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The Pas, OCN, Cranberry Portage, Flin Flon, Wanless, Wabowden, Nelson House, Norway House, Cross Lake, Snow Lake, Thompson, Gillam, Ponton, Split Lake, Grand Rapids, Easterville, Ashern Published Monthly by local businesses and distributed thru out the Communities of Northern Manitoba Issue # 19 - May/June 2013
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Become Aware, Informed, Take a Stand, Voice Your Opinion! The Union of Scientists and Professionals at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Headquarters Office, which represents over 1,500 scientists at EPA, has gone on record as opposing water fluoridation due to concerns about fluoride’s health effects. According to the Union, “In summary, we hold that fluoridation is an unreasonable risk.”
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Manitoba RCMP News
Winnipeg police search for man connected to February shooting
Sheldon David
Within the last 12 months RCMP have seized eight restricted firearms, four prohibited firearms and several unrestricted firearms that had been in the possession of persons who were not licenced. RCMP have also charged eight people with cocaine trafficking offences, six with marijuana trafficking offences, and two people with trafficking in other controlled substances. “The safety and well-being of the community are the RCMP’s ultimate goals,” said Staff Sergeant Noel Allard, NCO in charge of The Pas Detachment. “Each and every arrest, project, seizure or investi
Police are searching for Sheldon David Contois, 19, in connection to a shooting. Winnipeg police are looking for a 19year-old man wanted in connection to a February shooting.
Contois, considered armed and dangerous.
The Major Crimes Unit is asking for the public's help in finding Sheldon David Contois in connection to a Feb. 22. shooting at an apartment building in the 200 block of Talbot Avenue. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Police urge members of the public not to approach Contos, who is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact Major Crimes Unit investigators at 204-9866219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).
The Pas - RCMP focus on drug and firearms enforcement This past year, The Pas and Opaskwayak RCMP have been involved in a focused, intelligence-led enforcement program dealing with drug and firearm enforcement in the community.
gation sends a message and makes a difference in the community.” Between April 5, 2013 and April 7, 2013 The Pas and Opaskwayak RCMP, continuing with this focused enforcement, made several arrests. As a result, four people were charged with possession for purpose of trafficking cocaine and one male was charged with numerous firearms offences, including possession of a loaded prohibited firearm. Cocaine and several firearms were seized by police.
Multitasking drivers a risk on the road Times have changed with all the new technology available to drivers. What hasn’t changed is the danger a distracted driver poses to others on the road. Anything that takes the attention of a driver away from the task of driving is a concern for all of us who share the road. As part of Road Safety Strategy 2015, which has the goal for Canada to have the safest roads in the world, Manitoba RCMP officers are doing their part. More than 600 people were charged by Manitoba RCMP for either talking or texting while driving last year. Cell phones are the number one distraction for drivers. However, RCMP officers encounter many other examples of distracted driving that are equally dangerous to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Some examples of distractions encountered by officers include: Grooming Eating and drinking Reading the paper Watching videos Changing the radio station, CD, MP3 player Using a navigation system The summer months will be upon us soon. Typically, that means more drivers on the road, often going faster. Let’s keep our hands on the wheel and our eyes on the road. The RCMP’s goal is to make the roads a safe place to be. Let’s pay attention. Our families and friends are worth it.
On average, a ticket for distracted driving is approximately $200.
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Revolver seized from a traveller at the South Junction border crossing into Manitoba That was just one of the many highlights over the past two months released by the Canada Border Services Agency.
A Minnesota man was attempting to cross into Canada when his vehicle was examined. CBSA officers found loose rifle ammunition and shotgun shells. They later examined the centre console area and found a holstered, loaded revolver. The man was arrested for smuggling a gun into Canada, and the firearm and vehicle were seized. Border agents refused him entry into Canada and he was returned to the U.S. *** CBSA officers in Boissevain seized numerous drugs from inside a duffle bag being transported by an Alberta couple. Their vehicle was also seized since it was used to smuggle the contraband. *** Manitoba man charged with child porn at border crossing. A man was trying to get back into Canada from the U.S., but got charged with possession of child pornography instead. Jason Marc Michel Moreau, 28, from Stanley, Manitoba stopped for a search at the North Portal Border Crossing near Estevan. During the search of his personal effects by officers of the Canada Border Services Agency they allegedly found suspected child pornography on his laptop. He was arrested and turned
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page 3 over to RCMP. Moreau is being charged with possession of child pornography and voyeurism. *** A man who snuck into Manitoba by crossing from the U.S. on a bicycle has been captured in Winnipeg. Staeton Grant allegedly crossed the U.S.Canada border illegally sneaking into Manitoba and making his way to Winnipeg. Grant, 40, was seen riding a bicycle on the American side of the border, near the Boissevain port of entry, fewminutes later, he was seen on the Canadian side by the same people, who became suspicious and called RCMP. RCMP found him in the town of Boissevain but he fled when they attempted to arrest him, leaving his bicycle and backpack behind. He managed to elude police and make his way to Winnipeg. Staeton Kevin Grant was located at a city residence on Tuesday just after 5 p.m. and arrested by Canadian border enforcement officers with the assistance of the Winnipeg police. He remains in custody.
Long winter could kill nearly half of Manitoba’s deer Manitoba Conservation says 30 to 40% of deer population will die. Manitoba Conservation is estimating the province’s unseasonably cold weather will kill off a major amount of deer.
Conservation officials expect 30 to 40 percent of the province’s deer population will die from the extended winter — double the number that normally dies over winter, said Ken Rebizant, Manitoba Conservation’s big game manager. It could be years before the population recovers, he added. “In all likelihood, the population will recover within a few years, given of course, that we don’t have another severe winter in the short term,” Rebizant said, adding deer have an amazing reproductive capacity. Rebizant said the public should not disturb deer this time of year because the animals will expend extra energy.
Manitoba sales tax to rise to help pay for deficit WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s NDP government will raise the provincial sales tax to pay for flood-fighting and will scrap a law requiring that the matter first be put to a referendum. Provincial budget increases the sales tax to eight per cent from seven per cent effective July 1. The move would normally require a public vote under the province’s balanced budget law, but the government said there’s no time for that. “We’ll waive the requirement … for a referendum,” Finance Minister Stan Struthers said. “We think we need to move very quickly. We can’t afford to lose a construction season.” Manitoba was hit with one of the worst floods on record in 2011, with costs totalling more than $1.2 billion. Much of that will be recovered from the federal government through cost-shared disaster programs. This year has turned out to be another wet one, and two independent reviews have urged the government to take new steps to fight flooding. The recommendations include a second outlet on Lake St. Martin and a new reservoir or channel on the Assiniboine River. “We know major initiatives will be essential to protect homes, farms and communities,” Struthers said. “Raising any tax, no matter how small, is not an easy decision, but this revenue will help protect Manitobans against flooding and uncertainty.” Manitobans will face other increases as well. The tobacco tax jumped by $1 per package of 25, making Manitoba tobacco taxes the highest in the country. The government also plans to raise an extra $2.8 million in user fees by charging more for fishing licences, business registrations, veterinary diagnostic tests and more. There will be some tax savings. Child car seats and baby supplies such as diapers and strollers will be exempt from the provincial sales tax. A 2011 election promise to eliminate school property tax for senior homeowners is to be phased in starting next year. Overall, the government is counting on an extra $470 million in tax revenue this year and has promised to use it for roads, bridges and floodprotection projects.
A number of groups are upset over plans to increase the provincial sales tax to eight per cent in Manitoba.
Selinger
The budget is bound to provide fodder for the Opposition Progressive Conservatives, who have long accused the government of failing to keep spending in check. The NDP said during the 2011 election campaign that it was on track to balance the budget by 2015 without raising taxes, then raised a number of taxes and fees in the 2012 budget months later. Later, the New Democrats pushed back their balanced-budget plan by two years. Despite the extra tax revenue, the government projects a deficit of $518 million, down slightly from the current year’s $583 million. Highlights of the 2013-14 Manitoba budget tabled: - Provincial sales tax to increase to eight per cent from seven per cent as of July 1. - Child car seats, bicycle helmets and baby supplies such as diapers and strollers to be exempt from the sales tax. - Tobacco taxes up by $1 per package of 25, making Manitoba tobacco taxes the highest in the country. - An extra $2.8 million in user fees to be collected by charging more for fishing licences, business registrations, veterinary diagnostic tests and more.
is going to hurt Manitoba business owners. “This government was elected in 2011on defends PST hike amid opposition a promise not to raise taxes. They’ve broken that promise,” said McInnes. “Not only have they broken that promise, they’ve robbed Manitobans of the ability to make that choice.” Struthers said he would amend existing legislation that requires the government to hold a referendum before raising taxes.
Tuesday’s release of the 2013 budget showed the government’s plans to increase the PST from seven per cent to eight per cent beginning July 1, a move that Premier Greg Selinger said was necessary in order to increase funding for infrastructure. “They needed better roads. They said they needed personal care homes. They said they needed new schools for the young population, and in the Assiniboine Valley they said they needed permanent flood protection,” Selinger said. “Those are expensive bills. “ But Lanny McInnes of the Retail Council of Canada said the PST hike
McInnes said he is now worried the increase could send more Manitoban shoppers over the border or to online retailers. “It increases the cost of goods that are going on the shelves. You’re going to see that impact is not going to be a positive one,” he added. McInnes isn't the only one upset over the change.
page 4
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That was the message from the province as it revealed plans to ban smoking at its 82 public beaches, including Grand Beach, and the dozens of playgrounds in its provincial parks by the summer of 2014. "We don't think that our beautiful sand beaches should be park ashtrays," Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh said. "We only want one kind of butt on our beaches." During the first year of the ban, park officials will only hand out warnings to offenders, Mackintosh said. By 2015, offence notices will be issued carrying a fine of $299. Manitoba is the first province in Canada to make its public beaches and playgrounds smoke-free in all of its parks. RCMP remind the public that seatbelts have benefits
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The split-second decision to buckle up can make a huge difference when motorists are involved in collisions. Every year, RCMP respond to highway collisions where seatbelt use means survival. It means people get to go home to their families. Buckling up is a simple thing to do, but the benefits are huge. When a vehicle strikes an object at highway speed, the force of the impact is tremendous, turning unbuckled passengers into missiles within the vehicle who can harm themselves and other passengers. The occupants of the vehicle are in a very vulnerable position if they are not appropriately restrained. In two-vehicle collisions, those unbuckled will often hit the dash first. In single-vehicle rollovers, the driver or passengers frequently will be found ejected and crushed by the vehicle. “Seatbelts have been around for a long time, and they do save lives,” said Corporal Bob Dowd, RCMP Traffic Collision Reconstructionist. “The sad part is that in many cases, had the drivers and passengers been buckled, they would have survived the crash.” On average, about 40 per cent of people killed in traffic collisions in rural Manitoba are unbelted or not wearing a helmet. That represents about 35 people each year. Under the Highway Traffic Act, the fine for failing to wear the seatbelt is $292.
