Surrey Cab shooting

I had heard that someone shot at a cab in Surrey Saturday night but I didn’t realize it was at Surrey Central right behind the SFU courtyard where those wackos stabbed a guy in the neck with a kitchen knife and started kicking him on the ground after he dropped like a sack of potatoes. That one didn’t appear to be gang related. It just looked like a group of losers who jumped a smaller group of people after a fight at a bar.

This cab shooting sounds a bit different as well. The bullet went through the rear windows. After the shooting, the suspect drove off and the passengers fled. It’s likely the shooting was targeted at the passengers of the cab. The couldn’t have been very high lever drug dealers if they were riding in a cab. Unless they were being responsible and took a cab home after a night out drinking. The passengers were two couples so that’s entirely possible. One would hate to think it was just another group of wackos that shot someone for an altercation at a club.

Kim Bolan is reporting that the police haven't even found the passengers of the cab yet and are asking for the public's help to identify them.

60th anniversary of the Korean War

There was a very interesting documentary on Canada’s involvement in the Korean War last night called In Korea with Norm Christie. I didn’t realize it tied in with the 60th anniversary of the ceasefire. The Federal government wants to turn July 27th into a national day of remembrance. We don’t need another holiday but a day to remember courage and sacrifice is always a good thing.

"Establishing July 27 as a national day of recognition serves as a way to honour our veterans and this important moment in Canada's history," said Veterans Affairs minister Julian Fantino. "Today, Canadians will pause to remember the men and women in uniform who came to the aid of South Koreans during the Korean War." Building a monument and setting a day aside to remember veterans is a good thing. Cutting back their pensions and benefits is not.

There are a few points I want to make here. The documentary on TV last night talked about a specific battle where Canadian soldiers took strategic positions on top of steep mountains and withstood a huge onslaught of enemy soldiers trying to break through and take their position. It was Normandy in reverse. At Normandy, the Germans had the strategic position and cut down the allies like sheep. It was refreshing to see the Canadians had the strategic position this time.

Canada was right to participate in the Korean War. We were wrong not to participate in the Vietnam War. That is easy to see in hindsight. We can talk about the Gulf of Tonkin incident all we want. The bottom line is Chinese Communists invaded a sovereign land on both occasions. On one occasion we rose to the cause. On the other occasion, we choked and faltered.

Both wars were before my time so to speak. All I remember growing up is that the Vietnam War was bad and a lot of bad things happened. Soldiers trapped in a guerrilla war going crazy and killing innocent civilians. Vietnam was where George Bush Sr got the CIA addicted to drug trafficking. It all started with the heroin trade as confirmed by Bo Gritz. Yet the root cause of the Vietnam War was the same as the Korean War. A Communist empire invaded a sovereign land to bring it into bondage.

As we remember the Korean war we need to remember that South Korea was grateful for the Canadian support and sacrifice just like the Dutch were when Canada helped liberate them from the Nazi’s who had invaded their homeland. That is the way military intervention is supposed to be. It’s not supposed to be the invasion of sovereign states for their oil like in Iraq.

Canada was right not to participate in that invasion. Harper saying we made a mistake in that case is a huge concern. It was never claimed Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. Iraq was invaded on the premeditated lie that they had Weapons of Mass Destruction. That’s why Libby Davies went with a few others across the border to a US Weapons facility that had a big sign outside saying Warning Weapons of Mass Destruction. She asked if she could inspect that facility and was denied.

I say premeditated lie because Tony Blair was in on that mission and MI6 were caught red handed giving false information to the media in Operation Mass Appeal. That is why we cannot trust any of these intelligence agencies whenever they send out press releases. They have been caught lying. Any information they willingly give to the media is suspect.

I do think setting July 27th aside as a time to remember the Korean War is a good thing. We need to remember what military intervention is supposed to be and what it’s not supposed to be so we don’t make those same two mistakes in the future - of failing to act in Vietnam and wanting to have acted in Iraq. The latter is even more concerning because it makes us no better than the enemy.

