Greening- Act Now

Meaning of Life

2011-12-06T15:37:00.001-08:00

While returning from the London store one day I had the kind of experience you really don't want to have, but is a test of your person! That incident was a very serious car accident....directly in front of me!

Yep, I was about 10 to 12 car lengths behind a cargo truck. We were slowing down coming into Arva and then all of a sudden smoking squealing tires, the truck falls forward, the rolls onto its side! I begin to make my move to avoid hitting him as he is now firmly on his side sliding in the lane I was in plus heading into oncoming traffic. But just as I make the move to avoid him I realize that in front of the truck was another car! He had hit it as he rolled onto his side. Now, I was trying to avoid this sideways sliding truck and the now moving from the middle lane towards the shoulder of the road... seriously damaged! I did manage to miss the truck, miss the other car, drive into the shallow ditch on side of the road and back onto the shoulder and come to a stop! Whew, very very close, but I am ok, so is my car!

But not so much for the other 2 participants!

Now, most other folks, and I do mean 99.9% of the cars in the area simply continued on their way! But I jumped out and immediately ran to the Jetta- the young woman inside was obviously in shock, most likely had some kind of neck or back injury but was no in immediate danger. I managed to convince her to stay in her car. Ironically, she was merely yards away from home when she was hit from behind!

I then ran to the truck! It was leaking diesel, engine running and as I approached it occurred to me- get the engine off, get the driver out! Luckily, the driver popped out of the window, but before he climbed out I yelled at him to shut off the truck! No need for an explosion eh!

Well, as I and one other lady that finally stopped waited for OPP and fire and ambulance, we realized just how close to a very serious situation this had come! I could have been hit or hit the truck as it rolled: I could have hit the Jetta as it rolled out in front of me; I could have lost control and rolled in the ditch; I could have been burned by a fire from the leaking diesel and running engine; the lady in the Jetta could have been much more seriously hurt; the truck driver could have been more seriously hurt! Luckily, none of these alternatives came to be!

Why am I sharing this- well, its good therapy. Life is already chaotic and already has challenges. So called good Christians out for revenge instead of restoration; folks without compassion passing by accidents; recklessness instead of control. All things I have seen recently and yet the universe chose for me not to be hurt in this accident, chose me to be there to help strangers, chose me to be in the right place at the right time. For all of the eventual outcomes of this situation, I thank the universe. Maybe the meaning in all this is to be more aware, more compassionate, restore instead of revenge, help others and smile. Dwelling, looking for an eye to replace an eye, attacking and being spiteful are simply a waste of time. Changing the world and helping others- I think that's the way to go.

Summer of Fear-for the Rich at least!

2011-08-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

Well, the newspapers, radio and tv news folks are at it again- working to convince all of us that the economy is in free fall collaspe and we should all move the fallout shelters!

Sure, the stock markets are sucking right now; sure, we're not generating jobs as fast as the last post recession period; sure our average incomes aren't moving up as much as we'd like; sure our debt loads are climbing more than we'd like them to.......BUT, we are seeing improvements!

Jobless figures are getting better- they ain't great, but they're moving the right way.

GDP is trending the right way in Canada and many other countries on the planet.

Overall confidence is improving.

So why the panic. Well first of all, panic and fear sells! Second, the panic is coming from a small group,that being brokers, large house investors and the wealthy. Why, cuz, a drop in stock values means that their balance sheets aren't as pretty today as they were yesterday. Lets be honest, the average person isn't investing in stocks. So, when companies lose 2, 4, 10% of the paper value, most of us aren't hurt by it. Unless big corp does what it does best when this happens, lay off the little folks to save money for investors.

So, to recap:
Sky is not falling
Rich are getting hurt by stock drops
Corporations need to have faith and ethics and not lay off folks to save money, especially when most of these same companies are sitting on huge cash reserves and still making money aka- RIM, APPLE, any oil or gas company and many others (did you know APPLE has more cash than the US government?).

Stay calm, carry on! Don't get sucked into the press void of depression and panic. Be your own advisor.

Talk Show Radio Hosts..

2011-06-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

I listen to a couple of local radio talk shows once and awhile if I'm in the car in the mornings for any reason. My chosen stations tend to be Am570 out of Kitchener, AM980 out of London and AM900 out of Hamilton. I started listening years ago when I spent a lot of time driving and needed something besides music to push the day along.

For the most part, I enjoy AM570 and AM900. Same goes for AM980, but right now, the 9 to 11 host has me well confused and frustrated.... I have to admit of late I worry that the host has found the path of most twists, turns and flip flops one can travel!

I know that for the most part he's a right winger, with views that often border on Reform Party mantra-and some of that I'm ok with. But where I get confused is when he chooses to both suck and blow on topics. Here's the most recent example I listened too the other day.

He was discussing the dreaded 'bag tag' garbage system. He started off with the same unproven complaints I have heard in many cities where they have adopted the system: people will dump garbage, people will steal tags, why should I pay more than my neighbour, it's my right to dump garbage at will, why should we have to be taxed for something thats been 'free' for ever, the price increase from the flat rate tax system is too drastic, unfair and will hurt everybody, why should people with bigger households or the rich pay more for garbage removal. All the same stuff I've heard in Meaford, Guelph, Barrie, Strathroy, Stratford-all proven to be false. But while he's complaining about a fiscal plan to adjust the tax system to a more user based plan, just as he advocates for many other items, he suddenly doesn't like this plan cuz he'll have to pay more for his garbage! Well duh!

Heres the London deal- currently, each address is paying $55.00/yr for garbage removal, regardless of how much of a mountain they toss out each collection period. Yes, there is a blue box program! But under a tag system, you would have the $55.00 taken off the tax bill (yes, every city I've lived in really did take it off), and then you buy tags at $1.50 or more per bag to put on the curb. Yes, if you put out more than 26 bags a year your costs go up. But, if you use say 22 bags a year, look your costs go down! What the.... Yep, down if you watch your waste line!

The bottom line with bag tag systems is this- is normally is a direct funding for a cities waste management plan and landfill. Removes the cost from the general revenues/expenses. It gives you an incentive to reduce your garbage, increase recycling, watch your purchasing choices, demand that your retail shops give you less garbage or wrapping or boxes or waste to take home thus making it your problem. All the other concerns, well look around- people toss garbage now, people steal from other people now and your taxes will go up in the future. But at least you can have some say or control on 1 small piece of that puzzle.

So, Mr AM980 morning talk show guy- you wanted fiscal responsibility in city hall, you wanted reduced taxes, you call for a pay health care system- well you get the garbage version of this if you go bag tag- and you asked for it when you voted for financial restraint. Can't suck and blow my friend.

Health? Care or Pharma Corp Tax Plan?

2011-06-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

I have been chewing on this idea for some time. It was front and centre over the last few months as my father-in-law passed from cancer. It was always on the tip of my tongue but I held back during a sensitive time. Now, with his passing I want to toss this out there.

If we have a health care system that is supposed to take care of us, then why do we fund raise for health care/illnesses?

Whoa, what the hell does he mean you're asking out there.....

Here's my boggle: we pay 25 to 50% of our incomes in taxes to the government which is supposed to fund health care and any subsequent research that is required for our health (plus other items, I know...).

And then, with moderate incentives (tax credits), we, the people, willingly donate vast sums of our money to 'events' and 'charities' to pay for research, support programs and actual care for people that are ill. Diseases such as cancer, crohn's, MS, Cysticfibrosis, HIV Aids and many more are all serious issues affecting the health of millions of people in our country. Lets not even mention the costs associated with alcoholism, chronic depression or heart disease, liver disease and so on and so on.

So why do we 'have' to fund research, treatment and the likes at all? Is that not the purpose of our heavily tax funded government programs? Shouldn't they be tackling these issues head on to make sure cures or serious treatments exist? Wouldn't it be prudent to make sure we eliminate illness and diseases whenever possible to keep the costs down for the health care system? (some may say that conspiracy theories exist that say big pharma is holding back solutions to make money? If this is true it is our government that must step up to end these road blocks).

Imagine if you can-they cure lets say 60% of the cancers we know of: they cure MS: they come up with reasonable treatments for crohn's: they cure alcoholism ~ what would that mean to our society? First off, instead of taxes being spent on problems due to these diseases, we'd have lower costs to simply solve the issue. We'd then free up money to take on other diseases and so on and so on. Plus, all the money we've been donating to these agencies, charities etc, could be directed to non-health needs i.e. Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, Food Bank etc. We could also use our donations to help other countries as well.

