I was awakened last night by the itch of a black fly bite. The warmth of my blankets generating the maddening urge to scratch until scratch I did. After leaving enough of my DNA on the bed sheets for a Law and Order crime scene (nothing like overwrought hyperbole with your Cornflakes) I grabbed pen and paper and this is the result.
-----------------------------
It has occurred to me that I am afraid of commitment. As someone who has always been with someone -- with the exception of one decade of celibacy, fodder for another day -- this didn't occur to me until recently. I have always thought that I wanted to be married, but this is not the case. Funny how the obvious can skip by without notice.
Just ask my partner.
We've been engaged for three years. He wanted to get married right away. I said I wanted an outdoor wedding and, since we had just purchased a house, landscaping would have to be done.
"Sometime next year," I said.
When friends and family asked for a date, I stammered so pitifully they've stopped asking.
Last year, my betrothed looked at me, stark realization upon his face and said: "We're no closer to getting married now than we were two years ago."
My shocked and insensitive response was: "You mean you think about that?"
This year, I've stopped wearing my engagement ring. The stone is a little loose. It's safer in the drawer.
I've tried marriage on twice. During the first fiasco, I would have dreams that my fingers were swelling and I had to fight to get the rings off them. In the morning, I'd wake up ringless, and the hunt to locate where I had thrown them would be on. The marriage lasted 11 months. The second for 18. Both were finished by the time I was 26 and I haven't done it since.
I remember one boyfriend who thought that public proposals were really cool. Say over the Videotron at a football game. "Tacky," I said. Truth be told, it wasn't so much the poor taste of such an act, but the idea of my deer-in-the-headlights reaction played for all to see that troubled me.
I've never done the proposal response well. And I've had lots of practice.
I think guys are like cats that way. If you don't like cats just visit someone who has them, the feline will spend the evening shedding on your lap. There could be 20 people in a room calling: "here, kitty, kitty." If I'm there, they don't stand a chance. I'll ignore it from a sincere lack of interest and won't be able to get that damn ball of insolence off me.
Like a guy with a ring.
Even when I was a little girl playing with my dolls, I had a boyfriend while my friends had husbands. (Their most notable choices where either Chip or Robbie from My Three Sons. Hardly a wonder, you might say, that I opted for singledom. And yes, I am that old.)
My father was appalled when my mother replied yes to my question: "Could I have a baby without getting married?"
Today, when I introduce my significant other, I refer to him as my partner, a term he hates. But I don't know what else to call him. "How about your fiance?" he asks. "That sounds so pretentious," I reply. However, since my partner has a gender-neutral name, my reference to him has caused a few to question my sexual inclination. I guess saying "my partner, Pat" will do that. I think this is funny. But I have an odd sense of humour, I've been told. I think people need to lighten up.
Maybe that should be a motto of some sort: Laugh more/Marry less.
I'm lucky my partner Pat is such a patient guy.
Colleen
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Ode to drilling granite
Who doesn't like waking to the sound of a rock drill at 7 a.m.?
Developers are extending our road to build more houses, it's only 24 hours into the two-month drilling/blasting phase of road work and mama's getting cranky.
Nova Scotia is one huge rock. And not that flimsy limestone stuff either. This is igneous granite. The stuff of cooled magma. It can't be chipped away. It's gotta be blasted.
We were warned when we moved here that the road might be extended. We hoped we'd have a few years before that happened. No such luck.
The trees started to fall in early spring.
Then a man arrived to install seismographs and to videotape the interiors of our homes in the event of damage.
That should have told me something serious was afoot.
But I'm an optimist. I figured I had heard what blasting was all about when a house was built down the road last summer.
That, as it turns out, was vibratory foreplay.
The sirens began yesterday afternoon. Two of them. I ran to the window to see what was up. Nothing. Silence. And then, the explosion.
I can't tell you if it rattled anything in my house. I was too focused on trying to relocate my internal organs.
Since then, there's been non-stop noise. Drilling, rock removal. Whatever that machinery is.
The good news is that, although I miss seeing them, the deer are leaving my garden alone having moved away from the noise.
I wish I could do the same.
Colleen
Developers are extending our road to build more houses, it's only 24 hours into the two-month drilling/blasting phase of road work and mama's getting cranky.
Nova Scotia is one huge rock. And not that flimsy limestone stuff either. This is igneous granite. The stuff of cooled magma. It can't be chipped away. It's gotta be blasted.
We were warned when we moved here that the road might be extended. We hoped we'd have a few years before that happened. No such luck.
The trees started to fall in early spring.
Then a man arrived to install seismographs and to videotape the interiors of our homes in the event of damage.
That should have told me something serious was afoot.
But I'm an optimist. I figured I had heard what blasting was all about when a house was built down the road last summer.
