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The European Union parliament passed Canada Day celebrations were cancelled a new resolution last month on Sri Lanka following the discovery of hundreds of expressing “serious concern at the rapid unmarked graves at residential schools across deterioration of human rights” on the island the country. Some events in Toronto have and urging the council to consider targeted sanctions against senior Sri Lanka officials been cancelled. ...SEE PAGE 4 accused of war crimes. ...SEE PAGE 4 US EX-COP SENTENCED TO OVER 22 751 UNMARKED GRAVES DISCOVERED AT YEARS FOR GEORGE FLOYD MURDER INDIGENOUS BOARDING SCHOOL IN CANADA
What’s Inside... Former policeman
Editorial...... 03 Derek Chauvin was Canadian News...... 06 sentenced last month South Asian News...... 10 to 22 and a half years Global News...... 14 Law...... 17 in prison for the Politics...... 19 murder of African Students...... 23 American George Medicine & Health...... 25 Last month Cowessess First Nation Science & Technology...... 27 Floyd, the killing that Real Estate...... 29 sparked America’s announced the discovery of hundreds of Economy & Social Issues...... 31 biggest demonstrations unmarked graves on the grounds of the Seniors, Women & Children.....33 Entertainment...... 35 for racial justice in former Marieval Indian Residential School Sports...... 37 decades. ...SEE PAGE 4 in Saskatchewan. ...SEE PAGE 8 HAVE YOU BEEN IN A TRAFFIC S Kumarasamy TICKETS BSc., BA (Honours), MA, Paralegal Advocate MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario ACCIDENT? BENEFITS 416-723-7387 PAGE 2 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
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From the Editor-in-Chief
Greetings! Two of the most important events of last month are crucial to discuss in this editorial. Firstly, disturbing stories of mass graves of Indigenous children in Canada are bothersome to all human beings. Secondly, European Union passed a resolution calling on Sri Lanka to express serious concern over the human rights abuses and urging the European Union Council to consider targeted sanctions against senior Sri Lankan officials accused of war crimes. This is a FOR JUSTICE welcoming approach that all other nations should follow. Cowessess First Nation announced last month the discovery of hundreds Together, we can change society! of unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in the Canadian prairie province of Saskatchewan, and Indigenous leaders say they will find more at other sites. Chief Cadmus Delorme of the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan said they found at least 600 graves Mission after radar detected 751 “hits” in a field on the school grounds. Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indian Nations said the discovery, With the view to providing a voice to expose acts of injustice against coupled with the recent discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children individuals or communities, whether they be unfair, discriminatory, illegal at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, shows or unjust, “Voice for Justice” stands firm on the ground that there can be no “genocide” committed by Canada. freedom without justice. Your support is needed to achieve this. Together, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada determined in 2015 we can change society! more than 150,000 Indigenous children had been forced into residential schools. on June 22, Cameron said there are many burial sites like at Marieval and Kamloops, and searches will continue. The gravesite at Marieval was administered by the Roman Catholic Church, Delorme said. The discovery Objectives comes weeks after the remains of 215 children were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. “Voice for Justice” represents the unheard voices of voiceless people the world over living under extremely difficult political, social and economic Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the discovery as “heartbreaking.” Pope Francis expressed “pain” and offered condolences after conditions, conditions not of their making, that need to be exposed. the “upsetting discovery of the remains of 215 children.” Elder Florence Sparver Impoverishment, exploitation and marginalization lead to injustices recalled her time at the Marieval boarding school. She said the Catholic nuns were “rough” with Indigenous children and barred them from keeping their to the voiceless, devoid of education, good health and decreasing life customs. Canada’s history of boarding schools for Indigenous children made expectancy with their children fast becoming the underclass of the national news following the Kamloops discovery. underprivileged. Canada is a leader in calling on other countries to respect human rights but It is extremely difficult to describe the miseries that these peoples have is now exposed as the perpetrator of such atrocities. Canada should prove itself as a nation that defends human rights and should order impartial investigations to endure, and they have little hope of calling attention of their plight. and take necessary steps to refrain from such actions in the future. Further, Indigenous people should be given adequate respect as they were the original It is in this context that some freelance amateur journalists and inhabitants of this country and were said to have crossed the Bering Strait. This professional academics have banded together to undertake the ambitious has been the subject of the scientific theory that humans migrated from Asia to task of making a dent in the print media to educate and inform the world, North America across a land bridge known as Beringia at least 40,000 years ago. which has little or no knowledge of the voiceless half around the world. As a welcoming approach, European Union parliament passed a new The journal is also intended to provide a forum for these people to freely resolution on Sri Lanka last month expressing “serious concern at the rapid express their views. deterioration of human rights” on the island and urging the Council to consider targeted sanctions against senior Sri Lanka officials accused of war crimes. The As a result of questions as to how we could be of assistance to these resolution passed on June 10 and also called on the Council to investigate and people, we have decided to dedicate our time and energies to a publication prosecute war crime abuses; suspend funding for the training of Sri Lanka’s that focuses on these people whose rights and justice are being denied. security forces; and suspend the favourable trading preferences granted by the GSP+ agreement. This publication is not intended to pursue a particular ideology or to The resolution, which comes ahead of the Council’s next periodic GSP+ be a critique of governments, institutions or any group. “Voice for Justice” review in November 2021, was adopted with 628 votes in favour, 15 against has no affiliation to any group or organization and is not motivated by any and 40 abstentions. Mentioning many Sri Lankan officials implicated in war political consideration. The prime objective is to be a catalyst to sensitize the crimes remain protected from investigation by the Sri Lankan authorities, it rest of the world by drawing their attention to the problems and injustices. also called on the Council to consider targeted sanctions. The resolution further expresses the need for “a rigorous, impartial and complete investigation into We believe those distant and voiceless voices must be heard. the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, and promptly bring to trial, conforming We invite you to contribute articles and papers and participate in other to international legal standards, those against whom there is evidence of responsibility, and release those for whom there is insufficient evidence.” ways, including financial support, in making this newspaper venture a success. We will initially start off with a monthly publication. As we get Calling for Sri Lanka to repeal its “draconian” Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and immediately suspend the “deradicalization” regulation, the more support from readers and commercial establishments, we will make resolution also called on the Commission to consider suspending its funding it bi-weekly and then weekly. of training support for Sri Lankan security forces in counterterrorism until the Sri Lankan Government fulfils its commitment to repeal the abusive Together, we can change society! and draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act. The resolution followed a wide- reaching prohibition of several Tamil diaspora and Muslim organisations, as well as hundreds of individuals dedicated to campaigning for human rights. In the resolution, the EU registered its strong opposition to the death penalty in Disclaimer all cases and without exception and maintained Sri Lanka must “carry out any “Voice for Justice”, your free monthly bilingual (Tamil and English) executions and abolish the use of capital punishment in the country.” tabloid, is published in Toronto and circulated in Canada. Other countries should follow what the European Union has done to make the Sri Lankan regime cooperate with the international community with We are determined to publish an unbiased and informative journal. respect to the call for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Sri “Voice for Justice” prides itself on its professional team of journalists, Lanka continues to colonize the Tamil homeland with Sinhalization. Tamil writers, researchers, and academics from a cross section of communities identities have been destroyed and replaced with Sinhala identities such as building Buddhist temples, settling Sinhala population, introducing the Sinhala around the world. language and making the Tamil language a second or third language in their The opinion and views expressed in “Voice for Justice” are not those of own homeland. All these activities should be stopped, and Tamils should be allowed to live freely with freedom and dignity! the publisher. Advertisers are responsible for their content and “Voice for Justice” reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or article considered We, the editors of this publication, strongly urge all readers, well-wishers, and concerned parties to spread the message through Voice for Justice. unfit and inappropriate for publication. Together, we can change society! Until we meet you at the next issue, so long. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Any unauthorized use or reproduction of Yours, any article published in this publication for commercial purposes is strictly Satheesan Kumarasamy prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action. Editor-in-Chief PAGE 4 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
CANADA DAY 2021 ... Continues from page 1 The Peace Tower flag was lowered Because of the COVID-19 Indigenous community. Canadian.” on Canada Day to honor Indigenous pandemic, Canadians celebrated the children. day virtually in 2020, as they had Several communities in Cities across the country cancelled to remain confined to their houses. Saskatchewan, including Melville, Canada Day events including British The City of Toronto cancelled its The pandemic still continues, but the Wahpeton Dakota Nation, Meadow Columbia and New Brunswick. planned Canada Day fireworks show, recent discovery of so many graves Lake, Flying Dust First Nation, Lac However, the coronavirus situation although private fireworks displays on the soil of Canada has shocked all La Ronge Indian Band, La Ronge is another major factor behind the were allowed. This cancellation is across the country. and Air Ronge have pressed pause cancellation of planned festivities. not only in response to the outcry on the festivities. Melville Mayor Amid COVID-19 restrictions, cities but also part of measures under the There is anger and grief among Walter Streelasky told media there are taking a more sombre approach extension of COVID precautions. many Canadians following the would be events in the community, and ditching the celebrations in discovery of an estimated 751 including fireworks and a parade, solidarity with the Indigenous Canada Day is celebrated on unmarked graves at a former later this year. The City of Toronto people. July 1 every year, marking the 40th Saskatchewan residential school site. announced its commitment in taking anniversary of the official adoption further action to support truth, justice Victoria, British Columbia, was of our national anthem, “O Canada,” This discovery came just weeks and reconciliation. the first city to cancel this year’s and the essential role the Métis after the remains of 215 children events and now others, like Kelowna, Nation played in Manitoba joining were found at another former The East York Canada Day British Columbia, and Belleville, the Confederation 150 years ago. residential school site in British Committee also cancelled all Ontario, have done the same. In The Canada Day celebration at the Columbia. Under the slogan of previously planned events and Ontario, the city of Pickering legislature has taken place since #CancelCanadaDay, many rallies are replacing them with “A call to “shifted the direction of Canada 1967 and has included performances, were organized in British Columbia, our community to use the day for Day activities to focus on education crafts, and a 21-gun salute. Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba thoughtful reflection and a personal reconciliation and reflection,” Mayor on July 1, in solidarity with the examination of what it means to be Dave Ryan announced on June 24.
EU PARLIAMENT PASSES ... Continues from page 1 The resolution, passed on June “increasing restriction of civic space, suspending its funding of training of “terrorist financing” to deny 10, also called on the council to the widespread arbitrary arrests support for Sri Lankan security civil society organizations access to investigate and prosecute war and detention without due process, forces in counterterrorism until the legitimate sources of funding.” crime abuses; spend funding for the targeting of minorities and the Sri Lankan Government fulfils its the training of Sri Lanka’s security increasing militarisation of the commitment to repeal the abusive The resolution followed a wide- forces; and suspend the favourable government.” and draconian Prevention of reaching prohibition of several trading preferences granted by the Terrorism Act. Tamil diaspora and Muslim GSP+ agreement. Mentioning many Sri Lankan organisations, as well as hundreds of officials implicated in war crimes Repeal of the PTA was a key individuals, which were dedicated to The resolution, which comes remain protected from investigation element under the GSP+ agreement; campaigning for human rights. ahead of the council’s next periodic by the Sri Lankan authorities, it also however, despite the failure to repeal GSP+ review in November 2021, was called on the council to consider the bill, the EU reinstated these Expressing concern over the adopted with 628 votes in favour, 15 targeted sanctions. favourable trading agreements with “increasing attacks and arrests of against and 40 abstentions. The EU Sri Lanka in 2017. journalists, academics, and civil resolution also expressed extreme The resolution further expresses society activists,” the resolution alarm at the findings of the UN the need for “a rigorous, impartial The new resolution also called urged Sri Lanka to “take immediate Human Rights Council 2021 report and complete investigation into the for the release of many people steps to ensure their right of freedom noting Sri Lanka is on a path towards 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, and who remain arbitrarily detained of expression are upheld” and urges the recurrence of policies and promptly bring to trial conforming by the state. The resolution further “the EEAS and Commission to practices which previously gave rise to international legal standards those highlighted Sri Lanka’s crackdown intensify support for civil society to grave human rights violations. against whom there is evidence of on civil society and called on and human rights defenders on the responsibility, and release those for the government to “to cease the g rou n d .” They further add “ongoingwhom there is insufficient evidence.” surveillance and intimidation of impunity and lack of justice for members of civil society and human In the resolution, the EU crimes committed during the civil Calling for Sri Lanka to repeal its rights defenders using the terrorism registered its strong opposition to war is a barrier to reconciliation “draconian” Prevention of Terrorism division of the police force and state the death penalty, in all cases and and risks perpetuating a cycle of Act (PTA) and to immediately intelligence services.” without exception” and maintained violence.” suspend the “deradicalization” Sri Lanka must “carry out any regulation, the resolution also called It further urged the government executions and abolish the use of The resolution further highlighted on the Commission to consider to “refrain from using allegations capital punishment in the country.”
