OK... One last post before I head to Mom & Dad's for Christmas.
Back in September, someone posted a comment in my blog asking about my thoughts on cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is a "next generation" bio-fuel made from non-food plant matter, like wood chips. The idea is that it doesn't compete with the food supply. I used it as a springboard to talk a little bit about my views on the environment - which I think you might find controversial. Surprise, surprise.
After considerable thought, and knowing that I will be opening a can of worms, I have decided to re-post that comment here on the main blog, rather than leave it buried in the comments. Here's the bottom line: I think that any approach that advocates growing our fuel invites a slippery slope of consequences that could logically lead to clearcutting the planet, releasing greenhouse gases, loss of biodiversity, and of course the obvious concerns about food supply.
But what the hell do I know?
Beware the devil of unintended consequences.
Read the comment, just below, for that and other heretical little gems to keep you thinking over the holidays.
And don't forget to watch my YouTube videos, join my Facebook group, and read my Globe and Mail piece. You can also view all of my correspondence with the Canadian government up until the start of my blog in August. Just follow the links on the right hand side of the screen.
Now here's the comment:
Thanks for your question comment about cellulosic ethanol, Rob.
I realize that the issue of cellulosic bio-fuels is a gap in my argument. In fact, I consciously chose to specify that my concern was with grain-based ethanol, while leaving cellulosic an open issue for the environmental experts to sort out. I don't feel I have the technical knowledge of that aspect of the issue to take a solid stand. And frankly, I don't think it should become a red herring in the urgent issue, which is food for fuel.
That said, if there is a devil in the cellulosic details I think it will be in the unintended consequences. Will an entire industry spring up lobbying for a variety of "forest management" techniques that produce a steady, efficient stream of forest waste?
Beyond that, I'll take this opportunity to talk a bit about my own environmental credentials and views. I have a history of being concerned about unsexy issues like ethanol and the environment. I live in a compact apartment in central Toronto, I try to walk or cycle everywhere, and the last time I owned a car was 1990. I realize most people would not see these as realistic options, but I find that the important thing is to make conscious choices. Your life will then evolve around them. I think I have a fantastic quality of life, and I will compare carbon footprints with anyone.
My sense is that the best way for our society to protect the environment is to bring a consistent level of prosperity to the planet. First, it will allow the demographic shift to occur in places like sub-Saharan Africa, so that the earth's population stabilizes. Secondly, it will afford tropical countries the economic means to put measures in place that truly protect rainforests (for example). Thirdly, it will allow us to look for truly viable technological alternatives to hydrocarbons.
Next, I am in favour of reflecting the environment costs of resource usage in their price. It is a universal truth that people value what they pay for.
Finally, I think we should try to accept with calmness and serenity that civilizations rise and fall, and that ours might too one day.
Let it not be because we rushed to jump of a cliff, like lemmings.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Farmers, and the yin and yang of advocating
Two posts in one day... I hope I'm not wearing everyone out. One piece of the puzzle that has troubled me from the beginning and that I have not spoken about at all in my blog is the effect that stopping support for grain based ethanol will have on farmers. I would like to share with you a string of emails that speaks to that issue, and equally important, to the way I like to relate to people: with reciprocal respect and integrity. To me, that means acting with respect and integrity myself, expecting others to do the same, not being afraid to call them on it when they don't, understanding all the while that we are all human and even the best of us misses the mark sometimes. It's a tall order. I know that I have missed the mark with some of you during my activities over the last year. I hope you can accept my apologies.
There is a yin and a yang to advocating. I have had to use certain mechanics of the English language to get myself heard, and frankly, to make what has been at times a lonely road of struggling and dogged determination a bit of fun. That's the yin. I think it's equally important to treat people with respect and to know when to be serious. That's the yang.
Thank you in advance to Mr. Gord Surgeoner, the other party to this series of notes who, despite our obvious differences, strikes me as a very honest person that my activites must be putting in a difficult position right now. Mr. Surgeoner, in the interest of time I am reprinting our correspondence without consulting you. I thought it important to get this note out in time for the Christmas lull, when busy people will have time to reflect. I hope you understand.
OK... here is the series of notes. I think they speak for themselves.
____________________________________________
To: ignatieff.m@parl.gc.ca, pm@pm.gc.ca, gord@oaft.org
Hello [Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Harper],
I would like to share with you the following correspondence between myself and Gord Surgeoner, President of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, as some important points are made with respect to the impact of changes in ethanol policy to the agricultural sector.
