Category Archives: Resource Based Economy

ATLANTA Curtis Wylde wasnt expecting to become one of Missouris representatives to the Democratic National Committee. But when he showed up 20 minutes late to the state partys nominating convention last June, he learned the other members of Missouris Bernie Sanders contingent had nominated him for one of the four open slots.

Wylde known on the Midwests weekend pro wrestling circuit as Volatile Curtis Wylde was surprised, but quickly channeled his wrestling persona to amp up the drama.

A stocky guy with a goatee and a silver-streaked ponytail, Wylde was the last to make his pitch to the voting delegates. The other candidates had delivered their speeches from the middle of the audience, but Wylde strode to the stage at the front of the hall, speaking into the microphone as he walked.

Im gonna start this out doing exactly what I plan to do at the DNC, he said. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is change the dynamic!

He hopped onstage, raised his fist and delivered a four-minute populist pitch: We need to start from the bottom, work our way to the top and take back our government!

It was not unlike the wrestling videos that Wylde whos also known as Lion of the Lou and the Wolf of West County posts on social media, where he melodramatically threatens wrestling rivals, sometimes from the back of a limousine. And it worked. Wylde and the three other representatives running on the Sanders slate swept the race, elected to represent Missouri Democrats for four years.

Which is how, eight months later, this professional wrestler ended up in Atlanta to cast a vote for Keith Ellison to be DNC chair. He crowdfunded his trip, raising over $1,100 much of it in $27 increments, an homage to his political idol to cover airfare and lodging. And while Ellison, seen as the successor to Sanders populist presidential bid, lost to former Labor Secretary Tom Perez in a narrow defeat, Wylde and others from the Sanders/Ellison wing of the party believe they will ultimately be able to take it over from the inside.

Wylde, 36, is new to politics, but not to the stage. Crowds of 350 or so typically show up to watch him clothesline and pile-drive competitors with ringside assistance from his wife Chrissi or Wyldefyre, as she is known in the ring on the Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling circuit.

In the wrestling ring, Im a little more Donald Trump, and in politics, Im a little more Bernie Sanders, Wylde said.

Wylde had a hardscrabble childhood: His father left when he was 2, and his mother, a secretary, had an abusive boyfriend for several years. When she could no longer take the beatings, they would move in with his grandparents.

His mother later met and married a truck driver, who become a stabilizing force in Wyldes life; he calls him Dad. The family followed his job opportunities to Mississippi, Illinois and then back to Missouri.

Wylde dropped out of 10th grade to take care of his 2-year-old sister, when financial pressures forced his mother to return to work. As a teen,Wylde bounced from job to job he was a server in casual dining chains like Red Lobster and Applebees, a bouncer at various clubs and a liquor store clerk. He was invited to join a local biker gang, but he declined.

At 19, he found his passion taking courses at a local wrestling school. He began performing across the Midwest, quickly adopting the role of a wrestling ring villain, or heel. His character leads a flamboyant, reckless life punctuated by suspensions and arrests. As part of his outlaw persona,he frequently cheats in the staged wrestling matches, using illicit weapons and even attacking the referee.

Heels rarely make it to the major championship titles. But Wyldes notoriety has earned him an antihero following. A whole lot more people are cheering me than I would prefer, Wylde joked.

For a while, he supplemented his modest wrestling income by driving the cars that escort oversized loads, and by managing a heavy metal band. Now he has a steady gig as a master of ceremonies at weddings, school dances and other events. With his wifes earnings as a massage therapist and server at a local restaurant, its enough to pay for the double-wide trailer where they live with their 4-year-old daughter, Phoenix.

Curtis Wylde

Prior to Sanders presidential run, Wyldes political involvement didnt go much further than commenting on Facebook. He voted in a presidential election for the first time in 2008, casting his ballot for Barack Obama. He voted to re-elect Obama in 2012, but says he didnt vote in congressional or municipal races.

He developed his political views through an interest in futuristic thinkers like Buckminster Fuller, Nikola Tesla and Jacques Fresco, a contemporary theorist who promotes the idea of a resource-based economy where money is no longer necessary.

I didnt really claim a political standing, Wylde said. I didnt feel there was a place for me, because of these not only these left ideas, but these really, really futuristic left ideas.

He says his political role model is his stepfather, a staunch Republican who died four years ago. While they disagreed on politics, his stepfather instilled in him a philosophy of putting people first, then profit, said Wylde.

If you provide good things, treat people right, then they will treat you right in return and good things will happen, he said.

