soapbox

Call in the scriptwriters. Ad men. A comedian or two. A Shakespearean mouthpiece plus two of the countries best used car salesmen and a good looking talking head. Preferably a babe. That oughta work. . . . . NOTE:. . .IN. . .THE . . .NEXT FEW DAYS . . .THE BIG 3 DINOSAURS FROM DETROIT WILL BE . . .APPLYING FOR A . . 25 BILLION DOLLAR . . ..BAILOUT . ...FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY ..FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE GOV'TS . . .IN CANADA AND THE USA .

. . . . .CONDOLENSES.. .TO .FAMILIES ..IN THE COUNTRY OF INDIA . ..FOR THE MANY INNOCENT LIVES LOST IN THE VIOLENCE IN THE CITY OF MUMBAI . . . . .MANY GREAT THINGS WERE CREATED IN . . .INDIA . .INCLUDING . . .GREEN LIFESTYLE . .THAT CANADA , , ,CANNOT EVEN COME CLOSE . . .TO . . . .BUT . .IN THIS DSYFUNCTIONAL WORLD WE ALL LIVE IN THEY ARE NOT IMMUNE TO . . THE DARK SIDE O HUMAN BEHAVIOUR . . .OR . .SOME . .OF ..THE . . .INFLUENCES , . .FOISTED UPON THEM BY . . THE SO CALLED WESTERN . .SOCIETY . . .LIKE . .CARS . . .TV . . .ETC . . . .I . .AM . .NOT . .PROUD OF . .SOME OF THE EXPORTS . .OF . . OUR . . SYSTEM . . .AND WITH ..GODS HELP WILL TRY TO CHANGE THAT IN THE FUTURE. . . .I . .KNOW . .ALSO THERE IS A LOT OF COURAGEOUS PEOPLE IN INDIA . . .WHO ARE ALSO . .FIGHTING THE SAME BATTLES . .AS . . .A . .LOT . .OF . .SIMILAR . . .MINDED . .PEOPLE . . .IN . .NORTH AMERICA. . .I ..HOPE..SOME DAY . .THESE BATTLES WILL UNITE INSTEAD OF DESTROY.

. . . . . . THE CURE IS WORSE THAN THE DISEASE . . . ..PRESENT LEADERS IN THE USA AND CANADA WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE . . . . .THAT INCREASED SPENDING WILL CURE THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC PROBLEMS . . .I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE . . . .IN THE VERY SHORT TERM . . .IT MAY , ,BUT THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE ENVIRONMENT . . . . .. WOULD MAKE . . . . THE FINANCIAL MELTDOWN SEEM LIKE A PICNIC . . . .BUYING CARS OR APPLIANCES OR WHATEVER IS NOT . .A . .SOLUTION . .FOR THE AILING . .ECONOMY .BUT IT MOST DEFINITELY IS THE PROBLEM . . . .ESPECIALLY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. . . .MY ADVICE . .BUY . . .ONLY AS A LAST . . .RESORT

NOTHING IN THE PRESENT GOV'T IN CANADA . . . . REPRESENTS A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER . . . . ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL . . .FOR THE OLD LINE . . .ESTABLISHMENT PARTIES . . ...THE RECENT IDEA OF DISMANTLING THE 2$ PER VOTE SUBSIDY . . . . .. TO THE SMALLER POLITICAL PARTIES . . .IS . .AN . . EXELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO . ..TO DEFEAT . .THE GOV.T . .AT ITS OWN . .GAME . . .BY VOTING AGAINST THE MEASURE . .IN A NON CONFIDENCE VOTE NEXT MONDAY . .. .THIS WOULD ALLOW A COALITION GOV;T TO BE FORMED. . . . . .EITHER . . .BY . . .LIBERALS AND NDP . . .OR LIBERALS AND BLOC FROM QUEBEC . . . OR BETTER STILL A COALITION OF GREENS . . .NDP . . . .BLOC . . .AND LIBERALS .. . . . . .THEY EASILY HAVE ENOUGH SEATS . . . . . . IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TO FORM THE NEXT GOV'T . . . . . .WITHOUT HAVING AN . . .IMMEDIATE ELECTION . . . . CANADA . . . .DESERVES . . . A . . ."CHANGE IN THESE TURBULENT TIMES"

