Please help the victims of the Haiti Earthquake

By now, you have probably heard and watched the news about the earthquake in Haiti. The latest has it that as much as one third of this Central American country's population is affected directly by the 7.0 quake. Thousands have died, many more are injured, and countless people have lost literally EVERYTHING they have.
Previously, I was thinking of writing today on the latest baseball story of former major leaguer Mark McGwire confessing that he had cheated, or about the controversy Vancouver Canuck Alex Burrows had raised against a referee, but watching the scenes from Haiti, seeing the faces of despair, and hearing the cries of hopelessness, almost everything stops, and almost nothing is relevant anymore.
I know this is a very difficult economic time. People are losing their jobs; everyone is probably a little concerned over his/her job security. But most of us can spare ten dollars, twenty dollars, or whatever amount, to help those who are in dire need. I urge you today to help.
The following non-profit groups are some of the reputable charitable organizations that are recognized by the Government of Canada (click here for the complete list). I'm attaching a link to their websites. If you can help, please help.
World Vision Canada
1 World Drive,
Mississauga, ON, L5T 2Y4
Tel: (905) 565-6100 / 1-800 268 5863
Fax: (905) 696-2162
E-mail: info@worldvision.ca
Website: www.worldvision.ca

Canadian Red Cross Society
International Services Department
170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario
Tel: 740-1900
Fax: 740-1911
Website: www.redcross.ca

UNICEF Canada
2200 Yonge St., 11th floor,
Toronto, ON, M4S 2C6
Tel: (416) 482-4444
Fax: (416) 482-8035
E-mail: secretary@unicef.ca
Website: www.unicef.ca

OXFAM-Canada
300-294 Albert Street
Ottawa, ON, K1P 6E6
Tel: 237-5236
Fax: 237-0524
E-mail: enquire@oxfam.ca
Website www.oxfam.ca

Doctors Without Borders
402-720 Spadina Ave
Toronto, ON, M5S 2T9
Tel: (416) 964-0619
Fax: (416) 963-8707
Toll free number: 1-800-982-7903
E-mail: msfcan@msf.ca
Website: www.msf.ca

Say No to Foie Gras

Today, I came across a blog entry that was absolutely disturbing. It is about a gourmet meal called the foie gras (the literal translation for this dish is “fatty liver”) – basically, this dish involves the cooking of the liver of geese (or ducks).

While the thought of eating an animal’s internal organs in itself may be unpleasant enough to deter you from even considering this dish, there is a lot more to it. While I am no nutrition expert, my biology training tells me that this dish is probably very high in its cholesterol content and thus is not healthy. The liver, the largest filtration organ of an organism, filters all the “junk” we consume, including poisons. Why one would enjoy eating animal livers is beyond me.

But the main reason why this article is written is not because foie gras is an unhealthy meal; it is because the production of this dish involves some very inhumane and gruesome methods, and to me, it was just sickening. I have captured a few images below. A word of warning: these pictures are not suitable for the viewing of everybody – you have been fore-warned.

In order to prepare a dish of foie gras, geese/ducks must be induced into a physiologically sick condition called fatty liver. This is achieved through a process of force-feeding, and assisted by a complete restriction of movement that would allow the animal to use up some of the foods’ energies.

Birds are confined to cages that are just slightly wider than their bodies. The birds cannot spread their wings, and cannot even turn around.
As frequently as three times a day, workers use force to insert a long metal tube (up to 30cm in length) into the bird’s mouth. And food is squeezed into the bird’s stomach. Birds can be injured or even killed during the force-feeding.
The amount of food forced into these animals’ stomach is so substantial that the food may overflow backwards out of the mouth (some articles call that vomiting, but I do not think birds have a vomit reflex) and may suffocate the birds.
If the force feeding is successful, the birds’ livers are progressively enlarged. When the birds are finally slaughtered, their livers can be more than 10x the size of a normal bird.
And all this for a delicacy that people pay a lot of money to eat. I am sorry, but even if it is the best-tasting food in the world, count me out as a person who would want to eat it.
For more information, Wikipedia has a couple of entries that are very good starting reference:
Foie Gras
Foie Gras Controversy

Shame on You, Marc Emery

I haven’t spoken much on the issue of pot in this blog, and certainly haven’t talked about marijuana activist Marc Emery (aka Prince of Pot) either, but recent news surrounding Emery and his impending extradition to a US prison is certainly worth talking about:

First, some background information for your reading pleasure:

CBC News: Marijuana activist Emery awaits extradition

The Vancouver Sun: Marc Emery's sentence reeks of injustice and mocks our sovereignty

I will talk about my take against the very biased Vancouver Sun article later, but first, let’s talk about the incident:

Marc Emery sold marijuana seeds to the US. This is against the US laws. Whether you agree with the laws in the States in regards to marijuana is irrelevant – he broke US laws knowingly. Canada and the US have extradition agreements. When a Canadian citizen has broken American laws, the US has the right to ask the Canadian government to extradite that person to the US to face prosecution and imprisonment. The same is true when an American breaks Canadian laws. These are objective facts.

If Emery wants to be an activist, and feels that his cause of the nature of civil disobedience, so be it. At least, I can almost respect him for taking a stance on something he believes in (though I would disagree with his stance completely). But, if he wants to be looked at as a martyr, then behave like one! Don’t whine about being extradited, don’t complain that Canada is “selling you out!” Emery KNEW when he sold the seeds to the States that he would be breaking their law! Emery mis-calculated, and now, has to pay for his mis-calculation. If he makes it sound like he didn’t know that this would happen, then either he has too much “hippie lettuce” in his system to think straight, or he is just a liar. Plain and simple.