I know, this is simplistic, but it's idealistic too! It's a dream to re-invent our health system and our donations management. I want to see a long term health care plan that actually solves illness instead of just inventing more drugs and asking us to give more and more money to big pharma companies to do more research. I want to see the people be able to help other charities/agencies and let the health care system take care of itself. I'd like to see fiscal responsibility so we're able to reduce taxes one day instead of just dumping more and more money into a system that doesn't seem to fix anything.

So, is the system designed to make sure we fund via taxes or donation programs-those big pharmacy companies. Keeping them in biz to continually do research, testing and such and then only leak out small results, all for the profits of expensive drugs. Or are we really that incapable of solving these illnesses and therefore going to have to spend billions of dollars doing endless research? Who knows, but I hope we'll start seeing results soon from all the money we're pumping into the system!

Privacy eh...

2011-06-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

This may peeve off some folks, but, oh well, it's my thoughts.

Justin Biebs came home to Stratford last week. He spent time moving about the town, doing a bunch of different things, in different places over a few days. He tweeted some commentary about the Smart City contest Stratford was involved in. He played soccer, ate ice cream, went to a play- did all those things all of us Stratfordites do.

Then, he announced he was disappointed he couldn't have privacy, time alone away from the papparazzi or fans. He wished the fans would leave him and his family alone cuz he wanted some time home where he thought he was safe from all that stuff.

First off, I feel for you little man. But Justin, here's the problem: Privacy is a difficult thing to get now a day in a world of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, Youtube and more. Top it off, when you're a star, it's even worse. Not saying I agree with society's need to be this way, but it is what it is for now. You can't expect much more from a world gone crazy in a Big Brother, the VOICE, So You THink You Can Dance, American Idol~ where everyone wants to be a star, be famous, have groopies and more.

But Justin, you developed a career on the backbone of these very mechanisms. You used Youtube, Facebook and more to get to where you are today. You have gone to great lengths to be an out there star, causing riots by girls of all ages when you do concerts, visit malls, walk the streets or whatever. Since you lead this life to date, you can't expect to get much of a break from these same fans. Sorry, thats the truth of our lives today. I agree, it sucks. Everyone-you, me, whoever, deserves privacy. But when you live by the Tweet, you have to hide from the Tweet.

Might be worth another try, but go alot more undercover. Try to disguise your look a bit. Don't be so public if you really want to be hidden. Don't Tweet when your home. But, in the end you need to realize, you made your world in a set of parameters that made you famous, and you'll just have to deal. Sorry little man.

Copycats, cheaters and ethics

2011-05-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

This will be an odd little blog as I'm going to share some feelings about businesses that don't do their legwork when finding suppliers, that copy a model (especially in a small town) instead of coming up with their own and then what type of business person you must be if you simply 'cheat' your way through the business world.

P'lovers represents a specific business model- we exist to provide customers with an opportunity to experience alternatives to purchases customers may normally make at say Zellers, Sears, Giant Tiger, Wal Mart, Canadian Tire and more. Our model guides us through a purchasing decision process that makes sure the choices we make to bring a product into the store meets our mission. And while meeting our mission statement we make sure we stand out, stay ahead of the curve as much as possible and in some cases products with staying power remain in the store for sale if no better alternative exists.

We work hard to be P'lovers (we say being Ploverish), we do this to help our planet, our community and by doing so we help small suppliers with a similiar vision and hopefully make a living doing it too. We spend alot of time researching, testing, background reviewing products and then after all that we put a lot of effort into making sure we're not stealing someone elses products, especially in the Stratford market. In small markets you simply cannot have more than one store doing the same thing as another-it will lead to failure for the copier and the original.

We are a bit protective-and we should be! The last thing I want to see happen is for some store to simply steal our product lines, especially when it makes no sense in their current stores product mix. We did the work, we find products that meet our very specific business model and we want to be the supplier of these alternatives~especially in small towns like Stratford where the market simply can't bear multiple's of the same stores selling the same products. For example, in Stratford we have stores that sell great products and have great business models and business plans. Its a shame when they go off plan or totally off the rails just to make a quick buck. This type of business ownership management never works. Even the 'big box stores' have plans, and a mission and a model (whether you like them or not). Straying from that plan is considered dangerous and frowned upon-cuz it can lead to failure.

Sure, this seems a bit petty! But while we're busy making P'lovers what it is, what it stands for, we're also very much a part of our community. We make lots of donations to groups, charities, schools etc~ and we do this because we want to give back to our home. And if some 'userper' comes along and simply copies us, then it diminishes us both and in the end will most likely damage both stores if insufficient potential clients exists to support both.

So, to all the great stores of Stratford and beyond, please stick to your biz model-don't just cheat and copy us. Sure, it may be considered flattery, but it's not. Work hard, find good products to fit your biz, create great customer service and atmospher and let your model do its job. And let P'lovers do the same-differentiate, not copy!

Wal Mart, the bully!

2011-05-14T04:29:00.000-07:00

Well folks, for all those that love their precious Wal Mart, you’ve got your wish in Stratford sometime in late 2012. Rejoicing-WE ARE NOT.

Here’s why:
• We’ve just invited the single biggest anti-staff, anti-people employer in Canada into our backyard
• We’ve just made Stratford like every other town or city with a Wal Mart-just another place-less unique
• We’ve just traded all the jobs of Giant Tiger, most likely Zellers, a bunch from Sears and a bunch from a group of downtown stores in exchange for at most 120 part time Wal Mart jobs. It will be a net loss-always is anywhere these stores are built
• We’ve just added a store that supports NO local businesses, manufacturers or suppliers. In fact 90% of their product is made in China. Less than 5% comes from North America. Wal Mart made this happen by the way by demanding cheaper and cheaper prices. Forced suppliers to get rid of fair paying North American jobs for extraordinarily low paying asian jobs.

Why do people love this monster so much? No social conscious, no ethics, no working with the community- all so you can get cheap plastic Chinese made stuff.

And I’ll just bet you’ll see bumper stickers on the cars that shop there that say ‘Out of Work, Keep Buying Foreign’. Well, shopping at Wal Mart is the best way to keep jobs out of Canada and North America. My feeling- Wal Mart shoppers are anti Canadian. In this case anti-Stratford!

And for those that say at cost did we fight them just to lose- ethics sometimes cost money. Having principles sometimes costs money. Wanting to control your communities future sometimes costs money. So sure it cost money, but what is the cost now that they will actually come? I don’t need cheap plastic anything in my life in exchange for my friends jobs, my communities right to control its future-nope, I’ll not be needing Wal Mart in my life at any cost.

I also notice, the vast majority of the supporters seems to be non-Stratfordites. Interesting. If you live in Mitchell, St.Marys, Listowel and want a Wal Mart so badly, go get one! Quit wrecking our city just because your little towns have no shops of their own. Your problem-not ours. In fact, you should be talking to Perth ECDEV and your local governments to get your community growing. We’re working hard in Stratford to do just that, we don’t need Wal Mart or outsiders to tell us what their missing in their little towns. Thanks but we’ll pass.

So, a sad chapter in Stratford’s future has begun. Our council did the right thing defending OPA10. They also did the right thing to not resist based on the temporary bylaw. You don’t fight fights you can’t reasonably win. Sometimes money being tossed into a hole is a bad thing. Kudo’s to Council for their efforts on this matter. Kudo’s to everyone that came out to help us win the OPA10 battle with this most evil of corporations. Kudo’s to anyone that will never shop at Wal Mart-your support for local business is appreciated, your support for the right choices is appreciated. For those of you that will shop Wal Mart, I feel for you. Hopefully one day you’ll realize what a bad mistake you are making, before your job is sent to China at Wal Marts request.

