Edmonton is a cesspool of misogyny, and has been for decades. It's considered one of the worst cities to be a woman, anecdotally AND statistically. We have literally the worst wage gap in the country. Woman make just over half of what men do. We have some of the worst domestic and animal violence records in the country. Those go together, as harm to more vulnerable beings, and perps work their way up the food chain as they are emboldened, due to encouragement by the culture around them. We have one of the highest underage prostitute rates in Canada, especially for native women. All of this is in large part due to the tarsands economy. Studies show that places that rely on that kind of resource concentration, particularly those that require such environmental destruction, and high pay for high risk, with disposable workers, are far more prone to importing vulnerable sex slaves, taking out the instability on their families, and treating women like the earth they are forced to rape for their jobs. It's a cancer (which we also have one of the highest rates of) that disproportionately affects women, and increases the culture of sexual violence.
Since my previous post on my assaults was published, all the old rape culture chestnuts have been hauled out and dusted off by his camp. Which still surprises and of course deeply disappoints me. I had thought that with all of our work on this issue, his cadre would be less inclined to perpetuate such garbage. Even in this place... For more proof, here is how the cops reacted.
Rape can't occur if the relationship was consensual.
Up until the 80's in Canada, it was still legal for a husband to be able to rape his wife. Because rape originally means a 'violent and unlawful taking of property". Since she was his rightful property (and being a cold bitch denying him sex amarite?), there could never be an unlawful taking. Therefore, no husband can rape! Ever! It was one of our greatest achievements, and still is bizarre that we had to fight for it, that sexual assault could now be a crime for intimate partners. Seriously. This isn't a Thing. I freely admit that I was in a consensual sexual relationship with Ryan, and would do so again, in a heartbeat. I still deeply care about him, which is why I wanted to arrange a meet and settle this without destroying his life, because I still think he's worth it. That still doesn't mean that he achieved consent on these occasions. And that is where the problem lies. Mistakes can be made, and that's where communication and forgiveness come in. If he doesn't learn this lesson, I can't be sure he won't do it again. I would take a bullet for him, and forgive him the moment he sincerely asks, but I will not usurp the Truth for his sake. The boys in my camp think he is human refuse and shouldn't be allowed to walk among others, and it is a source of much consternation that I hold my view. Attribute it to PTSD, or sexual abuse training, or entralldom or Fate. But how I feel is the Truth, and I stand by it until it changes.
My rep. (What was she wearing?)
The fact that I have worked hard to overcome my issues and appear as sex positive, particularly in public, is no longer a source of praise for my bravery as I try to reClaim my sexuality, but an indication of 'how I operate'. The fact of the small number of sexual partners that I have ever engaged in intercourse with in my rather longer lifetime (I mean, duh) doesn't matter. It's how I 'appear'. Because he just assumed? And that somehow justifies rape, right? I'm still having trouble about how that one works, quite frankly... Prostitutes can still be raped, you know. Every. Single. Act. to another human body must be consensual. Especially ones that involve bleeding. It's kinda mandatory. Regardless of what I was wearing or how friendly I am to him or other men at events, or how much I try to forge trust bonds with others...
The rep of brutal honesty and total integrity that I have spent a long lifetime building up doesn't seem to enter into it, though. Remarkable how that works...
No one forced her.
I had really thought we had finally gotten rid of this one as a society at least. Consent is more of a 'Yes' thing, not a 'I didn't hold you down' thing. And anyone who suggests that I would seriously recommend running away from. Because they have indicated they are kinda rapey. I went into such painful detail for a reason. Consent can sometimes be harder to achieve, especially in more difficult circumstances. That's why communication, particularly ahead of time for people like me, is essential. As well as continual checking and aftercare. And let me reiterate this - especially when you make someone bleed for you. Because it's an actual crime. Yah-see?
Her boyfriend is a...
Of course they have to attack his character as well. It's kinda necessary, since I'm one of the few folks who has an actual witness. Rumours are already being flung at him, too. Somehow, that means he isn't reliable or to be trusted.. The undercurrent of racism inherent in these claims (he's Chinese/Filipino) makes it all the more charming. I'm not quite sure how that is supposed to make what Ryan did seem all better, or maybe they are trying to pretend that we have concocted everything, for some monumentally bizarre reason, but this does seem a necessary tactic to protect their friend. Which brings us to...
She's making it all up (false rape claims)
Because for some reason, I'm laying everything on the line: my marriage, my home, my career, their careers, my kids, my family... Everything. Just so I can smear this young man and ruin his life. Even though I never came forward at the time, and didn't want to now, but for the fact that he was suddenly went out of his way to get in my face and hurt me more, and not admit that any of this happened. It forces me, in the name of Justice and Truth, which are a big deal to me as a spiritual elder, to come forward to protect any other women he might try to do this to, and to get him out of my spaces so I can at least have some small joys in my life.
And just when I thought they had covered all the bases, here's a new one that was just hurled at me last week. If there's a rape apologist award, this one takes it!
If a much younger man rapes you, you're a pedophile!
Okay, ladies, keep that in mind. Stick entirely within your cadre, or you deserve to be raped, I think is the takeaway here. I'm not quite sure the reasoning on this one, either... If young men con seniors out of their life savings, the thieves get a free pass, because the older folks shouldn't have trusted them? How about murder? Those older persons shouldn't have been hanging with them in the first place! Oh, wait... No. If a young man is old enough to buy a condo, drive his own car, get a job and sign contracts, he's old enough to take responsibility like an adult for making the choice to rape someone. Even if that someone is older and took him at his word like a grown up. The trusting and relationship part is not the mistake here.
