Wisdom is the result of a happy marriage between intelligence and experience.
© Carl Dow, Editor and Publisher, True North Perspective, Friday, December 18, 2009.
Friday, December 18, 2009, Vol. 5, No, 3 — 207
"True North is for opinion leaders"
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'Since those sorry days we have frequently heard him repeating the self-regarding mantra that 'hand on heart, I only did what I thought was right'. But this is a narcissist's defence, and self-belief is no answer to misjudgment: it is certainly no answer to death.'
By Andrew Sparrow
The Guardian UK
Tony Blair used "deceit" to persuade parliament and the British people to support war in Iraq, Sir Ken Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, said today. In an article in the Times, Macdonald attacked Blair for engaging in "alarming subterfuge", for displaying "sycophancy" towards George Bush and for refusing to accept that his decisions were wrong. — 711 words.
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Editor's Notes
Friday, December 18, 2009
True North Perspective
Vol. 5, No. 3 (207)
George W. Bush, when asked if he consulted with his father, replied no, he consulted directly with God. So, convinced that he was on a direct mission from God, and therefore above all human law, he proceeded to lie the world into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. — 377 words.
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"News is what (certain) people want to keep hidden. Everything else is just publicity."
PBS journalist Bill Moyers.Your support makes it possible for True North to clear the fog of "publicity" and keep you informed on what's really happening in the world today. Please send your donation to:
Carl Dow, True North, Station E, P.O. Box 4814, Ottawa ON Canada K1S 5H9.
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By Murray Brester
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — A former governor of Kandahar who is accused of personally torturing Afghans might have been removed from office as far back as 2006 if Canadian officials hadn't defended him, according to diplomatic memos that have never been made public by the Canadian government. — 853 words.
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By James Travers
The Toronto Star
OTTAWA, Canada — Pierre Trudeau first freed the genie of expansive prime ministerial power. Now an increasingly feeble Parliament is trying to stuff the monster back into the bottle by demanding Stephen Harper release uncensored documents on Afghanistan prisoner abuse. — 531 words.
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By Alex Binkley
True North Perspective
Originally written for Ontario Farmer
The environmental conference in Copenhagen is spinning its wheels over how to save the world from climate change. The lack of traction in those talks is an interesting parallel to the divisions among developed, developing and poor nations within the World Trade Organization that have inhibited an agreement on a new rulebook for international commerce. — 464 words.
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From the Desk of Dennis Carr, Sustainable Development Editor
By Anne Elizabeth Moore
TruthOut.org
Corporate creep, the profit-minded takeover of public space, is not unlike a roach infestation: stomach-churning, not pretty, and always a losing battle. Yet the battle rages on. The issues underlying many current debates re-exert the right of the public over public space, whether real or virtual: Social networking site privacy uproars, state and city university walk-outs, the low-power FM radio movement, sponsored public transit stations. And the sad fact is, despite that they greatly outnumber the, ah, vermin — the public is losing this fight against the corporate creeps. — 1,401 words.
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From the Desk of Bob Kay, Contributing Editor, Montreal
By Kathy Tomlinson
CBC News
A B.C. mother with three teenagers is speaking out about how Rogers Wireless cost her money she didn't expect to pay by arbitrarily changing the terms of her contract for her children's cellphones. "I'm not happy with the situation," said Rosanna von Sacken. "I want Rogers to be held accountable for what they said they would do." — 1,582 words.
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By Rebekah Sears MA and Karri Munn-Venn MA
True North Perspective
First written for Citizens for Public Justice
Rebekah Sears is the policy intern at Ottawa-based Citizens for Public Justice, www.CPJ.ca, an ecumenical social advocacy organization. Karri Munn-Venn is a Socio-Economic Policy Analyst with Citizens for Public Justice.
It has been a difficult year around the world. The recession has had an impact on many interconnected areas: food, income and housing security and access to social services, to name a few. Individuals and institutions across the planet have undertaken efforts to dig out from under the economic collapse and to rebuild economies — and societies — that are stronger than before. — 950 words.
