Here’s another article by Ish Theilheimer, this time in regards to gross national happiness. You guys seem to have the same things on your mind.

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature7.cfm?REF=627

This is beautiful. Thanks for posting it.

Now contrast the beauty of this piece with a recent editorial in the Globe and Mail (below) – who sets the national debate because of sheer readership numbers:

“The Bali conference should settle for less ambitious goals, such as fostering technology transfers to developing countries. Canada should commit itself to more talks to set realistic targets while dodging more impossible commitments. Mr. Baird is apparently heading to Bali with his eye on the Tories’ domestic political chances. He should pay more attention to the huge policy challenge of tackling global warming without gutting the nation’s economy.”

cities lack the political powers to save themselves currently even if they wanted to, 80% of Canadians live in cities, we’re an urban bunch – this means that our actions in regards to nature (good and bad) takes place DIRECTLY in cities

however, cities, despite being the forefronts of citizen contact, local actions and the direct mediators between the majority of the WORLD and the environment, do not simply have the tools to work with – i.e. shown by the lag in action to implement Toronto’s Smog and Climate Change plan because of a taxing fiasco

we’re creatures of the province, given the urge – Ontario can wipe out Toronto tomorrow

currently, there are at least $1 billion in infrastructure deficits in Canada – yet with a $14 billion surplus, all the federal government will do is tell cities to “stop whining” – instead, that money is used to “pay off the national debt” (Canada has the lowest among developed nations and thus it really is not a problem) and so-called tax cuts to corporations

………………

paying off the nation debt will not make our lives better,
it will not solve crumbling bridges in Montreal,
it will not stop the rise in transit fees from lack of funding,
it will not provide affordable housing,
it will not provide day-care services to the 30% of Toronto that are living in desperate poverty…