The owner of a Thai fishing trawler has said the Indian navy sank it off Somalia's coast last week after wrongly assuming it was a pirate "mother ship". Wicharn Sirichaiekawat said the Indian frigate had attacked the Ekawat Nava 5 while it was being hijacked by pirates. He said one of the crew had been found alive after six days in the Gulf of Aden, but that another 14 were missing. . . .NEWS ITEM FROM BBC,nov25-08

. . . .AUTO MAKERS HAVE , , UNTIL DEC 2 . . . . . . TO SUBMIT A PLAN TO U.S. CONGRESS . . . . SHOWING HOW THE 25 BILLION $ BAILOUT MONEY WILL BE USED . . . . . . .THE ARRIVAL OF . . . . THE 3 CEO'S IN LUXURY JETS . . .SHOULD . . GIVE . .SOME CLUES . .HOW THEY WILL SPEND THE MONEY . . .ALSO . .THE RECENT HISTORY . .OF THE AUTO . .INDUSTRY . . AND . THEIR OBSESSION ,..WITH . .GAZ . .GUZZING SUV'S . .IS ANOTHER CLUE ON HOW THEY WILL SPEND THE 25 BILLION TAXPAYER CASH. . . . .IMAGINE ALL THE GOOD THAT CAN BE DONE . . . . . . IF THE MONEY WAS GIVEN TO CONSERVATION GROUPS . .TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT. . . .AND . . FORESTALL . .CLIMATE CHANGE . . .WHICH . ..COME TO THINK OF IT WAS . . PARTLY CAUSED BY THE VERY INDUSTRY . . .WHICH SEEKS THE 25 BILLION$. . . . . .$25,000,000,000.00.

European rivals have called for $50bn in soft loans, with General Motors' German unit Opel struggling for survival, but the European commission has said any aid would have to be targeted and temporary. Kroes said countries would simply export their problems to their neighbours by handing out poorly considered subsidies, and the EU had existing mechanisms that could help big car manufacturers. "R&D aid or environment aid, for example, would have the double benefit of helping the industry and helping address the problem of climate change," she said. Cutting emissions from cars is an important part of ambitious EU goals of curbing overall carbon dioxide output by a fifth by 2020. . . SOME. ..MULTINATIONAL AUTO COMPANIES HAVE HEADQUARTERS IN EUROPE.

EU opposes car subsidies race Kroes urged governments to avoid 'the costly trap' of a subsidy race [AFP] Europe's competition commissioner has cautioned Germany and France against starting a race with the US to subsidise the car industry. Car manufacturers around the world have said that the economic fallout from the financial crisis is taking its toll on sales, leading to job cuts. "I ask all governments to avoid the costly trap of a subsidy race," Neelie Kroes, the European Union competition commissioner, said in a speech on Friday. . ..NEWS ITEM--ALJAZEERA.NOV 22-08 "We have all heard calls, particularly in France, Germany and the United States, for support to be given to the car industry. "All governments have to resist that."

A LOT OF TALK RECENTLY ABOUT BAILOUT FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY . . . . .HOW ..ABOUT 25 . .BILLION FOR CONSERVATION GROUPS TO SAVE THE PLANET .. . .INSTEAD OF GIVING IT TO GROUPS THAT DESTROY.

WHILE IT IS TRUE . . . . . . . THAT THE BIG 3 AUTO COMPANIES G.M. . . .FORD . . . .CHRYLSLER . . .RIGHTLY . . . DESERVE . . .MOST . .OF. .THE . .RECENT . . .CRITICISM . . .ABOUT . .THEIR . . . 25 . . .OR. . .50 . . .BILLION . .DOLLAR . .TAXPAYER-FUNDED BAILOUT . . . LET US NOT FORGET . . . . GERMANY . . .AND . .JAPAN . .KOREA . . . THEY ALSO ARE GUILTY OF . . PRODUCING . ..EARTH DESTROYING . .CARS .THE FACT THAT THE ARE . . .SMALLER,BETTER ? QUALITY AND . . . . MORE FUEL EFFICIENT STILL DOES NOT NEGATE . . . . . THE FACT OF THEIR . . . . DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT ON PLANET EARTH. . . .THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO BUILD SUCH VEHICLES . . . . . .WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE HYBRID . . .IS . .STILL . .VERY DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT .. .EVERY VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF SIZE . . . . . . . NEEDS PAVED ROADS TO DRIVE ON AND PARKING SPACES . . .TREES ARE BULLDOZED INTO THE GROUND . . . . . . . THROUGH FORESTS TO MAKE WAY FOR THEM . . . .SO . . .DON'T . .FORGET . .IMPORTS . . .THEY ARE JUST AS

