Blogger, Artist, Social Media, Web Designer, Photographer- I blog about nouns-people, places and things, even when it's negative I try to put a positive spin on it. @tinawinterlikfb https://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
I remember when this poster first started circulating — URGENT: NOAA RESEARCH WEBSITES GOING DARK. I posted it, shared it, talked about it. We even worked together to create awareness. But it didn’t go viral. It didn’t spark mass concern. And now? We are witnessing exactly what we feared.
This isn’t a surprise. This is a consequence.
Earlier this year, over 1,000 NOAA jobs were slashed, including roles at the National Hurricane Center (NHC). One meteorologist even admitted he didn’t know how he could do his job anymore — the data just wasn’t there. We watched the tools of life-saving science get stripped away, piece by piece.
And now? Children are dead in Texas from sudden, extreme flooding. Little girls. Entire families wiped out. The storm hit hard and fast — and few saw it coming. Why? Because there was no way to track it properly. No planes flying into it. No models. No warnings.
Let me be brutally honest: this is the result of policy.
This is what happens when government slashes budgets and silences science.
When FEMA is treated like a burden instead of a backbone.
When climate data is deemed disposable.
We’ve been here before. Remember Katrina? Remember the outrage, the hand-wringing, the excuses? And yet here we are again. Only this time, we knew what was at stake — and we let it happen anyway.
We’ve been warning people about the data gaps.
About how hurricanes lose their names when they become "tropical storms" over Mexico — even if they keep churning through the Gulf and into the U.S. and Canada.
The storm changes name. The urgency fades. But the danger does not.
While politicians argue over "whose fault," more tragedies are forming over the horizon. And we have no way of seeing them coming, no matter how high the floodwaters rise.
The truth is this: they were warned.
We were all warned.
And we didn't act.
What other disasters are on their way now — silent, invisible — because the research was deleted, the servers unplugged, the experts laid off?
It’s time to say it out loud: This is not just a climate issue.
This is justice.
This is life and death.
And this is on us.
📌 Let’s make sure the next time we see it coming, we act — before it’s too late.
When people talk about the “Harper IDU Group,” they are usually referring to
former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his role as Chairman of the International Democracy Union (IDU).
The IDU is a global alliance of centre-right political parties, founded in 1983. Its goal is to connect like-minded parties, promote democratic systems, and share policy ideas across countries.
Stephen Harper has served as Chairman since February 21, 2018, and continues to play a role in organizing forums, meetings, and international political networking events.
The organization includes dozens of member parties from around the world, creating a space where conservative leaders collaborate, exchange strategies, and discuss global issues such as economics, security, and governance.
🌍 Why This Matters
For many Canadians, Harper’s role on the global stage raises important questions — not just about international politics, but about influence.
As Chair of the IDU, he is no longer only a former Canadian leader — he is part of a broader international political network.
This is where perspectives begin to differ.
⚖️ Points of Concern (Perspective & Debate)
Here are concerns some critics and observers raise — it’s important to frame these as viewpoints, not proven facts:
1. Global Promotion of Conservative Policies
The IDU promotes centre-right ideas globally, which may include policies around privatization, taxation, and reduced government spending — approaches not all Canadians support.
2. Associations with Controversial Leaders
Because the IDU includes many parties worldwide, some members have been criticized in their own countries. Critics question whether this creates indirect legitimacy.
3. Environmental Record
During his time as Prime Minister, Harper withdrew Canada from the Kyoto Protocol withdrawal Canada, which still shapes how some view his environmental stance internationally.
4. Influence Beyond Canada
Harper’s role shows how former leaders can continue to shape global political conversations long after leaving office.
5. Ongoing Impact in Canadian Politics
Although no longer Prime Minister, Harper remains an influential figure within conservative circles, both in Canada and internationally.
6. Transparency Questions
International political organizations like the IDU are not always widely understood by the public, which can raise concerns about visibility and accountability.
🧭 A Balanced View
Supporters argue that:
The IDU promotes democracy and cooperation
It helps political parties learn from each other
It strengthens international relationships
Critics argue that:
It may amplify certain ideologies globally
It connects powerful political networks with limited public oversight
🌱 Why This Conversation Matters
In today’s world, political influence doesn’t stop at borders.
