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China’s Growing Influence in Central Asia and the Middle East Will Lead to Further US Decline

By Shane Quinn – Jul 9, 2020

China’s increasing presence on the international scene is an undeniable threat to the US-led world order. Critical to China’s emergence as a major power this century, has been its widening influence in the Central Asian states. Central Asia, rich in mineral reserves, is among the earth’s most strategically important regions. Control over Central Asia ensures access to raw materials such as oil or gas, while it stands as a “guardpost” against US hegemony over the Persian Gulf further south.

Considerably bigger in size than India, Central Asia consists of five nations, by far the largest is Kazakhstan followed by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Central Asia remains sparsely populated with just over 70 million people in total; this is mainly because 60% of its land mass comprises of desert terrain; yet it is studded also with little known, towering peaks and vast, treeless steppes. Central Asia is bordered by Russia and China to the north and east; to the west lies the Caucasus and Caspian Sea; while the energy laden Middle East is not far to the south-west.

Then US Secretary of State Colin Powell had said as early as February 2002, “America will have a continuing interest and presence in Central Asia of a kind that we could not have dreamed of before [9/11]”. Indeed, 9/11 was an ideal pretext to be exploited in order to further Washington’s aims for global supremacy. However, the dream that Powell spoke of regarding Central Asia ended six years ago. In July 2014, the Pentagon was compelled to leave its last remaining Central Asian base in Kyrgyzstan – which US forces were utilising for over 12 years – after the Kyrgyz parliament voted in favour of evicting US forces.

RELATED CONTENT: China Retaliates Against New US Visa Restrictions

In December 2001 the American military had taken over the Manas Air Base in northern Kyrgyzstan, located near the capital Bishkek, in order to assist operations in the illegal war it was waging in Afghanistan a few hundreds miles south (1). The Kyrgyzstani government preferred instead pursuing closer relations with Russia and China. Much of the thinking behind the US presence in Kyrgyzstan, was to provide a platform for commanding oil or gas reserves in surrounding areas, along with curbing Chinese and Russian designs in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is strategically situated; it shares a 660 mile frontier with Xinjiang, China’s crucially significant north-western province.

Contrary to what was often claimed, the October 2001 US-run invasion of Afghanistan had been planned months before the 9/11 attacks. In mid-July 2001 American officials told Pakistan’s former Foreign Secretary, Niaz Naik, that the Pentagon was preparing an attack on Afghanistan, scheduled to be launched in October of that year (2). It takes longer than four weeks to prepare an invasion of a sizeable country, let alone one on the other side of the world. Afghanistan, which lies adjacent to the Middle East, was viewed by Western politicians and their corporate executive bosses as a major pipeline route; through which natural resources could be sent originating from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia. Among the real reasons for the “war on terror” was to reinforce US hegemony over crucial territories, along with command over the raw materials of the Middle East, Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

American dominance of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, both formerly part of the USSR, further weakened Russia and was seen moreover as important to the “success” of the war in Afghanistan. The South Caucasus states, Georgia and Azerbaijan, were pawns in the transport of heavy US weaponry and NATO troops bound for Afghanistan. Azerbaijan, bordering Iran, could be used also as a launchpad for US forces should they get the green light to invade Iran.

The prominent Polish-American diplomat, Zbigniew Brzezinski, recognised that mastery over Central Asia is pivotal to holding sway over encompassing areas (3). China’s pre-eminence today in Central Asia would therefore have caused considerable concern for Brzezinski. Beijing is gradually constructing a 21st century Silk Road, with the intent not only to increasingly draw Central Asia under Chinese influence, but of extending its clout to the Middle East, Europe and the Mediterranean. China is already the largest investor in Central Asia and now the Middle East.

This latter region, the Middle East, contains 48% of the planet’s known oil reserves and 43% of all natural gas sources (4). It has long been highly prized. In April 1941, British prime minister Winston Churchill outlined in a directive to the war cabinet that “the loss of Egypt and the Middle East would be a disaster of the first magnitude for Great Britain, second only to successful invasion and final conquest [of the UK]” (5). US planners believed that ascendancy over the Middle East would grant a nation “substantial control of the world”, as noted in May 1951 by Adolf Berle, president Franklin Roosevelt’s former close adviser; Berle’s opinion was supported by General Dwight Eisenhower, soon to be president, who called the Middle East “the most strategically important area in the world”. (6)

The US State Department previously identified Saudi Arabia and its oil as “one of the greatest material prizes in world history” (7). In February 1944, Roosevelt himself informed the British ambassador to the US, Lord Halifax, that the oil of Iran “is yours. We share the oil of Iraq and Kuwait. As for Saudi Arabian oil, it’s ours”.

Nearby resource rich Iran, of similar importance to Saudi Arabia, has remained outside of US domination since 1979 and consequently is classed as a menace; despite the fact that Saudi human rights abuses are much worse in comparison to Iran. China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for years. In 2019 for example, Iranian investments with China amounted to at least $20 billion and Beijing is the top purchaser of crude oil from Iran. At the root of the ongoing shrill criticisms by the West pertaining to Chinese policies, is down to Beijing’s growing challenge to US power which is under pressure across the globe.

Over the past decade Beijing has completed expansive infrastructure in Central Asia, such as the Central Asia-China gas pipeline, that is over 2,200 miles long. It stretches across Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before reaching its destination in China’s Xinjiang province. Turkmenistan contains the fourth biggest natural gas reserves in the world, and is the greatest supplier of that resource to China. Turkmenistan’s largest investor by far is China, and last year almost 90% of her exports were sold to Beijing (8). While Washington was wielding its sledgehammer this century, China has engineered ambitious financial projects and the development of alliances on a grand scale.

Beijing is aware of the historical and strategic importance of Central Asia to its neighbour Russia, and has treaded carefully. Since the Soviet Union’s demise in 1991, Chinese strategies in Central Asia have largely been complimentary and cooperative with Moscow (9). Successful early efforts to overcome border disputes was a factor behind Beijing founding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 1996 alongside Russia – with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan likewise joining this association at its outset, in their stated goals of tackling terrorism and separatism. The CIA and Pentagon were already supporting covert operations by extremist networks with links to Osama bin Laden in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Balkans; Washington was in addition using foreign operatives to promote instability in Central Asia. (10)

For one of the major powers, it is striking that China has very little history of committing armed aggression, i.e., attacks on other countries, proxy wars, and so on. This stands in contrast to its Western rivals such as the United States, which initiated a number of destructive invasions within the past 60 years: In Vietnam and Indochina, along with the more recent assaults on Iraq (twice), Afghanistan and Libya. China’s refusal to engage in large-scale military offensives has been such that the prominent US strategic analysts, John Steinbruner and Nancy Gallagher, early this century called on an alliance of peace-loving nations – led by China – to be formed so as to counter American militarism. (11)

RELATED CONTENT: Socialist Strategy and the Biden Debate

A generation ago, Washington could scarcely believe its luck as the Soviet Union disintegrated without a single shot fired. Soviet Russia’s economy had been stagnating since the 1970s, partly because of efforts in matching the vast arms expenditure of the wealthier US. For Western policy makers, the Soviet Union’s existence had blocked the way to the tantalising mineral resources of the Caucasus, Caspian Sea and Central Asia. President Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Energy, Bill Richardson, said frankly in 1998 that the one-time Soviet republics were “all about America’s energy security. We would like to see them reliant on Western commercial and political investment in the Caspian, and it’s very important to us that the pipeline map and the politics come out right”. (12)

In September 1997, the Pentagon dispatched hundreds of its troops by parachute to the deserts of Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s most influential country. It was a provocative move and statement of intent, reputed to be the longest airborne operation in military history at the time. By February 2002, Washington had established military bases in all of the Central Asian countries, and at that stage controlled the region. The US was seeking also to undermine and destabilise China, as it is today, by fostering separatist movements who wish to detach territories like Xinjiang from the rest of China. This would leave China a fractured nation but it is highly unlikely to occur.

Xinjiang, China’s biggest province, is pivotal to Beijing’s aspirations. Throughout this century, Xinjiang has been the second largest oil producing area of China, behind Heilongjiang province. Xinjiang furthermore is China’s main entry point into Central Asia, while there are long-held plans by Beijing to connect the city of Kashgar, in western Xinjiang, over a thousand miles south towards the Arabian Sea, at Pakistan’s port of Gwadar. The proposed Gwadar-Kashgar oil pipeline is currently undergoing assessment, and expected to receive approval for a length of 2,414 kilometres, equivalent to 1,400 miles (13). The Chinese government desires its commencement as quickly as possible, and construction may start by the year 2023. Gwadar lies a short distance from the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf, some of the most vital oil shipping lanes. Yet logistics for the Gwadar-Kashgar pipeline will be arduous, as it must bypass rocky areas and high mountain passes.