I've added a fact sheet on Wal Mart CANADA for all of those folks that think they are angels:
Just the facts…

1-Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the world and the richest company in the world.
5000 stores worldwide in 10 countries.
2-256 stores across Canada employing over 60,000 employees. 97% of them part time at less than 15hours per week.
3-5 of the richest 13 people in the world are members of the Walton family.
4-28 hours a week is considered fulltime work at Wal-Mart.
5-Wal-Mart’s highest paid executive earns more money in one day than a Wal-Mart cashier earns in 4 years.
6-2/3 of Wal-Mart’s workers cannot participate in its health insurance plan because of its high cost and huge deductibles.
7-Wal-Mart employees in the U.S. had to sue to collect the overtime pay that they had earned.
8-Wal-Mart’s female employees, in every job category, have been paid less than their male counterparts each year since 1997. The biggest class-action lawsuit (1.5 million women) in U.S. history is underway against Wal-Mart for this systemic discrimination against women. While no legal cases in Canada yet, statistics show this trend to hold in Canadian stores.
9-Wal-Mart has been cited more than 40 times by the National Labour Relations Board for using illegal tactics (such as threats and firings) to deny its workers the right to have a union.
10-Wal-Mart workers in Jonquiere, Quebec successfully organized their workplace through the United Food and Commercial Workers’ Union. Wal-Mart’s response was to close the store. 200 workers lost their jobs.
11-Wal-Mart challenged Saskatchewan labour laws, citing that their rights under the charter were being infringed upon after refusing to provide the Saskatchewan Labour Board with internal documents on training management how to remain union-free.
12-Wal-Mart has been found guilty 4 times in Canada for unfair labour practices for intimidating and harassing workers during an organizing campaign.
13-In Ontario Wal-Mart was fined $500,000 for failing to report workplace accidents and injuries.

Democracy-but at what price?

2011-05-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

I feel compelled to share my experiences at 2 recent events- The London Vote Mob and the Democracy Watch Protest Stratford.

I attended the London Vote Mob with thousands of passionate, compelling, articulate people of all ages, sexes, colours and political strip. They gathered in a central location, Victoria Park, to express their desire for the politicians of our country to know that voting matters, youth matter and the voters will take action to take back our government and our country. It was peaceful, festive and respectful of the community-both residential and business, within which the event took place. I applaud the organizers for this massively successful event.

Then I watched the Democracy Watch Stratford protest. Again, passionate people, similar to the London Vote Mob crowd, gathered to express their concern that we’re giving our government too much leeway and in deed, we the voters need to and are going to take action to stop that erosion of our rights and freedoms. They too were sharing their opinions and expressing their desire to convince the public to vote to make change. However, here in lies the problem with this event- it wasn’t respectful of the community in which it was protesting. When asked to make sure they were not hampering regular commerce from taking place I was verbally challenge, berated for my lack of concern for democracy, told that it was just too bad my business and others was suffering even though all the while they got to express ‘their’ freedoms. In general, I felt threatened and bullied. Now, if that is what their version of democracy is, then I weep for the future. I respect and support their right to assembly and peaceful protest, but bullying is unacceptable and is very much anti-democratic.

I hope the Stratford group achieved some measure of success, I really do! Their voice in this matter is important. Just as with the London Vote Mob, change can only happen when you gather to share and exchange ideas, concerns, issues-peacefully and respectfully, as is the democratic way. I suggest you stay in touch with them at the blog site, www.stratforddemocracywatch.blogspot.com . I also hope that any passer’s by and visitors or locals will come on back downtown and try us again for their shopping and entertainment experiences.

Nothing wrong with the weather eh....

2011-04-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

This one goes out to all the neocons, anti-climate change folks out there. I sit here again listening to yet another series of weather events that have been extreme, out of the ordinary and deadly. After a winter that has been very long and came with way more than snow than our averages in Southern Ontario, now we enter the tornado season. Soon to be followed by hurricane season and I am certain heat waves and drought over the summer.

And yet, there are those that continue to say it's just normal change and man hasn't had any impact. Huh?

Even though we have 800,000 years of ice records from the polar regions that show that while some fluxuations are normal, the very recent last 2,000 years of rapid changes and then extraordinary changes of the last 100 years shows to me with clarity that man is having an impact. How can we not be impacting our earth? Pumping CO2 into the sky as we burn oil and coal for power and cars cannot lead to good changes in our planet! How can it?

Sure the sun is having impact, but if records dating back 800,000 years show rising CO2 levels since mans choice to burn oil and coal for power, then it cannot be just the sun.

Nay sayers are quick to say that it can't be true because Al Gore still uses his plane or burns alot of power in his home-that is the dumbest arguement ever!!! Just cuz Al doesn't do more to help our cause doesn't make the information he has shared mute! It just means he has poor personal power management issues.

Come on NeoCons and nay sayers- help us out a bit-it won't kill ya! Turn down the thermostat 1 degree in the winter and up 1 or 2 in the summer: drive your monster SUV's a little bit less and maybe even walk or bike a bit-hell, that can only help your health: reduce your garbage-recycle, reuse- demand less packaging at your shops of choice: shop locally, support small business locally, buy local food and stop going afar for products- it's good for you, good for our economy, good for the planet: change your light bulbs to LED's or CFL bulbs and use less lights at night-a little dark won't be scarey! All of these little changes save you some money, helps our planet and helps your local economy~ all good things for everyone! Come on, it ain't gonna hurt!

New P'lover on the street

2011-04-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

Just a short note today to welcome our newest P'lovers to the network- Kingston is open! Yeah! Located at 123 Princess Street in beautiful downtown Kingston. Kingston is very much like Stratford, just a bit bigger! Beautiful core, real shops, great food, lots of entertainment and they've got a great waterfront to boot! And now, P'lovers is there to make Kingston just that much better!

I encourage everyone to visit P'lovers in Kingston at 123 Princess Street, or for more details their website is www.ploverskingston.ca.

Best of luck to our newest family member! Everyone think green, be green and BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD!. Oh yeah, follow us all on twitter: Stratford and London is @ploversworld, Kingston is @ploverskingston and Halifax & Mahone Bay are @plovershalifax! Cya out there.

Parking- Malls vs downtowns

2011-04-11T16:57:00.001-07:00

I have had this idea for a while now about parking. One of the consistent top 3 complaints of locals and visitors alike (in Stratford and in any other town in Ontario) is about parking. Can't find spots close to the stores, no parking at all, too expensive, why do we pay at all are some of the comments that often shared. While parking is a problem in any downtown, there is an understandable need from some control around parking. Problems such as the staff or business owners using prime parking to put their personal cars for an entire day or shift. Parking spots used up by extended users. Meters that don't give a good duration i.e. 2 hour meters when 3 or 4 would make more sense~ these are common problems in any city or town, just ask. But I have one real personal bugaboo~ while city councils feel the need to enforce parking meters on locals and visitors when they try to support downtown areas, why are malls, waaaaay out on the edge of any town, able to give free parking??? If they wanted to kill 2 birds with 1 stone, here's how: Charge for parking in any mall where they have say more than 50 parking spots in total, and use that money raised to go directly back to the municipality to pay for road services. Ooooooo no he didn't! Yep I did! Why do malls get to have vast fields of free parking (which is environmentally unsound to begin with) and yet city and town councils rape and pileage downtown cores by charging for parking? Is seems unfair to me and also seems like a reasonalbe way to recover some tax revenues and level the playing field between malls and downtown shopping areas. So, places like Wal Mart, Sears, Zellers and any mall, any shopping area with more than 50 parking spots (again this is a suggested amount) should have to charge it's customers. I'm good with that. Ok, there it is- any alternatives?

What about us 'centerists'?

2011-04-04T12:52:00.001-07:00

As we sit here in Canada, and then again after that provincially in ONtario, I am again stuck listening to the 3 'big' parties and the separatists spew out venom, hatred, lies and bribes to us, the voters on a daily basis. And I really try to take it all in, and see if anything they say gives me hope, gives me a reason to believe anything they say and if anything they say/do/promise actually represents the majority of Canadians. And this election more than any before I sit here wondering why are we stuck having to vote RED,BLUE, ORANGE or SEPARATIST? What about the 'centerists'? What about the majority of Canadians that represent a piece of each party. Here's what I mean:

I am an envirnomentalist, and believe we should be creating more alternative power supplies (wind,solar,wave etc).

I am a fiscal conservative. I think we need lower taxes, lower corporate taxes, better accountability and control on spending and ZERO DEFICITS or DEBT.

I support universal healthcare-within reason. I don't like that people use it abusively. I think these people should pay a premium if they run junior ot the hospital every time he sneezes. Real illness should be taken care of.

I believe we should make sure our military has enough tools to support UN action or to defend our country. I don't think we should join every war for oil action lead by the US. But true actions to defend innocents is a requirement of democracies or able bodied people all over the world.

I don't think Quebec is distinct- I do believe all areas of Canada have distinctive histories. So, we should allow Quebec to do it's own thing, within reason, but not give into every demand or whim. Respect for all people is a basic concept I firmly want all of us grasp.