As for Ian Mulgrew’s column – I have been criticizing this columnist for a very long time, and this is just another example. Look at the facts, Ian! Canada and the US have extradition agreements with each other! People who break the other country’s laws can be summoned for extradition! This is not a humanitarian case where Emery may face execution – he is going to the States for a jail term that he knew he might face. Canada is merely following what it has agreed upon; it is its international duty – how is that selling out our sovereignty?

Bottom line – when one has made a conscious choice, take ownership of the consequence. And please do not throw in the sovereignty card to make your argument sound more patriotic and reasonable – it only shows that you would go out of your way, even if the way is totally unreasonable and inaccurate, to make a point. It does not make you look smart, to say the least.

Hilarious or Worrisome?

Social networking has been extremely popular in recent years. Sites such as “Facebook” and “Twitter” have been used extensively, sometimes excessively, by people young and old. But this latest news is just over-the-top:

cnet News: Facebook break leads to burglary suspect

PC World: Burglar Checks Facebook During Raid, Gets Busted

Jonathan G. Parker, a 19-year-old from Fort Loudoun, Pa., was arrested by police for an alleged burglary. According to the charges, Parker broke into a home and stole two diamond rings that are worth $3500. The quick arrest happened, not strictly due to the police’s efficiency, but more so, because of Parker’s stupidity:

You see, when the victim of the crime came home and realized that someone had broken into her home, she also noticed that her computer was turned on, and on the browser was Parker’s Facebook page. Apparently, Parker could not stop the urge of logging onto his Facebook account during the burglary, and had to log on (but had forgotten to log off).

If you are in the middle of a burglary and you cannot resist logging onto Facebook to check if your “homie” is having lobsters that evening, or if your buddy is having a fight with his girlfriend, you have an addiction problem! Jonathan, if it is not too much to ask, next time you are breaking into someone’s home, bring your smart phone with you so you can twit about your crime, and can update your status without leaving such apparent tracks for the police. So you can update your status as “in the middle of a burglary, hope I won’t get caught…”?! Or so you can twit and say “picked up two diamond rings, score!”?!

Social networking has done wonders for many of us – how many of us have benefitted from these programs that allow us to connect with friends that you have not seen for the longest time? Having said that, it has also created a bunch of us, who seemingly can no longer survive without letting the whole world know about what we are doing. What has happened to sports, to private, quiet reading time, to family time?

As for Jonathan Parker, he may be behind bars for as many as ten years, likely without a chance to Facebook or Twit during that time.

Time to re-examine how we view athletes

The recent news involving Chicago Blackhawks’ star forward Patrick Kane is shocking, but not the least surprising. It merely adds to a long list of athletes who have gone “knuckle-head” to make a fool of themselves.

For those of you who do not follow professional sports and are not aware of the incident, here it is in a nutshell: the 20-year-old forward (left) was returning home with his cousin from a party at 4:00 a.m. this past Sunday on a taxicab. According to reports, the cab fare was $13.80USD. Kane paid the driver $15.00 (some reports said $20.00), and the cab driver could only return $1.00 (or $6.00) in change, claiming that he did not have 20 cents on hand. Kane then was alleged to punch the cab driver in the face, and proceeded to take away the entire taxi fare. Kane and his cousin are now charged for felony robbery and misdemeanour. Kane has entered a “not guilty” plead as of today.

While more recent reports, including one that cites the cab driver’s lawyer, are trying to downplay the incident, and trying to make it sound like it was merely a “minor dispute” that occurred over the fares from the ride, it is indelible that an altercation DID happen and Kane had used excessive force during the incident. The case, in my opinion, would be settled before even going to the court, and charges may be dropped outright, but that does not change the fact that Kane most likely has done something extremely stupid.

Which takes me to my point: how many times have we heard the terms “star athletes” and “crime” linked in a news report? From O.J. Simpson’s murder trial, to Kobe Bryant’s rape accusation, to Michael Vick’s dog-fighting ring, to Michael Phelps’ “bong” incident, to Plaxico Burress’ gun charges, to Kane’s altercation… (I can go on and on) And these are only incidents outside of the playing field/court! Why are we still, as a society, worshipping athletes and other celebrities, and worse yet, teaching our future generation to do the same?

Don’t get me wrong – there are tonnes of athletes and celebrities that are solid citizens, and good role models. Tony Dungy, the retired Indianapolis Colts coach, is an upright man who has set many great examples to others; Jim Abbott, the former California Angels/New York Yankee pitcher, remains an inspiration to people with a physical disability; Warrick Dunn’s story of forgiveness to the murderer of his mother brings tears to fans and non-fans of the Tampa Bay Bucs… I can continue to name these names, but that is not my point.

Fact is, athletes and celebrities are HUMANS, who have their victories and demons. While we should celebrate their victories and cheer for their achievements, we need to keep things in proper prospective. People, in general, should not be worshiped as idols.

When I was a little boy, I read about George Washington to learn of the value of honesty; I read the story of Helen Keller to learn about the value of perseverance; I read the story of Thomas Edison to learn about the importance of an inquiring mind and work ethic… I was never taught to make these much more worthy people my idols (and worse yet, gods). It’s time we return to that when it comes to our celebrities.