That, as it turns out, was vibratory foreplay.
The sirens began yesterday afternoon. Two of them. I ran to the window to see what was up. Nothing. Silence. And then, the explosion.
I can't tell you if it rattled anything in my house. I was too focused on trying to relocate my internal organs.
Since then, there's been non-stop noise. Drilling, rock removal. Whatever that machinery is.
The good news is that, although I miss seeing them, the deer are leaving my garden alone having moved away from the noise.
I wish I could do the same.
Colleen
Monday, June 4, 2007
If that editor isn't getting back to you...
Worker dead at desk for five daysBosses of a publishing firm are trying to work out why no one noticed that one of their employees had been sitting dead at his desk for FIVE DAYS before anyone asked if he was feeling okay.
George Turklebaum, 51, who had been employed as a proof-reader at a New York firm for 30 years, had a heart attack in the open-plan office he shared with 23 other workers. He quietly passed away on Monday, but nobody noticed until Saturday morning when an office cleaner asked why he was still working during the weekend.
His boss Elliot Wachiaski said: "George was always the first guy in each morning and the last to leave at night, so no one found it unusual that he was in the same position all that time and didn't say anything. He was always absorbed in his work and kept much to himself."
A post mortem examination revealed that he had been dead for five days after suffering a coronary. Ironically, George was proofreading manuscripts of medical textbooks when he died.
... You may want to give your co-workers a nudge occasionally.
Colleen
PM's speech at G-8 today
While posting a copy of Stephen Harper's speech might at first appear to be better suited to my other blog, I post it here as an example of a truly horrendous example of speech writing.
His examples of the close ties between Germany and Canada are incredibly lame and I hope the repeated sentences are there in error and not how the speech will be read. Content does improve markedly at about the middle when he begins speaking about the subject of his speech.
(My apologies for not providing a link to this. It isn't on the PM's Website yet.)
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
June 4, 2007
BERLIN, GERMANY
PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.Thank-you Ambassador Paul Dubois for that generous introduction.
This is my first visit to Berlin since becoming Prime Minister.
To be here in Berlin – only steps from the Brandenburg gate – is to be at the heart of Europe.
It is also to be at the heart of Germany itself – a country that symbolizes renewal and new leadership in the world. Like Germany, we in Canada are also renewing – both at home and abroad – through new leadership.
And our two countries share not only this characteristic but much else. Our 52-year-old year old military alliance, our mutually beneficial trade relations, and as Ambassador Dubois noted, the personal histories of nearly three million Canadians of German descent.
I don’t think either Canadians or Germans appreciate just how connected we are.
For example, the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario and the Steinbach region of Manitoba were largely settled by German Mennonites.And those communities remain distinctly German in character to this day.One of my political forefathers was Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who was born in the Ontario village of Neustadt and whose ancestors came from Neidenstein.
And Germans constitute the second largest ethnic group in my home province. In fact, at least two premiers of Alberta can trace their ancestors to Germany.
Beyond our genealogical connections – and perhaps because of them – Canadians and Germans share many values.
I think both of our countries aspire to be authors of positive change in the world. We both subscribe to the principles that are held in common by all civilized people: freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.That’s what binds us together in the fight against political extremism and its hateful twin, terrorism.Our troops are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with then United Nations and our NATO allies in Afghanistan.Together we are liberating the Afghan people, who for too long have been oppressed and brutalized by the Taliban. And we are rebuilding the shattered political and physical infrastructure of that war-ravaged country.
In particular, Germans and Canadians are partners in helping professionalize the Afghan police forces, draft new laws, establish a modern, humane corrections system, and train judges, prosecutors and public defenders.The importance of this work cannot be overstated. We’re laying the foundations for Afghan civil society and a self-governing nation.
I was there just two weeks ago – my second trip in the 13 months – and I saw real progress.Boys and girls back in schools.Villages being repopulated.A reviving economy.
And, out on the front lines, far more security and stability than existed even six months ago.We should be very proud of what our defence personnel, diplomats and development workers are accomplishing in Afghanistan.Their courage and their sacrifices are the tangible expression of the desire of Germans and Canadians to make our world a better, safer place.
But military and humanitarian intervention is not the only way we collaborate in pursuit of a better world.Both of our countries are on the leading edge of international economic progress too.
Your GDP grew last year at its fastest pace in six years.
I note that your exports rose nearly 13% last year and, perhaps less well known, that it is Germany, not the United States or China that is world’s leading merchandise exporter.
In Canada, we are experiencing the second longest period of economic expansion in our history.
And Canada is on the best fiscal footing of any of the G-7 industrialized countries.
In Canada, we are experiencing the second longest period of economic expansion in our history.
Our unemployment rate is 6.1%, its lowest level in three decades, while core inflation remains within our target range of 1-to-3 percent.
