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Letters to the Editor
On January 14, 2006 the Cape Breton Post published a column by Rannie Gillis titled "We Were Dumbfounded to Hear an Official Tell Us that No Was Not an Option". A few weeks later the newspaper published a half page rebuttal by then Minister of Natural Resources Richard Hurlburt which prompted a flood of Letters to the Editor for several weeks. Letters to the Editor continue to this day but unforunately we do not have the time or space to post them all.
The following letter is from Premier Rodney MacDonald to Cape Breton Post columnist Mr. LeRoy Peach and posted with his permission:
May 11, 2006
Dear Mr. Peach:
I am responding to your e-mail of April 18, 2006 regarding coal mining in Cape Breton. Your concerns about surface mining in this area are clearly heartfelt. My government has listened to these concerns and we are trying very hard to take them into consideration in our decision making on this issue. My Ministers and I have taken the opportunity to visit the Prince Mine site at Point Aconi and to view its current condition. It is abundantly clear that the land on this property is in a derelict state, from years of underground mining and bootlegging. There can be no question that a significant effort is required to return this property to a safe and productive state, and it remains my conviction that the best means to effect this is to allow the remaining coal to be recovered, and to allow this recovery to pay for the remediation. I believe that the end result will be a benefit for the land and for the community.
I understand your concern about groundwater in the area. This concern is one of the specific items that is addressed in the environmental assessment for this project and will also be addressed as part of the industrial approval. There is an abundance of experience and knowledge on the effects of surface mines on groundwater, both in Nova Scotia and elsewhere. I am confident that this activity can be carried out without regional impact on groundwater quantity or quality.
Rodney J. MacDonald, Premier Province of Nova Scotia
copy: Honourable Brooke Taylor, Minister of Natural
April 5, 2006
Was it opportunism, expediency, window dressing or is the provincial government honestly listening to the lobby against strip mining? Given the track record of the province there is every reason to believe that Premier Rodney MacDonald may be trying to buy time for his minority government.
Up until a few weeks ago there were persistent rumours that Nova Scotians could be headed for an election and it's no secret that some Cape Breton Liberal candidates both in the Sydney and around the North Sydney area have been out campaigning.
The province's sudden move to impose a moratorium on school closures last week caught many people by surprise and also added to the election speculation.
When you consider the mounting opposition, protests, motorcades, letters to the editor and news stories that a dedicated group of adversaries collectively known as Citizens Against Strip Mining generated for months, the sudden swing of the political pendulum is hard to grasp.
Given the fact that one area was represented by former provincial cabinet minister .Cecil Clarke then residents have good reason to remain suspicious and vigilant.
Clarke's record on the issue is clearly imbedded in the minds of the voters and many political observers believe the seat is up for grabs.
Opponents of strip mining have every right to be suspicious of the MacDonald government's plan to scale back a project at Point Aconi while it placed 13 other potential strip mining projects on hold for three years.
Make no mistake about it, the sudden policy change shouldn't be taken to mean any real departure from previous government policy.
Anyone who doubts that should read the government's own press release that was issued Monday, April 3.
Minister of Natural Resources, Brooke Taylor noted that the government still supported the "economic benefits of coal mining".
The minister went on to say that they wanted to see the results of best management practices and new guidelines governing the Point Aconi project.
Why representatives of Citizens Against Strip Mining weren't allowed access to Taylor and Labour Minister Carolyn Bolivar-Getson when the ministers unveiled their plans during a press conference at a Sydney hotel is impossible to comprehend.
Surely meeting with the people who have been campaigning against strip mining would have been a show of good, faith on behalf of the Tory ministers and would .have went a long way to opening the lines of communication and building a new relationship. .
The sudden change of heart by the provincial government should be reason enough to set off alarm bells among a skeptical group of property owners who have consistently warned of the envronmental damage from strip mining since day one.
If anything the provincial government has a lot of explaning to do.
April 5, 2006
Having witnessed today, in the cold because we citizens were asked to stand in the cold outside the venue picked by the government to make their announcement regarding strip mining; I want to warn the citizens that the so called concession by the MacDonald government is not a concession at all.
In fact, for the government and for the proponent Pioneer Coal, nothing has been changed.
The proponent will very shortly be allowed to proceed with the plans the citizens have been objecting to. All the government is saying is that they will not called for more tenders for a while.
The two new ministers involved in this project apparently made a whirlwind tour of the sites Monday morning and then decided, in a few minutes, that, yes, the project could go ahead.
It is important for the good people of Cape Breton to be aware that this new announcement has not changed anything at all in the provincial plans regarding coal strip mining in Cape Breton.
The project is going ahead, as planned, there is no change in what has been planned for the last two years, behind closed doors.
Don't be fooled by the announcement. And I don't trust the government to be vigilant and demand that the operators do what is necessary to protect the environment because, in this very project, the legal procedures have not been followed to date so we have no reason to believe that they will be in the future.
March 27, 2006
On Jan. 27, 1987, Pioneer Coal was granted an Approval of Industrial Waste Treatment Works for a Surface Coal Mine and Wash Plant at Reserve Mines. The extensive document was divided into sections, two of which involved General Stipulations and Reclamation and Abandonment. In total there were 31 clauses. Because of Freedom of Information and the absence of a local committee, it is difficult to determine now what regulations Pioneer complied with and what regulations it didn't.
The worst aspect of the mining was the interminable blasting and not only the noise of it. On April 7, 1987, the Post reported that "several residents have complained of damage to their houses, which they say is caused by blasting at the strip mine." The damage consisted of cracked walls, foundations and chimneys. Councillor Frison claimed that the blasting was within the proper decibel range, of less than 65 decibels during the day, and that air monitors set up in houses showed an acceptable range.
He claimed that the engines of a jet landing at the airport just before a blast registered higher readings. I have been told by those who worked as miners, however, that blasting has greater impact underground and that the seismic vibrations from such blasting can cause damage to dwellings.
Court cases have established this to be true, presumably even if the measured blast is within the acceptable range. On the other hand, some experts will tell you that damage from blasting may be due to inferior building material.
Here is the personal testimony of a gentleman I met recently, a former miner. He was entering the strip mine and I asked him about the blasting in the 1980s. He said that one day a charge split his chimney. On another day, a blast caused his fireplace to fall out on the floor. He definitely believes that ground vibrations from blasting were a factor. His parting comment on strip mining was this: "They rape the land and then they leave."
On Dec. 9, 1987, the Reserve Fire Department sought, through the County, an injunction against Pioneer because two exterior walls, the footer and the floor of the new firehall, were damaged through blasting. A gentleman from Groves Point, a Mr. Wendell Coldwell, who had taken Novaco to court in Point Aconi in 1984 on behalf of citizens who claimed they lost their water through blasting, agreed to pursue a lawsuit against Pioneer.
Support was sought from homeowners. However, a local resident told me that homeowners would not come forward because they feared property devaluation. In the case of the fire department, the Underwriters' Adjustment Bureau stated that "no consideration would be given to the claim." The burden of proof rested with the community, not with Pioneer. Before legal action could be taken, Mr. Coldwell passed on and the suit was discontinued.
Earlier, at Point Aconi on Feb. 18, 1983, the Post reported that residents of Millville, who had to put up with Pioneer's blasting, sought redress from Novaco, the Crown corporation which engaged Pioneer to do the mining, for the loss of water and diminished water quality. Twenty-five homes were affected since the onset of blasting. The Post reported that since 1980 six homeowners had to deepen wells. The Department of the Environment attributed "the problem to failure of the water system and over-development," not to blasting.
Mr. Wendell Coldwell headed the legal action. An arbitrator ruled that in all probability the mining lowered the water table and diminished the quality of water. However, since little monitoring had gone on before the mining as well as the random nature of dewatering, he could only rule in favour of two cases in that particular arbitration. But the arbitrator rejected the notion of the Department of the Environment that the alteration in the water table occurred as a result of a natural phenomenon.
In the 1980s Mr. Coldwell successfully pursued 20 of 22 claims on behalf of residents of Millville and Alder Point against Novaco Corporation.
In Reserve Mines, Pioneer was required by the Department of Environment to level spoiled piles, infill cuts, grade, contour and revegetate. Cuts were not always filled, (for example the so-called "lake") contouring not always completed and the land was not always graded to stipulations. My readers may go to the former mine and see for themselves. In other words, the Department of Environment did not enforce that particular regulation to the extent that it should have.
What recourse do the good people of Boularderie Island have if strip mining occurs again in their neighbourhood? The burden of proving damage to the landscape, their homes and the acquifer will be placed upon them. A resident of St. Rose, Inverness County, said at a public meeting in Port Morien in 2004, "Once a company gets in, it's too late."
March 24, 2006
So deep do suspicions run now among opponents of strip mining that even news about the possibility of underground coal mining spawns conspiracy theories. "Is it just to take us off the case and let us relax our guard a little?" wondered Earl Cantwell of Citizens Against Strip Mining. He was reacting to comments from Cape Breton North MLA Cecil Clarke that Australia-base Xstrata Coal is going to look at the possibility of reopening Prince mine at Point Aconi.
There's no chance that the lobby against strip mining is going to get distracted at this point by anything less than a very large asteroid. A motorcade and rally are planned for Sydney this Sunday, one of a continuing series of public events aimed at building pressure against strip mining as the issue comes to the crunch in the Point Aconi area.
That's where Pioneer Coal is close to acquiring the necessary permits to start surface coal extraction and site remediation near the abandoned Prince mine. Opponents see this-as a key battle, not only because it is the proposal closest to proceeding but because it could be the first in a chain of strip mine projects potentially extending from Boularderie Island to the Port Morien area. Or, if opponents succeed, it could be the Waterloo for strip mining in Cape Breton - the project whose failure signals the political impossibility of mining coal anywhere on the island unless through tunnels.
At this point it seems unlikely that Pioneer will snag on any on the remaining provincial regulatory hurdles, a process which opponents of strip mining regard as flawed and biased. That leaves two other possibilities: political and legal.
There is some hope that the new premier, a risk-averse Cape Bretoner who's witnessed some strip mine remediation problems in his own riding, may take a fresh look at the future of surface extraction on the island. Failing that, Mayor John Morgan is pushing regional planning staff to come up with "creative" ways that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality might attempt a regulatory intervention to trip up strip mine plans. So far the advice is that this is provincial jurisdiction, but the municipal angle hasn't been exhausted. From another vantage, Elizabeth May of the Sierra Club environmental lobby promised to look into the possibility of invoking Canadian environmental legislation where strip mining has potential impacts on matters of federal jurisdiction, such as adjacent ocean waters.
In the meantime, talk of reviving undersea mining provokes contradictory reactions among strip mine opponents. On the one hand, the proposed development of Donkin mine seems to hold out the promise of easing pressure for further strip mining, at least in the Donkin area; on the other, as we see on the Northside, talk of mining Prince again is regarded as a possible ruse.
Both views are easily overstated. Strip mining will proceed, or not, more or less independently of what's happening with Donkin and Prince. The delivery of a large supply of undersea coal could have an impact on the local market but that is some years down the road. And the outcome of undersea mining ventures has no bearing on the need to reclaim the sites of abandoned workings, which is a big part of the province's rationale for promoting strip mining (though opponents don't buy this for a second).
The Northside crew may be right, though, that there's some of the art of the stage magician in Clarke's musings on the subject of reopening Prince. For a politician noted for playing things close to his vest, Clarke seems to step out of character when talking about Xstrata "looking at the feasibility and doing an assessment" of going back into Prince, the last of Devco coal mines to close. It's not that he could be thinking of eclipsing the strip mining issue with a bit of timely speculation - there's zero hope of that now - but evoking memories of a type of coal mining that does not stir instant, implacable public hostility at the mere mention may afford some small respite from an intense political issue.
March 20, 2006
News that Pioneer Coal, owned by John Chisholm of Antigonish, might be coming to Point Aconi to mine coal and disrupt the lives of homeowners a second time in 25 years has increased the opposition to strip mining on this island. If Mr. Chisholm gets the necessary approvals, it is very possible that our island could be ringed with as many as 10 to 14 ghastly mines, all of them promoted by the Department of Natural Resources and permitted by the Department of Environment and Labour.
Last week I recounted the history of the strip mine at Sydney Airport, a mine operated by Pioneer Coal between 1987 and 1992. Joel Matheson, minister of mines, gave the citizens of Reserve Mines the privilege of voting on the issue. He went further: He said that he would honour the result. On Aug. 27, 1986, 225 people from Reserve Mines and area voted to accept the mine and six people to oppose it. No such privilege has been extended to the people of Boularderie Island, all of whom have been under siege for two years by government talk of a strip mine. The province's chief cheerleader is MLA Cecil Clarke, now Speaker of the House of Assembly.
At the meeting in Reserve Mines in 1987, Councillor Julien Frison said that there were "many people watching the project to make sure it is done correctly from an environmental point of view." I hope to show that the project was not watched carefully enough.
The person who raised the greatest alarm at the Reserve Mines meeting was Charles Musial, of Gardiner Mines, now 87 and still passionate in his opposition to strip mining. He was an old warrior against the practice, having succeeded with others in quashing the planned mine in Gardiner East in 1983.
He stated that the land that Pioneer planned to disturb at the airport would not be improved and he was right. He said that "it took 10,000 years evolution to establish the top-soil (since the ice age)." "I question," he said, "that a five- to 10-year project can be wound up to better that." On the other hand, a Department of Mines report stated that "the land in its current state is swampy and essentially useless."
Apparently, the term "wetlands" did not exist in the Mines Department lexicon at that time. Current topography maps, however, refer to the strip-mined area at Reserve (accurately in my view) as a "wasteland." It contains a toxic mix of soil, and the only vegetation is the odd stunted hardwood tree as well as hydroseeded land which, in the summer, produces a minimum of green cover.
Mr. Frison said recently that the "reclaimed" area was so productive that it would have made a great golf course. That, of course, would depend on bringing in tons of topsoil, "as high as Kelly's Mountain", to borrow Mr. Musial's phrase.
Mr. Musial also pointed out that the streams at the airport would be affected and he was proved correct again. Renwick Brook begins in the area and used to run through the so-called "swamp", a green undisturbed area. In order for Pioneer to mine there, the brook had to be altered. Another brook was created alongside the strip mine. Pioneer left a substantial mining cut there, some 40 feet deep, that some people are calling a "lake." By agreement, they were supposed to fill it in but did not do so.
When the mine was in operation, the extensive waterway next to this "lake" ran red with copper and evidence of it can be seen in the waterways today.
On the other hand, Tom MacLachlan, a resident who has known the area well all his life, claims that the ecology of the area has recovered and that the man-made "lake" (the mining hole) and the brook support wildlife, including trout and beaver. He showed me pictures of the area when it was green. I have been to the strip mine many times and no amount of pictures will convince me that the area is not a wasteland.
