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jemphatically.bsky.social
JEmphatically
@jemphatically.bsky.social
480 followers 1.6K following 960 posts
Freelance journalist, photographer, environmentalist, introvert. Former oil & gas and government PR, semi-retired, grandma to Finn, and according to research, not cool. She/her. Stop the genocide. https://about.me/jodymacpherson Born: 319 ppm
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jemphatically.bsky.social
The Forever Canadian petition gathered almost a half a million signatures in a time frame that was considered impossible to achieve.

#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #Alberta
October 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
I’m changing my screensaver to this.

#polkadotdress #resist #USpoli

Another video from the same timeframe: www.instagram.com/reel/DQHD1Na...
A dark-haired woman in a polka dot dress and a dark blazer and red “comfortable” shoes and a handbag or purse slug around her shoulder (hair is messy bun) stands in the middle of a New York street, blocking a large armoured vehicle. The grill of the vehicle is so tall that it dwarfs the woman in height as the front of the vehicle juts out menacingly close to her. It is a still shot from a video and although the screen grab is a little difficult to see, she did give the tank driver the middle finger as she yelled at ICE and in later videos, got into a tussle with the agents. Along the top of the screen are the words, “ICE RAIDS IN NYC” with an ice cube and a red siren emoji. This was 1 of 8 posts in a series and had 306 likes at the time of the screen capture (although I’m sure the video has a lot more now)!
October 22, 2025 at 5:51 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
The LiveWire Calgary election results tracker just lost Sharpe somehow.🤨
October 21, 2025 at 3:22 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Here's more about the event:
10:45 am - 12 pm Positioning the North: Building the World's Largest AI Infrastructure with Kyle Reiling, Greenview Industrial Gateway, Kevin O'Leary, O'Leary Ventures and Travis Toews, City of Grande Prairie - Northern Alberta is poised to become a global leader in AI infrastructure through a groundbreaking data centre development - the largest of its kind worldwide. In this session, Kyle Reiling, Executive Director of the Greenview Industrial Gateway, will provide an insider update on this transformational project and the regional collaboration that brought it to life. Following the project update, you’ll hear from renowned investor and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, who will share his perspective on what’s next for AI, business leadership, and the communities bold enough to lead transformation. This session highlights the power of partnership, vision, and bold investment in shaping Alberta’s future.
October 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Drooling dog in front of me at an outdoor concert.

#photography #Dogs #Sundayslobber
A very close photo of a German shepherd with a black snout and black nose in sharp focus, getting right in my face, with a GIANT pink tongue sticking out, teeth visible, wearing a green bandana. Focus is sharp on the nose, but gets fuzzy beyond that. Sir, I'm just trying to listen to this music. Watermarked with JLMacPherson Photography.
October 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
This is happening in #yyc on Sunday, Oct. 5.
#ableg #abpoli #abeducation
Calgary Public Teachers Local 38, Rocky View ATA Local #35 and Calgary Catholic Teachers Local 55 poster: Join us at the World Teachers' Day Rally in Support of Public Education October 5, 2025, 3-4:30 pm at the McDougall Centre, 455 6 St SW in Calgary. Image includes a number of different coloured hands reaching out from a blue circle with white.
October 3, 2025 at 2:34 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
The town hall has now wrapped up. I saw 150+ people in the meeting. Signing off from my live coverage with one last slide from the organizers of the town hall.

All slides I posted to this thread were from the group presentation. Apologies for missing the alt text on some of the slides.
Slide in black with white and yellow text: Drill & Dash $150M in unpaid compensation to landowners $250M+ in unpaid municipal property taxes Offloading wells to insolvent companies
October 3, 2025 at 2:24 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
This is the group's summary of the Mature Asset Strategy.

There's also a new detailed post on the ABLawg blog about this problem:
ablawg.ca/2025/09/30/t...

#ableg #cdnpoli #orphanwells #polluterpays
October 3, 2025 at 1:57 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
The panel is taking questions now.
Slide text reads: Cleanup Costs - You make a mess, you clean it up Here's the hard truth: it's going to cost $40-70 billion dollars to clean up the more than 300,000 unreclaimed oil and gas wells in Alberta, an amount our research shows is 2-3.5 times higher than estimates the regulator has shared publicly.
October 3, 2025 at 1:48 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Susanne Calabrese, a lawyer representing Popowich is now talking about the conflict of interest complaint filed against David Yager.