Canada is also on the best fiscal footing of any of the G-7 industrialized countries.
In fact, we are the only member of the G-7 with ongoing budget surpluses and a falling debt burden.
Our foreign indebtedness has fallen from a high of 44% of GDP to just 7%.
And our national pension system is on a sound financial footing for the next 70 years. The Canadian economy derives much of its strength from the primary resources sector, but it’s more diversified than many people realize.
Financial services, in particular, are one of Canada’s core strengths.And Canadians, who are among the most enthusiastic computer and Internet users on earth, have a growing profile in the information and communications technology sectors.
The ubiquitous Blackberry, for example, is a Canadian-born and -owned phenomenon.Our economy is anchored in the North American marketplace by our Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico.
It gives Canadians – and investors in the Canadian economy – secure access to the huge U.S. market.
But again, our trading relationships are not quite as one dimensional as people tend to think.
Our links to the Asia-Pacific region are growing, and we’re upgrading our West Coast port and highway infrastructure to make it the primary Gateway for Asia-Pacific trade with North America.
As a share of our total trade, our commerce with the U.S. has actually declined nearly 10% since the turn of the century.
During the same period our trade with other parts of the world, including the E.U., has been increasing.However, despite the growing diversity of our economy, it remains true that natural resources and the U.S. market are our strongest economic assets.
Indeed, it is no exaggeration to call Canada an “emerging energy superpower” and a “global mining giant.”We are the fifth largest energy producer in the world. Third in global gas production. Eighth in global oil production. Second in the generation of hydro-electric power. In terms of mining, we are the world’s largest supplier of uranium. The third largest producer of diamonds.
And we are blessed with abundant supplies of nickel, gold, copper, zinc, lead, potash and coal.Moreover – and this may be our strongest asset – in a world where much of the resource base falls within the borders of countries that are ruled by tyranny and instability, Canada is recognized as a stable democracy, a free and open market, and a reliable and responsible corporate citizen.In other words, a safe place to invest, a sound place to do business, a bastion of world energy security, and a positive force in a troubled world.
We worked very hard to establish that reputation. We’re proud of it.And we intend to keep it.That’s why we share Germany’s emphasis on major G8 Summit themes like environmental protection and corporate social responsibility.
I believe that, as President of the European Union and Chair of the G-8, Chancellor Merkel has shown great leadership and courage in pushing climate change and corporate ethics to the top of the global political agenda.
Our government is looking forward to working with her in tackling both these issues at the Heiligendamm Summit this week.In the interests of time, allow me to focus my remarks this afternoon on the fight against climate change, perhaps the biggest threat to confront the future of humanity today.
Canada may be a small contributor to global warming – our greenhouse gas emissions represent just 2% of the earth’s total – but we owe it to future generations to do whatever we can to address this world problem.
And Canadians, blessed as we are, should make a substantial contribution to confronting this challenge. At this Summit, for the first time ever, Canada will arrive at a G-8 meeting with a real and realistic action plan on climate change.Normally, Canada is a country that prides itself on living up to its international obligations and commitments.
But frankly, up to now, our country has been engage in a lot of “talking the talk” but not “walking the walk” when it has come to greenhouse gases.A decade ago our predecessors in government committed our country to the Kyoto protocol.They said Canada would reduce its emissions to 6% below 1990 levels beginning in 2008.And then they did practically nothing to achieve this goal. Instead, they maintained policies that pushed emissions in the other direction.
In fact, when we came to office last year, Canada’s emissions were 33% above the target and rising.Which meant, with only months before the targets kicked in, it had become impossible to meet the Kyoto commitment without crippling our economy.
So we vowed to develop a real plan – with real, absolute, mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. A plan that’s practical, affordable and achievable. A plan that’s balanced and market-driven. A plan that deals with our growing economy and population.But also a plan that achieves real, absolute, mandatory reductions in greenhouse gases and positions Canada as a leader in fighting climate change.
There are elements of our plan that could work not just for Canada, but for many countries in the world – including some of the large emitters that did not accept targets under the Kyoto protocol.
After all, the countries that did accept targets under Kyoto account for less than 30% of global emissions. The outsiders included major, growing emitters like China, India and the United States.Obviously, if we really want to stop climate change, all the big emitters need to step up to the plate and must accept real targets.
It is urgent that we start work now – and this week’s Summit is the perfect opportunity – to develop a new universal consensus on how to prevent global warming in the post-2012 period.
Our own domestic plan of action has mandatory greenhouse gas reduction targets for large emitters.
Every year, large emitters must become more energy efficient and emit less carbon per unit of production – intensity improvements of 18% by 2010, and 2% a year beyond that each and every year.
And let me stress that this plan will not allow emissions to continue to grow indefinitely.