In late 2015, Wyde began to notice his Facebook friends discussing Sanders campaign. He found himself agreeing with Sanders calls for getting money out of politics, providing universal health care, creating jobs and protecting the planet. Most of all, Sanders appeals for ordinary citizens to get active in politics made him feel like his voice mattered.

Bernie Sanders came along and said, Get involved, Wylde recalled. I always had my dad telling me, You cant make changes from the outside. Youre going to have to get involved. Youre going to have to get in the game if you want to make any plays. And so when Bernie came out and said that, I was bound.

Within weeks, he and Chrissi were organizing a Sanders rally in downtown Saint Charles, Missouri.

When a local party activist suggested Wylde make a bid for for state representative in Missouris 107th District, he went for it. Wylde ultimately lost to Republican Nick Schroer, but he got 36 percent of the vote and on a campaign budget of just over $6,000, compared to Schroers $77,000. He says he hasnt ruled out another run for office, and his role as a state representative to the DNC is certainly getting him more attention in Missouri.

Wyldes got a lot of energy, said Brian Wahby, one of Missouris at-large DNC members. Its also good knowing that there are leftist Democrats in the middle of the heartland.

Wyldes personal path to political awakening has convinced him that progressive policies like universal health care and free college can appeal to Republicans if they are framed as investments in Americas future. Canvassing for Sanders, he said, he also realized the importance of a credible messenger who understands why so many ordinary Americans have lost faith in institutions.

I saw a whole lot of people who may have definitely voted Democrat if Bernie was the nominee, Wylde said. I heard that at the doors of Republicans.

But Wylde was no Bernie or bust holdout. He says he voted for former Secretary of StateHillary Clinton without reservation. And when a contingent of Sanders supporters stormed out of the Democratic National Convention last July, he urged them not to leave the party. In a fiery speech to Sanders fans gathered outside the convention center, Wylde pointed to Missouri Berniecrats successful takeover of the DNC spots as evidence that the party could be changed from within.

Im in the Democratic Party, and Im here to stay, so I have to take it over, he told the crowd. All of you have to take it over!

PATRICK T. FALLON/Getty Images

Wylde has become an informal spokesman for the so-called #DemEnter movement, a loose confederation of progressive activists who want to remake the party in Sanders image. They hope to turn #DemEnter into a fundraising and recruitment vehicle for progressive candidates.

Hes been using the #DemEnter hashtag to pitch disenchanted voters on the idea that the Democratic Party is their natural political home, if theyre willing to get involved and shape it as they see fit. He spends hours on the phone, in person and on social media trying to convince people to come back to the party. Hes planning a series of social events to build excitement, including a #DemEnter progressive dance party.

The work Wylde has been doing isnt about Bernie Sanders, said Chris Reeves, a recently elected DNC member from Kansas. Its all about old-school effort.

But Wyldes also putting pressure on other DNC members to listen to the grassroots activists in their states. And he is clear about his intention to help progressives nationwide replace the legacy Democrats.

Sometimes Wyldes populist instincts lead him to go overboard. After Ellisons loss last month, Wylde fired off an angry message on Facebook.They may have just destroyed the Democratic Party!! he wrote. He apologized in a separate post a few hours later, assuring his friends and followers that he had confidence in Perezs leadership, and saying he was especially pleased to see Ellison named deputy chair.

In fact, Wylde sounds downright optimistic about the future of the DNC.

The vehicle for improvement of the society is the Democratic Party, he said. We just need to get people to see that.

Sign up for the HuffPost Must Reads newsletter. Each Sunday, we will bring you the best original reporting, long form writing and breaking news from The Huffington Post and around the web, plus behind-the-scenes looks at how its all made. Click here to sign up!

Follow this link:

Finally, Democrats Have A Pro Wrestler In Their Corner - Huffington Post

Pipelines could shape up to be a defining issue in the NDP leadership race, as the partys members and provincial wings have clashing views on resource development and the construction of new oil pipelines.

During the last election, federal leader Tom Mulcair (Outremont, Que.) didntcommit to being either for or against the Energy East pipeline. Instead, he was pushing for more rigorous environmental reviews, and further involvement of First Nations in the decision-making process.

Since then, different parts of the party have been in different positions. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, for instance, has stood bythe federal Liberal governments approval of projects such as the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline twinning.

But others within the party, including the British Columbia NDP and MPs representing B.C. ridings, have staunchly opposed the project. (It is important to note that the NDPs federal and provincial factions all fall under the same party. In other parties, they have separate provincial and federal parties.)

