Working Hard to Safeguard Paddling Assets for All Canadians

All about Whitewater

All about Whitewater
A Blog about River Preservation and the need to protect our free flowing whitewater resources

Friday, August 10, 2012

Who informs you?

Assorted Financial News Sources


1. McAlvany Weekly Commentary  David McAlvany -a coherent view of money and politics on the web.
    http://mcalvanyweeklycommentary.com/

2. The Automatic Earth  droll Raul Ilargi Meijer, Nicole Foss and Ashvin Pandurangi
    http://theautomaticearth.org

3. Zero Hedge -  http://www.zerohedge.com/

4. Mish's Global Analysis. Mike Shedlock - http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/

5. Of Two Minds - Charles Hugh Smith blog http://www.oftwominds.com/ and http://www.oftwominds.com/blog.html

6. Naked Capitalism -Yves Smith  http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/

7.  Chris Martenson - The Crash Course, podcast  http://www.peakprosperity.com/

8. The Archdruid Report-John Michael Greer http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/

9.  Hat Trick Letter at The Golden Jackass Report -Jim Willie  http://www.goldenjackass.com/main5.html

10. The Keiser Report with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert. maxkeiser.com

11. King World News. Eric King  kingworldnews.com/

12. Financial Sense New Hour. Jim Puplava  sidekick John Loeffler http://www.financialsense.com/financial-sense-newshour/

13.  ClubOrlov - Dmitry Orlov (sheer brain fart on my part). Orlov is a fantastic writer and a great mind.

Visit  http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/

Some Assembly Required -CK Michaelson's   http://ckm3.blogspot.com/2012/07/sar-12201.html

Bruce Krasting blog,
The Daily Reckoning- Bill Bonner ,
Whiskey and Gunpowder,
Martin Armstrong,
Jesse's Caf Americain,
The Big Picture -Barry Ritholtz
Carl Denninger,
Peter Schiff
Prudent Bear's Credit Bubble Bulletin -Doug Noland
Acting Man - Pater Tenebrarum

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Follow the Dollar...

Interest rates are low and have been shown to have been FIXED to be low by virtue of LIBOR fixing by the biggest banks.

Why?

Low rates cause bond and other asset prices to rise higher than they would otherwise be. This is especially useful for banks that hold assets to back their liabilities... its all paper afterall. It shows that banks are more "solvent" than they are. Many of their assets... if marked to market would be valueless, and the bank, unable to borrow and tranform their assets with fractional reserve ratios would be bankrupt.

But  its not just the banks that are benefiting from artificially low rates.  US and UK Central Banks have likely encouraged banks to submit artificially low prices to manipulate LIBOR lower.  If bond prices drop and yield's rise,  western governments would be unable to pay their bills which is why they are encouraging the manipulation of this index and in doing so, are a party to the fraud, itself.

THAT'S WHY NOBODY GOES TO JAIL!!!

The mainstream media is complicit so the sheeple watch hockey and eat doughnuts....

Coming to a neighborhood near you - Mercado robbed by mob


Spain is experiencing mobs stealing food.





These are not teens, not some hooded looters, this is in broad daylight, a mass action of self righteous indignance.

Mercadona,  "supermarkets of trust", is Spain's biggest national supermarket chain by sales, with 990 outlets across the country and 54,000 workers.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293102_400684659981537_13014974_n.jpg

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRKeE2qpa0VSaiwTuroB3_q6knGXis6ipuKHf_RM51dczU0BQS6

Lets review....

Moral - an assertion of what is "right" and what is "wrong"

Value - something which people hold dear

Value System - a construct of holding value by a society

belief - something which people hold to be true, whether or not they have evidence to support it

knowledge - something which is known to be true based on the scientific method

Truth - something which is universally known as fact, is verifiable, repeatable, and supportable

So when people go in a market and steal food - what exactly are they doing? What value system are they following, what moral code are they following.

This is a very interesting development. Pray it is not a contagious phenomena.

 

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Arlene Dickenson and Me - The Big Decision for Esprit

Jim Coffey and Esprit make a big play for the big decision with a huge turnout in show of support by his many friends, colleagues and associates.

Here is the star of the evening:

Basically the idea is that Arlene would lend financial support to Jim and his company especially after his van burnt while enroute to Costa Rica (leaky engines do catch fire).

But she had to be persuaded to make the "Big Decision" and that was why the crowd showed up.

Obviously Jim was happy with the turn out. Arlene set hurdles but his team managed to meet and exceed her expectations.

It was a tough night to do that too, mid week, a Tuesday, with cloudy skies that only cleared at sunset:

The crowd was rewarded as well with good food, fun and entertainment. Something that those familiar with Esprit and its point Davidson showcase have come to expect.