1700 people have written to the Ethics Commissioner calling for action.

#ableg #cdnpoli #orphanwells #polluterpays

Background: www.theenergymix.com/ethics-compl...
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Talking about the health effects now.

#ableg #cdnpoli #orphanwells #polluterpays
Health impacts of Leaking toxic pollutants Toxins linked to increases in cancers, stroke, heart and lung diseases, birth defects. Environmental hazards: Contributes to climate change and contamination of soil, air, water.
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
The scale of the problem in Alberta.

#ableg #cdnpoli #orphanwells #polluterpays
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Who is the Western Canada Data Centre Alliance? Here's a screen capture from their website, which claims they are about "transparency" and "maximizing benefits to the region." Just not available to share any information from this Alberta roadmap conference with media.
About Us We are an industry alliance for the existing and prospective data centre industry in Western Canada, providing a central forum for dialogue and information exchange, helping to create a cohesive path forward for growth. Providing transparency to the industry and maximizing economic benefit to the region. Western Canada Data Centre Alliance (WCDCA) bridges the gap.
September 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
This one really got me.

#climate #ableg #cdnpoli #DrawtheLine #grandmothers
A protest parade leaving from Calgary Municipal Building visible in the background and a long line of people walking towards Stephen Avenue. At the front is an older person in a hat, sunglasses, wearing a red keffiyeh shawl, and holding a drum. Behind is a an older woman in a white hat with a bright orange-pink blouse and dark patterned pants holding a handmade sign with the words: “BOMBS, DEAD PEOPLE, DEAD PLANET, NO FUTURE 4 GRAND KIDS.” There are others holding signs in the background. Words: 7 Generations (with a rainbow), and WE ARE ALL ON/IN THIS TOGETHER (encircling a drawing of the earth). Photo is watermarked by JMacPherson Photography.
September 21, 2025 at 2:30 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Another photo from the #DrawtheLine protest in Calgary today.

#climate #ElbowsUp #ableg #cdnpoli
A white protest sign with pink letters outlined in black. The words are: “CLIMATE LEADERS DON'T BUILD PIPELINES.” There is a banner with small flags hanging in the background with various other messages, but the one that stands out is yellow with black and pink letters. The words are: “HEALING SOIL FOR ALL.” Photo is watermarked by JMacPherson Photography.
September 21, 2025 at 2:28 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
It was hot today at the #DrawtheLine protest in Calgary - 27 degrees C. A reminder of what our future could be like unless we take climate action.

I know I was melting out there in that heat! 🥵

#climate #ableg #cdnpoli
A person with a black t-shirt and a beige hat holds a large handmade sign stretched between two poles attached to beige fabric. The words are written in black: “2050 is too late, We need action NOW, 2030 targets, CLIMATE CRISIS.” In the background are the reflective windows at Calgary’s Municipal Building with blue sky, a skyscraper and green trees reflected in a distorted view. Photo is watermarked by JMacPherson Photography.
September 20, 2025 at 9:50 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Here's a wispy little flower struggling under the weight of a ladybug.

Photographed at High River, Alberta yesterday.

#photography #Mondaymood #flowers #nature #Alberta #ladybugs #focus
A delicate, orange Columbine-like flower, with four petals flared open, and orange stamen protruding from an inner cup-like petal. A lady bug is perched precariously on one of the petals as the long, gangly stem seems to be bending under its weight. Out of focus are bright red flowers in the foreground and lots of green movement in the background.
September 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Alberta's "nanny state" meddling in people's lives at every turn is going so well...Danielle "Martha" Smith just paused the book ban mid-implementation. Chaos and confusion in the UCP cabinet?

#ableg
Two people in black t-shirts and shorts carry a banner at the Calgary pride parade that has the words "Librarians against censorship" with a rainbow and a book on it, as well as hands giving gestures of love and support. The two people are followed by three others wearing black t-shirts that also have the same words. One is wearing a rainbow skirt and socks, and a child walks with them.
September 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Happy Labour Day.

By Art Young - The Masses ( Vol. 4, No. 10 ), New York: The Masses Publishing Co., 1913-07 Public Domain image.

