Gaza Isn’t Starving, It Is Being Starved

July 24, 2025

JUL 20, 2025

Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley):

Malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza are beginning to climb, with the health ministry reporting 18 in a single 24-hour period. Doctors report that people are “collapsing” in the street, and Gaza journalist Nahed Hajjaj is warning the world not to be surprised if the remaining reporters in the enclave are soon silenced by starvation.

Unless something drastically changes, things can be expected to get much worse very rapidly.

Meanwhile Israeli forces are setting new records with their massacres of starving civilians seeking aid, with 85 killed in a single day on Sunday.

If this isn’t evil, then nothing is evil. If Israel isn’t evil, then nothing is.

https://x.com/Antiwarcom/status/1946988269255688476

So what’s the plan here? Do we just sit and watch Israel starve Gaza to death with the support of our own governments?

And then what? We just go along with our lives, knowing that that happened? That this is what we are as a society? That our civilization is comfortable allowing something like that to happen? And that our rulers could do the same thing to another inconvenient population at any time?

We’re just meant to be cool with that? And go on living like it’s normal?

I’m genuinely curious. How exactly is everyone planning to go about living their lives after that point? How does that work, exactly?

I’m asking because I don’t know. I mean, I know what my own government and its allies should do, but I don’t know what we as ordinary members of the public are supposed to do.

https://x.com/ggreenwald/status/1946958227922432443

You’ll see western pundits and politicians asking “How do we get a ceasefire in Gaza?” or “How do we end hunger in Gaza?” as though it’s some kind of ineffable mystery, which is kind of like a man strangling a child to death while saying “The child is being strangled, but HOW do we stop the child strangulation from occurring?”

It’s not some mystery how to get a ceasefire in Gaza; the empire is the fire. It simply needs to cease firing. Israel’s holocaust in Gaza is made possible only by the support of its western backers, primarily the United States. Numerous Israeli military insidershave acknowledged that none of this would be possible without US support. If the United States and its western allies ceased backing Israel’s onslaught in Gaza, a ceasefire would have to occur.

Likewise, it is not a mystery how to get food into Gaza. You just drive the food on in and give it to people. They’ve got roads and gates right there. The only reason people in Gaza are starving is because western governments (including my own Australia) conspired to pretend to believe that UNRWA is a terrorist organization to justify cutting off critical aid, while doing nothing to pressure Israel into allowing aid to flow freely.

And now Israel and the US empire are monopolizing the delivery of “aid” through the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, whose facilities now see civilians massacred every day for the crime of attempting to obtain food.

https://x.com/UNRWA/status/1946495329928388841

The organizations, funding and delivery systems to feed Gaza are all 100 percent fully available (at no cost to Israel, by the way). They’re just not being allowed to provide aid because the goal is to remove all Palestinians from Gaza via death or displacement. The people of Gaza are starving because the west is helping Israel starve Gaza. It really is that simple.

This isn’t some kind of unfortunate famine caused by a drought or natural disaster. It is a deliberately manufactured starvation campaign, implemented with genocidal intent.

To paraphrase Utah Phillips, Gaza isn’t starving, it is being starved. And the people who are starving it have names and addresses.

___________________

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Feature image by UNRWA via Wikimedia Commons.

Evening Ritual

July 24, 2025

https://printartphotography.ca

stoned cows

July 24, 2025

#1694

July 24, 2025

New Vice-Principal Appointed to Denman Island Community School

July 17, 2025

Hello Denman Island Community School Community,

Comox Valley Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Karla Neufer as the new Vice-Principal of Denman Island Community School.

Karla brings more than 30 years of experience as an educator, with almost all of it at Denman Island Community School. Since beginning her teaching career there in 1993, Karla has been a cornerstone of the school community – teaching in multi-grade primary classrooms and building strong, lasting relationships with students, families, and staff. Her deep understanding of early learning, small schools, and the unique characteristics of Denman Island have shaped her student-centred and community-based approach to education.

In addition to her classroom work, Karla spent a year as a Curriculum Support Teacher with the Indigenous Education team for Comox Valley Schools and also served as President of the Comox District Teachers’ Association – experiences that further deepened her knowledge of the system and her commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and inclusive practice.