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By Rosaleen Dickson
Contributing Editor
True North Perspective
To whom will the world leaders apologize, if they screw up today on their responsibilities at Copenhagen?
Will there be anyone to address? Will there be a planet Earth?
Maybe Gordon Brown can't walk the walk, but he sure can talk the talk. They should all pay attention and follow his advice.
Rosaleen Leslie Dickson has been an active, leading member of a number of organizations including the National Press Club and the Ottawa Independent Writers. She has been publisher and editor of her own weekly newspaper, professor of journalism, author of two books and has an on-line advice column with an international circulation. For more, please visit her webpage.
We can't all be leaders of the flock, but we can always honk from behind. Not the useless, destructive racket inflicted by impatient drivers when the driver ahead slows down for an old lady crossing the street, but rather the helpful honking as of geese, encouraging their leaders. Easier said than done, of course, but worth a thought. There is much to be learned from geese. — 416 words.
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From the Desk of Dennis Carr, Sustainable Development Editor
Editorial
The Toronto Star
For Canadians who take their country seriously, and who believe global warming is a deadly serious business, it's almost painful to see their environmental policies singled out for global ridicule. But after ignoring the critics and playing an obstructionist role in climate negotiations culminating this week in Copenhagen, the federal government has made itself a laughably easy target. — 361 words.
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Spirit Quest
By The Rev. Dr. Hanns F. Skoutajan
Imagine Christmas with no celebrations, no Santa, no manger scene with shepherds angels and wise men bearing gifts, no tinsel or colored lights, no gifts. Something of that awaited me as I arrived in Scotland 70 years ago. — 618 words.
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By Alberte Villeneuve-Sinclair
True North Perspective
Alberte Villeneuve-Sinclair is the author of The Neglected Garden and two French novels. Visit her website to learn more www.albertevilleneuve.ca.
Sometimes the best Christmas memories are of Christmas spent elsewhere. Memories of our first Christmas in Florida are among the best and most precious. Adèle, my daughter, was about eight at the time. We were on our own and I suffered from a broken heart, courtesy of a boyfriend who didn't know what the hell he wanted in life. — 707 words.
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Ask the Expert
By Jim Pellerin
Jim Pellerin of Ottawa is a veteran real estate investor and the author of 7 Steps to Real Estate Riches. For more information visit www.JimPellerin.com.
Most people have seen television shows where an investor buys a home and fixes it up, hoping to make money by selling it for more than what they paid for the property and any renovations. — 287 words.
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From the Desk of Alex Binkley, Contributing Editor
By The Frontier Centre
WINNIPEG, BRUSSELS, NEW YORK — The Frontier Centre for Public Policy and the Brussels-based Health Consumer Powerhouse today released the second annual Canada Health Consumer Index (CHCI). The index ranks health care system performance in each province by assessing the extent to which they meet the needs of health care users. — 991 words.
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Olympic flames is passed on the streets of Ottawa
______On Saturday, December 12, 2009, the Olympic flame made its way through the streets of Ottawa.
In the photograph above, two torch bearers make the exchange of fire on Elgin Street near the provincial courthouse. Seeing the flame, in the words of True North Perspective's Randy Ray, was "A touching moment, a once in a lifetime experience."
By Randy Ray and Mark Kearney
True North Perspective
Randy Ray of Ottawa and Mark Kearney of London, Ont., are the authors of nine books about Canada. For more trivia, visit their web site at Www.TriviaGuys.com.
Singing carols, special games and toys associated with Hanukkah and leaving milk and cookies for Santa are integral parts of our holiday celebrations. Add trivia to the list of traditions. We hope this quiz will bring some cheer to the holiday season. But remember, answers are like presents — no peeking. Happy Holidays! — 637 words.
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From the Desk of Dennis Carr, Sustainable Development Editor
By Sanjay Khanna
TheTyee.ca
Sanjay Khanna is a climate-change writer and journalist. He is co-founder of the Resilient People + Climate Change Conference, the world's first conference to explore how climate change and ecological degradation are threatening people's mental health and well-being — and how resilience can be encouraged as the pressures on humanity multiply.