That one came from a few new twists on this whole story. I am a fairly well known member of the poly and pagan communities. There is much overlap naturally, and in an attempt to introduce Ryan to other folks that he could connect with, I took him to a poly potluck, a monthly meet up put on by the Polyamory Edmonton Association. I was still very nervous about being his only contact to these communities and wanted him to have more exposure as just himself. There was only six people there this time, since those are less well attended than the drinks nights for example. There I hung out with some old and some new, including one young man, Damien Hildebrandt. I did my best to let Ryan get to know everyone, but also not let him feel alone, so I concentrated on being *with* him and also social, including talking alot to Damien. He seemed reasonable and intelligent, so the time went by pleasantly. Later, he Friended me and Ryan, which I almost always accept, my FB being more buisnessy than not. We chatted at some length, and he shared his loneliness and insecurities. His plight appealed to my compassion, 'cause I remember what that is like, and he seemed to need a friend, so I offered to take him out to dinner to discuss it. He knew I had a husband and I came to the meet with Ryan, so it's nice to hang with folks who aren't polyphobic. The evening was a bit awkward, but I felt enough sympathy to invite him on another one. I did find his arrogance and privilege his main issues, however. He really did think he and his opinions were all that and a bag of chips, and even though I tried to gently probe that, he was bulletproof on it. And at no time was there even a hint of a physical relationship. I can do that. I actually *like* hanging out with people of totally different ages in a complex and satisfying manner that isn't sexy times. Shocking, I know...
It turns out, I knew his mom, too! Sherri Ingrey was a long time FB correspondent of mine from the pagan community (hence how Damien and I were able to hit so many topics) and she chatted to me about our going out. She expressed only amusement at the time, even though her son is much younger than I am. (And not, say, the horror and disgust she later pretended.) I did mention, delicately, how his arrogance was hard to get around, and she concurred. She insisted that it was his father's flaw, whom she no longer got on with at all, and she hoped her son would grow out of it. Our next dinner out went even less well, and I distinctly remember his racist comment that cooled me completely. I was done with him, and was rather distant the next times he tried to contact me. I didn't actually want to hurt his feelings, so I didn't want to critique him, but he really was unpleasant. He stopped bothering to communicate with me in late August, and I thought that was the end of it, and I had successfully Ghosted. Guess what? Hel hath no fury like an entitled man scorned! Imagine my surprise when I saw him *at the courthouse* attempting to get the judge to accept him as Ryan's spokesperson. The judge didn't allow it, of course, because he's not a lawyer, nor does he know anything about this case, so he can't even be a witness. Other than he saw me and Ryan together once, while we were still in a relationship. And we don't need a witness for that... I still haven't figured out, or been able to ask him, what the f*ck that was all about! Because he unFriended me that afternoon. Apparently, he had just remained Friends with me all this time to stalk me on Ryan's behalf or something. I mean, deeply creepy. And it gets worse. It seems that he is the source for 'how I operate" or the main trashing of my 'reputation' as an excuse for my rape. Since he did see us together, that must mean I'm either lying or I can't be raped in a consensual relationship? Polys, snatch this one up fast! I have no idea why he's still single. He's clearly a catch. Except he might rape you if you get into a relationship with him, and he's more than willing to use your polyness as a slut shaming justification for it.
Naturally, I assumed his mom would be revolted by this turn of events, and would want to smack his bottom thoroughly for the rape apologist harm he was doing to my life. I mean, *I* would certainly want to know if my son did that. Hah. No such luck. She seemed already familiar with this (thanks for the heads up, Sherri) and called me a pedophile, which she needs to look up the definition for. Persons who are of legal age have agency, and are treated like adults in every possible institution. They aren't children, which is the "paedo" part of that. There have even been relationships of age disparity throughout history, and as long as there are no great power issues, like old men forcing girls to marry them, those relationships can offer much exchange and affection. We even have an idiom for it! There are plenty of happy consensual May/Decembers (even though I'm not really December yet, more of September), and even if you call all of them pedophiles, it still doesn't make it so. And it certainly doesn't give anyone a free pass to rape. I normally don't blame the parents for rapists or their apologists, but in this case, as a rape apologist herself, she's clearly a contributor.
So really, the *only* people making a mess out of my life is Ryan, of course, his female allies Izzy and Roo that I still keep trying to protect and I'm so disappointed in, and this Damien and his mom. All the stories and smearing come from them, with other folks repeating without considering the source. Or even thinking about it, apparently. I mean I know he's charming, but doesn't *anyone* bother to look at these for more than a second to see how stupid, impossible, and repugnant this narrative is? What have we been working for all these years in fighting these incredibly harmful rape culture myths? It almost seems wasted...
Ryan's honour must be taking huge hits for this victim blaming and manipulation. He's willing to corrupt the truth and all of his circle, when the only thing he is currently protecting is his rep, and his desire to go where I usually am while I'm actually there. He's not even defending himself from criminal charges or civil claims. I have yet to do those, because awful for me (I'm pukey enough as it is), but I will if I have to, to force him to hear how much he can hurt others, and has already hurt me. I can't imagine what horrible tactics he'll pull out if he makes this continue. All I have ever wanted is an acknowledgement, and an intense discussion on consent, to make sure he understands. Mistakes can always happen. I could easily chalk all this up to his inexperience and sudden freedom and forgive him and let this go. But not if he is willing to harm me even more, by denying these events and defaming me, simply to protect his rep alone. Because then, he's becoming an actual dangerous rapist. And that I am required to fight. I promised to teach him, and I don't break my word, no matter how much this kills me.