In 2004, 12 years after the company left Reserve, Pioneer came in and leveled earth at the mine and then hydroseeded it. As I said, it produces greenery in summer, but nothing really substantial grows there.
Contrary to what some folks believe, even if it had been contoured properly, the idea that a subdivision could be built there or a golf course constructed is ridiculous. The wetlands were deemed useless before; they have been wiped out in that area now.
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said in 1987 that the objective would be "to bring the area back to as proper an environment as possible." In my next column, I hope to show the extent to which this did not happen.
March 15, 2006
It took several months of unrelenting public pressure to get provincial government ministers to hold a public meeting on their strip mining policy last July. More than 300 residents attended and were told that "No is not an option. No is not a realistic approach".
On Feb. 11, writing as the minister of natural resources, Richard Hurlburt had the nerve to claim (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too) that even columnist Rannie Gillis "is simply inaccurate" in his reports of the issue.
Coal mining has left many problems, including open pits, subsidence of underground tunnels and toxic acid drainage. But in his attempt to convince readers that "solving these issues would cost the Nova Scotia taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars", Mr. Hurlburt fails to mention that the federal government allocated $155 million to clean up Devco sites. And he fails to mention the recent statement by Cecil Clarke, then minister of energy, that if the federal money was on the table the debate would be different.
Instead, Mr. Hurlburt's solution is "to implement the province's mineral policy" to "create wealth" by encouraging "business to extract minerals" that can be used to "enhance the quality of life" for one's "friends, families, and neighbours" by strip mining Cape Breton as soon as possible. Mr. Hurlburt fails to mention that practically all the "wealth" goes to the owner of the coal company and his family and political friends, the rest of the people of Nova Scotia only get $1 per tonne royalty to share among themselves and pay the cost for any adverse effects.
Mr. Hurlburt's claim that those who are opposed to strip mining Cape Breton are "attempting to deny" their communities an "economic and employment generator" is preposterous. The opponents of strip mining are trying to protect economic development and hundreds of jobs that farming, fishing and tourism generate.
In assuring readers that regulations governing strip mining are "stringent" and strip mines are "bonded for reclamation", Mr. Hurlburt fails to mention that it has been necessary to get a court order to clean up Little Pond and that the company has instead applied to strip mine even more coal to provide "revenue for the company during completion of reclamation operations".
Mr. Hurlburt's article is accompanied by a photograph that appears to have been taken from miles offshore to convince readers that Alder Point "is fully restored with mature trees growing where the mine was excavated and then backfilled." The overhead colour photograph of the site in DNR's 2003 report, Coal related sites in industrial Cape Breton, clearly shows quite the contrary. It was because of the costs and problems of remediation at Alder Point that Devco stopped strip mining over 30 years ago.
Before believing the claim that "Halfway Road in Sydney Mines is a significant success for reclamation mining" go and see it, or any site in the area, and look at what else Mr. Hurlburt fails to mention. Then judge for yourself.
Ignoring the adverse effects of past mining is not the solution either. But Mr. Hurlburt fails to mention the recent remediation of the coal mine in Inverness and the $4 million the provincial government managed to find to fund that six-month project without having to strip mine the community.
If the province needs coal, most of it is under the sea at Donkin and Inverness, provided high sulphur coal is fit to burn or sell under the Kyoto Accord.
Mr. Hurlburt fails to mention the debates and unanimous votes in opposition to his strip mining proposals from both Victoria County councillors and Cape Breton Regional Municipality's Mayor and councillors, as well as from the members of the Opposition.
The day before Mr. Hurlburt's article appeared, CBRM Mayor John Morgan notified provincial and federal environment ministers that "there is virtually no public support in this region for the proposed strip mines". Mr. Hurlburt wants the public to believe that it's just a few radicals daring to question his government's policy.
It is almost a year since more than 300 residents jammed their community hall to discuss the province's strip mining proposals. Since then many have attended the government's information sessions, studied the documentation, participated in the government's cumulative effects study, held public meetings and information workshops, met with all local political representatives as well as experts in the field, they have read Mr. Hurlburt's claims - and still, outside of the provincial government's world, there is hardly a sign of a single soul who supports strip mining Cape Breton.
Why? Because common sense shows that there are no positives to strip mining, especially in the coastal communities of Cape Breton that rely on fishing, farming and tourism and where many peole are retired.
We encourage all to come and see before making up there minds about the government's strip mining policy for "Cape Breton and any other region of Nova Scotia where there are mineral deposits".
Citizens Against Strip Mining
March 14, 2006
John Chisholm of Pioneer Coal is quoted about the cleanup of previously mined areas in Cape Breton (Taking It to the Street, March 10): "Who is going to clean this thing up?" The implied answer is that his company will do it.
He sounds like a wolf in sheep's clothing. His company is already responsible for creating huge areas of mining-damaged land on Cape Breton. His abandoned sites are barrens, strewn with rock and stained by acidic drainage. If Chisholm is so intent on doing us a favour, he can start by cleaning up his own mess - and "no" should not be an option.
We are frequently told that strip mining would restore lands impacted by bootleg mining. Bootleg mines were small operations done by hand and had little impact on the ecosystem. After 100 years, nature has done much to recover her own.
These areas are green and alive. The topsoil is still in place. Healthy trees and the full range of natural vegetation can still grow there. There are not that many openings, and those that do exist can be precision-repaired.
Strip miners will extract not only the coal but also the DNA of the land. They would then have us believe that their dead, stony leavings are an improvement.
The major mine sites, including Prince Mine, are on lands owned by Devco. That Crown corporation has a budget of more than $110 million to address remediation issues on Devco properties. Devco should get on with the job.
The biggest myth is that strip mining returns the land to productive use. Most of the targeted land is already productive in timber, wildlife, recreation and groundwater integrity.
Natural landscapes add visual and economic value to our communities. Strip miners would remove every living thing from the surface, then dig through the bedrock to make holes 150 feet deep. The material used to backfill the hole is a smashed and crumpled porridge of acidic rock and rubble.
There are bare faced-lies and wooly-faced lies: be wary of both.
March 13, 2006
The news that Pioneer Coal of Antigonish was granted an environmental approval by the provincial government to mine coal on Boularderie Island is both troubling and disappointing.
It's the same company that mined at Point Aconi from 1980-83, much to the objections of residents, and at the Reserve Airport, from 1987-92 where they leased land from Devco and five years later left a disgraceful mess. As well, it is alleged that they did plenty of damage to local property through blasting.
The former Reserve strip mine is situated slightly east of the Sydney Airport. Anyone wishing to view the moonscape left by the proponent may gain access to the mine from the old airport road. Before 1987, it contained wetlands formed over a long period of time.
Also, Renwick Brook entered the area and there was a small lake. Mr. John Chisholm, the owner of Pioneer Coal, referred to the acreage as the 'Airport Swamp Coal Mine.' What Mr. Chisholm regarded as a swamp or bog, citizens today regard as wetlands valuable as water filters that cannot be replaced once disturbed.
The announcement that mining would take place near the airport was made July 26, 1986. Joel Matheson, minister of mines, stated that he would not grant a permit to proceed without an indication that it would be acceptable to the local population.
The mine was promoted vigorously by County Councillor Julien Frison. He said in the Cape Breton Post, Aug. 15, 1986, that consumers needed good quality coal. If they didn't get it locally, then Devco would have to import it. The Post reported that Mr. Frison "has full confidence that the land to be mined will be properly reclaimed."
The strip mine was, as well, endorsed by the Cape Breton County Council.
Mr. Frison went on to say that "if strip mining employs people and the operation is undertaken in a proper manner, then why not. This is the consensus of the people of my district."
MLA Dr. Michael Laffin's position was that if the people wanted strip mining he would support them; if they did not, then he was prepared to resign from government. In the early 1980s, strip mining was halted in Gardiner East because Dr. Laffin stood with the people.
In the middle 1980s, the people of Port Morien who opposed a strip mine in their area received the same support from their MLA Donald 'Big Donnie' MacLeod. It is interesting to note that both men were members of a Conservative government which listened to the people.
In contrast, MLA Cecil Clarke said recently that strip mining was a done deal in Boularderie. In this regard, he failed to represent the wishes of his constituents. Despite a total rejection of his position, he attempted, on July 12, 2005, to sell strip mining to a hostile audience at Memorial High. At that meeting, he refused to make the commitment that he would take the concerns of the citizens to cabinet. Elsewhere, he said that he was not concerned with the political consequences of his position. What a difference 20 years makes!
The green light to mine at the airport was given at a meeting in Reserve Mines, Aug. 27, 1986. It was Mr. Frison, the chairman of that meeting, who sold strip mining to the area. There was a full and free discussion of the mine. Reclamation of land and jobs were the two themes promoted by Mr. Frison. He said that employment in the Reserve area was bleak and this operation would create a few jobs.
Mr. Frison told me recently that 27 jobs were created. However, 12 of those jobs were given to senior UMW employees working at Point Aconi. That mine was phased out after three years because of inflation, poor profits and inferior coal.
My understanding is that the other jobs went to unemployed union workers. Mr. Frison was unable to tell me exactly how many jobs were created in Reserve Mines. He readily admitted that two of his sons received jobs.
Mr. Frison said at the meeting that he had confidence that the mining would be done in an environmentally correct fashion. I intend to show next week that that was not the case, that Mr. Chisholm was no landscape architect. Mr. Chisholm's company left the evidence behind.
(LeRoy Peach lives in Port Morien. His column appears every week in the Cape Breton Post.)
Saturday, March 4, 2006
Lesson No. 1: Governments do indeed change their mind. They do it all the time. We call it democracy, or the will of the people.
Lesson No. 2: Cabinet ministers do have the power to say no. That is why we elect them. Proposed legislation that might adversely affect a significant number of constituents, in any part of the province, can be withdrawn. That is also called democracy.
Lesson No. 3: No is an option. Without the right to say no, the democratic process does not work. Granted, business people do have a right to submit applications for leases to strip mine, but that does not imply that these applications will be approved, or should be approved.
We now have a new young premier, Rodney MacDonald, and a newly appointed minister of natural resources, Brooke Taylor. Would it be too much to hope that now is the time to take a new look at this legislation regarding strip mining, an issue that is so offensive to so many in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality?
(Rannie Gillis is an author and avid Celtic historian whose column appears every week in the Cape Breton Post. In January he wrote 3 half page articles detailing the strip mining issue which apparently prompted Minister Hurlburt's Feb 11th piece and the flood of Letters to the Editor below.)
Monday, February 27, 2006
Richard Hurlburt's Feb. 11 article (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too) said "some" and "several" residents of Cape Breton oppose strip mining. It was 72 percent of residents who opposed strip mining in one survey, as well as the councils of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and Victoria County, our MP and our opposition parties.
What are the positives Mr. Hurlburt wants us to consider? If we lose our water, businesses and industries an our island will suffer greatly.
Destroying hundreds of acres of forest along with 45 acres of wetlands, nesting sites and wildlife habitat is not a positive in my mind, nor is putting at risk brooks such as Mill Creek and Aconi Brook, which are spawning areas for salmon, gaspereau, rainbow and speckled trout, and other species of fish.
One of the few who would find anything positive from strip mining would be John Chisholm of Pioneer Coal. He would be the person making millions of dollars from this project, while the community would be left to deal with the devastation for years to come.
Mr. Hurlburt worries that old pits are being used for dumping areas. He should visit Point Aconi, an area strip mined by Chisholm in the 1980s and used for a number of years as a dumping area. Recently the site has been cleaned up, but instead of the garbage being removed it was bulldozed over.
I guess the moral of the story is that litterbugs will dump garbage on your front lawn if they think they can get away with it.
Saturday, Feruary 25, 2006
Congratulations, and thanks for the many letters opposing strip mining that the Cape Breton Post has been printing lately.
Altogether, these letters have well and comprehensively put together the overwhelming case there is to be made against this kind of mining.
Given the many good and valid reasons to put a stop to any further strip mining in Cape Breton (or anywhere else, for that matter), ministers of the present government continuing to support it is beyond imagination.
One has to wonder just what is behind this support. It has to be more than the lame reasons they have given for it. Maybe they are just plain stupid.
Saturday, Feruary 25, 2006
I am not writing to spoil people's mood over the opening of the Donkin mine. But my mood has been spoiled ever since it was announced that Cape Breton would be moving backwards to this filthy, non-renewable industry.
Schooner Pond is a precious resource which is immediately next to the proposed mine site and will potentially be affected by the mine operations, the pollution and noise. It has one of the most important wetlands for migratory birds in Nova Scotia.
As is well known, wetlands are rapidly disappearing. Now, we are risking this one.
We should instead protect Schooner Pond from development. If should be designated as a provincial park with a protected wetland.
Opportunities in this beautiful area for eco-tourism should be capitalized on. The beach is covered in fossils and is a great place for snorkeling and kayaking.
There are wonderful trails with amazing views that are waiting to be hiked and biked. And, if you ask, any birding enthusiast will tell you it is the best place on the island for bird watching. It contains bald eagles, the endangered piping plover, snowy owls and many other species.
With a little vision, determination and hard work, we could create jobs and sustain the wonder of this area instead of plundering it for 30 years worth of dirty coal.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
For years Cape Breton has been trying to encourage people to retire here. For many who had to leave to earn a living, when the time came for retirement there was but one place in our hearts with the pastoral beauty to soothe the soul. In my case it has been for the last 15 years on Boularderie Island.
The population is a good mix of young vibrant families, those hitting middle age, and my group - the retired seniors.
Seniors contribute to the economy of Cape Breton. They are not often in the snowbird group and so their contribution is year-round on carefully budgeted pensions. None of us ever dreamed that a desecration of Boularderie Island was about to occur, which would destroy pristine ecosystems and make the homes we have worked all our lives for uninhabitable and virtually worthless.
Now we have the constant worry of loss of potable water. Not many understand that Boularderie wells are fed by an aquifer, an underground freshwater lake.
Should this be pierced by strip mining to a possible depth of 180 feet, the water will run out and the sides will cave in and all of Boularderie will be without water.
Those of us on pension cannot just pick up and move. Our savings went into our move to enable us to spend our golden years here.
Now we wait and protest, write letters, contact the government, go through all the hoops of what the politicians refer to as the process, and we get absolutely no recognition from the Tory government. Rather, we are denigrated for not being well informed (Premier John Hamm), for refusing to see the positives (Natural Resources Minister Richard Hur1burt), for ignoring the assurances of mitigation (Environment Minister Kerry Morash, despite the negative reality of the government-sponsored environmental study by Jacques Whitford), and finally for overreacting (MLA and minister of energy, Cecil Clarke) - all because the government thinks it will get $1 per ton on sulphurous coal while leaving our island decimated.
Seniors need the respect of the government. We should not have to live with such a very real dilemma.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
