And what a view...

As it turns out, there's only a month left of summer before I head back to college for my final year. It's been a hectic few months, I must say. A few weeks in Lethbridge, writing; five weeks painting in Peace country, and a few weeks for the wedding and honeymoon; now finally back home, where things are always less chaotic.

So again, I apologize for the severe lack of entries lately. This will change. In the mean time, though, feel free to browse the archives or photo albums, or check out the links in any of the lists. I'll be back with more soon.

Enjoy,
-Raggy

After reading my article on Buddhist Christian interfaith, I got a letter from a close friend who was concerned about my 'converting' to Buddhism. I sent that person a reply letter, and he's realized the real situation that's been going on in my life for the last couple years. Here, with his permission, is the reply I sent to him to assure him I haven't left Christianity. The phrases in italics are taken from his original letter to me.

Hey.

I love religious discussion. I just love it. I'm glad we can have meaningful argument like this, I’m just sorry it's not in person over a bottle of port...

...But there's a lot of things three days of research won't tell you. Like the fact that you don't need to throw out all of your stuff and be a monk or wander the countryside to be a Buddhist. That's the way Siddhartha Gautama (the original Buddha) did it, but that's because he originally tried several other Shamanist religions before becoming the first Buddhist. The real message in Buddhism is not to cling to the things you have. As if all of the things you own belong in a Salvation Army bag. Like one famous monk said, there is "no sentimentality for spit."

There were countless times in the bible that Jesus denounced material possessions, too. Jesus wandered and owned nothing. You don't need to throw out all of your things and leave your family to be a Christian, do you?

I also think that the whole back to nature philosophy is good as a philosophy, but not a religion.

Buddhism is a nontheistic or agnostic religion, and in any Buddhist interfaith, Buddhism (or Zen, Chan in China) serves as the lifestyle, and lets you to better experience your religion. In Japan, many Buddhists pray to their ancestors because of Zen being so intertwined with the native Shinto religion that was there before. In China, it's been mixed with Taoism, which is why a lot of people think the yin yang is a Buddhist symbol. In India, many Buddhists worship the Hindi gods. It's only natural that once Zen hit the west, it would be used in conjunction with Christianity.

Think of it as taking a lot of ecstasy and then having a good shag. Because of the ecstasy, your senses are heightened and you are more aware to fully enjoy what's going on. Zen (which is the Japanese word for meditation) trains you to rid yourself of distractions and take everything exactly as it comes, and not to judge the moment, but instead to experience it exactly as it is with full attention (mindfulness) in this same way.

the thought that the past and the future are not real -only the present moment is real, somehow lacks reality.

First off, name one time when it's ever been tomorrow. The future hasn't happened yet, so it doesn't exist yet. It's going to be how it's going to be, and you can't change or alter the future until it's come to be now. And once it's passed, you can't change it or experience it anymore. So it no longer exists.

Plus, to give up the "existence" of the future and the past is to recognize that you have no control over them (you can't control what doesn't exist), and that in itself is freedom. Clinging to the past or struggling to control the future is like fighting to stay still or swim upstream in a violent river. Either way, you'll exhaust yourself. If you just lie back and go with the flow of things, you'll be better able to appreciate the scenery.

Enjoy nature as Buddha's teachings but hold relationships close.

The original Buddha was just a dude. He never claimed to be anything more than that. Buddhism translates out to 'seeking the truth,' and the Buddha just means 'enlightened one' (or, one that found the truth). There's been so many Buddhas that a majority of Buddhist knowledge nowadays comes from all kinds of different people in all kinds of different places. But the basic Zenist view of relationships is to view your relationship as two ships floating down the same river. Not one ship with two captains fighting over control, but two fully self-sufficient/self-contained vessels travelling the same river side by side. You could both make the journey alone, but you choose to do it together; it's that mutual choice that makes a relationship beautiful.

Letting go of all that in a Buddhist trance can be seen as just lazy and unmotivated

If you're in a trance, you're not a Buddhist. You might be Jainist, you might be Taoist, or some sort of shaman; maybe even a witch doctor, but not a Buddhist.

