The Eco-Indulgence

“As soon as a coin in the coffers rings, a soul from purgatory springs.”   Johan Tetzel (from Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Thesis)

The act of offering indulgences by the Catholic Church was originally put into practice going back to the Council of Epaon in 517AD.  It was a method of replacing severe canonical penances with something new and milder.  In those days it replaced severe penances and it became customary to commute practices to less demanding works, such as prayers, alms, fasts and even tariff penances.   It fell into abuses by what became known as professional “pardoners” in the Middle Ages, which came to a head in 1517AD when Pope Leo X offered indulgences for those who gave alms to rebuild St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.   It was then that Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Thesis protesting what he saw as the purchase and sale of salvation, thus sparking the Protestant Reformation.   He wrote in Thesis 28 the words of Johan Tetzel, Pope Leo X's aggressive indulgence marketer, “As soon as a coin in the coffers rings, a soul from purgatory springs.”

Of course, money would never had been raised for the rebuilding of the Basilica if people did not want to be absolved or even lessened the punishment for their sins.  Pope Leo X and Tetzel knew that they could prey on the guilty feelings of the weak. All it took was a charismatic personality, Tetzel, and the authority of the Papacy, to push ahead.

Today we have the same dynamics at play on the masses, where Eco-Indulgences are being paid by individuals in order to reduce their guilt from sins acted on 'Mother Earth'.  In order to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions individuals, instead of countries can purchase carbon credits. The money raised is claimed to be used towards environmental programs such as reforestation, new technologies to reduce CO2 emissions, and social programs such as 'adopt-a-bicycle.'  People who drive gas guzzling SUV's, Hummers, sports cars and motorcycles can off-set their gaseous ways by calculating their carbon footprint and pay their way out of eco-purgatory.  The funds collected by private companies adhere to a voluntary set of standards and practices, which is not regulated, or vetted by any governmental (that's you and I) organization.  The standards by which these companies run under are created by two people sitting in a private office in Washington, D.C. Their organization VCS (Voluntary Carbon Standards) provide a stamp of approval for many other private companies that are popping up on the internet selling 'eco-indulgences.'

One such company from  Australia, WesternField Holdings Inc. stands accused of defrauding $3.2 million dollars in a carbon investment scam.  The company would sell carbon credits for investing, and the buyer would monitor their carbon investments in a website held by CTR Limited (carbontrustregistry.com)  Carbon Trust says on its website that it is a registry for credits issued by Voluntary Carbon Standards (VCS) Association.  However, VCS has since advised that Carbon Trust is not an authorized  VCS registry.  Examples such as this wreaked of a need for regulating the private sector in an area where peoples gullibility is open to exploitation.

But is Canada protected from this wholesale of 'eco-indulgences.'  Not to be outdone, several Canadians have started online companies in an effort to raise funds

At one such website, I was able to calculate my individual carbon footprint based not so much on any detailed personal habits but only on the size of my house, and the brand of my vehicle, it quickly advised me that I could off-set my existence by paying them $487.86/year.  This Canadian website proudly advised that they were members  of the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) Association. Just as I was looking at an “Add to My Shopping Cart” I read the following.  “You can buy with confidence knowing that you are protected by our no hassle returns policy.”  Emphasis theirs.

How in hell does anyone get a refund on a carbon footprint? Based on this little nudge, I should be able to call them up half way through the year and say.  “You know I got rid of my Chevrolet and bought a Prius.  Please calculate a credit of my credit and credit my credit card!”

What was even more frustrating is that nowhere on this website, or any other that I found selling carbon credits, did it provide any scientific reasoning being the carbon-credit calculation.  Nor did these sites actually detail how the money was being spend.  They did however, advise that we are killing the planet and causing global warming, and that the money will be used toward new technologies to reduce mankind's impact on the planet.

