Covid Journal, March 15, 2021
Alberta vs a Cartoon
That’s right. A cartoon.
Apparently, Netflix has gone too far and is ‘villianizing’ the oil industry.
Because, you know, it’s nothing but sunshine and lollipops that follow in the wake of the world’s dirtiest business.
The head of the Canadian Energy Centre (CEC) says a recent computer-animated Netflix family film centred on the exploits of the mythical ape-like creature known as Bigfoot depicts “misinformation” and “villainizes energy workers.”
… Andrew Leach, associate professor in the Alberta School of Business at the University of Alberta, said the images in the film specifically found to be contentious by the CEC weren’t that far off from reality.
“The specific thing they took issue with was the idea that it’s unfathomable that there would be a secret campaign to use a bomb to blow up a mountain to flood a valley to fill it with oil,” Leach said.
“That was actually pretty darn close to what was once proposed for the oilsands.”
… Jared Wesley, an associate professor of political science at the University of Alberta, said attacks like those against Bigfoot Family draw more attention to negative stereotypes that people have about the oil and gas industry.
“It may actually end up drawing negative reaction from people who are in the middle on this issue and need to be persuaded of a different view on the oilsands,” Wesley said.
Sigh. I really don’t understand people that really don’t understand we have one planet and it’s time we stop destroying it.
Michael Geist: Canada’s ‘Linking Law’ Should NOT Require a Licence
I feel like taking a moment to remind everyone that Michael Geist is a very valuable asset to the Canadian public, but unfortunately, our government refuses to pay attention to what he has to say about Steven Guilbeault’s plan to dramatically alter the media landscape in Canada.
It’s hard not to quote the whole article, but Geist reminds us all of how Guilbeault himself, along with many other Liberal MPs, spent loads of cash advertising on Facebook, only to turn against the platform at the behest of traditional media companies like PostMedia that are desparate for public handouts and/or intervention when it comes to competition:
… during the last election campaign, Guilbeault personally ran 54 ads on Facebook, allocating over $10,000 toward the digital ad campaign. In fact, just last month, Guilbeault advertised on Facebook promoting pre-budget consultations in his constituency. Nothing wrong with making constituents aware of a policy process, but a curious decision given his comments on Facebook advertising.
A key component of the quoted article is that Geist actually seems to insinuate that Guilbeault is actually skirting copyright and basic etiquette when it comes to posting articles and videos about himself on Facebook:
The video use raises more questions. Rather than post links, Guilbeault has at times made a copy of the video and posted it directly to Facebook. For example, this post features his full appearance on Tout le Monde en Parle. The segment is available online and could be linked, but Guilbeault instead made a copy of the 14 minute appearance and uploaded it himself, thereby denying the referral to the original broadcaster. Did he obtain permission or a licence? Does he think that posting a full 14 minute video is fair dealing? In fact, he’s done the same thing many times, including to videos he has copied and uploaded where he is criticizing the Internet platforms for their practices. Perhaps a closer examination of his own social media practices are in order.
Hard to ignore.
Privacy Invasion of an Alberta MLA
This just goes in the ‘wow’ department.
An Alberta NDP MLA has been investigated by city police without her knowledge several times.
Maybe she said something disparaging about the oil industry.
Canada’s Time to Become a Constitutional Republic
I don’t swear allegiance to the Queen and I don’t think we should have a head of state that reports to the Queen.
Canada needs to alter its democratic structure and become a Constitutional Republic that represents its citizens more effectively and efficiently.
More here: https://rabble.ca/news/2021/03/canadians-can-stop-swearing-allegiance-queen