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Manitoba to hike fees, modernize provincial parks
Manitoba's provincial parks will be modernized, but fees are going up to cover some … The province is more than doubling fees for cabin and cottage owners in Manitoba provincial parks as part of a new strategy to raise revenue and modernize parks, officials announced Friday. People who own cabins or cottages in provincial parks will see a major increase in the cost of services from the province in 2013. Average annual fees will nearly triple, according to provincial officials. The average cottager is currently paying about $280 a year for fees. That number will raise to $738 under the province’s new plan. Officials said the changes will be phased in over five years for owners to adjust to the new rates, while money will be spent modernizing the parks. Provincial officials said cottage owners will pay on average, $2,000 per year over a ten year period. “We’re also going to cap the rent increases at $3,000 to ensure that it doesn’t exceed the property taxes in municipalities,” Manitoba's conservation minister Gord Mackintosh said Friday. “We want to ensure that everyone will be able to keep their cottage. This fee increase must not be a barrier to that dream of cottage life.” Bob Kent lives at Brereton Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park and pays $1,300 a year, which he says basically covers snow clearing. Kent says opening up the parks with more activities and business opportunities is a mixed blessing since the Brereton Lake area is already congested. "I just don't think it's money well spent for the cottage owners. It may be money well spent for the camp-
ground people." Provincial officials said they’re currently subsidizing services for cottage and cabin owners. It costs $26 million more to operate parks annually than receives from user fees.
Last year, servicing cottages in provincial parks cost the province $4.5 million, but it only received about $1.7 million in revenue from cottage owners. The new changes are expected to bring in $4.5 million in revenue each year. Provincial officials noted cabins in Riding Mountain National Park, a federally-operated park, pay significantly more for services than those who live in nearby provincial parks. Camping and cabin costs will go up by a few dollars per site. In 2012, nightly camping cost between $10.50 and $26.25. In 2013, costs will rise slightly to $11.44 to $28.35. The cost of renting yurts and the province’s less expensive family cabins will also rise by a few dollars for the 2013 season. The public, including cottage owners, can comment on the rate hikes on the province’s conservation website before June 1. The news came as part of a $100 million funding announcement to modernize its provincial parks. Changes announced Friday by Mackintosh, called for more modern washrooms, electrical outlets for campsites, Wi-Fi at campsites and better beaches. Several provincial parks will also see their washroom and showers modernized. Officials have earmarked $20 million to improve water and waste treatment plants that rely on Lake Winnipeg water. The province said another $20 million will go to renewing Spruce Woods and St. Ambroise Provincial Parks, that were badly damaged during the 2011 flood. In 2012, Manitoba saw a record number of visitors to its parks, with 5.5 million people stopping by at least one of its provincial parks.
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Wanted:
Francis Markus Beaulieu
Portage la Prairie RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 23-yearold Francis Markus Beaulieu of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. RCMP report that a warrant of arrest has been issued for Beaulieu in relation to an armed robbery and theft of a taxi that occurred in Portage la Prairie on Mar. 6, 2013. Francis Markus Beaulieu is considered to be armed and dangerous. Police caution the public to not approach this individual. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Francis Markus Beaulieu is asked to contact the Central Plains RCMP at 204-857-4445, or their local police agency. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477(TIPS), submit a tip online at:
www.manitobacrimestoppers.com
or text TIPMAN plus your message to Crimes(274637).
Search warrant leads to drug bust A 59-year-old man from the RM of Siglunes is facing numerous drug related charges after being arrested by police this past week in the RM of Grahamdale. Drugs seized by RCMP officers during a search at an RM of Grahamdale residence. On April 20, 2013, an investigation by the Gypsumville RCMP resulted in the execution a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant at a residence in the RM of Grahamdale. Police say that officers found and seized one pound
Drugs seized by RCMP oďŹƒcers during a search at an RM of Grahamdale residence. of marijuana, $5,000 cash, a small amount of cocaine and various drug paraphernalia. RCMP report that 59-year-old Eric Gospen of the RM of
Siglunes, was arrested and released on a recognizance to attend court in St. Martin on May 8, 2013. He has been charged with production of marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking (marijuana), possession of cocaine under the CDSA as well as possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 under the Criminal Code.
Petition to end Manitoba dog culls grows Rescue groups call for ban on First Nation dog culls Trooper was found after he'd been lying injured in a yard for days. A call to end dog culls in remote Manitoba communities is getting strong support.
TROOPER
Trooper's Law is the name of a petition to end dog culls after a dog was shot in the face and left injured for days to die. It calls for an end to the practice of shooting dogs in remote communities as a way to control populations. Yvonne Russell with Paw Tipsters, a non-profit charity working with Crime Stoppers to stop animal abuse, said an online petition launched by her group has reached 8,000 signatures. Once the petition hits 10,000, Russell intends to take it to government officials and demand an end to the culls. She is also calling for more funding for First Nations to bring in veterinarians to hold spay and neuter clinics. Trooper was rescued after being injured during a First Nation dog cull, but his wounds were too severe and he had to be euthanized. "They're secluded and they're going to need to have to pay to have people come up there, veterinarians and that sort of thing, to come and help take care of the population," she said. Russell will also present the petition to First Nations leaders. The issue of dog culls was thrust into the media spotlight at the start of the month, in the wake of Trooper's death. At that time, David Harper, the grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, an organization of regional chiefs for much of northern Manitoba, said the culls in some First Nation communities are necessary for safety reasons.
No jail (due to legal error) for Manitoba teen who gutted puppies WINNIPEG - It was an act of animal cruelty so atrocious only a jail sentence could properly address it, a judge and prosecutor said. Instead, because of a procedural error, a 14-year-old northern Manitoba boy who tortured and disemboweled three of his own
puppies was sentenced earlier this year to just two years probation and sent home to his grandparents. Associate Chief Judge Murray Thompson was in the process of sentencing the boy to six months custody and community supervision when his lawyer asked the court to confirm whether the original Crown prosecutor proceeded by way of indictment or summary conviction. For a charge of killing animals, the court can only order custody if the Crown proceeds by indictment. After a court break it was confirmed the Crown made no election either way. The Crown "forgot to make the election," Thompson told the boy. "So as a result, I am finding I can't send you to jail... There is no gateway to custody." The German Shepherd-cross puppies were killed in the woods near the boy's home sometime between Nov. 1, 2011 and Nov. 14, 2011. The crime came to the attention of police after pictures of the dead puppies were posted on YouTube. Court heard the puppies were strung up by their necks, beaten, gutted and disemboweled. All their teeth were shattered. "That not being horrible enough, there were sticks then stuck up all three puppies' anuses and a large kitchen knife was embedded in one of the puppy's skull," said Crown attorney Barbara Pesalj. "These puppies suffered horribly before they finally died." The boy was described in court as cognitively delayed and out of control. A pre-sentence report said the boy doesn't go to school, follows no rules at home, and comes and goes as he pleases. The boy claimed other youths were responsible for much of the torture inflicted on the animals. No one else was charged. "I've never seen a case like this and I've been doing this since 1998," Thompson said. "They were your dogs and they trusted you. The beautiful thing about dogs is their love is unconditional. You don't have to deserve their love but they will give it to you." Thompson ordered that the boy not be allowed to own or possess animals while on probation and that he perform 120 hours of community service work.
Bank Of Canada Notes Use 'Wrong' Maple Leaf The Bank of Canada has blundered by using a Norway maple leaf instead of the country's native variety on its new bank notes, plant experts claim. Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre botanist Sean Blaney first highlighted the difference between the leaf on new $20, $50 and $100 and the North American sugar maple. He said: "It's really hard to deny the image is of a Norway maple."
page 7
A DOG'S TEN COMMANDMENTS
1. My life is likely to last 10-12 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful. 2. Give me time to understand what you want of me. 3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being. 4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you. 5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when speaking to me. 6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it. 7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you. 8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak. 9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You to, will grow old. 10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this all alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
page 8
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Julian Assange: the man behind WikiLeaks
British authorities undeterred by Ecuador's political asylum. Can the U.K. withdraw the diplomatic status of Ecuador's embassy? WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appears to have a new home in Ecuador, but it remains to be seen how he'll get there. Assange faces hard road out of U.K. The dramatic decision by the Latin American nation to grant Assange political asylum is a symbolic boost for the embattled ex-hacker, but legal experts say it does little to help him avoid extradition to Sweden — and does much to drag Britain and Ecuador into an international faceoff. Assange has been holed up at the small nation's embassy in London since June 19 while fighting extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning for alleged (most likely fabricated) sexual misconduct. He has exhausted all his legal avenues in his bid to avoid extradition. "It was not Britain or my home country, Australia, that stood up to protect me from persecution, but a courageous, independent Latin American nation," Assange said in a statement praising Ecuador.
