Thousands Free Australia Storm

The Toronto Star
May 22, 2009


Home evacuation occurred today in Sydney for thousands of citizens as torrential rains and stormy winds viciously attacked Australia's east coast. This severe weather has pounded the region for the past few days, and has caused great flooding in the area and in turn the closing of hundreds of schools in the area. There have also been reports of one man dead in the Surfers Paradise in Queensland state on Wednesday. A sheet of metal came crashing through his office window, having been torn off a nearby building. The government of New South Wales officially declared this area as a disaster zone, after hundreds of schools were closed today. An evacuation order of 5,000 from the city of Lismore (in northern New South Wales) from the State Emergency Service was issued today, after the city's river threatened to overflow and flood the area. Another evacuation order was issued today in Grafton, a town of 9,000, as officials expect the town to be inundated overnight by an overflowing river. The emergency service in this state said that 15 flood rescues had been conducted. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Nearly 25 centimeters of rain fell over a 39-hour period in the area, reported the Burea of Metorology. Severe weather warnings have been in place for the region, as more rain and high winds are expected later Friday with the storm moving south along the east coast. Farther north, in Queensland, residents of the area were forced to cope with and make an attempt to fix any damages suffered after the intense few days of severe stormy weather. Many communities were flooded because of the storm, and the region was littered with "downed trees and debris".

The effects that a storm such as this has on a community and its surrounding area is truly catastrophic. A spokesman for the Australian State Emergency Service said "There would be thousands of hectares of the coastal plains under water at the moment. We have got seven or eight rivers involved at the moment." (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200905/20090524/article_401913.htm) Over 20,000 Australians had been cut-off from communication and access to Emergency Services, according to many news reports. This incident underscores the fragility of life in the face of natural disaster. It also shows the strength of human character in overcoming these forces. I firmly believe that the work of the Emergency State Service has been exemplary in such tough situations, and has limited the number of lives lost quite significantly. One need only look back at the time of flooding in Louisiana at the time of Hurricane Katrina to learn the lessons needed to survive such a storm. In my view, the Australian Emergency response to this disaster has been much more efficient and timely than the one the world saw in America at the time of Hurricane Katrina.

Tamil Tigers nearly completely encircled

The Toronto Star
May 15, 2009

Sri Lankan forces battled recently in an attempt to take complete control of the country's coastline. Their efforts were an attempt to surround the retreating Tamil Tigers in a final push to destroy the rebel terrorist group and end the country's civil war, the military said. Throughout the war zone, hundreds of desperate refugees fled. Meanwhile, a top UN official set out for the war zone on a mission to safeguard the lives of the tens of thousands of civilians that are still trapped in the middle of the heavy shelling. The government has cornered the rebels and civilians in a four-square-kilometre strip of northeastern Sri Lanka coastline. Government troops have surrounded rebel forces in an attempt to sever the rebels' access to the coastline and surround them on all sides. Over 1,800 civilians have managed to flee the rebel-held territory joining 3,700 others who escaped across a lagoon the previous day. The rebels allegedly fired on the fleeing civilians killing 4 and wounding 14, according to government reports. Approximately 200,000 civilians have escaped the war zone. In an attempt to end the bloodshed, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has dispatched his chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, to Sri Lanka with the aim of bringing the conflict to a peaceful conclusion.

In my opinion, it remains impossible to understand the respective role of the government forces and rebel troops in the dehumanized Sri Lankan war zone. The government's expulsion of unbiased observers and journalists from the country has made it difficult for the world to trust their motives and desire to prevent further humanitarian loss of life. According to reports in the international newspaper The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/25/sri-lanka-tamil-tigers-rebels-children), a UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said that the humanitarian situation "continues to be critical, civilian casualties have been tragically high and their suffering horrendous". Okabe and other UN officials have demanded that observers and humanitarian aid groups be allowed to reenter the war zone in order to prevent further unnecessary bloodshed. The Guardian also claimed that the pro-Tamil group War Without Witness reported more than 26,184 Tamils unaccounted for. This is truly a staggering figure and one that is sure to increase unless observers and UN officials are allowed to implement humanitarian aid in the poorly serviced warzone. This tragic story underscores what many pointed out about the humanitarian crisis on the Gaza Strip. The world truly pays attention when oil and money concerns that affect the west are at stake. In Darfur, Congo, and Sri Lanka, we as a Western Society seem more disengaged, simply because these actions do not affect us directly, either in terms of resources or from a financial perspective. Although this may seem like a cynical viewpoint, it is certainly one held by many prominent humanitarian leaders including the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.

Doctors flee hospital as shelling continues in Sri Lanka

The Toronto Star
May 14, 2009

The only hospital in Sri Lanka's war zone was abandoned by doctors and aides amid unrelenting shell attacks, reported a health official today. Thousands of civilians braved rebel gunfire and fled across the front lines, according to military officials. Medical staff of the hospital huddled by a nearby bunker because of the non-stop shelling. In the midst of this, cries could be heard from the hundreds of patients unable to leave the hospital, begging for food and water. The Red Cross reported that the tiny strip of coastal land controlled by the rebels was "wracked" by violence, even though international appeals for the two sides to end the war were made. The aim was to allow the estimated 50,000 civilians that were trapped in the area to escape. Even though the number of wounded was rapidly increasing, the medical staff fled the hospital in the region, after multiple shellings this week in attacks that killed close to 100 people, a health official said. Approximately 1,000 people were killed during other attacks last weekend in the conflict zone. Nearly 400 badly wounded patients needing treatment stayed in the facility today, along with 100 other dead bodies. Wounded civilians fled after the second shell attack hit the hospital Wednesday. As the military pressed ahead with the offensive, 2,400 civilians waded across the lagoon barrier between government and rebel forces, under rebel gunfire, trying to escape the area. The majority of the civilians did escape the area, although 4 were killed and 14 others wounded. Still, 2,000 civilians were on the far shore, waiting to cross the lagoon. The Sri Lankan governement has cornerned the Tamil Tigers, vowing to end the 25-year-old conflict. US President Barack Obama has made a statement about the situation, demanding the rebels lay down thier arms and release those trapped by the stand off. He also urged the government to stop firing artillery into the war zone. The United Nations Security Council issued similar demands to both sides and expressed grave concern at the worsening humanitarian crisis.Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona said the government was "extremely reassured" by Obama's call for the rebels to lay down their weapons and release the civilians, and he denied the government was firing artillery into the densely packed war zone.The rebels' political chief, Balasingham Nadesan, praised Obama in a statement emailed to The Associated Press "for passionately talking about the plight of Tamil civilians and calling for urgent actions to alleviate the mounting humanitarian crisis." The rebels did not address his call for their surrender.