Just like the turning point on church indulgences imposed by Pope Leo X can be traced, 'eco-indulgences' can be linked back to Al Gore and “An Inconvenient Truth”.  Released in 2006, the film has been used as the canon document of the global-warming movement and is the weapon of choice by the newly converted. Al Gore has become the new eco-prophet of our time.  So was there anything that Gore needed to build?  Co-Founded by Al Gore two years before the release of “An Inconvenient Truth”, was an eco-investment company called General Investment Company.  Followed up by his company called the Alliance for Climate Protection, these companies seek investments into new eco-technologies.

As long as people are led to believe that every mile they travel is a sin against our planet, people will throw away their family trust buying carbon credits from private companies to relieve their guilt.  It took 500 years for the Church to mend their ways. When will a new-age Martin Luther start another reform?

Lacking Pride

“Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.”  
General George S. Patten

Back in December I received a comment from a reader that I found myself brushing off my shoulder.  It was one of those comments that you consider the source and then move on placing little credence to it.  Then two weeks ago during a conversation with a stranger, they discovered that I worked at the Pipestone Flyer, and immediately stated, “That's a pro-war newspaper right?”  There it was again.  It was one of those moments when your brain goes back into search mode and tries to put yourself in the shoes of the person you are facing.  Being the editor, I control what and what does not go into the newspaper, and I tried hard to understand what I had published that made the Pipestone Flyer 'pro-war', or better yet appear war mongering.

As weak as it was, all I could come up with was that nearly every week we have placed a banner advertisement in our newspaper at our cost promoting a website that  honours  War Veterans from Millet.  A website that we build, host and maintain.  I have also written editorials supporting all veterans for what they have provided Canada in past and current conflicts.  Yes, it would be fair to say that I am proud of Canada's international role it has played and is playing in regards to our military deployment. I am not proud of the losses that we have felt, but I have a deep understanding of the significance of the soldiers that have sacrificed their lives for not only their country but for their families.

But, the comment from this stranger ended in a discussion that unfortunately put me on the defensive as what turned into a political rant from this person where my position could not be intelligently conveyed.  In her mind, I was a warmonger and The Pipestone Flyer was guilty by association and she was a peace loving Canadian and I therefore was the opposite, period!  It turned into a group discussion that criticized my conservative views on many fronts. We parted that day agreeing to disagree.

My pride in our military comes from two distinct but related sources. First and foremost, I do not love war.  Like many, when CNN started to broadcast the USA bombing Baghdad into the 'stone-age' in their 'shock-and-awe' campaign, I, like many North Americans, was glued to the television, only to suffer from depression from the day to day coverage. It did not thrill me to see the start of the conflict, but as a living human I was interested in what is happening on this planet.

So, when our then Liberal government committed Canada to the Afghanistan war which has now endured nearly a decade, I was proud that Canada was not just sitting back asking Britain to represent us, but that we had an international policy to support.  It also speaks well of Canada that our current federal government is honouring the spirit of our international commitment and has not pulled out our troops prematurely in spite of our losses in Afghanistan and the liberal opposition.  So on an international scale I am a proud Canadian and proud of the important role our military is fulfilling.

Secondly, on a personal level, I am a member of a military family.  That means that when there is a Canadian loss in the field of battle, I felt the loss on a personal level.  Because as with the Bosnian conflict, the Afghanistan war had a member of our family fighting side-by-side with other Canadians.  My sister's husband, a man I am proud to call my brother, served in Afghanistan for a tour of duty.  I saw the stress on my sister's face when he was not there for Christmas.  I listened as my sister talked not only with pride but with fear in her voice whenever she mentioned Paul's name in conversation.  I felt rather insignificant because the only role I had to play in Paul's mission was connecting closer to his sons while their father was risking his life.

Yes, it is true that I am proud of our Canadian military past and present.  I am so, because of what we as Canadians represent in the world.  I am so because of the brotherly love and pride I feel for Paul.  That pride did not subside, especially when last week my brother-in-law, Col. Paul Bury, was chosen as the  Commander of the 41 Canadian Brigade Group taking over the reigns from the outgoing Commander, Col. Thomas Putt.