The already sharp concern among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) about the pace and process surrounding the United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen grew more urgent yesterday, with only two days remaining until the conference's official conclusion. — 720 words.
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By Naomi Klein
The Guardian UK
On the ninth day of the Copenhagen climate summit, Africa was sacrificed. The position of the G77 negotiating bloc, including African states, had been clear: a 2C increase in average global temperatures translates into a 3–3.5C increase in Africa. That means, according to the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, "an additional 55 million people could be at risk from hunger", and "water stress could affect between 350 and 600 million more people". — 1,011 words.
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By Kiraz Janicke
Venezuelanalysis.com
During his speech to the 15th United Nations Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez slammed the "lack of political will" of the most powerful nations to take serious action to avert climate change, and called for systemic change to save the planet. — 866 words.
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By Michael Le Page
NewScientist.com
On December 15, a British newspaper published a list of "100 reasons why global warming is natural". Here we take a quick look at the first 50 of their claims — and debunk every single one of them. — 866 words.
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By Stephen Leahy
Inter Press Service
COPENHAGEN — Canada bears a large share of responsibility for any failure to make a breakthrough in reducing greenhouse gas emissions here in Copenhagen, say participants and civil society activists. Canada is the only country to ignore its international obligations under the previous Kyoto climate treaty. It has blocked all attempts to get a new treaty to significantly cut carbon emissions, the activists and delegates from other countries charge. — 623 words.
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The Canadian Press
The federal government has been funding an asbestos lobby group that promotes the work of prominent climate-change skeptics. The revelation comes as Canada's delegation struggles to avoid being cast as the villain at the Copenhagen climate conference, and environmentalists are urging the government to stop financing the group. — 834 words.
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By Lee Salter
Venezuelanalysis.com
Researchers at the University of the West of England, UK, have exposed ongoing and systematic bias in the BBC's news reporting on Venezuela. Dr Lee Salter and Dr Dave Weltman analysed ten years of BBC reports on Venezuela since the first election of Hugo Chavez to the presidency in an ongoing research project, and their findings so far show that the BBC's reporting falls short of its legal commitment to impartiality, truth and accuracy. — 1,272 words.
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From the Desk of Anita Chan, Contributing Editor, Australia
China Labor News Translations
It has been two years since labor activist Huang Qingnan almost lost his leg to a machete attack on 20 November 2007. The founder and registered person of the Dagongzhe Migrant Worker Centre in Shenzhen was attacked in broad daylight for his work educating migrant workers about their legal rights and assisting them take their disputes to court. Chinese labor rights NGOs in Shenzhen are accustomed to administrative repression, but this violent attack was a frightening escalation of the threat to worker activists. — 1,408 words.
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By Barak Ravid
Haaretz.com
British Foreign Secretary David Milliband yesterday apologized to MK Tzipi Livni and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for the arrest warrant issued against Livni in London earlier this week. He also promised Lieberman to begin working immediately to change the UK laws that enable the issue of arrest warrants against Israeli officials accused of war crimes. — 599 words.
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By Martin Shankleman
BBC News
Hospital cleaners are worth more to society than bankers, a study suggests. frThe research, carried out by think tank the New Economics Foundation, says hospital cleaners create £10 of value for every £1 they are paid. — 635 words.
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By Rajeev Syal
The Guardian UK Observer
Drugs money worth billions of dollars kept the financial system afloat at the height of the global crisis, the United Nations' drugs and crime tsar has told the Observer. Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said he has seen evidence that the proceeds of organised crime were "the only liquid investment capital" available to some banks on the brink of collapse last year. He said that a majority of the $352bn (£216bn) of drugs profits was absorbed into the economic system as a result. — 542 words.
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By Daniel Nasaw and Bobbie Johnson
The Guardian UK
American officials have been holding secret talks with Russia and the United Nations in an attempt to strengthen internet security and rein in the growing threat of cyberwarfare. The effort, first reported in the New York Times, is a virtual version of the nuclear arms talks being held between the two nations in Geneva — but rather than focusing on bombs and missiles, the discussions are aimed at curbing the increasing level of attacks taking place online. — 809 words.