In response to Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt's article, Consider the Positives: Surface Mining Offers an Opportunity to Rehabilitate Areas Left Unreclaimed (Weekend Feedback, Feb. 11), I believe the coal to be extracted does not comply with Kyoto requirements and will be outlawed by 2012. That could be why the government is so anxious to get it out now. More interested in business interests than in curtailing pollution, the" government does not deem it convenient to abide by Kyoto and chooses, without consultation, to follow the road to more pollution.
The sulphur content in Point Aconi's coal is seven per cent, while one per cent by today's scientific standards is considered high.
The so-called surface mining, which will spread over as much as 29,000 acres, is not "surface" mining at all. Monstrous machines will be used, causing more complete devastation of the kind you can witness if you drive in the Point Aconi area.
The project will employ very few workers. None of this grab will benefit the area in any way. This is all negatives for Cape Breton.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
In his summary of the opposition to strip mining that has been boiling in our area for two years, Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt notes that residents have voiced their opposition in articles and letters to the editor (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too, Feb. ll).
He fails to mention the many radio commentaries, the dozens of packed meetings in numerous community halls, the demonstrations and the 3,000-plus names on antistrip mining petitions.
Apparently he is unaware of the mayor's poll in which 72 per cent opposed strip mining. In communities where people know something about strip mining, the percentage rises very close to 100 per cent against.
In his attempt to diminish the opposition, Mr. Hurlburt illustrates his willingness to override the will of the people.
John Hamm said the best advice he had ever received as premier was to listen to the people. It appears some of his ministers choose to listen to the people only if it suits their purpose.
Mr. Hurlburt's article notes the public meeting on July 12, 2005, where the government had its chance to present the benefits of strip mining. The government made the most of that opportunity with slide shows, posters and presentations by various departments. Energy Minister Cecil Clarke took the podium to deliver his unique support.
As an attempt to win the public, the event was a failure. Later, Mr. Clarke heard two hours of objections from the large audience. Not one voice was raised in support of strip mining. Like Mr. Hurlburt, Mr. Clarke heard but he hasn't listened.
Mr. Hurlburt gives some examples of what he considers successful reclamation. Visit the sites and you will see the destruction and waste that is strip mining. Then the emptiness of his assertions will be exposed.
The evidence is written on the land and the government cannot erase it.
The article is accompanied by a photo of Alder Point to show wood lands on a reclaimed strip mine from the 1970s. The minister doesn't mention that Devco mined there for one year, then spent three years trying to put the land back. In the end, it spent more money on reconstruction than the coal was worth. Even so, a close look at the picture will reveal the sparsely treed outline of the mine - 35 years later.
Mr. Hurlburt needs to understand that Cape Bretoners do not want to exchange the beauty of our island for rolling hills of hydro-seeded grass.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
It is easy to sit in Halifax and dictate to a secretary thoughts about the positives of strip mining in areas that aren't densely populated and hope to make a positive impression (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too: Surface Mining Offers an Opportunity to Rehabilitate Areas Left Unreclaimed, Feb. 11).
We are not that ignorant and do not appreciate an invasion of the quality of life for family, friends and neighbours, and future generations.
No one will guarantee us that our water quality or quantity, or both, will not be affected.
We have seen in the past how our topsoils are removed and mostly buried. It takes a thousand years for nature to make one inch of topsoil.
Land left after stripping is unstable for future use. Sure, you can walk on it, but you cannot build on it, now or ever, unless you use pillars.
During stripping, sometimes waste is deposited on the bottom, such as old crude oil salvaged from sunken tankers.
We on Boulardarie Island, and especially in Millville, have a microclimate that we may lose due to the change in landscape that strip mining would produce. Removing trees will have an extreme effect on the wind.
During the stripping, blasting will take place; regardless of promises and regulations, dishes will rattle, plaster and foundations will crack, and aquifers will change directions.
Regulations are not adhered to, and in any case seem to be bent in such a way as to accommodate the business and its profit. Promises are kept partially or not at all.
All of our municipal councillors are opposed to strip mining as presented.
Rehabilitation of areas with open pits, mine shafts, and piles of coal waste can be done by filling with the coal waste. It would involve only a few acres here and there and not cost millions of dollars, as Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurburt stated in his Feb. 11 article. Successful reclamation has taken place in some areas. However, those areas were in such a mess that any work would have enhanced them. In time there will be ways to extract these resources without all the complications.
Expedite the opening of Donkin if the government is so desperate for coal.
Monday, February 20, 2006
We have previous correspondence from Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt stating it is not his department's role to promote strip mining. His article in the Cape Breton Post on Feb. ll (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too) not only promotes it but does so with exaggerated and misleading information.
Mr. Hurlburt says it would cost Nova Scotia taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to repair the damage of previous mining on our island. The most prominent coal effected lands are owned by Devco, which has been assigned a large federal budget to clean them up.
The situation with old bootleg mines and crop pits is not even close to the scale that he frantically describes. These were relatively shallow operations dug by hand. The signature of bootleg mines on the land would be easily identified by the DNR if it cared to do so.
Subsidence of bootleg tunnels usually shows on the surface as a minor depression, if it shows at all. The tunnels were only the two or three foot high. Subsidence of narrow bootleg tunnels does not present a hazard. Anyone who can walk up a few stairs can walk into and out of these depressions.
A hazard does exist where there are abandoned access shafts, airways or open crop pits. These are very limited in number. On Devco's properties, they are simply identified, investigated and backfilled. The holes are repairable without tearing apart all of the surrounding landscape.
DNR has an annual budget of $50,000 to address hazardous mine openings. With that it could repair all the crop pits on Boularderie Island and have money left over. Instead, it chooses to obtain maximum leverage from them to promote strip mining.
If Mr. Hurlburt exaggerates the dangers of not strip mining, he outdoes himself when discussing the benefits. He must be kidding when he tells us one of the benefits to the people of Stellarton is a "tall land feature for a water tower" and "preparatory sites that the community will refinish as a sports facility. "
In Cape Breton we call a tall land feature a hill, and leaving behind a hill is a benefit for the mining company since it makes large hills as part of the business anyway and this would be one it didn't have to level. A preparatory site for a sports facility sounds like a flat, empty field. That's quite a gift to the community from the mining company that made millions of dollars profit. We already have numerous excellent sports facilities and I'll wager that our tall land features look a lot better than the hump left behind by Pioneer Coal at Stellarton. Let's keep it that way.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Just as the government can deny an application for a permit to drive a motor vehicle, the government does indeed have the power to deny applications for permits to strip mine.
What's the point of even having departments of natural resources or environment if No is not an option, as Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt claims (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too, Feb. ll)?
At a meeting on Jan. 27, Energy Minister Cecil Clarke said the federal government had allocated $155 million to clean up Devco's mine sites. Mr. Hurlburt fails to mention this and wants us to believe that the cleanup would cost Nova Scotia taxpayers "hundreds of millions of dollars" if we don't destroy thousands of acres of Cape Breton with strip mining as soon as possible.
Why can't anyone else find any "revegetation" at Little Pond? If the regulations are as "stringent" as Mr. Hurlburt claims, why has a court order been issued to clean up the site and why has the company applied for a permit to strip mine yet another 5,500 tonnes of coal instead?
And why does Brogan Mining list "providing revenue for the company during completion of reclamation operations" as one of the "benefits" of further strip mining if a "reclamation security deposit" was required, as Mr. Hurlburt claims?
Since reporting the facts is so challenging for Mr. Hurlburt, perhaps the new premier can appoint him to a more suitable job, like shovelling garbage. Here's hoping.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Environment Minister Kerry Morash said on radio recently that strip mining is not his initiative. He pointed to a "legislated process" that he says he cannot control.
Energy Minister Cecil Clarke made similar public statements. Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt has said that the decision to strip or not is ultimately out of his hands. Again, "the process" is named.
With each minister pointing finger away from himself, it looks like they all are becoming embarrassed, and rightly so.
The three main provincial ministers associated with strip mining claim "the process" is superior to their positions as representatives of the people. Apparently that makes it superior to democracy.
If our elected lawmakers can't change legislation, then who is driving the bus? Laws can be changed. Slavery is long dead and we don't burn witches anymore. Strip mining for coal should go the same way.
The process put in place by the Government of Nova Scotia is effective. It was designed with weighty favouritism toward mining companies, ignoring the rights of citizens to a peaceful existence in their communities.
The mining companies get a one or two-year head start, with much government hand-holding. The public's first opportunity for official input occurs after the mining company has filed for environmental approval. The company is crossing the blueline before we are allowed to put on our skates.
Even then, public comment on the application is limited to two weeks of letter-writing to some office in Halifax. The details of the company's mining plan is kept secret. The amount of reclamation bond posted is also a secret. No wonder the approach is steadfastly rejected in Cape Breton.
Mr. Hurlburt hopes his article, Consider the Positives Too (Weekend Feedback, Feb. ll), will win some respect. He's about two years too late. If the ministers want respect from a democratic society, they will have to show it for the will of the people.
Some months ago, the government scrapped an affordable housing project in Sackville because of public opposition. That opposition must pale in comparison to the conflict raging here.
The government is at odds with the people for the benefit of Pioneer Coal and other strip miners. That is not progress. Our ministers can regain respect and confidence by announcing that the misconceived approach to strip mining in Cape Breton has been scrapped.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
While Nova Scotia Natural Resource Minister Richard Hurlburt's comments (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too, Feb. 11) have some merit, his attempts at simplifying a complex socioeconomic issue fail in several respects.
His negative remarks directed at Ranni Gillis are uncalled for, and saying others who oppose strip mining are taking the easy way is unfair and inaccurate. Mr. Gillis has a great love for the natural splendour of Cape Breton and his concern for the traumatic disruption of mining is well founded.
I also know many hard-working individuals who have devoted many hours to researching environmental issues, visiting sites, attending meetings and petitioning the public. Given the record of an industry that saw very little government regulation, it is no wonder to me that more than a few are opposed to strip mining.
The last time I walked through the glens and hills of Broughton I saw no evidence of reclamation. You have to walk through a strip mine site to get a true appreciation of how profound the natural environment is disrupted.
We live in a democracy where all citizens have a right to express their opinions and entrepreneurs have the right to extract minerals. It is the government's role to ensure that the mining does not impact in a negative way upon the lifestyles and well-being of citizens in close proximity or on others whose health is threatened by the burning of lowgrade coal in electrical generating stations.
Strip mining removes many hectares of productive industrial forest land that supports one of Nova Scotia's major industries and is the primary producer of the oxygen we breathe as well as the buffer that retards the rate of water evaporation into the atmosphere.
Given the cost of reclamation, I am very doubtful there will ever be enough revenue to reclaim the hundreds of hectares across Cape Breton in need of remedial action. As the Sydney tar ponds so aptly show, short-term economic gain may not be enough justification for the longterm costs, including the impact on the health of citizens.
Those in opposition most definitely have a right to express their opinions and to be heard. They are to be praised for standing up for a way of life and a landscape that is rapidly disappearing in North America.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
What gives Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt the right to criticize any citizen group (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Too, Feb. 11)?
When citizens in large numbers become critical of government departments, the government should be listening to the people, not promoting what the citizens are against.
When Hurlburt refers to us as a small group he is way off base. The numbers speak and our support continues to grow right across this nation, where people used to have some say. Now we really don't have any say in how our government represents us.
When another elected official from off this island becomes publicly critical of the people and our own elected minister continues to ignore the demands of his constituents to stop strip mining, it appears the people are rapidly losing their right to freedom of speech and to be critical of government and officials.
It seems they strike back at the people when the truth is obvious or when the people put on the heat. To criticize them is to be labelled as a radical. What this country needs is more radicals.
The government says it listens to the people but it completely ignores the message. The government has its own agenda and loves to keep it secret.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
I encourage as many Cape Bretoners as possible to view the areas that Natural Resources Minister Richard Hurlburt discusses as evidence that surface mining offers an opportunity to rehabilitate areas left unreclaimed (Weekend Feedback: Consider the Positives Feb. 11).
The Tory government plans to continue" "rehabilitatlon" in 14 areas on Cape Breton Island.
Before I became involved with the Citizens Against Strip Mining I took the time to check out the areas that have been "surface" (strip) mined. In no way were these areas rehabilitated. Moonscape comes to mind.
I think that since this issue is of such legitimate concern, Hurlburt. along with Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morasb. Energy Minister Cecil Clarke and the new Tory leader should make a thorough, personal inspection of what Hurlburt refers to as the positives. It should not be just a quick perusal. as is the case of Mr. Morash, but they should dedicate days to this and see the land for themselves.
There is no doubt in my mind if this were done, Hurlburt. Clarke and even the new leader would be making a rnore informed and different evaluation.
Hurlburt does not mention that the surface mining (a euphemism for strip mining) probably will be to the depth of 160 feet at least!
It is also essential that Cape Bretoners come together on this issue. Boularderie is just the start of the devastation of Nova Scotia's masterpiece. l know that many Cape Bretoners have fought with all their hearts for many other issues and lost. Start fresh: we have to get rid of the "What's the sense?" attitude and stand up for our countryside and what it means to all of us.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Consider the positives too - Surface mining offers an opportunity to rehabilitate areas left unreclaimed
For the past year, articles, letters to the editor and columns by several Cape Breton residents have promoted an end to suface mining on the island. Their views, the only ones being heard, suggest that there are no positive aspects to surface mining.
The public meeting on July 12, 2005, at Memorial High School in Sydney Mines was an effort to provide full and accurate information. Don Jones, director of mineral development and management with the Department of Natural Resources, made a presentation about surface mining in Cape Breton. During this meeting, Mr. Jones said about surface mining: "No is not an option. No is not a realistic approach."
Columnist Rannie Gillis (We Were Dumbfounded to Hear an Official Tell Us that No Was Not an Option, In Search of Cape Breton, Jan. 14) casts this comment in a negative light but his interpretation is simply inaccurate. Mr. Jones' comment reflects the reality that despite the adverse opinions of some community members, businesses have a right to submit applications for mining leases. They also have a right to have those leases evaluated and judged impartially.
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text: Need to work off some little one bodyweight? Would like to meet up with new mothers in Chicago? You can do both with Chicago SuperMommies Fitness, a whole new stroller physical fitness and private instruction program that includes conversation together with your little one or toddler. CSMF, which was launched by licensed coach Beth Swanson, […]Read the rest of this entry »