This situation in Sri Lanka is yet another example of the sad and desparate plight of civilians who are caught between the cause of a rebel group and government forces. This is sadly a drama that has played out repeatedly around the world. This 25-year-old conflict in Sri Lanka is fed by ex-patriot Sri Lankans who continue to support the Tamil Tigers who have been identified internationally as a terrorist organization. On the other hand, many see them as "freedom fighters" fighting for a heroic cause: their own homeland. In my opinion, both the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government are to blame for this great humanitarian crisis. It is the civilians who are ultimately suffering including the hospital patients caught in the attacks. According to US State Department Spokesperson Ian Kelly (http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/17483), we must "try and press the Government of Sri Lanka to adhere to international standards for the operations of camps, to press them to stop the use of heavy weapons, to allow civilians to leave the conflict zone". In my opinion, we will, as an international community, need to intervene here through sanctions and if necessary the use of peacekeeping forces if further loss of civilian life is to be prevented. If we look historically at this conflict, we can see that the British colonization of the island of Sri Lanka set up the socio-political situation that has led to this tragedy. The divide and conquer rhetoric of the British "raj" is what many political scientists feel has led to the conflict we see in Sri Lanka between the Hindu Tamils and the Buddhist Sinhilese. One wonders how many generations it will take before we are able to escape the tragic actions of the past century and free ourselves as a world community from the partisan concerns about religion, race, and language.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Pakistan

The Toronto Star
May 12, 2009

Pakistan's worsening humanitarian crisis has drawn comparisons to the tragic states of Darfur and Congo. The country's military offensive asgainst the Taliban continued today, as Pakistani troops landed at a Taliban mountain stronghold, while others captured four suicide bombers today who were allegedly planning an attack on Islamabad. A member of the Taliban said that the military did not tell the truth yesterday when it claimed that 700 militants had been killed over the past two weeks. Muslim Khan, a Pakistani Taliban spokesman, said that the Pakistani military "simply want to impress the Obama administration, because that's where they get their money from". The Pakistan military told reporters today that security forces have landed troops at the Talbian stronghold in Peochar, a 'purported' base of operations for the main Taliban leader in Pakistan, Moulvi Fazlullah. During a search operation today, four suicide bombers were arrested with suicide jackets. These men are members of an outlawed outfit. High military officials have confirmed this arrest, telling the media that "they had planned to attack key points of the Islamabad twin cities". For several weeks after the militants took advantage of a peace deal in the northwest region of Swat valley, Pakistan has been at war with the Taliban. This peace deal encompassed the communities close to Islamad, the capital of this nuclear-armed country.

The recent situation in Pakistan has truly become a humanitarian crisis. I agree that this situation does indeed mirror that in Congo and Darfur. In these African states, the world has witnessed genocide and uncontrollable bloodshed as a result of racial and religious conflicts. In the Swat valley, we are witnessing yet another potential battle between religious rebel forces and a government that seeks to align itself with America. A UN official Killian Kleinschmidt also agrees said that the recent situation here in Pakistan is much like that in Darfur and Congo, according to the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan12-2009may12,0,3064262.story). As many as 360,000 people have fled the Swat Valley and areas around the valley during the last four days, in addition to the 500,000 who have been living in camps since last fall. The world must act now through UN peacekeeping forces and the delivery of prompt humanitarian aid to prevent the kind of bloodshed we have seen in Africa. We must learn from the tragedies not only of Congo and Darfur, but the more historic tragedies in Nigeria, Rwanda and the greatest human tragedy of the Holocaust. It is situations like these that underscore the need for us all to embrace multiculturalism and religious diversity.

Sniper Rescues Ship from Pirates

The Toronto Star
May 4, 2009

On Monday morning, pirates pursuing a North Korean freighter were chased away by South Korean helicopter snipers. Meanwhile, a Russian warship freed eight Iranian hostages who have been in captivity for over three months. Both of these rescues came as the frequency of piracy attacks have been seen to grow in the lawless Gulf of Aden, a gulf off the Somalian coast. South Korea's joint chiefs made a statement to the press regarding the situation, saying that a South Korean warship sent a "Lynx" heliocopter in order to assist the North Korean vessel. The warship received a distress call that the North Korean vessel was being chased by a pirate vessel. After snipers aboard the Lynx helicopter prepared to fire warning shots, the pirate ship gave up chasing the North Korean vessel, the South Korean joint chiefs said. The dramatic incident occured 37 kilometers south of the Yemeni port of Aden, a port on the Gulf of Aden, which separates Yemen and Somalia. This incident was said to be a "rare instance of recent cooperation between the two Koreas". Relations between the two nations have deteriorated since the election of a conservative government in Seoul last year. This government has vowed to "get tough" on North Korea over its nuclear program. Pyongyang has responded to the vow by cutting ties and restricting key joint reconciliation projects. The Iranian embassy in Moscow has also reported that a Russian warship freed eight Iranians kept hostage by the suspected pirates last week. The Iranian embassy has stated that the eight hostages were held captive by the cruel pirates for close to three months, and thanked and the Russian navy for their courageous rescue.

In my opinion, these events signal the sad increase in piracy in international waters. These pirates are driven by a sense of economic desperation and seem to function above all laws both those of their own country and those that govern international waters. Their acts have affected nations across the board regardless of political affiliation. According to another source from BBC news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7280042.stm), Robert-Herbert Burns, attacks have increased in international waters by 14% in the last year. Herbert-Burns, who is a maritime security expert at Lloyd's Intelligence Unit, commented that these acts have been "largely due to attacks off the Horn of Africa, specifically in Somali waters or in the territorial waters off Somalia". It is clear to see from this that international cooperation will be vital in overcoming this pressing problem that effects so many nations. Piracy is truly an act of desperation by those individuals that feel they have no means to improve their plight in life. I believe that the rise in piracy recently reflects the dramatic polarization between the wealthy and the poor nations of the world. The developed countries with their money, power, and influence are seen as the oppressors of those nations that belong to what we refer to as the third world economically. Particularly, nations of Africa and Asia find themselves increasingly in need of financial aid and humanitarian support. If we are to survive as a world community, nations of the world must function in a united fashion to improve the plight of those in need. There are organizations which have promoted the incentive of micro-lending, such as KIVA. These organizations encourage members of first-world countries to lend money to entrepreneurs in the third world who can use this money to become self-sufficient and empowered. This money is eventually repaid, and with it comes respect and a life-changing transformation for those in need. It is these types of ventures that we must all embrace as we move forward in the new millenium.

3 cleared of charges in 2005 London bombing

The Toronto Star
April 28, 2009

Three Brits were cleared today of all charges of helping to plot the London suicide bombings in 2005. These '7/7' bombings occurred on July 7, 2005 and killed 52 people. We now see them as the worst peacetime attack in the British capital. These were only the first trial in the bombings, as Mohammed Shakil, Sadeer Saleem and Waheed Ali were accused of "scouting" possible bombing targets in London along with two of the British Muslims who detonated the homemade devices on three underground trains and a bus. Prosecutors accused the men of knowing the bombers from the northern England town, and accused them of plotting the bombing along with the actual bombers. The three men accused here said that they had simply been visiting tourist attractions in the capital, however, and the three men were found innocent by the jury at London's Kingston Crown Court.

