text:
Resisting Enbridge's Line 3 in the Great Lakes: GRIID interview with Anishinaabe activist Joe Cadreau
tags: Anishinaabe activist Joe Cadreau, Enbridge Line 3, Indigenous resistance to Line 3, resisting Line 3
GRIID – Can you tell us when you will be going to Minnesota and why?
Joe – Yes, I will be leaving the Grand Rapids area on March 25th, heading to Red Lake Minnesota to stand in solidarity with fellow Indigenous people in demanding the shutdown of Line 3. For the last 6 years tribal nations, community and environmental groups in Minnesota have fought to stop Canadian oil giant Enbridge Energy from building the massive Line 3 pipeline in Northern Minnesota, to take oil from Canada's tar sands region to Superior, Wisconsin.
The pipeline violates several treaties with the Ojibwe people that establish our rights to hunt, fish, and gather along the proposed route. The pipeline would cross 200 bodies of water, including the Mississippi River twice. If built, Line 3 would carry hundreds of thousands of barrels a day of tar sands crude oil — some of the dirtiest oil in the world — and would contribute the equivalent of 50 coal plants worth of carbon pollution to the atmosphere. Its carbon footprint would exceed the entire state of Minnesota's.
GRIID – How long will you be there and are there any other members of the local indigenous community making the trip with you?
Joe – We will be there for 2-3 days to bring in some supplies and donations and to help uplift and amplify indigenous voices. There is a caravan that will be starting in the UP at the Bay Mills Indian Community and we will be meeting up in Grand Rapids and head to Minnesota as a group, kind of like back in the old days of AIM. As far as local indigenous community members from Grand Rapids, we have five tribal members that are going along with a group of allies.
GRIID – How important is the resistance of Line 3 to Indigenous people?
Joe – I think it is very important after the NoDAPL fight. NoDAPL proved to us that we cannot rely or trust the federal government to do the right thing, in regards to Indigenous people and treaty rights. Line 3 would violate the treaty rights of Anishinaabe peoples and nations in its path — wild rice is a centerpiece of Anishinaabe culture, it grows in numerous watersheds Line 3 seeks to cross. It's well-past time to end the legacy of theft from and destruction of indigenous peoples and territories. Add the fact that ALL pipelines leak, this is non-starter for us as Anishinaabe, as the Dakota Access line proved!
I also think it's important to understand that historically, we Anishaabek people earned our livelihoods off these wetlands and water sheds, from fishing, and fur trapping, to wild rice harvesting and land conservation. A historical fact that is often lost, is that Anishinaabe people were the people who discovered and plotted the trade routes in every water way and river from the Mississippi River eastward. These lands are not only sacred to our life ways, but also hold significant cultural meaning. I cannot stress enough the importance of resistance to Line 3 and Enbridge as a corporation.
GRIID – Why do you think that the resistance to Line3 hasn't received the same kind of attention from both the news media and climate justice groups, as Standing Rock did?
Joe – I believe the lack of attention to Line 3 has several factors, the first being that this fight has been on-going in the courts for the last 6 years. Secondly, I believe that mixed messaging from state leaders, particularly the governor has played a major role, and never under estimate the power of money and influence that Enbridge utilizes. And lastly, the current social climate in Minnesota, with police brutality on Indigenous and Black community members, the George Floyd murder, and the missing and murdered indigenous women movements, people are pulled in many different directions. Add on the pandemic and coverage becomes even more thin.
As legal cases continue to play out, long standing grassroots resistance to the pipeline have entered a new phase with public actions in multiple locations and dozens of arrests of peaceful water protectors. Native American Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) organizations have led the movement with groups like the Giniw Collective, Honor the Earth, Rise Coalition and Gitchi Gumi Scouts leading public actions along the construction route along with organizations including MN350 Action and Northfield Against Line 3.
GRIID – Are you able to talk about what you will be doing when you take part in the Line 3 resistance? If, so please share.
Joe – We are basically going there to help uplift and support Indigenous voices in whatever way that they need and tell us. We have some supplies and donations that we are also bringing to the Red Lake Treaty Camp. However, actions are progressing as Enbridge was given a permit and as the ground thaws, they have begun to stage pipeline and equipment along the route for construction. Some actions that happened over the last 2 months, included Indigenous women (Ogichidda Kwe) chaining themselves to construction equipment, construction of a Medicine lodge along the planned route, and peaceful demonstrations at various sites, where protesters were arrested.
GRIID – Can you talk about how the Line 3 project is just another form of Settler Colonialism?
Joe – This project Line 3 along with Line 5 right here in Michigan and The Dakota Access Line are living forms of Settler Colonialism. They perpetuate the legacy of colonization and imperialism in the forms of land theft and destruction of a people and life ways in the name of capitalist gains. An easier way to explain what these pipelines mean to me as a proud Ojibwa man would be to compare them to confederate monuments. Just as the confederate monuments were created as a means to demonstrate white supremacy over a group, the pipelines serve the same purpose to indigenous people. A trophy of accomplishment over a people and culture and a constant reminder of that victory.
GRIID – What will it take for a similar kind of resistance campaign to happen in Michigan against Line 5?
Joe – Well, Line 5 is going to be interesting over the next couple of months. Governor Whitmer has demanded that Enbridge shut down Line 5. Through her office and by executive order it is supposed to be shut down by the first week of May. In return Enbridge has been defiant and has now employed the powers of PM Trudeau and has promised to take the fight to Washington DC.
Depending on what happens in May will determine what actions will happen not only in the courts and from the state, but also tribal nations and local grassroots. I believe that actions will only progress here in Michigan if Line 5 is not shut down. Over the last 2-3 years actions of resistance slowly increased over Line 5. From PR campaigns to activist filming and recording Enbridge workers, and even some had camps set up in areas on both sides of the Mackinac Bridge.
GRIID – In what ways can non-indigenous people be supportive of the Line 3 resistance?
Joe – I have a quote from Winona LaDuke that I want to share, "Frontline leaders and climate activists have called on supporters to join in resisting Line 3. A leading opponent of the pipeline, Winona LaDuke, executive director of Honor the Earth calls the battle over Line 3, "ground zero in the battle over climate change". "This is the last pipeline. This is the last battle, and that battle is in Minnesota …We expect thousands of people to join us."
They can also donate to the Red Lake Treaty Camp on Facebook, or you can donate and find ways to support by visiting, https://www.stopline3.org
I think it is important to remember that Standing Rock and the NoDAPL movement were not only effective and impactful because of the many tribal nations that united. Yes that was important. But, the fact that many different cultures, and people came and stood with those tribal nations and indigenous people, also contributed to the success of that movement.
← How many people have the police killed in 2021 so far? Asking for Johnny Brann Sr in Grand Rapids and Voice for the Badge
GRIID Class on US Social Movements – Part VIII: Building a Framework for Social Movements and Radical Imagination →
Why the Hell is Columbus Day still being celebrated? Settler Colonialism and ongoing Indigenous Resistance – Part II | Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy


text:
"Peace is not something you wish for,
it something you make,
something you do,
something you are,
something you give away."
You may wonder if it would still be possible to get several people come together to share like-minded thoughts of love and peace.
In this contemporary time of overconsumption and lots of egoism, I wonder if it could be possible to get again people on their legs to share hands and unite all over the world proclaiming the same message of love, peace, no war like in the 1960ies and 1970ies.
Early steps
The international peace movement originated in the 19th century, around the Crimean war. In 1892 Bertha von Suttner wrote her novel "Die Waffen Nieder" (Down the weapons). With Alfred Hermann Fried she founded the German Friedensgesellschaft. Both received the Nobel Prize for Peace, which is presented yearly since 1901. Alfred Nobel had to experience what was his own invention, dynamite, became mainly used for warfare, harming more than doing good. According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." Some Nobel scholars suggest it was Nobel's way to compensate for developing destructive forces. His inventions included dynamite and ballistite, both of which were used violently during his lifetime. Ballistite was used in war and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, an Irish nationalist organization, carried out dynamite attacks in the 1880s. Nobel was also instrumental in turning Bofors from an iron and steel company to an armaments company.
In 1899 and 1907 there were major Peace Conference in The Hague.
Between the two world wars, the peace movement was limited mainly to circles of intellectuals and artists.
After the Second World War we had to wait until the end of the sixties to see an uprising of a peace movement again, especially against the Vietnam War.
1960ies -1970ies Peace Movement
With loud voices we cried in the 1960ies and 70ies "Make love, not war" and were full of good aspirations and sometimes too naive thinking, believing in the goodness of the human race.
The pictures of the Vietnam War made us cross with those who convoked battles far away and brought innocent women and children into a world of cruelty where nobody wanted to live in. The opposition movement not only grew in Europe, but also found her way in the United States of America, who was the main pawn in the conflict which had started with France and the Vietcong. Public opinion steadily turned against the war following 1967 and by 1970 only a third of Americans believed that the U.S. had not made a mistake by sending troops to fight in Vietnam. It is generally assumed that the United States withdrew from Vietnam under pressure from domestic and foreign public opinion. For the first television images were playing an important role.
In Belgium and Holland we were taken by the Dylanesque and sarcastic song from 1966, sung by Boudewijn de Groot "Welterusten, meneer de president" (Sleep well, Mr. President) , a protest against the war in Vietnam and the president of the US by the time, Lyndon B. Johnson and made De Groot a name as a protest singer. [At that time we did not consider the differences in the ten commandments of the American denominations and did not question why he did not sing more over the 5° or 6° commandment 'not to kill'.]
Many in the peace movement were students, mothers, or anti-establishment hippies, but there was also involvement from many other groups, including educators, clergy, academics, journalists, lawyers, physicians (such as Benjamin Spock), military veterans, and ordinary Americans. There was a great deal of civic unrest on college campuses throughout the 1960s as students became increasingly involved in a number of social and political movements ranging from the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Rights Movement, and, of course, the Anti-War Movement. Expressions of opposition events ranged from peaceful nonviolent demonstrations to radical displays of violence. Iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine" by John Lennon found their way all over the world in peace movements. Lennon's criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while some of his songs were adopted as anthems by the anti-war movement.
Such events in Vietnam and the Apartheid in South Africa called for pacifism, non-violent resistance, diplomacy, boycotts, peace camps and successful moral purchasing. At that time youngster were not afraid to engage them and really took action. There were event-driven collaborations between groups with motivations as diverse as humanism, environmentalism, veganism, anti-racism, anti-sexism, decentralization, hospitality, ideology, theology, and faith.
Those idealists may perhaps been forgotten and many of the hippies turned to become industrialists and often became the same as the people they had opposed because of their capitalist and materialist thinking.
A new Spring
From top to bottom: the World Trade Center burning; a section of the Pentagon collapses; Flight 175 crashes into 2 WTC; a fireman requests help at Ground Zero; an engine from Flight 93 is recovered; Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.
When the Cold War ended many thought lots would change for the better and the different continents would have learned from their attitude of working against one or the other nation. Other wars now were being sought and soon the terror against religion became a nice target for the weapon industry.
With four coordinated terrorist attacks launched by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda upon the United States in New York City and the Washington, D.C. area on September 11, 2001 everybody started to talk about taking revenge and declaring war to terrorism. The destruction of the Twin Towers and other properties caused serious damage to the economy of Lower Manhattan and had a significant effect on global markets.
In many countries also started to come a distrust in the failing and corrupt governments. The economical market crashed and the domino's started falling in Europe, creating a new ground for mistrust, jealousy, racism and a call again to split countries or to finish alliances.
The impact of the Arab Spring concerns protests or by the way attempts to organize growing protest movements that were inspired by or similar to the Arab Spring in the Arab-majority states of North Africa and the Middle East, according to commentators, organisers, and critics. These demonstrations and protest efforts have all been critical of the government in their respective countries, though they have ranged from calls for the incumbent government to make certain policy changes to attempts to bring down the current political system in its entirety. In some countries, protests have become large or widespread enough to effect change at the national level, as in Armenia, while in others, such as Djibouti, were swiftly suppressed. {Wikipedia}
Protests considered to be inspired by the Arab Spring have taken place on every inhabited continent, with varying degrees of success and prominence. On 15 October 2011, the subsidiary "Occupy" and Indignants movements inspired protests in 950 cities in 82 countries. {Wikipedia}
Fertile Ground for a renewed peace movement
Can it be that at the beginning of the 21st Century the world is ready again for an uprising of spiritual voices full of hope?
More people are again convinced that they have to start making peace on their own backyard first of all. And they are willing to work on it and make others warm to spread the message of love and peace.
Social Media have proven to be a good tool to contact people to get events going and to spread the news.
More people are standing up again and demanding to become active, telling others that they have the power to stop violence. "Make peace your plan, everyday" is what they want to know others.
And that is what Blogger For Peace, like me, also want to do.
I call others to become aware of the power that can be in every person, and that the good in every person can come to the forefront.
We do have to stop idolizing violence in the moving pictures (television, film, video) and in the media. Socially demean violence as being the wrong thing to do.This could stop bullying, and work further to gun violence and even wars. Though we may not be too optimistic, violence is been going on for thousands of years and it will still be going on long after we are gone, but this may not limit our actions against it in a peaceful manner.
The preaching of peace and love between each other should start in the home, at the family and in education at school and in the youth movement like the Scouts, Giro, KSA (Catholic Youth and Labourers movement), Red Falcon (Rode Valk) Red Banner (Rode Vaandel) and others.
We should urge for an education of our children on non violence and limit the possibility to purchase weapons.
We need investment in human beings. We invest in other countries, in Wall Street, in wars but very little in human beings. We have people living under freeway underpasses and on the streets that need mental care. Some say it would be socialism but those who are Christian and those who feel themselves concerned by the poor and needy should open their eyes and let them see that it is a necessary investment in humankind.
Bloggers For Peace and you
We want to sing again "All we are saying is give peace a chance".
In an effort to actively do something to create more peace in the world in 2013, everyday gurus who uplift, embrace, and inspire each other and everyone around them, want to invite people all over the world to join them.
We ask to remember to honour our world by keeping her free of the ravages of war, the atrocities of nuclear weapons and the destruction that comes when her people do not cover her with peace. We like to ask everybody to bless the earth and all its inhabitants today.
For those who believe in God it is clear that every human being is made in the likeness of God. So in every person the love of God is in-bedded. The Creator took care that every human being has a feeling to understand what is good and what is bad. No matter what they or you may believe in the brain of each person is the ability to think and handle in the right way.
Peace in your heart and mind in the midst of uncertainty and chaos is not some magic gift possessed by a few, but most often comes from the ability to draw water from the well of experience, the warmth of a hug, and the divine compulsion to reach out to someone else who desperately needs those two things from you.
Bloggers for peace (B4Peace / B4P) want to share those experiences, the warm hugs and the words of love and hope, so that more people can enjoy an enriched life of spiritual blessings.
No matter if you write poems or fiction, you too can contribute in writing a piece about peace. You too can bring words of consolation and offer comfort to many in places far away
from where you live. But by your writing on the internet you can be in contact with those in isolation and give them inspiration.
If you take photos, post a photo or gallery that reflects, symbolizes, defines, or creates peace. If you write rants, rant at something that disturbs the peace or rant about something that promotes peace. If you are into zen, post a blank white page. If you are an artist…you get the idea. Feel free to be creative. Peace has no boundaries. There are no mistakes. We have no enemies. {Everyday gurus}
The Dream/Vision
This dream community would look something like this:
We are committed to creating peace to our lives, homes, communities, and world. See Bloggers for Peace.
We are a community that is devoted to the pursuit of happiness through lovingkindness, gratitude, compassion, and empathy. See 5 Steps to Peaceful Resolution.
We strive for happiness regardless of material conditions, relationship status, or past history. Click to Re-hydrate Your Spirit.
We share the miracles of everyday life to inspire, instruct, and support others and ourselves. For example, Friends and Enemies.
We try to maintain peace of mind, equanimity, and lovingkindess at all times.
We try to be open to all points of view.
We even try to love our enemies.
"peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart"
Do not feel restrained, anything in which you feel that you are good at you may do, as long it is in a peaceful decent manner respecting the other being, whatever his believes or convictions may be.
Start believing that the world we are making today is yours and your children to inherit. Do not wait until it is a big movement, because when everybody keeps waiting until something happens nothing shall happen and nothing shall change.
Angela Davis says…
"Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary's life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime."
Devote at least one post a month to/for/about peace. Blogger Kozo, who started an idea, or perhaps a movement called Bloggers for Peace has set forth the goal for bloggers to commit one post a month to the topic of peace during 2013. It's easy to think that writing about peace is for others to do, or that as individuals we wouldn't have anything to say about such a lofty topic. That is Not true!
As an individual we, in case we have the courage, can reach to others and show them other ways of thinking and handling. We can consider how our actions may affect someone else, to be grateful, to say thank-you, to spread goodwill, and very important: to smile.
Peter Dale Scott says…
"We will not have a successful political change unless we have a successful civil change. We are strong because we are diverse, lets not lose that".
We ourselves should to live a life of peace but show to others how the right attitude can change a lot and how the peaceful mind can to live create fertile grounds for a life of peace.
Put a "Bloggers for Peace" badge on your blog. Put it anywhere on your blog–in the post, on your "about" page, as an image widget on your menu bar (feel free to link the badge to this page with "click here to join"), on your "awards" page, on your avatar page.
You can show the world that you are united with other like minded people by putting a Linkwidget for and with links of Bloggers For Peace.
When every Blogger For Peace get to know other B4P writers and their articles, they shall be able to find a treasure of articles to link to in their own articles. It would be nice if every B4P blogger could link at least one other post from a different Blogger for Peace. Hopefully, this will create a symbiotic synergy that will inspire others to create art/poetry/prose/photos/love on their posts about peace.
You might also want to add the tag "B4Peace" to your post. This will also be a great way to get to know other articles in the series of Bloggers for Peace. Kozo envisions a virtual circle of us all holding hands in solidarity for peace.
Not to forget
Next to writing articles or publishing photographs or videos on the subject of love and peace, it is important to let others know about this initiative.
Therefore do not forget to put instructions on your post for others to join the group or link back to this or Kozo his post. This will help grow the movement.
Can you imagine if we get enough bloggers to join so we can have a post on peace everyday? Imagine the impact we could make if everyday the internet would have some new creativity/energy/emotion/positive vibration about peace. Imagine if we linked all these posts together to create a web of peace and positive energy. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one…"
Please do find some dreamers to start with:
We Can Make a Difference–Right Here, Right Now
Kozo & Cheri asks that you…
Spread the Peace on Facebook
Steve Strother on Blogging For Peace
B4Peace — February
Bloggers for Peace March Challenge: Forgiveness
Teaching Children Peace – A Bloggers for Peace post
The Missing Peace
Quick Tip: Take Up the Gauntlet
Inner Peace and World Peace
The Universe Is All of Us
7 Random Acts of Peace for Random Acts of Kindness Week
B4Peace by a "World Traveler who is Spiritual"
The Peace Garden
Happy Birthday to a Warrior for Peace
Professions for Peace musings on life, love and peace
Please do read also:
Securing risks
Violence or an other way to win
How the Arab World Uses Facebook and Twitter
Internet Access Is a Human Right, Says United Nations
Arab Spring and social media incl.: The impact of the Arab Spring + What Happens to Social Media After a Twitter Revolution?
Which Countries Actively Suppress Internet Freedom?
Russian government has the power to shut down any sort of organisation they do not like
Ecological economics in the stomach #4 Water
And also find to read:
Internet absurdities
Censor looming around the UK corner?
Cool Person of the year 2011
The Protester named Person of the Year 2011 by Time Magazine
Zionism comments and the place of Jerusalem in the world
Steering captain Obama
Shame on American police
Wrath kills the foolish man, and envy consumes the covetous one
The apostle's method worthy of imitation
United people under Christ
Let us watch carefully the decent of mankind into the situation we see around us today
Please do find more articles on: attitude, chosen people, compassion, gentleness, humility, insight, kindness, love, patience
Christadelphian World
Christadelphian Ecclesia
Christadelphians or Brothers in Christ
World Peace Flame Movement (Photo credit: ArchivesACT)
A Life of Peace (handofananke.com)
We rarely are allowed to remember those who come to us to teach peace. As children we are taught of all the generals and warlords throughout history. You leave high school knowing Hannibal, the Caesars, George Washington, Robert E Lee, Ulysses Grant, MacArthur and Patton. We learn all the wars, …
Too seldom to we learn about men of peace in our schools. Aside from Christ and Siddhartha, men who are tied to the founding of religions with all sorts of other baggage attached, who might you have learned about as a student? You were of course taught about King, and if you were lucky, Gandhi. There is no room for others in our endless curricula of worshiping the sword.
Gender Dynamics and Peace (soc365.wordpress.com)
about women's resistance to war and militarism and the role of a patriarchal system in violence
Chester County Peace Movement keeps up vigil 10 years after Iraq war start (philly.com)
In the beginning, when the war in Iraq was still making headlines and CNN was still showing footage of the air strikes in Baghdad, the Chester County Peace Movement could draw crowds as large as 700 to its weekly protests outside the county courthouse in West Chester.
These days, the group is lucky if more than a dozen show up. But every Saturday for the last 10 years, they have never missed a protest. And though the war in Iraq is technically over – U.S. troops pulled out in December 2011 – for the members of the peace movement, the protest never really ends. They will mark 10 straight years of weekly protests this weekend.
MQM announces 'peaceful' protest movement in Karachi (thenewstribe.com)
Karachi: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday announced a 'peaceful' protest movement against the terrorism in Karachi and demanded the traders and transporters to keep their businesses close and shutdown public transport till the arrest of culprits behind Abbas Town blast.
Communist "Peace" Movement Uses Their "Friend' Obama's Ecomonic Crisis to Gut US Military (trevorloudon.com)
If the US military can be weakened or destroyed, the communist's friends in Moscow, Beijing, Havana, Caracas, Pyongyang, Hanoi and Tehran will have no significant impediment to world domination.
Class on Monday, 22 Apr (tokaidale.wordpress.com)
We especially focused on two people who closely involved in the Nobel Peace Prize. Guess who? If you were at the class on Monday, you probably already know who they were. The answer is Alfred Nobel and Mahatma Gandhi.
The Assassination of Martin Luther King and the Peace Movement (counterpunch.org)
"As I have walked among the desperate, rejected, and angry young men, I have told them that Molotov cocktails and rifles would not solve their problems. I have tried to offer them my deepest compassion while maintaining my conviction that social change comes most meaningfully through nonviolent action. But they ask — and rightly so — what about Vietnam? They ask if our own nation wasn't using massive doses of violence to solve its problems, to bring about the changes it wanted. Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today — my own government.
– Rev. Martin Luther King, Beyond Vietnam – A Time to Break Silence," Riverside Church, April 4, 1967.
The assassination of Dr. King raises uncomfortable questions — not only due to the evidence that his murder was a "hit" carried out by elements of the U.S. government, but also because of what Dr. King was saying before he was killed about issues like poverty and U.S. militarism.
Shot At Dawn. (radicalglasgowblog.blogspot.com)
Just recently we were given a small collection, mainly on the peace movement and one particular document vividly reminded to me of the cruelty and barbaric nature of the state, especially in time of war. I think the document speaks loudly for itself.
If Not Now, When? If Not Us, Who?
PressTV: Bradley Manning, Nobel for a noble man (jhaines6.wordpress.com)
The Norwegian Nobel Committee (send them a note) can either begin awarding the peace prize to opponents of war or continue on its current course — one which already has many questioning, not whether Manning is worthy of the prize, but whether the prize is worthy of Manning.
31 Responses to Bloggers For Peace
Pingback: Bloggers for Christ and Bloggers for Peace | Marcus' s Space
Pingback: New platform for Stepping Toes « Stepping Toes
Pingback: Tenentrappers « Stepping Toes
Pingback: blog network
Pingback: Journal for and from bothered citizens | Marcus' s Space
Pingback: Stand Up | Stepping Toes
Pingback: By counting our blessings we not only feel good, but we multiply our good | Stepping Toes
Pingback: Spreading good cheer contagious | Stepping Toes
Pingback: The imaginational war against Christmas | Stepping Toes
Pingback: Spring in sight | From guestwriters
Pingback: Welcome to "From guestwriters" | From guestwriters
Pingback: We all have to have dreams | From guestwriters
Pingback: See the conquest and believe that we can gain the victory | From guestwriters
Pingback: Not holding back and getting out of darkness | Stepping Toes
Pingback: Friendship and Offer for the cause of democracy | Marcus' s Space
Pingback: Subcutaneous power for humanity 1 1940-1960 Influenced by horrors of the century | Marcus' s Space
Pingback: Kijk op het Vrije Wereld Handvest | Marcus' s Space
clementjean-Mic-Anth says:
POEM/gediggie:
'if you had never heard of the man of Nazareth, if nobody ever had told you about his dream, if you wouldn't understand what it means to have a true father, then, yeah then, would you go out and look for such a man?
'And as much as we think to know about this man we all have been looking for, the more often he goes away from us, like is his custom, to pray for our world, for us, the people we are thinking we are, so great and victorious by our keeping faith to his holy name, and then, showing like in a blizz all over this world, suddenly, he gives us we can all walk by ourselves, the same road of love, of peace, of forgiveliness he went, may be then we find him in where is his true place, where we feel saved and do not envy his command?'
One way to contribute, helping to send out positive thoughts, is by coming to write for From Guestwriters: http://fromguestwriters.wordpress.com/
Give a sign over there or send me a message so that I can invite you to become a contributor or author.
Pingback: Dreams of people, utopian visions or something to look at | Marcus Ampe's Space
Pingback: June 13: 100 years ago my father was born | Marcus Ampe's Space
Pingback: Forms of slavery, human trafficking and disrespectful attitude to creation to be changed | Marcus Ampe's Space
Pingback: Bloggers For Peace | wallacerunnymede
Pingback: For more than Three thousand people fifteen years ago this world came to an end | Marcus Ampe's Space
Pingback: October 2016 New academic year and Start for inspirers | From guestwriters
Pingback: Our Future or Not – Micks Blog
Pingback: NOT LOOKING – Micks Blog
Pingback: Readers, likes and comments | From guestwriters
Pingback: Weinig Nederlandstalige lezers en nog veel minder reacties | From guestwriters
Pingback: 5 years presenting articles for you | From guestwriters
Feel free to react - Voel vrij om te reageren Cancel reply