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Start of Economic Development --- The next phase:
Parliamentary Finance for "direction Press": the application of the customs tariff does not affect the effect of direct citizen
Parliamentary Finance Committee confirmed on Monday, that the customs tariff law takes effect will be applied to the material covered in the near future. A member of the committee MP Mohammed Abdul Qader In an exclusive interview with the "direction Press" that the customs tariff law is valid and will be applied after the entry into force of the budget. Stressing that the implementation of the customs tariff law needs to be instructed by the Ministry of Finance to facilitate the implementation of the resolution and apply sound image.
Mohammed said that the application of the customs tariff direct effect does not affect the citizen because it does not include goods that fall within the necessities of life. He said a member of the Finance Committee that the customs tariff contribute to increased earnings to the government for the purpose of bridging the shortfall and Agr who wounding budget for this year. He specialized in economic and investment regard to the application of Iraq to the tariff system will enter within the WTO, noting that the government is obliged to take action in order to protect the economy and lack of higher prices. And moving the government to reduce the fiscal deficit to the draft budget bill for fiscal year 2015 non-oil alternatives such as increased taxes and impose tariffs on goods entering the country.


text:
this is a very very bad combination.
the pleco is sucking and feasting on the goldfish hence the lost of scale.
as for the swordtail, it might be other problem and after it was dead, the pleco was feasting on it.
This is regarding the 2ft tank which is already cycled. Dimensions are 2ft(L) X 1ft(W) X 1.5(H). This tank had 1 goldfish, 2swordtails and 1 pleco.


