Harpocracy: Shell wants nuclear power in Canadian tar sands while Germany goes Nuclear free

Another example of how Harpocracy allows the Canadian energy sector to act ridiculously: while post-Fukushima Germany is shutting down nuclear plants to go nuclear-free and leveraging solar energy to consume less non-renewable energy resources, meeting 50% of national demand on a weekend from solar, Shell is suggesting using nuclear power in Canada -- keep reading, it gets better -- to extract tar sands oil.  This coming from Shell with a tarnished track record of massive oil leaks in Nigeria and in the North Sea in UK waters.

Using nuclear power to extract tar sands oil which is already taxing the environment with higher emissions -- can ethical oil get any dirtier?  Is this a breakdown of sensible Economics?  Spending dirty energy to find more dirty energy?  Sounds like a vicious cycle!!

In 50 years, would the world look back at Canada's short-sighted policies scornfully? 

Manulife Financial offers me a future but no e-statements (like 125 years ago)

Manulife has the nerve to offer me a "future" -- while acting like a company born in 1887.    

They do not offer e-statements via email or on their website, at least not for my group RRSP. I would not lose much sleep over this first world problem but it was still very surprising that a Canadian financial institution would not offer electronic statements in 2012!  That they would squander such an easy green-washing opportunity and not even pretend that they care a little bit about not chopping down trees while reducing their costs!  


Out of curiousity, I went to their website's CSR section.  The first paragraph reads: 

Manulife’s approach to corporate social responsibility around the world aligns with our focus on delivering strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for our clients and for the communities where we work. 

Forward-thinking solutions? In Manulife-speak, it means smoke flares.

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WestJet, please don't ask silly, redundant questions!

Bad user interface is usually annoying to me.  It shows a lack of attention to detail and a lack of respect for the audience. 


Consider this example from WestJet's website which asks the same question two different ways when making a reservation.  I wonder what happens if you select "Master" for the title but then select "Female" as the gender.  Would the system accept it?  I did not try it -- was too busy completing my reservation.  That is the point WestJet. Don't ask me silly redundant questions when I am in a rush trying to finalize my reservation!

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Canadian government to declare First Nations terrorists?

Where is Canada headed? The government will declare the First Nations terrorists, if they resist Big Oil's attempts to put a pipeline through their homeland to export tar faster to China?  Notice the language in this article about how Ottawa has established a counter-terrorism unit to "protect the energy industry":


[Excerpts]

• "...to protect the energy industry from attacks by extremists". 
• "the terrorist threat could come more from people inside the country than outside the border"
• "We are looking at ANY individuals or groups that pose a threat... that is based on either religious, political or ideological goals."
• "...it is important that intelligence is collected against the activities of groups BEFORE they become violent.
• "the key...will be to gather intelligence to prevent attacks".

NUTSHELL:  The Canadian government will protect Big Oil by "looking at" (snooping and collecting intelligence on) ANY individuals or groups who are opposed to key projects (think "Enbridge's Northern Gateway Pipeline") on political or ideological grounds, even BEFORE they have become violent. Oh Canada?!

The review process has already been hijacked so the consultation is already a futile exercise.  The laws of the land are lamely stacked against First Nations so going to the Supreme Court is futile for them.  So if they were to ever consider political or ideological resistance and expressing it in any way (even non-violent ways), they would be fair game for "counter-terrorism" activities treating them as terrorists. 

Canadians should object vehemently to the use of "counter-terrorism" language to deal with internal resistance by any groups on "political or ideological" grounds.  We have seen George Bush and his goons wielding this language south of the border.  We should all stand up and reject the use of this language in Canada, which is clearly aimed at crushing First Nations opposition.  

Stand up now!  Re-post, re-Tweet, share and educate people about this latest tactic from the Harpocracy propped by ethical oil!

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Go buy something from LUSH to say "Bravo"!

I don't really care for cosmetics (for myself or on others) but I will be buying SOMETHING from Lush this week, just to say "Bravo".  Thank you for speaking up and taking a strong, clear stance against Enbridge's Northern Gateway Pipeline and the ethical oil farce, specially at a time when many others seem to stay spinelessly silent.  (I'm looking at you, BC Premier Christy Clark - at this point ANY opinion you express will be respected more than your nauseating spinelessness). 


Citizenship is about having a voice and getting it heard.  Corporations should not start talking about "corporate citizenship" if they are not willing to take a position, express their views and be vocal -- like good citizens -- instead of hiding behind the lame cover of keeping politics out of business.  Politics and business are joined together at the hip these days so stop pretending -- and start speaking out.  


Two ways we can support LUSH: 

1. Go buy something from LUSH, if not for yourself then a gift for a friend.  Make sure you educate the friend about Enbridge's Northern Gateway Pipeline disaster and encourage all your social networks to do the same. Let's make sure that other corporations take note that speaking out on a political issue did not hurt LUSH and in fact was "good business" for them as well. Give them a noticeable bump in their revenue!
2. Ask other corporate citizens to follow the LUSH example, and earn brownie points with their fans by demonstrating responsible corporate citizenship.  Names that come immediately to mind: Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), The Big Carrot, Moksha Yoga, LuluLemon, Bixi Bikes.

Add your suggestions for corporations who should speak up in the comments below.  Speak up, speak out! 

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Can Ride Clean reduce more emissions than Drive Clean in Ontario?

"97% of all cars clear emissions testing", said the man behind the Canadian Tyre counter, shaking his head wistfully.  "It is a waste of money and time.  The ones who fail are the ones who cannot even afford to get the repairs done.  Single moms, elderly, you know..."


This was at a recent emissions test for my car, as required by the Drive Clean Ontario initiative.  It highlighted the apparent futility of the exercise, making me wonder how many cars got tested every year and at $35 per test, what was the total bill?  The Program Statistics section on Drive Clean's website is "broken" but "Wonderful Wikipedia provided an estimate of $435 million fees collected as the last verifiable figure from 8 years ago.

10 bicycles replacing one polluting car

As a reluctant motorist, who is happier on a bicycle, I'd happily pay a $35 tax if it is invested in protected bike lanes on the streets of smoggy Toronto. A fraction of $435 million would go a long way towards that!   That way I don't have to drive a car.  Who needs Drive Clean when you can Ride Clean? 

Wouldn't that have a more substantial impact on reducing emissions than testing cars that keep passing?  Let's get some cars off the streets!  While we are at it, why not subsidize parking spots and infrastructure for emissions-reducing businesses like Bixi bike-sharing and car-sharing programs like AutoShare and Zip Cars? 


By the way, I love Bixi!

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