So, is the Pipestone Flyer pro-war? No, it just happens that it's editor is a proud Canadian. One that is not afraid to express pride in our military and all organizations in this country and our community that ensure that we don't forget the sacrifices our military have made everyday under our flag.

No truer words were ever voiced when U.S. General George S. Patten stated,  “Watch what people are cynical about, and one can often discover what they lack.”

Only an Insult Will a Penny Buy

For a few months now I have had a friend on my payroll. It's not that he actually works for me, it is quite the opposite. Unlike many today, my friend just cannot ignore one of these.  My inside joke has been that every time we go to a meeting or event, I surreptitiously drop a shining penny in front of his drivers door, or somewhere in his path. If he sees it, he always, without fail, bends over to pick it up. Of course for political correct reasons  I really can't fill you in on why I was doing this. However, until this moment he did not know I was the source of his new found wealth. In all I guess that I have paid him a total of 60 cents for his efforts.

What many have discovered is that the penny, or as the Canadian Mint refers to them as “one-cent piece,” has no real value. In fact they have become a nuisance to the average consumer. Many empty their pockets of change and sort the larger coins and leave the pennies stuck in a pickle jar. If you wish to find out just how much the penny is treated with contempt, take that pickle jar full of pennies into a bank someday and try to deposit it. They have such little value, that nowadays almost every store or restaurant has a rubber dish on the counter that states, “Need a penny, take a penny. Got a penny, leave a penny.”  How I wish when I was 5 years old to have that option in front of me. I could walk out of the store with 5 Mojo candies for every penny I tendered. Nowadays, you can't buy anything for a penny. Even the average 5 year old Kool-Aid stand is offering a glass of hand stirred cherry drink for a buck a glass. The penny buys you nothing, unless you consider interrupting a stranger in a park and say, “Penny for your thoughts?”  Yes, only an insult will a penny buy.

It has been over two years since Winnipeg MP Pat Martin submitted a private members bill calling for the one-cent piece to be taken out of circulation, and it appears that our government has ignored this submission.

It is estimated that over the years there have been 30 billion Canadian pennies in circulation, of which it costs our federal government 1.5 cents per coin to produce. In other words, stuck in jars, under beds or hidden in the top shelve of  kitchen cupboards, Canadians are holding $300M from circulation, which costs estimated $450M to produce. I think the honourable member of parliament may be onto something here!

Every year Canada issues an average of 25 pennies for every Canadian, which is costing $130M a year to keep in circulation. I truly believe that if the federal government wanted to cut costs, the elimination of the penny should be something we need to implement. In two surveys conducted, strong arguments were put forth in favour of crushing the penny.

In a study conducted by the Desjardins Group it was successfully argued that the penny has “so little purchasing power that Canadians increasingly refuse it as change.”  The study stated that, “It (the penny) is kept in circulation solely to facilitate cash payments (with bank notes and coins) to the nearest cent.”

The Royal Canadian Mint and the Department of Finance prepared a study by Altitude Marketing Research which revealed that 67 percent surveyed were not against the elimination of the one-cent piece. With 42 percent in favour, 33 percent were against and 25 percent were neutral on the subject. Unlike my penny-pinching friend who cannot pass up an abandoned one-cent coin, 64 percent of those surveyed stated they would not chase after a penny lost in a couch while 71 percent perceive the penny as part of the Canadian heritage.

The perception of the penny as a Canadian heritage is what many would refer to as an irrational affinity. A weak kneed reason to hang onto an obsolete tool of society that is costing the tax payer millions of dollars each year to hang onto. Money that could be spent more effectively toward social programs, health care, or housing for those who huddle in the streets stuck in a mind-set that makes them societal burdens. If everyone who hoards this copper coated steel coin would take their jars down to a charity of choice they could donate millions of dollars overnight. This would in turn push these missing-in-action 300 billion coins into the banking system, giving our government the opportunity to pull them from circulation.

