19:43 - 06/06/2010
Transmission
I'm a bit conflicted about reports of security measures in preparation for the G8 and G20 conferences being held in eastern Canada at the end of this month, dear diary. Freedom of assembly, association and expression are guaranteed all Canadians in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I support those rights fully. Otherwise one sees the creation of secret prisons like Evin in Iran or those used in Argentina and Chile or those in Bosnia or the Sudan or Guantanamo or ... The right to question one's government or other institutions that carry enormous power like BP, or the banks, or World.com, or Scientology, or the Catholic(or any other)church or the next perpetrator to be exposed by whistleblowers or by the tragic outcomes inflicted on innocent citizens is as important in defending democracy as the soldiers that are often cited as the protectors of democracy. We don't celebrate the quiet heroes who try to protect us from ourselves, do we. In fact if there wasn't an ingrained culture in our society of punishing through financial means - impoverishing, imprisoning or destroying the lives of whistleblowers and those who speak out against corruption, there might not even be a need for armies in the current sense. Galileo was finally forgiven after 400 years - big deal. All that skill and expertise now existing in the armed forces could instead be re-invested in rebuilding communities after disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti. That would be a true memorial and thank you to the troops that sacrificed their lives in WWI and WWII.
That said, when I was co-chair of the local Amnesty International group in this city, I used to cover the phone enquiries directed to the organization. There were representatives from at least eight of the groups now listed as terrorist organizations, contacting AI regularly by phone and mail trying to explain their side of the story. "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist." AI only advocates for people who have never used or advocated violence; people who were political prisoners or were targetted for violent treatment by their government or de facto government as members of identifiable groups such as a religion, a political party, their gender, their race or culture - civil rights advocates - that the powers-that-be feared and, thus, justified harming as a result. One male caller and his wife approached me one time claiming to be psychologists from a Middle Eastern country embroiled in a civil war. They said they wanted an opportunity to work with boys enrolled in the public school system here - specifically boys only - from their culture who were suffering the effects of that war and the subsequent life experienced of becoming refugees. Further investigation found that the two people weren't who they said they were. They were recruiters for one of those terrorist organzations I mentioned earlier. Two very alert school board trustees worked that one out.
So when I read the headline a day or so ago about our secret service - CSIS - going to the doors of leaders of the non-violent protests planned by various peace and advocacy groups to talk to them about their plans for the G8 and G20 meetings, I was of two minds. Canadians have every right and, in fact, a responsibility to question and confront their so-called leaders, when they are in error, in any peaceful manner they choose. After all, elected people are just one's neighbours who have been given the opportunity to represent our communities in parliament. I certainly didn't vote to give anyone power over me, thank you very much. At the same time, it is naive to believe that even the best of intentions can't be suborned to other agendas. If all the members of CSIS were intending to do was to fill in the leaders of the peaceful protests about the people intending to cause harm through the protests, then that would actually demonstrate an enlightened approach to balancing out the rights of citizens against the damage planned by those who only know how to respond to challenges to their own beliefs with violence. In the spy novels I read when I was young, I believe the violent ones were called agents provocateurs whether they were corrupt cops, local, homegrown nutcases or foreign terroists of whatever ilk. Hmmmm. End of the near rant.
I've been carrying on with my quality assurance assignments. Instead of buying food I have been paying as much of my bills as I can. Now one of the utilities that I need, has sent me notice that they will cut off my service even though I only owe them about $100 including the month now - one payment behind. The letter I received stated I owed more than double that amount and that they would not talk with me until they received full payment. This is the utility where I have had the service for over three decades. I have paid up my bills regularly, as soon as I had the money in hand each month. This is the service that seems to tack on additional services without my knowledge or consent on a regular basis, increasing that bill substantially as a result. I have called and complained and got it changed back to the service I consented to several times now. This is a service that can't figure out why they are losing customers at such a rapid rate. I'm not the only person who has experienced this either. Maybe they should check their own employees to see who is boosting their sales quota at the expense of people, like me. After this many years I am loathe to switch, but what other choice do I have? If I am not heard from for the next while dear diary, you now know the reason. Until I get a full time paying job I really have no defense from the quota hogs at their utility or the other one I mentioned about a year ago. That company's over-charging was high-lighted on one of our local consumer reports recently - same treatment of a woman, just like me. Their billing to me is still way over the top, but I haven't had a threat from them since their practices were made public by that mainstream news group. Hard to know whether that will last, but at least a break from the pressure is something. End of gripe.
On the happy side of life, number three son called to let me know that he and his girlfriend are expecting their first baby around my next birthday. Guess the genetic fertility factor is operating since, like me, his girlfriend got pregnant even though she was on birth control pills. Three of my guys were born despite my using three different types of birth control - one type for each boy. You know the story of the baby emerging with the iud in their little hand? Yes well. They have been dating for about three years now so I am happy and excited for them.
Number one son and his partner presented me with a ticket to the Xavier Rudd concert for Mothers Day. His partner and I attended that at the end of last month in the Jubilee Auditorium. The concert was awesome. It was Mr Rudd's birthday, so we got to serenade him too. He comes from Australia which I found fascinating. You see, their Prime Minister is Kevin Rudd and he is about 20 years older than Xavier. Is there is a connection, maybe? A lot of his music features the instruments of the Aborigines. His skill and his band's skills instrumentally were extraordinary. Their songs ranged from ballads to rock music that made me think I was at a an Eric Clapton or Phil Collins concert. Awesome. The first band was more of a Latin style, but the percussionist used what looked like a washboard instead of drums. That sound was amazing - I want one to play with, I think. My daughter-in-law and I both had a great time.
On the odd side was the response I had from my contact for the airport assignments I do. I asked about the changes to security procedures I mentioned last post to you. His response. "What do you mean they let you behind security barriers unescorted". My response - "well isn't that the routine for all of your staff?". Answer - "no". Hmmm. Can't figure that one out at all. In the past week too, I have received unsolicited calls from three agencies in the city and in other provinces all about upcoming jobs. Maybe that means something will finally fall into place for me work-wise so I can get back on my feet. Hope so.
I spent an afternoon at the one charity where I am putting together their new website. It was a great exchange of information and it seems that the work I've done so far has pleased the executive director. She asked me to speak with the researchers/doctors directly with respect to the content about themselves and their work and gave me written information about the research facility itself so that I can summarize that for web visitors. That has provided some useful information too. Still need a bit of information about the board of directors and their core volunteers but then the most critical information will all be accounted for. A few other tweaks to content and then it will be ready to upload. At this point the one barrier is the same utility provider that is giving me grief personally. Hmmm.
Anyway, time to go fill in the part of the webpages I can with the new information I have before my service is cut off. Take care dear diary. Te amo.
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