In my opinion, the accusation of these three men is a reflection of the world's fear and paranoia about terrorism since the bombings of 9/11 in New York. It is truly a sad reflection of the type of persecution Muslims have faced after the tragic bombings of 2001. I believe that this incident represents the danger of stereotyping any minority. By identifying each of us as representing the racial group to which we belong, we make our society very polarized and promote xenophobia. There are many who have successfully fought against racial profiling regardless of the reasons given to justify this. In a recent paper submitted to George Washington University Law School, Joseph D. Pollack stated, "Racial profiling violates fundamental rights, is ineffective, and is not justified even by the risk of terrorism. Official guidance to federal law enforcement from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) ostensibly bans racial profiling in most circumstances, but still allows counter-terrorism racial profiling. European states have yet to adopt any protections against racial profiling, but the Council of Europe's European Commission on Race and Intolerance (ECRI) issued a policy recommendation to ban racial profiling across the board, including in the context of counter-terrorism". (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1390269) This succinct summary of the current state of racial profiling in America and Europe reminds us how difficult it is as a society to avoid such stereotyping and profiling. The events above, however, reinforce the need for us to maintain equality and unbiased law enforcement by continuing to fight racial profiling. These incidents will surely not stop, but hopefully society as a whole can learn from them and perceive the world with an open mind free of racial prejudice. As the world becomes interconnected and multicultural, as we have studied this year, it is vital that we embrace the cultural religious diversities and customs of our fellow man.

Somali gunmen release 2 aid workers

The Toronto Star
April 22, 2009

Two European aid workers were released by gunmen who held them captive for nearly 10 days in southwestern Somalia. Rab Dhure District Commissioner Sheik Mohamed Kheyr told the press that elders and an extremist Islamic group assisted the release of the Belgian and Dutch "Doctors without Borders" employees. The 49 year-old Dutch aid worker with Doctors Without Borders said that he and his 40-year-old Belgian partner were given food and water by the people after their harsh experience in captivity. The two gunmen had kidnapped the aid workers on April 19 as they travelled through Rab Dhure, in Somalia. District Commissionser Kheyr said that elders and area residents had pressed for their release, protesting that the two aid workers were helping the people of Southwestern Somalia. Sheik Aden Yare, an influential clan leader, was one of the main figures who negotiated with the captors, asking for the release of the aid workers. Keus and Stassijns, the two aid workers, said that they were being transported to another town where they were to board a plane at the time of their captivity, declining to discuss their captivity in detail until they are out of Somalia. There were 25 masked gunmen who took the aid workers hostage during their journey through Somalia. The men were armed and had cloth wrapped around their lower faces. They were said to be vicious and violent with the aid workers. Although the two aid workers were released, sixteen workers still remain in captivity in Somalia, according to the UN. The capture of aid workers has long been a common problem in Somalia, often with demands for ransom.

I believe that this kidnapping is a disappointing reminder of how desperate men can become when fighting for the righteousness of their own religious or political values. In such desperation, men turn to desperate means for survival with no consideration for their fellow man. The two captured Officials of the Belgian chapter of Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins sans frontières, say the group has operated medical aid projects in Somalia since 1991, but has never had problems with its staff's safety. The group "Doctors Without Borders" has a long tradition of selfless humanitarian service around the world, and has even won accolades such as the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1999/press.html) Their most recent work in Somalia comes in the form of tuberculosis and malnutrition aid projects. The Somalian campaign is but one of many humanitarian campaigns on the continent of Africa. I believe that the capture of these aid workers is completely unnecessary and does not truly aid the cause of these rebels. The workers are simply trying to help the people in Somalia, and trying to assist the underprivileged and sick citizens of the country. There is absolutely no reason for the gunmen to kidnap these foreign aid workers, as it simply worsens the plight of the Somalian citizens and turns the world against the rebel's cause. These rebels, however, have lost all self-respect or respect for international law, and will do anything to bring their cause to the attention of the world. This incident, however, in my opinion, will certainly not aid them in their ultimate struggles, but will mark them as petty criminals who choose to victimize the most noble and selfless of organizations - MSF. This situation is one that has been repeated throughout history during times of great political and economic unrest. If we look back on the history of such nations as Nigeria, we see the armed conflict based on race, religion, money and power that divided so many and resulted in untold deaths. It is truly the desperation of the common man that leads him to acts such as hostage taking to inform the world of their desperate situation. This can also relate to the recent conflicts in Sri Lanka, where a terrorist organization, the LTTE, have resorted to desperate measures in order to gain their own state in a country where they feel oppressed and discriminated against. The world seems to repeatedly make this same mistake and one can only hope that the power of nonviolent protest as exemplified by Gandhi's movement in India, prior to independence, can once again rise as an example for us all.

Stephen Hawking Rushed to Hospital

The Toronto Star
April 20, 2009

Mathematician Stephen Hawking was rushed to a hospital today and is seriously ill, reports Cambridge University. Hawking has been fighting a chest infection for many weeks now, and has been treatted by Addenbrooke's Hospital in the university city of Cambridge, England. The university's head of communications, Gregory Hayman, said that Hawking is very ill and has been unwell for a couple of weeks. He is now undergoing tests. At the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a degenerative and incurable disease. He is now 67, and is famed for his work on black holes. Hawking has been paralyzed for many years now, communicating through a voice synthesizer controlled by his fingers. Hawking had canceled an appearance at Arizona State University on April 6 because of his illness. Last year, Hawking announced that he would step down as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the end of the academic year. However, Hawking intended to continue working as Emeritus Lucasian Professor of Mathematics after he stepped down from the above title.

This story reflects the true vulnerability of life, in particular the life of one of the greatest minds of our time, Stephen Hawking. Although Hawking is paralyzed and has motor neuron disease, he is one of the world's greatest minds. His work is unforgettable, and his research has given so much to the scientific world. His major works include theorums regarding singularities in the framework of general relativity , and the theoretical prediction that black holes should emit radiation. His theorems have revolutionized the way scientists approach the theory of relativity and changed the way we view astronomy forever.While his mind is infallable and brilliant, his motor neuron disease has made his body weak and susceptible to repeated chest infections. If Hawking were to die from this illness, it would truly be a devastating loss to the world of science and mathematics. According to CBC news, Prof. Peter Haynes, head of Cambridge University's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, commented on the respect and admiration he and the other faculty have for Hawking and stated, "Professor Hawking is a remarkable colleague. We all hope he will be amongst us again soon". (http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/04/20/hawking-stephen-ill.html) We can only hope that Stephen Hawking recovers from his severe condition, to continue his fine work as a scientist and mathemetician. Stephen Hawking truly represents the dicotomy between mind and body. His physical state is weak and not a true reflection of his intellect. This also relates back to the material we have studied this year, regarding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Disability Rights are rights we all must observe without prejudice. Many around the world assume that if your body is feeble, you have nothing to offer society. However, disability activists have shown us the truth: that physical state is no reflection on what an individual can contribute to society. We must be consciouss of how we prejudge those around us based on appearance and rise above this remembering the example of Stephen Hawking.

