Out of all the conflicts, it appears that lybia may be the beginning of UN's attempt to seem... Well- worth any international reverence at all. It is a problem easily spotted and not very conflicted. In this battle, the politicians can point out the good guys, and who are the bad guys. There isn't an insurgency and everyone is united by the stories and in favor of the people taking their calls for democracy to the streets- that too influences what action to take- these are pro democracy protesters versus a military still highly obedient to gadafi- namely out of fear for their lives and their families. Any way- getting back on track...- the UN has been talking of imposing sanctions. Now, obviously imposing sanctions as a first move is pretty much always the first step, it can have unintended effects.
When you impose sanctions, it can affect Lybian students who are in [a foreign country] Canada through any state funded ( ie- a scholorship) programs.
It also means that there will be no flow of funds into Lybia, there's no money to place into the economy, there's no trade, all of this leads up to uneasy citizens who get scared and act on the fact they need to provide for their families and yet there's no where to turn. So hopefully Gadafi has placed most of his money into foreign banks or the only ones to suffer will be the citizens.
There has been talk about the fact he has millions in canada's banks ( which will hopefully be unreachable with sanctions) (CTV News).
One thing that does make this confrontation a bit more controlled and yet, somewhat ironic, is that the main concerns in the international community ARE driven by the need to control the oil establishments. One thing that was said about Afghanistan and Iraq, which since they lost more money than they expected in the war itself they lost millions more because there was not enough business in Iraq and definitely not in Afghanistan for oil, it's money that will never be made up. It was 80% emotional (which by definition, it's hard for people who haven't been through something so terrible as a terror attack to feel the way the us did, but this was a one- time k-o so to speak. Not gwo contries thay have a constant bickering happening with the weapons as words. So the US reacted the way that was emotional and enabled by foriegn countries that did have a steak in the war) and 20% political.
Ok.. Back on track... '...make this confrontation a bit more controlled is the fact that they are going through the UN and even if this is a slow process they're mo ing forward.
It is hypocritical though, the us goes into Afghanistan to disband the Taliban, and Iraq to finally get saddam out because British officials showed evidence that there were purchases but namely because saddam had 19 sanctions against him and he was taking the oil for food donations for himself as his people suffered. Let's not forget those he actively tortured and killed.
Back on the the lybia situation. The united nations Has failed to act over and over. The nations are discussing actions. Television is making it sound like it's the next world war, but it is key whether they will act as one, or if this sparks new issues across the table. They even are discussing charging Gadafi with war crimes for his actions. I guess we'll see whether he can plea insanity.
The violence is getting worse. There is new actions- pro Gadafi militants have hanged opponents. (AJE).
Well, I guess we'll see.
Oh, I did forget another part: making Lybia's airspace a no- fly zone. This is mainly used to keep the Lybian military from harming the citizens by air. This will be step one of obtaining any power or control.
I am so proud of these students, elderly, mothers, daughters, friends and more, taking serious risk well all the while, keeping it loud,with out criminalizing their protest. There has been such a neighborly and communal. They lend money and cars to the cause and everyone is still so hopeful. First Egypt, and it's spreading fast. The face of he world is changing; but through this transition these countries' new leaders must make sure that they build their countries with the peoples' needs come first, not BP OIL's plans to profit off of the conflict.
A sad note. Elder abuse is very under-reported. I did catch the news -local- and was sickened by what I heard. There was an elderly woman whose kids forced her to live in the garage. It's not like these jack asses would make it like a separate room with proper insulation, etc... No, they mAde her live in a freezing garage for such a long time. It's so pathetic that anyone can treat their elders so inhumanely. It happened in a house in the GTA and this is just one that's been publicized but.it is far from the only case of such misreatmenf.
