogation -- or an election. Bill C-6 had been the flag, the cherry on the fruitcake, that pointed up the Conservatives’ inability to get legislation through the Senate, while it had a Liberal majority. He could fix the overall majority problem simply by appointing a few more Conservative Senators. But that Liberal majority would still hold in the Senate Standing Committees, and unless it, too, were wiped out, Harper would face this sort of opposition again, as he pressed his agenda of putting holes in our Constitution.

That would mean a couple of things: First, as long as Harper could finagle his way through the minority problem in the House (and we all know that’s a sham, at best, and a purposeful fraud, at worst), he could guarantee that his legislation would pass through the Senate relatively easily.

Second, even if an election were to be forced upon him by

23

non-confidence vote, and he wound up in Opposition, he could still rule from Stornoway, by controlling the Conservative caucus in the Senate.

The third muse: The Justice Minister “limits” our rights All of these realizations came before the holidays, and just as I thought I could take a breather, along came an email from the Justice Minister, Rob Nicholson, who was belatedly (very) replying to a letter I had emailed him last year, demanding to know how it was that he, as a lawyer, didn’t spot

Justice Minister, Rob Nicholson the overt constitutional violations in C-6, and cut it off at the pass.

Not only was I insulted that he had taken so long to respond that the Bill was dead and buried already, but he actually had the cojones to write this: “At the outset, I would like to emphasize that the obligation to ensure all federal government legislation, regulations, policies, and activities conform with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is one that the Department of Justice Canada takes very seriously. With regard to legislation, prior to the tabling of all bills in Parliament, my departmental officials review the proposed legislation for consistency with the Charter. As Minister of Justice, I am required under section 4.1 of the Department of Justice Act to report any inconsistencies with the Charter to the House of Commons. I would like to assure you that this process is completed for all tabled bills, including Bill C-6.”

Well, that didn’t exactly answer my concerns. It was merely a long version of the talking point letters I got back from Ignatieff and Layton: “We do not believe there are any constitutional violations in Bill C-6”. And it was a cop-out, to write his job description, without responding to how I was accusing him of not doing it.

But then he really threw me for a loop, with this: “It should be noted, however, that the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Charter are not absolute and are subject to limitations under section 1 of the Charter, including reasonable limits prescribed by law that are demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society.”

I immediately bristled like a pissed-off pit bull, as our Minister of Justice, after outlining what he ostensibly does for a living, has the audacity to put himself and his cronies above the law, which happens to state that any legislation which derogates, diminishes, or limits our stated rights in any way is “of no force or effect” – and which is exactly what I had said to him in my first email!

Say what? “The rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Charter are not absolute and are subject to limitations”???

Did you read what he just said? This is the Minister of what?

And can you now see the agenda unfolding, as they chip away, and reinterpret, and manipulate, at all of the rights that make Canada Canadian?

Tell you what, Mr. Justice Minister, we’re not finished this debate. It encompasses the core of what is happening all over the world, and it’s represented in far too much legislation, with hidden clauses that excoriate our rights as though they never existed (and there are many who assert that they didn’t), and secure foreign control over our so-called “free” country.

We’ve all seen the erosion of liberty traded stupidly as a “put option” against our security, and now are being forced to be viewed naked by strangers in airports in order to use our right of free passage. Now we see that behind all this is an agenda that removes the rights of nationals in favor of “foreign authorities”, with the collusion of our own government, under cover of a political power struggle.

“It's fascinating just how similar are the problems that we both have - you in America and we here in Europe. The same lies, the same cheating, the same scams, and all about the same things...We're running along parallel lines here,” said Bloom, referring to the rise of supra-national governance, the police state and the various tax & control scams, like global warming and the swine flu. ~ Godfrey Bloom, UK Independence Party Member of European Parliament Welcome to the precursor of world governance, folks.

24

National

Beverly McLachlin Who? An open letter to the Harper Talks Stability at Prime Minister of Canada The World Economic Forum

by Betty Krawczyk

I

‘m beginning to wonder. Is the Madam Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin who has just recently in writing for the Supreme Court in a landmark case involving freedom of the press said that: “Freewheeling matters of public interest is to be encouraged�, and that writers and bloggers who do a form of reporting should be protected by law, the same Madam Justice Beverly McLachlin I know intimately just from hearing her rulings on criminal contempt read ad nauseam in court just before I’m sent to prison? Is this the same Madam Justice McLachlin , ex-Chief Justice British Columbia , who ruled that a public protest in defiance of a court order is a criminal matter simply because it is public?

Yes, It is indeed one and the same.

I run smack up against this ruling by Madame Justice McLachlin every time I’m in court for trying to help protect the last scrap of some forest somewhere in British Columbia. This ruling defined by madam Justice McLachlin is called “Open, Continuous, and Flagrant.� It means that because one talked publically to the press and other media about the environmental destruction one is, or was, protesting, this action has brought the court into disrepute. Then an accused’s civil charges get raised to criminal charges.

Just for talking. To thepress and other media. And for writing what one thinks about the environmental destruction under dispute (the last was Eagleridge Bluffs.) For all these sins one is tried as a criminal in BC, judged as a criminal, and sentenced to the place where other criminals are kept for lengthy periods of time. And yet this same justice who has risen to be Chief Justice of Canada now appears as a defender of freedom of expression in an unanimous Supreme Court of Canada ruling.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m certainly not complaining.

It’s long over due. But shouldn’t some of this reasonable understanding of the need for an unfettered press slop over onto the heads of citizens in environmental disputes? Of those who get charged with breaking a court order which initially merits civil contempt of court which is bad enough, but then in the attempt to explain the situation to the press and to the world the court and the Crown conspire (or seem to) to make one the accused criminals?

This recent land mark ruling of The Supreme Court of Canada reminds me of an old hymn my mother used to sing: “Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need, mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead�.

I, personally, with all due respect, am pleading for a few Supreme Court of Canada showers instead of a few mercy drops. Can you hear me, Madam Chief Justice McLachlin?

by Jeremy Arney

by Bruce Sprigsteen

T

here has been much talk of you wishing to take time off to give you a chance to get control of the Senate, and therefore add another "yes sir" body to your collection. This is of course only one of the reasons you want to "reset" yet another dysfunctional parliament under your control.

Has it not yet occurred to you that maybe you are the reason for this dysfunction?

"Harper has long criticized Liberal senators for holding up his party's agenda, particularly on crime and Senate reform, and said he needs control in the Senate".

Mia Rabson. Winnipeg Free Press Jan 9th 2010 Well Mr Harper, this doesn't seem to be backed up by the facts.

During the 40th Government you have just prorogued so conveniently for yourself these are the facts.

Of the Bills which were presented to the Senate: 29 were passed and therefore have received Royal Assent and are now law.

2 were in committee stage, 1 was in first reading.

1 and only 1, Bill C-6, which was probably the most anti Canadian legislation attempted by any Prime Minister at any time in our history, was amended and sent back to the Commons for further reconsideration.

This information came from the Government of Canada website and was easy to obtain so maybe you should consider these numbers for yourself before you declare our Senate to be obstructionists.

Jeremy Arney 8381 West Saanich Road, Saanicton, BC V8M 1S5 CAP candidate for Saanich -Gulf Island 2008

O

n Thursday January 28th, at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland Steven Harper outlined the agenda for the G8 and G20 meetings to be held in Ontario in the summer.

He wants the meetings to focus on following through on past agreements on economic co-operation. Speaking about the Group of 20 countries, Harper praised the agreements reached at earlier summits in Pittsburgh, Washington and London to promote economic stability after the global financial crisis.

"But an agreement to act is just a start," Harper said. "It is acting on the agreement that matters."

When the G20 meets again in Toronto, he said, the discussion should be less about new agreements than accountability for existing ones.

Harper also praised Canada's financial and banking system, adding that his country will encourage stronger financial-sector regulation and improved coordination among regulators.

"But Canada will not go down the path of excessive, arbitrary or punitive regulation of its financial sector," he told the audience.

Harper also put forward ways that the Group of 8 industrialized countries can contribute to global peace and security: notably by fighting terrorism, piracy, climate change and nuclear proliferation.

The prime minister also said that as host of the G8, "Canada will champion a major initiative to improve the health of women and children in the world's most vulnerable regions.�

“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.�

-Voltaire

Blog: http://bettysearlyedition.blogspot.com Books: www.schiverrhodespublishing.com

SMART IS SEX Y

4JMJDPOF 7JCSBUPST t -VCFT t %7% T t 4FOTVBM (JGUT $POEPNT t #PPLT t 1SJWBUF #BUDIFMPSFUUF 1BSUJFT S E M I N A R S – Register online Burlesque Teaser Nude Photography

JanFeb 242

Anal Play -FREE Better Sex Yoga JanFeb 253

G-Spot - FREE Creative Kissing Jan 26 Feb 12-14

ALWAYS ORGANIC

• Rare Oolong, Pu-erh, White & Yellow Teas • Ginseng • Gojiberries • Ginkgo • Rose Buds • Star Anise 100% CANADIANOWNED & OPERATED 778-737-3456 VANCOUVER, BC

TASTY TEAS

• Iron Goddess of Mercy • Premium Matcha • Dragon Well • Kukicha • Black Ceylon • Chai • More Than 50 in Total

Make Her Moan FebHead 1 Giving Good 17 Burlesque Feb Strip Feb 2

Call us to X HOST A SE !

TOY PART Y

Tantric Massage on Women Better Sex Yoga Feb 22

Feb 3

Creative Kissing The Power of Pussy - Free FebFeb12 23

the art of lov ing 1819 W.5th & Burrard 604.742.9988 www.artofloving.ca

www.TIOTH.ca www.TurtleIslandOrganicTeasAndHerbs.com &%"25!29

National

25

I­­T'S­EXPENSIVE!­IT'S­NO­FUN!­WHY­ME?!­ME!­ME!­ME!

by Boyd Adams BA162171294@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/boydadams

W

ell, here we are again. We have more refugees to care for, and sure, some of them are refugee children. They have various reasons (usually VERY good) for being refugees to begin with.

Some are survivors of domestic abuse who have been denied police protection in their country of origin. Some are courageous souls who have refused to commit war crimes and are seeking protection against pressed service in the armies of third-world regimes. Some are from countries that are simply not fit for decent and honest people to live in. All have their own experiences.

I had mine as well. I think it is important for the reader to understand how I came to be a staff columnist for a newspaper in Vancouver, having never actually set a foot inside mainland Canada. There is a very heartbreaking and rather disgusting explanation for this state of affairs. It may seem odd to the average Canadian that I specialize in Canadian federal politics and have such a deep and ingrained knowledge of the Canadian way of life, having never had the precious privilege of living with our dear Canadians and enjoying the company of such marvelously intelligent people on a constant face-to-face basis. Okay, so "those people" are "weird". That is what we think of a lot of the southern neighbors, so too bad. But to avoid getting too immersed in cultural comparisons, I will explain my personal reasons for my having been fed up with the spoiled rotten Canucks out there who see people struggling for survival due to their plight (at little or no fault of their own) and whine my ears sore about how it will "cost too much" or be "bad for us" in some way.

As to how "bad for us" this can actually get, let us examine the social consequences of sending the American refugee children back to the United States to be put into government child "care". What do they face when ripped away from their loving Canadian teachers who must pass strict competency and criminal background exams in order to hire on? How about when they are shoved into the "education" system as it is 'down south' after being cultured to an imperfect (but nothing like the United States) society of mostly reasonable and stable-minded people?

Let us examine what these defenseless little gifts from heaven face... I was a terrified young boy with no way out.

My mother had grown up in a very backward area of the United States. Because of the way this chauvinist and poorly educated bigot culture treats women and girls, my mother (a single mom in a pool of sharks) developed very low self-esteem and a really dangerous tendency to put on the "strong woman" front for the sharks when she had neither the cards to win nor the chips to lose. Of course, this was not her fault. This is just the product of an intentional disparity in education and earning power which is purposely kept in cycle by an ingenious male-dominated subjugation system.

When I was fifteen years old I had been (and was still being) severely sexually abused by the pedophiles (not individuals - teams 'looking out' for each other) who have inundated the compulsory public schools to saturation levels.

And yes, it did involve intercourse and severe sexual battery (euphemistically referred to in the United States as "paddling", which is STILL LEGAL there) to the point of my having difficulty walking as well as bruises for almost two weeks AT THE AGE OF SIX. Not to mention, of course, the healed rectal scarring discovered some time later by two medical examiners. In case you are wondering, yes they were caught. They were also caught with a twelve year old girl. They BARELY got out of it by emphasizing that it was a "restrained body cavity strip search" which was "necessary" since the girl was "thought to have stolen a dollar".

THESE were my 'caretakers' from the age of six to sixteen. And YES, they STILL work there (in a government job at a government school). And YES, they STILL use "corporal punishment" by means of the "paddle", which was originally designed by a slave owner for use on slaves. And YES, that is STILL LEGAL in the United States.

So where did this involve Canadians? Well, it did not. Not until I joined Amnesty International and became a donor to Covenant House at the age of fifteen with money I earned doing various lawn and labour work. I suppose that being treated like a piece of meat can give a young fellow a real drive to work against that type of thing. Fortunately, I began to meet some very kind and good-hearted people who did NOT approve of what was going on with me. A very few were (admittedly) Americans. A few were Dutch, and the majority were - you guessed it - Canadians.

I was a terrified young boy with no way out. My mother had grown up in a very backward area of the United States (which is like saying the round area of a circle). Because of the way this chauvinist and poorly educated bigot culture treats women and girls, my mother (a single mom in a pool of sharks) developed very low self-esteem and a really dangerous tendency to put on the "strong woman" front for the sharks when she had neither the cards to win nor the chips to lose.

Of course, this was not her fault.

This is just the product of an intentional disparity in education and earning power which is purposely kept in cycle by an ingenious male-dominated subjugation system.

This is when the REAL trouble began. You see, the moment that I chose to "mess around with" those "dangerous foreigners," my "poor behavior" really deteriorated. I began to ask questions about laws and the courts.

I even took on a second job with the intent to hire an attorney and sue to be released from compulsory school attendance for my safety. Of course "talking to foreigners" about "running off" was bad enough, but then I actually asked for an attorney. MORTAL SIN. The good thing for me was, the only people I had been "loved on" by were the persons who spent years in university and piles of money to work with children and teenagers who would go to jail if they did not show up to be groped. The mayor was very impressed that I volunteered to help the elderly during an ice storm and refused money. I even had friends who were city police. A city police officer had even attempted to investigate the school earlier on, so they were not the problem. The problem was EVERYONE ABOVE THEM. I would have "been alright" if I had just been able to "get over it" every time the school principle decided to terrorize me for sitting at the lunch table and mysteriously crying my eyes out after I had been with one of his friends. Or maybe if I had not been seen after school with that nice female teacher, Miss Wortham, who became mother goose and expressed a genuine concern for my well-being. Too bad she became the object of vicious sex rumors which WERE NOT

STARTED BY STUDENTS. I sure miss her. She is the reason that I have the necessary skills to be a newspaper columnist today. [There are still some VERY good Americans out there, of course]. I love you, Miss Wortham, wherever you are. If you read this, I cannot say THANK YOU in words.