Mr. Surgeoner, thank you once again for the opportunity to discuss this issue. I understand that what I am suggesting is an enormous change. However, the enormity of the chaos we can expect if we don't stop encouraging diversion of food for fuel is much greater.
I urge everyone that reads this note to carefully reflect on what I am saying as you spend time with your families this holiday season. In making the difficult decision to move beyond self-interest, you have the opportunity to influence history and to be secure in the knowledge that you did the right thing when the right thing was difficult to do indeed.
Regards,
George Tesseris
___________________________________________
Dear Mr. Surgeoner,
Thank you for taking the time to write to me about my piece in the Globe. You clearly have background that I do not. That said, I think it must be hard for anyone not to see the risks in the immediate supply/demand situation with respect to grains.
One of the most difficult parts of my advocacing has been the issue of farmers. I certainly understand that people have built their lives and businesses around various government programs and subsidies, and that any transition away from these things would have to be fair and orderly.
That is why I think it is so critical to get going now, and not to wait until after a crisis strikes.
As we saw last spring, the market will prove very sensitive and very quick to respond to any shortfall in supply - or even any threat thereof.
To your point about third world development, I wholeheartedly agree that the developed world's focus should be to bring about a level of prosperity in developing courntries that eliminates the need for aid and handouts. It certainly makes sense to me that Canadian agricultural expertise can have a significant role to play in that regard.
Mr. Surgeoner, no one - least of all me - wants farmers to starve. But no farmer could want millions upon millions of people to starve either. There must be better agricultural policy than ethanol, and we have whole ministries that should be looking for it.
I respectfully suggest that the most tenable position your organization could take would be to accept the problems with grain-based ethanol and to advocate for an orderly transition to agricultural policy that makes more sense and is fair to everyone. Despite our differences and the hardhitting nature of my piece, you have been fair with me in your note. I thank you for that, and I hope that I can count on your support as I continue to advocate for rational policy.
I hope you don't mind that I have taken the liberty of copying Mr. Harper and Mr. Ignatieff as I think the aspect of the agricultural sector is a critically important part of this discussion.
Sincerely,
George
__________________________________________
From: "Gord Surgeoner" <gord@oaft.org>>To: <george.tesseris@sympatico.ca
Subject: Ethanol: An Imminent Threat to Humanity
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:19:38 -0500
Dear George,
I noted your article in the December 20th Globe and Mail and would like to respectfully disagree with you on a number of issues you brought up. I respect your concern regarding hunger and your passion for something you believe in. First, let me explain that I have been in agriculture for over 30 years and have worked with farm organizations for most of that time. I am an entomologist by training, but for the last ten years have worked diligently to find new markets for the business of agriculture.
Ethanol production involves the creation and sale of three products, ethanol being one. About one-third of corn becomes ethanol, one-third dried distillers grain and one-third carbon dioxide. The dried distillers grain is used to feed livestock, for which much of the corn is grown. In fact, the protein content is about 30% instead of the normal 8% in whole corn kernels. In many places (e.g. Ontario) the co2 is used to enhance greenhouse production of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers (e.g. Leamington). The co2 is converted by plants into plant material (tomatoes) and the co product stream is oxygen. Yes, there is hunger in the world. Even in Canada, our food banks play an>important role. it is a distribution of wealth issue and not a production>issue. In much of the world, hunger is caused by man's inhumanity to man (i.e. North Korea, Zimbabwe, Somalia, etc.). The best way to cure hunger is to reduce losses in third world countries by;
- providing quality seed for third world farmers
- providing infrastructure - storage, transportation
- controlling diseases, insects and rodents. More than one-third of most third world crops are lost to pests.
I believe that when we say we will run out of something, the next question should be "at what price?" Simply giving food to third world countries destroys the incentive of their farmers. Why pay when its free and that destroys market for local farmers. Three years ago, farmers in Ontario were driving tractors down the 401. A tonne of dried corn cost less than disposing of a tonne of Toronto garbage. Your demand for low cost food says to our farmers that you must feed us at a low cost and you shouldn't have different marketing options like ethanol. The greatest risk for reduced food supply is farmers not getting fair return for labour and investment.
