Let's Comment

(c) 2013  by Raymond Alexander Kukkee


Let's comment on the "news" just because we can, and not because we are delusional and think it will make any difference in the long run. "Governance" is what it is.  Let's keep in mind arbitrary abuse of power by government and bureaucracy is what ultimately causes failure of governments. How soon we forget.

35-50,000 gathers near the Washington Monument on Feb 17, 2013 to protest the Keystone XL pipeline

Let's comment on  Prime Minister Stephen Harper  visiting our American neighbors, looking desperate, while  'touting' the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Mr. Harper insists it is  "good" for the United States to approve the Keystone pipeline to enable pumping of  environmentally dirty and expensive oilsands heavy crude from Northern Alberta to refineries in the Gulf. To hell with pipeline disasters. The oil industry says 'it's safe'.  
 
"Sure it's good". And safe. Right. We 'believe our leaders and their "logic".

 A few temporary jobs.  We must ask why would Canada not build some refineries in Alberta  instead, and refine that oil in Canada for thousands more jobs? Permanent jobs. Construction jobs. Logical jobs. For Canadians.  Good economics.
Why would Canada insist on discounting and exporting oil to the US market which already has a glut of oil?  While Canada--at the same time--is stuck importing expensive foreign oil at world prices? 

Why should Americans be able to buy gasoline made from Canadian crude oil far cheaper than Canadians can buy this essential commodity?
   
 What?    Let's THINK about it.  



While we're Commenting... (  You'll LOVE this one  )

 
Let's Comment on the Atomic Energy Commission of Canada (AECL) currently "downplaying" an incident in which an 'operator' conveniently stupidly inadvertently pushed the 'wrong' buttons which subsequently just happened to stop the main cooling pumps from pumping cooling water to an active nuclear reactor at Chalk River. (2)  
 " Coincidentally, a senior AECL official was taking a visiting official from the World Association of Nuclear Operators through the control room for a peer review. He spotted the mistake and reversed the valves before the (valves)closed completely, but not before a "low-flow" alarm sounded, the Citizen said.   

Let's be realistic. No matter how the 'incident' occurred, there was potential for a major nuclear event. How AECL can "downplay" an incident of this magnitude is beyond comprehension and inexcusable. A 'senior' official happened to notice the error?  WHAT????
 
 Let's " Pay attention" to Chalk River's "safety record".
According to a 2011 article in the Guardian newspaper, there have been 33 serious incidents and accidents at nuclear power plants  since the first Chalk River meltdown in 1952. That one was rated a Level 5 incident on an ascending scale of 1 to 7.
Level 1 is classed as an "anomaly," the Guardian said, while Level 7 is Chernobyl, the only accident of its kind that's ever been publicly acknowledged. 


A level 5 accident. A full meltdown in 1952.   A senior official "happened to spot the mistake"........ What  "Nuclear Safety"?  
 
 AECL  is  "DOWNPLAYING"  this incident?  This is inexcusable --and irresponsible. 

The Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan isn't even on the list.  We have to wonder if AECL is downplaying that one too.  It was considerably worse than Chernobyl. And ongoing.  Have YOU heard anything about Fukushima lately?  Of course not. It is being "downplayed".
  


 
  Let's THINK about these issues.  And comment on them. 
 
 We deserve better from our leaders.


 
 #


Is that Incoming I hear? 

 




1.0   Photo Credit   Jmcdaid  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 

2.0       http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/atomic-energy-canada-playing-down-near-miss-ontario-185900047.html

Achievements 2011: Were we successful?

The Age of Light is upon us

 
It happens every 12 months.  It's the end of the year, and 2011  got used up pretty quickly, didn't it?   
In looking back it is natural to ask what we achieved --whether it be articles written, books published,  service to others, for personal satisfaction,  entertainment, discussion or persuasive argument.  No matter.
  One might be tempted to procrastinate and reserve judgment until January 1st, but no,  at Incoming Bytes we profess to be  fearless  with an eye open to improvement.  Constant re-evaluation  and questioning is the name of the game. 
During 2011 we touched on many things.

• Was the reader encouraged to pursue further action, pursue life pro actively in their own environment --and face serious issues head-on?  

• Were novice writers encouraged to at least study 'Terms of Service'  and think carefully before submitting their valuable work the rapidly-changing world of  word mills?  

• Did anyone think twice about the endangered sea turtles of Costa Rica?  

• Have any unhappy couples concerned themselves with the need for a quantum change in their own, and  society's collective  lax  attitude toward abusive relationships?

• Has anyone recognized the tendency of the west to promote the proliferation of Democracy in the middle East countries for economic benefit, while diminishing it's worth at home with increasingly-repressive legislation put forth under the guise of 'national security' ?

• Did anyone read 'Occupy this'  twice  and wonder why bureaucracy worldwide, but especially in North America, is in such a hurry to shut down reasonable protest by ordinary  people trying to better our world.

• How about the political gamesmanship with the Keystone Pipeline,  and rejection  of the Kyoto accord by both the US and Canada  in preference for dirty oil of the Athabasca oil sands to feed yet more wealth to powerful international petroleum companies?

• Was anyone convinced we should be asking VERY  pointed questions about the very future of energy itself when CLEAN ENERGY is already  being produced with the new technology of the  Rossi E-cat,   Apparently our politicians are not paying attention. Read this again and weep. 

• Why is the nuclear energy sector still planning to build more nukes after the nuclear disasters in Fukushima, Japan and Chernobyl?  Have any of our readers been convinced it is time to encourage our leaders to   declare war on nuclear power?

• How many snowmobile enthusiasts will have saved their own lives by reading  about one aspect of their   'sport',  the  exciting, but  dangerous and foolish practice of  'Snowmobile high-marking' which, all too often, causes fatal avalanches?   
• *We fondly hope that article and this reminder will save even ONE life this year and many more in years to come.

*We believe that if we have adequately convinced even ONE  snowmobile enthusiast  to avoid 'high-marking' and their understanding of the danger saves ONE life--we will have succeeded. 
  At Incoming Bytes we ask:  

1. How can we continue to improve our own lives? 
2. How can we begin improving society by quantum leaps? 
3. How can we encourage  society to entertain complete change, endorse clean energy, and create a kinder, gentler society that is responsible and sustainable?
4. How can we encourage civilization to allow the Age of Light to begin? An age of  intelligent social construction,  common sense, logic, protracted thought, and cooperation?

 Perhaps  that's a little much to ask of our greedy, profit-oriented, power-hungry,  hedonistic, selfish, arrogant and stiff-necked retail-blinded shopping society so soon.  
No matter. We shall persist. 
  Back to the original question.  Have we persuaded even one person such a quantum change is necessary?   I believe so. That is only one of many worthy achievements.
  It seems to me it's logical to  continue to stay on track, stay informed, use common sense, and explore the mundane, the unknown, the interesting, the challenging,  and the universe itself-- with open minds.  

For 2012:
Let us challenge wrongs and insist upon change with conscience; 
Let us not shirk our duty to ourselves and humanity ; 
Let us continue facing the future and building it better--  for with faith and perseverance, we CAN do it.
The Age of Light is upon us.
  
Think about it if you dare.  Happy New Year!


That's my story and I'm sticking to it