I have nothing against the people of North Korean. We have a huge number of immigrants here from South Korea who are all hard working contributors to our society. I have a huge concern with the crazed leader of North Korea who has repeatedly threatened to fire nuclear missiles at the US. It’s easy for us to criticize the people of North Korea for their blind obedience to a madman and turn a blind eye to our own.

Yet it behooves us to question military action and make our own moral decisions as to which fights to support and which invasions we should abstain from. That is what it means to be Canadian. Likewise, if China, Russia or America ever invaded Canada, we would be equally grateful to whoever came to our aid to help us repel that invasion and regain our sovereignty.

Jog for the Bog

I didn’t realize today was International Bog Day. They had a fun run and festival at Burns Bog. I never used to realize the ecological importance of bogs. I remember hearing some environmentalists were rallying to save a bog a while ago and I said are you kidding me? It’s just a bog. It’s not like it’s an old growth forest.

Apparently bogs are very important for water and air filtration. Burns Bog is referred to as the lungs of the Lower mainland since it filters out the carbon and greatly improves the air quality. Which is pretty important since every summer we now see reports on air quality readings for those with respiratory problems. During the summer pollution tends to sit in the Fraser Valley as there isn’t much wind to blow it away.

Which again forces us to ask what they are smoking at City Hall to even consider putting a Garbage incinerator in Surrey. That’s more than shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s placing a noose around our neck to go bungee jumping. It most certainly isn't progressive.

There was a petition and booth about the coal trains at the festival. Aside from the huge ecological ramifications of mining and burning coal, transporting it brings air quality concerns for people with respiratory problems as well. The coal cars are open and exposed. Whenever coal trains go by, coal dust spread for miles. In Whitercok they have to keeping wiping off the patio tables from all the coal dust resulting from the increase in coal train traffic. Which will go off the charts if the Fraser Docks coal terminal is created. The one Metro Vancouver voted against.

Yet another problem with transporting coal trains through burns bog is that the dust will polite the bog. It will saturate it with carbon and prevent it from purifying our air like it’s supposed to. On Texada Island there isn’t enough water to hose down the coal to prevent the dust from spreading. Even if they do hose it down that just means it goes into the water supply and contaminates the seafood we eat.

Even if we cave in to the short term economic clear cut of transporting coal out of the Fraser Docks there’s nothing to say they won’t turn around and ship it out of Cherry Point in the States. As we become more educated as a society, we need to start using our brain and becoming economically sustainable and stop being so short sighted. Coal was fine in the Industrial revolution but times have changed. The CO2 levels are a real concern now. Failing to address that is just being irresponsible.



Burns bog is a really nice place to go for a walk. They’ve built a board walk in the reserve. Not only is it an important air and water filtration system but it is also teaming with wildlife. In a closed section it is an important migratory habitat for Sandhiil Crane that stand at five feet tall. The cranes migrate down to Oregon and California but nest in Burns bog. It is a crucial part of their habitat. Just like the Tsawwassen area is that they want to rezone for a shopping mall. The Burns bog Conservation Society has an awesome Crane T-shirt you can buy to support their cause. They are collecting paper cranes to go along with a petition to stop development in that sacred habitat.

How the Liberal Government is Bankrupting BC Hydro

Damien Gillis exposes the Liberal party's true economic track record. As I’ve repeated before privatizing the power brokers that sell power to BC Hydro at an inflated rate is criminal fraud that has created a ballooning debt that rivals the Enron scandal. Notwithstanding this ballooning debt, the Christie Clarke lie was a claim they were going to take money from BC Hydro to pay down their debt. That claim constitutes fraud.

Terror Squad tied to the Hells Angels

The StarPhoenix from Saskatoon is reporting that Darren Harper, the leader of a local street gang known as the Terror Squad has had his parole revoked following a hearing which exposed "direct ties" between the Terror Squad and the Hells Angles.

The Terror Squad has been described as the most dominant street gang in Saskatoon actively involved in the cocaine trade. "When crew members sell drugs, commit home invasions, robberies or other crimes, they are required to 'kick up' a portion of the profits to the council or others designated as captains, generals or higher-ups." Michael James McNab and several others were arrested in March 2011. At least we now know who is supplying their drugs.