I miss my crew from #Artsjam at the Legislature. Just one of my many losses from all this.
The written speech was what I was originally gonna say. But all those lights...! Luckily, I'm really good at this, and can still get the message out. The tech and producer just blinked at me when I was finished. They totally advised me not to do another take and keep this one I did. I took that as positive advice, and not like they were secretly trying to make me look bad or anything. Since they seemed genuinely nice, and I just kinda assume that most people are generally good and helpful. Because I know I am. Maybe that's a flaw on my part, but I'm not changing it.
And again, this is before the orange wave, which I totally anticipated, but it was still not a done deal.
Original written speech:
Greetings. My name is Trey Capnerhurst and I'm running for the Alberta Greens in Edmonton Decore.
My 13 year old daughter said to me today "We're the heart of Canada's oil industry. Why is everyone getting cancer?" She is willing to make the connections that most Albertans are not.
One in two Albertans will get cancer in their lifetimes. One in four will die from it. That's your kids, your family, your nieghbours... That's not normal. We have the worst polluted air in the country, and one of the highest child asthma rates on the planet. My son was born nearly perfect, except that sometimes, he literally can't breathe. That is the price we are paying for oil being our primary industry.
Some parties want us to have even more jobs in that resource industry, because we somehow don't have enough already, and yet also expand our health care. Which is really handy, because those go together. We need to expand our gutted healthcare, but prevention saves even more money and lives.
I still remember a time when Alberta was a world leader in so many industries. Oil may have been discovered in the 40's, but it was always part of a balanced economy. In fact, oil wasn't even one of the top three in the 80's. Agriculture, forestry, and believe it or not, the arts, were our most profitable industries. The Arts alone brought in 2 *billion* a year in 80's! And all of these sustainable. We could have flourished on them for generations. Then came the push for the tarsands, and suddenly austerity measures, with slashing of social programs and the war on the poor, and all of our other industries sacrificed to the Tarsands idol. Of course we now need the tarsands, because we have no other jobs left. We could be great without the tarsands, as we once were. Alberta could still even be an energy leader, if we acknowledge that petroleum is on its way out, and we need to fully prepare for the new. Or get left behind...
Alberta also has, for all practical purposes, a flat tax, and corporations are getting away with using our infrastructure and killing our citizens, while still paying some of the lowest rates on the planet. We could easily transition to sustainable industries if we insist that everyone pay their fair share. They've certainly got the benefits from it already...
It's time we got our head out of the tarsands. The price is far too high; for us and for the world. We are a wonderful, caring people, and we can do so much better than this. Speak out. Demand more. Vote Green.
Another whirlwind tour! Although provincial elections are rarely as lively as federal, this one started off with a bang. I was asked by long time activist and vital member of the community, David Laing, to lead off the #ActOnClimate Edmonton action. About two days before. Heh. I actually really like working like this. Gives me less time to get nervous...
I go into far more detail on my blog post on the subject "Why I became a Green", and I left out so much, of course. Such as why the current cries, and some blame, for scientists to activate now, and not in the past. As if to illustrate my points, a sudden wind burst up, knocking everything around. You should see the giant bruises on the back of my legs from where one of the signs hit me... Ah. All for the cause. Made some great new contacts, too!
My entire speech is here. Taping makes it sound better... Did I really talk for 11 minutes? I usually make these so short. But this one - this subject really screams at me.
This year I'm standing for Edmonton Decore. I have stood for it once before, since it's adjacent to the provincial riding I live in, and still in my federal riding. However, the Alberta Greens have decided not to challenge the progressives who have already worked hard to make it to the Legislature and we are not running candidates in their ridings. Instead, we are focusing our message in places that do not yet have such a voice. So Brian Mason, the former leader of the ND's, who currently represents the riding I live in, can thank me for not throwing down the gauntlet. You're welcome. (Because he's soooo worried. Heh.)
Mon. April 13
Taking my campaign manager along to teach him the process. Getting signatures all afternoon and evening to get on the ballot. His very first encounter was greeted by a sit down invite with loads of sweets by a traditional hospitality senior Greek couple. It was certainly one of the most welcoming I've ever encountered doing this part of the work. Another unexpected surprise was Ann the Poetess, who we met in the food court of Northgate. She gave us a spoken word recitation of two of her works, but not her signature, since she doesn't live in the riding. Part of this job is the folks you meet.
And a quick word to Northgate Mall: it's actually illegal, as well as dickish, to prevent folks from getting signatures for Elections Alberta to get on the ballot. It's not partisan: it's providing electoral choice. It's not advertising; it's democracy. The returning office is actually IN your mall! I know you relented and let us do it for one night, but you still can't do that. You do not get to decide who gets on the ballot, by making it harder to get someone on. Here's a tip: you also aren't allowed to prevent campaign literature from getting to renters in buildings that you own, either. Just because you hold the space does not permit you to interfere with the election process. That's a Real Thing. And I will make a formal complaint next time.
And my face is burnt. Even with my rare, and now apparently collectible, hunter green Tilley.