A in US Made
Julian Paul Assange (born 3 July 1971) is an Australian publisher, and internet activist. He is best known as the spokesperson and editor-in-chief for WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website. Before working with the website, he was a physics and mathematics student as well as a computer programmer. He has lived in several countries and has told reporters he is constantly on the move. He makes irregular public appearances to speak about freedom of the press, censorship, and investigative reporting; he has also won several journalism awards for his work with WikiLeaks. Assange founded the controversial WikiLeaks website in 2006 and serves on its advisory board. In this capacity, he has received widespread public attention for his role in the release of classified material documenting the involvement of the United States in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. On 28 November 2010, WikiLeaks and its five media partners began publishing the United States diplomatic cables leak.
page 11 The silver-haired Australian shot to international prominence in 2010 after he began publishing a huge trove of American diplomatic and military secrets — including a quarter million U.S. embassy cables that shed a harsh light on the backroom dealings of U.S. diplomats. Shortly after, two Swedish women accused him of sexual assault. The saga took its twist, when Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino announced that he had granted political asylum to Assange. He said Assange faces a serious threat of unjust prosecution at the hands of U.S. officials -- a nod to the fears expressed by Assange and others that the Swedish sex case is part of a Washington-orchestrated plot to make him stand trial in the United States, something disputed by both by Swedish authorities and the women involved. Patino said he'd tried to get guarantees from the Americans, the British, and the Swedes that Assange would not be extradited to the United States, but that all three had rebuffed him. If Assange were extradited to the U.S. "he would not have a fair trial, could be judged by special or military courts, and it's not implausible that cruel and degrading treatment could be applied, that he could be condemned to life in prison, or the death penalty." The U.K. Foreign Office said it was "disappointed" with Ecuador's decision but committed to a negotiated solution that would let it "carry out our obligations under the Extradition Act."
Journalist Julian Assange standing on a balcony of Ecuadors embassy espousing the virtues and sanctity of Free Speech. The scene is Kafkaesque, a grand spectacle which Assange has every intention to relish. This small balcony has been catapulted to the dock of universal justice and the jury overwhelming find him innocent of exposing war crimes. If Britain as a country cannot show itself to champion Free Speech above any other, then it's once prized position in the world will be irreversibly damaged.
Tensions mount The stand-off has strained relationships between Sweden, Ecuador and the U.K. The U.K. has threatened to use a 1987 law to lift the diplomatic status of the embassy, though experts say the move would be unlikely and dangerous. "It would threaten their embassy premises around the world," said Niblock. "No one is going to frighten us," Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said on the social media site. Hague insisted Britain had no plan to force entry into Ecuador's mission. "There is no threat here to storm an embassy," he told reporters. Meanwhile, legal experts and diplomatic historians were abuzz with various unlikely scenarios for Assange's possible escape from Britain — perhaps hidden in a diplomatic car or smuggled in an oversized diplomatic bag. Britain's foreign ministry said diplomats would continue discussions with Ecuador aimed at resolving the case, but Hague warned that he expected the diplomatic stalemate to continue. "This could go on for quite a considerable time as things stand," he told reporters. "There is no time limit for resolving this."
Assange Makes UK Look Like a Banana Republic A veritable Scarlett Pimpernel of our day, the Wikileaks chief has managed to outwit and outmanoeuvre the British authorities. All the time he has managed to have more journalistic scoops in the digital age than most journalists achieve in a lifetime. So Britain was once again left looking like the bad guys with
continued on page 24
U.K. says it will arrest Assange the moment he steps out of the Ecuadorean embassy. Many police officers are posted outside. "Under our law… British authorities are under a binding obligation to extradite him to Sweden," said British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "We must carry out that obligation and, of course, we fully intend to do so."
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New report shows increase in Aboriginal overrepresentation in prisons A report released by the Office of the Correctional Investigator showed that Aboriginal peoples account for 23 per cent of the population within Canadian federal prisons and account for only 3.8 per cent of the general population. There has been a 43 per cent increase in the Aboriginal prison population in the last five years.
Correctional Investigator of Canada Howard Saper, who conducted this report, said that these statistics show a lack of progress and further darken Canada’s record of human rights violations. “The overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in federal corrections and the lack of progress to improve the disparity in correctional outcomes continues to cloud Canada’s domestic human rights record.” Saper stated further that Aboriginal inmates tend to have different treatment while in custody, which leads to safety issues in the prison facilities. “Aboriginal offenders spend more time at higher security levels, they typically don’t get released until their warrant expiry or their statutory release date. They are disproportionately part of the maximum security population, they are involved in more self-harm and security incidents inside institutions. And this seems to be flowing largely from the lack of accommodation.” Similarly, Acting Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission David Langtry commented that there is an inequality of treatment of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates. “We are still seeing a disproportionate number of Aboriginal women in solitary confinement, which creates barriers to access to rehabilitation programs. As a result, Aboriginal women in corrections do not get paroled early, if at all. Not only are they overrepresented, they are serving more time. These facts were confirmed by the correctional investigator today.” Similarly, legal director for the Toronto Aboriginal Legal Services, Christa Big Canoe, commented that this overrepresentation is due in part to the unfair treatment Aboriginal peoples have experienced by the criminal justice system. “Aboriginal people have experienced the Canadian justice system a little more strictly and stringently than some non-aboriginal people,” said Big Canoe. The report also noted that in 2000, money had been accredited towards building more healing lodges for Aboriginal offenders, but that only one lodge was built as a result. According to a Correctional Service of Canada document, “in the healing lodge, the needs of Aboriginal offenders serving federal sentences are addressed through Aboriginal teachings and ceremonies, contact with Elders and children, and interaction with nature.” It states further that “a holistic philosophy governs the approach, whereby individualized programming is delivered within a context of community interaction, with a focus on preparing for release.” Saper commented that more are needed for Aboriginal offenders because a healing lodge is “culturally appropriate, and deals with healing and with aboriginal spirituality, which involves aboriginal ceremony.” According to David Milward, a U of M law professor, the com-
bined factors of poverty and the legacy of the residential schools are the reasons for the overrepresentation of Aboriginal individuals in Canadian prisons. “The residential schools set intergenerational trauma into motion when Aboriginal children were abused in the schools themselves. Many of the students then went on to become physical and sexual abusers of others in their communities, and it spreads from generation to generation,” said Milward. When asked whether racialized policing practices could explain this disproportion, Milward said that it is possible but hard to provide evidence to substantiate that claim – there is often proof that a crime was in fact committed. “Many Aboriginal people have no doubt that they are subjected to racial profiling, but racial profiling is difficult to prove. For one thing, you’re relying on the police themselves to provide the proof. And secondly, it’s hard to call it racial profiling when there ends up being enough evidence to support conviction.” Milward stated that to solve the problem of Aboriginal overrepresentation, different ways of responding to Aboriginal criminality are required. “You need consistently supported social and preventative programming that will mould healthier Aboriginal communities and minimize the need for ‘after the fact’ prosecutions. In particular, there’s a need for programs that further healthy Aboriginal parenting skills.”
In addition to that, he claimed that these instances require less emphasis on imprisonment and more emphasis on rehabilitative justice that accounts for Aboriginal culture. “There also needs to be more restorative justice programs that incorporate Aboriginal cultures and spirituality. You need programs like a Circle of Courage where Aboriginal youth receive positive mentorship from role models and are taught life skills that will help them later on.”
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Thousands of Canadians die from heart attacks every year because they don't receive medical treatment quickly enough. Learn to recognize the signs of a heart attack so you can react quickly to save a life It is important to understand that warning signs can vary from person to person and they may not always be sudden or severe. Although chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women, some people will not experience chest pain at all, while others will experience only mild chest pain or discomfort. Others may experience one symptom, while some experience a combination. • Chest discomfort (uncomfortable chest pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, burning or heaviness) • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (neck, jaw, shoulder, arms, back) • Shortness of breath • Sweating • Nausea • Light-headedness If you are experiencing any of these signs, you should: CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately, or have someone call for you. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at all times. Stop all activity and sit or lie down, in whatever position is most comfortable. If you take nitroglycerin, take your normal dosage. If you are not allergic or intolerant to ASA (acetylsalicylic acid, commonly referred to as Aspirin®), the 9-1-1 operator may advise you to chew and swallow one adult 325 mg tablet or two 80 mg tablets. Do not use pain medicines such as acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (commonly known as Advil®) as they are not the same as ASA (Aspirin). It is important to note that ASA won’t treat your heart attack by itself. It is essential to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number first and take ASA (Aspirin) while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. Rest comfortably and wait for an ambulance with emergency medical personnel to arrive.
QUICK ACTION SAVES LIVES
Heart attack emails You may receive emails from well-meaning family and friends that claim to have authentic information about the signs and symptoms of heart attack or stroke. These messages usually contain incorrect information. Some may include a catchy phrase of signs to look for or certain activities to perform in order to prevent a heart attack or stroke. These messages only serve to confuse or cause delay in seeking help. A heart attack or stroke is a very serious event that requires immediate medical attention. If you, or a loved one, suffer such an event, it is important to know the correct warning signs and how to act in order to get the best treatment available as early as possible. The Heart and Stroke Foundation urges you not to circulate emails of this nature to your family and friends. Instead, become familiar with, and share the correct warning signs on our website at: www.heartandstroke.ca/HeartSigns or www.heartandstroke.ca/StrokeSigns Knowing these signs and calling 9-1-1, or your local emergency number immediately, is the most important thing you can do.
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) warning signs The most common warning signs for SADS are: • Fainting or seizure during physical activity • Fainting or seizure resulting from emotional excitement, emotional distress, or being startled • Family history of unexpected sudden death during physical activity or during a seizure, or any other unexplained sudden death of an • otherwise healthy young person. • Although fainting is a relatively common occurrence, if it occurs in circumstances, such as during physical activity or from emotional excitement, it can represent a warning sign of SADS.