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Pop into Sweet Toothe candy shop and let your inner child out! Seeing is believing! The store is filled with all the tasty treats you remember! There is lots and lots of new and exciting goodies to tempt your tummy! We offer creamy fudge and Pucker Powder candy art. We have over 74 varieties of bulk candy, jawbreakers, lollipops, fudge and of course, what would a candy store be without apples! Candy & caramel apples are made fresh daily in our kitchen! A trip to Calaway Park is not complete until you stop by Sweet Toothe!
We've got something for everyone inside this "funtastic" shop! Get your day off to a great start by stopping first thing in the morning for stroller rentals and to purchase sunscreen, hats or sweatshirts. We're open each day in the summer until 7:15 pm, however, the best time to shop for fun is around mid-day! We've got aisles and aisles of toys that will make you smile. We've got stuff for mom and dad too! Great selection of sunglasses, jewelry, fun footwear, umbrellas, silly hats, trinkets and giftware. The kids already know we've got lots of plush animals, squishy toys and gooey putty, as well as water bottles and books! Take home a Calaway Park water bottle, hat, tee shirt or sweat shirt to remember your day of fun!
Capture a picture of you and your family enjoying our Vortex roller coaster or Timber Falls log ride! We offer a big selection of 'take home' photo souvenirs that showcase your memories on these thrilling rides! Season Pass holders, purchase a 6 x 8 or a 4 x 6 and Flash Your Pass for a free digital copy that you can ultimately share with your friends through social media and email!
Stop by the Celebration Shop during your day of fun! Located next to the Celebration Square Stage, it's central location provides easy access to this one-stop shop. You will find sunscreen, candy, merchandise all under one roof. Celebration Shop is the new home to Glitter Tattoos! Sparkling temporary tattoos and take home kits are available.


