Global environmental issues have reached the crisis point at so many levels that it would be negligent for me to fail to give the topic a page on this website. From  Climate Disruption, (euphemistically called global warming) to Right to Water as a human right, to the massive pollution caused by the uncontrolled resource extraction methods used by the Mining and Oil  Industries, we are rapidly pushing the planet to the point where it will No Longer Support Life. With incredible impunity, we face the scientific knowledge that within a century, our planet will no longer be able to absorb the massive pollution that we continue to inflict upon it in the name of progress and profit and do virtually nothing to correct this threat. I am convinced that the average citizen does not fully comprehend the fact that unless drastic measures are taken immediately to correct this, our world will become a desert  with undrinkable water and unbreathable air. They choose to believe the lies that the politicians and their corporate masters heap upon us in an act of denial that precludes rising up and demanding that corrective measures be implemented immediately. 

Unless we act Now, all higher forms of life will certainly become extinct in a relatively short time. It is doubtful that your grandchildren will survive and if you leave the resolution of this menacing state of affairs to the next generation it will be too late because it took generations to get to this point and it will take immediate, radical action NOW if we are to be on time to avoid Extinction.

In the words of Maude Barlow, "Do not listen to those who say there is nothing you can do to the very real and large social and environmental issues of our time. There are serious problems that beset our world. I'm not now talking about a false sense of optimism based on ignoring the very real crises we face, but there is so much room for hope. And such a need to bring joy and excitement to our commitment to a different future. I swear to you this is true. The life of an activist is a good life because you get up in the morning caring about more than just yourself or how to make money. A life of activism gives hope, which is a moral imperative in this work and in this world. It gives us energy and it gives us direction. You meet the nicest people, you help transform ideas and systems and you commit to leaving the earth in at least as whole a condition as you inherited it.”

I couldn't agree with Maude more. Since I became an activist I have become a happy human being, at peace with myself and feeling that I am doing something important, no, CRUCIAL with my life. I urge you to choose your issue, (there are plenty to choose from) and GET INVOLVED.

added Jan 21 

Endbridge is a criminal company and should not be allowed to operate in North America. 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/807/616/673/#taf

http://vimeo.com/20352410

http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/tarsands/Get-involved/stop-the-pipeline/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keystone%20victory%202012-01-18%20%281%29&utm_content=

.http://www.youtube.com/user/johnBolenbaugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RecoGlsCTpA&list=UU78GTCozUBiNwwtE5kZVugw&index=1&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HRFFSa5tfQ

Endbridge, the company that wants to build 2 new pipe lines from the Alberta Tar Sands, One to Texas and One to Kitimat BC. so tankers can carry the oil to any part of the world had a huge pipeline oil spill in Wisconsin a few years ago. This and dozens of other videos on YouTube document the evidence that instead of cleaning up the mess they created, they merely illegally covered it up so that it would not be immediately evident. There must have been huge bribes to people in the Environment Protection Agency because they have signed off the site as having been cleaned up to legal standards which is obviously not the case. Steven Harper is pushing hard to get approval for the 2 new proposed pipelines. I wonder how much he is being paid??? If Canadians do not strongly oppose any new pipelines by this criminal corporation we can be assured that there will be oil spills here as the company is notorious for cutting safety levels in order to save costs in construction and once the damage is done, bribes and cover ups will be the name of the game, NOT CLEAN UPS.

This YouTube playlist contains videos about the environment.

added Dec 18

Help Save Canada’s Lakes

Council of Canadians

It’s hard to imagine anything people in Canada cherish more than our clean, healthy lakes. So it’s inconceivable that our government is allowing freshwater lakes to be senselessly poisoned and the life within them destroyed.

The Federal Fisheries Act currently contains a clause, known as Schedule 2, that permits healthy Canadian lakes to be “reclassified” for industrial use. For years, mining companies operating within Canada have been exploiting this loophole in the Act, which permits our lakes to be used as cheap solutions for dumping toxic waste generated from their operations. Once a healthy freshwater lake is listed under Schedule 2, it’s no longer considered a natural body of water, but becomes a “tailings impoundment area.” The lake loses all environmental protection as a fish habitat and becomes a toxic dumpsite.

You Helped Save Fish Lake in BC!

There is reason to hope that we can close this loophole for good. On November 2, 2010 the federal government turned down a mining company bid to destroy the beautiful and pristine Fish Lake (also known as Teztan Biny) in British Columbia. Taseko Mines planned to drain Fish Lake and turn it into a dumpsite for their highly toxic waste. This project would have wiped out the fish populations in the lake as well as nearby rivers and streams, permanently poisoned local water supplies, and destroyed the way of life and livelihood of local First Nations.