China’s maritime deliveries, which account for about 80% of its oil imports, travel over round-about distances of up to 10,000 miles. These shipments take between eight to 12 weeks to arrive at the port of Shanghai in eastern China. A Chinese pipeline to Gwadar would reduce this distance to less than 2,000 miles, and allow Beijing to avoid waters patrolled by US destroyers. Most significantly, the Gwadar-Kashgar pipeline would assist China in continuing to broaden its scope in the Middle East. Were this to be achieved, further US global decline could only unfold. American power in the Middle East has regressed this century, in large part self-inflicted because of its invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Middle East is central to the progress of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The Chinese have advanced again here through non-military means, and with caution, outlining to their war weary Middle East counterparts that they wish to pursue policies of dialogue and financial investments. Beijing has steered clear of regional hostilities in the Middle East, in order not to stoke more unrest in a land greatly destabilised by the US-led wars and spawning of terrorist organisations. In January 2020 Yasser Elnaggar, an experienced Egyptian diplomat and scholar, noted that, “the economies of the Middle East are shifting away from their longstanding ties with the US toward economically powerful China – a move that may have long-term implications for the economic and political dynamics of the region” (14). Elnaggar discerned that the Middle East and North African nations “welcomed China and its financing models with open arms”.

Various leaders in the Middle East have visited Beijing on more than one occasion since 2014. Many of the trips involved the ratification of significant economic agreements, connected to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Americans have been notable in their absence from these deals. A number of the contracts signed relate to clean energy projects, as the Middle East and North African states align their development plans with the Belt and Road, exploring alternatives to fossil fuels. Elnaggar writes that, “China, and not the US, is emerging as a leader in this field and is actively seeking to promote green development” while “China has become the largest investor” in the Middle East “and the most sought after”.

US involvement in the Middle East has of course primarily been concerned with oil. This was one of the reasons, often conveniently forgotten, that Washington had previously supported Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator; that is, when Saddam was amenable to their interests. That relationship had changed by the beginning of the 21st century.

Moniz Bandeira, the Brazilian historian and intellectual, wrote that, “Iraq didn’t threaten the United States or any other country of the West. Instead, it threatened American and British oil companies. Saddam Hussein had signed contracts with the large Russian company Lukoil, was in negotiations with Total from France, and had begun to replace the dollar by the euro as the currency for oil transactions. His removal would make room for the entry of British and American firms such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and British Petroleum”. (15)

This received scant mention, and pro-war mainstream press coverage was an important factor in the US invasion going ahead on 20 March 2003. Moniz Bandeira recalled how “a massive disinformation campaign to tie Saddam Hussein to the September 11 attacks” ensued, while “the invasion of Iraq was sold to the public through a complicit media”.

Secret documents from March 2001 – which the US Department of Commerce was forced to declassify in the summer of 2003 – reveals that an “energy task force” headed by Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, had developed two extensive maps pertaining to Iraq: Sketching the oil fields, pipelines, refineries and terminals they would oversee there (16). Cheney had close ties to the oil industry, and two other maps were drawn up by his task force, detailing the projects and companies that wanted to manage the oil in Iraq. This was planned two years before the actual invasion of that country and, it can be added, prior also to 9/11.

  1. Casey Michel, “US power on the wane in Central Asia”, Al Jazeera, 17 July 2014
  2. John Pilger, The New Rulers Of The World (Verso Books, 20 Feb. 2003), p. 109
  3. Pilger, The New Rulers Of The World, p. 116
  4. Henry K. H. Wang, Energy Markets in Emerging Economies: Strategies for growth (Routledge; 1 edition, 1 August 2016), p. 232
  5. Donald J. Goodspeed, The German Wars (Random House Value Publishing, 3 April 1985), p. 381
  6. Noam Chomsky, Who Rules The World? (Metropolitan Books, Penguin Books Ltd, Hamish Hamilton, 5 May 2016), pp. 44/45
  7. Office Of The Historian, Foreign Relations Of The United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East And Africa, Volume VIII, 9 October 1945
  8. Daniel Workman, “Turkmenistan’s Top 10 Exports”, World’s Top Exports, 1 June 2020
  9. Ian J. Lynch, “What Are The Implications Of China’s Growing Security Role In Central Asia?” The Diplomat, 3 June 2020
  10. Luiz Alberto Moniz Bandeira, The Second Cold War: Geopolitics and the Strategic Dimensions of the USA, (Springer 1st ed., 23 June 2017), pp. 67 & 69
  11. Noam Chomsky, Optimism Over Despair (Penguin; 01 edition, 27 July 2017), p. 12
  12. Aleksandar Jokic, Burleigh Wilkins, Lessons of Kosovo: The Dangers of Humanitarian Intervention (Broadview Press, 26 Feb. 2003), p. 126
  13. Hellenic Shipping News, “Asia and Middle East set to contribute 30% of global new-build crude oil trunk pipeline length additions by 2023, says GlobalData”, 14 January 2020
  14. Yasser Elnaggar, “China’s growing role in the Middle East”, Middle East Institute, 9 January 2020
  15. Moniz Bandeira, The Second Cold War, p. 81
  16. Ibid.

Shane Quinn
+ posts

Shane Quinn obtained an honors journalism degree. He is interested in writing primarily on foreign affairs. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research and the Morning Star.

Shane Quinn

Shane Quinn obtained an honors journalism degree. He is interested in writing primarily on foreign affairs. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research and the Morning Star.


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Taste of Orland Park 2019

Village of Orland Park Hosts 16th Annual Taste of Orland Park
Posted on 07/18/2019

Village of Orland Park Hosts 16th Annual Taste of Orland Park
Food and Entertainment Festival to be held August 2-4

ORLAND PARK (July 17, 2019)-The Village of Orland Park's annual Taste of Orland Park, presented by Palos Health and Loyola Medicine, returns to the Orland Park Village Center August 2 to 4.

Now in its 16th year, the Taste of Orland Park showcases 19 Orland Park eateries, 18 community organizations and several bands throughout the weekend. Special events within the fest include the ever-popular Lip Syn

Showdown, Kids' Day, a car show, the Orland Park’s Got Talent finals, a new Harry Potter themed trivia contest and live entertainment on two stages.

“The Taste of Orland Park is THE event of the summer in Orland Park,” said Trustee Jim Dodge, chair of the village’s Recreation and Parks Committee. “People look forward to the Taste of Orland Park every year,” he said. “It’s a great way to sample dishes from some the best restaurants in Orland Park, hear great music and participate in family-friendly activities.”

The Taste will be held at the Orland Park Village Center, 14700 South Ravinia Avenue, on Friday, August 2 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, August 3 from 1

p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, August 4 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission, parking and activities at the fest are all free. Participating restaurants will offer their signature dishes, beverages and desserts at individual food booths located throughout the complex.

Participating restaurants include Beggar’s Pizza, The Brass Tap, Burger 21, City Barbecue, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Chuy’s Tex Mex, Pueblito, Granite City Food & Brewery, Mo’s Chinese Kitchen, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Orland Park Bakery, Papa Joe’s Italian Restaurant, Pita Pita Mediterranean Grill, Riviera Country Club, RoccoVino’s Italian Restaurant, Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery, Square Celt Ale House and Grill, Texas De Brazil and Tradycja Polish Fusion Cuisine.

“While many of the participating restaurants are long-time, local favorites, many are relatively new to the event,” Dodge said. “It’s great to see the large variety of local offerings from local franchises as well as many independently owned restaurants.”

Live entertainment on two stages fill the weekend schedule with the Lip Sync Showdown happening on the community stage Friday night from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Trippin’ Billies, a Dave Mathews tribute band, will perform on the main stage Friday night from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Kids’ Day, Saturday, August 3, will be held at the adjacent John Humphrey Sports Complex from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Games, activities and programs will be offered for all ages.

This year, attendees can experience the newest Taste event, a trivia contest to be held at the Civic Center. The first contest begins at 2 p.m. and will be a Marvel category. The Harry Potter themed trivia contest will take place from 4-6 p.m.

Saturday night’s entertainment includes Live Band Karaoke on the community stage from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. and on the main stage attendees can Rock the 80’s beginning at 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. followed by a brief intermission and a Cher tribute performance by Lisa McClowry. The very popular 7th  Heaven will round things out on the main stage from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.

The annual car show returns on Sunday, August 4 at 11 a.m. 14855 West Ave. near High Point and Orland Junior High schools.

Sunday's happenings will include a veterans’ event beginning at 11 a.m. with an opening ceremony with motorcycle club honor ride at the main stage and presentation of colors thanking those who served for their service and sacrifice.

The event will continue with military vehicle displays, music, a display by Veteran’s Voices Military Group and a concert at 11:45 a.m. featuring Sine Wave, a group made up of drum and bugle musicians.

Fortunate Sons, a Creedance Clearwater revival band, will perform on the main stage from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

The Taste will close on Sunday night with its annual Beatles tribute with American English performing on the main stage from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Free parking is available at a number of sites around the Village Center including the parking tower at 143rd  Street and Ravinia Avenue.

Please note: Guests may bring one sealed water bottle per person. No other outside food or drink will be allowed into the event. Bags will be inspected at entrance locations.

The presenting sponsor of the event is Palos Health & Loyola Medicine. Platinum level sponsors are the Aileen S. Andrew Foundation, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Mazda of Orland Park and Waste Management. Pastry chef sponsors include Bath Planet, ComEd, Escapology, Mercedes-Benz of Orland Park, Moraine Valley Community College, Orland Bowl, Orland Park Fit Body Boot Camp, People’s Bank, Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, Renewal by Andersen, State Farm and V3 Companies.

Complete Taste of Orland Park details are available online at www.orlandpark.org

Questions may be directed to the Village of Orland Park Recreation Department at 708/403-5000.

