Adventures

Jess and I have decided to have an adventure every Saturday this year! Keep checking this for updates, and feel free to give us ideas!

Saturday September 11 - Bike out to Bay of Fundy 

~ We were going to bike to Woodpoint but got distracted by a dirt road. The dirt road took us out through some farmers fields and then the Bay of Fundy. The mud just looked too fun to not play in. So we spent an hour or so frolicking in the mud, throwing it and swimming a little.

Saturday September 18 - Party at Cubbin Cove

~ We hitch hiked to Halifax (first time for both of us) and then had the most amazing weekend ever!

Look out world 

She ain't afraid

running round barefoot

hair up in braids

but man does she look good 

A little tom-boy

but ain't she beautiful

She's a Country Girl

-- Paul Brandt

Dreadies

They still need some work to get rid of all the frizzieness but they're looking good :)

Monsanto

I first heard about Monsanto and Genetically Modified Organisms back in High School, and at first I didn't realize how bad it could be. Once I found out that a company had designed seeds that were resilient to pesticide and could only be used once I started to see how this could be a problem. After watching Food Inc. last week I felt I needed to share this with others.

Monsanto has patented their seeds and practically owns the market. Their seeds are supposedly "the best possible germplasm, [with] improved genetics, for a higher yield"  but this forces farmers to use Monsanto seeds and buy new ones every year. Many people are opposed to having to buy needs seeds every year because it is expensive, and they want to keep "conventional and organically grown seeds free of genetically modified organisms". Monsanto is actually going to the point of suing people who save seeds (even some who aren't using their patented seed) because they want all the money they can get. Their defense is that Monsanto "invests more than $2.6 million per day in research and development that ultimately benefits farmers and consumers" so farmers should buy new seeds every year to support that. If you watch the video (below) you will see that Monsanto is using it's money to sue people and pay people off. Maybe if they were not doing that they would have more money to put toward their research. 

One thing that really annoyed be is that they quote Ghandi on their Philanthropic activities. Monsanto Fund is supposed to bridge the gap between people's needs and resources. Hmm, anyone else notice that by forcing people to buy new seeds every year they are creating a gap between people and resources? It makes me angry that at the bottom of the page it says "we must be the change we wish to make in this world" because that is not the world I want this to be (and many others agree). Do we really want the industry owned by one company who has the sole goal of making money?

The biggest issue to me is not the money, it's the health effects. They don't have to label anything as a GMO, leaving us in the dark about what we are consuming. As also seen in the video, the bovine growth hormone that is used by Monsanto could be cancer causing. However, Monsanto has the FDA in their pocket and the dangers of this hormone are not told to the public as it should be. More studies need to be done to see how dangerous this really is to our health. Europe (and thankfully Canada) was smart to ban American milk and they did it because of rBGH (Genetically-engineered bovine growth hormone), don't believe me? Click here. However, if America were to ban it then Monsanto would lose millions, probably billions so they sell it unlabelled to keep people from protesting it. You may also want to read this article about a Monsanto employee who realized how dangers their products were, and quit because no one would listen to him. 

I advise you to do some more research about what you're eating, thanks to Monsanto companies don't have to label it.

For more info you can watch The World According to Monsanto.

Risk

Now that Mom, Dad & The Bestie know about my tattoo I will post it here.
The Symbolism:
I believe in taking chances, I think that life should be lived to the fullest and you need to take risks. It also ties in with the Paul Brandt song Risk.

Bears, Buses & Forest Fires

Bears:
- We've had more than one come in to camp and wander around. They like our garbage and it wasn't always emptied when it should be. They are usually chased off by the dogs though.
- Adam, Blythe, Morgan and I went to the sand pit which is only about a two minute walk from camp. We were sitting up on the highest dune talking when we saw something at the entrance. We realized it was a bear so we all stood up and started yelling at it. Rather then run away it stood and stared at us for about 15 minutes. It started coming towards us and Amigo (dog) started barking at it. This distracted it for a few minutes but it still didn't leave. It was blocking the entrance so we were cornered. It was also getting dark out and the people at camp couldn't hear us because of the generators. Amigo chased it down the road a bit and we managed to sneak along the edge and get down the road. Once on the road it came towards us again so Amigo stayed there barking at it. As soon as we got back to camp we told the crew bosses and head boss and they got their guns.
When they went to see it, it was coming closer to camp and couldn't be scared off so they killed it. Sad but probably for the best.

Buses:
- They really break down a lot but we got a new one :) It's all painted green and white but it has electrical issues.

Forest Fires:
Last week there was a forest fire at the water shed which is only 48 kilometers from us. They were debating evacuating us but wanted to contact MNR first. However, lightening struck a tree less than a km from us. We were all loaded on the buses ready to leave if they couldn't get the fire under control. Luckily they were able to put it out and we got to stay in camp. I walked to where the close fire was and it's kinda scary how close it was to us.