Elder abuse is rarely reported so this is just one more person crying out. For people to get in loved if you suspect someone. There are anon ways to report it so there is no excuse for not stepping up. When it comes to elder abuse.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Reflections of the lybia crisis
So this lybia crisis has been going on for ten days. So far Muammar Gaddafi has been making some crazy claims- some such as he wants his citizens that are on the pro Gaddafi side, to take action against others. At one point, they released prisoners providing them with 200 $ and a weapon and said "go". This most recent speech has been just as bizarre.
Again, at first, he speaks about how the public has legitimate concerns but now he is also blaming drugs, bin ladden, drugs, told people that they should be avoiding the brainwashing and telling parents to talk to their children (apparently it's only 15-20yr olds involved in the violence " because they are not responsible under the law") he speaks about not having Any influence. Saying he has 'moral authority' and if the people want him to be limited to a symbolic leader 'like the queen of England and the king of Thailand. . He blamed al Qaeda and claims that they are to blAme. This morning there was a gathering in martyrs sq in az zawiyah which Gaddafi mentioned in which at least 100 people have been killed this morning alone. However he only admits that his sec forces has only killed 4people when so far. Despite all this drug talk, mercenaries he flew in were stoned. He made concessions saying hat if they're calm and stop this, he will give out more loans, and that he would raise salaries.
Reflection on this is that he is being his arrogant man, and that he is scared. In terms of his arrogance he only appologized for four individual killed. What about the thousands other that are out there. And there have been others coming out. Saying, no- there are people over twenty and married and have kids...
There have been so many leaders coming out and speaking out such as British leaders and America despite the fact that they have been training and sending weapons directly to the loyal Gaddaffi sec forces.
I have heard some other claims of this leading to a civil war
This is what everybody wAs aiming for when we moved in on Afghanistan and Iraq. I guess just not like this with the Egyptians and now lybia and Tunisia. These are all protests for democracy.
There is already shocks in the markets due to all of this and that there might be more shockwaves as the flow of oil will be turned off.
Update more later on ...
Again, at first, he speaks about how the public has legitimate concerns but now he is also blaming drugs, bin ladden, drugs, told people that they should be avoiding the brainwashing and telling parents to talk to their children (apparently it's only 15-20yr olds involved in the violence " because they are not responsible under the law") he speaks about not having Any influence. Saying he has 'moral authority' and if the people want him to be limited to a symbolic leader 'like the queen of England and the king of Thailand. . He blamed al Qaeda and claims that they are to blAme. This morning there was a gathering in martyrs sq in az zawiyah which Gaddafi mentioned in which at least 100 people have been killed this morning alone. However he only admits that his sec forces has only killed 4people when so far. Despite all this drug talk, mercenaries he flew in were stoned. He made concessions saying hat if they're calm and stop this, he will give out more loans, and that he would raise salaries.
Reflection on this is that he is being his arrogant man, and that he is scared. In terms of his arrogance he only appologized for four individual killed. What about the thousands other that are out there. And there have been others coming out. Saying, no- there are people over twenty and married and have kids...
There have been so many leaders coming out and speaking out such as British leaders and America despite the fact that they have been training and sending weapons directly to the loyal Gaddaffi sec forces.
I have heard some other claims of this leading to a civil war
This is what everybody wAs aiming for when we moved in on Afghanistan and Iraq. I guess just not like this with the Egyptians and now lybia and Tunisia. These are all protests for democracy.
There is already shocks in the markets due to all of this and that there might be more shockwaves as the flow of oil will be turned off.
Update more later on ...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
where is this country of mine?
Anyone who knows me will tell you I am the last person who would stand up for Canada’s policies. When the G8 and G20 were being held here, however, there was some hope that Canada’s voice would grow a tad in the international community, and its citizen’s apathy towards international tragedy and injustice would begin to change. This hope died, however, when the police force was given an absolute power, and began to abuse it.
Again, I am not one to take sides; protesters annoy me, often, and there is often times that the fear and the aggression can get to the police and create an over-active defence mechanism to kick in, and aggression to take over. What should be in that place to keep all of those situations in check, is the law. It is supposed to be seen as an ever evolving (and by that, one would hope, advancing) force. However, this too has been abused. The concept of the 24-hour hold, without charge or contest by the individual being held, has been abused recently.
