SGC Admin "thoughts", Eco News

Is Jasper Park (Alberta) in danger of being sold?

FYI From The Editor:

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If you have ever been out west to Jasper and Banff National Parks, you likely appreciated the awesome beauty of these fabulous landmarks created by Mother Earth…. 

For many years each of these parks have been a part of what Canada stands for, a connection to Nature. 

Many of us are  aware of the connection all living things have to each other, the trees clean the air, provide homes for wildlife and food for little critters….the lakes and ponds are also homes for many species. Everything has it’s time here on earth and once that time is up the decay of organic beings goes back into the earth and the cycle begins again…. creating and supplying life for all…

As humans we have assumed responsiblity for planet Earth, we believe we are the caretakers,  but EGO pushes us to also believe that we can play GOD/GODDESS and take from nature whenever we feel the need. In the past, before EGO become so powerful people were respectful of the connections and  only took or used what was necessary. 

Now, however we have become greedy, or should I say our Governments and the big corporations have  become greedy, and they believe they own nature and can sell off, use and abuse it whenever they choose. 

Jasper Park is now in trouble, those in power want to sell it off or parts of it off to our neighbour, once that is done we have no control over it, and it is likely those who buy are not buying it so they can preserve it. 

Are we ready to throw it away? I am not, and so in an effort to let my voice be heard for those who cannot speak for themselves, (the wildlife and plant life) I have lent my signature to the a protest against such abuse…. 

If you too, feel strongly about this issue, please don’t be shy, lend your signature also …. 

Please Click Here to become involved… 

SGC Admin "thoughts", News and views

Do you want to work an extra two years before being eligible to collect Canada Pension?

From the Editor: 

Free Clip Art Retirement : Cartoon Angry old woman with a wooden spoon. Isolated Stock Photo

I don’t know about the rest of you but it seems awfully unfair to the working class to make them work an extra two years before being able to collect Canada Pension… But this is what Prime Minister Harper is expecting us to do. 

Please Click Here to view the information online. 

Both hubby and I are disturbed at this news, it smacks of unfairness which doesn’t sit too well with us Libra’s. And so I have done up a letter and sent it off via Email to the Prime Minister’s Office… However, I am aware that Mr. Harper probably won’t read my letter, nor perhaps will he even be aware that it has been sent, unless others flood his office with emails, letter’s and phone calls. 

If you are concerned about your retirement years, or you are fed up with the constant “hand in your pocket” syndrome, then I implore you to send in your email or hand written letter. If you have trouble coming up with the right words, and feel our letter has said what you would like to, you are more then welcome to change our name  and submit it as your own… who knows maybe if they keep getting the same letter from many different people they will get the message… 

I have also emailed a copy of the letter to each political party. 

Please Click Here to Email your letter to Prime Minister Harper. 

Please Click Here to Email your letter to Bob Rea Leader of the Liberal Party

Please Click Here to Email your letter to Interim NDP Leader Nycole Turmel

Please Click Here to Email  your letter to Elizabeth May Green Party Leader

Letters may also be snail mailed to the Prime Minister at the address below. If you would like to snail mail your concerns to the other political parties, please click on the links above to go to each parties website and view contact information. 

 

Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street

Ottawa,ONK1A 0A2

January 26, 2012

Mr. Prime Minister;

We are contacting you today, after being informed of some of the changes to be made within Canada in order to cut spending, in the effort to ensure a sustainable economic future for our country.

Specifically, we concentrate on the changes to the retirement age.

We are of an age where retirement is within our reach, it is something we look forward to and plan for. We have worked hard, lived within our means, paid our bills and our tax’s, and hope to be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement in the not too distant future.

The changes you are proposing are unfair and wrong.

How long does a politician have to work before being able to collect a pension? And how much of a pension do politicians collect? If those “running”Canada are not expected to work until 65 years of age before drawing a pension, then why on earth would you expect the rest of the population to work past the age of 65? What makes politicians (and our Prime Minister) more entitled then the “working class” to receive money from the people, ahead of the people?

It is not the working class you should be targeting it is the massive waste of tax payer’s money that should be looked into. Waste on every level of government from federal to municipal is rampant.

Parents run around trying to organize fund drives for supplies that should already be in the class room, provided with the tax money we pay into the system.

People run around trying to raise funds for Cancer research, when the tax’s we pay into the system should be taking care of such things as our health. When people are expected to see specialists in such places as the fracture clinic at the Oshawa Hospital, in a hospital cubicle for a consultation, instead of the privacy of a doctor’s office, there is something wrong.

People are fed up with the taxes that come off of their pay checks but we can’t stop you… Hubby’s pay in January 2012 was less then usual, because the U.I. and pension premiums have gone up; no one told us they would, the money was just TAKEN…

Every time we buy something we are taxed again…. What are you doing with all this money…. ???

People are dying just before they reach the age of retirement, a lot of people, which means they never get to draw on the pension they have invested in… And you expect the people to work two more years!! It’s not right and it’s defiantly not fair.

Young people can’t get jobs because there aren’t any out there, they are living at home with the parents that have worked hard and paid into the system, now those parents have to keep watching their household budget, instead of enjoying it because their adult children can’t find decent work to cover their living expenses.