US EX-COP SENTENCED ... Continues from page 1 The white, 45-year-old Chauvin States. as he learnt his fate following a trial hundreds of thousands of people gave his “condolences” to the Floyd that captivated the world. Earlier, the poured onto streets across the family in a Minneapolis court, President Joe Biden said: “I don’t court watched a moving video from country and overseas, to demand an without apologising, before Judge know all the circumstances that the late Floyd’s daughter, Gianna end to racism and police brutality. Peter Cahill handed down a lesser were considered, but it seems to me, Floyd. Chauvin’s trial was closely followed sentence on June 26 than the 30 years under the guidelines, that seems to be across the country. the prosecution had sought. appropriate.” Chauvin and three colleagues arrested Floyd, 46, in May 2020 on His lawyer said Chauvin had “This (jail term) is based on your After the sentence was announced, suspicion of having passed a fake followed police procedures in force abuse of a position of trust and chanting marchers with megaphones $20 bill in a store in Minneapolis, at the time and that Floyd’s death was authority and also the particular and motorcycle escorts took over a northern city of around 420,000. due to health problems exacerbated cruelty shown to George Floyd,” some of the city’s busiest blocks They handcuffed him and pinned by drug use. With good behaviour, Cahill told Chauvin, who listened during rush hour. The sentencing him to the ground in the street. Chauvin could serve just two- impassively. was long awaited in Minnesota, with thirds of any prison sentence, with hundreds of people gathering near the Chauvin then knelt on the back of the remaining third on supervised The decision was read at the courthouse into the evening. Many Floyd’s neck for nearly 10 minutes, release. end of a tense hearing in which the said Chauvin should have gotten 30 indifferent to the dying man’s groans court watched a recorded message or 40 years. and to the pleas of distraught passers- The defence will appeal the verdict, by Floyd’s seven-year-old daughter by. The scene, filmed and uploaded by Nelson has said, citing doubts over and heard from Chauvin’s mother. Chauvin, who has been behind a young woman, quickly went viral. the impartiality of some jurors. On The Floyd family’s lawyer called the bars since being convicted on three the eve of sentencing, the judge sentencing a “historic” step towards counts of murder and manslaughter After weeks of home confinement denied the defence’s request for a new racial reconciliation in the United two months ago, wore a light gray suit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trial. voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 5
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TRUDEAU DISCUSSES BORDER WITH BIDEN BUT NO DEAL
CHINA SEEKS PROBE INTO CANADA’S INDIGENOUS CHILDREN’S REMAINS China and its allies called for an alleged mass detention of Uighur independent investigation last month Muslims. into the discovery of the remains of more than 200 Indigenous children Trudeau, condemning what he at a Canadian boarding school last called “the systemic abuse and human Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking after a Group rights violations” in Xinjiang, said a Trudeau said he spoke with US of Seven summit in Britain, on month. The remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, Canadian truth and reconciliation President Joe Biden last month June 13 said he had talked to Biden commission had worked from 2008 about how to lift pandemic-related “about coordinating measures at our were found in British Colombia at the site of the former Kamloops Indian to 2015 to address the mistreatment border restrictions between the borders as both our countries move of the Indigenous population. two countries but made clear no ahead with mass vaccination.” Residential School, a discovery Prime breakthrough has been achieved. Minister Justin Trudeau described as “Where is China’s truth and Canada is resisting calls for the heartbreaking. reconciliation commission? Where US and Canadian business leaders border measures to be relaxed, is their truth? Where is the openness have voiced increasing concern citing the need for more people to “We call for a thorough and impartial investigation into all that Canada has always shown and about the ban on non-essential travel be vaccinated. The United States the responsibility that Canada has in light of COVID-19 that was first is ahead of Canada in terms of cases where crimes were committed against the Indigenous people, taken for the terrible mistakes of the imposed in March 2020 and renewed vaccination totals. past?” Trudeau asked. on a monthly basis since then. The especially children, so as to bring border measures do not affect trade “We will continue to work closely those responsible to justice, and offer “China is not recognising even flows. together on moving forward in the full remedy to victims,” Jiang Duan, that there is a problem … that is why right way, but each of us always will a senior official at China’s mission to Canadians and people from around The border restrictions have put at the forefront the interests the UN in Geneva, told the Human the world are speaking up for people choked off tourism between the and the safety of our own citizens,” Rights Council on June 22. like the Uyghurs,” Trudeau told two countries. Canadian businesses, Trudeau told a televised news reporters in Ottawa. especially airlines and those that conference when asked about the He read the statement on behalf depend on tourism, have been Biden conversation. of countries including Russia, Canada’s residential school lobbying the Liberal government to Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Syria and system, which forcibly separated relax the restrictions. Canada took a “Many countries, like Canada, Venezuela. Canada later delivered Indigenous children from their cautious first step last week, saying continue to say that now is not the a joint statement on behalf of more families, constituted “cultural it was prepared to relax quarantine time to travel,” Trudeau added, than 40 countries calling for access to genocide,” the commission Trudeau protocols for fully vaccinated citizens though he said it is important to China’s Xinjiang region to investigate referenced concluded in 2015. returning home starting in early July. get back to normalcy as quickly as possible. CANADA’S CITIZENSHIP OATH AND CANADA TRUCK DRIVER KILLS GUIDE TO BE AMENDED Indigenous people will soon be These announcements follow the MUSLIM FAMILY OF 4 included in Canada’s citizenship recent findings of the remains of oath, and guide. 215 Indigenous children at a former A man driving a pick-up truck “Let me be clear, this was an act residential school in Kamloops, slammed into and killed four of mass murder perpetrated against Immigration Minister Marco British Columbia. The discovery has members of a Muslim family last Muslims, against Londoners, rooted Mendicino announced the upcoming prompted nationwide outrage, and month in the south of Canada’s in unspeakable hatred,” said Holder. change on June 14. The main more searches. Ontario province, in what police announcement was that Indigenous people could reclaim their traditional Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said was a “premeditated” attack. A Identified as Nathaniel Veltman, name on citizenship and permanent called on Pope Francis to apologize 20-year-old suspect wearing a vest the suspect has been charged with residency documents. In addition, for the atrocities perpetuated by “like body armor” fled the scene four counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Canada committed to updating the the Catholic church in residential after the attack on the evening of citizenship guide to include the role schools. The pope declined to offer June 20 and was arrested at a mall Waight said local authorities are also liaising with federal police and Indigenous peoples have played in an apology. seven kilometers (four miles) from Canada’s history. the intersection in London, Ontario the attorney general about adding Along with the incoming where it happened. “possible terrorism charges.” Mendicino also said the guide amendment to the Oath of According to police, the five family would emphasize the role and stories Citizenship, these changes follow “There is evidence that this of Indigenous peoples, including the Calls to Action of the Truth and members were walking together was a planned, premeditated act, those parts that relate to residential Reconciliation Commission, which along a sidewalk when a black pick- motivated by hate. It is believed that schools. Canada’s residential was founded to inform all Canadians these victims were targeted because up truck “mounted the curb and schools were run mostly by the on what happened in residential they were Muslim,” said Detective struck” them as they waited to cross Catholic church between 1831 and schools. The 94 Calls to Action were Superintendent Paul Waight at a the intersection. Waight offered few 1996. They were sponsored by the introduced in 2015, calling for all news conference. details of the investigation but noted Canadian Government to assimilate levels of government to address the the suspect’s social media postings Indigenous children into Euro- ongoing impact of residential schools The names of the victims were not were reviewed by police. centric Canadian culture. on survivors and their families. released, but they include a 74-year- old woman, a 46-year-old man, a The attack, which brought back An estimated 150,000 First Currently, the bill to amend the 44-year-old woman and a 15-year-old painful memories of a Quebec City Nations, Inuit, and Métis children citizenship oath has passed the girl representing three generations of mosque mass shooting in January attended residential schools. These Senate and awaits royal assent, which the same family, according to London 2017 and a driving rampage in children were taken from their means it is on its way to becoming Mayor Ed Holder. A nine-year-old Toronto that killed 10 people in April families, subjected to abuse, and Canadian law. boy was also hospitalized following 2018, drew swift reactions. thousands died. The exact number is the attack. not known to this day. voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 7
TORONTO POLICE REVEAL DETAILS OF MONTREAL ANNOUNCES ACTION PLAN LARGEST-EVER INTERNATIONAL DRUG BUST TO PROTECT CHINATOWN DISTRICT Toronto police announced last immeasurable,” Ramer said. Montreal announced some concrete and it will be up to businesses to band month the results of its largest- measures last month it will take together as part of that association. ever “international drug takedown.” Police say they believe the drugs to protect the Chinatown district, Investigators say the six-month originated in Mexico and came up following calls from stakeholders The city has also launched a working investigation, dubbed “Project Brisa,” through the United States. In a news that the area is being threatened by group composed of business owners, focused on an international drug- release, investigators said shipping development. Mayor Valérie Plante citizens and local officials from the smuggling ring, which saw more than the drugs was made possible by the said on June 18 the neighbourhood has Chinatown area who will make 1,000 kilograms of drugs including installation of hydraulic traps in tractor significant cultural and heritage value recommendations to the provincial cocaine, crystal meth and pot being trailers, which were in turn able to and needs to be protected. Culture Ministry. For Jimmy Chan, transported between Mexico, California smuggle 100 kilograms in a single a community leader and president of and Canada using modified tractor trip. Not even X-ray scans were able to She said the actions being announced the Chinese Cultural Association, the trailers with hidden compartments. penetrate those traps, police say. were devised in consultation with announcement could not come soon members of the community. The enough. When it comes to protecting Chief James Ramer held a news During the investigation, police consultations took two years and the area’s heritage buildings, he wants conference about the bust on June 22 say they identified a person known as involved more than 500 people. to see the neighbourhood declared a with representatives from the Ontario the “Trap Maker,” who was allegedly designated cultural heritage site by the Provincial Police, York Regional responsible for building the hidden The actions include: increasing province. Police and the Canada Border Services compartments. pedestrian access to the area and improving access to downtown and “These buildings represent the Agency. Ramer told reporters the Collectively, 182 charges have investigation started in November of Old Montreal; adding green space; identity of the Chinese people. been placed with 20 people arrested supporting business owners with the Developers have no right to come and last year, and the quantities of drugs in connection with the investigation, seized are “frankly staggering.” creation of a merchants’ association; take it down and start building high- investigators say. Two people are still and developing social and affordable rises,” he said. “The social cost that this amount being sought. Police estimate the street housing units. of illicit drugs inflicts upon society is value of the seized drugs is more than “Today is the moment for us to do $61 million. Robert Beaudry, city councillor for something. When you own a house, the downtown district of Saint-Jacques, that is your home, you have to protect it. told reporters while the plan includes Chinatown is Chinese people’s home.” the creation of a merchants’ association, TRUDEAU APPOINTS ONTARIO the city will only act as a “facilitator,” MAYOR TO SENATE Bernadette Clement, the mayor of politics at every level,” she said. “I’m Cornwall, Ontario, was appointed to really looking forward to this next KOOTENAY SCHOOL ERASES ROYAL’S Canada’s Senate on June 22 by Prime chapter.” Minister Justin Trudeau, according to a NAME FROM ITS TITLE Clement noted she’ll be joining news release. Also appointed were the Teacher Ki Louie says it felt good of as many as 215 children’s remains former head of the Canadian Labour only a handful of Black senators. She said many people of colour have been when the Central Kootenay school at the former Kamloops Residential Congress, Hassan Yussuff, and James where he works finally ditched its School last month led him to propose Quinn, the current CEO for the port contacting her, wanting to connect this past year, from across Canada “to be name in the interests of reconciliation. the name change on the school’s authority in Saint John, New Brunswick. behalf at the school board meeting. connected to leadership that reflects The former Prince Charles Elected as mayor in 2018, Clement who they are.” His uncle, Robert Louie—who was Secondary School in Creston, British the first ever Indigenous graduate was the first female to become mayor of Columbia, removed the royal family Cornwall and is believed to be the first In a statement posted to her from the school in 1971—says he’s Facebook page, Clement said her member’s name from its exterior proud of his nephew’s achievement. Black female mayor in Ontario. Prior to signage just three days after the being elected mayor she served three appointment “is an incredible honour, which feels both thrilling and wistful.” Kootenay Lake School District voted Today, Louie says he sometimes terms as a city councillor. unanimously to order the deletion. wonders how he managed to graduate Clement, who has been a municipal “Being the mayor of Cornwall was a School District 8 will temporarily amid the anti-Indigenous racism back politician for 15 years and a legal clinic job that spoke to my heart in ways that refer to the school as Creston Valley in the 1960s, and he is thankful for his lawyer for 30, said the bonding between I could not have imagined,” she wrote. Secondary School. alma mater’s name change. mayor and council has been “pretty “It has been most heartening to me to have had little girls tell me that they Meanwhile, district staff will look “It’s a long time coming,” he said. intense” during the pandemic making at a process for a permanent name “The Queen to me was just a fairy tale. it hard to leave her job. She thinks now would run for mayor one day. That is a beautiful thing.” change, according to the school We need something more concrete of is an interesting time for a new senator board’s resolution on June 15. They who the Creston mates can relate to.” to go into the chamber, especially The prime minister’s news release held a ceremony on June 18 to remove someone with a municipal background. describes Clement as someone “who the royal name. There’s no timeline yet for when the new school name will be adopted, but “I’ve always loved government and has devoted much of her life to the betterment of the city.” Louie has been teaching social Louie Jr. says it should be something studies at the school since February inclusive. 2016, eight years after graduating OTTAWA’S LARGEST SCHOOL BOARD there. Louie says his fellow Lower “Something that we’d like to say Kootenay Band members have been is people from different areas of the CUTS TIES WITH POLICE discussing whether the Prince of valley who come to our school can get Wales’s name should be removed behind and benefit from something Ottawa’s largest school board consultation. The item was presented from the school’s title for decades. that’s inclusive, and that’s what we’re will remove school resource officers to the board of trustees for an official looking for—anything that will from all its schools following a nearly decision on the evening of June 24, He says the preliminary discovery represent all of us here,” he said. unanimous vote by the board of trustees and during the meeting, all but one last month. trustee voted in favour of the motion to racism secretariat and Ottawa police A social justice group, Asilu remove resource officers from OCDSB There has been recent pushback recommending the money saved Collective—that includes current and schools. Donna Blackburn, trustee for from removing the SRO program be former Ottawa high school students— against the 20-year-old school resource Barrhaven/Knoxdale-Merivale, was the officer (SRO) program due to reports of redirected to student supports. renewed its call earlier in June to only one who opposed. remove police officers from schools, a strained relationship between officers “We have some of that infrastructure and some students and families. The board of trustees also voted to saying their presence makes students in place. There’s a reason why our of colour and those who are “gender- reduce its involvement with police to schools have social workers, why our In early June, the Ottawa-Carleton the minimum statutory requirement, oppressed” feel scared and anxious. District School Board (OCDSB) schools have psychologists ... direct Asilu’s 32-page report included 125 and to issue a public apology for all connections with community services,” passed a motion to “immediately and harm done because of the program. student testimonials on the harm it completely” end the program after student trustee Joy Liu said during the says the SRO program poses to those The chair of the board will also write meeting, and prior to the vote. nearly a year of debate and public a letter to the City of Ottawa, its anti- groups. PAGE 8 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
VANCOUVER POLICE INVESTIGATE FIGHT SANDY INVOLVING 10 PEOPLE AT ENGLISH BAY AZEVEDO Vancouver police arrested a yelled racial and homophobic slurs at Paralegal man in his 20s in an incident they police. A crowd gathered at English describe as a large fight involving Bay, and people recorded videos of as many as 10 people at English Bay the incident, which are circulating near the seawall on the night of June on social media platforms. A video 18. Three officers were hurt in the shows a young Black man struggling incident. VPD beach patrol officers with police officers before he is taken responded to the incident just before down to the ground and arrested. Employment Law 7 p.m. after receiving 911 calls. They Landlord & Tenant attempted to disperse the crowd, but Vancouver police say the crowd investigators said one person they became larger and more hostile, so Summary Criminal more police were called in to help. GET describe as an aggressor refused to Breach of Contract leave the area. Investigators say three officers were hurt during the incident. One officer Vancouver police spokesperson suffered a significant injury and was HELP Human Rrights Tribunal Sergeant Steve Addison said when taken to the hospital. Small Claims / Litigation officers spoke to the man, he became Addison noted there are a lot of TODAY! hostile, assaulted at least one VPD CPP (CanadaDisability Pension) Appeals and officer and resisted arrest. unanswered questions, including what happened before police “He became extremely hostile, arrived, which may have involved confrontational with the officers, an assault. Police say the suspect, Provincial Offences / Tickets began swearing, yelling, screaming a North Vancouver man in his 20s, and causing a disturbance. So, the was arrested, taken to jail, and then ActionPros Legal officers placed him in handcuffs to released. arrest him for causing a disturbance,” Tel: 416-720-9266 said Addison. Addison said the incident is under investigation and multiple charges COVERING THE Addison said the suspect allegedly could be recommended. WHOLE GTA 751 UNMARKED GRAVES ... [email protected] Continues from page 1 www.actionproslegal.ca