text:
Learning FX
What to Know About The GBP During a Recession
During a recession, interest rates tend to be lower than in other countries to attract investors to save their money. This makes the country in recession less attractive, causing investors to sell the affected currency and buy more profitable ones. In short, it would potentially cause a decline in the value of the affected currency. So at this point, is the US entering a period of recession? What happens to the GBP during a recession? This blog post aims to answer these crucial questions and more.
There is no relationship between a dollar decline and the decline in the European currencies, and likewise, there is no relationship between the dollar decline and the decline in the UK currency. So there is no direct connection between the US economy and the economic situation of the UK.
In the event of a weak US economy, the GBP might be affected. But this will be only a small effect at most, as the Sterling is a major reserve and trading currency. The decline in the pound was more a reflection of the weakness of the UK economy rather than a decline in the US economy. The GBP might still lose value, but this might be due to other factors like Brexit.
Pound Falls After BoE Warns about Recession Risks
The Financial Times reported that the sharp drop in the pound on Thursday was because the Bank of England (BoE) warned that the UK was heading towards a recession. The BoE had issued a report in March, and they now want to revise their earlier forecasts. The report indicated that the UK was on the brink of a recession. As a result, the pound plummeted.
The Australian dollar also fell against the US dollar after the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the trade deficit had widened to a record $3.35 billion in February. This trade result reflects the sharp fall of commodities prices, which were Australia's largest exports. As a result, the Australian economy has slowed down, which is a disadvantage for the Australian dollar.
The major currencies have continued to rise against the US dollar, as investors are still not confident about the US economy. The US Dollar Index mainly measures the dollar against the euro, the Japanese yen, and the British pound. Even though the US economy has recovered from the financial crisis, investors still have concerns about the American economy after a disappointing ISM report.
Analysts Warn that Markets Expect Too Many Rate Hikes
Analysts have warned that markets are expected too many rate hikes. The bond market is more sensitive to the US economy, and investors are worried about the American economy heading towards a recession. Many experts agree that the Fed might raise rates, but the market is not convinced by the Fed.
If the Fed does not raise interest rates, the US dollar might gain strength. But if the Fed does raise interest rates, the US dollar will fall even further. So the market is watching Fed's decision closely.
What's the GBP/USD Risk?
The GBP/USD is a highly sensitive currency pair. The pound can be affected by Brexit, interest rates, and the global economy. Therefore, the GBP/USD is not an ideal choice for a currency trader. If the US dollar is declining against most major currencies, the GBP/USD might decline.
Is a UK Recession Going to Happen?
The UK economy is declining. The manufacturing, construction and services PMIs have all turned negative. But a recession is different from a slowdown. A recession is a period of two-quarters of negative economic growth, while a slowdown is a period of growth that is not as robust as previously expected.
The UK inflation rate has fallen to a four-year low, and the inflation rate is declining at a steady pace, which indicates that the economy is slowing down. The services sector is the biggest contributor to the UK economy, and the services PMI has turned negative, which is a significant sign of worry. As a result, the UK economy is slowing down, and a recession could happen.
Models Affecting the Temporary Decline of the UK's Economy
1 - Employment Figures
The unemployment rate has declined steadily, and this is a good sign. But the bigger workforce makes the labour market less effective, as the UK is not creating enough new jobs. This is lowering labour productivity, which has declined in the UK. The low labour productivity is causing the UK economy to slow down.
2 - Economic Shock Caused by the Global Pandemic
The global economy has been experiencing a shortage of raw materials. China is reducing imports, which is a significant problem for the world economy. Countries that are heavily dependent on exports are experiencing a slowdown. The UK is one of the countries that have been affected by the global pandemic, which has caused the UK PMI to decline.
3 - Brexit
The UK is going through Brexit, and the UK might be experiencing a Brexit recession as the UK has to face the economic challenges that come after Brexit.
4 - Structural Shift in Industries
The UK economy is experiencing a structural shift in the industries, which has caused the UK manufacturing activity to decline. The UK has traditionally been famous for its financial service industry, but the financial services sector has declined in favour of the IT industry.
5 - Insufficient Growth in Money Supply
The UK economy is experiencing a shortage of money due to insufficient growth in the money supply. The Bank of England has to print more money to ensure a sufficient money supply, which would cause the inflation rate to rise and stimulate consumer spending. But the BoE is not printing money as fast as it should be.
6 - Psychological Factors
The UK economy is experiencing psychological factors, as the uncertainty over Brexit is affecting the UK economy, as businesses are not willing to invest in the UK. The uncertainty about Brexit is weighing down the UK economy, which is causing the manufacturing sector to contract.
7 - Part of the Global Slowdown
The UK is part of the global slowdown, which has affected the UK economy. The global slowdown does not only affect the UK but the entire world.
8 - Conflict With Russia
The UK is experiencing a conflict with Russia, which is affecting its economic growth of the UK. Russia has been restricting food and energy imports from the UK, and this is damaging the UK economy.
9 - Low Growth in Emerging Markets
Low growth in emerging markets is also affecting the UK economy. Emerging markets are the second most important trading partners of the UK, and the slowing emerging markets are hurting the UK economy. High value-added products are not selling in emerging markets, causing the economy to decline.
your profits. This is especially useful when you are trading in volatile times.
Can Anything Save the UK from Recession?
The UK is experiencing an economic slowdown, which is the result of the structural change in the UK economy. The structural shift in the UK economy has caused the manufacturing sector to decline.
The UK is also experiencing a shortage in money supply, which is slowing down the economy. The Brexit situation is also hurting the UK economy. So the UK is facing some serious economic problems.
Of course, the UK could be saved from the recession, but it cannot be saved by Brexit. The UK needs to experience a positive change, like a structural shift in the economy. This would trigger an upward movement in the economy.
So the question is: Are we looking at a recession?
The answer is we cannot definitely say that a recession will happen soon. However, we can say that the UK economy is slowing down, which is already a recession sign. The UK is not experiencing a recession right now, but it could experience a recession in the future. The economy is slowing down, and this could only get worse. If things do not get better, then the UK will experience a recession. It all depends on how things develop in the future.
Conclusion
The UK is facing a number of economic problems, but it is not experiencing a recession yet. The UK economy is slowing down, and this is already a sign of a recession. The UK needs to shift from the manufacturing sector to another sector, like the service sector, in order to avoid a recession.
If you are looking for a hedging platform to help you avoid the risks of investing in these trying times, use the Bound platform. Bound is the auto hedging platform dedicated to making currency protection better for businesses.
Are Treasurers Equipped for Corporate FX Hedging?
Balancing FX Hedging Capacity and Hedge Accounting
Why Is FX Hedging a Challenge For Treasurers?


Im a Fan of Family Bakery - Nipawin... Are you?
Fill in the below form and you can recommend 'Family Bakery – Nipawin' to a friend or family member via a text message.
Show your support with a quick share of 'Family Bakery – Nipawin'.
Fabulous bread and doughnuts! Always fresh and tasty!
Everything in this bakery is so good -it\'s got so many excellent products to offer.
Family bakery makes the most amazing bread and donuts. One of my favourite parts of going home to Nipawin to visit is that my parents always have Family Bakery bread!!
Oh where do I start!!! Family Bakery has theeee best chocolate donuts! And Chris\'s cakes are amazing, no matter what you ask of her she goes out of her way to accommodate you!! I could go on forever about their breads and buns too! Five stars from our family!
Their bread\'s & goodies are always fresh. Truly amazing cake decorating, the Easter Bread was to die for! Always a friendly hello too!
They make delicious and fresh food! The cake designs are great too.
Moved away from Nipawin and if anyone comes to visit they have to bring half a dozen loaves of bread. We\'ve never found any that compare with Family Bakery\'s.
Chris and the gang at Family Bakery are amazing. The bread is legendary and the cakes are to die for.
The Famiky Bakery has the best custom made cakes and the bread is amazing! Cris and everyone from the bakery provide excellent costumer service. This is the only place I go to buy donuts and other yummy treats!
I love Family Bakery cakes and cupcakes. They are always decorated beautifully!
They have the tastiest bread, donuts and the best cake with the best filling ever. They keep their customers happy and keep coming back for more!
No one makes long johns like the Family Bakery does! They are a must have whenever we\'re in the Nipawin area.
There is no bread, hamburger/hotdog buns that tastes as good as the Family Bakery.
I grew up in Nipawin and now live in a city about three hours away. Whenever we go to Nipawin our visit always includes a stop at the bakery for buns and pie. Both my husband and I are huge fans of the great choices this bakery provides. Highly recommend it to anyone who likes to eat.
Always always Family Bakery bread. The only kind that holds us until lunch!
Best bread ever!! Lived in Edmonton for 4 years, and when we would come home we would load up on bread, and long johns.
I love that the owners are active on social media with posts about special sales, customer draws, etc. I know people who will drive over 60 km just to pick up some of their amazing treats! I highly recommend the blueberry fritters and long johns!
Family Bakery…best buns, best bread, best doughnuts (especially caramel) fantastic cakes and wonderful customer service !
Best bread ever. Donuts and long johns are the best. Make the best apple fritters!!
I grew up in Nipawin and I\'m excited that the Family Bakery is still around, with the new owners some new products, friendly family atmosphere and always something new to see in the showcases!!! Great place to stop when you are in Nipawin!
They have great food and great customer service. Every time we go in we feel like we are treated like family. Cris is the most amazing lady and she's a pleasure to be around.
Their Long Johns melt in your mouth! The bread is unreal good and the only hot dog n hamburger buns to ever buy are theirs! Plus the cake are beautifully designed and delicious. So lucky to have this business in our lil town!
I love the cup cakes, the bread and everything she bakes!
Family bakery always has a friendly atmosphere, you\'re always greeted with a smile and everything is delicious!
My family and I have been eating Family Bakery bread and treats for our entire lives. I grew up on this stuff and drive 5 hours from my current residence to fill our deep freeze with Family Bakery products. Always a kind face behind the counter and delicious baked goods!
Delicious Harvest Grain bread and Cream Horns !
This bakery makes the BEST donuts I've ever had!
Family Bakery is the only bread I buy, not just because I like to support a local family, but because their bread is THE best! Their donuts (well, everything actually) are simply delicious and always fresh! Cris and her staff are always smiling and happy to serve you!
Best Bread Ive Ever Had, its all we buy!
Best Donuts and bread I have ever eaten!