And of course there was Mister Pratt. He was a good soul. Thanks to him, I scored 800 of 800 on the high school equivalency science test. Too bad I was not so terrified of him that I could not pay attention. I think that the "good old boys" noticed the fact that I was NOT terrified of Mister Pratt. He was a soft-spoken, easy-going young fellow.

Well-educated and sociable, always trying to be more of a pal to his students than an authority figure. Too bad I did not fake a strong aversion to his presence and look frightened when he was around. Maybe then he would not have been asked to "find another job" because it was "not appropriate" that he drove a motorcycle to school. At least they did not come out and openly admit that my relaxed demeanor toward him and his professional appearance caused them to look at him and immediately think "OH NO - FEDERAL COP".

For the purpose of protecting the few innocent from the numerous guilty, I will only name these two great people among the 'Americans who do not make me want to vomit' list. I just had to recognize a hero and an angel, so this whole mess would not seem to involve EVERY Yank in that sad part of their decrepit country.

So what is the point? To be perfectly frank, the moral of the previous elongated saga is that if we send these children back to the United States they will no longer be in Toronto schools. Not that Toronto schools have never had a child molester. Certainly. Vancouver, Toronto, Fredericton, Edmonton, Regina, they all have some problems (serious at times). Of course there have been times that 200 qualified teachers may have found it necessary to go on the patrol to search out a molester or two. The difference is that in the United States school districts, you will have 50 well-connected molesters on patrol looking for 8 qualified teachers.

And then this is what you have when you give heartless people a free ticket to administer excruciating and merciless "paddle" beatings at random to any child or teenager who decides to refuse their sexual advances. It worked on the female slaves, and it works just as well to "correct" the "behavior" of non consensual child sex objects in the schools. This is the state of an "education" system which generally views children as inherently bad and in need of "fixing".

So how does this pertain to my assertion that Canadians sitting at the PlayStation and moaning about their beer money going to "some refugee kid" makes me want to slap a Canadian? The reason that this pertains to my current disdain for such "Canadians" is that long before I was a columnist for this newspaper, and long before I ever dared a 'tough guy' to try and get through us to get at "some refugee kid", I myself was "some refugee kid". I never made it home.

Very few people can tell you, with pinpoint accuracy and from a ground-level perspective, how these children will be "corrected" for their love of the "igloo people" whom supposedly "do not wear shoes". You would be hard-pressed to search out a better source of viable and confirmed information on EXACTLY how these children will be treated by GOVERNMENT employees over here (with the blessing of the government) if they are sent back from "igloo land".

So next time you see a United States refugee with their child, look into the child's eyes before you make a decision on your beer money or those new designer trousers. I have four pants myself, and I do not seem to run out before I have some washed. Maybe I drink the cheap Yank tea instead of the high dollar Brit stuff. When I think of one of the precious little ones whose safety has been entrusted to us (by whatever god is out there watching)possibly sitting in a puddle of tears or facing a heartless child abuser, the quality difference is not so bad after all. And I really do not need new trousers. Nor socks, nor shirts for that matter.

This brings up another point. I have heard people (Americans and us as well) say that they "love" their new television. An old mate once told me that he "loves" his truck. I would personally "like" to have more than one pair of boots to wear. Even if I could afford to get the best on the market, however, the fact remains that these boots cannot "love" me. Of course Canada did.

I love you, Canada. Now go love them.

26

World

Haiti: An Unwelcome Katrina Redux Cynthia Ann McKinney is a U.S. politician and a member of the Green Party since 2007. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served six terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives. In 2008, the Green Party nominated McKinney for president of the United States. She is the first African-American woman to have represented Georgia in the House.

P

resident Obama's response to the tragedy in Haiti has been robust in military deployment and puny in what the Haitians need most: food; first responders and specialized equipment; doctors and medical facilities; and engineers, heavy equipment, and heavy movers.

Sadly, President Obama is dispatching former presidents Bush and Clinton, and thousands of marines and US soldiers. By contrast, Cuba has more than 400 doctors on the ground and is sending in more; Argentinians, Icelanders, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, and many others are already on the ground working, saving lives and treating the injured. Senegal has offered land to Haitians willing to relocate to Africa.

The United States, on the day after the tragedy struck, confirmed that an entire marine expeditionary force was being considered "to help restore order," when the "disorder" had been caused by an earthquake striking Haiti, as they had done in 1751, 1770, 1842, 1860, and 1887.

But, I remember the bogus reports of chaos and violence the led to the deployment of military assets, including Blackwater, in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. One Katrina survivor noted that the people needed food and shelter and the US government sent men with guns. Much to my disquiet, it seems, here we go again. From the very beginning, US assistance to Haiti has looked to me more like an invasion than a humanitarian relief operation.

On Day Two of the tragedy, a C-130 plane with a military assessment team landed in Haiti. The stated purpose of this team was to determine what military resources were needed.

An air force special operations team was to provide air traffic control. Now, the reports are that the US was not allowing assistance in, shades of Hurricane Katrina,

“

the unexplained continued occupation of the country by united nations troops who have killed innocent haitians and are hardly there for "security" (i've personally seen them on the roads that only lead to haiti's sparsely-populated areas teeming with beautiful beaches)

”

cumstances and big business interests of that era made the all over again. On President Obama's orders military decision to keep Haitian oil in reserve for when Middle aircraft "flew over the island, mapping the destruction."

Eastern oil had dried up. This is detailed by Dr. Georges So, the first US contribution to the humanitarian relief Michel in an article dated March 27, 2004 outlining the needed in Haiti were reconnaissance drones whose history of oil explorations and oil reserves in Haiti and in staffing are more accustomed to looking for hidden the research of Dr. Ginette and Daniel Mathurin. weapon sites and surface-to-air missile batteries than "There is also good evidence that these very same wrecked infrastructure. big US oil companies and their inter-related monopolies The scope of the US response soon became clear: of engineering and defence contractors made plans, aircraft carrer, marine transport ship, four C-140 airdecades ago, to use Haiti's deep water ports either for oil lifts, and evacuations to Guantanamo. By the end of refineries or to develop oil tank farm sites or depots where Day Two, according to the Washington Post report, the crude oil could be stored and later transferred to small United States had evacuated to Guantanamo Bay about tankers to serve US and Caribbean ports. This is detailed eight severely injured patients, in addition to US Emin a paper about the Dunn Plantation at Fort Liberte in bassy staffers, who had been "designated as priorities Haiti. by the US ambassador and his staff."

On Day Three we learned that other US ships, including destroyers, were moving toward Haiti. Interestingly, the Washington Post reported that the standing task force that coordinates the US response to mass migration events from Cuba or Haiti was monitoring events, but had not yet ramped up its operations. That tidbit was interesting in and of itself, that those two countries are attended to by a standing task force, but the treatment of their nationals is vastly different, with Cubans being President Obama's appointment of former President Bush to the awarded immediate acceptance from the Haiti relief effort is a swift left jab to the face, in my opinion. After US government, and by contrast, internBush's performance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the ment for Haitian nationals.

US Coast Guard Rear Admiral James fact that still today, Hurricane Katrina survivors who want to return Watson IV reassured Americans, "Our still have not been provided a way back home, the appointment might focus right now is to prevent that, and we augur well for fundraising activities, but I doubt that it bodes well for are going to work with the defence depart- the Haitian people. After all, the coup against and the kidnapping of ment, the ttate department, FEMA and all President Aristide occurred under the watch of a Bush Presidency. the agencies of the federal government to "Ezili's HLLN underlines these two papers on minimize the risk of Haitians who want to flee their Haiti's oil resources and the works of Dr. Ginette and country," Watson said. "We want to provide them those Daniel Mathurin in order to provide a view one will not relief supplies so they can live in Haiti." find in the mainstream media nor anywhere else as to the By the end of Day Four, the US reportedly had economic and strategic reasons the US has constructed its evacuated over 800 US nationals. fifth largest embassy in the world – fifth only besides the For those of us who have been following events US embassy in China, Iraq, Iran and Germany – in tiny in Haiti before the tragic earthquake, it is worth noting Haiti, post the 2004 Haiti Bush regime change." that several items have caused deep concern: Unfortunately, before the tragedy struck, and despite 1. The continued exile of Haiti's democraticallypleading to the Administration by Haiti activists inside elected and well-loved, yet twice-removed former the United States, President Obama failed to stop the depriest, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; portation of Haitians inside the United States and failed 2. The unexplained continued occupation of the to grant TPS, temporary protected status, to Haitians incountry by United Nations troops wthat have killed inside the US in peril of being deported due to visa expiranocent Haitians and are hardly there for "security" (I've tions. That was corrected on Day Three of Haiti's personally seen them on the roads that only lead to earthquake tragedy with the January 15, 2010 announceHaiti's sparsely-populated areas teeming with beautiful ment that Haiti would join Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, beaches); El Salvador, and Sudan as a country granted TPS by the 3. US construction of its fifth-largest embassy in secretary of Homeland Security. the world in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; President Obama's appointment of President Bush 4. Mining and port licences and contracts, includto the Haiti relief effort is a swift left jab to the face, in ing the privatization of Haiti's deep water ports, bemy opinion. After President Bush's performance in the afcause certain off-shore oil and transshipment termath of Hurricane Katrina and the fact that still today, arrangements would not be possible inside the US for Hurricane Katrina survivors who want to return still have environmental and other considerations; and not been provided a way back home, the appointment 5. Extensive foreign NGO presence in Haiti that might augur well for fundraising activities, but I doubt could be rendered unnecessary if, instead, appropriate that it bodes well for the Haitian people. Afterall, the coup US and other government policy allowed the Haitian against and the kidnapping of President Aristide occurred people some modicum of political and economic selfunder the watch of a Bush Presidency. determination.

Finally, those with an appreciation of French literaTherefore, we note here the writings of Marture know that among France's most beloved authors are guerite Laurent, whom I met in her capacity as attorney Alexandre Dumas, son of a Haitian slave, and Victor for ousted president of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Hugo who wrote: "Haiti est une lumiere." [Haiti is a Ms. Laurent reminds us of Haiti's offshore oil and other light.] Indeed, Haiti for millions is a light: light into the mineral riches and recent revival of an old idea to use methodology and evil of slavery; light into a successful Haiti and an oil refinery to be built there as a transshipslave rebellion, light into nationhood and notions of libment terminal for US supertankers. Ms. Laurent, also erty, the rights of man, and of human dignity. Haiti is a known as Ezili Danto of the Haitian Lawyers Leaderlight. And an example that makes the enemies of black ship Network (HLLN), writes: liberation tremble. It is precisely because of Haiti's light "There is evidence that the United States found oil in Haiti decades ago and due to the geopolitical cirContinued on next page

Continued from previous page into the evil genius of some individuals who wield power over others and man's ability, through unity and purpose, to overcome that evil, that some segments of the world have been at war with Haiti ever since 1804, the year of Haiti's creation as a republic.

I'm not surprised at "Reverend" Pat Robertson's racist vitriol. Robertson's comments mirror, exactly, statements made by Napoleon's cabinet when the Haitians defeated them. But in 2010, Robertson's statements reveal much more: Haitians are not the only ones who know their importance to the struggle against hatred, imperialism, and European domination.

This pesky, persistent, stubbornly non-Western, proudly African people of this piece of land that we call Haiti know their history and they know that they militarily defeated the ruling world empire of the day, Napoleon's France, and the global elite at that time who supported him. They know that they defeated the armies of England and Spain.

Haitians know that they used their status as a free state to help liberate Latin Americans from Spain, by funding and fighting alongside Simon Bolivar; their example inspired their still-enslaved African brothers and sisters on the American mainland; and before Haitians were even free, they fought against the British inside the US during its war of independence and won a decisive battle in Savannah, Georgia, where I have visited the statue commemorating that victory.

Haitians know that France imposed reparations on them for being free, and Haiti paid them in full, but that President Aristide called for France to give that money back ($21 billion in 2003 dollars).

Haitians know that their "brother," then-secretary of state Colin Powell lied to the world upon the kidnapping and second ouster of their president. (Sadly, it wouldn't be the last time that former secretary of ttate Colin Powell would lie to the world.) Haitians know, all-too-well, that high-ranking blacks in the United States are capable of helping them and of betraying them.

Haitians know, too, that the United States has installed its political proxies and even its own soldiers onto Haitian soil when the US felt it was necessary. All in an effort to control the indomitable Haitian spirit that directs much-needed light to the rest of the oppressed world.

While the tears of the people of Haiti swell in my own eyes, and I remember their tremendous capacity for love, my broken heart and wet eyes don't dampen my ability to understand the grave danger that now faces my friends in Haiti.

Haitians know, too, that the United States has installed its political proxies and even its own soldiers onto Haitian soil when the U.S. felt it was necessary.

All in an effort to control the indomitable Haitian spirit that directs muchneeded light to the rest of the oppressed world.

I shudder to think that the "rollback" policies believed in by some foreign policy advisors to President Obama could use a prolonged US military presence in Haiti as a springboard for rollback of areas in Latin America that have liberated themselves from US neo-colonial domination. I would hate to think that this would even be attempted under the presidency of Barack Obama. All of us must have our eyes wide open on Haiti and other parts of the world now dripping in blood as a result of the relentless onward march of the US military machine.

So, on this remembrance of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I note that it was the US government's own illegal Operation Lantern Spike that snuffed out the promise and light of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Every plane of humanitarian assistance that is turned away by the US military (so far from CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, MÊdecins Sans Frontieres, Brazil, France, Italy, and even the US Red Cross) – as was done in the wake of Hurricane Katrina – and the expected arrival on this very day of up to 10,000 US troops, are lasting reminders of the existential threat that now looms over the valiant, proud people and the Republic of Haiti.

World

27

Combining the tradition and wisdom of the ages with the science of modern technology to develop over 300 unprecedented products for Looking good and Feeling good!

get 25%

off retail prices on these and other products

Collodial Silver

herbal Teas

green Food Supplements

Minerals

Vitamins

Aerobic oxygen

Natural hygiene Products

good For You Canada Corp. is a family operated business and has been manufacturing and marketing health related products for nearly 30 years. Dr. randy Widmer (Doctor of Naturopathy) and President of the company has researched and formulated herbal supplements for good For You which now supplies over 200 different supplements to its members. Dr. Widmer has lectured on how to maintain good health and overcome disease in many countries throughout the world. good For You markets products in over 30 different countries. our unique products are of the highest quality possible.They are introduced within a three fold approach to superior health. This approach addresses the major concerns of our time: nutritional deficiency, cellular contamination and being overweight. The human body is a marvelous biological machine. It strives to maintain the fine balance of life despite the uses or abuses it is subjected to daily. our bodies have the same basic needs as a machine: maintenance, proper care and fuels.

Personal health is fundamental to our well being, because no machine will continue to run if constantly abused. We combine the best of both worlds.

