Goverment Talking Corruption Free Turcot

To say I am behind the times on Turcot would be an understatement.  Seems I have drifted into focusing a lot of my online attention into relaying the ongoing tragedy that is our federal government under Stephen Harper via Facebook and occasionally Twitter in recent years. Of course it is all interconnected when you  follow the dots.

A non corrupt Turcot? It sure is an interesting concept, pretty much a fantasy actually. But all of us in Quebec owe the Charbonneau Commission a big tip ‘o the hat for showing us how corrupt the City of Montreal has been. Of course it was never a surprise to someone like yours truly who knew Olympic Stadium concrete was being poured as foundations for new housing developments on the South Shore and elsewhere, as just one odious example.

While a few weeks old this article is something of an update.

Quebec’s integrity test turns Montreal interchange into a symbol of clean dealings

INGRID PERITZ and RHÉAL SÉGUIN

Montreal and Quebec City — The Globe and Mail

Published Monday, Mar. 25 2013, 1:44 PM EDT

Companies hoping to snag a piece of the biggest roadwork contract in Quebec history will first have to prove they’re corruption-free, a major test for the province as it aims to fix its failing infrastructure while tackling graft in the construction industry.

Premier Pauline Marois’s government has set a $3.7-billion ceiling on the cost of rebuilding Montreal’s Turcot interchange, a critical and decrepit spaghetti interchange in the heart of the city that moves 300,000 vehicles daily. Soon, the roadway could stand as a symbolic challenge to Quebec’s promise to carry on business while holding the construction world to account.

Pushing forward with badly needed roadwork without benefiting firms tarred by corruption allegations has become a new dilemma for elected officials in Quebec – a problem sure to recur as the federal government pours billions into infrastructure spending across the country. Last week, Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum asked Montrealers whether they wanted their city’s potholes plugged by some asphalting companies named before the Charbonneau commission into corruption and collusion.

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Don’t Fence Me In

Been thinking about the people in Fort Chipewan today, and everyone who lives in Northern Alberta near the Tar Sands. Stumbled on this song and thought it seemed like a pretty good way of positively saying no to all the powers that are destroying everything in the name of greed.  It sounds good now matter how it’s done. And there is a version for almost everyone here.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Dont+fence+me+in&view=detail&mid=B160E7CB3DDECA21ABD7B160E7CB3DDECA21ABD7&first=421&FORM=NVPFVR

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Dont+fence+me+in&view=detail&mid=66A8ACC3110122756A3E66A8ACC3110122756A3E&first=261&FORM=NVPFVR

Guess that’s it for now.

 

 

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To the Last Drop: Canada’s Dirty Oil Sands

must watch.

 

 

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Home

This is where we come from and what we are doing. It’s not nice, it is mindboggingly stupid. Maybe it all just boils down to brain chemistry, one insanely little microscopic flaw that prevents us from really seeing anything at all…

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Climate change is simple: David Roberts at TEDxTheEvergreenStateCollege

TED

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“Hurricane Porn”?: The Aesthetics of Authenticity and Nature’s Wrath

Excellent article that discusses Superstorm Sandy and how events influence images and vice versa.

By Paul Mullins

n the wake of Hurricane Sandy photographers shared ten images every second on Instagram, documenting the storm, testifying to the power of nature, and underscoring the internet’s power to shape our collective imagination.  The most ridiculous images following the storm, though, came from Brazilian model Nana Gouvea, who wandered about the hurricane-strewn landscape posing for clumsily seductive pictures alongside crushed cars, downed trees, and refuse-strewn streets, producing what Huffington Post dubbed genuine “hurricane porn” (she was immediately lampooned with a tumblr page and a facebook page).

Among the most widely circulated manipulated Hurricane Sandy images was this storm cloud imposed on the Statue of Liberty (image from snopes.com)

While Gouvea parasitically stumbled about New York, a host of other photographers posted images that were not quite so voyeuristic, but they also were not utterly “authentic” representations of the storm.  The Tumblr page Is Twitter Wrong? posted images of the storm that were clearly manipulated; snopes ridiculed several of the most obviously photoshopped images; The Atlantic posted a series of images emblazoned “real,” “fake,” and “unverified”; mashable posted many of the same images; and the Wall Street Journal’s Metropolis blog ran an article “Caution: That Hurricane Sandy Photo May Not be Real”.

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Harper Denial Machine Suppressing Science Data

If Harper was truly fearless, if he really believed God was on his side, if climate change was not real, he would have nothing to hide, right?

Harper’s Humiliating Muzzle on Scientists

Canada is becoming a global joke as our world-class experts are prohibited from speaking.