Karla holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care, and completed her Professional Development Program at Simon Fraser University. She is a graduate of G.P. Vanier Secondary and has called Denman Island home since her teenage years.

Karla is honoured to continue serving the Denman Island school community in this new leadership role.

Please join us in congratulating Karla Neufer on her appointment as Vice-Principal.

Thank you,

Craig Sorochan

Communications Manager

Comox Valley Schools

Province of B.C. Suspends Shipbreaking Lease

July 17, 2025

Termination of Crown Lease V930973: Implications for Union Bay and Baynes Sound

The recent termination of Crown water lease V930973 represents a pivotal development for the community of Union Bay and the ecologically sensitive region of Baynes Sound. Originally issued in 1978 for log handling purposes, the lease was transferred in 2019 to The Bayer Group, new owners of Union Bay Industries. On October 15, 2021, the lease was amended to permit the storage of ‘end of life’ vessels and transportation across the foreshore destined for dismantling at the Deep Water Recovery (DWR) facility in Union Bay.

This amendment prompted significant concern from local residents, Indigenous communities, and environmental organizations. The use of Crown land for vessel storage and shipbreaking activities was seen as incompatible with the ecological significance of Baynes Sound and the public interest.

Baynes Sound holds multiple international conservation designations: it is recognized as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA), an Important Bird Area (IBA), and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). It supports diverse marine life, including key herring populations, and is home to a thriving shellfish industry vital to the local economy. It is place of culture significance to K’ómoks First Nation. These designations underscore its global ecological value and sensitivity to environmental harm.

The operation of a shipbreaking facility in such an ecologically rich region raised serious concerns about the potential for toxic contamination—including asbestos, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons—leaching into marine ecosystems, posing risks to both biodiversity and human health.

These concerns were proven to be warranted. Following many months of water sampling, a Pollution Abatement Order was issued, and after repeated compliance issues, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, in consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Parks, made the decision to terminate Crown lease V930973. According to the Ministry of Environment’s compliance records, DWR had been issued 20 warnings and advisories for regulatory non-compliance, reflecting a persistent failure to meet environmental standards.

The Province stated:

“Deep Water Recovery (DWR) has not demonstrated the level of regulatory compliance, operational responsibility, or environmental stewardship required to justify entrusting them with the use of Crown land to enable management and dismantling of end-of-life vessels.

Given DWR’s defaults, the Province has determined and proceeded with the cancellation of DWR’s lease to protect the public interest.”

With the lease now cancelled, DWR can no longer use Crown land (water and foreshore) for vessel storage or transportation to the uplands. However, the company continues to operate on adjacent private upland property. The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has filed an injunction in the BC Supreme Court to permanently prohibit unregulated shipbreaking activities at the Union Bay (upland) site, indicating that it is against the bylaws.

The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound (CCOBS) strongly supports the Ministries’ termination of the crown water lease as a necessary step in protecting the region’s ecological integrity. However, CCOBS emphasizes the need for a broader provincial and national response. Unregulated shipbreaking remains a threat along British Columbia’s coastline. As CCOBS has stated:

“We cannot allow this issue to be relocated to another coastal community. Canada/BC must adopt international shipbreaking regulations.”

CCOBS wishes to acknowledge the invaluable support of the Association of Denman Island Marine Stewards (ADIMS), the K’ómoks First Nation, Qualicum First Nation, and the Tla’amin Nation who have stewarded the land since time immemorial. We want to thank international organizations like the NGO Shipbreaking Platform and local environmental advocates whose persistent efforts were essential to advancing this outcome.

The work of environmental protection is far from over. We invite you to stand with us in protecting Baynes Sound and join CCOBS. Help secure a sustainable future for our coastal ecosystems.

➡️ Visit https://ccobs.wordpress.com/ to learn more and get involved.

“The Islands Grapevine began coverage of Deep Water Recovery’s Shipbreaking operation in issue # 1581, Apr.27th 2023. While the successful resistance to their toxic malpractices is a very pleasing step, TIG wishes to remind all of our allies that the final victory has yet to be achieved. Respect to Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound, ADIMS on Denman Island, and K’omoks and Qualicum First Nations.”