Back to School for Children Left Homeless by Earthquake

The Toronto Star
April 16, 2009

Today, some of the youngest victims of Italy's recent earthquake went back to school, in small tent cities, symbolizing a return to normalcy. Schools reopened in Poggio Picenza today, a few kilometers from the hardest-hit city of L'Aquila. Today marks the official restart of school after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed 294 people and destroyed the city on April 6,2009. Many of the children were happy to go back to school as they had missed their peers and teachers. Many had feared for their loved ones' safety. Middle school teacher Liberata Marchi spoke to the media, stressing the need for classes to continue, saying that allowing the children to be together and return to normalcy is vital to their recovery from this ordeal. Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini also spoke to the media, saying that the school opening was a "small but important sign that normalcy was returning" and that it would take the children's mind off of the true horror that the city is experiencing. The mayor of Poggio Picenza, Nicola Menna, is also residing in a tent right now, and reported that two of the village's students were not at the school reopening that day. They were among five Poggio Picenza citizens killed in the troubling quake. Many residents left to stay with family or in hotels on the coast, troubled by the dire situation. Of the 55,000 people displaced by the quake, approximately 33,000 are living in tent cities in and around the 26 towns and village affected by the earthquake. Approximately 22,000 people won't be able to return to their damaged homes because of the severity of the damage. Speaking on RAI state television, Menna said the remainder are believed to be living in tents or hotels because they are afraid of returning home while aftershocks continue, even though their homes are habitable. Italy's interior minister estimated that rebuilding the damaged city will cost at least 12 billion euros (about $16 billion U.S.).

In my opinion, this incident is a tragic reflection on the sad reality of the situation in Poggio Picenza, Italy. I believe that this situation shows us how the earthquake has affected each and every citizen in this small area of Italy and how courageous school administrators and students have risen above the tragedy in returning to school in tent classrooms. The children of the community are going through a very difficult time in that they do not fully understand the situation due to their young age, and should not have to face such hardships and tragedy in their young lives. In my opinion, it is vital for the children to be able to go back to school. This step was imperative for the return to normalcy of this city. In the words of Middle school teacher Liberata Marchi, "Being together, playing with other children, letting them have fun, this is important". (http://www.newstin.com/rel/us/en-010-013147558) It will take many months for the city to truly return to normal, but I believe that this was the first step in recovering from this devastating event. On a greater scale, this story represents the power that play and laughter have in healing one's wounds. Play therapy has been used to treat traumatized children in our society and indeed throughout the world from warzones to hospital cancer wards. It is the power of playfullness and laughter that can truly heal the deepest wounds and bring back the inner child in each of us. There is, in fact, an international organization called Right to Play that provides children around the world, whether it be in warzones or refugee camps, with the equipment and programs to play and be children, regardless of the trauma they are experiencing. We must all recognize this group's efforts and the power that this admirable association has to change childrens' lives.

Madonna to adopt Young Girl

The Toronto Star
March 29, 2009

Today, Madonna confirmed her plans to adopt a young Malawian girl. A spokesperson recently told the press that Madonna is indeed following the regular channels for adoption, rather than using her fame to "jump the line" and receive preferential treatment as many have accused her of doing. For the first time since her 3-year-old adopted son, David, left Malawi in 2006, she took him to visit his biological father. Another of Madonna's spokespeople told the press that she will "..always be committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship with David's Malawian family and roots". Madonna has been in the African nation this past week, touring the country and visiting the day care center supported by her charity, with her adopted son David, 12-year-old daughter Lourdes, and 8-year-old son Rocco. The main aim, however, as reported by the press, is to adopt the 4-year-old Malawian girl named Chifundo "Mercy" James. An adoption application has been said to be under way according to a Malawian welfare official. He referred to the need for relative "anonymity", given the sensitive nature of the case. The young girl's biological mother, who was 18 at the time of the child's birth, was unmarried and died soon after Chifundo was born. Her father has little contact with his daughter, but is said to be alive, nevertheless. Madonna has been critized by many NGO's for her recent adoptions of Malawian children. They have said that adoption should merely be a last resort for children, and that the child should be taken care of by her biological family if at all possible. On the other hand, people have said that this adoption would give immense opportunities to the child, which she would otherwise be unable to have, living in the impoverished nation of Malawi.

In my opinion, this issue is multifaceted and controversial. There are certainly two sides to the argument as to whether Madonna should or should not adopt this child. While it is clearly in the child's best interest to be cared for by her own family in the cultural context that she was born into, one can make the argument that being adopted into a loving and caring family with greater resources cannot truly be wrong. People can argue against the morals and ethics of the situation, but I believe that Madonna should have the right to adopt "Mercy" James if the child's own family cannot care for her appropriately. She is committing an act of kindness and selflessness, changing the young girl's life forever. While people say that she is doing this for her vanity, reputation, and because it is merely a celebrity trend, I believe that this is a cynical view. She is giving the young "Mercy" a home to live in with resources to have a much better lifestyle and quality of life than she would otherwise have, living in the impoverished nation of Malawi. The opportunities for this Malawian girl are now immense. In a statement released to the press, Madonna's lawyer commented on the significance of the Malawian court decision approving this adoption by Madonna when he said,"It is a positive and beautiful judgment that will have an impact on Malawi’s adoption laws." (http://foreverparents.com/2008/05/madonnas-adoption-approved.html) Only time will tell if these intercultural celebrity adoptions will truly result in a healthy and well adjusted child, but from what we have seen so far, these adoptions have been life-altering and beneficial for the adoptee. The celebrity adoption controversy can be compared to the controversy that surrounds charitable and outreach endeavors by the wealthy even in our own community. Many have stated the cynical claim that the well-off in our society seek to assuage their guilt by donating money to the poor as a means of gaining politically correct status. They see that some try to keep up with their neighbours or outdo them by donating more or by sending their children to more outreach opportunities in order to raise their status in society. I believe however that one cannot be so cynical when it comes top acts of selflessness or charity. Regardless of the motive one can argue that in the end the underprivileged do benefit. Also one can argue that on the journey to donating your time or money, many will truly experience the underlying virtue of giving to your fellow man. The journey of self-discovery comes in many forms and we cannot be so self-righteous ourselves that we reject acts of kindness whatever the underlying motivation or form.

War Crimes Charge a Conspiracy, Sudan Says

The Toronto Star
March 5, 2009

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir stated that the decision by an international tribunal to arrest him on war crimes charges is a conspiracy in an attempt to destabalize the country and disrupt the new peace efforts in Darfur. After the warrant was issued, al-Bashir told a Cabinet meeting that the court, the UN, and international organizations operating in Sudan were nothing but "tools of the new colonialism". He said that their goal is to bring Sudan and its resources under their control. Al-Bashir's government retaliated immediately, expelling 10 leading internationl humanitarian organizations from Darfur including Oxfam, CARE, and Save the Children. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called these actions "a serious setback to lifesaving operations in Darfur". The expelled groups protested, saying that they had no connection to the court and without them, 2 million war-weary Suadnese would face a crisis, as many would be living without basic needs. Al-Bashir, however, still believes that the aim of these organizations was to disrupt peace efforts in Darfur. He stated thet everytime the country makes an attempt at a peace deal to end the conflict, it is hit with a new international decision against the deal.

