least resistance in regards to our energy development, in that we extracted the highest quality, cheapest to produce oil, coal, and natural gas first and left the lower quality, more expensive and harder to extract fuels for later.
It’s now later. When you look at the energy picture worldwide there is a huge emphasis on tight oil shale, deep water and bitumen development and that should concern you. We’ll never run out of oil but what we will run out of is cheap, easy oil, the very thing that has underpinned our economy (growth economics) and the high energy lifestyle we’ve become accustomed to for the past 60 years.
For the past half-century there has been a hidden subsidy on food, that is cheap oil and now that we’re moving into unconventional sources the cost of extracting will passed on to you the consumer. The price of food (amongst other things) will continue to rise over the next decade, you are going to pay more for your food which is going to wilt the economy given that people will be spending more on the basics and not much else.
The just-in-time food delivery systems of the past 60 years are complex and susceptible to energy shocks and extreme climate events. So when complex systems get in trouble they tend to reset to something simpler, in the case of our food, the reset will look like a relocalized and regional food production system.
It’s that simple. Local and regional food will make up a larger percentage of the food you consume, with the hidden subsidy of oil no longer making food sources from other places cheaper to buy.
So what can you do? Well support local farmers for one. The other more immediate thing you can do, is stop stupid agricultural land swaps and start with the people who voted for it in Summerland.
The people opposed to this swap in Summerland should start a targeted campaign to vote the mayor and city councils who voted for the swap out and vote in people who will repeal this bylaw and protect farmland. Ditto goes for council members and the mayor in Penticton, make it an election issue and target those who are in favor of developing productive farmland.
Cody Young
Penticton
Thank you for supporting daffodil month
On behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society, I would like to thank Penticton for supporting daffodil month during April.
Every three minutes, another Canadian is faced with a cancer battle. It’s likely the disease has affected almost everyone in Penticton, be it a personal diagnosis or that of a loved one. By wearing the daffodil pin in April, Penticton residents collectively stood together to show people living with cancer they are not alone in the fight.
With the support of our volunteers, donors and community partners, the Canadian Cancer Society is leading the charge in the fight against all cancers — of which there are more than 200 different types.
Each and every day, we are working hard to accomplish our mission of eradicating cancer and enhancing the quality of life of those living with the disease.
We do this by funding the most promising cancer research, offering vital support to those living with cancer, and trying to prevent cancer in the first place by educating Canadians about early detection and advocating for healthy public policies.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and our more than 7,500 daffodil volunteers, we anticipate the daffodil Month initiative will raise $5 million in B.C. this year alone, which will have a substantial and important impact in our fight for life.
The Canadian Cancer Society’s continued impact in the fight for life would not be possible without the generosity of our volunteers, donors and community partners in Penticton.
We are very grateful for your support and wish to thank you for joining us in the fight for life.
Together, we can change cancer forever.
Marlene Gawley President, Penticton Unit
Canadian Cancer Society
IODE celebrates over 20 years
The ladies of the Diamond Jubilee Chapter IODE Penticton gathered together for intercession Sunday to worship at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church recently.
Intercession Sunday has been celebrated for over 20 years now, each year a different church is selected and we rotate from year to year. Not too many people know of the IODE and this is an opportunity to chat with the ladies of the congregation and thus enlighten them.
The IODE is non-denominational and has been working diligently since 1900 to enhance the quality of life for individuals through education support, community service and citizenship programs.
Denise Kadatz
Communications IODE Penticton
Celebrate family caregivers
The South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society wants to recognize all family caregivers for everything they do. The role of caregiver is so essential in our community. They provide help to family members and friends who are not yet ready, or don’t qualify for formal support.
The many tasks they do including shopping, booking appointments with medical or other professionals, transportation, cleaning and small house maintenance chores. They are there to offer a listening ear when others are too busy. They are advocates to help people access services in the community.
Being a caregiver is often time consuming and can become a complicated role. There are many organizations that have programs to support caregivers, including ours. If you know a caregiver who is supporting someone who has experienced a brain injury or stroke, please let them know we are here for them, when they are ready. We offer a caregiver support group in Penticton.
