Krista & Jeremy's Wedding

Congratulations to Krista & Jeremy!

 

This month, February 2014, the most beautiful bride Krista & her husband Jeremy tied the knot in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Despite the bitter cold outdoors, the beautiful, winter wedding & festivities carried on without a hitch.

 

Krista radiated in her gorgeous, flowing wedding dress.

Fun times had by all.

Larissa, Krista & Ann



Julie, Tares & Ann



Steve, Viking Ann & Ann

Ann, Ann & Steve

Larissa, Krista & Ann



 

 

March against 20 yrs of NAFTA



January 2014 marked 20 years of NAFTA. The bitter, cold Canadian Winter didn't deter us from voicing our opposition to NAFTA's devastating consequences for working families, small farmers, indigenous peoples, small business people & the environment.

 





Mourners marched on January 28, 2014 in downtown Hamilton. 20 yrs of NAFTA has seen 35,000 manufacturing jobs lost locally in last decade

 







March of Mourning 20 yrs of NAFTA

The Trade Justice group of the Hamilton chapter of the Council of Canadians ('CoC') has joined an Intercontinental Day of Action, saying 'Enough!' to 20 years of NAFTA.

When: Tuesday, January 28th, 2014  6:00pm

Where: Gore Park at James St. South

What: March of Mourning 20 years of NAFTA

The following press release describes why the CoC Trade Justice group is gathering next Tuesday to march for 15 minutes in solemnity & solidarity.

We're marching to our CoC Chapter meeting at Volunteer Hamilton where Graham Flint will be making a presentation about the Flamborough community's struggle against St. Mary's Cement and the NAFTA challenge. 

Please join us!

The Canada-EU trade deal & it's potential impacts on Municipalities

The Hamiltonian is an excellent blog that features content on local issues that are important to our community here in Hamilton. Many thank-you's! to the Hamiltonian for featuring today's article on the extreme pro-corporate trade deal, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement ('CETA').

http://www.thehamiltonian.net/2013/12/the-canada-european-comprehensive.html

my shepherds

Today is warm, sunny & beautiful on the Hamilton Mountain. 

Bunkie & George Fynbar take it a bit easier during the heat, resting in the backyard.

Hupacasath First Nation is bringing the Federal Government to Court

Canada-China FIPA: "We Stand Together" rally & tour supports First Nation legal challenge to controversial investment treaty

Brenda Sayers, a representative of Hupcasath First Nation (Vancouver Island) will speak at a rally on Parliament Hill and at events across Ontario and Quebec to gather support for a First Nations legal challenge to the Canada-China Foreign Investment Protection Agreement, which has been signified but not yet ratified by the federal government. The Hupacasath case, which was heard in federal court last June 2013 argues that the federal government is required to consult First Nations before ratifying treaties like the FIPA. 

The trade justice group in the Hamilton chapter of the Council of Canadians is hosting Brenda Sayers in a public event next Thursday, August 15th, 2013.

Where: Volunteer Hamilton, 267 King St. E.

When: Thurs Aug 15th, 2013  7:00-9:00pm 

Who: Council of Canadians

The Council of Canadians, along with Idle No More, LeadNow, KAIROS, Common Frontiers, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Attac-Quebec, Trade Justice Network, Ottawa & District Labour Council, and the Latin America & Caribbean Solidarity Network (LACSN) are supporting Brenda Sayers' tours. 

Find out how the Canada-China FIPA will impact us and future generations. 



This pic was taken while canoeing & fishing on Lake Eugenia.

Canoeing on Lake Eugenia

Lake Eugenia is a great place to spend some time with your family during a heat wave!

Fancy lakeside cottage dot the beautiful landscape. Bring your canoe or boat.

Had a great time with great company & great food. We feasted on the fresh bass caught in the clean, calm waters of Lake Eugenia.

While south-western Ontario was hit hard with scorching heat last week, it was relatively temperate lakeside in Grey County.

This pic was taken during a brief thunderstorm on Friday, July 19, 2013.

