http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/567833
Here it goes:

1. Not reading enough into intelligence that predicted 9/11. (Or is that Clinton's bad?)
2. Reading too much into intelligence that predicted Iraq had 'weapons of mass destruction' and had something to do with 9/11.
3. Reducing Iraq to a burned out shell.
4. Trying to build a stable democracy inside that burned out shell.
5. Not admitting to reading too much into intelligence that predicted Iraq had 'weapons of mass destruction' and continuing to look for those weapons and talk about them until the rest of the world called him on it.
6. Not paying enough attention to Afghanistan.
7. Really pissing off everyone in New Orleans.

Feel free to add to the list ... I know there's more but I don't have enough time to think of it all.

My favourite quote from his press conference today?
I think that would be this one. In reference to the current situation in Iraq:
Pres. George Bush: "Will the democracy survive? ... That's going to be a challenge for future presidents."
Translation: "You're welcome, Obama. Enjoy."]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:48:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/567833 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/564977 Live Chat just before the holidays on Youth Migration, which turned out to provide an interesting portrait of just what youth are facing when they attempt to take advantage of the 'shrinking world' and 'increasing connectivity' we're all meant to be benefiting from as a consequence of globalization. If the sarcasm in that last sentence wasn't obvious then I should explain that what we all understood from the portrait drawn by our speakers of Youth Migration in our day and age was that it is not necessarily made easier by 'globalization' and that it is in fact often a dangerous, disappointing and victimizing experience.

Migration is one of those issues that is especially relevant to youth but for some reason is not readily recognized as a youth issue, or is not often associated with youth when it is discussed at higher levels. Migration is a youth issue because youth are the largest group affected by, participating in and victimized by migration. It is similar in this way to an issue like HIV/AIDS, which is affecting youth more than anyone else, and yet youth are so often left out of the processes and policies addressing it.

Youth decide to migrate to another country for countless reasons - education, work, living conditions, etc - and you might think that now it must be easier than ever for this to happen. Thanks to new communication technology youth are more aware than any other generation of what is going on in the world around them, the internet lets us learn about opportunities in distant places and increasing international travel makes it more likely that we can get to those opportunities. I think most of us will have heard at one time or another how globalization and communication technology are bringing us all closer together and breaking down the geographical, political and technological barriers that used to separate us - right?

The opposite is happening for the majority of youth migrants. What we learned during the Live Chat is that globalization has created new barriers to keep people out, rather than breaking down the old ones. It seems that the greater connectivity globalization has created amongst economies and industries has increased the dangers of migration, because it has narrowed the channels for legal migration, therefore forcing more and more youth to attempt illegal migration. The global free market economy, Naomi Onaga (Director of Migrants Rights International) explained, makes keeping certain people in their countries working for low wages attractive and therefore channels for legal migration narrow except in the case of temporary labourers. Temporary labourers are denied citizenship, job freedom, and residency. They become vulnerable to abuse by employers because of this. The type of low-wage labour they are allowed to participate in means that they will bring little skill or knowledge back to their native communities.

It all makes for a pretty bleak picture, made worse by the dangerous journeys ahead of those who attempt to illegally migrate. Migrants - most often youth - are drowning while attempting to cross from North Africa to Spain or Italy, dying in the desert attempting to enter the USA, or are becoming victims of forced migration. If they make it to their destinations they will likely be greeted by a population that is mostly hostile to them, and sees them as dangerous.

The whole discussion had a special relevancy for me, because I will soon be a migrant myself. Leaving Canada for an overseas opportunity, but I'm lucky, because I will be migrating legally, will enjoy all of my rights and be relatively safe while doing it - or as safe as anyone can expect to be on an international flight these days. The Live Chat really sharpened those inequalities that mean that I will be able to take advantage of an opportunity in a different country, and others will face nothing but misery for trying to do the same.

To try and not end on a bad note, there are those working towards international recognition of migrants, more opportunities for legal, safe migration and, maybe most importantly, opportunities for work, education and a better life for youth in their home countries and communities. These people include the speakers who took time out of their busy schedules on December 18 - International Migrants Day - to join our Live Chat.

