5 posts tagged “opp”

I had a fabulous sleep last night.  It was a quiet morning and I took time to speculate at how surprised and pleased I am to be ‘weathering’ so well.  I suspect others are feeling similar feelings.  Going in, I imagined that by the end of a full month, I’d be in far rougher shape than I am, energy/strength-wise.  Could it be that I continue to hold up so well because what I am doing here feels/is ‘right’ and, in conjunction with the efforts of others, the path remains clear.

Having internet service has definitely changed the look of my day.  I only spent about four hours outside today, compared to the usual 14 or more.  On the up side, the time was spent networking, mostly with radio stations across Ontario, and on an interview with Global TV.  They will air tomorrow night at 5:30 on Shawn Mallin’s show (I’ve likely spelled that incorrectly).  A positive response has quickly come back from radio-ecoshock, where they have already planned to speak with Jim Harding, author of  Uranium – Canada’s Dirty Secret, and will add a bit on our struggle here.

I neglected to mention that we had an unusual guest at the site last night.  Her (new) name is Mori (short for moratorium) and she is a feline, about 5 months old, mostly grey in colour, with very short hair.  Incredibly thirsty and hungry, she was inclined to devour the single can of dog food that I found, but, to give her stomach a chance to stretch, we fed her in little bits.  (That’s how we’ll be feeding me one of these days.)  I’m not sure whether she is lost or has been dropped off.  We’ve had a cat food donation and she is gradually getting her fill. Personality wise, she is a charmer. One of our MELT OPP officers has already fallen in love and I suspect that Kassia, Zephyr and Taegan will too when they visit on Wednesday.  We’ll wait to see if someone shows up to claim her before doing anything drastic.  Meanwhile, she is a lovely mascot for the site.

Today’s visitors included a couple of ladies who have been very active in Ottawa and in Carleton Place.  One, a member of Ottawa CCAMU, has written a newsletter and distributed 200 copies, with more to come.  I didn’t realize it when she visited, but she’s also responsible for the red ‘no uranium’ bumper stickers that you may have spotted.  The other has sent numerous handwritten letters to the Premier, the Prime Minister and various ministries and has had her ‘letter to the editor’ published in several area newspapers.  She’s planning to invite friends, feed them (potluck?) and have a letter writing party at her home.  This is an excellent idea for others to entertain and to spread around.  Maybe we could do it from here at some point, now that we have a nice warm spot to work from.   If you can join us at the ‘sit-in/picket’ at Premier McGuinty’s office on Friday, Nov 16th, throughout the day, how about handwriting a letter to deliver in person.

Scott Reid’s office called tonight and he will be out for a visit on Wednesday morning.  Scott is the MP (Conservative) in this riding and I’ve a personal connection to him, through Mike.

Blessings
Donna (and Mori – she enjoys ‘helping’ me type by walking over top of the keyboard)

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the days pass here on the side of the road.  Between boiling water, squeezing lemons, greeting visitors, keeping warm, making and tending fires, giving interviews (phone and in person), the time just flies by.

Today we were videotaped and interviewed by two students doing a paper on conflict for a course at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa and by a writer from a bi-monthly publication in the Killaloe area.

One of our MELT (Major Events Liason Team) OPP Officers was kept busy mediating over whether hunters would be allowed inside the gate for their annual hunt.  The issue is one of safety.  I’m personally fine with it so long as the hunters remain aware that there are people on this side of the gate.

One of our overnight guests, joining us for his first visit, came from Kingston bearing gifts of flour, oat flakes, rice, sugar, propane and organic chocolate bars.  It was debated as to whether the bars could be juiced but we decided that it likely wouldn’t fly.

News came that the twelve-week negotiation period will begin on Monday and that more news would be forthcoming at the community meeting to be held early tomorrow afternoon.  The campfire discussion this evening was stimulating, as is often the case.

If you have the annual Native Christmas gathering marked on your calendar, please change the date from Dec. 1st to the 2nd.  The hall had already been booked for the former date, hence the change.  Please do plan to attend; it should be quite a party.
Love
Donna

The OPP landed in first thing to do their surveillance.  There was a bit of a stir when the landowner and a neighbour wanted to come onto the property and were denied access (by the OPP) while that was happening.

Around 70 people attended the open Native council meeting this afternoon to hear Ardoch’s lawyer explain where things sit currently.  Lots of people stopped by during the day – it didn’t hurt that the weather was bright and beautiful. It is clear that support is strong and growing.  The prize for longest distance traveled goes to a couple of gentlemen from N.B., while our highest profile guest was Frank DeJong, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, and a personal friend, who stopped in to check up on me. Soon the trailer will be heated and the hut is already cozy and warm, so please come by for a few minutes, a day or several.  Just bring your sleeping bag, pillow and toothbrush.

News came from CBC Morning Show that they were not going to come for an interview after-all because they had heard, erroneously, that the blockade was down.  (Although they are showing good faith and continuing their move to this side of the gate, until the ‘I’s are dotted and the ‘T’s are crossed, the Natives continue to hold the gate.)   I explained that to the young woman who called, but she was not convinced that there was still a story here.  From my perspective, whether or not there is a blockade matters not to my purpose and presence here.

In the meantime, I know that we will win this by people power and with the power of the Internet.  Whatever you are doing – whether it is writing Letters to the Editor; attending the site; getting a ‘Bring Gramma Home’ sign where people can see it; speaking to your MP’s or MPP’s and the Premier, sending emails far and wide, including this blog; copying the petition; speaking, or having someone speak to your group; getting together a coalition of grandparents (and honourary grandparents) in your town or city; making donations or holding a fundraiser, please keep doing it – something each and every day.  If you have some other ideas please run with them and let us know so that we can share them.