Improvements in emissions intensity of this magnitude mean that there will be real, absolute reductions in emissions levels by at least 2012 and as early as 2010.It will put us on track to absolute greenhouse gas reductions of 20% by 2020.And, let me be clear, Canada’s long-term target of a 60 to 70% reduction of 2006 emissions by 2050 is consistent with cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by half over 1990 levels – a goal sought by the European Union.
The approach we have chosen, basing emissions reduction targets on units of production in the short run, allows growing and developing economies to engage in significant greenhouse gas reductions without putting themselves at immediate risk.
And in the long run, I believe Chancellor Merkel and I are on the same page on this point at least: all countries must embrace ambitious absolute reduction targets, so that the International Panel on Climate Change’s goal of cutting emissions in half by 2050 can be met.
Of course, it may not be possible for all countries, or all industries and firms within all countries, to reduce their emissions by the same amount on the same time line.
That is why other compliance measures such as carbon offsets and carbon trading are also necessary. They are part of Canada’s plan and, provided they are not just an accounting shell game, they must be part of a universal, international regime.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for all countries – especially the large emitters represented this week at the meetings of the G8 and the five major developing countries – to come together and cooperate as we move towards a post-2012 regime.
We cannot afford to have the world divided on this issue, to pit right against left, Europe against America, or the developed countries against the developing world.We need a plan that takes into account both different starting points and different national circumstances, but that moves us all towards a common destination.There will be much debate in the weeks and months ahead over the best course of action for the world after the end of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
In the meantime, there is much else we can do.We’re involved in a number of international partnerships that are working to develop new technologies – from carbon sequestration to renewable fuels to clean coal - that will lead to significant emission reductions. Indeed, the agreement signed today between Canada’s National Research Council and Germany’s Helmholtz Association will bring together some of the world’s best researchers in the fields of alternative energy, bio-fuels and other environmentally friendly energy sources.
Technology is the key. Just as the Stone Age did not end because the world ran out of stones, the Carbon Age will not end because the world runs out of fossil fuels.Instead, human ingenuity will develop alternative forms of energy as well as cleaner, greener ways to use carbon.
And Canada will be at the forefront, as a green energy superpower.I started my remarks by talking about the values shared by Canadians and Germans and our mutual desire to make our world a safer, better place for all of us.We are united in the fight against terrorism.
Allied in the mission to rescue and rebuild Afghanistan.Partnered in the development of international trade and global economic progress.
Committed to promoting collective social responsibility at home and abroad.
And devoted to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stopping global warming.It is a long, ambitious and noble list of challenges we have set for ourselves.
But we are building on a long history of German-Canadian friendship, family ties, trade and intergovernmental cooperation.
And I look forward to building on those solid foundations to make our relationship even stronger in the years ahead.
Thank you. Danke shoen.
His examples of the close ties between Germany and Canada are incredibly lame and I hope the repeated sentences are there in error and not how the speech will be read. Content does improve markedly at about the middle when he begins speaking about the subject of his speech.
(My apologies for not providing a link to this. It isn't on the PM's Website yet.)
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
June 4, 2007
BERLIN, GERMANY
PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.Thank-you Ambassador Paul Dubois for that generous introduction.
This is my first visit to Berlin since becoming Prime Minister.
To be here in Berlin – only steps from the Brandenburg gate – is to be at the heart of Europe.
It is also to be at the heart of Germany itself – a country that symbolizes renewal and new leadership in the world. Like Germany, we in Canada are also renewing – both at home and abroad – through new leadership.
And our two countries share not only this characteristic but much else. Our 52-year-old year old military alliance, our mutually beneficial trade relations, and as Ambassador Dubois noted, the personal histories of nearly three million Canadians of German descent.
I don’t think either Canadians or Germans appreciate just how connected we are.
For example, the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario and the Steinbach region of Manitoba were largely settled by German Mennonites.And those communities remain distinctly German in character to this day.One of my political forefathers was Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who was born in the Ontario village of Neustadt and whose ancestors came from Neidenstein.
And Germans constitute the second largest ethnic group in my home province. In fact, at least two premiers of Alberta can trace their ancestors to Germany.
Beyond our genealogical connections – and perhaps because of them – Canadians and Germans share many values.
I think both of our countries aspire to be authors of positive change in the world. We both subscribe to the principles that are held in common by all civilized people: freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.That’s what binds us together in the fight against political extremism and its hateful twin, terrorism.Our troops are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with then United Nations and our NATO allies in Afghanistan.Together we are liberating the Afghan people, who for too long have been oppressed and brutalized by the Taliban. And we are rebuilding the shattered political and physical infrastructure of that war-ravaged country.