CVRD Area ‘A’ Director, Daniel Arbour:

At the CVRD, we will continue our litigation against DWR on what we consider to be violations of our local government bylaws. I am hopeful we will prevail once we finally get to court.

Provincial MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim, Josie Osborne:

“This is a significant moment not just for Union Bay residents, but for environmental advocates and Indigenous leaders across Vancouver Island who have long raised concerns about the impact of this practice on the Baynes Sound marine ecosystem. Since 2021, it’s been a consistent issue brought to my attention and raised by me and my MLA office with Ministerial colleagues. Like so many who live here, I care deeply about our coastline and also understand the importance of responsible industry for local jobs. I’m grateful for the many conversations on this issue over the past four years and look forward to continuing the dialogue with all levels of government about coordinated and robust regulatory oversight of the much-needed ship recycling industry.”

Flight Lines: Tashi Draper Brings the Beauty of Birds to the Summer Art Gallery

July 17, 2025

Flight Lines: Tashi Draper Brings the Beauty of Birds to the Summer Art Gallery

Tashi Draper’s newest body of work, Flight Lines—The Flowing Movement of Birds, on exhibit at the Denman Island Arts Centre July 24 to August 5, captures the grace, power, and beauty of birds in motion.

For Tashi, this airborne vision began in an unlikely place—flat on her back with a broken leg.

Falling and Flying

In September 2024, a bad fall off a wonky ladder left Tashi confined to her bed, facing a daunting healing process. In response to immobility, Tashi became fascinated with birds, spending hours online looking at images of birds as they moved with the grace and freedom she missed so much.

Tashi knew she couldn’t fly, but she needed to do something. Her partner suggested carving. This could mean many things, but Tashi happened to have a collection of 12”x12” squares of marmoleum, a natural type of linoleum, stashed away in the seemingly random way some artists collect materials.

Bedbound Inspiration

Birds, carving, stillness, flight, linoleum—all converged into an idea. “My imagination soared,” says Tashi. “I imagined 12- by 12-inch squares carved with flying birds with their flight lines swirling around them, printed on fine archival paper, and framed. I knew printmaking would become my favourite new medium.”

Tashi had 20 years of experience working in photography, painting, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and leather. She’d exhibited in galleries all over coastal British Columbia, and, with her partner, operated a summer gallery on Denman Island. But she’d never tried printmaking. She had to start from scratch.

Tashi knew she wanted her prints to include nuances of texture and detail. To achieve that, she needed the right equipment. She ordered a hand-made small press built in Montreal by Mitch Mitchell, head of Concordia University’s printmaking department.

Nests, Wings, and Art Nouveau

While waiting for her press, stuck in bed with her leg elevated, Tashi started creating images. She took inspiration from photographs, the world around her, and memories of birdwatching expeditions: Purple Martins nesting on columns beside the Denman Island ferry terminal, a Reddish Egret fishing for shrimp with wings spread wide, a Rufus Hummingbird hovering above lily pads, and more.

Another inspiration came from art nouveau, an art movement characterized by flowing lines, nature-inspired motifs, and sumptuously decorative aesthetics. This influence shows up in swirling lines and shapes which create framing and emphasize the birds’ movements.

Arrival of the Press

When the press arrived—in pieces—in January 2025, Tashi had 22 plates ready to print, and she could walk. The next step was assembling the press and learning to use it to get the high quality Tashi wanted. This took weeks of experimentation.

Tashi’s toolkit includes a clothes steamer to soften the paper and open its pores, an extra-hard brayer (roller) to spread the ink thinly, an additional fibreboard pad under the lino plate to increase the pressure, specialized archival ink, fine art archival paper, and a pack of drugstore baby wipes to keep her hands clean.

The Printer’s Ritual

The printing process demands unrelenting focus and precision. For Tashi, it becomes a ritual, accompanied by the burbling and hissing of the steamer and the sticky kiss-kiss sound of the brayer spreading ink, and resulting in a moment of magic.