By relying on the wisdom of the ages and the innovation of modern scientific technology, we have conceived a unique line of products to enhance the health of everyone. And as scientists and scholars have proven, lasting health is the framework for a happy and prosperous life.

Call Dan Merchant 778-828-8246 or email me at DanMerchant84@gmail.com Visit goodForYou.ca for a product catalogue.

28

World

Childhood Arthritis And vACCines Dr. Sherri Tenpenny is the President and Ceo of osteomed ii, a multi-discipline specialized medical clinic in Cleveland, ohio. her expertise includes women’s health, chronic pain relief and a unique method for asthma and allergy relief. Patients from 38 states and 9 countries have regained their health through integrative medicine and methods applied at her clinic.

Dr. Tenpenny was board certified in emergency medicine through 2005 and is currently board certified in osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine. her many skills include being an entrepreneur, an international business consultant, a published author, and a professional speaker. She is a member of many advisory boards, including the global medical Tourism Association. She is also a polished and experienced spokesperson on national radio and television.

As one of the most knowledgeable and outspoken physicians on the complexities of vaccination, she is known for her ability to present scientifically researched, complex information to audiences of all back-grounds. her websites are www.DrTenpenny.com , www.PandemicFluonline.com and her clinic at www.osteomed2.com

A

rthritis is afflicting more children than ever before. Defined as inflammation of a joint, arthritis causes pain, swelling, and stiffness that can interfere with daily functions. The most common form, osteoarthritis generally appears with age. But the most debilitating form, rheumatoid arthritis, can occur at any age, including very young children. Causes can include infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances and vaccinations.

Unpublished data from a study released June, 2007 and conducted jointly by the American College of Rheumatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics, estimated that nearly 300,000 children in the United States have significant arthritis. Dr. Brian Feldman, chief of the arthritis program at the Bloorview MacMillan Children's Center in Toronto states that this number is “probably an underestimate” since it only takes into account those children who have actually been diagnosed. An Australian study confirms that the rate of childhood arthritis is four to six times higher than rates typically quoted.

Statistically, about 20 percent of children diagnosed with arthritis go on to develop chronic forms of the disease.

However, the percentage may be much greater than previously thought because cases that come and go, and then return, are not included in the stats. In a study of children who had arthritis isolated to just one joint, only 60 percent went into remission. Of those, nearly 40 percent had reoccurrences. In children suffering from inflammatory arthritis, up to 70 percent have debilitating symptoms when they become adults.

Despite assurances by the Institute of Medicine and the FDA that vaccines are safe and have no association with arthritis, a review of medical literature suggests a different conclusion. Several vaccines have been connected to childhood arthritis, but the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) stands out the most.

Arthritis and the MMR When all the various symptoms of arthritis are lumped together, the syndrome is called an arthropathy. The term encompasses joint stiffness, arthralgia (subjective joint

pain), and arthritis (joint pain that is accompanied by swelling, redness, heat, pain, and/or decreased range of motion.)

Acute arthritis following the rubella vaccination has been reported since its earliest use in 1972. The arthropathy usually occurs within 10 to 28 days of the shot and tends to appear suddenly. The joints involved, in order of decreasing frequency, are fingers, knees, wrists, elbows, ankles, hips, and toes. While reports of vaccine-induced arthropathy can occur in up to 60 percent of adult females, extremely painful joints have also been reported in children. The rubella strain used in today’s rubella vaccine, strain RA27/3 made from cells of an aborted fetal tissue, causes post-vaccination joint symptoms in approximately 15 percent of children.

Rubella is an illness caused by a virus that can be transmitted from person to person by coughing or sneezing. Commonly referred to as “three day measles”, rubella is a mild illness. Symptoms include low-grade fever and swollen lymph nodes in the back of the neck followed by a light, generalized rash.

Called the MMR vaccine, rubella shots given to children and teens today are combined with the measles and mumps vaccines (MMR). Side effects can occur from individual antigen vaccines as well as with the combination shot. One significant side effect of the rubella vaccine, called "arm syndrome", presents as severe pain in the arm/hand, with significant tingling, that is worse at night. A study published in The Journal of Pediatrics reported 36 children who developed this severe reaction after a mass rubella vaccine program in Tennessee. The highest incidence was seen in preschool children and occurred (on average) six weeks following the vaccination.

Some children had recurrences of severe pain every night.

The inflammation of the nerves was identified by abnormal nerve conduction tests. A second type of neuropathy, called "catcher's crouch syndrome”, causes severe knee pain upon arising in the morning.

Both syndromes can occur one to two months after vaccination. The first painful episode of arm syndrome

AMAZING FLU FIGHTER! *Star Anise* has been used for more than 3,500 years to fight flus and colds. When you use Turtle Island’s organic ganic star anise you’ll be amazed at how quickly and thoroughly your sinuses will clear up and at how easeas ily the tasty,, slightly licorise-like tea goes down.

can last up to two months, but can periodically reoccur. The Journal of Arthritis and Rheumatism published a report in 2005 about 11 children who suffered severe episodes of catcher's crouch that recurred for over a year.

Another unusual but severely painful condition after a rubella vaccine was reported in an 11 year-old girl diagnosed with “complex regional pain syndrome type I” (CRPS-I). This condition is characterized by severe, deep, burning, unrelenting pain without discernible nerve injury.

Treatment involves physical therapy, nerve blocks, pain medication infusion pumps and intense psychological care to cope with the debilitating pain. Her long-term hope for recovery was poor, meaning, the damage caused by the vaccine was most likely permanent.

As stated by Dr. Feldman, “The whole idea that 80 percent of children [with arthritis] will have permanent remission is just wrong. Most of our patients will have arthritis well into adulthood.” Those with post-vaccination arthritis are more likely to require substantial drugs to control the progression of their disease, one that may have no cure.

While not every child that gets an MMR vaccine will develop vaccine-induced arthritis, some will. And those children will become customers of the pharmaceutical industry for life. Give a vaccine, make you sick, and provide the pills for relief. What a deal for the drug companies.

-Childhood Arthritis Prevalence, Prognosis Eyed. Pediatric News.

Volume 41, Issue 6, Page 36 (June 2007) Pediatric News.

June, 2007.

-Adverse Effects of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines.

The National Academies Press. (1991) p. 187.

-Viral arthritis. www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/viral-arthritis.html -The Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 80, Issue 3, March 1972, Pages 406-412.

-Spruance, Spotswood. Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Volume 20, Issue 2, Pages 741 – 747. (Nov. 2005) -Hakan Genc, et al. European Journal of Pain.

Volume 9, Issue 5, October 2005, Pages 517-520.

ROOIBOS Turtle urtle Island’ Island’s organic rooibos tea is on everyone’ everyone’s tongue right now and is, after a gentle simmering, simply one of the best tasting herbal teas in the world. Rooibos tea, as well as being tasty tasty, is also good for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aller anti-allergic properties.

AMAZING FLU FIGHTER! *Star Anise* has been used for more than 3,500 years to fight flus and colds. When you use Turtle Island’s organic ganic star anise you’ll be amazed at how quickly and thoroughly your sinuses will clear up and at how easeas ily the tasty,, slightly licorise-like tea goes down.

AMAZING FLU FIGHTER! *Star Anise* has been used for more than 3,500 years to fight flus and colds. When you use Turtle Island’s organic ganic star anise you’ll be amazed at how quickly and thoroughly your sinuses will clear up and at how easeas ily the tasty,, slightly licorise-like tea goes down.

ROOIBOS Turtle urtle Island’ Island’s organic rooibos tea is on everyone’ everyone’s tongue right now and is, after a gentle simmering, simply one of the best tasting herbal teas in the world. Rooibos tea, as well as being tasty tasty, is also good for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aller anti-allergic properties.

YERBA MA MATE TE The favourite tea in South America, it is stimulating without caf caffeine. feine.

Used worldwide as a rejuvenator rejuvenator, and for stimulating mental alertness.

Turtle T Island Organic Teas And Herbs, a V Vancouver ancouver company, can be reached at TIOTH.ca or 778-737-3456.

YERB The fa it is sti Used w and fo T Turtle Herbs, be reac or 778

ROOIBO Turtle urtle Isla on everyo is, after a one of the in the wor as being ta anti-inflam properties

World

29

Avatar and Empire

By Naomi Wolf Naomi Wolf is an American author and political consultant. With the publication of The Beauty Myth, she became a leading spokesperson of what was later described as the third-wave of the feminist movement.

She remains an advocate of feminist causes and progressive politics, with a more recent emphasis on arguing that there has been a deterioration of democratic institutions in the United States.

D

o nations have psychological processes – even Freudian processes, such as collective egos that can be injured, and repressed guilt feelings that can well up from the collective unconscious – just as individuals do? I believe that they do.

I also believe that just as an individual’s dreams and slips of the tongue reveal his or her repressed knowledge, so a culture’s “dreamwork” – its films, pop music, visual arts, and even in the resonant jokes, cartoons and advertising images – reveal the signs of this collective unconscious.

Moreover, a nation’s “irrational dreamwork” often reflects its actual condition more truthfully than its “ego” – its official pronouncements, diplomatic statements, and propaganda.

So take this theory with you when you see James Cameron’s Avatar, and watch for two revealing themes: the raw, guilty template of the American unconscious in the context of the “war on terror” and late-stage corporate imperialism, and a critical portrayal of America – for the first time ever in a Hollywood blockbuster – from the point of view of the rest of the world.

In the Hollywood tradition, of course, the American hero fighting an indigenous enemy is innocent and moral, a reluctant warrior bringing democracy, or at least justice, to feral savages. In Avatar, the core themes highlight everything that has gone wrong with Americans’ view of themselves in relation to their country’s foreign policy.

The hero, Jake Sully, is crippled from combat in a previous American conflict, but is not well cared for by his own country; if he does his job of genocide properly, “the corporation” will reward him with proper medical treatment.

He signs on, essentially, as a corporate contractor – shades of Blackwater’s massacre of civilians in Baghdad’s Nisour Square.

The enterprise is a “mission” in which the soldiers fight not “for freedom” but “for a paycheck.” They take their direction from corporate bureaucrats in waging war against the indigenous people, whose sacred land is sited on vast reserves of “unobtainium,” which the corporation wishes to secure at all costs.

The soldiers are portrayed as being manipulated by their leaders – through vicious racism and religious derision – into brutal action against the non-aggressive “hostiles.” When the villain, the American military leader of the attack, plans to bomb flat the indigenous people’s sacred tree, he boasts that he will blow such a massive hole in their “racial memory” that they won’t come “within a thousand clicks” of the place again.

Even the machinery of US military combat is portrayed non-heroically. Instead of the classic images of the US Cavalry courageously sweeping down on the savages, or of decent American doughboys bravely clearing out nests of Nazis, bored technocrats, insulated by immense layers of technology, firebomb green valleys, slaughtering enemy warriors and defenseless women and babies while sipping coffee and casually fiddling with touch screens.

The characters’ lines (all quotes are approximate) are those that never pierce the bubble of American selfregard with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan. “You should not be here!” exclaims the indigenous heroine, and eventual love interest, Neytiri, as if she is speaking of the entire US enterprise overseas. “You are like a baby.”

Gesturing at the mayhem caused by the destructive but self-regarding hero, before he “goes native,” she says, “This is your fault. They should never have had to die.”

Later, as Sully starts to become sympathetic towards those whom he has been sent to betray, he tells the bureaucrats: “If people are sitting on something you want, you call them the enemy.” When he has fully identified

himself with their cause, he joins a movement that is essentially a counterinsurgency, even a jihad (“Let’s show the Sky People [the US] whose land this is!”). He and his small band of Americans are even locked in a small Guantánamo-style cell and called “traitors.”

The indigenous people are an amalgam of echoes from all the great wars of empire that have troubled the recent American conscience. Although they are physically a fantasy sci-fi mix of blue skin and cat-like movement, they are culturally a mix of Native Americans and Vietnamese, with Arabic accents thrown in.

They have qualities that Americans would do well to emulate. They respect their environment, whereas the Americans must “return to a dying planet,” because, as the indigenous people put it, “they have killed their own mother.”

Sully’s journey is not one of conquest but of awakening to his and his people’s true relationship to others: “What am I, the bad guy?” he laughs at first, as if that were impossible. In the end, however, he tries to warn his own imperialist team of the futility of their brutal approach: “What do we have to offer them? Light beer? Blue Jeans? They will never leave the Hometree [their sacred land]. We have nothing that they want.”

Ironically, Avatar will probably do more to exhume Americans’ suppressed knowledge about the shallowness of their national mythology in the face of their oppressive presence in the rest of the world than any amount of editorializing, college courses, or even protest from outside America’s borders. But I am not complaining about this. Hollywood is that powerful. But, in the case of Avatar, the power of American filmmaking has for once been directed toward American self-knowledge rather than American escapism. www.project-syndicate.org

Spy drones will monitor U.K. citizens UPI reports that camera-equipped drones, developed by the British military for use in war, will be used in England to monitor civilians from the sky above, say officials.

The Daily Telegraph reports that police in Kent and Essex counties plan to start using them in 2012 for routine monitoring of motorists, protesters, agricultural thieves and illegal dumping.

Collaboration between the police departments and BAE Systems, maker of the drones, began in 2007, the Telegraph said.

A prototype for police use is expected to fly this year. Its high-resolution cameras can capture images from 20,000 feet.

"Fully autonomous unmanned air systems could be routinely used by border agencies, the police and other government bodies," BAE spokesman Andrew Mellors said.

Unlike manned police helicopters, which can fly for only a few hours, the drones can remain aloft for up to 15 hours, the Telegraph reported.

"These systems will be fully autonomous so that operators task the vehicles and receive the relevant imagery and intelligence direct to the ground control station in real time," Mellors said.

30

World

The Silenced Side of Aspartame By J an e t St ar r H ul l , PhD, CN has a very diverse background with academic degrees and experience in geology, international geography, environmental science and toxicology, fitness training and holistic nutrition. She is an OSHA Certified Environmental Hazardous Waste Emergency Response Specialist and Toxicologist, a former firefighter and college professor.

Y

dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. (milligrams per kilograms per body weight), much less than the current ADI (Average Daily Intake) for humans of 40 mg/kg b.w. (Europe) or 50 mg/kg b.w. (United States). On the basis of these research results, the Italian research team has recommended a reevaluation of the present guidelines on the use and consumption of aspartame as "urgent and cannot be delayed."

According to Dr. Soffritti, in both of the aspartame studies conducted by the European Ramazzini Foundation, carcinogenic effects were observed.

The bioassay on aspartame "Lifespan Exposure to Low Doses of Aspartame Beginning During Prenatal Life Increases Cancer Effects in Rats" was published in the September 2007 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives [EHP 115:1293-1297; Soffritti et al]. The issue also includes a Science Selections feature story on the Ramazzini project [EHP 115:A460].

Recognizing that the public may have difficulty interpreting the scientific literature, the authors of the study invite the public to ask questions about the study via blog at

ou're going to be shocked at what the "silenced side" of scientific research reveals about aspartame. Or maybe you'll just be shocked that there IS a silenced side exposing the truth about aspartame dangers.

