Stand Up for America

Ever wonder where the inspiration came from for the Conservs' snappy slogan: Stand Up for Canada? Well look no futher than Republican Presidential hopeful, John McCain.

Unfortunately, I'm not tech savy enough to link you to his Stand Up video directly. But if you click on this link and then click on the Stand Up tab inside the main page video section, you can watch his, uh, slightly - jeez I'm actually at a loss for words on how to describe it - Stand Up video...

Hey come to think if it, maybe it's the other way around, maybe the Conserv election victory and Stand Up for Canada slogan inspired McCain to draw up his own Stand Up for America pitch... but either way, it's an interesting coincidence.

Traffic

Over the past year, I have been lucky enough to hit all 6 continents (don't mean this post to spur debate on how to define a continent... but for simplicity purposes I'm defining the follow 6 as the continents: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and AUS/NZ).

Now despite all their differences and complexities and cultures, smells, vibes, music, etc, everywhere from Toronto to Baltimore, from Nairobi to Rio, from Hanoi to Paris, from Montreal to Sydney, I’ve had the pleasure of sitting in traffic.

I think that traffic dislike is universal. I have yet to meet someone in my travels that says: “I just love this. Sitting in traffic makes me happy and relaxes me. Let’s just sit back, relax, and enjoy the concrete views and breath in that exhaust.” Waiting in a car in bumper to bumper traffic elicits the same kinds of feelings no matter where you are...the helplessness, the trapped, the boredom, the frustration... all common traffic feelings that binds us...

Anyone who has a solution or ideas on how to deal with this...and something tells me that traffic is a growing problem... could make millions...And though I am a big believer in public transport, I don't think that that is going to necessarily solve the problem... we need something that has evokes the same levels of feelings of independence as driving...yet doesn't leave you driving straight towards a 2 hour bottle neck...oh and the fact that ending traffic jams might be good for the environment and air quality too, well that's an added bonus...

Keeping Up With the Baileys

Spurred on by the last post, have been spending most of my time on line lately in the search of the comms holy grail... not sure I'm going to share the fruit of my findings (better to keep some cards off the table, especially as it looks like we'll be heading to an election sooner rather than later)... however did want to link to one fab article that reviews a wack of the latest on Dem political strategy... and raises some extremely valid issues: how political success means responding to the needs of the middle class, the meat and potatoes of daily life, i.e. what would Joe and Eileen Bailey want? vs the broader "climate changey" type issues... or can you do both?

It's a great read.

Also wanted to give a shout out to my friend Taylor Owen, who just had an outstanding oped on Afghanistan published in the TStar the other day...you can read the whole, unedited version here...

Changing Comms

Okay, so first: I agree with Wells... polls, smolls... and some of the questions were totally random... not sure how people can have an opinion on the Liberal position on Afghanistan... cause I have no idea what that is... (maybe I've just been totally out of the loop... but anyone who knows and wants to share... I'd v appreciate it)...

... so that being said... this post isn't motivated by the polls... I was thinking about it last week... after having read the papers a "normal" amount while in Vietnam (i.e. not obsessively everyday - bad habit that's hard to shake, after working in politics)... I came to the following, though not earth shattering in any way conclusion: time to get rid of whoever is doing comms in the OLO...

... Now, I hate to sow the seeds of discord and speak out against my beloved party... but I have a hunch that whoever is responsible for comms in Dion's office is the same person that has been doing comms for him for at least the past two years... And as far as I can tell, the best thing that he/she did - was to get zero media coverage for Dion in the leadership campaign... (though instincts tell me that, that though it was a blessing in disguise, it was not the result of a carefully planned comms strategy)... oh yeah, and the green swag on Saturday and the Dion drink coasters were good too...

Climate change and Kyoto are extremely complex issues... the Protocol is one of the trickiest in international law... and to get the message right on them is a behemoth of a job... The Tories have a much easier spin on this: any time we say a peep about Kyoto - there they are brandishing about the fact that GHG emissions rose while the Liberals were in power... Doesn’t' matter that the Kyoto Protocol only entered into force in Feb 2005 - doesn't matter that the reason there was little progress on reducing GHGs precisely because of Tory opposition in the House... that one line of Tory spin is, I hate to say it, damn effective... and we can do better/we have to do better...

Everyone knows the reason that Stevie went from talking about "so called green house gases" to committing $1.5 billion dollars on climate change - is because the Liberals under Stephane Dion made climate change THE issue... and a good comms strategy would remind Canadians of that...