I would have to say I'm 35% Green, 20% Progressive Conservative, 20% Liberal, 10% NDP and 15% freethinking non party aligned. But the problem for me is I have to chose 1 only. This leads me to 2 wants:

A new Party, lets call them the Centerists

A system of voting where I can indicate these percentages and thus seats assigned by the total percentage voted to each party. So, lets say 15,000,000 vote, and the overall vote breakdown is 37% CON, 29% LIB, 18% NDP, 10% GREEN, 6% BLOC, then the seat count should be 113 CON, 89 LIB, 55 NDP, 31 GREEN, 18 BLOC. And then the PM is picked by the Parliament and fixed election dates, no votes of confidence. But, you need full recall powers

So, when will we, the voters wake up and demand a change in our government. This current version where 39 to 42% of the voters can create a majority government is ethically wrong! Canadians are leaders in the world, and this is a chance for us to lead once again. Democracy was meant to be for the people, by the people, and if we vote for a majority, should it not be a majority of voters that do so? A parliament representative of the voters wishes, nothing more or less!

It's time for change; it's time for our 'Egypt', our 'Libya'~ it's time we demand change in the way we let ourselves be governed. Tell your MPs & MPPs~ it needs to change at all levels if we're to ever be a country of equals, made up of distinct regions, working together to show the world a true democracy supported by a capitalist economy! Now that's worth my vote!

Dalton-eco warrior-the future??

2011-03-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

While trolling around in Twitter and Facebook, one of my contacts, that I thought was a hard core eco warrior told me, and I assume with a straight face, that Dalton McGuinty was his choice for environmental future? WHAT!

Dalton, I'll say anything to get re-elected McGuinty? Really? No Really? The same man that has brought us HST, OHIP taxes~ both the largest tax grabs in the history of Ontario, both lies by the way. Remember, 'I won't raise taxes' promise. Uh huh, same guy.

The same guy that has put the lovely HST on our hydro bills. The same guy that has caused division and termoil instead of concensus and team building. The same guy that changes his mind like I change socks.

To be told he has vision and will lead us on the eco front is, well, insulting! To any real eco warriors, we seek out real doer's, real activists, people that lead, not lie; people that understand impact on the people of decisions they make. Not Dalton though- he has driven an agenda over the folks at all costs and really hasn't helped our eco agenda either. Remember ecotax? really Dalton.

What we need is a policy that tells OPA to go away, stop interferring. We need a policy of lower taxation so we can get real green energy growth, we need to remove the HST from hydro bills. Once we have these, then we have the basis of better green growth in our province. Until then, we have promises and nothing else.

Sorry Dalton fans- this is not a man for us to follow into the future of environmental change.

Pacific Garbage Island & the Earth

2011-03-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

This should be a short little rant about a true example of what impact man is having on our planet.
First, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISaGrlpK2zE

Then, consider all the neo con, right wing everything is ok dinosaurs that say over and over again man is having no impact on the planet. It's all natural, it happens on it's own, we're just dandy, keep on building those oh so stable and safe nuke reactors, keep using plastic bags, plastic bottles and don't worry about all that gas and oil we're burning back into the sky from our giant SUV's. Naah, don't worry a bit. It's all good.

But then this video shows us just one example of the truth being out there and it shows that our little blue marble is at risk. With an atmosphere that is waffer thin when viewed from space; with farm land being a tiny part of the land we can use to feed ourselves on; with less than 1% of the worlds water being fresh and safe to drink, it's obvious to me that we really need to do more to save ourselves and by extension the planet. If we don't, we're leaving a legacy of waste, destruction and stupidity for the future.

Earth day is coming on March 26th~ do your part to change the world. Everyday, don't use a plastic bag; walk more drive less; don't drink bottled water; buy local food, not the stuff from China or South America that used huge gas to get here; turn off a couple of lights; recycle; small things really, but important things.

The Day After

2011-03-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

So, I'm wondering as I read the miles and miles of sites and information, what's gonna happen on Dec 22nd, 2012 if nothing happens on Dec 21st, 2012?

Will we suddenly have a new target date from some other ancient source that predicts another doomsday event?

But, what happens if the Mayan's were right? What if we all wake up Dec 21st, 2012 and thats it? What if I'm mid sentence and th

Naaah, didn't happen yet, but what if it does? How can we possible plan for, well, for whatever? If as NASA confirms we pass through the galactic plan which adds gravity, density and possible other energy challanges for the earth to pass through does have some kind of impact. Maybe the earth flips; maybe our atmosphere burns off; maybe the animals revolt and take back the planet... whatever. How do you even consider planning for such a thing?

YOU DON'T!

Listen folks, I find this Dec 21st, 2012 thing very fascinating, and honestly I think something is coming, but not sure what nor am I certain it's 'the end'. But, I'm gonna live, do my best to be an ok person, promote P'lovers to help people make a difference with each purchase and keep my eye on the news to see whats happening. And with any luck 1 of 2 options plays out Dec 22nd, 2012- I wake up to continue on this planet OR I rise to another level of existence and learn the secrets of the universe. Either way, good options I figure. Chill folks, 1 day at a time and make a difference~ thats all we can do.

Thoughts about the end

2011-02-26T18:28:00.000-08:00

Had a lot of time of late to think about life, death and what exactly it's all about. What are we supposed to be trying to do while we're here on this planet, plain of existance, whatever you call it, whatever you believe in.

While watching my father in law fade away in the slow march to the end with cancer it gave me time to think about his life, the impact of his life on my life~direct or via my wife~and the impact I'm having on everyone around me, my business community and the world in general. I wonder if I'm having the right kind of impact, the right kind of influence, the correct intentions and then I hope I'm doing the right things!

Am I doing enough to be a good person? Am I doing enough to help people around me? Am I doing enough to be positive and help anyone I come into contact with so they have positive outcomes in whatever they are doing at the time we come into contact?

Then I wonder, am I doing enough to make the world a better place? What is a better world supposed to look like? Are we making the right changes, helping in the right way, doing enough, too much or just enough?

Here's a list of things I see around me that maybe I should be concerned about: my health, my wifes health, my little puppy girl Seska, our business, my job, my friends my community, Wal Mart and it's bad business practices, the economy, our governements(whatever level), events going on in the world(Libya, Egypt, USA, where ever), the condition of the planet(eco condition), the injustices of the treatment of people on our planet, Dec 21st, 2012, a metor hitting the earth, ~ see, now you understand a few of the things rolling around my skull on a daily basis.

But, in the end, it's really all about being a good person, believing in yourself, believing, helping everyone around you that needs help but not pushing you or your life onto them while doing it. Do good things and the universe will pay you back at some point. For me, it was my study of Buddhism that has helped me to take the time to consider all of this, not lose my mind and decide to keep pushing forward trying to the right thing, for the right reason, to change the world and grow a little bit closer to enlightenment, which for me seems to be the reason for all this madness around me.

When did we get stupid?

2011-02-17T17:13:00.000-08:00

Ok folks, please, explain to me why a red light at an intersection means either go faster or doesn't apply to me? When did it become acceptable for car drivers to ignore all safety laws, run red lights, turn when its not their turn, not turn into the correct lanes, proceed through an intersection from the left lane when travelling straight through on a one way steet, and texting- put the FRACKING things down people!

In Stratford and London, I get the pleasure of watching a continuous stream of people that drive and text still- even though it is illegal in Ontario!

In Stratford and London, I get the honour of watching people out right ignore red lights. You know, that thing that means STOP you moron! You don't accelerate and ignore it. Really, in Stratford for sure, it's never more than 5 to 8 minutes to get anywhere in town. That lost 30 seconds won't mean the end of your life.

In London, I daily have to dodge buses that are blissfully unaware that there are cars, bikes and motorcycles on the street with them! They just bolt into traffic without a care in the world. Since September I have had no less than 25 near death experiences at the side of some bus that just doesn't care that I was in the lane and finishing my pass of him. Nooooooooo, just bolt into traffic.

In Stratford, we have a bunch of one way streets that continue through intersections and continue as one way streets. HEY, to continue straight through these intersections, you proceed from the right lane. If turning left, you start in the left lane. If turning right or going straight through, you start in the right lane!

In London and Stratford and Toronto and Kitchener, and anywhere in Canada, did you know that when your turn right into a 2 or more lane road, you move to the curb lane first then signal and move to the middle lanes- NOT RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE LANES! Not cool you dorkuses! Same for a left turn, you proceed into the lane closest to the middle line, not straight into the curb lane!

In Stratford, motorcycle parking means, MOTORCYCLE PARKING! If you have more than 2 wheels, have a hood, roof, steering wheel- guess what- YOUR A FRIGGIN CAR! Therefore by deduction not a motorcycle, and so you don't park in spots for motorcycles. Duh!