Everything in moderation. Too much Zen = bad. Too much work and stress = bad. Balance = good.

'Everything in moderation' is right at the heart of Buddhism. It's called the middleway. Balance and Zen are completely synonymous. If you over-consume, or starve yourself, your mind will focus on that and you'll be distracted from the moment. Plus, Zen and work aren't opposites at all. Zen is full concentration on whatever you're doing, including work. One of the most famous Zenist books in the Western world is called "Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Plus, it's a common belief in both Buddhism and Christianity that "if you don't work, you don't deserve to eat." We're all on the same page here.

I'm a Christian, I want you to know that. I've put as much research into Christianity as I have into Buddhism. I've read the bible. I know what Jesus and God have done and are doing for us every day. That's why I'm making the effort through Zen to be able to better appreciate my life and all of the other gifts God has given me.

Not once have I ever denounced Christianity as my religion. What I don't agree with is the way people live as 'Christians' here. What is the typical Western Christian lifestyle? You go to church for a couple hours on Sunday if you feel like it, and then you go back to your life for the rest of the week without another thought about it. Maybe pray every once in a while when you feel you need something that you don't want to work towards for yourself. In fact, a vast majority of Christians I've known have never read the bible.

In the bible, Jesus himself took time by himself to meditate on several occasions. His time in the desert living with temptation was and is a form of Buddhist meditation.

The point of Zen in my life is very clear for me, for several reasons:
· It helps me realize that I'm not in control. God is in control
· It wipes the distractions from my mind, and helps me to better concentrate on and fully appreciate my life and all the experiences that God floats my way
· It gives me more self control than I've ever had in my life. Ever. Self control is useful when you're being tempted to sin
· Buddhist meditation accomplishes one thing above all others, and that is that in wiping away your distractions, temptations, and whatever else is floating around in your head, it leaves you with one thing: Love (or in Buddhism, Loving Kindness). Love is the base of our soul, and our true gift from God. It is the one thing at the core of all human beings; the thing that makes us all equal.

Scribble words in the breeze
Drag cigars that draw with ease
Enjoy the sun on your bare skin
To which of these is my cancer not akin?

Crack a beer and meditate
To unhealthy hobbies I relate
Shortened life, I feel my fate
Cut excess, re-motivate

It's 10 a.m.

Lying in the grass with a vanilla breath
Enjoying the day you have right to detest
Nothing to say, and no one to hear it
Let the rain fall in your eyes

The evening's dark, damp and cold
Not even mosquitos leave their homes
Not a soul in arms reach, earshot and so
Refresh what underlies

The life of a warrior was a hard one to stick to
An unclouded mind
Exercise
Why don’t I live like I used to?
What’s changed? Marriage?
Blame what you will. This is your choice.

But what about solidarity?

Get a gym pass.
Join the military (go the way of the Kels).
Write more thoroughly.
And turn off your bloody cell phone.

Lying in the grass with a vanilla breath
Enjoying the day you have right to detest
Nothing to say, and no one to hear it
Let the rain fall in your eyes

The evening's dark, damp and cold
Not even mosquitos leave their homes
Not a soul in arms reach, earshot and so
Refresh what underlies

Papi’s got the idea. ‘Cept all that beer and meat.

Where’s that carefree young man
That sprouted into this worried old coot?
I’m getting there.
Day by day, one day at a time.

Let’s get a trampoline

Lying in the grass with a vanilla breath
Enjoying the day you have right to detest
Nothing to say, and no one to hear it
Let the rain fall in your eyes

The evening's dark, damp and cold
Not even mosquitos leave their homes
Not a soul in arms reach, earshot and so
Refresh what underlies

Random? That’s how I like my music.
Manic Depressive.
Bipolar.

With no remorse.

Copyright © 2008 Raggy Domain

"We ascertain the way of Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha as the 'how to' of Christianity: how do I love my neighbour as myself? how do I love myself? how do I realize myself or my neighbour?"

