Opinion

Village Opinion

CST-logoCST Calls Upon Medical Experts in B.C. to Protect Their Patients

Citizens for Safe Technology Society (CST) has launched a Human Rights action against BC Hydro requesting accommodation of individuals refusing a wireless smart meter for health reasons. These are persons with a variety of health concerns ranging from cancer to heart problems, from seizures to electrosensitivity, and who have medical letters from their doctors requesting BC Hydro accommodate their health conditions by allowing an analogue meter to remain.

11nutcracker1Some years are exceptionally remarkable in their accomplishments; others are exceptionally disturbing in their destructiveness. 2011 has been among the latter – economically, ecologically, militarily, politically and unfortunately, often personally. Despite the apocalyptic mood which has characterized most of 2011, I expect 2012 to be a far more gratifying and pleasant time.

Advent, the four week period before Christmas, has always been my favourite season of the Year. One canʼt help but feel hopeful as each week one lights another of the four red Advent candles mounted on a wreath or log and listens to the prophetic poetry of the prophet Isaiah. No talk of covenant, no mention of doctrine; just the warm expression of personal faith:

1scrabbleWhatʼs your word on the street?

I pondered this question during a recent reflection on the power of words ... what our word choices say about us, how our words come to life through the decisions we make and the actions we take, and why it is a good idea to pay attention to the words being said about us and our families, communities, places of work, and organizations we support in pursuitof a better, more connected and compassionate world community.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the bestselling novel “Eat, Pray, Love”, wrote about the notion of cities having one word that best describes its core personality, one word that evokes the very essence of what the city is about. Paris, for example, might have “LOVE” as its word, Vegas might pick “FUNʼ, while Rome might opt for “SPIRITUALITY”. Thinking about the potential to apply this “word on the street” thinking to inspire the individuals, teams, and organizations I come into contact with through my practice got me thinking, and especially with the connection to my own philosophy where clarity of purpose is the first step towards more meaningful living.

Regular readers monitoring my progress with respect to my Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma will be glad to hear that my tumor has been slowly shrinking all the while increasing its density. In short, it has been rendered indolent and is no longer life threatening as it has responded positively to natural treatment.

Although I am happy with its progress, I do wish the tumor to disappear altogether. Let me explain. Initially, one year ago, when I chose to fight cancer naturally, I chose to make my decision based in part to an economic Darwinian theory, whereby only the best so called “cures” propagate and the worst cures fade away to the likes of yesterdays bellbottoms.

Currently, however, I have been applying an understanding of the biochemical processes on a cellular level towards my decision. My treatment approach was directed towards physically exhausting energy starved cancer cells such that they had no energy to multiply and no energy to live. It is well known that cancer cells use significantly more energy as they need energy to perform energy hungry cell division operations in addition to regular metabolic functions.

Are Lions Bay residents aware of the new proposal for a large scale gravel mining and crushing operation in the Howe Sound? Lions Bay Community News publishes many articles related to the Howe Sound. The Howe Sound is our front yard and we are very concerned about all aspects of the spectacular nature surrounding us.

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I would like to thank Lions Bay for its inimitable community spirit at the Dip and Dash on New Year's Day.  I'm a former Lions Bay resident who came to cheer my friends, but fell on a log and was taken to hospital.

My warmest thank you to Fire Captain Andrew Oliver, to David Dickinson, to paramedics Ryan Prentice and Kin Leung who did a great job, to the many firefighters and residents who quickly surrounded me after my fall, and offered me first aid, blankets, water, hot chocolate and comfort. Thank you to Mayor Brenda Broughton for rubbing my back to keep me warm, and for kind words.  And to the young boy in a yellow and green shirt who came quickly to see what had happened to me.  To my friends Tina and Jan, who drove my car back home and picked me up at the hospital.

Happy New Year, Lions Bay, and bless you all !

1shadow-starDecember … how fast the time flies. Seems as if it was only yesterday that I was preparing for Christmas holidays. Due to the climate here it is always a bit difficult to feel the actual spirit of Christmas, as I remember it, yet internally there is a need or desire to connect with that essence of the season. It is interesting that the upcoming holiday tends to impact individuals and families in a multitude of ways. Most people are looking forward to the more commercialized versions of Christmas, admittedly I am one of them. I love the tree decorating, shopping amidst carols and sipping my Starbucks latte , which I can not buy here. I love the wrapping of gifts, holiday movies and firelight, skiing etc. Ahhh, basking in the warmth of my imagination….oh that is the heat here…

Having recently had a rather deep discussion regarding holidays and the underpinnings of what we feel as they approach. 

The New Year is quickly approaching and the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society of BC will be actively launching our voluntary no-take marine sanctuaries program. We are encouraging individuals and groups to join our membership. “Being a member of MLSS means that you, as a member and marine steward, will voluntarily refrain from extracting marine organisms out of Rockfish Conservation Areas, Marine Conservation Areas, Marine Mammal Conservation Areas, and other marine reserves”.

Oh, come with old Khayyam,
and leave the wise
To talk;
one thing is certain, that life flies;
One thing is certain, and the rest is lies;
The flower that once hath blown for ever dies.

I recently encountered this quote fromthe Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Beingof mature years I tend to look ʻback onthingsʼ in general and in particular, thereasons behind why, just why, youngfolks in Vancouver and the U.K. have inrecent months acted the way they did: trashing property and vehicles, looting and creating major mayhem. We oldies look back when we should be looking forward; but young or old, what the hell is going on with todayʼs youth?

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness… it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” C. Dickens.

Here is a tale of two Villages.

For those who “won” their election, it is the best of times. It is a happy village. For the others, the feeling is likely that the worst is yet to come. This is the unhappy village.

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