Opening up the Week to Stop Bill C-51, this was a cross country wide co-ordination, with nearly all major cities in Canada organizing a protest. Ours had many of the usual suspects, with some new faces. And many came in satirical outfits to highlight the grim and farcical attempt at painting all activists: environmentalists, aboriginal, social... with one brush - that of terrorists. Much like our neighbours to the south, this is our Patriot Act, except that a few mentally ill murderers are not the same as fighters with a political agenda constantly maiming and killing civilian populations to control the dialog. It kinda ain't. Not even a little bit. Dissent is not terror, and the only people who call it that are those who won't tolerate dissent. Especially if our government is supposed to be listening to us, and doing what *we* tell it? If they shut down all ability to hear us, then who, exactly, are they listening to?
Come for the impassioned and knowledgeable presentations and costumes; stay for the march! From speakers on Aboriginal rights to Palestinian justice to workers rights, all of which would be targeted by this Bill, we were gloriously inspired by spokespeople from many varied, yet always intersectional, causes. Included were Native Elder Taz Bouchier who opened with ceremony, the always popular Raging Grannies, my favourite Communist candidate Peggy Morton, Dale Ladouceur,Glynis Lieb from CUPE, Malcolm Azania (aka Minster Faust), Danika Billie Littlechild, the beautiful and talented Bill Bourne, Ghada Ageel, and many others brought their colours out in solidarity, like Ecawar.org.
I was pleasantly surprised by the organizers inclusion of women and PoC. Many times, lip service is given to hearing voices that are usually silenced, but this rally had some of the most diverse speakers I've ever had the pleasure to hear. Most were women, and nearly all were PoC. Not a white man haranguing us in the bunch. Except the host, and he kept the focus on the guests. I for one was impressed, and would like to extend kudos to the organizers. It's more than past time that we made a place for those who to often have to squeeze their way in.
One of the most awe inspiring presentations was by Jenna Joyce Broomfield, a law student and native activist who explained some of the most problematic parts of the law, and then proceeded to give us a demonstration of one of the many forms of self-expression: Inuit throat singing. Subversive! (I found to my shock that I did not, in fact, get this on video. So I'm using a link that Paula E. Kirman posted to FB from her channel. Let me know if you want me to remove the link, Paula!) See all of the presentations posted here:
Sunday, April 19
Blue dot action at EGS
Met up with some of the lovely folks at Earth's General Store, and stayed for a few hours. They even remembered me from my climate change speech last week! I'm totally flattered... Went into more detail about the issues, handed out a few cards, but there were no babies to shake or hands to kiss. Or is that other way around? Good thing there weren't any then! Had a lovely chat with Estefania Cortes-Vargas, ND candidate for Strathcona-Sherwood Park. We discussed at some length the current problem of the ND's shifting to a non-cooperative and adversarial model, and how that affects the Left as well as their own policies. A truly progressive young woman, who I hope to work and get better acquainted with!
April 20 & 21
Doorknocking with the Leader, and our Crew
Me, and your Green Party candidate for Edmonton-Riverview, Sandra Wolf Lange!
Janet Keeping, our indomitable Leader, managed to make it up to Edmonton with her team for two days this week. We spend the evenings doorknocking in two ridings with fellow candidates. I was privileged to spend some quality face time both days, as well as show off my riding.
Monday night we paired off in teams and hit Edmonton-Riverview and Edmonton-Whitemud with a vengeance. In part because I forgot it was 4/20. That will tell you how much campaigning makes you completely lose track of everything else. Should've been there for the spinning alone... Tuesday we were in Edmonton Decore, right beside Northgate Mall. Met one of the ND volunteers hitting the streets, too. Lovely young man! They have such great people! I wish they would let them talk to us...
Local cable isn't dead! At least, it's putting up a good fight.. Shaw invited all the candidates into the studio, in both Calgary and Edmonton, to present a 90 sec speech, which isn't easy to do when they suggest you talk about yourself, discuss taxes, and throw in a health care plan. A great plan for local relevancy, and I for one applaud their initiative. Most of the Greens managed to avail themselves of the invitation, and it took alot of polishes and practices before most of us felt comfy with the timing and the material. Yes, we write all our own speeches. I know for a fact that the Liberals have their own speechwriters, for the federal campaign anyway, even for tiny ridings, so I have little doubt that the other parties have a more..consistent.. message with actual writers. But since the Greens are all volunteer, being the only citizen's action party, we do it all ourselves. And you know, we are pretty damn good!
I only found out the night before that they were using a green screen, so we couldn't wear green, black, or white. Due to my religious vows, I've only worn black and green for over 25 years, so that's all I have in my closet. Fortunately, my other colour is silver, so even though I thought it might seem frivolous, it was really my only option left. So in that spirit, I tried to get my daughter to lace me into my silver steampunk corset for the presentation, because if you can't hide it, you'd better decorate it! But she couldn't do it up, so I had to go with a silver shirt. My campaign manager thinks it was for the best. Sigh...
I wrote my speech only a few hours earlier, because I always work to deadlines, and I just couldn't get inspired before. However, my 13 yo daughter said something that totally gave me my speech. She said, and I quote, "We're the heart of Canada's oil industry. Why is everyone getting cancer?" And that kinda did it for me. She gets it, even at her age, because that's it in a nutshell. I wrote furiously, for about an hour, and it all came together. Rearranging it was tough, though, since I didn't have time to copy it out, so with taking out the bits that were too long, and trying to point to where I was supposed to go next, it was an editor's nightmare.