Canada and Indigenous leaders say Canada, Delorme said, and the area is they will find more at other sites. Chief being treated as a crime scene. Cadmus Delorme of the Cowessess TRUDEAU SAYS BORDER RESTRICTIONS First Nation in Saskatchewan said they “We cannot confirm they are all had found at least 600 graves after children, but there are oral stories that WILL BE FURTHER RELAXED radar detected 751 “hits” in a field on there are adults in this gravesite, as the school grounds. w e l l .” “This is not a mass gravesite. These Delorme said the ground- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Canada must hit before it will are unmarked graves,” he said in a penetrating radar technology used to said last month the government is allow Americans and others to news conference on June 22. discover the graves had an error rate of likely to further relax some of the cross the border for non-essential roughly 10 to 15 percent. There were most stringent border measures this purposes. Public Safety Minister Chief Bobby Cameron of the 715 “hits,” which means “at least 600” summer, but Ottawa has no qualms Bill Blair suggested in an interview Federation of Sovereign Indian Nations graves, Delorme explained. about keeping the crossing closed with CBC’s Power and Politics that said the discovery, coupled with the for longer if an influx of travellers Ottawa wants to see 75 percent of recent discovery of the remains of The discovery comes weeks after threatens public health. Canadians fully vaccinated before 215 Indigenous children at the former the remains of 215 children were Kamloops Indian Residential School found at the former Kamloops Indian travel resumes at a more normal Residential School. Prime Minister The federal government said on rate. Some health experts have said in British Columbia, shows “genocide” June 21 fully vaccinated Canadians committed by Canada. Justin Trudeau described that that is an unnecessarily long time discovery as heartbreaking. and permanent residents can skip to wait. The Truth and Reconciliation the mandatory quarantine when Commission of Canada determined Elder Florence Sparver recalled returning from abroad starting the When pressed on how many in 2015 more than 150,000 Indigenous her time at the Marieval boarding night of July 5. A negative PCR test Canadians need to be fully children had been forced into school. She said the Catholic nuns taken 72 hours before departure is vaccinated before travel resumes, residential schools. Cameron said on were “rough” with Indigenous children still required for all travellers, but Trudeau said that’s not the only and barred them from keeping their June 22 there are many burial sites the border will remain shuttered to consideration. He said Canada customs. like at Marieval and Kamloops, and all foreigners — regardless of their will take a gradual and cautious searches will continue. Canada’s history of boarding vaccination status. approach to re-opening and will schools for Indigenous children has not bow to pressure from the U.S. “We will find more bodies, and The continuing closure has we will not stop until we find all our made national news following the or others to “rush” the process. He angered some U.S. lawmakers, children,” he said. Kamloops discovery. Kamloops was said the government prefers to err also administered by the Catholic business interests and Canadians on the side of caution rather than The gravesite at Marieval was church. Pope Francis expressed “pain” eager to reunite with family and throw open the borders before the administered by the Roman Catholic and offered condolences after the friends from south of the border threat of COVID-19 is crushed. church, Delorme said. Over the years, “upsetting discovery of the remains and beyond. Trudeau said on June oral stories from Indigenous elders of 215 children.” However, he did not 22 Canada is prepared to do away While data suggest fully talked of the burials. accept responsibility for his church’s with the almost complete travel ban vaccinated people are well protected actions. “In 1960, there may have been once more people here have been against COVID-19 and severe marks on these graves,” Delorme said. “The pope needs to apologise for fully vaccinated. “We’re talking outcomes, Trudeau said those with what has happened to the Marieval about weeks and not months two doses could still act as vectors, “The Catholic church representatives residential school” to help survivors anymore,” he said. spreading the virus to Canadian removed these headstones, and today and descendants heal, Delorme said. communities. they are unmarked graves.” So far the government has “An apology is one stage of many in refused to say what metrics Removing gravestones is a crime in the healing journey.” voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 9
AT LEAST 600 GRAVES FOUND AT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY HURT OVER INDIGENOUS BOARDING SCHOOL ALLEGATIONS OF FALSE IDENTITY AT QUEEN’S Indigenous faculty and students “As a Native woman, it’s really Cowessess First Nation announced will continue. at Queen’s University said last month difficult to process,” said Pedri- last month the discovery of hundreds the administration has left them in the Spade, who was invited to join of unmarked graves on the grounds “We will find more bodies and we will not stop until we find all our dark as questions grow in response Queen’s last year to help develop a of the former Marieval Indian to an anonymous report alleging six full Indigenous curriculum. Residential School in Saskatchewan, children,” he said. The gravesite at Marieval was administered by the instructors, professors and associates Canada, and Indigenous leaders say falsely claimed Indigenous identity. She said she’s heard from they will find more at other sites. Chief Roman Catholic church, Delorme Indigenous students and members said. Over the years, oral stories The anonymous report circulated Cadmus Delorme of the Cowessess online earlier this month and shortly of her Anishinaabe nation who want First Nation in Saskatchewan said from Indigenous elders talked of the their questions answered. Other burials. after its publication, the university in they had found at least 600 graves Kingston, Ontario, strongly rejected members of the Queen’s community after radar detected 751 “hits” in a “In 1960 there may have been the report’s allegations. say they feel isolated and blame the field on the school grounds. marks on these graves,” Delorme said. administration for rallying around “The Catholic church representatives That rejection was then met by the accused. “This is not a mass gravesite. an open letter signed by nearly 100 These are unmarked graves,” he said removed these headstones, and today “No one is helping us. ... There they are unmarked graves.” Indigenous academics calling on the in a news conference on June 22. university to examine the potential hasn’t been any real interest, or Removing gravestones is a crime harm of misrepresentation among intent, or action towards supporting Chief Bobby Cameron of the students who may feel incredibly Federation of Sovereign Indian in Canada, Delorme said, and the faculty and staff. Wendy Jocko, chief area is being treated as a crime of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagn betrayed right now,” said PhD Nations said the discovery, coupled candidate Geraldine King. with the recent discovery of the scene. Delorme said the ground- First Nation and Albert Dumont, an remains of 215 Indigenous children penetrating radar technology used to Algonquin poet, storyteller, and artist In a written statement, at the former Kamloops Indian discover the graves had an error rate who was recently named the city Kanonhsyonne Janice Hill from Residential School in British of roughly 10 to 15 percent. There of Ottawa’s English-language poet Queen’s said the school understands Columbia, shows “genocide” were 715 “hits,” which means “at least laureate, also signed the petition. how the situation has impacted many 600” graves, Delorme explained. committed by Canada. Celeste Pedri-Spade, one of the in the Indigenous community. The Truth and Reconciliation The discovery comes weeks after academics who signed the letter, says “Our initial actions focused on Commission of Canada determined the remains of 215 children were the recent events have devastated supporting those specifically named in 2015 more than 150,000 found at the former Kamloops her, and none of the university’s in the anonymous document. Indigenous children had been forced Indian Residential School. Prime administration has reached out to However, the Indigenous Elders into residential schools. Cameron Minister Justin Trudeau described answer questions on the issue. None on campus have offered support to said there are many burial sites like at that discovery as heartbreaking. of the six people accused in the report anyone affected if people chose to Marieval and Kamloops and searches have publicly denied the allegations reach out,” Hill said. questioning their identity. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLEDGES $12.5 MILLION TO REMOTE N.W.T. COMMUNITIES The federal government in resupply of food and medical Each province and territory Territories’s minister of finance, Canada is giving an additional supplies, it said. The funds are on with remote communities receives wrote the “plunge in air travel $12.5 million to the Government top of $17.1 million provided to a fixed amount of funding under demand” due to COVID-19 has of the Northwest Territories to help the territorial government in 2020 the Remote Air Services Program. put a “harsh financial burden” on a support essential air services for its to maintain essential air services to Each jurisdiction is responsible critical northern industry. remote communities. It’s meant to remote communities. for allocating the funds to help maintain “minimum levels of specific carriers. In the Northwest “We want to provide relief for this air transportation services” to those “Our government understands Territories there are 22 communities important industry as it struggles communities to ensure “continued the importance of reliable air considered remote under the to remain in operation and as the access to essential goods and services in sustaining the social program’s agreement because they Northwest Territories continues to services,” the federal government and economic well-being of our rely on air services as their only depend on them for commerce and said in a news release on June 22. northern and remote communities,” year-round mode of transportation. connectivity,” she said. wrote Omar Alghabra, the minister That includes communityof transport. Caroline Wawzonek, Northwest TRAINING PROGRAM TO ACCELERATE GENDER EQUITY IN MUSIC PRODUCTION A national training program “I didn’t think I would get in, Margaret McGuffin, the CEO is already underway, come from a has been launched to increase honestly, because I know how much of Music Publishers Canada, said range of backgrounds. the representation of women and talent there is out there in Canada,” the organization wanted to take On top of the technical skills gender non-conforming people in Noble told CBC’s Weekend the lead in providing more women needed behind the board, they’ll music production roles. The Women Morning Show on June 19. and gender non-confirming artists learn everything from the financial in the Studio National Accelerator with the skills and production Noble said she’s had a hand in literacy needed to run their own program put on by Music Publishers community they need to move small production business to how Canada selected 10 female and producing most of her own music forward. over the course of her career, and to create a brand for themselves as gender non-confirming producers producers, she said. from across the country including she’s excited to step further into Noble said she’s wanted to get two from Manitoba. the role of producer by helping more into production for years but Another important aspect of the other artists bring their music to hasn’t gotten many chances to learn. program is the sense of community Winnipeg singer-songwriter and life. Winnipeg-based artist Lana “Not very many people seem it creates and the increased fiddler Sierra Noble said she was Winterhalt was also selected for representation of women and “beyond thrilled” to be one of the the program, which launched willing to teach women to step into those roles,” Noble said. gender non-conforming people in few people chosen for this year’s regionally in 2019 and expanded music it will introduce. cohort. nationally last year. McGuffin said participants in this year’s virtual program, which PAGE 10 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
MALDIVES FOREIGN MINISTER ELECTED UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT
Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid by the pandemic and by climate of the Maldives won an election as change, which threatens people’s the next president of the United lives and livelihoods, Bozkir said. Nations General Assembly. Shahid pledged to push for equal access Shahid, 59, said he was “deeply to coronavirus vaccines, a stronger humbled” by the trust shown by the and greener economic recovery, and UN members and the honour given FREED US JOURNALIST TORTURED IN MYANMAR stepped-up efforts to tackle climate to his island nation of 26 atolls, change. with a population of about 550,000, Myanmar security forces Aung San Suu Kyi in February. which lies in the Indian Ocean punched, slapped, and beat He defeated a former Afghan southwest of Sri Lanka and India. a US journalist and kept him Myanmar’s military has said Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul, in blindfolded for more than a week detainees are being treated in a 143-48 vote by secret ballot, with Saying he has “an undying belief accordance with the law, but as the in multilateralism with an ardent of interrogation, he said after being two of the assembly’s 193 member deported to the United States military struggles to consolidate nations abstaining. Diplomats from desire to serve the international control over a country in revolt, it community,” Shahid said his aim following three months in detention. member nations, all wearing masks Nathan Maung, 44, editor-in- has arrested journalists and begun because of the pandemic, were is to launch “a presidency of hope” to target lawyers defending political and “to hit the ground running on chief of the online news platform called to the front of the assembly Kamayut Media, was detained on prisoners. Security forces in chamber one by one to deposit their day one in September as soon as I Myanmar have arbitrarily detained take my oath of office.” March 9 in a raid and freed on June ballot in a large wooden box. 15. His colleague Hanthar Nyein, thousands who rebelled against the military coup in February and Turkey’s Volkan Bozkir, the “This is a crucial time for the who remains in detention, had been United Nations and for the world,” tortured more harshly, as had other subjected many to torture, beatings, current assembly president, said and ill-treatment, according to a Shahid brings to the job åextensive Shahid said. “There is very little people he met in prison, Maung time to spare.” He pointed to the said. June 22 report by Human Rights experience in multilateral Watch. diplomacy,” serving his Indian past year’s “disease, despair and devastation” as a result of the “They kicked our faces, hands Ocean island nation twice as foreign and shoulders, all the time,” Maung, “The first three to four days were minister and for 10 years before pandemic, along with increasing the worst,” Maung told Reuters in a “inequality, injustice and instability” who was born in Myanmar, told that as chief of staff to the president. CNN. “For every answer, they telephone interview from Virginia. Shahid has been “a strong voice and the “suffering” of the planet “I was punched and slapped several from climate change. beat us. Whatever we answered— in calling attention to the impact whether correctly or incorrectly-- times. No matter what I said, on small island developing states” they beat us for three days, nonstop.” they just beat me. They used both their hands to slap my eardrums A military spokesman did not many times. They punched my HINDU GROUP FILES CASE AGAINST TWITTER respond to a request by the Reuters cheekbones on both sides. They news agency for comment on the punched my shoulders. I was not OVER “DISTORTED” INDIA MAP account by Maung, which echoes allowed to stand up. My legs were those of some of the thousands of swollen. I could not move anymore,” A Hindu group filed a not immediately respond to a others who have been detained since he said. complaint with police against request for comment. the Army overthrew elected leader Twitter’s country head for showing regions outside a Maheshwari was summoned map of India on its website, earlier this month by the police SRI LANKA EYES TOUGHER IMPORT CONTROLS kickstarting an investigation in Uttar Pradesh for failing into a fresh headache for to stop the spread of a video Last month Sri Lanka’s central he added. the United States-based that allegedly incited religious bank called for further import Sri Lanka had already banned social media firm. A map on discord. Maheshwari won restrictions to address a crippling luxury goods and car imports since Twitter’s careers page showed relief from a court in that case. foreign exchange crisis, following a string of loans from Asian last year to combat the outflow the Indian-administered India’s Information and of foreign currency. The ban, first Kashmir region, including the neighbours including impoverished Technology Minister Ravi Bangladesh. The island nation’s imposed in March last year, applied Himalayan enclave of Ladakh, Shankar Prasad has accused foreign exchange reserves were to tumeric--a staple in local curries, outside India. The disputed the social media company badly hit last year as the COVID-19 tiles, toilets, tyres, cosmetics, vehicle region is claimed by both India of not abiding by Indian pandemic hit, and the local currency spare parts, electronic and electrical and Pakistan. rules and denying him access came under intense pressure and appliances. fell to a record low. The map provoked anto his Twitter account. To The country’s foreign reserves comply with rules that came outcry on social media this International rating agencies are currently at $4 billion, down week that comes amid strained into effect in May, companies have since expressed Colombo from $7.8 billion in late 2019 relations between Twitter such as Twitter must appoint would not be able to service its huge when the government of President and New Delhi over the a chief compliance officer, a foreign debt. The Central Bank of Gotabaya Rajapaksa came into power and promised robust growth. firm’s compliance with India’s grievance officer and another Sri Lanka tightened its controls The economy shrank by a record new IT rules. The complaint executive who will liaise with on dollar sales last month leading law enforcement and the commercial financial institutions 3.6 percent last year--the worst accuses Twitter’s India boss, downturn since independence from Manish Maheshwari and government on legal requests. to impose quotas on importers of essential commodities. Britain in 1948--as the pandemic another company executive LinkedIn job postings show wiped out the island’s lucrative of breaching the country’s IT the three positions are open at Central bank governor W. D. tourism sector. rules and laws designed to Twitter. Lakshman said more restrictions prevent enmity and hatred were needed. Lakshman said Sri Lanka would between classes. A senior government continue to meet its debt service official previously told the “What the central bank is doing obligations amounting to $3.6 now with the participation of all billion in the next six months. Sri “This has hurt my sentiments Reuters news agency Twitter and those of the people of commercial banks is judicious Lanka has borrowed heavily over may no longer be eligible to management of imports and foreign the years. Some of the debt was India,” Praveen Bhati, a leader seek liability exemptions as of the far-right group Bajrang reserves,” Lakshman said in a used to finance vanity projects like an intermediary or the host of statement on June 28. massive convention centres and Dal in the northern state of user content in India due to its other infrastructures that have Uttar Pradesh, said in the police failure to comply with the new The bank was “of the view that become white elephants. complaint. He also called it IT rules. there is further space to curtail non- an act of treason. Twitter did essential and non-urgent imports,” voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 11
