Happy New Year really does mean Renewal.

I am truly looking forward to the year 2007. There seems to be renewal everywhere and it isn't spring yet. I am very impressed with Stephane Dion, he is the right person at the right time and I do beleive he will give PM SH the fight of his lifetime in the anticipated election we all expect sometime in the next 12 months.

There was a news story on CBC of which I caught a snippet when driving home from my aging mothers this afternoon.

Countries that border on the Arctic Circle are holding an Arctic Conference to discuss the loss of Ice flows and the future impact of climate change seeking solutions to slow down the warming. Followed by a story about putting up umbrellas to shield the earth from the sun, imagine 16 billion umbrellas needed to encompass the planet. It was explained by the scientist who propose's such a solution that it would take a total of 10 years to rocket umbrellas into the atmosphere at 1 million per trip... just getting a wee bit of information is very scary, it can be interperted in oh, so many different ways.

The most important thing here is that everyone is now talking about Climate Change, Global Warming, Greenhouse gases and our Environment all of which is a great way to start renewal.

Small wonders and a reversal of words. .

Posting on this little blog of mine has been low on my list of priorities the past 2 months, for which I can only make a simple comment with another 4 letter word. "busy" "work" or "time" it comes down to 1) to much to do 2) not enough time to do.

A few comments from long time political allies, some who have been on the long hard campaign trails tell me that I am neither 'little' or 'old' and were horrified with the pink stationery that I chose initially...... hence the new creation which shows youth and energy overcoming the old and treacherous. Actually I was looking for a design done by a person of my gender but there just weren't any so I chose the Rose.

Christmas Day we took the BC Ferry (10 minute ) ride to Quadra Island, where we were met by friends who we would be feasting with that day. One of several topics around that feasting table was the upcoming Quadra Island, Climate Change Conference scheduled for January 20th with the Lead off Film of Al Gore and "The Inconvenient Truth". It just happend to be one of the films my husband and I watched during the week leading up to Christmas. So when I surfed tthrough some of my quick read news sites and saw that the President of the U.S.ofA said The US accepts threat to Polar Bears I thought that I had misread it and had to emblazon the words in my brain, let it digest in the mind, and then think what will that ultimately do to help the global warming we are experiencing across our Earth?

Al Gore gave the most articulate and calm presentations of facts on the topic, convincing without hysterics.Although we can't stop it, we can globally change our habits of consumption and slow the process down. Saving the threatened species of Polar Bears is a small step in the cycle. If it takes a village to raise a child then it will take nations to raise awareness to provide a future for those children we all must save the planet on which we live.

It is a double edged sword, as I sit in a room with two lights on, the signals bouncing around cyberspace as I peck at the keyboard putting these thoughts out there I realize that this is the ultimate abuse of power when billions of humans do not even have one light and if they did it would be a kerosene lantern and not because they had another power out. It would be the way it is .

This musing is to be continued at another time and date....................................

There are limits to what you can give.

As of January 1, 2007, only individuals can make federal political donations.

For more details on this

and many other important changes

to the Canada Elections Act,

click on the Federal Accountability Act box

http://www.elections.ca

T'is the Season.

Off to "the Palace"

The Palace Theatre is showing the film The Queen this weekend and so after having Chinese Buffet at the Golden Carriage we did the 1 block walk about to see the flik.

The Palace Theatre is one where there is an air of tiredness and decay, many rows have seats removed and so to find 4 seats together is a challenge. The Palace is know as the ghetto to some of the locals who treat it like a slum popcorn all over the floor and empty cups, bags littering an entire row.

If it weren't for "The Queen" we wouldn't have gone. Helen Mirren, no doubt the best actress alive; was excellent playing Her Majesty called "mam like ham".
Having watched the 4 hour mini series Elizabeth I over the past few days and then seeing this movie , she is truly a brilliant actor.

"The Queen" is a story the world needs to see.

Tourism includes visitors from other countries.

ACTION ALERT!

Make Some Noise!COTA and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada are calling on operators across Canada to unite in petitioning the government to reinstate the GST Visitor Rebate program. To read COTA's business case in support of maintaining the rebate, and for a copy of COTA's letter to the Canadian Finance Minister, click here (http://www.cotabc.com/news/#News649).

Just because I decide to clean out the mail box, I find a few gems tucked away in the most unexpected places. Another little item on the federal government attack list. What we don't know won't hurt us.

You're always welcome, please come back.

Women? Do we matter?

The spectrum of Women, as portrayed on film is a brushstroke from zero to 10 in light and shadow. Anyone from the artist world of pallette filled with colour will understand of what I speak for those of you uncertain to my meaning.... Zero is the fine edge of light with 10 the darkside of shadow. Black to white with all the shades of the rainbow in between.

Why Film? Film on dvd vhs or on the big screen at a theatre near you has been projecting some very interesting and even educational stories about Women. I had heard about the Deepa Mehta trilogy: Earth, Fire & Water over the past few months with mixed reviews. Now that I have seen "Water" takes place in 1938 it is in Hindi with english subtitles and delivered a very profound message.It is called telling the TRUTH
.http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/28/water.html

HOPE for the future. The future is now, 2006 and the woman of the Indian (not to be mistaken as our FN) community of the lower mainland are making public their unspoken secrets. Their story is not a film, it is in real time and I truly wish them and their daughters every HOPE for the future.

This weekend it is off to "The Palace" I go to see "The Queen".

HOPE: the 1st Sunday of Advent is about Hope.

7:00am - 15:30pm Saturday December 2;

I was glued to the TV coverage of all the channels I could flip through. Not only was it great TV it was also why I did not put myself up as a Delegate. I know the emotions that run through the heart and the soul of being committed to a Leadership campaign. This is one where I was still in grief over the way Paul Martin ended his short term as Prime Minister and had great difficulty switching my allegence.When the invitation came to attend the Tribute, I sent my regrets.

The past few days was the best reality TV has to offer.So much better than being on the Floor of the convention where all the rumours run rampant and I notice several bloggers who were delegates are still digesting the events before they comment.

Dion's speech ( from my perspective) was excellent and I found myself standing and applauding him throughout.

When the vintage Chretien speech (where he finally acknowledged the attributes of both his competitors ) was finished that was the moment for me where the burden of being a Turner/ Martin Liberal lifted and I feel great about the decision made by the delegates on our behalf as Liberals. I do believe that Stephane Dion will grow into and well beyond all our expectations.

Hope is in the air.

and in the House today the Conservatives are setting the tone

Rona Ambrose presented her committment to flesh out the "Clean Air Act" with public /private and substance by the Spring of 2007.

The campaign is on.