Cornwall ON - Last fall as my career as a Journalism student was nearing its end I began pondering about what kind of jobs awaited me after graduation. At this time of reflection it became embarrassingly apparent that I had no idea how to market myself and no understanding on how to get paid to write.

In normal circumstances this can be a big downfall for someone seeking a career in journalism. The fact that we were, and still are in a recession made even more difficult to obtain working experience. After sharing my concerns with some of my peers I learned of a new upstart media company known as the Cornwall Free News. It only took a few emails back and forth from the Editor and Chief Jamie Gilcig to convince him to take me on as his first intern.

In retrospect this ongoing internship with the CFN has been a great move for me. Not only has it given me a place to practice and hone my craft, but I have been given the freedom to discuss any topic I choose.  For a junior writer this is almost unheard of and even though I have enjoyed my freedom, it has made it difficult for me to keep my writing focused.
Throughout the past few weeks I have been receiving more and more curious questions about the various topics I choose to write about.  These questions have been coming from my editor, my close relatives, and my peers. The concern is that by discussing so many topics that have no connection to one another is that I am not resonating with my audience. Since this has been brought to my attention I thought it would be wise to ask you the devoted readers of CFN a sincere question.

What would you like me discuss more of? Your answers can be as simple as politics/sports or they can even be solid leads to news stories.
On that note I will be focusing more of my attention to my own interests such as writing, politics and the game of billiards. In the near future I plan to write extensively on all these topics as well as incorporating the suggestions from our readers.

This newspaper belongs as much to thousands of people who contribute to our over 100,000 page views a month, as it does anyone else. Therefore I welcome any story ideas or suggestions to either my personal email at markus.noe@live.com or to just simply blog it on the website. Feedback of any kind would be appreciated while I am travelling on this long and winding road to becoming a successful and profitable writer.

Markus Noé

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Arrests Made in RBC Branch Bombing

Cornwall ON - Just five weeks after a brazen firebombing attack on an RBC branch in Ottawa the police have made three arrests.  The accused are Roger Clement, 58, Matthew Morgan-Brown, 32, and Claude Haridge, 50. This trio of anarchists appeared in court Saturday June 19 and face charges in relation to the May 18^th Firebombing.

Clement and Haridge face additional charges in connection to another attack on RBC February 1^st. ATM’s and windows were destroyed during this incident. Haridge was also charged with careless storage and handling of ammunition. During a search of his house the police found hundreds of 7.62-mm rounds in a box with .50 caliber markings.

These arrests come at an opportune time for Canadian officials in charge of the upcoming G8/G20 meetings. This group of anarchists known as FFFC-Ottawa vowed to be in attendance.

The RBC branch has remained closed since the attack took place, and the damage is estimated at $500,000. To read the previous story written about this act of terror and to see the YouTube video click here.

I can be contacted by email at markus.noe@hotmail.com

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Cornwall ON - Today as I prepare to attend my graduation at St. Lawrence College and once again take another step into adulthood, I do so with a heavy heart. Days such as this one act as a reminder of things my beloved younger cousin will never get to experience.

Bradley Richardson or just Brad as he was known to his loved ones, past away last August due to an overdose of hrydomorphone at the age of 21. Now as I get ready to walk the podium and grasp my hard earned certificate in both hands I can’t help but feel frustrated. Because today as I have opportunity to experience this achievement with my parents I know it is just one more thing Brad didn’t get to experience in his short life.

Unfortunately the stigma that comes with a tragedy such as this is that his death was his own fault. The common phrase I heard just days after his passing is, “no one made him take the drug it was his own decision.”  This statement is 100 percent true but it doesn’t explain how he was able to so easily obtain this lethal drug. And as I see our government handing out millions upon millions of dollars to the RCMP in a feeble attempt to stop the smuggling of cigarettes, I become enraged. Simply because our biggest issue right now in this community is not the sale of cheaper cigarettes that save its addicted consumers hundreds of dollars a month. Cornwall’s biggest problem is the hundreds if not thousands of its citizens that are addicted to some form of prescription drug.

As I get older and my idealism begins to fade I begin to understand simple truths. Such as the government of Canada rather find a way to recover their lost revenue in cigarette taxes than to help clean up this city. Another sad truth is that the youth of today have an easier time getting their hand on drugs such as oxycotin than they do marijuana or alcohol.

Brad made a mistake, this is fact. However in ones adolescence when mistakes come at such a high frequency it shouldn’t cost you your life. This is where Brad was let down by the system and Harper’s laughable tough on crime polices. It’s more like tough on crimes that cost the government money, not the ones that end lives.

