Social Activism | The Proprietor Review

Category: Social Activism

Airstrip

Filed under: Enterprize, First Nations People, Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Technology, Tourists, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment

February 13, 2012

There is a small airstrip here in Merritt, Saunders Field. It is on a nice little bench just north-west of town. The local city council was inviting people who would be interested to be on the airport committee to contact the city. The strip is 634 meters at 500722 North,1204450 west. It is a public airfield and yes operated by the city.

About two decades ago a premier visited it in a whirlwind working tour and a 600 thousand dollar grant was given to put night landing lights on it. The money was never used and was returned to the Cabinet. However in the last year there has been a new hanger building built and there is a going concern helicopter company at the field.

The Merritt Flying Club operates a website that updates weather every 5 minutes as well as almanac and moon phase.However the last reading shows 29/1/12 and there is a registration offer from ambient weather.

The airstrip has had scheduled passenger service in its history never lasting long as small planes are not comfortable to use as passengers and there is commercial jet service in both Kamloops and Kelowna, about an hour and a quarter away.

A city committee is usually chaired by a councillor and is a good precursor to running for elected office.

Every now and then the Federal government lands one of its four engine search and rescue aircraft and gets fuel adding to the legitimacy of the strip.

Today in History: February 13,2008

The Australian Prime Minister makes a historic apology to the aboriginal people ; the indigenous Australians and the stolen generations

Editors note: tomorrow February 14, 2012, afternoon 12-1, Dr.Cora Voyageur at the local college will be giving a presention open to the public on trends in aboriginal communities: there is also and evening session.

AirStrip lands Qualcomm investment (mysanantonio.com)
Anniversary of National Apology Day (olmcsunbury.wordpress.com)
AirStrip gets clearance in Europe (mysanantonio.com)
An Open Letter to the People of Australia (wonderingpilgrim.com)
AirStrip Receives CE Mark for Mobile Monitoring Solutions (medgadget.com)
Airstrips to be developed in Kasaragod, Wayanad: Minister (thehindu.com)
Drug-laden plane left at Texas airstrip was sold (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Britain to pay for St Helena airstrip backed by Lord Ashcroft (telegraph.co.uk)
Drug-laden plane left at Texas airstrip was sold (newsok.com)
Airstrip at Periye likely to be completed by end of 2013 (thehindu.com)

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Today in history

Filed under: First Nations People, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

February 6, 2012

Free Education, a long time ago when the old now were young an education was a great privilege. In Canada in the sixties and seventies, the criteria for the federal police force was 11-11. Five foot eleven and grade eleven. That still put the members at an advantage over the norm of grade 6; not to many years earlier. At this writing I am at a community college and a public institution that has a first nation emphais.Those north american indians were promised that education and medical attention would be free to them centuries ago. Some of them took advantage of it and used it to be involved in the community as a whole. Indians like Len Marchand were effective Members of Parliament. And a single voice of an elected native in the Manitoba Legislature halted the ratification of a consitutional amendment the meech lake accord; several years and a lot of governments ago.

Today in the hallway of the college, at writing are some posters of Fidel Castro and some of his revolutionaries, that had some similar aspirations.

There is lots of different ways of funding an education and the onus is on the person. From criminal injury compensation administered by medical practitioner’s, to retraining when the employment people can’t find a person suitable work for the age and experience of a seeker. Rewards in scholarship for various affinities are available and a student loan system that favors the deserving. The military in particular in the United States has a history of supporting service people to re-education since the end of the Second World War.

The posters in this school come from a site called Trabajadores Sociales and has to do with spanish speaking people in the labour curve.

PS: Happy 60th to our gracious Queen.

Today in history, February 6,1989

The round table talks begin in Poland starting the overthrow of Communism.

Polish lawmakers debate nation’s EU future (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Fidel Castro launches his memoirs (bbc.co.uk)
Fidel Castro Gives 6-Hour Talk on … (newser.com)
Fidel Castro presents his memoirs – “Time Guerrilla” (windsorstar.com)
Cuba’s Fidel Castro writes his Memoirs: Any lesson for Ghana’s Rawlings? (mbokor.wordpress.com)

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TGIF

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment

January 27, 2012

Image via Wikipedia

Have a weekend!