They were serving up Corn on the cob, and the chocolate cake disappeared in short order: I got a shot of the raft icing...





All the usual suspects were there. Especially from the Kipawa Legal challenge we have Doug Skeggs in the guise of his new hip personna, and Rob Monti, here shown with Liz Edwards.


All in all a great evening and a great tribute to a great whitewater leader, Jim Coffey and his impressive creation: Esprit Rafting.


Lets all let Arlene know, that that Big Decision, is really no decision, or at least a no brainer, the choice has got to be : Jim Coffey and Esprit Rafting.


Pete

One more shot;





just to remind you that the results of all this will show up on CBC's Big Decisions some time soon.

Here we see the some of the behind the scenes staff of the program recording every bump on every log.


The town cryer: no match for the sound system...



Denise George of Herb Garden fame, and Jim's Mom, of Jim's fame.  Good genes I'd say.



And Big water Bob, or Upstream Dave... anyway. Entertainer extraordinaire!




a 20 minute wait to get to the bar - we didn't care, it was fun for all.



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Justice: there is no justice - look at this crap...

Burning banks artist Alex Schaefer, recently arrested for chalking the words, ‘crooks,’ ‘crime’ and ‘chaos’ in front of a Chase Bank in Downtown Los Angeles has spent eight hours in jail meaning...


 that he has done more time than any bankster since the financial crisis began.



Canadian Rivers

Canadian Rivers
I speak for river users too!

The Queen is not amused!

The Queen is not amused!
http://www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.ca/

The Damned Dam - 2005 -

The Damned Dam - 2005 -
22nd Annual Kipaw Rally has modest turnout. - 23rd does better

The Ashlu river: it could happen to you

The Ashlu river: it could happen to you

Whitewater Ontario

Whitewater Ontario
Working Hard to Protect Canada's Paddling Resources

Whitewater Ontario - Mission Statement

It is Whitewater Ontario’s mission to support the whitewater paddling community through the promotion, development and growth of the sport in its various disciplines. We accomplish this through the development of events, resources, clubs, and programs for personal and athletic development, regardless of skill level or focus, to ensure a high standard of safety and competency; We advocate safe and environmentally responsible access and use of Ontario’s rivers. Whitewater Ontario is the sport governing body in the province, and represents provincial interests within the national body Whitewater Canada and the Canadian Canoe Association http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/page/mission.asp

Kipawa, Tabaret, and Opemican

Kipawa, Tabaret, and Opemican
If Hydro Quebec is not actively pursuing Tabaret what is that bite out of Opemican for?

Kipawa Dam: After

Kipawa Dam: After
Laniel Dam at 2006 Rally

Where is the Kipawa

Where is the Kipawa
Kipawa flows into lake Temiskamingue, running from Kipawa Lake, under hwy 101 in Quebec

Kipawa Dam

Kipawa Dam
laniel dam at 2004 River Rally

Tabaret is a Bad Idea

About the Kipawa



The best thing paddlers can do to help the cause of the Kipawa:

1. attend the rally and bring others including non paddlers to attend and buy beer and have fun

2. write your MP /MNA and raise the issue and post your objections -1 letter = 200 who didn't write

3. Write Thierry Vandal the CEO of Hydro Quebec strongly opposing the 132 MW standard decrying the use of "diversion" as the most environmentally inappropriate method of power production

4. Write Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec protesting that either the algonquin or the tabaret project will eliminate all other values on the Kipawa River by turning it into a dry gulch.

5. See if you can get other allied groups interested by showing your own interest, ie the Sierra Defense Fund, Earthwild, MEC, and so on.

6. Demand further consultation

7. Currently we are at the point where we need to sway public opinion and raise awareness.

However, if all else fails, don't get mad, simply disrupt, foment, and protest . The Monkey Wrench Gang.

Have you read Edward Abbey?

Important Addresses
CEO,Hydro Québec, 75 boul René Levesque, Montreal, P.Q., H2Z 1A4Caille.andre@hydro.qc.ca



Tabaret is a Bad Idea (Part Two)

Les Amis de la Riviere Kipawa is poised to use an application to the Federal Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus to ensure the Minster does what he is supposed to do, protect the public's right to navigate the water control structure at Laniel, Quebec using the Navigable Waters Protection Act. (see http://www.kipawariver.ca/)

In the now gutted Navigable Waters Protection Act lay the means by which the Minister of Transport could keep the public right of passage down our great Canadian Heritage, our rivers and streams which are threatened especially by resource corporations and power brokers such as Hydro Quebec.