Council of Canadian Chapters at the Westover Blockade - June 2013

This week conscientious, concerned citizens protested on-site at Enbridge's North Westover pump. Come join the protest, whether just for a few hours or for a few days.

Enbridge plans to reverse the flow of Line 9B, which runs from Montreal to Westover near Hamilton. Flow reversal could raise the risk of a spill into places like the Beverly Swamp in the headwaters of Spencer Creek, Hamilton's largest watershed.

Hamilton 350 said, in a press release, that protesters at the Westover terminal "look to be in it for the long haul"

Check out Saturday's program of 'Hamilton's Finest' for a discussion of Enbridge's contentious, reckless disregard for the National Energy Board's process.

To hear this past Saturday's program,
visit  http://cfmu.mcmaster.ca
Under the Saturday Column, click on, 'Hamilton's Finest'
To download Podcasts, see Past Shows. Click on:  22.06.2013

Check out Adam Carter's article (CBC Hamilton).

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my Newfie Dad

Not many people in Hamilton, Ontario can say they have a Newfie Dad. 
I have a Newfie Dad. That means he's rough around the edges. He's a meat & potatoes kind of dude. 

A Newfie dad  means I grew up in a house with music. . . . piano, accordian, guitar along with the best Newfie Grandma (R.I.P. Grandma Bruce). She had a one-of-a kind lexicon.

My Newfie dad taught me numerous life skills, such as:

• walking, talking; reading;
• riding a bicycle;
• starting a fire in a woodstove;
• driving a car;
• maintaining a fire in a woodstove;
• growing a vegetable garden; and most importantly. . ..
• being an independent, critical thinker.

My Newfie dad is one of a kind too. . . a tough, old goat!

Here's a pic of my first Shepherd 'Barney', me at age 7 with my Newfie Dad. 

My dad never taught me that being a girl had its limitations. 
I have never felt held back by my gender. 

On this day, I acknowledge and honour the many countless hours my dad spent with me during my childhood. My childhood years included many hours with my dad taking me to extracurricular activities all days of the week, my favourite day being Saturday when he'd take me to music lessons, McDonald's, Dofasco Park, Dairy Queen, etc.

Tall Jon was a very good guy. He went before his time. 34 years old. Tall Jon's passage through the ages saddens all his friends. His obituary is viewable online at:

http://www.lifenews.ca/announcement/2876985-clement-jonathan-jon-ryan

I hope his last conscious thoughts included a sense of sadness he has caused his friends.

This pic of Tall Jon, Julie & I was on a boat cruise in Penetanguishine, Ontario with jam band Caution Jam. Good times. Great memories.

Political & Regulatory Channels to Oppose Enbridge's Line 9 Pipeline have been closed.

Imagine the Disruption & Inconvenience of a Tar Sands Oil spill in this Area

Enbridge's Line 9 pipeline crosses Highway Six. Thousands of folks travel this road daily. 

How many of us know there may be toxic diluted bitumen beneath it?

It seems that Enbridge may soon get its way if it is permitted to reverse the old pipeline, Line 9, to carry heavy crude from Sarnia to Montreal, through the Westover Terminal in Hamilton.

It might seem a bit drastic to block a road to make a point about Line 9 reversal. This inconvenience today is a mild disruption. Imagine the inconvenience and risks of a tar sands oil spill. Those risks materialized in 2010 when Enbridge's Line 6, substantially similar to Line 9, ruptured in Kalamazoo, Michigan leading to the permanent evacuation of 100 homes and leaving an uncleanable mess in the River. Consider the recent diluted bitumen spill in Mayflower, Arkansas. 

The Conservative government is fully backing the Line 9 reversal. They exempted it from an Environmental Assessment in the omnibus budget bill. The only regulatory body overseeing this is the National Energy Board. 

The extremist Conservative government has taken drastic steps to stop people from asking questions, discussing or opposing Enbridge's Line 9. This is totally unacceptable. 

