The oldest and strongest piece of environmental legislation we Canadians have is about to be gutted by Stephen Harper. Buried within yesterday’s budget are changes to the Fisheries Act that will remove protection to fish habitat, unless the fish happen to be of "economic, cultural, or ecological value"—an inserted ambiguity that pretty much means that burden of proof for conservation will lie with the fish themselves.

Coded as ‘streamlining the review process for economic projects,’ the legislation will certainly pave the way to plough through the Northern Gateway pipeline, and in the process, fillet 35 years of slow, but nevertheless, steady environmental protection progress.

Furthermore,

The addition of coal and diamond mines to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulation will only serve to grant them access the MMER’s Schedule 2 loophole, which enables mining companies to apply for exemptions from the Act in order to dump toxic waste into lakes.

A good time to contact your MP? Will it help?

Here, Paula Simons does a good job at “frying Calgary MP Rob Anders’ bacon.”

You know I hardly blame the guy for falling asleep in the House during Question Period, but when it comes to veterans struggling with psychological wounds from a war supported by the party he represents, one has to say, Wake Up already. At the very least, if there’s a medical problem here that needs addressing, admit it and get engaged.

Four days ago across the 49th, Washington State, after rounds of thermal debates, became the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage.

I remember the debates back here swirling at the foothills of our 2004 federal election.  I remember the vitriolic reports coming out of the town hall meetings. I remember responding in our town newspaper (a decision that put me on notice among some in my church).

I recall watching Question Period and the scrums—all the fulminating, the barbs, the squeaky soundbites, the "facts" about homosexuals, the flourishes of rhetoric about the new demon on the back of traditional marriage.

I recall much of this, but I don’t recall a speech quite like the one by Washington State Representative Maureen Walsh, a Republican, who stood to give an unpolished and deeply personal address, that perhaps, though her sensitivity and humour assured the passing of the bill.

a) Wait for his immediate neighbours to intervene and report him.

b) Arrange for an opportunity to make friends with him, perhaps borrow one another’s tools, watch one another’s pets when away, and over time, as you build a relationship with him, tell him that what he is doing to his kids is wrong and that you would like him to stop.

c) After reporting him, confront him and tell him that until he stops the abuse or releases his children into proper care there can be no normal neighbourly relationship; and that until he finds help, you will continue to work to have his kids removed.

2. There is a country across the ocean that is abusing its citizens. Do you…?

a) Wait for nearby countries to intervene and show their disapproval through sanctions.

b) Arrange for opportunities to create close economic ties, sign dozens of trade agreements that gives your country access to billions in capital in exchange for raw resources and clears a path for an unfettered free trade agreement; and in the mean time, express deep concern about their human rights record, and ask the leaders to curb their violations.

c) Work to expose the hundreds of thousands of human rights violations, imprisonments and executions, and refuse political and economic ties as they would serve to undermine any condemnations or political pressure.

In 2006, Stephen Harper said he would do c) two day ago he did b).

In 2006, Stephen Harper said, “…I don’t think Canadians want us to sell out important Canadian values – our belief in democracy, freedom, human rights. They don’t want us to sell that out to the almighty dollar.”

Yesterday in a speech, after signing 22 separate agreements worth 3 billion dollars Harper stated, “…in relations between China and Canada, you should expect us to continue to raise issues of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and to be a vocal advocate for these just as we will be an effective partner in our growing and mutually beneficial economic relationship.”

Later in the same speech, he said, “We are an emerging energy superpower. We want to sell our energy to people who want to buy our energy. It’s that simple.”

But apparently not all Tories would have gone this route: Tory MP Garry Breitkreuz noted, “Some of the most serious atrocities are happening in China at the present time and I think we have an obligation to speak up.”

Finally, Zhang Tianxiao, whose sister, Zhang Yunhe, disappeared in China in 2002 and whose brother-in-law is among the confirmed 3,400 murdered by the regime for refusing to renounce his belief in Falun Gong, cited the principle Canada is now in search of:

There is only one principle about trade, it is just that Canada should never sacrifice human rights and moral principles for any material benefit.”

Please excuse me. You see I just read a Gallop poll that suggests the more devout and pious one is, the more one attends church, the more one is likely to favour war. "In general, the more frequently an American attends church, the less likely he or she is to say the (Iraq) war was a mistake.”