THE AUTO MAKERS "PRODUCT" IS DESTROYING THE PLANET . . . . .THE US CONGRESS HAS DELAYED THEIR DECISION . . . . .TO BAILOUT THE AUTO . .INDUSTRY UNTIL . . .FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER . .AND THEY ARE HOPING . .. . .PEOPLE WILL FORGET ALL ABOUT IT . . . . .AT THEIR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY . . .AND . .THEN SNEAK PASSAGE OF THE BAILOUT . . . . .SAY . . .NO . . .TO . . . BAILOUT . . . SAVE . .THE PLANET.

The auto industry in u.s.and canada is dying... let them go into backruptcy. Then maybe the unions will buy them out (at book market price after bankruptcy) it will only cost about $2 billion... much better deal than having the tax payers foot a $25 billion bill. The union can then decide who will run it (no more 8-digit salaries) and what they will manufacture. My suggestion is that they re-tool to produce wind turbine generators, solar electrical equipment... and/or even bicycles. . . .note:the big three auto-makers ceo's . . .arrived . .in washington . . in . .luxury . .corporate . .jets . . to . .beg . .for . . .25 . .billion . .dollars from the taxpayers . . .a little ironic . .i . .think.

. . . . . .THE AUTOMOBILE IS A DYSFUNCTIONAL PRODUCT . . . . .90 PERCENT OF THE VEHICLES ON OUR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS . . . .CARRY ONLY ONE PERSON,THE DRIVER .. . . .IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME . . .JUST STAND ON THE CORNER OF A STREET . . .AND COUNT . . . . . .TO GET FROM POINT . .A . . TO . .POINT B . . .WE . .USE . .A . .STEEL . .AND..PLASTIC . .GAS..GUZZLING . . .SMOG . . PRODUCING . . .EARTH. . . .DESTROYING . . .PEOPLE . . .KILLING . . .MACHINE . . .CALLED . . . THE . . ."AUTOMOBILE" . . . .WEIGHING 1 ..OR . .2 . .TONNES . . . .TO TRANSPORT . . .A. . .100 . . .OR . . .200. .POUND . . .ADULT HUMAN . . BEING . . .THIS IS . .DYSFUNCTIONAL . . . . .AND.....THE AUTO . . INDUSTRY . . .WANTS . . .50 . . .BILLION . . MORE . . .DOLLARS . . .FROM . . .TAXPAYERS ..TO BUILD MORE OF THESE . . . WHEELED MOTORIZED . . . . . MONSTERS . . .GIVE . . .ME . .A . .BREAK.

. . . . THATS HOW MANY CARS ARE NOW CRISCROSSING PLANET EARTH . . . . .900 MILLION CARS . ?? AND AT PRESENT TIME . .THE AUTO INDUSTRY . . .IS BUSY IN WASHINGTON ,USA . .BEGGING FOR 25 OR 50 BILLION MORE DOLLARS . . . . . FROM THE TAXPAYERS SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD MORE CARS .?? . . .REGARDLESS . OF THE DAMAGE . .THAT CARS . .HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO DO TO THE ENVIRONMENT . . . .WHAT . .ABOUT . . SPENDING . .50 . .BILLION . .DOLLARS . .TO . .BUILD A GREEN ECONOMY ? . . .DO . . .WE . .NEED . .MORE . . .CARS ??. . .THE ANSWER IS . . .NO. . .NO . ..NYET . . .NEIN . . .NON . . . PERIOD.

Konin, Poland — Our team at the Climate Rescue Station in Poland joined 400 local people who live close to an open coal mine for a mass demonstration. Seven mayors from nearby villages and towns, which are facing destruction because of the mine's expansion, also attended. Our Climate Rescue Station - a four-storey-tall planet Earth - is sitting on the edge of the vast open pit mine in opposition to the expansion of coal-fired power plants, in Poland and the world. The station contains exhibitions and information about coal and its impacts, and visitors can learn such suprising facts as this: one third of CO2 pollution comes from coal, making it the single biggest cause of climate change. . . . . . . . . . . .STORY AND PICTURE COURTESY OF GREENPEACE . . . . . Poland uses coal for over 90 percent of its electricity production, more than double the world average, and is a major contributor to global warming. Poland is one of the top 20 states in the world for CO2 emissions.

