for our international readers: Canadian Parks and Wilderness - great pics!

There are far more international readers of this blog than Canadians. I intuit there is as a lot of world wide interest in the "head" of Turtle Island ;  )-  Kanada (Canada) is an amazing experiment in internationalism. It's a bit of a cheat for me to just post stuff already written and photographed, but as I approach age 77 at the end of June, well, the creative energy often just isn't there for me. 

Readership from May 24 - 30 includes 911 from Brazil, 813 Vietnam, Singapore 433, Indonesia 40, US 40 and Kanada only 31. Multiple readers also from Germany, Hong Kong, India, Austria, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Netherlands, and China. Total readership for the week: 2.35K 

This blog isn't monetized. It's written for pleasure and planet "enlightenment" ;  )- Many thanks to all you readers! You give meaning to my life. 

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Photo: Endangered Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandi) by R. Taylor Images Hello Chris, This summer, if you’re like many Canadians, adventuring in our nation’s beautiful wilderness is either a standard activity, or something you are considering, with many of us choosing to spend our vacations at home in Canada. 🌳 And, we’re glad about your choice! Visiting national parks is a great way to connect with nature and see more of our stunning land, freshwater, ocean – and the wildlife that call them home – protected. The promise from our new federal government to provide free entry to Canada’s national parks this summer is also enticing, and making visiting the treasures of our national heritage more accessible. 🦊 We wholeheartedly support making Canada’s national parks more accessible. But, it comes with a small asterisk…we need to make sure to not “love our parks to death.” For example, being scrupulously careful with your food is critical to prevent the spread of invasive species and wildlife from becoming accustomed or “habituated” to humans. Read more in our new blog post. 🚴‍♀️🚣‍♀️🧗‍♀️ Sip with purpose this summer While you're visiting Canada's national parks this summer, it’s crucial to keep hydrated! We're excited to tell you about our new partnership with Chilly Moose a family-owned, proudly Canadian company that creates high-quality, eco-friendly drinkware and outdoor gear designed for adventure. We’ve co-created a special, limited-edition collection that celebrates Canada’s wild spaces and supports our mission to protect them. Get your Brunswick Bottle and Algonquin Tumbler here. ACT FAST – this campaign wraps on June 20th. Don’t be disappointed – grab your tumbler or bottle right now. ☀️ I WANT TO BUY A CPAWS WATER BOTTLE PURCHASE A CPAWS MUG HERE Bills, Bills, Bills…worse than the ones you get in the mail In the last couple of months, proposed deregulation legislations have come out of several provinces: Ontario (Bill 5), Quebec (Bill 97), and Alberta (Bill 35-passed). These policies deeply jeopardize safeguards meant to protect the environment…protections that help ensure species survive into the future, wetlands continue to purify our water, people benefit from spending time in parks, and nature has the best chance to recover and thrive. In each case, the bills are framed as ways to fast-track development and bolster the economy. But the bills are setting off alarm bells for nature. If passed, here’s what else the bills could do: 🛑 Strip away legal environmental protections 🦋Threaten future conservation projects 🏛️ Give the government and corporations unchecked power 🔇 Silence communities by cutting appeal rights or public consultation 🌱Undermine Indigenous rights and consultation 🐾 Put already at-risk species in even greater danger 🚫 Eliminate third-party environmental oversight They aren’t just bad policies – they are assaults on environmental responsibility, Indigenous sovereignty, and the democratic process. Use your voice and sign letters to stop these bills right now: 📢Ontario - Bill 5 📢Quebec - Bill 97 – please contact your Member of Provincial Parliament 📢Alberta - Bill 35 And, stay tuned for our upcoming blog post where we explore this concerning trend across the country, what it means for nature, and what we can do about it. Use your voice to stand up for nature. 🐺 Coast to Coast to Coast – Your Canadian Nature Updates We are excited to share our BRAND NEW Interactive Map(scroll down) on conservation progress across Canada! It shows how provinces and territories are doing across the country in protecting nature. Click on the provinces and territories to see how much of the region is protected, the opportunities for additional legal protections on more land, freshwater, and ocean, and learn about accomplishments, efforts, and shortcomings across the country. 🗺️ Image: CPAWS National Every year, between three and five billion birds of nearly 300 different species fly over Quebec’s boreal forest, stopping along their route to rest, eat, and/or nest. These birds travel thousands of kilometres and face numerous threats along their route. Now more than ever, it is important to ensure the protection of their boreal habitats. SNAP Québec’s Boreal Birds campaign has released a series of videos about boreal bird conservation, in which SNAP Québec biologist Pier-Olivier Boudreault travels throughout the province to share the stories of these birds and the people working to protect them. 🐦 Photo: Bay-breasted Warbler by Pier-Olivier Boudreault / SNAP Québec A momentous update from Ecojustice’s landmark youth-led climate case, Mathur. This victory means the seven young applicants, Sophia, Zoe, Shaelyn, Alex, Shelby, Madi, and Beze, are one step closer to a game-changing victory in the fight against climate change. Ontario’s top court has rejected Ontario’s request to appeal the case, allowing the youths’ challenge to the Ontario government’s inaction on climate change to move forward to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. There, the court will be asked to provide meaningful remedies for the government’s ongoing violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 🙌🏽 Image: Ecojustice What our Supporters are Saying “My inspiration comes from the general work your organization does. Protecting the natural landscape of Canada, educating, training and uniting youth and being a strong advocate makes me feel hopeful, knowing there are groups that care about our planet. Especially when our planet is facing climate change and habitat loss, organizations like yours are what our world needs. I support CPAWS because I want nature protection and action on climate. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I am in awe of the beauty of our forests, mountains, oceans, mild climate and the various Indigenous cultures here. It bothers me a lot when I see our forests being cut down, especially old growth-forests, for short-term profits and sprawl. I think about how many species, especially those at-risk, are losing their habitats due to societal expansion, activities and harmful policies. I also support the work of advocating for nature protection, preservation and education in light of the climate crisis. Nature has given us life, resources and beauty but seeing the ways society in general is trashing our planet is infuriating. I believe our planet deserves much more respect, where we live alongside nature and [do] not see ourselves as superior to nature. We are one with nature and whatever happens to nature happens to us, so we better take care and respect it.” – Leslie Ngo🏕️ Join Leslie – Invest in Nature! Why do you support CPAWS? Please share with us, and provide a photo of yourself in nature, and we’ll share it with our community through this newsletter. 📸 Photo: 🐟 River Delta in Saskatchewan by Garth Lenz Looking for more great nature content?? Here are some additional items that might interest you: The Winds of Change: Fighting Climate Change Without Sacrificing Our Ocean – Concern around wind energy projects proposed in protected areas off the coast of Nova Scotia. 🐳 In our third blog unpacking “On the Path to 2030 – A Report Card on Progress to Protect Land and Ocean Across Canada,” we focus on the provinces that are falling behind or failing. Read the wake-up call.👨🏾‍🏫 Ocean by David Attenborough will be released on Ocean Day, June 8th. This documentary shows us incredible opportunities to save our world by saving our seas.🌊 New federal cabinet announcement – Congratulations to the Honourable Julie Dabrusin who is now Minister of Environment and Climate Change, to the Honourable Tim Hodgson, the new Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and to the Honourable Nathalie Provost, who has been named Secretary of State for Nature.👏🏽 Potential Canada Post Service Disruption: mail delivery — including donation receipts — may be delayed. Donate online for an instant electronic receipt.📬 You're the G.O.A.T. — Greatest of All Time when it comes to caring for nature! Thanks for being a rock-solid part of our herd and helping us climb the conservation mountain — one sure-footed step at a time. We’ll scale new heights together again in June. 🌲🐐⛰️ Photo: mountain goat family by Ashley Hockenberry When nature thrives, so do we.💚