They had to check to see if my green hair would scan properly...
Which is kinda what did me in when I actually got there. Shaw is Hel and gone for me, so I had to cab it. I do that very rarely the rest of the year, but I have to rely more on it during a campaign. I and my campaign manager can get everywhere in the riding by bike or bus, as we otherwise do, but some events are simply not doable in a reasonable time frame without utilizing cabs. I think of it as stimulating the local economy! But it does make for some stress, so I was a bit freaked out by the time I got there. And I actually can get terrible stage fright, though you'd never know. That's why they call me "professional"... Heh.
So, after being lead in, and ushered and maneuvered around by the lovely staff, I was set up to go. I took a deep breath, and managed about half the speech, when my edits caught up with me. I got lost. Could not figure out where I was supposed to be going next. Like the trouper I am, though, I had already practiced it earlier, and I actually do know my material and what I want to say, so I just vamped my way through it. I may have been a blunter than I would have otherwise, but I was just under time, and got in most everything I was planning on saying anyway. And the staff looked stunned. Even my campaign manager thought that was some of my best work. Apparently, we could have another take, so I suggested I try doing the speech I had originally intended, but they strongly encouraged me to keep that one. So I abide by their advice, and we kept that. (Original speech and how it actually went is here.)
Profiles of the candidates are available up to election day, and the schedule is posted on my website, my FB page, and I'm assuming, Shaw's, but I didn't check. And if anyone could record it for me, I'd really love a copy. Because I have almost no idea what I said. I mean, I know what I said, but you know... And Shaw has for some reason decided that they aren't going up on YouTube or their site, so I'm kinda outta luck, unless they relent and allow me to have a copy after the election. Because, I kinda rocked. Or, I think I did... Isn't that the same thing? Heh.
Wed, April 22
Candidates Public Forum on Education: Crestwood Community League
The Future of our Public Schools and School Closures, sponsored by Community Action for School Renewal
Me in the new T shirt design!
Supposedly an all-candidates forum: but just like the one on education held in Calgary, the PC and the WildRose chose not to attend. Or even send an excuse, I think... Much note was made of it, since it was the only one of its kind this election held in Edmonton. Despite that, however, a highly useful and productive evening was spent by all. FB listing is here, with more details and pics.
For my full answers to all the questions, check out my Youtube channel!
Actually in attendance were two Alberta Party candidates, two NDP candidates, one Liberal, and me, representing the Greens. My answers are on my Youtube channel. Thanks to my campaign manager for taking them! The MC announced that they would be livetweeting the answers, which put on a bit more pressure. However, I only looked at them afterwards, and was very impressed that someone could manage to summarize our answers so well and so quickly. I didn't quite know I was so well received until after the event, when so many participants came up to me to offer congratulations, and I looked over the tweets the next day. They do make me look pretty darn good! It's nice to have the pat on the back every once and awhile. We really work hard for this... See them all yourself, with the hashtag #casrforum
I was very impressed with Dr. Donna Wilson, Liberal candidate for Riverview. She was clear and focused, with great answers and a real knowledge of the subject. As a prof, she could also speak to post secondary as well.Great stats! I could only really disagree on the Liberal party line of keeping government out of the schools. Well, no. That's kinda what government is *for*: collecting taxes and providing education. When we have decided on a system of public education, that's one of the things governance is for.
The male Alberta party candidate, Brandon Beringer, standing for Riverview, the only boy on the panel, held himself fairly well for his first election. He was a bit flippant, and didn't know his material much, but he kept to his script, which is what he's supposed to do, I guess. I have no clue why he thinks that the Alberta Party policy of *borrowing* to get out of our financial mess, instead of just collecting a more appropriate amount of tax from the rich and corporations getting wealthy off OUR resources, is somehow a better plan. You know we have some of the lowest royalties on the planet, right? And borrowing puts us in *debt*? Really. Those oil companies aren't going anywhere. They could just pay their fair share. I couldn't stop staring at Dr. Christina Stasia, the female Alberta party candidate for Goldbar. The work that goes into looking like she is literally off a Mad Men set was impressive. And a bit stunning. However, she was also clear, with a lovely speaking voice, and totally knew her subject matter. I felt like I had to up my game with this crowd.. Which isn't a bad thing.
The two NDP were right beside me. And barely looked at me the entire time. I will admit - I was very disappointed in them. As a former hard core NDP, I must say that this new route of hostility, rather than co-operation, does not suit them at all. One at least gave me the time of day, then proceeded to ignore me, but Sarah Hoffman, for Glenora, was a wall of rude. Although I admit I didn't get most of that until *after* I mildly satirized her idol worship of Notley. But really. Do the NDP think we are that stupid? Or was that just her? I know they have been instructed to say "Rachel Notley and the NDP" whenever they breathe, but she was giving the impression that Notley herself was going to build all those schools personally. She said it so often that the kids were considering making a drinking game of it. I'm glad they can't legally use alcohol yet. They'd have died from the poisoning. I personally found it deeply embarrassing and shameless, and shades of Ralph's Team and the PC Cult of Personality, were hanging over us all. Everyone who spoke to me afterward felt the same way. I couldn't help but get a little bit angry over it. None of us mentioned our leaders. Mine in particular is an inspiration as a spokesperson, but she's not the Be All and End All of all the candidates and our platform... I did have a chance to sneak a peek at their notes, cheat sheets, and talking points. (Which we don't have, by the way. Just our policies.) I saw an actual chart comparing Prentice to Rachel, him all bad and her all good. It was eye opening - the push to manipulate, and in such a simplistic fashion. I almost got a picture of it with my phone. The candidate was rather indiscreet with such party secrets. You know we don't vote for a premier, right, Rachel? And encouraging use of your first name to promote a false sense of intimacy, countering his use of last name to indicate authority, is a rather sleazy and manufactured tactic? The best part was the end, when we all wandered around and shook hands, giving each other sincere compliments on an evening well spent. Except for the NDP, who totally ignored me. Again. I don't know if they shook hands or spoke to any of the other candidates, but their bad form and general discourtesy was highly pointed. I don't know if that was just them, or if they are under orders to snub us. Because they most certainly did. Bad NDP. No cookie.