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Become Aware, Informed, Take a Stand, Voice Your Opinion! Open letter to The Town of The Pas
Fluoride Aware The Pas is a community orientated advocacy group comprised of citizens from all walks of life who have legitimate concerns regarding the ethicality, morality, necessity, effectiveness and safety of water fluoridation in The Pas. Water fluoridation is the practice of adding various types of fluorides to the public water in order to reduce cavities. The Pas adds Fluorosilicic Acid to our drinking water. How should a public body (council) decide on whether to continue its policy of water fluoridation? How does anyone, whether you’re a health care professional, restauranteur or Joe Public, proceed when there is no agreement or are unsure whether something is harmful or not? Does “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and “better safe than sorry” sound familiar? The precautionary principle embodies these sage expressions and some will argue “common sense” and elaborates on them. “The precautionary principle or precautionary approach states if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking an act. This principle allows policy makers to make discretionary decisions in situations where there is the possibility of harm from taking a particular course or making a certain decision when extensive scientific knowledge on the matter is lacking. The principle implies that there is a social responsibility to protect the public from exposure to harm, when scientific investigation has found a plausible risk. These protections can be relaxed only if further scientific findings emerge that provide sound evidence that no harm will result.” Source Wikipedia Fluoride Aware The Pas and many esteemed scientists from the scientific community believe that there is a suspected risk to the environment and public related to the policy of water fluoridation. There is conflicting information stating that water fluoridation is effective and safe. There is conflicting information stating that water fluoridation is ineffective and unsafe. There is no consensus between scientific bodies in the countries that do fluoridate and that do not fluoridate. The countries that do not fluoridate represent roughly 94.3 percent of the world’s population. The consensus in even fluoridated countries is shaky at best. Water fluoridation has been around for close to 70 years and only 5.7 percent of the world fluoridates their water. The burden of proof that water fluoridation is safe in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is harmful has not been presented by The Town of The Pas nor has it been presented adequately by its proponents. Endorsements are not proof that it is safe. What was once scientifically deemed safe does not necessarily hold true today. This principle allows The Town of The Pas to make discretionary decisions in situations where there is the possibility of harm from continuing to fluoridate the town’s drinking water when extensive scientific knowledge on the matter is lacking. Fluorosilicate products including Fluorosilicic Acid do not have the required toxicology studies or randomized controlled clinical trials to demonstrate safety. If you missed it the first time, here it is again. Fluorosilicate products including Fluorosilicic Acid do not have the required toxicology studies or randomized controlled clinical trials to demonstrate safety.
The Union of Scientists and Professionals at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Headquarters Office, which represents over 1,500 scientists at EPA, has gone on record as opposing water fluoridation due to concerns about fluoride’s health effects. According to the Union, “In summary, we hold that fluoridation is an unreasonable risk.” The Town of The Pas has a social responsibility to protect the public from exposure to harm, when scientific investigation has found plausible risk. It’s clear who is responsible. 1. The Town of The Pas decides to continue artificial water fluoridation; 2. The Town of The Pas chooses the fluoridation product; 3. The Town of The Pas buys the fluoridation product; 4. The Town of The Pas puts the fluoridation product into our drinking water.
Dr. Arvid Carlsson, Pharmacologist and Nobel Laureate in Medicine (2000) stated in a recorded interview in 2005 that the practice of fluoridation “is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It’s really obsolete. No doubt about that. I mean, I think those nations that are using it should feel ashamed of themselves. It’s against science.”
It is also clear that scientific investigation has found plausible risks associated to fluorides and water fluoridation. Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and China Medical University in Shenyang combined 27 studies together and found Strong indications that fluoride may adversely affect children’s intelligence. The study is called “Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta–Analysis”. Declan Waugh, an environmental scientist wrote an overview report called “Human Toxicity, Environmental Impact and Legal Implications of Water Fluoridation”. This peer reviewed report has over 1200 scientific references and has helped influence many Canadian towns and cities discontinue their fluoridation policies. Dr. Paul Connett, a retired professor of environmental chemistry and toxicology has a PowerPoint presentation called “Dr. Paul Connett on the Dangers of Fluoride in the Water” and a debate between him and Dr. Howard Farran (dentist) called “Phoenix Arizona Fluoride Debate 2012” on YouTube. I mentioned earlier that Fluorosilicate products including Fluorosilicic Acid do not have the required toxicology studies or randomized controlled clinical trials to demonstrate safety and would like to direct you to a document on the internet called “Absence of Safety Studies of the Fluoride Products used in Artificial Water Fluoridation” written by Carole Clinch BA BPHE. Hardy Limeback, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.D.S., head of the Department of Preventive Dentistry for the University of Toronto and President of the Canadian Association for Dental Research has stated that “children under three should never use fluoridated toothpaste or drink fluoridated water. And baby formula must never be made up using Toronto tap water. He remarked that Vancouver, never fluoridated, has a lower cavity rate than Toronto, which has been fluoridated for 36 years”. There is a growing mountain of compelling evidence and arguments against water fluoridation but for brevity sake I kept it to 3 pages. The information above is just a drop in the water compared to what you will find when you start to look for it yourself. After reading this and other information you will not only be aware but informed. I encourage you to listen to both sides, seek out more information from various sources and to be critical of this information in order to come to an informed decision. If you come to the decision that “no” water fluoridation isn’t an issue for me, while I may disagree with you, I respect and congratulate you on taking an informed position. If you come to the decision that “yes” water fluoridation is unethical, unnecessary, ineffective and harmful then please consider doing something about it. You owe it to yourself. Discuss the issue with your family and friends! Wright a letter to the Mayor and councillors, voicing your opinion! Write a letter to the newspaper, letting everybody know how you feel! Pin-up anti-fluoride posters all over town and on the reserve! Next time you’re at a local eatery, decline the tap water and ask them if they have non-fluoridated water! Challenge and inform your doctor! Chances are your doctor is not aware of the current studies and you probably know more about it then he/she does. Email, facebook and tweet everyone on your contacts lists! Create a funny youtube video! Sign our online petition “Stop Adding Fluoride to The Pas’ Drinking Water”! Join our facebook group “Fluoride Aware The Pas”! There are tons of creative ways to raise awareness. Let your imagination run wild! Snow Lake, Cranberry Portage and Flin Flon have stopped fluoridating their water since the late 90’s and Thompson never fluoridated its water. There is a time for everything and the time for The Pas to seriously look at this issue, is now. Kyle Tirschmann
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page 18
Border agency cuts questionedas drug busts rise Data shows increase in number of drug seizures over past six years
Drug busts by the Canada Border Services Agency rose 10 per cent between 2007 and 2012, according to a CBC News analysis of agency data that reveals what some say is just a fraction of a multibillion-dollar flow of illegal drugs into Canada. But critics fear Canada is about to take a step back in its war on drug smuggling due to a shift in focus and budget cuts to border security. The data, obtained by Power & Politics through Access to Information, provides details on drug seizures totalling more than $5.5 billion over the six years. The top drugs seized over the six-year period were GHB (often called the date-rape drug), marijuana, and cocaine, totalling $1.4billion, $1.3 billion and $1 billion, respectively.
Border seizures data The Canada Border Services Agency keeps a database of all illegal goods it seizes at land-border crossings, ports, airports and mail centres. The commodities include guns, child pornography, drugs, tasers, brass knuckles and currency. "The drug volumes are increasing," says Jean-Pierre Fortin, national president of the union that represents border guards, while pointing out the agency only seizes a small fraction of the drugs streaming into Canada by land, air, water and through the mail. Montreal and Toronto are hot spots. In fact, Montreal accounted for nearly 60 per cent of the total value of seizures for the period analyzed. "Montreal gets a lot of volume," says Ken Cornell, the sergeant in charge of the RCMP program that tackles synthetic drugs like ecstasy. He says organized criminals create a huge demand, and Montreal is a hub for many of the goods coming into Canada east of Ontario. "And you have to appreciate that everything that comes through Halifax at the container terminal goes to Montreal. Everything that comes off the ships in Halifax also forms part of their seizures in Montreal. A lot comes from the train from the East Coast into Montreal and that’s where it’s cleared first." Shift in focus? Analysis of the data shows the number of busts valued at more than $500,000 increased from 11 in 2007 to 14 in 2012. "Controlled substances (narcotics) are always going to be a priority for the agency," said a Canada Border Services intelligence officer who did not want to be identified publicly for fear of losing his job. Cocaine was among the top three drugs seized by the CBSA between 2007 and 2012. A shipment of pineapples intercepted at
the Port of Saint John, N.B., in 2011 concealed cocaine valued at $3.5 million, according to the CBSA.
But the officer said he's been told to spend less time pursuing organized criminals and more time on the government's priority: human smuggling related to refugee and immigration reform. "We have a system that all of our intelligence data is entered into," the officer told. "And in there, there are priorities for the government. Human smuggling. Human trafficking. Controlled substances. Those are all the priorities that the agency has. Organized crime's not in there. It was a year ago. It's not anymore." CBSA refused to comment on the officer's allegation other than to suggest there are "a multitude of factors that may impact statistics," such as "traveller volumes and/or size/volume of a seizure."
Indeed, landborder figures the agency provided show travellers arriving in Canada by car increased by almost 10 per cent between 2010 and 2012. "It should be noted," the CBSA continued, "that one enforcement action can be equal to one gram of illegal narcotics, or it can represent multiple kilograms of narcotics." *** Still, Garry Clement, a former 30-year RCMP veteran and now CEO of Tamlo International Inc., a company that provides advice on combatting drug smuggling and other international crimes, said the numbers suggest Canada is a "transhipment point for drugs coming into North America." Clement says Canada is a magnet for smugglers who take advantage of our relatively “porous” borders and laxer sentencing compared to the United States, despite the Conservative government’s recent changes to punish criminals with heavier jail sentences. Worried about cuts The increased seizures are coming at a time when the CBSA,
Drugs increasingly being smuggled into Canada by truckers Cocaine moving via land from Mexico on trucks bound for Canada At least a dozen truckers from the Greater Toronto Area have been charged with smuggling drugs into Canada in recent years, a trend that appears rooted in the changing nature of the drug trade. Richard Pollock has prosecuted many of the cases involving the truckers from the GTA, which he says have involved millions of dollars of cocaine being moved on trucks headed to Canadian destinations. "They're usually multi-kilo seizures, anywhere from 15 to 150 kilos," Pollock told Media News in a recent interview. In one of the most recent cases, a Mississauga man has been accused of trying to import $10-million worth of cocaine into Canada. It was found inside a shipment that was sent from California. In Windsor, Ont., another man from Peel Region is currently on trial for attempting to smuggle 69 kilograms of cocaine into Canada, which is estimated to be worth $7-million on the street. Cocaine is now being moved across the border via land, rather than through the ports that were used in smuggling operations in the past. "All the cocaine in Canada, pretty much, likely comes via Mexico at this point and time. And so, yes, we're not as far away as we really think from illicit activity south of the U.S. border," Pollock said.
