Sunday, October 23, 2011

OOPS

OOPS
 Made an error in last blog.  Neil Magnuson does not have a medical exemption for cannabis.  What he has is a letter from his doctor saying cannabis will be beneficial for his condition.  So the RCMP officer had every right to grind his joint into the ground, just as is it was open alcohol being poured out.  Realize that in Kelowna smoking a joint in public is nothing more than drinking in public. Just spend any weekend in the down town core and walk these streets around the clubs. 
I apologize to all.
  Douglas John Loudon


Occupy Kelowna. Civil Disobedience With No Disobedience.

Occupy Kelowna. Civil Disobedience With No Disobedience.

The Kelowna protest Photographs, not all here are protesters some are just observers.

A very small protest that from the start was cooperative with the authorities.  They did everything that was wanted of them.  A small protest that went off with no confrontation  and would have not been effective except for the excessive police presence to take down the tepee.  The tying up of police resources far beyond what was needed even after they knew the protest would be peaceful and cooperative. The protesters numbered no more that 15, and there were at least 15 RCMP.  The police acted very pleasant and there was civil conversation between police protesters and bystanders. Only one young man used a little profanity, an office briefly confronted him over that,  54 year old protester Neil Magnuson with a medical exemption for medical marijuana had a heated discussion with one officer who confiscated and ground Magnuson's joint into the ground.  Near the end of the protest people showed up with timbits and doughnuts and muffins, for protesters, officers, and bystanders. "Very Canadian"

This protest showed that even a small group with diverse issues and agendas can be effective in the beginning stages of a protest movement.  The tying up of police resources the cost that goes with this, and that most of these officers could have being doing more useful police work.  Though one plain clothed officer said that I did not know everything. I assume this was said to justify the number of RCMP.  The protesters from the beginning of the day until the end at about midnight, who talked to authorities all said that they would be obeying city bylaws and would be peaceful.
This protest and others like it are the beginnings of a Social Justice Movement.

The only sad point is that none of the mainstream media were present.  We all must ask them why.


Events as seen and recorded By Douglas John Loudon

Photographs went out of order as I added them, I appologize.







































Events as seen and recorded by  Douglas John Loudon

Occupy Kelowna Protest

Occupy Kelowna Protest
  Just got in form the Kelowna protest down by the sails.  It move from Kerry park where it started earlier in the day October 22, ending up at the sails with one tepee set up by some members of the West Bank First Nation.  A very small number of protesters were there at 10 pm.  People ranging in age from late teens to people in their 60's,  no more than 15.  The Protest was peaceful.  Police and by law officers showed up in force, about 15 in all, with motor cycle office, one paddy wagon, bylaw van and a number of police cars to make sure the tepee was taken down.  Which police took down shortly after 11 pm.

  Considering the number of protesters to  police, the Kelowna protesters should consider this protest a success considering the number of police resources tied up.  A lot less could have been used, though one plain clothed officer said there were thing that I did not know.  Suggesting that they needed that many officers. Even when it was clear to everyone that the tepee would come down peacefully all the officers still stayed.  Clearly a waist of most of the officers time.
 
Got a number of photographs from the start of the protest and then some at the end.  Will post those tomorrow as I have to download them from the camera, and need some sleep now as it is 1:20 am on the 23 of October.

Lastly, and sadly there were no local media there, as with most things in this town the media will be late or miss.  We will just have to do with this small blog.

 everything here is by me  Douglas Loudon.    Everyone have a good night and take care.



Monday, October 17, 2011

What the Wall Street and similar protests are about 
 Social Justice

 The media the political and financial elites all ask what the main ideas behind the protests.  They all fail to understand that it is simply about Social JusticeThe issues of the environment, which all come down to pollution.  The political, where people see that they are not represented by the governments that they elect, the need for electoral reformThe economic where people see that the middle class is getting smaller and the poor getting poorer. Where "welfare" for the poor, affordable medical and dental, and food for all, are things that the "elites" say that others have to just live with. That they just have to work harder to  live the dream.

But when the "elites" run into problems.  When their business begin to fail, they run to the government for the corporate welfare handouts.  The Free Enterprise System only applies to others, not the ones who are "to large to fail".  Just think about it.

These are my thoughts, 

I am Douglas Loudon Every one have a good day and take care.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Photography and a Note.



A nice August 3 2011. The wind cools the temperature so not so hot. The photography goes well. Got some very good photographs of a heron with a fish in its mouth. Have to walk by a beach to get to Brant's Creek estuary to do the photography of the heron. It is there every day I come down. As I walk by the beach I get the looks from the sun bathers, those looks that say don't take my picture. They miss the fact that they are in public and their pictures will get taken even if not by me. The art of street photography goes on all the time, there are photographers every where, not to mention the private and state run security cameras. The sun bathers provided very good photographic subjects and they will just have to take the photographers as they come and go. Photographers will just have to prepare to run when the offended subject gives chase.

have a good day.
By Douglas Loudon

Monday, June 6, 2011

Mobile Blogg 2

After some aggrivation, I think I may have it.

Mobile Blogg

First try at doing the blogg from mobile. I just have to smile. Douglas

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Phone camera flower 1

What a small phone camera can do.
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Another Canadian Federal Election Some Random Thoughts

From the Conservatives, anger, fear, and trying to defend the little that they were going to give the middle and working classes. The Liberals stumble a little off the start with the coalition, before they say they will not form one. The NDP off to a good start supporting the working and middle classes. The Greens still to come.

All this talk of a coalition is very much to do about nothing. The Conservatives, have governed for the past 5 years with loosely some could argue a de facto coalition being supported by the Liberals, NDP, and Block at one time or another.

On another note, where do the Canadian political place in the right to left political frame work?
The Conservatives without the old "Progresives" are now a right wing party, giving up the center altogether. The Liberals have also moved to the right they now occupy the center right. The NDP have also moved right taking the center left, along with the Green party, and really no one now on the left wing of Canadian politics.

To be up front I will rule out voting for the Conservatives. The main reason is trust, and accountability. Trust, in that Harper said he would not appoint senators which he did, and not revieling the cost of programs that are to be voted on. Then accountability, to many times hearing interviews with the prime ministers spokes person on issues to do with parliament when if not the prime minister then another conservative MP should be responding to questions not an unelected "mouth piece".

One other reason for not voting Conservative. The Conservative party more than any of the others seems to be run totllaly from the top down. Their back benchers are silenced and nothing is heard but the party talking points. This party has lost it creativity, it sees with only one pair of eyes, those of PM Harper.

I'm waiting for the full debate on, pensions, the environment, costs of housing and food, military spending, taxes both cuts and increase, law and order, wars we are in, food safety, our medical system, etc. etc., Not just one liners, or how each party sees the issues, but how they would deal with them.

Any government that holds power with only 35% of the popular vote, has to still govern for all the people not just the 35% who voted for them. A government not seeing this governs with nothing but arrogance. A government that does not govern for all of Canada, and in the end that responsibility rests on the back benches of the Conservatives, those members who stay silent out of fear of what speaking up will do. That is why I do not support the Conservatives.

Liberal, NDP, or Green. Have some thinking to do.

Well these random thoughts are mine, and I am Douglas Loudon have a good day and take care