What can we do to help?

It’s goodbye season again; that time of year when many parents have recently sent their adult children off to school or jobs. While it is a season of renewal and excitement for young folks, it can also trigger feelings of loss and sadness for those of us with the empty bedrooms.
 But what do I really know about sorrow? Last week I enjoyed time at a beach, playing with my three-year-old grandson. I was thinking of another three-year-old boy on a far away beach; that profoundly moving photo.
 It was heartbreaking to hear his father interviewed. The poor man has no desire for a new life in a new country now. He has buried his wife and sons and wants to spend the rest of his life near their graves. Such is the power of love and loss. If I felt sad to see my grown son drive away to a new job, how does this man feel, to say goodbye to his three most important people, forever?
 I was lucky enough to spend some time at a couple of cottages this summer. One of them, had problems with the water supply and the fridge. The noisy pump, which brought water in from the lake, did not always function properly and for the first time, I experienced taps with no water. When the pump was functioning we boiled water to wash the dishes.
 Once home, basking in the luxury of hot and cold running water, we turned on our TV. We saw the images of all those refugees, those long lines of people, walking forever, carrying children, crawling under barbed wire, screaming in desperation when soldiers attempted to hold them back. How grateful would they be to have that cottage? Can we ever imagine how much they are suffering? Where are they getting their water? What are they eating?
 At a gathering earlier this summer, I heard someone remark, “I don’t know why we let those people into our country?” I am ashamed to admit that I was so taken aback that I said nothing. When we look back to the Second World War and recall the ships of Jews that Canada turned away, it seems unbelievable. So here we are again. How will we respond this time?
 Our world, our country has changed profoundly. The white/ English/French Ottawa that I grew up in during the 50’s and 60’s has disappeared. Ottawa, like most Canadian communities, is becoming increasingly multi-cultural.
 Once a month I volunteer at our local library, hosting an English conversation group for newcomers to Canada. It’s nothing fancy, just an opportunity for people to drop in and practice speaking English for an hour and a half.  I answer any questions they may have about Ottawa. We talk about food, families, their countries, and of course, Canada’s weather. At our last session one young man had taken a bus for an hour, just to attend the group.
 I’ve met people from many countries and heard many stories. These brave people have given up so much for the opportunity to come here and restart their lives. Last week I said goodbye to my son for a few months but these people have said good-bye to their country, their familiar surroundings and most painful of all, to their families.
 Here in Canada we are starting a new season. Along with the renewal of our usual fall activities, maybe we need to add a new item to our to do lists:
 What can we do to help these people?

Harperman Part 2

Oh My Goodness! Perhaps you have seen today's news. In June I wrote about our neighbour, Tony Turner, and his protest song, Harperman. Well last night while I was sitting on our front verandah Tony walked by and stopped for a chat.  

I had no idea that Environment Canada had forced him to take a paid leave because of the song. He's been at home while they investigate and decide whether or not he will be allowed to return to his position. The media got wind of the whole situation and Tony told me there would be an article in today's Ottawa Citizen.  By tonight it was all over radio, tv, newspapers, Facebook, Twitter etc. 

 How will today's media coverage influence Environment Canada's decision? Tony is in the middle of a project that he would really like to complete. This is not how he wanted his career to end. 

In today's Ottawa Citizen, Kathryn May writes,"Turner has been a public servant for 19 years and is nearing retirement. He most recently was assigned to co-ordinate a project to map priority areas for migratory birds.But he has also been a stalwart of the local folk music scene since 1994 when he joined Writers’ Bloc, Ottawa’s songwriters collective. He has several CDs, plays regularly across the province and is best known for the song Circle of Song, which will be included in a new anthology of Canadian folk songs." 

I really like Harperman. It's got a catchy tune and the lyrics are right on. Thanks to today's coverage it's well on its way to  becoming a powerful protest song , reminiscent of the 60's protest songs. Funny thing about the media coverage of this whole situation. Until today I had not heard about the September 17th Harperman singalong event, on Parliament Hill and in many other cities across the country. You can bet those singalongs will be far better attended as a result of today. 

However, Tony's not just about protest. Have a listen to the song May mentioned, Circle of Song, to get a better picture of this excellent musician and truly fine person.
 

Harperland, without Flora

Years ago, you used to hear stories about friendly, behind-the-scenes relationships among politicians on opposite sides of the House of Commons. On the floor of the House they sparred about policy but after hours, many got along just fine. That camaraderie among foes has been in short supply in recent years. Yesterday however, we saw a glimpse of that possibility. When Elizabeth May gave the Green Party speech to begin their election campaign, she started off by delivering a heartfelt tribute to recently deceased Conservative Flora MacDonald. In fact, she dedicated the Green Party campaign to the memory of Ms. MacDonald and advised her candidates to try to follow her example of public service. She added that she regretted not being able to attend her funeral. It was an unusual start to an election campaign. Good for her.