The arrest warrant against Al-Bashir issued by the International Criminal Court is the tribunal's first against any head of state. UN officials said that because he remains president of the country, they will continue to deal with him. Since the war in Darfur began in 2003, 2.7 million have fled their homes and up to 300,000 people have died. This is all due to the rebel ethnic African groups who, complaining of "discrimination and neglect", took up arms against the government in Khartoum, an Arab-dominated city. Al-Bashir says that his government will act quickly against anyone who tries to help the ICC arrest him. He says that they will "act as a responsible government...but we will be responsible and firm with anyone who tries to get at the stability, security in the country or whoever uses their position and presence in Sudan to violate the law, the stability and security".

In my opinion, this argument is fundamentally flawed. If the ICC wishes to arrest al-Bashir, he should concede without argument and plead innocent in a human rights court if he is truly innocent. His views on this matter are truly skewed, as he believes that all are "out to get him" and bring down his government through draconian measures. Expelling the humanitarian organizations from Darfur was a grave error on his part, as it imperils the lives of thousands and destabilizes an already suffering economy. The people of Darfur who have suffered so much already do not deserve a leader who places the value of his own power before the lives of his citizens.

Taliban Bomb Kills Children

The Toronto Star
March 3, 2009

Last week, three Afghan children were killed by a Taliban bomb. Although Canada had originally been implicated in this incident, it was clearly not the fault of Canadian soldiers. After the tragic explosion, forensic scientists analyzed the bomb, and deduced that it was most likely an old munition, possibly left from the Soviet occupation of the country. This relic was likely made into a trap for oncoming soldiers, scientists believe. This great tragedy that occurred last week touched off "a burst" of anti-Canadian sentiments in the small village of Salehan, where young children ages 4, 12 and 13, were killed. From the outset of this bombing, Afghan police blamed the obvious culprit: the Taliban. They theorized that the young children had simply come across a booby trap that may have been meant for Canadian soldiers instead. Military officials are perturbed as to why villagers were so eager to blame Canadians in this troubling matter.

In my opinion, this incident is deeply troubling and a true reflection on the sad reality of the situation in Afghanistan. While Canadians are trying to keep peace and save as many lives as they can, not everyone can be saved. This bombing is a sad reflection on this reality. I believe that the Taliban are truly reckless and mercenary in their placement of "booby traps" and do not care whatsoever about the lives of any innocent civilians or children. This is an awful sentiment to have, considering this war does not concern those innocent people that are caught in the battle. The most disturbing question however is why and how the villagers blamed the Canadians in this matter? Clearly there is a great deal of confusion among the Afghanis about who to trust in this battle that seem to rage forever. The reality is that Canadians are not to blame in this situation, and all the blame must be put upon the Taliban who have taken civilian lives without remorse in the past. By casting blame on Canadian troops, the Taliban militants clearly seek to turn villagers against peacekeeping forces in an attempt to better their own chances at regaining power. The Canadians must keep up their fine work of peacekeeping in the Middle East.

Russian Bomber Intercepted on eve of Obama Visit

The Toronto Star
February 27, 2009

Hours before US President Barack Obama visited Ottawa last week, Canadian fighter jets hastily scrambled to intercept a Russian bomber jet, which was discovered just outside of Canadian airspace. Canadian Defence Minister Peter Mackay believes that it is difficult to determine if Russia was up to no good or whether the incident was pure coincidence. He added that the entire world would have known that Canadian security efforts were completely centred around the nation's capital for the visit of Obama on February 19. This was obvious to everyone. All in all, Mackay believes this is a "strong coincidence" and is holding a news conference this morning, February 27, with the chief of the Canadian defence staff and the commander of Norad. He will be briefing them on the issue at hand, and likely ordering them to tighten up security. The CF-18 Canadian fighter jets took off from Cold Lake, Alta., immediately after Norad detected the Russian bomber coming into Canadian airspace. The Russian bomber abruptly turned back before entering Canada's airspace by fighter jets. These fighter jets used internationally recognized signals, which were understood by the Russians. Mackay further reported that Russian planes have been trespassing on Canadian land more and more frequently in the past several years. However, Mackay also stated that he spoke with authorities in Moscow and told them to give Canada advance warning in future when such "trips" are scheduled. In the past, specifically during the Cold War, Russian aircraft regularly probed North American airspace, and have frequently been escorted back into international airspace by Canadian and American fighters. These flights were suspended for years, mainly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but have recently been resumed by Russia as the country reasserted its claim on the Arctic and boosted its military spending. Overall, this intercepted flight into Canadian airspace was believed to be a coincidence that should only reoccur if notificiation is received from the Russian authorities.

In my opinion, this incident is both unacceptable and a danger sign from a rapidly changing and increasingly militarized Russian state. Russia has certainly had its share of diplomatic incidents in the past year including the military stand-off in Georgia. Russia should certainly have had the foresight not to send such bomber "flights" into Canadian airspace at the same time as President Obama's first official state visit to Canada. Many see the newly elected President as a prime international target and fear assassination attempts. While Canadian security was increased for this event, the Russian bomber jets in Canadian airspace was a blatantly bold and undiplomatic move. While we view this instance as simply a coincidence and something that has happened purely by chance, it must be taken as a warning sign for what may be an increasingly difficult and controversial issue: international claim to the arctic. While we cannot be too territorial or protectionist in this area without international criticism, we must protect our own national security and integrity in the Arctic.

Taliban Stalked at Night

The Toronto Star
February 23, 2009

Two CH-146 Griffon Canadian helicopters took off into the dusk above the Kandahar Airfield one night last week. They made straight for the mountains, chasing a new objective in their pursuit of victory in the Afghan war. This mission of the new "air wing" of the Canadian military is possibly one of the most important duties that it will see, and will save many lives. The running lights on the aircrafts were switched off "once they cleared the wire", allowing the grey and black helicopters to camoflage with the night sky in their bleak surroundings. Their mission here was to stalk the taliban, searching and hunting for them in the night sky. The crew of both helicopters were equiped with night-vision goggles and darkness-piercing sensors, allowing them to survey the ground beneath them. The crew of each aircraft included two gunners, leaning their weapons through the open doorways and searching for any sign of motion in the mountains above Kandahar city. Outside of Kandahar city, the helicopters must pass volcanic peaks, the desert, and many other unique landforms before being enveloped in complete rural darkness. Originally, in December 2008, these helicopters were relegated as escorts for the new CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters. Now, however, they have been given a more dangerous and stealthy role - to hunt terrorists who deploy homemade bombs on the streets outside Kandahar. These roadside bombs have caused a deadly toll on Canadian soldiers, and have caused half of the 108 Canadian deaths on Afghan soil to date. It has long been recognized that the Griffon could be useful in reducing these casualties, but only recently has the air force taken action. The Griffons continually look for the road, which is two kilometers below them. They are on the lookout for bombers who are digging into the road or tunneling under highways, and hope to catch them in the act of planting these bombs. The electronics within the Griffon helicopters are very powerful, and greatly assist their search for the bombs. These Griffons were, in fact, made for the purpose of surveillance and combat and are therefore extremely useful to missions of this nature. There was a great debate as to whether they should be deployed, but were finally sent on this mission as there were not enough of the older model helicopters to go around. In this particular mission, the Griffons proved to be very helpful indeed, as they discovered two roadside bombs and defused them before any harm could be done. "If every time we go out, we can catch a few of those ahead of time, it makes you feel good," said Ben Massicotte, commander of the second Griffon. "Definitely."