The biggest hurdle of all might be to change people's perception of migration and migrants themselves. I thought the image above was a great way to think about that issue. Of course, technically refugees and migrants are considered to be in different categories, but I think it speaks to the same fear of foreigners, immigrants, migrants or refugees being 'dangerous' or 'bad'. In fact, communities that welcome these people and make the best use of their skills benefit from them. Einstein is a pretty good example.

These are the organizations that supported our Live Chat on Youth Migration:

Migrants Right International
December 18
Young People We Care


]]> Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:43:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/564977 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/543767
Whereas no one in Canada saw this one coming. Bam! The Liberals, NDP and Bloc have all been secretly scheming against our latest Harper government since they all 'lost' to him during an election featuring one of the worst voter turnouts of all time.

If Harper's government tries to pass a budget that includes no stimulus package for the Canadian economy and cuts public funding for political parties they are going to pounce! If Harper's government presents a revised budget they will probably pounce anyways! Bringing down the government in a no-confidence vote and then asking to create a government made up of a coalition of Liberal, NDP and the Bloc when they feel like it.

This is pretty exciting for people who like watching Harper's sneaky plans to establish a Conservative monopoly within Canadian politics blow up in his face.

I like the coalition idea because it's a risk, it's new, it's sticking it to Harper, and it feels more like real politics than anything I've seen in Canada in a long time.

I don't like the coalition idea because it will make Stephane Dion Prime Minister, it will give the Bloc a lot of power to decide which coalition legislation goes through and which doesn't, and it will be unstable in a period where stability would be good.

So it's more like choosing the lesser evil. The stability of knowing you have a sneaky grinch as your Prime Minister. Or the potential of having five bickering 'Prime Ministers' (Dion, Ignatieff, Rae, Layton and Duceppe) and then a swift return to the grinch.]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:34:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/543767 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/517253 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:03:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/517253 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/504279
"... The globalised world is an imperial one: this fact simply conforms to direct daily experience outside the charmed circles of Western economic fortresses."

It really struck me at the time because it seemed like such a fitting description of the state of things. Instead of classic imperialism there is economic imperialism. And the imagery used in the passage - a 'fortress' - really stuck with me. It seemed to describe a world where there are walls dividing those people who belong to 'charmed circles' - and who are safe and certain within these 'economic fortresses' - and those who live outside the walls, with constant uncertainty and no guarantees. At the time I was particularly obsessed with the fact that it seemed to describe me: a relatively safe and happy person with little idea of what daily life is like for those who aren't lucky enough to be a member of the middle-class in a prosperous country like Canada. And today - Blog Action Day - this passage came back to me again, because today thousands of bloggers will be talking about the 'state of things' described by Kagarlitsky and Freeman: the inequality that exists in our world and the extreme poverty that it produces.

Today the 'Western economic fortresses' seem an especially relevant topic, because the fortresses seem to be shaking - stock markets in New York, London, Tokyo, Moscow, Toronto and elsewhere have spent the last week fluctuating at rates that have never been seen before. This doesn't necessarily mean that the sun is going to stop shining on any of the 'charmed circles' described by Kagarlitsky and Freeman- actually those most affected and hardest hit by an 'economic slowdown', or 'global recession', or 'global financial heart attack', will most likely be those already living with poverty. The same answer applies to the global problems of rising food prices, climate change, and global health threats - like HIV and AIDS, malaria or TB. [Of course calling them 'Western' economic fortresses ignores the poverty that exists inside what are traditionally referred to as 'Western' countries, and there are definitely those living with poverty in both rich and poor countries alike.]

I don't have a particular solution to propose, or action that I think everyone should take, except - if you haven't already - recognizing which side of that divide you might be on. For me, recognizing that was a big step towards getting more informed on the causes of poverty, the proposed solutions, and the biggest threats. Obviously there isn't any big miraculous solution to the issue, but there is always something you can do as an individual, even if it is as simple as recognizing your place within the greater state of things. I think the more you understand about a topic like poverty - not just globally, but within your own community - the more you'll be able to effectively contribute when that opportunity comes along for you to be part of a solution.