For this list, WATCHMOJOUK counts down the best "Doctor Who" Christmas special episodes, since the 2005 revival.
I have not seen even one episode of the show, either it being a regular or Christmas special. But it's quite popular around THE INTERNET. Your list might differ, but keep in mind that this list is WATCHMOJOUK's own opinion; there is no right or wrong agreeing or not. Enjoy!
This entry was posted in Movies and TV, Sci-Fi and tagged Christmas, doctor who, sci-fi, scifi, serier, series, show, tv. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Are Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funds just 'reimbursements' as they claim? Not quite.
By Carole Novielli | March 16, 2017 , 12:20pm
Is there truth to Panned Parenthood's claim that the taxpayer funding they receive annually — to the tune of half a billion dollars — is simply a reimbursement for services rendered under Medicaid? The abortion profiteer's president, Cecile Richards, recently told a Connecticut news outlet:
We are not in the federal budget. We get reimbursed just like every hospital in America for preventative health care service.
In a similar vein, Dawn Laguens, Planned Parenthood's executive vice president, told Fox News:
The whole term "defunding" is very misleading. Planned Parenthood does not get a Publisher's Clearinghouse check for $500 million dollars. We're not a line item in the budget – we're not in what the proposals for the President says. We get reimbursed for services.
The average listener to these talking points might believe that they sound reasonable. After all, Planned Parenthood provides low-income women a service, then Medicaid is billed, and finally Planned Parenthood is reimbursed. Right?
In part, yes. But what the public is not told is that these reimbursements keep Planned Parenthood's multi-million dollar abortion business in operation. Planned Parenthood can use the funds they obtain from the taxpayer via Medicaid reimbursements and other revenue to staff their centers, pay salaries, and keep the lights on in the very buildings where abortions are committed. Women who go to Planned Parenthood for an STI test or pap smear become marketing targets for abortion — a fact Planned Parenthood knows very well. Former Planned Parenthood staffers report that the organization treats "women like cattle" and strongly encourages "abortion quotas" with incentives:
Pro-lifers contend that since money is fungible and Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortions in the nation — garnering over 34 percent of the national market share — the organization should not be given any federal dollars. The money should instead be given to the thousands of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) which offer the same legitimate health services, without the added controversy of abortions. And they outnumber Planned Parenthood centers 20 to 1.
Kelly Riddell at the Washington Times has called abortion Planned Parenthood's biggest business, adding:
Ms. Richards likes to talk about how the organization is a health care provider, in that it does cancer screenings (no Planned Parenthood clinic has a mammogram machine), birth control, and checkups — but in reality that's not what generates their income.
A whopping 86 percent of the organization's non-government provided revenue is garnered from the abortions it provides, generating a significant portion of its profit. Moreover, there's been several cases where Planned Parenthood has, in fact, billed taxpayers for abortions.
You see, the Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funds from being used specifically for abortions, but it doesn't account for state dollars, vis-a-vis Medicaid programs. Seventeen states allow for elective abortions to be reimbursed by Medicaid. According to research compiled by Toomanyaborted.com, in California alone, it appears taxpayers foot the bill for about 80,000 abortions a year.
The truth is that there are several additional funding streams from federal agencies, other than Medicaid, to Planned Parenthood. As Live Action News has detailed previously, one way taxpayers are funding Planned Parenthood is through grants under the Affordable Care Act's Navigator program.
This program has been funneling dollars to the abortion corporation for years. In 2015, The Hill published a report detailing how the Obama administration had awarded more than $1 million in grants to Planned Parenthood to promote the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).
A study conducted by the Government Accountability Office in 2015 found that in addition to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, several Planned Parenthood affiliates (which are separate entities) also receive federal dollars. The chart below shows the federal agencies some of those dollars flowed from between 2010 and 2012:
Expenditures of federal dollars reported by Planned Parenthood Affiliates 2010 to 2012 per GAO
To add to the list, we can look at federal funds allocated to Planned Parenthood from the website USASpending.gov for FY2016. A search conducted March 9, 2017, reveals $32,838,391 in direct money was granted to Planned Parenthood affiliates while $61,356,812 was funneled to the abortion corporation as a sub recipient. In those cases, the dollars are sent directly to another entity, which in turn sends the funds to Planned Parenthood.
USA Spending search to Planned Parenthood conducted March 8 2017 for FY 2016
Funding was awarded for various reasons, including Title X family planning (the largest source of federal dollars after Medicaid), sex education, HIV prevention, victim assistance, WIC services, and others.
An example of the size of funding just one affiliate might receive can be seen in a report from the Tri-City Herald. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Adolescent Health allocated $950,000 a year for five years to Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho for "teen pregnancy prevention programs."
And this doesn't even begin to touch the state dollars being sent into Planned Parenthood's coffers through a variety of funding sources.
There are numerous reasons taxpayers should not be forced to fund Planned Parenthood, beginning with the over 320,000 abortions they perform annually.
In addition, the gruesome undercover videos from the Center for Medical Progress exposed high ranking staffers at Planned Parenthood haggling over the price of the body parts of children aborted at several of their facilities.
For this, Planned Parenthood was investigated by a U.S. House Committee, which recommended criminal referrals for some affiliates based on the Committee's findings, and also recommended a complete defunding of the organization:
The Panel found that Planned Parenthood affiliates and clinics have repeatedly neglected their fiduciary duty requiring good stewardship of federal taxpayer dollars through the following: careless management and failed compliance with Medicaid billing procedures; violating federal laws and regulations pertaining to patient consent and the privacy rights of their patients; changing the method of abortion to increase procurement of fetal tissue for which they received a per tissue payment; and a general disinterest in clinical integrity. The Panel recommends that Planned Parenthood lose all federal funding, including reimbursements for Medicaid services.
In addition, a House Oversight Committee summary, which appears on the Committee's website, states the following:
Planned Parenthood does not need federal subsidies.
Planned Parenthood is self-sustaining.
Reported revenue of $1.3 billion in their most recent annual report.
Reported $127 million in net income and reported holding $1.4 billion in assets for 2013-2014.
Salaries at Planned Parenthood are lucrative.
President Cecile Richards was paid more than $2.47 million from 2009 to 2013, including $590,928 in 2013.
A significant number of Planned Parenthood executives earn in excess of $200,000 annually.
Planned Parenthood spends millions on travel, galas and real estate.
Spends nearly $14,000 a day on travel.
Spent $34.8 million in 2011 to purchase corporate office space two blocks from Madison Square Garden.
Taxpayer dollars subsidize Planned Parenthood's political affiliates.
Planned Parenthood's claim that only "three percent" of all health services provided are abortion services is false.
Over the last decade, cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood are declining while abortions are increasing.
Numerous alternatives to Planned Parenthood exist.
As a business, Planned Parenthood is far from trustworthy.
Live Action News has reported (here and here) how Planned Parenthood has failed to report child sexual abuse in many instances, in what appears to be a violation of the federal Title X Family Planning Program, the very program which currently funnels millions of tax dollars to the abortion organization.
A 2017 report, conducted by the Charlotte Lozier Institute and Alliance Defending Freedom, looked at publicly available audits and discovered several egregious examples of fraud and abuse associated with Planned Parenthood.
The study found (among other abuses):
Planned Parenthood affiliates have been identified as the source of at least $12.8 million in waste, abuse, and potentially fraudulent overbilling and penalties.
One audit uncovered $5.2 million in overbilling by two California Planned Parenthood affiliates; the average overbilled amount per audited year in a single audit was $94,409.
Three federal audits specifically identify Planned Parenthood – and only Planned Parenthood – as the problem in state family planning program overbilling.
Regardless of how Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funding money is obtained, money is fungible and can be used to offset Planned Parenthood's costs, thereby freeing up Planned Parenthood's other funds to further its abortion business.
It is time to defund Planned Parenthood.


text:
A Bocas Evening at Alice Yard: Five by Night – New Fiction from T & T
By Shivanee Ramlochan, 2014 Bocas Lit fest blogger
A chilly Woodbrook evening beneath the stars, in Alice Yard's plein air art and culture space: this was the setting for a special literary event showcasing Trinidad and Tobago's writing talent, on March 25th. This year's NGC Bocas Lit Fest is a mere four weeks away, as Bocas programme director (and Alice Yard co-director) Nicholas Laughlin observed in his opening remarks.
Bocas Programme Director Nicholas Laughlin addresses the Alice Yard gathering.
Five by Night, thusly named for the handful of talented T & T writers taking to the Alice Yard podium, served dual purposes: as both a pre-Bocas amuse bouche, and as part of the Diasporic Literary Archives' programme, held in Port of Spain on March 25th-26th.
A rich, new resurgence of literary talent seems to be sweeping the Caribbean of late, Laughlin noted in his address to the audience. He emphasized the festival's commitment to both nurturing, and providing appropriate platforms for, nascent, engaging voices in writing. It's a welcome embarrassment of riches, Laughlin added, that much of the region's writing stars are both born on and influenced by T & T's terrain.
Barbara Jenkins reads "Ghost Story" from Sic Transit Wagon.
Introducing her as both a dear friend and an inspiration to up-and-coming scribes, Laughlin called Barbara Jenkins to the podium first. Jenkins, winner of a handsome assemblage of writing awards, including the inaugural Hollick Arvon Prize for emerging Caribbean writers, read from her debut collection of short stories, Sic Transit Wagon, from Peepal Tree Press. (Jenkins' book launch of that title was one of Bocas 2013's most vastly populated programme highlights.)
Reading "Ghost Story", a tale of a gregarious yet criminally suspicious neighbourhood purloiner, Ghost, Jenkins' clever turns of phrase and gentle comedic inflection were welcome openings to the night of fiction voices. "Is only good manners to have polite conversation with someone spending more time in your yard than you," read Jenkins, detailing the neighbours' consternated indulgence of Ghost's produce-thieving proclivities.
Sharon Millar reads an excerpt from her novel-in-progress.
Following Jenkins was last year's joint Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner, Sharon Millar, who's busily working on her first, much-anticipated novel. Millar treated the Alice Yard crowd to an excerpt from that work in progress, which focuses on the interior life of an archaeologist, Isabel Coelho. The excerpt also described the disappearance of a young boy, including artfully-rendered hints of how Isabel's life and the child's vanishing might be intertwined.
Millar's prose shone through her understated, smoothly-paced narration, giving the listeners the appropriate headspace to digest the depth of her character animations. She described Isabel's fascination with "the gentle excavations of old bones," of the archaeologist's wonderings on all the unaccounted dead. Even in this brief sharing on stage, a dense, challenging portrait of Isabel emerges, as a woman who takes note of her own private tectonic shifts after lovemaking, a woman not immune to the waters that rise within her.
Vashti Bowlah reads "Safe House" from her forthcoming debut collection, Under the Peepal Tree.
Taking the median spot was Vashti Bowlah, a writer from Central Trinidad whose debut, self-published collection of short stories, Under the Peepal Tree, will be launched as part of this year's main festival programme. Bowlah read the latter part of a story entitled "Safe House", which explored the crumbling relationship between a devoted mother and her criminal escapee son, in dramatic and emotionally tense fashion. Reading from the mother's perspective, Bowlah illuminated her anxious maternal torment, in being unable to reconcile her child's peacefully sleeping countenance with the ruthless lawbreaker he had become.
Alake Pilgrim reads from her short story, "Rain".
Alake Pilgrim, who read in the penultimate slot, isn't a stranger to the NGC Bocas Lit Fest: she was one of its very first New Talent Showcase readers in 2011. Pilgrim shared work from a short story called "Rain", a lushly-depicted examination of two lost souls at different stages of their development. The story focuses first on an insouciant youth-man, whose affinity for football marks one of his life's saving graces, for whom a leather-stitched sphere truly can represent a whole world. Pilgrim read passionately, scarcely pausing to draw breath during the story's most ornate passages – the effect was a mesmerizing depiction of urban decay, sequestered love, and the disappointments of young paramours and old men alike.
Monique Roffey reads from her 2013 OCM Bocas prizewinning novel, Archipelago.
Closing off the circle of readers, Monique Roffey expressed frank admiration to be in the literary company of four outstanding female voices in fiction. Roffey's last novel, Archipelago (Simon & Schuster) was the winner of the 2013 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. Her newest novel, House of Ashes, which focuses on the events of the 1990 Trinidad coup'd'état, will be forthcoming later this year. Roffey read from the latter chapters of Archipelago, a global-warming conscious novel that tells the story of an unremarkable man's sea voyage with his little daughter, Océan. Reading of the father-daughter team's sighting of a rare white whale, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Roffey evoked dual senses of wonderment and fragility in the face of Nature's grandeur. Detailing the sea's awe-inspiring, terrifying caprices, and emphasizing the seeming indifference of the natural world to human suffering, Roffey's excerpt reflected the ever-surprising capacity for love's splendour on even the flimsiest of tempest-tossed barges.
A cross-section of the attentive Alice Yard gathering.
Paper Based Bookshop was on hand, selling Jenkins' and Roffey's books, as well as several other titles that will feature prominently at Bocas 2014. These five outstanding writers, Laughlin commented in his closing remarks, are an indicative representation of the remarkable work being written, in Trinidad, across the Caribbean and in all its diasporic corridors.
As #bocas2014 rushes ever closer, we look forward to the panoply of readings, discussions, panels and good bookish fanfare that every final weekend in April prompts, beneath the NGC Bocas Lit Fest banners.
All photographs taken by Kathleen Tompsett, Programme Assistant, Bocas Lit Fest.
Friends of Bocas Gift Cards Available!
No spam, notifications only about upcoming events, updates.