So far, the party has agreed to disagree on pipeline projects. But candidate Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby, B.C.) says its time for the NDP to have that debate because the partys position is not unanimous at all.

Candidate Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski, Man.) said the NDP is at a crossroads, but that pipelines arent the only key issue the NDP needs to address, citing racial inequalities and other issues. She said the media is framing pipelines as a defining issue for the party, but she disagrees.

But, Mr. Julian thinks over the next eight months, pipelines will be a critical matter for the NDP, and that the future leaders stance on resource development, including pipelines, will affectthe NDPs chances in the next federal election.

It seems to me that this is the fundamental debate and will be one of the fundamental debates of the 2019 election, he said.

The Hill Times asked each campaign in the race so far their position on pipelines and the future of resource development in Canada.

Mr. Julian said it is very clear to him that the NDP must oppose pipelines and work towards transitioning to clean energy.

Mr. Julian says the government should refine and upgrade raw bitumen from the oilsands in Canada, instead of exporting it. The risk of spilling the diluted bitumen the pipelines carry was not worth the reward, he said.

As part of a just transition strategy, we need to make sure we are upgrading and refining in Canada, while were making the shift to clean energy. All [Justin Trudeau] is proposing is raw bitumen exports for the next 50 years, Mr. Julian said.

He said he has knocked on a lot of doors in Saskatchewan and Alberta, two oil-producing provinces that have a strong interest in building pipelines. He said people respond when he talks about value-added development and transition to clean energy.

I do not expect the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers to be in agreement, he said, but I think this debate has to happen. The NDP is the only place this debate can happen.

Mr. Julian said building refineries and using the resulting product in Canada would create more jobs than pipeline construction ever would, and it would decrease Canadas dependency on oil imports. It would also eliminate the need for pipelines, he said.

Guy Caron (Rimouski Neigette-Tmiscouata-Les Basques, Que.) said he is opposed to Energy East, TransCanadas proposed 4,500-kilometre pipeline that would transport1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to the refineries of Eastern Canada and a marine terminal in New Brunswick. Part of the route would runthrough his riding.

He thinks Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which runs from Alberta to B.C., approved by the Liberal government with conditions last year, is an example of the Liberal government steamrolling over the concerns of many local communities.

While he is opposed to those two projects specifically, Mr. Caron does not say he is opposed to pipelines in principle. He does say he thinks a complete overhaul of our environmental assessment process is necessary to ensure each project has economic, environmental, and social benefits. And, any new framework must include provincial/territorial, First Nations, and community input, and must contribute to the fight against climate change, he said.

In terms of the NDP grappling with its stance on pipelines, Mr. Caron said, the issues of energy and environment will always be a part of our political discourse, offering a diversity of viewsjust as within the NDP. He said he respects Alberta Premier Rachel Notleys passionate fight for workers in her province.

But in the long term, Mr. Caron shares his colleagues vision of transitioning to renewable energy.

Mr. Caron says the NDP cant leave out those who work in the oil industry now and are struggling with recent job losses and downturn in the sector. Our plan will help them take their place in the economy of the future.

Ms. Ashton, who just announced her candidacy for the leadership on Tuesday, said she is against pipeline projects that the Liberal government has approved, including the Kinder Morgan project. She is also against Energy East and Keystone XL. She wants to move Canada to a sustainable carbon-free economy.

We have a prime minister who talked a good talk on working with indigenous peoples, talked a good talk on the environment, and then since hes been in power, hes approved pipelines that certainly respect neither of those fundamental parts and not indigenous peoples, she said in an interview with The Hill Times.

Ms. Ashton said none of the pipeline projects that have gained approval from the federal government to date would go through if the approval process was based on the principles she envisions, including indigenous rights, environmental regulations, and Canadas climate change commitments.

On whether or not she would be worried about her electability in the prairie provinces by opposingpipeline projects, she said she knows the importance of the resource-based economy, as she is from a mining town in the prairies herself.

But, she said its not clear to me that [pipelines are] the way to create good jobs and to address the issues were facing.

She said Westerners are facing similar challenges to the rest of the country, in that there is simply a lack of diversified employment.

Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay, Ont.), from historically mining-dependent northern Ontario, appears to be the most pipeline-friendly candidate in the race thus far.

In keeping with themes seen in his opponents platforms, on his website, his environment platform indicates he wants to make sure developments, from dams to pipelines, have the consent of the people they will impact. Mr. Angus points out the importance of that consent for projects on indigenous land.