The harmful effects of aspartame are now more widely known than ever before, and you can be certain that the risks of using aspartame are very well documented. Aspartame penetrates the blood-brain barrier, hence entering the brain and creating neurotoxic havoc at the brain center. And don't forget that aspartame IS a "drug" and is not a food, nor is it natural in any way.

All consumers should be aware that aspartame is currently being studied by reputable research scientists from around the world, and that this research shows aspartame is responsible for multiple forms of cancer, including lymphoma and leukemia, memory loss and confusion, nerve disorders, and biological effects on gene expressions.

The corporations who stand to profit the most have exercised their power over the truth and information about aspartame dangers for over three decades.

"Neuroscientist and researcher, Dr. John Their claims of product safety and nonOlney, discovered in his 1970s research studculpable research have been used over the past twenty-five years to market Nuies that oral intake of the aspartic acid in traSweet®/Equal®/Canderel® as perfectly aspartame caused holes in the brains of his safe products. Yet, this portrayal of aspartame safety is not accurate, and for more than 30 laboratory mice. He informed G.D. Searle, the years, the corporations have known that asparcreators of aspartame, and the FDA about tame is harmful to human health, and the FDA his concerns; yet, aspartame made it to the knew this as early as 1971.

Currently, these corporate claims of safety are being market, and it is still on the market today. " publicly challenged through new research, yet their research results are nothing new. Once steered away from the public eye, laboratory studies performed as early as the 1970s had proven that aspartame was a serious health threat - studies performed long before aspartame was placed into the public food supply in 1982.

Neuroscientist and researcher, Dr. John Olney, discovered in his 1970s research studies that oral intake of the aspartic acid in aspartame caused holes in the brains of his laboratory mice. He informed G.D. Searle, the creators of aspartame, and the FDA about his concerns; yet, aspartame http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/blogDetail.asp?id=22 made it to the market, and it is still on the market today. . They do their best to respond to all inquiries. To get the Maybe now, aspartame’s status of safety will “expire”, original report and to read more about the study, visit: and consumers can prevent further harm to their health and Bella Italia: The Soffritti Aspartame Study, to the health of their children because the truth, after all http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/0206/bella_italia_th these years, is finally coming out. e_soffritti_aspartame_study.php.

So, put on your lab coats, and let’s look at the most recent studies proving aspartame is a hazard to your health…

The Tsakiris Aspartame Study On July 19, 2005, Dr. Stylianos Tsakiris, DepartThe Soffritti Aspartame Studies. ment of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, UniEuropean researchers have the United States' scientists versity of Athens and his research team at the Institute of beat hands-down when it comes to respectable research on Child Health, Research Center, Aghia Sophia Children's the dangers of chemical sweeteners. Today, we must look Hospital, Athens, Greece published a study that showed across the pond for the most progressive and highly rehigh levels and cumulative toxic concentrations of asparspected academic research on aspartame's dangers to human tame decreased the membrane AChE activity, resulting in health. Dr. Morando Soffritti of the Cesare Maltoni Cancer memory loss. Additionally, neurological symptoms, inResearch Center, European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncluding learning and memory processes, appeared in the cology and Environmental Sciences, has performed such esstudy to be related to the high or toxic concentrations of teemed work. The Soffritti Studies demonstrate the most the sweetener metabolites. recent reputable research of the multi-potential carcinogenic To get the original report and to read more about the effects of aspartame administered in feed to Sprague-Dawstudy, visit: The Tsakiris Aspartame Study, ley rats. Dr. Soffritti has proven aspartame is a carcinogen http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/0206/the_tsakiris_as in two separate studies. partame_study.php The results of the mega-experiments indicate aspartame is a multi-potential carcinogenic agent, even at a daily

Trocho Aspartame Study From Spain The Trocho study from Spain is a general study on artificial sweeteners' toxicity supported through the Bosch & Gimpera Foundation, Barcelona, Spain. Simply stated, the researchers studied the conversion of aspartame methanol to formaldehyde and its eventual effect on overall physiologic function. The study concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts (when a chemical binds to a biological molecule, such as DNA or a protein).

The binding of methanol-derived carbon to tissue proteins was widespread in the study, affecting all body systems, fully reaching even sensitive targets such as the brain and retina.

This particular study confirms the need to avoid aspartame during pregnancy and to avoid giving aspartame to children and the elderly.

For more about the study or to view the complete research text on this study, visit Trocho Aspartame Study From Spain, http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/0206/aspartame_study_from_spain.php.

The Pecs, Hungary Study The Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary, published an aspartame study January 2007 showing that aspartame ingested, even at maximum daily doses, changed the genes in various organs in animals. Information on this important study can be found at http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/0507/ the_silent_side_of_research.php with a link to the original study.

The purpose of this particular study was to investigate the biological effects of aspartame consumption on key oncogenes and on the tumor suppressor gene. After just one week of aspartame administered at various doses to CBA/CA female mice, the results showed that among the rats receiving aspartame, a significant increase of lymphoreticular neoplasms, brain tumors and transitional cell tumors occurred. The research team concluded that aspartame has a biological effect in the body, even at the recommended daily maximum dose.

Knowledge is power. As an educated consumer, you now have the information available to choose what you and your family should consume for long-term health and safety.

Unnatural artificial sweeteners do affect your health - adversely. Why take the chance? Now that you know the truth, that is!

Does Aspartame Really Cause Cancer?

According to the research, yes, aspartame really does cause cancer!

A common question: “if aspartame, indeed, has been proven to cause cancer, then why isn't this information splashed all over the front pages of every newspaper and magazine worldwide, and why hasn’t it been taken off the market?”

Good question. Most people assume the answers are because aspartame has NOT really been proven to cause cancer, or any other serious health issues. After all, if the FDA approved aspartame, it must be safe, right?

Wrong! The research DOES show otherwise, so the answer to this question must have something to do with the politics of greed and corporate mega-billions in profits from aspartame and the other diet sweeteners. Time will tell.

Aspartame And Weight Gain Becoming overweight doesn’t happen overnight. Day by day and week by week, we eat or drink a little more than

World our bodies use for daily energy, growth or physical activity.

No matter what the sugar-free product or beverage is, diet sweeteners keep you hungry for carbs, and the unnecessary calories get stored as fat. Over time, the stored fat accumulates and your weight increases.

The Purdue University study was done on two groups of rats. One group was given artificially sweetened yogurt and the other group was given yogurt with glucose, a natural sweetener high in calories. The rats given the artificial sweetener gained 20 percent more weight.

So, before you tear open that little colored packet of diet sweetener and stir it into your coffee or tea, ask yourself this question: Do diet sweeteners really help you lose weight, or do you eat more and gain weight in the long run?

According to the research, there is no clear-cut evidence that sugar substitutes help people lose weight. These days, more research data suggests that these chemical sweeteners actually stimulate appetite.

Scientists from Purdue University showed in laboratory studies that a sweet taste satisfied with no-calorie diet products make the body crave more food. Their research, published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, found that rats fed sugar subsequently had lower appetites. Professor Susan Swithers, Purdue University, states, "It's tempting to think that by simply consuming a food that has fewer calories, that body weight gain and food intake are automatically going to go down. Our data suggests that, in fact, the opposite might happen."

Under normal eating conditions, the arrival of a sweet taste in the mouth, primes your body’s metabolism for the arrival of a higher-calorie meal. The study showed that when the meal does not arrive, the body gets confused and has issues regulating appetite; hence, you remain hungry for real food.

The Purdue University study was done on two groups of rats. One group was given artificially sweetened yogurt and the other group was given yogurt with glucose, a natural sweetener high in calories. The rats given the artificial sweetener gained 20 percent more weight.

The researchers observed that the artificial sweetener somehow interrupted the body's ability to regulate or register the amount of calories it had consumed. As a result, metabolism slowed down and the rats did not burn as many calories.

Swithers explains. "When they got a sweet-tasting food that didn't deliver those calories, they went and then overindulged in their regular food as a consequence."

A human survey conducted in 2005 had results similar to the Purdue study on rats. It showed a 41 percent weight gain among people who drank diet soft drinks.

How Much Aspartame Is Too Much?

In the USA, the acceptable daily intake for aspartame is 50 mg/kg of body weight. In the EU, it is 40 mg/kg of body weight. So, what does all this ppm and mg/kg stuff really mean for humans - and that means you?

Well, typically people try to estimate aspartame consumption in terms of cans of diet soda, but aspartame is found in over 6,000 other products, including 500 pharmaceuticals. Considering the average modern diet, it is easy for a person to exceed the ADI, especially children who have a lower body weight. And during pregnancy, the ADI has no value to a developing fetus.

Consider the following average daily consumption of diet products containing aspartame: 2 cans of diet soda (and that's a very low estimate), 1 light yogurt, 1 diet dessert, 4 packets of Equal® in coffee or tea throughout the day, 10 candies or 4 pieces of chewing gum. The aspartame content

in the above totals 910 mg, and this exceeds the ADI for an adult.

Despite strong concerns raised over aspartame, both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not changed their guidelines regarding the safety of the ingredient or its safe intake advice. It is time for this to change.

Aspartame is made of phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%).

It is commonly used in soft drinks and chewing gums, and was first approved for use in foods in the USA in the early 1970s. Due to the research showing severe health dangers, its first approval was quickly rescinded. After 10 years of corporate research and very potent lobbying, aspartame was re-approved by the FDA a second time in the early 1980s.

This second approval began a sweetener war of contradiction concerning its true safety and political background.

The Future Of Artificial Sweeteners - It's Up To You

31

life, so why do you feel the need to have a diet cola or any diet sweetener as part of that journey?

We trust the marketers to sell us products of high quality that will not harm us in any way. In the case of diet sweeteners, we are not being sold healthy products, and we are not being "marketed" the whole truth. It is hard to make the right choices when the "silenced side" of the sweetener issue isn't visibly expressed. It's up to you to seek the truth, especially if you are getting ill from sugar-free foods.

Life Is The Coffee (author unknown) A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken first, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

"Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups, and then began eyeing each other's cups."

"Now consider this," he continued, "Life is the coffee, and the jobs, houses, cars, things, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee provided us."

Enjoy your coffee. Be confident in yourself, and stand up to the marketing deception that artificial sweeteners are safe and healthy

I am often asked, "What is the future of the chemical sweeteners? Will aspartame and sucralose ever be taken off the market?"

My answer? "This will end one day - it has to end.”

Human beings can't keep going like this - we are killing ourselves. We are destroying the mental and physical health of the next generation with toxic chemicals and polluted foods. Let's hope the truth about the dangers of chemical sweeteners comes forth very soon.

For most people, just being aware that there are other safer sweetener choices can help them stay healthy.

Don’t forget that advertisers steer consumers toward the chemical products that bring in the most profit, but the choice to buy and consume these toxic chemical foods versus healthier foods is yours. The corporations will keep making and selling nasty, toxic foods as long as you, the consumer, buy them.

Bottom-line, diet sweeteners are bad for your health - just admit it and move on to something healthier.

Give up that diet cola! Focus on your health more than what you see in the mirror. Plus, when you eat and drink real, whole foods, weight gain is always less of an issue.

Make the effort to learn more about the dangers of these sweetener products, and teach your children what Available online at you discover.

Call toll free for a mail order catalogue 866-706-7455 Transform your fears of getting fat 9/11 THE ULTIMATE TRUTH POLITICAL PONEROLOGY into self-confidence, don’t fear Laura Knight-Jadczyk & Joe Quinn Andrew M. Lobaczewski aging, and turn $24.95 ISBN13: 978-1897244223 $20.95 ISBN13: 978-1897244258 your lower selfimage into something positive. We all are just folks on A small publisher of big ideas a journey through

www.redpillpress.com

32

World

Yemen: Behind Al-Qaeda Scenarios, a Geopolitical Chokepoint to Eurasia By F. William Engdahl's writing and research bridges the disciplines of economics, politics, and the less known field of geopolitics. His work is influenced by numerous economists, but most especially by the German historical economist, Friederich List. He has authored the books, A Century of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order; Full Spectrum Dominance: Totalitarian Democracy in The New World Order; Seeds of Destruction, The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation.

www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.net

O

n December 25 US authorities arrested a Nigerian named Abdulmutallab aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on charges of having tried to blow up the plane with smuggled explosives. Since then reports have been broadcast from CNN to the New York Times that he was “suspected” to have been trained on his terror mission in Yemen.

What the world has been subjected to since is the emergence of a new target for the US “War on Terror,” namely a desolate state on the Arabian peninsula, Yemen. A closer look at the background suggests the Pentagon and US intelligence have a hidden agenda in Yemen.

For some months the world has seen a steady escalation of US military involvement in Yemen, a dismally poor land adjacent to Saudi Arabia on its north, the Red Sea on its west, the Gulf of Aden on its south to the Arabian Sea, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab overlooking anAlleged Underwear Bomber other desolate land that has been in the headlines of late, Somalia. The evidence suggests that the Pentagon and US intelligence are moving to militarize a strategic chokepoint for the world oil flows, Bab elMandab, and using the Somalia piracy together with claims of a new Al Qaeda threat arising from Yemen to militarize one of the world’s most important oil transport routes. As well, undeveloped petroleum reserves in the territory between Yemen and Saudi Arabia are reportedly among the world’s largest.

The 23-year-old Nigerian man charged with the failed bomb attempt, Abdulmutallab, reportedly has been talking, claiming he was sent on his mission by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), based in Yemen. This has conveniently turned the world’s attention on Yemen as a new center of the alleged Al Qaeda terror organization.

Notably, Bruce Riedel, a 30-year CIA veteran who advised President Obama on the policy leading to the Afghan troop surge, wrote in his blog of the alleged ties of the Detroit bomber to Yemen, “The attempt to destroy Northwest Airlines Flight 253 en route from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day underscores the growing ambition of al Qaeda's Yemen franchise, which has grown from a largely Yemeni agenda to become a player in the global Islamic jihad in the last year…The weak Yemeni government of President Ali Abdallah Salih, which has never fully controlled the country and now faces a host of growing problems, will need significant American support to defeat AQAP.”1 Some basic Yemen geopolitics Before we can say much about the latest incident, it is useful to look more closely at the Yemen situation. Here several things stand out as peculiar when stacked against Washington claims about a resurgent Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula organization.

In early 2009 the chess pieces on the Yemeni board began to move. Tariq al-Fadhli, a former jihadist leader originally from South Yemen, broke a 15 year alliance with the Yemeni government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and announced he was joining the broad-based opposition coalition known as the Southern Movement (SM). Al-Fadhli had been a member of the Mujahideen movement in Afghanistan in the late 1980’s. His break with the government was reported in Arab and Yemeni media in April 2009. Al-Fadhli’s break with the Yemen dictatorship gave new power to the Southern Movement (SM). He has since become a leading figure in the alliance.