This morning commuters were met with a civil, friendly & informed group of protestors. Commuters were offered muffins, and provided information about Enbridge's Line 9 reversal project. Some commuters were informed already, others were sympathetic. The fact that some members of the public already have knowledge of Enbridge's plans with Line 9 is a good sign that shows not everyone believes misrepresentations and outright lies from Enbridge. This is crude oil for export, not for Canadians. 

Not all travelers were informed or knowledgeable about the risks posed by diluted bitumen. 

Perhaps the sight of the Native Confederacy Flag helped condition some antagonistic feelings from OPP police officers. 

The Hamilton City Council and Hamilton Conservation Authority are opposed to having this project rammed through without consultation.

The National Energy Board offered only a two week window for people who want to so much as send a letter to fill out a 10 page application asking for permission to do so. The deadline passed last month, April 2013.

Thank you to Hamilton CBC's Adam Carter for following this story. 

For Mr. Carter's coverage of this morning's protest, visit:

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/05/06/hamilton-enbridge-line-9-protest.html

Big Lady Justice is thrilled at the arrival of her new second cousin, Violet Sumodobila.
No shrinking Violet!  At only 2 mths old, Violet said, 'Hello!' to her grandparents when they visited last month from Europe.

Violet has big, beautiful eyes, an engaging smile, a healthy crop of hair.  .  . and receives loving attention from her family.

Last Sunday, baby Violet hung out with her parents Emma & Mark & Big Lady Justice at Mulberry St Cafe. 

Violet took in the ambient sounds of the cafe, James St. North, the pedestrians, etc. 

Violet visited us in Hamilton yesterday. Beautiful, warm day in the Hammer for a visit. Violet appears to fancy ceiling designs, unusual (gently chewed) cherry oak pull-out doors, bright chandaliers (details that adults might not notice right away). 

Big Lady Justice is looking forward to spending more time with her new cousin Violet. 

This month, February 2013, we celebrated my Mom's 75th Birthday.

Happy 75th Birthday Mom!!

My Mom was born in 1938 before World War II in Mabolo, Cebu City, Philippines. On the Pacific front, WWII began in 1942.

Most of my Mom's siblings (she's the 2nd eldest of 11 children) live in the Philippines. Her brother Pedro & his family live nearby in the Niagara region. 

Some of my mom's siblings I've only met once (and some I haven't ever met ) .. .Corazon, Lilia, Victorio (Vic), Teresita, Perpetuo (Petot), Maria Luz (Dede), Eva, Jocelyn.

My Mom's hometown, Cebu City, was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

Ferdinand Magellan brought missionary zeal when he sailed in Cebu City in 1521. Magellan met his demise from warrior chief Lapu-Lapu on Mactain Island a few weeks later. This gave the natives temporary respite against the conquistators' incursions.

In 1565, the avenging Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legazpi delivered Cebu and eventually the rest of the Philippines to Spain and Catholicism. My mom's strong faith as a devout, practising Catholic probably stems back to her upbringing, rooted in hundreds of years of imperialism & Catholicisim in the Philippines.

In 1575, the founding of the Villa del Santisimo Nombre de Jesús (Village of the Most Holy Name of Jesus) marked Cebu City as the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

The Spanish weren't the only visitors to the Philippines. My Mom's name in Portugese means Christmas 'Natividad'. 

When Ferdinand Magellan sailed into the Port of Cebu on 7 April 1521, an eyewitness account relates that he was already a latecomer: 'Many sailing vessels from Siam, China and Arabia were docked in the port. The people ate from porcelain wares and used a lot of gold and jewellery…'

My Mom's great-grandmother's maiden surname (paternal side) was 'Yap', indicative of her Chinese ancestry. My great-great grandmother Yap fished and farmed to support her family.

My Mom studied nursing at Southwestern University in Cebu City. After she graduated in nursing, my Mom immigrated to Chicago in 1962 where she worked at Cook County Hospital and Bethany Brethren Hospital. My Mom was prepared to be treated differently in Chicago in the early '60s.  Her nursing training at Southwestern University in Cebu prepared their students for this. My Mom said she was taught not to make a fuss or not to resist if they were told to move to a different seat in a public facility.