These powerful entities continue to petition that 'this' river or 'that' stream is not navigable and therefore not protectable.
I don't say that dams and bridges should not be built, only that if they are, historical navigation rights should be considered and preserved by making reasonable accommodations for recreational boaters.

It is the Minister of Transport, in exercising the right to allow or disallow work on or over a navigable waterway is what keeps boats and recreational boaters plying our waterways.

To many recent cases launched in the Federal Court concerning the Navigable Waters Protection Act, most recently the case of the Humber Environment Group of Cornerbrook Newfoundland versus the Cornerbrook Pulp and Paper Company indicates that the important oversight is not being faithfully performed. Have we really come to the point now where we must say "such and such a stream is one foot deep, possessing so many cubic feet per second flow and so on?" The answer to this is... YES!

The honourable Mr. Justice John A. O'Keefe, ruled that it had not been shown that the river was navigable. How convenient was that to the Minister? But either the Minister of Transport acts to protect our rivers and streams as a public right or he does not and that means rivers and streams currently enjoyed by kayakers and canoists.

Enough of the cheating, and double-talk. Canadians! our rivers and streams are our own, lets urge the Minister of Transport and the our government to protect them.

Peter Karwacki

Tabaret is a Bad Idea (Part Three)

10 Reasons WhyTabaret is a Bad Idea1) Tabaret is too big. The station is designed to useevery drop of water available in the Kipawawatershed, but will run at only 44 percent capacity.We believe the Tabaret station is designed to usewater diverted from the Dumoine River into theKipawa watershed in the future. 2) The Tabaret project will eliminate the aquaticecosystem of the Kipawa River.The Tabaret project plan involves the diversion of a16-km section of the Kipawa River from its naturalstreambed into a new man-made outflow from LakeKipawa. 3) Tabaret will leave a large industrial footprint on thelandscape that will impact existing tourismoperations and eliminate future tourism potential. 4) The Tabaret project is an aggressive single-purposedevelopment, designed to maximize powergeneration at the expense of all other uses. 5) River-diversion, such as the Tabaret project, takinglarge amounts of water out of a river’s naturalstreambed and moving it to another place, is verydestructive to the natural environment. 6) The Kipawa River has been designated a protectedgreenspace in the region with severe limitations ondevelopment. This designation recognizes theecological, historical and natural heritage value ofthe river and the importance of protecting it.Tabaret will eliminate that value. 7) If necessary, there are other, smarter and morereasonable options for producing hydro power onthe Kipawa watershed. It is possible to build a lowimpactgenerating station on the Kipawa river, andmanage it as a “run-of-the-river” station, makinguse of natural flows while maintaining other values,with minimal impact on the environment. 8) The Kipawa watershed is a rich natural resource forthe Temiscaming Region, resonably close to largeurban areas, with huge untapped potential fortourism and recreation development in the future.Tabaret will severely reduce this potential. 9) Tabaret provides zero long-term economic benefitfor the region through employment. The plan is forthe station to be completely automated andremotely operated. 10) The Kipawa River is 12,000 years old. The riverwas here thousands of years before any peoplecame to the region. The Tabaret project will change all that.

Problems on a local River?

  • There is more to do as well but you have to do your research and above all, don't give up.
  • IN the meantime prepared a document itemizing the history of navigation of this spot and its recreational value. Use the Kipawa river history of navigation as a guide: see www.kipawariver.ca
  • Under the Ministry of Environment guidelines you have a set period of time to petition the change under the environmental bill of rights, you may have limited time to take this action. But it involves going to court for a judicial review of the decision.
  • 4. contact the ministry of natural resources officials and do the same thing.
  • 3. contact the ministry of the environment and determine if they approved the project
  • 2. determine if the dam was a legal dam, approved under the navigable waters protection act.
  • 1. research the decision and timing of it to determine if an environmental assessment was done.

Minden Ontario

Minden Ontario
Gull River Water control at Horseshoe lake

A History of Navigation on the Kipawa River

Prior to the environmental assessment there was no signage at the Laniel Dam

T-Shirts Area: These are available now!

T-Shirts Area: These are available now!
Send $25 and a stamped self addressed envelop for the Tshirt, and for the bumper sticker, a stamped and self addressed envelope with $5.00 for the bumper sticker to Les Amis de la rivière Kipawa, 80 Ontario St., Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 1K9 or click the link To purchase a Les Amis "T" contact Doug with the following information: Number of shirts:Sizes: Ship to Address: Method of Payment: cash, cheque and paypal, Shipto address:

Bumper Stickers Now Available

Bumper Stickers Now Available
Get your bumper sticker and show your support for the Kipawa Legal Fund ! - send $5.00 in a Stamped, self addressed envelope to: Peter Karwacki Box 39111, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 7X0