This group on Facebook, the "Christian and Buddhist Interfaith Discipline," describes the unique way the Zen lifestyle has been transformed and adopted by the Western world over the past century.

Buddhism is a 'nontheistic' or 'agnostic' religion, and in any Buddhist interfaith, Buddhism (or Zen, Chan in China) serves as the lifestyle, and lets you to better experience your religion. In Japan, Buddhists worship the spirits and pray to their ancestors, because of becoming intertwined with the native Shinto religion that was there before Buddhism was introduced. In China, India, and everywhere else Buddhism has reached, the Buddhist lifestyle is influenced by local religions and beliefs. It's only natural that once Zen hit the west, it would be used in conjunction with Christianity.

Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh wrote a book on the subject, titled "Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers," in which he explains how Buddhist meditation works to clear the fog that clouds our relationship with God. Here's an excerpt*:

In Christianity, we hear the expression "horizontal theology." Horizontal theology helps us establish links with what is around us...Our daily practice should help us get in touch with these beings, animate or inanimate, because in getting in touch with them we will be able to get in touch with God.

Getting in touch with God is called "vertical theology." These are the two dimensions. If you do not succeed in getting in touch with the horizontal dimension, you will not be able to get in touch with the vertical dimension. There is a relationship between the horizontal and the vertical. There is inter-being between the two...The capacity for loving God depends on your capacity for loving humankind and other species.

According to Deborah Barrett of the Orange County Zen Centre, "Christians are discovering that Zen meditation practices invigorate and deepen their prayer life and spiritual growth...The tensions which seem to exist between religious ideals and life 'as it is' are dissolved by the practice of awareness both in sitting meditation and in daily life. Meister Eckhart described this process in two simple ways: 'Just do the next thing' and 'Let God be God in me.'

"A Zen perspective on religious practice is to see what is already so and to remove the barrier between ourselves and the fundamental nature of all things. Zen awareness practices provide concrete methods to work through the 'barriers.'"

ZCOC welcomes Christians who wish to practice Zen. In our community, we have active Roman Catholics, Jews, atheists, Buddhists and people from all backgrounds and traditions. Yamada Roshi pointed out that we all drink the same cup of tea, whether we call ourselves Christian or Buddhist. But from a Zen perspective, one notes that we seldom do actually drink our tea....we are lost in thought, doing several things at the same time, waiting for something more important or interesting to do! Our practice helps us to be "in the moment" and to experience fully, apart from words to describe its meaning.

Some people don't necessarily call it Zen Christianity. Zen, Japanese for 'meditation,' is something that has gone hand in hand with Christianity since the beginning of Christianity itself. So naturally, Many Eastern Orthodox Christians (the oldest and longest lasting sect of Christianity, started by Jesus and his disciples, and Orthodox meaning "the right way") utilize meditation as well, and always have.

There are web sites devoted to the art of Christian meditation, such as the World Community for Christian Meditation website, that offer instruction if you're just starting out.

I sincerely hope this article stirs up some comments from those of you reading this right now. I would love this to turn into a discussion. Please feel free to comment below or email me at elrusoqueviene@hotmail.com OR raggy.jester@hotmail.com

Enjoy
-Raggy

*excerpt edited for length

 
I came pretty close to accidentally killing this bug today. I thought I nearly gave the thing a heart attack, too. It went into a convulsing fit on the ground and everything. Turns out it was just being a big drama queen, though; I let it munch on a bit of lettuce and a piece of bean sprout and it was fine.

I was standing on what seemed to be a flat on the red mountain, a clearing in the thick foliage. Canyon walls rose up from the red rock, thirty feet up all around me, and there was a spring gushing violently out of the middle of the flat. Swirling around itself, it poured into a rushing five foot wide, six foot deep rapid that emptied into an equally violent river tearing past on my left. The stormy sky was a pinky-mauve colour, and students from my college class were partying everywhere. Several of them, if not all of them, were binging heavily.