DEADLY BLAST NEAR RESIDENCE OF UNHRC CORE GROUP DECRIES SL’S LACK ARMED GROUP FOUNDER IN PAKISTAN OF PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS The UNHRC Core Group for Sri Prevention of Terrorism Act and Pakistan’s national security the region who professes to prefer Lanka expressed concern and regret the recent intention to introduce adviser has criticized regional peace in Afghanistan does so in last month over the lack of progress a rehabilitation process lacking “spoilers” he accuses of attempting reality,” his office said. on human rights, with a number of adequate judicial oversight. Human to derail the Afghan peace further concerning developments. rights lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah, process, while condemning “state A joint declaration signed by Delivering the statement on and poet and teacher Ahnaf terrorism against people under all participants affirmed “one of behalf of Canada, Germany, North Jazeem, remain detained without illegal occupation,” a thinly veiled the key factors in maintaining Macedonia, Malawi, Montenegro trial, and further arrests under dig at eastern neighbour and long peace, security and stability in and the UK, the Core Group on this Act have continued, including time rival, India. the SCO region is the earliest Sri Lanka on June 22 referred to among minority communities and possible settlement of the the UN Human Rights Council the political opposition.” Speaking at a meeting of national situation in Afghanistan and the resolution 46/1 which called upon security advisers of the Shanghai establishment of a lasting peace in the Sri Lankan Government to It also expressed concern over the Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this country.” address the harmful legacies of restrictions on memorialisation. in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, war and to protect human rights, “We join the Bar Association of Sri Relations between India and Moeed Yusuf said achieving peace including for those from religious Lanka in requesting independent Pakistan have remained virtually in Afghanistan was the region’s minorities. and impartial investigations into most immediate priority. frozen since February 2019 when a recent deaths in police custody.” bombing in Indian-administered “We regret the lack of progress “Failure to attain peace Kashmir killed more than 40 on these issues, with a number of The Core Group said via the in Afghanistan [is] the most security personnel in an attack further concerning developments,” statement it encourages Sri Lanka immediate challenge facing [the] India blamed on a Pakistan-based the statement said. It said the Sri to cooperate with the Council and SCO today,” a statement issued armed group. Lankan Government had attempted OHCHR in relation to resolution by Yusuf’s office quoted him as to dismiss many emblematic 46/1 and stand ready to support The ensuing standoff saw the telling the meeting of NSAs from cases and had initiated criminal this. The Core Group statement nuclear-armed countries conduct eight countries, including India, proceedings against individuals comes a day after UN Rights air attacks on each others’ territory, Russia, and China. pursuing some of these cases. “This Chief Michelle Bachelet told the a situation that was only defused counters the Council’s call for opening of the UN Human Rights The meeting was also attended after Pakistan returned an Indian prompt, thorough and impartial Council’s 47th session she was by SCO Secretary-General fighter pilot whose jet had been investigations. We call for former concerned by further government Vladimir Norov. shot down by the Pakistani Air CID Director Shani Abeysekara’s measures perceived as targeting Force. Yusuf repeated accusations Muslims, and by the harassment of Yusuf “cautioned against safety to be ensured,” it said. that Pakistan was facing attacks Tamils, including in the context of spoilers, both within and sponsored from abroad, without “We are deeply concerned commemoration events for those outside Afghanistan,” adding naming India on this occasion. about the ongoing use of the who died at the end of the war. “unfortunately, not everyone in
VENTILATOR BANK BOOSTS COVID FIGHT IN TAMIL NADU CHIEF MINISTER DEMANDS NEPAL’S RURAL HOSPITALS EQUALITY FOR EELAM TAMILS A ventilator “bank” where machines like ventilators,” the hospitals can rent critical care group’s co-founder, 42-year-old Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, centre. According to the Indian machines for COVID-19 patients doctor Bishal Dhakal, told AFP M.K. Stalin, met last month with Government, over 90,000 Eelam has given Nepal’s cash-strapped news agency. healthcare system a much-needed India’s Prime Minister and the Tamil refugees reside in India. “It does not have even required leader of the main opposition lifeline. The Himalayan nation, like its South Asian neighbours, numbers, which is about 2,000 to party, Sonia Gandhi, to put forward India’s controversial Citizen experienced a spike in infections 3,000 machines for a 30-million the demands of Tamil Nadu. One Amendment Act (CAA), which in April and May with hospitals population of Nepal.” of the key demands discussed in passed in 2019, excluded Eelam Tamils from securing citizenship overwhelmed and medical supplies The heart surgeon turned the meetings was: “Eelam Tamils running low. to have equal civil and political and effectively leaving them in general practitioner reached out to rights.” a state of limbo. The act was Since the infectious disease donors for funding in April last year supported by all 11 All India Anna started to spread across the and money poured in, allowing the These meetings followDravida Munnetra Kazhagam impoverished nation a year ago, organisation to buy 20 ventilators discussions between Tamil (AIADMK) members in the Rajya Nepal only has had 840 ventilators to rent out to hospitals at cost. National Alliance and India’s High Sabha and passed with 125 MPs for a population of nearly 30 Bhim Hospital in the country’s Commissioner for Sri Lanka. voting in favour and 99 against. The million, according to government south, which had one ventilator, During the discussions, India’s 23rd demand of the referendum data. borrowed two from Dhakal’s group High Commission tweeted: “The calls for a repeal of the CAA. in August for three months. Most of the ventilators, needed meetings follow a landmark EU “Our patients needed ventilators, resolution that slammed the Listed in the memorandum to help severely ill COVID-19 of demands presented to Prime patients breathe, were in the capital, but we did not have enough deterioration of human rights in budget to immediately buy any,” Sri Lanka and noted called on Minister Modi, was also concern Kathmandu, leaving regional and over the “traditional fishingrural hospitals vulnerable. the government hospital’s medical the European Council to consider superintendent, Shakuntala Gupta, sanctions and repealing GSP+ rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen” and a demand for a “retrieval of While daily infections have told AFP. “The bureaucratic process trading agreements. In the US, declined from a peak of more than for an approval is also long.” Katchatheevu.” Congresswoman Deborah Ross 9,000 cases in mid-May, authorities Since then the ventilators have has introduced a bipartisan house The rights of Tamil fishermen say hospitals remain under pressure. been used for nearly 1,500 patients resolution calling for an “effective in both Tamil Nadu and across Nepal Ventilator Services, a across the country. Hospitals are international mechanism for the Northeast have come under accountability.” non-profit that has bought 85 of charged 3,000 rupees ($25) per threat by the Sri Lankan Navy, those machines through donations day to cover maintenance and On June 17, Eelam Tamil which has curbed their fishing since the start of the pandemic last transportation costs. Karuna refugees went on a protest in rights. Increasingly Tamil Nadu year, has helped meet the surge in Hospital in Kathmandu, which has Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu for fishermen who make the perilous demand. been renting eight ventilators since the 9th consecutive day demanding journey are arrested and beaten by April this year, said the “bank” was “Nepal is chronically, their release from the detention Sri Lanka’s Navy. life saving. insufficiently equipped with PAGE 12 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
SL’S MARINE DISASTER WORSENS BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AS ENVIRONMENTAL TOLL RISES PASS BHUTAN’S CUSTOMS BILL
Damage to Sri Lanka’s marine They include a blue whale carcass environment from a sinking chemical found off the northern Jaffna ship is worse than feared, officials peninsula, about 400 kilometres (250 said on June 25, as more dead turtles, miles) north of Colombo. dolphins and whales washed up on the island’s beaches. As of June 24, at least The Singapore-registered ship was 130 marine animals had been found known to be carrying 81 containers dead on the Indian Ocean’s beaches of hazardous chemicals, including since the MV X-Press caught fire last 25 tonnes of nitric acid, when it month before partially sinking off the caught fire. Around 1,200 tonnes of coast after two weeks ablaze. tiny plastic pellets and other debris that blanketed beaches have been Sri Lanka’s government believes scooped up and are being stored in they were killed by the hundreds 45 shipping containers. The two Houses of the Parliament enjoying a zero percent duty under of tonnes of chemicals and plastics have passed the Customs Bill 2021, the Fiscal Incentives Act. leaking from the ship. Sri Lanka is seeking $40 million in damages from the ship’s operators which reduces the customs duty, an indirect tax levied on third-country NC members stated making “At least six turtle carcasses X-Press Feeders. Local police have electrical fencing items more washed up along the western coast on launched a criminal probe against imports, to a uniform rate of 10 percent. The National Assembly (NA) accessible and cheaper would not Thursday (June 24) alone,” a wildlife the ship’s captain, chief engineer, only protect farmers’ crops from official said. chief officer and its local agent. during the re-deliberation of the bill decided to retain the existing customs wildlife but also enhance agriculture He said they had also received Environmentalists are also suing duty of 50 percent on doma (betel productivity. These were the only two the first report of a shoal of reef fish the government and the owners nut) although it had earlier reduced of 12 recommendations from the NC dying at Hikkaduwa, a southern for allegedly failing to prevent the to 10 percent. that the NA accepted. tourist resort area known for its rich disaster. Around 200 container ships The Customs Bill covers more coral reefs. and oil tankers sail past Sri Lanka The NA reversed its earlier decision to encourage farmers to than 500 goods including medical every day on the busy routes between equipment, agriculture, and “So far we have collected the Asia, the Middle East and Europe. grow betel nut on the upper house’s carcasses of 115 turtles, 15 dolphins recommendation. According to the education-related products. The Many dock in Colombo, the largest customs duty on vehicles, alcohol, and five whales,” the official said, transhipment hub in South Asia. National Council (NC), the reduction asking not to be named. of the duty on the agricultural product tobacco, gold and silver will remain would impact farmers. Members also unchanged. reasoned many advanced countries In the case of goods imported maintain tariff and provide subsidies within the South Asian Free Trade UN RIGHTS CHIEF CONCERNED OVER to protect their local farmers. Area (SAFTA), the customs duty HARASSMENT OF TAMILS AND MUSLIMS The House also reduced the duty is levied based on the preferential on electric fence energisers to zero tariff rates as agreed by the member percent from the existing rate of 10 countries. The NC had also percent as recommended by the NC. recommended retaining the existing Finance Minister Namgay Tshering duty of 10 percent on jalings, lingms, said the materials were already pipis, kongthas and dhoongs from the proposed rate of zero percent.
FITCH WARNS SRI LANKA’S BANKS FACE INCREASED RISKS
Fitch Ratings has warned ending December 2020, due to concerns the suspension on Sri Lankan about the pressure on the domestic bank investments in international foreign-exchange market through sovereign bonds (ISBS) could lead dollar outflows.” UN High Commissioner for Office for Reparations.” to increased bank exposure to sovereign and foreign-currency Fitch further notes its expectation Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Sri Lanka banks would “continue raised concerns last month over the The UN official also expressed funding and liquidity risks. The concerns over the attempts of the Sri dire state of Sri Lanka’s banks is to face difficulties in accessing targeting of Muslims and harassment foreign-currency funding due to of Tamils by the Sri Lankan Lankan Government “to discourage highlighted in Fitch’s statement investigations into past crimes,” which notes an estimated third of the sovereign’s low credit rating.” It Government, as she opened the 47th goes on to highlight the decline in session of the UN Human Rights which “are further undermining bank assets were exposed to the central government at the end of the borrowing of an estimated 881 Council in Geneva. Commenting victims’ trust.” 2020 and face threats “foreign- billion LKR in the first quarter of on the deterioration of human rights Bachelet further criticized Sri currency risks, including through 2021. in Sri Lanka on June 21, Bachelet Lanka’s recent counter-terrorism their US dollar-denominated ISB highlighted the “harassment of Earlier this year, the World legislation including the widespread investments.” Bank published a detailed report Tamils, including in the context of prohibition on over “300 Tamil and commemoration events for those On 16 June the Central Bank on the economic crisis Sri Lanka Muslim groups and individuals faces. In the last year, the country who died at the end of the war.” for alleged support of terrorism.” of Sri Lanka (CBSL) revoked the previous indefinite suspensionexperienced its worst growth rate The statement follows a brutal She maintained this “will also not on record, contracting 3.6 percent advance reconciliation.” on investments in ISBs by banks. crackdown and surveillance of Whilst permitted in the secondary throughout 2020, with a massive 16.4 percent contraction in the Tamil civilians and politicians The Human Rights Highmarket, banks must prove their second quarter alone. Economic commemorating Mullaivaikkal Commissioner further mentioned “a investment is funded by fresh Remembrance Day, also known as overseas borrowings. recovery, the World Bank notes, continuing series of deaths in police will be reliant upon foreign direct Genocide Remembrance Day. In custody” in the context of alleged her statement, Bachelet also raised Fitch writes: “Sri Lankan banks investment and normalising gangs. She called for all these deaths had invested heavily in ISBs, tourism. concerns over “recent appointments to be promptly and independently to the Office of Missing Persons and which prompted the CBSL to halt investigated. investments in ISBs by banks from voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 13
BIDEN PLEDGES US SUPPORT TO DEATH ROW INMATES IN SL PROTEST EMBATTLED AFGHAN LEADERS PARDON GRANTED TO EX-MP United States President Joe Biden their efforts to “bring about unity About 150 death row inmates in and had been sentenced to death over met with Afghan leaders Ashraf among Afghan leaders across the Sri Lanka went on a hunger strike the murder of a rival politician from Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah at b o ard .” last month to demand their sentences his own party in an election-related the White House to demonstrate be commuted after the island attack about 10 years ago. “The Afghans are gonna have to a continuing US commitment to nation’s president pardoned a former decide their future, what they want. Afghanistan as US troops withdraw. legislator who had been condemned The hunger strike involved about And it won’t be for a lack of us being to death for an election-related killing. 150 inmates sentenced to death who “The partnership betweenhelp,” Biden said. Several inmates protested on the roof were demanding their sentences Afghanistan and the United States be commuted to life terms, prison Ghani offered thanks to American of a prison in the capital, Colombo, is not ending,” Biden said in an spokesman Chandana Ekanayake troops and their families for sacrifices holding up banners demanding equal Oval Office meeting with Ghani and said. Meanwhile, the United Nation’s in Afghanistan over the past 20 years treatment and bail consideration, the Abdullah. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) but suggested the war-torn country Associated Press reported on June 25. and US ambassador for Sri Lanka “It is going to be sustained, and now stands on the precipice of civil “Grant pardon to us like you did to condemned the pardoning of you know, our troops are going war. terrorists and notorious politicians,” convicted murderer Duminda Silva. to be leaving, but our support for “It is a choice of values, the one banner said in local script. Afghanistan is not ending,” Biden The UN human rights office said values of an inclusionary system or said. The former legislator, Duminda Silva’s case “is another example exclusionary,” Ghani said, adding Silva’s surprise release on June 24 of selective, arbitrary granting of The bulk of about 4,000 US Afghan Government forces were after he was pardoned by President pardons that weakens rule of law soldiers now in Afghanistan will be pushing back Taliban fighters from Gotabaya Rajapaksa has drawn and undermines accountability.” US moved out in the next two weeks, and contested areas. widespread criticism, including Ambassador Alaina B Teplitz said in the US expects to remove American from the United Nations’ human a tweet on June 24 the pardon of Silva and coalition commanders by July 4, “We’re determined to have unity, rights office and the United States “undermines rule of law.” ahead of schedule, according to The coherence, a national sense of sacrifice and will not spare anything,” ambassador in Sri Lanka. Associated Press. In brief remarks Sri Lanka has not hanged a Ghani said. “You will see that with in front of media at the top of the Silva is widely seen as a favourite prisoner since 1976 even though determination, with unity, and with meeting, Biden praised Ghani and of Sri Lanka’s ruling Rajapaksa family courts routinely pass death sentences. Abdullah for their “difficult jobs” and the partnership, we will overcome all odds.” TNA MP WELCOMES RELEASE OF LTTE SUSPECTS
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) should take steps to release the In the end, as a result of all these the government and the President parliamentarian S. Sridharan has other Tamil political prisoners as demands, a separate voluntary will intervene in the problems of welcomed the release of 16 LTTE well. movement for the release of the Tamil people. The MP further suspects. Addressing the media on these prisoners emerged. The said requests were made to release “The issue of releasing Tamil June 26, the TNA lawmaker from government took steps to release a prisoner called Sudaharan in political prisoners became a slogan Kilinochchi said the release of the 16 Tamil political prisoners,” he Kilinochchi during the previous of the Tamil National Alliance as LTTE suspects demonstrates the said. regime. Yet, the good governance the struggle continued as a party, government is paying attention to did not take action, and the the relatives of the Tamil political He also pointed out this the needs of the Tamil community. prisoner died, leaving his wife and prisoners organized separately. incident can be cited as an example He further said the government two children behind.