When I shake my program coordinators hand this afternoon and then look into the crowd to see my proud parents, Brad will be in my thoughts. Then once again I will be reminded of how my government let him and people just like him down.

I can be contacted at markus.noe@live.com

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Karl Wolf is Back and Ready to Bring the House Down

Cornwall ON - For the second time in under a year Canadian hip hop sensation Karl Wolf will be in town to perform. Wolf has a reputation for making the ladies howl while he performs some of his many hits. He is best known for chart toppers such as “Africa” and Carrera. This performance comes at a pivotal time in Wolf’s career as he just signed a deal that will see him get more exposure in the very lucrative American market.

Also performing alongside Wolf will be another well travelled Canadian artist Peter Jackson. To die hard Canadian hip hop fans Jackson should need no introduction, but if you haven’t heard of this rising star you should watch my favourite video here.

This is not just another show that M-Pyre Entertainment is putting on. They are calling it an “Industry Party” where they bring back popular acts such as Karl Wolf to celebrate their one year anniversary as Cornwall’s 1# entertainment company.

There will also be many other performances throughout the night featuring some local talent such as: Rez Ridaz SMP Tha Nazdaq Magnum 357 TEK, FAMILIUR, J.T. Marquis, and G-Nation.

Who: Karl Wolf & Peter Jackson

When: June 4^th 2010

Where: Rangatangs 1730 Vincent Massey Dr.

Time: 8:00 pm – 2:30 am

Admission: 15$

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RBC Branch Bombed By Activists-Ottawa by Markus Noé

Ottawa ON - At approximately 3:30 am Tuesday morning an indigenous activist group known as (FFFC-Ottawa) made a public announcement. This statement came in the form of a firebomb that destroyed the entrance of a RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) branch office located on the corner of Bank & First in the “Glebe” part of downtown Ottawa.

This Al-Qaeda like attack was brought on because of the FFFC’s disgust with a series of RBC sponsored events. However the main issues plaguing this group of activists are the bank’s contribution to the 2010 Olympics and their continued financial support of the Alberta Tar Sands.

A home made video which can be seen at

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5RiRuo5R38

The issues with the 2010 Olympics in the words of the FFFC are “the Royal Bank of Canada was a major sponsor of the recently concluded 2010 Olympics on stolen indigenous land. This land was never legally ceded to the colonial British Columbia. This hasn’t stopped the government from assuming full ownership of the land for the benefit of its corporate masters and to the detriment to the aboriginal peoples.”

The FFFC issue with the tar sands is how the RBC presents itself has a “green corporation, but on the other hand is also a huge contributor to the tar sand project. These pollution pits are projected to increase to seven times its current size in the coming years according to a stat presented in the video.

Many valid points are brought up in this video which explains the FFFC’s actions. However do these points give the FFFC the right to commit acts of terror? It will be interesting how the Harper government will treat this incident while utilizing their “tough on crime” policies.

This will be especially intriguing during the upcoming G20 summit in Toronto on June 26-27 and the G8 summit near Huntsville, Ont., June 25-26 which the FFFC have already stated they will be attending both.

What is your opinion on this attack on the RBC?

I can be contacted by email at markus.noe@live.com

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Squatters Rights: Local Poverty Activist Takes to the Streets for the Cause by Markus Noé

Cornwall ON – Warning! From May 17^th to May 22^nd Cornwall will have Reggie Walker roaming its back alleys, parks, and garbage dumpsters. Actually there is nothing to fear, Reggie Walker is in fact City Councilor candidate Gary Samler.  Samler will be living as if he were homeless for 120 hours next week to raise poverty awareness throughout the community.

In a brief statement that Samler prepared he explains why at 54 he will be putting himself through such a grueling experience, “This is not just some publicity stunt for me, but as I see it, it will be an exciting and educational challenge for me to face in my life.”  Samler continues to explain himself when he said, “I decided to give 120 hours of my life to better understand their situation and the issues they may face everyday. By deepening my understanding of their issues, as a local poverty activist I can better do my part to help the most vulnerable and needy of our citizens.”

While living on the streets of this fine town, Samler states that he will not be seeking any outside assistance throughout his adventure. However he will accept donations to survive.

At the end of his journey he hopes to share his experience with the media, healthcare providers and policy makers.

So its up to you Cornwall, would you like to put us to work and see some frontline journalism? If the public wants the CFN can track down Gary Samler A.K.A Reggie Walker and have daily reports to see how he’s doing? Throughout the five days that Samler is homeless he will not only be battling the climate and searching for food, but he will be living without his diabetes medication. Samler is holding nothing back and will be sacrificing all the comforts of his normal day to day life to shed a little light on a topic that rarely gets discussed.