In particular, Germans and Canadians are partners in helping professionalize the Afghan police forces, draft new laws, establish a modern, humane corrections system, and train judges, prosecutors and public defenders.The importance of this work cannot be overstated. We’re laying the foundations for Afghan civil society and a self-governing nation.
I was there just two weeks ago – my second trip in the 13 months – and I saw real progress.Boys and girls back in schools.Villages being repopulated.A reviving economy.
And, out on the front lines, far more security and stability than existed even six months ago.We should be very proud of what our defence personnel, diplomats and development workers are accomplishing in Afghanistan.Their courage and their sacrifices are the tangible expression of the desire of Germans and Canadians to make our world a better, safer place.
But military and humanitarian intervention is not the only way we collaborate in pursuit of a better world.Both of our countries are on the leading edge of international economic progress too.
Your GDP grew last year at its fastest pace in six years.
I note that your exports rose nearly 13% last year and, perhaps less well known, that it is Germany, not the United States or China that is world’s leading merchandise exporter.
In Canada, we are experiencing the second longest period of economic expansion in our history.
And Canada is on the best fiscal footing of any of the G-7 industrialized countries.
In Canada, we are experiencing the second longest period of economic expansion in our history.
Our unemployment rate is 6.1%, its lowest level in three decades, while core inflation remains within our target range of 1-to-3 percent.
Canada is also on the best fiscal footing of any of the G-7 industrialized countries.
In fact, we are the only member of the G-7 with ongoing budget surpluses and a falling debt burden.
Our foreign indebtedness has fallen from a high of 44% of GDP to just 7%.
And our national pension system is on a sound financial footing for the next 70 years. The Canadian economy derives much of its strength from the primary resources sector, but it’s more diversified than many people realize.
Financial services, in particular, are one of Canada’s core strengths.And Canadians, who are among the most enthusiastic computer and Internet users on earth, have a growing profile in the information and communications technology sectors.
The ubiquitous Blackberry, for example, is a Canadian-born and -owned phenomenon.Our economy is anchored in the North American marketplace by our Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico.
It gives Canadians – and investors in the Canadian economy – secure access to the huge U.S. market.
But again, our trading relationships are not quite as one dimensional as people tend to think.
Our links to the Asia-Pacific region are growing, and we’re upgrading our West Coast port and highway infrastructure to make it the primary Gateway for Asia-Pacific trade with North America.
As a share of our total trade, our commerce with the U.S. has actually declined nearly 10% since the turn of the century.
During the same period our trade with other parts of the world, including the E.U., has been increasing.However, despite the growing diversity of our economy, it remains true that natural resources and the U.S. market are our strongest economic assets.
Indeed, it is no exaggeration to call Canada an “emerging energy superpower” and a “global mining giant.”We are the fifth largest energy producer in the world. Third in global gas production. Eighth in global oil production. Second in the generation of hydro-electric power. In terms of mining, we are the world’s largest supplier of uranium. The third largest producer of diamonds.
And we are blessed with abundant supplies of nickel, gold, copper, zinc, lead, potash and coal.Moreover – and this may be our strongest asset – in a world where much of the resource base falls within the borders of countries that are ruled by tyranny and instability, Canada is recognized as a stable democracy, a free and open market, and a reliable and responsible corporate citizen.In other words, a safe place to invest, a sound place to do business, a bastion of world energy security, and a positive force in a troubled world.
We worked very hard to establish that reputation. We’re proud of it.And we intend to keep it.That’s why we share Germany’s emphasis on major G8 Summit themes like environmental protection and corporate social responsibility.
I believe that, as President of the European Union and Chair of the G-8, Chancellor Merkel has shown great leadership and courage in pushing climate change and corporate ethics to the top of the global political agenda.
Our government is looking forward to working with her in tackling both these issues at the Heiligendamm Summit this week.In the interests of time, allow me to focus my remarks this afternoon on the fight against climate change, perhaps the biggest threat to confront the future of humanity today.
Canada may be a small contributor to global warming – our greenhouse gas emissions represent just 2% of the earth’s total – but we owe it to future generations to do whatever we can to address this world problem.
And Canadians, blessed as we are, should make a substantial contribution to confronting this challenge. At this Summit, for the first time ever, Canada will arrive at a G-8 meeting with a real and realistic action plan on climate change.Normally, Canada is a country that prides itself on living up to its international obligations and commitments.
But frankly, up to now, our country has been engage in a lot of “talking the talk” but not “walking the walk” when it has come to greenhouse gases.A decade ago our predecessors in government committed our country to the Kyoto protocol.They said Canada would reduce its emissions to 6% below 1990 levels beginning in 2008.And then they did practically nothing to achieve this goal. Instead, they maintained policies that pushed emissions in the other direction.