In my opinion, the new CH-146 Griffon Canadian helicopters are extremely helpful and vital to the success of the Canadian mission. I believe that these technoilogically advanced machines have only begun their work with the Canadian military forces, and will continue to aid our country's military efforts in future years. They will continue to help us not only in battle, but also on stealth missions such as these to increase the safety of our peace keeping forces. While the fixed gun emplacements and open windows fit for gunners suit its use in battle, its camouflage colour, low noise, and high-tech electronic equipment is particularly useful in stealth missions. This electronic equipment is particularly helpful in situations where the military is required to defuse bombs since the helicopter's high-tech, new equipment can easily detect hidden bombs for the army's bomb-technicians to defuse. There was originally a debate as to whether these CH-146 Griffon helicopters would be deployed, as National Defence were strongly against deploying these modified utility helicopters that had not been proven in the field. However, when NATO allies reported that there were not enough AH-64 Apache helicopters in Kandahar to be distributed, the combat and surveillance helicopters were deployed to the Canadian forces without further question. Overall, I believe that these CH-146 helicopters are a vital addition to this and many future missions in increasing the safety of our Canadian troops and the peace effort as a whole.

Fetal Stem Cell Injections cause Tumours in Ill boy

The Toronto Star
February 19, 2009

A family desperate to save their child from an incurable brain disease sought help. They decided to use highly "experimental injections of fetal stem cells" to try and cure their sick child. These injections have reportedly caused tumors in the boy's brain and spinal chord, according to the top Israeli scientists. Stem cells are the building blocks for the other cells in the body, and can be used to regrow damaged tissues and treat otherwise incurable diseases. Scientists are furiously attempting to harness these cells and use them for good. However, for all of this promise, scientists have warned that they first must learn how to control these stem cells, in order to use them properly. This 13-year-old boy is now suffering because of the unknown problems associated with stem cell therapy. These stem cells were used without enough knowledge for the purpose of curing his brain disease.Tuesday's report of this fatal case emphasizes the need for further research into the world of stem cell therapy.

This young boy's case is truly sad. Because of his search for treatment, he is now faced with brain and spinal tumors that will plague him until the day that he dies. There are two main issues with respect to stem cell research and treatment. The first of these is that no medical therapy such as this can safely be used until extensive research has been undertaken to prove their safety in humans. Most medical therapies go through phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3 testing prior to being used on the general population. The trouble with stem cell research is that there are not enough centres conducting it, and being a new technology, it is very costly and time consuming to perform research in this field. This leads us to the second point. There is great controversy regarding the use of stem cells in medical therapy in general. This is thought to be the reason why inadequate stem cell research centers exist today. The controversy lies in the fear that stem cells will be used improperly to create genetic cloning of humans towards the aim of creating, for example, a higher and more supreme race. I feel that this danger may be a real one, but that we should not limit the development of stem cell technologies in medical research for the good of human kind. We can be vigilant and at the same time develop this technology for the greater good. The case of the young boy that we have just read about emphasizes this debate, but also the need for further research into the world of stem cells, until which time these stem cells should not be used.

Nuclear Sub Collision

The Toronto Star
February 17, 2009

Two Nuclear submarines collided earlier this month deep in the Atlantic Ocean. These submarines were from Britain and France, respectively. Yesterday, authorities reported that one expert called this unusual accident the gravest in nearly a decade. Officials said, however, that this crash was not as dangerous as it appeared to be as it was very low-speed. The nuclear vessels' reactors and missiles were not damaged in any way, and no radiation was leaked. Despite this, anti-nuclear groups believe that this incident is a frightening reminder of the obvious risks of submarines powered by radioactive material and "bristling with nuclear weapons" roaming the oceans freely. This incident was first reported by France on February 6, but was reportedly said to have simply been a collision between a French vessel and a shipping container. Confirmation that this was in fact a collision between two nuclear vessels was delivered later by the British media. This collision was said to have occured as the two subs, Le Triomphant (the French vessel) and the HMS Vanguard (Britain's oldest nuclear vessel), were on routine patrol. The French media disclosed little else about the incident, not mentioning when, where, or how the accident occured. France said that the Triomphant suffered damage to its navigation and detection equipment in the sonar dome, before travelling back to its base, damaged. Britain said that the HMS Vanguard moved back to its Submarine base in Scotland with small dents and scrapes. It was said that it was "an absolute one in a million chance" that the two submarines collided, and that it was truly a freak accident.

I believe that this incident is truly what it was reported to be - a freak accident. The odds of the two submarines being in the same place at the same time are very slim. There is truly no way to predict the collision of the two submarines, and there was nothing that the two countries could have done to prevent it. In future, however, the world's countries must be more aware of the chances of submarine accidents in the depths of the oceans. Greater must be given to those ocean-going vessels carrying such high-risk nuclear material. Countries must develop more accurate technologies and give their best efforts in detecting oncoming submarines and objects, in order to create more success in under-water safety, particularly where nuclear material is concerned.

Tsvangirai Sworn in as Coalition PM

CBC News
February 11, 2009

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the official opposition party in Zimbabwe, was sworn in Wednesday as the country's new prime minister. This comes after months of confusion over a coalition government with Mugabe. Mugabe, who Tsvangirai has accused of committing many political crimes, attended the ceremony in the presidential palace in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital. All of the regional leaders along with the rest of the country watched as the 56-year-old Tsvangirai swore to "well and truly serve Zimbabwe in the office of prime minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe". Those remaining cabinet members will be sworn in on Thursday. The security portfolios will still be controlled by Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, while the Movement for Democratic Change party under Tsvangirai will take control of two very important portfolios: health and finance. These portfolios are so important in this time as there has been a countrywide cholera breakout that has killed thousands and water and sanitation infrastructures are breaking down. Zimbabwe is in a very harsh and poor economic time, with a booming unemployment rate and a near worthless Zimbabwean dollar. Countries nearby have been pressuring the two parties to come together and work to form a power-sharing government that will greatly benefit the country as well as the region as a whole. This new unity government is expected to hold new elections in the upcoming two years. Tsvangirai has a truly difficult task ahead of him. Many of his allies have commented that he should never have agreed to serve as prime minister with Mugabe continuing as president of the country.