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ORM Team

It’s not governments that change our world but the businesses, business owners and their teams that change our world. Our team of thoughtful and committed people, together with our partners inspire our clients to make our communities and world a better place to live.

John Mannix

Managing Director

John is client-focused and has a hands-on approach in providing solutions to clients’ problems and helping them achieve their financial goals. John was appointed Managing Director in May 2019 and brought with him over 16 years of experience in the accountancy and advisory sectors. John’s vast experience has provided him with a broad and extensive knowledge in the areas of taxation, accounting and compliance, audit and financial services. John has helped a broad range of clients in providing them a tailored solution and this has helped them to maximize their opportunities to create and maintain wealth. John is a person you want in your corner and is someone who truly cares about his team and his clients.

Michael Brouder

Director,  Tech Expert

Michael has been working in the field of accounting for over 10 years and has a particular interest in taxation and in upgrading technology systems. Michael is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a qualified Tax Advisor. Michael has worked in both practice and industry and is passionate about helping and supporting clients. Michael has successfully assisted in migrating clients’ conventional accounting software systems to cloud-based accounting platforms such as Xero and Surf, while providing training to clients to ensure a smooth transition. Michael has built up considerable taxation experience and has assisted many small to medium sized businesses on all tax heads ensuring tax efficient planning and savings.

John O’Rourke

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Wise Advisor

John originally founded the firm back in 1989. He has over 45 years experience in the accounting industry having graduated from University College Cork in 1974 and has been advising clients in Ireland and the UK ever since. John has amassed considerable experience in dealing with Revenue and financial institutions.

Sarah Harmon

Sarah is a Certified Public Accountant and Xero Certified Adviser who loves helping business owners to stay organised with respect to their accounting and tax affairs. Sarah has been working in the field of accounting for six years and obtained her qualification with CPA in December 2017. During her studies with CPA Sarah achieved an award for her performance in her Corporate Law and Governance exam.

Joan O’Brien

Practice Administration

Joan looks after all the admin side of the business and is the friendly and helpfully point of contact for existing clients.

She loves a challenge and making things happen when she isn’t out walking the fields and hills with her family.

Our Awards

We‘re delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted as a Finalist for the “Advisory Team of the Year Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) in Finance for the Irish Accountancy Awards 2020.

“I’d like to thank all our team here at ORM Accountants for their hard work, commitment and continued support. To our business partners for their expertise and continued development of new technologies and processes that make being a business advisor and business owner more manageable. Finally, to all our clients who we work so closely with – thank you for your commitment and support and remember together a daily one per cent improvement changes lives for the better!”

– John Mannix CPA

 Due to Covid 19 the awards ceremony will now be held in September 2020.

Giving Back

Here at ORM Accountants we understand that we can easily take running water, food, safety, health and education for granted, while mothers and fathers and their children in other parts of the world don’t get to experience these privileges.

That’s why we believe as a company and with the help of our clients, we can make a difference across the world.

Say hello to Buy1Give1 (B1G1 Business for Good).

B1G1 results in lives being transformed, it facilitates changes being made for the better and most of all allows us small businesses to come together to help others in need in a meaningful and lasting way.

ORM Accountants and B1G1

Every business transaction can make a life-changing difference. Our partnership with B1G1 has enabled us to create a habit of giving through every business transaction. This helps create massive impact through a deep and meaningful sense of connection. And our clients are real life heroes because they’ve helped change the world.


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Tag Archives: sam Christie

Useful fact finding visit to Transport for London

It was a pleasure as ever to hang with Councillors Guy Lambert (Labour, Brentford) and Sam Christie (Labour, Bedfont) the one who brokered a positive meeting at Transport for London in Southwark yesterday morning. On the way I was unaware I nearly squashed a Pokemon, Pidgey, near the Young Vic on The Cut, SE1, hadn’t a clue, sorry.

Councillors Guy Lambert, Tony Louki and Sam Christie on the 10.44 Hounslow Loop from Chiswick to London Waterloo for our TfL meet

Councillors Guy Lambert, Tony Louki and Sam Christie on the 10.44 Hounslow Loop from Chiswick to London Waterloo for our TfL meet

Of mutual interest for the three of us was the continuing saga of house building conglomerate Barratt unable to facilitate uninterrupted service for the 235 at its western terminus, Great West Quarter; crowding on some routes; ability to access West Middlesex University Hospital from all parts of the borough and overall bus reliability in Hounslow.

Positive news is that brand new and latest lowest emission buses will be introduced by when the 235’s bus operations transfer from Abellio to Metroline in January 2017.

Those recalling last year’s consultations on local services may know that TfL still considers the routeing of the H28 and E8 as unfinished business. There was and remains concern that the removal of route H28 from Wood Lane, Isleworth will make access to the West Mid very difficult from as far away as Cranford and Heston. Replacing it with a double decked E8 down Amhurst Gardens would mean the removal of the last of that road’s mature trees. Expect more consultations in early 2017.

Not enough time to cover all the Transport for London issues affecting Osterley & Spring Grove Ward but a number of items were left with our host to consider and respond to, including:

A4 Great West Road junctions

  • improving phase turnings at Wood Lane
  • improving surface crossings at Gillette Corner
  • pedestrian subway safety at Gillette Corner
  • preventing eastbound driving on the southside between Jersey and Gresham Roads
  • future proposals for this TfL owned stretch.

New Ridgeway Road controlled crossing

  • reinstatement of the grass verge
  • marking the cycle lane following completion of the recent works
  • remedying the northside cycle lane pinch point by pedestrian crossing
  • reinstatement of bus stop U Great West Road/Ridgeway Road.

Great West Road at Osterley Library

  • establishing short term parking in the layby east from Thornbury Road.

Great West Road environment

  • protection and maintenance of verges, shrub beds and maximising pavement widths
  • clarifying TfL bollard policy
  • managing curtilage hedge encroachments on footways
  • cycle lane maintenance and safety
  • managing tree growth that impedes cyclists
  • TfL’s tree maintenance and planting programme
  • maintenance schedules.

Councillor Sam Christie’s notes of the meeting can be found here.

Pokemon Pidgey almost a Size 8 gonner on the way to TfL

Pokemon Pidgey almost a cropper from my size 8s on the way to TfL

Always happy to hear from residents about local public transport and the Great West Road.

TL 19.7.2016

Comments Off on Useful fact finding visit to Transport for London

Filed under Brentford, Great West Road, H28 bus, Neighbourhoods, Osterley, Public transport, Roads, TfL, Traffic, West Middlesex Hospital


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Mozart, Klimt, Getting lost in Schonbrunn Palace maze: Best Things to do in Vienna with kids

Vienna, the capital city of Austria has a lot of history, music and great cafe culture.  If you are traveling with kids like us – be it, toddlers or teenagers, don’t miss out on the museums – they have a variety of museums in Wein (Vienna in German).  See our 3 day itinerary where we saw a little bit of everything. Exploring this culturally rich city, getting lost in mazes at palaces, listening to Mozart at the Golden Hall, admiring Klimt and eating all the Sacher Torte and Apple Strudel you can manage – here are the top things to do in Vienna with kids.

Karlskirche, Vienna
Karlskirche one of the beautiful churches in Vienna

3 Days / 72 Hours in Vienna Itinerary

I have seen on- day itinerary for Vienna, I’m not sure how they managed it, there is soooo much to do and see here.  My advice is to plan for at least 3 full days, really 3 nights in Vienna for your trip.  It’s known as a City of Music due to the many famous musicians and composers like Strauss, Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart and Brahms lived here.  You must make it to at least one musical performance and a few museums if anything else!

Day 1 – Visit the Historic Center including Vienna’s Imperial Palace, Albertina Museum and the play at Prater Amusement Park in the evening
Day 2 – See Lipizzaner horse show at the Spanish Riding School, explore the Ringstrasse starting at St Stephen’s Cathedral, see works of Klimt at Belvedere Palace. Catch a classical concert in the evening
Day 3 – Stop at Naschmarkt, spend the day at the Schönbrunn Palace, kids can play dress-up, visit the zoo or play hide and seek at the maze.

Top Things to do in Vienna with kids

Vienna’s Museums

Vienna has a huge and diverse variety of museums, plan just a couple of you will end up with a museum burnout. You will find there historical museums like the Natural History Museum, art galleries like the Belvedere, which was my favorite and the Albertina, as well as the House of Music and the Museum of Technology. You have to visit at least one or two of Vienna’s museums.

The Belvedere consists of the Baroque palaces, the Lower and Upper Belvedere, it is an integral part of Vienna’s historic scene. Prince Eugene of Savoy had the complex built for this summer home. During the French Revolution, the palaces served as home to French royalty fleeing their country. The Belvedere is stunning to look at during the night when it is all lit up, and well as provides great views of Vienna and house important works including masterpieces by Klimt.

Vienna Museums - Things to do in Vienna with kids - Photo by Outside Suburbia

Tip: Don’t miss The Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek), this baroque structure is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Neue Burg wing of the Hofburg. It is stunningly elaborate and elegant reminiscent of a large church. Go to the State Hall on the second floor –  it is the heart of the Austrian National Library, is one of the most beautiful library halls in the world, the biggest Baroque library in all of Europe. Among the exhibits are two exquisite Venetian baroque globes: one for the earth and one for the sky, each with a diameter of more than one meter. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside.

