Behold The World Gently

June 20, 2024

The dead children don’t affect me like they used to.

The images. The videos. They still disturb and horrify, but not like they did in the beginning. Not anywhere close.

And, honestly, I hate it. I hate that that part of me has been stolen.

As much as I hated having my heart kicked around all day and having nightmares all night, I’d rather have that than this decreased sensitivity.

People should not become desensitized to such horrors. People should not become accustomed to decapitated babies and small, mangled bodies. To corpses run over by tanks. To body parts carried in plastic bags by loved ones.

These things should jar you. They should rattle you to your core. But they don’t anymore. Not here.

I held onto it for as long as I could. It felt like a solemn duty, to hold on to that part of me that still screamed with an appropriate mixture of grief and outrage at the latest tiny shredded body. But desensitization sets in whether you want it to or not. That’s how they create soldiers, after all.

I hate that these pricks have amputated that part of me, and I hate that I know it will never grow back. I have been permanently disfigured inside, mutated by atrocities, all the way down here safe in the Melbourne suburbs.

And I hate that this is happening all around the world to everyone else who’s kept their gaze fixed on Gaza. All around the world humanity is being mutated. All around the world something sacred is being stolen from the hearts of good people. All around the world people are finding callouses where there used to be tenderness.

And I want my tenderness back, god damn it. I want my tenderness back.

Give me back the nightmares. Give me back the tears. Give me back the dry retching over the toilet, and the shaking under the blankets. Give me back the collapsing onto the couch and not moving for several hours until my system can recover from what my eyes just saw.

I’ll take it. I’ll take it all back again. Just give me back that soft, tender part of myself that has been withered to dust by a live-streamed genocide.

I will take good care of it. I will feed it good things. I’ll give it plenty of sunshine, cupping it delicately in my hands by the window. I will take it for walks, and let it rejoice at the children running and playing, with their parts all together and their insides on the inside.

Don’t leave me hardened and darkened like a soldier. Give me back that soft, sacred part of myself that weeps at the corpses of children, so I can behold the world gently again.

___________________

My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece here are some options where you can toss some money into my tip jar if you want to. Go here to find video versions of my articles. Go here to buy paperback editions of my writings from month to month. All my work is free to bootleg and use in any way, shape or form; republish it, translate it, use it on merchandise; whatever you want. The best way to make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. All works co-authored with my husband Tim Foley.

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Letter to the Editor – Perri Gorrara

June 20, 2024

I want to thank Yvon Raoul for his brilliant article, “Who to Believe? Questioning the News”. The article raised the very disconcerting issue of our “bought and paid for” mainstream media. It described, in painful detail, the one-sided approach to the two major conflicts on the day; Ukraine and Gaza and the search we all have to go through if we wish to find balanced reporting on issues of importance. As always, my gratitude goes out to The Islands Grapevine for its integrity and willingness to publish all points-of view. I would add one last news source that may be worth looking at, RT Live.

Cheers, Perri Gorrara

Nahmint Watershed under attack

June 20, 2024

Find attached a letter I wrote to BC Timber Sales and wonder if you will publish it, along with this introduction.

Two hours southwest of here lies the beautiful Nahmint Valley full of mountains, lakes, rivers, and many red and blue-listed at-risk plant and bird species amidst the few remaining patches of Old-Growth forests. BCTS thinks it has the right to auction off 4 cutblocks of the forest, to the highest bidder, with almost no oversight into what the logging companies are actually doing on the ground. One cutblock was auctioned off this February and according to the Ministry of Forests and BCTS personnel, who I have been hounding since February, there is nothing that can stop their ecocidal business plans. This cutblock was designated by the government, in the Vancouver Island Land Use Plan, as containing 82% Big Tree Old-Growth, 88% Marbled Murrelet habitat and is on an excessively steeply sloped mountainside. I keep asking them why it was not deferred and they continue to ignore me.

I have registered a formal complaint to the Forest Professionals of BC against Norm Kempe, the District Manager who allowed this cutblock to be auctioned off.

If you want to know more, please attend the DI Climate Action Network’s letter-writing cafe this Saturday, June 20th, from 10 til 1, outside at The Guesthouse.