An Open Letter Against the Proposed HST

The following is a letter I have e-mailed to BC Premier Gordon Campbell, BC Finance Minister Colin Hansen, my riding's MLA Kash Heed, and Opposition Leader Carole James. I'd encourage those who are reading this to do the same in opposition to the proposed HST.

The letter is very similar to my earlier post, but with a slight twist. My brother has written to the government, and has gotten an "official response" defending the HST. I have modified some of my points to demonstrate the fallacies of the Liberals' argument.

Please note that I have said at the end that I have been "a supporter of the BC Liberals." This statement is a tactic I encourage you to use, whether you are a supporter of the Liberals or not. If there is something that these politicians are still slightly afraid of, it is that vote in your hands... Use it to threaten them - it is our only weapon.

To: Hon. Gordon Campbell, Hon. Colin Hansen, Hon. Kash Heed
cc: Ms. Carole James, Leader of the Official Opposition

Date: August 10, 2009

Dear Premier Campbell, Honourable Mr. Hansen, Honourable Mr. Heed, and Ms. James,

I am writing to you in protest of the proposed 12% harmonized sales tax (HST) in British Columbia. I am extremely disturbed over the trend the B.C. Liberal government has shown in taking hard-earned money from middle- and low-income families in the name of “economic stimulation” and “savings for businesses.”

In the multiple rounds of rhetoric that various representatives from the Liberal government have spoken, the proposed HST is vigorously defended, and many reasons were cited to support their views. However, these reasons are either irrelevant, invalid, or not substantial enough to warrant the proposed change. Based on what I have heard and read from people of your party and in the press, I would like to point out the following flaws of your argument:

1) HST rebates will be given to citizens of lower income four times a year, in the same way as the GST rebates are currently given.
There is a serious flaw in the concept of a HST rebate: people must still pay the tax upfront. For people who are barely earning enough for their everyday needs, receiving a cheque every three months does not allow them to purchase their daily necessities. This would drastically reduce the quality of life for senior citizens, citizens with a physical and mental disabilities, and children who are in under-privileged families.

2) Businesses will be saving administrative costs in the billions.
The Liberal government continues to advertise that the harmonization process will save businesses 2 billion dollars in administrative and accounting costs. What it does not tell the citizens of B.C. is that these savings would only apply to big corporations who are paying multiple staff to handle such duties. For local and small businesses, where the accounting work is done mostly by the business owners, and maybe once a year by an accountant, they cannot share any benefit what-so-ever. On the contrary, because accounting services would be subject to an increase in tax charges, small businesses are even less likely to seek the use of accountants. This would translate into more work for small business owners, and accountants who earn their living by helping these small businesses.

3) B.C. would have the lowest HST rate in Canada.
This claim is a play of words, and is actually invalid when we look at the issue of sales taxes rather than HST. Alberta currently has no provincial sales taxes, and Saskatchewan has a 5% PST rate. When you combine the different types of sale taxes (GST, PST, HST, etc.), B.C.’s 12% sales tax is still 7% higher than that of Alberta, and 2% higher than Saskatchewan. By harmonizing the B.C. PST and the GST does not change that fact.

4) There are exemptions to the HST in certain goods and services.
While there are exemptions to the HST in some of the essential products, the range to which the new exemptions would cover is still less than what the former PST exemption covers. When senior citizens do not dare eating lunch at family restaurant at the corner of a block, or when a small child can no longer afford to have his/her haircut done at a local barber shop, the quality of life for lower-income families, as well as the welfare of small family businesses would suffer tremendously.

5) Businesses currently paying a hidden 7% PST would transfer that tax back to the consumers.
This is only a wishful thinking on the part of the Liberal government who is desperate to find a reason to justify the proposed change. When the BC Government itself has said that the money it has received from the federal government to implement the HST will NOT be given directly to BC residents, what makes anyone believe that big businesses would pass along their savings directly to the consumers? Big businesses are not legally obliged to do so, and because of that, many of them won’t.

6) The full cost of administration would be taken care of by the federal government, and with the adoption of the HST, BC would receive $1.6 billion from Ottawa to use as it sees fit.
Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hansen have made it very clear that this money received from Ottawa will not be given to the citizens of BC. This is irresponsible and despicable. It is the BC Liberals who want to implement the HST; BC’s citizens did not ask for this, nor did we vote for it. If the government does not try to harmonize the two taxes, there would be no administrative costs incurred in the first place. Even if the harmonization process is a necessity and is beneficial to the mass majority of BC’s residents (it is not), the money from the federal government should be given fully to the citizens of BC, especially those whose quality of life would be most affected by this process.

I have long been voting for the B.C. Liberals in the provincial election because I believe your party is more capable of promoting a healthy economic atmosphere. However, I have never wanted to vote for a government that takes advantage of the most vulnerable citizens of the province to help make big businesses more viable. If the HST proposal is not retracted or if substantial modifications are not made to address the issues of lower-income families and citizens, I would not vote for the Liberal party again, and would ensure that all my family and friends do the same. I would also participate in any recall movements to recall my local MLA, who is unwilling to listen to the voices of his constituency.

I look forward to hearing your response to these points that I have raised, and to hear what solution you have in place to address my concerns. Thank you very much for your attention.

Yours truly,
XXX

More on the HST

Since my last post on the HST, more information has emerged as to how this new tax would be implemented. The details, however, did not change my stance against this tax one bit.