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Annals of military intelligence
By Pauline Jelinek
Associated Press
Insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan have intercepted live video feeds from Predator drones, a key weapon in a Pentagon spy system that serves as the military's eyes in the sky for surveillance and intelligence collection. — 657 words.
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By Alex Anishyuk
The Moscow Times
A consortium led by LUKoil won a tender to develop the supergiant West Qurna-2 oil field in Iraq on Saturday, in a strategic victory for the firm that has been over a decade in the making. — 1,161 words.
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By Eva Golinger
GlobalResearch.ca
An article published in the December 12th edition of the New York Times revealed the detention of a US government contract employee in Havana this past December 5th. The employee, whose name has not yet been disclosed, works for Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), one of the largest US government contractors providing services to the State Department, the Pentagon and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The employee was detained while distributing cellular telephones, computers and other communications equipment to Cuban dissident and counterrevolutionary groups that work to promote the US agenda on the Caribbean island. — 1,297 words.
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By Sam Ferguson
TruthOut.org|Op-Ed
Last week, 15 men entered a courthouse facing, amongst other crimes, 181 counts of torture. Their story, tragically, is familiar: in a fight against terrorism, the men allegedly kidnapped and held detainees in unknown black sites. They subjected the prisoners to brutal forms of interrogation, such as waterboarding, sensory deprivation and simulated executions. They denied the detainees all legal recourse, and they defended their secret practices as essential to combating an elusive enemy who refused to play by the rules. — 845 words.
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By Jon Boone
The Guardian UK
An enormous hydroelectric turbine dragged at huge cost by British troops through Taliban heartlands last year may never be installed because NATO has been unable to secure a 30-mile stretch of road leading to an isolated dam in northern Helmand. — 845 words.
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By Huang Xiangyang
China Daily
It is a dazzle of light and color as one strolls along the tropical tree-lined boundaries of the grand Performance Lake. Shooters and nozzles eject into the air streams of water, which dance to both classical and popular music. Bursts of flame, the effect of pyrotechnics, erupt from beneath the surface of the Lake. There is a fleeting feeling of intense heat, quickly followed by a sense of passion, and pure bliss. — 1,589 words.
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By Karen McVeigh
The Guardian UK
The father of a 15-year-old schoolgirl who disappeared without trace 10 years ago has been jailed for a minimum of 22 years after being found guilty of murdering her in a so-called "honour killing". Tulay Goren was killed on 7 January 1999 after falling in love with Halil Unal, a fellow Turkish Kurd twice her age, and running away from home to live with him. — 566 words.
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By Jo Clements
AnnArbor.com
Matthew Freeman is struggling to move on with his life, six years after being convicted of having sex with a high school girlfriend who was one year below the legal age of consent. Freeman, who is required to register as a sex offender, is facing a new criminal charge that accuses him of illegally living within 1,000 feet of a school. — 1,696 words.
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The Moscow Times
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Russian leaders in Moscow on Tuesday in a visit to forge closer economic links. Dung oversaw the signing of several deals, including on the creation of a joint investment fund, an arms contract and a strategic partnership between the countries' two leading energy firms. — 303 words.
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By Natalya Krainova
The Moscow Times
A senior Swedish diplomat has been fired and left Russia after using his diplomatic credentials to smuggle tights and stockings from Belarus to Moscow, NTV television reported. — 209 words.
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By Zhao Chunzhe
China Daily
A 14-month campaign to eliminate pornographic information from mobile phones is underway by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), chinanews.cn reported.
The campaign started at the end of November running through to the end of next year, focusing on promotion channels, content supply service, server sub-contracting, mobile phone charging, domain jumping and terminal customization for phone users.
The minister of MIIT Li Yizhong is in charge of the work, the report said.
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By Jo Clements
The Daily Mail
She has always remained tight-lipped about her ten-year marriage to actor Tom Cruise and vows she will take all her secrets to the grave. But in one of her most revealing-ever interviews, Nicole Kidman let slip how her experiences of love ranged from 'mundane' marriage to 'strange sexual fetish stuff'. — 675 words.