Leaders, ideas, and strategies move globally — and organizations like the IDU are part of that system.
Understanding these networks helps people ask better questions:
Who influences policy?
How do global connections shape local decisions?
And how much do citizens really see?
✨ Final Thought
Awareness is not about fear — it’s about understanding.
The more we know about how political networks operate, the more informed and engaged we can be as citizens.
“The existing Kinder Morgan pipeline was built through
our reserve, and above our aquifer, at a time when it was illegal for us
to vote or hire a lawyer,” Spahan stated in an email on Jan. 17. “Due
to its location the expansion poses even greater risk to our drinking
water.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a little poem I wrote for you.
What would you do if someone threatened your water supply.
If your kid's puked brown goo?
Like what happened in Kalamazoo.
Could happen to any of you...
Sadly it's very true.
So I ask of you
On this very day,
help donate and support
the cause in any way.
Do it for your kids,
and grandkids too,
I never want anyone to
puke brown goo
Do you?
"During a portion of the interview, Fonda stood with her hand on the
shoulder of Cleo Desjarlais Reece, a member of the Fort McMurray First
Nation.
The two had lunch together, and Desjarlais Reece said they talked
about the greed of corporations that place profits above the health of
people and the environment.
Reece, also a member of anti-oilsands group Keepers of the Athabasca,
defended Fonda's visit. She said she disagreed with those who
say celebrity tours are merely circuses that distract from important
issues."
"We do not control the media, obviously," she said. "Anytime [we get]
a chance to give our side of the story and tell our truth, I think that
is very important for us.
The voices of Indigenous groups, Desjarlais Reece said, are often heard only when celebrities show up.
Sadly I had a bad couple of days and this morning went for a very long walk...it didn't start well. I came across this poor dead sea lion. I was shocked. I had never seen something like this on the beach and it had a rope around it, so I imagine it drowned tangled in them. It's super disturbing...
I prayed it didn't suffer to much. How awful.
Then I kept walking and I saw hummingbirds and that cheered me up a bit.
And the walk got better after that...I must have walked nearly 4 hours.
Anyways here's a video but I didn't add music. When I am really sad Beatles music cheers me.
So please click the suggested links to play the music while the video plays.
Here's a few more photos from today. Sending love and light, if you are struggling like me I hope you find peace and clarity. If you had a great weekend wonderful.
Actually from what I saw happen with the Bernie Campaign I wasn't interested in the Mainstream Media and had lost all faith for any amount of truth to be shared.
This is Good, Very Very Good. You MUST LISTEN!!
This video is a WAKE UP CALL!!!
Thank you for trying Elizabeth!! You were great! They have their heads stuck somewhere!!!! They COULD STOP IT!! But they are hiding behind the courts and delaying everything.
JUSTIN- DO SOMETHING!!!
"The joint
federal-provincial review found that this project would probably cause
economic losses to British Columbians. It found that the proponent had
not adequately considered alternatives. It found that the proponent fell
short of proving any need for the project. It also found that this
project would cause permanent damage to the environment, including:
…probable
extirpation of three species and would further unbalance the species
diversity in the River through the ascendancy of [various]…introduced
species, into the reservoir…would act cumulatively to affect fish
throughout the remaining, previously undammed sections of the…River…
In other words, it would result in “…significant adverse cumulative effects on fish”.
The
panel review also found that this project would cause a net loss of
habitat, profound change in the type of character of remaining habitat
during construction and operations that would be “…probable, negative,
large, irreversible and permanent so long as the Site C Dam remains”.
In
relation to first nations rights, which was the main point of my
question, the panel review found that the first nations peoples of this
area, namely a number of communities within the Treaty 8 First Nations,
specifically the Halfway River, Doig River, Prophet River, and West
Moberly First Nations, jointly within Treaty 8 protections would suffer
permanent losses of cultural rights and treaty rights."
Children are committing suicide because of what this government is doing to their land, their parents, the families, their ancestors.
WHEN WILL IT STOP? When will corporate greed stop and "life on earth" take a precedent?
When will the government which was ELECTED by the PEOPLE actually look after the PEOPLE'S NEEDS, the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND THE ENVIRONMENT'S NEEDS!!