. . . . .FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28 . . .IS . .BUY NOTHING . . .DAY . . .JOIN THE CELEBRATION . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .re: recession isn't it scary how dependent our economic system is (or how dependent we've been conditioned to believe it is) on continous material acquisiton and spending, depsite the environmental and social consequences.

. . . .Congressman John Dingell has used his powerful position as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to protect the auto industry. He represents a district in Michigan, so this should come as no surprise. What does come as a surprise is that his wife is a high-powered executive at General Motors (now seeking a billion dollar bailout) and a descendant of the Fisher Brothers, one of the pioneering car families of Detroit whose corporation was absorbed by General Motors decades ago. The New York Time s mentions this in passing and focuses instead on the battle between Dingell and Waxman for chairmanship of the committee. Naturally… [...] This is a major conflict of interest that should have been widely publicized years ago ........ . . . . .SNEAKY WAY TO GET GOV'T BAILOUT MONEY . . . .ALL...IN THE FAMILY.

. . . . . NOT . .THE AUTO INDUSTRY . . . . .WE . . DON'T NEED . . .MORE EARTH DESTROYING . . GAS . ..GUZZLING . . .CARS . . . .BILLIONS OF DOLLARS . .FROM THE GOVERNMENT . . .AKA. . ..TAXPAYER . . .SHOULD BE GIVEN . .TO THE WORKERS . . . . .INSTEAD OF . . THE DINASOUR . .CAR INDUSTRY . . . . .AND ANY SPARE CASH . . .THE GOVERNMENT . . HAS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO . . .SMALL ECO FRIENDLY BUSINESS . . .IT IS A FACT THAT SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY MORE PEOPLE. . . . .note:the above photo is from a smog choked . .traffic . .bottleneck somewhere in china

US auto bailout battle intensifies Republicans say ordinary taxpayers should not be made to pay for bailing out the auto industry [EPA] The senate is scheduled to begin debating emergency legislation on Monday to help General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co, and Chrysler LLC as part of a special post-election session to deal with the economic crisis. . . . . . . . .THE AUTO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IS A DINASOUR . . . . AND SHOULD NOT BE BAILED OUT . . . . .INSTEAD THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE GOV'T. HAS. . . ALLOCATED TO THE INDUSTRY . . . .SHOULD BE USED TO COMPENSATE THE WORKERS . . . . .SO THAT THEY WILL NOT NEEDLESSLY SUFFER. .IN THEIR TRANSITION TO THE MANY GREEN JOBS . . . . . THAT WILL BE CREATED . . . .IN THE NEW ECO FRIENDLY ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE .

'We will do what we have to, to contribute to boosting global demand' . . . . . .THIS STATEMENT BY HARPER IN THE TORONTO STAR SHOWS HOW COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH from REALITY IS THE PRESENT PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA . . . .such a statement is contrary to protecting the earths environment . . . . . . . .BUY . . .BUY . . . BUY . . . . . .SPEND . . SPEND . . .SPEND . . .SEEMS TO BE THE MANTRA OF THIS OLD WORN OUT ESTABLISHMENT . . . . INSTEAD OF BUILDING A NEW ECOnomy BASED ON SAVING THE PLANET AND CREATING REAL GREEN JOBS.

AS IF THE WORLD DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT,REPORTS OF LARGE BROWN CLOUDS FORMING MOSTLY OVER ASIA BUT COVERING OTHER AREAS FROM THE PERSIAN GULF TO CHINA,IN NEWS ITEMS RECENTLY FROM UNITED NATIONS AND BY AL JAZEERA NEWS MEDIA. . . . .ORIGINS OF THESE CLOUDS ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS IS BY HUMAN ACTIVITY,SUCH AS CAR AND TRUCK EXHAUSTS AND ANY BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS LIKE GAS,DEISEL COAL ETC.ETC. . . .FOREST FIRES IN CALIFORNIA AT THE PRESENT TIME WILL ADD TO THE PROBLEM IN NORTH AMERICA AS WELL.

