Harley Davidson Motorcycle Washed up in B.C. is Japanese Tsunami Debris

 
An estimated 1.5 million tons of flotsam believed to be headed to Canada

CBC News - Posted: Apr 29, 2012 5:53 PM PT Last Updated: Apr 29, 2012 5:50 PM PT

A beachcomber on British Columbia's Haida Gwaii islands has discovered what may be the first piece of debris from the Japanese tsunami to arrive in Canada.

Peter Mark was riding his ATV, exploring an isolated beach on Graham Island on April 18, when he made a spectacular find.

"You just never know what you're going to stumble upon when you go for a drive, and lo and behold you just come across something that's out of this world," he said.

Mark found a large white cube, like the back part of a moving truck, just below the high tide mark.

"The door was ripped off it and I could see a motorcycle tire sticking out," he said. "So I went closer and looked inside and saw a Harley-Davidson motorcycle."

The bike was rusty, particularly on the wheels and handlebars, but the logo on the fuel tank was unmistakable.

"First I thought, this has got to be the craziest thing anyone has ever found," he said.

"Then I looked a little closer and the license had Japanese writing on it. The wall of the trailer had Japanese print on the tags. And the first thing that popped into my head was this is likely from the Tsunami in Japan."

The motorcycle's licence plate shows it was registered in Miyagi Prefecture, and writing on the container matches photos of a commonly used Japanese moving van.

Mark also found a few golf clubs, tools and camping equipment in the container.

"It defies all logic," he said. "I cannot for the life of me figure out how that stuff stayed in there. The motorcycle was not strapped down. Everything was just laying loose on the bottom of the floor."

'Quite an eerie feeling'

Miyagi Prefecture was the worst hit part of Japan, with more than 11,000 people dead and missing. Video taken at the time of the tsunami shows numerous white trucks, similar to the cube that washed up on Haida Gwaii, getting washed away.

The Kuroshio ocean current runs in an almost direct path from Japan's east coast over to North America, passing right by the islands of Haida Gwaii.

Mark said seeing someone's possessions wash up on a beach 5,000 kilometres away was incredibly sobering.

"I gotta say, the first thing that popped into my mind when I was looking at the scene [was] I really wonder what happened to this person. I really hope this person is OK," he said. "It's quite a shock to actually see it and to actually walk into it … [It's] quite an eerie feeling, knowing what happened to Japan and to those people. It kind of hits home quite a bit."

The beach where the motorcycle washed up is remote — getting there requires an off-road vehicle and crossing several rivers — which is partly why Mark left everything where he found it.

"I think the most important thing is that people treat the things they find with respect," he said. "These are parts of people's lives. Some people lost everything in the disaster, and I think people have to keep that in mind when they make a find like this."

The Japanese consulate in Vancouver has the licence plate number and is trying to determine who owned the items — and whether that person is still alive.

"In many cases, I believe the original owners will welcome reuniting with their lost objects," said Hideki Ito, Japan's consul general in Vancouver.

Ito expects discoveries of personal items in the debris will be extremely rare, as most larger items will sink.

More than 1.5 million tonnes of tsunami debris is drifting across the Pacific Ocean toward Canada's West Coast, but until now only bottles, buoys and other small items have washed ashore.

Source (via www.autoblog.com);
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ccc_1335772866

Scion announces September 2010 arrival in Canada

(TORONTO) – Announced at a luncheon in St. Catharine’s today, SCION the automotive brand that maximizes personal expression will bust the performance and style conventions when it arrives at 45 SCION Dealers in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in September, 2010.

At a Toyota dealer meeting in 2008, it was announced that SCION would be coming to Canada. Dealers were very excited about the possibility of adding SCION to their showrooms. All the while, Canadian enthusiasts were able to get a taste of the new brand with interactive concept vehicle displays and give-aways at auto shows in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

“This is a great time to launch SCION in Canada,” said Larry Hutchinson, Director of SCION in Canada. “As the auto industry emerges from recession, one of the largest and youngest demographics will be entering the marketplace. Young buyers will be looking to the ever-growing small car market. They are not only looking for a safe, high-quality and fuel efficient vehicle, it is important to them that the vehicle reflects their personality and lifestyle, and the stylish and trendy SCION brand will be there to fulfill that need.”

Built upon a “store within a store” format the initial 45 dealers for Canada include 18 in Montreal, 20 in Toronto and 7 in Vancouver. These dealers were chosen for both their location and the ability to address and anticipate the needs of the growing youth market. Dealer locations are centred in and around urban areas with above average youth populations.

Each dealer is already redefining their style to prepare for SCION entering their showrooms.