The shredding of hard drives utilises a purpose built Low speed, high torque, industrial disintegrator, which involves a process of cutting and grinding the drives into small particles that are finally reduced to pass through a screen (40mm-6mm dependent on security requirements).
At 6mm Not even the world's most capable IT professional's could piece the data together again.
Note: All shredded fragments are then sent to an aluminium smelter.
As part of our data destruction service, we even ensure that any paper records are either returned to you or destroyed.
Our data destruction services are performed to the standards defined by the MoD. Shredding to a size of 6mm possible.
Being ISO 27001:2005 certified every stage of the process is auditable. Full and very detailed audit reports are available free of charge for any equipment processed.


March 19, 2017 Day 9: A Good Day to be a Cactus.
Today was an easy ride of just a little over 50 miles, mostly gentle downhill slope after the initial hilly bits around Wickenburg. Last night we met my new traveling companions, Lynda and Leslie and this morning we were all up an about before it was light.
Here we are getting our gear together. . .
What do you think he is describing?
The ride out of Wickenburg was hilly but very quiet early on a Sunday morning. There was quite a nice bike/walking path that led out of town along HWY 60. I only saw a handful of walkers (one smoking while walking! Yay! An exercise fanatic after my own heart) and nary a cyclist for the first few miles.
Just in case you did not know, Wickenburg, AZ is known as the Dude Ranch Capital of the Universe. Naturally, I kept thinking about Jeff Bridges, but it's not that kind of Dude.
The only excitement as I cruised out of town was an oncoming car containing what looked to be a standard poodle. Anyhow, the dog saw me (or sensed me, maybe, with that weird dog radar they have for UPS and FedEx drivers) and launched itself from the back seat into the driver's lap. The woman swerved across the empty lane of road toward me while her dog attempted to claw its way out of the (thankfully) closed window. The last I saw of them both, the dog was wedged between the steering wheel and windshield while the driver fishtailed back and forth across two lanes. Bad dog, no bone.
That's right, I have no qualms about deploying pepper spray against an aggressive canine.
That's right, LA- watch out.
Anyhow, Lynda and Leslie leap-frogged and I got to cycle with both of them during the day. It was nice to have some company and I felt a lot safer knowing there was somebody else nearby while cars and trucks whizzed by us like maniacs. Most drivers were pretty courteous but things got more hectic as the day wore on and the temperature crept into the 90s.
Salome, our destination, is barely a dot on the map. There are three places to stay in the small town and the only one we all found acceptable was fully booked. We ate lunch at the Stanford Cafe while we discussed our options for tonight. I had pancakes and they were absolutely fantastic. This diner was a perfect place to experience "small town America" and the service was as friendly as the food was good.
If you are interested in seeing on of our rooming options for Salome it's worth checking out the Trip Advisor photographs and reviews for this place. . .
After looking at the next stretch of road, which included a big stretch of Interstate 10, we decided to head to Blythe, CA- just across the border-to spend the night.
Local thermometers in Blythe got up to 99 degrees but I'm sure it was hotter out on the blacktop.
Tomorrow is a little over 70 miles to Brawley, CA. There is some talk about rain on either Tuesday or Wednesday but I'll believe it when it happens.
← March 18, 2018 Day 8: Did I mention it was hot?
Yeeeeaaaah,90 degrees and pepper spray! When it's hot it'shot! And Blythe Ca.Can it get any better??


text:
Previously at the ICA - Seasons
Oleksandr Dovzhenko's Silent Trilogy: Life and Death in the Times of Revolution
The ICA, in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute in London and the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, presents a retrospective of Oleksandr Dovzhenko's silent film masterpieces – the so-called 'Ukrainian trilogy': Zvenyhora (1928), Arsenal (1929), and Earth (1930). These films were recently restored by the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Centre, and these modern versions feature new soundtracks created by contemporary composers from both Ukraine and Great Britain.
Dovzhenko is like a gunshot to the face. Taking aim at content and firing at will, utterly free of form. He is unabashedly alone in this. The rest of us like camels in a caravan loping along under this incredible weight of 'form'. To live and work near Dovzhenko is to live near dynamite. It was raw luck that Dovzhenko picked up a camera instead of an axe or a machine gun. His films open fire; they attack without hesitation. - Russian film director Sergei Eisenstein
Ukrainian writer-director Alexander Dovzhenko may be the most neglected major filmmaker of the 20th century. He's never come close to receiving his due… in large part because his fervent, pantheistic, folkloric films develop more like lyric poems, moving from one stanza to the next, than like narratives, proceeding by way of paragraphs or chapters. The world they describe is one of Gogol-esque horses that sing or reprimand their owners, noble cows, glistening meadows, wily Cossacks, dancing peasants, declamatory speeches by wild-eyed individuals, close-ups of daisies alongside proud women with similarly open faces, vast reaches of empty sky over fields of waving wheat — a vision of a natural order that paradoxically seems both brutal and harmonious. It's poetry in part because it's a paean to existence and because it sings about rather than recounts its details. - American film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum
A world-renowned film director, Oleksandr Dovzhenko (1894-1956) was born into an illiterate Ukrainian peasant family. Hoping for social and national emancipation, Dovzhenko embraced the Ukrainian socialist revolution of 1917. 'I called out slogans at meetings and was as happy as a dog that had broken its chain, sincerely believing that now all men were brothers, that everything was completely clear; that the peasants had the land, that workers had the factories, the teachers had the schools, the doctors had the hospitals, the Ukrainians had Ukraine, the Russians had Russia; that the next day the whole world would find out about this and, struck with our vision, would do likewise,' he wrote later in his autobiography.
Dovzhenko was a witness and an active participant of the turbulent social upheavals in Ukraine in 1917-1921 when six different forces were fighting on its territory: Ukrainians, Bolsheviks, White Army, Poles, Antanta and numerous anarchists units. In fact, the city of Kyiv changed hands 14 times during Ukraine's war for independence. This war was lost, and Ukraine was absorbed into the USSR in 1922.
In 1917 Dovzhenko supported the Ukrainian National Republic in its struggle for independence, later to be arrested and imprisoned by Bolsheviks. In 1919 he joined the Borot'bists Party, the left wing faction of the Ukrainian Party of Socialists Revolutionaries, which advocated an independent Ukrainian SSR and played an important role in Ukrainization policies of the 1920s. In 1921-22 Dovzhenko reemerged as a diplomat, first in Warsaw and then in Berlin. Supported by the government grant, he spent a year in Berlin studying painting with Willy Jaeckel, a German expressionist painter. Upon his return to Ukraine, Dovzhenko worked as an illustrator and cartoonist and actively participated in Ukrainian literary organizations. Finally in 1926, Dovzhenko embarked on a career in cinematography.
Along with Sergei Eiseinstein, Dziga Vertov and Vsevolod Pudovkin, Dovzhenko commands a leading role among Soviet avant-garde directors. Praised for its aesthetic qualities, Dovzhenko's 'Ukrainian trilogy' is considered among the best silent films in the history of the world cinema.
Dovzhenko's trilogy (as well as Dziga Vertov's trilogy which includes Man with a Movie Camera, Eleventh and Enthusiasm) was produced by the All-Ukrainian Photo-Cinema Directorate (VUFKU) during two short-lived policies of the Soviet State in the 1920s: the New Economic Policy (known as NEP) and the 'indigenization' policy (known as korenizatsiya), which created a unique environment for the revival of Ukrainian culture. The creation of VUFKU in 1922, powered by its economical and political autonomy from Moscow as well as the emergence of a generation of bold revolutionary artists such as Dovzhenko, Vertov, Ivan Kavaleridze and Heorhii Stabovyi, brought to life a unique phenomenon of Ukrainian experimental film in the 1920s.
In 1929, during the last year of its existence, the Directorate produced almost a third of all films made in the USSR. Having a monopoly on film releases, the company exported its films to the USA, Germany, France and Japan. Then, with a sharp turn in Stalin's repressive policies, that epoch came to a sudden halt: the Ukrainian Renaissance of 1920s was to be remembered by future generations as the Executed Renaissance. Charged with the crime of nationalism, Dovzhenko himself was forced to leave Ukraine and never returned.
He wrote in his diary: 'I will die in Moscow without seeing Ukraine ever again! In my last days, I will ask Stalin to order, before my body is burned in a crematorium, to have my heart taken out and buried in my native soil, in Kyiv, somewhere on a hill overlooking the Dnieper.'
Oleksandr Dovzhenko's Silent Trilogy: Life and Death in the Times of Revolution - Zvenyhora
In this allegorical tale, a battle between two brothers, one a treasure hunter and the other an industrial worker, symbolises the Ukrainian War of Independence in the aftermath of the First World War and the October Revolution.
Oleksandr Dovzhenko's Silent Trilogy: Life and Death in the Times of Revolution - Arsenal
This avant garde film about the uprising at the Arsenal factory, one of the key episodes in Soviet mythology telling the tale of Bolshevik martyrdom in Ukraine, depicts the intense chaos and complexity of war.
Oleksandr Dovzhenko's Silent Trilogy: Life and Death in the Times of Revolution - Earth
On the most famous and controversial works of the Ukrainian Soviet silent film heritage, Earth demonstrates the ambiguity of Ukraine's geopolitical choice in the late 1920s in the wake of the Russian revolution.


