He promised to be “hands off” in the past – off women’s rights to have abortions.

Now, just recently one of his party members was trying to re-open the issue.  Now it’s not “him” but he’s kind of famous for not allowing anyone in his party to have an opinion other than his.

IF you are interested in the issue, and maybe signing a petition (and you live in Canada) go here:

http://petition.liberal.ca/abortion-debate-woodworth-harper-canada-reproductive-rights-pro-choice-lucie-pepin/

David

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I’ve always voted but it was a sort of “lost cause” where we knew the PC’s would get in, but we still hoped that eventually Alberta would see reason and vote for Liberal (left-of-center for my U.S. friends).

However, the possibility of an even more extreme right group almost being able to get in, made it mandatory for all gay and lesbian people (and people of colour for that matter) in Alberta to show up and mark their X’s.

I’m glad that we were able to keep the less-objectionable right wing party in control, but it also now means that the extreme right will be the “official oposition”.

I can only hope that their tendency for homophobic, racist and sexist members continue to pop their heads up publicly, to make sure that the next 4 years between elections shows them for what they truly are.

Friends of freedom and equality need to keep up the pressure, and plan for the future.

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Well, I just finished voting – wasn’t too busy there, but it’s at dinner time so not too big a surprise.

A couple of interesting things:

1) We were just visiting a local merchant (small store owner) and she happens to be of mixed ancestry (Japanese / Caucasian) and has experienced some discrimination over the years.

She’s been feeling quite lost, and quite worried about how her life might be should the homophobic and racist Wild Rose party get in.

She voted early, but particularly with the recent exposure of racist members and homophobic members of that party, she isn’t sure what to expect.

I’m sure our non-caucasian friends wouldn’t be too excited to go back a few decades in terms of their rights.

I love my husband and value my marriage.

All I could say is vote, and we’ll see.

2) She brought something to my attention that I’ve never noticed before:  The government knows how we have voted as individuals!

I paid attention, and it’s escaped my notice in the past.  You arrive, go to register, get your ticket after they’ve crossed you off of the voters list.

They write your number from that polling list ON YOUR BALLOT and then you go vote!

- never noticed that.  She mentioned it to her attendant and they said “yes, of course they do..”.

- seems like a “no-no” to me, but (sigh) whatever.

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Taking the lead in same-sex marriage, tolerance and the environment, even while handicapped by the current Conservative government.

My province, Alberta, has traditionally been hampered by a conservative government, with Oil on their mind, lack of concern about the environment, and no desire to embrace equality of marriage for all.

Forced over time to allow same-sex people the right to marry (gee, when I type that it sounds like I’m talking about women being allowed to vote, or black people being allowed on a bus), they have been dragged into “more or less” this decade.

Human rights are under attack in Alberta at the moment, and are in danger of being (at least for 1 term) fatally pushed aside.

The Conservative party (already only concerned with big oil, not the environment, and certainly not human rights equality) are under attack by an even more right wing party called the Wild Rose Party.

Yes,  they had the gaul to use the name of our provincial flower!

They are even more focused on having “no platform” except what people give them.  One of their members recently was exposed in the news for his homophobic views that my people willl “burn in a lake of fire”.

Another one talked about how, as a caucasian, he’s better able to speak to all people than an ethnic minority person, who typically only speak their own race!

Even though that’s come to light, conservative people are STILL leaning toward voting for that party this coming monday.

Of their embarrasing member’s controversial statements, their leader keeps saying “that’s their personal beliefs”, and not actually firing them.  

She has revealed a bit of herself when saying things like “we / I won’t legislate on moral issues…”

- What I believe she has unintentionally revealed is that she views equality of marriage for all as a “moral issue” and not one of human rights.

When I emailed them a year ago and asked their “official” views on same sex marriage, I got the expected political double speak reply which included basically that “we do whatever the general electorate want us to do..” (paraphrased).

So, if a bunch of people would like black people as slaves, or to nullify same-sex marriage or gay people in concentration camps, they’d support that?

Make no mistake – personal rights and freedom are at risk, and if ever there was a time for gay and lesbian people in Alberta to vote, it’s now.

- I support the Liberals, but unfortunately it’s a 2-camp race, and it’s between the Conservatives and the Wild Rose.

For me, it’s a Strategic vote for the Conservatives – leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but it’s better than the poison I’d be tasting if the Wild Rose actually got in.

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Of course, he’s not as burly or hairy as I like, but he’s not soooo hideous.

: )

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This one talks about teen suicide of a gay kid:

“Every year in this country 300 kids take their own lives. It is a mind-boggling number. And this past week one of those kids was Jamie Hubley. He was 15, he was depressed and he happened to be gay.”

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We had considered the “single cup” coffee makers, and then a couple of things occurred to us:

1. We didn’t know what was in them.
2. K-Cups are not recyclable!  Keurig talks about their K-Cups and non-recyclability
3. If a typical can of coffee makes about 100 cups (guess), we compared that to 100 cups of Keurig coffee = 100 non-recyclable plastic cups. Interesting view on that, which talks about Green Mountain – the company that purchased
   Keurig:  http://www.coffeeamp.com/single-cup-coffee/keurig-k-cups/keurig-k-cups-how-green-is-green-mountain/

There’s some talk “out there” about possibly refilling them with your own coffee via a “filter”.  Also there’s some company at http://www.my-kap.com/MYK/ that sells “caps” for them.

Might be better that way, though I don’t know if there is actual “coffee” inside, or a syrup, or what?

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