Best things to do in Vienna with kids | Outside Suburbia

Inside the Belvedere in Vienna and admire the most important collection of Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day, it is one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

See a visual story of Klimt Kiss, the most romantic painting

Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School)

Originally this riding institution served to train the riders of the royal family. Today, the Spanische Hofreitschule is the only institution in the world which practices classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition. It has been in existence for approximately 450 years, and the style of the uniform of the riders is nearly unchanged since the beginning. Only Lipizzaner horses, which are bred at the federal stud Piber in the Austrian province of Styria, are trained here.

The Morning Exercise offers an insight into the years of training of the Lipizzaners and their riders. Accompanied by classical Viennese music the riders and their horses do simple relaxing exercises and exercises aimed at refining and perfecting a certain movement.  The show takes place in the morning and is one of the popular places to visit in Vienna, so if you plan to attend buy the tickets beforehand.  Make sure to check the schedule, they do take a break during summer months.

Spanish Riding School, Vienna - Photo by Outside Suburbia

Ringstrasse Tour

Vienna’s important buildings are along this historical street.  In the 13th century, Vienna was walled to defend this area that now comprises the first district of Vienna. After the First Siege by the Ottoman Turks in 1529, it was extended and a defensive slope was built around the walls.  In the 18th century, the glacis(the defensive slope) served as a recreation area, as Emperor Franz Joseph II commissioned the regeneration of this area by cultivating plants, installing street lamps and building walkways and roads. This former glacis, is called the Ringstrasse, and it surrounds the city center of Vienna, leading to several historical and the important buildings of that you want to see in Vienna.

Tram rides - Best Things to do in Vienna with kids - Photo by Outside Suburbia

The Ringstrasse is basically the boulevard that surrounds Vienna’s historic center. The Votive Church, the City Hall, Europe’s largest theater (Burgtheater), the Austrian Parliament, the Vienna State Opera, to name a few are all on this area. Kids will enjoy riding the tram, we had the Vienna Pass and used the hop on and off buses to get around. Our hotel was also located right on the Ringstrasse.

St Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral, also known as Stephansdom, started out as a parish church in the 12th century. Today, it is the home church for the Catholic archbishop in Vienna. The church was destroyed in World War II but was rebuilt in seven years, with worship services still held daily.

St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna Photo by Outside Suburbia

The cathedral, one of the city’s most important landmarks, its impressive roof is covered by 230,000 glazed tiles and reaches high into the Viennese skyline. The cathedral has more than 18 altars, all built at different times, and contains precious works of art as well.

St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna | 3 Day Vienna Itinerary | Outside Suburbia

Two main pedestrian streets start here, the Graben and the Kärntner Straße. The first one will take you to the Vienna State Opera, the second one will take you, via the Kohlmarkt luxury shopping area, to the Hofburg Imperial Palace, and eventually back to the Ringstrasse.

Hofburg Imperial Palace

The Hofburg Imperial Palace has played an integral part of the Austrian government scene since it was built in the 13th century. It has been home to some of Europe’s most powerful royalty over the centuries, including the Hapsburgs and rulers of the Holy Roman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Today it is a museum and home to the president of Austria. The Hofburg Palace is the current residency and workplace of the Austrian president, and it holds many important events like annual balls, ceremonies and congresses.  It is located in close to St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Graben Street.

Sisi Museum, Best Things to do in Vienna with kids - Photo by Outside Suburbia
Horse drawn carriages in front of the Sisi Museum

The palace has numerous wings and halls built by various royalty over the centuries, but only three parts are open to the public today: the Imperial Apartments; the Sisi Museum, dedicated to Elizabeth, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph, and the Silver Collection, a collection of Imperial household objects. Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi. Habsburg State Apartments and Sisi Museum . Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi is a rare and fascinating character in 19th-century Austria. My daughter loved learning about the Empress. You don’t want to miss visiting this when you are in Vienna with kids especially little girls.

Best Things to do in Vienna with kids - Photo by Outside Suburbia
Crown Jewels at the Imperial Apartments

At the Silver Collection, Hofburg Imperial Palace
Porcelain at the Silver Collection, Hofburg Imperial Palace

Michaelerplatz (St. Michael’s Square) is the entrance gate to the Hofburg Palace. The style of it is very similar to Hofburg. The horses and the carriages in front of it create quite a romantic atmosphere. Right behind the Hofburg palace is Burggarten, home to the Palm House with glasshouses, one of the most neglected photogenic spots in Vienna. There is a huge park where you can soak up some sun rays in the summer, or enjoy some Viennese coffee. Add this to your things to do in Vienna!

Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)

The city hall in Vienna is another one of the must-see places there. There is usually always something taking place in front of it – a Christmas market in the winter, a film festival during the summer months, or an ice rink right after Christmas. You might want to check this out if you are visiting Vienna with kids in winter.

Maria-Theresien Platz

The Square of Maria Theresa is another very popular spot in Vienna that every single guide leads you to. Facing each other from both sides of the square are two almost-identical museums – the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Art History. Right in the middle of the square stands a statue of Empress Maria Theresa, surrounded by beautiful green areas with a few benches where you can take a short rest between visiting the museums and enjoy the view.

Maria-Theresien Platz, Vienna

Classical Concert at Musikverein

Vienna is famous for its musical history, the city was the birthplace of Strauss. both Beethoven and Mozart spent most of their adult life in the Austrian capital. A must do when visiting Vienna is to go to a classical concert. It is one of the top things to do in Vienna with kids. We went to a Mozart concert at the beautiful golden Musikverein.  Konzerthaus, is another concert hall you can will find national and international musicians.  This is the house of the Viennese Music Society and the place where the New Year’s Concert, with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and one of the best composers of the world takes place. And for opera lovers, there is the Vienna State Opera, with excellent singers and performances.

Musikverein, Vienna

Vienna State Opera

Opera and fine architecture is synonymous with Vienna, and the Vienna State Opera provides both in abundance. This outstanding building is located centrally in the Innere Stadt district and is considered one of the finest Opera Houses in the world. The exterior has a Neo-Renaissance style and is characterized by its many arches and arched windows, while the interior is extremely decadent and feels more like a palace than a place of musical celebration. The famous Viennese opera house is one of the must-see places for everyone visiting the Austrian capital. Its style and architecture make everyone stop and take a second look, no matter how many times they’ve seen it already. The interior is just as beautiful as the exterior. Daily guided tours are available which last around 40 minutes and give a good overview of the building.

Shopping at Graben

Whether you are looking for Wien Porzellan (famous for Porcelain) or brand name good you will find them at Graben, one of the most famous streets in Vienna. The word Graben means “trench” in German and dates back to an old Roman encampment in the Austrian capital. Back in those days, Vienna was surrounded by a city wall, with a trench alongside it. The trench was later filled in and became one of the first residential streets in Vienna. Craftsmen originally lived in wooden houses on the Graben, but it gradually evolved into a market place and later residences for the city’s elite. Today it is an up-scale shopping promenade that has Roles, Omega, Prada, Gucci and other stores. My kids loved window shopping in this street in Vienna.

Shopping at Graben, Vienna

You will find the Pestsäule Column (The Plague Column) at the center here. Also known as the Trinity Column it is a Holy column located on the Graben. Erected after the Great Plague epidemic in 1679, the Baroque memorial is one of the most well-known and prominent sculptural pieces of art in the city

Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens

Originally conceived as a hunting lodge near the end of the 1600s, Schoenbrunn grew into the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. Besides the Baroque palace, there is an amazing garden, the Gloriette coffee-house and panorama point on a hill, the world’s oldest zoo, a maze, and a carriage museum. Little kids would enjoy the children museum here where they can dress up in costumes from the past, as well as learn to make apple strudel in a workshop. There is enough here to spend the whole day, we found plenty of things to do to keep us occupied. Both my kids agreed that this was one of their favorite and best things to do in Vienna with kids!

Schonbrunn Palace maze - Best Things to do in Vienna with kids - Photo by Outside Suburbia
Do you spot my kids there?

Schonbrunn Palace - Best Things to do in Vienna with kids - Photo by Outside Suburbia

The 1,441 room Schönbrunn Palace is comparable in grandeur to Versailles, is one of the must see attractions in Vienna. The palace was built between 1696 and 1712 at the request of Emperor Leopold I and turned into the imperial summer palace by Maria Theresa.

Gloriette coffee-house
Gloriette coffee-house, worth the uphill walk for the views

Visit a Viennese Coffeehouse

Vienna is famous for cafes and its pastry shops or Konditorei.  The characteristic coffee-house tradition is listed as an intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO.  So a trip to Vienna is not complete without drinking a coffee in one of the traditional coffeehouses.  The attraction of these coffeehouses is the architecture and history, and many famous writers and artists were known to frequent them. After ordering a coffee, these writers, artists and philosophers stayed for many hours, debating, reading the newspaper or writing, and this resulted in the city’s coffeehouse literature.

Enjoy an Apple strudel or the Sacher Torte cake or your the choice of several delicious pastries with a coffee (ask for Wiener Melange if in need of a Cappuccino, and a Brauner if you want Espresso) – invariably accompanied by a glass of water.