NEW RESTRICTIONS PLACED TO CONTAIN COVID DELTA VARIANT Authorities in several countries outbreaks” in Australia, announced than the original virus first detected vaccinated – the lowest ratio globally. are racing to contain the spread a three-day suspension of its in late 2019. of the highly contagious Delta quarantine-free travel arrangement In South Africa, the continent’s variant of the coronavirus. While with its larger neighbour. Experts say Delta spreads more worst-hit country, scientists said on vaccination campaigns have brought easily because of mutations that help June 26 the Delta variant appeared down infections in mostly wealthy In Indonesia, President Joko it latch onto cells in the body. While to be dominating new infections. On nations, the rise of the Delta variant Widodo said the country of 270 several studies have shown that June 25, authorities registered 18,000 has stoked fears of new waves of a million people was facing an vaccines are slightly less effective new cases. “extraordinary situation” and against Delta, they are still highly virus that has already killed nearly In Europe, however, some four million people. pledged to respond with “quick and effective but only after the second appropriate policies.” The country dose. countries announced the lifting “There is currently a lot of concern recorded more than 21,000 new of restrictions even as scientists about the Delta variant,” World infections on June 26, the highest Israel, which has one of the have warned Delta was expected to Health Organization (WHO) chief daily tally yet. world’s most successful vaccination account for 90 percent of all new Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a campaigns, has seen infections cases in the European Union by the news briefing on June 25. Delta, which was first identified linked to the variant surge since end of August. in India in April, is so contagious dropping a requirement to wear “Delta is the most transmissible experts say more than 80 percent masks in enclosed public places Canada projects COVID-19 of the variants identified so far, of a population would need to around mid-June. After four days of infections will decline rapidly over has been identified in at least 85 be inoculated in order to contain more than 100 new cases a day, the the next two months, but the more countries and is spreading rapidly it – a challenging target even for health ministry has now reversed contagious Delta variant risks among unvaccinated populations.” nations with significant vaccination that decision. causing a greater-than-expected programmes. The variant is now resurgence of cases later this year, Australia’s largest city, Sydney, responsible for more than 90 percent Elsewhere, the Africa Centres public health officials said on June meanwhile, entered a two-week of all new infections in the United for Disease Control and Prevention 25. lockdown, with people ordered to warned infections were also surging Kingdom and about 30 percent in The Delta variant is driving up stay home except for essential trips. the United States. at an alarming rate in at least 12 Sydney’s new restrictions apply to countries in Africa, with the Delta cases again in Britain, Tam noted, some five million people, along with European scientists estimate Delta variant leading to unprecedented urging further vaccine uptake by hundreds of thousands of others is 40 to 60 percent more contagious hospitalisations. Canadians, which she said could help living in nearby towns. than the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), first counteract the effect of the variant. discovered in the United Kingdom, According to the WHO, only New Zealand, citing “multiple which itself was more infectious one percent of Africans are fully PAGE 14 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
BIDEN SIGNS BILL MAKING JUNETEENTH A FEDERAL HOLIDAY GLOBAL NEWS
NICARAGUA MUST STOP ATTACKING President Joe Biden signed Southern states. It’s the first new HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS legislation last month establishing a federal holiday since Martin Luther new federal holiday commemorating King Jr. Day was created in 1983. An independent UN expert island in Lake Nicaragua. Despite the end of slavery, saying he believes last month deplored a recent spate identifying as a woman, Ms. Cruz it will go down as one of the greatest The White House moved quickly of attacks against human rights was held in an all-male prison, honors he has as president. On June after the House debated the bill and defenders in Nicaragua and called which exposed her to sexual assault 17 Biden signed into law a bill to then voted for it. The vote comes for the government to immediately and verbal violence. She was released make Juneteenth, or June 19, the as lawmakers struggle to overcome halt them. more than a year later, on April 25. 12th federal holiday. The House divisions on police reform legislation following the killing of George “Nicaragua must not criminalise The UN expert also drew voted 415-14 on Wednesday to send legitimate practices such as attention to John Christopher Cerna the bill to Biden, while the Senate Floyd by police and as Republican state legislators push what experts participation in peaceful protests,” Zúñiga, another defender who has passed the bill unanimously the day said Mary Lawlor, UN Special reportedly suffered ill treatment before. say is an unprecedented number of bills aimed at restricting access to Rapporteur regarding human rights in prison. The student leader was “This is a day of profound weight the ballot box. defenders on June 3. arrested in February 2020 and and profound power, a day in which sentenced to 12 years in prison on While Republicans say the goal is A new rash of attacks and arrests the allegedly trumped-up charges of we remember the moral stain, the have followed the third anniversary terrible toll that slavery took on to prevent voter fraud, Democrats drug trafficking – aimed to prevent contend the measures are aimed of widespread protests that broke him from working as a human rights the country and continues to take,” out in April 2018 over planned social Biden said. at undermining minority voting defender. rights. Several members of the security reforms, and a lack of state Juneteenth commemorates June Congressional Black Caucus went response to a fire in the Indio Maíz Reports received indicate they 19, 1865, when Union soldiers to the floor to speak in favor of the Nature Reserve. Violent repression were both ill-treated in prison, brought the news of freedom to bill. Representative Bonnie Watson by security forces of protesters, led denied medical care, attacked and enslaved Black people in Galveston, Coleman, D-N.J., said she viewed to further unrest. sexually assaulted. Moreover, Texas—two months after theJuneteenth as a commemoration people who protest against the “The state should refrain from government are put into maximum Confederacy had surrendered. rather than a celebration because initiating criminal proceedings That was also about two-and-a- it represented something that was security cells with increased based on generic or disproportionate surveillance, searches and isolation. half years after the Emancipation delayed in happening. charges,” she said. Proclamation freed slaves in the Nicaraguan human rights defenders The April anniversary has often are still trying to obtain justice and been a flashpoint, including in the reparations for those killed during 111 YEMEN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL case of Celia Cruz, a trans woman the 2018 protests, which Ms. Lawlor and human rights defender, who called particularly important ahead FIGHTERS KILLED IN MARIB IN THREE DAYS was detained on April 21 of last year of general elections scheduled for Clashes between rebels and but the battle has also raised fears following protests in Ometepe, an November. Yemeni Government fighters killed of a humanitarian catastrophe, as at least 111 in Marib in three days, many Yemenis had fled to the area pro-government sources said, to escape fighting in other parts of ABORIGINAL REMAINS BROUGHT HOME following a renewed offensive by the country. Huthi insurgents. The Iran-allied AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY insurgents escalated their efforts to Yemen’s conflict flared in 2014 seize Marib, the government’s last when the Huthis seized the capital A burial ceremony was performed included in those ceremonies.” she stronghold in northern Yemen, in Sanaa, prompting the Saudi- on Anaiwan Country for the skulls of a said. led intervention to prop up the man and woman that were repatriated February, and the fighting has killed “It was agreed that we would view hundreds on both sides. government the following year. from the University of Edinburgh. While the UN and Washington Skeletal remains of two Aboriginal her as our sister, as our mother, as our The fighting between June 24 and are pushing for an end to the war, ancestors had been returned to daughter because we’ve all got the same June 27 killed 29 pro-government the Huthis have demanded the re- Northern New South Wales after they DNA. She still has the spirit of Anaiwan personnel and at least 82 rebels, opening of Sanaa Airport, closed were taken more than one hundred women, and we chose to name her three pro-government sources under a Saudi blockade since 2016, years ago. Bawa, which means sister.” she said. told AFP. Rebel forces have not before any ceasefire or negotiations. Anaiwan descendant and University confirmed the toll. The skull of a man, sent to Scotland As well as the bloody offensive for research in the 1880s and one of a of New England Aboriginal cultural Yemeni government officialsin Marib, the Huthis have also woman were returned to the Anaiwan advisor Steven Ahoy said while said since June 24, the Huthis had stepped-up drone and missile people and laid to rest in the Booroolong the repatriation of the remains is mounted intensive attacks from strikes on Saudi targets, including Nature Reserve last month. It is one significant, there’s still a feeling of loss the north, south and west, but its oil facilities. Last month the of the rare occasions the remains of a as the skeletons are incomplete. were unable to breach government outgoing UN envoy for Yemen, woman have been returned to Anaiwan The University of Edinburgh in defences which were supported by Martin Griffiths told the Security land, adding extra sentimental value Scotland returned the remains to the air cover from a Saudi-led military Council his own efforts over the for women of the tribe, who performed National Museum of Australia thirty coalition. past three years to end the war had a cultural ceremony for the first time. years ago, and with the help of Heritage been “in vain.” “These areas witnessed fierce Anaiwan woman Cheryl Kitchener NSW they finally found their way fighting amid artillery shelling from The fighting has killed tens of told NITV News she was honoured to home. both sides and intense coalition air thousands and left some 80 percent be a part of the event. Anaiwan people believe there are raids,” one government military of Yemenis dependent on aid, in “Celebrating returning our ancestors skeletal remains of at least five more official said. what the UN calls the world’s worst people belonging to their tribe in humanitarian crisis. The war has home is a fantastic opportunity to heal Control of the oil-rich region of the spirit of the land and to heal the museums throughout the world and also displaced millions of people say they will continue the fight to have Marib would strengthen the Huthis’ and left many on the brink of spirit of our people. So, I was honoured bargaining position in peace talks, to be a part of that process and to be all remains and artefacts returned to famine. the country. voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 15
GLOBAL DISPLACEMENT DOUBLES IN A UN CALLS FOR ARMS EMBARGO DECADE AGAINST MYANMAR MILITARY Despite the coronavirus pandemic, highlighted the fact a full 42 percent the number of people fleeing war and of the world’s displaced are girls and The UN issued a rare call last month condemns its abuse and violence persecution continued increasing boys under the age of 18. to halt to arms sales to Myanmar in against its own people, and last year, with global displacement response to this year’s violent military demonstrates its isolation in the eyes rising to over 82 million--double the Some 26.4 million people were coup. The General Assembly adopted of the world.” living as refugees at the end of 2020, a June 19 resolution condemning the figure a decade ago, the UN said last Myanmar’s UN ambassador Kyaw month. A fresh report from the UN including 5.7 million Palestinians. military Juneta, which overthrew Some 3.9 million Venezuelans the country’s elected government in Moe Tun, who represents the country’s refugee agency on June 18 showed elected civilian government, said global displacement figures rose by were also displaced beyond their February. The UN also called for the borders without being considered release of political detainees, such as he was disappointed by how long it around three million in 2020 after took for the General Assembly to an already record-breaking year in refugees, while 4.1 million people elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and were registered worldwide as asylum an end to violence against peaceful pass what he called a “watered down” 2019, leaving a full one percent of resolution. humanity uprooted and displaced. seekers. protesters. While both refugee and asylum While not legally binding, the Ms. Suu Kyi, 75, has been The report highlighted how held under house arrest since the drawn-out crises like those in Syria, seeker numbers remained relatively resolution is politically significant. It flat from 2019, the number of people was supported by 119 countries, with coup, and little has been seen or Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen heard of her, except for brief court were continuing to force people to displaced within their own countries Belarus the only one to vote against surged by more than two million to it. Another 36 countries abstained, appearances. The military justified flee, while eruptions of violence in seizing power in February, alleging places like Ethiopia and Mozambique 48 million, the report said. This was including Russia and China - perhaps not surprising, given the Myanmar military’s two biggest arms voter fraud in general elections held were causing surging displacement. last November. The fact the numbers rose for the factors that generally force people suppliers. to flee did not disappear during the ninth straight year was all the more Some of the abstainers said However, independent election devastating because COVID-19 pandemic, but the possibility to cross monitors say the election was largely borders largely did. the crisis was an internal issue for restrictions had been expected to Myanmar, while others said the free and fair, and the charges against limit displacement. Turkey remained the host of the resolution did not address a brutal Ms. Suu Kyi have been widely criticized as politically motivated. The UN agency found a record world’s largest refugee population, military crackdown on the Rohingya totalling some 3.7 million, followed Muslim population four years ago, The coup triggered widespread 82.4 million people were living as demonstrations, and Myanmar’s refugees or asylum seekers, or in by Colombia with 1.7 million, which forced almost a million people Pakistan and Uganda with 1.4 to flee the country. military has brutally cracked down so-called internal displacement on pro-democracy protesters, within their own countries by the million each and Germany with 1.2 million. The EU’s UN ambassador,activists, and journalists. end of 2020, up from some 40 Olof Skoog, said the resolution million in 2011. The UNHCR report “delegitimises the military junta,