(details in the alt text)
Political cartoon of the Associated Press poisoning the well of the news with suppressed facts, lies, prejudice, slander, and hatred of labor organization. This political cartoon is in regards to the lack of the news coverage for fourteen months of the Paint Creek Strike of 1912 in which martial law courts were imposed in West Virginia against strikers.
September 1, 2025 at 5:32 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
My absolute favourite photo from the Pride parade in Calgary today.

#calgarypride #yycpride #ableg #cdnpoli #2SLGBTQIA+ #yyc
Photo of a person wearing a red baseball cap backwards, sunglasses, blue shorts and a t-shirt with the words, “Protect Trans Kids” while holding up a sign showing Danielle Smith with a scowling face and the words, “Under HER eye.” Next to them is another person with a bright blue baseball cap, dark sunglasses and holding a banner with the words, “Rocky View ATA Local #35” and a rainbow, with a smile for the camera. Other signs held by many other people in the background have the words, “Blessed be the FRUIT,” “School counsellors protecting kids,” and “OMG! My teacher read me a book about llamas…Why am I not a llama, Learning about LGBTQ is understanding not becoming.” There are many rainbow flags and a trans flag.
August 31, 2025 at 9:34 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Coming September 20 - mass global protest. Organizers saying that this is not a one-time event, but the beginning of a series.

drawtheline.world/canada
Red background with text that says "Sept 20 DRAW THE LINE FOR THE PEOPLE. FOR PEACE. FOR THE PLANET."
August 15, 2025 at 1:18 AM
jemphatically.bsky.social
I've got another story coming out on data centres.

It's about the "power panic." It's never boring covering this beat.

Meanwhile, here's a photo I took in downtown Calgary in late October, 2024.

#AIdatacentres #DataCentres #electricity #energy #grids #photography #streetphotography #architecture
Photo of the side of a building with many, many windows that are segmented into square panes. Above those is a row of small rectangle windows and in-between is a price ticker marquis electronic sign showing the price of Natural Gas $2.31 US $0.05 with an up arrow, Gasoline $201.28 US $1.08 with an up arrow, Crude $70.62 US $1.40 with an up arrow, Metals Copper $435.85 US $-2.60 with a down arrow. A man in a plaid shirt is riding a bike slightly uphill along the sidewalk beside the building with is lined with trees protected from construction with wood boxes (several painted with graffiti) and an e-scooter parked on the sidewalk. Another row of large rectangle windows can be seen on the top floor of the building which looks like it has a concrete or sandstone exterior. The bottom half of the building has a brown, shiny, tiled exterior that may be marble.
August 11, 2025 at 11:55 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Notice anything about this report from Ground News on the coverage of the David Yager conflict of interest story?

No coverage from Postmedia outlets in Alberta. Nothing whatsoever on their news sites about Yager when I search.
/more
ground.news/article/albe...
Screen capture from Ground News: Alberta Landowner Files Conflict- of-Interest Complaint Against Danielle Smith Appointee Coverage Details Total News Sources 27 Leaning Left 12 Center 3 Leaning Right 1 Last Updated - 2 days ago Bias Distribution 75% Left * An Alberta landowner has requested an investigation by the province's ethics commissioner into Premier Danielle Smith's advisor, David Yager, for possible .breaches of conflict-of-interest rules. * David Yager, who has a background in oil and gas, was instrumental in developing Alberta's strategy for cleaning up inactive oil wells. » Critics argue that the developed strategy favors oil companies over the cleanup of nearly 80,000 inactive wells in the province. * The final report of the mature-asset strategy included consultations but has o faced criticism for prioritizing industry interests instead of public good. Ne Insights by Ground AI Does this summary seem wrong?
July 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
One of the more interesting caller IDs I've received!
Screen capture of an incoming call screen on my phone, showing I received a call back from “Jean For Premier” at 3:48 p.m. from Calgary, AB - Number verified. Text added reads: Does Danielle Smith have David Yager on speed dial? With four sole-sourced contracts valued at more than $400K, while also sitting on the AER board of directors, this former Wildrose Party president is under scrutiny...again.
July 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
jemphatically.bsky.social
Reminder.
A protest poster from the G7 Summit protest in Calgary. The image shows two hands holding a handmade poster with a blue and green border and the words written in black (on white background) say "KNOW YOUR ENEMY: BILLIONAIRES & CORPORATIONS"
June 30, 2025 at 7:03 PM