Cafe Douglas, a coffee house in Vienna - Photo by Outside Suburbia

Enjoy an Apple strudel or the Sacher Torte cake or your the choice of several delicious pastries with a coffee (ask for Wiener Melange if in need of a Cappuccino, and a Brauner if you want Espresso) – invariably accompanied by a glass of water.  Our favorite was Cafe Diglas near the Cathedral, the coffee was strong, the apple strudel warm and the atmosphere cozy.  Cafe Sacher is popular and there is always a line to get in. Seems like it is on everyone’s list of things to do in Vienna.

Cafe Douglas, a coffee culture in Vienna - Photo by Outside Suburbia

Relax at the Volksgarten Park

End your time in Vienna with a relaxing few minutes in the beautiful Volksgarten Park which literally means People garden and is a perfect park for a stroll after all the museum hopping. It is right next to Habsburg.  Just sit here around sunset and watch the fountains and the flowers. It is perfect to blow off some steam after a long day of museum visits with kids in Vienna.

Volksgarten Park, Vienna Photo by Outside Suburbia

Playtime at Prater

Vienna Prater is an amusement park a short tram ride from the Ringstrasse and is located in the second district of Vienna.  The amusement park is just a small part of what is a big green space with lots of beer gartens and restaurants. The entertainment park offers a lot of activities, like rollercoasters, fun little trains, carousels and many more attractions which the young and old people will enjoy.

We especially loved the Giant Ferris wheel and the old fashioned rides.  There is also a chocolate museum, a mini train, Madame Tussauds and a planetarium inside – another great thing to do in Vienna with kids!  We ate at Schweizerhaus, a beer garden.

Prater Amusement Park, Vienna - Photo by OutsideSuburbia

Don’t miss Madame Tussauds inside Prater. With over 80 wax figures including the usual celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Michael Jackson to personalities from Austria like Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Sisi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Falco, Maria Theresia, and Gustav Klimt can be seen here.

See here for tours, attractions, all things to do in Vienna

Day trips from Vienna

The city is so centrally located that you can get to a lot of places and visit as a day trip from ViennaPragueSalzburgSloveniaBudapest, Hallstat, Graz, Bratislava, Melk Abbey and Danube Valley are great options.  While we didn’t do any day trips, we picked up our car for our Alpine Road trip and stopped at Melk Abbey before heading to Salzburg, Zermatt and then eventually to Geneva.

What to eat in Vienna

When in Vienna you must try the Schnitzel, pounded thin, fried to a crisp these buttery schnitzels are addictive. While Wiener Schnitzel is made from veal, you can also get a schnitzel in chicken or pork. Enjoy it with a side of Goulash, potatoes or fried chicory.

What to eat in Vienna - Photo by Outside Suburbia

Finish with some Sacher Torte, make it to Hotel Sacher Wien for that authentic slice of chocolatey goodness!

See this post for other ideas of what and where to eat in Vienna.

Where to stay in Vienna

If you stay in a hotel on the Ringstrasse, you will be closer to most museums and attractions and you can make use of the Hop on Hop off tours.  We were at the Hilton Vienna Plaza right on Ringstasse and it was also on the hop on hop off bus and tram route so getting around was easy.  Couple of other options nearby are Hotel Sacher Wien created and owned by Gurtler & Winkler family that created the original Sacher-Torte and Park Hyatt Vienna

You can see other hotel options here and read the reviews.

I hope you find this Guide for all the attractions and fun things to do in Vienna with kids useful when planning your family trip to Austria.

You might also like:
Family-Friendly Guide to Paris, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, London, Lisbon, Bergamo, Barcelona, Milan, Venice and Verona

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, partnership or sponsored content. If you purchase an item via one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. But as always images and opinions are our own. For more information on our affiliates and privacy policy at Outside Suburbia see here.

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3 thoughts on “Mozart, Klimt, Getting lost in Schonbrunn Palace maze: Best Things to do in Vienna with kids”

  1. Great itinerary. I love Vienna. It has such a relaxed atmosphere and just oozes history and tradition. I could sit for hours in one of he coffee houses and just watch the world go by and chat to locals.
    Personally I would also add Naschmarkt to a three day itinerary. Either on a Saturday morning when the flee market is on or for lunch/dinner. It has such a great variety of foods, but local and from around the world.
    Small side note: the Wiener Schnitzel only comes in veil. Anything else can call itself a Schnitzel Viennese style, but not a Wiener Schnitzel. The name is protected.

  2. I loved your photos of Vienna Priya. I went there in December and my photos are so grey. I’m inspired to go there again in the beautiful summer.

    1. Thanks Kalpana, yes it was nice and sunny with beautiful days when we were there. Although I bet December with all the snow is just as pretty.. and those Christmas markets!

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A book review: The Boer War

Herman van Bon Photography

It’s very unusual that I write a book review although I read many books. Writing a book review in a photography blog goes beyond usual but since I like the unusual … 😉

I’m living now for fourtheenandahalf year plus almost two months in South Africa and have read many books about its history but this one about THE BOER WAR beats them all….

BoerWarDe Boeren Oorlog (The Boer War) Author: Martin Bossenbroek. Publisher: Athenaeum, Amsterdam. ISBN: 9789025369934/NUR686

I’ve read many books about the history of South Africa, virtually all written by English and Afrikaans speaking South Africans and that includes literature about the Boer War (1899-1902). But never a book written from such a wide perspective (and from a variety of angles) as this 610 pages (including >40 with footnotes and index) masterpiece. It’s written in Dutch and hopefully English translations will be on the market soon for it…

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How to Incorporate: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Incorporation in Canada

There are a lot of articles on incorporating in Canada. Our goal with this guide is to be the best, most comprehensive resource for entrepreneurs looking to incorporate.

Let’s get started!

1) When are you ready to incorporate?

There are two main drivers when considering whether to incorporate your business: limited liability and taxes.

Limited liability

The benefits of limited liability cannot be over stated. By incorporating, you will separate your personal and business obligations. This is crucial, as an Industry Canada study concluded that only half of all small businesses survive beyond their first five years.

If you incorporate and your company goes south, your personal assets will remain protected and untouched. If you do not incorporate and operate your business as a sole proprietorship or a partnership, you will remain personally responsible for the debts of the business – which can put your personal property (like your home, car, and computers) all at risk.

NOTE: There are times when directors can remain personally liable for a business’s debts if certain preconditions are met. The most common examples include:

  1. Unpaid employee wages and vacation pay: Up to six months’ wages and 12 months’ vacation pay.
  2. Employee source deductions and remitances: Includes source deductions for employee income taxes, EI and CPP contributions.
  3. GST/HST Remittances: This includes GST/HST that has been collected by the corporation but was not remitted to the government.

Tax advantages

Corporations are taxed differently than individuals. In Canada, the tax rate on corporations is lower than the tax rate for individuals. And there are further tax reductions available to incorporated small businesses. Whenever you can leave some money in the corporation, rather than transfering it to your personal account, you can reduce the taxes you pay. You also have the flexibility of choosing how you get paid. You can pay yourself in salary, dividends, or a combination of both depending on what will result in the lowest tax burden.

For example, in Ontario, a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation (a corporation owned primarily by Canadian residents) pays a tax rate of 13.5% on the first $500,000 of income each year, and 26.5% for all income beyond that. As a business owner, if you are able to leave money in the company, and not take it all out for personal expenses, you can increase the value of your company’s assets and pay less in taxes. This means that the money you leave in your company could be used to invest back into the business: for example, to spend on marketing, buy new equipment, purchase additional inventory or hire new staff.

2) What are the benefits of incorporating?

On top of the limited liability and tax benefits mentioned above, there are at least four other clear benefits of incorporating your business:

Raising capital

If you want investors to invest in your company, you’ll need to be incorporated. Without being incorporated, you will not have shares to sell to investors.

Professional image

When working with clients, your business comes across as more professional when your business is incorporated. Invoices are sent with your incorporated business name (ending in Inc. or Ltd.). This communicates to your clients that you take your business seriously.

Corporations can be transferred among individuals by simply selling shares. This makes long-term succession planning considerably easier.

Continuous lifespan

Corporations are not limited to the lifespan of the owners. They can exist indefinitely.

3) How to incorporate your business in Canada

a) Choosing a business name

Choosing a name for your business can be a little stressful, but ultimately, it’s a fun exercise.

First up: decide on what you would like to call your business. Remember that this is your formal legal name. It’s not necessarily the same as your brand.

Next, make sure your business name satisfies three legal requirements. It must have (1) a distinctive element, (2) a descriptive element, and (3) a legal ending:

[Distinctive] + [Descriptive] + [Legal Ending]

For example: Rhino Ice Cream Inc.

Bonus step: trademark search. Have a look through Canadian Trademarks to see if anyone else has registered a Trademark on your desired name. You can conduct a free search with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office here.

One final note about trademarks: they are tied to specific goods or services. This means that you may still be able to use a registered trademark, if that’s your desired name, so long as your intended use is in a different industry.

Also important to note, if you incorporate through Ownr, we handle all required NUANS searches so you don’t have to worry about conducting your own business name search in advance.

b) Filing Articles of Incorporation with government

After you’ve decided on your name, you’ll need to file the initial registration forms with the government. For this step, you’ll need to determine your share class structure (see #5 below) along with deciding on the company’s initial directors (see #4 below).