GLOBAL DISPLACEMENT DOUBLES IN A DECADE HONG KONG POLICE ARREST Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Grandi said. the number of people fleeing war and FORMER APPLE DAILY JOURNALIST persecution continued rising last year, The UN agency found that by the Police in Hong Kong arrested laws to keep opposition voices out of with global displacement climbing to end of 2020, a record 82.4 million people were living as refugees or a former senior journalist with the legislature. over 82 million--double the figure the now-closed Apple Daily at the a decade ago, the UN warned last asylum seekers, or in so-called In early June, authorities froze internal displacement within their airport on June 27 on a suspected month. A fresh report from the UN national security offence, according $2.3 million worth of assets linked to refugee agency on June 18 showed own countries, up from some 40 the Apple Daily newspaper, forcing million in 2011. to local media. Police, who typically global displacement figures swelled do not name arrested people, said in it to cease operations. The Apple by around three million in 2020 after “Today’s global displacement a statement a 57-year-old man had Daily printed its final edition last week, citing employee safety and an an already record-breaking year in figures are an epic failure of been arrested at the airport the night 2019, leaving a full one percent of of June 27 for “conspiring to collude inability to pay wages. Hong Kong humanity,” head of the Norwegian authorities say dozens of the paper’s humanity uprooted and displaced. Refugee Council Jan Egeland said, with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security.” articles may have violated a China- The report highlighted howpointing out “far more people are on imposed national security law, the the move today than anytime during They added he had been detained and drawn-out crises like those in Syria, investigations were continuing. first instance of authorities taking Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen World War II.” aim at media reports under the were continuing to force people to “Yet despite the staggering The South China Morning Post legislation. and Citizen News identified the flee, while eruptions of violence in statistics, world leaders have detainee as Fung Wai-kong, an editor The Hong Kong Journalists’ places like Ethiopia and Mozambique been inept to resolve the greatest were causing surging displacement. and columnist at the now-closed pro- Association, reacting to reports of the emergency of our generation.” The airport arrest, condemned the police The fact that the numbers rose for the democracy tabloid. He was believed UNHCR report highlighted a full for targeting journalists again, and ninth straight year was all the more to be leaving for the United Kingdom 42 percent of the world’s displaced when he was arrested, they said. asked them to explain the incident. devastating because COVID-19 are girls and boys under the age of restrictions had been expected to 18. Some 26.4 million people were Fung is the seventh member of “The HKJA reiterates that freedom limit displacement. living as refugees at the end of 2020, staff at the pro-democracy Apple of speech and freedom of the press including 5.7 million Palestinians. Daily newspaper to be arrested are core values of Hong Kong,” it said During the pandemic, “Everything in a statement. else has stopped, including the on national security grounds in Some 3.9 million Venezuelans recent weeks. The arrests come as economies, but wars and conflict were also displaced beyond their The shutdown of Apple Daily and authorities in Hong Kong crack down the arrest of its journalists have sent and violence and discrimination borders without being considered on dissent in the semi-autonomous and persecution, all the factors that a chill through Hong Kong’s media refugees, while 4.1 million people city, arresting most of the city’s industry. pushed these people to flee, have were registered worldwide as asylum prominent pro-democracy figures continued,” UNHCR chief Filippo seekers. and revamping Hong Kong’s election
CHAPTER: GIVING The suppliants’ cry for aid yields scant delight, Until you see his face with grateful gladness bright Explanation: To see men begging from us in disagreeable, until we see their pleasant countenance PAGE 16 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
UK HEALTH SECRETARY RESIGNS RUSSIA TESTS S-400 AFTER COVID BREACH MISSILES IN CRIMEA Last month Russia tested the about 5,000 military personnel from UK health secretary Matt Hancock admitted breaking COVID readiness of its air defence systems in NATO member states and other Hancock resigned last month social distancing rules, when at the Crimea, an apparent show of force as allies of the transatlantic security following revelations he broke same time he was urging the public Ukraine and NATO countries hold alliance. The United States Marine government coronavirus restrictions to stick by the measures. military drills in the Black Sea as part Corps will take part, as will about 30 during an affair with a close aide. Opposition parties have accused of their Sea Breeze 2021 exercise. US ships and 40 aircraft, including Former finance minister Sajid Javid Russia deployed about 20 warplanes the missile destroyer USS Ross. took up the role. The frontman for the government of hypocrisy over breaches of lockdown rules which and helicopters, including Su-24M Britain’s response to the pandemic, bombers, as well as S-400 and Pantsir Ukrainian Navy commander particularly the nationwide vaccine have seen many members of the Oleksiy Neizhpapa said during an public slapped with fines. surface-to-air missile systems in the roll-out, quit in a letter to Prime tests, Interfax reported on June 29, opening ceremony in the Ukrainian Minister Boris Johnson on June 27. Hancock conceded he had let citing Russia’s Black Sea fleet. It was port city of Odessa the exercises the public down after The Sun not clear when the tests took place. would send a “powerful message to “We owe it to people who have maintain stability and peace in our sacrificed so much in this pandemic newspaper published a security camera still obtained apparently “The Black Sea Fleet is doing a region.” Ukraine is an ally of NATO to be honest when we have let them number of things to monitor the but not a member. down as I have done by breaching the from a whistleblower showing him kissing the aide in his office on May actions of ships from NATO and guidance,” he wrote. other countries taking part in Sea On June 28 Russia denounced 6. “the scale and aggressiveness” of the Johnson said he was sorry to Breeze 2021,” the National Defence The main opposition Labour Management Centre said in a drills, which “hardly contribute to receive Hancock’s resignation, and security in the Black Sea region.” that he should be “immensely proud” party said the government needed statement. of his service. to answer questions about the The military exercises and undisclosed appointment of the aide, Russia called for the military exercises, which have taken place 21 Russian tests come amid soaring His Downing Street office later said former lobbyist Gina Coladangelo, tensions between Moscow and Queen Elizabeth II had approved the to Hancock’s top advisory team. times since 1997, to be cancelled and the Russian defence ministry said Western powers. The situation appointment of Sajid Javid MP as his Both she and Hancock are married, deteriorated further last week over a replacement. Johnson had initially and first met at university. it will react if necessary to ensure national security. disputed Black Sea incident on June stood by his health secretary after 23 between Russia and the United Sea Breeze 2021, which began on Kingdom. 18 BODIES FOUND IN MEXICO AFTER DRUG June 28, will last two weeks and involve CARTEL GUN BATTLE SOUTH AFRICA’S ZUMA HANDED 15-MONTH The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men borders Jalisco state, a stronghold of were discovered after an apparent a powerful cartel called Jalisco Nueva JAIL TERM gun battle between suspected drug Generacion. Authorities say the gang cartels in Zacatecas state in northern is waging a violent campaign to take South Africa’s Constitutional statement later, without elaborating. Mexico last month. control of drug-trafficking routes. Court sentenced former President The commission of inquiry was set Jacob Zuma to 15 months in jail up by Zuma himself, under pressure “There were 18 dead, and the Three vehicles, one of themlast month for contempt of court over mounting scandals, shortly confrontation occurred in the burned-out and “a significantfollowing his failure to appear at a before he was removed in 2018 by community of San Juan Capistrano, number of casings of differentcorruption inquiry earlier this year. the ruling African National Congress in the municipality of Valparaiso,” calibres” were found at the scene Zuma did not appear at the inquiry (ANC). said Zacatecas state security according to the government’s Local led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond department spokeswoman Rocío Coordination Group, in charge of Zondo in February, after which He testified only once, in July Aguilar on June 25. security in Zacatecas. the inquiry’s lawyers approached 2019, before staging a walkout days the court to seek an order for his later and accusing the commission’s There was evidence the deaths in Mexico President Andres Manuel imprisonment. Zondo of bias. He then ignored the remote township of Valparaiso Lopez Obrador acknowledged several invitations to reappear, citing resulted from a confrontation on June 25 there were security “The Constitutional Court can do medical reasons and preparations for between gunmen from the Sinaloa problems in the region but said his nothing but conclude that Mr. Zuma another corruption trial. and Jalisco cartels, she said. The battle administration was making progress is guilty of the crime of contempt of was between rival gangs fighting over in the fight against crime. Zacatecas, court,” Judge Sisi Khampepe said on Most of the corruption cases turf, Aguilar told Milenio TV. once dominated by the old Zetas June 29. investigated by the commission cartel, is being fought over by a involved three brothers from a Drug-related violence has killed dizzying number of cartels. Those Zuma, 79, is accused of enabling wealthy Indian business family, more than 300,000 people in Mexico jockeying for turf in Zacatecas the plunder of state coffers during his the Guptas, who won lucrative since 2006 when the government include the Sinaloa, Jalisco, Gulf and nearly nine-year stint in office. government contracts and were started deploying federal troops Northeast cartels and remnants of allegedly even able to choose cabinet to fight the cartels as part of its so- the Zetas. “This kind of recalcitranceministers. called war on drugs. Valparaiso and defiance is unlawful and will be punished,” Khampepe said. Zuma is separately facing 16 “The majority judgement orders charges of fraud, corruption and US TO SELL F-16S, MISSILES TO THE an unsuspended sentence of racketeering relating to a 1999 imprisonment for a period [of 15 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats PHILIPPINES months],” she declared, ordering and military gear from five European Zuma to hand himself over within arms firms for 30 billion rands, then Last month the US State Last week the Philippines again five days. the equivalent of nearly $5 billion. Department approved the potential suspended for another six months At the time of the purchase, Zuma sale of F-16 fighter jets and a move to scrap the two-decade- A spokesman for Zuma told South was then-President Thabo Mbeki’s Sidewinder and Harpoon missiles old Visiting Forces Agreement Africa’s eNCA television channel deputy. to the Philippines in three separate (VFA) that had been due to expire the former president would issue a deals with a combined value of more in August. The Pentagon said the than $2.5 billion. The Philippines is Philippines requested to buy 10 before a winner is named. Philippines Duterte also blamed the US for the looking for a new multi-role fighter F-16C Block 70/72 aircraft and two President Rodrigo Duterte, who has Philippines’ loss to China of some jet and is evaluating the F-16 and the F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft made by frequently condemned US foreign territories in the South China Sea. Saab AB’s Gripen. Lockheed Martin Co. That package, policy while exploring closer ties which includes spares and training, Lockheed Martin said the F-16 The announcement on June 24 with China, told Washington last is valued at up to $2.43 billion. year he was cancelling the VFA amid would play a significant role in came as the United States is seeking strengthening Manila’s strategic to renew an agreement with the Despite the State Department outrage over a senator and ally being denied a US visa. partnership with Washington and Philippines governing the US troop approval, the notification does not allies, while enabling the Philippines presence in the country. This move indicate a contract has been signed Since then, he has slowly to join other Southeast Asian F-16 is critical to Washington’s strategy or negotiations have concluded. backtracked on his threat and has operators. to counter ever-expanding Chinese repeatedly suspended the expiration activity in Asia. Often during a competition, the department will approve exports date of the military exercises. voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 17
NOMINATION OF MAHMUD JAMAL TO SUPREME COURT OF CANADA LAUDED
PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON CRIMINAL CASE REVIEW COMMISSION BEGIN
Independent consultants and that will assist them and have begun former judges Harry LaForme and the work to develop the documents Ontario Court of Appeal Justice following a Bachelor of Arts from the Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré have to frame and focus the consultations, Mahmud Jamal will become the first University of Toronto, Justice Jamal launched the consultations on the identify the questions to be addressed person of colour to be appointed to would later receive a Master of Laws establishment of the Criminal Case relating to the new commission’s the high court with his nomination from Yale Law School, where he was Review Commission, as well as a possible structure and mandate and by Prime Minister Justice Trudeau a Fulbright Scholar. He went on to new website containing foundational communicate with organizations last month. clerk for the Honourable Charles documents and relevant links. and individuals who will potentially Gonthier of the Supreme Court of join the consultation process and “It’s high time that this occurred… David Lametti, federal justice Canada, and in 1996 he was called to who will help the independent Justice Jamal’s nomination is a the bar in Ontario. minister and attorney general, consultants achieve their mandate. significant stride forward,” Canadian announced on March 31 he Bar Association President Brad Justice Jamal joined Osler as a had appointed LaForme and These potential contacts include Regehr says. litigator that same year (becoming Westmoreland-Traoré to lead public- Innocence Projects, forensic a partner in 2001), where he had facing consultations with domestic pathology services, victim advocacy A former litigator with Osler, expertise in class actions and and international stakeholders on groups, prisoner advocacy groups, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Justice competition/antitrust law. He also the commission’s creation and to legal organizations, prosecutorial Jamal was a long-time member performed pro bono work for the report to him the recommendations organizations, law enforcement of the Canadian and Ontario Canadian Civil Liberties Association and options for this purpose. The organizations and representatives of Bar Associations, among other and the CBA before his appointment new commission is intended to governments, academics, law clinics organizations, and represented to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in ensure the problems of those who and organizations serving society’s the CBA on a pro bono basis. The 2019. He also taught constitutional have suffered a miscarriage of justice diverse communities. CBA press release commenting law at McGill University and can be addressed fairly, speedily and on Jamal’s nomination described LaForme and Westmoreland- administrative law at Osgoode transparently. him as “intelligent, thoughtful and Hall Law School. He is bilingual in Traoré stressed the importance of charming.” “Wrongful convictions are a consulting with those with lived English and French. matter of deep concern to me and to experience with the country’s system Justice Jamal—a native of Kenya According to Prime Minister many Canadians,” said Lametti in a of criminal conviction review from an Indian Muslim family Trudeau’s announcement of the news release from the federal justice and criminal justice appeals and of Ismailis--settled in Edmonton nomination, Justice Jamal appeared in department. invited those interested to give their in 1981. A graduate of McGill 35 appeals before the Supreme Court feedback via the new website, which University with a Bachelor of of Canada on civil, constitutional, LaForme and Westmoreland- will be sharing future updates. Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws, Traoré have since formed the team criminal, and regulatory issues.