I couldn't seem to shake the sense of being scattered. People were making fools of themselves all around me, having a great time, doing what college students do. But the atmosphere was so gloomy; it all seemed completely familiar, but at the same time I felt I didn't quite belong.

One redneck girl from the class, wearing a hunting vest and an ammunition belt full of cans of Bud, was being particularly rowdy. With an open beer in each hand, she jumped into the swirling spring at the centre of the clearing, hoping to climb out down the stream before reaching the larger river, but was swept away.

"We don't know where this river leads to," somebody said.

"It flows directly to Calgary," I told them. "Me and Eric did this once."

Suddenly, people were coming down around me on parachutes. I couldn't figure out where from, until I realized they were using the wind and the parachutes to jump in the air to the top of the cliffs, like some bad 'Marry Poppins' movie. While I was talking to that guy I always see but never really talk to, I picked the ropes of one of the parachutes up off the ground, and jumped into the air. It was alright at first, but after the first second or so of rising upward, I could tell that something wasn't right. I was ascending way too fast, and going way to far. Why haven't I stopped yet?

Before I knew it, everything had disappeared behind the clouds below me, and I was still rising way too fast. I thought to myself, 'maybe if I use both hands, I can steer this thing back to the ground." The arm I was holding on with wasn't even all that tired yet, and though the climb was rapid, it was very smooth. Nevertheless, I reached up with my left hand to try to take control, and not a second passed after I grabbed on before I started spinning uncontrollably. The sky began to shoot with lightning all around me. I felt sick, dizzy, and held tight with both hands until I felt as though I was about to pass out.

I let go with my left hand, and immediately everything evened back out. I continued to rise, but the lightning stopped; the spinning stopped and I felt physically fine again.

I considered letting go. 'I'll get tired and fall off eventually. Either way, it's over. I might as well save myself the extra grief. I can't control this.'

I decided against it. Instead, I released all the tension in my body. I gave myself to the sky; whatever happens, happens. My mind, all the thoughts, all the pessimism, all fell silent. In a matter of seconds, I was back down through the clouds, falling at an intense speed but indescribably comfortable with it. "Maybe I'll try to land in the spring water," I thought, but as soon as the thought arose, I dismissed it. If it happens, it happens.

I landed in the exact same spot I took off from. The whirlpool had calmed to a blue jewel of a mountain spring, emptying into a gentle stream, flowing over the red rock and emptying into the now peaceful river. The dark, ominous atmosphere had lightened under the blue sky, and was now a welcoming mountain forest oasis rather than an intimidating clearing in unnavigable jungle. Everyone was gone. The shape hadn't changed, but the whole area had gone completely from one extreme to the other.

Or was it just my perception that had changed? Moreover, were all of the people actually gone?

Were they ever really there?

When I awoke from this dream, I couldn't help but ask myself these questions. Everything, down to the last detail, made so much sense. What do you think?

elrusoqueviene@hotmail.com

-Raggy

Despite warm temperatures across Eastern Canada, Western Canada spent the weekend blanketed in snow

In two days, people all over the world will come together to celebrate Earth Day, a global day of respect towards our Mother Earth. Recognized as the birth of environmentalism in America in 1970, April 22 has been receiving greater attention each passing year.

This year will be no exception. With weather patterns all over the world becoming more and more bizarre due to global warming, people are starting to pay more attention to their destructive habits and the toll they're taking on the Earth's fragile environment. And, some people are even altering their habits to do something about it.

Earth Day may have started off as an environmental awareness day, but consensus seems to be that people are well aware of the environmental crisis, and now it's time to do something about it. On Earth Day Canada's website, there is a list of all of the events going on all over the country to celebrate. For example, Lethbridge is having a "BYOC" day, meaning that if you Bring Your Own Cup to any participating Lethbridge food/beverage business, you'll get a discount or even a free drink. In Ottawa, there will be a gospel concert with proceeds going to groups working for a moratorium on uranium mining in Ontario.