I believe that Tsvangirai is faced with a truly difficult task. He is faced with a country that is impoverished and in dire economic straits. He has been forced to form a partnership with a truly dishonest leader, Mugabe, whose powerful supporters threaten Tsvangirai's personal safety . Tsvangirai must step up to the plate and lead the nation in the best way he can without ruffling too many feathers of the Mugabe regime. This will be a difficult task indeed given Mugabe's track record of deceit and deception. Many worry for his personal safety and for the safety of his supporters. Tsvangirai's resolve and political integrity will be crucial in bringing Zimbabwe through this era of uncertainty. If he can do this, I believe that he can truly bring this country out of its economic and political crisis.

Israeli Election Crisis

Candidate Tzipi Livni

The Toronto Star
February 9, 2009

The election in Israel is too close to call at this point. It will be very interesting to see who will come out on top after Tuesday's national election. The eventual winner of the election will have little to celebrate over, however, as there will be a coalition government and "a period of political paralysis". International efforts to create a Palestinian state have complicated this further. The Israeli political race is between two popular candidates. First, the former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is strictly opposed to giving away land and creating a Palestinian state. The second candidate is the current Foreign minister Tzipi Livni, who would be the first female leader in nearly 40 years. For months now, opinion polls have predicted a crushing victory by Netanyahu's Likud party. However, new polls show that the gap is being closed by Livni's Kadima party. Either way, the winner would have to form a coalition government with smaller parties because of the split in popular vote. Netanyahu does, however, seem to be in a better position to lead the country because of his prior political experience, right wing stand and new popular platforms. One of his newest platforms, influenced by a former protege, Avidgor Lieberman, calls for all Israeli Arabs to swear loyalty to the state or lose citizenship. Although Livni may still win this election, she would have to form a coalition with a smaller party, meaning that she could no long pursue her promised peace agreement with the Palestinians. This strength of the Israeli political right truly reflects the turmoil within the country. Recently, Israel has completed a three-week offensive against the Hamas in Gaza, and two years ago, they fought against the Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon. These conflicts have led to a sense that the Jewish state is surrounded by enemies and have left the world community skeptical about whether peace will ever be achieved in the Middle East.

In my opinion, I believe that the right choice of voters in Israel is Tzipi Livni. She is far more left wing than Netanyahu, but I believe that she would do the best job in creating peace in the country by acting in a conciliatory way with respect to the Palestinians. She truly is the better candidate in this situation. While Netanyahu does not believe in withdrawing the Israeli settlements in Gaza and the Left Bank, Livni proposes a more peaceful solution. She intends to create an agreement with the Palestinians regarding land divisions, under peaceful terms. While this agreement may not be created due to the coalition government likely to be formed, I believe that she could evoke the greatest change in the middle east and bring about true peace.

Church Leaders Speak Out Against Mugabe

The Toronto Star
February 5, 2009

Members of the Anglican clergy will be meeting in Egypt this week, and will call on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down from power. Around the world, they expect a "choir of voices" to pressure the discredited leader to step down. At a press conference in Alexandria, Egypt, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said that he, along with the rest of South Africa, appreciated international support greatly, when "number of voices sang with one tune and added pressure to the apartheid regime". Desmond Tutu, a former South African archbishop, was a central figure in the fight to conquer the apartheid in South Africa. Makgoba believes that it was because of international pressure that South Africa's system of racial discrimination was brought to an end in the 1980s, and that this same solution could work in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, Makgoba believes that all who believe in the sanctity of life, and who want human rights to be respected, should join the fight for equality. In this meeting of the Anglican leaders, there was a motion passed stating that there would be stiffer trade and travel sanctions in Zimbabwe. They determined not to militarily intervene as it would cause the death of many innocent citizens. This statement recognizes that there is a total disregard for the life of civilians in Zimbabwe as demonstrated by Mugabe's regime, and that the Zimbabwean economy has collapsed. Most importantly, it calls upon President Mugabe to step down to respect the 2008 elections. Makgoba called for this quick action, saying that it is their Christian duty to intervene before this situation truly escalades. The Anglican Primates have been "behind closed doors" since Sunday, but the meeting will end today. This statement represents the first time the Anglican Communion leaders have condemned Mugabe as one.

I truly believe that the situation in Zimbabwe is unacceptable and intolerable. I wholeheartedly agree with the actions of the Anglican Leaders who demand thet Mugabe resign as President of Zimbabwe. I also believe that the international community must intervene and do their part in supporting this statement issued by the Anglican church demanding Mugabe's resignation. It is morally the right thing to do. The metaphor of the world "singing out in support" and "joining the international choir of voices" is a moving analogy which each of us must support. Countries around the world must, therefore, listen to the Primate and pressure Mugabe to resign as President of Zimbabwe. We must as a world community, impose trade sanctions aimed at pressuring Mugabe and his government to comply with these demands. Only then can Zimbabwe's economy grow and the quality of life improve for the citizens of Zimbabwe who continue to suffer under the tyranny of the Mugabe regime.

Liberals Accept Budget

The Globe and Mail
January 28, 2009

Michael Ignatieff, the leader of the Liberal party, agreed to pass the Conservative budget with minor conditions on Wednesday. The Tories, led by Stephen Harper, were thankful that the budget was passed although with some reservations. Jack Leyton, the leader of the NDP party, as well as Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe were unhappy to admit that the planned coalition government was officially dead. Although Ignatieff approved the budget, he called it "flawed" and said that it did not present a clear plan to dig the country out of the recession it is currently in. However, he was happy to say that their united opposition managed to extract concessions including spending on things such as social housing, skills training, as well as universities. In his amendment, Ignatieff also insisted that the government provide fiscal reports on the budget measures, maybe even monthly, possibly set confidence votes that could see the Tory government defeated. Ignatieff says that he is essentially "putting the government on probation". Although the last thing he or the country wants at this time is an election, he will bring down the government if he must. By 4 P.M. Wednesday, the government accepted this amendment, relieved that he did not demand any more substantive concessions. Iganatieff's actions, however, caused anger in many other parties and their leaders. The Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe did not support the budget and was disappointed with the Liberals' acceptance of a less than ideal budget . He accused the Liberal party leader of "abandoning Quebec" by supporting the budget. Even the NDP, who had agreed to form a coalition government with the Liberal party, were very disappointed with the Liberals, and believed that they were caving in to the Conservative pressure. Many MPs of the Liberal party also felt that the party was selling out on their oroginal goals by supporting the budget. However, some Liberals argue that they have forced Harper to spend to boost the economy. If he fails in keeping the promises of his budget, they feel that they will be able exert political pressure on the Tories, especially if the recession worsens.

Overall, the reactions to the budget given by Prime Minister Stephen Harper were mixed. While the Liberals reluctantly agreed to the Tory budget, they demanded many different concessions from the government. In this situation, I support the Liberal Party's decision, and I believe that Ignatieff's decision was the right one. If he did not approve the budget, a non-confidence vote would have taken place followed by another election. This country's economy is not in a position to hold another election, especially during this recession. Ignatieff realised this and chose the most logical plan: support the budget, but demand concessions at the same time. Although Ignatieff was criticized for weakness in his actions, I truly support what he has done in this situation. The political parties must all rise to the economic cause at hand. This is no time for partisan politics, but rather a time to unite as a nation towards the common goal of a successful economic future.