New Zealand and Australia have already done away with the penny, leaving a five-cent piece as their lowest financial token. They have done so with no ill effects, and at the same time have weaned their people from any irrational attachment they may of had to this “piece of heritage.” It is time Canada joined their ranks.

A Quest for Good News

I love to read, and quite frankly I look to the dailies for the national stories about medical advances and human interest features.  Articles that are informative and don't necessarily raise my blood pressure. However, the media is a hard maiden, and it does not matter where you turn, there is always bad news at our doorstep.  So in my quest for good news this week, I tried to see the brighter side of the bad.  Here is what I found.
 
Another week goes by and it seems that British Petroleum (BP) and the US Government are not really doing anything about the oil pouring into the ocean as a result of the off-shore derrick disaster.  Now with the oil choking the life from the Eco-system, and waters controlled by other countries will probably have been affected as well.  Maybe then Obama will put his “Yes We Can” attitude and plug the hole.  While Barack Obama and his cronies stand by and allow BP to flounder, the problem will not just go away.
 
I truly wish I could just grab a daily newspaper, or read from several news sources online and actually enjoy reading. But each day I am reminded about the BP's environmental assault and I just wish they could put a cork in it.  It may even come down to having to use nuclear charges to plug the leak.  But do two wrongs make a right?  Nothing good can come out of this, so I pushed on.
 
Maybe Obama has his hands full with the North Korean affair.  With the stubby despot's navy torpedoing the South Korean patrol ship killing 46 sailors, many countries including Canada have spoken out against Kim Jong-Il.  I just hope Kim Jong-il did not have a submarine near the oil derrick. Sorry but I guess just don't trust him.
 
These two stories alone dominated the press, from news print to television and radio.  It is no wonder people get agitated being bombarded by such negative stories.
 
Then perched below a headline about Polar Bears dying as a result of the BP's cock-up, I spot the headline, “Prepare for a bit of cooling predicts geologist.”  Now, here was something that I could sink my teeth into.  According to geologist Don Easterbrook, professor emeritus from Western Washington University, “Global warming is over―at least for a few decades.”  Easterbrook, who is an ardent believer in Anthropogenic Global Warming, says that the earth is in for some harsh winters and cooler summers for at least three decades.  Or, for those in Australia, they will have harsher summers and cooler winters.  If you think about it, Australia can really mess with your mind.
 
But, according to this piece of climate news, data collected from global sources shows that we are in for another mini-ice age.  The culprits for this climate change are cited as being reduced solar activity (no flares) and the end of El Nino.  Of course, all the sources for this story concluded that the colder climate will result in more human deaths, shorter growing seasons resulting in food shortages, and more hunger.  They always need to toss in a little fear, even with good news, so I kept flipping though the newspaper then paused.  A thought came to me.  In Australia, does a toilet really flush backwards.
 
Huh, so I kept reading.  I turn one page and a young woman is murdered, turn another page and we read of gang activity on the rise in smaller communities.  One page after another and the human condition is reported with true vigour.  My quest for some good news was not going anywhere.  Was there no news source willing to blow some sunshine at me from behind?
 
Then it happened. News that kinda made my day.  The headline read, “Marc Emery pleads guilty in U.S. court, awaits sentencing.”  Yes, I truly like it when the 'Prince of Pot', the fella who have been on the march to legalize marihuana is given a dose of reality.  Mark, please note that I used the word “dose” and not “hit.”
 
I have been watching Mr, Emery's defiance for many years.  Truly believing that he can snub his joint at law enforcement by openly breaking our narcotic laws.  It is a misguided belief that his activity can actually change Canadian legislation. His followers openly wept as he was arrested last year on charges of conspiring to manufacture marihuana on United States soil.  Then the anger followed when he was extradited, sending him into a country that has actually waged war on drug offenders.
 
To our Conservative Federal Government promising law reforms, please take notes.  Mr. Emery folded quickly in the hands of the US legal system.  His defiance crumbled when he copped to a plea.  A deal was struck that will probably see him in an American prison for 5 years.  If he had been convicted in Canada on similar charges he would have probably received a fine, or little jail time.
 
