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Al Gore has called the Tory environmental plan "a complete and total fraud" "designed to mislead the Canadian people". Conservative Environment Minister John Baird points to Gore's eight years as Vice President , which doesn't change the validity of Gore's observation. * * * * Readers have also asked me to blog about the impending "trial" of Omar Khadr, the Canadian who has been held at the US Guantanamo Bay concentration camp since 2002, when he was 15 years old. Now 20, Khadr was imprisoned without charges for five years. Last week, the US charged him murder, attempted murder, spying, and providing material support to the enemy and conspiracy, and plans to try him before a military court. Khadr's detention, his imprisonment without charges, and the tribunal he will face are a totalitarian nightmare worthy of Orwell or Kafka. I don't know what, if anything, Khadr has done. I do know that the US's response is so far outside of what...

It's almost time for the second annual wmtc backyard bash. (It's not really a bash, I just like the alliteration.) If you're a regular reader and you haven't received an invite, it means I don't have your email address. Please feel free to email me and invite yourself. I mean it. Step right up. Don't be shy. It'll be fun.

Judging from some unexpected reaction to my recent post about puppy mills , I didn't make my point very well. I wasn't patting myself on the back for doing a good deed. I was feeling good about a little victory, and I wanted to share that feeling. I was also offering an example of something each of us can do, about any issue we care about. We can seize opportunities to educate people. Instead of just listening and nodding our heads, we can listen, then offer another perspective. We can't control the outcome, or even whether the person we're speaking to will really hear us. But we can try. Sometimes we'll succeed in a tangible way. More often than not, we'll never know the effect our words (written or spoken) might have. All the sources of information, each little piece of education, pile up. We can each be one piece in that pile. And when we do have tangible success, we can pass that along. In turn, we might embolden or remind someone else to do the same thing.

It's not enough not to torture and abuse prisoners. You can't hand them over to people who do that, either. From the Toronto Star 's Thomas Walkom: Prisoner abuse just part of the brutal landscape there The only surprise about the Afghan prisoner controversy gripping Ottawa is that any of this comes as a surprise. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government is reeling under allegations that prisoners captured by Canadian troops are being handed over to Afghan authorities who then torture and abuse them. The opposition is in full cry. The newspapers are chock-a-block with references to the brutal abuse handed out by Afghan police to those unfortunate enough to be identified as Taliban suspects. But what did we think would happen when, in 2001, we signed on to support a gang of brutal warlords trying to oust the gang of brutal clerics who were running this unhappy country? Afghanistan today may have the trappings of democracy – a well-tailored president electe...

Let's get this election on the road already! The Harper government is on its heels, taking well-deserved hits on both Afghanistan and the environment. It's time to knock them over. I'm looking forward to posting a big, fat I Told You So to everyone who was so sure Harper would come back with a strong majority in his second term. Chantal Hebert, as smart a political observer as there is, muses about when the election will be called. Harper has taken the climate change file out of the play of the minority Parliament. Voters, not the opposition, will eventually hold his government accountable for its choices. The only element that the other parties still control is the timing of that moment of reckoning. If Stéphane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe feel that the failure to move more decisively on climate change is grievous, if they are convinced that Harper is wrong when he argues that he cannot do more without doing irreparable harm to the economy, then they are free to ...

Yesterday a huge media firestorm raged through Red Sox Nation. And who started it? None other than our Redsock, proprietor of The Joy of Sox . AOL Sports has a wrap-up of how it happened, and today's story in the Boston Globe credits Allan with the call. Citizens of Joy Nation report that Allan's name, his blog - and occasionally even his book ! - have been all over sports radio, ESPN, and other such venues. All this, and it's only April. It should be an interesting season.

I've become friendly with a woman I see at the hair salon, an esthetician. She and her husband are thinking about getting a dog. She mentioned that they were looking at the puppies in the pet store at the mall. I told her that it wasn't a good idea to buy puppies from malls, and I told her a little about puppy mills. I was trying hard to be informative without being strident, to strike a conversational tone, even though to me it's a matter of great urgency. I've learned (the hard way) that this is often the best way to reach people. I see this woman about once a month. She always asks how my dogs are, and she tells me she is still considering getting a dog. We go over the same ground each time; I have no idea if it's sinking in. Every time we see each other, it's like I've never said anything. * * * * You all know about puppy mills, right? They are "farms" where dogs are forced to breed constantly, until the females die of complications or exhausti...