With Ownr, we automatically file your initial registration documents with the government, by collecting all required information during your onboarding.

c) Company formation documents

Filing documents with the provincial or federal corporate registry is only half of what’s required when incorporating your business. You also need to properly setup all of your company formation documents: Corporate Bylaws, Shareholder and Director Resolutions, Director Consents, Share Subscriptions, and Share Issuances.

There are significant risks with not setting your company up properly from the start, and most of this stems from the failure to prepare company formation documents. Risks include: having no owners in your business (because shares were never issued to shareholders) and the inability to have investors. These risks can increase over time and cost more to fix.

We often get the question: are company formation documents (otherwise known as minute book documents) really necessary? The short answer is yesThis Government of Canada article goes into detail about the different documents that a corporation must prepare and keep. With Ownr, we automatically prepare these company formation documents. Based on the information you provide during the onboarding process, our technology tailors all documents for your business, sends them out for eSignature, and once signed, saves them all in your Ownr account:

The total cost to incorporate on Ownr is between $499 and $699, depending on your jurisdiction. This includes all government fees, name search fees, company formation documents as well as 12 months on the Ownr platform. You can click here to create a free account.

4) Federal versus provincial incorporation

In Canada, you have the option of incorporating provincially or federally. If you choose federal, you’ll need to register the company in the province where your business is located.

The differences between incorporating provincially or federally are often exaggerated. Both allow the company to operate in all provinces and service clients from anywhere in the world.

The main benefit to incorporating a federal corporation is that it provides your company with increased name protection. Your business name will be registered throughout Canada (rather than just one province).

One other difference between a federal and provincial corporation is the requirement for the directors of the corporation to be Canadian residents. Federal corporations as well as provincial corporations in Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland all require that at least 25% of the directors of a corporation must be resident Canadians. There are no Canada director residency requirements for the other provinces and territories.

One of the downsides of federal corporations is that in some jurisdictions, they can take extra work to register and, depending on the province, can cost more money. With Ownr, however, we’ve automated all the additional paperwork for federal corporations in Ontario, and it is actually less expensive to incorporate a federal corporation than an Ontario provincial corporation.

5) Different roles in a corporation

There are three major roles in a corporation: Shareholders, Directors and Officers. It’s common in small businesses for one person to be the sole shareholder, sole director, and sole officer.

A shareholder is a person that owns shares in a company. The unit of ownership is called a share.

Shareholders are legally separate from the company. As a result, shareholders are generally not liable for the debts of a company (unless a shareholder has signed a personal guarantee on behalf of the company).

A director has overall responsibility for the corporation. Collectively, the directors are called the Board of Directors.

A director is appointed by the shareholder(s) of the corporation.

Officers actively operate and manage the business.

A company can have several different officer positions. Every company must have a President and Secretary (which can be the same person). Companies can create other positions like CEO, Vice-President, and Treasurer. These can all be held by the same person.

Officers are appointed by the directors to run the day-to-day operations of the corporation.

Officers and directors owe a duty of care to the corporation. This means they must act honestly and in the best interests of the corporation. They must also avoid conflicts of interest.

6) How to structure your corporation?

The number of shares owned by each shareholder reflects the proportion of the company they own. But that doesn’t mean all shareholders are equal. When first incorporating your company, you can create multiple share classes to allow different groups of shareholders to have different rights and privileges over the company.

Also, it’s important to remember that you can choose to have multiple share classes when you incorporate, but you don’t need to issue shares in each share class at the outset. For example, you could choose to have your company structured with three share classes: Class A Common Voting Shares, Class B Common Voting Shares and Class C Common Non-Voting Shares, but only issue shares in Class A.

So what are the different types of share classes? We’ve provided a basic overview below:

a) Voting and non-voting shares

The most common difference among share classes is the ability to vote on matters relating to the business. Voting shares will be held by those shareholders who want to actively participate in the decision-making process (like the founders, directors, senior managers, etc.). Non-voting shares are intended for shareholders who wish to benefit from the company’s long-term growth, but don’t necessary want to get involved in high-level decisions (for example, employees).

b) Common shares

Common shares are the standard shares in the corporation. As the corporation grows and becomes profitable, the value of the Common Shares will increase.

Common Shares do not have any special priority over the corporation’s assets. If the corporation stops operating, the holders of common shares will be paid out equally.

The directors can declare and pay dividends on common shares at any time and in any amount.

c) Preferred shares

Preferred shares are only called ‘preferred’ because they entitle the shareholder to get paid back first if the corporation stops conducting business. However, it is important to understand that preferred shares are not necessarily more valuable than common shares. preferred shares usually have a limit on the amount they can increase in value over time. They are often issued for tax-planning reasons on the advice of an accountant.

7) After incorporation: ongoing obligations

After incorporating, your business has an obligation to maintain certain documents and records. In exchange for the legal and tax benefits of incorporating, you are expected to keep your corporation up-to-date and in compliance with the law. There are three main things that every company is legally required to keep up-to-date:

a) Minute book and share records

You are required to keep your company documents in an organized manner. This can be in an old-fashioned paper binder, or, like we do at Ownr, through a secure electronic minute book.

b) Company updates

Anytime your company details change (like when you want to add a new director or change your address), you have an obligation to file forms with the government and prepare corporate resolutions which officially approve the company changes.

Ownr automatically takes care of all this paperwork on an ongoing basis: automatically preparing and filing forms with the government, preparing the required corporate resolutions, gathering e-signatures, and securely storing all documents back into your account.

c) Annual return and resolutions

Each year, your company will need to file an annual return with the government and pay the associated fees (which can range from $20 for a federal corporation to $50 for an Alberta corporation).

You’ll also need to prepare annual shareholder and director resolutions. These are all mandatory documents in order for your business to stay compliant. If you fail to file the annual return, the government can dissolve your company.

  1. Update December 7, 2017: Thanks to Pulat Yusanov of LawTO for the suggestion to add additional information on Canadian Director Residency Requirements. ↩

This article offers general information only, is current as of the date of publication, and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC Ventures Inc. or its affiliates.


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Global Specialty Proppant Market 2021 Definitions, Classifications, Applications, Industry Analysis And Forecast By 2031

After a conscientious study on the global Specialty Proppant Market profit and loss, the Specialty Proppant industry detailed out the supply-demand, business growth, government measures, commercial strategy, and various policies very genuine. The market research report of the Specialty Proppant is a fundamental study carried out by a systematic approach. The analysis report has geological segmentation based on environmental market growth and development scaled down precisely.

Outlook and Future Prospects of Global Specialty Proppant Market Report 2021 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Specialty Proppant industry. The report assesses the growth rate and market value. It also contains an in-depth analysis of the market and competitive scenario, together with the SWOT analysis of the leading competitors.

Properties and market execution are examined using quantitative and qualitative techniques to give a clearer picture of Present and future growth trends. The data proposed in the report will assist the clients in enhancing their skills to make precise decisions related to the business under Specialty Proppant Market. The report also focuses on the ongoing and forthcoming regulations and policies to be introduced by government bodies, which may improve or suppress market growth.

The Specialty Proppant Market research report has been presented in a very edifying format such that the people can have easy accessibility to all the necessary information required to obtain complete awareness of the market. This report identifies that in this quickly developing and competitive world, the latest marketing information is essential, in order to monitor performance and make strategic decisions for development and profitability.

To Garner Compelling Insights on Forecast Analysis of Specialty Proppant Market, Request a Sample Here:

Report recap:

The Main Objective is to forecast (2022-2031), describe, and define key aspects of the global Specialty Proppant market. Besides segmental analysis, we have provided technical analysis to inform you about the latest and future technologies that will be introduced in the Specialty Proppant market research report. We keep you ahead of the competition by closely examining microeconomic and macroeconomic.

The research report includes competitive benchmarking of market leaders and analysis of key opportunities for stakeholders, players, and other market participants. This report also helps you To understand the structure of the Specialty Proppant market by identifying its various sub-segments. And To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.

Reasons to Purchase This Report to fatten Your Firm:

Some of the Major Specialty Proppant Market Players Are:

Carbo Ceramics Inc.
China GengSheng Minerals Inc.
Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc.
Hexion Inc.
Hi-Crush Partners LP
JSC Borovichi Refractories Plant
JSC Borovichi Refractories Plant
Saint-Gobain Proppant Inc.
Superior Silica Sands LLC
U.S. Silica

Market Segment by Type, covers:

Dry Process Production
Water Production

Market Segment by Application, covers:

Shale Gas
Tight Gas

In this report, the years considered to evaluate the market prophecy growth of Specialty Proppant are as follows:

Historic Year: 2015-2020

Base Year: 2020

Forecast Year: 2022-2031

LATEST NEWS: Media | Top News | Scoop

Specialty Proppant Market: Region-wise scenario

-Middle East & Africa (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, South Africa)

-Southeast Asia (Japan, Korea, India, China)

-Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia)

-North America (United States, Canada, Mexico)

-South America (Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina )

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Reasons to Purchase this Report:-

  • It includes an in-depth analysis of the market of various perspectives through porter’s plan
  • It helps in taking business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making an in-depth study of market segments
  • It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future prospects
  • To distinguish the countries that are expected to witness rapid growth during the forecast period (2022-2031)
  • It helps in finding out the key product segments and their future
  • It provides a forecast estimated based on how the Specialty Proppant Market is predicted to grow.
  • It provides an in-depth analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors

View Detailed of Specialty Proppant Market Research Report,click the link Here :

Table of Contents Describing Detail Research Report :

1. Origination

2. Research procedure

3. Report Summary

4. Specialty Proppant Market Overview 2021

-Drivers, Restraints

-Industry Trends, Porter & Five Forces Analysis

-SWOT Analysis

5. Specialty Proppant Market Review, By Product Dry Process Production and Water Production

6. Specialty Proppant Market Summary, By Application Tight Gas and Shale Gas

7. Specialty Proppant Market Outline, By Region

Browse More Market Report From Marketwatch

8. Competitive Overview

9. Company Profiles JSC Borovichi Refractories Plant, Carbo Ceramics Inc., Superior Silica Sands LLC, Hexion Inc., Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc., JSC Borovichi Refractories Plant, U.S. Silica , Hi-Crush Partners LP, China GengSheng Minerals Inc. and Saint-Gobain Proppant Inc.