But, why does Earth Day have to be just one day? I think the most important thing we can take away from Earth Day is new ideas and habits to alter our everyday lives for the better. If you go take part in one of these events, talk to other people and see what they do to reduce their impact. Share your advice with them. If everyone keeps an open ear and an open mind, we could wake up April 23–and every day thereafter–with a less disposable view of our planet.

According to Earth Day Canada, almost every school child in Canada is taking part in some sort of Earth Day event. Many of us know a good handful of people who wouldn't give up their convenient lifestyle for the world (quite literally) after growing up in the society that made such a mess of the world. So to teach responsibility and respect for Earth at a young age is, in my opinion, exactly what we need to do to save the next generation from our deeply ingrained "disposable lifestyle" and the "culture of convenience" many of us still live now.

 
Hannah Wigle, and Loralee and Paul Edwards sell tickets to the first showing of the Cannes Lions ad festival

When commercials come on TV, many of us immediately zone out or even change the channel. But yesterday at the Galaxy Cinema, this wasn't the case. The theatre was full for this year's first showing of the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival film.

"It's the worlds best commercials," said Mary Kosta of Amnesty International Lethbridge. "Have you heard of the Cannes Film Festival that they have every year for movies? They have the same thing for commercials. Usually you think, 'commercials, oh boring,' but these are like, better than the movies or the TV shows. They're funny, they're moving; they're about all sorts of different topics."

All sorts of different topics doesn't explain the half of it. There were commercials from all over the world, advertising everything from milk, to cars, to life insurance, to viagra. But in the end, it was Dove's "Self Esteem Fund" commercial that took the grand prize at the awards.

The film is showing once a night from Thursday to Sunday in various locations in Lethbridge, as a combined fundraiser for both Amnesty International and the Southern Alberta Art Gallery.

"SAAG Cinema and Amnesty got to know each other last year when [Lethbridge College] brought in 'Shake Hands With the Devil,'" said Hannah Wigle, SAAG's Assistant Curator. "We do a monthly film series from September to June, and Amnesty really wanted to get on board."

According to Kosta, Amnesty International's biggest expense is postage. "We write letters and we send them all over the world for human rights appeals, so we spend a fortune in postage every year," she said, and the rest of Amnesty's share of the proceeds from the event will go towards education and awareness events.

SAAG's cut of the proceeds will go towards their film program, to help bring in more independent films.

 
China's violent crackdown on Tibetan protests over the last few months has spurred a wave of global protests, the latest of which took place in Southern Alberta. The group of five marched down Mayor Magrath Drive, one of Lethbridge's main roadways, waving Tibet's flag and homemade signs that read "Free Tibet," "Stop Killing Tibetans," and "Stop the Genocide in Tibet."

Among the Protesters were three Tibetans who asked not to have their last name published for fear of repercussions to relatives still living in Tibet.

"[China is] detaining more and more people," said one woman, "and the detainees are not getting food or water. Some are even being shot point blank."

Tiffany Weston, a local stay-at-home mother, joined the protest to "give a voice to people who aren't allowed to have one."

"People in Tibet are such peaceful people, and they're getting trampled," said Weston. "All the people along here who aren't honking are just taking their freedom for granted."

Here I am again, posting a new entry after another stretch of silence. Yes, we finally got Internet hooked up at our new place. And, the semester is finally winding down to a close, so I should be able to stop stressing out over these copious amounts of final projects for long enough to post every now and again. But I'll get on with the point.

I've been feeling lately like there's just not enough celebration in our world anymore. I know it's probably just because we live in a new place, and we don't really know anybody around here, and we're too broke to go out and have fun, but it's getting me down nonetheless. I know I'm not the only one out there who feels this way.

So I've decided, I would like to publish a story for every holiday this year. I want to be a part of the celebrations, and see how different people celebrate different things. And, I want to bring the celebrations of 2008 to you here as well. We could all use a bit of good cheer.

So now you have something to look forward to. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do. And if you do, send in some pictures. Enjoy.