“I love to watch prints come off the press,” says Tashi. “You start with a blank slate. Then you have to carve everything in reverse, think about what’s going to be black and what’s going to be white, ink up the plate and run it through the press—and then it’s like Christmas morning! You never know exactly what you’ll get.”

Each print is unique, based on how the ink is applied, how the plate takes the ink, how the paper responds, and how the printing unfolds. Tashi rarely prints more than three copies in one session. “People think printing is a standardized process, but that’s not true,” she says.

By the time she finished the set of 22 prints, Tashi had fully recovered from her accident. “This body of work is about both flight and healing,” she says.

Tashi Draper’s exhibit, Flight Lines—The Flowing Movement of Birds, takes place at the Denman Island Summer Art Gallery Thursday, July 24 to Tuesday, August 5.

Hours: Mon – Sat 11:00 am – 4:00 pm / Sunday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Opening reception: Thursday, July 24, 7:00 pm.

TREE FROG RADIO 20th Anniversary Bash, July 27th!

July 17, 2025

TREE FROG RADIO

“Whoa, whoa, listen to the music” on 89.1 FM to enjoy a memorable day! In today’s world, there are so many ways to engage in the media maze. But if you really want to relax, turn on your radio, take your seat on the patio, kick off your shoes and listen to the music! It will bring a smile to your waiting lips. From the age of Marconi, radio has played a major role in the lives of millions of people. And today, international radio continues to support broadcasters around the world to strengthen rural communities in all aspects of their lives. When you listen to these programs, it quickly becomes more than a one-time experience – it evolves into a community event. So, dig out that old radio, or buy one at the thrift store, turn up the volume and give yourself a real old time /new time treat! On July 27^th, at 5 pm in the Back Hall, get ready to celebrate to the 11^th hour. Entertainment, including Richard Garvey, Bee Balm, Kevin Mitchell, Bethany Ireland, Polson Moose, and the Fortune cookies begins at 6 bells. We will also air out a few choice pieces from ‘Shtick with Us’, Jerry Miller’s & Lee Andra’s Comedy show. Erin O’Brian will end the evening with a DJ dance set.

Admission and refreshments will all be by donation and available throughout the evening. A silent auction will include three collections of Crystals from Tom’s Crystal Pyramid, Jewels from Bruce and Lee Andra, a painting by Poete Maudit, a gift basket from the Denman Craft shop, stained glass lamp and Lagostina coffee press to brew up your next cuppa.

For “It was 20 years ago today, that the band began to play’ on Tree Frog Radio!

Bob Morley for all tree frogs!

Wildlife Wednesday July 30, 2025 On Saving the Loggerhead Shrike etc.

July 17, 2025

Wildlife Wednesday July 30, 2025

On Saving the Loggerhead Shrike etc.

Peter Karsten

Dear Nature Enthusiasts the Purple Martin Project team has a surprise for you!

Hazel Wheeler, a wildlife biologist and Conservation Program Director at Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC) is visiting Denman Island to look at the Taylors Checkerspot Recovery projects and the Western Purple Marin Preservation Project in situ. Both are conservation project of WPC.

Hazel will speak on: “Conservation in action: Saving the Loggerhead Shrike” and other projects of WPC.

Hazel started with WPC in 2013 with the Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program but for the last ten years Hazel, a champion in species conservation, oversees and support all of the WPC recovery projects across the country. We will learn about the dedication and intricacies to return a rare bird species back to its former habitat. Reminiscent of the Purple Martin story and others the former speakers of the Wildlife Wednesday series presented to us.

Come and celebrate conservation in action with us on:

Wednesday July 30 at 7:30 pm at the Back Hall. Entry is by donation.

Wildlife Wednesday is presented by the Purple Martin Preservation Project with funding support by Wildlife Preservation Canada.

Loggerhead Shrike

Shucking Oysters: Expected Tourists on Road

July 17, 2025

Shucking Oysters: Expected Tourists on Road

By Alex Allen

Visitors. Tourists. Citidiots. Tourons. Call them what you will, they have arrived. And before I embark on my tirade, let’s be clear, like everything there are good and bad versions of humanity. Acceptable and unacceptable. Appropriate and inappropriate. Reasonable and unreasonable. Mindful and unmindful. We’ve got them all. And we think we know where we fit in the intelligence spectrum.