10. Extension

Access to the full report of Specialty Proppant with index, tables and figures, as well as details on the main companies @

Media Contact

Company Name: (Powered By Prudour Pvt. Ltd.)

Contact Person: Mr. Benni Johnson

Phone: +1 718 618 4351

Address: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300 New York City, NY 10170

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How Congress is Bribing You to Drive in 2012

by Ozzie Zehner

Glorious Parking (photo by Faris Ali)

How Congress is Bribing You to Drive in 2012

By Ozzie Zehner

These are the final few days for public transit riders to receive the same federal transportation benefits as drivers.  Starting on January 1, 2012, the IRS will reduce the allowable pre-tax contributions to transit users while increasing benefits for drivers. This tax subsidy supports car culture with twice the gusto of transit.

The Senate could have extended the transit benefit this week.  But it failed.

Senate Republicans linked the transit benefit extension to a vote that would require Obama to approve or deny the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days. In response, the editors of the Washington Post ran an  editorial on December 19th claiming Congress is taking Americans for a ride:

“Whether the federal government should give a tax break to workers to help pay for their commutes is a question that is certainly worthy of discussion. What shouldn’t be on the table is giving a bigger edge in any subsidy to those who drive, as opposed to those who use mass transit — since there is no reason to encourage more traffic, more pollution and more gas consumption…increased use of public transportation benefits everyone — even those who choose to drive because there are fewer cars on the road. No such argument can be made in subsidizing the parking costs of those who drive to work. Workers can choose to drive and park — but there is no public interest in government picking up part of the tab.”

The IRS has announced the following limits for pre-tax contributions and reimbursements on 2012 Commuter Benefits Accounts:

  • Transit pre-tax contributions: Decrease from $230 to $125 per month
  • Parking pre-tax contributions: Increase from $230 to $240 per month

 This outcome, intended or not, is clear: Congress will be bribing us to drive in 2012.  That is unfortunate news for both public transit agencies and their riders.

History: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) increased the monthly pre-tax reimbursement limit for Commuter Benefit Transit accounts temporarily from $120 to $230. That limit expires on December 31, 2011.

Status: Congress has not acted to extend the current deadline.  Unless they take action by January 1, 2012, the monthly pre-tax contribution and reimbursement limits for transit accounts will drop to $125, roughly half the limit for drivers. There is a small chance, according to Transportation For America, that the benefit could be reinstated within the first few months of 2012.

Shameless Plug: Read about hidden car culture subsidies in my upcoming book:


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Water bottle rockets

Each September, the pack launches water bottle rockets! We typically have a workshop. If you missed the workshop, don’t fear, you can still build your own!

Don’t use small water bottles, like the 16.9 ounce kind. Those have thin walls that explode on takeoff. Use 1L smartwater bottles or standard, 2 liter soda bottles.

Instructions if you want to do it yourself:


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Coming Soon: 3801 Lancaster – Part II

April 14, 2014 | No comments | Posted in abortion, Politics | Tags: , ,

Last year, three filmmakers came together to tell a tragic and disturbing story they believed the public desperately needed to hear. The result was 3801 Lancaster – a compelling short documentary film detailing the case of Philadelphia abortionist and convicted murderer Dr. Kermit Gosnell. Now, almost a year later, the trio plans to release 3801 Lancaster: Part II on the anniversary of Gosnell’s conviction.

3801 Lancaster is an ongoing documentary series with three goals in mind:

“First, to make the public aware of what happened at the Women’s Medical Society. Second, to give Gosnell’s victims an outlet to tell their stories. Third, to help find and shut down clinics that continue to operate in the same manner as the Women’s Medical Society.”

The filmmakers were able to show that, for over 15 years, state and local authorities had failed to conduct routine inspections of the Women’s Medical Society – even after numerous serious complaints – enabling Dr. Kermit Gosnell to continue his horrendous acts undeterred. A Grand Jury convened by the Philadelphia District Attorney found that abortion clinics enjoyed a “hands off” approach by state officials in the administrations of two former governors – Republican Tom Ridge and Democrat Ed Rendell.

Part I explored the general aspects of the case and featured some of Gosnell’s former patients. It was clear that the deaths of hundreds of babies and at least one adult patient could have been prevented – but the government chose to look the other way. 3801 Lancaster is an award-winning emotional must-see story which Anderson Cooper calls “remarkable.”  If you have yet to see it, you can watch the entire film here:

Part II will dive deeper into the details of the government’s negligence with one participant claiming:

“I think Gosnell not only could have been stopped, but should have been stopped years ago.”

Both installments of 3801 Lancaster are funded primarily through private donors and, at this point, the team is still $35,000 short on funds for Part II. To donate to the film, visit  Part II will be released May 13, 2014.

To watch the trailer for Part II & for more about the film, visit

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Pain Free Feet

Whitby Family Footcare Clinic: 905.668.8233
Peterborough Family Foot Care & Orthotics: 705.740.8247

Athletes Foot

Athlete’s feet (tinea pedis) is a common skin infection that can affect everyone, not just athletes. Tinea pedis is caused by fungi. Fungi are simple parasitic plant organisms, such as molds and mildew. Fungi lack chlorophyll and do not require sunlight for growth. A group of fungi called dermatophytes has evolved to feed on the skin protein called keratin. Athlete’s foot may cause redness, itchiness, tiny bumps filled with fluid or peeling skin. It is most commonly located between the toes or on the bottom of the feet.

Fungi are commonly found throughout the environment. Fungi thrive in a warm, moist and dark environment. Footwear creates the warm and moist conditions between the toes that is the perfect environment for fungal growth on the skin. Fungal infections are easily passed from person to person in showers or bathing areas. It is difficult to avoid contact with microscopic organisms like fungi, the skin is especially vulnerable around damp areas where people are likely to be walking barefoot, such as, swimming pools, locker rooms, and showers. Injury to your skin makes it more susceptible to all types of infection, including fungal skin infections.


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The Paleofuture Blog Is 7 Years Old Today

Illustration for article titled The Paleofuture Blog Is 7 Years Old Today

The Paleofuture blog turns 7 years old today! And you can now find every Paleofuture post ever written—right here at Gizmodo.

When I came on board at Gizmodo this past May, I brought my entire Paleofuture archive with me. Every post I've ever written under the Paleofuture name—at and Smithsonian—can now be found here at Paleofuture dot Gizmodo dot com. All you need to do is use that little search bar in the upper lefthand corner.

For instance, if you're interested in Nikola Tesla's predictions for the future, just type in "Tesla." Interested in robots or monorails or Disney? Same deal.

Paleofuture explores how people of the past imagined the future, and we're always making more futurism. So conceivably I could do this forever. But we'll see about that.

We're seven years in and (amazingly) I'm not sick of the topic yet. I really do think that futurism provides the most fascinating lens through which to study history—from the shiny plastic utopias of the 1950s to the dark polluted dystopias of the 1970s.

And as I've said before, looking at the accuracy of past predictions is really just a jumping off point. Determining if an old prediction was "right" is fun, but the truly interesting question is why people made their particular prediction to begin with. What was the context of the prediction? What were people excited or terrified about? As always, predictions say more about the person making them than they do about the actual future.

So here's to seven more years of our weird and wonderful visions of yestermorrow, and definitely drop me a line ( if you find something paleofuture-y that I haven't covered.

Thanks for reading.

Image: Scanned from the April 27, 1958 edition of Arthur Radebaugh's Sunday comic strip "Closer Than We Think"

Love your blog Matt. Thank you for the continued discoveries. Best wishes for the future.


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How to Grow from Seeds

How to Grow from Seeds

How to Grow The Blue Palo Verde Parkinsonia Florida from Seeds

Things You’ll Need That We Usually Get from Amazon

Planter pots, 5 to 6-inch or larger

Peat moss

Organic compost

Gather the seeds in late summer or early autumn after pods dry out and turn light brown. Shake the seed pod and listen for a rattling sound, which indicates that the seeds have fully dried out. (This step has already been done for you)

Snip off the ends of the seed pods with pruning shears and pry them open to extract the seeds. Pick out the flat, light brown seeds. Inspect each seed for signs of pest damage or mold. Discard any that have obvious signs of damage. (This step has already been done for you) Important: Nick the end of each Palo Verde seed with a utility knife. Press the blade against the seed coat until it is deeply incised but not completely punctured. Or: File the seed at either end until the seed coating is showing a cream color. Then soak the nicked or filed seeds in warm water overnight to further weaken the hard, impermeable seed coat. (This step is very important)

Prepare a planting container for each seed. Use 5 to 6-inch plastic pots with at least two drainage holes at the base. Fill the pots with a mixture of 2 parts coarse sand, 1 part compost, and 1 part perlite. Add water to the mixture until it feels moderately moist in the top 2 inches.

