Happy 30th Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms!

The Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms turns 30 on Tuesday. 


Prime Minister Harper is not celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Charter. Read story here.


This is unforgivably shameful conduct on the part of our PM. Our soldiers defend it, Harper ignores it.


The Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms has replaced the American Bill of Rights as the constitutional document most emulated by other nations. Read about our Gift to the World here.


There are many reasons why I support the principles of the Charter. I was raised to respect my country and its laws. I served my country as a soldier. Having just attended a 5 day trial where I was self represented and challenging the constitutionality of a law, based on a number of Charter arguments, this is a day that I will celebrate.


The decision on my Charter challenge is due on 09May12. My son's birthday...

Bridge Opening & Campaign Launch for 2013 Calgary Municipal Election

And we're off in Calgary Ward 7!

follow @HughesWard7

http://www.facebook.com/HughesWard7

photo courtesy of

Julie Vincent Photography, Calgary
www.julievincentphotography.com
403.461.6200

Picture of Fleece Bridge from my house

Pic of the Fleece Bridge from Sunnyside

Opting out of Calgary Stampede Aggie Days

If you have a child in the Calgary Board of Education, they can opt out of attending the Calgary Stampede Aggie Days. 


Just tell their teacher or principal. 


Simply send a note... "I do not want my child to attend the Calgary Stampede Aggie Days."


Why are we suggesting our children "kidcott" the Calgary Stampede Aggie Days?


1. Learning is connected to a factual understanding of our world. Aggie Days are an inaccurate portrayal of the conditions on factory farms and battery caged operations within the Industrial Agricultural production system.


2. The Calgary Stampede Aggie Days has repeatedly denied local urban ag organizations the opportunity to participate in the event. Read the proposal here. Our goal has been to make a food connection with students based on hands-on programming.

The Hypocrisy of Aggie Days... Are we lying to our children?

**UPDATE: The Calgary Stampede is preventing CLUCK, Urban Ag & Local Food Systems from participating in Aggie Days. After negotiating since 2010, Dr David Chalack sent me an email on March 8, 2012, stating that yet again, we would not be allowed to participate in Aggie Days. Subsequently, Dr Chalack offered to work towards our participation in 2013. Sceptical after 3 years of verbal promises, we asked for a commitment on paper. That commitment was not provided and we were told to wait a month. Subsequently, we are no longer waiting for the Calgary Stampede.


Apparently Max Fritz is the individual who has turned us down each year. He can be reached at:

Max Fritz   mfritz@calgarystampede.com Ph: (403) 261-0164	Senior Agriculture Manager Industry Relations & Business Development

Full Disclosure: Dr David Chalack has been a gentleman throughout this process. Regrettably, I believe the relationship that has developed between us will become a casualty. Thank you, David, for your efforts over the last 3 years.


Original Blog Post
This is the 3rd year in a row that CLUCK has been denied an opportunity to participate in the Calgary Stampede Aggie Days. We even agreed to participate under the banner of Urban Ag, which was also turned down. So, no Urban Ag display promoting opportunities to Calgary kids on how to connect to their Local Food System and 1000's of Calgary kids & students see a very distorted version of our food system at this event.


Stampede is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. A celebration of our rich agricultural heritage?



It borders precariously on lying to our children.


This picture does not accurately represent a chick in the Alberta Food System.

Here's the very simple and modest proposal to the Calgary Stampede:

Urban Ag booth at Aggie Days Proposal:


-1 booth for Urban Ag featuring:

• Prepare a ground plot

• Start & Transplant seedlings

• Use raised beds

• Provide cold protection

• Choose plant varieties best suited for Calgary

• Build simple plant supports

• Make compost

• Save seeds from your own plants

• Use containers for selected types of plants

• Start a school garden

-Booth would highlight activities that children/students can become involved with here in Calgary.
-Focus on how to grow food in an urban environment.
-Highlight initiatives around growing food in an urban environment.
-Booth would have an activity for the students.
-Booth would help students make the "food connection" and encourage respect for all food producers.
-Booth is to be free of political messages.
-Booth would subscribe to the same rules as all other participants.
-A good showing in 2012 opens the door to increased involvement in the future. 


This was turned down by the Stampede on its 100th Anniversary.


Exhibitors:


Agrium
Alberta Barley Commission
Alberta Beef Producers
Alberta Canola Producers Commission
Alberta Chicken Producers
Alberta Egg Producers
Alberta Farm Animal Care
Alberta Irrigation Projects Association
Alberta Milk
Alberta Pulse Growers Commission
Alberta SPCA
ATCO EnergySense
Bar U Ranch NHP
Calgary & District Beekeepers Association
Calgary Stampede Heavy Horse Pull Committee & Draft Horse Town
Calgary Stampede Swine Committee
Calgary Stampede Queens' Alumni
Cows and Fish
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Equine Display
Farmer Dave
Grain Display
Limarno Llamas
Potato Growers of Alberta
Science Alberta Foundation
There's a Heifer in your Tank (University of Alberta)
University of Calgary Faculty of Verterinary Medicine 

Backyard Egg vs Industrial, Battery Caged, Factory Farmed (Walmart/Safeway) Egg

Guess which egg comes from a backyard urban hen?

Result of nutritional analysis of backyard, pastured egg vs battery caged, factory farmed egg

100 years of Stampede & we outlaw people who grow their own food... WTF?

Paul Hughes vs Her Majesty The Queen

T minus 3 days...  Trial begins Monday. Deets here.

Paul Hughes vs Her Majesty The Queen (Charter Challenge, Urban Chickens, Right to Food)

Michael Schmidt vs Her Majesty The Queen (Charter Challenge, Raw Milk)

Ready 2 Run in Ward 7

Something different for Calgary Ward 7...

Reality based decision making with a 

deep respect for the taxpayer & community.

Join us... Hughes in Ward 7

Bridge 2 Nowhere

Dear Mayor Nenshi & Calgary City Council,


RE      Stop the Bridge 2 Nowhere


Disclosure: Mayor Nenshi sits on the CMLC Board of Directors


How Calgary can save $25 Million:


CMLC & East Village want to spend yet another $25Million on yet another pedestrian bridge. In this case, however, a functional, structurally sound bridge already exists.  The Bridge 2 Nowhere is irresponsible development and has all the hallmarks of those that like to spend taxpayer dollars on frivolous, non essential infrastructure. As we have learned from the Calatravesty, the project will also, most likely, be delayed and significantly over budget. It will have a significant negative environmental impact on St Patrick's Island and the riparian/river assets, something stake holders were adamant about avoiding.


And, as if to add salt to the wound, the CMLC will:


1) Destroy the old, completely functional, heritage bridge and


2) NOT, I repeat, NOT be adding 1 (one) new single unit of new affordable housing to the East Village inventory.


The Bridge 2 Nowhere is the type of decision where we expect our local (& provincial) politicians to intervene to help end the East Village Spending Spree. Rational and taxpayer sensitive/respectful decison-making should prevail.


Yours in Stopping Yet Another $25 Million Foot Bridge,


Paul Hughes


ps What engaged citizens can do:


1) Contact the Mayor, your Alderman or MLA or preferably, all three.
Mayor's office: 403.268.5622
Aldermanic Offices: 403.268.2430
MLA Directory: 310.0000

2) Contact the CMLC & CEO Michael Brown: 403.718.0300


3) Join the Facebook Group & Follow @Bridge2Abyss Twitter Account

Facebook: Say NO to another $25 Million Bridge in Calgary