Recent polls have shown a sort of National Depression in Germany of late. (hattip: Reader JaneM)

The article blames in part Germans societal reliance on Government to provide oppurtunity and advancement while also blaming a simple and historical German malaise that is handed down from generation to generation.

Apparently things have gotten bad enough that a television ad campaign has been launched to try boost the German Publics morale.

But look at the slogans and tag lines!
“A butterfly can unleash a typhoon. The air moved by the flap of its wings can uproot trees a few kilometers away. Just as a breath of air can become a storm, your deeds can have an effect.”

HUH

Excuse me, but what the HELL does that mean?

No. If these companies really want to change Germans attitudes about themselves they have to focus on things that Germans are already proud of!

Canadians reading this will know exactly what I am talking about.

Beer. Canadians love Beer. And Molson Canadian loves to sell Canadians Beer.

So what did Molson Canadian do? they made an add, about their Beer, but simultaneously about being Canadian and all the things that Canadians LOVE to love about themselves. Beer, language, hockey, peacekeeping, diversity, fairness, beer…

What did it do? It was a sensation. It was quite possibly the single most popular commercial for Young Canadians (between 13-35) ever made. People would recite the whole commercial at bars. It was like a new National Anthem.

Now obviously the Molson Canadian commercial played on a subtle patriotism that Canadians already harboured inside of them… and I believe it had already been ignited by such events as the Olympics and the razor-thin margin of defeat of the Seperatists in Quebec. It also played on how Canadians define themselves as opposed to their American neighbours.

I believe Germans probably have that subtle patriotism inside them as well, but perhaps they are simply afraid to show it. Whether that is due to their war-time history, the Cold War afterwards, or what, I cannot know. I will posit, however, that if Germany were to win, say, the World Cup (of Football/Soccer), THEN we would start to see that national desperation lift. Then there would be the opportunity to focus on the Good rather than on the Bad.

Feeling good about oneself is often more about being able to recognize the good rather than ignore the bad… it’s about recognize your own flaws, and laughing, rather than crying. I think this ad campaign has it’s heart in the right place (and it’s obviously attempted to “borrow” from Molsons, but it’s taking the wrong tact. Germans need to be inspired. They need to see things they are proud of. I don’t know what those things would be… but given all the amazing things Germans have contributed to the world, I’m sure someone can think of something.

I don’t think this has anything to do with what sort of social safety net or unemployment rate there is in Germany. Though of course those could be contributing factors. I believe every country has a “soul” and if the people of that country have lost contact with their soul, then they become unhappy and depressed. Perhaps since the unification of East and West Germany, Germans have yet to find their new, unified soul. Once they have found it though… it will be obvious to them… like finding a long lost brother… and their spirits will be lifted.

For kicks..I’ll leave you with Canadas Unofficial National Anthem… as read by Joe. (click to see a video of the commercial)

Hey, I’m not a lumberjack, or a fur trader….
I don’t live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled….
and I don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
although I’m certain they’re really really nice.

I have a Prime Minister, not a president.
I speak English and French, not American.
And I pronounce it ‘about’, not ‘a boot’.

I can proudly sew my country’s flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, not policing,
diversity, not assimilation,
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch,
and it is pronounced ‘zed’ not ‘zee’, ‘zed’ !!!!

Canada is the second largest landmass!
The first nation of hockey!
and the best part of North America

My name is Joe!!
And I am Canadian!!!

Good news came out of the Canadian Senate (ya we do have one of those).

Whether it means anything is another question all together.

The Senate Defence Committee help a press conferece today detailing changes they thought needed to be made to Canada defense sector of governmentand spending.

#1: Increase Spending (obviously any “improvement” short of disbanding would require more money).. but they’re not talking small potatoes.. they’re talking from $14 billion in the current budget, to a “happy place” of $25-40 billion. Merits aside, one has to wonder where they think that money should come from.

#2: Increase the size of the Armed Forces. From the current 62,000 to 90,000 across all services. I heartily agree with this. I have no problem with Canada having a military… it is a necessity in todays world. If we truly want to promote our vision of the world, we need the soldiers on the ground to be able to project that vision. A larger military does NOT mean a shift away from peacekeeping and other historically Canadian roles, it simply means we can do more of it.. and for greater lengths of time before our troops become over burdened and weakened.

#3: Modernize equipment. Again, this is important is Canada wants to continue playing a vital role in operations around the world. Our equipment is literally rusting away. That is simply not effective. If we are to have a military at all, I want it to be well equipped, and if that means doling out more cash, then by all means we should do so.

This is one area where I think the traditional NDP/Leftwing position simply doesn’t make sense. It’s naive to think that Canada cannot have a military. We are not Costa Rica. And it is downright dangerous to neglect our military as we have in the past. It is a danger to our soldiers, who deserve the best… and it is a danger to ourselves as we are left without a capable military to protect us from disaster and patrol our interests. One of Canadas greatest problems is our inability to guard our own borders. We must fix that, not because we are threatened with invasion, but rather to ensure the sovereignty of our land.

