LETTER: Canadian election system fundamentally undemocratic
What good can come of an election, where a fraudulent, discriminatory disconnection exists between the Canadian voter, and those who Rule? Canada, and its working class, at this moment are held in a death grip by traitorous political powers. Powers, which cannot be seen to be serving the interests of Canada’s popular majority,...
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: An ode to my son
You just turned 17, and I gave you the stuff and the cash you wanted – as is right and proper for a 17-year-old to want – but I wanted to give you something more, something bigger, in honour of the small child I miss so much, and the spectacular young man who has taken his place, and of whom I am so very proud. A trip to...
LETTER: Flick your butt out the window, lose your car?
This wildfire season has been one of the most challenging in recent memory. As of July 14, fire crews have responded to 1,083 fires throughout the province - compared to 523 at the same time a year ago. Of those fires, we know over one-third are human caused. That's 375 fires, leading to an estimated 43,718 hectares going up...
LETTER: Thanks owed and lessons learned
Ed. Note: for the context of this letter, see full coverage by following this link. I just want to give a huge thanks to all those who played a part in allowing me and my family to keep Chumlee and Rosie. I first must thank my wonderful neighbours who signed my original petition that I submitted to city council and the...
River Talks — The Non-Treaty Storage Agreement
Eileen Delehanty Pearkes has been researching and writing about the history and politics of water in the upper Columbia Basin since 2005. Her book on the Columbia River Treaty, A River Captured, is expected to be released 08/11/2016. Recently, her travelling exhibit on the Columbia River Treaty, curated for Touchstones Nelson, won a national award […]
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: Council owes family money and apology
I think Castlegar Mayor and Council owe a local family both money and an apology – not because of a decision made at last Monday’s meeting, but because of the way it was handled, which I feel was heartless. To be clear, I’m a big fan of the sitting council, who seem to me to have a ton of heart. They volunteer relentlessly,...
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: Trail and Castlegar's good Karma?
Has anyone else noticed how very different the current news cycle is, compared to what we've become accustomed to? We had a couple of stretches where it seemed like we were dealing with one horrific, traumatizing, heartbreaking story after another - I spent many nights on the phone or Facebook chat with readers trying to sort...
Church and Court Condemn CO2
A court in The Hague has ordered the Dutch government to cut its emissions by at least 25 percent within five years, in a landmark ruling expected to cause ripples around the world. The Nelson Daily Green Up Columnist Michael Jessen has his take on the ruling by three judges that said the Dutch government plans to cut emissions...
OP/ED: Fate or fluke? Accidental honours for war hero's homecoming
What seemed like a striking and awe-inspiring tribute to a fallen Air Force war hero Saturday turned out to be a fascinating, fabulous and fitting … fluke. I was one of hundreds of people in attendance at Castlegar’s West Kootenay Regional Airport to observe, remember and respect Airman Sgt. Eric Honeyman’s sacrifices as his...
OP/ED: Unique green educational opportunity in Southern Interior
Earlier this year, I had a chance to visit the Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation. The Centre, located in Penticton, is part of the South Okanagan and Similkameen campus of Okanagan College. Thank you to Jim Hamilton, President of Okanagan College, and Donna...