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Hidden tunnels and historic landmarks shine a light on Vietnam's painful past

As the country marks 50 years of reunification, memories of war coexist with hope for the future

Author of the article:

Michele Jarvie

Published May 21, 2025  •  5 minute read

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A light illuminates one of many tunnels that Viet Cong guerrillas hid in for years during the war. Now, tourists can crawl through portions if they can brave the heat, cramped space and utter blackness. PHOTO BY COURTESY OF TRAFALGAR TOURS

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Huynh Van Chia, 80, stands proudly at attention — an empty sleeve where his right arm should be — as he recalls his terrible years as a Viet Cong guerrilla in the tunnels of Cu Chi, some 65 km outside of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

“For people like me who lived in the tunnels, we came out from the tunnels when the war ended, but we have problems with hearing, but also seeing… It was not easy for myself,” he said through a translator from Trafalgar Tours. “When the war ended, it took time for me to recover and for me to feel better.”

Former Viet Cong guerrilla Huynh Van Chia lived in Cu Chi tunnels for 12 years during the war in Vietnam. PHOTO BY MICHELE JARVIE

It’s impossible to imagine life underground for so long, especially after crouching — or crawling, as taller people have to do — through a scant 20 to 80 metres of them. Small sections of the Cu Chi tunnels are open for tourists to explore if they have the nerve. They are pitch-black, steamy hot, silent except for the laboured breathing, and disorienting.