In fact, when we came to office last year, Canada’s emissions were 33% above the target and rising.Which meant, with only months before the targets kicked in, it had become impossible to meet the Kyoto commitment without crippling our economy.
So we vowed to develop a real plan – with real, absolute, mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. A plan that’s practical, affordable and achievable. A plan that’s balanced and market-driven. A plan that deals with our growing economy and population.But also a plan that achieves real, absolute, mandatory reductions in greenhouse gases and positions Canada as a leader in fighting climate change.
There are elements of our plan that could work not just for Canada, but for many countries in the world – including some of the large emitters that did not accept targets under the Kyoto protocol.
After all, the countries that did accept targets under Kyoto account for less than 30% of global emissions. The outsiders included major, growing emitters like China, India and the United States.Obviously, if we really want to stop climate change, all the big emitters need to step up to the plate and must accept real targets.
It is urgent that we start work now – and this week’s Summit is the perfect opportunity – to develop a new universal consensus on how to prevent global warming in the post-2012 period.
Our own domestic plan of action has mandatory greenhouse gas reduction targets for large emitters.
Every year, large emitters must become more energy efficient and emit less carbon per unit of production – intensity improvements of 18% by 2010, and 2% a year beyond that each and every year.
And let me stress that this plan will not allow emissions to continue to grow indefinitely.
Improvements in emissions intensity of this magnitude mean that there will be real, absolute reductions in emissions levels by at least 2012 and as early as 2010.It will put us on track to absolute greenhouse gas reductions of 20% by 2020.And, let me be clear, Canada’s long-term target of a 60 to 70% reduction of 2006 emissions by 2050 is consistent with cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by half over 1990 levels – a goal sought by the European Union.
The approach we have chosen, basing emissions reduction targets on units of production in the short run, allows growing and developing economies to engage in significant greenhouse gas reductions without putting themselves at immediate risk.
And in the long run, I believe Chancellor Merkel and I are on the same page on this point at least: all countries must embrace ambitious absolute reduction targets, so that the International Panel on Climate Change’s goal of cutting emissions in half by 2050 can be met.
Of course, it may not be possible for all countries, or all industries and firms within all countries, to reduce their emissions by the same amount on the same time line.
That is why other compliance measures such as carbon offsets and carbon trading are also necessary. They are part of Canada’s plan and, provided they are not just an accounting shell game, they must be part of a universal, international regime.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for all countries – especially the large emitters represented this week at the meetings of the G8 and the five major developing countries – to come together and cooperate as we move towards a post-2012 regime.
We cannot afford to have the world divided on this issue, to pit right against left, Europe against America, or the developed countries against the developing world.We need a plan that takes into account both different starting points and different national circumstances, but that moves us all towards a common destination.There will be much debate in the weeks and months ahead over the best course of action for the world after the end of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
In the meantime, there is much else we can do.We’re involved in a number of international partnerships that are working to develop new technologies – from carbon sequestration to renewable fuels to clean coal - that will lead to significant emission reductions. Indeed, the agreement signed today between Canada’s National Research Council and Germany’s Helmholtz Association will bring together some of the world’s best researchers in the fields of alternative energy, bio-fuels and other environmentally friendly energy sources.
Technology is the key. Just as the Stone Age did not end because the world ran out of stones, the Carbon Age will not end because the world runs out of fossil fuels.Instead, human ingenuity will develop alternative forms of energy as well as cleaner, greener ways to use carbon.
And Canada will be at the forefront, as a green energy superpower.I started my remarks by talking about the values shared by Canadians and Germans and our mutual desire to make our world a safer, better place for all of us.We are united in the fight against terrorism.
Allied in the mission to rescue and rebuild Afghanistan.Partnered in the development of international trade and global economic progress.
Committed to promoting collective social responsibility at home and abroad.
And devoted to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stopping global warming.It is a long, ambitious and noble list of challenges we have set for ourselves.
But we are building on a long history of German-Canadian friendship, family ties, trade and intergovernmental cooperation.
And I look forward to building on those solid foundations to make our relationship even stronger in the years ahead.
Thank you. Danke shoen.
One of these things is not like the others
Which one of these doesn't belong?
Here's the list of the top news items on CBC.ca...
Ex-Liberian leader Taylor boycotts war-crimes trial
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister John Baird arrived late Sunday in Europe to attend two world gatherings, including the Group of Eight summit of industrialized nations. more »
China vows to fight climate change, but rejects caps
China promised Monday to better control greenhouse gases, unveiling a national program to combat global warming, but rejected mandatory caps on emissions as unfair to countries still trying to catch up with the developed West. more »
Khadr to appear before U.S. military court in Cuba
A U.S. military commission in Cuba will charge Omar Khadr, the lone Canadian prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay, with murder and terrorism Monday morning. more »
Paris Hilton checks into L.A. County jail for 3-week stay
Colleen
Here's the list of the top news items on CBC.ca...
