Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Just saving these links from Kelsey
http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/index.html http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp http://www.canadiangardening.com/home.shtml
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Saturday, April 01, 2006
To: consul@emb-korea.ottawa.on.ca
Cc: toronto@mofat.go.kr
Subject: Please Stop The Planned Expansion of Camp Humphreys (K-6)! Do not steal this land from the farmers of Daechuri!
Daechuri, South Korea, villagers and other farming communities near Pyeongtaek, are being forcibly evicted due to U.S. military base realignment in Asia. After a long struggle against the Korean government’s attempts to take their homes, the villagers declared Daechuri autonomous, and renounced their Korean citizenship. I hope you will listen to the villagers from Daechuri. I am opposed to the employment of violence by U.S. and South Korean government against the village. Amnesty International has become involved in the struggle, and I hope you will be moved to action on behalf of the villagers. There are many creative and peaceful solutions to this situation. Violence is not required.
In 1952, the villagers of Daechuri left their homes empty-handed, save for the rice and flour handed out by the U.S. Daechuri villagers refer to the base runway at Camp Humphreys, which used to be part of the village, as "old Daechuri".
Today, all of Daechuri and the surrounding land is government property. According to the National Property Act [Article 58], illegal use of government property will result in 2 years imprisonment and hard labor, or a fine of at least $7,000. For the residents, simply living in their homes, farming their lands, is a crime.
The time has come for you to make a statement in support of the villagers. Please, do not let this land become part of a U. S. military base.
Sincerely,
[Insert your name here]
Subject: Please Stop The Planned Expansion of Camp Humphreys (K-6)! Do not steal this land from the farmers of Daechuri!
Daechuri, South Korea, villagers and other farming communities near Pyeongtaek, are being forcibly evicted due to U.S. military base realignment in Asia. After a long struggle against the Korean government’s attempts to take their homes, the villagers declared Daechuri autonomous, and renounced their Korean citizenship. I hope you will listen to the villagers from Daechuri. I am opposed to the employment of violence by U.S. and South Korean government against the village. Amnesty International has become involved in the struggle, and I hope you will be moved to action on behalf of the villagers. There are many creative and peaceful solutions to this situation. Violence is not required.
In 1952, the villagers of Daechuri left their homes empty-handed, save for the rice and flour handed out by the U.S. Daechuri villagers refer to the base runway at Camp Humphreys, which used to be part of the village, as "old Daechuri".
Today, all of Daechuri and the surrounding land is government property. According to the National Property Act [Article 58], illegal use of government property will result in 2 years imprisonment and hard labor, or a fine of at least $7,000. For the residents, simply living in their homes, farming their lands, is a crime.
The time has come for you to make a statement in support of the villagers. Please, do not let this land become part of a U. S. military base.
Sincerely,
[Insert your name here]
Friday, March 31, 2006
Vidharbha, India
33 FARMERS COMMIT SUICIDE IN LAST 10 DAYS
Vidharbha's agrarian crisis has worsened. The farm group Vidharbha Janadolan Samiti (VJS) says these farmers are the innocent victims of failed government policies. These policies include promoting B. t. cotton. Over 300 of the farmers who committed suicide in the cotton-growing heartland opted for B. t. cotton, which failed.
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6388
See chart showing farmer suicide locations since June 2005 at http://www.gmwatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=71&page=1
Vidharbha's agrarian crisis has worsened. The farm group Vidharbha Janadolan Samiti (VJS) says these farmers are the innocent victims of failed government policies. These policies include promoting B. t. cotton. Over 300 of the farmers who committed suicide in the cotton-growing heartland opted for B. t. cotton, which failed.
http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6388
See chart showing farmer suicide locations since June 2005 at http://www.gmwatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=71&page=1
Monday, March 27, 2006
From the paper
"... The march was supported by the Canada-Haiti Action Network and a group dedicated to stopping Operation Charging Bison, a military urban warfare training exercise scheduled for Winnipeg April 30 through May 6. Approximately 500 soldiers, from 38 Canadian Brigade Group, will participate in the seven-day exercise that will simulate modern urban battlefields in Afghanistan. Yesterday's protest was supposed to be a trial run for a larger demonstration against a three-day international gathering in Winnipeg of business leaders and politicians originally scheduled to begin May 31. But the $8-million tab for security has forced Manitoba to withdraw as host of the North American Summit Hemispheria. Mayor Sam Katz wasn't surprised at the provincial pullout. "That was a lot of money for security," Katz said yesterday from Tucson, where he's looking at how the Arizona city operates a combined fire-paramedic service. "The city will still be hosting the Big City Summit and the mayor of Kansas City will be in Winnipeg to discuss the trade corridor," said Katz. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani will be the keynote speaker at the two-day gathering beginning May 3..."