I want to dedicate this song to the kids in Attawapiskat First Nation and all Indigenous people!! For everyone who is oppressed, for all the poor, homeless, for single moms and people everywhere suffering in poverty. For the youth of this world, for everyone in the world, for Idle No More and Occupy and the Leap Manifesto supporters and a special shout out Bernie Supporters...it's time!!! Come on New York!! Come on Canada! Come on World!!
Rise up rise up) Oh rise and show your power
(Rise up rise up) Everybody is dancing into the sun
(Rise up rise up) It's time for celebration
(Rise up rise up) Spirits time has come
"Fernie described the song's lyrics as having been inspired in part by West Coast First Nations rituals in which young girls would "rise up" at dawn to adopt their adult names as a rite of passage.[3] "
Rise up rise up) Oh rise and show your power
(Rise up rise up) We're dancing into the sun
(Rise up rise up) It's time for celebration
(Rise up rise up) Spirits time has come
We want lovin' we want laughter again
We want heartbeat
We want madness to end, we want dancin'
We want to run in the streets
We want freedom to live in this peace
We want power, we want to make it okay
Want to be singin' at the end of the day
Children to breathe a new life
We want freedom to love who we please
(Rise up rise up) Oh rise and show your power
(Rise up rise up) Everybody is dancing into the sun
(Rise up rise up) It's time for celebration
(Rise up rise up) Spirits time has come
Talkin' 'bout the right time to be workin' for peace
Wantin' all the tension in the world to ease
We wantin' love while walking on the streets
We want to be free, we want that be free
Talking about a new way
Talking about changes and names
Talking about building the land of our dreams
His tightrope's gotta learn how to bend
We're makin' new plans
We're gonna start it again
(Rise up rise up) Oh rise and show your power
(Rise up rise up) Everybody is dancing into the sun
(Rise up rise up) It's time for celebration
(Rise up rise up) Spirits time has come
Rise up now
It's time, it's time, it's time
(Rise up rise up) Oh rise and show your power
(Rise up rise up) We're dancing into the sun
(Rise up rise up) It's time for celebration
(Rise up rise up) Everybody's time has come
Spirits time has come
Spirits time has come
(Rise up rise up) Oh rise and show your power
(Rise up rise up) We're dancing into the sun
(Rise up rise up) It's time for celebration
(Rise up rise up) Spirits time has come
Willing time has come
Spirits time has come
UPDATED!
As Common Dreamsreported
on Tuesday, the historic case marks the first time a U.S. judge has
allowed the "necessity defense" to be argued in a trial over a climate
action—but on Thursday, Snohomish County Judge Anthony Howard instructed
the jury not to consider the argument, "undercutting" the defendants'
ability to defend themselves, as DeChristopher said at the time.
The defendants were found not guilty on obstruction of train charges,
guilty of trespass. The judge issued 90 days suspended (no jail time)
and minor fines for each defendant, except LaPointe, who gets no fine.
An amazing scene with the Delta 5, jurors, supporters and our team.
Thank you all for your support. Full press release to come.
This is the US though, not sure about BC. Many people arrested at Clayoquot went to jail :( They were heroes!!
I, I can remember (I remember)
Standing, by the wall (by the wall)
And the guns shot above our heads
(over our heads)
And we kissed,
as though nothing could fall
(nothing could fall)
And the shame was on the other side
Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever
Then we could be Heroes,
just for one day
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
We're nothing, and nothing will help us
Maybe we're lying,
then you better not stay
But we could be safer,
just for one day
Unlike Bundy, who claims his ancestors were homesteaders on
his ranch in 1877 and never ceded it to the federal government, the
Danns, two Western Shoshone sisters, were not trampling over land set
aside for sensitive plants and animals. Nor were they getting rich off
the land while, in essence, robbing the taxpayers of grazing fees.
WATCH THIS VIDEO
The
Danns have lived without running water or electricity their entire
lives. Their tribe, the Western Shoshone, have lived in Nevada and parts
west since time immemorial. The land was Shoshone land, and the U.S.
formally agreed that was the case when it signed the 1863 Treaty of Ruby
Valley, which explicitly stated that the Shoshone would never have to
give up their land. That is, until the U.S. began encroaching on the
land, claiming it for its own without the tribe's consent or knowledge.