Dear Professional Foresters, BCTS

It has come to the attention of Vancouver Island Forest Focus (VIFF) that a Public Engagement Plan was prepared by BCTS for the S. Elphinstone Watershed on the Sunshine Coast. This Plan included a Watershed Assessment, a Terrain Stability Assessment and a period for public input. Given the high level of public interest in the protection and management of the fisheries in the Nahmint Watershed on Vancouver Island, VIFF would like to know what Public Engagement has been undertaken or will be undertaken in the Nahmint Watershed..

Watershed Assessment for the S. Elphinstone Watershed carried out by Polar GeoScience under contract with BCTS resulted in the reduction in the size of cut blocks based on the equivalent clearcut area (ECA). However we do not think that ECA alone is a sufficient indicator of watershed recovery. Therefore we ask that BCTS conduct a full watershed assessment using the probabilistic watershed model, as set out by Dr. Younes Alila (Department of Forestry, UBC).

Since the Nahmint is a sensitive fisheries watershed it must also be managed with the health and integrity of the salmon habitat as the highest value. Therefore BCTS must demonstrate that any planned logging and road building will not result in any further negative cumulative effect to fisheries values. To that end, we ask that all assessments dealing with the possible impacts on the fishery in the Nahmint Watershed be made available to local First Nations, DFO, local StreamKeepers, regional government and the public.

Until this assessment is done, including peer review and revisions necessary to address issues raised during the public comment period, no blocks should go forward to auction.

Anything less, can be seen as wilful disregard of standard professional planning processes.

We are poised to make a formal complaint to the Forest Professionals BC body that abides by the FPBC’s Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct: Sections 22 and 57, which states “all registrants are responsible to hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and the protection of the environment.”

We anticipate a timely response to this critical issue.

Best Regards,

www.for.gov.bc.ca – /ftp/TCH/external/!publish/InformationSharing/Mt_Elphinstone_South_Watershed_Assessment/

https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/TCH/external/!publish/InformationSharing/Mt_Elphinstone_South_Watershed_Assessment/

Letter to the Editor – Edi Johnston

June 20, 2024

Dear Editor, there is a serious disconnect here and elsewhere when it comes to caring for our canine companions.

Dogs are Denman’s number 1 predator yet some caregivers could care less when their dogs take off. They think that posting a description and giving contact information suffices as being responsible. Its NOT!

These dogs are out hunting and are capable of inflicting horrible, life threatening injuries and even death to wild or domesticated animals. They are not to blame- the caregivers are! Even a small dog can chase a deer into the ocean where it will drown.

Also needing to accept some of the responsibility are those who keep farm animals and do not provide adequate protection. A 4 ft. high fence is not sufficient and are the defenseless farm animals supervised 24/7 with a plan in place to quickly intervene?

Lastly, why isn’t there more community outrage when dogs are running “at large”. Its not okay and we all need to speak up even if the irresponsible owners are family, friends or neighbours.

If you’ve ever heard a deer scream when its guts are being ripped out, you can never forget it and when you’ve seen the aftermath of the damage your cuddly fur baby is capable of, you can never unsee it.

If you’re not willing to be a responsible dog owner – don’t have one!

Edi Johnston

future butterfly

June 20, 2024

Blackberry Lane Children’s Centre – Notice of Annual General Meeting 2024

June 13, 2024

The 2024 Blackberry Lane Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for June 23rd from 2 to 3pm, and will be held at the Center.

All parents, caregivers and community members with an interest in the well-being and growth of the Blackberry Lane Children’s Center are welcome to attend.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, June 23rd

Time: 2 – 4 pm

Location: Blackberry Lane Children’s Center, 1100B Northwest Rd, Denman Island

What’s On the Agenda?

Election of the Board

Financial Audit Review

Anyone interested in attending the 2024 AGM is invited to contact the center at denmanislandchildcare@gmail.com

Childcare will be provided

As part of our Bylaws requirements, we will be holding Board of Director elections during the AGM. The Board of Directors is responsible for governance, policy development and the financial stability of BBL. Members are expected to attend monthly meetings, except for July and August (commitment of approximately 3-4 hours a month) and participate in committee work of the Board if possible. An orientation is provided to all new members and child care is available during meetings.

We are looking for volunteers who are committed to supporting BBL’s strategic plan and supporting BBL in its mission to be the very best child care center. All skills and volunteers are welcome!! Individuals with experience in non-profit governance, fundraising, or the child care industry would be valuable.