-Raggy

This Friday marks one year since the creation of Raggy Domain. That probably means I should bore you by talking about the last year and how my website has fit into it, but why would I do that? You've already been there for last year. If you want a refresher, look in the archives.

No, instead I would like to take this day to look a year into the future. Doesn't that make more sense? Friday, after all, isn't a full moon. We're still in the beginning.

There's a lot to think about. Personally, I'll be a month away from graduating from college entirely. Impersonally, Bush will finally be out of office in the States (and who knows, maybe Canada will get a new governmnet, too). Kels, my Cochrane rum buddy will be off in the army, and the guy I hang out with between classes will be studying at a university a province away.

So where do you see yourself in a year? Or, what do you plan to do in the next year? Let me know. Plans? Predictions? Prophecies? Anything. elrusoqueviene@hotmail.com

Hasta pronto,
-Raggy

Voter turnout in Canada has been in a tailspin over the last couple of decades, and though election participation in our country has never been perfect – record high turnout was in the 1958 general election at only 79 per cent, over the last five or so elections, the decline has been noticeably rapid. Just between the 1997 and 2000 elections, turnout dropped from 67 per cent to 61.

“We’ve been privileged,” said Tony Rideout, a professor of Social Studies at Lethbridge College. “Especially since World War 2, I don’t think we’ve had much in the way of real hardship, [and] for that reason people are fairly comfortable, content, and have a fairly good standard of living."

Because of that high standard of living, he said, “there’s so many things to do, so many interests [to be] involved in,” and that politics require a lot of time and dedication. “People are either unwilling or unable to commit the amount of time that they would need” to follow the issues.

And Rideout is not alone in that theory: the Institute for Research and Public Policy released a report drawing a connection between decreasing voter turnout and a decline in newspaper readership.

But does a decline in election participation reflect a decline in patriotism, as suggested by the Alberta Teacher’s Association? “I don’t see [this] as being a lack of attachment to the country, per say,” Rideout said, “if anything it’s probably that [Canadians] are very happy and content to be Canadians.

“As conditions decline, if they do decline going forward, then I think we’ll se more people involved in the political process.” People need to see problems affecting them personally before they’ll get involved, Rideout suggested, and over the last couple of decades, that hasn’t been happening.

And if the younger end of the electorate (the most apathetic, averaging only one in five people between 18 and 21½ years old showing up on election day) started taking advantage of their voting power, what effects might that have on the political scene and Canada in general?

“Our political culture would be turned a little more to the left, I think,” said Rideout, as the younger population seem idealistic and more willing to try to bring about change. Focus would be on “issues of fairness, justice, protecting the environment, and taking care of other people…

“I think [older people] are concerned about social issues as well, but are probably more aware of the cost of implementing [those policies].”

When asked about the upcoming provincial election, Rideout predicts a higher than usual turnout. “Conservatives have been in power for what, 39 years I think it’s been, and so there’s now an opportunity for real change…but I could be wrong.”

In countries such as Belgium and Australia, voter participation isn’t such a big problem. Why? Because it’s illegal not to vote. This is probably why Australia enjoyed a 96% turnout in the 1996 general election.

"Some day you will die somehow and something's gonna steal your carbon"

-- Modest Mouse

Ash Wednesday has come and gone, and as a result, many of us have embarked on a 46 day personal sacrifice of some kind. Due to the enormous range of things people can choose to do or not do during lent, the occasion itself has come to mean something very different for different people. But, the foundation of the season and reason for participating in it is something shared by not only all Christians, but those of many other religions, as well.

As a stone-faced man at a local shop informed me while selling me a coffee, Ash Wednesday is a reminder that we were crafted by Him from dust, and will one day return to a similar state: ash.

This is both a physical truth known by all, and a point both emphasized in the Christian bible, as well as being one of the four seals of Buddhism: the human body, as well as all earthly, material things, or "combined phenomena," are impermanent. To cling to the self, Buddhist Dzongsar Khyentse says, is ignorance, and ignorance leads to pain. "You're going to die one of these days," and therefor striving for permanence is futile.

