Social Network Christmas an Inspirational Video from GodTube

Social Network Christmas - This video is an artistic take on how the story of the nativity might have read had a social network existed at the time of Jesus's birth. Follow this historical period as it unfolds as a digital narrative. This vignette is great for highlighting the truths and circumstances of our Savior's birth in a fresh, unique way.

Church Leader Says Stephen Harper Fails Test of Leadership

TORONTO Ontario, December 14, 2010 United Church of Canada Release: - The news last week that Canada was ranked the fourth worst of 57 countries evaluated for their climate change performance is a shameful ranking for a country that could do so much better, says the Moderator of The United Church of Canada.

In a commentary published in today’s Ottawa Citizen, Moderator Mardi Tindal calls on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to exercise accountable leadership on climate change.

Tindal describes accountable leadership as accountability to truth, accountability to democracy, and accountability to our children.

“When the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311) was defeated in the Senate after being supported by the House of Commons, Prime Minister Harper called the bill ‘irresponsible’ and argued that its targets would throw ‘possibly millions of people out of work.’ This was a failure of leadership on at least three counts,” comments Tindal.

She argues that, while ultimately in a democracy all of us are called to exercise leadership, a prime minister has a unique position of leadership, and there are some actions that only government can take.

“Now is the time for the prime minister to introduce urgently needed legislation to replace the Climate Change Accountability Act,” says Tindal.

The full text of Tindal’s commentary, “PM fails the tests of accountability on climate change,”appears in the December 14, 2010, issue of the Ottawa Citizen.

Canadians plan on sending an average of 15.6 cards in the mail this year

When it comes to holiday greetings, Canadians prefer cards in the mail

OTTAWA, December 13, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - The tradition of the holidays still resonates strongly with Canadians. In a survey conducted by Harris/Decima on behalf of Canada Post in early November, 8 out of 10 Canadians expressed a strong preference to receiving a holiday card in the mail. This is an increase compared to 2008, when a similar survey showed 71% of Canadians prefer receiving cards in the mail.

According to the survey, Canadians will send an average of 15.6 cards this year, with 23% of them sending more than 21 cards each. For those planning to send cards electronically, the average drops to 5, while a large proportion (60%) are not planning to send holiday greetings electronically. Women are more likely to send greetings by mail (75%) compared to men (62%). As expected, younger Canadians were more open to receiving electronic cards.

The survey also showed regional differences. For example, Atlantic Canadians were most likely to send mail (83%) and by far preferred receiving a card in the mail (92%). Quebecers and Ontarians were more open to sending electronic greetings.

"While Canadians are communicating electronically more than ever before, there is still nothing better than sending and receiving a card in the mail, especially at this time of year," says Mary Traversy, Senior vice- president, Transaction Mail. "We're ready to deliver all those greetings and recommend getting them in the mail by Friday to avoid disappointment."

How irrational thinking is harmful to our future

OTTAWA, December 1, 2010 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians enjoy one of the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supplies in the world and yet farmers are constantly forced to defend the choices they make to deliver these benefits.

Michael Specter, a staff writer at The New Yorker, will explore the ways irrational thinking about scientific advancements like plant biotechnology may present unique concerns to the world.

"This is the greatest time there has ever been on this planet, by any measure that you wish to choose," Specter says. "And yet the chilling effect caused by denying the scientific evidence on a whole range of topics, including genetically modified foods, may actually prevent useful science from coming to fruition."

Specter has been a writer for the New Yorker for more than a decade, where he writes about science and politics. His new book, Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet and Threatens Our Lives, dives into the complex science bias and critical issues in making the right choices for our future.

"Plant biotechnology benefits Canadian farmers by offering them a tool that can help increase yields and enhances on-farm sustainability by giving farmers the option to reduce or eliminate tilling, which improves soil quality and reduces erosion," said Trish Jordan, president of the Council for Biotechnology Information, which sponsored Specter's lecture. "It's absolutely imperative that when it comes down to making choices about how we're going to feed the world and protect the environment that facts - not urban myths or manufactured worries - are what we base our decisions on."

GrowCanada(R) is a partnership of agriculture's most influential associations that works together to ensure Canada is a world leader in providing new products and solutions for agricultural, nutritional, health, energy and environmental challenges in Canada and around the world. The annual GrowCanada(R) conference celebrates the role of agriculture and all that agriculture does to better the lives of Canadians.