[The passage I quoted is from the book 'The Politics of Empire: Globalization in Crisis', pg 27 of the Introduction by Boris Kagarlitsky and Alan Freeman]

]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:07:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/504279 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/455047
Obviously it's a little more complicated than that.

So did Georgia think that NATO was going to come to its defense? Because in the end - despite all Russian meddling in South Ossetia - (to the best of my knowledge) Georgia reacted with force first. Which to Russia pretty much translates to: 'Bring it on!' Maybe Georgia's President should have taken a good long look at Chechnya before inviting Russia to come on over. He might also want to check out Afghanistan - and then he might have realized that NATO (of which he is not yet a member anyways) is pretty busy at the moment.

Obviously nothing excuses the amount of force used by either side - whatever the situation - and the high amount of civilian casualties, displaced peoples and homes destroyed.


There are a couple of Georgia-Russia Discussion threads on TIG if you want to join in:
Russia-Georgian War in the Current Events Forum and The Conflict in South Ossetia and Georgia in the Peace, Conflict and Governance Forum.


Also if anyone has any sites where first-hand accounts from people in the region are being posted in English please leave me a link!]]> Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:21:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/455047 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/450287
Near the end of the session the conversation was brought back around to other human rights areas where the United States is lacking. One woman approached the microphone to congratulate Congresswoman Lee on her role in repealing the travel restrictions, but also to say that she would not personally attend an AIDS Conference in the United States until an apology was issued for all the human rights abuses it commits in other countries. Although using a session on travel restrictions against HIV-positive individuals as a platform for chiding the US on Iraq, or as she put it "marching into other countries" in the name of democracy, seems slightly inappropriate, it is a part of what the conference is about. Congratulating and celebrating to encourage progress, along with questioning and criticizing to show that we have not forgotten what remains to be addressed. ]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:23:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/450287 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/444497 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:35:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/444497 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/427909 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:57:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/427909 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/401575 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:22:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/401575 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/364707 TIG Magazine this summer, in time for the World Youth Congress this August in Québec City. This TIG Magazine (we will be giving it a better name soon!) will be focused on the two themes of our recent Youth Voices Project, which were: 'Climate Change' and 'Culture Identity'.

Currently the Youth Voices Project has two contest collections in our Global Gallery where TIG members have been submitting artwork related to the themes. Some of this artwork will be included in the magazine and published! But we are also looking for writing submissions for the magazine.

The basic goal of the fourth TIG Magazine is to create a really cool print online magazine that shows the power of the creative youth perspective on climate and cultural issues. We are looking for writing that illustrates the role of youth as key stakeholders in issues that affect them like 'climate change', 'cultural identity' and related topics [cultural conflict, cultural dialogue, celebrating your culture, explaining your culture, pollution, water scarcity, environmental activism, etc.] and shows how powerful and important youth voices are. Submissions can be creative writing (poetry, stories) or more fact/opinion based articles.

Interested in submitting some writing? If you have recently (within the last year) had an article published in Panorama that you think should be considered, please send the: Title, Article ID # (this is visible in the URL), Article Type and your name to this e-mail address: melanie@takingitglobal.org. Or if you are interested in submitting something especially for the magazine, that you have not already had published anywhere else, please send your submission to the same address: melanie@takingitglobal.org, and it will be considered for inclusion.


We need all writing submissions submitted to us by the 22nd of May. If you are interested in contributing a visual submission, you also have until the 22nd of May to contribute either to the 'Youth Voices on Climate Change' or the 'Youth Voices on Culture Identity' Contest in the Global Gallery.]]> Thu, 01 May 2008 14:49:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/364707 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/359041 article in Canada's Globe and Mail two days ago that really disturbed me. Here are some choice quotes:


'... the youth kicks Ms. Gomba in the face and blood starts to ooze from her nose. "That is what you get for trying to sneak the MDC through the backdoor," she snarls. Then they begin to use the whips. At first Ms. Gomba cries out; in response, the youths hit her harder.'