This Saturday, April 28, is Impeach Day . From World Can't Wait : The Bush administration is carrying out war crimes and crimes against humanity as you read this. A war of aggression in Iraq that is taking countless innocent lives, legalized torture, military tribunals which strip away the most basic of legal rights, warrantless spying, and now plans for attacking Iran being drawn up. This must be brought to a halt, and the Bush administration must be impeached for war crimes. Yet Congress, now with a Democratic majority, refuses to act in any meaningful way to stop the Bush regime, declaring that impeachment is "off the table", and recently approving $100 billion more for the Iraq war. It will be up to the people to mobilize massive resistance that demands Bush's impeachment for war crimes and crimes against humanity. On April 28, World Can't Wait is joining with other pro-impeachment organizations in calling for people across the country to make the demand for i...

Courage To Resist , an excellent organization that supports war resisters and educates the public about them, is in desperate need of funds. Helga Aguayo, wife of war resister Augustin Aguayo says: "I don't know if I could have gone through all of this without the support of Courage to Resist. They have been amazing. They have been pivotal in Agustin's campaign. We didn't know how to start a political and legal defense campaign. They were there when he held a press conference in Los Angeles, when he turned himself in at Fort Irvin, and when he was court martialed in Germany. It meant a lot to know that we had a commitment from Courage to Resist that they were going to stand behind us and help us through the whole process. They helped us by organizing fundraisers and just calling to see how we are doing and trying to meet our needs. If you can donate to Courage to Resist you really are helping the soldiers that choose to resist this war." Sara Rich, mother of war ...

A few months ago, there was a letter in the Star decrying those who say the US is becoming (or has become) a fascist state. It was in response to an essay by Christopher Hedges, author of American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America . I wrote a letter in response, which the Star said was shortlisted for publication, but which did not appear in print. Here 'tis. Letter writer [name] believes that saying the US is turning fascist is "idiotic". Perhaps he is looking for the wrong signs. Just because there are no tanks rolling through the streets and some dissent is allowed does not make a country a democracy. Right now in the US, there is: overwhelming evidence that the last two presidential elections were fraudulent; the president's legal right to imprison American citizens indefinitely without charging them with a crime; endless war; government propaganda being disseminated through supposedly independent media; the escalating influence of religious f...

Cody's surgically repaired ear comes against a backdrop of a series of visits to the vet, which we thought would be over by now. First Tala had worms, then some extended intestinal troubles caused by the parasites. We solved those, thank goodness. They were a little frightening for me, since Buster nearly died from inflammatory bowel disease (and that did ultimately contribute to his early death). At the same time, Tala had seriously itchy skin, and that's more difficult to solve. Skin allergies are a long process of trial and error, finding medication that calms the itch with a minimum of side effects, while also trying to find the source of the problem. Twice she's ripped open "hot spots" - when an animal scratches so hard, they rip the fur off and rip open the skin. If you don't treat those seriously, they can become huge and infected. Hot spots are also a big clue that the itching is not yet under control. So between Tala's stomach and skin, we've ...

A few nights go, I was stroking Cody's ears and felt a lump. I thought it was a growth, but closer inspection revealed a clot of dried blood. With Allan's help, I cleaned it out with hydrogen peroxide and found a large tear in the bottom part of the ear. I put some anti-bacterial ointment on it, but I had a feeling it was too large to heal on its own. Every time I checked on it, there was another thick clot of dried blood, and I knew it needed a few stitches. Yesterday while I was at work (my last day at Dissolving Firm) Allan took Cody to the vet, and left there for the minor surgery. It was a pretty nasty tear, cut in three different ways. Now poor Cody has a cone on her head and is perfectly miserable. More on that later. How did this happen? We don't know. The dogs recently had a little tussle outside - teeth barred, lots of snarling, it went on long enough that Allan had to break it up. (I only saw part of it from an upstairs window.) It was the kind of argument that f...

Speaking of sinking, infant mortality rates are up in Mississippi and several other Southern states. After years of progress on this vital social indicator, things have been sliding backwards since 2004. It should come as no surprise that there's a sharp disparity between infant mortality rates for whites and those for African Americans. Before you blame BushCo for this, remember that it was a Democrat who ended the federal guarantee of welfare. Every administration since Jimmy Carter has had a hand in this shame. Infant mortality rates in the US overall are twice as high as those in Hong Kong. True, for some countries , seven infant deaths per 1,000 births would be reason to celebrate. But shouldn't TGNOTFOTE set its standards a little higher? By this measure, Canada is not as good as Japan, but not as dreadful as the US. There is also a sharp divide in Canada: First Nations people have rates 20% higher than the national average .