Kelowna Crime and a Crown Appeal

A new report claims Kelowna has been listed as the highest crime per capita city in Canada after the Hells Angels opened up shop there. Thankfully the crown has appealed Nanaimo Hells Angel Robert Widdifield's extortion case that was dismissed due to court delays. Hopefully after his case is heard we can fire Robert Johnston and all the other judges in BC sitting on the wrong side of the bench. I suppose that would mean we would have to hire some real judges to deal with the delays then. I hear they won't let Peter Leask do criminal trials any more. Thank God. If that's true then they admit there was a problem with him. Get rid of him and seize the Kelowna clubhouse.

Rock Machine member sentenced to 8 years

The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that Cameron Hemminger , “the last remaining member” of the Manitoba Rock Machine has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for trafficking cocaine and guns. Last month Joseph Strachan was sentenced to nine years following that large bust back in January. John Curwin received a 9 and 1/2 year sentence back in April. Curwin was selling BZP and was caught with a stick of dynamite.

Tactical Unprofessionalism

This morning as I lie in bed sleeping, I hear sirens go by. Not thinking much of it at the time, I noticed that I kept hearing them over and over again. Normally when a cop pulls someone over they have the lights and siren going until the person pulls over. Then they keep the lights on but turn off the siren. Especially in a residential neighborhood.

This was a random burst of the siren that kept going off over and over again. It was 3:30 AM when most people are trying to sleep. It started to get really irritating so I got up and went out to see what all the fuss was about. Police cars had a perimeter sectioned off with their lights on. Each vehicle would release a loud burst of their siren sporadically and repeatedly. It was impossible to sleep and it was really irritating. I started walking outside the perimeter hoping to ask a cop who isn’t in active pursuit what is with the sirens.

I walk by a few police cars on the outside of the perimeter and cringed every time the siren burst goes off wanting to ask them about the sirens but didn’t want to interrupt anyone. A female officer with a police dog is searching the area. I hear her say on her radio there’s a guy walking out here and another officer drives up to speak with me.

The cop asks me if I have seen anyone walking around about 20 minutes ago. I said no and pause for the awkward silence. I said obviously you’re looking for someone. What is the tactical advantage of the sirens? He said they want him to stay down. I assume that means they want him to stay down and hide as oppose to run away so they can find them with the dog. I walk over to a gassy hill outside their perimeter and sit down to watch the light show. The noise makes it impossible to go back to bed and sleep. I see the female officer with the dog on a very long leash searching all over and notice she crossed over and was walking past behind me.

Then all of a sudden I can hear her let the dog charge me from behind as I sit on the grassy hill watching everything. I raise my hands in the air and brace myself for the dogs teeth to sink into by back. Right before it attacks me the officer pulls the leash and shouts no then literally screams at me and shouts “What the F*ck are you doing here?!?” Those were her exact words.

I responded by saying I was trying to sleep then added I don’t understand what the tactical advantage of the sirens is. Then as she walks away I state in absolute bewilderment this is very unprofessional.

I watch her handle the dog from a distance. Pulling the dog shouting f this and f that. It didn’t look like the dog had a scent and was following it. It didn’t look like she really knew how to handle the dog either. Then she came up to speak to two other officers. One was in an unmarked car with a dog in it. He seemed a lot more calm and competent. She had calmed down considerably and they were discussing what she had seen.

As I just shook my head it made me think of a scene from the movie Men in Black where Will Smith was in a target practice drill. It was a funny scene from a comedy. Yet it showed that law enforcement does have a difficult task pursuing suspects in a world full of bad guys, good guys and innocent bystanders.

At first I thought, welcome to Surrey but then I remembered the Prince George lockdown and how this could happen in any residential neighborhood anywhere in Canada. It is important to be appreciative that the police are in fact willing to chase down bad guys. I do however think it’s important to address police arrogance and stress the importance of preserving the Charter of Rights in our society when the police are paid by civilian taxes to serve and protect them. Not to control, harass and abuse them. No one has the right to run around like Gestapo and trample our civil liberties.

Hells Angels in Germany and Spain arrested for human trafficking

The Guardian is reporting that on Wednesday “Police in Mallorca have arrested 25 members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang on suspicion of drug trafficking, trafficking in humans, extortion and running prostitution rings.”