Moving drugs is a dangerous business that can have deadly consequences. Two men were found dead in the trunk of a car in Pickering, Ontario. One of the men, Harjinder Singh Sandhu, was a trucker from Brampton, Ont., who was awaiting trial on smuggling charges.
page 19 like many federal employers, must make cuts announced in last year's budget. The government announced last year the agency's budget would be cut by 10 per cent, resulting in the loss of 250 frontline officers. The union disputes that figure, suggesting the real number is 325, with an overall total of 1,350 agency workers over the next two years. The union for border services officers says federal budget cuts announced last year will mean the loss of hundreds of frontline officers. Those cuts are on top of the fact that annual hiring by the agency has fallen in recent years. In a formal response to a question from the NDP on the cuts, the agency said its annual hiring went from an all-time high of 1,037 new officers in 20072008 to 222 in 2011-2012. "It looks from the numbers that we need to beef (the agency) up," said Andrew Cash, the NDP MP who received the response signed by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, who is responsible for the CBSA. "I guess we’re going to have to wait a year to see the impact of the cuts in terms of how many seizures." The border guards' union is sounding a louder alarm. Fortin, the union president, says contrary to the government's claim the cuts would only affect "backroom" operations, the austerity measures will give smugglers the upper hand. He says the agency’s cuts include plans to eliminate intelligence officers and handlers who work with drug-sniffing dogs. "If they’re cutting these positions, that's a major problem," he said. ***
That GHB bust is believed to be the border service agency’s biggest. In recent operation, officers seized 69 drums containing a "suspected illegal substance," which was "confirmed to be GHB (daterape drug)," the CBSA said. The substance in the barrels did not contain 100 per cent GHB, though the agency declined to confirm the exact percentage. Clement and Cornell said such large busts do not result from random searches, but rather from intelligence the CBSA and RCMP have gathered working with colleagues in the United States and overseas. "You will get a call from a customs official in Germany, Poland, France or Spain who says, 'We've got a shipment of furniture that we've done some testing on'… and they determine that they’ve got six kilos of heroin on board that came from Afghanistan or something like that," Cornell said. "We'll have undercover operators who will pose as shipping companies, do the actual delivery and gather the evidence that we need to lay charges against these characters."
Date rape drug busts put China at top of border agency's list Canada Border Services Agency data shows China was the
largest single source of drugs seized between 2007 and 2012, most of it in the form of substances often referred to as date rape drugs. Canada's largest seizure of date-rape
drugs nets lengthy prison sentences for three men RCMP and Canadian Border Services Agency announce the largest ketamine seizure in Canadian history. Three men have been sentenced to a total of 42 years in prison. Three men who were involved in importing the largest amount of ketamine ever seized in Canada have been sentenced to a combined total of 42 years in prison. Yiu Tim Kwok, 60, and Wing Kee Ng, 60, who are Chinese nationals, were found guilty of importing a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Hin Cheung Lau, a Vancouver resident in his mid 40s, was convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking. They were sentenced last week in B.C. Provincial Court in Richmond. In the late summer and early fall of 2010, Kwok and Ng were living in Hong Kong when the hatched the plan to import ketamine into Canada. Ketamine, commonly referred to as Special K, kit kat and cat Valium on the streets, is often used as a party or club drug or a date-rape drug. It creates effects similar to that of LSD, including hallucination, feelings of euphoria and floating sensations. It has legitimate uses as an anaesthetic in veterinary surgery. The men travelled to India, where Kwok bought the drugs and arranged for shipment of the drugs and some paraphernalia — in a marine container’s worth of coffee mugs — to Canada. On Dec. 1, 2010 Kwok and Tak Ming Chan arrived at Vancouver International Airport from Hong Kong. Based on their behaviour and receipts and shipping orders found in their luggage, a
Canada Border Services Agency and RCMP investigation began. The men were placed under surveillance. In the following days, Kwok and Chan paid shipping costs and customs clearance fees for the shipping container and inspected and leased warehouse space. On Dec. 7, 2010 the container arrived in Canada and was inspected by the CBSA. It contained 402 cardboard boxes of mugs, 84 of which contained powdered ketamine in vacuumpacked plastic bags. The bags weighed 1,004 kilograms in total. The shipment had a potential value of $50 million. The ketamine was seized and replaced with sugar and the shipment cleared for delivery. The container arrived at the leased warehouse on Dec. 10. The next day, Lau rented a van and he and the other two men unloaded the drugs and drove them to a second warehouse. The three men were arrested that day, along with two others. In her written decision, Judge Jane McKinnon said Kwok and Ng were equal principals in the criminal organization and acted far more than as mere couriers bringing the ketamine into Canada. She said Lau played a lesser but essential role once the ketamine was delivered to the warehouse and thereafter. He was also Chan’s first contact in Canada. “Lau, Kwok and Ng were solely motivated by profit,” McKinnon wrote. She said the three men have not shown remorse, nor have they taken any steps toward rehabilitation. After credit for time served, the total sentence for all three is just over 36 years. Kwok was sentenced to 13 years, eight months and 22 days, down from 16 years. Ng’s 16-year sentence was reduced to 13 years, four months and 19 days. Lau’s sentence was 10 years, reduced to nine years, 19 days. Two other people were charged in connection with the case. Tak Ming Chan, also a Chinese national, suffered a stroke while in custody and the charges against him were stayed. Hoi Sing Lai of Vancouver will be tried separately.
page 20
The King by Brian Shul
of speed
Developed for the USAF as reconnaissance aircraft more than 40 years ago, SR-71s are still the world's fastest and highest-flying production aircraft. The aircraft can fly at speeds of more than 2,200 miles per hour (Mach 3+ or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes of over 85,000 feet. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird entered the U.S. Air Force's inventory in 1966 as the fastest aircraft in the world and still holds that distinction to this day. In 1990 the U.S. Air Force withdrew the SR 71 from operational duties.
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
6
The last SR-71 flight was made on Saturday October 9, 1999, at the Edwards AFB air show. The aircraft used was NASA 844. The aircraft was also scheduled to make a flight the following day, but a fuel leak grounded the aircraft and prevented it from flying again. The NASA SR-71s were then put in flyable storage, where they remained until 2002. They were then sent to museums.
page 21 never shared before, and relayed the following. I was flying the SR-71 out of RAF Mildenhall, England, with my back-seater, Walt Watson; we were returning from a mission over Europe and the Iron Curtain when we received a radio transmission from home base. As we scooted across Denmark in three minutes, we learned that a small RAF base in the English countryside had requested an SR-71 fly-past. The air cadet commander there was a former Blackbird pilot, and thought it would be a motivating moment for the young lads to see the mighty SR-71 perform a low approach. No problem, we were happy to do it. After a quick aerial refueling over the North Sea, we proceeded to find the small airfield. Brian Shul (born 1948), is a Vietnam-era USAF fighter pilot and a retired major in the United States Air Force (USAF). He flew 212 combat missions and was shot down near the end of the war. He was so badly burned that he was given next to no chance to live. Surviving, he returned to full flight status, flying the SR-71 Blackbird. Major Brian Shul completed a 20 year career in the Air Force. He has written four books on aviation and runs a photo studio in Marysville, California.
saw at some point on some mission. I saw mine over Libya when Khadafy fired two missiles my way, and max power was in order. Let's just say that the plane truly loved speed and effortlessly took us to Mach numbers we hadn't previously seen.So it was with great surprise, when at the end of one of my presentations, someone asked, what was the slowest you ever flew the Blackbird. This was a first. After giving it some thought, I was reminded of a story that I had
Quickly reaching the field boundary, we proceeded back to Mildenhall without incident. We didn't say a word for those next 14 minutes. After landing, our commander greeted us, and we were both certain he was reaching for our wings. Instead, he heartily shook our hands and said the commander had told him it was the greatest SR-71 fly-past he had ever seen, especially how we had surprised them with such a precise maneuver that could only be described as breathtaking. He said that some of the cadet's hats were blown off and the sight of the plan form of the plane in full afterburner dropping right in front of them was unbelievable. Walt and I both understood the concept of breathtaking very well that morning, and sheepishly replied that they were just excited to see our low approach. As we retired to the equipment room to change from space suits to flight suits, we just sat there-we hadn't spoken a word since the pass. Finally, Walter looked at me and said, One hundred fifty-six knots. What did you see? Trying to find my voice, I stammered, One hundred fifty-two. We sat in silence for a moment. Then Walt said, "Don't ever do that to me again! And I never did. A year later, Walter and I were having lunch in the Mildenhall
Old saying: "The 3 most useless things in flying are the altitude above you, the runway behind you and the airspeed you used to have." So... Just thought you might find this interesting. As a former SR-71 pilot, and a professional keynote speaker, the question I'm most often asked is "How fast would that SR-71 fly?" I can be assured of hearing that question several times at any event I attend. It's an interesting question, given the aircraft's proclivity for speed, but there really isn't one number to give, as the jet would always give you a little more speed if you wanted it to. It was common to see 35 miles a minute. Because we flew a programmed Mach number on most missions, and never wanted to harm the plane in any way, we never let it run out to any limits of temperature or speed. Thus, each SR-71 pilot had his own individual high speed that he
the tower side of the infield, closer than expected, maintaining what could only be described as some sort of ultimate knife-edge pass.