Yemen itself is a synthetic amalgam created after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, when the southern Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) lost its main foreign sponsor. Unification of the north, Yemen Arab Republic, and the southern PDRY state led to a short-lived optimism that ended in a brief civil war in 1994, as southern army factions organized a revolt against what they saw as the corrupt crony state rule of northern President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has held a one-man rule since 1978, first as President of North Yemen or the Yemen Arab Republic and since 1990 as President of the unified new Yemen. That revolt failed as Saleh enlisted al-Fadhli and other Yemeni conservative Islam Salafists and jihadists to fight the formerly Marxist forces of the Yemen Socialist Party in the south.

Before 1990 Washington and the Saudi Kingdom backed and supported Saleh and his policy of Islamization as a bid to contain the communist south.2 Since then Saleh has relied on a strong Salafist-jihadi movement to retain a one-man dictatorial rule. The break with Saleh by al-Fadhli and his joining the southern opposition group with his former socialist foes marked a major setback for Saleh.

Soon after al-Fadhli’s joining the Southern Movement coalition, on April 28, 2009 protests in the southern Yemeni provinces of Lahj, Dalea and Hadramout intensified. There were demonstrations by tens of thousands of dismissed military personnel and civil servants demanding better pay and benefits, demonstrations that had been taking place in growing numbers since 2006. The April demonstrations included for the first time a public appearance by al-Fadhli. That served to change a long moribund southern socialist movement into a broader nationalist campaign. It also galvanized President Saleh, who then called on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council states for help, warning that the entire Arabian Peninsula suffer the consequences.

Complicating the picture in what some call a failed state, in the north Saleh faces an al-Houthi Zaydi Shi’ite rebellion. In September 2009, Saleh accused Iran and Iraq’s Shi’ite opposition leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, of backing the north Yemen Shi’ite Houthist rebels in an AlJazeera TV interview, significantly on September 11.

Yemen’s Saleh declared, “We cannot accuse the Iranian official side, but the Iranians are contacting us, saying that they are prepared for a mediation. This means that the Iranians have contacts with them [the Houthists], given that they want to mediate between the Yemeni government and them. Also, Muqtada al-Sadr in al-Najaf in Iraq is asking that he be accepted as a mediator. This means they have a link.”3 Yemen authorities claim they have seized caches of

weapons made in Iran, while the Houthists claim to have captured Yemeni equipment with Saudi Arabian markings, accusing Sana’a of acting as a Saudi proxy. Iran has rejected claims that Iranian weapons were found in north Yemen, calling claims of support to the rebels as baseless. 4 What about al-Qaeda?

The picture that emerges is one of a desperate USbacked dictator, Yemen’s President Saleh, increasingly losing control after two decades as despotic ruler of the unified Yemen. Economic conditions in the country took a drastic downward slide in 2008 when world oil prices collapsed.

Some 70% of the state revenues derive from Yemen’s oil sales. The central government of Saleh sits in former North Yemen in Sanaa, while the oil is in former South Yemen.

Yet Saleh controls the oil revenue flows. Lack of oil revenue has made Saleh’s usual option of buying off opposition groups all but impossible.

Into this chaotic domestic picture comes the January 2009 announcement, prominently featured in select Internet websites, that al-Qaeda, the alleged global terrorist organization created by the late CIA-trained Saudi, Osama bin Laden, has opened a major new branch in Yemen for both Yemen and Saudi operations.

Indeed, after declaring that the Yemen internal strife was Yemen’s own affair, President Obama ordered air strikes in Yemen. The Pentagon claimed its attacks on December 17 and 24 killed three key al Qaeda leaders but no evidence has yet proven this. Now the Christmas Day Detriot bomber drama gives new life to Washington’s “War on Terror” campaign in Yemen.

Obama has now offered military assistance to the Saleh Yemen government.

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page Al Qaeda in Yemen released a statement on online jitheir “oppression,” declaring, “What is happening in hadist forums Jan. 20, 2009 from the group’s leader Nasir Lahaj, Dhali, Abyan and Hadramaut and the other southal-Wahayshi, announcing formation of a single al Qaeda ern provinces cannot be approved. We have to support group for the Arabian Peninsula and help [the southernunder his command. According to ers].” He promised reBefore 1990 Washington and the taliation: al-Wahayshi, the new group, al “The Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Kingdom backed and supported would consist of his former al Saleh and his policy of Islamization as a Qaeda in Yemen as well as mem- bid to contain the communist south.2 bers of the defunct Saudi al Qaeda Since then Saleh has relied on a strong group. The press release claimed, interestingly enough, that a Saudi Salafist-jihadi movement to retain a onenational, a former Guantanamo de- man dictatorial rule. The break with Saleh tainee, Abu-Sayyaf al-Shihri, by al-Fadhli and his joining the southern would serve as al-Wahayshi’s opposition group with his former socialist deputy. foes marked a major setback for Saleh.

Days later an online video from al-Wahayshi appeared under the alarming title, “We Start from Here and We Will Meet at alAqsa.” Al-Aqsa refers to the alAqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on what Jews know as Temple Mount, the site of the destroyed Temple of Solomon, which Muslims call Al Haram Al Sharif. The video threatens Muslim leaders including Yemeni’s President Saleh, the Saudi royal family, and Egyptian President Mubarak, and promised to take the jihad from Yemen to Israel, to “liberate” Muslim holy sites and Gaza, something that oppression against you would likely detonate World War III if anyone were mad will not pass without punishment… the killing of Musenough to do it. lims in the streets is an unjustified major crime.” 8 In that video, in addition to al-Shihri who, according The curious emergence of a tiny but well-publicized to the video was Guantanamo detainee 372, the video has a al Qaeda in southern Yemen amid what observers call a statement from Abu-al-Harith Muhammad al-Awfi, who broad-based popular-based Southern Movement front that was identified as a field commander in the video, and aleschews the radical global agenda of al Qaeda, serves to legedly former Guantanamo detainee 333. As it is well-esgive the Pentagon a kind of casus belli to escalate US miltablished that torture methods are worthless to obtain itary operations in the strategic region. truthful confessions, some have speculated that the true task Indeed, after declaring that the Yemen internal strife of CIA and Pentagon interrogators at Guantanamo prison was Yemen’s own affair, President Obama ordered air since September 2001, has been to use aversive techniques strikes in Yemen. The Pentagon claimed its attacks on Deto train sleeper or Manchurian candidate-type terrorists who cember 17 and 24 killed three key al Qaeda leaders but can be activated on demand by US intelligence, a charge no evidence has yet proven this. Now the Christmas Day difficult to prove or disprove. The presence of two such Detroit bomber drama gives new life to Washington’s high-ranking Guantanamo graduates in the new Yemen“War on Terror” campaign in Yemen. Obama has now ofbased al Qaeda is certainly ground for questioning. fered military assistance to the Saleh Yemen government.

Al Qaeda in Yemen is apparently anathema to alFadhli and the enlarged mass-based Southern Movement. In Somali Pirates escalate as if on cue an interview, al-Fadhli declared, “I have strong relations As if on cue, at the same time CNN headlines broadwith all of the jihadists in the north and the south and everycast new terror threats from Yemen, the long-running Sowhere, but not with al-Qaeda.”5 That has not hindered Saleh malia pirate attacks on commercial shipping in the same from claiming the Southern Movement and Al-Qaeda are one and the same, a convenient way to inThe evidence suggests sure backing from Washingthat the Pentagon and US inton.

Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh

NATO SHIP IN GULF OF ADEN

According to US intelligence reports, there are a grand total of perhaps 200 al Qaeda members in southern Yemen. 6 Al-Fadhli gave an interview distancing himself from Al Qaeda in May, 2009, declaring, “We [in South Yemen] have been invaded 15 years ago and we are under a vicious occupation. So we are busy with our cause and we do not look at any other cause in the world. We want our independence and to put an end to this occupation.”7 Conveniently, the same day Al Qaeda made a large profile declaring its support for southern Yemen’s cause.

On May 14, in an audiotape released on the internet, al-Wahayshi, leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, expressed sympathy with the people of the southern provinces and their attempt to defend themselves against

World

attacks and hijackings for 2009. As of December 22, attacks

by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia numbered 174, with 35 vessels hijacked and 587 crew taken hostage so far in 2009, almost all successful pirate activity, according to the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Center. The open question is who is providing the Somali “pirates” with arms and logistics sufficient to elude international patrols from numerous nations?

Notably, on January 3, President Saleh got a phone call from Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in which he briefed president Saleh on latest developments in Somalia. Sheikh Sharif, whose own base in Mogadishu is so weak he is sometimes referred to as President of Mogadishu Airport, told Saleh he would share information with Saleh about any terror activities might be launched from Somali territories targeting stability and security of Yemen and the region.

The Oil chokepoint and other oily affairs The strategic significance of the region between Yemen and Somalia becomes the point of geopolitical interest. It is the site of Bab el-Mandab, one of what the US Government lists as seven strategic world oil shipping chokepoints. The US Government Energy Information Agency states that “closure of the Bab el-Mandab could keep tankers from the Persian Gulf from reaching the Suez Canal/Sumed pipeline complex, diverting them around the southern tip of Africa. The Strait of Bab el-Mandab is a chokepoint between the horn of Africa and the Middle East, and a strategic link between the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.” 9 Bab el-Mandab, between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Oil and other exports from the Persian Gulf must pass through Bab el-Mandab before entering the Suez Canal. In 2006, the Energy Department in Washington reported that an estimated 3.3 million barrels a day of oil flowed through this narrow waterway to Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Most oil or some 2.1 million barrels a day goes north through the Bab el-Mandab to the Suez/Sumed complex into the Mediterranean.

An excuse for a US or NATO militarization of the waters around Bab el-Mandab would give Washington another major link in its pursuit of control of the seven major oil chokepoints around the world, a major part of any future US strategy of denial of oil flows to China, the EU or any region or country that opposes US policy. Given that significant flows of Saudi oil pass through Bab el-Mandab, a US military control there would serve to warn Riyadh were the Saudi Kingdom to become serious about future oil sales with China or others becoming priced no longer in dollars, as was recently reported by UK Independent journalist Robert Fisk.

It would also be in a position to threaten China oil flows from Port Sudan on the Red Sea just north of Bab el-Mandab, a major lifeline in China’s national energy needs.

In addition to its geopolitical position as a major global oil transit chokepoint, Yemen is reported to hold some of the world’s greatest untapped oil reserves. Yemen’s Masila Basin and Shabwa Basin are reported by international oil companies to contain “world class discoveries.”10 France’s Total and several smaller international oil companies are engaged in developing Yemen oil production. Some fifteen years ago I was told in a private meeting with a well-informed Washington insider that Yemen contained “enough undeveloped oil to fill the oil demand of the entire world for the next fifty years.” Perhaps there is more to Washington’s recent Yemen concern than a rag-tag al Qaeda whose very existence as a global terror organization has been doubted by seasoned Islamic experts.

Souther Movement Leader Tariq al-Fadhli

telligence are moving to militarize a strategic chokepoint for the world oil flows, Bab elMandab, and using the Somalia piracy together with claims of a new Al Qaeda threat arising from Yemen to militarize one of the world’s most important oil transport routes. As well, undeveloped petroleum SOMALI PIRATES reserves in the territory between Yemen and Saudi Arabia are reportedly amongGulf theof Aden and world’s largest.

Arabian Sea across from southern Yemen, escalated dramatically after having been reduced by multinational ship patrols.

On December 29, Moscow’s RAI Novosti reported that Somali pirates seized a Greek cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's coast. Earlier the same day a British-flagged chemical tanker and its 26 crew was also seized in the Gulf of Aden. In a sign of sophisticated skills in using western media, pirate commander Mohamed Shakir told the British newspaper The Times by phone, "We have hijacked a ship with [a] British flag in the Gulf of Aden late yesterday." The US intelligence brief, Stratfor, reports that The Times, owned by neo-conservative financial backer, Rupert Murdoch, is sometimes used by Israeli intelligence to plant useful stories.

The two latest events brought a record number of

33

34

World

Arun Gandhi And T he Jewish Conspiracy By

A

Joe Quinn is a controversial author, internet essayist and full time editor of the Sott.net alternative news and commentary website. He is co-author with Laura KnightJadczyk of the book 9/11: The Ultimate Truth. He is currently working on his next book that outlines the history of government counter-insurgency tactics and "false flag" operations. Tentatively called "From Belfast to Baghdad" it will be published by Red Pill Press.

run Gandhi is the fifth grandson of the famous Mahatma Gandhi, a public figure and an established and true man of peace. So what was he doing spreading nefarious ‘conspiracy theories’ about the Jews back in January 2008?

In 1987, along with his entire family, Arun Gandhi moved to the United States to work on a project at the University of Mississippi. The project examined and contrasted the sorts of prejudices that existed in India, the U.S., and South Africa. Afterward the moved to Memphis, Tennessee and founded the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence hosted by the Christian Brothers University, a Catholic academic institution. This institute was dedicated to applying the principles of nonviolence at both local and global scales. In 2007, the institute moved to Rochester, New York, and is currently located on the University of Rochester River Campus.

Arun has given many speeches about non-violence in many countries. During his tour of Israel and Palestine in 2004, he urged the Palestinians to resist Israeli occupation peacefully to assure their freedom. He proposed to the Palestinian Parliament a peaceful march of 50,000 Palestinian refugees across the Jordan River to return to their homeland in Palestine, and said MPs should lead the way. Arun stated: What would happen? Maybe the Israeli army would shoot and kill several. They may kill 100. They may kill 200 men, women and children. And that would shock the world. The world will get up and say, 'What is going on?'

Given the brutal conditions under which the Palestinians are being forced to live, attacked and murdered on a daily basis, Arun's proposal for the solution of the Palestinian question makes good sense. Rather than be picked off, one by one by the Israeli military and have their deaths ignored by the mainstream media, why not undertake such a march, and potential sacrifice, and increase the chances that the world would be forced to sit up and take notice? An act of this type is very probably what the ordinary Palestinian people, both in Palestine and elsewhere, would decide upon if ordinary Palestinians had any say in their future. But Palestinians today have no real voice, no true representation, their political leadership having been infiltrated and co-opted long ago by the forces of the state of Israel. Israel calls all the shots and carefully stage-manages both sides in its one-sided "war" against the Palestinian people.

In 2006 The Board of Governors of the BBC published an Independent Panel Report into the impartiality of BBC coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The scope of the inquiry was "assess the impartiality of BBC news and current affairs coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with particular regard to accuracy, fairness, context, balance and bias, actual or perceived".

The inquiry found that the BBC's coverage of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict was "incomplete and misleading" and “failed to adequately report the hardships of Palestinians living under occupation.”

In 2006 the research group If Americans Knew released a study into the reporting of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by the Associated Press (AP) for the period Jan-Dec 2004. The study found “a significant correlation between the likelihood of a death receiving coverage and the nationality of the person killed.” In 2004, there were 141 reports in AP headlines or first paragraphs of Israeli deaths. During this time, there had actually been 108 Israelis killed (the discrepancy is due to the fact that a number of Israeli deaths were reported multiple times).