Last night's full moon, traditionally called the Snow Moon, is also known as Shoulder to Shoulder Around the Fire Moon by Native Americans. The belief is that relationships in every avenue of your life will prosper if you welcome everyone around your fire. Embracing all with warmth and affection in turn brings joy into your own life.
The significance behind this moon felt especially profound to me—this weekend, my only sibling, my younger brother, is getting married. And, with this wedding, we join another family with him, a ceremony that brings more people around my fire.
Last night, I stood shoulder to shoulder with my partner, father, mother, and my aunt from Minnesota, whom I have not seen in 11 years, watching the full moon rise, bathing us in its brilliant light, surrounded by boulders and avocado trees.
We stood there, linked by shoulders, breathing in the qualities of moonlight: coolness, receptiveness, and inward reflection. And, most importantly, joy.
A friend visiting from South Africa, who I was blessed to meet in my yoga training, told me about the significance behind this full moon. Yesterday, I themed my gentle yoga class after it—bringing in the energy of the full moon and asking students to metaphorically invite those they wish to join them around their own fires.
Writing Exercise: I invite you to do the same. Who do you want to invite to sit shoulder to shoulder with you around your fire? It could be family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, pets, or qualities you would like to cultivate in your life such as peace or stillness. Bring each into focus. Take a moment to imagine each person or quality sitting next to you, embracing them with warmth and affection. Capture in writing who appeared next to your fire and all sensations that arose. Set an intention for how you will embrace each of them.


text:
Category: Platypus
Gardener's world (plus bonus platypus!)
One of the surprises of this trip has been the gardens. Tasmanians are clearly into gardens. Often when we are on the road we pass a stunning example of a domestic garden, a well laid out and lovingly tended riot of colour.
But there are also larger gardens, belonging to institutions or to individuals who have opened them to inform and give pleasure to locals and tourists alike. The very first place we visited in Tasmania, just an hour or so after picking up the car was the excellent Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, which I wrote about at the time and have been described as a national treasure. And the day we left Hobart to go Bruny Island we dropped in on the way at Inverawe Native Gardens, Tasmania's largest landscaped native garden. Here the owners have created a "sustainable, waterwise, low chemical and low maintenance garden" on a plot of some 22 acres, and have planted over 10,000 Australian native trees and shrubs:
The main reason for visiting Mountain Valley was of course to see the Tasmanian Devils, but as all the action takes place after dark this left the daylight hours to explore the area. During this time we were able to have a look at two other, very different gardens.
The spectacular Kaydale Lodge Gardens, just a few kilometres up the road from Mountain Valley, are set in about 5 acres of grounds:
However unlike Inverawe the focus is European rather than Tasmanian flora. The couple who created the gardens have spent most of their married lives on the project and now, increasingly, their daughters are taking over the mantle. The results are outstanding:
It would be great (though sadly impossible for us) to see the gardens in the different seasons to see what new splendours they have to offer.
The next day we took a longer drive to the Tasmanian Arboretum, which covers around 150 acres and features Tasmanian plants, southern hemisphere conifers and deciduous trees from temperate areas across the world. This volunteer-led project is in its infancy, and it will presumably be many years before the trees reach full maturity. Already, however, it was looking good with some great vistas to be enjoyed around the lake:
As an added bonus, the lake at the Tasmanian Arboretum provided us with good views of two platypus. They were close enough for Julie to get some good shots:
This makes eight platypus we have seen during the trip, which far exceeds my wildest dreams. Despite Susie's assurances I was afraid I wouldn't see any so it feels like all my birthdays have come at once. Thanks, Susie!
[24 November]
Author Platypus ManPosted on December 4, 2016 August 24, 2018 Categories Critters, Gardens, Platypus, Touring1 Comment on Gardener's world (plus bonus platypus!)
Reflections of a Platypus Man (part 2)
Our accommodation in Geeveston is a fine period building. It's one of the oldest buildings in town, and dates from around 1870:
We didn't know when we first booked our trip that the B&B is only a few metres from a small river that boasts plenty of platypus. The locals are justly proud of this and have even built a special platypus viewing platform, overlooking the river, which can be seen in this photo:
This morning, before breakfast, we pull on our clothes and hurry down to the river to try our luck. Almost immediately we spot a familiar brown shape with what looks like a duck's bill, on the surface of the water and paddling fast downstream. We scan around carefully and spot a second platypus a little further away, emerging from a burrow in the bank and disappearing into the water. They continue to entertain us for the next 30 minutes, giving Julie some great photo opportunities such as this:
Our close encounters of the platypus kind move me to poetry. The haiku is a strictly disciplined verse structure from Japan. The poet has at his disposal just 17 syllables split between three lines: the first and third lines must contain just five syllables each, while the second line has seven. His challenge is to use these three lines and 17 syllables to capture a single moment in time, to distil the essence of an event by stripping out all unnecessary detail. Simple yet profound is the aim. Here's my attempt at condensing our experience today:
Swimming fast downstream
Improbable platypus
Hunting water-bugs
Brief and to the point, I think. Very Zen.
Author Platypus ManPosted on November 15, 2016 August 24, 2018 Categories Critters, Platypus, Poetry, Touring1 Comment on Reflections of a Platypus Man (part 2)
Platypus spotted!
Towards the end of a recent post I wrote "It's gonna be a lovely day," a line from a Bill Withers song. How prophetic, today's been a lovely day. Today's been a great day!
We begin the day in the Battery Point area of Hobart. This neighbourhood has some of the oldest surviving buildings in the city, including a few with the distinctive wrought ironwork that we first admired in the historic district of Sydney. Here's a good example; the two semi-detached dwellings are named Mafeking and Pretoria, so we can hazard a guess as to when they were built:
Next, the Female Factory, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Cascades neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city. A 'female factory' was how penal establishments for transported female convicts were known in the early nineteenth century. Tasmania had five in total, with the one at the Cascades operating between 1828 and 1856. Here women served sentences of at least seven years for the most insignificant – by today's standards – of crimes committed back in Britain. The regime was harsh, with the women put to work for long hours every day and punished brutally for the most trivial of misdemeanours.
Initially the Female Factory appears a disappointing place to visit. Although the house of the woman running the establishment ("the matron") is intact, the rest of the site comprises just the compound walls and the floorplan of the buildings inside those walls which is picked out in low level brick and stone. What brings the place to life is an hour-long performance by two actors, who dramatise the experiences of one real-life convict from the early days of the Factory. The audience follow the actors around the prison yard and interact with them as they describe and act out in character what happened to the unfortunate inmate in each of the rooms that line the inner walls of the yard.
The play, for that is what it is, is called simply Her Story. It is shocking and moving in equal measure, and a great way to bring history to life. Without this dramatisation the Female Factory would soon be forgotten, but thanks to Her Story I'm sure it will remain in the memory as one of the highlights of the trip.
A few hundred metres uphill from the Female Factory is the Cascade Brewery, which claims to be the oldest brewery in Australia:
We plan to get lunch and a beer at the brewery before catching the bus downtown, and start walking towards it along the side of a narrow stream. After a short distance we find the river has been dammed to create a concrete-lined pool perhaps 30 metres square. This, we learn later, is the Hobart Rivulet Boulder Trap.
Just as we are approaching the Boulder Trap we hear a man say to his young son "Shall we look for the platypus?"
Our ears prick up. A platypus? Here? Surely not. But we scan the water anyway, and to our amazement we see a critter swimming at the surface of the pool, then diving for a while before surfacing again. It's brown, a little less than half a metre in length. It has a wide, flat tail like a beaver's and … we can hardly believe it – a bill like a duck's. And when we look more closely there's not just one, but two platypus in the pool, apparently diving to search for food.
Of all the critters we could see in Tassie, the platypus is the one I'm most desperate to encounter. Incredibly, within just over 24 hours of landing in Hobart we see two. Not only that, we get a brilliant view as we look down from a bank raised a few metres above the pool. The platypus swim towards us and are so close it seems as if we can reach down and touch them. Julie doesn't have her long lens camera with her – we didn't think she'd need it – but even with her all-purpose short lens she takes some brilliant shots, like this one:
She even manages to get a shot of a platypus under water:
What a day! We are dazed, stunned even by the sighting of the platypus. There are two or three places on our Tassie schedule where we thought we had a reasonable chance of seeing a platypus. The Hobart Rivulet Boulder Trap isn't one of them. On the face of it, there should be no chance of seeing platypus in a man-made, concrete lined pool in the suburbs of the Tasmanian state capital. Which just goes to prove that being in the right place at the right time, and keeping your eyes and ears open, is an essential part of wildlife watching.
I wonder what surprises the rest of our trip will bring?
[7 November]
Author Platypus ManPosted on November 11, 2016 August 24, 2018 Categories Critters, History, Hobart, Platypus1 Comment on Platypus spotted!
The hoax that never was
The annals of history are full of hoaxes. They come in all shapes and sizes, Piltdown Man, the Cottingley fairies and the Hitler Diaries to name but a few. Less well known are the occasions when people thought they were being hoaxed but weren't, occasions when reality had the last laugh. The platypus falls into this category: it is the hoax that never was.
When British scientist George Shaw received from Australia the desiccated skin of an unknown creature in 1798 he examined it and then wrote:
'Of all the Mammalia yet known it seems the most extra-ordinary in its conformation; exhibiting the perfect resemblance of the beak of a Duck engrafted on the head of a quadruped. So accurate is the similitude, that, at first view, it naturally excites the idea of some deceptive preparation by artificial means; … nor is it without the most minute and rigid examination that we can persuade ourselves of its being the real beak or snout of a quadruped.'
In other words, Shaw suspected that some mischievous soul might be pulling his leg.
The surgeon Robert Knox argued in 1823 that because the specimens arrived in England via the Indian Ocean, naturalists suspected that Chinese sailors, who were well known for their skill at stitching together hybrid creatures, might have been playing some kind of joke upon them:
'They reached England by vessels which had navigated the Indian seas, a circumstance in itself sufficient to rouse the suspicions of the scientific naturalist, aware of the monstrous impostures which the artful Chinese had so frequently practised on European adventurers; in short, the scientific felt inclined to class this rare production of nature with eastern mermaids and other works of art; but these conjectures were immediately dispelled by an appeal to anatomy.'
In all fairness it's little wonder that British naturalists had their doubts: the platypus is seriously weird. With a bill like a duck, skin and feet like an otter and a tail like a beaver its appearance suggests it was created from bits and pieces found gathering dust in a bankrupt taxidermist's workshop.
To add to his oddball qualities Mr Platypus has special spurs on his hind feet that he can use to defend himself by injecting poison into a predator. And then, or course, there's the small matter of being a montreme. This means that like the echidna, but unlike anything else in existence anywhere, Mrs Platypus is a mammal who lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young.
If ever there was an odd couple, Mr and Mrs P are that couple.
And the weirdness doesn't stop there. This film courtesy of National Geographic describes another oddball platypus feature, an electro-location system in its bill that enables it to hunt underwater in zero visibility. Useful. What a pity I can't have a similar adaptation to my snout that would enable me to find my car keys when I'm late for work.
The platypus is no hoax … nobody with an ounce of sense could make it up and hope to get away with it. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, seeing is believing and I badly need to see one. Thanks to Susie from Tasmanian Odyssey, who kindly pointed out in our final itinerary all the platypus hotspots we'll be visiting, our chances appear good. I'll keep you posted.
Author Platypus ManPosted on October 23, 2016 January 14, 2017 Categories Critters, PlatypusLeave a comment on The hoax that never was
Platypus Pandemonium Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.