text:
MANCHESTER-A tentative suggestion of meating oop-north
a week 2mw-that be Friday 23rd, i get my degree results and will be out in Manchester in the evening to cry with tears of jubilation, despair or just plain not appreciating Panic! At The Disco.
Who fancies a meet up? I think 42s has been suggested. What say ye Manchester folk...dear God i hope Wrightylew comes out (and not like A gay you big sillys)
don't be stupid
NO ONE in manchester likes panic! at the fucking disco.
but yes I'll probably come.
I well would.
I thought 42s was like, dead land for DiSers?
I'd love to do it sometime soon with my lovely friend, and all you sweet chicks. BUT I need a new ID, as I'm now 19 apparently, but I don't look it, and I'd be homeless for the night.
i'm poor
but i'll try and come. i've never been to 42nd street before as i'm probably not cool enough to get in.
ive never been either and it will be lame
compared to Tuesday night anyway. A drink for anyone who does the Germlin worm mid Stone Roses
being sociable increases chances of survival
and just coz
i didn't see you
you didn't really miss much where i'm concerned.
I saw you Mr. Utm and Star
but didn't approach you.
It was a bit of a Traynor affair.
no one believed me!
I left after Trademark
had to get up early. I wanted to talk to more people, but a) Rapscalion cornered me early on and b) I'm terminally shy.
most people left after Trademark
i was a shy one early on too.
Will you venture out next Friday?
Oh go on then.
I'll try to get 84joe to come too, but I doubt he will.
they were the nice young boys in suits singing
the farm/petshopboys type stuff. They are signed dontyouknow...to Truck Records. eep
Nope, it's cold and wet.
Come to Devon, it's great!*
There really should be a North East meet up, there was rumours a few months back but alas, I heard no more!
i will probably go to this
as i can just nip over straight from work. why do you doubt my atending powers? i am sexy, invincible and omnipresent.
i am tired
i wonder how many posts
are wasted each day correcting typos?
bo selecta
thanks for that mp3. tis ace.
have you got
the rest of the session?
Someone sort it out, preferably in the summer while I'm up there!
can't believe parsefone was there on tuesday
and didn't say hello to me :(
I don't blame you
I am the elton john of drowned in sound.
likes men...a LOT!
So who is coming *titter* Friday night?
i think i am
and kid_a too. probably. he might want to decide for himself though.
I might do! I'm getting results that day too and the 23rd-26th are my last four days living in Manchester most probably :(
But yes! Woo!
but we could get to know you
none of us really know each other that well.
besides can a person ever really *know* someone else?
the answer is yes.
i'll come, like. but i get the impression you all know each other.
yes! come!
i'd forgotten you were in manchester. i only know a couple of people really, and not that well.
of the people i've met, none of them are very scary.
true story!
I have only talked at length to Joe but he is as sound as a pound (whatever that means)!
I'm sure that everyone else is equally sound but so far i've been too scared to talk to them much. Soz like :(
you spoke to me at jesu
and i made a cunt of myself so i just didn't say anything else :(
i'm not as lame/weird as i probably appeared. honest!
I'm pretty sure it was me being a cunt actually! Oh well.
Sitting at 90 degrees to the stage was weird too and I was deaf in one ear the next day. It was odd.
it was a horribly uncomfortable sitting position
kind of perched on the back rest of the bench. my lower back was suffering the next day.
i hate the star and garter.
i greeted your friend by exclaiming 'hello! i've never met a real life person before!'. and everyone went quiet and i just decided to quit while i was ahead. sigh.
i'm sure you've read too much into that. nobody was making any cunts out of anybody.
Yep, I just like typing
rude words.
Chris Corsano is doing his mad ninja drummer thing in a house on Saturday too. I might go on a mission to that as well:
hells yeah
that sounds ace actually, might try and get to that, just depends if i finish work early enough.
The only Indie Club...
...I've been to in Manchester is 5th Avenue. Both times on a Wednesday.
Not particularly amazing but cheap as chips.
Is 42nd Street any better?
I might try drag my mates there as a few of us are down at the Bierkeller earlier (assuming the bands I wanna see finish early enough).
i've not been to either
i've always assumed that 5th avenue was hell on earth though.
i've never been clubbing before (sad eh?). i'll probably just look really confused for a bit, get drunk and then go home in a mood.
5th ave is shit
not quite hell on earth but not fun on earth either unless very drunk
much better is SATAN'S HOLLOW - big satan in the corner: check, comedy emo kids: check, cheap drinks: check, daft punk, beach boys, modest mouse and trivium in one place: check, owned by richard o'brien: check, um... flesh themed pillars: check.
Satans Hollow is definitely...
...the best club I've been to in Manchester. It never fails to raise a smile?
And is it actually owned by Richard O'Brien?
I just thought he opened it!
maybe then
i dunno. i thought he owned it/designed it. and then maybe he opened it.
then again, i don't know.
but it doesn't get in the way of satans' brilliance
...I might be totally wrong btw...
...I just know that it says "Opened By Richard O'Brien" as you go up the stairs. He might have done all that other stuff for all I know.
But agreed it is indeed ace.
Also an ace venue for Hardcore shows and the like becuase of it being in the round.
I saw Converge there and witnessed a crowd surfer doing the full circle on top of the crowd around the stage.
i saw
misty's big adventure there. it was good, plenty of room for erotic volvo to dance.
also, rx bandits were pretty good.
missed send more paramedics :(
5th Ave
is shit, yes.
42nd street is like 5th Ave, but it sometimes plays James Brown and has a bubble machine.
Another option would be the friday RRROCKWORLD ALLNIGHTER!1!1!
Satan's Hollow is ace but I haven't been to any club nights there. I saw Sunn O))) there though and the huge plastic Satan made the entire gig.
everyone should come
but just so no one's mislead I AM actually scary.
nice but scary.
to all shy/unsure people
those of us who have met before are not exactly bosom pals who'll spend all night talking about our past adventures and mutual friends.
I'm sure i speak for everyone else when I say I'd love all you shy people to come. PM me or anyone else ^^^up there for a phone number and come along.
especially those who came last week but felt they couldn't say hello. most of the people I was with that night I'd only met once before if at all and I had a great time.
just come along and introduce yourself by yr username, say Jag! a couple of times and the rest takes care of itself.
mancDiSter 4evah!
ah, this is lovely
this can get my POTD award.
hey andy!
remember when we went to the art gallery?
I'd forgotten about that.
still I got to spend pleasant times with friends, or whatever....
ha ha
i came to the thing last week but being shy and also not knowing who was dis and who was not would have felt like a berk going up to people and asking. and i'm shy too. a bit.
anyway, that was such a lovely inviatation that i am tempted to venture down and make new friends. if that's ok :)
i've been to the art gallery so i might be able to talk about that if required. or not.
i dont have much net access in the next few days :-(
turns out my results are Thursday so i will deffo be out Friday now. PWL has my number-let me know where we are going and when. This whole thread is full of friendly Northenness <3
surely you recognised
John Brainlove?
and if you saw me onstage you could've guessed who I was.
I certainly remember your username cos it's ACE.
Jarvis Cocker
Mint Lounge
i don't have any money
so i may not be at this after all. lame. i need a job.
i'll not be on the internet from tomorrow either, so i'll let someone know whether i'm going to be there or not.
it must just have been the shyness then.
by the way, you were really good. i liked the song that, i think it;s on your myspace, it's very hummable :)
informs me that tickets for Jarvis are in short supply. I want to try and get some and will keep people informed of my efforts.
Dunno if anybody would be arsed...
...but the gig at the Bierkeller this Friday is good featuring Shut Your Eyes And You'll Burst Into Flames, Day For Airstrikes and three more who I can't remember right now.
I well wanna go to 42nd Street though now I know they've got a bubble machine :D
Day for Airstrikes are good!
So is Jarvis. Hmm. Bob Mould from Husker Du is playing on Friday too. Tis actually quite a good night for gigs.
i have jarvis tix
fat city and picc records have some


