http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us 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 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/224901
I had to put this story in perspective though: as a very scary close call. And when things like this happen I have to remember that in other areas of the world, not only are occurrences like this NOT averted, but they happen all the time. [Obviously that's little reassurance for Londoners today as the police have not yet found the perpetrators.]

I got a good reminder of just how often horrible things like that happen in other areas of the world about an hour later while I was listening to the BBC Radio News podcast for June 28th.

In a Shiite village north of Baghdad a group of men had formed a village patrol to protect their families and homes, as the village had come under attack recently from parts of the 'insurgency/Al Qaeda' [it's hard to know who to call what in Iraq these days]. Last Friday these villagers were bombed by American attack helicopters as they guarded their homes, killing 17 of them. A statement was then released saying coalition forces had eliminated members of Al-Queda or 'enemies'.
Members of the patrol who survived were frustrated that Americans kept referring to them as Al-Queda and are demanding compensation for the consequences of the attack. The BBC reporter made a point of explaining that no American forces were actually on the ground during the attack, it was all done from the air.
I immediately thought that perhaps if actual human beings had been on the ground when this happened, at least the villagers could have held up a white flag, or some sort of communication could have taken place that might have changed the outcome. Maybe that's a bit naive.

I don't think I need to explain why I found this really sad and frustrating and sort of enraging.
But the combination of these two stories really made me think about Canada Day in a new way. Before hearing these new stories I had mostly appreciated this coming Canada Day because it meant a day off of work and some fireworks. Instead I think I will spend this Canada day remembering that I am really lucky to be Canadian. Lucky to have Canadian citizenship and to live in this country. I'll try not to forget that in the future.


]]> Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:41:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/224901 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/220707
Here is the link to the 'Anti-Apartheid Campaign' website if you're interested:
http://stopthewall.org/activistresources/983.shtml

Although the political factions in Palestine might be in disagreement and conflict over what is the best action, it's good to see groups like 'Anti-Apartheid' keep working toward their goals.

[The picture was drawn by a Palestinian child, I borrowed it from the 'Anti-Apartheid Campaign' website]]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:29:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/220707 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/217913 Here's one I found in a Globe and Mail interview he did at the G8 Summit in Germany on June 4, 2007:
"I am the only such pure democrat ... There are no such democrats in the world ... After the death of Mahatma Gandhi, I have nobody to talk to."
Did he just compare himself to Gandhi? Yes he did.]]> Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:28:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/217913 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/215181
I was just reading today of the Chavez regime's takeover of an opposition television station, and just began thinking about the parallels between what just happened in Venezuela and the early stages of Putinism in Russia. One of the first things Putin did was grab control of media outlets.

Now Venezuela looks like another oil-rich, apparently democratic, regime which can't quite stomach a free media presence. Interesting ...]]> Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:17:00 EDT http://laurakenyon.tigblog.org/post/215181 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667