Today's corn prices are, in real dollars, far below the price paid in the mid 1970's and well below the highs of over $7.00 per bushel in the mid>summer, to about $3.75 last week (U.S. $). This points out how much impact speculators had on the market, which I consider to have been a far greater price impact than ethanol. We can agree to disagree, but I want to emphasize I respect your personal commitment to something you passionately believe in.
Sincerely,
Gord Surgeoner, Ph.D.
President, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
New Address: 200-120 Research Lane
Guelph, ON N1G 0B4
Tel: (519) 826-4195
www.oaft.org
There is a yin and a yang to advocating. I have had to use certain mechanics of the English language to get myself heard, and frankly, to make what has been at times a lonely road of struggling and dogged determination a bit of fun. That's the yin. I think it's equally important to treat people with respect and to know when to be serious. That's the yang.
Thank you in advance to Mr. Gord Surgeoner, the other party to this series of notes who, despite our obvious differences, strikes me as a very honest person that my activites must be putting in a difficult position right now. Mr. Surgeoner, in the interest of time I am reprinting our correspondence without consulting you. I thought it important to get this note out in time for the Christmas lull, when busy people will have time to reflect. I hope you understand.
OK... here is the series of notes. I think they speak for themselves.
____________________________________________
To: ignatieff.m@parl.gc.ca, pm@pm.gc.ca, gord@oaft.org
Hello [Mr. Ignatieff and Mr. Harper],
I would like to share with you the following correspondence between myself and Gord Surgeoner, President of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, as some important points are made with respect to the impact of changes in ethanol policy to the agricultural sector.
Mr. Surgeoner, thank you once again for the opportunity to discuss this issue. I understand that what I am suggesting is an enormous change. However, the enormity of the chaos we can expect if we don't stop encouraging diversion of food for fuel is much greater.
I urge everyone that reads this note to carefully reflect on what I am saying as you spend time with your families this holiday season. In making the difficult decision to move beyond self-interest, you have the opportunity to influence history and to be secure in the knowledge that you did the right thing when the right thing was difficult to do indeed.
Regards,
George Tesseris
___________________________________________
Dear Mr. Surgeoner,
Thank you for taking the time to write to me about my piece in the Globe. You clearly have background that I do not. That said, I think it must be hard for anyone not to see the risks in the immediate supply/demand situation with respect to grains.
One of the most difficult parts of my advocacing has been the issue of farmers. I certainly understand that people have built their lives and businesses around various government programs and subsidies, and that any transition away from these things would have to be fair and orderly.
That is why I think it is so critical to get going now, and not to wait until after a crisis strikes.
As we saw last spring, the market will prove very sensitive and very quick to respond to any shortfall in supply - or even any threat thereof.
To your point about third world development, I wholeheartedly agree that the developed world's focus should be to bring about a level of prosperity in developing courntries that eliminates the need for aid and handouts. It certainly makes sense to me that Canadian agricultural expertise can have a significant role to play in that regard.
Mr. Surgeoner, no one - least of all me - wants farmers to starve. But no farmer could want millions upon millions of people to starve either. There must be better agricultural policy than ethanol, and we have whole ministries that should be looking for it.
I respectfully suggest that the most tenable position your organization could take would be to accept the problems with grain-based ethanol and to advocate for an orderly transition to agricultural policy that makes more sense and is fair to everyone. Despite our differences and the hardhitting nature of my piece, you have been fair with me in your note. I thank you for that, and I hope that I can count on your support as I continue to advocate for rational policy.
I hope you don't mind that I have taken the liberty of copying Mr. Harper and Mr. Ignatieff as I think the aspect of the agricultural sector is a critically important part of this discussion.
Sincerely,
George
__________________________________________
From: "Gord Surgeoner" <gord@oaft.org>>To: <george.tesseris@sympatico.ca
Subject: Ethanol: An Imminent Threat to Humanity
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:19:38 -0500
Dear George,
I noted your article in the December 20th Globe and Mail and would like to respectfully disagree with you on a number of issues you brought up. I respect your concern regarding hunger and your passion for something you believe in. First, let me explain that I have been in agriculture for over 30 years and have worked with farm organizations for most of that time. I am an entomologist by training, but for the last ten years have worked diligently to find new markets for the business of agriculture.