text:
RPM Flactuate while driving
Dear, I have Suzuki Wagon 660cc 2007 model. I was used it form last four years. It was working fine. From last two month it has a problem that its rpm suddenly go down while driving. When I press accelerator pad twice or thrice, it pick up normal rpm. I checked all sensor and throttle, I didn't find any problem. I also scan my car with computer but it didn't show error relate to rpm. Please advice.
Is this a good question?


text:
Mid-Century Bistro Table
The Golden Triangle
This Mid-Century bistro table is from France and made from Oak Wood. It features a sturdy oak top and strong iron legs.
Product Specifications
- Dimensions
39.5"W x 15.5"D x 28.5"H
- Lead Time
- 0-3 Weeks (Limited Edition)
Vintage Specifications
- Period
- Mid-20th Century
- Creator
- Unknown
- Condition
- Great
Nearby Showrooms
About The Golden Triangle
Global and local design in the heart of River North, where the best of ancient and modern furnishings intersect at The Golden Triangle. Curated vignettes mix antiques and vintage finds from around the world with custom pieces handcrafted in Chicago.


text:
Situation: The way the story goes is that on Friday of last week, Seixeiro called down ahead of time for his usual and asked them to add some ketchup to the order. After about 20 minutes, Sid headed on down to Gabby's and brought the wonderful deep fried food back to the studio. Upon opening the bag, Sid was astonished to find that Gabby's gave him a single; 1; uno, a tablespoon of ketchup. Damn! Gabby's gave Sid one packet of ketchup for his entire meal. He couldn't believe it – what the hell was he going to do with one ketchup packet? Even Tim was shocked and couldn't believe that Gabby's had the audacity to only give Sid one packet.
The boys then get into a debate on what the minimum amount of ketchup packets should be given in a scenario such as Sid's above. "How many ketchup packets would you require Sid?" asks Tim. "Five, Five." responds Sid. Sid goes on to say that he's still a fan of Gabby's but the next time, they better put in the ketchup. "What you're saying is that you want it for free?" calls out Tim. "I'm not saying that…it's just that the next time I go there, I'm not paying for it." replies Sid.
It looks like the situation was finally cleared up as Sid tweeted that his recent trip to Gabby's Restaurant was a success when the chain came through and delivered some ketchup packets. 6 to be exact; well above Seixeiro's minimum requirement.
Sid's story though seemed to touch a nerve as several TimandSid-izens shared their displeasures or positive experiences with other restaurants who either failed or came through in the ketchup department. Some submissions from loyal TimandSid-izens include:
BhuTanClan: Trip to McDonalds
RangerRickLI: Successfully scored Sid's limit. 5 ketchup packets


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Poison Ivy Infection: Symptoms, Prevention and Home Remedy
7 out of 10 people are allergic to poison ivy plants. Hence the name starts with the word 'poison'. It is a very common plant in many parts of the United States. Along with poison ivy, there are other two similar plants. They are called poison oak and poison sumac. They are known to cause allergic reaction to your kids.
Kids wandering about in woods or any garden can get infected by these plants. It is very common. It is caused by certain kind of oil excreted by the plant. The oil can also get wiped off to other objects like toys, furniture and pets. In this way the poison remains for a long time. It is very risky because it makes your child irritable and causes them immense discomfort.
Causes of Poison Ivy:
Children staying near areas with more plants are at risk of contamination. There are majorly three different kinds of plants which causes poison ivy infection amongst kids.
- Poison Ivy: Shrubs and vines of this plant can be found in the western part of the United States.
- Poison Oak: Poison oak is another similar plant where there are climbing vines and shrubs and have leaves in a group of three. These plants are found in the western borders of the United States along with the Southeastern coasts.
- Poison sumac: This is a smaller tree with several leaves. The leaves are arranged in pairs. It grows in the western borders of the United States.
All of these, above mentioned plants, excrete a certain kind of oil. Whenever, your child touches a vine or leaf of the tree then the oil affects his/her skin. It is the immunity system of your child's body which causes the rash, due to the allergic reaction. The poison is very strong. Even smokes coming out from burning the leaves of any of these plants might cause skin allergy.
Symptoms of Infection
Your child might show symptoms of the infection within hours or even days after coming in contact with a poison ivy (or similar plants) plant. These are the few basic symptoms that he/she will show:
- Small bumps on the area where the oil touched the skin.
- The bumps will then get converted to blisters
- Certain redness and swelling in different areas.
- Extreme itchiness and irritation.
- Blisters will break and ooze fluid. It will also crust over. However, luckily the fluid coming out from the blisters will not cause further rashes.
The symptoms of the poison ivy infection are pretty much like any other infection in your child. That is why he/she needs proper treatment, once contaminant.
You should call or visit your doctor if your child is experiencing one of the following:
- Rashes on his/her face.
- Inhaled smokes from the burning of poison ivy plants.
- He/she is suffering from severe rashes.
- A major portion of his/her body is covered in rash.
Treatments of Poison Ivy Infection:
There are various home remedies and medications available for poison ivy infection. You can help relieve your child from the pain of the infection by following the below home remedies.
- Use colloidal oatmeal to bathe your child, once he/she shows first signs of infection. This will help him/her to ease the discomfort.
- Compress your child's affected area with a cool and wet towel. Change the cloth or towel, after a while to make sure that thing is also not contaminated.
- You can use calamine lotion to sooth the skin irritation.
- Corticosteroid cream can also be applied on the skin to get the same effect.
- If the itching is so much so that your child is totally unable to sleep, then orally give him/her diphenhydramine liquid. This will help in calming down the irritation and have a sound sleep.
Apart from these home remedies there are certain medications which can be tried. However, these medications should only be applied under the advice of a doctor.
- Applying Corticosteroid cream
- Having Corticosteroid pills or liquid
- Taking corticosteroid injections
If poison ivy rashes are not treated and ignored, then it might lead way for a bacterial infection. This will lead to other severe health issues. Though most cases of poison ivy infection can be treated at home, timely intervention is needed.
Prevention Mechanism:
Poison ivy infection is very common. However, it can also be prevented quite easily. There are few things you need to ensure in order to prevent your child from getting infected with poison ivy plants.
The following are the steps:
- Educating your child along with other family members (including the nanny, in case you have one) about the different kinds of plants and what plants are dangerous.
- If your child is roaming around areas where there are many plants then make him/her wear dresses with long-sleeves, trousers, socks and shoes. Bare minimum amount of skin should be exposed to the plants.
- Put the clothes in the washing machine, right after your kids return home from the woods or from any area where various plants grow. This will reduce the risk of further contamination. Even if any hint of poison is left on the clothes, it will wash away. Make sure that you wash those clothes separately from other clothes you wear for regular use.
- Make sure that your child does not touch any furniture, toys or even your pet, right after returning from an area with many plants around it. If he/she has touched any toys or furniture then wash them too. Also give your pet a bath if your child has touched it after or during his/her visit to the wood or the gardens.
- Finally, make sure that your child takes a good bath, in warm water with soap, right after coming back from the place. Make sure he/she washes every part of his/her body so that no traces of the poisonous oil can remain in contact with the child.
Things to Consider:
- Check things before it gets worse. If your child is showing signs of itchiness or irritation then apply soothing lotions on the skin.
- In most cases poison ivy infection can be treated at home. So, there is no reason to get alarmed.
- In worst case scenario, the blisters might make way for further infection. So, if you think that the home remedies are not working properly then you must consult your doctor. In that case he/she should get oral medication of injections.
- Try and keep track of the time of your child's visit to the woods or the gardens where there are several large plants. A close monitoring is important to make sure how long the oil is touch with your child's skin.
- Keep track of all the things he/she touched since then. The oil can stay there for a very long time