Thanks to the generous support of members like you, the Council of Canadians has significantly stepped up our campaign against Schedule 2. We joined the struggle of the Tsilhqot’in First Nations and other local residents in working tirelessly to stop this beautiful lake’s destruction. Council activists and staff spoke out at public meetings, in the media, at federal review panel hearings, and on September 7, 2010, we delivered more than 15,000 action cards directly to Parliament Hill – sending a strong message that Canadians demand and expect our government to protect our lakes and rivers by closing the Schedule 2 loophole for good.

This is a major victory for all of us who care deeply about our environment and the protection of our freshwater resources.

Your Voice is Needed Again

We must now redouble our efforts. Despite the federal government’s ruling on Fish Lake, Schedule 2 still exists and our cherished lakes remain vulnerable. Over a dozen more lakes across Canada are facing destruction and need our powerful collective voice. We must build on the momentum of Fish Lake to close this loophole once and for all!

Click here to read more about Schedule 2

My letter

TO: The Hon. John Baird, Minister of the Environment

On November 2, 2010, your government did the right thing by stepping in to save Fish Lake (Teztan Biny) from being destroyed by Taseko Mines, citing “concerns about the significant adverse environmental effects of the project.” As you know, Taseko Mines applied to destroy Fish Lake under “Schedule 2” of the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, the loophole in the federal Fisheries Act through which Canadian lakes and freshwater ecosystems can be reclassified as toxic dumpsites for mining operations.

With four Canadian lakes already destroyed under “Schedule 2” and over a dozen more facing imminent destruction, I now call upon you to take the crucial next step: revoke “Schedule 2” immediately and close this loophole for good.

Canadians demand better stewardship of our treasured lakes and freshwater ecosystems than allowing them to be used as cheap solutions for dumping toxic mine waste.

I have seen a dead lake and it is a terrible sight that I'll never forget. There was absolutely nothing alive in that water; no fish, no insects and no vegetation, nothing! Just black still water! I pray that nobody has to feel the pain and the shame that I felt that day, for I don't know if it was caused by Schedule 2 dumping or what, but it was clear that nothing in nature could completely kill a whole lake. It had to be caused by man.

Please for your own conscience, don't allow yourself to be guilty of such a crime. Revoke Schedule 2 now.

I await your reply.

Sincerely,

Ron Craven

added Dec 1

Earth Rangers: Our long-term goal at Earth Rangers is simple: to partner with children to protect enough natural habitats to ensure the lasting survival of all species in Canada.

Earth Rangers is Canada's largest non-profit organization focused on communicating a positive message to children on the importance of protecting biodiversity.

I just learned about this organization and the good work they do by providing live presentations at schools and at the Royal Ontario Museum where they introduce children to live animal ambassadors and tell them about protecting wildlife and its habitat. Check out these links and visit the ROM. You’ll be amazed!

Earth Rangers

Royal Ontario Museum Earth Rangers

Earth Rangers Live animals at the ROM & visiting schools

Schad Gallery of Biodiversity Earth Rangers Studio ROM

Schad Gallery of Biodiversity ROM

Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior

added Nov 27

COP16 Live video and audio stream

+ daily 1 hour video/radio show

WHO: Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), in collaboration with Global Justice Ecology Project, Abya Yala Nexus and Earth Cycles
WHERE: RedRoadCancun.com
WHEN: Monday, Nov 29 to Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. Daily shows air noon to 1pm CST, Monday through Friday, and will be rebroadcast at 5pm.
The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), in collaboration with Global Justice Ecology Project, Abya Yala Nexus and Earth Cycles, will be producing a continual live audio and video stream (in English) from Cancun at next week's COP16 summit on Climate Change.
IEN's media team will be gathering actualities from inside and outside of the COP16 meetings and side events, and will be producing a daily 1 hour video/radio program that mixes these actualities with live interviews, hosted by Casey Camp Horinek and Dallas Goldtooth.
The video show will be live streamed on RedRoadCancun.com – Monday through Friday – at noon and will be rebroadcast at 5pm. The radio show will be available for download by 2pm CST Monday through Friday.
Biography of the hosts:
Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca) is a long-time Native rights activist, environmentalist, and actress. As traditional Drumkeeper for the Ponca Pa-tha-ta, Woman’s Scalp Dance Society, Camp-Horinek helps maintain the cultural identity of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma for herself, her family, and her community. She has been at the forefront of grassroots community efforts to educate and empower both Native and non-Native community members on environmental and civil rights issues. In April of 2008 Camp-Horinek, as a delegate of the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), was chosen to speak to the United Nations Permanent Forum on indigenous Issues and present IEN’s global platform regarding the environment and Native rights.
Dallas Goldtooth (Mdewakanton Dakota and Dińe) is a cultural/language teacher and community health organizer within the Dakota Indian communities of Minnesota. He works for Dakota Wicohan, a language immersion non-profit, developing Dakota culture and language curriculum. He is also a  youth worker, activist, poet, traditional artist, powwow emcee, and comedian.  