By Mitchell Anderson, 25 Mar 2010, TheTyee.ca

The scandal is growing at Environment Canada of how Canadian climate researchers are being “muzzled” by draconian policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

This week the Montreal Gazette reported on a leaked document showing that the information restrictions brought in by the Harper government have severely restricted the media’s access to government researchers.

“Scientists have noticed a major reduction in the number of requests, particularly from high-profile media, who often have same-day deadlines,” said the Environment Canada document. “Media coverage of climate change science, our most high-profile issue, has been reduced by over 80 per cent.” 

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James Hansen On Climate Change

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“We all live downstream”

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Risking it All – Oil on our Coast

Enbridge’s plans for a pipeline & tankers through BC’s magnificent coast:
The north and central coast of British Columbia is one of last great wilderness areas that still support a vibrant & productive ecosystem. Home to thousands of runs of 5 species of salmon, as well as steelhead, grizzlies, wolves, orca, rare white bears, dolphins, porpoises and hundreds of other species, the coast is a natural spring of wealth & wonder. The plan to build the Enbridge pipeline and ensuing tankers threatens all of this- the coastal ecosystem, the coastal economies and a massive food source.
Besides the incredible array of species that lives here, the coast supports many economies through commercial activities such as commercial fishing, sport fishing, & tourism, as well as providing a massive natural food source that feeds thousands of people – serving up salmon, crab, halibut, clams, cockles, Oolichan, herring, sea cucumbers, urchins, rockfish, lingcod, geoduck, seaweed, and on and on…
The BC coast is a natural resource that just keeps giving its massively generous, life-supporting gifts, on one condition only- that we don’t destroy it.
Now plans are underway that will likely result in just this.
Risking it All- Oil on our Coast is a short film that outlines the plans for the pipeline and tanker route and what it means for our beautiful coast. Produced by Twyla Roscovich in association with Hartley Bay & Gitga’at Nation, Oil on our Coast is meant to inspire, empower and help fuel the battle to save what sustains us.

 

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On The Road To Postarctica

Government sees this as a good thing because it will open up shipping lanes and make looking for oil and gold and diamonds and very sunken treasure much, much easier to find. The white round thing on the top of the earth that you can see from outer space is melting and instead of trying to save us from ourselves we are just looking for more ways to make a buck.

 

Published on Thursday, November 24, 2011 by CBC News

Arctic Sea Ice Shrinking at ‘Unprecedented’ Levels

by Emily Chung

The recent loss of sea ice in the Arctic is greater than any natural variation in the past 1½ millennia, a Canadian study shows.

According to the leading science journal Nature, Arctic sea ice is disappearing on a pace and magnitude unlike anything the Earth has experienced in the past 1,450 years. (Photograph by: HO, Reuters) “The recent sea ice decline … appears to be unprecedented,” said Christian Zdanowicz, a glaciologist at Natural Resources Canada, who co-led the study and is a co-author of the paper published Wednesday online in Nature.

“We kind of have to conclude that there’s a strong chance that there’s a human influence embedded in that signal.”

In September, Germany’s University of Bremen reported that sea ice had hit a record low, based on data from a Japanese sensor on NASA’s Aqua satellite. The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, using a different satellite data set, reported that the sea ice coverage in 2011 was the second-lowest on record, after the record set in 2007.

What makes recent sea ice declines unique is that they have been driven by multiple factors that never all coincided in historical periods of major sea ice loss, said Christophe Kinnard, lead author of the new report.

“Everything is trending up – surface temperature, the atmosphere is warming, and it seems also that the ocean is warming and there is more warm and saline water that makes it into the Arctic,” Kinnard said, “and so the sea ice is eroded from below and melting from the top.”

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Artists and Scientists Begin Talks

Artists chat with scientists to change the world

BANGALORE: Two different domains. Is there a common ground for artists and scientists? An initiative focused on climate change triggered an interesting conversation here on Friday.

Over 60 Indian artists and scientists met to explore how they could work together in shaping the right perceptions on climate change. The group included participants from key scientific institutions like IISc, NCBS, JNCASR, and artists from various forms at the event organized by TippingPoint, UK, the British Council and the Khoj International Artists’ Association.

What will the world be like in future? What should science fiction portray? Is Newton’s law the way the world should work? Should scientists be more intuitive? Is quantum physics as intuitive as art? What should be the stuff of scientific novels? These were some topics of discussion. 

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Turcot Work Under Way

Photo: Dave Sidaway, The Gazette

And so the sad stupid story of Turcot goes into the next phase – a bad plan that will make some people a pretty good buck.