On behalf of all people on the receiving end of the support, we appreciate caregivers and all you do for our community members.
Linda Sankey, Executive Director
South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society
Good job PeachFest
Such a fantastic plan to invite Trooper, an iconic Canadian band, back to Penticton Peach Festival.
I was fortunate to catch the 2011 performance with my wife. This is a band that sounds great live. their music is a classic rock style that appeals to a fairly wide age group.
Whole families came and enjoyed the evening of upbeat music with dancing, swaying, singing along, and very little (I hadn’t noticed any) rowdiness, often associated with outdoor rock concerts.
Local RCMP and BCAS members were dutifully on scene and appreciated for being ready to assist.
Thanks to Peter Brothers Paving and all event organizers for taking resources and time to put this family friendly event together. Looking forward to Aug. 7.
Wil McCutcheon
Summerland resident
Political chickens
Just what in hell is Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird all about? This guy with the big mouth may bite off more than he can chew and placing Canada in harm’s way as he seems intent on rattling the chain of Russia.
What credentials does this here today and gone tomorrow armchair general have on his resume for war? Was Baird a cadet? Serve in any Canadian active military? Serve in a war zone? Has Baird ever kicked a dog in the ass till the dog bites or is he just a big chicken who clucks and plays with other people’s lives he depends on to keep him safe while staining the earth with innocent blood continues due to know nothings?
My advice to Baird comes from one who survived everyday with perfect attendance during World War Two and lost love of a family I would never grow up with thanks to my lonely exile to a foreign country who’s governments dumped me at the very young age of 17.
Baird, Harper and other comedians in the pack of fools may find out that sending six fighter aircraft, 50 soldiers, one ancient sea bucket and the hot air from the mouth of Baird only adds to a problem that would be none of their business if Uncle Sam was not at the helm of all this latest mess?
Strange that North Korea, Pakistan — with Syria — and many other’s countries in dire straits with thousands being killed has failed to be addressed? Are the above listed in the Western category of all hands off? Please somebody give a transparent answer as to why there are only dirty words and saber rattling or is it just a game of political chicken?
It’s been said before Canada alone could not fight its way out of a paper bag. It’s high time the stay at home ready for market political chickens to realize that.
Tom Isherwood
Olalla
Can’t bear it
In mid-winter an emaciated black bear found shelter in chicken coop in Midway.
Instead of letting common sense prevail by asking a game warden to dispatch this animal, it was decided to transport the bear to Northern Lights, a Smithers animal rehabilitation facility. Apparently 300 bears have received care at this place over the years.
At present they have 10 bears to care for. Once fit to be released each bear is then taken to the location where the animal was initially found.
Recently, a spokesperson for Northern Lights wants us to know that more donations are needed to buy radio collars so each released bear can be tracked, located in our vast hinterlands. All of the above is so bizarre, so overwhelmingly haywire that it is almost impossible to believe.
Approximately 150,000 black bears hang out in the bush, an estimate by the provincial government wildlife branch. Fortunately, most of us did not fall off the back of a turnip truck and know that this plentiful wild animal should live and die as they mostly do anyway.
Gert Hahn
Okanagan Falls
Drop in on Computer Club
The Computer Club at 439 Winnipeg St., will continue to hold drop-in sessions on Monday and Friday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
These sessions are for members but is open to non-members for a small fee to help solve problems or give advice or rid your computer of unnecessary junk.
The Saturday morning lectures series has been discontinued until further notice. We are sorry for any inconvenience to members who arrived on Saturdays only to find the Computer Club closed.
The lecture series will continue in September.
Cyril is back teaching how to download pictures from your camera, giving your pictures titles and putting your pictures into folders. This class is on Mondays from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Doug continues his Wednesday afternoon sessions on pictures, ecards and any other programs he has designed. The time for these sessions is 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays.
Be sure to check the Computer Club’s web page, Doug is always upgrading this site and has many links to interesting information with a few jokes thrown in.
The Computer Club will resume in the September, this will be the time for membership renewal and class sign-up.
Have a great summer and keep on computing.
Evelyne Turner
Penticton