GOVERNMENT SAYS AUSTRALIA WILL OPEN DRAFT GUIDANCE ON POLICE USE OF FACIAL DOOR TO UK LAWYERS RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY ISSUED
The British government said the ambitious commitments on market Last month the Office of the According to the draft guidance, UK lawyers will be able to practise access for services professionals Privacy Commissioner of Canada police agencies should have lawful in Australia without requalifying, the will provide a strong step towards and the provincial and territorial authority for the use of facial government said, following news of addressing these issues and look privacy regulators jointly released recognition technology, should apply a post-Brexit trade agreement with forward to seeing this reflected in the draft guidance on the use of facial protective standards proportionate Australia. However, the Law Society final deal.” recognition technology by police to the potential harm, should have warned there are still “practical agencies so stakeholders and the a specific objective for using the barriers” around the recognition of On the issue of data provisions public can comment on it. The draft technology and should have a qualifications. and the ban on data localisation, the guidance covers federal, provincial, demonstrable evidentiary basis on Society urged the UK Government to regional, and municipal police the pressing and substantial nature The Department for International consider the specific characteristics agencies. of this objective, with general public Trade said the UK-Australia free for legal services. “It is important safety objectives being insufficient. trade agreement will facilitate the that personal data processed by law The guidance does not cover other recognition of UK professional firms are well-protected and that public organizations such as border Police should review matches qualifications across “many sectors,” the fundamental rights of client control or organizations in the before deciding to detain, investigate allowing lawyers to practise in confidentiality and legal professional private sector such as private security or charge a person and should see Australia without having to requalify privilege are safeguarded in such companies within its scope. Parts of that decisions on persons do not only as an Australian lawyer. trade agreements.” the guidance may provide insight rely on the technology, considering to organizations seeking to ensure the propensity of the technology However, the Law Society said For solicitors of England and compliance with privacy and human to identify some gender and racial there are still many barriers that Wales, a major barrier to trade in rights legislation, said the regulators. groups incorrectly, says the draft will hinder cross-border practice, legal services between Australia and guidance. increasing costs for clients and the UK is qualification recognition. The draft guidance aims to clarify limiting international opportunities While Australian lawyers can police agencies’ privacy obligations Police agencies should also for local lawyers. Many of these currently undertake a test to dual- regarding the use of facial recognition ensure if third-party vendors have barriers are “behind the border,” qualify in England and Wales, technology and the circumstances been retained, such suppliers are meaning they are not addressed in English and Welsh solicitors must and conditions under which such lawfully authorized to collect and international trade agreements, it satisfy rigid requirements. This often use can be allowed. The guidance use the personal information in their said. acts as a deterrent to foreign lawyers also seeks to ensure such use adheres databases and are not using it for entering the market in Australia. to the law, reduces privacy risks and other purposes, the draft guidance Law Society President I. Stephanie respects privacy rights. adds. Boyce said: “We hope that the deal’s PAGE 18 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
QUEEN’S LAW PROFESSOR RECEIVES UK BAR URGES CHAMBERS TO CONSIDER GRANTS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH “TRANS INCLUSIVITY” The Bar Council in the UK or victimisation of trans, non- Cherie Metcalf, associate and regional governments and published a statement last month binary or gender fluid barristers and professor at Queen’s University the insurance industry can help in support of trans, non-binary and employees.” Faculty of Law, led two research influence public buy-in for climate gender fluid barristers, encouraging projects aiming to address change policies; determine all chambers to consider trans “We are a bar of all, for all, and climate change by exploring how whether adopting policies of inclusivity in their diversity and the Bar Council urges chambers, Canada’s division of powers and certain influential private actors bullying policies. employers, and individual members of the bar to promote this ethos governance institutions intersect can encourage climate skeptics In the statement posted on its across the profession,” it concluded. with its ability to develop effective to support such policies; and website, the Bar Council says it is policy. assist in the identification of “important to recognise that some The Law Society reiterated this institutional strategies for people are transgender and that not sentiment, saying it “stands as The research projects seek advancing sustainable climate allies to our trans and non-binary to study how institutions can everyone feels that their gender can change action. be defined within the margins of colleagues.” promote or limit effective climate gender binary.” action in the country, explain how “The basic premise is that if “The solicitors’ profession strives institutions can be used when you want to have effective climate It urged chambers to ensure they to uphold justice and ensure equality implementing effective climate action, it’s not going to be easy, so consider the treatment of trans, non- for all under the legal system. change policies and discuss how you need to have public support,” binary, and gender fluid barristers Transphobia has no place in our profession or any part of wider governance strategies can be used said Metcalf in the news release. and employees in their training and society,” it said. to gain broad and sustainable in their policies relating to equality, public support, said a news For “Climate Change and diversity, bullying and victimisation. The Law Society has also issued a Canada’s Constitution,” Metcalf release. It added trans issues affecting “gender expression template” for law received a grant worth $10,000 firms, giving an overview of the key Metcalf collaborated with from the Canadian Foundation chambers should be “addressed with respect,” and there should be areas for employers to consider when Jonathan Nash, professor at for Legal Research for 2020 “confidential and supportive ways a staff member wishes to transition Emory University in Georgia, to 2021. The research project of reporting any experiences of or change their gender expression at in “Institutions for Effectivediscusses how the country’s discrimination, bullying, harassment work. Climate Change Action,” a four- constitutional structure can year interdisciplinary project for impact its prospects for effective which she received an insight climate action; incorporates an grant worth $97,500 from the interdisciplinary approach that UK GOVERNMENT APOLOGISES TO Social Sciences and Humanities reflects experimental survey RAPE VICTIMS Research Council of Canada. data; and looks into Canada’s legal options for climate action The research project aims to by considering how the federal explore how different governance division of powers affects its institutions, such as coalitions of ability to introduce effective large firms, the Intergovernmental climate policy. Panel on Climate Change, national
ONTARIO COURT REJECTS COPYRIGHT VIOLATION APPEAL OVER ROUTE MAPS
The Court of Appeal for Ontario the registration certificate, claiming dismissed an appeal of an individual copyright in the publication of claiming the Toronto Transit all transit routes and schedules in Commission had infringed his Canada and the U.S. The British Government A Gazette investigation in copyright when it allegedly adopted apologised last month to thousands 2019 revealed an undisclosed the route maps he had made in a bus The Superior Court of Justice of rape victims failed by the criminal CPS target may have been behind and subway guide. of Ontario granted summary justice system as it published the huge declines in numbers of rape judgment favouring the respondent findings of a long-awaited “end-to- suspects charged since 2016. On In Walcott v. Toronto Transit and dismissed the appellant’s end” review. Lord chancellor Robert June 18 the government unveiled an Commission, 2021 ONCA 358, the copyright infringement action with Buckland said too many victims of action plan to return the volume of appellant proposed in 1994 to make costs of $25,000. The motion judge rape and sexual violence have been rape cases going through the courts a bus and subway route map guide determined there was no genuine denied justice due to “systemic to 2016 levels by the end of this for the respondent Toronto Transit issue requiring a trial. Commission. The respondent failings.” He said: “We are deeply Parliament. commission declined, stating such The judge held the appellant failed sorry for this and will not rest until to produce a guide as evidentiary real improvements are made - from Measures include regularly a guide was already available to its publishing performance scorecards, passengers. basis to support the copyright transforming the support given claim, and the route maps made to victims, to ensuring cases are which will include metrics on In 1996 the appellant reached out by the appellant lacked originality investigated fully and prosecuted timeliness, quality of cases and to the commission to claim the route because they were based on public robustly.” victim engagement. The first maps he made appeared in the Yellow information about the commission’s scorecard will be published by Pages Directory. The commission transit routes. There was no The report released on June 18 December. The government will replied it did not base the route copyright in ideas, but only in the states 43,187 reports of rape were also test a new entitlement for rape maps on the appellant’s proposed form of expression of such ideas, the recorded by police compared to victims to challenge the scope of guide, and it had generated the maps motion judge said. 24,093 in 2015/16. However, only information requests at the police internally. three percent of rape offences investigation stage with Thames The Court of Appeal for Ontario assigned a police outcome in Valley Police. The appellant received a certificate dismissed the appeal with costs of 2019/20 resulted in a charge or of registration for a guide from $8,000, finding no error in the motion summons--down from 13 percent The Law Commission will review the United States Copyright Office judge’s findings about copyright law, in 2015/16. Prosecutions and “rape myths” to ensure courts are in August 1996, then initiated an the evidentiary record or the lack of convictions fell by 62 percent and tackling them at every opportunity action against the respondent for a genuine issue requiring a trial. 47 percent respectively during that and examining the use of victims’ copyright infringement based on time. sexual history as evidence. voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 19 BLACK JULY: HOW A BLOODY MASSACRE SET OFF THE SRI LANKAN CIVIL WAR Over 4,000 Sri Lankan Tamils regarding the violence on 28 were killed, and several hundred July, justifying it as the “expected were displaced in the riots reaction of the Sinhala masses that gripped the nation. The to Tamil demands for a separate intervening night of 23 and 24 state.” Seeking to placate the July 1983, when 13 Sri Lankan majority Sinhalese, he said “the soldiers were killed, is said to time had come to accede to the have triggered the country’s clamour and the national respect civil war that lasted over 26 long of the Sinhalese people.” bloody years, ending with the The Tamil Guardian notes elimination of the Liberation Jayawardane even went ahead Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). to declare politically advocating The events that unfolded that for a separate state would be night resulted in a week of The Funeral Trigger on 24 July days in prisons across the island considered illegal, and the massacres, which saw the deaths Commander of the Sri Lankan nation. Parliament would serve no place of over 4,000 Sri Lankan Tamils. Army Tissa Weeratunga was Considering the large-scale for separatist leaders. Two days The month of July is generally against the funerals of the slain violence, the President, on later, on 30 July, Jayawardane observed as Black July by the Sri soldiers being held in Jaffna, and 25 July, ordered a curfew in called for an end to the violence; Lankan Tamil diaspora around on the command of then President Colombo and other riot-stricken by then over 4,000 Tamils had the globe, in remembrance of the Jayawardane, the funeral was areas. This, however, did little to been killed and several thousand pogrom that claimed the lives of shifted to Colombo. The bodies curb the riots. had been displaced. their brothers and sisters on a were to be cremated with full Allegations of “Assistance” Refugee camps were set up in small island nation. military honour, rather than be from the Sri Lankan Government schools, temples, and churches, handed over to the families of An already simmering Sri According to the Tamil many by the Sinhalese themselves Lanka had witnessed a spate of the soldiers. However, this move who risked their lives to save their was met with resistance from the Guardian, the mobs were “openly violence and riots in the previous assisted by the Sri Lankan security Tamil friends from the frenzied decades that were brought about masses who had gathered for the mobs. Additional support was funeral. forces.” The mobs, equipped with due to the constant tussle for voter lists, attacked homes in called in from India, and several power between the Sinhalese and Soon enough, the mob clashed a systematic manner, targeting Tamils were ferried across the the minority Tamil population. with the police at the funeral site, only the ones occupied by Tamil border for rehabilitation. Things had worsened for the and the bodies which were flown families. In Sinhalese houses that President Jayawardane’s minority in 1956, after the Sinhala in from Jaffna were sent back were rented out to Tamils, the interview to the Daily Telegraph, Only Act recognised Sinhalese to the families. By nightfall, the mobs reportedly damaged the dated 11 July 1983, did not help as the only official language volatile crowd dispersed from property inside alone and set matters. The President was widely of the country, depriving the the site, heading to the streets it on fire, leaving the structure quoted as having said: “I am not Tamil population of positions in of Colombo to attack Tamil- intact. worried about the opinion of government institutions. run establishments and stores, The BBC also states the attacks the Jaffna (Tamil) people now. Through the 1960s, protests marking the beginning of Black Now we cannot think of them. July. in the prison were facilitated by marred the country, which the guards, who allegedly handed Not about their lives or of their only worsened after the United opinion about us...” By Malavika over the keys to the Sinhalese National Party (UNP) came to prisoners. THE AFTERMATH power in 1977. The primary Balasubramanian incident of violence occurred Further, several international The week of violence acted soon after in 1981, when the AN UNCONTROLLED organisations have accused the Sri as a launch-pad for the Tamil Jaffna Library, which was also MOB AND A BLOODY Lankan Government of assisting separatists to recruit and egg a convening point for several MASSACRE and even orchestrating the the country on to a full-blown pogrom. In fact, the International war, which would come to last ethnic Tamil groups, was burnt By the morning of 25 July, down. Commission for Jurists, stated in 26 long years. The Sri Lankan the violence in Sri Lanka had its report “the suspicion is strong Government has time and again By early July, the Sri Lankan reached unprecedented heights. that this organised attack on the refused an official inquiry into Government had increased Tamil homes and institutions Tamil population was planned the civil war, which showed a the presence of its troops in were targeted mercilessly by and controlled by extremist gross violation of human rights. Colombo and on the night of the Sinhalese mobs. Tamil- elements in the government UNP 23 July, at around 11.30 pm, the run general stores, and other In 2004 a commission was party, and that the killing of the ordered to look into the Black LTTE attacked a patrol vehicle, businesses were burnt to the 13 soldiers (by Tamil guerrillas) where a bomb was detonated ground. Several bystander July riots, which ultimately served as the occasion for putting concluded that over 1,000 people on the floor of a jeep, injuring accounts recall mobs setting fire the plan into operation. The two soldiers. When the rest of to vehicles transporting Tamils, had died, and over 700,000 had reports go so far as to allege that been exiled. The then President the convoy rushed to help their including women and children. a member of the Cabinet was colleagues, the LTTE militants Singular targeted attacks were Chandrika Kumaratunga actively involved in planning also issued a public apology, staged an ambush, killing a total commonplace as well while the these attacks.” of 13 soldiers. riots ran amok. comparing the deaths to Nazism. THE GOVERNMENT’S In the meantime, the month of This attack was vastly touted According to BBC, Tamil RESPONSE TO BLACK July continues to be observed as to be in retaliation to the alleged inmates in prisons were not JULY “Black July” by the Sri Lankan abduction and rape of Tamil spared by their Sinhalese President Jayawardane Tamil diaspora around the world school girls by government counterparts. Fifty-three inmates to commemorate the loss of lives. forces. were killed over the next few delivered his first public speech PAGE 20 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
CHINA’S EMERGENCE AS A MARITIME POWER