Transport Quebec gets head start on Turcot project

By Andy Riga, GAZETTE Transportation Reporter

MONTREAL – Call it the bridge to nowhere.

Transport Quebec is currently building an imposing $6.7-million overpass that will not be used for several years.

It’s at the corner of Pullman Ave. and Ste. Anne de Bellevue Blvd., on the border of Notre Dame de Grâce and the Sud Ouest borough.

It’s the first structure to be built as part of the long-awaited $3-billion Turcot Interchange reconstruction project, to run until 2018.

“It’s preparatory work for the new Turcot,” Transport Quebec spokesperson Caroline Larose said of the overpass.

The structure will circumvent Canadian National train tracks that are to be moved as part of the Turcot work, she said. But it’s unclear when the train tracks, currently about 100 meters away, will be relocated.

That move will happen “in the years to come,” she said. And roads in the area will not be connected to the overpass for “several years.”

Simard-Beaudry Construction Inc. won the contract to build the overpass.

Transport Quebec can’t start on many other parts of the Turcot because final plans for the entire project will not be ready until year end, Larose said.

Major Turcot construction contracts will not be signed until after those plans are in place, she added.

But the location of the overpass now under construction had been decided, so Transport Quebec is getting a head start by building it now, Larose said, adding the structure is in an area where construction will not disrupt traffic.

Pullman has been moved slightly to accommodate the construction site, which currently consists of several concrete walls and deep holes. The work has not hampered traffic in the area, which connects LaSalle and N.D.G., and N.D.G. to Highway 20 and the Mercier Bridge.

Transport Quebec has recently opened tenders for other Turcot preparatory work. Those contracts will be for work related to public services such as sewers, water mains and Hydro-Québec; the reorganization of local streets; and preparing sites where work will be done in the future, Larose said.

The Turcot Interchange project will involve rebuilding the Turcot, De La Vérendrye, Angrignon and Montreal West interchanges, as well as stretches of Highways 15, 20 and 720.

ariga@montrealgazette.com

twitter.com/andyriga

From here.

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2 Climate Crisis Events

“What can change in a day? Everything. On September 14, the world will focus its attention on the truth about the climate crisis. For 24 hours, we will all live in reality. Pick a faraway place or a city near you. Make it yours for one day. We’re hitting every time zone — but only once. 7 p.m. in your time zone. Choose a location and get involved.”

Join our project to reveal the complete truth about the climate crisis and watch the live stream here starting at 7pm CT on September 14.

Climate Reality

_______________________________________________________________________

Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis. Come on bike, on skates, on a board, or just on foot. September 24.

Moving Planet

 

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“District Griffin” Begins…

Good friend, Factotum, has some pictures of the first phase of this absurd degradation of one of Montreal’s most fascinating neighborhoods.  If anything distinguishes Montreal from other North American cities, it is our older architecture and unique off the grid layout of some districts. We used to be the “Paris of North America”,  but it looks like City Hall and it’s developer buddies would prefer we become the “Atlanta of Canada”. This is no way to handle heritage or enhance a great city, it’s the way you become mediocre. And Time will bear this out indeed.

“In accordance with both municipal zoning regulations and the Programme particulier d’urbanisme, Phase 1 of District Griffin will feature 1,375 residential units, including affordable social and family housing, as well as a 150‐room hotel, 200,000 square feet of office space and 130,000 square feet of business space.

Phase 1 of District Griffin will be made up of four blocks, bordered by Wellington Street to the north, Shannon Street to the east, the Lachine Canal to the west and Smith Street to the south, along the railway viaduct. Its development will require no expropriations.
The work will begin in the block formed by Wellington, Young, Peel and Smith Streets, where a 19‐storey residential tower and the hotel will be built. The two first floors of the two buildings will house local businesses, a daycare centre, restaurants, a spa and a physical fitness centre. The hotel tower will also include five floors of offices and twelve floors of hotel rooms. The residential building will offer 166 condominiums, including affordable housing, shared over 17 floors, with a rooftop recreation area that includes a swimming pool.
“Our residential project will be of interest to young people and families who will appreciate living close to the Lachine Canal, the prestigious future entrance to the Quartier Bonaventure, downtown and Old Montreal. We will offer 31⁄2, 41⁄2 and 51⁄2 units at prices varying between $250,000 to $750,000,” said Mr. Cholette.”

Affordable housing?

“Irony -  Formerly the offices of Atwill Morin, experts in masonry restoration”

Sad.  But the truth is Gerald Tremblay is simply our version of Rob Ford. Weird times.

More pictures at Flickr and at Factotum’s Photo Blog.

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