THERE ARE 2 KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD . . .THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE THE PLANET . . . . . . AND THOSE THAT DESTROY IT . . . . .EITHER THROUGH . . . ..IGNORANCE OR GREED . . . . . . . OR SIMPLY TO SURVIVE IN A DYSFUNCTIONAL SOCIETY . . .WHATEVER THEIR REASONS THE RESULT IS CONTINUING DESTRUCTION . . . .WE HOPE THAT SOMEDAY SOON . . . . . . MORE WILL JOIN THE SAVE THE PLANET CLUB.

. . . . .WHEREVER YOU LIVE ON THIS PLANET THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATING JOBS THAT ARE FRIENDLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT . .INSTEAD OF THE OLD LINE JOBS THAT DESTROY THE ECOLOGY . .for example in internet jobs that negate travel to far off places by use of computer communication technology.in food,shelter,clothing and land and water there are countless jobs in preparing the world for the new economy . . .another example in home heating,new methods for staying warm without the use of fossil fuels . . how ? ? multi-layer clothing is one way to keep warm in the coldest winter . . .why heat up a monster home , design a new insulated wearable suit.infinite solutions are available to overcome the stagnant economy we are now in, . . .food that is nutritious,(research jobs)and doesn;t need cooking . . .another potential career for inventive people . . .a . .new retail model that uses talents of local crafts and/or local veg or fruit produce instead of importing from far away places . . .jobs

IN THE OLD ECONOMIC MODELS ADAPTED BY MOST NATIONS,PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO BUY,BUY,BUY. . . . . . . .AS A MATTER OF FACT 2/3 OF U.S. AND PROBABLY CANADA'S ECONOMY IS DEPENDANT ON CONSUMER SPENDING . . . .PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED BY MIS-GUIDED BANKS AND GOVERNMENTS (BY LOW INTEREST RATES.ETC.) TO BUY MORE CARS . . .APPLIANCES . . .TOYS . .. UNNECESSARY ITEMS . . .THIS POLICY IS ILL CONCEIVED AND DETRIMENTAL TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OF THE PLANET OF WHICH WE ALL DEPEND. . . . . .MY OPINION . . ..BUY . .NOTHING . .UN LESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY . . . .FORGET ABOUT THE OLD LINE THINKING. . . .I . . .HOPE ..BARAK . ..OBAMA . . .WILL . . ."CHANGE" THIS ..CONSUMER BUYING MADNESS . . .IF . .HE . .DOES . . .I . .WILL SUPPORT HIM . . . .A "GREEN" ECONOMY . . IS THE ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - The auto industry on Monday posted its worst monthly U.S. sales tally in 25 years, with General Motors Corp. leading a barrage of sobering reports from car makers struggling to attract buyers in the deepening credit crisis. . . . . . . .IN THIS NEWS ITEM FROM MARKET WATCH SAN FRANCISCO,NOV 3-2008 . . .CAR SALES FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER -08 WERE DOWN FROM 20 TO 50 PERCENT FROM PREVIOUS TIMES ON ALL MODELS INCLUDING IMPORTS.

DURING THE PAST WEEK IN STOCK MARKET TRANSACTIONS IN EUROPE,20 BILLION DOLLARS WAS LOST BY COMPANIES BIDDING ON VOLKESWAGEN SHARES IN A COMPLICATED TRADING ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING ALSO PORSCHE AUTO IN ITALY . . . .AT ONE POINT LAST WEEK SHARES IN VW WERE SELLING AT OVER 1000 DOLLARS EACH . . . . .VOLKESWAGEN..NOW FACES EXPULSION FROM PUBLIC TRADING IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT RECTIFIED THIS WEEK.

. . . . MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) - Chinese manufacturers of animal feed will face tougher inspections following the discovery of melamine-tainted eggs in China, the country's agriculture ministry said on Saturday. Food safety officials in Hong Kong reported last week that they had found melamine in eggs produced in the northeastern port city of Dalian and in the central Hubei province. The melamine level of 3.1 milligrams per kg was well above the permitted level of 2.5 milligrams per kg. Further checks revealed that melamine-tainted eggs were also being sold in the eastern Zhejiang province. It is believed that the melamine contamination of eggs could be caused by tainted poultry feed "The ministry will tighten its supervision of the feed industry and crack down on producers who add melamine to their products," the China Daily newspaper quoted an agriculture ministry official as saying. Lat year, melamine was found in wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate exp