So how does this work exactly? A friend sent me Gary Kohl’s recent article, What kind of Christianity is this? It may shed some light on this.

But before I head for the narthex, here’s something: A survey taken by Baylor, published a few months ago in Christianity Today, suggests that frequent bible reading will nudge one toward a more liberal world view. There are a bunch of caveats in the study but I found this possibility refreshing. And of course it makes sense, especially if, as is my position, that the bible must be read through the lens of the gospels. It was however disappointing to scan the 95 comments. Most disagreed with the conclusion; in some cases there was hostility.

I suspect we’re still some distance from Kohl’s contention that,

Jesus of the Gospels was an outspoken, nonviolent leftist who tried to reform his authoritarian conservative, dogmatic church but also refused to shut up with his call for justice for the down-trodden – even when his superiors threatened him with serious consequences if he didn’t.

But let me end with this: It’s lexicon we’re stuck with; but how weary liberal/conservative, right/left. Don’t we—on either side—drag our feet in our attempts at understanding? Don’t we scapegoat the scapegoaters?

We use our doctrine, our concept of God to shield us from undergoing necessary heartbreak, the very thing that could lead us into mercy and love and conversations without agenda, except for a desire to understand.

Like Tim said,

As my friend, the late pastor Dr. Jerry Falwell told me personally, ‘Speaker Newt Gingrich is the most qualified man in America to run as president of the United States.’

You see, this is why USA politics is so darn entertaining, and so hard not to watch, even though later you feel a bit bloated, like you’ve had too many Krispy Kreme donuts.

The supine and gutless Democratic Party, which would have feigned outrage if George W. Bush had put this into law, appears willing, once again, to grant Obama a pass. But I won’t. What he has done is unforgivable, unconstitutional and exceedingly dangerous.

Curiously, even the FBI, the CIA, the director of national intelligence, the Pentagon and the attorney general didn’t support it. They believe it may hinder their ability to investigate terrorism, “because it would be harder to win cooperation from suspects held by the military.”

But it passed anyway. And I suspect it passed because the corporations, seeing the unrest in the streets, knowing that things are about to get much worse, worrying that the Occupy movement will expand, do not trust the police to protect them. They want to be able to call in the Army. And now they can.

The following is taken from the Occupy Advent Facebook page:

“Come participate in the only Christmas service this year that is a political action, performance piece, flash occupation, and act of worship.

Jasper Ave and 102st from 5:45-6:15 every Wednesday from now until Christmas.

The backdrop of a previously occupied and evicted lot will serve to illustrate the current struggle between the forces of oppression and the Force of Justice and the time of our waiting for the Promise of Hope during the season of Christmas.

The short liturgical service will be officiated by Reverend Thomas Brauer, and will include a candle lighting, scripture reading, reflection, prayer, and communion.

This is an outreach event by Occupy to the Christian community of Edmonton. Occupy is an open-faith community, and this segment of that community welcomes anyone to attend and participate to whatever degree they wish.

2000 years ago, Jesus was born to a people oppressed, in exile, occupied by a foreign empire.

During the season of Advent, the month leading up to Christmas, people all over the world remember those people who waited for a Messiah with a message of hope, justice, and life for the poor and oppressed.

Today, we continue to wait for the new earth that Jesus taught about, the just and beautiful earth that will be inherited by the meek.

Occupy invites you to remember with us that change is coming and that a new world is possible in four Advent observances each Wednesday leading up to Christmas.

All people of all faiths are welcome to come and simply attend or participate in any portion of these elements to whatever degree they wish.

So yes, it’s a good thing Peter Kent and Stephen Harper are steering us out of Kyoto, which I suppose didn’t matter anyway as Canada is the only country within the Kyoto Protocol to have cast off our legally binding obligations. Besides I just trust Peter Kent’s face when he says: Kyoto is a failure and Canada can control greenhouse gases through another, non-Kyoto approach.

And finally, just on the off chance that there’s something to our exhaling great quantities of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halocarbons, and hexafluoride into the air, and the crazy weather, Pope Benedict’s Sunday message for delegates attending this week’s U.N. climate change conference will have brought everyone into harmony:  "I hope that all members of the international community agree on a responsible and credible response to this worrisome and complex phenomenon, taking into account the needs of the poorest and future generations." Clearly this should give us all assurance, especially the poor.