added Nov 24

Maude Barlow Chairperson of the Council of Canadians  

Maude Barlow is the National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians and chairs the board of Washington-based Food and Water Watch. She is also an executive member of the San Francisco–based International Forum on Globalization and a Councillor with the Hamburg-based World Future Council. Maude is the recipient of ten honorary doctorates as well as many awards, including the 2005 Right Livelihood Award (known as the “Alternative Nobel”), the Citation of Lifetime Achievement at the 2008 Canadian Environment Award, and the 2009 Earth Day Canada Outstanding Environmental Achievement Award. In 2008/2009, she served as Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rd President of the United Nations General Assembly. She is also the best selling author or co-author of 16 books, including the international best seller Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and The Coming Battle for the Right to Water.

Back to Top of environment page on Down But Not Out social activism website

Home page Down But Not Out social activism website

Index of Ronzig's web pages

Website:

Down But Not Out

As well as Ronzig's Gallery, Ronzig built and maintains Down But Not Out, a website dedicated to social activism and providing information about many of the current issues that threaten to destroy our planet and the social structures we have developed. This link will take you to the Home page of Down But Not Out which was recently ranked as the 12th best website about homelessness on the internet and the following information will explain each of the pages on the website. You will have the opportunity to comment on what you learn here and read the many comments of other visitors to the site.

Learn more about Ronzig and why he created Down But Not Out and why it began as a website discussing the issues of poverty, homelessness and addiction and how it evolved into much more, encompassing issues a wide ranging as politics, war imperialism, conspiracy, economics, health, the environment and more.

Having been a crack addict for nearly 2 decades, during the 2nd of which I was homeless, I have acquired an in depth understanding of addiction, how & why it begins, what it does to a person, what is involved with getting free of this curse and the social implications of this ever increasing plague on civilization. I disclose some little known and often ignored information and insights that will assist you in coming to a better understanding of what addiction is all about.

I have created a page where visitors to Down But Not Out can contribute by telling their story about how the issues discussed on the site has affected them or someone they care about. I encourage you to read what others have to say and please tell us your story. You can remain anonymous if you prefer.

There is an extensive examination of the economy on Down But Not Out with discussions about the recession, economic collapse, the increasing disparity between the rich, the poor and the middle class. I delve into the phenomena of the shrinking middle class and the emergence of a 2 class society where an economic elite rule and the rest of us are rapidly being relegated to economic slavery.

Whether you call it Global Warning, Climate Disruption or choose to adopt one of the euphemisms that opponents to addressing this impending disaster use to seek to reduce the significance of the crisis to protect their ill gotten financial profits, it is a scientific fact that our global environment is on the brink of collapse. If meaningful and immediate action is not taken the human race along with almost all other forms of life on the Planet Earth will soon face extinction.

Whenever I have time I try to post notices of significant events that you may wish to attend including rally's, protests, political meetings, or other relevant items here. I also use this page to post notices of upcoming art shows where my work will be on display.

The social, economic and political issues revolving around health and healthcare are currently creating an environment where universal healthcare in Canada is under attack. It is evident that the elite no longer wish to ensure adequate health services for an aging population. They see no need to preserve individual health when there is no shortage of replacement economic slaves to step in when one of us succumbs to preventable illness and dies.

There is a worldwide epidemic of homelessness that has emerged in the past couple of decades to plague society and the wealthiest nations, ones with more than sufficient resources to provide housing for their populations are the worst at addressing the situation. Having lived long enough to realize that even when our society was steeped in relative poverty compared to today's situation, homelessness was never a significant problem until recently as the elite grab more and more of the world's wealth and resources, leaving the rest of us to struggle just to keep a roof over our heads.

With the advent of the internet, hope for a just society has been restored, yet there are sinister powers threatening to crush that hope. Just when internet should be reaching the point of universal global access, these powers are forcing an increasing internet divide, where surprisingly millions who once could afford access are being economically deprived of this crucial commodity, for a commodity is what it has become and it is for sale at price not reflective of costs, but of what the market will bear. Perhaps we should be considering defining internet as a Necessary Service that is available to everyone at affordable rates of free of charge.

With the corporatization of mainstream media, it's difficult to find any honest reporting in this media, as they tend to stick like flies on flypaper to the elitist party line. However even the most cynical of these outlets of information are forced to include a modicum of honesty in their reports when faced with the vast amount of conflicting evidence distributed freely on the internet. It is beneficial also to be up to date on what they are saying in order to point out the inadequacies and outright lies that they distribute.

Over the years, Ronzig has been in the news on several occasions, both as the subject of articles and as interviewee. Of course I've commented on many news items as well. you'll find some of these pieces on my news page.