Ex-Liberian leader Taylor boycotts war-crimes trial
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister John Baird arrived late Sunday in Europe to attend two world gatherings, including the Group of Eight summit of industrialized nations. more »
China vows to fight climate change, but rejects caps
China promised Monday to better control greenhouse gases, unveiling a national program to combat global warming, but rejected mandatory caps on emissions as unfair to countries still trying to catch up with the developed West. more »
Khadr to appear before U.S. military court in Cuba
A U.S. military commission in Cuba will charge Omar Khadr, the lone Canadian prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay, with murder and terrorism Monday morning. more »
Paris Hilton checks into L.A. County jail for 3-week stay
Colleen
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Father Space: Second Posting
By John Kauffman
I didn't really know my father at all.
That was the conclusion I came to one evening over dinner. My wife, my two-year-old daughter, and my in-laws were making the family rounds in New England one summer, and we decided to accept a dinner invitation from one of my dad's former coworkers - and friend. We would have never thought to stop by on our vacation - he was my dad's friend, not mine. But we had run into each other at my sister's wedding, discussed our plans for the summer, and a date for dinner was made.
I don't recall the context of the conversation, but I remember the comment clearly. My father's friend told me, "you know John, your father is one of the top three or four people in his field."
More than a bit surprised I blurted, "Really!?" It was the only reply I could muster.
As a child my father always struck me as unassuming. He was never one to talk-up himself or his accomplishments. He seemed to know a lot of stuff, but I don't ever recall thinking he was infallible or all knowing - in large part because he never portrayed himself that way. When my childhood questions received an "I don't know," I always knew it was because he really didn't know... not because he was trying to shrug off pestering questions. More often than not, "I don't know" answers preceded chaperoned trips to my father's 1956 vintage encyclopedias.
He seemed to know his place in the world. Other kids talked about their fathers being supervisors, managers, or division leaders... so naturally I asked my father if he was a manager. "Why on Earth would I want to do something like that to myself," he answered with his usual dry wit. More seriously he added, "I like what I do John. I always thought it was more important to do what you like." To a ten year old kid that sounded an awful lot like rationalization, even if I didn't know what the actual word meant at the time.
It never seemed like we had a lot of money either. I knew we weren't poor, but I also knew we didn't have as much as others. We lived in a medium sized house with a decidedly frugal, middle class lifestyle.
All of this suggested we were all pretty average, my father included. As a child it seemed decidedly un-cool to be average.
Then I grew up. Being average no longer seemed to be the stigma it once had.
Then I went to college, met my wife, found a smidge of self confidence, found the courage to apply myself, and found I wasn't as average as I thought.
Then I heard The Comment.
That was when I began to re-evaluate my father, with my hard earned, newfound appreciation for how hard it must have been to get advanced degrees in chemistry and physics.
I was always painfully shy and slow think of rejoinders, but my dad always seemed to have something witty to say. I assumed he was an outgoing guy. Then I realized he never hung out with or talked about his friends, and I wondered if maybe he was just as shy as me.
I've always been a classic hypochondriac. You name a symptom and I can tell you when and why I thought I had it, and how soon I thought it would kill me (usually sometime while I was asleep, when I was helpless to seek assistance). I think my father had some of his emotions locked up in storage out of state. He loved us and he had his way of showing us he loved us, but he always seemed the coolest of customers, never one to show panic or fear. Then I had a talk with my mother and I heard the fears he shared with her, but shielded from the kids.
Now I think my father and I are more alike, and maybe always have been. More importantly, I think that makes me extremely fortunate. Now realize all the things he taught me by example: the virtue of modesty, the importance of living a life not a career, the difference between needs and wants, the value of curiosity and the rewards of self-discovery.
Now I'm pretty damn proud of my father. He is my father, my mentor, and my friend; and I'd be lucky to be a quarter the father he was to me.
--------------------------------------------
If you'd like to visit John's blog go here.
I didn't really know my father at all.
That was the conclusion I came to one evening over dinner. My wife, my two-year-old daughter, and my in-laws were making the family rounds in New England one summer, and we decided to accept a dinner invitation from one of my dad's former coworkers - and friend. We would have never thought to stop by on our vacation - he was my dad's friend, not mine. But we had run into each other at my sister's wedding, discussed our plans for the summer, and a date for dinner was made.
I don't recall the context of the conversation, but I remember the comment clearly. My father's friend told me, "you know John, your father is one of the top three or four people in his field."
More than a bit surprised I blurted, "Really!?" It was the only reply I could muster.