Ethanol production involves the creation and sale of three products, ethanol being one. About one-third of corn becomes ethanol, one-third dried distillers grain and one-third carbon dioxide. The dried distillers grain is used to feed livestock, for which much of the corn is grown. In fact, the protein content is about 30% instead of the normal 8% in whole corn kernels. In many places (e.g. Ontario) the co2 is used to enhance greenhouse production of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers (e.g. Leamington). The co2 is converted by plants into plant material (tomatoes) and the co product stream is oxygen. Yes, there is hunger in the world. Even in Canada, our food banks play an>important role. it is a distribution of wealth issue and not a production>issue. In much of the world, hunger is caused by man's inhumanity to man (i.e. North Korea, Zimbabwe, Somalia, etc.). The best way to cure hunger is to reduce losses in third world countries by;
- providing quality seed for third world farmers
- providing infrastructure - storage, transportation
- controlling diseases, insects and rodents. More than one-third of most third world crops are lost to pests.
I believe that when we say we will run out of something, the next question should be "at what price?" Simply giving food to third world countries destroys the incentive of their farmers. Why pay when its free and that destroys market for local farmers. Three years ago, farmers in Ontario were driving tractors down the 401. A tonne of dried corn cost less than disposing of a tonne of Toronto garbage. Your demand for low cost food says to our farmers that you must feed us at a low cost and you shouldn't have different marketing options like ethanol. The greatest risk for reduced food supply is farmers not getting fair return for labour and investment.
Today's corn prices are, in real dollars, far below the price paid in the mid 1970's and well below the highs of over $7.00 per bushel in the mid>summer, to about $3.75 last week (U.S. $). This points out how much impact speculators had on the market, which I consider to have been a far greater price impact than ethanol. We can agree to disagree, but I want to emphasize I respect your personal commitment to something you passionately believe in.
Sincerely,
Gord Surgeoner, Ph.D.
President, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
New Address: 200-120 Research Lane
Guelph, ON N1G 0B4
Tel: (519) 826-4195
www.oaft.org
Monday, December 22, 2008
Oh dear, have I inadvertently caused a kerfuffle?
Well, my piece in the Globe, Ethanol: An Imminent Threat to Humanity, is certainly starting to generate some interest! Over a hundred emails so far... 95% favourable, 5% venomous.
First off, I would like to state unequivocally that I have absolutely no vested interest in the ethanol issue. I do not work for an oil company, I am not affiliated with any organization, I do not do any paid work, and I am financing this campaign by myself, through my savings. And at considerable cost to me. Because I believe in what I'm doing.
The reason I believe in it so strongly is that in 2008, the best of agricultural years, the planet used grains faster than it could produce them. We barely kept up with demand, and that demand is set to grow as the pace of ethanol production quickly picks up speed thanks to government policy. Unless we do something now, we better prepare for a food crisis that will make the credit crisis look like a walk in the park.
Also, I had one comment asking me to differentiate between grain-based ethanol and the sugarcane ethanol that Brazil produces and that is a large, mature industry that apparently does not compete with the food supply. Brazil. I wish I knew what to do about Brazil. That large and proud multi-racial democracy that is succeeding in pulling itself up by its bootstraps. That beacon of hope for the developing world, and not just. Agricultural heavyweight and guardian of the earth's Amazonian lungs. I am not an expert in the pros and cons of sugarcane ethanol, but I have nagging concerns about deforestation, land use pressures, and yes, impacts on global food supply that could result if Brazil's sugarcane ethanol industry was to become the next big thing. I need help with Brazil.
Finally but very importantly, I have created a Facebook group, Stop Ethanol and Save the Planet. Please join and help me get a grassroots movement going. Let's show our leaders the strength of our numbers.
First off, I would like to state unequivocally that I have absolutely no vested interest in the ethanol issue. I do not work for an oil company, I am not affiliated with any organization, I do not do any paid work, and I am financing this campaign by myself, through my savings. And at considerable cost to me. Because I believe in what I'm doing.
The reason I believe in it so strongly is that in 2008, the best of agricultural years, the planet used grains faster than it could produce them. We barely kept up with demand, and that demand is set to grow as the pace of ethanol production quickly picks up speed thanks to government policy. Unless we do something now, we better prepare for a food crisis that will make the credit crisis look like a walk in the park.