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By Guo Jiaxue
China Daily
HONG KONG: Construction of the 50-km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, expected to be the world's longest sea bridge, kicked off in Zhuhai of Guangdong province yesterday. — 427 words.
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Health Watch
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Scientists are hailing the unlocking of the complete genetic code of two of the most common cancers as "a fundamental moment in cancer research." The mapping of the DNA of skin and lung cancers was reported Thursday in two papers in the journal Nature. — 442 words.
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Humour in the court of Judge Harold Wright
A man and a little boy entered a barbershop together. After the man received the full treatment — shave, manicure, haircut, etc. he placed the boy in the chair.
"I'm goin' to buy a tie to wear to the party," he said. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
When the boy's haircut was done and the man still hadn't returned, the barber said, "It looks like your daddy forgot all about you."
"That wasn't my daddy," said the boy. "He just walked up, took me by the hand and said, 'Come on, son, we're gonna get a free haircut!'"
Case dismissed.
In case you missed it ... and always worth repeating
Let's say that news throughout human time has been free. Take that time when Ugh Wayne went over to the cave of Mugh Payne with news that the chief of his group had broken a leg while chasing his laughing wife around the fire. That news was given freely and received as such with much knowing smiles and smirks to say nothing of grunts of approval or disapproval. — 688 words.
Science
SpaceDaily.com
About 550 light-years from Earth, a star like our Sun is writhing in its death throes. Chi Cygni has swollen in size to become a red giant star so large that it would swallow every planet out to Mars in our solar system. Moreover, it has begun to pulse dramatically in and out, beating like a giant heart. New close-up photos of the surface of this distant star show its throbbing motions in unprecedented detail. — 693 words.
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By Rebecca Morelle
BBC News
An octopus and its coconut-carrying antics have surprised scientists. Underwater footage reveals that the creatures scoop up halved coconut shells before scampering away with them so they can later use them as shelters. Writing in the journal Current Biology, the team says it is the first example of tool use in octopuses. — 731 words.
True North Perspective invites our readers to join us in celebration of our 200 series, that began with the Friday, October 30, 2009, Edition — #200.
While most of our readers are in Canada and the United States we are being read in growing numbers in as many as 88 countries. October saw us reach a record number of 59,493 hits. Ever more high-end readers are finding satisfaction in what we publish. However, we're operating at a severe financial deficit. That's why we're asking readers, effective Edition 200, to become True North Perspective 10 per centers.
Ten per cent of 200 is $20. If all readers were to send in $20, it would help ease us back from the edge of financial desperation. We need the nourishment. We are happy to rely on our readers to provide. Please take time to give this request a key moment of attention by mailing your 10 per cent to:
Carl Dow, True North Perspective, Station E, P.O. Box 4814, Ottawa ON Canada K1S 5H9.
By Peter Whitfield
Special to True North Perspective
SARNIA, Ontario, Canada — The majestic CNR Locomotive 6069 in Centennial Park in Sarnia has been a local landmark for many years. Retired in 1959, she awaited her fate on a siding in Stratford Ontario. Fortunately she would not end up as scrap iron, instead she was purchased by three local gentlemen and she was brought to Sarnia for display at Bay view Park. — 351 words.
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By Dave Zirin
The Nation
During the Bill Clinton impeachment idiocy of 1998, many on the left said that if Clinton were removed from office, let it be for gutting welfare or for imposing sanctions on Iraq, and not l'affaire Lewinsky. Today, Tiger Woods, the famous, wealthy and most PR-conscious athlete on earth, finally finds himself subject to scrutiny. But, similar to Clinton's scandal, his scandal has more to do with his personal life than more substantive issues. — 699 words.
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The Movies
By Imogen Carter
The Observer
Primary School
Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck went to Dovedale primary school with John Lennon and knew him all his life. In Nowhere Boy Tarbuck (played by Christian Bird) features briefly: Lennon (Aaron Johnson) cycles past him and shouts "Tarbuck! Keep out of the chippy ye fat bastard!" — 2,624 words.