... I also have a feeling that the comms folks are the same ones that got Dion absolutely zero domestic press coverage right after got over 162 countries to agree to a post 2012 Kyoto framework. I can't emphasize enough how much of a big deal this is... we have a hard enough time agreeing domestically within Canada on how we want to address climate change... meanwhile, Dion, steps up, gets 162 countries to come together and agree on how to move forward on reducing GHGs after the reduction period of Kyoto (which runs from 2008 - 2012) ends... The amount of kudos and accolades he got internationally was outstanding... the domestic coverage (in the middle of a federal election campaign when we were in desperate need of good press) was zip, zilch, zero...

...So there you have it... I think it's time for the Dion OLO to start mixing things up... comms wise...

Blog Revival & Video Interlude I

I have been remise. The shuttling too and fro at warp speed, over the North pole and back (looks like there is some fantastic potential skiing on Baffin Island)... the running around Hanoi, hanging off backs of mopeds, tea pots under arm, sailing in Halong Bay, organizing and running a conference with over 500 participants from over 50 countries.... has all been too much for my system... sensory overload to say the least... living life at warp speed finally caught up to me and after spending every day last week either at an airport or in an airplane, I finally hit a brick wall and crashed...into a crisp, snowy Montreal landing.

So yes, apologies for lack of blogging... but barely had time to catch my breath... So in the interim and while waiting to get my feet firmly settled on hard ground... I give you: Street scene from Hanoi. Enjoy!

I'm Soooo Not A 'Blogger'

Piccola-JJ
Toronto, Canada

I like my status as ‘guest-blogger’ on my sister’s blog. It’s kind of fun being at the helm of something that’s just out there, read by many people I don’t even know. However, these 2 weeks have confirmed for me that blogging just is not my calling. It’s simply not in my nature to maintain a running commentary on things. As I said in my first post, I tend to be fairly quiet. Now, a few people have interpreted quiet to represent some kind of lack of confidence and I’ve received some kind works of commiseration and of encouragement. Let me assure you, I’m very secure in my ability to form and articulate insightful ideas. To prove it, I’ll go so far as to say that I think I’m an even better writer than my sister (well, sometimes). But sending my personal opinions into some void of the blog-sphere isn’t an enticing idea for me.

Don’t get me wrong- I really value the blogging community and believe in its power to democratize ideas and provide an insightful alternative to the mainstream media. I enjoy reading the cacophony of comments that continuously appear throughout the day (and night). Perhaps this is what prevents me from making my own contribution- there’s just so much out there, all the time, on just about everything. Is this intellectually selfish of me- that’s I want to absorb the ideas out there without adding my own?

In any case, my sister is due back soon. In the mean time, I’ll happily (and hopefully), maintain this blog with a few more post, although I’m not sure what they’ll contain- possibly just a few more picture and links and, should the urge strikes, an extended analytic monologue….

Pictoral Interlude VI

Piccola-JJ

Toronto, Canada

I have just returned from a run on this positively freezing Toronto morning. These pictures, from Chennai, India, are an attempt spread some warm during our moment of arctic weather. (I am also hoping that they’ll remind JJ to share with us some picture from Hanoi!)

Exodus

Nothing is more frustrating than traveling half way around the globe (and taking 4 days to get there) and not being able to leave your hotel to explore the whole new world that lies outside. Especially difficult is catching glimpses of the exotic, different, beautiful, from your window - but not being able to capture the feelings in their entirety (the smells, the air, the humidity, the noise, the dusty, the bustle). See prairie fire for similar feelings and views from the same hotel windows.

Just when I thought I was about to burst with the need to get outside the hotel - a break presented itself – and off I went in the streets of Hanoi. Not far, but far enough to sample some of the local street food. No menu – I picked by pointing at what the other patrons were eating. Sitting on tiny plastic stools. Getting their shoes polished while eating (slippers are provided for your comfort). I ate a fantastic, filling meal – noodles, soup, spring rolls for a cool $1.50… Wandered through a market – meat of the day (I know this is a terribly stereotypical thing to say – but others confirmed) delectable pieces of dog – fresh (i.e. alive) cat fish swimming in bowls balanced on the ends of long sticks hung over shoulders– stunning flowers (at wonderful prices) and lush odors filled the air… cachews, apples, tofu, fruits galor…

And then, time’s up. Back to the grind. Back to sheltered hotel/expat temporary living… I can’t wait for today’s lunch break! Real, live pictures of Hanoi to follow soon (I hope!)