So the moral of the post-long-weekend tirade is this.  Yes, some good news can be found,  if you really search for it.  You just have wade through some muck to get at it.

Never Enough Time

It would be fair to say that many people are not satisfied with the justice system.  When someone is found guilty of a crime as a result of a costly trial or after providing a guilty plea, we hope for the best.  We would like to see a deterrence, a punishment that fits the crime and not just a slap on the wrist.

Last week a Peter Terence Jones was sentenced on charges relating to two church arsons that he committed last October in Wetaskiwin.  First the United Church on 50 Ave., and then the very next day he broke into, stole items and then torched the St. John's Lutheran Church.  The devastation that occurred are well known to the citizens of that city.  The United Church building is just ‘No More’ and the St. Johns Lutheran Church building, after an inspection, was determined to be non-salvageable.

All we know from what the courts were told is that the arsonist started the United Church fire in an attempt to cover up the Break and Enter he had committed.  In the second case, there was no real explanation which leads us to conclude that it was deliberately lit in an effort to gain a thrill.  In sentencing the judge concluded that it was a “totally senseless wanton act of destruction.”  Jones was sentenced to four years in prison with recognition of eight months he served while remanded in custody. With good behavior we may see Mr. Jones out and about long before the full sentence is served.

Some can say that his sentence fits the crime.  Many may believe that four years in a federal institution will teach Mr. Jones a lesson and once he gets out he will mend his ways.  Personally, I just don't buy it.

It's not that I know Mr. Jones, it is just the nature of the crime that concerns me.  The truth is that many, even psychologists, don't have a real handle on the what makes an arsonist tick.

The motivating factors behind arson have been identified as either money, peer pressure vandalism, attention-getting, political activism or pyromania due to an underlying psychological condition.  According to a British study  titled the “Home Office Arson Scoping Study,” vandalism, boredom and trill-seeking covers 80% of arson that have come before the courts, where the arsonist has admitted the ignition was a spur-of-the-moment decision targeting vacant property, abandoned buildings and automobiles.  Five percent of arsons were malicious, where they were lit as an act of revenge, retaliation, rivalry or racism, or for political ends.  An even smaller percentage of arsonists have an underlying psychological problem, where only 2% of arsonists in Britain received a court ordered hospital stay, while about 10% of arson arrests are considered mentally ill.

It has been reported that around half of all arsonists are male under the age of 18, and the majority of the offenders are males under thirty, and according to an FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, the vast majority of 'profiled' arsonists have a below-normal IQ – typically between 70 and 90.

In cases where the arson is motivated by money, politics or revenge, the culprit has usually revealed that information during the course of the investigation.

The public is properly apprised during the court proceedings and citizens can see past whatever sentence is handled down.  We can at least be assured that the problem has been contained and properly dealt with by the authorities.  But when the motivation for arson has not been properly disclosed by the offender, as in our Wetaskiwin case, we are left with an uneasy feeling that perhaps the arsonist may re-offend after he is letout.

The truth is that, unlike a Hollywood movie, when an arson occurs the police have no real way of profiling an offender.  Psychologists just do not know enough about the mental state of a firebug to make any type of determination.  That is because arson investigations do not have a high solve rate and what the public knows of that type of offender is only gleaned from those culprits that are caught and charged in the first place.

Mr. Jones did not just steal a car, bicycle or broke into a business to  steal electronics for financial gain.  He entered into a church, a building that commonly provides nothing for a criminal to gain other than salvation. Mr. Jones torched the church and repeated that offense within 24 hours.  To say that the police did an outstanding job in catching him is an understatement.  The fact that he was arrested outside of Alberta, is to some reassuring for the citizens of Wetaskiwin that there is hope that once released he will leave our province.

This is the type of case that needs a full disclosure with an explanation for the  offenders actions.  Because, with less than fours years before Mr. Jones is once again out, without peace of mind, it is never enough time.