US government's nuclear scare

The US Government's concern with Iran worries me. No, not Iran, the US Government worries me. Iran's nuclear program was already established in the 1970s. So why all the fuss now?

Well, you'll have to understand the equation first.
The US has nuclear weapons.
- WHAT? The US has these dangerous weapons?
Yes, they do. They've had them for years, and although they signed a treaty to get rid of these arms (Non-Proliferation Treaty), they are still there; and no sign of exposing them now. Even worse, the US threatens other countries that they will use these nuclear weapons against them. This makes many people very concerned.

Many scientists believe that Iran is years (if not decades) away from developing nuclear weapons. At least in the short term nobody has to worry about Iran. But the US is a different case. They have them, have used them before, and have recently threatened to use them again.

The world should be very concerned; many think the US is the main threat to world peace. The "long and lost war" in Iraq and the current Iran-US conflict both shows how just how real that threat is.

Read also Haroon Siddiqui's column in the Toronto Star for a good analysis of what's playing, and a warning for all Canadians:
TheStar.com - We should not play Bush game of chicken on Iran

Ottawa fears losing control of Afghan mission, says Steven Staples

Stephen Staples's analysis:

These two decisions, not lowering the Peace Tower flag and denying access to the media, are best understood when taken together. Add Harper's insistence on vetting the outspoken Gen. Rick Hillier's speeches, and a pattern emerges.

This is a government worried that the mission in Afghanistan could get out of their control and become a huge political problem for the Conservatives — especially as pressure builds in anticipation of a decision to renew the mission before it ends in February 2007.

Read the whole story here:
TheStar.com - Ottawa fears losing control of Afghan mission, says Steven Staples

Musicians side with their fans

Some Canadian Musicians (yes, capital M) have become critical of the constant lobbying of the major labels to "protect" copyright laws.

Canadian Music Creators Coalition: A New Voice

Stephen Harper's policies flagged

I was confused. Many people don't like the new policies regarding the government’s refusal to lower flags on Parliament Hill for fallen soldiers, yet cannot figure out why Stephen Harper would continue to favour such a policy.

I've tried. I've really tried to figure out the reasoning behind it. But the Conservatives are not giving me any answers. Of course it is not too difficult anymore once you look at how our southern neighbours deal with these issues. And why?

It all has to do with the propaganda machine. Canadians who go to war alive but return dead is simply bad news for politicians. As my friend pointed out, many politicians "don't give a shit" about soldiers.

But I do. And it's not hard to figure out the Conservative's hidden agenda. Defense minister Gordon O'Connor thinks it's "most appropriate" to keep the public away. And he's right; in the view of the Conservative Party it is most appropriate to "protect us" from such issues.

But the public has a different opinion. The latest Ipsos Reid poll found that sixty-six per cent of those polled believed that the decision to ban the media from the homecoming of the flag-draped caskets of Canadian Forces personnel is a "muzzle" as opposed to concern for families.

Don't you like it when a single issue, as clip and clear as this one, defines a party so well? The Conservative Party has a lot to learn. We're in 21st century were also real people have a voice. People like the father of the dead soldier.

globeandmail.com : Dead soldier's father has critical words for PM

The Seal Hunt - Bad for Seals and Businesses

That the seal-hunt can also hurt business is shown in this letter to The Start:

Why should sealers be allowed to earn a few extra dollars while small local businesses take it in the pocketbook because of tourism boycotts all year long? It doesn't seem fair.

Read the whole story here:
TheStar.com - Bad for seals and businesses, too