During the same period, 543 Palestinian deaths were reported in headlines or first paragraphs. During this time, 821 Palestinians had actually been killed. In other words, 131% of Israeli deaths and 66% of Palestinian deaths were reported in AP headlines or first paragraphs. That is, AP reported prominently on Israeli deaths at a rate 2.0 times greater than Palestinian deaths. In reality, 7.6 times more Palestinians were killed than Israelis in 2004.2 Previous studies into the reporting of Palestinian versus Israeli deaths have shown newspaper coverage to be even more distorted than the pattern that was found for AP. For example a six-month study of the San Francisco Chronicle showed a 30:1 differential of Israeli children’s deaths to Palestinian children’s deaths; a six-month study of The Oregonian by AUPHR showed the paper’s headlines had reported Israeli children’s deaths to Palestinians children’s deaths at a rate 44:1.3 We live in a world where truth and justice have been turned on their heads. While the daily murder of Palestinians by the forces of Israel goes unreported and therefore unrecognised by the rest of the world, any high-profile criticism of these crimes is immediately met with outrage and condemnation by (mainly Western) political leaders and the infamous Israel lobby in the US, and of course by the mainstream Western press.

In an episode with strong echoes of the Walt and Mearsheimer debacle, Arun Gandhi made the headlines in January 2008 because of comments he made about the state of Israel, the Palestinian people's plight and the danger that the insane policies of what can loosely be termed "Zionism" pose to the entire world.

Gandhi wrote that: Jewish identity "has been locked into the holocaust experience — a German burden that the Jews have not been able to shed. It is a very good example of how a community can overplay a historic experience to the point that it begins to repulse friends.

"The holocaust was the result of the warped mind of an individual who was able to influence his followers into doing something dreadful. ... The world did feel sorry for the episode but when an individual or a nation refuses to forgive and move on, the regret turns into anger."

Describing Israel as "a nation that believes its survival can only be ensured by weapons and bombs," Gandhi asked whether it would "not be better to befriend those who hate you?" He added: "Apparently, in the modern world so determined to live by the bomb, this is an alien concept. You don't befriend anyone, you dominate them. We have created a culture of violence (Israel and the Jews are the biggest players) and that Culture of Violence is eventually going to destroy humanity."

Gandhi later apologized for his “poorly worded post," saying he shouldn't have implied that Israeli government policies reflected the views of all Jewish people.

Of course, Gandhi was wrong to blame ‘the Jews’, not merely because it is entirely inaccurate to suggest that all Jews support the policies of the state of Israel, but because it also left him and his otherwise reasonable and important message open to immediate dismissal as anti-Semitic, which is exactly what happened.

To his credit, Gandhi immediately recognised his error and asserted that he understood that not all Jewish people support Israel. The simple fact is that ‘the Jews’ are not to blame for the most extreme injustices being perpetrated throughout the world today, the spittle-flecked rants of some alternative news pundits notwithstanding. How can they be?

Are we to believe that all 15 million Jews throughout the world regularly get together in secret and drive forward the political and economic policies of the major world governments? Of course, certain Jewish politicians in Israel, the US the UK and elsewhere do wield inordinate power, this is a verifiable fact. If, as some would have it, the actions of these few make ‘all Jews’ responsible, then it follows that every American that supports the Obama government or the Republican or Democratic parties for that matter (i.e. significantly more than half of all Americans) is personally guilty of the murder of over 1 million Iraqis! So if it is ‘the Jews!’ then it is also ‘the Americans!’ (and ‘the British’!)

Clearly this is nonsense. To those who subscribe to such beliefs, it is worth remembering that Israeli policy makers and their policies thrive on the preponderance of such extremism. Why? Because such opinions are clearly illogical and it is extremely easy to use them as evidence to convince the world that anti-Semitism, or hatred of Jews, is ‘on the rise’, which in turn facilitates continued Israeli aggression against Palestinians and Arabs of the Middle East and the compounding of Israeli influence over Western governments (aka the Israel lobby).

Yet Ghandi was in error only on this point. His statement that "a nation that believes its survival can only be ensured by weapons and bombs," and "would it not be better to befriend those who hate you?" is eminently rational.

Equally defensible is his comment: "apparently, in the modern world so determined to live by the bomb, this is an alien concept. You don't befriend anyone, you dominate them. We have created a culture of violence and that Culture of Violence is eventually going to destroy humanity."

But we are still left with the problem of who to blame, because make no mistake, someone or some group is responsible for the horrors that have beset humanity for so long.

The culprits do not belong to any organised religion, nor do they adhere to any political or social views, these are but distractions used to cement this controlling group's domination of the masses of ordinary people.

There is a word for the people of which I speak, a word which does not rely on ideologically derived definitions or convoluted rhetorical formulae, a word which cuts to the root of this human problem in a scientific and psychologically precise manner, circumventing the infinite feedback loop of

speculation which has enabled a lasting solution to evade us for so long.4 The word is psychopath.

Estimated at up to 6% of any given population, they are human beings in appearance only. Lacking the ability to empathise with the feelings of another person, they therefore lack that which defines a person as truly human. Recent research by British scientists has shown that the brains of psychopaths are fundamentally different to the brains of ordinary humans.5 Such deviants not only possess a natural advantage over normal human beings in the ease and speed with which they rise to positions of power, once there, they are free of the constraints of conscience and driven only by their need to dominate, control and ultimately destroy others. It is not hard to imagine that a group of such deviants, having recognised kindred spirits in each other and joined forces, and subsequently attained to positions of near absolute power, would wreak havoc on the rest of humanity. Indeed, in his seminal work on the subject, Without Conscience, Canadian psychologist Dr Robert Hare estimates that psychopaths are responsible for up to 50% of crime committed in society.6 But the crimes of the common or garden psychopath pale into insignificance when we consider the crimes of our psychopaths in power, aka our political leaders. George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, Tony Blair and his White Hall civil servants, all of these men (and more) committed the supreme international war crime (as defined in the Nuremberg trials) when they lied to the public and ordered the invasion of a sovereign country in 2003 without due cause. The Iraq invasion (there was no ‘war’) resulted in the violent deaths of 1.3 million Iraqi citizens, and a further 1.2 million non-violent deaths, and some 6 million displaced and left homeless.7 On the direct orders of the office of the Vice President, the CIA ran a death squad operation out of the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior which involved dozens of covert car bombings and massacres of Iraqi Shia and Sunni Muslims in an effort to create the ‘reality’ of a civil war in Iraq and thereby justify the continued US military and economic colonisation of the country.8 Today, those responsible for these massive crimes are not in jail but instead remain in positions of power and are lauded as ‘elder statesmen’.

Having identified the problem, the question then is what we can do about it.

A capacity to cheat, to compete and to lie has proven to be a stupendously successful adaptation for psychopaths, so the scope for saintliness to spontaneously spread throughout the world looks implausible in practice. Brotherly and sisterly love today is vanishingly rare, and the misery and suffering of those who are able to truly feel, who have a conscience, is all too common. The manipulations of psychopathic leaders, such as the promotion of torture as somehow justified, are designed to make psychopaths of us all. Nevertheless, a predisposition to conscience and ethics can prevail if and when it is able to make the enhancing of freedom and altruism in the abstract sense, for the sake of others, including our descendants, its primary goal.

So our first efforts must be focused on rejecting the black and white ‘us versus them’ thinking that has gained much ground over the past few decades. We must stop idiotically decrying the imminent dangers of the great ‘Jewish conspiracy’ or the Muslim hoard sweeping the world. It is not ‘the Jews’ ‘the Muslims, ‘the Christians’, ‘the Iranians’ or any other religious or ethnic group that we should be concerned about, but rather the existence of psychopaths in positions of power who use religious and cultural beliefs to divide and conquer the normal human population. In short, our "self-interest" ought to be vested in collectively ensuring that all others are happy and well-disposed too; and in ensuring that children we bring into the world have the option of being constitutionally happy and benevolent toward one another.

This means that if psychopathy threatens the well-being of the future of normal humanity - which it is doing - then it can be only be dealt with by widespread refusal to allow the self to be dominated by it on an individual, personal basis. Preserving freedom for the self in the practical sense, ultimately preserves freedom for others. Protection of our own rights as the rights of others, underwrites the free will position and potential for happiness and a peaceful future of all.

World 35 Full-body scanners used on air passengers may damage human DNA

by Mike Adams, The HEalth Ranger, Natural News Editor

I

n researching the biological effects of the millimeter wave scanners used for whole body imaging at airports, NaturalNews has learned that the energy emitted by the machines may damage human DNA. Millimeter wave machines represent one of two primary technologies currently being used for the "digital strip searches" being conducted at airports around the world.

"The Transportation Security Administration utilizes two technologies to capture naked images of air travelers backscatter x-ray technology and millimeter wave technology," reports the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a non-profit currently suing the U.S. government to stop these electronic strip searches. (http://epic.org/privacy/airtravel/backscatter) In order to generate the nude image of the human body, these machines emit terahertz photons -- high-frequency energy "particles" that can pass through clothing and body tissue.

The manufacturers of such machines claim they are perfectly safe and present no health risks, but a study conducted by Boian S. Alexandrov (and colleagues) at the Center for Nonlinear Studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico showed that these terahertz waves could "...unzip double-stranded DNA, creating bubbles in the double strand that could significantly interfere with processes such as gene expression and DNA replication."

In layman's terms, any time you're talking about interfering with "gene expression" and "DNA replication," you're essentially talking about something that could be a risk to human health.

as "medical devices."

(If you try to sell an X-ray imaging device yourself, without FDA approval, you'll be arrested. So why do these TSA suppliers get away with selling human body imaging equipment that has never been adequately safety tested or approved by the FDA?) The study cited in the TechnologyReview article mentioned above is visible at: http://arxiv.org/abs/0910.5294 There, study authors conclude: "Based on our results we argue that a specific terahertz radiation exposure may significantly affect the natural dynamics of DNA, and thereby influence intricate molecular processes involved in gene expression and DNA replication."

In other words, millimeter wave scanning devices may damage your DNA.

Could these scans cause cancer and birth defects?

Could these scans cause infertility? Cancer? Shortened lifespan? We don't yet know the answers to these questions, but then again neither does the TSA. This technology is being recklessly rolled out without adequate safety testing that would prove it safe for long-term use.

How many times in the past have the "experts" told us technologies were perfectly safe and then later we found out they were dangerous? X-Rays were once used in shoe stores to see if new shoes would fit the bone structure of your feet. High-voltage power lines are perfectly safe, we're told -- but then why do children who live closer to those lines have higher rates of cancer?

Dentists still claim that mercury fillings are perfectly safe for your health -- a preposterous notion -- and Never approved as safe for humans cell phone companies continue to insist that cell phone "At first glance, it's easy to dismiss any notion that radiation isn't hazardous to your health at all. Time and they can be damaging," reports TechnologyReview.com time again, the public has been lied to by the authorities (http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24331/). during the roll-out of some new technology. Why should "But a new generation of cameras are set to appear that not we believe that full-body scanners are safe when they've only record terahertz waves but also bombard us with them. never been proven safe? Furthermore, there is now reason And if our exposure is set to increase, the question that urto believe they may damage human DNA. gently needs answering is what level of terahertz exposure What if the experts are wrong about their safety and is safe." ten years later we find out that there is cumulative DNA And yet no such long-term safety testing has ever been damage that causes infertility and cancer? What if air conducted by a third party. There have been no clinical trials travelers who subject themselves to this radiation wind indicating that multiple exposures to such terahertz waves, up suffering some currently-unknown health condition as accumulated over a long period of time, are safe for humans. a result? At no time in the history of human civilization The FDA, in particular, has never granted its approval for have large numbers of humans ever been subjected to terany such devices even though these devices clearly qualify ahertz bombardment of this type and frequency.

Sure, you can argue that you get more radiation sitting in an airplane at high altitude than you get from a full-body scanner, or you can explain that cell phones emit far more radiation on the whole (which they do, when you're talking on them anyway). But if there's one thing we all should have learned about radiation by now it's that frequencies matter. The terahertz frequencies have never been rolled out en masse in a scanning technology. Who's to say they're going to be safe?

What about pregnant women? Can the TSA absolutely guarantee that these full-body scanners won't damage the DNA of the unborn babies? What if this technology becomes the next Thalidomide and ten months from now women start givThese images depict what the TSA sees when air passengers are subjected to ing birth to mutant babies full-body scans using millimeter wave technology and / or backscatter X-rays

who were damaged by terahertz radiation?

I'm not saying this is going to happen, but wouldn't it be wise to determine the safety of this technology in advance of its global rollout?

As the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements admitted in a 2002 report that studied these security devices: (http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/AC/03 /briefing/3987b1_pres-report.pdf) "[We] cannot exclude the possibility of a fatal cancer attributable to radiation in a very large population of people exposed to very low doses of radiation."

Barring solid evidence of the safety of this terahertzemitting technology, the TSA would be wise to follow the Precautionary Principle which states that we should err on the side of caution when it comes to the roll out of new technologies. Unfortunately, the TSA appears to be erring on the side of stupidity by subjecting the public to an unproven, "experimental" technology with unknown long-term effects on human DNA. And here's the real kicker: These full-body scanners do nothing to stop terrorists because they can't detect powder explosives in the first place. A determined terrorist can hide all sorts of powder in a shoe, or a sleeping pillow, or a plastic bag sewn into the side of his carry-on luggage. There are a thousand places for terrorists to hide explosives that won't be caught on full-body scanners, no matter how detailed the images are.

Besides, in order to avoid engaging in child pornography (because these machines offer very detailed depictions of body parts), the rules will allow people under 18 years of age to bypass them. So all you need then, if you're a terrorist, is a 17-year-old terrorist assistant who can pack explosives in his own underwear.

Radiology experts claim full-body scanners are safe Radiology experts are claiming that the radiation emitted from these full-body scanners is perfectly safe for you.

Then again, they also claim mammograms are safe, and recent science has now proven that mammograms cause cancer.

When it comes to radiation safety, you can't trust radiologists. They say all that radiation is safe for YOU, but then they flee the room when the X-rays are turned on, ever notice that? They really have zero credibility when talking about the long-term safety of medical imaging devices.

Most doctors, similarly, don't have any real clue how much radiation is emitted by a CT scan!

As BusinessWeek reports: (http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/634724.html) "The health effects of the more common millimeterwave scanners are largely unknown, and at least one expert believes a safety study is warranted.

'I am very interested in performing a National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements study on the use of millimeter-wave security screening systems,' said Thomas S. Tenforde, council president."

The New York Times adds: (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/health/09scanner.html) "Collectively, the radiation doses from the scanners incrementally increase the risk of fatal cancers among the thousands or millions of travelers who will be exposed, some radiation experts believe."

NYT goes on to state that the TSA has entered into a contract under which it could purchase 900 full-body scanners to be deployed in airport all across the country.

Resources: -Physics Letters, January 8, 2010 http://arxiv.org/abs/0910.5294 -Technology Review: http://www.technologyreview.com/blo...

-Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millim...

-New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/h...