CCAMU is looking for people to picket the Premier’s office and hand out info at city hall in Ottawa (and possibly Queens Park, too).  If you are in Ottawa or Toronto, or can be, please let us know when you can spare a few hours.

Thanks to Philip Thompson for the fabulous sleeping bag - good to 25 below.  With some hot rocks and a hot water bottle inside with me, the cold problem should be licked (and just in time too).  Up till now, I had not been naming the people who have been supporting just in case they’d rather not have their name on the site, but I was assured that Philip would be ok with that.  Thanks for the note too, Philip. It’s incredible how the needs of the camp are met sometimes even before we put out a request.  Thanks everyone.

Today was the first day that I felt fatigued and my blood pressure was up, though still in the acceptable range.   Weight loss is in the 10 lb. range.  Mentally, I’m good and I’m feeling both disappointed - to think that what I am doing is not of interest - at least to one news program (expectations will get ya every time) and blessed to have the support that is here (and out there).  I’m also grateful for the break in the weather.
Love
Donna

A hazy day, found me feeling peaceful and a bit spacey, when a CTV reporter out of Kingston showed up for an interview, which will be aired on French Radio and TV. Our OPP liaison advised us that the township building inspector would be by on Tues to inform us that our cozy hut, newly built, had to be removed. I’ll keep you posted as to how that unfolds.

A littler late in the day (Editor’s note: October 18th), the officer returned to report that they had been told that the blockade must be down and the site turned over to Frontenac Ventures by 10 a.m. tomorrow or FV will proceed with the contempt charges. This came as a surprise to the folks outside the gate as it was thought that the delay was on the part of the government and that everyone was patiently awaiting to hear that the agreement was finalized before closing down the blockade. Regardless and not hearing otherwise, some scurrying around resulted as signs were removed from the fence and the exterior of the entrance was cleared.

I second guessed my decision to meet with my youngest daughter, Elisha, for her ‘meet the teacher’ night, but decided to go anyway, since I hadn’t seen her for 11 days. She misses me, obviously, as does the rest of the family. While home I made contact with a CBC environment reporter who hopes to be out to the site for an interview.

The Boler furnace is out for repairs and will, hopefully, be working by the time the temperature dips again. I’m so grateful for this break in the weather and noticing how I take a roof over my head and a warm bed for granted so much of the time

A special thanks to those who have already signed up for an overnight stay at the protest site. It is such an essential piece to having this campaign work.  It won’t make a difference to my commitment, but being here alone on this side of the fence overnight, doesn’t have much appeal to me, so please add your name for a night or two by hitting reply or emailing greenlynndaniluk@yahoo.ca. Know that you will be helping to make history.

Yesterday, I was finally warm, partly due to the weather – a truly lovely day - and partly due to the winter cover-alls that Mike (my husband) dropped off. These were way more ‘becoming’ than my attire of the last few days, which made me look and feel like a pseudo sumo wrestler.  Mike joked that every time he visited me that I had gotten 2 inches wider – not the usual effect of a hunger strike.  I’ll add more layers on top of the overalls as the temperature drops.

Reports on yesterday’s concert were that the music was fabulous and that it was a great moral booster.  Apparently Zephyr was very vocal in singing along with Frank (until she was relocated to the great outdoors by her Daddy).

Going into week #2, I’m looking forward to moving into a camper that can be heated.  Thanks again to the folks who have donated the bowler/boller (sp?) for the duration and to those who’ve donated the tent camper.  I’ve awakened well before dawn, cold, with a mild headache a couple of mornings and experienced some pain from my lower back down through both legs for three days now.  Nothing to write home about, but for the record, I’ve committed to telling all of you how it actually is, here at the camp.  Blood pressure and pulse remains steady.

Late this a.m., I was honoured to have four Raging Grannies and a Grannie-in-training (a student doing her thesis on the Grannies) for tea.  Having traveled from Ottawa with a few songs that they’d written especially for the occasion, they performed for us at the camp.  Some of us were pleased when we were invited to sing along.  One of the Grannies worked with Mike about 30 years ago and had a connection with his Mom, Betty Nickerson.

The wood hut took shape today, thanks to the volunteers who took part.  I’m looking forward to sitting inside with the woodstove crackling.

Thank you to those friends new and old who have gifted me with so much, including: teas; juices; maple syrup; cozy warm socks; hot rocks; a water bottle; tears; cheers and prayers.  Also thanks to those who are taking time out of their lives, off site, to support the effort to make a difference in the lives of those not yet born.

My appreciation, too, to the members of the First Nations who make being here so much easier than it would otherwise have been; and for the biggie - holding off exploration and for getting us to the point of negotiations with the government.

As well, thanks to the local newspapers and Perth Radio, Lake 88.1 for doing their job and reporting the news.  To my knowledge, none of the national media, with the exception of Global have aired the report.  Perhaps this week - and with your input - they might rethink that.

Lastly, thanks to the OPP for their handling of this situation.  They have indeed taken the high road and should be commended for their actions and, when appropriate, inactions.  I commend them.

As we, hopefully, move into the negotiation stage this week, let us not forget that each of us has a worldview born out of our personal past and that no two are exactly alike.  The legacy we wish to leave in our passing differs based on that worldview. While we are here, we can continue to educate and persuade.  Please consider “Bring Gramma Home” window and lawn signs, bumper stickers, signatures on emails, buttons – use your imagination - and when people ask you what “Bring Gramma Home” is about, you will have an opportunity to both educate and persuade.  Thank you.

Blessings and love
Donna