The controversy lately over Hans Island has exemplified this need. We need to be able to provide Canadians in the North with the protection that they need. Search and Rescue is minimal in the Canadian arctic. That should change. Also, as the North warms, the Northwest Passage must be Clearly Canadian so that as it becomes a thoroughfare for shipping, Canadians are given the benefit of that business through our waters. I think if you ask most Canadians, they would look at a map of the Northwest Passage and say, Yes, obviously those must be Canadian waters… well, other countries don’t think so, particularly the United States… it is time the Canadian military and Coast Guard played a much larger role in securing the sovereignty of those waters for Canada.

This Senate report looks to be a good start, I hope it is noticed and taken by Government as a roadmap to a better, more productive, and more proud future for the Canadian Forces.

There have been multiple reports (CNN) stemming from findings released by Artic researchers last week on the reduction of Polar Ice in all Arctic regions and the resulting effects it is having on the landscape North of 60 (the traditional barrier between the land of permafrost, and the “south”. It is also the Title of a New Scientist, very good Canadian television series and the boundary between Canadas’ provinces and northern territories.).

There has been a lot of talk of “global warming” lately, and many people dismiss it out-of-hand when ever they hear that phrase. But for those living and studying in the North the rise in temperatures over the past 30 years has been obvious, and dramatic.

In Alaska, whole towns are moving (see CNN above) because the rock solid perma-frost they were founded on is melting, turning the ground to mush.

On the seaways, ice flows are breaking up 16 days earlier than they did 30 years ago… that’s a full 2 weeks. It has disrupted the habits of Polar Bears and other animals that rely on the sea ice to search for food and move from place to place.

And if you think this will only affect a few animals and some crazy hippies in the bush.. think again, this could have a major effect on Big Business. ie. The Oil, Gas, and Mining industries. Many of the companies operating in the north rely on permafrost to build roads and company towns. As the permafrost melts, new roads, requiring much more massive amounts of investment due to the “soupy” nature of the earth, will have to be built. This will of course have major environmental impacts.

Also, ice roads over frozen lakes are often used to transport goods and material throughout the north. If the ice in those lakes isn’t thick enough, or it doesn’t stay as long as usual, or it simply isn’t there.. then that could again spell trouble for industry.

This is a real problem that can and will affect all facets of society and the economy. Are humans responsible? It’s still hard to say.. but what is clear is that we’re definitely not helping.

My apologies for yesterdays outage.. trouble with the Internet provider.

Michaelle (pronounced, MeekaEl) Jean (soft-g “gon” silent-n) was sworn in yesterday as Canadas’ Governor General. She took over the position from Adrienne Clarkson. For those not familiar, the Governor General is the Official representative of the Monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) in Canada. She gives Royal Assent to new laws, swears in the Prime Minister and other important political posts, and acts as Commander in Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces.

I have not heard her speech, but given the positively glowing reviews she has received from the nations major papers, on both political spectrums, it seems we are in for a treat.

No doubt, Michaelle represents the epitomy of what it is to be Canadian. She was born in Haiti. Her father moved their family to Montreal when she was young. She is active and well known in the Haitian community there and has worked for the betterment of Haitians still in Haiti. She embraced the French culture of Quebec and is now well known as a broadcaster for the French service of the CBC. She was also the host for many documentary programs on the English CBC and CBC Newsworld.

Jean made this Canadian identity a clear in her speech. Perhaps her most uplifting words were these:

“The narrow notion of ‘every person for himself’ does not belong in today’s world, which demands that we learn to see beyond our wounds, beyond our differences for the good of all.”

“Quite the contrary: We must eliminate the spectre of all the solitudes and promote solidarity among all the citizens who make up the Canada of today.”

This from a prominent and influencial native french speaker. A Woman. A Black woman. Finally. Someone who can speak for Canada. From Experience. In both official languages and across all cultures. As was said in the Globe and Mail:

“We are an entirely different country from the one reflected in the words and faces of those who lead us - old faces, old men, who nurse ancient animosities and scratch at phantom wound.”

Jean represents what Canadians believe they are. Multicultural, diverse, progressive and compassionate.

Join me in welcoming our new Vice Regal, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean.

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UPDATE (20:25PST): The worst is about to hit for Northern Texas and Louisiana. It’s running smack into the major oil refining center in Port Arthur and giving a hard brush to Houston. Hopefully those who could not or would not flee will be OK. We’ll know by morning.

(click to see a larger version)

Bookmark this page and check to see how bad Ritas effect on the refineries and population centers will be.

How many oil refineries are there in Texas? Where are they? Will Rita totally wipe them out, like some were in Louisiana? Check out this picture for the answer. Rita is currently a Category 4 with winds at 140mph (225kph). She’s looking more disorganized this morning though, so that’s good. I will continually update this picture as the NOAA updates theirs. It will stay at the top of my website until Rita passes through.

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