Yeah, ranting, I know, but driving is NOT a right- it is a priviledge granted to you after you prove you actually understand the rules of the road. I think the time has come for each driver to have to retest ever 5 years until age 65, then every 2 years till 75 then annually! Why, cuz we suck as drivers and we don't have a RIGHT to drive, we have to earn the privilege to drive.

Geesh, slow down, signal your turn, put down the damn cell phones, stop on reds! Simple stuff!

Zellers, Target, Wal Mart and Stratford

2011-02-13T19:47:00.001-08:00

So, Zellers is now owned by Target. Interesting twist in the battle of the big box crap stores for Stratford. While Zellers was originally a Canadian store, that tried to promote Canadian products it really wasn't for the last few years. It was nothing more than another big box style store. However, service and product quality are suspect at best. Choices can be difficult too as they are a bit slim for the size of store Zellers is in Stratford.

So, Target buys Zellers- and no pitch forks to stop them in Stratford. Now, here's my 2 1/2 cents worth on this. While Target is nothing more than the same as Zellers or Wal Mart, it does have a reputation in the USA as being a better supplier of quality products, more choices and a better HR record and less confrontational when building stores in the USA. In Stratfords case, it's simply a sign change, improved inventory and selection and reportedly hiring of up to another 35 to 60 p/t staff to improve the shopping experience in the store.

Now, why is this better than letting Wal Mart into the city- and here's why it defeats Wal Mart's argument right out of the gate for coming to Stratford. Wal Mart states that $8,000,000.00 of retail dollars leave Stratford to go to Wal Marts in KW, London and area. However, Target will fill this same retail gap and doesn't bring with it the same hostile confrontational attitude that Wal Mart brings. If Target converts the Stratford Zellers store, it essential mutes any Wal Mart insistence that only they can stop the retail dollars outflow. And this is a good thing.

Wal Mart brings confrontation, lower salaries, lower employment levels. And as proven by US Federal shopping regulators and Canadian secret shopper reviews, they are NOT THE LOWEST PRICES 95% of the time. Only items on the ends of rows have slightly lower prices. Target doesn't bring that same set of deceit and misleading propaganda- they simply offer choice, low price, service and nothing more.

So, am I OK with Target converting our Zellers-yes! Eliminates Wal Marts only argument for coming: stopping the loss of $8,000,000.00 of retail outflow per year to KW, Woodstock,, London. And we get a better 'Zellers' store in Target, more choices, better pricing, better selection and a promise of not just the current staffing, but the addition of approx 40 or so new p/t jobs. And, no need to build a Wal Mart store that needs $50,000,000.00 of retail sales (translation, all retail dollars of every small family owned business in Stratford, including the downtown). To me, Target converting Zellers is a better choice than a Wal Mart anytime!

Wal Mart = Anti-Canada, Anti Stratford

2011-02-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

Why? Here’s why…. (thanks to Wal Mart Watch and studies from Uof Iowa and other Government sources)

98% of Wal Marts products are produced off shore. Sure, sure, Zellers, Target, Giant Tiger and others use some if not all of the same suppliers, but Wal Mart, since the 1980s forced their suppliers to provide such severe regular price decreases that all were left with no option but to move production off shore. Guess what, then everyone has to use those very same suppliers in order to compete. As the public got addicted to cheap foreign made products, it becomes tough to break the addiction. Not to mention, you lose the skill sets in Canada/US to return the production to without large scale investments.

87% of the sales generated and 99.9% of the profits are sent out directly to Bentonville Arkansas. Unlike your smaller, locally owned businesses where 70% of their sales dollars and 95% of their profits stay within the communities they operate within.

Wal Mart is a net liability to every community it moves into. They demand and force tax deductions and rebates or ‘roll backs’; they demand city paid road, sewer and service improvements, often for work that only needs to be done to service their single Wal Mart location. Also, because they pay at the bottom of the pay scales, offer the lowest benefits and burn through staff due to overwork and abuse, welfare roles and EI are often higher in areas where Wal Marts open- AFTER the store opens.

Wal Mart will not increase employment. In fact, in every city under 75,000 in population that a store is built in, there is a net retail unemployment increase in the range of 2.5 to 5% over a 36 month period. Stores such as Zellers, Giant Tiger, Sears, Zehrs, Sobeys, are immediately impacted. Then smaller stores, such as those owned by small local retailers begin to lose market share and they too start to shut down, costing further jobs.

Wal Mart is NOT a community supporter. In most locations, the average money returned to the community represents less than $200,000.00. The average in Stratford, of funds raised that go to charities, schools, groups etc exceeds $4,000,000.00 per year. As we begin to lose our locally owned businesses, we will lose our communities ability to support itself, and those that need that support.

So, every time you shop at Wal Mart, you are showing your true colors. You show that money is more important than people; you confirm that you support foreign manufacturing; you prove you hate Canada and Stratford and your neighbours- because you don’t want them to have jobs, good jobs, long lasting jobs. Rather, you want cheap, foreign made products. Good for you- bad for your city and country.

Shop local, support local, be a good Canadian.

The Governments we Deserve? Really?

2011-01-31T19:19:00.000-08:00

Well, here in Ontario Canada we're about to suffer at least 1 election and possible a second one if the children on Parliment Hill can't get the heads out of the their backsides!

No, I'm no Harper fan, not even close. But lets step back and think about this- polls show clearly that voters are not moving in any significant numbers from one party to the other. That means if we're forced to vote we're going to most likely end up right where we are now, just 2 or 3 months further along. Harper doesn't need an election, Iggy and Jack can't afford another election where they don't make any headway growing their seat totals and the universe knows we don't need to sit around listening to the Bloc Heads of Quebec and their endless demands for more and more money in exchange for their continued participation in confederation.

And provincially times almost on up on Dalt and his 8 years of two faced lying policy program. No news taxes eh- remember that promise. Then BAM health tax to fix the health system(and yet here we are, $900per year poorer and still the same broken down health system. HST- yeah, this has helped the economy-NOT! Did you know that I actually got to ask then HST Minister John Wilkinson's staff about PST and HST impact and they didn't know that retailers didn't pay PST on products that we turn around and sell to customers-what a boost in confidence I had that day. SO, we're into the HST, costs have NOT gone down, no savings is being passed along and in fact cost of living is up, well except for the quarterly bribe cheques they send out to make us enjoy HST.

Why do we get these governments? Because we're dinguses! We don't challenge the candidates; we don't demand they speak for us, not their party leaders; we don't question they're ethics, their morals or their hidden agenda's to make pensionable years. We vote for the party that makes the most promises with our money or the party our moms or dads always voted for, or for the person we know, not the person with the qualifications. Yeah, we pick our winners like we pick our lottery numbers or street hockey teams! Not cool!

And then, only about 1/2 of us actually vote. So not only does only 50% of us make stupid choices, but we don't get any help from 1/2 of the voters.

So, over the next 10 months find out all you can about the leaders you vote for. Don't pick blindly, don't rush to a decision (better to vote by destroying your ballot than just making a last second choice). Don't let them off the hook-push, poke, prod them to give up their real agenda. Demand they speak for the people, not for their party leader; demand they spend our money (yeah, that means taxes) wisely and don't spend just to spend. And hey, lets look at how we engage these people as our 'leaders'. Why is their a department both federally and provincially? Most can be done by just one. 2 health departments? 2 environmental departments? And there is lots of this type of duplications.

I know, I'm rambling, but I'm frustrated. I try to participate and yet we get more and more screwed up each election. Here's hoping 2011 brings us change, real change- and HEY VOTE AFTER YOU LEARN!!!!

China Blue

2011-01-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

Just watched a seriously depressing move on PBS tonight. The title, China Blue, left me intrigued. In the end I was shocked and unsurprised at the same time. Here's why:

The entire move was a depiction of a group of teenage girls working for the Lifeng Jean Factory. They toil anywhere from 10 to 22 hours at a time, often with only a couple of small meals, no breaks and moron tyrant supervisors giving them grief for the dumbest reasons imaginable. They young ladies and men go up to 15 weeks at time without pay, they earn about $40/month before company deductions, no medical plan and horrible living conditions. The owner, a former cop chief thinks the workers are screwing him, and yet, he's living a good life, works @40 hours per week, earns about $30,000/year. He is taking on contracts to make jeans for about $4.00/unit, which suddenly get sold for about $35.00 or more each on the shelves of a US store. This supplier constantly demands price reductions and to meet this the 'boss' reduces pay, cuts food rations and sometimes just doesn't pay the staff at all.

Guess who the big US chain is by the way...... Take a guess..... Yeah, WALMART!

