Hotel Dieu - Grace Hospital

Found this gem to be most fitting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-5zEb1oS9A&feature=player_embedded

ABE - Anybody but Eddie

Windsor has the highest unemployment rate in Canada, yet our Mayor is the second highest paid mayor in all of Ontario, and he thinks that a channel is a cure for Windsor’s ills.  What jobs are attracted by a ditch in a decaying downtown?   Francis promised only two terms, and now he is running for a third.   The placement of the W.F.C.U. Center, outside any benefits to downtown businesses, restaurants, hotels and motels is disturbing.  What is even more troubling is the fact that not only the Mayor, but all of City Council is being sued by The Bridge Company and we the tax payers will be forced to pay their legal fees!  City taxes, W.U.C. rates, service fees, fire and policing costs are on the rise in a City deep in recession and unemployment.  Where is logic and common sense to fiscal restraint?  Sad to add, that during this recession both the Mayor and all of Council took pay increases, benefits and pensions, for a part-time job.   There is only one solution and that is: “Clean House”.


Rob Cheshire

The Plight of Afghan Women: A Disturbing Picture

Our cover image this week is powerful, shocking and disturbing. It is a portrait of Aisha, a shy 18-year-old Afghan woman who was sentenced by a Taliban commander to have her nose and ears cut off for fleeing her abusive in-laws. Aisha posed for the picture and says she wants the world to see the effect a Taliban resurgence would have on the women of Afghanistan, many of whom have flourished in the past few years. Her picture is accompanied by a powerful story by our own Aryn Baker on how Afghan women have embraced the freedoms that have come from the defeat of the Taliban — and how they fear a Taliban revival. (See pictures of Afghan women and the return of the Taliban.)
I thought long and hard about whether to put this image on the cover of TIME. First, I wanted to make sure of Aisha's safety and that she understood what it would mean to be on the cover. She knows that she will become a symbol of the price Afghan women have had to pay for the repressive ideology of the Taliban. We also confirmed that she is in a secret location protected by armed guards and sponsored by the NGO Women for Afghan Women. Aisha will head to the U.S. for reconstructive surgery sponsored by the Grossman Burn Foundation, a humanitarian organization in California. We are supporting that effort. (Watch TIME's video on photographing Aisha for the cover.)
I'm acutely aware that this image will be seen by children, who will undoubtedly find it distressing. We have consulted with a number of child psychologists about its potential impact. Some think children are so used to seeing violence in the media that the image will have little effect, but others believe that children will find it very scary and distressing — that they will see it, as Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital Boston, said, as "a symbol of bad things that can happen to people." I showed it to my two young sons, 9 and 12, who both immediately felt sorry for Aisha and asked why anyone would have done such harm to her. I apologize to readers who find the image too strong, and I invite you to comment on the image's impact. (Comment on this cover.)
But bad things do happen to people, and it is part of our job to confront and explain them. In the end, I felt that the image is a window into the reality of what is happening — and what can happen — in a war that affects and involves all of us. I would rather confront readers with the Taliban's treatment of women than ignore it. I would rather people know that reality as they make up their minds about what the U.S. and its allies should do in Afghanistan. (See the cover story "Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban.")
The much publicized release of classified documents by WikiLeaks has already ratcheted up the debate about the war. Our story and the haunting cover image by the distinguished South African photographer Jodi Bieber are meant to contribute to that debate. We do not run this story or show this image either in support of the U.S. war effort or in opposition to it. We do it to illuminate what is actually happening on the ground. As lawmakers and citizens begin to sort through the information about the war and make up their minds, our job is to provide context and perspective on one of the most difficult foreign policy issues of our time. What you see in these pictures and our story is something that you cannot find in those 91,000 documents: a combination of emotional truth and insight into the way life is lived in that difficult land and the consequences of the important decisions that lie ahead.
To learn more about Aisha and her reconstructive surgery in the U.S., visit www.GrossmanBurnFoundation.org and www.WomenForAfghanWomen.org.
Comment on this cover.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2007269,00.html#ixzz0vOh9zfjc

'Methadone Clinics'

Some four years ago, numerous agencies in Windsor/Essex, both non-governmental and governmental, set-up what is known as: The Windsor/Essex Drug Strategy.  There were many interested parties and many well meaning people.  But the 'The Drug Strategy' was flawed from it's inception, because it included what is known as; 'The Four Pillar' Model, or approach. These 'Four Pillars' are: Prevention, Treatment, Enforcement and Harm Reduction.  Personally, having been involved in the Windsor/Essex drug Strategy and opposing the 'Harm Reduction Pillar', or Model, I do believe that there were, and are individuals that had agendas, lacked knowledge and emotionalized the issue to be of any real help or direction.  Harm Reduction, provides the means to use drugs 'safely'. If there is such an animal, I know it not!  Individuals who use drugs need treatment, not enabling, because in the end they wind-up DEAD!  Anyone that tells you there is kinder, gentler, softer way is misinformed and inexperienced.

