Fast forward

Hard to believe it is still February, so much has happened. Since the dramatic end to the truckers' protest there has been no lull in the drama of one thing following another, all very troubling except for a relaxing little trip for the two of us with a night in Kingston, to be described in a separate post. On the drive home from Kingston, tuning into CBC radio, we heard the Federal Government's response to the invasion of Ukraine by Putin's military forces, the deputy PM Chrystia Freeland giving an impressive, slowly enunciated speech in three languages, English, French and Ukranian. Though born in Alberta, her mother came from Ukraine, it seems, and Freeland herself, Minister of Everything, as the Globe and Mail very recently described her, has a Master's degree in Slavonic studies from Oxford University. Her page on the government website also says this about her:

After launching her career in journalism as a Ukraine-based freelance correspondent for the Financial Times, The Washington Post, and The Economist, Ms. Freeland went on to various roles at the Financial Times of London. She then served as deputy editor of the Toronto-based Globe and Mail between 1999 and 2001, before returning to the Financial Times as deputy editor and then as United States managing editor.

The news from Ukraine, reminiscent of the news from Afghanistan, is so upsetting I'm having a hard time forcing myself to follow it. I feel for our pacifist daughter Emma who speaks Russian and once lived for three months on the outskirts of Moscow; she has fairly close friends / colleagues both in Russia and in Ukraine. And I know someone from Kiev, that we must now call Kyiv.

Ice has coated the whole of eastern Ontario to the extent that, if you're a skater, as some are, you can skate the length of the runway at Rockcliffe airport, as well as the taxiways.

Then on Friday Chris broke his arm and wrist while clearing snow off the steps by our front door. There was thick, uneven ice under the snow there, that we hadn't done anything about since our return from Kingston. He broke the ulna and radius plus several of the little wrist bones. At the Montfort Hospital he was efficiently and kindly dealt with by the Emergency staff who made two attempts to realign the wrist bones by force, under a local anaesthetic, with no success until the second attempt; then they put the whole of his lower arm in a cast and sent him home for a very belated supper. 

At some point next week he is going to be called back for surgery under full anaesthetic; we have no further details about that yet. Since Friday night he's been suffering a lot of discomfort and some sharp pain which we're dealing with by means of Tylenol and various distractions. He's sleeping reasonably well so far, but a normal night's rest isn't possible. We'll have to get used to this as it will take at least seven weeks for the injury to heal. Although it's the left hand that's out of action (he's right-handed, thank heavens) I now have to help him with many things we usually take for granted he can do by himself, and he can no longer help me with housework and such. 

It's all rather time-consuming, but not so bad for me as for Chris who keeps suffering from instant replays of his fall on the steps which make him shout with dismay. Apparently the downtown residents who were tortured by the honking of truckers' horns day and night are also suffering from something of this sort: phantom honking, like a very unpleasant kind of "Ohrwurm" (as the Germans call it, a song you can't get out of your head). This is Post Traumatic Stress.

On Facebook, about 100 people have sent Chris get-well-soon wishes and wise advice to me, friends have come round to help in various ways (Carol, our go-to person in times of stress, has been particularly supportive, driving back and forth to the hospital in treacherous driving conditions when I didn't seem up to it) and our family members overseas keep on calling us by phone and video to say comforting things. We had four friends round to supper on Friday.

At the second attempt today, we did manage to fit Chris' sling on top of a winter jacket without too much agony resulting, so we went for a very short walk round the block between snow squalls.

My brother-in-law and sister have been put through the mill as well, he having just got through open-heart surgery to install (wrong word?) a missing heart valve with a valve from a cow's heart. He was in hospital for nearly a week this month.

The Rideau River ice clearing operations continue. They have started to dynamite the ice.

Getting rid of the protest

Police are undertaking a massive clearance operation today, arresting the ringleaders of the Trucker Convoy protest and beginning to get the problem vehicles out the way. I'm following the live report from the CBC. Their photographers are having some trouble with their camera batteries because of the cold, and have to climb over mounds of snow to get their shots.

It is Day 22 of the Ottawa crisis. This morning the police calmly moved into Rideau Street and other streets near the parliament area in squadrons from various parts of the country, and then the Mounties joined in also:

The protesters are standing around just watching the police operations at the intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive, identifiable by their lack of masks. Some of them are wrapped in flags which may or may not be keeping them warm. There's still a windchill in the minus-20s.

The Sûreté du Québec police have donned their gas masks, which makes one wonder what may come next. There seems to be a cautious approach because they are aware of our international audience.

The courts have to process all of the arrests today, which is going to make it a long day; so far 70 people have been arrested, says the police chief (at 3:30 p.m.). The police seem to be making serious efforts to avoid too much use of force although they are carrying guns. At one point the CBC filmed a family group among the protesters, with children (crying) gently being led out of the way. Apparently two family groups with seven children per family(!), are staying in their hotel today. There are pets down there too, although they had been warned that the pets could be confiscated.

All of the downtown core is closed down today, shops, public transport, everything.

Tow trucks are lining up on Nicholas Street, some of them disguised as police vehicles to protect the drivers from future harassment from protest supporters. Their usual logos are covered over. The stubborn truckers who have now been parked on Wellington Street for three weeks. They are building barricades out of snow after the big snowfall last night, ostensibly to keep the police out. "A bit of a symbolic barrier," says the reporter, because it obviously won't be as effective as a concrete barrier. Their slogan for the last few days is "Hold the line!" Some truckers have decided to leave voluntarily now. Others are still there, hoping the rumours that the police will come over to their side at the end, are true. I don't think that's likely.

The protesters are still using their stage for amateur concerts. According to one reporter, it's still a "festive atmosphere!" 

The carrying out of their deliberate and methodical plan will take time, says the police chief.

The Protest

Just now, in Ottawa, the truckers' convoy protest looks more like a party than a serious protest. They have been partying with their thousands of supporters for 17 days now, in the heart of town, on Parliament Hill. If it weren't for the minus 25 wind chills on some of those days (current conditions minus 21, feels like minus 28) you'd think it was a premature celebration of Canada Day. And perhaps that's the point. The people in this demonstration were lonely, restless, frustrated in multiple ways, probably desperate to let off steam and experience some togetherness because "the government"--- by which I fear they mean everyone who isn't on their side --- has neglected them. But they particularly loathe Mr. Trudeau, condemning him in four-letter words or the Quebec-French equivalent (Tabarnak! Calisse!).

I have been struggling to find valid reasons for behaviour that shocks me and most of my friends. The rebels are like disruptive teenagers in a school classroom. They have brought the business district to a standstill. How is it possible to forgive these people for the fumes of their idling trucks and the noise pollution from their honking horns? One night they were particularly loud and non-stop, deliberately honking outside the Bruyère Hospital because a few health-care workers have been sacked for their refusal to be vaccinated against Covid before coming to work. That night an old lady died at this hospital with her daughter alongside her, who said that noise was "brutal." Did anyone apologise? I don't think so. I also know an Afghan woman traumatised by the violence in her country who has recently moved to Ottawa and given birth to a little girl. The noise keeping her baby awake caused her great distress. I heard of another downtown resident who has moved out of town for the duration. 

As my brother-in-law often says, the veneer of civilisation is very thin. The gentleman at the fruit and vegetable shop I frequent at the market has locked the door. He calls the intruders "barbarians" and only lets me in to shop there because he recognises me and knows I'll wear a mask.

A hot tub is being used by the more flamboyant members of the demo. They have also brought in whole drum sets and a stage for impromptu concerts. Barbecues on Wellington Street. Some demonstrators are spending the night in their trucks; others can afford to sleep at the Chateau Laurier, it seems. Numerous children and flags everywhere (Canadian, Quebec flags, flags from the USA). The excuse for the noisy party is that this is a "Freedom Convoy" which means that the participants cannot endure mandates. Initially they disapproved of the new regulation that wouldn't let them drive across the border into the USA unless they had proof of vaccination. That has changed into a rebellion against "all mandates." 

A few in favour of the protest have been arguing with me; here are some (paraphrased) comments they made: 

• If you had come from an eastern European country and lived through the communist régime, you wouldn't approve of mandates and restrictions. Canada has turned into a "police state."
• To me personally --- "At your age your future is limited. You must understand that progress must happen and you are not part of it." (I rose to the bait and replied that I would continue to be "part of it" until I dropped dead. We disagree on what "it" is, of course.)
• The protests are not only warranted, but absolutely necessary, because all levels of government are failing to uphold people's rights.
• Having to wear a mask or queue for a vaccine brings on panic attacks in people suffering from mental disturbances such as PTSD, so they shouldn't be obliged to do this.

A kind-hearted, long-time friend of ours has been bringing the Parliament Hill demonstrators homemade muffins every day. She says: 

thousands of Canadians have been fired because they didn't want a forced medical procedure or [their] businesses had to close because of the lockdowns so they've lost their homes, can't pay the rent and worry how to feed their children [...] It is so distressing to see these decent hard-working salt-of-the-earth [vaccine refusers] be demonized and bullied by a bunch of salaried, comfortable stuffed shirts.

I asked her why anyone would refuse to be vaccinated, with that much to lose, and in reply I received lengthy descriptions, with reference links, of why Covid vaccines don't really work and how medical intervention, encouraged by Big Pharma, messes up one's immune system. One's body has the ability to recover from Covid unaided, is the implication. She adds: 

Previously highly respected and eminent doctors, scientists, epidemiologists, virologists are censured, belittled and discredited as quacks spewing misinformation when they express concern or raise questions or offer alternatives. The physicians’ governance body demands strict obedience to a new ruling where doctors can no longer use their own discretion in dealing with individual patients but must impose the arbitrary Covid protocol. They are no longer allowed to give any exemptions for philosophical, religious or medical reasons.

For the sake of our friendship, we had a civilized phone chat and then agreed to stop pointlessly arguing about it. 

The other one who disagreed with me simply said, "Get off my wall!" So I did.

A more objective comment from a friend who grew up on the Prairies was that people from out west like to make their own decisions without being told what to do, because in the past, they have had to.

Anyway, Ottawa citizens against the protest are starting to make their position clearer as well. A counter-demonstration this weekend successfully blocked a line of trucks when they stood in the road holding up placards that said, TRUCK OFF! 

Four generations of Eco-babes

On Friday I went to what they called a Pink Tea, hosted online by the Famous Five Foundation. This was nothing to do with Enid Blyton stories; the Famous Five in this context are the five famous Canadian ladies of the 1920s who declared women to be persons, who used to meet over cups of tea; their statues in Ottawa and elsewhere commemorate them.

Women Leading Climate Solutions was the title of the event. One speaker referred to her like-minded female colleagues as eco-babes, which made me squirm, somewhat. Anyhow there's an "unwavering spirit" among them. Us.

JL used to do Don River cleanups in Toronto as a child, "hands-on stuff". She studied science but came to the conclusion that no action came from that. Since then, her aim in life has been to change policies and find practical solutions. The approach matters, she said. We have to be committed to optimism without being naive. We have to realise that there are solutions; the general public is not so aware. It's challenging to have to do the same thing over and over again. JL has been fighting for the environment since the 1980s, up against big institutions entrenched in their ways. We are in the denial stage of grief for the planet and that needs to be overcome. Others will take the credit for the work we shall push them into. Never mind. Needing everybody, we're obliged to work with people who are not like us.

MB was an outdoor child who also left pure sciences for environmental studies ⁠— human health and biodiversity. She finds it hard to "stay true" to her motivation. Councillors make condescending remarks to younger people, failing to appreciate their expertise. The mentoring work she engages with is ongoing and reciprocal. She mentors young children as well as adults. In her region she is developing a Climate Hub.

ES reminded the gathering that not-for-profit organisations have to create their own marketing team, and on a very low budget, too. Her motto is Occam's Razor ⁠— go for the simplest solution always.

We had some representatives of Generation Z at the meeting, mentees. I always have to do a Google search to remind myself which generation is which, but these two girls appeared to be in their 20s. One of them had young children and wanted to know from the panellists what she should be teaching them.

Answers: simple habits like not leaving taps running, turning lights off. Teach your children easy meal planning or meal preparation.Teach food habits or garbage habits in manageable chunks, and make sure you model them yourself. Where fashion is concerned, teach them about quality versus quantity. Get them to understand that one country's actions will affect others in the world. Get them making posters for strikes and demos; show them there's strength in numbers. Encourage them to keep asking questions.

Get your kids outside: nature has so much to teach us! The medicine for Nature Deficit Disorder is Eco Action!

The other Gen. Z girl wanted to talk about holding authorities accountable. Why isn't the government doing more? complained MB. We need to understand the bigger picture rather than getting stuck in our individual guilt for not doing enough. Be aware that the oil companies are deliberately shifting the blame for environmental damage onto consumers. 

Did we know that half of our emissions come from buildings? [I quote, but question that statistic.] Retrofits need to be ramped up. It should be pointed out that retrofitting creates jobs, benefits whole communities and improves people's health. People can be helped to claim their rebates for retrofits; let's make the process easier for them.

Final quick questions for the panellists were sentence completion prompts:

When I'm confused, I ...?

...consult a colleague / ... make a list / ... ask a lot of questions.

When I'm sad, I ...?

...go outside / ... spend time with my family / ... talk to somebody.

When I'm scared, I ...?

... go back to my purpose / ... go for it! / ... freeze! 

*****

If I'm not mistaken, Pink Tea women seem to be implying that we can do whatever it takes to change the world for the better without involving any men, but this seems rather short-sighted. Not being a very ardent feminist, I think the men in our lives should be joining in as well.