In this show, the camara crew itself was arrested and beat 3 times over 15 weeks of filming. When they tracked the jeans across the ocean to WALMART, they were harrassed back in the goold ole US of A!

The only heartening part of the show was that one of the young girls managed to sneak a letter into the pocket of 1 par of pants asking the owner to think about the people that make these jeans for the great US of A.

The best part is that the show ran for @45 minutes. The 4 girls that were the focus of the show made 35 pairs of jeans and made a combined income of $0.95 cents.

So, I guess we need to think about the China factor more. If you are buying China products make sure the retailer knows the conditions of the workers.

Rest assured, the products P'lovers carries from offshore are made in fair trade or European owned factories where staff are paid far above the Chinese minimum wages, better conditions and medical care. We are always striving to find Canadian, US or other fair trade suppliers, but sometimes we have to settle for a chinese company- but we do our background checks before we sell the product.

Put that test into play at WALMART, TARGET, JOE in Zehrs, ZELLERS and other big box stores. The staff won't know the suppliers conditions, they won't know how to find out and they most likely won't care- why? Cause, they don't care. It's a job.

Plovers, eco mindful purchasing decisions and socially aware fair trade when possible. We're determined to make the world better, with 1 purchase at time by you our customers!

Why do you go to a mall?

2010-12-30T18:15:00.000-08:00

Have you been to a mall lately, including these oxymoronic 'Smart Centres'? Have you really looked around at this world when you're there? Have you noticed the environment you are participating in while you stroll carelessly?

You should take the time to take it all in. Where are you when you attend 90% of all malls and 100% of all Smart Centres(just saying that makes me feel dirty...). You are in a place without a sole, where the vast majority of the stores are owned by giant corporations that funnel your hard earned and easily spent money, back to their corporate offices in whatever far away place they reside in. The stores are filled with products carelessly created in some third world country, devoid of rules and regulations, without regard for the ecosystem. They crate them up, ship them across the world creating massive CO2 footprints. They deliver them to your local town or city and you buy them from staff that really don't want to be there or believe in the business model or mission. Then, since 90% of the time the stores have no local ownership, the profits disappear from your town or city.

Thats why I personally try to shop in stores owned by local people, people I know. People that I know that support my communites-both Stratford and London. I try to make sure my money goes to support a person or family which in turn returns to my community. The same goes for Plovers. We put enormous effort into finding products locally, starting right here in Stratford or London. We then work outwards in circles away from the stores locating products from like minded suppliers. When we have to use larger suppliers, we establish relationships with them, get to know their business model and mission. We find out where and how and who makes the products. We also make sure they are on the same wave length as Plovers ie. eco mindfully aware, social awareness, earth awareness. We try to make sure that if they ship any distance, they use carbon offset programs.

So, I challange you to support businesses in your communities that are locally owned first. I understand we can't always do this but set a target, work towards a goal, start at 50%, then in 3 to 6 months push that out to 60%. After a year, reach for 75% and then I think we should all aim for 80 to 85% local business support with each and every purchase you make (don't forget food choices while we're at it). If we don't support our communities first, we all lose. We'll lose the businesses and owners that support your charities, agencies, schools and community.

Shop local first, avoid malls and big box stores, help yourself by helping your community.

P'lovers- not any old this or that....

2010-12-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

Short blurb to clarify some questions about P'lovers. Mainly, where are the stores.

Your only source in south western Ontario is P'lovers- located in Stratford and London. We've made a strategic decision to take the message to the places and people instead of making them come to us. We also have continued to push the standards up higher and higher each year, and as such with a recent closing store in this area, we did so to maintain the quality of the P'lovers brand. We spend a large amount of time and energy and money to make sure the products we sell meet the mission statement, which dictates that we provide alternatives from the everyday run of the mill stuff you can by at any old this and that location. We strive to give clients options, degrees of choices so the purchase they make has the least impact on the planet while not breaking the bank.

So, we're here in London at 525 Richmond St and in Stratford at 56 Ontario St. We're still pushing the limit of eco mindfulness and continuing to get the correct message out and giving our friends and supports a chance to help us save the world- 1 step at a time.

Why can't they just leave us ALONE!

2010-12-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

As I sit here basking in the glow of the never ending snowfall of December 2010, I am again forced to read about Wal Mart trying to bend the rules in our great city to suit their purposes.

After suffering a defeat to re-write our official plan, OPA10, which made it very clear that all new retail growth must take place in the downtown or west end of our city, they are back. They have purchased a vacated lot owned by a car dealer(who should be more selective in my opinion about his choice of buyers-money's not the be all) that is located in the east end of Stratford and happens to be zoned for retail.

However, OPA10 was clearly supported by the citizens and council of our city and then clearly supported at OMB as a solid plan for the long term growth of our city in a balanced and manageable plan.

But again, they have decided to try to circumvent our plan. Simply a ploy to play with words and try to force us back to the OMB. I say bring it own. OMB was clear on our plan being solid-finding land that suits their need is just a game. We should defend again against this type of commercial bullying by another US retail megamonster. They have an opportunity to build in our city within our official plan but they are smarter than us they say. We 'hicks' out here don't knows what we need. Just a bunch of Canadians that don't understand. Listen to the smart folks from Bentonville- they'll solve your problems.

Lets look at their plan: mega stores that employ 75 to 125 staff at minimum wage without benefits; stores with the sole purpose to destroy ALL competition, including Zellers, Sears, Giant Tiger and of course all us small retailers. Yes, believe it, they will attack the downtown. They always do, and they will in Stratford; they lower the standard of living with their 'low prices', but they to since we'll all be working for minimum wages or welfare as well all lose our good paying jobs or our businesses; they bring net job losses in every city they come too; they overtax our infrastructure and will demand the city make it better for them. Yes, this is Wal Mart- a company bent on world domination. And now back to Stratford!

Yep, they're again trying to get inside our beautiful city. They're plan- to save $8,000,000.00 of retail out flow of dollars to KW, Woodstock and London by building a store that requires $45,000,000.00 in sales to survive. Hmmm, don't need to be much more than a grade 8 math student to see there's a bit of gap, something in the area of $37,000,000.00 of retail dollars that must be found. That will come from Zellers, Zehrs, Giant Tiger, Sears, and of course every small business in the area.

So, I will again line up to fight this giant thug. To save my city, to save our business, to save the businesses of my friends and families in the area. Why, because it's the right thing to do.

No Wal Mart in Stratford for me!

SNOOOOOOOOOOOOW!

2010-12-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

This is going to be short as it's time to go and dig out our house, car, and store in London. Yep, over 1 meter or 3+feet of snow in 2 1/2 days! Yeah, really. Holy crap! Never ending snow thanks to a nor-western wind and warm Lake Huron. Til that giant freezing body of water actually gets covered in snow/ice we're going to be shovelling snow.

This is a reminder of the beauty of global warming or climate change. Weather is becoming more extreme. People think it means more heat, longer summers type thing. Melting ice caps, rising oceans and more hurricanes. Yeah, some of those are results of climate change, but the most serious result is the extreme weather we now face on a more regualar basis. For instance, several days of high winds off the lakes causing extended snow fall in southwestern Ontario. Rapid or fast moving thunderstorms in the summer- more tornadoes. More heat further north in Canada and other parts of the world. Extreme temperature changes in a matter of minutes or hours. The increase in rainfall amounts coming in short, rapid storms. These are just a few examples of climate change.

For those that don't believe in the science, you can at least admit that the weather is changing, whether it be man's fault or solar cycles, something is amiss on our planet. So, sit back, enjoy the ride and if you believe, try to reduce our footprint on the planet to help slow or reverse climate change. If you don't believe, just stand back- the rest of us will save your planet for you.

Shopping in the US??

2010-11-28T17:54:00.000-08:00

Well, gonna step on toes, fingers and stuff with this blog, but really folks, if we're going to preach shop local with our food, how can we cross the border to the US to save, what $50- BEFORE GAS and TIME for 'stuff'????

We try to personally shop in the cities where we run our stores. Stratford or London first. Then we move out from there, but I can honestly say, 95% of our purchases come from shops and folks right near our house and stores- and we don't shop in the USA.

Even our stores try very hard to buy local. Sure we can't do it all that way, some things don't exist locally-heck some things don't even get made in North America. But we don't change suppliers to save a penny or two. No, we stick with our suppliers locally first. Sure, makes the business model a little tougher, but our souls are clean for doing it.