Some wit and wisdom from the Op-Ed page. Click to enlarge. Via Bartcop , via Redsock .

Last week marked the 25th birthday of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , Canada's constitutional bill of rights . It was signed by the Queen on April 17, 1982. In contrast with the seemingly endless commemorations of Canada's part in that most useless of wars, there is very little fuss being made about this much more significant anniversary. The Harper Government did not participate in the conference at McGill University held to study and discuss the Charter. The Prime Minister himself did nothing to mark the anniversary, a decision former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien finds shocking . Many people read into Harper's decision a general disdain for Charter rights, which may be so. But given Harper's shrewd and constant political maneuvering, I'm more inclined to read this as a political move, not wishing to be seen celebrating a Liberal legacy (or to invoke the memory of Liberal icon Pierre Trudeau), and playing to socially conservative voters who see the...

I will be writing about Steven Fletcher , the Member of Parliament who is a quadriplegic, for New Mobility magazine. What questions would you like me to ask Mr Fletcher? Keep in mind I'm writing for people who use wheelchairs. Questions about how he conducts the tasks of daily life are not very interesting to our readers. Other than that, what are you curious about? If you were reading a profile of Mr Fletcher, what would you like to know? Nothing is off-limits. * * * * I'm using the excuse of this story assignment to plan a trip to Ottawa! I usually have to interview by phone, so this is a great opportunity to turn in a better story (in-person interviews are always superior), and see the capital of my new country at the same time. Any suggestions for what we should see and do in Ottawa? I'll pick up a guidebook and also do some research online, but I'd love to hear your ideas, tips and pointers. I'm thinking history, museums, walking, dining. Standard tourism and ...

When asked about Canada's largest city, how long will it take the average Canadian to utter the phrase "Toronto sucks" ? Canadian filmmaker David Nerenberg wanted to find out. The results: "Let's All Hate Toronto," screening this week at the Hot Docs , the International Documentary Film Festival. The 73-minute film, which premieres at Toronto's Hot Docs documentary festival next week, follows a character called Mister Toronto , who embarks on a cross-Canada trip brandishing a sign that reads "Toronto Appreciation Day" and steels himself for the onslaught. His tour leads from Newfoundland on the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific city of Vancouver, where feelings against Toronto — usually acknowledged as the country's financial centre and the cultural capital of English Canada — run deepest of all. "There is something different (about hating Toronto). People are more passionate about it," filmmaker and co-director Albert Nerenberg said...

In a long-awaited victory for women haters and fetus lovers, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the nationwide ban on an abortion procedure . The 5-4 ruling said the so-called "Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act" that Congress passed in 2003 does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. This marks the first time the court has banned a specific medical procedure. This procedure - correctly known as "dilation and extraction" or D&X - is used very rarely, and normally only as an absolute last resort. I had a close friend who had already suffered two spontaneous abortions (commonly and incorrectly called "miscarriages"). On her third try, an amnio revealed the fetus was severely deformed; it lacked most of its brain. It would either have been born dead or lived for a few minutes outside the womb. It never could have survived, either on its own or on a life support system. My friend was more than five months pregnant at the time. She wanted...

The great feminist activist Robin Morgan has written a terrific piece on what the recent Imus flap revealed. I don't agree with 100% of what she's written here; I break with most feminists my age to welcome "dude," "girl" and other similar expressions into our vocabulary. But 99% is good enough for me. And I don't mock the 1% I don't share. I understand where it comes from, and I admire the commitment. I know we couldn't have gotten this far without it. I always know a great essay when I find myself thinking, I wish I had written that... Beyond Imus — It's the Hypocrisy, Stupid! by Robin Morgan Periodically, some new wound rips the scab off our national, livid scar where sex and race intersect: the young law professor, Anita Hill, shaming Congress by her dignity and inspiring women with her truth; the O.J. Simpson circus trials; the Duke-Lacrosse mystery; Don Imus v. the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team. We're an adolescent country, ahi...

I have a letter in today's Toronto Star . It's an edited, but still accurate, version of what I submitted: Although your recent article about purchasing a puppy tries to emphasize responsible pet ownership, there are some important omissions. There's a reason pet store chains such as PetSmart, PetCetera and PetCo do not sell puppies. Puppies sold through retail outlets, such as mall pet stores, usually come from "puppy mills", cruel places of forced breeding and shockingly inhumane conditions. The only responsible way to buy a puppy is through a responsible breeder. But better yet, prospective pet owners should be encouraged to adopt. Web sites such as Petfinder.com make it easy to find the right pet for your particular needs. Thousands of wonderful dogs and cats need homes, and - as anyone who has a "rescue" can attest - adopted animals make the best pets. Further, placing an article about pet ownership in the Shopping section gives the false and dan...