Also, I had one comment asking me to differentiate between grain-based ethanol and the sugarcane ethanol that Brazil produces and that is a large, mature industry that apparently does not compete with the food supply. Brazil. I wish I knew what to do about Brazil. That large and proud multi-racial democracy that is succeeding in pulling itself up by its bootstraps. That beacon of hope for the developing world, and not just. Agricultural heavyweight and guardian of the earth's Amazonian lungs. I am not an expert in the pros and cons of sugarcane ethanol, but I have nagging concerns about deforestation, land use pressures, and yes, impacts on global food supply that could result if Brazil's sugarcane ethanol industry was to become the next big thing. I need help with Brazil.
Finally but very importantly, I have created a Facebook group, Stop Ethanol and Save the Planet. Please join and help me get a grassroots movement going. Let's show our leaders the strength of our numbers.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Ethanol: An Imminent Threat to Humanity
Hello everyone,
Many of you will know by now that I took out a full page, essay-style ad in the Saturday December 20 edition of the Globe and Mail in order to raise the profile of my case against ethanol. Here is the ad:
Many of you will know by now that I took out a full page, essay-style ad in the Saturday December 20 edition of the Globe and Mail in order to raise the profile of my case against ethanol. Here is the ad:
Ethanol: An Imminent Threat to Humanity
Running a full page ad in the Globe ain't cheap, but I like to think that the piece is my Christmas present to the world and, frankly, to myself. This Christmas, I want to be comfortable in the knowledge that I am doing everything I can about a critically important issue.
Also - One or two people have commented on the conscious stylistic choices in parts of my blog. My writing is meant for effect and I realize it might not be to everyone's liking. But please take a look at the very first piece of correspondence - of many - that I have had with the Conservatives and the PMO on this issue. This note is addressed to the Conservative candidate in my Toronto Centre riding during last March's by-election. I think you will see that my approach could not have been more polite, courteous and reasoned.
That approach got me nowhere. I stand by my contention that Mr. Harper is well aware of the implications of his party's stance and is pursuing it anyway, for political reasons. He IS a hypocrite and a pigdog. I have shared my hypothesis with the Liberals, too, so I'm not sure they are much better. Nonetheless, the bulk of my communication has been with the governing party, who are also the strongest proponents of ethanol. There is no possible way that the economic arguments I am making could be beyond the grasp of our PM, the economist.
So sure, I haven't always chosen to be polite. But I have always been measured. Sometimes you just have to make some noise.
In closing, the early feedback to the Globe piece has been tremendous. Thank you all very much for your support, and best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.
Running a full page ad in the Globe ain't cheap, but I like to think that the piece is my Christmas present to the world and, frankly, to myself. This Christmas, I want to be comfortable in the knowledge that I am doing everything I can about a critically important issue.
Also - One or two people have commented on the conscious stylistic choices in parts of my blog. My writing is meant for effect and I realize it might not be to everyone's liking. But please take a look at the very first piece of correspondence - of many - that I have had with the Conservatives and the PMO on this issue. This note is addressed to the Conservative candidate in my Toronto Centre riding during last March's by-election. I think you will see that my approach could not have been more polite, courteous and reasoned.
That approach got me nowhere. I stand by my contention that Mr. Harper is well aware of the implications of his party's stance and is pursuing it anyway, for political reasons. He IS a hypocrite and a pigdog. I have shared my hypothesis with the Liberals, too, so I'm not sure they are much better. Nonetheless, the bulk of my communication has been with the governing party, who are also the strongest proponents of ethanol. There is no possible way that the economic arguments I am making could be beyond the grasp of our PM, the economist.
So sure, I haven't always chosen to be polite. But I have always been measured. Sometimes you just have to make some noise.
In closing, the early feedback to the Globe piece has been tremendous. Thank you all very much for your support, and best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Those darned Greeks
It's been a while since I last posted and lots has happened so I'll get right to it.
First, I finally heard back from the RCMP, and there is nothing in the Toronto RCMP files pertaining to the September 12th incident I described to them.
The RCMP did not indicate whether there is anything else about me in their files, or whether the information I was after might be held elsewhere. For example, the photographer could have been associated with another organization such as CSIS, or he could have been a private investigator for the ethanol lobby. Or his presence may have been complete coincidence unrelated to me or my advocating activities. I may never know, because in Canada your government does not have to answer your questions, CSIS is under no obligation to tell you if and on what grounds it has a file on you, and nothing prevents lobbyists from hiring private investigators to spy on you.