Walter had a myriad of sophisticated navigation equipment in the back seat, and began to vector me toward the field. Descending to subsonic speeds, we found ourselves over a densely wooded area in a slight haze. Like most former WWII British airfields, the one we were looking for had a small tower and little surrounding infrastructure. Walter told me we were close and that I should be able to see the field, but I saw nothing. Nothing but trees as far as I could see in the haze. We got a little lower, and I pulled the throttles back from 325 knots we were at. With the gear up, anything under 275 was just uncomfortable. Walt said we were practically over the field yet; there was nothing in my windscreen. I banked the jet and started a gentle circling maneuver in hopes of picking up anything that looked like a field. Meanwhile, below, the cadet commander had taken the cadets up on the catwalk of the tower in order to get a prime view of the fly-past. It was a quiet, still day with no wind and partial gray overcast. Walter continued to give me indications that the field should be below us but in the overcast and haze, I couldn't see it. The longer we continued to peer out the window and circle, the slower we got. With our power back, the awaiting cadets heard nothing. I must have had good instructors in my flying career, as something told me I better cross-check the gauges. As I noticed the airspeed indicator slide below 160 knots, my heart stopped and my adrenalin-filled left hand pushed two throttles full forward. At this point we weren't really flying, but were falling in a slight bank. Just at the moment that both afterburners lit with a thunderous roar of flame (and what a joyous feeling that was) the aircraft fell into full view of the shocked observers on the tower. Shattering the still quiet of that morning, they now had 107 feet of fire-breathing titanium in their face as the plane leveled and accelerated, in full burner, on
Officer’s club, and overheard an officer talking to some cadets about an SR-71 fly-past that he had seen one day. Of course, by now the story included kids falling off the tower and screaming as he heat of the jet singed their eyebrows. Noticing our HABU patches, as we stood there with lunch trays in our hands, he asked us to verify to the cadets that such a thing had occurred. Walt just shook his head and said, "It was probably just a routine low approach; they're pretty impressive in that plane. Impressive indeed." Little did I realize after relaying this experience to my audience that day that it would become one of the most popular and most requested stories. It's ironic that people are interested in how slow the world's fastest jet can fly. Regardless of your speed, however, it's always a good idea to keep that cross-check "up" and keep your Mach up, too.
page 22
Continued from page 27 Bradley Manning *** I knew if I continued to assist the Baghdad Federal Police in identifying the political opponents of Prime Minister al-Maliki, those people would be arrested and in the custody of the Special Unit of the Baghdad Federal Police and very likely tortured and not seen again for a very long time—if ever. Instead of assisting the … Baghdad Federal Police, I decided to take the information and expose it to WikiLeaks, before the upcoming 7 March 2010 election, hoping they could generate some immediate press on the issue and prevent this unit of the Federal Police from continuing to crack down on political opponents of al-Maliki. Bradley Manning *** I always want to figure out the truth. Unlike other analysts in my section [or other sections], I was not satisfied with just scratching the surface and producing canned or cookie-cutter assessments. I wanted to know why something was the way it was, and what we could do to correct or mitigate the situation. This led him to more extensively explore the State Department’s diplomatic cables, throughout March 2010. Like well over a half-million other Government employees and contractors, then 22-year-old Bradley had access to those documents via his secure workplace computer. Bradley Manning *** With my insatiable curiosity and interest in geopolitics I became fascinated with them. I read not only the cables on Iraq, but also about countries and events I found interesting. The more I read, the more I was fascinated by the way that we dealt with other nations and organizations. I also began to think that the documented backdoor deals and seemingly criminal activity that didn’t seem characteristic of the de facto leader of the free world. The more I read the cables, the more I came to the conclusion that this was the type of information that– that this type of information should become public. I once read and used a quote on open diplomacy written after the First World War and how the world would be a better place if states would avoid making secret pacts and deals with and against each other. I thought these cables were a prime example of a need for a more open diplomacy. Yet, he was also careful to consider how their release would affect the U.S. Bradley Manning *** Given all of the Department of State information that I read, the fact that most of the cables were unclassified, and that all the cables have a SIPDIS caption [messages intended for automatic Web publishing, according to the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual], I believed that the public release of these cables would not damage the United States; however, I did believe that the cables might be embarrassing, since they represented very honest opinions and statements behind the backs of other nations and organizations.
ernment, helping spur democratic revolt there. After learning from WikiLeaks releases that the U.S. had covered up its summary executions of innocent Iraqi civilians in 2006, the Iraqi government refused to allow President Obama to keep U.S. troops in Iraq beyond the 2011 withdrawal deadline. Bradley read his statement to supplement his guilty plea to 10 lesser offenses and plea of not guilty to the other 12 more-serious offenses. He made it clear that responsibility was his alone.
On 5 April 2010, WikiLeaks published the “Collateral Murder” video. Heartened by the international reaction to that video, he uploaded the diplomatic cables five days later.
Bradley Manning *** “No one associated with WikiLeaks pressured me into giving more information,” he said. “The decisions that I made to send documents and information to WikiLeaks were my own decisions, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
The rest is history – WikiLeaks’ releases changed the world, although maybe not to the extent Bradley hoped. Tunisians, who recently nominated Bradley Manning for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize, learned more about the corruption of their gov-
His plea is not part of a deal with the government. In fact, military prosecutors attempted to block Bradley from even reading the statement, arguing it was “irrelevant.” The Army has since announced that they are proceeding on all 22 counts–
including the egregious “aiding the enemy” charge, as well as the Espionage Act-related charge–that could land Bradley in jail for life without parole. So when Bradley’s court martial comes on 3 June 2013, the proceedings will focus a little less on the forensics of what happened and more on why it happened, and what effect it had. It couldn’t be clearer. Bradley Manning did not “aid the enemy,” but aided the public in making better-informed decisions regarding our government’s secret abuses, and the horrors of war.
Bradley deserves gratitude and celebration, not prosecution and continued incarceration. Join us June 1st at Fort Meade, and demand he be freed.
page 23
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page 24 continued from page 11 egg on their face. Worse still that we are left to look as if we are carrying out America's orders bidding against one of our most cherished ideals, The Freedom of Speech. In America ,The Land of the Hyperbole, politicians have asked for him to be strung up. They are looking for his aextradition via Sweden on what suspiciously reeks of trumped up charges even though he is only wanted for questioning. Julian Assange has not refused to be interviewed by Swedish police if his security can be guaranteed.
SWEDISH JUDGE SAYS Assange Sex Crime Allegations are “MESS” ADELAIDE, Australia—A senior Swedish judge said Wednesday that the sex crime allegations in his country against fugitive WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are "a mess." In a speech at Australia's University of Adelaide, Justice Stefan Lindskog, chairman of the Supreme Court of Sweden, listed legal obstacles to extraditing the 41-year-old Australian to the United States to face prosecution for exposing thousands of classified documents. Assange has taken asylum in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since last June to avoid extradition to Sweden on sex crime allegations. He is wanted in Sweden for questioning over criminal allegations made by two women. But Assange says the Swedish allegations are a ploy to get him to Sweden from where he would be
extradited to the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating WikiLeaks since the secret-busting website began distributing hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents. But few details of that investigation have been made public. Lindskog was critical of the Swedish criminal investigation. "I think it is a mess," he said. "Basically, I think there are some misunderstandings, especially when it comes to the issue of extradition," he added, without elaborating. Lindskog suggested that Sweden's extradition treaty with the United States would not apply to Assange. "Extradition shall not be granted when alleged crimes (are) military or political in nature," he said. U.S. soldier Bradley Manning last month admitted sending Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports, State Department diplomatic cables, other classified records and two battlefield video clips to WikiLeaks in 2009 and 2010. WikiLeaks posted some of the material, embarrassing the U.S. and its allies. Assange has refused to say whether he had any dealings with Manning, but he called him a political prisoner and said his prosecution was part of an effort by the U.S. to clamp down on criticism of its military and foreign policy. Lindskog praised Assange's public information campaign. "He'll be thought of as a person who made public some pieces of classified information to the benefit of mankind," he said. "It should never be a crime to make known (a) crime of a state," he added.
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Under Australian federal law he would then have to take up his Senate seat within two months, which would require his freedom. "In that case, the Senate could vote to evict me, but that would trigger a big political row,'' he is quoted as saying. "Australians probably wouldn't swallow it. They've learned a lesson from the controversial dismissal of Gough Whitlam.'' Assange said if not immediately
page 25 freed after his election, he could take his oath before the Governor-General "for the first time ever, by video link''. He said he was "sure'' his WikiLeaks Party would "easily" attract the minimum 500 paid-up members required by federal law to launch, and says any technical objections to him standing for office "aren't real''. "I've had to deal with the FBI, the British press and more than a few rank functionaries,'' he is quoted as saying.
"The Australian press are decent by comparison. No doubt the Australian Tax Office will show an interest in our campaign. Old enemies may make an appearance.'' Describing Assange as "calm, witty, clear headed'', the article reveals the former hacker's fondness for Rachmaninov, Tim Tams, Violet Crumbles and South Australian shiraz, and says he is taking boxing lessons several times a week with "an ex SAS whistle-
Bradley has done more for peace than Obama ever did.
It is time for the US government to make a deal. After more than three years of imprisonment, including nine months of torture, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Bradley Manning’s trial is finally scheduled to begin June 3, 2013, at Fort Meade, Maryland. The outcome of this trial will determine whether a conscience-driven 25-year-old WikiLeaks whistle-blower spends the rest of his life in prison. Bradley believed that the American people have a right to know the truth about what US government does around the world in our name. We the People must send a message to the military prosecuting authority, and President Obama, that Bradley Manning is a patriot and heroic truth-teller. June 1st is the International Day of Action to Support Bradley Manning.