Feature in Diversity Magazine!
Leader Janet Keeping, Sandra Wolf Lange, and me hamming it up. We have such fun in all the hard work...
Also while Janet was in town, we had a photo shoot at Diversity Magazine! See the full article here...Big thanks to editor Franklin, the Green Crusader, for the invite!
Sunday, April 26
Earth Day in the Downtown core
The martial arts Green contingent
Of course, it is the must attend event of the day. My campaign manager and I meet another local Green, Chris Vallee, and hang out with the usual suspects. Garbaganza was in attendance, as was Greenpeace, Amnesty, Permaculture, local green hero Michael Kalmanovitch from Earth's General Store, and some new folks we said hi to. I was particularly impressed with the new vegan food truck! A great addition! We did our duty and dropped off some literature and buttons, which joined the federal swag on the table. More pics here.
Then we spent the rest of the day, for some much needed R and R, at the Legislature grounds for ArtsJam: a very loosely organized group of flow artists, hoopers, musicians, and now, the martial arts group, of which I happen to have the honour of joining from time to time...
Sword training and one of our dapperest attendees
Hoopers and jugglers and drummers: oh, my!
Hand to hand, because we didn't bring enough weapons...
April 29
Pack the Chambers
Livetweeting selfie! Sandra Wolf Lange, your Green candidate for Edmonton Riverview, and me!
A call to action! The Edmonton City Council was meeting to discuss the motion to reduce our carbon footprint, for the *very* realistic goal of 35% reduction by 2025, and the Greens, and green minded citizens, came out in a show of support. It was just an ordinary business meeting, which happens fairly often, but in this case, we were to bare witness and demonstrate how much we cared about this plan. Several of us livetweeted, including me, and you can see most of them on the FB event. Our mayor, Don Ivason, is a popular progressive, and even mentioned climate change! And so near to the tarsands, too... And not a single job was lost. He did, however, chastise us for not 'sitting respectfully in silence" when we made sedate polite applause over one Councillor's remarks about an hour into the meeting. You know, you ARE facing us in a semi-circle. You are OUR employees, doing work for us. That's a democracy thing. I'm not sure admonishing us like bad children to 'sitting respectfully in silence' is the best way to address us. One attendee went so far as to call it an abuse of power. I probably wouldn't say that, but it wasn't cool, Don..
Greenies in the house!
Yes, we really do the less glamourous stuff, too, to get the job done.
Saw a sound check for a really good musician on the way out. Oooo...looked fancy! I wonder what was going on here...
May 1
May Day Worker's Rally and March
The worker's / united / will never be defeated!
I'm all scary when I'm in Fight mode..
We started off at the Legislature. Speakers went on for about 45 min, but mysteriously, the clarion at the Ledge continued for about 10 minutes during it all, making it very hard to hear the speakers. I have honestly never, ever heard those bells go on for quite so long. I'm not gonna say someone did it deliberately, but...
Much hedging around for the political Labour talk, and election was obliquely referred to, but no one was crass enough to really promote the orange party, and they were not predominantly in attendance. I for one found it refreshingly tasteful, and also did not shove my literature at anyone. And yet, not one of the speakers insisted that everyone just out to VOTE, DAMMIT! I hung out with Janis Irwin, federal NDP candidate for my usual riding of now Edmonton Griesbach. We really wanted to start the chant of Vote, Vote, Vote! but we were both too shy to interrupt the proceedings with such a political agenda. Even though a damn election and the workers should speak up with their vote! Grumble, grumble... Even though somehow we've never actually met before, we have both followed each other for awhile and made a great connection. We vowed to hang out in future and the possibly of ...gasp...co-operation is a very distinct possibility. Hush.
The march was one of the longest I've been in for awhile, and we ended up at Grant Notley park. Nope. No political statements there.. Heh. We didn't get permission to march, but the organizers informed the cops of our route, so there was a police escort, and we were encouraged to take over Jasper Ave! Which we kinda did. It was exhilarating! I know some folks may have had their travel interrupted, and often will whine over that, but I tells ya: your human rights are way more important, and exercising them is sometimes inconvenient for others. At least we weren't in Quebec, where they were tear gassed for the very same action. So, we get to count ourselves lucky...? Or do we have to fight harder for them?
I usually celebrate Beltaine today, but instead, I headed out in solidarity. I will have to make it up my observances *after* the election, I guess. I certainly can't take much time for them now...
Sunday, May 3
North Glenora All Candidates Forum
Well, okay. *First*, it was Artsjam, And although I am usually the one documenting, someone finally managed to sneak pics of me. Not with any of the weapons though. Just dancing and borrowing a robe for effect. My arms still ache from swinging at my campaign manager with the Ken-do staff, too...