'...the noise as the whips hit her body is the only sound in the room...'


'...Outside the door, she found a knot of the youth militia ... "They said I was an MDC prostitute because I attended their rally here," ... "Then one of the youth flicked a lit matchstick on to the roof of my thatched hut." ... she lost everything she owned.'


'In Mutoko, 160 kilometres to the north of Harare, 20 houses were burned last weekend. Five were torched in Murehwa, 80 kilometres north, on Sunday night.'


I don't claim to be any expert on Zimbabwe's history or it's politics, or even to know that much beyond the basics. This article was based on reports from a Globe and Mail correspondent who was able to sneak into the meetings where, apparently, opposition supporters (or merely those who were supporting a fair election) are being violently beaten and threatened. The first thing I thought after reading it was - is there anything I can do about this? And I couldn't answer that question.


At this point I don't think it matters whether or not Mugabe technically won or lost, any leader that allows these kind of actions is not leading his/her people, they're just terrifying them.
]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:45:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/359041 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/355949
But the Harper government represented by Heritage Minister Josée Verner is proposing an amendment to the Income Tax Act that would allow the government to deny tax breaks to any Canadian production that contains sex, violence, or "other content" the government deems inappropriate or excessive. (this will NOT apply to foreign productions filming in Canada). This is bad.

This is a bad idea because: 1. It discriminates against Canadian artists (rules don't apply to foreign productions) 2. It will allow the government of Canada direct influence over the content of Canadian film and television productions (which it has never had before) 3. The government will decide what is inappropriate, and excessive 4. This will encourage Canadian artists to go work in other countries where they will not be censored or discriminated against


Why does the Canadian government hate Canadian TV and Film so much?

The idea behind the amendment would be to discourage excessively violent or pornographic productions receiving public funding - I don't know, were we having a lot of problems with violence and porn? Was that a big concern? I sort of thought protecting Canadian cultural sovereignty and encouraging Canadian artists to stay in Canada was important?


Funnily enough the Harper government, in this case represented by Industry Minister Jim Prentice, just rejected an American firm's takeover of MDA Corp. (Canada's space company - makes satellites and the Canadarm!) The potential takeover apparently raised a lot of "national sentiment" and could mean losing data from satellites that would be crucial to defending Canada's arctic sovereignty in a future dispute. Arctic sovereignty is very important - but not Canadian culture I guess.