On the other hand, surveillance or not, I figure I can say and do pretty much anything I want without fear of consequences for the simple fact that no-one in power will risk doing anything that brings me publicity. And after all, what I am trying to do is moral and right. I'm not a slimy pigdog like Stephen Harper and I have nothing to hide or fear, like he does.
Which is too bad because publicity is exactly what I want.
The other major thing in my life over the last five weeks is that I went to Greece on a family emergency, and my return coincided with the well-publicized riots taking place in my country of birth. That made for an uncomfortable re-entry into Canada. I'll explain the details by way of reprinting the content of an email that I sent to my lawyer Andrew when I got back. I find it pleasingly impertinent and I think you may too.
Hi Andrew,
I got back to Toronto last night. Here are a few thoughts upon my return and in advance of speaking to you live....
On re-entering Canada, I was given the third degree by Customs and Immigration: Why did I go to Greece? What did I do in Athens? Where do I work? Why don't I work? How do I support myself? Why do I have so much in savings? Where do my savings come from? Where did I used to work? Why did I leave my job? Who do I live with? What was I doing in Athens, again... ?
For the record, here is what I was doing in Athens: Accompanying my mother on a visit to her aging schizophrenic sister who through sheer force of character has kept a roof over her head while battling that insidious disease alone for fifty years, and who one month ago fell in the tub and suffered from shock when it took several hours before someone could get into her locked apartment to help her.
And here is what I was not doing in Athens: Involving myself in any rioting or illegal activity of any sort. Let me be crystal clear, once again: I do not condone violence as a means to resolve anything. That said, I can certainly appreciate that element of spirit that makes the Greek protesters stand up and say no to rogue cops that shoot into crowds and kill defenseless fifteen year olds. There is a reason why no one has died in the recent riots, why Greek society has a much lower rate of violent crime than we do, and why no minor has been killed by a police officer in Greece in almost a quarter century.
There is also a reason why, here in Canada, nothing happens when a confused defenseless immigrant dies as a result of unnecessarily excessive force used by four trained police officers; or when the prime minister succeeds in shutting down parliament to hang on to power after an underhanded attempt to eviscerate the opposition that is so critical to the effectiveness of a highly functioning democracy.
The reason is this: We are rule-bound and complacent and we think that, this being Canada, we have systems that work if we just follow the rules.
Except that the rules aren't always right and systems don't always work.
When our government is hell-bent on supporting what amounts to a "crime against humanity" (not my words, those of UN officials before they were muzzled as a condition of receiving emergency food aid to combat the food crisis), and when it obfuscates all attempts to inject reason into official policy just because doing otherwise might cost them votes in agricultural ridings, then our system of governance is NOT working.
The reason I contacted you about this issue is that I was looking for every angle to accomplish what I have set out to do. It was my hope that your expertise in constitutional law and your social justice approach could uncover legal avenues to get an argument heard that I cannot think of or access on my own. I also thought that you would be well-placed to help me fight the system if it wasn't doing what it should.
But it is possible that the law, being part of that system, cannot help in this case. Perhaps Canadian law was actually designed to allow the government to put a whisteblower under surveillance when what he is saying threatens the established order of things, and that there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it.
If that is the case, just let me know. I do not care how much money I have to spend to get results, but I do care if it is not money well-spent. It would be great if the system, with all its laws, regulations, charters, procedures and precedents, can avert a perfectly predictable catastrophe from happening. But make no mistake that if it can't, I will find another way. And for all the damage it will cause to "the system", it will be non-violent.
Andrew, thanks for letting me ramble on a bit. I am taking the liberty of copying the PMO and the ethanol lobby (http://www.greenfuels.org/) - because their continued silence [in response to my advocating activities] actually amuses me and strengthens my resolve. I hope I have given you all a bit of insight into my motivation and character. The situation at Customs really did not sit well with me, and if there's one thing I cannot stand, it is hypocrites and liars.
In any case Andrew, thank you for your continued support. It is always valuable to have a good lawyer at one's disposal.
Regards,
George
First, I finally heard back from the RCMP, and there is nothing in the Toronto RCMP files pertaining to the September 12th incident I described to them.