When he announced his bid for the leadership at the end of last month, Mr. Angus, like many of his colleagues, indicated he wants Canada to move away from fossil fuels. But, as the Toronto Star reported, he stopped short of calling for a moratorium on pipeline construction.

We dont throw a generation of workers under the bus to make a political point, he said.

Mr. Angus was unavailable for comment to The Hill Times due to a busy schedule, and his campaign did not respond to written questions by deadline.

cnash@hilltimes.com

@chels_nash

Continue reading here:

Pipelines to be a 'fundamental' issue for NDP leadership race: Julian - Hill Times (subscription)

On December 20, 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban on offshore oil and gas activity in Canadas Arctic by way of a moratorium on all new exploration and development in Arctic waters for a renewable five-year period.

The prime ministers decision is part of a trend: his tanker ban off British Columbias coast, his comments regarding the phasing-out of Albertas oil sands, and his stunning silence when then-U.S. president Barrack Obama withdrew his support for the Keystone Pipeline projecta critical element in getting one of Canadas key natural resources safely and cost efficiently to market.

The prime minister tried to justify this latest ban on resource development by warning about the risks of Arctic drilling, even going so far as to say it cannot be done safely. Those statements are both inaccurate and misleading, but another statement he made is completely correct: he admitted that his government has now closed one door of potential economic opportunity for the North.

Most galling is that prior to the announcement, neither aboriginal nor political leadership in the region was consulted on this decision. In fact, Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod said he only received word about the decisionwhich he opposestwo hours before it was announced, and Nunavuts Premier Peter Taptuna said the decision would cripple that territorys future financial independence.

I have spoken out against this decision on numerous occasions. As a senator from Newfoundland and Labrador, the proving ground and gateway for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, I know this decision is harmful to my province as well. After all, oil companies and suppliers from all over the world have come to my home province to develop leading technologies and best practices for operating in harsh ocean environments, just like the Arctic.

Canadas northern communities deserve to determine their own futures and have cause for concern when a unilateral decision is made, without proper consultation, which affects their economy and their ability to develop their own revenue sources. Premier Taptuna said that this decision takes them back to square one, where Ottawa makes the decisions for themhistorically, a pattern that has never served them well.

In short, the North is looking for ways to break its dependence on the federal government, and this decision prevents it from doing so.

All regions should be allowed to benefit from their own resources, just as Newfoundland and Labrador has. As the former Deputy CEO of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, I had the opportunity to contribute to initiatives that ensured protection of the environment. In fact, the board went through a rigorous and successful process of developing robust safety and environmental regulations which allowed us to develop our offshore natural resources while safeguarding the environment. It is possible.

If Prime Minister Trudeau is so committed to environmental protection over all other concerns, then why is resource-based economic activity permitted in some regions and not others?

In the 46 years since the first barrel of oil flowed, there has never been a wellhead spill off Newfoundland. At the same time, billions of dollars have flowed into the provincial and federal treasuries, and tens of thousands of jobs have been created that contribute to the economy across the province. It has raised the standard of living and has created high quality jobs. It is a great Canadian success story.

Today, nobody would tell the people of my province we do not have a right to do that. No one, not even the prime minister, has that right to deny the same opportunities to the people and communities of Canadas North. They have the right to generate their own wealth and to make and build their own housing, schools and health and transportation infrastructure, based not on what Ottawa wants to give them, but what they can earn themselves.

The North should have the right to determine its own future in the same careful manner that we have in the rest of the country. In doing so, it will benefit from Canadas strong, world class regulatory system that focuses on the safety and protection of people, resources and the environment.

This ban is a mistake and suggests that safe development of resources in the Arctic is not possible. That is not just a ridiculous argument, but a dangerous one.

Prime Minister Trudeau is depriving the North of economic independence through this ill-informed and ill-advised decision. This is the wrong decision for the North. This is the wrong decision for Canada. And ironically, for a prime minister who claims to champion the middle class, it is wrong for them too.

More here:

Prime Minister Trudeau, no fan of the middle class - The Hill Times ... - Hill Times (subscription)

On December 20, 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban on offshore oil and gas activity in Canadas Arctic by way of a moratorium on all new exploration and development in Arctic waters for a renewable five-year period.

The prime ministers decision is part of a trend: his tanker ban off British Columbias coast, his comments regarding the phasing-out of Albertas oil sands, and his stunning silence when then-U.S. president Barrack Obama withdrew his support for the Keystone Pipeline projecta critical element in getting one of Canadas key natural resources safely and cost efficiently to market.

The prime minister tried to justify this latest ban on resource development by warning about the risks of Arctic drilling, even going so far as to say it cannot be done safely. Those statements are both inaccurate and misleading, but another statement he made is completely correct: he admitted that his government has now closed one door of potential economic opportunity for the North.

Most galling is that prior to the announcement, neither aboriginal nor political leadership in the region was consulted on this decision. In fact, Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod said he only received word about the decisionwhich he opposestwo hours before it was announced, and Nunavuts Premier Peter Taptuna said the decision would cripple that territorys future financial independence.

I have spoken out against this decision on numerous occasions. As a senator from Newfoundland and Labrador, the proving ground and gateway for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, I know this decision is harmful to my province as well. After all, oil companies and suppliers from all over the world have come to my home province to develop leading technologies and best practices for operating in harsh ocean environments, just like the Arctic.

Canadas northern communities deserve to determine their own futures and have cause for concern when a unilateral decision is made, without proper consultation, which affects their economy and their ability to develop their own revenue sources. Premier Taptuna said that this decision takes them back to square one, where Ottawa makes the decisions for themhistorically, a pattern that has never served them well.

In short, the North is looking for ways to break its dependence on the federal government, and this decision prevents it from doing so.

All regions should be allowed to benefit from their own resources, just as Newfoundland and Labrador has. As the former Deputy CEO of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, I had the opportunity to contribute to initiatives that ensured protection of the environment. In fact, the board went through a rigorous and successful process of developing robust safety and environmental regulations which allowed us to develop our offshore natural resources while safeguarding the environment. It is possible.

If Prime Minister Trudeau is so committed to environmental protection over all other concerns, then why is resource-based economic activity permitted in some regions and not others?

In the 46 years since the first barrel of oil flowed, there has never been a wellhead spill off Newfoundland. At the same time, billions of dollars have flowed into the provincial and federal treasuries, and tens of thousands of jobs have been created that contribute to the economy across the province. It has raised the standard of living and has created high quality jobs. It is a great Canadian success story.

Today, nobody would tell the people of my province we do not have a right to do that. No one, not even the prime minister, has that right to deny the same opportunities to the people and communities of Canadas North. They have the right to generate their own wealth and to make and build their own housing, schools and health and transportation infrastructure, based not on what Ottawa wants to give them, but what they can earn themselves.

The North should have the right to determine its own future in the same careful manner that we have in the rest of the country. In doing so, it will benefit from Canadas strong, world class regulatory system that focuses on the safety and protection of people, resources and the environment.

This ban is a mistake and suggests that safe development of resources in the Arctic is not possible. That is not just a ridiculous argument, but a dangerous one.

Prime Minister Trudeau is depriving the North of economic independence through this ill-informed and ill-advised decision. This is the wrong decision for the North. This is the wrong decision for Canada. And ironically, for a prime minister who claims to champion the middle class, it is wrong for them too.

Originally posted here:

Prime Minister Trudeau, no fan of the middle class - Hill Times (subscription)

March 06, 2017 at 9:25 pm | Daily Inter Lake

High-tech companies are an important component of Montanas economy, generating more than $1 billion in revenues in 2016 and growing at rates seven times faster than the statewide economy, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

The study found that Montana High Tech Business Alliance members were responsible for $1.09 billion in revenues, an increase from $867 million in 2015, and responding nonmember firms generated an additional $487 million.

This third-annual survey, commissioned by the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, includes responses from members of the statewide organization which include 300 high-tech and manufacturing firms and affiliates as well as responses from 82 nonmember high-tech and manufacturing companies. It also includes new insights on Montanas business climate and beneficial business resources.

The study found the high-tech sector expects to add more than 960 new jobs in 2017 that pay average annual salaries of $60,000 more than twice the median annual earning per Montana worker.

Our third annual report shows once again the incredible opportunity for the high-tech industry to transform Montanas economy by bringing high revenues and high-paying jobs into the state, said Christina Henderson, executive director of the alliance. But this years survey also showed that Montanas positive business climate and extensive network of business resources from our universities and nonprofits to mentor companies, banks and government all play a crucial role in helping Montana entrepreneurs succeed.

This years survey examined perceptions of the climate in Montana for new businesses, as well as various resources within Montana that have been helpful to businesses as they start and grow. The data will be used for a case study on entrepreneurial ecosystems to be completed this spring. The project is a partnership between the Montana High Tech Business Alliance, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the UM Blackstone LaunchPad and MonTEC, UMs business incubator.

While starting a business in any state can be challenging, 77 percent of alliance members and 63 percent of nonmembers would encourage someone to start a business in Montana, according to the survey.

Overall, this is a strong endorsement of Montanas business climate, said John Baldridge, bureau director of survey research.

Among alliance members, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance was the most often cited beneficial business resource. Montana University System-based resources were cited by substantial proportions of both alliance members and nonmembers. These MUS resources included UM, Montana State University, the UM and MSU Blackstone LaunchPads, MonTEC and the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center.

Government resources and other Montana companies also were important to survey respondents for business, financial and legal mentorship, and advice.

Respondents found the following financial resources most beneficial to their firms: bootstrapping (creating and sustaining a business based on sales and little external funding), private investors and banks. Alliance members were most likely to mention bootstrapping, and nonmembers were most likely to mention banks.

For the third year in a row, the survey found that Montanas quality of life its lifestyle, work/life balance, recreational opportunities and natural beauty provided significant advantages to doing business in the state. Survey respondents also mentioned Montanas high-quality workforce as a major advantage.

Missoula is particularly poised for growth due to the underemployment that is prevalent in our area, said Tom Stergios, senior vice president of strategy and corporate development and general manager of Advanced Technology Groups Missoula office. ATG is pleased to have hired nine people already this year and plans to add 25 to 30 more jobs in 2017.

Stergios said Montana university programs, particularly management information systems, have morphed and are producing instantly impactful employees, which is a significant foundational component to a growing tech economy.

The 2017 survey shows the positive trend in tech and the definitive proof of the ability to significantly impact the Missoula community, he said.

As in previous years, respondents mentioned several barriers to faster growth, including attracting talent, hiring skilled technology workers, access to capital and finding new customers. For the first time, challenging market conditions were mentioned as a barrier to growth.

The third annual survey was sent to 242 Montana High Tech Business Alliance member companies and 304 nonmember companies.

Excerpt from:

State's high-tech hits $1 billion economic milestone - Daily Inter Lake

The Nehalem Bay Estuary Cleanup event.

Pull up the boots, don the rain gear and prepare to take out the trash out of the estuary that is.

The 10th Biennial Nehalem Estuary Cleanup is fast approaching, so everyone is invited to help the cause on March 11, for the opportunity to spend a day making a lasting difference in the bay. According to officials, a debris-free estuary is important for salmon, wildlife, and the health of our communities.

Orientation begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Wheeler Masonic Hall at Handy Creek Bakery, 63 North Highway 101, in downtown Wheeler. Parking is available on the south side of the building. Following the introduction, groups of volunteers will spread out around the bay to walk the high tide line collecting debris. Trucks and boats will collect the materials, returning it to Wheelers Waterfront Park for sorting, recycling and disposal.

Opportunities range from collecting debris, sorting materials, helping with set-up and take down, and food service. Nehalem Bay State Park will have special activities for children that will help them understand why coastal cleanups are so important.

Science educator Peter Walczak will lead a youth crew cleaning up debris along the state park jetty. Youth and family volunteers can join the 7:30 a.m. orientation in Wheeler, or go directly to the boat ramp in Nehalem Bay State Park starting at 8:30 a.m., where there will be an orientation and ongoing educational activities.

Bring drinking water and a snack or sack lunch. This is a rain or shine event. Wear waterproof boots, work gloves, and layers as needed.

After the cleanup, starting at 5 p.m., volunteers are invited to the White Clover Grange at 36585 Highway 53, Nehalem, OR 97131 for live music, a chili and cornbread feast, root beer floats, and socializing. A dry change of clothes for the party is encouraged.

New this year is the opportunity to register online in advance of the event. Volunteers can sign-up by going to http://www.eventbrite.com and searching for 10th Biennial Nehalem Estuary Cleanup or by visiting http://www.nehalemtrust.org/events. This will allow for a smooth orientation in the morning and a quick start to the cleanup.

Back again by popular demand is the Nehalem Estuary Cleanup Photo Contest.

Volunteers and attendees are invited to submit photos from the day of the event to photocontest@nehalemtrust.org by March 15. The winning photographer will receive a gift certificate to a local business and be featured in print and online press about the event.

In 2015 alone, over 150 volunteers dedicated their time, skills, and energy to make the bay clean and healthy. The group pulled 2.37 tons of trash and 915 lbs. of recyclable and reusable material from the estuary. Recyclable materials were comprised of 110 lbs. of reusable items, 302 lbs. of metal, 240 lbs. of glass, 120 lbs. of plastic,and 34 lbs. of paper.

A few of the more interesting finds included one jar of grape jelly, one mattress, one port-a-potty door, 14 railroad spikes, 21 shoes (including one pair), 26 hazardous items, 65 balls, 105 flip flops, 350 shotgun shells and one genuine message in a bottle. What will be discovered this year?

Community partners Lower Nehalem Community Trust, Lower Nehalem Watershed Council, CARTM, Nehalem Bay State Park, North Coast Land Conservancy, and Tillamook Estuaries Partnership are pleased to announce this event is part of Explore Nature, a series of hikes, walks, paddles and outdoor adventures.

Hosted throughout Tillamook County by a consortium of Conservation organizations, these meaningful, nature-based experiences highlight the unique beauty of Tillamook County and the work being done to preserve and conserve the areas natural resources and natural resource-based economy.

This effort is partially funded by the Economic Development Council of Tillamook County and Visit Tillamook Coast.

We are grateful for the outpouring of support from so many businesses and individuals. Organizers would like to thank Handy Creek Bakery, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Monica Gianopulos, The Roost, Manzanita Fresh Foods, Mother Natures Natural Foods, Manzanita Market Grocery & Deli, Bread and Ocean, Manzanita News & Espresso, Kingfisher Farms, the City of Wheeler, the Wheeler Liquor Store, Bills Tavern, Mohler Co-op and many more yet to come.

For those unable to join the day of the event, organizers ask to consider making a donation by visiting nehalemtrust.org or by mail to Lower Nehalem Community Trust, PO Box 496, 532 Laneda Ave., Suite C, Manzanita, OR 97130. Include Estuary Cleanup in the message section or on the memo line.

For more information, contact Lower Nehalem Watershed Council Coordinator, Alix Lee at lnwc@nehalemtel.net

Original post:

Nehalem Bay Estuary Cleanup - North Coast Citizen

Australians can breathe a sight of relief. Their record streak of consecutive quarters without a recession is still alive. After a 0.5% contraction in the third quarter of 2016, the countrys economy grew by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. It has been more than 25 years since Australias last recession, the longest streak for any Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country since 1970.

Other media outlets contend the Netherlands still owns the crown for their recession-less growth from 1982 to 2008, but we beg to differ. Using data from the OECD and the generally accepted definition of a recessiontwo consecutive quarters of negative growththe Netherlands went through a very mild recession in 2003.

Australia was one of the few wealthy countries to continue to grow through the 2008 financial crisis, largely because of natural resource demand from China.

The recent slowdown that threatened Australias run is also attributable to China, this time in reduced demand for Australias iron ore and coal. China is now Australias largest trading partner, and the Australian economy ebbs and flows with Chinese desire for their exports. Australian treasury secretary John Fraser recently spoke of the need to move the country towards broader-based growth after an investment boom concentrated in natural-resource extraction.

If the Australian economy were to slip in the next several years, Poland is the favorite to take over the longest active growth streak without recession. Since 1995, the first year the OECD began collecting Polish GDP growth data, the economy has not had a recession. Polands economy swelled at the robust rate of 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the World Bank expects it to continue humming along in 2017. Still, it remains four years short of Australias current streaka lifetime in economic-cycle years.

See original here:

Australia's economy is on a 25-year winning streak, and China will determine how much longer it goes - Quartz

A heritage fund would help to wean Saskatchewan off its dependence on boom-or-bust resources like oil and gas. Don Healy / Regina Leader-Post

All governing politicians avoid talking about a boom.

After all, it implies they are merely the recipients of good luck rather than brilliant managers.

But if they were truly good managers, they would acknowledge that booms and busts occur in a resource-based economy like Saskatchewans and tuckaway a few dollars for a rainy day.

Interestingly, governing politicians whocant ever quite utter the word boom do eagerly subscribe to if not the word itself at least the notion of the word bust.

Consider how much youve heard from Finance Minister Kevin Doherty of late onthedeclining naturalresource commodity prices as the source of the $1.2-billion deficit in the 2016-17 budget.

Itssomewhat true. But its even truer that Dohertys Saskatchewan Party government overspent in the booms and is now paying the price in the bust. This is all too common and something governments hate talking about even more than the reality of booms and busts.

Frankly, the only really shocking thing about what just happened is that we were all somehow mesmerized by Premier Brad Walls insistence that unprecedentedresource prices were forever the new reality. (Remember Wall insisting five years ago when oil was $90-100 U.S. a barrel that it would never fall through a floor of $50 or $60 U.S. a barrel?)