“The next generation of young car buyers is carving its own unique social and cultural experiences, and SCION dealers will be part of their lifestyle,” Hutchinson continued. “We are very excited to announce the 45 SCION dealers for Canada are already preparing for an edgy new car lineup and a whole new demographic of drivers.”

SCION will come to Canada with three vehicles:
The SCION tC compact sport coupe combines style and fun topped with a remarkable panorama moon roof;
The SCION xD blends personality in a subcompact five-door hatchback;
The SCION xB compact five-door hatchback delivers astounding spaciousness wrapped in a cubic cladding that’s game for urban adventure.

SCION is not only fuel efficient and stylish, it is all about personalization. Upgrades and accessories can be added to any SCION, from unique wheels, to shift knobs and sport pedals to satellite radio systems and a broad selection of TRD (Toyota Racing Development) performance enhancements. Every SCION’s safety system currently includes front dual-stage airbags, front seat mounted side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, three-point lap and shoulder belts for all occupants.

There will be more to see and hear from SCION throughout 2010, including the introduction of the lineup throughout the 2010 auto show season and sneak peek events that target the youth demographic and trend-setters. To keep on top of what is to come on SCION, Canadians can visit www.scionnation.ca.

SCION DEALER LIST – October 29, 2009
Montreal
Houle Toyota
Chambly Toyota
Chomedey Toyota
Spinelli Point Claire Toyota
Brossard Toyota
Duval Toyota
Gabriel Toyota
Chateauguay Toyota
Toyota Montreal Nord
Chasse ToyotaSte-Therese Toyota
Toyota Candiac
Vimont Toyota
Toyota St-Leonard
Longueuil Toyota
Repentigny Toyota
Toyota President
Woodland Toyota

Toronto
Wietzes Toyota
Oakville Toyota
Don Valley North Toyota
Attrell Toyota
Scarborough Toyota
Mississauga Toyota
Markville Toyota
Northwest Toyota
Aurora Toyota
Whitby Toyota
Burlington Toyota
Yorkdale Toyota
Milton Toyota
Woodbine Toyota
Maple Toyota
Meadowvale Toyota
Brimell Toyota
Woodbridge Toyota
Toyota on Front
Erin Park Toyota

Vancouver
OpenRoad Port Moody
Jim Pattison North Shore
Jim Pattison Surrey
Langley Toyota
OpenRoad Richmond
Valley Toyota
Jim Pattison Downtown

Source;
http://www.auto123.com/en/news/car-news/scion-announces-september-2010-arrival-in-canada?artid=112827

Tech News: Petroleum Producers - Friend or Foe?

Here's a interesting read....

You should know where your oil comes from. (USA).

We hear it regularly. "Those #@&% foreigners and their #@&% oil!" But who are these people?

Where do our petro dollars really go?

An accurate up-to-date assessment is only a couple clicks away at the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. The answer may surprise you.

About 1/3 of our crude oil supplies come from domestic sourcing. (This figure could be increased, but there's prudence in maintaining domestic reserves.) Of the remaining 2/3, month after month, year after year, two countries — Canada and Mexico — regularly appear at the top of E.I.A.'s list of crude oil imports. That is, largely for economic, geographical, political and commercial reasons, our two most important crude oil suppliers are also our nearest and friendliest neighbors.

Here are our top ten crude oil suppliers, averaged in terms of thousands of barrels per day, year-to-date, June 29, 2009.

In fact (and in full disclosure), Mexico and Saudi Arabia have been known to swap places in the tally now and then. Mexico's supplies are abundant and nearby, but typically heavy and high in sulfur. Saudi Arabian Light is a world standard of light-density crude.

Also, "Sweet Crude" is more than a recent documentary about the oil-rich Niger Delta. Nigerian Bonny Light is the world standard for low sulfur content, what's known in the trade as "sweetness." In fact, it contains 1/10 the sulfur of Arabian Light. Our own West Texas Intermediate, also known as Texas Sweet Light, is almost as sweet.

Each crude stock has costs and benefits in optimizing refinery operation. Following economic principles of supply and demand — and corporate return on investment — our strategy involving foreign petroleum sourcing appears to be well diversified and not at all irrational.

Some points to consider: About 60 percent of our crude imports, and thus around 40 percent of our total appetite, comes from the Western Hemisphere. The Persian Gulf contributes about 24 percent of the imports, around 16 percent of our total, similar to the Canadian contribution.

How long will this good fortune continue with our neighbors to the north? It is generally estimated that Canada's conventional petroleum reserves have already peaked. But include its tar sands, and Canada's reserves are second in size only to Saudi Arabia's.

And they're a whole lot closer.

Source;
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=36&article_id=8243