In short, life sucks for the working person as it is, and you expect people to just deal with it, suck it up and spend another 2 years getting up early or dealing with shift work, commuting, work stress, boss’s who have big egos, and the list goes on,  because you guys in charge have messed things up royally.

You don’t have to deal with life on the working guy’s level; you don’t have to live in cities or towns where finding decent shelter at affordable pricing is getting increasingly difficult. You don’t have to scan the grocery flyers of the local paper to find the best deals. You don’t have to deal with the people coming into this country who think Canada is for them and for them alone because the people running Canada have made it that way. You aren’t living in Northern Ontario where the 1st nations people are living in disgusting conditions not even fit for animals. (1st Nations, the people we stole this Country from). You don’t have to take time off of work to go to see doctors in Toronto who don’t know what they are doing, and who after a five minute visit tell you, you have to take another day off of work to see a different doctor… If no sick days are given with the job, the worker loses one, two maybe 3 days pay and still may not get the answer they seek.

You and your colleges live a privileged life, outside of the working person’s life. Therefore it is not possible for you to understand how it is to make ends meet and run a household while sticking to a strict budget.

We have done that, we have been blessed and we have worked hard and we have a roof over our head. A small humble house that will never truly be ours regardless that the mortgage is paid because until the day we die we have to pay property tax’s. But hey, we got over that…. We have paid our way thank the heavens without (up to this date) having to ask YOU guys for any help… We have done what has been asked of us, and now you want more…

How can you sit back and assume that the working class people are happy to add another 2 year’s onto their working life?

It is the politicians, who have put Canada in the position she is in today.. Mass immigration and the giving away of all the manufacturing jobs to China and India, and the huge amount of waste that goes on in government and government jobs is not the fault of the people, and the consequences of such actions and decisions should not be put on the shoulders of the working class people. It’s your (politicians) mistake you fix it out of your pocket not ours.

Stop immigration, stop the big salaries, stop the perks and bonus’s, stop funding new-comer programs, stop the waste… and you will find the extra that is needed in order to allow seniors to rest at 65.

Oh and while we are at it…. WE DON’T NEED ANYMORE GROWTH…. SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE IT’S ALL GONE

SGC Admin "thoughts"

Are we sending our girls the right message about body image?

From the Editor: 

Free Clip Art Body Image : Front view of women exercising

The other day on face book the subject of female body image came up.

A plus size model did a naked/natural photo shoot with a “regular” model. It was an interesting photo, and showed the incredible difference between the two… 

The information provided with the photo leads one to believe that a size 12 is a plus size?? 

Is society still bound and determined to judge women by the size of dress they wear? And if so, why? 

How can we change this attitude? 

Do we want to? 

These are just some of the questions that come to mind, if you have questions or answers to any of the above, or if you have a story you would like to share regarding body image. Please fill out the form below. 

We thank you for your participation. 

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Thank you for your response. ✨

SGC Admin "thoughts", News and views

FYI: Durham Region Council: Water/Sewer Rates to go up?

Will our water/sewer rates raise because of our efficiency? 

sparks of blue water Stock Photo - 8350670

FYI: Regional Council (Durham Region) were to meet December 14 to deal with a proposal to raise water/sewer rates by a combined 6.4% in 2012 (although I am not sure about the math as you will see in the breakdown). The increase is broken into an 8.3 per cent increase in water rates and 4.6 for sewer rates. The total works out to be about $47:00 a year. And it won’t stop there, as the Region is anticipating increases between 7 and 9 % a year until 2016. 

According to a Whitby this week staff report, it has been noted that water consumption has been dropping steadily since the year 2000. The reason for the decline is largely due to water efficient fixtures and appliances. 

Interesting that our efficiency is going to cost us in the long run… will the same be said for our efficiency in our use of electricity? 

I am unversed as to how much it costs to take care of a population, so it really is not my place to say how this situation should be handled. But I do hope that costs have first been cut in area’s that are not needed before they have been passed on to the general public. 

We welcome your thoughts on this post, along with any updated information you may wish to add. 

Source: Whitby this week: December 9 Edition.

SGC Admin "thoughts"

Christmas 2011 — Birth of a New Tradition

From the Editor: 

 

I found the following (likely U.S. origin) on Facebook, on one of  my friend’s status updates, I shared it on my own status and would like to share it with you… :) The name of the gentleman who penned this wonderful piece of advice escapes me at the moment, (please forgive me and send it along if you know it) but I thank him where ever he is for speaking his mind. 

The holiday season is upon us, it’s a fabulous, wonderful time of the year, but stressful too, especially if you have a limited budget. 

One of the reasons behind our lack of jobs and therefore lack of funds, may be because so much of our product is made elsewhere.  It is difficult to buy things and keep the economy going when there isn’t any extra money to spend because the jobs aren’t there.  

If we buy from Canadians, if we buy Canadian made products and services we keep Canadians working which equals Canadians spending money in Canada, which in turn equals a strong economy for Canada….

Happy Shopping Everyone… !!

Christmas 2011 — Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labor. This year will be different. This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands. Yes there is!

It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?
Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Canadian hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamin’s on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine. THIS is the new Canadian  Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list — post it to discussion groups — throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city — send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?