Harper's Speech to the Throne

The Globe and Mail
January 27, 2009

The new Parliament was opened on January 27, 2009 after the throne speech was given by the governor General Michael Jean. This throne speech was said to have been brief and gloomy, and will be remembered for its inability to address any of the major issues of the day. One month ago, in December 2008, the Conservative party led by Stephen Harper narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of the Liberal-NDP coalition. Their victory was only guaranteed when Harper asked the Governer-General to prorogue parliament. This new parliament began with yet another promise for "change". Michael Ignatieff, the Liberal party leader, commentede on the great contrast between Monday's 'play it safe' throne speech and the government's financially agressive budget in October 2008. He believes as most liberals do that this government has a split personality, but that the viability of the Conservative budget will be the true test. Traditionally, the Speech from the Throne contains a few specifics but, overall, sets a broad outline for the government's priorities in this parliamentary session. In the Throne Speech of 2007, Harper was specific in his plans and dared the opposing parties to accept it or defeat him. However, in Monday's speech, Harper outlined a promise to cooperate, and was very vague in all of his plans. NDP leader, Jack Layton, said that he has heard the same non-commital phrasing in many past speeches. Ignatieff even commented that "immitation is a sincere form of flattery", dismissing Harper's conciliatory phrasing as mere repetition of previous liberal policy. The NDP and Liberals are still likely to defeat the Conservatives, and vote against the budget as it stands. The Conservatives, on the other hand, truly hope that the budget is conciliatory enough to be approved. It will be presented today, on January 27, 2009.

After reading this article as well as the actual text of the throne speech, I truly believe that this speech was not a thoughtfully written speech given the current predicament of our country's economy. While throne speeches are usually ceremonial rather than filled with hard, factual details, this speech was particularly vague and uninspiring. With this inauspicious beginning to the new parliament, hopes are not high that the Conservatives will be able to forge a successful government. In my opinion, Harper did not specify his plan of economic action adequately, and gave a very ambiguous speech outlining unclear principles. One can only hope that Harper will present a more detailed and confidence inspiring budget when it is presented today in Parliament.

Virginia Tech Decapitation

Google News
January 22, 2009

Early Wednesday morning, a 22-year-old female Chinese graduate student was decapitated by another Virginia Tech student at a Campus Cafe. Yang Xin was murdered at the "Au Bon Pain" cafe on the Blacksburg Virginia tech campus. University Officials report that it was 25-year-old Zhu Huiyang, of Ningbo, China, who killed Xin with a knife. The two were said to have known each other prior to the incident. Mark Owczarski, a Virginia Tech spokesman, confirmed the murder saying that seven witnesses were in the cafe when Xin was attacked, and that there had been no events leading up to the attack. The Virginia Tech university newspaper stated that a 911 emergency call was dialed as soon as the assault occured. It also said that when the police arrived at the scene of the crime, Yang's head had been cut off, and was lying beside a bloody kitchen knife. Apparently, when the officer arrived at the cafe, she found Yang's head in the hands of Zhu. Owczarski went on to describe how horrific and tragic these events were, particularly in view of what happened several years ago with the Virginia Tech massacre. Zhu Huiyang, the murderer of Yang, is currently being held in a county jail, and has been charged with first-degree murder.

Personally, I believe that this event is a sad reflection on the pervasive violence in society. It sadly creates a bad reputation for Virginia Tech as an unsafe university campus. People will now begin to view this place as unsafe and unfit to attend. Not only does it shed a bad light on the university, but it brings back memories of the tragic events that occured in 2007. In April 2007, a 23-year-old South Korean Virginia tech student shot several teachers as well as 32 fellow classmates before committing suicide. These senseless crimes are truly a sad reflection of the lack of safety on university campuses which should be the one place where the brightest in society can seek knowledge without fear.

Israeli Troops Pulled Out of Gaza

CBC
January 21, 2009

Early Wednesday morning, the last Israeli soldier was withdrawn from the Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, an offensive attack was launched and thousands of ground troops entered the Palestinian territory. Israel has disclosed that this offensive was aimed at "halting rocket attacks" from the militant group Hamas, and stopping weapon-smuggling into this territory. Even though the troops have officially been removed from the situation, they will remain amassed on their side of the border, in case there is a renewal of fire. The timing of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza was well timed, and was intended to occur before US President Barack Obama came into power. In their minds, this would defuse any crisis before Obama became President of their great ally, the United States of America. Over the weekend, a ceasefire was declared, but since then there have been reports of weapons being fired. Two Gaza soldiers were killed yesterday along the border. This conflict has resulted in huge casualties, as 1300 Palestinians have died, more than half of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis, four of them soldiers, were killed by stray bullets. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, left the disputed territory on Wednesday after touring Gaza and Southern Israel for several weeks. Ki-Moon called the recent fighting "outrageous", and launched an investigation into the Israeli shelling of the UN Compound.

In my opinion, the conflict between Israel and the Hamas has reached unaccceptable proportions. A dispute over land has grown into a full-scale human tragedy with no regard for civilian casualties. With over 600 civilian deaths, Israel has lost the support and respect of nations around the world. The conditions in refugee camps and lack of timely triage and treatment of the wounded in Gaza is unacceptable from the UN human rights standpoint. The UN compound itself was destroyed in shelling and with it, critical refugee aid supplies and medical supplies were lost. In the face of such human tragedy, most Palestinians and Gazans have responded with anger and disbelief. With this, their support of Hamas has in fact risen. Without significant international intervention and pressure, this conflict will surely result in unacceptable human costs for generations to come.

Obama's Inaugural Address

CNN
January 19, 2009

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009 the inauguration of Barack Obama will take place in Washington, D.C. He will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, and the first African-American President. The inaugural address of Barack Obama has been highly anticipated for many months, and is expected to be one of the greatest inaugural speeches in history. Critics believe that the new president will be studying the great speeches of Abraham Lincoln, Obama's personal idol, and those of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who came into office during the great depression, when writing his own inaugural address. Errol Lewis, a New York Times columnist, believes that he will echo FDR's 1933 inaugural address which stated that "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". These are powerful words in times of economic distress. Lewis expects Obama to speak reassuring and uplifting words, giving Americans hope in this difficult economic time. Another critic, CNN's David Gergen, believes that the expectations for Obama's address are unreasonably high given his great reputation as an orator and intellectual. His performance on the campaign trail will be hard to improve on. Some even expect the upcoming address to rival the great speeches of Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan.

I believe that Barack Obama's inaugural address will be a speech for the ages, and will be remembered for decades to come. It is expected that he will bring a fresh new take on the presidency and motivate a country mired in an economic recession. While expectations are extremely high for Obama to produce an unparalleled inaugural speech, I believe that he will do just that. He is indeed a man of great substance, character and intellect who will, I believe, not disappoint those who have elected him to office. As the first African American President, the eyes of the nation and indeed the world are upon him. As his hero, Abraham Lincoln's speech once was, Obama's inaugural address is sure to be remembered and quoted in years to come.