Cu Chi is an immense network of interconnected tunnels and larger rooms, 268 kilometres all told, connecting former Viet Cong support bases on the outskirts of Saigon (as Ho Chi Minh City is still commonly called) all the way to the Cambodian border. The network included field hospitals, kitchens, meeting and living areas and armament bunkers. The original section was built in 1948 as Vietnam fought for independence against the French. Newer tunnels were constructed for the “American War,” as it’s called in Vietnam.

Cu Chi is an immense network of interconnected tunnels and larger rooms, 268 kilometres all told, connecting former Viet Cong support bases on the outskirts of Saigon (as Ho Chi Minh City is still commonly called) all the way to the Cambodian border. The network included field hospitals, kitchens, meeting and living areas and armament bunkers. The original section was built in 1948 as Vietnam fought for independence against the French. Newer tunnels were constructed for the “American War,” as it’s called in Vietnam.

“We had to eat whatever was available. We had rice, cassava – sweet potato. We tried to grow food along the Saigon River. But, of course, we had to hide away from our enemy. Also, local people in the yellow areas, when they went out, they sometimes left food in areas for us. We’d go at night to collect it,” recalled Van Chia.

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Visitors to the Cu Chi tunnels near Saigon can climb down to get a sense of the depth and darkness. PHOTO BY MICHELE JARVIE

At its peak, 3,500 guerrillas stayed in the tunnels. The entire system had room for 41,000 people, but they never had to stay in the tunnel at the same time. “We only used it when it was not safe to be above,” said Van Chia, who still lives in the area and was asked to come speak to our tour group.

It was a powerful talk, and the kind of experience many in the group said is why they are repeat Trafalgar guests. It was the 10th trip for one Australian couple and the 14th for a Calgary woman, Alison Gilbart, who said, “I look for excursions that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do on my own.”

When American troops moved into the Ben Dinh area, they unknowingly built a base on top of some of the tunnels. Van Chia said the Viet Cong would strike at night and disappear into the tunnels, leaving the U.S. troops to fight what seemed like ghosts.

Gaza Genocide (Wikipedia) how can we just stand by??????? where is the world - are we watching???

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about genocide accusations made throughout the entire Israeli–Palestinian conflict. For 2023–present Gaza warkillings, see Gaza genocide. For the ICJ proceeding, see South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

"Stop the genocide, free Palestine" rally in Helsinki, Finland 21 October 2023

The State of Israel has been accused of carrying out a genocide against Palestinians at various times during the longstanding Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Debate is ongoing about whether Israel's treatment of Palestinians since the Nakba meets the definition of genocide, and whether such actions are continuous or limited to specific periods or events. This treatment has also been characterised as "slow-motion genocide",^[1][2] as well as a corollary or expression of settler colonialism and indigenous land theft.^[3][4][5]

Those who believe Israel's actions constitute genocide point to the entrenched anti-Palestinianism, anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia and genocidal rhetoric in Israeli society, and point to events such as the Nakba, the Sabra and Shatila massacre, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the 2014 Gaza War and the Gaza war as particularly pertinent genocidal episodes.^[6][7] International law and genocide scholars have accused Israeli officials of using dehumanising language.^[8][9][10] During the Gaza war, Israeli Holocaust historian Omer Bartov warned that statements made by high-ranking Israeli government officials "could easily be construed as indicating a genocidal intent".^[11]

On 29 December 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel's conduct in Gaza during the 2023 war amounted to genocide.^[12][13] South Africa asked the ICJ to issue provisional measures, including ordering Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza.^[12] The Israeli government agreed to defend itself at the ICJ proceedings, while also denouncing South Africa's actions as "disgraceful" and accusing it of abetting "the modern heirs of the Nazis".^[14] South Africa's case has been supported by a number of countries.^[15] On 26 January 2024, the ICJ issued a preliminary ruling finding that the claims in South Africa's filing were "plausible" and issued an order to Israel requiring them to take all measures within their power to prevent acts of genocide and to allow basic humanitarian services into Gaza.^[16] In March 2024, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, issued a report stating that there were "reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission" of acts of genocide had been met. Israel rejected the report.^[17][18]

Israel and the United States have rejected the assertion that Israel is engaging in genocide.^[19][20] While some scholars describe Palestinians as victims of genocide, others argue that what took place was ethnic cleansing,^[21][22][23] politicide, spaciocide, cultural genocide or similar.^[24][25][a] Some critics of the accusation have argued that the charge that Israel is committing genocide is an assertion commonly made by anti-Zionists with the aim of delegitimising or demonising Israel.^[29]

History

See also: Racism in Israel, Gaza genocide, Israeli war crimes, and Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)