Chicago Freedom Movement (1965-1967)
Some of my Mom's nursing friends eventually accepted job offers in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

My Mom eventually applied to some of these positions. She moved to Hamilton just before the growing momentum of the Chicago Freedom Movement, an ambitious civil rights campaign from 1965-1967.

Since 1962, the CCCO (Coordinating Council of Community Organizations) had harnessed anger over racial inequality, especially in the public schools, in the city of Chicago to build the most sustained local civil rights movement in the North.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. placed demands on the doors of Chicago City Hall in order to gain leverage with city leaders in 1966. Some of these demands addressed housing discrimination, education, transportation and job access, income and employment, health, wealth generation, crime and the criminal justice system, community development and quality of life.

Civility v Civil Rights

My Mom pointed out to me the incompatibility between 'civility' versus 'civil rights'.
The extent to which civility was not compatible with the promise of racial justice has strong similarities with the Law Society's Civility Complaints Protocol. W.A. Derry Millar actually mentioned that growing diveristy of the Bar was one of the reasons proferred to explain the supposed decline in civility. His unsound Civility Complaints Protocol coupled with judicial immunity breaches one's Charter rights. An individual is entitled to confront their accuser(s) under oath but with judicial immunity & Millar's unsound Civility Complaints Protocol, the LSUC is trampling on lawyers' Charter rights.

Law Society of Upper Canada - Civility Complaints Protocol

The duality of 'civility' discourse versus civil unrest & disorder has the same duality as the Law Society's discourse of 'civility' versus argumentative 'tone' & 'words' of female, sole practitioners.

My good friend Elsie was name-called 'baboon' by one of the Law Society's witnesses. The Law Society does not believe this prejudice is relevant to their witnesses' credibility or to their Conduct Application against her which makes numerous unfounded allegations. Instead, Elsie's LSUC Panel   suggested their Conduct Application simply relates solely to issues of tardiness, and refuses to admit the materiality and Stinchcombe relevance.

Former LSUC Treasurer's (W.A. Derry Millar) pernicious and insidious Civility Complaints Protocol is being mis-used in a discriminatory, economic way against sole practitioners from non-traditional backgrounds.

Name-calling 'Baboon' condoned by LSUC Panel

The Law Society is content to condone name-calling 'halfway house', 'baboon' etc.  Clearly, the Law Society is still stuck in the historial period (1791-1841) of Upper Canada with the prejudices of that era.

Prejudice disguised as 'Civility' continues to discriminate & oppress lawyers from non-traditional backgrounds.

My Mom is disgusted that the Law Society proceeded with their hearing & Estates Application against me in my absence when I'm battling cancer.

I attended at Estates Court to view the LSUC's Application. At the computer, it asks the computer user to enter the name of the deceased. So, I entered my name. Then it asks the computer user to enter the Date of Death. Since my file number could not be retrieved this way, the clerk had to retrieve my file number to pull my estates file.

The Law Society's insidious behaviour far exceeds incivility. Their behaviour is appalling. This is one of many reasons why the LSUC is not fit to self-regulate or self-govern. Independent over-sight is necessary to keep the public interest protected from the private interests of lawyers regulating other lawyers.

This is my 3rd week making a conscientious effort to stick to a Vegan diet.
My friend Andrea generously bought me nutrient-rich, delicious Super foods at Fortinos.
Andrea is a wealth of knowledge!

Here's an interesting article with tips to help pre-empt cancer . . .
...
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.


11. An effective way to battle cancer is to STARVE the cancer cells by not feeding it with foods it needs to multiple.

What cancer cells feed on:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Note: Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.


b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells will starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes t o nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.

To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water--best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines will become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor.

Anger, unforgiving and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

CETA's Implications for Canadian Municipalities

Negotiations btw EU and the Harper government are continuing next week in Ottawa, with a view to finalizing the CETA.

Is the Harper government going to ignore all the 40+ Cdn municipalities who brought motions seeking to be exempt from the Canada-EU trade agreement? 

What is the City of Hamilton going to do?