Against the oppositional voices, the government has outlined several points in defence of the HST. I will first list these points, and then offer my argument against them:

#1 HST rebates will be given to citizens of lower income, much like the GST rebates currently given. There are two serious flaws in the concept of a HST rebate: firstly, people must still pay the tax upfront. For people who are barely earning enough for their everyday needs, receiving a cheque in three months’ time does not assist them in acquiring their daily essentials today. Secondly, as a person who used to collect GST rebate cheques way back in the day, I know the amount does not reflect how much I have spent. For people who are living on a very tight budget, the fact that they know they will receive a set amount of rebate regardless of how much they have spent would decrease their desire to spend. This would harm businesses overall.

#2 Businesses will be saving administrative costs in the billions. I know very little about big businesses and how they operate, so let’s just assume that this claim is true. However, for a corner store owner who handles the bookkeeping and taxes by himself, how does harmonizing the GST and PST save him any administrative money? Increasing that number on the price tag would hurt his business, that’s for sure. What would small businesses gain through this re-structuring of taxes?

#3 B.C. would have the lowest HST rate in Canada. So? Right now, we have 5% GST, and 7% GST. Keep things the way it is, we have to pay a combined 12% for sales taxes. If that is the lowest in Canada (it actually is not – Alberta has no PST, and Saskatchewan has a 5% PST rate, for a combined rate of 5% and 10%, respectively), does the process of harmonization change anything? It doesn’t.

#4 There are exemptions to the HST in areas such as food, books, etc. But the exemptions cover fewer areas than the current PST exemptions. Not all food items we purchase from a supermarket would be PST exempt, so food cost will go up (unless you just buy broccoli and boil it everyday as your food, with no sauces, no spices, and no processed food items to add). You work late one night and need to dine out? Pay 14% HST. Can you imagine the hit restaurants, particularly those low-end, bargain restaurants, would take?

#5 Businesses currently paying a hidden 7% PST would transfer that tax back to the consumers when that hidden tax is removed and replaced by the surface 12% HST. The BC Government has said the money it has received from the federal government to implement the HST will NOT be given to BC residents, so what make anyone believe that big businesses would pass along their savings? Are we that naïve, Mr. Campbell?

The Liberal Government has claimed that, over the years, it has taken steps over the years to make business more competitive, and to reduce taxes. All I know is that, over the last few years, the federal government has lowered the GST from 7% to 6% and then to 5%. Love or hate the Conservatives, they did deliver their election promises. I have not seen the PST reduced at all. I have seen money from lower income families being taken to be given to big businesses and corporations, friends of Mr. Campbell and his friends.

Truth is, the HST is a discriminatory tax that targets people of lower income. At the provincial level, I have not really been supportive of either the Liberals or the NDP, but this latest move by the Liberals have turned me into a definite Liberal-basher. I would sincerely urge you to join the following Facebook group to voice your displeasure against the BC HST:

No BC HST Facebook Group

MJ and ET

These last 10 days, we have been bombarded with news and rumours surround Michael Jackson’s passing. While there is absolutely no doubt that Michael Jackson is a transcendent figure in the world of entertainment, I cannot but remember his later days and all the controversies and allegations. Is Michael Jackson a legend? Absolutely. Is he worth the wailing and crying that we are seeing daily in the news? Unless you are actually related to him biologically or in relationship, I think not.

Just a couple days before MJ’s passing, a far less prominent person by the name of Ed Thomas suffered a tragic death. The news, however, did not receive much media attention. Here's one though, from ABC news.

Ed Thomas was a long-time high school football coach at Aplington-Parkersburg, a small town in Iowa, USA. He has coached for over 40 years, and from his small high school program, he has produced four professional football players, no small feat for a program so small. On the day Mr. Thomas died, he was putting in extra time for his players, gathering them for an extra training session. A former student from his high school stormed the changing room where Mr. Thomas was, and shot him in front of his players.

Mr. Thomas is a big-name person in the state of Iowa not because of his coaching genius, but because of his character as a person. A couple years ago, a tornado basically destroyed this small town in Iowa. While many considered leaving the town, Mr. Thomas urged the people to stay, and used the re-building of the school’s football field as a rallying cry to help the town’s people to move on.

In many ways, I understand why Mr. Thomas is not getting the respect and tribute that Michael Jackson is getting – after all, Mr. Thomas was “just” a high school football coach that worked with these teenagers, and showed them how to live their lives the right way. But, isn’t that exactly the problem we have in this society, that we celebrate the stars, and don’t recognize those who are truly making the true difference, one life at a time?

Rest in peace, Mr. Thomas. You have my utmost respect.

Forget the Red Tape and Bureaucracy - Save the Man!

This news that CTV has been following for the last two weeks REALLY disturb me:

CTV: Visa Denied for Brother Willing to Donate Kidney

CTV: Community Joins Search for Life-saving Kidney

Ibrahim Essandoh (left), a 42-year-old immigrant who has called Canada his home for the last 25 years, is fighting for his life with a serious kidney disease. Doctors say that a kidney transplant is the only way to save Mr. Essandoh’s life. Fortunately, Ibrahim’s brother Thomas is willing to donate one of his kidneys to Ibrahim, and is a perfect match for the donation.

There is one problem: Thomas (below right) lives in Ghana in West Africa, and Canada is not allowing him to fly across the ocean to do this life-saving operation. Immigration department has denied the application for a visitor’s visa even though Ibrahim had the medical documents from St. Paul’s hospital explaining his medical conditions and the urgent need to have the transplant done. The immigration office had subsequently requested Mr. Essandoh to submit DNA documentations to prove that Thomas is indeed his brother. Ibrahim did that, but the visa is still not granted to date.