Then we were off to Glenora. I was filling in for David Parker, and holding up the Green banner for the riding. All parties chose to attend this one, and the format was like a quiz show, with random questions from the audience, names picked out of the bowl to answer, and one minute timed. They WILL take the mic from you in mid-sentence, btw... Fortunately, this is my sixth rodeo, so I was the only one they never had to do that to. Booyah. My answers are loading up on my Youtube channel, though not totally complete. It's hard to video when you don't know who's coming up next.
As usual, I totally got on great with the Liberal candidate. I hadn't met Karen Sevcik for Glenora before, but it was her first campaign, and obviously her last forum for it, so she was a bit more experienced in them by now. She was delightful, and not yet had her sense of humour, and disgust, crushed under the weight of it all, so we tried hard not to look appalled at the PC incumbent's Orwellian take on education funding and taxation. Sarah Hoffman of the NDP was there again, and really gives the impression that she doesn't like me. One remark satirizing her idolatry of Notley in a forum and a girl can't get a break... Heh. The first thing out of her mouth when she noticed me was "Oh, are you in the audience this time?" I have no clue why she would think that, esp. dressed all in my Greens, but I assured her I was on the panel with her. As a real, live candidate. I wasn't even snarky about it! After her brag about how many forums she's been in so far this campaign (I've still been in far more in my six times running, but who's counting?), she again dismissed me. I love working with professionals... At least this time she shook my hand afterward.
The Wildrose candidate sitting to my left, Don Koziak, had run lots of times himself, for city council and other seats, but he still shook like a leaf and looked like he was gonna puke. And he almost couldn't finish one minute for each question. I kinda felt sorry for him. But this is part of the job, and if I may recommend, you are not good at this at all. You may want to consider another way of participating in the democratic system. Oration in front of crowds is not your bag. The PC incumbent, Heather Klimchuk, flailed around like she was desperate to keep her job, but like an employee in a bad performance review, not enough to be honest about mistakes or blame. Just "how I'll do better!" Many found it rather distasteful.
And with that, and a few more blog posts, we reach the end of one of the hardest campaigns I have ever done. With the new change looming and the complete shut out of the media on the Greens, it also seems like this one will see the least returns. But we are building a party here, and more hope for the future. And rest assured, a conscience and alternative for the NDP. So keep that in mind, oranges. What you did this time, we can do next, if you don't keep your people happy. And do something about that appalling environmental record, switch our jobs and our industry green, clean up our air and water, and make us world leaders again. Properly and sustainably this time. Or your votes are ours.
Election Night after party
Greenies hang out at vegan eat and drinkery Arcadia on 124th St.
Climate change
denial is not, and has never been, a 'dissenting view'. Anthropogenic
global warming has been accepted and taught in Universities since the 70's as a
currently occurring event based on the paleoclimatology data accumulated from
the past 100 years of geologic research. It’s also been confirmed by many other
disciplines, such as atmospheric science, geography, oceanography, biology,
chemistry, physics, and even the social sciences like anthro. The fact
that the general public only heard about AGW in the '90's does not diminish the
science in any way. It was only then that the denial machine went into effect,
of course, but AGW has never been in question in science. There is no other
theory that fits all the current data, and more importantly, all the past data
of the many eras the Earth has had high levels of carbon in the atmosphere.
AGW was and is taught the way plate tectonics and that the
earth revolves the sun and gravity are accepted: that there is no other
explanation that fits all these observations as well, so they are what science
considers 'truth' or 'knowledge'. Even though we can't actually see them in action,
we infer those explanations from our observations. And unless you're a genius
and can come up with a completely new model that explains all these thousands
of papers filled with raw data and analysis every year that confirm this
hypothesis, we'll just have to go with AGW as the best concept. Gravity
doesn't care if you believe in it as a theory or not, either, but you can
declare that as you jump out of a window and see how well that works for
you..
What these deniers don't get is that this isn't
"dire warnings." Scientists aren't just yelling from rooftops
that the end is near. These are a series
of predictions that range from really bad to catastrophic, based on past eras of
the earth and modern trending. Scientists are just doing their job in
making these public, and suggesting which parameters changing and how fast will
alter the models. SOME of them are agitating actively for change, but they are
in the minority. They have no stake in anything, other than that they are human
and might like the human race, including their children, to continue. But those
destroying the planet really do believe that these predictions are just
'warnings' and that they aren't murdering everything. Because most of them
aren't that sociopathic, so they have a vested interest in hoping that the
scientists are lying or wrong or misinformed or paid off.
Perpetuation of the bizarre myth that climate change is just
cyclical global warming, or that colder temperatures are proof that it isn't
happening, is more than unethical or criminal. It will kill us all.
Life on Earth will continue, even if only 1% of current species survive
that kind of climate alteration. But we humans are a soft species that can only handle
a mild medium in the spectrum of weather and temperature that the earth is
capable of, when we observe the geological record. (Unless you think
you can handle 800km/h winds?) We have very little time to make very drastic
changes that tip the engine back in our favour before we are all wiped out.
There is a reason that frogs can hibernate for years and other species
can go dormant when there is no water at all. It's because their
species developed in times where the earth was far less hospitable to life than
it is now. We are not such a species, and we will not survive this next,
and largely induced, phase in the Earth's cycle.