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Tales from the Rock, by Wayne Mullett
"Man overboard! Man overboard!"
The cries came from a group of children at the north end of the government wharf. Grandfather had seen this event oh so many times. 'Crazy kids riding their bikes along the bumper again and one has fallen over', he thought. He was retuning from his Sunday security check on the lobster business out on Sammy Dyke's Island. He tied up his punt at the other end of the wharf and made his way towards the group. By the time he reached them they were already dispersed. He saw his other grandson running off too. The only thing that remained was my dog, Tim and I. — 2,742 words.
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Ottawa author Randy Ray and his co-author Mark Kearney of London, Ont. have published their ninth Canadian book, The Big Book of Canadian Trivia, which is now available in stores and on the authors' Web site at: TriviaGuys.com.
The latest Ray-Kearney effort is best described as a "greatest hits" book that contains the best Canadiana from their previous eight books, plus a considerable amount of new material.
In one big book readers will find all the trivia and facts about Canada they need to know: there are stories of important Canadian artifacts and history including what became of Canada's World War II spy camp.
All regions and provinces are covered, as well as important Canadian figures like John Molson, Elizabeth Arden and Russ Jackson.
If that isn't enough there will also be pieces explaining whatever happened to such Canadian icons as the last spike, labour leader Bob White, hockey tough guy Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, the first skidoo, swimmer Marilyn Bell and the first Tim Hortons donut shop.
Some items are "classics." Others are little known facts. Approximately 25 per cent of the material has never before appeared in print.
This fascinating Big Book brings together for the first time in one package the most notable facts and trivia from the archives of the trivia guys' collection.
The Big Book of Canadian Trivia is published by The Dundurn Group of Toronto.
The short story, The Old Man's Last Sauna, a groundbreaking love story, in the Friday, April 24 edition of True North Perspective, concludes the collection titled The Old Man's Last Sauna, written by Carl Dow. On Friday, April 17, you'll find O Ernie! ... What Have They Done To You! The series began Friday, February 20, with Deo Volente (God Willing). The second, The Quintessence of Mr. Flynn, Friday, February 27. The third, Sharing Lies, Friday, March 6. The fourth, Flying High, Friday, March 13. The fifth, The Richest Bitch in the Country or Ginny I Hardly Knows Ya, Friday, March 20. On Friday, March 27, One Lift Too Many, followed by The Model A Ford, Friday, April 3. The out-of-body chiller, Room For One Only, Friday, April 10. The series closed Friday, April 24, with the collection's namesake The Old Man's Last Sauna, a groundbreaking love story. All stories may also be found in the True North Perspective Archives.
Prolific best-selling Ottawa author and publicist Randy Ray has developed a website to promote his publicity services, which he offers to authors, publishers and companies. Mr. Ray has helped many clients get their message out across Canada on CTV, CBC Radio, CH-TV, A-Channel and Global TV, and in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Sun, Halifax Herald and many Ottawa-area weekly newspapers. Mr. Ray's web site is: www.randyray.ca. He can be contacted at: (613) 731-3873 or rocket@intranet.ca.
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Link not working? Story not loading? Can't click on the links? Got another computer problem? Never fear! Carl is here!
If you have any problems with accessing the newsletter or problems with your computer, send an email to Carl Hall chall2k5@gmail.com , and he will be more than happy to assist you.
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Archives
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Carl Dow, Editor and Publisher
Geoffrey Dow, Managing Editor
Yvette Pigeon, Associate Editor
Dennis Carr, Sustainable Development Editor
Benoit Jolicoeur, Art Director
Ian Covey, Director of Photography
Carl Hall, Technical Analyst and Web Editor
Randy Ray, Publicity
Contributing Editors
Anita Chan, Australia
Canada
Alex Binkley, Ottawa
Dennis Carr, Vancouver
Rosaleen Dickson, Ottawa
Tom Dow, Sudbury
Bob Kay, Montréal
Randy Ray, Ottawa
Alberte Villeneuve-Sinclair, Ottawa
David Ward, Ottawa
Harold Wright, Ottawa
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