A bad day in the life of a tree planter

6:00 am -Wake up
- Eat
- Get dressed
- Board bus

7:00 am - Depart
- 2 hour + drive
- walk 15 minutes to your land with all your gear
- plant

6:00 pm - Stop planting
- Walk back to the bus
- Board bus

7:00 pm - One of three buses has a tire blow
- Everyone from that bus splits onto the other two

8:00 pm- Stop at Watershed for gas

8:30 pm - Your bus tire goes
- Other bus drives back to camp

10:00 - Bus comes back for you
- DInner

11:30 pm- Bed

6:00 am - Wake Up

A day in the life of a tree planter

6:00 am - Wake up
- Breakfast
- Get dressed
- Make lunch
-Board bus

7:00 am - Depart
- about hour drive to block
- plant

6:00 pm - stop planting
- gather gear
- walk to bus
- drive home
- eat dinner

8:30 - Bed

Repeat

Bittersweet day, no just bitter.

Happy 20th Birthday RRN. Wish you were here.

365 Letters

Well everyone else seems to have 365  days of something so I think it is time I joined in. I came up with idea today after watching Sharkwater and I can't wait to get started. Basically it will be a letter every day to a corporation, political leader or something like that arguing against a policy. It will take a lot of preparation because I need to research who I want to write the letters to, their policy and then to actually write it. I think I will wait until school year next year to actually start mailing them but I want to start researching now. It will be hard to think of 365 people to write to so I would love suggestions! So far I am thinking... (if you want to know why I want to write them, ask me)
- Monsanto
- Coca Cola
-Old Navy
-Prime Minister
-NATO
-WTO
-Pfizer
-Nike
-Tommy Hilfiger
-Nestle

'Cause they said they'd stop the fighting

And they said they would bring peace

And they said they'd find a serum that can cure all our disease

And they said they'd house the homeless

And put black and white in tune

And they said they'd feed a hungry child

And I hope it's someday soon

-- Great Big Sea

****I thought a lot about doing this but it will be too much work and money. Instead I am doing 365 days of Activism, I will still research and write about their policies but I will post it here and not send it to them. I still want suggestions!

Is prostitution demoralizing?

I was talking to a friend today and one of her friends who I did not know was there. We somehow got on the topic of prostitution and her friend said that it's the most disgusting thing ever and demoralizing to all women. I disagree, unless it's not what the person chose.
In the world we live in people need to make money to survive, if being paid for a (sexual) service is what you have chosen then who is to argue? If it's the choice you made then it's your choice and no one should look down on you for it. I don't think it's disgusting, it's sex, one of the most natural things of the world. It's only demoralizing if you make it so and men can sell their bodies too.
It's a whole different situation if you didn't choose to be a prostitute or if you're underage, that I think is wrong.

Proud to be a Canadian?

The past weeks have been filled with pride for Canada due to the Olympics. I feel I must tell you that I did not watch the Olympics, I don't like very many winter sports and I don't feel the need to watch something I won't enjoy. However, all the drama over the Vancouver Olympics has made me think a lot about Canada and what it means to me to be Canadian.

I always used to be proud of my citizenship, proud of my country and proud of what it stood for. The more I learn about Canada's past, present and future the more I doubt my country. I used to brag that I was Canadian, that we were the best country and I would take offence if someone insulted Canada. I once got in an argument with a friend because she would not stand for the National Anthem. At that point in my life I believed in standing for Oh Canada! because of what it stood for, a country that fought for it's rights, that helped others and did good. Now I realize how naive I was, I don't have pride in my country.

To many, being Canadian means; freedom of speech, unity, multiculturalism, friendship, justice, safety, decency, honour, etc.

To me, being Canadian means; infringing rights, denying aid, turning a blind eye, racism, ignorance of heritage, secrets, etc.

The Olympics put Native Americans on everything, which should be done since it's their land, but was it for the right reasons? Are they trying to show the world that Native Americans are a huge part of Canadian culture? In reality Native Americans are a minority, the government shoves them in a corner and many people believe they don't belong here.

I think too many Canadians, and any other citizens in regard to their country, are patriotic for no reason, they do it just to do it. Should we really be proud of our athletes when we are not proud of another country's? Is it really our country that made them as they are? Could they not have turned out the same somewhere else? Could they not have immigrated here or there?

The land is breath taking, from coast to coast there is something to be in awe of. Is it the physical land that makes up a country? Or the people who fill it? I think it's the people who fill it, their decisions, actions and what they do with the land they are on. I think there are many beautiful people who are living in Canada and I do believe Canadians are very friendly but I think that trend is dying out.

What does being Canadian mean to you? And I want details "_______ because...", I want to know what has made you proud because I do think people should take pride in their country. However, I think they should do it for a reason and not because it is expected.

**I could go much more in detail of many of these things but I don't wish this to be rant.