What I don’t understand is: why do we even need proof that Thomas is Ibrahim’s brother?! We are talking about a life-saving procedure here! Does it even matter if Thomas is indeed Ibrahim’s brother? There is medical proof that Thomas can save Ibrahim’s life, and that is ALL that matters. If someone is afraid that Thomas will enter Canada and not leave, add as many conditions as you want when granting his visitor’s visa. Have people escort him to the hospital upon his landing in Canada, and supervise him until he is fit to fly back to Ghana. Do whatever, but allow a human being to give a gift of life to another fellow human being! What IS the hold-up?

Bureaucracy and political red tapping often sicken me to no ends, and this is just another great but sad example.

Facebook Group to Support Mr. Essandoh: Click here to enter

Olympic Torch a 3-Foot Joint?

The Olympic Torch was unveiled a while ago now, but I am not sure why there is this sudden buzz of the shape of it. Below are a few articles that talk about this Toronto-designed Olympic Torch:

Jim Rome: Olympic Torch Looks Like a Joint

Seattle Times: About that Reefer-bished Vancouver Oly Torch

Now, I am not a pothead, so I don’t have first-hand knowledge of how a "fatty" should look like. Having seen people roll up a marijuana cigarette, though, I must attest, when you look at the Olympic Torch sideways (see below left), it does show a remarkable resemblance (right).

This is probably just a silly story that gets reported out-of-proportion, but how ironic is it that, the capital city of pot in the world gets a chance to host the Winter Olympics, and one of the biggest symbols of the Game shows such eerie resemblance to the item that Vancouver is so infamous for.

As sports talk radio host Jim Rome mocks, the "higher" part in the Olympic motto has just taken on a whole new meaning in Vancouver... higher... yeah right... If you ask me, I am honestly feeling ashamed of our city's infamy when it comes to marijuana.

Please Give Her Compassion

I cannot help but really feel for this story:

Province: Mom faces deportation over girl’s illness:

Vancouver 24hrs: Please give me compassion:

Hesanna Santiago (left), 44, came to Canada through the federal government’s live-in caregiver program. Under the program, she can apply for immigrant status after completing 24 months of live-in care in 3 years. Mrs. Santiago has done that, and was in the process of being able to bring her family over from the Philippines.

That was until she learned that her 12-year-old daughter Angelika (bottom right) has developed a very serious chronic kidney disease, and requires dialysis as many as six times a day. Immigration officer has told Santiago that her immigration application will be denied because her daughter will put too big of a strain onto Canada’s health care system.

Politicians are quickly jumping on the issue, criticizing the federal government to be cruel and inhumane. Local MP Don Davis quickly criticized the federal government for requiring people in the live-in caregiver program to have to go through two rounds of medical examination, saying that it is unfair because regular immigration applicants only need to have one medical examination.

Make no mistake about it – I feel for Mrs. Santiago, and would plead with the government to treat her with compassion and let her family come over. I also disagree with the fact that a live-in caregiver can fulfil her legal requirements, and then gets denied of what she has worked for because a family member has fallen ill. The policy requires review and changes, there is no question about that. But where are these opposition MPs when the law was first passed? Why did they not voice a complaint back then? I know politicians are, by nature, opportunistic creatures, but please, represent the people, plead for compassion, but don’t use these poor people as your political ammunition – it disturbs me.

To Immigration Minister Jason Kenney – I plead with you to grant Ms. Santiago and her family landed immigrant status. I know this would put a financial burden on our health care system, but Ms. Santiago has done her part in living honestly and diligently to earn her chance to become a Canadian. Canada has never been a country that shuts others down because of financial reasons – please, treat her with empathy, not because we owe her anything; not because we are “higher than thee,” but because it is the right thing to do.

Every Vote Counts

Politicians and athletes are two groups of people who love to use clichés to avoid stepping out of line. The line “every vote counts” is as genuine an invitation to ask for you vote as the “it is what it is” when an athlete tries to rationalize what his/her performance is weak. Having said that, “every vote counts” is actually true, very true.

When the residents of Delta South went to the polls this past Tuesday, they probably did not know that the race would come down to a handful of votes. Wally Oppal (left), the province’s attorney general, was in a tough fight against independent candidate Vicki Huntington (below right). At the end of the day, Oppal appeared to have won the seat, but only by a mere 2 votes (CTV reports Friday evening that it is 3 votes). Because the margin of victory is so small, a court-ordered recount will take place later this month to check things over. (for details of this news, check out this link from CTV)

I do not necessarily care which way the re-count goes (except I feel a little bitter that Oppal bolted from my riding to vacate his seat for a hand-picked candidate by the Liberals), but if you are either a supporter of Oppal or Huntington, wouldn’t you be a little uneasy these days? If you are a supporter of either one, but did NOT go to vote this past Tuesday, how would you feel if the final result shows that the candidate you support is on the losing end?

Together with the fact that voter-turnout falls below 50% for the first time in a LONG while, it saddens me to know that so many people just do not care about this very precious democratic right that thousands and millions around the world are dying to have. Yes, I know many people do not like politics, and politicians are widely despised (and in many cases, rightfully so), but exercising that democratic rights is entirely different from supporting politics or supporting a politician. Casting an empty ballot is an expression of your disapproval of the candidates and/or the system; not casting a vote just means you do not care what the politicians do to you and your community.