It never fails, every summer we read or hear about some blatant example of human ignorance. The amount of wild fires started by idiots is depressing and scary. Every random human being is a walking fire bomb. Illegal camping remains popular. On Canada Day weekend, a large group of people, with canopy and five tents, camped at Kennedy Lake Park. The signage? Day-use only and no overnight camping. A resident returned to the site after two days and cleaned up the garbage. Acceptable or unacceptable? Apparently, a $25,000 fine does not seem to be much of a deterrent from engaging in stupid behaviour.

Over on Hornby, we have our share of the unenlightened. The guy who parked his mega truck at the air hose and car vacuum and then went shopping across the road. The gaggle of conversationalists blocking paths and grocery aisles. The zombie-like individuals, walking erratically, staring at their dumb phones. The woman who pulls out of a side road with no regard for the safety of oncoming traffic. The man who parks his car on the wrong side of the road, idling with his high beams on so oncoming traffic can’t see. The couple who leave their dog in the car for over an hour. This one is far from unenlightened, it is grossly negligent and stupid and you shouldn’t even have a dog. Dogs in hot cars can suffer from potentially fatal heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes, even when a window has been left open or water has been left in the car!

So, what does summer mean to you? Going to the beach day after day? Endless parties and BBQs? Mojitas and other smart cocktails? Does summer wrap its arms around you like a warm and soft blanket? Or maybe you suffer from Tourist Syndrome, a condition of the nervous system that causes involuntary tics. Not sure? The tics can be physical or vocal. Some examples of physical tics include raising eyebrows, shrugging the shoulders, or jerking a middle finger. Examples of vocal tics can be humming, clearing the throat loudly, or yelling out a word or phrase. Sound familiar? It affects those more severely who work on the front lines and need to get from A to B.

The sounds of summer have arrived in my neighbourhood. It’s like our house was suddenly dropped into the middle of a provincial campground. Everything happens in the great outdoors – twenty-four-hour-games, music and hoots – except, we can’t go to the campground hosts and ask them to tell campsite 23 to keep it down.

And the bicyclists. I feel like I’m in Zandvoort. Like the paddle board, every second person (both locals and visitors alike) has an Ebike. Don’t get me wrong, this is great. But with the influx of more visitors, the more bikes the more safety issues. Riding in the middle of the road seems to be the only option. No one uses the bike trails. Are tree roots or pine cones really that scary?

Gone are the two cyclists riding side-by-side enthusing loudly about salsa macha, and how it’s the perfect accompaniment to roasted vegetables. Visitors seem to prefer to ride in clumps of six or more. As a seasoned driver, I can tell you that it is easier to go around one or two bikes than a group of seven, with a dog on leash and three kids in trailers. And then the random cyclist, like a deer, that suddenly appears out of nowhere. If there is one tourist, there may be another following. The signs should read “Expect Tourists on the Road” not deer.

If I have sounded harsh, or somewhat intolerant of tourists, you’ve misunderstood my intentions. As I keep on saying, would you rather have four or 20 individuals turn up at your front door? Yes, it’s our bread and butter, but it doesn’t have to be 12 loaves of Wonder Bread and 36 pounds of butter. It’s not just the carrying capacity of the island, it’s the carrying capacity of those who live here. Do we want to preserve the rural character of Hornby Island? To protect the reason why people want to come and visit? As Edward Espe Brown asked in his Zen teachings, “If there’s an uneven, rocky road, do you want to cover the whole path with leather, or do you want to put the leather on your feet?”

Are human beings inherently good? Are we built with an internal moral compass, or is morality entirely the result of socialization? Is the value of a human being based on the sum of their actions, or do they have value no matter the actions they take? At what point do your actions give your life less value? So many existential questions and so little time to ponder. Maybe we should just answer the other questions: Is there a liquor store? Are these today’s newspapers? How do I get to the beach? Is this coffee fresh?