For those of you who need a one paragraph summation, and missed your science classes on
the subject... On Earth, heat is collected from the sun and, depending on the
conditions at the time, largely by carbon and other reflectors in the
atmosphere, that energy is either dissipated into space or retained to add heat to the
weather engine. That engine is responsible for moving heat around in the form
of winds, ocean currents, etc. The more heat in the engine, the greater
disparity in temperatures in different areas of the world, and the greater
strength of storms, etc. There are times on this planet when storms could average 500km/h, and when temperature fluctuations ranged from -100 to +60C.
For the past few millenniums, more energy has been released into space, making
the earth milder in all dimensions. With the increase in the atmosphere of
previously buried carbon, more heat is being added to the weather engine,
average earth temperature is increasing, while local temperatures are becoming
more extreme or altering altogether. Pretty clear, right?
In a world where it's +50 outside, or -70, or severe
hurricanes or tornadoes are the norm, humans would be living on an alien world.
Like a colony on Venus, humans
would have to live in underground bunkers or climate controlled cities. We could never interact with the environment again without protective
gear. That's already happening in many parts of the world. Our
children would never be able to play outside for their entire lives. Like
a civilization out of science fiction, this is really what some deniers propose
our solution to be, if they happen to be wrong, that is...
The entire eco-system will collapse as well. So there will
be no complex life on earth for a few million years. No mammals like whales and
bears and cats, no giant trees, almost no fish, most bugs gone and therefore
more plants. Never to be seen in the Universe again. Solving the eco-system
collapse problem seems a better solution than letting everything go extinct.
Sure, Earth has had that kind of environment many times before,
and life has thrived, but not life as we are used to. Dinosaurs survived
and evolved for hundreds of millions of years before their climate change
finally made them weak enough for the meteor to pop them off. Mammals
have had a relatively short stint in this new, far milder world, but now the
cycle is shifting back well before its usual time. We, as the dominant
intelligent species, have either contributed to it, or can change it back to
something our type of life can continue with. Denying that we have
anything to do with it, or that we can do anything about it, and should
concentrate our focus on "traditional" environmental causes, makes
someone a climate change denier, regardless of whatever emotional baggage they
carry with that.
In most of the geological history of the Earth, the climate
has been far more like Venus than what we are used to. Yes, life thrived then,
but not mammalian, and not the biosphere that maintains mammalian life. In this
particular incarnation of Life, we have a very narrow window of temperature
that is necessary to function and reproduce. We can manage to keep warm, but
cooling off is another matter. At a certain heat point, most of this
incarnation of the biosphere completely breaks down. And that includes us.
Humans alone, for various reasons, become less fertile as
the temperature rises for example. Include higher death rates, and you can see
the problem already starting. And that is IF no one starts mass migrations to
areas away from the equatorial band. Now include other mammals and support
systems and you can see the magnitude. It’s not just sea level rise or crop
failure. It is *human bodies* that begin to fail, as well as most other mammals
and plant systems.
Life will continue on this planet, but it won't be a kind of
life that can support anything that we need to survive.[1][2]
Our governments can't control everything, of course, not
without complete re-organization. But simply allowing our economic systems alone to decide if our environment is polluted, or determining if our
non-renewable resources are left behind for our children, is madness. Governments
MUST start showing long term leadership and make the decisions that will permit
our ecosystems and resources to sustain themselves for the next generations.
And not just for the human populations…
Lowest possible carbon is the only way to go. The feedback
loops make our current course a death sentence, but restoration, including
re-integration of carbon, can save most of our ecosystem. Adaptation is a myth. Science and tech can't do that for us.
That's why compromise and slow alteration simply won't work. We, and this
entire eco-system, are way too squishy and vulnerable to survive the change in
climate. However, there is still time to reverse the trend. More than we need,
in fact. Rainforests need to be encouraged to be rainforests again, wetlands
back to wetlands, carbon taken out of the atmosphere and put into plants, where
it should be. Yes, we have much more than the usual carbon in this kind of
system, but we can still compensate. This system is designed to do what it was
doing, and can revert in some cases in less than a decade. Its natural equilibrium
*wants* to go there. I'm not a conservationist. I'm a Restorationist. And it's
still possible. If we stop the damage we are doing now, and reverse the trends.
[3]
The environmental movement in this moment IS Climate Change.
Biomes moving to different areas due to local alterations; severe and far more
violent events, water loss, food growing areas shifting... What the heck
do you think the environmental movement is? Putting litter in it's place?
All those contaminants in our air and soil? Those may have
been the galvanizers 20 or 30 years ago, but they are nothing to the serious
issues facing the current life on earth as we know it. If you can't stand with
us, at least get the heck out of the way while we try to save the last remnants
of this ecosystem from going the way of the Age of the Dinosaurs, or the Age of
Insects, or the Age of...
Further
reading, including the Climate Change and the Integrity of
Science[i],
raw and interpreted data from many different disciplines[ii], and
some of the alleged controversies, like denier scientists[iii]
and “Climategate”[iv]
[i] Data doesn't
change, but we learn better how to interpret and where to look for more:
Scientists' Statement and Response on Climate Change and the
Integrity of Science http://tinyurl.com/373c5pp
[ii] One of
the many disciplines that have yielded this data for 100 years, and how it is
used to create future projections: (and has one of the coolest names)
I loved paleoclimatology, but it certainly didn't
receive the attention in the 80's than it does now! From boring cores samples in
back rooms of museums to media scrums! How glamorous for them...
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