A pile driver is a mechanical equipment or device which is utilized to driver poles or piles to the soil in order to provide foundation supports for structures such as buildings. With this, it is obvious that they are commonly used for the construction business. They are essential in such industry because of the importance of the work that they provide.
If you own or are handling a business in the field of construction, then you would know how important it is to be able to purchase pile drivers that are of great quality. There are so many manufacturers who produce this machinery which is why it could be hard to determine which of them is the best one. Check out the tips below to find out how you could find great pile driver sales deals.
Of course, the first thing you need to do before you start searching for one is to ensure that you allot a budget. It is important that you are aware of the costs of buying one so you can shape up your budget according to it or choose those which stays within your financial limit. However, do not base your decision solely on this since there exists far more important things to consider.
Another thing which you must take into consideration is deciding whether you would be purchasing brand new or used equipment. Sure, used ones are great especially since they are much cheaper but the amount of evaluation is far more rigorous since you have to ensure it still is well functioning and does not have any kind of hidden issue. Brand new ones are more expensive but so long as you buy the best ones, you are assured your money did not go to waste.
While you could always start your search on the internet, it is always suggested that you do not purchase from online shops. It still is better for you to be able to visit a physical store and see the equipment in person. Being able to see the equipment in flesh would also enable you to test it before you purchase it.
Something else which you must take note of when it comes to this is choosing the right brand. There are so many manufacturers who produce such gear and you cannot really be assured which of them are the best. If you must, choose those who are reputable in the field as well as the ones who may be well known in this industry.
You could also ask for referrals from other people in choosing and buying pile drivers. There are a lot of individuals in the construction business you can seek the recommendations of since they already have the right knowledge in terms of this. They could attest to the quality as well as performance of gear sold by a specific brand.
Furthermore, take note of warranties that a certain company or brand would be able to offer. This is helpful in terms of ensuring that you will be covered for a particular span of time in case the equipment breaks of malfunctions. The warranty will serve as your guarantee that repairs and replacements would be shouldered by the company if the damage happened within the warranty period.
Finally, always choose dealers who have great after sales benefits. There are those who would cut off contact after you purchase their product but there likewise are those who would take care of you even after the sale was made through round the clock customer support. These are the ones you should affiliate your company with.


text:
Saint-André-de-Ramières est un hameau de Gigondas, situé sur la rive gauche de l'Ouvèze. Il doit son existence à un prieuré de l'abbaye de Montmajour, placé sous le vocable de Saint-André au . L'installation sur place de moniales cartusiennes venues de Prébayon fit regrouper autour de leur monastère une communauté laïque à partir du début du . La chartreuse et le village furent pillés et laissés en ruines lors des guerres de religion. Le début du  marqua la fin de la présence des moniales. Les Ramières furent dès lors sous la gouverne des évêques d'Orange qui en firent une de leurs résidences jusqu'à la révolution française. C'est actuellement le siège d'un important groupe viti-vinicole.

Géographie

Hydrographie
Le hameau se situe sur la rive gauche de l'Ouvèze.

Accès
Au départ de Sablet vers Violès : vieux chemin de Sablet.

Au départ de Gigondas : chemin de saint-Côme à Saint-André.

Sismicité
Les cantons de Bonnieux, Apt, Cadenet, Cavaillon, et Pertuis sont classés en zone Ib (risque faible). Tous les autres cantons du département de Vaucluse, dont celui de Beaumes-de-Venise, sont classés en zone Ia (risque très faible). Ce zonage correspond à une sismicité ne se traduisant qu'exceptionnellement par la destruction de bâtiments.

Climat
Le climat de ce terroir est soumis à un rythme à quatre temps : deux saisons sèches (une brève en hiver, une très longue et accentuée en été), deux saisons pluvieuses, en automne (pluies abondantes et brutales) et au printemps. Sa spécificité est son climat méditerranéen qui constitue un atout exceptionnel :
 Le mistral assainit le vignoble ;
 La saisonnalité des pluies est très marquée ;
 Les températures sont très chaudes pendant l'été.

Histoire
Ce lieu, aujourd'hui, réduit à un simple hameau, de la commune de Gigondas, a une histoire qui lui est bien spécifique. Une station préhistorique datant du néolithique moyen a été mise à jour dans les vignes de Saint-André.

Vers 1120, Rostang III, évêque de Vaison, donna à Notre-Dame de Nazareth, son église cathédrale, un manse qui comprenait une vigne sise à Gigondas, près de l'Ouvèze : .  Ce vignoble jouxtait le prieuré de Saint-André-de-Ramières, que l'abbaye de Montmajour y possédait depuis le . À partir de 1228, date à laquelle les moniales délaissèrent Prébayon, pour descendre au prieuré Saint-André, Ramières devint un village d'importance construit à proximité de la nouvelle chartreuse.

La principauté d'Orange, fondée en 1180, comprenait les communautés de Causans (aujourd'hui, partie de Jonquières), Châteauneuf-Redortier (aujourd'hui, partie de Suzette), Courthézon, Derboux (aujourd'hui, partie de Mondragon), Gigondas, Jonquières, Montmirail (aujourd'hui, partie de Gigondas), Orange, Suzette, Saint-André-de-Ramières et Violès. Saint-André-de-Ramières dépendait donc du Saint-Empire romain germanique et de son empereur. Pourtant, quand fut fondé le Comtat Venaissin, ce fut là, que le , les délégués des Ramières et ceux de Sablet (où se trouvait Prépayon) se retrouvèrent pour prêter serment de fidélité au pape Grégoire X entre les mains du Recteur du Comtat, Guillaume de Villaret, Grand Prieur des hospitaliers de Saint-Gilles. Saint-André-de-Ramières fut dès lors une enclave pontificale en principauté.

Ce fut seulement au , que le monastère de Saint-André et la communauté des Ramières reconnurent le prince d'Orange comme souverain et lui prêtèrent hommage. Ce qui n'empêcha pas le monastère d'être brûlé par les huguenots en 1563.

En 1713, après la signature du traité d'Utrecht réglant le sort de la principauté d'Orange, Saint-André fut rattaché au royaume de France. Le monastère vit une partie de ses bâtiments s'écrouler en 1720. Progressivement désertée des dernières religieuses, il est alors fermé en février 1734, sur ordre de Louis XV. Les derniers évêques d'Orange firent de l'ancien monastère leur résidence de campagne. François-André de Tilly, évêque d'Orange, en , se démit de son diocèse pour se retirer à Saint-André-de-Ramières où il mourut le .

Cette résidence épiscopale fut vendue comme Bien National à la Révolution Française. Ce fut en 1790 que le territoire communal de Violès fut augmenté de la partie de celui de la chartreuse de Saint-André-de-Ramières, située sur la rive droite de l'Ouvèze.

Jusqu'au milieu du , le Bois des Dames, ancien vignoble historique des chartreuses de Prébayon et de Saint-André-de-Ramières, et celui de Velages constituaient une importante réserve forestière. Ces lieux ont été à nouveau défrichés et transformés en vignobles. Ce terroir viticole a reçu l'AOC Plan-de-dieu (Côtes-du-rhône villages) depuis 2005. À la même période, dans les années 1850, seul un bac permettait de traverser l'Ouvèze au sud du hameau.

Activité
Actuellement, le hameau est le siège d'un important domaine viticole, les Vignobles de Saint-André qui se veulent héritiers de la chartreuse de Saint-André-de-Ramières. Ils regroupent un vaste terroir de parcelles sur l'ensemble de l'AOC Gigondas qui s'étend de l'Ouvèze jusqu'au cœur des Dentelles de Montmirail. Ce domaine fondé par Gabriel Rey est dirigé, depuis 1994 par Françoise Rey. Il produit exclusivement des vins rouges de haute qualité.

Patrimoine archéologique

Les derniers vestiges de la chartreuse Saint-André sont encore visibles dans le vignoble actuel.

À la fin du , la chartreuse reçut en dépôt une inscription funéraire gallo-romaine à la mémoire d'Orbia Maximillia, flamine du temple d'Auguste à Apta Julia. Cette plaque épigraphe avait été découverte en 1684, sur la Voie Domitienne descendant de Céreste vers la vallée du Calavon, près du lieu-dit Pierrefiche, et était surmontée d'une obélisque. D'après Joseph-François de Rémerville, elle avait été d'abord entreposée à l'abbaye de Sainte-Eusèbe ou dans son prieuré Saint-Donat à Saignon.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Gigondas (Vaucluse)
Hameau ou lieu-dit en Vaucluse

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia