just got back from an evening PACHA meeting with this guy Denny who's up in Prince George from California for a couple of days. He is gonna help us do a community-led "bucket brigade" to sort just what the hell is in that weird-smelling air that hits our lungs here sometimes. Denny works with Global Community Monitor out of California http://www.gcmonitor.org/, a human rights & environmental organization that has worked with grassroots organizations all around the world to assist them to clean up their industry-caused toxic environments. Tonight he was showing us how to build the special bucket - he is providing the bags that the smelly air from the worst parts of PG will go into (you know on those mornings that virtually kill you they are so obnoxious with stench) -- these bags we''ll have to ship across the US border so I guess we will have to tell the custom officers "PG smelly air" (geez I hope they don't think we are terrorists or something!). Denny will be interviewed on CBC Daybreak North tomorrow morning & will be present at an ODOUR PUBLIC MEETING, 7 PM, COAST INN OF THE NORTH tomorrow night to talk to the public.

Interesting how there seems to be a trend of citizens having to pursue studies on their own & take action. Where exactly is government in this equation? - their role appears to be morphing into something pretty weird these days. Just this week I heard about fish biologist Alexandra Morton taking legal action on her own about a fish farm on the west coast when Dept Fisheries & Oceans failed to act. I heard about the Dogwood Initiative taking legal action to save an orca whale. Down in the states, an environmental organization is leading a legal action to get an Enbridge pipeline (Alberta clipper line) stopped. . . wow! Things are happening! I am optimistic that at a certain level, grassroots are really starting to unite. . . sure as hell need it!