Today in history, January,27 1996

Germany first observes International Holocaust Day

Tags: Burberry, Casual Friday, Elizabeth Arden, Friday, History, Keystone Pipeline, Organizations, tgif

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NVIT

Filed under: Crime and punishment, First Nations People, Government Works, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

December 14, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is in Merritt BC Canada and has a Campus in Burnaby BC as well . Its roots are in Merritt with a Grand Chief Gordon Antoine who had a vision to educate his people in a way that would keep their culture.

The school is for the First Nation in Canada and has a policy of admiting others as well.

There is an element of North American Indian Culture in all the courses and it promotes the Thompson and Okanagan language. A confirmed source says that he took a 2 year college university transfer credit in biology, a 4.5 course from a PHD instructor and for a cultural investment of a day also had instruction from some native elders in traditional plant usage including making a pine needle baskets and string from Indian Hemp.

The perseverance of the founders came after the school had been located in store fronts at a distress rental time of the resource community of Merritt . Showing them self serious they eventually got a multi million dollar building that is able to expand to about twice its size .Small in the stature of many universities and colleges; the effort is unique to the way that natives can pursue education. The institution can give credit’s up to an associate degree. It often has agreements to grant Bachelor of Social Work Workers from chartered universities and colleges such as TRU. Many graduates find work in their own aboriginal communities after completing their degrees. It is also culturally enriching to take Native studies and English courses that include another culture then your own. However the bulk of their student s come from the First Nations Community.

A source estimates that there are about 1200 students between the two campus’ and that most of them are Aboriginal. The source also says that the new crime bill is a step backward for the aboriginal community that although having a about four percent of the national population they have a huge, out of proportion population in jails in Canada.

NVIT has a number of trades and technical courses offered from time to time. As well as law enforcement pre seletion courses. The school encourages student democracy and civil harmony.

Accomidateing the local issues of first nations peoples in Canada.

http://www.nvit.ca/programsandcourses.htm?RD=1

Today in History December 14th,1994

Construction begins on the Three gorges dam in China.

Today in History, December 14, 1903

The Wright brothers make first attempt to fly the Kitty Hawk.

Some Attawapiskat residents at odds with chief (cbc.ca)
Canada’s Best and Brightest Shine at Aboriginal Achievement Awards (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
John Ivison: Education is key to life after Attawapiskat (fullcomment.nationalpost.com)

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BC Hydro, power and authority

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Government Works, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

December 13, 2011

Lots of no trespass signs about and some on old hydro meters. Dell from Coopers says they were by and changed his. Some people say they don”t want them because of health issues. Other say they wanted a choice for no wireless connection. The fact is they are being installed and adds in the papers are asking for clear access.

The hydro has worked since it was nationalized in BC as a monopoly and as socialism goes it was considered draconian. However the lower rates we are supposed to get from the monopoly are supportive of the vision of Canada being a mixed economy. As a Non profit crown corporation it is not allowed to have retained earnings and must lower rates for efficiencies it gets. Still you have to watch that the government does not raid it for revenues like raising water licence fees, to accommodate good water levels for the utility.

The off-peak time dynamic will be the next issue us consumers will be watching as we still want it to be an under girding of our economy and not go to profits.

BC Hydro has the rights to all water in the province for generation purposes and a lot of power. When good snow packs occur the next year should see rate reductions, as they have in the past.

The lines and poles are public property and that always raises an issue when they talk about co generation ; recently the utility has replaced a lot of poles and is working to have a third 500 KV line to the lower mainland from the interior.