Materialism is spoken against in the bible, as well, as shown clearly by Matthew 6:19-24.

     "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...
     "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Giving up something we enjoy, crave, or hold dear, the expressionless coffee shop man said, is a personal sacrifice we give in memory of the 40 days the Messiah spent in the desert to overcome temptation. Participating in lent is almost like the Christian equivalent of the pilgrimages of Islam: taking focus away from the physical self to strengthen the spiritual relationship with God.

Religion, in part, is a source of common morals and ethics by which people live their lives, and in this age, where globalization is taking place at a wildfire pace, there is a growing need for it. Not only religion, but also tolerance and understanding of other religions and cultures, as well. We should celebrate each other's similarities, and learn from (or at least stay open minded to) our differences, and we will be far better off as a race. We're all in this together.

-Raggy

Who's been going through parkour withdrawals lately? Does anyone else miss their summer hobbies right now? At all? I know I sure do. The weather has been treacherous the last few days, and being that cold is awful, I've been staying inside for the most part. Some sort of horrible cabin fever is setting in. The fact that I've been watching a lot of pk videos probably doesn't help.

But with the warm season, like every year, will come endless possibilities. One of which could end up being something especially beautiful.

I may have mentioned sometime in the eleven month history of this weblog my desire to start another website: Jester Amusements. The idea of it started back in 2004 when my childhood friend Eric and I were editing our parkour video. Basically, it would be like a mix between an online magazine and an amateur sports website. With a bit devoted to parkour, a bit for unheard of local bands, and a bit for whatever else is cool but hasn't ever received any sort of media attention. Last time I talked to Eric about it, in October, the idea evolved a bit. The same concept, but mine would be localized to Lethbridge. His would be the same, but localized to Calgary. Come to think of it, it would be almost like tiny newspapers, but for unsung "extremists" rather than news. Extremists being people who do "extreme" things, not people who blow things up and start wars. So far it's just a concept, but we'll see how it goes.

Let me know what you think.
elrusoqueviene@hotmail.com

-Raggy

I know I said I'll only be posting on Tuesdays, but Altan's comment on that last article raises such a good question that I just can't refuse:

January 25 2:19 AM
Although both the environment and sustainability should be the primary focus heading into the next decade, it seems as if the only actions or "steps forward" being taken are the implementations of these ridiculous 20 year plans that are supposed to reduce the amount of CO2 in our air...excuse me for sounding pessimistic, but how is that supposed to help anything now? What possible good can come out of this, a 'chance' that our standard of living 'might' improve in the distant future? It just won't happen...

You're totally right. For the most part, Canada's governments have been delaying a lot of 'do' in order to 'plan.' But planning is an important first step, so long as you take it seriously, and let it lead to serious, progressive action. To support and display your pessimism, though, let's look at Ed Stelmach's new climate change "plan." He says he'll freeze emissions in twelve years, and reduce emissions by only 14 per cent by 2050. That sounds more like an estimate timeline of tarsands production. It's especially pathetic knowing that in 2005, Alberta's CO2 emissions, per capita, was over four times that of Ontario, nearly six times that of Quebec.

That is a plan to be pessimistic about. Which is why the provincial leader's climate change meeting this Monday in Vancouver is something environmentalists will be watching closely. It will be exciting to see what real action will come of the premiers' joint planning, hopefully taking some of the burden off of the cities who seem to be the only ones actually doing anything proactive so far.

But, with a Prime Minister that at 19 years old moved to Alberta to work in the petroleum industry, and dear old Ed who might as well be on Big Oil's payroll for all the lobbying he saves them, there are very big obstacles Canada needs to overcome before we can move out of the long-term planning stage and into provincial-based sustainable action. Come Monday, hopefully we'll see one of the first big steps in that direction. Fingers crossed.

Here's to the hope
-Raggy

There is a noticeable shift taking place in Canadian cities that seems to be gaining more recognition, attention and encouragement every day: a shift towards Environmental Sustainability. Lethbridge, Alberta, one city spearheading the environmental revolution in our country, is home to a man especially devoted to the cause.