The RCMP did not indicate whether there is anything else about me in their files, or whether the information I was after might be held elsewhere. For example, the photographer could have been associated with another organization such as CSIS, or he could have been a private investigator for the ethanol lobby. Or his presence may have been complete coincidence unrelated to me or my advocating activities. I may never know, because in Canada your government does not have to answer your questions, CSIS is under no obligation to tell you if and on what grounds it has a file on you, and nothing prevents lobbyists from hiring private investigators to spy on you.
On the other hand, surveillance or not, I figure I can say and do pretty much anything I want without fear of consequences for the simple fact that no-one in power will risk doing anything that brings me publicity. And after all, what I am trying to do is moral and right. I'm not a slimy pigdog like Stephen Harper and I have nothing to hide or fear, like he does.
Which is too bad because publicity is exactly what I want.
The other major thing in my life over the last five weeks is that I went to Greece on a family emergency, and my return coincided with the well-publicized riots taking place in my country of birth. That made for an uncomfortable re-entry into Canada. I'll explain the details by way of reprinting the content of an email that I sent to my lawyer Andrew when I got back. I find it pleasingly impertinent and I think you may too.
Hi Andrew,
I got back to Toronto last night. Here are a few thoughts upon my return and in advance of speaking to you live....
On re-entering Canada, I was given the third degree by Customs and Immigration: Why did I go to Greece? What did I do in Athens? Where do I work? Why don't I work? How do I support myself? Why do I have so much in savings? Where do my savings come from? Where did I used to work? Why did I leave my job? Who do I live with? What was I doing in Athens, again... ?
For the record, here is what I was doing in Athens: Accompanying my mother on a visit to her aging schizophrenic sister who through sheer force of character has kept a roof over her head while battling that insidious disease alone for fifty years, and who one month ago fell in the tub and suffered from shock when it took several hours before someone could get into her locked apartment to help her.
And here is what I was not doing in Athens: Involving myself in any rioting or illegal activity of any sort. Let me be crystal clear, once again: I do not condone violence as a means to resolve anything. That said, I can certainly appreciate that element of spirit that makes the Greek protesters stand up and say no to rogue cops that shoot into crowds and kill defenseless fifteen year olds. There is a reason why no one has died in the recent riots, why Greek society has a much lower rate of violent crime than we do, and why no minor has been killed by a police officer in Greece in almost a quarter century.
There is also a reason why, here in Canada, nothing happens when a confused defenseless immigrant dies as a result of unnecessarily excessive force used by four trained police officers; or when the prime minister succeeds in shutting down parliament to hang on to power after an underhanded attempt to eviscerate the opposition that is so critical to the effectiveness of a highly functioning democracy.
The reason is this: We are rule-bound and complacent and we think that, this being Canada, we have systems that work if we just follow the rules.
Except that the rules aren't always right and systems don't always work.
When our government is hell-bent on supporting what amounts to a "crime against humanity" (not my words, those of UN officials before they were muzzled as a condition of receiving emergency food aid to combat the food crisis), and when it obfuscates all attempts to inject reason into official policy just because doing otherwise might cost them votes in agricultural ridings, then our system of governance is NOT working.
The reason I contacted you about this issue is that I was looking for every angle to accomplish what I have set out to do. It was my hope that your expertise in constitutional law and your social justice approach could uncover legal avenues to get an argument heard that I cannot think of or access on my own. I also thought that you would be well-placed to help me fight the system if it wasn't doing what it should.
But it is possible that the law, being part of that system, cannot help in this case. Perhaps Canadian law was actually designed to allow the government to put a whisteblower under surveillance when what he is saying threatens the established order of things, and that there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it.
If that is the case, just let me know. I do not care how much money I have to spend to get results, but I do care if it is not money well-spent. It would be great if the system, with all its laws, regulations, charters, procedures and precedents, can avert a perfectly predictable catastrophe from happening. But make no mistake that if it can't, I will find another way. And for all the damage it will cause to "the system", it will be non-violent.
Andrew, thanks for letting me ramble on a bit. I am taking the liberty of copying the PMO and the ethanol lobby (http://www.greenfuels.org/) - because their continued silence [in response to my advocating activities] actually amuses me and strengthens my resolve. I hope I have given you all a bit of insight into my motivation and character. The situation at Customs really did not sit well with me, and if there's one thing I cannot stand, it is hypocrites and liars.
In any case Andrew, thank you for your continued support. It is always valuable to have a good lawyer at one's disposal.
Regards,
George
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