BBL members who are interested in becoming a member of the Board or holding a specific position on the board are asked to contact the Center Manager at denmanislandchildcare@gmail.com

The Board of Directors is also seeking individuals to work on committees such as fundraising and community outreach. If you have any questions regarding becoming a member of the board or any of the committees please contact the Center at denmanislandchildcare@gmail.com or 250-335-1029

See you at the AGM!

Denman Island Garden Society’s Hats and Gloves Party

June 13, 2024

DIGS’ annual Hats and Gloves Party will be held at Liz Johnston’s fabulous rose garden (2621 Northwest Road) on June 19^th, from 2 – 4 pm.

The idea is to come wearing garden gloves and a garden hat that you have decorated with greenery, ferns, salal, flowers (especially roses). This is a fun and whimsical event, so if you want to come in a hat decorated with tiny farm animals, birds or garden gnomes that will be fine. All are welcome, with or without a hat.

Please bring finger food for a potluck picnic. Gluten free and vegan dishes are really appreciated but there is plenty of room for traditional cakes and sandwiches. Please bring a list of ingredients for the benefit of those with special diets or allergies.

There will be a hat judging contest carried out by Liz, with prizes for the best hats. Liz’s garden is full of fabulous roses and they will be for sale on the day so only bring enough money to get into a little trouble.

Who to Believe? Questioning the News.

June 13, 2024

Back in 1988 Noam Chomsky pointed out that mass communication media are the means to “manufacture consent”. They are “effective and powerful ideological institutions that carry out a system-supportive propaganda function by reliance on market forces, internalized assumptions, and self-censorship.” The truth of this statement is even more evident in our current era. The difference is that the Western public generally perceives it as applying only to the rest of the world, not to our still supposedly “free” and “democratic” exchange of information.

As John Stuart Mill wisely said: “He who know only his position, knows little of that.” How can anyone know their position, when so much is claimed in our corporate-run mass media, but so little analysed, verified or explained in depth? This has been particularly apparent in Canadian and American mainstream coverage of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. All the most widely watched channels regurgitate the same dramatic images with little historical background or variety of points-of-view. When there is some analysis, it is almost always to paint the “Western world” in a good light, implicitly demonizing opponents while keeping quiet about the failures or crimes of allies. Barely two years ago Putin was declared to be the “new Satan”, even a reincarnation of Hitler, while Zelenskyy morphed into a Churchillian hero leading the Free World. No one mentioned that he banned unions and declared left-leaning parties illegal. Everyone believed that imposing an embargo on Russia would ruin their economy, whereas the reverse has proved true. In their efforts to “manufacture consent” Netflix shut down Oliver Stone’s documentary “Ukraine on Fire”, while Evgeny Afineevsky’s “Winter on Fire”, in support of the Maidan coup d’état, can still be viewed. The relentless Western narrative that the West is noble while Russia, China and Iran are evil is simple-minded and extraordinarily dangerous.

Our mass-media don’t usually lie outright. They just don’t tell the whole truth. Let’s call it ‘lying’ by omission. This censorship is now being applied to the Gaza crisis, albeit with far less efficiency: the horror show cannot be simply denied. How often does some pundit from Fox or MSNBC argue that Israel is the only bastion of democracy in the Middle East? Without adequate historical background, ill-informed listeners end up believing that problems in Gaza started only last year on October 7th, while everyone was happy in Ukraine until February 24th, 2022. For in- depth historical analysis we have to turn to internet sources, to hear experts rarely invited on prime-time TV. Analysts and intellectuals like Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, John Mearsheimer, Geoffrey Sachs, Christopher Hedges, Alexandre Mercouris, Max Blumenthal or Aaron Maté are never seen or heard by the majority of the population. Meanwhile Trump’s buffoonish tirades and Blinken’s dry and empty responses to journalists bounce from one channel to another. Without Tucker Carlson’s superficial interview of Putin most North Americans would never have heard this world leader express an opinion. Oliver Stone did a much longer and more skillful interview in 2022, but to my knowledge it has never been aired on our current mass media. How can we have a rational analysis of crucial world problems in our democracies when alternative voices are simply side-stepped or ignored by corporate gatekeepers? Are we trying to emulate the media censorship that is condemned when it happens in Russia or China?