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Pulau Brani ("Brave Island" in Malay) sits between the mainland and Sentosa island. The lighted road at the bottom of the photo is the causeway that connects the mainland to Sentosa.
- Nikon D7000, 70-200mm f2.8
- At 70mm, f2, ISO 1600, 1/30 seconds
- Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, sunlight white balance
- Picasa: Auto contrast, straighten, fill light


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Queensland Clubs Overview
Aussiewide Packet Radio Network>
Bayside District Amateur Radio Society Inc.
Border Ranges Amateur Radio Club
Brisbane Amateur Radio Club
Brisbane Area WICEN Group
Brisbane VHF Group
Caboolture Radio Club
Caboolture Special School Amateur Radio Club
City of Brisbane Radio Society
Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society
Gympie Communications And Electronics Group
Historical Wireless Society Of South East Queensland
Logan West Amateur Radio And Electronics Club
Queensland Digital Group
Radio And Electronics School
Redcliffe & District Radio Club
South East Queensland ATV Group
South Coast Amateur Radio Group
Southside Amateur Radio Society
Sunshine Coast Amateur Radio Club
Banana Shire Repeater Association Inc.
Bundaberg Amateur Radio Club
Central Highlands Amateur Radio Club
Central Queensland Amateur Radio Association
Gladstone Amateur Radio Club
Hervey Bay Amateur Radio Club
Mackay Amateur Radio Association Inc.
Maryborough Electronics & Radio Group
Rockhampton & District Amateur Radio Club
Cairns Amateur Radio Club
Tablelands Radio & Electronics Club
Townsville Amateur Radio Club
Bunya Mountains & District AmCom
Darling Downs Radio Club
Ipswich & District
Lockyer Valley Amateur Radio Club
First Wednesday of the month at McDonalds meeting rooms, Leichardt Street Woodridge/Logan Central.
Meetings start at 7pm.
All welcome.
Third Wednesday of the month for technical discussions at various venues TBA.
Club website http://southsidears.org.au
Tuesday night net on 147.075 +600 on the club's VK4RAX Mount Cotton repeater. (repeater offline for maintenence)
Currently no courses are being held, but assessments can be arranged.
Club training course coordinator
Brendan Pratt - vk4blp (4-064)
Phone : 07 3171 3111
Email :
Southside Amateur Radio Society
P.O. Box 294 Woodridge Queensland 4114
Phone : 07 3171 3111 Email :
Peter Kohlmayer - vk4lc
Phone : 07 3171 3111
Email :
John Firth - vk4jdf
Phone : 07 3171 3111
Email :
John Firth - vk4jdf
Phone : 07 3171 3111
Email :
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Page Last Updated: Friday 21 September 2018 at 22:12 hours


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Medical tourism in India, Kerala, Location and history:
Medical tourism in India. Kerala is a state in southwestern India and it is considered by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top 5 places to be visited in a lifetime, and one in the last 10 green paradises of the planet. Kerala is an important tourist destination, with backwaters, beaches, Ayurvedic tourism, and tropical greenery among major attractions. By visiting Kerala during your medical tourism in India you will relax and you will have a wonderful holiday.
The state is wedged between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats and experiences the humid tropic climates.
Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands- rugged and cool mountainous terrain, the central mid-lands- rolling hills, and the western lowlands- coastal plains.
Kerala has three international Airports; Cochin International Airport, Trivandrum International Airport and Calicut International Airport.
As Kerala has Numerous backwaters, waterways are used for commercial inland navigation. The transportation is mainly done with country craft and passenger vessels.
Most of the biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the Western Ghats. Out of the 900 flowering plant species and 4,000 are medicinal plants;
Kerala's fauna is notable for their diversity and high rates of endemism: it includes 102 species of mammals (56 of the which is endemic), 476 species of birds, 202 species of freshwater fishes, 169 species of reptiles (139 of them are endemic), and 89 species of amphibians.
The state's coastline extends for 595 kilometers (370 mi), and around 1.1 million people of the state are dependent on the fishery, which industry contributes 3% of the member's income.
As in comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism, 56.2% of Kerala's residents are Hindus, Muslims 24.7%, 19% are Christians, and the remaining 0.1% follows other religions. [
The culture of Kerala is cosmopolitan in nature and it's part of Indian culture full year. There are around 10,000 festivals celebrated in the state.
Kerala cuisine has a multitude of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes prepared using fish, poultry and meat. Culinary spices have been cultivated in Kerala for millennia and they are characteristic of its cuisine. Rice is the dominant staple and it is eaten at all times of day.
Tourism attractions:
Also Kerala is home to the largest population of domesticated elephant in India, about 700 Indian elephants, owned by temples as well as by individuals.
Ayurvedic tourism is practiced in Kerala. Also has became very popular mountaineering, trekking and bird-watching in the Western Ghats programmes. But, the most popular tourist attractions in the state are beaches, backwaters and hill stations. Major beaches are located at Kovalam has, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Cherai, Kappad, Muzhappilangad and Bekal.
Enjoy medical tourism in India by visiting Kerala during your holidays.
Medical tourism in India, Traveler Support:
You may also want to know about:
Medical treatments/ surgeries information
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or comments. Your feedback welcome!


text: New here, just joined as my current contact with Verizon allows me to get a new phone on 6/16 and I have decided on the Incredible as everything I have seen and read about it is pretty impressive. I have an iTouch that I think will become extinct once I get the HTC. Just wanted to say Hello and looking forward to interacting with everyone. Gary dancedroid


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Port Captain Seattle Directly supervise, hire, train and evaluate marine personnel of the Puget Sound and Columbia River. Conduct Tug Inspections, attend SIRE inspections, and conduct evaluations and navigation audits of Deck Officers via direct observations on board. Develop marine operations and cost control programs for vessels. Assist in new project development, interfacing with customers, etc. Assist in vessel scheduling of personnel as required. Produce weekly Operations reports.
Five (5) years at sea as Master on tugboats, tankers or oil barges or equivalent military experience.
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Harley Marine Services, Inc. is a leading provider of marine transportation services in the United States. Harley Marine operates on the United States West Coast (including Alaska), New York Harbor, the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River System. Services provided include the transportation and storage of petroleum products, tanker escort, ship assist, the transportation of general cargo and rescue towing. Harley Marine is the parent company of eight businesses specializing in marine services and a bulk liquids terminal business. Harley Marine provides accounting, administrative, human resources, quality, safety and environmental services, as well as operational oversight to the subsidiary companies.
Harley Marine Services offers competitive benefit and compensation packages. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity and Drug Free Work place. Pre-employment drug testing is required.
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HomeAway.co.uk, the home of Holiday-Rentals®, is part of the HomeAway family. As the world leader in holiday rentals, we offer the largest selection of properties for any travel occasion and every budget. We're committed to helping families and friends find the perfect holiday rental to create unforgettable travel experiences together.
One of the nicest and most pleasant stays I've had anywhere in France. A very high standard and shall be measuring any future accommodation against this property. The owners could not have been more friendly and helpful and it's a real shame they're moving.
This a very comfortable house, traditional in style but plenty of modern appliances and well equipped kitchen. It has a lovely patio area for eating al fresco, BBQ's etc.Pool area is great and the pool is heated. Property has lovely well maitained gardens. Great for a family holiday. Very helpful local property manager, who knows area well and very promptly helps with any issues