But because politicians wont, the rest of us need to take stock of what weve learned from the latest cycle in Saskatchewans long history of boom and bus cycles:

First, booms cant be all about who races to the trough first in good times.

Todays need for austerity to deal with the $1.2-billion deficit is at least partly an admission of excessive past spending. We are now paying dearly for everything from that $1.9-billion Regina Bypass to the cost of the new Mosaic Stadium, to the decreases you may have received on your property taxes to the 36-plus-per-cent increase to registered nurses to the decision to not pay down more debt that is now again on the rise.

This takes us to the next reality weve learned from the current boom-bust cycle:

Second, busts are a bad time to fix government spending problems because we dont have the money sitting around to fix the problem.

If you live in Saskatchewan today, you cant help but notice how Wall, Doherty, et al. have thrown everything against the wall to see what sticks.

Weve seen enough trial balloons to block the winters sun eliminating all or most of the school boards, privatizing government cleaning services, freezing or rolling back all public sector wages, implementing Wallidays in which public sector employees would be forced to take unpaid days off once a month, cutting into teachers preparation time to reduce education costs and offering voluntary severances for health region CEOs and VPs as we move to a single health district.

What the Saskatchewan Party government is failing to tell you is each and every one of those trial balloons is weighed down with an anchor the costs of breaking contracts or paying severance in contracts that government wont be breaking.

The sum of all this adds up to the impossibility of eliminating a $1.2-billion dollar deficit in single year without massive carnage that would have toinclude big-time tax increases.

So what we need is a return to the basics setting aside the next boom money in a heritage fund that we havent much talked about since former University of Saskatchewan president Peter MacKinnon presented his A Futures Fund for Saskatchewan report in 2013.

In a recent opinion piece, Todd MacKay, Prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation,broached the problem of Saskatchewan continuing to ride the commodity price roller coaster and the need for a heritage fund to smoothout the bumps.

Were unprepared for the bust because were unprepared for the boom, MacKay said, advocating a heritage fund.

It makes sense. It begins with recognizing that booms and busts will remain a Saskatchewan reality.

Murray Mandryk in the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post.

mmandryk@postmedia.com

Read more:

Mandryk: Next Saskatchewan boom needs to be from our heritage fund - Regina Leader-Post

Toronto Sun

Bank of Canada channels Al Gore Toronto Sun Lane did acknowledge that, adapting to a lower-carbon economy will likely mean more profound structural changes for Canada than for many other countries because of our resource-based economy and that it will be costly for households and businesses ... and more »

Go here to read the rest:

Bank of Canada channels Al Gore - Toronto Sun

A marketing and communications company, Verdant Zeal, has reiterated the importance of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as key players in not only Nigerias economic growth, but Africas.

The firm said governments and other development partners needed to harness the power of technology to make a quantum leap in order to have a fair chance of development on continental scale. The company said it was casting a long range vision for the future by focusing on growing technology among African youths.

Its Group Director, Synergy, Mr. Dipo Adesida, while briefing reporters in Lagos earlier in the week, disclosed that his firm planned to train youths on how e-commerce and mobile money would help grow the economy as part of the innovation series the firm was promoting.

Adesida said the initiative was part of the desire to give back to the society as the company celebrates its 10thAnniversary. We, as Verdant Zeal, will not only galvanise the youth and inspire them to think differently, but will ensure a robust engagement so that some of them would have opportunities to live out their dreams, he assured.

As part of the innovation series instituted to examine the question of Africas development and hone opportunities for growth, he stated that the firm would also leverage on inherent strengths.

To achieve this, a lecture/symposium is being organised by the firm, with the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje and Etisalats Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Matthew Willsher as discussants to encourage the youths.

He said: Africa is gradually moving from a resource based economy to knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. This has helped in impacting our youths as more youths now are exposed to the internet and get to share ideas with both local and foreign friends.

The Group Director Marketing & Business Development and Chairperson, 10th Anniversary Planning Committee, Nkiruka Oguadinma, said there would be an art exhibition showcasing their operations in Africa. She said the exhibition would cover artefacts from nine African countries.

On their expansion drive in Africa, Oguadinma said they were studying the business bend in other African countries.

According to her, any income from the exhibition will be donated to the Society for the Blind and Sickle Cell society.

See the rest here:

Firm canvasses technology strategy - The Nation Newspaper