Last year, we saw the Dosanjh vs. Young fight in Vancouver South during the federal election whose margin of victory was 21. This year, we have the Oppal vs. Huntington fight in Delta South. Can we still afford not to vote?

One Year Later: The Truth Behind Sichuan’s Earthquake

On May 12, 2008, a large earthquake rocked the province of Sichuan, China. After the quake that killed tens and thousands of people, reporters and journalists arriving at the scene discovered something very unusual: in many towns where many people have died from collapsed buildings, the only buildings that had collapsed were schools. Looking at the ruins of these fallen buildings, people noticed that there were definitely problems associated with the buildings: big pebbles embedded in the cement, and steel bars that are way too narrow – hence the term “tofu constructions.” Seeing these, people cannot but ponder: is the large number of casualties due strictly to a natural disaster, or were there human factors that made a natural disaster much, much worse?

In the year that follows, families of the casualties were running from place to place, trying to seek justice for the deceased. What they did not know was that: for a request that was just, fair, and legal, they would face such oppression. People associated with the government would prevent them from protesting, would try to offer bribes for them to stop protesting, and threaten to use the legal system to punish the families of the victims if they do not stop their struggles.

In the anniversary of the Sichuan Earthquake, Hong Kong’s TVB has shot a short documentary detailing the oppressions these parents and other volunteers have faced. It is a chilling tale, and though this blog is written in English, I trust you would have Chinese-speaking friends who would get a lot from watching it:

The Truth Behind Tofu Constructions: Part 1


The Truth Behind Tofu Constructions: Part 2


The Truth Behind Tofu Constructions: Part 3


To those who are still denying, to this date, of any faults in building these “tofu constructions,” I have but two questions:

First: if the collapsed buildings have fallen strictly due to the earthquake, why in the world were the parents not allowed to openly visit their children’s grave? Why are the parents watched and sometimes taken away by authorities for just talking to the media about their children who died during a “natural disaster?”

Second: for you to be so shameless, so heartless in your treatment to the victims’ families, are you still worthy to be called a human being? Where is your soul, or are you just a ghoul?

I sincerely hope that: after watching these videos, you will share them with those around you, particularly those living in China who may be blocked from seeing these.
Justice for the victims of the Sichuan Earthquake!

Reverse the Curse

This following blog will probably be quite disturbing to some of you, but I think the message is important enough, that I must present it.

Do you know that there were 80 million of orphans in the world in 2000, and now, there are over 150 million?

Do you know that 10 million children in the world are used as sex slaves?

Do you know that 16000 kids die daily because of mal-nourishment, and 38% of the world’s population is mal-nourished?

Do you know that, in some African states, as much as 46% of the population is infected with HIV, and these people would all eventually die from AIDS?

Do you know it only takes about $5US to cure someone from malaria, yet 3 million die each year of this deadly disease carried by mosquitoes?

These are very haunting facts. One cannot look at these facts and not feel a sense of sadness or even outrage – it is as if the world we are living in is cursed.

The curse, however, can be reversed, and we have to be a part of this solution.

Recently, I attended a talk by Tom Davis, CEO of Children’s Hope Chest. Mr. Davis is a man who frequently visits the orphans in Africa, and has established a foundation to provide the much needed care and services to those who are in the deepest trouble. He has also started a campaign called “5 for 50” in hope to advocate for the orphans of the world, particularly those afflicted by HIV and AIDS directly or indirectly. The five things Mr. Davis suggests, in my opinion, are quite doable, and should be done:

1. Give 5 minutes a day to pray for those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
2. Give 5 hours a week to fast for those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
3. Give 5 dollars a month to the Five for 50 Fund and support worthy causes.
4. Give 5 days a year to travel overseas and help alleviate poverty and suffering.
5. Give 5 people an opportunity to join you on your journey.

We are all a part of this world, and those in the most need are not very far from us; in fact, they are living among us. Please, do your part to help reverse the curse. For more info, please feel free to browse the following websites:

Children’s Hope Chest
Five for 50

Death Is Not a Joking Matter

As someone whose “jokes” have gone too far in the past, I am still extremely appalled by the latest “joke” that has gone bad by the Fox late-night show Red Eye. For those who do not know, host Greg Gutfeld has this show where he and a panel of guests discusses and pokes fun at various current events. On the March 17 episode, Gutfeld and one of his guests mocked the Canadian Forces, noting Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie's recent comment that the military may need a year to recover after Canada's mission in Afghanistan ends in 2011.

Gutfeld (left) said, "Meaning, the Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants." His guest, comedian Doug Benson chimed in and said, "I didn't even know they were in the war… I thought that's where you go if you don't want to fight. Go chill in Canada."

All this while more Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan. (Below, from left to right, Master Cpl. Scott Vernelli, 28, Cpl. Tyler Crooks, 24, Trooper Jack Bouthillier, 20, and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes, 22, are seen in this combination photo.)

Gutfeld has since apologized for his gaffe, after strong criticism from Canadians, including Defense Ministry Peter MacKay.

CBC Report:

Canadian Press Report:

Like I have said, I am a person whose jokes have gone too far in the past. And, I am the last person to say that there is no place for humour in our lives, that we should all day just be taking about serious things and have a stern face on. But something is just out of bounds. A life-threatening disease is not funny, a person’s disability is not funny, a person’s religious and/or cultural rituals are not funny, and death is NOT funny. I know this episode of “Red Eye” was done BEFORE the latest weekend where four Canadians were killed in Afghanistan, but this has been an ongoing mission, and people have been dying in the mission for a very long time. It is as dispicible as those losers who clapped their hands when the Twin Towers fell in 9-11.