There is a disturbing trend in politics that is increasingly threatening the very fabric of Democracy, or the sorry excuse for such that we have  adopted. I'm speaking of the merging of the Capitalist manifesto into the political agenda to the effect that today's politicians see their job almost exclusively as serving the requirements of capitalism and corporate profits rather than the needs of the citizens who are the true backbone of any nation.

Ever wonder how it is possible that in the richest civilization that has ever existed on the planet, extreme poverty is reaching epidemic proportions?  The answer is obvious. Every single year for the past 3 decades the wealthiest 5% of the world's population have taken control and ownership of a greater proportion of the world's resources leaving less for each of the remaining 95% of the people who have to live on this planet. In every industrialized nation the middle class is under attack and is shrinking annually as people are forced down the economic scale into the burgeoning poverty class. The truly terrifying aspect of this is the fact that the members of the middle class which is the primary target of this attack believe that when the middle class is eliminated they will be part of the elite upper class of rulers rather than economic slaves of these rulers. Because of this the middle class votes consistently for politicians who serve this elite ruling class and don't even realize they are voting for their own destruction.

In a society which professes to be primarily Christian is it not a paradox that we have created such an un-Christian attitude toward our neighbours? By assuming the philosophy of "Looking our for number ONE", we find it easy not only to allow our brothers and sisters to suffer and actually perish because they can not afford to pay for the basic requirements of survival, nourishment and shelter, but many of us are arrogant enough to hate them for their predicament. How are we to overcome this tide of apathy and animosity which in the end will destroy us if we fail?

If you group is interested in Ronzig's experiences and philosophies, I do speaking engagements and will talk on any of the topics covered here. I have had great success with audiences while speaking about homelessness & addiction, Democracy & politics as well as photography & art and would be pleased to accept a request to speak to you group.

Website:

Go to Ronzig's Gallery digital photoArt, photography,  video, photographic & video recording services, Mini Video Tours of Toronto, Collector Series Postcards featuring an assortment of his best images and art on ceramic tiles top home page.

Learn about Ronzig and Ronzig's Gallery: What is digital photoArt? Ronzig's guerrilla photography and video. Art on Ceramic Tiles. Collector Series Postcards featuring an assortment of his best images, Mini Video Tours of Toronto. And photographic and video recording services.

View some of Ronzig's best work in a slideshow or individual images from Ronzig at Ronzig's Gallery of digital photoArt and photography.

You can contact  Ronzig's Gallery by email, telephone or by snail mail to his address to inquire about Ronzig's digital photoArt, photography, Collector Series Postcards featuring an assortment of his best images. video, photography & video recording services, Mini Video Tours of Toronto and art on ceramic tiles or to purchase his products or services. You will also find numerous links to other websites where Ronzig has a presence.

Read the Legend of Ronzig the Wizard and his battle with his evil twin brother Ronzak the Sorcerer in the story of the ongoing struggle between good and evil that has been going on since the creation of the universe.

This is where you can order  Ronzig's products and services from Ronzig's Gallery such as digital photoArt,  photography & video recording services, Mini Video Tours of Toronto, art on ceramic tiles & Collector Series Postcards featuring an assortment of his best images.

Ronzig creates spectacular panorama works either as photographic images or as Digital photoArt that are available in standard sizes up to 44" x 13" on either canvas or archival quality photo paper (larger sizes available by special order).  Ronzig's Gallery will also embed a panorama image into the glaze of a series of ceramic tiles to create a unique wall or floor covering surface to your specs.

Ronzig's Digital photoArt & photographic images from Ronzig's Gallery cover a broad array of subject matter and themes resulting in highest quality art works to suit any preference. These images are all available on ceramic tiles & Collector Series Postcards as well a more traditional canvas and archival photo paper in a wide range of sizes to suit your requirements.

All of Ronzig's best work is available on Collector Series Postcards on archival photo paper, suitable not only for mailing a unique greeting to friends and loved ones, but also for framing as a group to hang on your wall.

Ronzig has done work for a wide range of clients from law firms to developers, health services facilities and the City of Toronto, all of which would certainly provide excellent references to Ronzig's Gallery.

Most of Ronzig's best work, be it video, photography or Digital photoArt is available as stock video clips or stock photo & art images at extremely reasonable prices for royalty free applications that you are producing.

Most of Ronzig's best work can be embedded into the glaze of ceramic tiles, resulting in virtually indestructible art works suitable for architectural uses such as surfaces for walls, floors, counter tops, back-splashes, fireplace surrounds or mantlepieces. As home furnishing uses they provide unique surfaces for tables or any other flat surfaced furniture. There is a series of 4" x 4" tiles with a protective backing designed for use as coasters that are bound to intrigue your guests as you entertain. Of course they make timeless stand alone art suitable for framing or placing on a stand for display.

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