Way to go Stephen Harper. You're doing a good job.]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:20:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/355949 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/348979 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:40:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/348979 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/348977 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:37:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/348977 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/348973 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:34:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/348973 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/341099
The first topic for the Current Events Forum is the continuing conflict in Kenya, which began after their presidential elections in late December. I remember speaking to a few of the Kenyans on our TIG staff, who had high hopes for the election, which has now resulted in hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes, riots, violence, and hundreds of deaths. Our active TIG Kenya members will be speaking within this Discussion thread about their own experiences, perspectives and hopes for resolution, and I encourage all TIG members interested in the situation in Kenya, or with experiences and thoughts of their own to share, to join in the Discussion!]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:10:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/341099 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/337275 The most compelling argument against Obama so far is his inexperience. I think that is balanced out by the fact that he is relatively new, and not already part of the American political establishment. If experience means you have to be a Clinton, a Kennedy or a Bush – then America may as well have a monarchy! The fact that he might not already have developed well-established positions on the big issues (Iraq for one), isn’t such a bad thing, it just means keeping a closer eye on who becomes his closest advisors on these kinds of issues.
Hillary Clinton. I was totally indifferent a few weeks ago – now – I’m really not interested in seeing the Clintons again. They’re practically running mates in what is supposed to be her campaign – and that just doesn’t sit well.
John McCain makes things really interesting. Doubly so because of the democratic nominee race he’s running beside. Can Hillary beat McCain? Will hardcore democrats vote Obama if they think she can’t? Will they vote Obama anyway? McCain appeals to a lot of the same people who may find either/or of the democrats appealing. The race has become so un-polarized – it seems that no one knows quite what to do.
What if John McCain wins? (Obviously he has to get the nomination first, but lets assume he does.) What if the republicans are voted in again even after this Bush/Iraq disaster? There is a chance that John McCain could make this happen. He has strong ideas of what to do about Iraq (Obama and Clinton seem less convincing on this issue). He has qualities that appeal to Republican, Democrat, and Independent alike. Another Republican President. Isn’t that about the last thing you ever expected to happen? It seemed like the Democrats had it in the bag – and then this democratic race began, and now the party is divided between Clinton and Obama.
Makes for good entertainment. The American nomination process = tragi-comedy.
]]> Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:17:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/337275 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/327561 Beyond whether or not these statements are accurate – why would you ever make such a blunt, black and white statement about something as complex as Islamic extremism in the first place? It’s different from country to country, region to region. I think the only blanket statement you could really ever make about Islamic extremism is that there is no one cause. Whatever role a conflict within Islam has I can’t really speak to – because I don’t know enough about Islam to comment. But I feel pretty confident in believing this is not the sole cause of Islamic extremism.
As for the person who made the speech – an individual, sent on behalf of primarily ‘Western’ countries, to represent their (as well as Russian and ‘global’ interests somewhat - since Russia and the UN are included) interests of stability and peace in this region, it seems very ignorant to claim that ‘Westerners’ don’t have any role in Islamic extremism at all. As if Islam, and the regions where it is most prevalent, are just islands onto themselves – not influenced by ‘outside’ interests at all. Because Islamic extremism doesn’t thrive in regions that have suffered from economic and political instability – and that economic and political instability has nothing to do with the long list of situations in which ‘Western’ countries/businesses have meddled in the economies and politics of these regions. Now is that the only reason for Islamic extremism? No, but I don’t think you can claim it plays no role whatsoever.
So back to what Tony Blair said in this speech: “faced with terrorism and extremist rage, liberal-minded Westerners sometimes assume that ‘there's something that we should be doing, or have done, that is causing this’.” But according to him ‘Westerners’ shouldn’t feel guilty. They didn’t do anything wrong.
Now I don’t know about the word guilt – but I think there is a responsibility on the part of countries/organizations/businesses who’ve been party to actions in these countries/regions that have contributed to instability, poverty, repression and also extremism. Not because these actions were the sole cause – but more because they didn’t help what might have already been a situation where extremism was likely to develop, or already had.
Later in the speech Tony Blair goes on to assert that not only should ‘Westerners’ not feel guilty about Islamic extremism, but should make a point of proclaiming they don’t feel guilty about Islamic extremism, and continue to ‘export’ our wonderful democratic values – which one day ‘they’ will thank us for, or at least they’d better.
He didn’t actually say it like that. But that was the general impression it made on me – ‘we’re gonna bring you this democracy – and you’d better thank us for it later’. It was very paternalistic and condescending – and I thought, an inappropriate message for an envoy to the Middle East to be sending on behalf of Russia, US, EU (three areas of the world with a long history of messing about in countries/regions where Islamic extremism is now prevalent, and the UN, an institution that is supposed to support equality between nations/peoples/countries – not paternalism!)
Maybe next time Tony Blair can recognize the complexities of Islamic extremism – instead of making a statement that isn’t true, misleading and (I think) kind of offensive towards all the people who have suffered due to Islamic extremism.
]]> Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:53:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/327561 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/293807 A quote in Le Monde: "Rien n'a été fait depuis les émeutes de 2005." Nothing has been done, and no solutions found to "la situation des banlieues". I don't think that here 'the' situation is being referred to - as in the situation the banlieues are in right now. But instead I think the quote refers to the situation of banlieues in general. Their existence. They encircle Paris. And Lyon too. And both cities have seen violent rioting in them. Because the people who live in the banlieues are left out of the France that the rest of us know. Just like so many low-income areas - the people who live in them aren't given the same opportunities as other French, and aren't treated equally. So I guess to be putting up with blanket - societal abuse is enough of a strain. But then when those people have to - in addition to the pervasive, institutionalized inequality - then see youth lose their lives in questionable circumstances involving police officers - with whom I'm guessing they already aren't on good terms with ... well you can begin to see how things might blow up. Even if the police officers didn't have anything to do with it. The situation is just a combination of really inflammatory ingredients.
These riots + the strike by public sector workers whose special pension benefits are being threatened = not a good week for France.
Of course this isn't just a French problem. We have our own sorts of banlieues here. Although it isn't the sort of thing you might associate with Canada. We might not have the riots. But we do have our own kind of entrenched inequalities ...]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:37:00 EST http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/293807 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/269943 This step forward was in direct contrast to something happening in the United States at around the same time. In Minnesota a woman was charged with infringing on copyright for downloading and sharing music. She could have settled out of court - but actually decided to fight it. And now she is being asked to pay $222,000 US - $9,250 per song for 24 songs.
Know how much I paid for the 'In Rainbows' download? 10 songs? 5 British pounds. Approximately $10.25 US. Or about $1 a song. That is how much I chose to spend. And this woman is being asked to pay a huge amount of money for something that all of us do!
Maybe the record companies behind this know that their music is crap and no one would actually pay anything for it if they were given the option. Then they definitely have to persecute those who attempt to download and share crap for what it's worth - nothing!
Actually it's more a case of making an example of someone, to deter others from downloading and sharing music without paying. I guess these record companies don't know what they're up against. Free - a.k.a. 'illegal' - downloading and sharing is everywhere and growing. It can't be stopped by making 'examples' of a few poor unlucky people - Spanish Inquisition-style. Maybe these record companies should wake up and embrace the possibilities of free downloading! A la Radiohead!
So yay for Radiohead. I paid to download your album and I'll also pay to see you in concert when you make it back to Canada - because I know that you're worth the $!]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:02:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/269943 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/261069
I have to start writing these quotes down somewhere!
You've got to be kidding me Ken Salazar from Colorado. You've got to be kidding me US Senators - all of you! Apparently the Senators are all hot and bothered about the long un-defended Canadian-American border. They're running scared because Canada is over-flowing with terrorists who might soon decide to take a stroll across the long stretch of un-manned border.
So - if we're up to our ears in terrorists PLUS we've got access to this huge un-defended border with America - then how come terrorists haven't been streaming across this whole time?
Hmmmmm.

