The Shotgun Jimmie Podcast w/ Julie Doiron & Attack in Black

The pride of Sackville, NB - Shotgun Jimmie has recorded his first ever podcast. It features Shotgun Jimmie himself as well as exclusive interviews with Dan Romano of Attack in Black, Matt Charlton of Bloodsport and Julie Doiron of...Oh come on, there is no of, being Canadian and not knowing who Julie Doiron is is like saying you've never heard of hockey - look it up, seriously. The podcast also features brand new tracks from the forthcoming albums by Shotgun Jimmie, Attack in Black and Julie Doiron all of which are scheduled for release on March 10.

You can find the Shotgun Jimmie Podcast at http://redesignsackville.com/shotgun_podcast.html

Burning Hell Video from Sappyfest

Via Zunior TV comes video from Sappyfest 2008 - the Burning Hell starts their show with their standard "The Things that People Make" after a tip of the cap to the vastly underrated Phil Collins work of the 1980s.

Seriously if you get the chance to see them don't miss it. This band is insanely fun.



The Burning Hell - In the Air Tonight/the Things that People Make

Unlikely to be on CBC

Brent Sheppard, in an effort to bring his show "Unlikely" to the CBC has taken it to Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unlikely/18732592039?ref=s

"There are comments here from various executives at the CBC who clearly love the show. They have offered no legitimate reason for not supporting it. It's obvious that it's once again the CBC's anti-New Brunswick bias that has kept the show from being made."

You can visit the Facebook page for a full description of the show and it's characters as well as the plan to lobby the CBC. I should also point out that the Unlikely author's claim that "...it's a new idea. Lobby a network to MAKE a series." isn't quite new. I've been working on something similar for about a year now.

Miramachi Paper Workers Take Matters Into Their Own Hands

In an inventive move, making use of the tools offered by the internet, Chris Allison and the mill workers at UPM paper mills in Miramachi, NB have launched a campaign. After fighting for months to save their mill which is scheduled for closure the workers are now looking for investors on their own. From the statement I was send:

"In an effort to save or ensure their jobs in the future, mill workers at UPM paper mills in Miramichi have launched a campaign, looking for buyers.
CEP President Chris Allison says " action must happen now, the cold weather is coming, and we feel UPM will announce permenant closure, and allow the assets to be destroyed ". He continues '' we know the dollar is high , but it will come down eventually, and these facilities should be ready when it does ''. Allison is looking for the Federal Government to intervein as soon as possible. " We have 750 people and their families, searching for answers, and it seems nobody wants to help find those answers"

Here is their commercial:

Axing Higher Education Does Not Improve the Economy

Atlantic Canada has certainly seen better economic times, but short term fixes based solely on the demands of industry will not fix it. In any society that wants to prosper, both socially and economically, there is no better investment you can make than in education. It is education that provides the knowledge around which all other societal changes and improvements are made. Personally, I have nothing against polytechnic institutions but if you are serious about investing in the future you don't create them by shutting down universities and if you are serious about political credibility you don't do so on the basis of recommendations by a board member of polytechnics Canada.

Please join me in supporting the students and staff of the University of New Brunswick's St. John campus in fighting an attempt by government to shut down their school - along with recommendations to deregulate tuition, cap student loans and eliminate a $2000 grant for first year students.

More information is available here as well as a facebook group created by students, and a petition you can sign.

Corporate Responsibility , Unheard of Here

Posted on behalf of Chris Allison President Cep Local 689 Miramichi ,New Brunswick

It was only a few years back when UPM decided to cast their shadow of gloom on our town. Most felt comfortable with the fact one of the world’s largest forest enterprises took over our mills. Everyone was happy with the future of Miramichi. We soon found, this was all to change.
I started in the mill in 1986 . We had our share of ups and downs in the industry as most industrys do. We survived through it though and always continued to operate. Back then we flew under the Repap flag. A wild spending company, that never hesitated to invest. But some bad investments caught up to the owner and soon hands were changed.
Then UPM arrived in 2001. Within three months over 90 jobs were slashed in the mill. These positions both staff and hourly. We started thinking differently of our new owners. Their new approach was uneasy to accept ,but we had to move on.
In September 2004 with one quick announcement, the company closed our Kraft Mill. The devastation would rock our community, 400 jobs in one swing. The reasons for the closure, we were told was “ market conditions” and the “ mill was to old”. Many, as I do, believe the kraft mill had many years left. But now it is gone. In April of last year, the company announced an investment of 325 million in its Kymi pulp mill their homeland of Finland. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit.
A long 9 month strike in 2005 was then added to our resume. The company reduced capacity in the markets during the strike and increased prices. Profits multiplied across Europe, and UPM boasted about it. In the meantime us small town Canadians sat idle wondering where we stood in this monopoly.
In December 2005 after the strike was over and all hoped life would return to normal UPM announced a 3 month closure for the Miramichi mills. From February till May we would sit idle again, bet a request was bestowed upon us. The company wanted a wage rollback of 5.5% , a two year wage freeze , elimination of 12 jobs and substantial production increases. In my mind I knew they wanted us to fail. The membership accepted with reluctance and production records were broken month after month after month.
If this was not enough the dagger was then pierced in the hearts of all Miramichiers. The effects of globalization and corporate greed cast its head as UPM announced a 9 to 12 month closure for Miramichi. With it 600 more jobs to be lost. This slated to begin in August of this year. Odds of start up given to us were, 20% and no startup without investments. After all the employees had done, the company could not keep its end of the bargain.
Investments here are nill compared to those overseas. The government has made offers ,but they have been shunned.
The prices of coated magazine papers will be hoisted shortly. UPM will be requesting this from their customers. An overcapacity in their homeland of Finland has crippled the lives here in Miramichi. An overcapacity they wish not to deal with.
Many will ask why the letter? Well, hopefully the Corporate Responsibility of the magazine producers in North America will kick in. We were once a major customer to Time Magazine, Avon, Cosmopolitan and many others. Those customers were filtered to other mills. We are slowly being erased from the UPM map. Impairment charges taken for the Miramichi mills have us worth nothing on UPM books. Please support our struggle here in Miramichi , New Brunswick. Thank You

Chris Allison
President Cep Local 689
Miramichi ,New Brunswick Canada
Ph 506-6223327