Flora MacDonald's funeral was held at 2 pm yesterday at Christ Church Cathedral here in Ottawa. Last week some questioned Harper's decision not to offer a state funeral for MacDonald. Not only did she blaze a trail for women in government, she worked diligently for many humanitarian causes, long after her retirement.

Folks chatting outside Christ Church Cathedral, after Flora MacDonald's funeral

At the funeral service four people spoke about her. We were left with the impression of a warm, dedicated person who cared deeply about the plight of many. Former PM Joe Clark spoke about her time as Minister of External Affairs. Two of the many events of that time were Canada's role in the escape of the American hostages in Tehran and the arrival of thousands of Vietnamese boat people. Communities across Canada welcomed these refugees, following a policy designed by MacDonald. The city of Ottawa's efforts were led by then-mayor Marian Dewar. Her son, Paul Dewar, our MP, was in attendance at yesterday's funeral. So was his leader, Tom Mulcair.

Their presence, along with Elizabeth May's tribute, is an example of what politics can be. Politicians can respect each other, even if they are from different parties.

Prime Minister Harper had his morning meeting at Rideau Hall but didn't stay in town for the funeral. No doubt the plans for his campaign launch had been set in stone, long before MacDonald's funeral plans were finalized. Harper has never been accused of being flexible - there was no way he could change his itinerary. On the evening news he was shown, along with his family, in a Montreal bakery at about the time many of us were sitting in church, paying tribute to a very important (Conservative) Canadian.

I find it hard to believe that Jim Flaherty rated a state funeral but Flora MacDonald did not. It also seems totally absurd to drag your family to a photo op in a Montreal bakery, rather than  attend MacDonald's funeral.

Harper's decision to stick to his plan yesterday reminds me of another strange decision. In January of 2013, a group of Cree youth started walking from northern Quebec towards Ottawa. They were walking in support of Idle No More and the Quebec Cree Nation. This small band grew as they hiked and snowshoed along. By the time they arrived in Ottawa there were 270 of them and the journey had taken two months. Some of them had walked as far as 1600 kilometres in sub-zero weather.

On March 25, the group was met with chants, cheers and many MPs on Parliament Hill. Again, noticeable by his absence was the Prime Minister. Another scripted event took priority that day as well. Instead of welcoming these young people, after their arduous journey, Harper flew to Toronto's Pearson airport to welcome a pair of giant pandas to Canada, from China.

Chinese pandas, over Cree youth. A bakery photo op instead of a famous Canadian's funeral. There will be much talk in the weeks ahead about the priorities of each leader. Harper has already demonstrated his.

Harperland and Al Gore

It's easy to be cynical about the world and its problems. Thank goodness for all the great leaders who encourage us to be optimistic and keep on trying. Take Al Gore.  CBC's The National recently aired an interview with him. If many of us had come as close as he did, to becoming president of the U.S.  well, we might spend the rest of our lives in a some kind of bitter mood. Not Al Gore. He can even joke about the situation. Part of the piece showed him walking onstage and announcing, "I'm Al Gore and I used to be the next president of the United States."

Gore is using his fame to advance the cause of protecting the environment. He does this with his books, his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, and his work around the world, educating and encouraging others to join him in a campaign to curb climate change.

When asked what he thinks about Canada's recent actions (non-actions?) on environmental protection, Gore spoke diplomatically but emphatically, "In recent years, at the national level, the reluctance of the Canadian government to really provide leadership on the climate issue has been a cause for concern and many have expressed that concern." Amen! We are concerned. Actually we are embarrassed.

There was another piece on Thursday night's National, about the critical disappearance of the bee population in North America. Climate change was cited as the biggest culprit for this situation. Reduced crop pollination is just one of the results. Scientist Jeremy Kerr of the University of Ottawa was blunt.  "The federal government should have been moving quickly (on climate change) ten years ago and didn't. The federal government should have been moving quickly five years ago and did nothing. We need them to stop delaying and start working."

If only Harper had spent a fraction of his war on terror money or a fraction of his economic action plan ads on a war against climate change. Al Gore was slightly optimistic in tonight's interview. He thinks that with the rapid advances in technology like solar and wind power, that there is still a chance to make positive change. Hopefully, a new federal government will follow his lead.

Harperman - Tony Turner's Song

Almost every day there seems to be a new reason to vote against Harper. Whether it's more bad news about the people he chose to sit in the Senate, his muzzling of our scientists, the death of door-to-door mail delivery, the firing of safety inspectors, Canada's lack of leadership on environmental issues, the closing of government libraries and the destruction of government library materials, it all contributes to a scary picture of one man running the country in exactly the fashion he chooses, no matter what any experts may try to advise. In a particularly mean-spirited move, the Canada Revenue Agency has been engaged in auditing many charitable organizations because of their political activities. I guess an organization called Canada Without Poverty sounds pretty scary to our current government.