Methadone 'treatment' is part and parcel to 'The Harm Reduction' model.  Methadone was invented in 1939 and was used extensively in the 1960's and 70's to aid Veterans of Vietnam to over-come Heroine and Opium addiction.  The ambition was not completely successful, as many died, both veterans and civilians.  Now, what is 'old' is 'new' again, and there are what I perceive as profiteers engaging in the wholesale methadone ideology as a 'cure-all' for every addiction, including alcohol!!!  Individuals who endorse such a course are flawed.  Any person who is addicted to any 'addictive' substance need to realize change and that should be done in a 'Treatment' setting.  Unfortunately, monies that could and should be used for treatment have been put towards 'Harm Reduction' and at present the Province of Ontario only provides a 21-day program, even for Cocaine and Methamphetamine.  Where is the logic??  I have been to Queens Park on this issue twice in the last year, attempting to persuade individuals to put monies into 90-day programs. 

An unfortunate side effect is 'Methadone Clinics' springing up all over the country with little supervision, or knowledge about there function and affect on an area.  These 'Clinics' are notorious for destroying neighbourhoods, escalating crime and drug litter, including methadone dispensing bottles, cups and used needles.  Methadone is very addictive and lethal to non-opiate addicts.  Children especially the very young should be kept as far away as possible from any methadone contact. 

Rob Cheshire C.A.C. II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
Celebrate Recovery     

Windsor council being sued by the bridge is a real blow to Windsor residents.

Windsor council being sued by the bridge is a real blow to Windsor residents.

Whether you like the fact that Matty Moroun owns the bridge, or that he wants to build another bridge, this doesn’t excuse the behavior that led up to the lawsuit being filed against Windsor councilors .

It was plain to see from all the residents I spoke with that council was abusing their trust and authority by using the heritage designation against a private citizen to prevent, obstruct,  and disrupt the legal pursuit and of the development of one’s own property.

Not only did council obstruct a private company, they also told private citizens who sold their homes (not under some crazy government expropriation scheme, but willingly to the bridge) that they made the wrong decision. They then put your neighbours at risk in by allowing these homes to stand boarded up and dilapidated.

These citizens were irate and council dismissed them.

Some citizens couldn’t even make existing repairs or additions to their homes because of council’s charade.

It is plain as the nose on our faces what went on. It is my belief a judge just may see it the same way.

With the legal department costs at city hall already on the rise and Windsor running a budget deficit, the news of these lawsuits have Windsors residents wondering if these councilors are going to leave Windsorites footing the bill for the dozen or so lawyers needed to defend the actions of council and the possible judgment awarded?

With DRIC falling apart by the hour because our governments weren’t smart enough to get an agreement with the Americans in writing, it looks as if the bridge will win the battle at the end of the day.

What Windsor residents should be concerned with is the image that our councilors sent out to prospective businesses who were thinking about locating here in Windsor.

The true cost of city councils recklessness may never be known.

I offer a challenge to city council, tear down those houses, and do what is necessary to move in the direction of progress.

Matt Ford
Ward 1 Candidate

Eco fees

Much is being said about Stewardship Ontario so I went to the website and did a little digging.

The governing board consists of representatives from major companies who according to Stewardship Ontario set eco fees on products.

Their names are Jim Quick from Canadian Paint and Coatings, Gordon Meyer of Proctor and Gamble, Brian Pendergast  of Recochem Incorporated, Reg Mcklay of Canadian Tire, Sylvain Mayrand of Lassonde Juice, Mark Malo of Clorox, Calla Farn of MCain Foods, Ron Davidson of Apotex Incorporated, Rob Chant Loblaw, John Coyne of Unilever Canada, Tamara Burns of  Sears Canada, Dianne Brisbois of Retail Council of Canada, Debbie Baxter of Loyality One Inc. and finally your C.E.O. Ian Anderson of CKF Inc.

http://www.stewardshipontario.ca/sites/default/files/docs/Scrutineer%20report%202010%20_%20with%20appendicies_bm_june%2018_F.pdf

Stewardship Ontario’s website claims that  only associations of business that pay  10 million dollars or more in  access “fees” by contributing to Blue Box or the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program can gain access to the governing board of Stewardship Ontario .

Of 20 business associations that applied only six associations qualified and signed a slate of 14 Candidates.

 They were all but rubber stamped.

Stewardship Ontario claims that they don’t set the eco fee but it is determined by the retailers and manufacturers.  

They also claim while there is no set eco fee feel free to browse the fees we charge?

Oh and if your feel you are being overcharged on these ‘eco fees” that we don’t set we would like to know about it.

....What??  http://www.stewardshipontario.ca/consumers/what-we-do/mhswenvironmental-fees

So the retailer can charge nothing and they would be O.K. with that?

Where is the money going?

Can these board members set fees?

 If so can they use their position to put competitors at a disadvantage by assigning their competitors  higher “ECO FEES”?

Reading their website leaves more questions than answers.

Matthew Ford

Anticipation