Editor’s Notes

While the Dear Leaders of Canada and the United States continue to hardly do more than pay lip service to environmental damage by chemical pollution there is a growing amount of activity at the proverbial grass roots. In Austin, Texas, for just one example, about 1,000 gathered Sunday at the state Capitol to slow down a plan to build up to 18 new coal-fired power plants. The strength of those who turned out was far greater than their number if one takes into account the kind of support they’re getting — and no wonder; if their science is correct the new plants will pump millions of tons of pollutants into the air every year.

We’ve included a promotion of an excellent book. Whatever Happened to . . ? Catching up with Canadian Icons, written by Randy Ray and Mark Kearney. Randy Ray is that wonderful combination of tough-tender. He’s an Ottawa freelance writer, author, and publicist. He worked for the London Free Press for 13 years, including three years as Parliament Hill correspondent. Mark Kearney is an award-winning journalist who has worked as a reporter, public relations specialist, and freelance writer. He has taught writing at the University of Western Ontario for the past 16 years. Kearney lives in London, Ontario. I know the book well because the manuscript passed through my hands before it went to bed. I couldn’t recommend it more highly as light reading that makes you proud to be a Canadian. An excellent gift for any occasion throughout the year. BTW it is Kearney and Ray who supply us with True North Canuck Fact of the Day.

Christopher Hitchens pours it on in a flurry about Hilary Clinton having a serious problem living down her past. Hitchens is always hard hitting, even amusing, that is, amusing if you’re not the target.

Bart Jones writing in the Houston Chronicle takes on the question of whether or not Hugo Chavez is another Fidel Castro. It’s not that simple says Jones in an interesting assessment of what’s happening in that rapidly emerging country.

Still in Venezuela, Condi Rice has made an annoyance of herself by telling a Washington committee that Venezuela is a negative force on the democratic front. This of course inspired outrage by Venezuela government representatives. But she drew wrath from Archbishop Monsignor Roberto Lückert, an outspoken critic of Hugo Chavez and his government when she claimed that the Venezuelan Catholic Church was “under fire” from the Venezuelan government and said that U.S. officials had met with Venezuelan Catholic authorities. “This lady was way out of line when she said such things that are not true. This is a lie. . . . I think this lady was very clumsy.”

There was a book out about fifty years ago called, How to make friends and influence people. Frankly, I never read it but if Bush, Rice and company had they might have been prompted to adopt a personal policy of telling the truth to the best of their ability — instead of lying to the best of their ability. Meanwhile,

Take it easy, but take it.

Looking forward.

Carl Dow

Editor and Publisher