Recently I wrote my City Councillor Scott Duvall (Ward 7) about the implications for Canadian municipalities with the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement ('CETA'). 

The letter is available at: https://www.box.com/s/macp5uzhyikpzf05pooq

Hamilton's Water Services

Here's the article from Flannery Dean posted on CBC Hamilton, Wed Nov 28th, 2012.

Hamilton's water services safe from CETA, say Council of Canadians and CUPE

By Flannery Dean, Leaked documents indicate that Canada's water services are being excluded from future CETA negotiations. (iStock)

Hamilton water services won't be on the table during the ongoing talks between Canada and the EU for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, according to the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Both groups said they have seen leaked documents that indicate that Canada's water services are being excluded from future CETA negotiations.

This is good news, said Hamilton resident Stuart Trew, National Trade Campaigner for the Council of Canadians. Trews said that had water remained on the negotiating table, CETA “could have potentially contained the means by which municipalities keep water public.”

“For us to include water in a trade agreement is extremely unsettling," said Ann Bruce, co-chair of the COC's CETA group in Hamilton, about the exclusion. "It shouldn't be traded for private gain and has to be protected for the common good."

“No one owns water,” she added.

Bruce, who also co-chairs the Great Lakes Water group, said that had water been included in the final agreement, Canadians could have found themselves in the position of one day buying their own water from an international company.

Procurement issues

But while Trews and Bruce say they are pleased by the exclusion of water services from the ongoing trade negotiations, there are some additional concerns about how certain requests by Europe still under discussion could affect water in the future.

'One of the great concerns is the fact that procurement remains on the agenda.'—Ann Bruce, Council of Canadians

“One of the great concerns is the fact that procurement remains on the agenda,” Bruce said.

Europe is pressing Canada to guarantee through the trade agreement that EU companies would be able to bid on provincial and municipal projects. Should the EU achieve that aim it would effectively strip municipalities of their powers to choose local suppliers, forcing them to take bids from powerful foreign corporations.

Trews cites the example that if a municipal government wanted funding to improve a sanitation system, provisions brought in under CETA might mean an “international company could dispute a municipality's decision to favour a local public route.”

These types of procurement issues go beyond water to cover a vast array of goods and services. The city of Hamilton was so concerned by the implications of procurement-related conditions being discussed in the trade negotiations that in December 2011 councillor Brian McHattie spearheaded a motion to have Hamilton excluded from CETA.

Hamilton isn't the only city to want to opt out of CETA. It's one of 40 communities throughout Canada to pass similar motions.

For Bruce, the reasons for this are clear.

“Local government would not be able to favour local tenders or bidders,” said Bruce, referring to how European influence could forever alter how local governments in Canada govern and spend tax dollars.

“We couldn't have buy-local initiatives. International companies could bring a claim against the municipality,” for favouring local business or products under such an agreement.

“Our city would be bound by these international trade agreements,” she said.

For Trew, however complicated CETA negotiations are, issues surrounding procurement are simple and centre on one question: “Who has the final say in how local society develops, us or multinationals?”

Requiem for Remembrance Day - Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead

Verdi REQUIEM: Lest We Forget
A Chorister’s Perspective
By Ronald Jewell

“LEST WE FORGET” – this is our call for individual and collective remembrance, for the many who have gone before us and paid the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom, justice and peace. We owe them our everlasting gratitude, and give thanks for their lives. For each we implore: "Grant them eternal rest, O Lord" – Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine".

In almost all cultures from the earliest times, music has been a means of expressing all of our emotions when facing death and the dead, and to give solace to the bereaved. Musical settings of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead express all of this, and the musical & emotional apex of this development is perhaps the Messa da Requiem composed by legendary Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi. Scored for four soloists, double choir and full orchestra, Verdi uses vigorous rhythms, sublime melodies, and dramatic contrasts – much as he did in his operas (think Aida, La Traviata, or Rigoletto) – throughout the work to express the powerful emotions engendered by the text. The tears, the anger and the search for comfort and meaning are all contained in the words – and magnified in Verdi's score, which is sweepingly operatic one moment, and powerfully intimate the next. As the Toronto Star said of the work: “If everyone could face death with the help of a live performance of Verdi's Requiem, the world would have no more need of grief counsellors.”