The line between humour and flippancy is sometimes not all that clear, but as a public figure, Gutfeld and many, many others need to check themselves ever-more-closely: I always think you can be classy without being boring, and funny without being offensive. Sadly, many public figures cannot do that.

It Only Takes One...

When you tune in to the local news station these days, two major themes are being reported: the gang violence in Metro Vancouver, and the inquiry of the taser-led death of the polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski.

For those who don't remember, Mr. Dziekanski arrived at the Vancouver International Airport from Poland on one October night in 2007. After clearing immigration, he was seen wandering in the waiting area for HOURS, and grew increasingly distressed. The surveillance camera showed that Mr. Dziekanski began to set up a barricade using his luggage, and was talking to himself. 4 RCMP officers eventually arrived, and, as some of you may have seen in a graphic and disturbing video, tasered him repeatedly. He eventually died.

The hearing/inquiry aims to investigate whether the RCMP officers did the right thing in handling Mr. Dziekanski’s situation, and whether any foul play was involved in preventing him from receiving first aid treatment after he was tasered. I will not pretend to be a legal expert and predict what the outcome is, nor am I going to say whether the officers were in any way at fault (I do have my doubts as to why they looked at a man holding a stapler in a “combat stance” as dangerous that warrants repeated taser blasts…). I just want to think of what we are doing to our neighbours.

Mr. Dziekanski was on a flight from a foreign country. It is safe to assume that, on that flight, there were others who could speak Polish. It is also safe to assume that during the six or more hours that he was wandering at YVR, there would have been people who saw this really distressed man not finding his way, not finding his family. Had a fellow passenger from the plane took a little time to ask the man if there was something he/she could do, or had there been a staff at YVR who came to his assistance shortly after he was noticed to be wandering, the RCMP officers never would have been dispatched in the first place.

We never think that being kind to those around us could make a world of a difference, could make a difference between life and death. I was at this suicide-assistance training course earlier, and the speaker told us that many people who tried to kill themselves actually just need that ONE person to show them that they are still being cared for. In Mr. Dziekanski’s case, had someone shown care, he might have been led to safety to meet his mother. In the case of those around you who are struggling in life, a word of comfort and support may be all it takes to encourage that person to hold on through the tough times. Why are we still too stingy to express that we care?

It only takes one...

The Root of the Problem

When you have, on average, a gun crime every other day for an entire month (there has been 15 gun incidents the last 30 days), you have a problem. When shots were being fired in the middle of the day, on major streets, in large parking lots of shopping mall, you have a big problem. When people shot a mother right in front of the eyes of her four-year-old child, you have a problem that is almost incomprehensible.

When federal public safety minister Peter Van Loan called Metro Vancouver the “gang capital” (see article) in Canada, he did not say that for effect. Truth is, gang crime has gotten out of hand, and it has become increasingly unsafe to live in the Lower Mainland.

While I appreciate the various levels of government vowing for more police force and stiffer sentences for these criminals, few seem to be talking about the root of the problem: the Lower Mainland is a major hotbed for drug trade, and our justice system has been systematically letting the bad guys get away with either no punishment or a mere slap-in-the-hand penalty. As long as the lucrative profits of drug trades are staying, so would the criminals. We can put out 1000 more law enforcers on the street; they can be working 24-7 to bust crimes; they can even be arresting hundreds of criminals, and the courts can even put these criminals into long sentences… but it still would NOT solve the problem.

The problem is the drug culture here in Western Canada. If we continue to have this cavalier attitude about drugs (in particular, towards marijuana), if the justice system continues to turn a blind eye to the marijuana culture and people in general condone or even endorse it, the problem will persist, because the profit would stay.

Stop suggesting that if marijuana is legalized or de-criminalized, the profit would stop flowing in for the criminals. It won’t. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal, but black-market cigarettes and alcohol are still rampant because criminals can still make a profit through selling “better” cigarettes and alcohol in the black market. What makes marijuana any different?

Look at the recent gang busts and you will see footages of cops carrying bags and bags of marijuana into their police trucks. I know some of you feel that pot-smoking is okay. Look at the killings, look at the violence, think again.

The National Anthem, eh?

This may be a very small matter, but it illustrates once again the lunacy that is with political correctness:

Outrage Grows over Cancelled Anthem

For those who don’t know, the principal of a small New Brunswick elementary school, Erik Millett, decided to cancel the school’s long-time ritual of singing the national anthem at the start of each school day, citing that certain parents did not want their children to participate in the event. The mother of a grade 5 student, Mrs. Susan Boyd, wrote to a local paper to voice her disapproval of the principal’s decision. The complaint quickly gained national attention, causing both federal and provincial ministers to comment and a heated public debate. Most feel the principal’s decision was out of line, and are demanding the school to return to this daily ritual.

What government officials say on this matter is not of my concern. For all I know and care, they are just saying what is politically the most appealing thing. I am more concerned over why the principal would come to such a decision.