The
Danns' battle goes back to the early 1970s, when the federal government
first sued them to stop grazing horses and cattle on land the U.S.
claimed as its own. The Danns said the land was Western Shoshone land
that the U.S. had taken illegally, and refused to pay grazing fees.
Mary
waged this battle until her death in 2005 at age 82, in an accident
while she was repairing a fence. Carrie, 82 years old, is still
fighting. READ MORE HERE
The land surrounding the Danns' ranch sits atop one of the
most significant deposits of gold ever found in the United States. Only a
few months after the Danns' horses were first rounded up, Nevada's
headlines blared about gold finds in Crescent Valley, at the exact
locations where the horses were removed.
Most of the world's largest
gold mining companies have some interest in the land, which involves
using cyanide to extract minuscule amounts of gold from rock.
Because
the gold dust sits under the water table, it also involves pumping
20,000 to 70,000 gallons of water per minute every day and moving tons
of soil and rock, leaving open pits. The extraction methods are so
energy-intensive that the production of a single gold ring generates 20
tons of waste land.
Carrie Dann is no Tea Party hero. But she vows to fight until her last breath.
"Right is right," she said in an interview. "And wrong is wrong."
The production of one gold ring generates 20 tons of waste material.
The production of one gold ring generates 20 tons of waste material.
Update 4:52 2016-01-06 Oregon tribe says armed activists 'desecrating' land
The leader of an Oregon Indian tribe whose ancestral property is being
occupied by a small, armed group opposed to federal land policy says the
activists aren't welcome and need to leave. http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/oregon-tribe-activists-1.3392166?cmp=abfb
Update 4:08 2016-01-06 Well I don't know much about the US and their laws or even if what this lady is saying is correct but I thought I would post it so you can decide for yourselves.
And a Judge posted this Open Letter that I only read part of but you can check it out for yourself.
These Aren't the First Armed Whites to Take Over That Oregon Land: Just Ask the Native Paiute People AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman.
—we’re going to talk for a moment about the land dispute that’s going on in Oregon. Jacqueline Keeler is with us. We are going to turn to the issue now of land rights. The armed militia members have demanded that the land be, quote, "returned" to them. But who really has a claim to this area?
JACQUELINE KEELER: Yes. Well, I’d like to start off saying that today, in January, this is the 137th anniversary of when 500 Paiutes were loaded onto wagons and walked, under heavy armed guard, from their—from the lands where the Bundys are right now holding it and to the Yakama Reservation in Washington state, some 300 miles, knee-deep in snow. And they were forced to march, shackled two by two. And so, that’s some of the background there.
MY GOODMAN: When you were writing about the Cliven Bundy standoff in 2014, you wrote, "If the Nevada rancher is forced to pay taxes or grazing fees, he should pay them to the Shoshone." Explain.
JACQUELINE KEELER: Yes. The Shoshone—most of Nevada is actually covered under the Treaty of Ruby Valley, and that was signed 1863. And it did allow for passage, you know, of military and also settlers crossing the land. But it did not give up any land. So, the Shoshone have never officially signed a treaty to give up land.
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/1/5/these_arent_the_first_armed_whites
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authorities plan to cut off power to militia at occupied Oregon refuge
“After they shut off the power, they’ll kill the phone service,” the
government official added. “Then they’ll block all the roads so that all
those guys have a long, lonely winter to think about what they’ve
done.” Snowstorms
are expected in the wilderness surrounding the refuge on Tuesday, which
is some 30 miles from the town of Burns. At night, temperatures are
forecast to plummet to -8C (18F).
"And we’re not just talking NBC, but ABC, CBS, CNN, the Associated Press, local media … you name it. Ammon Bundy — the son of the infamous Cliven Bundy who dominated the news cycle for weeks in April and May of 2014 during a standoff then — has now taken the Donald Trump mantle of media domination and will likely continue to until this standoff is over"
In truth, though, Cliven Bundy’s abhorrent personal views about slavery
have nothing to do with whether his land grab was right or wrong. The
animating issue in Oregon is slightly different than in Nevada, but not
categorically so. It’s either legitimate to occupy federal land with
weapons, and threaten to use them against agents of the government to
settle petty squabbles, or it is not.
Update: Oregon militants post new video from refuge, plead for help to 'prevent bloodshed'
WOWOWOWOW!