There have been peaceful protests in the “free speech zones”, which are (most of them, at least- and even the ones that many would find disagreeable) beautiful to see, because most importantly, it means that there is activity in the people, and there is interest in all issues. There were protests such as women’s rights (international and domestic), health care, of course the typical war ones, environmental…and tons more. There was music, even people protesting by distributing “free hugs”. None of these posed a threat. There were also, however, those who decided to take things to the next level and destroy property, terrorize the citizens, and threaten the police officers. I know that we like to think of them as an opposing force- some kind of mechanical entity- but they are fathers, mothers, daughters in uniform trying to make sure that those citizens who work in those buildings being broken and burned aren’t injured, and that you can walk home safe at night. It’s a lovely thought to be naïve to the dangers of every day life when there’s a big activity such as a gathering of foreign delegates, where you can be the offenders, but a lot of us have needed the police at one time or another. Not to mention, those who are trainees and this being their first job- being screamed at by a bunch of people hurling objects and threats…not exactly appealing and a calming day.
Anyway, my point is, I shake my head at the protesters that decide to take physical action such as that, and expect them to be dealt with in a manner many of them may protest to. But where I draw the line to remain silent, is when I hear about ordinary citizens and even foreign visitors to Canada being mistreated. The most recent event was a round up of over 900 individuals. Where are the news crews? It’s not as though this was done in secret. Some of those caught up were journalists!
Anyway, in reading some testimonials, and watching some, there were such similarities it created some outrage. As a disabled individual especially, hearing about the boy with CP who was abused was absolutely sickening.
Further, there were police undercover- especially understanding as the Black Bloc was there inciting a lot of the rioting- dressed in “anarchist” gear, however many are claiming that much of the activity was caused by the police, only later, to be arrested for it. An American group- the United Soil-workers of America, who were there participating in the protest, are calling for a congressional investigation.
In the testimonial by Tom Taylor, he explains the conditions he and fellow individuals, many of whom were not even involved or associated in the least with activities of the G20 or G8, were kept in. He goes further to explain conditions of how the gay and lesbian community were treated. He states that they were kept in cells meant for 15 people, and there were up to 40.
In a testimonial by one man, Dan Hamilton, 18, he explains how once the individuals detaining him found out he was gay, they moved him into a smaller room full of small cells only able to barely handle two individuals, where they kept the gay and lesbian couples (or individuals together simply because of their sexuality). They claimed that it was for their own protection, however, Mr. Hamilton goes on to explain that the people in his cell were extremely kind and could care less that he was gay. The only prejudice he encountered was from the guards themselves.
Finally, they held them for over the 24 hour period (including a german couple who were horrified by the treatment and their first encounter with this “so-called, free Canada”) depriving them of the necessities until they pass out from dehydration, and not allowing them to call individuals.
There was an abundance of civil rights lawyer numbers being passed throughout the detention center.
This controversy will scar Canada, for a long time to come.
Now granted, these are testimonials from a limited supply, and some independent sources that have clear bias. However, in looking up a numerous amount of others, there are parts of the testimonials that remain perfectly identical from entirely unique sources. There were lawyers and journalists, and individual citizens on a date held in those cells for no other reason than bad timing. The Mayor came out saying that Toronto had never been safer, and to enjoy the city… he has created an international disgrace.
Where is this Canada that I had been told about? That people were telling me as a citizen I should be proud of? It sure as hell is missing right about now.
-Shoshanna.
Again, I am not one to take sides; protesters annoy me, often, and there is often times that the fear and the aggression can get to the police and create an over-active defence mechanism to kick in, and aggression to take over. What should be in that place to keep all of those situations in check, is the law. It is supposed to be seen as an ever evolving (and by that, one would hope, advancing) force. However, this too has been abused. The concept of the 24-hour hold, without charge or contest by the individual being held, has been abused recently.