As a child my father always struck me as unassuming. He was never one to talk-up himself or his accomplishments. He seemed to know a lot of stuff, but I don't ever recall thinking he was infallible or all knowing - in large part because he never portrayed himself that way. When my childhood questions received an "I don't know," I always knew it was because he really didn't know... not because he was trying to shrug off pestering questions. More often than not, "I don't know" answers preceded chaperoned trips to my father's 1956 vintage encyclopedias.
He seemed to know his place in the world. Other kids talked about their fathers being supervisors, managers, or division leaders... so naturally I asked my father if he was a manager. "Why on Earth would I want to do something like that to myself," he answered with his usual dry wit. More seriously he added, "I like what I do John. I always thought it was more important to do what you like." To a ten year old kid that sounded an awful lot like rationalization, even if I didn't know what the actual word meant at the time.
It never seemed like we had a lot of money either. I knew we weren't poor, but I also knew we didn't have as much as others. We lived in a medium sized house with a decidedly frugal, middle class lifestyle.
All of this suggested we were all pretty average, my father included. As a child it seemed decidedly un-cool to be average.
Then I grew up. Being average no longer seemed to be the stigma it once had.
Then I went to college, met my wife, found a smidge of self confidence, found the courage to apply myself, and found I wasn't as average as I thought.
Then I heard The Comment.
That was when I began to re-evaluate my father, with my hard earned, newfound appreciation for how hard it must have been to get advanced degrees in chemistry and physics.
I was always painfully shy and slow think of rejoinders, but my dad always seemed to have something witty to say. I assumed he was an outgoing guy. Then I realized he never hung out with or talked about his friends, and I wondered if maybe he was just as shy as me.
I've always been a classic hypochondriac. You name a symptom and I can tell you when and why I thought I had it, and how soon I thought it would kill me (usually sometime while I was asleep, when I was helpless to seek assistance). I think my father had some of his emotions locked up in storage out of state. He loved us and he had his way of showing us he loved us, but he always seemed the coolest of customers, never one to show panic or fear. Then I had a talk with my mother and I heard the fears he shared with her, but shielded from the kids.
Now I think my father and I are more alike, and maybe always have been. More importantly, I think that makes me extremely fortunate. Now realize all the things he taught me by example: the virtue of modesty, the importance of living a life not a career, the difference between needs and wants, the value of curiosity and the rewards of self-discovery.
Now I'm pretty damn proud of my father. He is my father, my mentor, and my friend; and I'd be lucky to be a quarter the father he was to me.
--------------------------------------------
If you'd like to visit John's blog go here.
Friday, June 1, 2007
There's No More Reassuring Voice In Retirement Planning Than Dennis Hopper
From The Onion for your morning laugh, courtesy of Becca.
And here's the news release from Ameriprise Financial.
Press Release
New Evolution of Ameriprise Financial Advertising Emphasizes that "Dreams Don't Retire"
Broadcast ads feature actor Dennis Hopper and a 1960s-style red chair
MINNEAPOLIS — September 7, 2006 — Dreams don't retire. That's what Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) is telling over 78 million baby boomers in a new advertising campaign that launches this Sunday, Sept. 10, during the first regular season broadcast of NBC Sunday Night Football at 8 p.m. eastern. The broadcast ads will feature a celebrity familiar to the boomer generation, actor Dennis Hopper.
Developed in conjunction with Saatchi & Saatchi the broadcast ads will feature people pursuing their retirement dreams from building a boat to designing an eco-friendly house. Ads will appear on network and cable in popular programs such as "LOST," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Desperate Housewives," "CSI: Miami" and "Without a Trace." The integrated campaign will also feature print, radio and online ads.
"Last year's groundbreaking campaign launched the Ameriprise Financial brand and focused on what we do to help boomers achieve their retirement dreams," says Jim Cracchiolo, chairman and chief executive officer of Ameriprise Financial. "Now we're telling boomers how we're redefining financial planning. It all begins with understanding our clients' dreams."
The ads are set in a variety of locations including a beach, salt flats and field of wildflowers that convey the serenity many boomers hope to achieve in retirement. Sitting within these tranquil settings on a 1960s-style red chair is Hopper.
"Our new campaign is a radical departure from standard financial services advertising," says Kim Sharan, EVP and chief marketing and communications officer of Ameriprise Financial. "We are firmly focused on the positive aspects of retirement and our understanding that boomers aren't going to spend this phase of life playing shuffleboard. There is no better figure to personify our message than legendary actor Dennis Hopper who embodies the spirit of the generation. With his help we are speaking with boomers not at them."
In the broadcast ads, Hopper adopts a conversational style. In one version he asks: "You still have things to do, right? You have dreams. And there is no age limit on dreams." In another version he reminds boomers that "the thing about dreams is – they don't retire."
(You can read the rest of the release here, if you're so inclined.)
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