Friday, March 24, 2006
Protect ancient forests, respect native rights
Sign the Free Grassy petition at: www.freegrassy.org. And check out www.friendsofgrassynarrows.com, www.boreal.org, www.ipperwashinquiry.ca, www.justenergy.org, www.majec.ca, and www.turtleisland.org.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Copy, paste, edit, and send
#1
To: DannyWilliams@gov.nl.ca
Dear Premier Williams:
I am contacting you only to ask that you release the Natural Areas Plan for public review. The Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAA) and Parks and Natural Areas Division compiled the Natural Regions Study in 1989. In 1992, the PAA submitted a plan framework to Parks and Natural Areas Division. In 1995, the Parks and Natural Areas Division formed the Natural Areas System Plan Committee, who identified a number of representative samples for area protection and a list of unique areas.
Although the committee recommended immediate release of the areas for public debate, ten years have passed and the plan has not been released.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the only Province in Canada that has not released its protected areas strategy. Many of the areas that were designed in 1995 to 1996 have been altered or even dropped from the plan within Government.
Please release the Natural Areas Plan for public review
Sincerely,
[Insert your name here.]
#2
To: harper.s@parl.gc.ca
cc: MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca, Rona.Ambrose@ec.gc.ca
Dear Stephen Harper,
Protecting public water is a goal shared by people all around the world. Everyone on the planet depends on water.
In Canada, the supply of water is limited. One-quarter of municipalities have faced shortages and one-third currently rely on groundwater for drinking. Unfortunately, natural resource profiteers have set their sights on water as a commodity. They are buying and controlling essential water services, and profiting from situations of scarcity.
Canada needs a national water policy. This policy must ban the export of water, create national standards for clean drinking water, and commit federal funds to help Aboriginal communities and municipalities upgrade their water infrastructure. A national policy must also include a comprehensive water conservation plan. It must ensure that water cannot be traded in existing and future trade agreements.
I worry that the privatization of water resources in Africa, Asia, and Latin America restricts people's access to safe, affordable water. At the international level, 1 in 6 people do not have equal access to clean drinking water. The government of Canada can ensure equitable access to water by supporting publicly or cooperatively-run water systems. We must oppose international financial agreements and policies that promote the privatization of water services and lead to the degradation of natural water sources.
I urge you to protect clean, affordable public water in Canada and around the world, forever. I look forward to your reply. (And for heaven's sakes, try to be a little less obedient.)
Sincerely,
[Insert your name here, too.]
cc:
Peter Gordon MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
and
Rona Ambrose
Minister of the Environment
To: DannyWilliams@gov.nl.ca
Dear Premier Williams:
I am contacting you only to ask that you release the Natural Areas Plan for public review. The Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAA) and Parks and Natural Areas Division compiled the Natural Regions Study in 1989. In 1992, the PAA submitted a plan framework to Parks and Natural Areas Division. In 1995, the Parks and Natural Areas Division formed the Natural Areas System Plan Committee, who identified a number of representative samples for area protection and a list of unique areas.
Although the committee recommended immediate release of the areas for public debate, ten years have passed and the plan has not been released.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the only Province in Canada that has not released its protected areas strategy. Many of the areas that were designed in 1995 to 1996 have been altered or even dropped from the plan within Government.
Please release the Natural Areas Plan for public review
Sincerely,
[Insert your name here.]
#2
To: harper.s@parl.gc.ca
cc: MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca, Rona.Ambrose@ec.gc.ca
Dear Stephen Harper,
Protecting public water is a goal shared by people all around the world. Everyone on the planet depends on water.
In Canada, the supply of water is limited. One-quarter of municipalities have faced shortages and one-third currently rely on groundwater for drinking. Unfortunately, natural resource profiteers have set their sights on water as a commodity. They are buying and controlling essential water services, and profiting from situations of scarcity.
Canada needs a national water policy. This policy must ban the export of water, create national standards for clean drinking water, and commit federal funds to help Aboriginal communities and municipalities upgrade their water infrastructure. A national policy must also include a comprehensive water conservation plan. It must ensure that water cannot be traded in existing and future trade agreements.
I worry that the privatization of water resources in Africa, Asia, and Latin America restricts people's access to safe, affordable water. At the international level, 1 in 6 people do not have equal access to clean drinking water. The government of Canada can ensure equitable access to water by supporting publicly or cooperatively-run water systems. We must oppose international financial agreements and policies that promote the privatization of water services and lead to the degradation of natural water sources.
I urge you to protect clean, affordable public water in Canada and around the world, forever. I look forward to your reply. (And for heaven's sakes, try to be a little less obedient.)
Sincerely,
[Insert your name here, too.]
cc:
Peter Gordon MacKay
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
and
Rona Ambrose
Minister of the Environment
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