I can think of no better way to honour our dead and help us remember than to participate in a performance of this monumental work. In my case, it was as a chorister with a 100-voice chorus and acclaimed soloists all under the direction of Maestro Sabatino Vacca.

A performance of this work begins not with the downbeat, but when the conductor takes to the podium and stands there, motionless, as the hall becomes silent, a moment of silence to prepare us – Lest We Forget. The silence becomes the music. The Maestro slowly raises his baton, and the cellos begin the first movement with a whisper and we all enter with a sotto voce Requiem, requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine - Grant them eternal rest, O Lord. The table is set. The spiritual feast is to follow.

All eyes of the Chorus and Orchestra are on the Maestro, and we see every nuance, every little shape of a phrase, every accent magically reflected in his hands, his body, his face – we see yearning, pleading, rage, sorrow, anguish, joy, ecstasy … love and peace. Of course, Verdi gave it all to him, but he takes it and gives it form. Our challenge is to honestly portray the complex emotions that anyone has to deal with when losing someone they hold dear.
The Dies Irae is terrifying. Rex tremendae is awe-inspiring. The Lacrymosa as sorrowful as anything I have ever sung (Mournful day. That day of sighs ….).
The Sanctus, initially fearsomely declamatory with a brassy fanfare to announce “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts”, then takes off with a sprightly 8-part fugue scored for double choir stating that “the heavens and earth are full of Thy glory; Hosanna in the highest!” The angelic Agnus Dei (Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, give them rest …) which is always magical to me because it is sung a capella by the soprano and mezzo-soprano, a most haunting sound – then the choir fills in the rest of the hymn.

And finally the Libera Me, where the Soprano cries out, pleading, “Deliver me, O Lord from the eternal death on that dreadful day when the heavens and the earth shall be moved and Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.” It ends with a repeated,” Deliver me, O Lord, from the everlasting death, on that dreadful day.” And then, pianissimo, “Deliver me. Deliver me”.

As the final chord dies away, we remain in that mystical space, a sense of longing, a sense of hope. The Maestro’s arms still outstretched, the music continues in the silence. It calls not for immediate applause, but a moment of introspection, reflection, and remembrance, our personal prayer – “LEST WE FORGET”.

This article was thoughtfully written by fellow chorister Ronald Jewell.

In 2011, Big Lady Justice sang as a fellow chorister with Ronald Jewell accompanied by the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra.

Arlington National Cemetery

November 11th should be a holiday in Ontario in honour of all individuals who sacrified their lives for our freedom.

U.S. Election 2012

Big Lady Justice is eagerly awaiting to see tomorrow's U.S. Election.

Although Mitt Romney has the potential to cause a major upset, Big Lady Justice knows that Obama will be re-elected for his second term.

In 2000, Big Lady Justice lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Politically, it was exciting times. Just prior to the election, many voters in Massachusetts and Rhode Island were undecided. For a month, people speculated on who the next President would be. What a shame that George Bush stole the Presidency in 2000 from Al Gore.

Big Lady Justice suspects tomorrow will not be as close as the 2000 election, but will be watching with great interest.

President Harper meanwhile is presently in India, but we all know it's really China he's after.  Over 60,000 Canadians flooded President Harper's Inbox recently with letters about the Canada-China FIPA last week.

Stockwell Day replied to Big Lady Justice's email on to him (and Ed Fast, John Baird, Roth, etc) about the Canada-China FIPA. Stockwell Day politely thanked Big Lady Justice for her comments & lyrics, and said that ". .. your perpsective is helpful to me." Why, Stockwell, you're welcome.

Perils of Canada-EU Free Trade

The Council of Cdns ("CoC") is very concerned about the on-going negotiations between our federal government and the EU, the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement ("CETA").

This month, October 2012, is the final round of negotiations in Brussells. 