While Mr. Millett would not say how many parents actually complained, and what reasons they had to complain of the singing of the national anthem, one can only imagine that the number is a very small one, and the reason probably has something to do with what these parents believe or not believe in. I am all for the respect of other people’s believes and values, but not to the point where we have to change and modify everything to suit the desires of a small number of people. Like sex-ed classes in school, parents have the right to opt out their children from participating. If some parents genuinely feel that their children should not participate in the singing of our nation’s national anthem, they can quite simply request their children to not participate. Why should the entire school change its ways for a few? What if a parent, for whatever reason, feels strongly that the school should sing the national anthem for country X instead? Should the whole school change its national anthem routine for that too?

Meanwhile, I know that there has been people who have been trying to change the lyrics of “O Canada.” In particular, they want to remove the word “God” from the lyrics of the anthem because certain people believe that there is no god. Again, this idea is just ludicrous. What these people fail to understand is that the lyrics represent the founding values and the history behind this country. Our forefathers believed that this country is governed and kept by an Almighty God. Whether you accept that belief or not, it IS a part of our nation’s history. You cannot deny history just because you do not accept or agree with that history. And for the people who preach tolerance to be so intolerant even of history past, it is a hypocrisy.

I am a proud Canadian, and would be singing every word of my national anthem whenever there is a chance. Props to Ms. Boyd to stand up against the rudeness of political correctness – it has violated us long enough.

From Bush to Obama

Yesterday’s inauguration of the 44th president of the United States Barack Obama created a frenzy even in Canada. Across the hallways I could feel “Obamamania” happening – people quoting Obama’s inauguration speech, imitating his gestures and tone, comparing him to the political leaders of this country… I must say, it was quite a sight, especially considering the fact that many Canadians have long been despising our neighbours down south. The whole scene was just surreal, if you ask me.

Here's the first part of Obama's speech. You can follow the "related videos" to watch the rest of them:

Drama, and emotions aside, one cannot deny that Obama’s inauguration speech was well-written, and it did deliver a message of passive, but strong determination and hope. On a personal level, I am the most impressed with the framework he has laid out on his foreign policies:

“Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations.”

While stating the obvious fact that US has the military power to dominate any other nation, Obama is also extending an olive branch of sort in wanting to cooperate and wishing for better understanding, two things that the Bush administration was not able to do well.

“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Here I see a little pride and a little threat even uttered to those who defy the “American way,” but it was nonetheless spoken eloquently in arguing that the liberal way is the better way. It also maintains the notion of not wanting to exclude anyone to get on board, as long as they are willing.

When the speech is done, it was obviously well received. But now, the true work begins. The whole world has known for quite some time that Obama can talk the talk. Now, it’s time to walk the walk. His vision seems noble, and he has mentioned over and over again that he will collaborate. Let’s hope he is truly a president of collaboration and understanding.

While talking Obama, I think it’s worthy to talk about his predecessor, George W. Bush. Unlike many people that I know, I am not an anti-Bush person per se. True, I think the war on Iraq was an unjust one, and I think his foreign policies are generally bully tactics that do not belong to this age, but that does not take away my respect for Mr. Bush for his steadfast support for the firefighters, the policemen, and the victims of the tragedy of 9-11; it does not stop me from admiring his strong stance on certain social issues that he has convictions in. One may not agree with the stances he has chosen to take, but at least, “W” has always been upfront about where he stands on those issues. Check out his national address following the tragedy of 9-11:



I have always been someone who believes that there is a time for everything (politically, in a democratic world anyway…). Bush was meant to be the leader that takes America through the horrors of 9-11; his time is up, so he is moving off the stage for someone else. May Obama be the right person for this age, and though I am not an American, like Mr. George W. Bush always says at the end of most public address to his nation, “God bless America.”

(P.S. for something lighter, here's a clip showing "W" and his impersonator, Steve Bridges, delivered a duet of a speech in 2006. It takes something special to be able to laugh at yourself, particularly if you are a person in power. Bush did that well, and I respect him for it).

Miracle on the Hudson

By now you have probably seen the pictures, and have watched the video. For those who have not, US Airway Flight 15479 took off from La Guardia Airport for a merely two minutes when large flocks of birds flew towards the plane. Both engines got disabled as birds were sucked into the jet’s engines by their powerful suction force. Fortunately, the plane was controlled by Captain Chesley B Sullenberger III (pictured), who calmly took the ill-fated plane to an emergency landing into the Hudson River. Miraculously, all 155 people on board survived.

Out from so many stories of distress and sadness came a story that was cheerful and upbeat. I have no knowledge in the difficulty of flying a plane, much less landing a plane in any type of emergency, but this much I know: most who were interviewed about the incidents said that it was a total miracle that everyone on board survived what literally was a plane crash.

Behind this heroic and miraculous act is a pilot, Mr. Sullenberger. What we must know is that this miracle was possible because Mr. Sullenberger is a well-experienced pilot who has the skills to make such an emergency landing. But more importantly, it is Sullenberger’s ability to make an instantaneous decision outside the box that saved the lives of 155: when he discovered that his plane has lost power in both engines, he reported the disaster calmly to the airport’s traffic control. He was initially told to fly back to the airport for an emergency landing. It was Sullenberger’s ability to immediately see that such a suggestion was not feasible, and his ability to decide to try the landing on a frigid river, that made the difference. Sullenberger did not just accept the “order” from the authorities; he took it, digested it, and made changes that are deemed right for the situation. And he parlayed that with a masterful job in landing the plane on the water, preventing the almost-full fuel tank from exploding, and holding the wings above water so passengers had a chance to escape.

My utmost respect to Captain Sullenberger – you have demonstrated courage and wisdom in a time of distress, and are a true model for so many of us.