And if we're discussing border issues - how about what gets smuggled into Canada across that border? Like guns. Lots and lots of guns. Illegal guns from the States that are used in gang shootings here. Guns that kill Canadian citizens.

Canada and America enjoy the longest undefended border in the world - I thought that was sort of a nice thing. Now I guess some US Senators would like to ruin that by implying that Canada is some sort of ticking time bomb of terrorist activity.

If the Senators wanted to make themselves look ridiculous - they've succeeded with full flying colours. Especially that Ken Salazar guy.

Here is the Globe and Mail article with the Salazar quote:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070927.wborder0927/BNStory/National/home]]> Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/261069 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/249127
During Quebec Provincial elections earlier in the year a controversy erupted over women who wished to remain veiled while voting, in keeping with their religious practices. Now it has spilled over into the federal sphere, and the Head of Elections Canada has ticked off PM Harper by maintaining the Elections Act and Canadian law, by allowing women to choose to remain veiled during voting.
I know that for the last election I did not show my face at any election station. Not because I wear a veil, but because I mailed in my ballot. If I don't have to show my face to vote, why should these women? Obviously it's important to them, and even if we don't understand it, that doesn't mean we should dismiss it.

It would be an entirely different situation if Canadians, who are opposed to wearing a veil while voting, were truly worried about the fairness of the voting being affected by the coverings. But this is not about the voting itself - this is about the veils. And I find that very worrying, and have to admit, I feel a little ashamed of Canada at the moment.
Now, that's not to say that I don't myself feel a little taken aback when I see a veiled person out on the streets of Toronto. There aren't a lot of people in Canada who choose to dress that way, it's true, but should a small minority who have made that choice become the targets of discrimination, because some of us are afraid of something different?
It's especially worrying because it's not the only incident. In Quebec a girl was asked to leave a soccer game for wearing a head covering. The excuse given was along the lines of - she could injure herself if the scarf became caught - or some equally lame excuse.
I think this is more about mis-perceptions and ignorance than voting regulations. An election officer in Quebec who agreed to allow women to remain veiled for voting earlier this year received death threats! Come on! That's ridiculous.