Today is our first game at Skydome this season. We purchased a mini season-ticket package, and will attend eight of nine Red Sox games at Toronto this year. Once I learned that the Red Sox games were all on weekdays - perfect for our backwards schedule - it was irresistible. As an extra bonus, because of a rainout in Fenway, we're seeing Daisuke Matsuzaka , the Japanese pitching sensation that the Red Sox acquired this season. Sox pitching looks awesome so far. We're excited. Tomorrow night is the first of two wmtc nights at Skydome. Reports to follow.

What is there to say? "Worst gun rampage in US history" pretty much says it all. I have nothing to contribute that progressive people haven't been repeating for decades. Gun culture, mental illness, a society addicted to violence. Thirty-three immediate victims, hundreds upon hundreds of survivors who will struggle with the trauma for the rest of their lives. I'm just putting up this post in case wmtc readers want to talk about it here.

From Star columnist Haroon Siddiqui. Let Canada lead peace drive in Afghanistan One of the blessings of Toronto is that you can find experts in this city on almost every international issue. Returning from a recent trip to the Afghan-Pakistan border, I met Karamatullah Ghori, a retired Pakistani diplomat whose last posting was as ambassador to Turkey and who now lives in Scarborough, to be near his daughter and grandchildren, and writes essays and books. From his Canadian Pakistani perspective, what does he make of our mission in Afghanistan? "Why are you there?" he shot back. "What's the Canadian interest that's at stake in Afghanistan? When did Afghanistan, or even the Taliban, declare war on Canada? There was one mention of Canada by Osama bin Laden, way back when. "The alibi is that we are there to prevent the spread of terrorism. In fact, it is by being there that you are creating enmity against yourself." Can the Taliban be defeated? "No, th...

I just remembered something else from my trip. At the In-N-Out Burger , we ordered double-doubles! That's double meat, double cheese. (They're small.) Of course I told my friends what you get if you order a double-double in Canada. Very different! I take my coffee with just a little milk, no sugar, so I've never actually ordered a double-double at Tim's. God those burgers were good. I'm getting hungry just thinking about them. How much carbon do I have to renew to eat one of those, I wonder.

What does anyone know about going " carbon neutral "? Are any of you currently practicing this? Do you have plans to start? Do you feel its a legitimate and useful way to contribute to the fight against climate change? I've been reading about going carbon neutral at David Suzuki's website . Going carbon neutral is an easy way to take responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions we create every time we drive our cars, take a plane, or turn on our computers. It's based on the principle that, since climate change is a global problem, an emission reduction made elsewhere has the same positive effect as one made locally. Here's how it works: if you add polluting emissions to the atmosphere, you can effectively subtract them by purchasing 'carbon offsets'. Carbon offsets are simply credits for emission reductions achieved by projects elsewhere, such as wind farms, solar installations, or energy efficiency projects. By purchasing these credits, you can app...

Allan and I took our respective posts from yesterday and combined them in one essay, which hopefully will run elsewhere. Here you go. * * * * April 15, 2007 is the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's Major League debut. Robinson was the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. The story of how Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers president and general manager Branch Rickey went against baseball's entrenched, unwritten, whites-only rule, in what is so glibly called "breaking the color line," is a story of tremendous courage and revolutionary thinking. In recent years, Major League Baseball, as an organization, has been celebrating Robinson, showing off the increasingly international – and integrated – game. In 1997, Robinson's number 42 was retired by every Major League team, the only player to receive that honor. Players already wearing 42 were allowed to continue until the end of their careers (only one remains, the Yankees' Mariano Rivera). When...

Today is the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson 's Major League debut. Robinson was the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball. The story of how Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers president and general manager Branch Rickey went against baseball's entrenched, unwritten whites-only rule, in what is so glibly called "breaking the color bar" [US spelling purposeful there] is a story of tremendous courage and revolutionary thinking. My parents grew up in Brooklyn, and like so many of their neighbours, they felt a special pride that their home team had taken this historic step. There's also a Canadian connection, as Robinson played for the Dodgers' minor league club, the Montreal Royals . (I'd also like to put in a word for Larry Doby ! Doby was the first African American to play in the American League. He suffered just as much bigotry and harassment as Robinson, but without the fame.) In recent years, Major League Baseball, as an organization, ha...