36

World

Ron Paul: “The CIA Runs Everything” Infowars.com

T

he CIA was created at the behest of the bankers on Wall Street. OSS spook and Wall Street lawyer Frank Wisner was recruited by Dean Acheson to work under Charles Saltzman, at the State Department’s Office of Occupied Territories in 1947. The CIA’s first director, Allen Dulles, was a Wall Street lawyer.

The CIA is Wall Street’s finely honed tool for the neoliberal agenda of the banksters. “A considerable proportion of the developed world’s prosperity rests on paying the lowest possible prices for the poor countries’ primary products and on exporting high-cost capital and finished goods to those countries. Continuation of this kind of prosperity requires continuation of the relative gap between developed and underdeveloped countries – it means keeping poor people poor,” former CIA agent Philip Agee wrote. “Increasingly, the impoverished masses are understanding that the prosperity of the developed countries and of the privileged minorities in their own countries is founded on their poverty.”

“Throughout its entire history, the CIA has set up an elaborate shell game of ‘proprietaries’ (front companies), money-laundering operations and off-the-books projects so complex that no outsider — and few insiders — could ever keep track of them. BCCI was neither the first nor the last of these,” writes Mark Zepezauer.

-Excerpt from the Campaign for Liberty Regional Conference in Atlanta, GA. As the crowd begins to cheer, Ron Paul states, “We need to take out the CIA”.

“They are a government unto themselves. They’re in

business, they’re in the drug business… and… they take out dictators. We need to take out the CIA.” Also, the CIA have infiltrated the Ron Paul Presidential Campaign: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOIUWy… From Raw Story: US House Rep. Ron Paul says the CIA has in effect carried out a “coup” against the US government, and the intelligence agency needs to be “taken out.”

Speaking to an audience of like-minded libertarians at a Campaign for Liberty regional conference in Atlanta this past weekend, the Texas Republican said: There’s been a coup, have you heard? It’s the CIA coup. The CIA runs everything, they run the military.

They’re the ones who are over there lobbing missiles and bombs on countries. … And of course the CIA is every bit as secretive as the Federal Reserve. … And yet think of the harm they have done since they were established [after] World War II. They are a government unto themselves. They’re in businesses, in drug businesses, they take out dictators … We need to take out the CIA. Paul’s comments, made last weekend, were met with a loud round of applause, but they didn’t gather attention until bloggers noticed a clip of the event at YouTube.

Paul appeared to be referring to news reports that the CIA is deeply involved in air strikes against Al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A suicide bombing late last year against Forward Operating Base Chapman

Dr Ron Paul, U.S. Congressman in Afghanistan took the lives of seven of CIA operatives, including two contracted from Blackwater. The event highlighted the CIA’s deep involvement in the war effort.

Paul’s reference to the CIA being “in the drug business” refers to long-running allegations that the CIA has funded some of its covert operations with proceeds from drug-running. That claim was most famously made in a 1996 investigative report from the San Jose Mercury-News, which alleged that cocaine from the Contra-Sandinista civil war in Nicaragua was making its way to the streets of L.A. via the CIA.

THE NEW NAZI HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA IS DEFEATED BY POPULAR OUTRAGE IN THE MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION: A PRELUDE TO THE IMPEACHMENT OF OBAMA?

by Paul Glumaz

M

any in Canada are wondering what in the heck is going on in the U.S?. First we are told after the U.S. Senate passed the actual Obama version of the Health Care Reform in the U.S. Senate, that it was a “done deal.” Just now we find out that there will be no health care reform and that Obama was defeated.

How does that work? What happened?

What happened is that the American people saw through all the lies and thousands of pages of obfuscation, Obama doubletalk, and most of a year of spin doctoring by the press to come to the realization that they were on the chopping block! They discovered that the health care reform was not about health care, or about reform. Rather it was the most reactionary attack on the general welfare of U.S. population since the days of Southern Confederate Slavery.

First of all it was not about socialized medicine, especially the Senate or Obama version. The Senate version of the bill centered on creating a non-elected, appointed board was called the Independent Medical Advisory Board. The legislation stated that once this had become law, it was in perpetuity and no further acts by the U.S. Congress could alter this legislation. This is very unconstitutional. The purpose of this Board as legislated was to oversee drastic cuts in the health care provided to the population. It was empowered by law to cut off treatment to entire sectors of the population without a system of appeals to its decisions. One purpose of these drastic cuts was to use the savings therein as leverage for the bailouts of Wall Street and the international banking community.

Contained in this health care package was also a more disguised form of even larger bailout of the banks. This is because the international banks and the insurance companies are generally the same entity. In the Health Care Bill there is further established the basis to shift an even greater amount of the shrinking health care dollars to the accounts of the insurance industry. It also sets it up so that the banks can pass their losses due to financial speculation by increasing health insurance premiums to the population.

There are three ways in which this works. First, it would have become illegal for anyone not to have health insurance. They would have had no choice by law but to buy health insurance from a private insurance company. If they didn’t, they would have been penalized with a significant fine. This was way beyond the U.S. Constitution. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would have administer the system of fines. One would have had to prove in one’s tax returns that one had a health insurance contract with a private insurer. The private insurer would also have had to inform the IRS on who had insurance. If one did not buy health insurance from a private insurer then the IRS would have charged one a penalty, which would have had to be

paid like a delinquent tax, with all headaches that would have brought with it.. Those too poor to be able to buy insurance would have had to go through another bureaucratic morass to prove their poverty in order to be eligible for the government to pick-up part of the tab for their private insurance.

Second, since the private insurers (the banks) would have been all powerful in this arrangement they could have then proceeded to increase their insurance fees on the population. The increased fees by the insurers would then be used to further bail out the banks.

Third, the insurance companies could continue and increase their usual practices of contesting claims, delaying payments, and all the things that lead to dramatic increased costs in paper work and litigation fees. The insurance companies make their profit by denying care.

Now with the Independent Medical Board dictatorship and the IRS behind them they can accelerate the process of looting the public as the Independent Medical Advisory Board dictatorship slashes health care costs accelerating the death process.But that is not all. Hidden in the legislation were provisions to hasten death through terminal sedation, euthanasia, as a necessary cost cutting measure.

With the Senate version of the bill, the legal power existed, with the Board, to hasten one’s death if it was deemed that one was terminally ill. Not only was this not appeal able, but medical institutions that waste money on saving lives, or not meeting the Board’s cost criteria could be penalized and have their funds withheld. Doctors could and fined as well for not following the Board’s cost cutting guidelines on treatment.

Then there is the issue of Public Teaching Hospitals.

In many areas of the country where poverty is prevalent, there are networks of public teaching hospitals that provide charity care. This is how millions of poor get their care. The Senate version of the bill had provisions in it for public funds to these hospitals to be redirected to more efficient hospitals in affluent areas because these public hospitals in the poorer areas are not “cost effective.” The Senate version was aimed at shutting down the public hospital system, which was the last place for the poor to get treatment, and which was one of the last areas of health care dollars that the insurance companies couldn’t get their greedy hands on. These public hospitals are also the hospitals that provided much of the emergency services that save lives in urban areas.

It is no coincidence that the Senate version of the bill was to Hitler’s T-4 decree in 1939. At that time Hitler wanted to defray the costs of the war by in part cutting health care to the German population. An independent board was established by Hitler to do just what the independent board in the Senate version was intended to do.

This Board was to be staffed, as was Hilter’s T-4 Board, with leading bioethicists, like Ezekiel Emmanuel, from today’s Hasting Center, the leading institution in the U.S. that was founded by the eugenics movement and promotes euthanasia as a budget saving alternative.

Like in Nazi Germany, the all powerful Independent Medical Advisory Board in the Senate version of the bill was intended to become an efficient utilitarian killing machine run for the purpose of bailing out the banks and eliminating the poor, the elderly, the sick and the disabled. Peter Orzag, Obama’s budget director has said in various op eds that once the health bill would have been passed and signed, the next place for change was to be accelerated cuts to social security to cut make it “more efficient.” Going after the elderly and the disabled on social security was to be the next step after the Nazi Health Care Bill would have becomes law.

This did not occur. The Massachusetts election was the only way for the growing popular dissent in the U.S. against President Obama and the Congress to express itself, and express itself it did! It was a shock heard around the world!

You would think that Obama might have gotten the message after what happened in Massachusetts. Well he didn’t! Obama is now issuing a Presidential decree to establish another “board” with the same purpose, but for the entire budgetary process that is the Constitutional prerogative of the U.S. Congress. Increasingly Obama is seeking to go outside the Constitution of the U.S. and do to the United States, what the global financiers have done to the developing countries first, through the IMF in the 1970’s and 1980’s, and then Europe in the 2000’s, through the Maastricht Agreement of the European Union and the Lisbon Treaty. Obama’s intentions are clear: To hand over U.S. economic sovereignty residing in the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Constitution to unelected boards representing the looting interests of a global financial empire.

A document calling for consideration of the grounds to impeach President Obama has now begun circulating in the U.S. Its initial sponsor is the political movement of Lyndon LaRouche. Many others are now looking into the issue of whether this will have to be done, and on what grounds.

As demonstrated in Massachusetts on January 19th, the Congress may be willing to capitulate to fascism, but the American people are not! The question therefore is will the resignation, and/or impeachment of President Barak Obama be occurring in the short term?

(Paul Glumaz is a northwest organizer for the LaRouche movement. The next chapter meetings in Vancouver are Friday February 12th, and Saturday, February 27th. The meetings are held at 5024 Rumble in Burnaby at 7:00 P.M.)

World

37

Chavez and the Russian Fleet: U.S. Used “Earthquake Weapon” On Haiti

by Kurt Nimmo

E

arlier this week, a Spanish newspaper quoted Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez as saying the U.S. Navy caused the Haiti earthquake with a tectonic weapon. The Venezuelan media reported that the earthquake “may be associated with the project called HAARP, a system that can generate violent and unexpected changes in climate,” Press TV reported on January 21.

Chavez cited a report from Russia’s Northern Fleet.

According to the report, the U.S. Navy made a mistake with a secret “earthquake weapon” and the result was the Haitian earthquake. The Russians believe the intended target was Iran. “Though Russian Northern Fleets’ report was not confirmed by official sources, the comments attracted special attention in some US and Russian media outlets including Fox news and Russia Today,” writes Pragmatic Witness blog. “Russia Today’s report said that Moscow has also been accused of possessing and utilizing such weapons.”

“Speaking on his weekly television show, Chavez opined that the U.S. mission in Haiti was a ruse to initiate military occupation,” the New York Daily News said.

Venezuelan media added, “that the U.S. government’s HAARP program, an atmospheric research facility in Alaska (and frequent subject of conspiracy theories), was also to blame for a Jan. 9 quake in Eureka, Calif., and may have been behind the 7.8-magnitude quake in China that killed nearly 90,000 people in 2008,” Fox News reported on Thursday.

In 1997, former U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen made the following statement: “Others [terrorists] are engaging even in an eco-type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves… So there are plenty of ingenious minds out there that are at work finding ways in which they can wreak terror upon other nations…It’s real, and that’s the reason why we have to intensify our [counterterrorism] efforts.”

Cohen was talking about longitudinal EM wave interferometers (LWI) technology (also known as “Tesla howitzers”). LWI waves can effortlessly pass through the ocean and earth. Experts claim LWI waves can in fact pass through the earth and emerge on the other side. The United States and Russia have possessed this technology for decades.

Cohen would have you believe it is a technology that only terrorists would use. It depends on who you would call a terrorist.

In 1966, Professor Gordon J. F. MacDonald, associate director of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at the University of California, Los Angeles, was a member of the President’s Science Advisory Committee. MacDonald published papers on the use of environmental-control technologies for military purposes, including “earthquake engineering” (he also wrote about weather manipulation, climate modification, polar ice cap melting or destabilization, ozone depletion techniques).

“The revealed secrets surprised legislators,” writes Dr. Nick Begich. “Would an inquiry into the state of the art of electromagnetic manipulation surprise lawmakers today? They may find out that technologies developed out of the HAARP experiments in Alaska could deliver on Gordon MacDonald’s vision because leading-edge scientists are describing global weather as not only air pressure and thermal systems, but also as an electrical system.”

Jesse Ventura detailed the HAARP program on his popular truTV show Conspiracy Theory: Of course, we have no direct evidence the Pentagon used HAARP to touch off a massive earthquake in Haiti.

The U.S., however, has exploited the earthquake to send the military to the stricken island nation. “They brazenly occupied Haiti without consulting the UN or the OAS (Organization of American States),” said Chavez earlier in the week. Bolivian President Evo Morales said Wednesday he would request an emergency UN meeting “to repudiate and reject this military occupation of the United States in Haiti.”

A Call to the People of the World to Support Iceland Against Financial Blackmail

J

anuary 5, 2010 is a historical day for Icelanders.

Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson had difficult choices to make. To listen to the 23 percent of the nation that signed a petition calling on him to put the state guarantee for $5.4 billion to be paid to the British and Dutch governments to a national referendum. Or to ignore the nation and sign the bill for the government, after the bill had been passed through the parliament with a narrow vote on December 30, 2009 after months of acrimonious debate, tainted with secrecy and dishonesty on the part of the government.

Every day throughout the debate, new information would emerge and documents would be leaked to local media or wikileaks. Yesterday, the people of Iceland finally had a chance to have something to say about their fate, because if the state guarantee is accepted it will mean that Iceland will become like a third world country, spending its GDP largely on paying interest on foreign debt.

Last summer, a bill for a state guarantee was passed that had a significant meaning not only for Iceland, but also for other nations around the world facing the same problems of private debt being forced on taxpayers. The bill included a reasonable and fair way of handling the interest and the debt: Icelanders would pay, but only a certain percentage of their GDP, and if there were to be another financial black hole, they would not pay during that time.

Thus it comes as no surprise that the Dutch and British governments reacted so swiftly with a condemnation of Iceland’s citizens for having the audacity to think they have the

“It’s not right the United States should use this natural disaster to invade and militarily occupy Haiti,” he told a press conference.

“The unspoken mission of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) with headquarters in Miami and US military installations throughout Latin America is to ensure the maintenance of subservient national regimes, namely US proxy governments, committed to the Washington Consensus and the neoliberal policy agenda,” writes Michel Chossudovsky.

“While US military personnel will at the outset be actively involved in emergency and disaster relief, this renewed US military presence in Haiti will be used to establish a foothold in the country as well pursue America’s strategic and geopolitical objectives in the Caribbean basin, which are largely directed against Cuba and Venezuela.”

The objective is not to work towards the rehabilitation of the national government, the presidency, the parliament, all of which has been decimated by the earthquake. Since the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship, America’s design has been to gradually dismantle the Haitian State, restore colonial patterns and obstruct the functioning of a democratic government. In the present context, the objective is not only to do away with the government but also to revamp the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), of which the headquarters have been destroyed…

Prior to the earthquake, there were, according to US military sources, some 60 US military personnel in Haiti.

From one day to the next, an outright military surge has occurred: 10,000 troops, marines, special forces, intelligence operatives, etc., not to mention private mercenary forces on contract to the Pentagon.