It is sadly ironical that it is through this local paper, The Grapevine, that I first found a range of opinions expressed on Ukraine and Gaza, two hotbeds of human tragedy. Articles by Caitlin Johnstone or Sally Campbell, and initially last year by Keith Porteous, aroused my curiosity enough to send me in search of alternative analyses. Listening to a plethora of new voices, including those mentioned above, I realize how our run-of-the-mill news industry is misinforming, disinforming and willfully or inadvertently keeping us ignorant. Of course, one might retort: “Aren’t we lucky to live in a free world where information is available?” I would answer, “Yes, but we have to bother to search for it”. Thanks to alternative media like Grayzone, Democracy Now, The Empire Files, and Jacobin, to mention only a few, the Orwellian dystopia can be counteracted, or at least delayed. It is good to know that a small newspaper on a small island at the end of the world can facilitate the sharing of a variety of freely expressed points of view.

Corlan Vineyard joins the Home & Garden Tour!

June 13, 2024

Dear Denman Island,

The Denman Island Home and Garden Tour has the delight of adding Corlan Vineyard to the Tour! This is just one of the now 13 stellar properties involved in the Tour. By purchasing a ticket, visitors will be supporting the work of the Denman Conservancy Association (DCA). Over the last two decades, the Tour has helped finance the protection of over 800 acres of environmentally precious land, safeguarding the Island’s ecological integrity, biodiversity and cultural heritage. Here is a description of this ‘must-see’ gem on the Tour, one among many others…

In 2006 this 10 acre property was forested with no water, septic or hydro. Today it is a thriving 5 acre vineyard, tasting room, farm and restaurant. The vision, hard work and dedication of Pat and Selwyn is an inspiration. This year, they won 3 Gold Medals for their wine: white, red and rosé. The vineyard is certified organic. You are invited to visit the tasting room. “Corlan” means sheepfold and they have 12 sheep, a working border collie and 30 laying hens. Plant starts and tree seedlings are grown in the greenhouse. The siding and addition onto the house were built with trees off the property and milled with Pat’s sawmill. In the kitchen, notice the center beam with a carved mermaid and harbour seal, stained glass cupboards and unique drawer pulls. Recycled materials were used throughout the home. Enjoy a picnic under the arbor. Charcuterie boxes are on the menu and can be pre-ordered. Live music is featured at this venue on Saturday.

To see more venues on our interactive map and to purchase your ticket today, please go to denmanconservancy.org/tour.

Saving Gaza Is About More Than Saving Gaza. It’s Also About Saving Ourselves.

June 13, 2024

Saving Gaza is about more than saving Gaza. It’s also about saving ourselves.

Saving ourselves as individuals. Saving ourselves as a society. Saving ourselves as a species.

Saving ourselves from what we’ll become if we just watch this happening right in front of our eyes without doing everything we can to stop it.

Saving ourselves from what the sociopaths who rule over us are trying to turn us into.

Saving ourselves from the way the propagandists are trying to twist and train our minds.

Saving ourselves from the kind of future humanity will have if our rulers can get away with such a brazen act of extreme depravity.

Saving ourselves from the other horrors that will be unleashed upon our world if this kind of thing becomes normalized and accepted.

Saving ourselves from the dark dystopia we are plunging into at breakneck speed.

Saving ourselves from a world where journalism is dead and dissent is forbidden.

Saving ourselves from a world where the bastards will do the worst things imaginable without even having to hide it, and just stare us in the eyes daring us to do something.

Saving ourselves from a world where the powerful have decided to respond to the public’s widespread access to information and raw video footage by just committing their evil deeds right out in the open and forcing us to get used to it.

Saving ourselves from this relentless push by propagandists and politicians to amputate that sacred part of our humanity which screams “NO” to all this.

Saving our hearts.

Saving our compassion.

Saving our tenderness.

Saving our children.

Saving our humanity.

Saving our world.

__________________________________________________________

My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece here are some options where you can toss some money into my tip jar if you want to. Go here to find video versions of my articles. Go here to buy paperback editions of my writings from month to month. All my work is free to bootleg and use in any way, shape or form; republish it, translate it, use it on merchandise; whatever you want. The best way to make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. All works co-authored with my husband Tim Foley.