Sow one seed in each pot. Make a planting hole that is 1/4 to 1 inch deep. Place the seed inside the hole and cover it with a loose layer of the growing mixture. Spread a 1/4-inch-thick layer of mulch over the surface to help hold moisture in the soil.

Place the pots inside a lightly shaded cold frame. Warm the pots to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit using a germination mat. Check the moisture level in the growing mixture each morning. Add water whenever it feels barely damp in the top 1/2 inch

Watch for the first seedlings in approximately one to two weeks. Remove the germination mat once the seeds sprout. Continue to water whenever the growing mixture dries out in the top 1/2 inch.

Grow the seedlings in a very lightly shaded area of the garden during their first summer. Provide 1 inch of water each week during the summer months. Acclimate the seedlings to direct sun in late summer so they won’t wilt after transplant

Transplant your saplings into a permanent bed in early autumn after the first rainfall. Choose a sunny planting site with sandy, fast-draining soil. Space multiple trees at least 15-20 feet apart.


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Margate Holiday

Pam’s Pictorama Photo Post: Continuing on from last Sunday’s British invasion with a photo from the resort of Bognor, our UK holiday larks continue today with this souvenir postcard which appears to hail from Margate. There is no indication of date on the back, and the only writing is in pencil in one corner On 1/2 stilts, but printed at one end is Sunbeam Photo Ltd., 82 Sweyn Road, Margate, For all orders by Post. When searched Google Earth photos shows the back of a brick building facing another road at approximately as 82 Sweyn Road is today – in the other direction one can see the ocean and beach at the end of a block of brick row houses.

If our bubble-headed friend in the striped pants is on half stilts, he must be pretty short to start with. And yet there is something about his legs that makes the stilt argument a logical one – oh, but walking on sand on stilts? Yikes. While he certainly isn’t a jaunty, giant stuffed Felix the Cat doll, he is a jolly fellow and I can see why these ladies are smiling and enjoying their photo op with him.

I guess I could stretch a point and say that his is a cat head, but I think we won’t try to put too fine a point on it. From the clothes of the women I would date this at the early 1940’s. Behind them a dandy looking ice cream shack and a man, set up in a beach chair, who appears to be leaning into the photo act as well.

For those of us in the New York area, summer seems to have come to a quick end into fall. It is often like that here – suddenly there are events everywhere, exhibition openings and concerts. Folks have returned from vacation and it is the adult version of buckle down back-to-school. Still, even the weather took a cool turn quickly this year, and although we are almost assured of an Indian summer we find ourselves eyeing the wool in our closet already. For me, this card grabbed me back for one last look over the shoulder at summer and vacation, cotton print dresses and kicking up our heels with a bubble-headed fellow on this long-ago beach.

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6 Facts About Everyone Thinks Are True

Advantages of Selecting the Number One Hypnotherapy Treatment Center in Washington Are you struggling with a mental disorder? Then it is wise you find the best health specialists who will offer the appropriate treatment. The goal is to find the best hypnotherapy treatment clinic in your area. Therefore, you require to learn the essentials that […]

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Useful Tips for Choosing the Right Yoga Training Provider Taking yoga classes can have a lot of benefits especially to your fitness health. It helps give the body new energy when taking fitness classes. You need to look for a perfect yoga trainer that will help you to take the classes successfully. As you are […]

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Important Tips for Choosing the Best Estate Sales Company The process of choosing an estate sales company can get challenging and trickier every day as there are so many companies that are in operation and you will get that not all are offering the best services. To make sure you are not having any problems […]


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If you love homeopathy…

I was recently struck by an odd blog post “If you love homeopathy – don’t vote Liberal Democrat!

This is a post which berates Dr. Evan Harris MP for all manner of misdemeanours, not least his strong and vocal position against homeopathy. The blogger (one Sue Young) goes so far as to quote two articles from the GMC code that she feels Dr. Harris is contravening through his activities [update 14th Feb 2010 – apparently the blog post was based on a letter written by Lionel Milgrom, see Gimpy’s blog for details]. I wrote a comment relating to the fact that the overriding focus of the GMC guidelines is care to patients and it seems that Dr. Harris is fulfilling his duty to the GMC by attempting to “protect and promote the health of patients and the public” by illuminating the lack of evidence for the efficacy of homeopathy. It appears (unsurprisingly) that my comment did not make it through the comment review process, so I have posted it (and my follow-up) below.

It is not the berating of Dr. Harris that struck me as odd, nor the call to boycott the Liberal Democrats – it is the use of the term “if you love homeopathy”. This is a bit incongruous. I can understand someone loving what they do; after all I love my job, but I wouldn’t think to rely on my (admittedly irrational) fondness for dead animals as a way of motivating people to see things from my perspective. Moreover, “love” has some important connotations – not least unconditional acceptance or bias. It is here that we begin to see where the problem with homeopathy really lies.

I have said before (a couple of times) that homeopaths are believers in a 200 year old doctrine – which is why homeopathy has not changed appreciably in those two centuries. It is the inability to see past their love for their discipline that has meant that it has not been allowed to adapt and evolve. As a result homeopaths keep practicing their art with complete faith in its efficacy, despite the fact that evidence has repeatedly shown that homeopathy does not work appreciably beyond placebo (unless the studies assessing it are of low quality). Even where studies conclude that homeopathy is not effective, there are examples of homeopaths cherry-picking statements and citing them as support.

Rather like a parent is biased towards their child because of their love, homeopaths are biased towards their discipline. Evidence against the efficacy of homeopathy merely makes homeopaths feel more defensive. Logical refutation of the principles of homeopathy leads homeopaths to doubt well established facts about physics and biology rather than change their assumptions about homeopathy. It’s like a parent being confronted with video footage of their child shoplifting and responding by saying “but my child would never do that – you must be mistaken”. This is not how science works. This is certainly not how medicine should work.

Until homeopaths can put aside their love of homeopathy they simply cannot be trusted to work with the best interests of their patients in mind. Ignoring or twisting evidence to make it fit what is already believed is not beneficial. If homeopathy is ever going to be more than a dogmatic anachronism it needs to start accepting criticism and more to the point it needs to start recognising the inherent bias introduced by those that love homeopathy.

My comments:

It should be pointed out here that article 46 and 47 is not intended to defend the actions of colleagues who do not fulfil the duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council:

Patients must be able to trust doctors with their lives and health. To justify that trust you must show respect for human life and you must:

  • Make the care of your patient your first concern
  • Protect and promote the health of patients and the public
  • Provide a good standard of practice and care
  • Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date
  • Recognise and work within the limits of your competence
  • Work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients’ interests

It seems that Dr. Harris is fulfilling his duty to the GMC by attempting to “protect and promote the health of patients and the public” by illuminating the lack of evidence for the efficacy of homeopathy.

My follow up comment:

I see that you only publish comments that support your opinion. How wonderfully hypocritical in a blog about bias, but I suppose it’s only to be expected that a homeopath will cherry-pick what they want to hear.

4 thoughts on “If you love homeopathy…

  1. It seems as though Homeopathy is revealing itself more and more to be a belief system and less and less a science. “Loving” homeopathy and the statements surrounding this mindset seem to point toward a relationship more akin to one with a therapist or clergyman.

    If this is the case then let’s treat it as a religion and separate state funding from this faith-based ideology. It has no place alongside the practice of medicine, particularly when my tax money is paying for it.

    I love the practice and study of medicine. I don’t, however, love going to the doctor and I approach it as an informed consumer. Just yesterday I refused both a treatment and an invasive investigation that I with my understanding of medicine did not feel was necessary. This is my prerogative and I discussed it at length with my physician, who respected my wishes. The doctor I refused, by the way, applauded the 10:23 campaign and expressed his opinion that in its day, homeopathy was probably the best thing that could be offered to patients (nothing) in the light of what medicine was available at that time. The fact that it’s still in use in this day and age is ludicrous.

  2. The more I talk with homeopathy advocates the more I encounter statements such as the following:

    “@Rushyo Don’t try to dissuade me from what I know to be the truth. Have a good day!”

    This usually occurs in the face of overwhelming evidence and the explanation of obvious logical contradictions. It is leading me to the same conclusion that MedTek has mentioned: Homeopathy is a belief system as opposed to a science. A self-justifying doctrine to be taken on faith as opposed to proving it works.

    Of course, I’m mostly only actively dealing with those who have responded to 10:23 and thus these people and their attitudes may likely well be unrepresentative.

  3. I’ve posted a comment too, encouraging people to actually check what their candidates really think about it before voting, rather than assuming the party agrees with Harris. After all, Nick Clegg signed EDM 1240 supporting NHS funding of homeopathy hospitals.

    I will wait and see whether my comment from a homeopathy skeptic encouraging homeopathy supporters to make an informed vote, even if they plan to use information to guide voting in the opposite direction to myself, will get past the moderation queue.

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