Sorry folks, won't shop in the US just to save some pennies. And really, how would you feel if you owned a business in your town and found out your friends,neighbours and even family ran across the border to the local big box store mall just to save a few bucks. Besides, factoring in gas, time and such, you really don't save. And you hurt you local community- and for that, I can't go across the border- for nothing.

Shop local, not just for your food, support your locally owned businesses first!

What is environmental...

2010-11-25T07:29:00.000-08:00

GREEN... a colour, fun name for money, a movement to save the planet and more.

But, how many businesses are serious in their position about being green? Fewer than you may be aware. Many big businesses like the Wal Mart's of the world talk an interesting game, but just insulating your roofs, reducing or recycling your cardboard and changing a few lightbulbs is not becoming a green or eco positive business. I won't deny that these 'green washing' companies are at the very least doing a little something. Heck, they should based on their profits- they actually have the ability to do much more. But at least they do a little.

But an eco friendly business is more than a title or marketing strategy. It involves living and breathing the concept. You must decide to sell the products that have the least impact on you planet, give back the most to the makers (fair/ethical trade), and can do the most to help the public realize that environmentally friendly isn't scary or costly. You must make an extraordinary effort to set up the business location to be as green as you can make it. Sometimes by-laws and statutes get in the way, but you must push that envelope and do the most you can- and keep looking for ways to push beyond that wall once you get to it. You must help to educate your customers on the whys and hows of greening your life. Customers shouldn't buy things just to have it, and they shouldn't be guilted into it either. They need to understand their choice from all the angles to know they're doing the right thing. Then, as a business owner you need to review and keep looking for more ways to do better- both at your store/business and in your personal life.

I guess what I'm saying is don't be fooled when a business says their green or their products are green- challenge them, ask why, how, from where. Find out why a reusable bag of nylon is better than 1,000 plastic bags: why is recycled glass better then new glass: why is recycled plastic turned into polyester a better choice then any new polyester: find out why beeswax candles are good for you and parafin is not: find out why supporting BullFrog Power is good and supporting traditional nuke/coal/gas power production is not: find out how to determine if organic is better than local (sometimes not by the way....).

All important information you need to learn.

Now the commercial- at P'lovers in Stratford and London, we push to bring you the best ALTERNATIVES to traditional products. It may not be the ultimate, but it's an alternative. The public needs to be guided, not whacked, into being more green. While some us would like to change the world in 24 hours, we must be honest and know it will take a bit longer. Visting our stores we explain why we carry our choices, how it's good for earth and you, and we let you make up your mind. We train our staff to sell the story, the reason, the purpose, the benefit of a product, not the product itself. Shopping to spend is not a good thing. Shopping with a plan and purpose is a better ALTERNATIVE (see, there's that word again).

So, if you are in Stratford and London, or the surrounding areas (Goderich, Bayfield, Seaforth, Strathroy, Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge, St.Thomas, Wingham, Blyth, Grand Bend - you get the point...) visit our stores. We're the original stores in south western Ontario offering you these choices- we've been here for 10+ years and want to share our choices with you.

Drop in and learn:

Plovers 56 Ontario St., Stratford Ontario www.ploversstratford.ca
Plovers 525 Richmond St, London, Ontario www.ploverslondon.ca

2 stores- twice the Christmas

2010-11-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

P'lovers in London is experiencing it's first Richmond Row Christmas kickoff! Wagon rides, prizes, lots of neat things to see, do and deals to be had. And we decided that we'd donate 5% of our sales to the London Food Bank. It's always hard to pick out a charity to support, but in London, this one seems extra worthy. We support Big Brothers Big Sisters in Stratford, but wanted to try something new- and so the FOod Bank.

We're hoping to raise a few bucks to help those less fortunate during this time of year. Even though Susan and I don't have kids, I'm a softy for kids at christmas. I'm not a fan of rampant commercialism either but I can't stand seeing kids not have something on the big morning. And I really hate when they don't have a nice meal to boot!

So, support the London Food Bank at P'lovers in London with every purchase you make. Not only are you helping to save our one and only planet, but you're helping others over the season as well.

To be green or not to be green...

2010-11-13T12:37:00.000-08:00

We've been watching with interest the recent debates about green or eco living out in the some of the media outlets. It can be safely asserted that for the most part, very conservative ideology is working very hard to convince the public that all is well, no problems exist in the environment and in fact, the entire planetary weather change is the result of natural sun cycles- nothing more.

Well, we admit, sometimes the very hard liberal side of the arguement can be hard to believe, as a moderate, (the Dalai Lama says it best, the Middle Way) we take the time to read all the evidence, get educated and make informed decisions. We take alot of info into our thinking space and attempt to form a position based on what seems as relevant, realistic, trustworthy and supportable details.

From all the info out there, our feeling is this- man is having an impact on the planet. Alot of the impact is negative, some is good. For instance, releasing huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere is causing some global climate change. However, with advanced in technology, we're working on ways to reduce, capture or eliminate that impact. It can be proven that oil is causing so many problem- ecological, social and financial. We destroy the planet to get it, we destroy the air to use it, we fight and destroy people to get and use it and we pay a hefty financial price for all of this. However, we're again developing technology that can eliminate our need for the dirty crude and remove our need to pay hefty costs to get it from where ever on the planet.

We've got companies out there trying to control our food supply chain (monsato) and these same companies developing terminator genes and taking organic and natural food away from our people. At the same time, we've got good news as we the people rebel against them, trying to take back our farms, our food, our safety by using local or organic food sources.

We've got the Wal Marts of the world trying to convince you that cheap, plastic (oil based) products produced by very low pay chinese or third world countries is what you want and must have. But, luckily, P'lovers and other similiar stores are holding the line, saying NO! We're showing how eco friendly can be done with value, reducing our impact on our world, helping fair and ethical trade to develop. Supporting local makers and working to bring off shore manufacturing back to our shores. Supporting local charities, groups and causes so we can then go on to help the rest of world too! Yes, I believe we're making progress, but it's hard to understand those that say nothing is wrong with our world? Something's are bad, somethings are fine, and something's are improving!

We're hoping you will help us to keep on making those changes. The future needs us; we've made the past an excellent source of learning, so now lets put that change into action!

Tale of 2 stores... in 2 cities!

2010-09-16T13:49:00.001-07:00

Well, after weeks of hard labour, and months and months of planning and searching, P'lovers in Stratford has expanded (again) into the London market area.

Located at 525 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 3G8 519 518 283, right across from Vic Park, next to the Black Trumpet Restaurant, in the heart of Richmon Row!

Now we're able to help spread the 'green word' to a wider audience.

Well, more blogs to come soon!

2010-06-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Spring is truly upon us. Up here in Stratford, the rains have come, the crops are in, the fields are greening, the tree's blooming, the birds singing and baby rabbits and birds are everywhere. And then I turn on the news and it all crashes down into the pit of my stomach as I watch in horror at yet another environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

No matter what BP says or does at this point, it's not good enough. What might be better is cap all your wells, develop thousands upon thousands of solar and wind power sources on the planet, and move on to other power options. Obviously oil is bad- on soooooooo many levels. CO2 during it's use, the damage drilling or when it escapes, the left over destruction from oil sand capture. Nothing good is coming from oil. It's time now more than ever for we the people to stand up and tell big oil and it's puppet supporters- our governments- that enough is enough.

Go solar, go wind, go geothermal, go tidal- go anything but oil and nuke.

We want a planet for the kids, grandkids and great grandkids- we better act now. If not, enjoy the soilent green and permanant breathing masks.

10 Mindfully Green Years

2010-05-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

It's almost hard to believe, but P'lovers in Stratford turns 10 years old on May 31st/2010! What a ride it's been too. The little store on York Street with a few soaps, a couple of books, a few pieces for home decor. Now, after years of research, years of planning, years of education, the little store on York has grown to fill up one half of the old Wade's building.

Most importantly, we're now offering many great lines of clothing made from many eco friendly fabrics: we can share a wide selection of personal care products, organic, natural, fair trade and many local: our mindful living section now has dozens of titles to help our customers and friends learn new green ways, vegan cooking, and about environmental movements around the world: not to mention home decor, a huge section for baby, a comfy space full of bed and bath needs such as towels and bedding, and soooooo much more.

We hope we're giving our clients everything they need to be able to make those small changes for the future of our planet. Rest assured, we'll continue to push the limit of products to make sure the meet our mission statement: natural, organic, recycled, reused, non-toxic, healthy, alternatives all in to support mindful eco lifestyles.

SMART little Pedro!