Read this story, I wasn't really sure what all this fuss on twitter with the #OregonUnderAttack was about but it's serious. These people have been abused by the system and people are standing up for them. But it could get messy so please pray and share and educate yourself and others. This could happen to you and your family. What would you do??
Hammond Family
What ever the truth, keep an openmind, are environmentalist terrorist? Course Not!
Is protecting your land, being a terrorist? Ridiculous!!
The short summary is: in an effort to draw attention to a ridiculous arrest of a father and son pair of Oregon Ranchers (“Dwight Lincoln Hammond, Jr., 73, and his son, Steven Dwight Hammond, 46,)
who are scheduled to begin five year prison sentences (turning
themselves in tomorrow January 4th 2016), three brothers from the Cliven
Bundy family and approximately 100/150 (and growing) heavily armed
militia (former U.S. service members) have taken control of Malheur Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in the wildlife reserve. They are prepared to stay there indefinitely.
Here are excerpts!! Please read this article to inform yourself.
(a4) By the 1990’s the Hammonds were one of the very few ranchers that
still owned private property adjacent to the refuge. Susie Hammond in an
effort to make sense of what was going on began compiling fact about
the refuge. In a hidden public record she found a study that was done by
the FWS in 1975. The study showed that the “no use” policies of the FWS
on the refuge were causing the wildlife to leave the refuge and move to
private property. The study showed that the private property adjacent
to the Malheur Wildlife Refuge produced 4 times more ducks and geese
than the refuge did. It also showed that the migrating birds were 13
times more likely to land on private property than on the refuge. When
Susie brought this to the attention of the FWS and refuge personnel, her
and her family became the subjects of a long train of abuses and
corruptions.
(e) Shortly after the road & water disputes, the BLM & FWS
arbitrarily revoked the Hammond’s upper grazing permit without any given
cause, court proceeding or court ruling. As a traditional “fence out
state” Oregon requires no obligation on the part of an owner to keep his
or her livestock within a fence or to maintain control over the
movement of the livestock. The Hammonds intended to still use their
private property for grazing. However, they were informed that a federal
judge ruled, in a federal court, that the federal government did not
have to observe the Oregon fence out law. “Those laws are for the
people, not for them”.
(f) The Hammonds were forced to either build and maintain miles of
fences or be restricted from the use of their private property. Cutting
their ranch in almost half, they could not afford to fence the land, so
the cattle were removed.
(g) The Hammonds experienced many years of financial hardship due to
the ranch being diminished. The Hammonds had to sale their ranch and
home in order to purchase another property that had enough grass to feed
their cattle. This property included two grazing rights on public land.
Those were also arbitrarily revoked later.
(i) In the early fall of 2001, Steven Hammond (Son) called the fire
department, informing them that he was going to be performing a routine
prescribed burn on their ranch. Later that day he started a prescribed
fire on their private property. The fire went onto public land and
burned 127 acres of grass. The Hammonds put the fire out themselves.
There was no communication about the burn from the federal government to
the Hammonds at that time. Prescribed fires are a common method that
Native Americans and ranchers have used in the area to increase the
health & productivity of the land for many centuries.
(j) In 2006 a massive lightning storm started multiple fires that
joined together inflaming the countryside. To prevent the fire from
destroying their winter range and possibly their home, Steven Hammond
(Son) started a backfire on their private property. The backfire was
successful in putting out the lightning fires that had covered thousands
of acres within a short period of time. The backfire saved much of the
range and vegetation needed to feed the cattle through the winter.
Steven’s mother, Susan Hammond said: “The backfire worked perfectly, it
put out the fire, saved the range and possibly our home”.
k) In 2011, 5 years after the police report was taken, the U.S. Attorney
Office accused Dwight and Steven Hammond of completely different
charges, they accused them of being “Terrorist” under the Federal
Antiterrorism Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. This act carries a
minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of
death. Dwight & Steven’s mug shots were all over the news the next
week posing them as “Arsonists”. Susan Hammond (Wife & Mother) said:
“I would walk down the street or go in a store, people I had known for
years would take extreme measures to avoid me”.
Just to add another twist to this, consider this, the true rightful owners of the land...but then no one owns land...we are just supposed to take care of it right?