The majority of those arrested are German and include leading members of the German and Spanish chapters. Frank Hanebuth, the 49-year-old former boxer and head of the Hanover chapter, is reportedly among those arrested. A local police officer was also arrested, according to press on the island.

The same source said that a principal source of the gang's income allegedly came from women coerced to work as prostitutes in clubs in Germany. Police also claim the gang frequently extorted money from foreign residents using threats of violence accompanied by photographs showing that they were familiar with victims' families' routines.

This is a huge bust. In involves a Germans President not some rouge member. Frank Hanebuth, a reputed Hells Angels boss from Germany, was among the 25 arrested by Spanish police at his multi-million dollar estate on the Mediterranean resort island of Mallorca in Spain.

A Spanish paper called the Local is reporting that “The Hells Angels planned to launder "a significant quantity" of money from its activities in Germany and Turkey in the construction of a Formula One race track in Mallorca, police said in a statement.”

“Operation Casablanca targeted alleged drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and running of prostitution rings by the Majorca chapter of the notorious motorbike club. Most of the club's members arrived on the island from Germany after authorities in that country cracked down on the group in 2009. The group raised money mainly by forcing women into prostitution across Germany and extorting cash from people they threatened to harm if they were not paid.

Threatening someone’s family is total low life. Yet these guys have been accused of showing women pictures of their family and threatening to harm them if the woman didn’t agree to become prostitutes for them. That is disgusting. They call informants rats, yet they are the rats. Reporting that to the police isn’t being a rat. Failing to do so is. These low lifes are rat shit.

In Fast and Furious 6 Vin Diesel said “Never threaten a man's family.”

Human trafficking targeting Nova Scotia women

CBC News is reporting that “A Truro woman is marching against what she calls one of Nova Scotia's dirtiest and darkest secrets - human sex trade trafficking. Lia Renaud said sex slavery starts in the Maritimes more than people think, so she and several supporters are planning to walk from Halifax to Moncton to raise awareness of the issue, taking the route where vulnerable victims are often picked up.”

Truro? That’s a pretty familiar small town involving an organized crime group we all know. Come to think of it, members of the Thirtieth Tribe that patched over to become the Halifax chapter of the Hells Angels where David Giles, Mike Christianson and Larry Pace (Lars) are from, were convicted of living off the avails. In fact, Right after the Darksiders move into Bridgewater, NS a new brothel was busted there. Imagine that.

RCMP Const. Sebastian Decaens said in most cases a predator will manipulate their victim to either fall in love with them or make them feel like they need to pay off a debt. "They would bring them to another city or another province to start dancing. Once again it's to create a habit, a need, and from that they would go to dancing to unfortunately the sex trade market," he said.

Renaud said that's exactly what happened to her friend Stacy. "She ended up meeting a gentleman. He was a well-respected businessman, also a high-ranking Hells Angel," she said. Pimped by a high ranking Hells Angel. Imagine that. I suppose Otis Garret isn’t then only missing link between the Hells Angels and prostitution.

Last month MSN News reported that “Twenty-two men were arrested and two children were rescued from harm after a major child exploitation bust in Atlantic Canada. The suspects range in age from 22-years-old to 63. Six of the people were from rural Nova Scotia and three were from the Halifax region. One of the charged men was a registered sex offender. Another worked with children. "The majority of our offenders are individuals who have never had a parking ticket,” said Purchase.” Fred Price, 52, of Fredericton, and Donald Martin, 48, of Miramichi, have both been charged with distributing child pornography.

According to C2C’s Investigative Report ““The media don't know anything about it. The Crown attorneys have all moved on to bigger and better things. The police officers have all changed. The political will has changed. So now it’s Canada's deep, dark secret if you will. The Russian mafia runs girls, the Hells Angels runs girls. There's a lot of Asian human trafficking going on, locally and from abroad. It's everywhere now.” Why that’s yet another source that claims the Hells Angels are involved in forced prostitution in Canada. How does a nice family man with young kids rationalize that? Kinda makes ya wonder what was really going on at the Pickton farm. Last September they had a human trafficking awareness walk in Toronto.