In all likelihood the humanitarian operation will be used as a pretext and justification to establish a more permanent US military presence in Haiti.

Is it possible the Pentagon would kill 100,000 or more Haitians to realize such a project?

The U.S. killed well over a million Iraqis, why not a 100,000 or so Haitians?

BY Birgitta Jonsdottir

right to exercise their democratic rights in deciding for themselves what is in the best economic interests of their nation.

Let’s also put this debt into perspective: 320,000 people live in Iceland, each and every person on the island, including children and the elderly, the disabled and the poor, would have to pay around $30,000 under the bill. The danger if Icelanders accept this enormous burden is that the entire welfare system would simply collapse with no money to run it. On January 5 the Icelandic president had the courage, backed up by his nation, to place the interest of the people before that of the banks.

Of course there has been an incredible spin by the government controlled media, attacking the nation and the president for this simple and fair demand. The UK and Dutch media were also full of misleading news, saying the nation had demanded not to pay, and that we would become isolated and there were even suggestions that the British navy should flex its muscles against this nation which has no military. As if the terrorist act they imposed on us was not enough during the darkest hour of our crises to bring us further down!

The spin is failing because people around the world are finally starting to hear our side of the story, and other suppressed nations have perhaps seen this as a sign that they can also rise up against the corpocracy in our world where those with the money have as a rule always won.

Let’s hope the nation will not been coaxed into fear of isolation and let’s hope the people of the world will join

www.SaveThePeopleofIceland.com in this experiment of letting the interest of the peoples rise above the interests of banks, corporations, and international bullies such as the IMF. We need your support. I will soon issue a comprehensive report on the entire Icesave saga.

Love and rage from Iceland, Birgitta Jónsdóttir, party group chair for The Movement in the Icelandic Parliament.

Documentation: I append links to the files about Icesave that were leaked to wikileaks, and which show how the EU member states blackmailed Iceland into the same corner the government helped push it into by accepting the Icesave bill. This file also contains letters between the main financial adviser to the Iceland finance minister and Mark Flanagan of the IMF: http://file.wikileaks.org/leak/icesave-eu7.pdf and http://file.wikileaks.org/leak/icesave-eu7.pdf Watch the amazing four part Interview with Birgitta online. Just go to Youtube.com and search Birgitta Jónsdóttir.

38

World

Raw View:

by T he A g

oraP hile

Unedited interviews from the inside Prorogue Rally: Jan 23rd, Art Gallery & Victory Square [*] = Interviewee Recommended Websites Why are you here?

6. “Cuz I don’t like Stephen Harper.” – Megan, cool girl #1 [Facebook] 5. “Well, we don’t live in a Banana Republic. We live in a Democracy and we think we should change what’s going on.” – Perry Marlet, chocolate covered almond vender. [LeChocolat.com] 4. “I’m here to connect the dots between the detainees scandal and Harpers desire to avoid that scandal during the Olympics. We’re opposed of course as an anti-war organization to the war and occupation in Afghanistan anyway and this is just another example. –Alicia, StopWar.ca.

[Rabble.ca, DemocracyNow with Amy Goodman] 3. “We’re here to join the rally, obviously. And we’re here to promote fair vote Canada, to try and persuade people that we need a new electoral system so we wouldn’t have this kind of nonsense in Ottawa. We would have a fair voting system and a more consensual government.

The problem here is that we have an elected dictator who is abusing his power. And you know, whenever you have power, there is the possibility of abusing it, you have to exercise power responsibly. And you know, I’ve been in power, I know perfectly well that there are all kinds of things you mustn’t do. “ -David Huntly [FairVoteCanada.ca] 2. “I’m here because this is the final straw. I’ve been watching this conservative government play fast and loose with the rules of Canadian parliamentary democracy for the 4 years it’s been in power, and since before they were in power. And I’m disgusted, frankly, with their complete disdain for the Canadian people.” –Desmond Rodenberry [CBC reader] 1. “I actually was just walking down the street and all these people came out of nowhere so I just followed them.” –Anonymous [Youtube] What would you guess is the turnout today?

“Thousands. Hundreds of thousands. No. Umm. 800.” (at art Gallery before march) “Maybe 2000” “Hard to tell. At least 4 or 5 thousand.” (on hastings heading to victory square.)

“Pretty good. I’d say we got 2000-4000 here.”

“Easily 7000, my entire Greek family is here!”

What do you think of the March being guided by the police?

“I’m all for it. I’m calling for it right now. We gotta walk. We gotta take it to the streets to effect people.”

–Thomas, Canadian Flag Waver “It’s kind of contradictory isn’t it. I guess I can’t really judge people on who they are and what they do. It’s kind of good in a way that it’s gonna make it more peaceful. “ –Lindsay, Youthful Protester Chica [Alternet.org, youtube]

“Well you know they always do quite frankly. I don’t have a problem with it. I‘ve never been to a peace march where the police are a problem really. I think on the whole they do a good job.” – Margaret, Banner Wielder [Various List Serves,The Province] “It’s actually kind of nice. It’s nice that we’re in Canada, that it’s not as American, as aggressive as the Americans can be. It’s nice that the police are at least, I don’t know, showing that they’re supporting of this kind of thing. Whether they really are is another question.” – Caroline Sudbury “I think it’s a sign of how impotent and controlled these kinds of protests are becoming. You need a permit for everything. The police are here to ensure the protest doesn’t turn into something that can actually effect change, shake up the establishment. The protesters get to feel like they are exercising freedoms, like they are a part of some democratic process, but really they are only acting within the confines laid out for them by the very establishment they seek to oppose. Their frustration and justified anger is vented innocuously and nobody in government or big business really needs to worry. It’s like Bush’s free speech zones. Ah, I guess they’re Obama’s zones now.” –Damen, Art Student [Globalresearch.ca] How do you think the media will report this?

“Well that’s interesting. I think they will report it just about proroguing parliament. They’ll stick to that issue because it is easy to report, it’s out in the open and not too controversial. They are missing the boat on the reasons for the prorogation. I don’t believe for one minute that it’s about Harper afraid of questioning regarding torture in Afghanistan. The media is totally at the whim of whoever is running things and if they’re told to back off on the torture allegations they will do so. I think they probably have by now.” -Tony [Rense.com, Infowars.com] Do you know much about the Prorogation?

“No, I don’t. I don’t follow the news very well.”

Why is that?

“The news that you get more easily, newspaper etc, doesn’t really cover many issues, you know. Most of it is entertainment or celebrity news or crap like that.”

What would a newspaper need for it to be even the slightest bit appealing for somebody like you?

“Umm, well it would have to cut the bullshit.

Most newspapers are full of it. They’re owned by whoever they’re owned by and talk about whatever they want to talk about. A newspaper that actually covered things that were happening and reported it to people would be nice. One that was well accessible, online and on paper, would be nice. The news nowadays is very biased towards whoever owns the newspaper, usually. So, you don’t hear about a lot of the stuff going on that we should

be hearing about. Like, news criticizing Harper and what he is doing. He’s not the top of the food chain at all. Like, nobody cares about anybody higher than the president or the prime minister but that’s what we should be looking at, really.”

Is anything missing at this rally?

“Umm, I don’t know. I don’t really know what this specific event is about. Lots of talk about perogies and stuff, I’m not sure what that’s all about. I’m glad that this is happening because there were other protests I’d heard about that had been poorly attended or canceled. So, this is nice, that there are a lot of people at this” Near the end of the rally, a speech by David Eby of the BC Civil Liberties Union was interrupted by a war veteran named Reginald Angus Argue. Reginald commandeered the microphone and made his voice heard before of a crowd of thousands. The Agora caught up with him after the fervor had died down: “I was told on January 11th and on January 15th that I could speak at this event. I was sent an email on Thursday night, and in the email it said, and I quote, ‘Unfortunately we had to shorten the program due to logistic issues. The content committee of which I am not a member had to make hard decisions about what speakers to include.

They decided your speech wouldn’t fit in the program.’ So in other words, the speech that supports keeping the war resistors here, that’s against the Afghanistan war and calls it illegal, a speech that says Harper is not adhering to the oaths he swore to the Canadian people, that Harper is governing as a rogue; they’re saying this kind of speech won’t fit into the program. What kind of program do they have?”

“Basically that was my beef. I wanted to know how they could do this to a veteran, how could you have the gall to hold a protest at Victory Square, a place laden with plaques of other military veterans who have died for this country, and not even allow one veteran to speak at the rally? That is spitting in the face of veterans. It doesn’t have to be me. Just allow any Canadian or American veteran to be heard. It’s nothing more than members of political parties, BC civil liberties… don’t get me wrong, these are organizations that should be heard, but at the same time, there’s that one private members bill regarding the war resistors, that’s what gives vets the right to speak here. It’s our young brothers and sisters that have the right to stay in this nation, which I fully support. Rodney Watson right now is held up in the first United Church over on East Hastings.

He has the right to remain a Canadian. Brad Mckall, somewhere in Canada, also has that right.”

“When they put this prorogue into effect, they are basically killing the private members bill that supports keeping the war resistors here. So in other words this is going to have to be reintroduced, and so what’s happening is, by them refusing to allow a war resistor to speak at this rally, someone that’s a veteran that supports keeping the war resistors here, they’re telling the war resistors it’s time to go home.”

The Agora Presents:

change makers Changing the World, One Date at a Time

Are you so busy changing the world that you have no time to date?

Having a hard time meeting a partner who is inspired and driven towards a greater good?

Do dates find you too intense because you speak about what truly matters to you?

The Agora is now hosting a monthly Speed Dating night to connect you with people who share your values.

Meet people who will inspire you, captivate you, and ignite you.

Find your soul mate... find your change maker.

First Sunday of the month, beginning March 7th 7-9 pm The SIN BIN Bar and Grill, 295 W 2nd ave Appies and Door Prizes $30 in advance $35 at the door register at changemakers@theagoranational.ca

World

39

Artist Spotlight

To buy any of Jordan Turner’s art seen in the Agora please send your enquiry to buyart@theagoranational.ca

Jordan P Turner

is a visual artist working out of Vancouver’s own Gropps Gallery on Main and 6th (that creepy old house). For more art and information or to contact him, please visit jordanturner.ca

To see more of Jordan P Turners art, check out www.jordanturner.ca or come out to the 'Blood and Culture' show at Gropps Gallery. He, along with many other local artist will have their work displayed at this show. ‘Blood and Culture’ is free and open to the pubic. Come out, enjoy some art and meet some local artists, intellectuals and eccentrics. There will be lots of local art for sale at reasonable prices along with a very strange and unique environment that has to be experienced.

Interview with Vancouver artist, Jordan P Turner, by Isaac K Oommen - Can you imagine that very first time that you decided you wanted to paint? What was it?

My first painting was of an old man, smoking a long golden pipe painted with oils on black velvet. Black Velvet?

Yup. I was about 8 years old, I fancied myself an artist already. I don’t actually know why I chose this subject, I don’t think I was thinking too much at this point in life. I never actually finished the piece. I still have it somewhere, you want it?

It kicks off with a party on Thursday, February 11th and runs until Saturday February 27th.

Hours of operation: 1pm-8pm (Sunday-Thursday), 1pm-1am (Friday-Saturday)

- Have you ever had something that you painted or created that was particularly difficult for you to create personally?

For more Show and gallery information Check out:

www.groppsgallery.com

I’d have to say that the most difficult pieces that I have made are images of myself. I have a few self-portraits that will never see the light of day, they are just too…haggard. I have others too, that only represent a quarter of who or what I believe myself to be. It’s usually a head-trip.

- Tell us about the importance of the crow to many of your paintings Ha! I love crows. They are everywhere in Vancouver. Have you ever seen them traversing Vancouver on their way to their roost in the trees east of the Willingdon freeway exit? It’s amazing. What a journey. No one knows why they do it. The mystery continues. With all of my Crow art, I’m trying to honor and understand crows, both in anthropology and in mythology. I also love all of the stories surrounding crows and ravens. How they created the world of men, or cried wolf, or stole the sun, or served as eyes and ears to gods. Good stuff. They give me a lot to think about.

Juan De Fuca 2

$ 1000

watercolours on paper, 28.5 x 15 inches

- You sometimes use apocalyptic themes. Why? Yup, I do dwell on apocalyptic themes from time to time. Atom bombs and Zombies are sometimes where my heads at. Why? I blame it on the media. I’ve grown up in an era where a good fifth of the major blockbuster movies are about world destruction (zombies, rogue waves, atomic bombs, environmental collapse, flue viruses…you name it, it’s killed us off). Not only are we fed a diet of Collapse in the theater, we also choke on it in our news media. Fear! FEAR! THE END IS EXTREMELY F@#*ING NEIGH. I am simply reflecting this cultural anxiety, and having a little fun in the process. I just love painting zombies and bombs, they have a kitsch value that does it for me.

- Apart from having social and political messages, can paintings ever be purely fun?

Heck yes! Like I was saying before, I paint Zombies simply for the fun Kitsch value. They aren’t saying anything that hasn’t been said better elsewhere. They could speak to disease, or flue, or consumption….but sometimes they just make you smile the only way a B-flick horror film can.

- How much of your work is self-taught and how much was taught by mentors?

I was lucky enough in life to have been mentored by British Columbian Artist, Ken Ellis. I worked one-on-one with Mr. Ellis for over 6 years during my teens. I pretty much learned the technicality of painting during those years.

I also learned my watercolour style from him and will be forever grateful (see Trooper). I also learned how to airbrush from another local artist who went by the name of Randal the Artist. I helped him paint clowns on the sides of carnie vehicles and rides. Fun! Much of my recent theoretical learning has come from the completion of a bachelors Degree in fine arts and history from the Fraser Valley. The rest…I taught myself.

- Who are your favorite artists?

Right now one of my favorite artists has to be local Vancouver artists Jordan Bent (www.jordanbent.com). He’s awesome and impressive. I also love the work of Jennifer Chernecki, a friend and fellow Gropps Gallery crew member. Find her bio at (www.elliottlouis.com/Artists/Jennifer_Chernecki.asp ) she’s fully worth it.

- What about from outside your medium? What sort of music, film, books and photography bleed into your work?

Like I said above, a lot of Appocalyptical type films make it into my art. As for books, I could, without a doubt say that “Collapse” by Jared Diamond has had a big effect on me and what/why I paint. As for music of photography, I cant think of any specific photographer or song that has changed me. I love the art and music of Chad VanGaalen though, and am just right now getting into the piano of Chopin (his Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23…wow!)

- You often talk about stories and how they're told.

How do your paintings tell stories?

I like to think that each of my paintings tells a different story to every observer, regardless of my intent. A crow is not always the same symbol to all. I usually try to go for emotions instead: peace, love, fear, sadness, freedom. No matter the quality of a story, if emotions are lacking than the story falls flat.

Ten Eyes On You oil on canvas, 2.5 x 5 feet

$ 3000

Le Corbeau et la Renard (on back cover) oil on canvas, 4 x 2.5 feet

$ 900

PAGE 39

ART BY JORDAN TURNER

LE CORBEAU ET LE RENARD