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Health Care Reform is coming…. to the U.S.A

Cornwall ON – President Barack Obama has been plagued for over a year now by critic’s stating he has not done anything while in office. Today he was cured of this stigma by drastically improving health care in the United States of America.

For decades, millions of Americans have been living without adequate health care, which became an international topic a few years ago with Michael Moore’s award winning documentary“Sicko”.

“We are not a nation that does what’s easy … we are a nation that faces its challenges and faces its responsibilities,” said Barack Obama while being applauded during his opening statements. Throughout the next decade the government will be spending $938 billion dollars to guarantee that the 32 million people who currently have no coverage will be taken care of.

Not only will this bill reduce the U.S national dept by one trillion dollars, it also bans insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing health problems.

Today’s bill will be entirely in effect by 2014, with some of these provisions in effect this year.

One provision that will be in affect by the end of 2010 is that insurance companies will no longer be able to drop customers just because they get sick. Also, young adults will be able to stay on their parent’s health plan until the age of 26.

Obama’s yearlong fight to reform the health care system seemed to be over in January when a republican was voted in to replace the late Ted Kennedy, a long time supporter of health care reform. The President has made health care his main issue since taking office. If he would have been unable to pass this legislation it would have greatly weakened his government.

This war for health care reform will undoubtedly continue for the next few months and maybe years, for the meantime Obama and his democrats have won this battle. During his closing statements Obama said, “I am signing this bill of reform for my mother who battled with insurance companies till the end while fighting cancer.” For now, Obama has protected his people from going through what his mother had to.

markus.noe@live.com

What do you think?  Feel free to post your comments below.

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Industrialization Taken its Toll: Sandstorms in China

Throughout the past 20 years China has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Chinese leaders have taken full advantage of being a communist country.

Not having to abide by the same work and environmental standards as the western world has been a big advantage. The horrible work conditions and low wages for the Chinese have been well documented over the years. However the environmental impact that China has had on itself has been marginally overshadowed.

Today as reports of hazardous sandstorms in Beijing begin to surface, it is a brief reminder of the cost of China’s rapid progress. 18 percent of the country is desert, 78 percent of that is natural while the other 22 percent is man made.

The environmental issues facing China today is a combination of various factors. The main culprits of this disaster have been the farmers and herders. The Shepherd’s have allowed their sheep to overgraze and chew the grass right down to its roots. The farmers have exploited the already fragile land and have been over-pumping the rivers that border the desert.

This has resulted in 400,000 square kilometers of cropland to be turned into desert. To put this number into perspective this is approximately half the size of all the farmland in Canada. This has increased the effects of the “dustbowl” which has caused major health concerns.

The sandstorms are not only creating a whirlwind of sand but pollution as well. It is well known that China is one of the biggest if not the biggest emitters of toxic pollutants in the world.

Today as health advisories are being published and thousands of Chinese people are forced to stay home, one can’t help but think they are suffering the consequences of their own bad karma.

markus.noe@live.com

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Council Refuses to Ignore Bridge Issue

Cornwall ON – Cornwall and area business owners as well as commuters were given a glimmer a hope with the departure of Minister Peter Van Loan as Public Safety Minister. The thought was perhaps the new Minister Vic Toews would be able fast track a resolution for the bridge issue. Unfortunately for Cornwallites Toews has chosen to be just as inactive on this issue as his predecessor. The first evidence of this came last week with Toews refusal to meet with Mayor Bob Kilger.

This has ruffled some feathers on council and during next week’s meeting a curious motion will be brought forth. Councilor Marc MacDonald’s motion which is seconded by Mary Ann Hug if passed would charge the Canada Day Committee $500,000 for the use of Lamoureux Park for this year’s celebration.

When asked why he has put this motion together MacDonald said, “We have been going unnoticed by the federal government long enough. The Chamber of Commerce has said that local businesses are losing thousands of dollars a day. This motion is to keep this issue on the table as well to hopefully recoup some of the money the city has lost.”

MacDonald’s is also seeking a quick resolution to this issue because it has put the construction of the lower level bridge on hold. “This is a 100 million dollar project that will change the face of the community, I keep getting told that the money is the bank but we cannot start construction until this issue is resolved.”

Charging a half a million dollars for the use of Lamoureux Park may be excessive, however Macdonald defends his motion when he said, “It is one thing to complain about this issue and say we are not satisfied with the government’s inaction but it’s not enough. We have to do something a bout it. It is up to the mayor and the rest of council to do something about it. If this motion doesn’t pass than I suggest for someone else on council to come up with something.”

markus.noe@live.com

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