Today in history December 13 ,2003

Saddam Hussein is captured in Iraq. ( The Ace of Spades)

Scientists urge BC Hydro not to close conservation offices (cbc.ca)
Couple pressures BC Hydro to remove smart meter (cbc.ca)
No long-term forecasts in BC Hydros rate hike application (theglobeandmail.com)
BC Hydro executive bonuses questioned as deficits grow (cbc.ca)
BC Hydro files plan to meet reduced rate expectations (vancouversun.com)
BC Hydro to reveal results of B.C. review of proposed rate increases (vancouversun.com)
Smart meters alleged to pose security risk (cbc.ca)
Auditor General sounds alarm over BC Hydro accounting (theglobeandmail.com)

Tags: British Columbia, Business, Merritt BC

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What do you want. Fall humorous speech contest, merritt toastmasters, Kevin D Griffiths ACG, ALB, TGIF

Filed under: Enterprize, Fauna, Social Activism, Technology, Tourists by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment

November 10, 2011

The Japanese needed security and provoked the second world war for fill. Yes fill, the crafty fellows thought that the world would respond by firing artillery shells into the island nation, plugging holes and filling cracks so that they had land to live and grow on. That has to be true as when the game went atomic the war was over because no more fill.
England, Japan and New Zealand are about the same size with the latter being slightly larger than the Japanese 4 islands that house their 100 million people.
Points
Snakes, there are no snakes in New Zealand as In Ireland they didn’t make it out of the ice age.
Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?
A least one 1200 year old tree centers the splendid sand and greenery for the fauna in New Zealand
A small lizard survives the from the Dinosaur age we think he must have liked to eat frozen snakes.
- Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?
product placement
1/4 acre syndrome; the inhabitants of New Zealand have lawns and single family dwellings and their favorite pastime is self home renos.
- Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?

20 to 1 sheep, there is peace and contentment as the 3 million odd people in New Zealand can all count sheep to go to sleep at night.
*
- Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?

It’s a long, long way to paradise from spirit bay….

If the Japanese can make it to Vancouver they can fly for about a thousand dollars to New Zealand via commercial air carrier .

Note there are poisonous sea snakes in the ocean off New Zealand .

Did I mention that the Mauri go down to spirit bay to start their long, long journey to Paradise?
please note the one pointless note….*

English interest in Mauri (skysports.com)
Toastmasters, Trophies and Tall Tales (waverleycommunicators.wordpress.com)
Theme night (kevingriffiths.wordpress.com)

Tags: Business and Economy, England, Ireland, Japan, Mauri, New Zealand, Oceania, Vancouver

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Mid week activities

Filed under: Environment, First Nations People, Flora, Politics and Politicians, Public health, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 20, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

There are some significant activities this week in Merritt, tonite the Alexander the Great Seminar continues at the library, presenter al Horne and his wife coördinate the slides and the talk.An Academic venture,in progress as the credits for photos of antiquity are yet to be published.

The Nicola Naturalists also have and AGM tonight at 7 o’clock at NVIT about 3 kilometers from the 6-8 presentation at the library.

There is also a member picture presentation after the expected brief business meeting.

Last evening there was an eco health forum that featured such speakers ad Scotty Holmes the chief o the Upper Nicola Indian band and others including representation from the Community round table at evening it was sparsely attended and coming to a conclusion in its second day of presentations and discussions.

Today in history, October 20th 1973

The Sydney Opera House opens.

Tags: AGM, Alexander the Great, Annual general meeting, History, Merritt, Merritt British Columbia, People, Sydney Opera House

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Indigenous summer

Filed under: Barns and Old Buildings, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

September 28, 2011

Fall Golf : file photo KDG

The weather is great here in Merritt and the colour of fall makes a visual feast.

The Nicola Valley Golf and Country Club makes allowances for weather to being open during the declining fall. There are many glorious days to golf each fall .

Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The US National Weather Service defines this as weather conditions that are sunny and clear with above normal temperatures, occurring late-September to mid-November. It is usually described as occurring after a killing frost. source Wikipedia

On this Day: September 28th 1924

The first around the world flight accomplished. See more

Editors Note: The local Naturalists club is having there AGM tonight at & NVIT lecture theater, top of the hill Belshaw avenue in Merritt., After golf you could have a good feeling of natural community by supporting their Club; or go to their Site local naturalists take out a membership. Meetings are most times the 3rd Thursdays during the fall, winter and spring. KDG