Join us at Fort Meade on the eve of Bradley’s court martial. Solidarity actions are welcome at bases, recruiting centers and US embassies worldwide. We ask that Veterans for Peace join us in cosponsoring these historic events.
continued on page 26
blower'' to help relieve the "visual monotony'' of life in prison. When asked how allegations of his misogyny might affect his political campaign, Assange said his new party would be popular with women. "I'm not interested in softening my image by planting attractive women around me,'' he said. "I like women. They're on balance braver than men. ... Our WikiLeaks Party will attract the support of many women.''
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Bradley has done more for peace than Obama ever did.
It is time for the US government to make a deal. After more than three years of imprisonment, including nine months of torture, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Bradley Manning’s trial is finally scheduled to begin June 3, 2013, at Fort Meade, Maryland. The outcome of this trial will determine whether a conscience-driven 25-year-old WikiLeaks whistle-blower spends the rest of his life in prison. Bradley believed that the American people have a right to know the truth about what our government does around the world in our name. We the People must send a message to the military prosecuting authority, and President Obama, that Bradley Manning is a patriot and heroic truth-teller. June 1st is the International Day of Action to Support Bradley Manning. Join us at Fort Meade on the eve of Bradley’s court martial. Solidarity actions are welcome at bases, recruiting centers and US embassies worldwide. We ask that Veterans for Peace join us in cosponsoring these historic events.
Bradley Manning Born Place of Birth Service/branch Years of service Rank Unit
December 17, 1987 (age 25) Crescent, Oklahoma, U.S. United States Army Since 2007 Private First Class 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
Awards
National Defense Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Global War on Terrorism Serv. Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Brian Manning Susan Fox
Parents
page 27
Bradley Manning, a 25-year-old Army intelligence analyst, is accused of releasing the Collateral Murder video, which shows the killing of unarmed civilians and two Reuters journalists by a US Apache helicopter crew in Iraq. He is also accused of sharing the Afghan War Diary, the Iraq War Logs, and series of embarrassing US diplomatic cables. These documents were published by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, and they have illuminated such issues as the true number and cause of civilian casualties in Iraq, along with a number of human rights abuses by U.S.-funded contractors and foreign militaries, and the role that spying and bribes play in international diplomacy. He has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his heroic and noble actions. For over 960 days he has been imprisoned without trial, 11 months of which were spent in solitary confinement at Quantico prison, where his treatment has since been judged to have amounted to unlawful pretrial punishment.
BRADLEY'S STORY ‘In His Own Words’ Bradley’s 35-page testimony last month detailed his time as an intelligence analyst in Iraq and how he concluded that the American public needed to see the United States’ secret abuses in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He deserves thanks, not jail time. What would you do if you had evidence of war crimes? What would you do if ‘following orders’ meant participating in grave abuses that you opposed? Would you have the courage to risk everything – even your life – to do the right thing? Most of us would keep our mouths shut. Not Pfc. Bradley Manning. “I believed and still believe that [the Iraq and Afghan War Logs] are two of the most significant documents of our time,” he declared in court last month. Bradley went on to describe how he began to see that these documents exposed a horrible mess of a war that Americans couldn’t fully see. With a 10,000-word statement that he read aloud at a pretrial hearing in Fort Meade, Maryland, Bradley Manning detailed how his conscience led him to expose crimes, abuse, and corruption, by releasing the Iraq and Afghan War Logs, the ‘Collateral Murder’ video, State Department cables, Guantanamo Bay files, and more to WikiLeaks. Bradley Manning *** I felt that we were risking so much for people that seemed unwilling to cooperate with us, leading to frustration and anger on both sides. I began to become depressed with the situation that we found ourselves increasingly mired in year after year. The SigActs documented this in great detail and provide a context of what we were seeing on the ground. Bradley Manning *** In attempting to conduct counter-terrorism or CT and counterinsurgency COIN operations we became obsessed with capturing and killing human targets on lists… ignoring the second and third
order effects of accomplishing short-term goals and missions. Bradley realized that the American people needed to see these documents. Bradley Manning *** I believed that if the general public, especially the American public, had access to the information contained within the Iraq and Afghan War Logs, this could spark a domestic debate on the role of the military and our foreign policy in general as well as it related to Iraq and Afghanistan. In January 2010, while home on leave from Iraq, Bradley attempted to give the cables to major U.S. newspapers, to no avail. He called the Washington Post, but the reporter he reached didn’t seem to take him seriously, and said her superior editors would need more information. Bradley turned to the New York Times. He called the Times’ public editor, and when he got an answering machine, he left a message with his phone number. The Times didn’t call back. So he turned to WikiLeaks. On 3 February 2010, taking shelter from a blizzard in a Barnes and Noble in Rockville, Maryland, Bradley anonymously uploaded the Iraq and Afghan War Logs. Bradley Manning *** I felt this sense of relief by WikiLeaks having the information. I felt I had accomplished something that allowed me to have a clear conscience based upon what I had seen and what I had read about and knew were happening in both Iraq and Afghanistan everyday. Later that month, he listened to a debate within his intelligence shop over a 12 July 2007 video of a U.S. Aerial Weapons Team gunning down civilians, including two Reuters journalists, in Iraq. At first, he said, the video seemed like any other “war porn” incident he saw routinely. But when Bradley further investigated the video, now known around the world as ‘Collateral Murder,’ he was appalled. Bradley Manning *** The most alarming aspect of the video to me…was the seemly delightful bloodlust the Aerial Weapons Team seemed to have. They dehumanized the individuals they were engaging and seemed to not value human life, and referred to them as quote-unquote
“dead bastards,” and congratulated each other on their ability to kill in large numbers. At one point in the video there is an individual on the ground attempting to crawl to safety. The individual is seriously wounded. Instead of calling for medical attention to the location, one of the aerial weapons team crew members verbally asks for the wounded person to pick up a weapon so that he can have a reason to engage. For me, this seemed similar to a child torturing ants with a magnifying glass. Furthermore, he learned that Reuters sought a copy of the video under the Freedom of Information Act, but were stonewalled by the U.S. government. Bradley also learned that Washington Post reporter David Finkel had chronicled the incident for his book The Good Soldiers, but was “aghast” at how Finkel portrayed it. Believing that Reuters needed to see the video, and investigation of it, to better protect their journalists–and that the American people deserved to see it to get an accurate portrayal of the types of incidents our government keeps secret, Bradley decided to release the video files to WikiLeaks. Bradley Manning *** I hoped that the public would be as alarmed as me about the conduct of the Aerial Weapons Team crewmembers. I wanted the American public to know that not everyone in Iraq and Afghanistan were targets that needed to be neutralized, but rather people who were struggling to live in the pressure cooker environment of what we call asymmetric warfare. After the release I was encouraged by the response in the media and general public who observed the aerial weapons team video. As I hoped, others were just as troubled—if not more troubled—than me by what they saw. On 2 March 2010, Bradley was ordered to investigate the Iraqi Federal Police’s detention of 15 individuals for distributing “anti-Iraqi literature.” He quickly realized that “none of the individuals had previous ties to anti-Iraqi actions or suspected terrorist militia groups.” In fact, the literature these academics were distributing was “merely a scholarly critique” of the “corruption within the cabinet of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government and the financial impact of his corruption on the Iraqi people.” Bradley brought this to the attention of his superiors, but they told him to “drop it” and help the Iraqi police find more of these dissidents to detain.
8Continued on page 22
Judge ruled abusive treatment at Quantico was unlawful, awards sentencing credit
Following over two weeks of testimony from Quantico guards and higher officers about keeping Bradley in a 6×8 cell for 23 hours a day and denying him exercise time and easy access to basic hygiene items Judge Denise Lind ruled that Bradley was treated harshly and awarded him 112 days off of a potential sentence. This is a meager rebuke and a scant reduction when compared to the life sentence Bradley could face, but it is an important symbolic vindication for those who fought so hard to raise awareness of the disturbing treatment and to move Bradley from Quantico.
page 28
“The Ford Atlas Concept previews the innovations that will transform what people expect from their pickup,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “With 36 years as America’s best-selling pickup, we are absolutely committed to setting the agenda in the truck market.”
Ford Atlas
Closer look at next-generation F-150 pickup truck Not long ago, (January 2013) Ford did a good job of dropping a huge surprise at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It was the best-kept secret of this year's auto show: Ford used its press conference at the Joe Louis Arena to show a concept version of the next-generation F-150 pickup truck. Called the Atlas concept, the flashy truck provides several important clues as to the future of the Blue Oval's best-selling model. What we can see from the photos is that the Ford truck design team came at this new truck from several different directions. The goal? To give potential truck customers more of what they want and need. And if there's another company that's doing that better than Ford right now, we don't know who it is. As you can see, the designs range from the excessively aerodynamic to a blunt punch in the face. The F-series trucks, including heavy-duty F-250 and F-350 models, are the best-selling vehicles of any kind in the U.S. and account for most of Ford’s worldwide profits. Ford’s not shy about
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defining the trucks even more broadly. CEO Alan Mulally: “The F-series is the heart and soul of America.” Dispelling rumors, Ford group vice president for development Raj Nair confirms that the Atlas concept isn't made of aluminum or magnesium -- only the hood, like on current F-150s, is aluminum, and the concept weighs about as much as a normal F-Series. But Nair says "the next-generation F-150 will have a significant weight drop" that could reach as much as 700 pounds. Under the hood is the next generation of Ford's EcoBoost turbocharged engine, which gains a stop-start feature. While there's no word on size or displacement, Nair hints that Ford could further downsize its powertrains because lighter trucks no longer need a giant V-8s. Ford probably won't go to a four-cylinder in the F-150, but the current 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 might shrink to, say, 3.0 liters. "The days of the international combustion engine still have a lot of life left in them," Nair says. "We believe that fuel economy will be increasingly important, and we know the targets will be in-
creasingly higher." To help cut wind resistance and boost mileage, Atlas has: » An electric chin spoiler rises to clear obstacles but lowers at speed to reduce frontal drag. It helps send air around the truck instead of into the drag-causing turbulence underneath. » Grille shutters that close when more engine cooling’s unneeded, to send more air around the and less into the engine compartment. The devices are becoming common on cars and trucks, so it’s no stretch to imagine they’ll be on the production truck. » Special shutters between the alloy wheel spokes slide shut to further smooth airflow at highway speeds. The aero approach and weight trimming are “indicative of where we’re headed,” says Raj Nair, Ford’s vice president of engineering for global product development. As to styling, Ford president of Americas Joe Hinrichs boasts that the Atlas concept "pushes the limits of what an F-Series
page 29
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Designers enhanced truck functionality, while creating new advanced features. For example, multiple tiedown points are integrated within the cargo box walls and load floor, along with 110-volt electrical outlets in the cargo box to charge power tools. An integrated roof carrying system and hidden extendable ramps give the truck unique functionality for a variety of jobs.
