Go Nanaimo Blog

On Saturday, August 21, 2010, and Sunday, August 22, 2010, Victoria and Mid Island Independent Community Television (ICTV) had its debut on Channel 11 in Victoria and Saltspring Island and on Channel 4 in Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Port Alberni. ICTV’s first program was Shout Out for Global Justice, a documentary about a live event organized by the Council of Canadians in Massey Hall, Toronto, to put forward a People-First Vision to confront The Corporate Agenda. Featured speakers included Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians, Leo Gerard of the Steelworkers, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, and author Naomi Klein.

The Massey Hall event took place on the eve of huge demonstrations against the G20, which resulted in the largest mass arrest in Canadian history and an overwhelming display of state and police abuse of power. Shout Out for Global Justice explores the reasons why 25,000 people marched in the streets of Toronto on June 26, 2010. These protests by thousands of Canadian citizens and leading activists from around the world were documented by ICTV organizer Paul Manly as part of a project developed for Smart Change, a new networking and movement building organization.

ICTV is sending Shout Out for Global Justice to community organizations and activists across Canada to take to their local community access cable TV stations as part of a Cable Access Coalition project. The aim is to build a progressive movement for change from coast to coast to coast. Here in Nanaimo, Manly is working toward creating a community television society, recruiting volunteers and raising funds to provide regular programming on our local community access cable stations. ICTV programming will cover social justice and environmental issues in depth. To take part in this important initiative, call Paul Manly at 250-754-9254 or 250-729-1254.

The Nanaimo Museum is sponsoring an entertaining tour of Nanaimo’s oldest pubs on Monday, August 23, 2010. A tour guide will take participants on an historical walk through downtown and the Old City Quarter with brief stops at three of Nanaimo’s oldest liquor establishments. All participants must be at least 19 years of age. Tour begins at the Nanaimo Museum, 100 Museum Way, at 7 pm and finishes at 9:30 pm. Pre-registration and payment is required. The cost per person is $15 (museum members receive a 15 percent discount). It’s a great way to experience some of Nanaimo’s most colorful drinking places in good company while learning a few things about the city’s history. Call Bobbi Williamson at 250-753-1821 to sign up.

Michael Ignatieff kicked off his national tour in Nanaimo BC today only to be met by a group of seal hunt protesters. The seal hunt demonstrators surrounded the cafe where the event was being held and chanted Murderer leave town, Seal killer leave town, Michael Ignatieff go home, Leave the harp seals alone, and Blood on the ice in the water profiting off the seal slaughter. The protest was so loud that all doors to the cafe had to be closed and everyone inside was taking notice. Because Ignatieff was having trouble speaking inside with all the noise outside, he agreed to come speak to protesters after he was done if they stopped chanting.

Canada’s seal slaughter targets defenseless baby seals. Canadian government kill reports show that 97 percent of the seals killed in recent years have been less than three months old, while most have been just one month old or less at the time of slaughter. Veterinary experts argue that Canada’s commercial seal slaughter is inherently inhumane because of the extreme, uncontrolled environment in which the killing operates and the speed at which the killing must occur.

Global markets for seal products are closing. Canada’s two largest trading partners – the United States and the EU – have both prohibited trade in seal products. Mexico and Croatia have also ended their trade in seal products, and animal protection groups the world over are urging more nations to follow suit.

The Canadian sealing industry achieved record low economic returns in both 2009 and 2010. While the industry brought in roughly $1 million in each of these years, the Canadian government estimates the cost of enforcement at the slaughter to be up to $3.6 million annually. In addition, the Canadian government has invested millions of dollars in promoting the sealing industry internationally and working to block prohibitions on seal product trade.

A boycott of Canadian seafood, that will continue in the US and elsewhere until the seal slaughter ends for good, has already cost the Canadian economy many times the value of the sealing industry. More than 5,500 establishments and 650,000 people have pledged to avoid some or all Canadian seafood until the seal hunt ends for good. Recent polling conducted by Ipsos Reid shows that two-thirds of Newfoundland sealers holding an opinion are concerned about the impact of the boycott.

Europe will implement a ban on the trade of all seal products beginning tomorrow, Friday, August 20, 2010. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)  applauds this momentous legislation as a significant victory in the campaign to end commercial sealing. The EU seal product ban is perhaps the largest single victory in IFAW’s 40-year campaign to end commercial seal hunting. “We are absolutely delighted with this legislation” said Lesley O’Donnell, director of IFAW EU. “It is the culmination of years of hard work and we will continue our efforts until the unnecessary cruelty of commercial sealing ends once and for all.”

The EU ban is significant in that it will prohibit the trade in products from all commercial seal hunts, including those in Canada, Namibia, and Norway, while protecting sealing by Inuit and other indigenous peoples. In the past two years the total number of seals killed in Canada’s commercial seal hunt has dropped dramatically, with less than a quarter of the total allowable catch being taken.

“It’s difficult to say if it was the prospect of the European ban that has saved the lives of nearly half a million seals in the past two years, or if the global lack of demand for seal fur is simply the logical course for such a cruel and unnecessary product,” said Sheryl Fink, director of IFAW’s seal campaign. “What is obvious is that the Canadian government should take this opportunity to bring an end to the seal slaughter. The continuing efforts by Canada to encourage consumption of seal products in other countries such as China show a government completely out of step with world opinion.”

There has been a groundswell of action against commercial seal hunts in recent years. In 2009 Russia announced a ban on the hunting of seals less than one year of age, effectively ending its commercial seal hunt in the White Sea. A total of 30 countries have now banned the sale of seal products, including seven of Canada’s top 10 export markets. Canada and Norway have launched challenges against the EU ban at the World Trade Organization, which are expected to cost many times more than what the sealing industry is worth. Recent public opinion polling shows that the majority of Canadians is opposed to the use of government funds to challenge the EU seal product ban at the WTO, and would rather see their taxes used to phase out the commercial seal hunt.

With less than one month left before the annual Real Estate Webmasters Summit, those who are procrastinating or on the fence about purchasing tickets should hurry up and register before all of the spaces are sold out. This is an amazing opportunity to network with cohorts, learn from industry experts, and have a little justified fun in the beautiful harbor-side city of Nanaimo.

REW’s recent promotional sale (which gave an additional 25% discount to clients attending the Summit) generated a lot of interest and prompted a surge in registration. In the midst of this excitement, REW would like to take a moment to once again stress that space is limited and tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. Don’t leave your participation to chance or risk being disappointed! Take a minute to review the REW website and you will quickly see why this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Highlights in 2010 include twice and thrice daily classes (included), networking session (included), collaboration session (included), lead management technology session (included), extended access to conference facilities (included), spectacular breakfast and lunch spreads (included), and their always-popular night on the town – this year: pool hall shenanigans (included).

Do not be disappointed this year. Register now to ensure your spot and join REW on September 16 and 17, 2010, for one of the most valuable conferences you will ever attend! Do not delay. Download and complete the credit card authorization form and fax it to 250-753-7209 to book your spot today.

Need more incentive? Take one look at the schedule or some of the accolades from last year’s conference and see if you remain undecided. Need more information? Contact REW directly for more information on how you can sign up today for the best decision you’ve made all year at 250-753-9893.