There have been peaceful protests in the “free speech zones”, which are (most of them, at least- and even the ones that many would find disagreeable) beautiful to see, because most importantly, it means that there is activity in the people, and there is interest in all issues. There were protests such as women’s rights (international and domestic), health care, of course the typical war ones, environmental…and tons more. There was music, even people protesting by distributing “free hugs”. None of these posed a threat. There were also, however, those who decided to take things to the next level and destroy property, terrorize the citizens, and threaten the police officers. I know that we like to think of them as an opposing force- some kind of mechanical entity- but they are fathers, mothers, daughters in uniform trying to make sure that those citizens who work in those buildings being broken and burned aren’t injured, and that you can walk home safe at night. It’s a lovely thought to be naïve to the dangers of every day life when there’s a big activity such as a gathering of foreign delegates, where you can be the offenders, but a lot of us have needed the police at one time or another. Not to mention, those who are trainees and this being their first job- being screamed at by a bunch of people hurling objects and threats…not exactly appealing and a calming day.
Anyway, my point is, I shake my head at the protesters that decide to take physical action such as that, and expect them to be dealt with in a manner many of them may protest to. But where I draw the line to remain silent, is when I hear about ordinary citizens and even foreign visitors to Canada being mistreated. The most recent event was a round up of over 900 individuals. Where are the news crews? It’s not as though this was done in secret. Some of those caught up were journalists!
Anyway, in reading some testimonials, and watching some, there were such similarities it created some outrage. As a disabled individual especially, hearing about the boy with CP who was abused was absolutely sickening.
Further, there were police undercover- especially understanding as the Black Bloc was there inciting a lot of the rioting- dressed in “anarchist” gear, however many are claiming that much of the activity was caused by the police, only later, to be arrested for it. An American group- the United Soil-workers of America, who were there participating in the protest, are calling for a congressional investigation.
In the testimonial by Tom Taylor, he explains the conditions he and fellow individuals, many of whom were not even involved or associated in the least with activities of the G20 or G8, were kept in. He goes further to explain conditions of how the gay and lesbian community were treated. He states that they were kept in cells meant for 15 people, and there were up to 40.
In a testimonial by one man, Dan Hamilton, 18, he explains how once the individuals detaining him found out he was gay, they moved him into a smaller room full of small cells only able to barely handle two individuals, where they kept the gay and lesbian couples (or individuals together simply because of their sexuality). They claimed that it was for their own protection, however, Mr. Hamilton goes on to explain that the people in his cell were extremely kind and could care less that he was gay. The only prejudice he encountered was from the guards themselves.
Finally, they held them for over the 24 hour period (including a german couple who were horrified by the treatment and their first encounter with this “so-called, free Canada”) depriving them of the necessities until they pass out from dehydration, and not allowing them to call individuals.
There was an abundance of civil rights lawyer numbers being passed throughout the detention center.
This controversy will scar Canada, for a long time to come.
Now granted, these are testimonials from a limited supply, and some independent sources that have clear bias. However, in looking up a numerous amount of others, there are parts of the testimonials that remain perfectly identical from entirely unique sources. There were lawyers and journalists, and individual citizens on a date held in those cells for no other reason than bad timing. The Mayor came out saying that Toronto had never been safer, and to enjoy the city… he has created an international disgrace.
Where is this Canada that I had been told about? That people were telling me as a citizen I should be proud of? It sure as hell is missing right about now.
-Shoshanna.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
An Introductory Blog...
So I have decided to start another blog. This one is to be one with no rules as to what subjects can be covered. It can be personal, or it can be about national,...and even international events. I want to talk about things happening in the world these days, but most of these will also have a personal spin. I think news stations should keep to objective reporting, and blogs should be able to be personal. These days that is not so true.
Anyway, welcome to my blog!
Anyway, welcome to my blog!
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