Canada has long struggled to balance the preservation of our shared values and rights, with the acceptance of other religious or cultural traditions and practices. It's a tough balance to find, but that is what is so great about Canada - we're always trying to keep things balanced, equal and fair for all Canadians, whether you're a sixth generation Canadian or a first. We should reserve our fights for religious or cultural practices that actually infringe on the Rights and Freedoms of Canadians, and not waste time fighting a practice, like the veil, which is protected under our Charter.]]> Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:42:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/249127 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/248795 First, the second day of the Toronto International Film Festival I was able to go see the Midnight Madness screening of Frontières, by dir. Xavier Gens, who is also directing the movie 'Hitman' which apparently is a big deal - although I've never heard of it.
The movie combines a lot of American horror movies: Chainsaw Massacre, the Hills Have Eyes, People Under the Stairs, etc. And for the first hour I was under the impression I wasn't going to like this film at all. It wasn't anything new.
But it redeems itself with a big bloody ending [see photo] - which is disgusting and hilarious. Definitely not a classic French film by any stretch. But if you can make it to the ending, and you like bloody horror films, then worth it. Plus the main actress, Karina Testa, is awesome. I'm hoping to be able to fit in one last film at the Toronto Film Festival this year ... don't know what yet ...

And on a totally unrelated topic:
This morning I noticed that Putin has announced a new Prime Minister that very few people have ever heard of. That's great. When is Putin going to announce his pick for successor? Isn't the Russian election in March?
Here are the facts the Globe and Mail was able to provide about Viktor Zubkov: his date of birth, his job running state farms around Leningrad, his work in the same St. Petersburg administration as Putin (big surprise), and finally: "In 1998, Mr. Zubkov tried unsuccessfully to win election as governor of Leningrad region."
Sounds like an exciting candidate for the presidency.]]> Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:53:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/248795 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/247271 Some friends and I waited for 'rush' tickets an hour before the film began, and got them at the last second, which meant we missed the first five minutes of the film and had to sit in the very front row. Other than a slight neck cramp, from looking straight up at the screen, I have no complaints!
It is a film that anyone interested in Litvinenko or Russian politics in general would be interested in, as it outlines the 'rebellion' against FSB-Kremlin corruption that forced Litvinenko out of Russia, and features exclusive interviews with him and his wife, Marina. The film outlines the history of Russia's security services, from Chekists to KGB up to the current FSB, as well as explaining the culture that is associated with those who make their careers in the security services. It is a good lead-up to the corruption charges that Litvinenko makes against his FSB bosses and his interviews in particular shed a lot of light on his motivations and the reasoning behind the actions which ended up putting him and his family in danger.
It also has some really great footage of Putin with Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Jaques Chirac ... and some other major figures, looking really, really awkward. As only Putin can ...
The footage is a bit rough, because, as I understand it, Nekrasov never meant to make a documentary from the interviews, but was instead preparing to use the interview footage towards the creation of a fictional film based on Litvinenko's story. This was the explanation he gave during the Q A after the film finished. Although you will get a lot more out of the film if you already have some knowledge of the situation, even those who know little about Litvinenko or Russian politics will enjoy it. The two friends I saw it with knew little about the situation but both enjoyed it, and are now interested in learning more about Russian politics and Litvinenko themselves!
There wasn't much time for questions after the screening of the film, and I always find that I need time to think about a film before I can think of questions I would ask the director. Having the man who made the film standing in front of me was an amazing opportunity, but I couldn't think of any questions! I was still digesting the film itself. Oh well.
Tonight I am hoping to get tickets to a French horror film - Frontiere ... I am especially excited for this one!
]]> Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/247271 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667