Canada - You Have a Choice

From Avaaz.ca - Hear/download the song and sign the pledge at http://www.avaaz.ca/ca/stop_harper_pledge/

Artists Unite to Defeat Harper and Fight Climate Change

New song features Canadian musicians to raise hope and awareness

OTTAWA – Canadian artists have joined together to record a song, titled "You Have a Choice," to mobilize Canadian voters to let their voices be heard in support of strong, concrete action on climate change. The song is sponsored by Avaaz, a new web movement with over 300,000 supporters across Canada. Click here to download the song.

"Elizabeth May said it best in the debates, the Harper climate change plan is a fraud," said Avaaz Executive Director Ricken Patel.

"I have also seen first hand how the Conservative government is actively wrecking international progress on climate change."

While the majority of Canadians want action on climate change and believe that Harper is offside with their views, voters often feel that one vote can't make a difference. This is why prominent Canadian artists have come together in support of strategic voting to defeat Harper.

"These bright lights of the Canadian music scene are sending a message to voters: you can make a difference, and we need to come together and strategically support candidates who will defeat Stephen Harper and fight climate change," said Patel.
The Canadian artists who rallied together for this effort include: K-OS, Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent, Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace, Sarah Harmer, Hawksley Workman, Jason Collett of Broken Social Scene, Darren Dumas of The Salads and the Arts Offstage Choir under the direction of David Reed. The song was written and produced by The Hundreds and Thousands' Ian Lefeuvre and K-OS. Lyrics all contributed by the artists. Additional keyboards are performed by Todor Kobakov from Major Maker. The track was mastered by Joao Carvalho.

With bagpipes, swirling guitars, soaring choruses and a chilling choral performance, familiar voices bring a powerful message of the necessity of action and the importance of each and every vote on October 14. “You Have a Choice” will be released to radio stations across Canada, and Canadians can download an MP3 by visiting AVAAZ.ca.
Source: http://www.avaaz.ca/you_have_a_choice/

For strategic voting info for every riding in Canada, visit http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/.

Gerry Ritz - "stupid and insensitive remarks"

CTV coverage of Conservative Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz making "stupid and insensitive remarks" about the listeriosis epidemic. Roger Smith and Bob Fife talking to Mike Duffy. Note the exchange between Duffy and Fife around 3:00.



Some commenters over at Maclean's blogs think the controversy about Ritz's jokes is being over-blown. I don't agree.

It's worth noting that the minister in charge of the safety of the country’s food supply thinks that the deaths of people due to unsafe food is a joking matter. There were about 30 people on that conference call, it wasn’t a private aside, he knew a lot of people were listening and he thought it was fine to joke about people dying.

Family members of people who died don’t think it was funny. The daughter of one victim called the comments “hurtful” and “disrespectful”: http://watch.ctv.ca/news/election-2008/ritz-under-fire/#clip93578

This is what the phrase “adding insult to injury” means.

Coming on the same day as the CMAJ editorial that puts the responsibility for the listeriosis deaths squarely in the lap of the federal government, it is legitimately big news.

If family is everything, why not show some respect for the families who have lost loved ones? And why not some respect for families who have to feed their kids, their elders, family members with other medical conditions who are particularly vulnerable to listeriosis?

And how can the country have confidence in a minister who takes no responsibility for and doesn’t understand the seriousness of one of his core files - food safety?