Lethbridge Alderman Jeff Carlson has established himself a reputation around the city as more than just an eco-conscious representative. Running a strong environmental platform, Carlson earned the second highest vote tally in last October's municipal election, never mind the fact that it was his first time running for council.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and after working 22 years at the local 'New West Theatre,' belonging to the Allied Arts Council for eight years, and being the Arts and Culture representative for Economic Development, the born and raised Lethbian's roots run deep in the local arts scene.

During an informal interview at a local coffee shop, Carlson speaks casually while sipping at a worn old steel travel mug. He appears spry and charismatic, despite claiming to be under the weather.

Lethbridge city council is just starting to get to work on the issues listed in their new strategic plan, 'Towards a Sustainable Future,' Carlson said, moving at the "glacial pace of government." Though action is limited by the overlap of the last council's budget into this term, he's constantly surprised by how far ahead the city administration always seems to be.

When suggesting new ideas, Carlson said, the conversation often seems to go something like: "'Wouldn't it be cool if we...' and [administration says], 'Oh, we've got someone doing that.' They're very forward-thinking"

The environment is always in mind when the council is making decisions, he said, and such things as "hugely efficient" city buildings, and a 'build up, not out' policy are often the sort of topics discussed at council meetings.

Taking on initiatives like new recycling programs, supporting denser, mixed-use neighbourhoods rather than developing more suburbs, and running city busses on bio-diesel are common ground for several of Canada's sustainable cities, but some take it much further. For example, Kelowna, B.C. is going as far as to commit to Kyoto protocol, and in Whitehorse, YK, all new government buildings are to be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Carlson admits that if another municipality has a great idea, he'll "borrow" it in a second. "I would love for Lethbridge to be the cutting edge...that everyone steals good ideas from," but won't let that stop him from putting another municipality's good ideas to good use here, "no bones about it."

I've come to realize that on a twice-a-week schedule, I won't be able to do the in-depth sort of articles and posts I would like to do. Not now, not with a heavy semester like this one. From now on, new posts will be weekly, on every Tuesday, until further notice.

But, I am still working hard on more articles for the Alberta Sustainability series, so sit tight and know that they're coming.

Take it easy until Tuesday,
-Raggy

We'll need to take a break from the subject of Alberta Sustainability for this week, but once I get a chance to do some more research, we'll be back on track.

For now, though, I have a bit I wrote lately about pedestrian travel and long on-foot voyages. That sort of thing has been on my mind a lot, so this is my attempt to convince you all to travel on foot. Enjoy.

Why would I walk across the world? There are so many answers to that question.

First off, think about all the things you would learn. And not just learn by way of reading a textbook, but learn from being a part of, or by conversing personally with skilled or knowledgeable people. You could learn new languages, new foods, new holidays and traditions; you could be a part of everything. Even if just for a short while, you could be anything. Anywhere.

And that's the unique thing about walking rather than flying or even driving. You don't miss a thing the entire way, and you can experience every step of a journey. That old saying, "getting there is half the fun," is all too true. Maybe more than half. Maybe you don't even need a destination.

Think about it. One day, you're sitting at the pub with your friends, a few days later you're downtown in a nearby city, having a chin-wag with a busker, and a few days later you're in the middle of nowhere, half the province away, fishing in some stream or playing your guitar next to the fire. Another month and you're wandering the streets of French Canada, picking up a new language and immersing yourself in a new culture. Later, you may find yourself sipping coffee with a lobster harvester (or lobster fisherman...lure-ist....trapper...however it is people get lobsters out of the ocean and into pasta). A boat ride later, you wind up in Portugal or Morocco and just continue on from there.

There's so many possibilities, and so much to see, that I could probably spend the rest of my life wandering Earth and never be bored by it. It's the perfect way to see pure, unbiased EVERYTHING.

If you can come up with any sort of reason not to walk around the Earth, I would love to hear it. Be it a legitimate reason, or just for the sake of argument(conversation), let us know.

-Raggy