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A blog for students, university faculty, and others relating to U.S. immigration policy
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
-Continue Reading assignment on Syllabus, Ngai, Chapters 1-2, Deportation Policy and the Making of Illegal Aliens.
-Read handout "WHY WE FIGHT"
-Read handout "THIRD AND SEVENTH CIRCUITS CONDEMS PATTERN OF ERROR IN IMMIGRATION COURTS"
NOTE: OUR NEXT CLASS WILL MEET AT THE CHICAGO IMMIGRATION COURT, 55 East Monroe Street, 19th Floor. 9 a.m.
Since this Blog is dedicated to you and all others who wish to engage in a respectful debate, I'm posting the comment below made on your site. Please comment on it if you wish.
Britanicus said,
The bombardment of American voters at the doors of Congress must be heard, to make E-Verify a permanent illegal immigrant enforcement tool? It's incredulous that we are winning small wars against our lawmakers beneficiaries--the special interest lobby. LEGISLATORS ARE FINALLY HEARING OUR ANGRY VOICES. Rep. Joe Wilson C-SC opened the eyes of millions of Americans, who are been left unaware of the cloaked--AMNESTY--committees that is going to rip the fabric of every voters life apart. Any detail in the national media has been subdues or intentionally omitted, as with the crowds of Tea Party opponents. Sen. Harry Reid could be stretching his neck out for the headsman in his re-election campaign, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They both have used their political influence in trying to overturn E-Verify. Pro-Illegal alien lawmakers could table it, under the "Sunset Provision" on September 30?
President Obama's direction towards an unmentionable path to citizenship for all those who broke our law is abhorrent. After the controversial eruption in the Session of Congress, they surely must be aware that imposing immigration reform on the people could break them? Americans taxpayers are already supporting business welfare? Corporate entities want these destitute people here to exploit, but don't want to pay for their health care, schooling or towards the massive numbers surviving in prison. They leave that to the fading middle class taxpayers who carry the tax burden? Over a decade has passed since illegal people started coming here in droves and with little or no laws, to blockade their arrival we are now talking over 20 million. Nor does it stop there? Owing to the clarion call of Amnesty ringing out in the slums and ghetto's of foreign criminals, sick, elderly and those without means, from all over the world will descend on us. IT MEANS OVERPOPULATION?
Bad as it may be now, who is going to subsidize the new arrivals? Not the business cartels that's for sure? Once again taxpayers will be heavily taxed to pay for the new shipment of poor, uneducated from every region. How can we expect to have any government public option for our own people, when our gates remain wide open for "Anchor Babies" and the illegal millions expecting a free handout? A nurse in a Nevada hospital indicated they have a row of beds of illegal immigrants on dialysis, which was costing weekly $18.000 dollars for each treatment. Tell me who pays for that? The US government pays a small portion; the rest is acquired from the hospital or taxpayer.
I want a single payer system for homeless veterans, seniors, single mothers with children and poor American families. But I refuse to pay for everybody who climbs, crawls under the fence or bluffs the Federal officer at shipping ports and airports of entry. It's not our responsibility. DON'T WAIT! PESTER YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AT 202-224-3121? Find true facts by GOOGLING NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & IMMIGRATION COUNTERS
1 comment:
- Joey Harmon said...
Wow. I think that rant is one of the more ignorant that I have heard in a long time. It's important to get "facts" from sources other than Fox News and Rush Limbaugh.
What should all of the people who have been living here "illegally" do? Should they all be sent back to their countries of origin en masse because they don't have a piece of paper? And if one of these people without that ever-important piece of paper gets sick, should we just let them die because "it's not our problem"? It's absurd to even think like that. These are not practical solutions. Our immigration system is BROKEN and sending people away from the US is not going to fix the system. E-verify is not going to fix it. People need to stop thinking that's it's just an economic issue or just a political issue or just an issue about one group of people and realize that these are real human beings we're talking about here, not just numbers or statistics. They deserve the chance to live a better life and to give their children a better life ("Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free"). The US is a country of immigrants, built and made strong by immigrants. What has changed? Is it that the face of these immigrants has changed and our old xenophobic roots have come back? Do we only want immigrants if their skin is the right color or if they speak the right language (i.e. of European/Germanic descent and language)?
Basing immigration policy on fear, politics, or economics without practical, feasible solutions is just going to create more problems. And don't you think shipping out all of the "illegal" immigrants or just letting them all die without healthcare on Main Street USA will be expensive, not to mention morally bankrupt?


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With day-trippable missions in all directions, Australia's Sydney has the wilderness credentials to please even the pickiest of mountain climbers, surfers, bush bashers and whale watchers.
On any given day, you'll find no shortage of options for a mini-adventure so we've compiled a list of our top five faves to get you started, get your blood pumping, and get you feeling rugged and primal for a day.
Go on, embrace your inner Bear Grylls. Just don't be eating the local fauna.
The Coast Track | Royal National Park
Difficulty: Medium
Highlights: Awe-inspiring seaside views.
The Royal National Park's epic clifftop Coast Track stretches 26km and connects to a sizeable labyrinth of shorter tracks. Our pick is the lesser known and very day-hikable 4.4km Curra Moors to Garie Beach track, which takes you through dense bushland and out onto a picturesque bluff.
Stop for some quiet contemplation, maybe spot a whale or two (migration season runs from April to November), then scale down the hillside through a Jurassic Park-esque palm tree forest and across to Garie Beach. Chris Pratt not included.
North Head Sanctuary | Manly
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: A bushland oasis in the big smoke.
This one and a half hour clifftop and bushland hike will trick you into thinking you're far, far away from civilisation, when in fact you're only 11km from the CBD. Along the way you'll find stone bunkers that were used to spot invaders (that never showed up) during WWII and an abundance of coastal vantage points.
Complete your mission and then head back to Manly for post-exploration refuelling. Our pick: Chica Bonitas. Pulled pork. Lagerita. 'Nuff said.
The Grand Canyon Track | Blue Mountains National Park
Difficulty: Medium
Highlights: Descending into the depths of the gully… then clawing your way out.
The Grand Canyon track is not just a hike, it's an experience. A mountain experience. The 6km loop starts at Evans Lookout, near Blackheath. The initial hike down the valley is easy, but what goes down, must come up, right? You'll need to channel your inner mountain goat on the narrow track that winds along what is basically a canyon ledge.
A steep climb/scramble brings you across to the other side of the valley. Stop at a vantage point to take in the view and feel the cool canyon breeze wafting across your sweaty face. Look back over the ground you just covered and you'll feel incredibly satisfied.
Tip: Don't forget water and high energy snacks. Nobody likes a hungry hiker.
The Coastal Walk | Bondi To Coogee
Difficulty: Easy
Highlights: Beautiful people, beautiful view.
If you love the ocean and people watching, the Bondi to Coogee walk (or run) is for you. You'll find a great selection of Sydney's finest brunch and lunch fare at both ends of the walk, and an equally ample supply of beautiful people.
The 6km coastal track winds from the headland at south Bondi through some of the less crowded beaches such as Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly. There's not one section of this hike where you can't see the horizon, and if you stop and stare for long enough, you'll end your day feeling pretty damn zen.
West Head & Resolute Beach | Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Difficulty: Medium
Highlights: Epic lookout, hidden beaches.
On the northern edge of Sydney lies Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, an area of vast bushland with a water and creek system flowing through the middle. West Head lookout is the best spot to soak up incredible bushland and water views (whales included if you're lucky) which extend all the way out to Palm Beach and the Central Coast.
Pick a track and get lost, explore ancient Aboriginal cave paintings, or visit the deserted boulder-covered West Head beach. Hit up The Basin for camping, fishing, kangaroos and ferry connections to Palm Beach. Our pick is the 8km Resolute Track loop.
Tip: Seaplane charters run between the city and Palm Beach, if that's how you roll. Then take the ferry across to one of the West Head beaches.


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Mexico wants to expand defence ties with Vietnam
During a recent meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Le Linh Lan in Mexico City, Zepeda stated that armies of Mexico and many countries worldwide attach importance to studying Vietnam's heroic military history and experience.
On regional and global issues, Zepeda commented that Asia is playing an increasingly important role in the world's economic and security affairs.
He expressed his interest in the ongoing strategic changes in the region, including the role of China and Japan, and ASEAN's central role in the evolving security architecture in Asia-Pacific.
Zepeda promised to help with promoting bilateral all-around links since the Trans-Pacific Partnership is opening up opportunities for the two countries to enhance future collaboration.
Ambassador Lan vowed to do her best to nurture traditional friendship and cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, cooperation and development in the two regions.
She underscored the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, as well as the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.-VNA
Your comments about this article ...


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Markets "In a Nutshell" for September 18, 2018Sep 18, 2018
Investment Week at a Glance
Stocks were up last week. The Dow Jones Industrial average gained 0.9% while the S&P 500 was up 1.1%. The New York Stock Exchange Composite (2,000 stocks) gained 1.1%. The "average investor's index" (Value Line index) was up 1.0% and foreign stocks (DJ Global ex U.S.) spiked up 1.4%. Bond yields were up as the 10 year Treasury ended 2.99%. (Data sources: Barron's Financial, Wall Street Journal)
10 years after the Financial Crisis of 2008
It was 10 years ago this month that the Financial Crisis of 2008-09 hit full force as the U.S. banking system teetered on the brink in the wake of the housing collapse. The stock market dropped 40% during the crisis (and 56% during the 2007-09 bear market). So we are reading many articles lately about the Crisis. Barron's cover story this week discusses how debt buildup was a root cause of the 2008 crisis. At the time there was much hand wringing and focus on how to contain debt buildups. Barron's points out that in the past 10 years while the U.S. debt has doubled, there is scant attention being paid to the potential negative consequences of debt buildup. Read on…
Financial Crisis Part II
Long time investment gurus such as Jim Rogers warn that the reckless buildup of debt will cause another crisis and another decade of poor stock performance (like the 2000-2010 market). Others however don't see the problem as a crisis until much farther down the road. One thing is for sure. At some point we as a country will need to deal with the $500 billion- $trillion annual deficits before it does cause a fiscal crisis.
No worries about stock market corrections?
A Yahoo Finance article discusses that the stock market's recent recovery from its correction back in January points out that patient investors who ride out the ups and downs have been rewarded. In each of the 36 corrections since 1950 (a correction defined as a 10% or more stock decline), Yahoo points out that an ensuing bull market has erased the losses 100% of the time. "Put in another context, buy-and-hold investors are a perfect 36-for 36 since 1950."
According to WTEx, what percent of the $421 billion of Canadian exports in 2017 was purchased by American consumers? a. 24% b. 40% c. 61% d. 75%...Answer is below…
Have a good week!
Answer to quiz:
d. 75%