2010-03-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been about 4 weeks. Our newest family member-Pedro- has already become a valued and important P'lovers team player too! Who is Pedro- he's Susan's little SMART car. Yep, SMART car indeed. This little car is fun, quick, easy to drive and absolutely good for the earth. Hardly uses gas, easy to park, and drives like a regular sized car. So, P'lovers has 2 earth friendly vehichles now- Pedro and Fidel. Who is Fidel?? Aaaahhhhhhh, that later!

Electric Cars

2010-01-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

Well, we're busy looking forward to our next car. We sorta need one to help move product and props around for the store. Right now, we have an efficient Jetta station wagon and then the Honda 250cc Scooter for summer runs.

But we're seriously interested in the truck called the Phoenix SUT www.phoenixmotorcars.com for more details. They have 2 models- both fully electric and with decent range and options. They are American made in California and certainly seem to have serious qualities to them.

So, hopefully, our leaders- Dalton and Stephen- finally wake up to smell the CO2, they'll allow fully electric cars on the road and P'lovers can ditch the gas and go electric. Until then, we do our best, drive as little as possible and walk when we can and of course the scooter in the warmer months to do deliveries.

Whats with the weather

2009-12-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

so, we sit here in Stratford, finally having our first serious lake effect storm- and its Dec 28th! Why is that date important- well normally I've had to dig out 2 to 3 feet of snow, had several near death frost events from the cold air and normally developed permanant winter hat head. But not this year. Nope, we've had rain, plus 6 degree celcius days, some light snow, but no real winter. Ahhhh and theres the rub- I hate winter(all that cold, snow), but obviously something is wrong with our weather. What I don't know is what. The nay sayers say nothing is wrong, normal earth cycles but does that mean we shouldn't try to change our ways? Shouldn't we try to reduce our CO2 emissions? Shouldn't we try to create more wind / solar power? Shouldn't we reduce, reuse and recycle? Well I'm here to say HELL YES! We should indeed do all of these things and more. Maybe along the way our seasons will return to normal- even winter... yuk!

Tis the Season to be eco friendly...

2009-11-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Well, we're what feels like minutes away from Christmas 2009- already... It's that time of year when kids thoughts turn to all those wild toys and games that the TV commercials have convinced them they just can't live without. It's the time of year when we adults run, frantically looking for that perfect gift for our kids, spouses, family, friends, the boss... whoever. But, lets keep perspective as we run around looking for the perfect gift.

There are so many options you can choose from when purchasing for christmas. The volume or physical size of the gifts you give shouldn't be the primary driver as you make a choice. Lets try something different, something unique, something with an impact: think green before you plunk down you debit card.

Instead of regular cotton clothing (jeans, shirts etc) buy organic, or bamboo, or linen or hemp.
Instead of fragranced soaps and lotions, go with all natural, organic, vegan based soaps and lotions- some even are fair trade as well.
Instead of some cheap book from a box store, buy a book that creates discussion, creates thought and teaches.
Instead of cheaply made baby clothes, buy some organic cotton or bamboo fibres for your little loved ones.
See, sooooo many choices!

Sure, for a little bit more money, you can give a gift that means alot to both you and them- and then more importantly for the planet. By making some choices about your gift giving season that help our poor little planet just a bit, you can help share with your gift receivers your belief that just small changes can help create a tidal wave of change across and for the world.

Walking, Biking, Transit and Cars

2009-10-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Had a chance to sit in on a breakfast conference about walking, biking, transit and cars and how towns and cities need to think big picture about how we use our roads and plan our communities for health and growth.

It was very informative and thoughtful. I would love to see our city, Stratford tackle the challenge of change- the change from cars to pedestrian zones; from parking lots to public spaces; from drive throughs to walk about! Our little city has so much more potential than some people think. We can be a leader- a green leader. We can show Canada that cities can be green and still have economic growth: we can show the country that happiness is more than GDP; we can show the country that small cities can lead the way.

I hope our Mayor has the courage to help lead this change. If he is willing, I'll be there to help. Meanwhile, we will do what we can to plant the seed of change, educate and share, and hopefully get more people involved so our Mayor and our city can then do the right thing correctly!

P'lovers and Big Brothers..

2009-05-14T20:21:00.000-07:00

P'lovers, JD and Susan are big supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Stratford. We believe that every young person needs to have a support system in place- be it parents, friends, or mentors.

By supporting BBBS by sitting on the Board of Directors and by the continuous support via donations and other financial means we hope that one day the number of 'littles' waiting for a mentor will be zero and that we have more 'mentors in waiting'!

While not specificially environmental in nature, it is a social device that needs to supported for the good of the community as a whole!

Check out BBBS at http://www.beamentor.com/

New Home... More Eco

2009-05-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Well, after 14 days of intense planning, work and labour, we've moved into the new space at 56 Ontario Street- often known as 'The Old Wades Building'.

Great space, bright, lots of light, lots of floor space, and the products pop!

We're just so happy and proud, I wanted to share it with the world. Come in and see us.

Idling car rant...

2008-10-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, hope this won't offend too many people, but why oh why can't people turn off their cars when they pull up in front of lets say, a variety store, post office, coffee shop, smokes place etc and etc. I can honestly say that on average I can count about 100 offences a day in Stratford alone where this happens. And don't get me started on drive thru lanes. I'm a big believer that unless you are physically unable or have more than 1 child in the car with you that you should be banned from drive thru's. It's not rocket science: drive (if you must) to Tim's, pull into a spot, walk the big 25 yards at most to the door, go in, order, pay, recieve and then walk back. Wow, complicated I know but worth it for the environment.

So next time you pull up to Tim's, or Harveys or any drive thru, think about what is stopping you from getting out of your car and walking in? And if you've just pulled up to a variety store...turn off the engine. For the sake of the environment... please!

Quick Tips to Greener Living!

2008-10-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just sitting and thinking about ways we, meaning Susan and I, can be a little bit greener. I often do this to make sure we're always trying to get better at it. So I came across a list our store in Halifax shared with us and now I'll share 10 from that list:
1-Use cotton or recycled bags when shopping
2-Shut off lights when you leave a room
3-Use natural products when cleaning-anything
4-Walk instead of driving
5-Use your own mugs, stainless or ceramic, instead of paper or styrofoam cups
6-Take shorter showers
7-Keep old paper from your printer to use as scrap writing paper
8-buy fook in bulk to avoid packaging
9-NEVER use plastic water bottles
10-Support local farmers, organic if you can, but local for sure.

I know, I know... very basic stuff. But you would be surprised how much of what I just listed here is new to some, heck, alot of people in this country. So, they ya go, a little list to remind you of ways to do better or a short list of ways to begin being greener! Jump on in, the water getting warmer....

Election 'Greening'

2008-09-28T18:13:00.001-07:00

Well, we're what, 2 or so weeks into this federal election and how's your head??? Mine-hurting. Never have so many been mislead for so much by so few eh!

So, I want to talk about what 'greening your vote' really means.

From where I sit, I'd say that if your concern is with the long term damage to the planet and real solutions to those issues, you need to really dig into each party and decide which is actually going to make a difference. Platforms are important but you have to believe they'll actually follow through. A promise is only as good at the actions that come afterwards. (no new taxes Mr.McGuinty-no GST Mr.Chretien, fixed election dates Mr.Harper and so on and so on...). I will be voting based on the future-not tomorrow, not next year, but the long term view. I want to see changes for my nieces kids so they can live a good life 40, 50, 100, 300 years from today. In the end, get out, read the platforms, make informed choices and VOTE!

Oh yeah, make sure you recycle the forest of paper flyers after you read them....

Blogging...Day 1

2008-09-23T19:44:00.001-07:00

Well, here it is, the first P'lovers Stratford blog. Somehow, this seems daunting, almost frightening, but we press on. 'Once more into the breach' as has been heard on the stage here in Stratford.

So, we're going to write a small ditty about one thing that we've been up to the last few months in P'lovers Stratford while trying to make a difference.

We've added bags made of corn that are totally bio degradable and compostable for our customers purchases. Not like the 'biodegradable plastic bags' we see around. Really-no really: plastic CAN'T BIODEGRADE... It can degrade via an oxodegrading process which means your bag becomes millions of tiny bits of plastic in the landfill that get to last for a thousand years or more. So, between our corn bags and 100% recycled paper bags and our constant questioning of clients to make sure they really truly need a bag at all, we've made a difference to the waste stream by not adding more plastics. It's a small thing but a big thing and it's the right thing.

So, keep visiting and we'll try to share more with you all the time.

Oh yeah, please support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Stratford Perth. Be a mentor-help a kid to grow a little bit. Visit http://www.beamentor.ca/ to learn how!