The interior is themed with structural styling cues and features the latest thinking in comfort, utility and refinement. Innovative, thin, lightweight seating in comfortable leather allows for extra legroom for rear passengers. and efficiency. "This is only a glimpse of the future," promises Ford's Hinrichs. "We remain absolutely committed to raising the bar in the pickup segment."
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Horoscope Aries
(March 21 - April 19) The great news is that the sun’s shining in your sign, making up for some of the aggravation or disturbance that rattled you at the end of April. The 12th of May is the date you should circle in your diary with a red pen, as from this point onwards you will get extra energy boost you need. This will prompt you to look at the changes that have been going on in both your career and in the outside world. Also 12th is important, as it clears up from that day communication breakdowns from the past, so that you can forge ahead.
Leo
(July 23 - August 22) May, one of your strongest months so far this year in a very important segment of your chart where you’ll experience a lot of personal growth. Your beliefs and ideas are really important. Do whatever it takes to make work relationships more harmonious as there’s something in the air that requires everyone to pull together. Use your people skills to get ahead. Realise your potential and always see the bigger picture, so get out there and expand your horizons. It’s important. There is more constructive light ahead of you.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) You’re going to have a real surge of energy. Brush up on your people skills and you’ll find you have all the tools you need to make great headway in your career and social life. Be constructive over your self-expression as there’s a fine line between being proud of your achievements and being a blowhard. You’ve nothing to fear and everything to gain by stepping out into the world with your best foot forward. Listen to your inner voice around the 25th, or run the risk of muddling through.
Taurus
(April 20 - May 20) Most of this month is about re-grouping and re-panning. It’s also traditionally the time of year when you look back at the last twelve months to see where it’s taken you. You might get caught between a feeling of insecurity and stability mid month, but things will level out by the end of May, when you’re surrounded by the people who love you. Bulldoze old obstacles right out of your road in order that new plans can come on board. Be no less tentative about committing to anything that just doesn’t feel right.
Virgo
(August 23 - Sep. 22)
page 30
May
Gemini
(May 21 - June 21) A month where you can stretch ambition to the limit. It will also offer you an amazing social connection as well, so people will matter immensely to you at this time. Believe in your hopes and dreams and look over any changes that you’ve made lately. You have the ability to see past mistakes, and therefore run less of a risk of repeating them. Get others to get behind you and your plans, so let them know your hopes and dreams. Using your imagination is a valuable asset this month, so put it to practical use.
Libra
(Sep. 23 - Oct. 23)
It is spring and you’re in a position to look to the future. Take the long-term view on your latest great idea, it just might bring you great reward. Remember, it takes time to pull off a particular project. Please have patience and bear with it. Alert! Mixing friends with money is never a good idea, so when someone puts you on the spot it may lead to bad feelings. Find a way to say no without ruining the friendship. The end of the month gives you a fresh perspective on your philosophies in life. Don’t buy into old insecurities.
Your energy level returns in a very profound way. Get ready to make major moves over your worth – even if that means the odd confrontation. Play it cool, you'll manage to turn things to your advantage. Stay out of the crossfire of any tense situations involving home or work. There’s a fantastic feeling springing up in the world around you, and it seems to be rubbing off on you. Your psyche is now acutely aware of what needs to be done. Try to do things that expand your view of the world.
Capricorn
Aquarius
For Capricorn, May it’s not the best time to challenge the world, in fact, it’s the world that’ll be challenging you. Family issues become important and you may be drawn to spending more time behind closed doors than you would normally. Don’t be surprised if someone new in your life bowls you right over. By the end of the month, things start to become immensely creative and fun, that makes you athletic and feeling alive again. Try to schedule more relaxing time for yourself.
Being sceptical about someone’s claims can keep you from throwing your money away. Avoid "get rich quick scheme" like the plague if you’re wise. Your ideas and communications are brilliant, particularly around the 10th, and in relation to work. There is an awful lot by way of support out there for you, despite initial opposition and resistance early on in the month. But as the month passes, you’ll find that others are much more generous and open to you. Be patient.
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
(Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
Cancer
(June 22 - July 22) Being the star of the show at the moment, everything seems to be working in your favour. Look at what you have changed in your past, but you must also keep your eye on the future, whether it be love, work, money or opportunity. Your outlook is to strike forward and be very much your own person. If you’re in a place of opportunity, others will see the best in you. Don’t back down from proving your worth. Being resourceful will have a happy impact on your budget so keep your finger on the pulse.
Scorpio
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 21) You start the month with an appetite for work, and with a spring in your step. All your plans seem to be shaping up rather nicely. But from the 12th of the month you might start to go backwards and look at commitments that you made in the past. It’s important that you properly deal with any issues that this throws up. Don’t be surprised if close friends, or even children, get a bee in their bonnet, or chop and change their minds and viewpoints. Don’t do anything to get your fingers burned.
Pisces
(Feb. 19 - March 20) Month of May is excellent for you asserting your individuality. You’ll find life has changed to a great degree lately. Look at your ambition, long-range goals, hopes and dreams, self-knowledge, strong purpose and idealism, look to the sky for your limit. Around 21st you might get confused about financial matters. Check bills carefully, and your bank statement. Consult with the professionals if you have any doubts. Patience should be deployed when dealing with authority figures. Don’t sweep money matters under the carpet.
page 31 Signs and notices These are supposedly actual signs that have appeared at various locations. 1. Outside a country shop in Ontario: "We buy junk and sell antiques." 2. In the window of an Toronto store: "Why go elsewhere and be cheated when you can come here?" 3. In a Vancouver restaurant: "Open 7 days a week and weekends." 4. In the vestry of a New Brunswick church: "Will the last person to leave please see that the perpetual light is extinguished." 5. In a B.C. cemetery: "Persons are prohibited from picking flowers from any but their own graves." 6. On a roller coaster: "Watch your head." 7. On the grounds of a public school: "No trespassing without permission." 8. On a Manitoba highway: "When this sign is under water, this road is impassable."
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Man walks into a lawyer’s office… A man walked into a lawyer’s office and inquired about the rates. “Fifty dollars for three questions, ” replied the lawyer. “Isn’t that awfully steep?” asked the man. “Yes,” the lawyer replied, “and what was your third question?”
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The Church Complaint Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business..
“Yes, how could I forget?” Her husband goes on, “Well, I’m at the bar next door to it if you need me.”
Several members did not approve of her extracurricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused Darryl, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told Darryl (and several others) that every one seeing it there WOULD KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING ! Darryl, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and
A Guy Walks Into a Hillbilly Bar… A Guy Walks Into a Hillbilly Bar and orders a white wine. The bartender says, “You ain’t from around here, are ya?” The guy says, “No, I’m from Canada. I’m a taxidermist.” The barkeep asks, “what in tarnation is a taxidermist? You drive a taxi?” “No. I mount animals,” the guy explains. The bartender grins and yells to his patrons, “It’s OK, boys – he’s one of us!”
walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny.
Trip to Las Vegas...
He said nothing.
A wife comes home from a business trip to Las Vegas and tells her husband
Later that evening, Darryl quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house .... walked home . . . and left it there all night!!!
A priest gets into quicksand... he notices he can´t get himself out of there, so he starts praying. Along comes a guy. The guy sees the priest and asks: "do you need help?" But the priest just answers: "No, god will help me." He sinks in deeper and deeper, is in to his hip,
she’s moving there immediately. When the distraught husband asks why, she says, "Because I can make $300 a day there doing what I give you for free." The husband runs upstairs, packs his suitcase, goes downstairs, and waits by the front door. When the wife asks him where he’s going, he replies, “I’m going to Vegas with you. I want to see how you live on $600 a year.”
as antoher guy comes by and asks the priest wether he could help him. Again the priest turns him down: "My faith will safe me." By now the priest is in the quick-
A Fair Deal
sand up to his chin. A third guy comes by and offers his help, the priest turns him
“Mr. Clark, I’ve reviewed this case very carefully,” the divorce-court judge
down yet again. Finally, the priest dies and goes to heaven. He walks up to god
says, “and I’ve decided to award your wife $775 a week.” “That’s very fair, Your
and complains: "Lord, I've prayed for you to save me, yet you let me die in the
Honor” the husband says. “And every now and then, I’ll try to send a few bucks
quicksand!" God just looks him in the eye and says: "I sent three guys, wasn´t
myself.”
that help enough you moron?"
A couple is shopping in the mall for hours...
That's Love Married man Don is talking to his single pal Ryan about settling down, confid-
A couple is shopping in the mall for hours. The wife turns to talk to her husband
ing, “It’s nice to come home to someone who's happy to see you." “That’s what
and realizes he’s nowhere in sight. Angry, she calls his cell phone and asks where
my dog is for," Ryan replies. "Not the same thing." Don scoffs. "Oh ,yeah?" says
he disappeared to. “Honey,” he says, “remember that jewelry store we walked by
Ryan. “Just lock your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car and see who's
a few years ago, and you loved the gold locket in the window but we couldn’t af-
still happy to see you when you let them out an hour later."
ford it, so I told you I would buy it for you one day?” Choked up, the wife replies,
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