Last month, September 2012, Interchapter CETA / trade justice groups (Windsor, London, Hamilton) met to discuss the CETA.  CoC folks expressed their dissatisfaction & concern about the perils of Canada-EU Free Trade at an Open Mic session. Below are some ballads that were expressed at the Open Mic.

“There are Scary Days”

--- to the tune of ‘All in the Family’ (sung by Jean Stapleton & Carrol O’Connor)

Songs that made the Hit Parade

Boy, that guy Stephen Harper, man!

Secret deals inside the FTAs. . .    [FTAs  are Free Trade Agreements]

Gals like us, we ain’t afraid

There are scary days!

Though everybody pulls his weight

CETA ain’t not gonna be fair trade

There are scary days!

And you know who you are then!

Tories are big business, but you ain’t one of them!

Mister, we could use a man like Tommy Douglas again!

Canadians ain’t at all content.

Fifty dollars don’t pay the rent

Freaks are in the Tories’ tent

These are scary days!

Take a little Sunday spin, go to watch the Ticats win

Have yourself a visit to tradejustice.com

Facts are myths and myths are Wrong

Ed Fast really has it all Wrong

Secret CETA negotiations – so very Wrong!!

These are Scary Days!

  

“Crazy Harper”

—to the tune of “Crazy” (written by Willie Nelson, also sung by Patsy Cline)

Crazy

Harper’s Crazy for favouring his cronies

He’s crazy

Crazy for selling us out to the EU

We knew he’d do just as he wanted

And then some day

He’ll deceive us, just like with the EU

Worry

Why should we let ourselves worry?

Wondering

What in the World can we do?

Oh, crazy. . .

For thinking that Harper could protect you

Harper’s crazy for lying

And crazy for not trying

And he’s crazy for signing on with the EU

Crazy for thinking that Harper could protect you

He’s crazy for lying

He’s crazy for not trying

And he’s crazy for Unfair Trade with the

EU

“CETA ain’t what it Seems”

—to the tune of “Islands in the Stream” (written by the Bee Gees and sung by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton)

Baby, I can tell you, CETA text is unknown

Draft, leaked text–where’s the rest to review with a fine tooth comb?

What’s the latest exactly? There is something goin on

Government procurement will send us down the drain

Hold on Stephen Harper, you gotta explain

Every single provision

We gotta know what’s goin on

Tender calls will yield bids

From local and EU investors

Any unsuccessful bidders

They can seek compensation,

Investor state claims, ah-ah

Making claims with each other, ah-ah

Chorus:

It ain’t what it seems

No social equity

No food security

How can CETA be right

Sell away our fresh water to another World

NAFTA-style arbitration, ah-ah

From one dispute to another, ah-ah

No “Buy Local” preference if the CETA is signed

EU investors will claim material harm

And you did read AbitiBowater

Woe to Canada in the damages phase

AbitiBowater will happen again and we got no doubt

EU’s dominance in negotiations, Canada’s weaker—no doubt

And the message is clear

This could be the Year for the damned thing

No more should Harper deny

Baby, the inevitable investor state challenges

We started from a weaker negotiating position, ah-ah

Makin claims with each other, ah-ah

Repeat Chorus

Sell away our Power

Oh, come sell away our Water

Are you Gonna Go Harper’s Way?

 —to the tune of “Are you Gonna Go my Way?” (Lenny Kravitz)

He was born in Toronto

Did you choose him? Is he the one?!

He didn’t come to save the day!

And we won’t leave until he’s done

So that’s why you’ve got to try

You got to breath and have some fun

Though we’re not paid to play his game

And we can’t stop until we’re done

But what I really want to know is

Are you gonna go Harper’s way?

And I got to got to know

We don’t know the full, draft CETA text

This we can’t leave, we have to get done

We need disclosure and democracy

And turn this CETA back around

So tell me why, Harper’s got to deny

And threaten our rights, one by one

We’ve got to object to the CETA

We’ve got to act now and be informed

But what I really want to know is

Are you gonna go Harper’s way?

And I got to got to know

Are you gonna go Harper’s way?

‘Cause baby, I got to know, yeah