Here in Ottawa, it's not hard to find civil servants to tell you news from the inside. It doesn't matter which federal government department they work for. The story is the same: massive cuts to their staff and budgets and the loss of power and control in their departments. For an example of how tightly controlled civil servants are these days, have a look at this article  by Margaret Munro, who tells us that "federal librarians and archivists who set foot in classrooms, attend conferences or speak up at public meetings on their own time are engaging in high risk activities, according to the new code of conduct at Library and Archives Canada."

No one in Ottawa has any real power or decision-making ability except Harper. Gone are the days when ministers ran their departments and were responsible for them. Virtually every decision must go through the PMO. This is truly a one-man show.

Our neighbour, singer Tony Turner, has written an excellent song which neatly summarizes the situation. Have a listen and feel free to pass it along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei50lM6ab1c.

Summer concert season

Ah June; the start of summer concert season. What makes a good summer concert? Is it the weather, the venue, the musicianship of the performer? Or is there something else?

Ottawa’s re-named  CityFolk festival (formerly Ottawa Folk Festival) recently announced their headliner – rock legend Van Morrison. Good for them but I won’t be there. I’ve already had the pleasure of his company at the 2007 version of Bluesfest. Sure, I enjoyed hearing Gloria and Brown Eyed Girl and many other hits. What bothered me was his attitude. Maybe it shouldn’t matter, but when I attend a concert, I appreciate some kind of performer/audience interaction. Mr. Morrison appeared on stage, sang his songs, introduced his band at the end of the show and left abruptly, with no encore. He made absolutely no attempt to connect with the thousands of people who paid a lot of money to see him.

Contrast him with Diana Krall. The Citizen’s review (http://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-reviews/music-review-feel-good-and-familiar-works-for-diana-krall-at-nac ) of  “Canada’s jazz queen’s” May 31^st concert gave her top marks for musicality but what impressed me, as much as her musicianship, was her demonstration of humility and generosity. So many top stars introduce their band near the end of the show but not Ms. Krall. As soon as her opening number was done, she introduced the five members of her band. She was also accompanied by an orchestra and throughout the show she acknowledged them and praised their conductor. When introducing each song, she always mentioned the name of the composer and/or arranger. Krall, the big-name entertainer, often said she felt so lucky to be able to perform the piece or to play with such great instrumentalists. At the end she stood among her bandmates to take her bow. What a class act she is.

Another outstanding performer that I’ve had the pleasure to see both at outdoor festivals and onstage at the NAC is Natalie McMaster. Whether on her own or with members of her musical family, she provides wonderful musical entertainment and a real warmth.  At the end of her show you feel like you have met her, that you know and care about her.   

One of the most magical outdoor concerts I’ve been to was James Taylor at Bluesfest, in July of 2008.  Us old fogies were settled in our lawn chairs long before the concert began, enjoying a perfect summer night. With his friendly chatter, it felt like an evening with friends in a living room, as we all sang along to his sweet, gentle hits.

I didn’t know what to expect from Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers when they performed at Confederation Park a couple of years ago. Could he really play banjo as well as make us laugh? It turns out that the multi-talented Steve Martin is a real musician with the funniest banter of any concert.

I’d love to see Paul McCartney again. His performances are the opposite of Van Morrison’s. In a CBC radio interview in 2010, he said, "I go out there and try to give people the best night of their lives." He delivers. There really is nothing quite like belting out all those great tunes with McCartney as a very enthusiastic choir leader. As the cameras panned the crowd at his concert, I was struck by the sea of happy faces; all these strangers, of various ages and backgrounds, united in joyous singing. What a great gift, to be able to give joy to so many.

Concerts can be like that; magical escapes. Audience interaction, humour, warmth, along with great music make for unforgettable experiences. Here’s hoping that this summer’s Ottawa festivals provide us with plenty of magic.

Nepal

How could I have neglected this space for so long? Blame it on May, my favourite month, with its gift of flowering trees, like these at Ottawa's Experimental Farm.

We've also had the pleasure and the total busyness of an extended visit with our grandchildren. They just left this morning so I'll put away the high chair, toys and the Raffi Christmas cd until the next visit. Our little guy loves Santa and Christmas songs.

When I watch the evening news I feel like I am living on a different planet. Here I am in Ottawa, Canada, a stable country, with fairly reasonable weather, while in so many parts of the globe, misery and catastrophes are rampant. While I stroll among the lilacs at the Experimental Farm or play with my grandchildren, thousands in Nepal are living outdoors, desperate for aid, as they await the start of monsoon season. The Nepal earthquakes have faded from the media but those people 's lives are still in turmoil.

 There are so many causes to support. It often feels overwhelming. However, if anyone reading this has thought about donating to the Nepal relief effort, now is the time. The Canadian government will match any donations made by Canadians by tomorrow, May 25th. For more information about the many charities working in Nepal have a look at this CBC piece where you can click on a charity to donate.