The Indo-China face off in the with suitable Strike Aircraft, In spite of double hulled (14 out of 16) are shot down before north has become a permanent Integral Surveillance Aircraftcarriers, the US Navy believes reaching WRL, the two which will feature/fixture since 1962. Both and impregnable anti submarine two hits by current anti- shipping reach WRL will be enough to sink nations have made attempts, capability supplemented by mid missiles will sink a carrier. The the carrier. mostly superficial, to resolve the air refueling for strike, AEW, and US Navy used up to seven aircraft boundary issue to no avail. In Reccee aircraft for high loiter carriers during the Iraq war with A sunk aircraft carrier will take the foreseeable future there are time. If any of these fundamental more than 300 aircraft. All strike a few thousand men, few dozen fewer than “slim” chances of the elements are absent or are of missions, without exception, used aircraft and most importantly boundary issue being resolved. limited capability, the aircraft mid air refueling, both outbound national pride. Losing 16 IAF LAC, not international border, will carrier cannot be termed as truly as well as inbound because even aircraft and brave hearts will be a remain as it is. Border skirmishes, operational because of its inability the F-18 fully loaded does not have very small price to pay. to roam international waters at too, will continue to take place, ROA of over 1,000 km. Way back in 1981 at DSSC, will. hopefully without any loss of life Wellington, I had propagated the on either side. Escalation to the PLAN as on date neither has The air component part of concept of a “SINGLE RADIAL level of a “shooting match” is not an such capability nor is likely to PLAN as it exists today in June SUPER SATURATED ATTACK option with either nation, China in acquire it in the near future (until 2021 will now be elaborated upon. PROFILE” to engage an aircraft particular. at least 2030) primarily because PLAN does not have a proven strike carrier. Forty years later in 2021 Strike Element. As on date PLAN Formidable Indian Air Power aircraft in sufficient numbers. That there is no missile and/or anti- has only one operational aircraft, will remain as a major deterrent aircraft gun system that will the J-15 for carrier operations. to China for attempting anything successfully engage 16 aircraft A record of J-15 operational beyond contesting/questioning flying at an interval of 15 seconds utilization so far has been poor to the patrolling areas. PLAAF ex between each from the same radial. abysmal. Also, barely 40 aircraft TAR cannot support ground forces are available. Serviceability PLAN carriers have little or no operation in the manner we can. has remained consistently low. operational capability outside the Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, Engine performance leaves a lot South China Sea. Certainly not Awantipur, Leh and Thoise are to be desired. Weapon carriage in the Indian Ocean Region or operational IAF bases. Except for capability and operational radii of Arabian Sea near our coastline. Leh and Those, all other bases action is extremely limited. The PLAN is at least two decades away have elevations of less than 1.5 other aircraft FC-31 is not even By Capt TP Srivastava from acquiring BLUE WATER km. On the other hand, all PLAAF operational as on date. Claimed NAVY capability. In present times bases, which can be used to launch radii of action of J-15 with max there is only one Blue Water PLAAF strike elements are located is why the term “FLOATING” was weapon load is just about 450 km. Navy in the world: the US Navy. above three km. used earlier. As on date PLAN FC-31 is still under development. France with two carriers and an aircraft carriers are “floating” If internet data is to be believed, indigeneous strike aircraft, the The most important aspect of the because they lack genuine offensive FC-31 or its variants will take at most modern Rafale, is also not so called “GALWAN CONFLICT” capability. We are no better except least five, preferably ten years, to a true Blue Water Navy because is the emergence of national will to that MiG-29K is a more reliable be termed as a fully operational it lacks an integral/indigeneous use force, air power in particular, aircraft but with extremely limited carrier borne aircraft. AEW aircraft. to deter any Chinese misadventure. ROA. We cannot call our or PLAN India is no longer the India of 1962. Slight digression from China carriers “STRIKE” carriers. With An adversary must always China as an intelligent adversary to the US Navy will be required current aircraft these are mere air be considered as a formidable has understood the message loud to amplify the issue of strike defence ships. opponent. However, granting non- and clear. aircraft capability launched from existing capability to an adversary Why is the ROA important? If a a carrier. As stated earlier, while is as harmful as granting non- Geography enables China to strike aircraft with a max load ROA a carrier battle group is the most existing capability to oneself. threaten Taiwan, Japan, and the of 450 km, takes off from a carrier formidable and potent weapon Phillipines entirely because of to attack a target 400 km away, PLAN carriers will never sail platform grouping, it is also the its size and total military power. the aircraft carrier must remain through the Straits of Malacca for most vulnerable to enemy action. China’s ongoing “mis” adventure within 400 km of the intended an offensive mission until they have Air forces all over the world believe in the South China Sea by building target to recover the strike aircraft acquired above stated capabilities. in one fundamental precept: a artificial islands and placing after the mission. If the adversary A friendly visit to Indian shores dedicated strike aircraft will, weapons on a few of those is mere has suitable land-based air power will always be welcome. always and every time, penetrate gimmickery in strict military elements in the general area, the the most formidable and dense air parlance. However, rapid strides aircraft carrier will be threatened. China is being touted as the defence environment. Those who being made by China towards No country with formidable next Superpower by many Indian think differently, particularly when ship building (other than space) air power elements located and and foreign military strategists. No at sea, must resort to wearing life is indeed China’s most notable suitably armed, will allow the article/opinion that too from an air jackets even while asleep. accomplishment we must note. carrier to get away. Indeed, the power proponent can be complete unless Alfred Mahan, the great In recent times most sustained striking aircraft will have to be The Indian Navy is far smaller military strategist is mentioned. strike aircraft operations were prepared for huge attrition, may both in numbers and operational Alfred Mahan said, “Control of the carried out by US Navy carriers be 75 percent, but if one or two capability. Chinese operational seas is necessary for world power during the Iraq war. In spite of strike aircraft are able to reach/ submarines are one of PLAN’s most status (read superpower).” China knowing full well the Iraqi Air Force cross the Weapon Release Line formidable assets. China has made is miles away from achieving such did not have an aircraft of suitable (WRL), the carrier will be doomed remarkable progress in building status. Sabre rattling by China must radii of action, which could strike and become an infungible asset at the most potent weapon platform, be viewed as a strategic musical a US Navy carrier, they remained the bottom of the sea. A carrier the aircraft carrier. Two platforms concert. are already “FLOATING.” A third at least TWICE THE RADII OF within strike range of fighters will, one is due to float in a few years ACTION (ROA) of Iraqi Air Force always and every time, be the most China is at present a regional with another three on the anvil. aircraft, lest they decide to launch sought-after target. maritime power. When will the a one way operational mission. Hence, PLAN might have up to Let us say in our case we have Indian military adopt the precept To elaborate further; if the best six aircraft carriers floating in the a PLAN carrier within a range of of “Show of Force” is more Iraqi Air Force aircraft had a radii South China Sea by 2035. land based fighters, IAF will/should important than the “Application of action of 500 km, the US Navy have no qualms about launching of Force.” We have yet to do an I have used the term carrier did not operate closer than the entire Su-30 squadron (16 operational sweep mission to and “FLOATING” on purpose. An 1000 km plus the range of an anti- aircraft) equipped with anti- from the Straits of Malacca with aircraft carrier becomes a weapon shipping missile (say 100 km), shipping missiles to sink the Su-30s, P-8Is and mid air refuellers platform only when it is equipped totaling 1100 km. carrier. If 90 percent of the aircraft busy doing fly pasts. voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 21 BLACK JULY 1983 WAS A TURNING POINT IN THE HISTORY OF EELAM TAMILS
We are reproducing the speech made by M.K. Eelaventhan, Former Sri Lanka member of Parliament, and member of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, who was speaking on the commemoration of Black July 1983, marking its 27th anniversary at Queens Park, Toronto, said on the 25th of July 2010, “Black July 1983 was a turning point in the history of Eelam Tamils.”
EXCERPT OF HIS will not be the only case. There will areas whether it be Jaffna, SPEECH IS GIVEN be other Tamil youths who will Vavuniya, Mannar, Batticaloa or BELOW: be brought to this court on false Trincomalee. The 1983 genocide charges. I request that I should be told us in a telling language we “Anti-racial riots brought hanged in Tamil Eelam. I request are not safe even in our traditional about revolutionary changes that my vital organs be given to Tamil homelands. Mr. Eelaventhan in the Tamil political struggle. those in need of them. I request quoting late Vanniyasingam of Though we have witnessed the that my eyes be donated to some his warnings following the 1958 racial riots in 1956, following the blind person so that Kuttymany racial riots to us “a stage may come “Sathyagraha” of the Ilankaith will be able to see through those that we may not be safe even in Thamiz Arasukkadchi headed eyes the reality of Tamil Eelam.” It’s our homelands, and we may be by Thanthai Chelvanayagam for this reason Kuttymany’s eyes dumped in the Indian Ocean. He and other eminent Tamil leaders were gouged and his blood drunk was charged as a prophet of gloom, including Father. Thaninaayagam, by his attackers. The attackers but his prophesy had been proved the cultural ambassador of the included the prison guards and the right, that’s why we, Tamils, are a Tamils at the Galle face green IRC prisoners. Mr. Thangathurai, nation of refugees without a land of opposite the former Parliament who was in the court when he our own. It is in this context I am house. Mr. Amirthalingm, one of was sentenced to death, said, “My appealing to the Tamils of Canada the prominent Tamil leaders then, tongue will always pronounce not to ever have a false sense of was hit on his forehead and blood 17, titled ‘The Pogrom as the Tamil Eelam.” For this very reason, security that everything is alright was oozing out. Then the Prime Outside World Saw It’ quotes, his tongue was cut into pieces by the in Canada. We may live with all Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. S. W. “Mr. S. A. David, architect and Weligada Sinhala prisoners. The comforts and feel everything is R. D. Bandaranayke, in a sarcastic town planner and president of brutally killed Tamil prisoners were alright, but let us remember we tone, said “here I see an injured the Ghandiyam Movement was offered as abisheka to Gowthama are in a rental house, and we soldier.” Communal riots erupted arrested with Dr. Rajasundaram, puttha, the embodiment of peace have no claim for a permanent in different parts of the island and gives his description of Welikada and tranquility. stake. Anything may erupt at any the Eastern province witnessed Prison Massacre as follows.“ On time. Let us remember we must some horrible incidents. July 25, 1983, Sinhala prisoners “Mr. Sivanayagam also speaks be forewarned if we do not care attacked the Tamil detainees in in a moving manner of the killing for our homeland in Eelam, we “Followed by 1956 riots, the the chapple section of the prison of Dr. Riajasundaram, a medical may face a disaster where none Anti-Tamil Pogrom of 1958 gave and murdered 35 persons among practitioner and the secretary of may come to our rescue. 2009 a warning of what was in store for whom were Kuttymani, Jehan and Ghandiyam Movement, “the only Mullivaikkaal Genocide of over us. The killing of the Hindu priest Thankaththurai. From eyewitness sin Rajasundaram committed 100,000 Tamils, the killing of of Paananthurai Kandaswamy accounts, Kuttynany’s eyes were was to appeal to the Sinhala LTTE cadres in large numbers, Temple and the brutal killing gouged, and his blood drunk by his hoodlums in Sinhala to show and the abduction, torture, and of Tamil pregnant women were attackers. After killing six Tamils mercy on them. Among those who killings of the political wing of the something that the Tamils feared including Kuttymani in one wink, narrowly escaped were 75-year- LTTE, and we are witnessing over of worst things to follow. Mr. the attackers killed 28 Tamils in old Dr. S. A. Tharmalingam, S.A. 100,000 Tamils widows weeping Prabhaharan, who was four years the other wink. A boy of 16 years David, and Kovai Mahesan, Editor and wailing in our own homeland, old, was seated in his father’s lap Mayilvaaganam had been spared by Suthanthiran). and the internal displacement of and listened to these horrible the attackers and was crouching in “Mr. Sivanayagam also speaks Tamils crying for their survival are stories. The first impression he a cell. A jail guard spotted him and of an alarming and hither to the lessons we cannot forget. formed at his young age was a stabbed him to death. The 35 dead unreported incident on late night lasting impression to emerge as a were heaped in front of the statue The move by the Rajapaksa of 24th July where armed police revolutionary leader. of Gauthama Buddha in the yard headed, Sinhala government to and Air Force men went to the make us as a microscopic minority “But July 1983 racial holocaust of Weligada Prison. As a minister Trincomalee Refugee Camps or a non-entity even in our own was a worst in the Sri Lankan so aptly describes as a sacrifice to accompanied by a convey of 35 homeland is haunting the Tamils. history for its cruelty and brutality appease the blood thirsty cravings buses. They forced the Tamils of After swallowing the East, this is a and savagery. To quote Anton of the Sinhala demons. Some who Indian origin who sought refugee determined move to wipe us out in Balasingam, the theoretician of the were yet alive raised their heads in Trincomalee were possibly the north in the name of Sinhala LTTE, he said “Black July of 1983 and called for help but were beaten taken to Núwareliya and Badulla Buddhist imperialism. It is a left a deep scar in the soul of the down to death in the heap. and dumped there nearly 200 miles warning that cannot go unheeded. Tamil nation. The Tamils felt that “Mr. S. A. David in a moving away. This coldly calculated move the co-existence between the two manner quotes what Kuttymany by the Sinhala government was “The creation of Israel is a nations was impossible. The event said when he was sentenced to to drive out the Tamils of Indian lesson that we learned that a land gave new momentum to the Tamil death. Kuttymany spoke in Tamil, origin preventing them merging is necessary not only for the self- struggle for self-determination and but the English translation is with the Indigenous Tamils.” expression of an ethnic group but political independence. provided here. “The verdict of this also for its physical survival. Eelaventhan, in his concluding court will provide impetus, fertile “Mr. S. Sivanayagam, a leading remarks, said when the earlier “Prevention is better than cure” manure, and an encouragement journalist, in his book ‘Sri Lanka: racial riot took place the Tamils is an often-stated proverb, but its and compelling reason for the Witness To History,’ in chapter took refuge in the Tamil Eelam meaning is potential. establishment of Tamil Eelam. This PAGE 22 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
US CONGRESS RESOLUTION 413 OPTION FOR SRI LANKA TO CHOOSE EITHER CONFRONTATION OR CONCILIATION
The recently tabled US 413 of entrenched impunity is boosted weapon to hunt down the media members who are holding several Resolution in the US Congress and nourished, infusing more flesh and anyone opposing or daring to ministerial and sub ministerial led by Ms. Ross breathes fresh air, and blood. The April 19, 2021, criticize the government and its top positions controlling about 16 confidence and hopes for the Tamils, Resolution tabled in Parliament by officials. There is no iota of doubt that ministries and departments. particularly the victimized Tamils Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe the PTA will remain as the frontal Undoubtedly Sri Lanka’s fate of whose grievances, which commenced has elevated impunity at its highest armoury to advance the dictatorial the mangled democracy’s survival in 1948 reached the climax with the genocidal war crimes committed during the war [2006-2009]. However, structural genocide has now taken a strong hold on their lives, compounded with denial of accountability and non-dispensation of justice and reparations for the victims. The UNHRC Resolutions of 31/1, 34/1, 37/1, and 40/1, sponsored by core members including the USA, the UK and Germany were met with contempt, rejection and denials of Sri Lankan Governments which consider accountability and justice as anathemas, irrelevance, and interference with Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and integrity, which are exploited as convenient shields of impunity for defying the resolutions. Under these circumstances, when the victimized Tamils are living pessimistically and desolately without hopes for remedies, USA’s 413 Resolution in the Congress has sprung like an oasis in the desert for pedestal where the security forces agenda by intimidation and threats hangs at the whims and fancies of the victims in the Tamil community and state officials involved in the of violence against peaceful protesters Rajapakahas, and it appears there is as a whole. alleged commission of war crimes like the threats made against the little hope it will emerge unscathed This Resolution has highlighted etc. including bribery, corruption families of the disappeared who have during Rajapakahas’ reign unless the 12 years of grievances of Tamils, and money laundering are out of been protesting day and night in the and until UN and the international exposed the sinister design, malignant the reach of the long arm of the law, North and East for more than four community take the necessary motives and hidden agenda of Sri shielding any prosecution. Adding years. punitive measures against Sri Lanka Lankan Governments to gloss over, insult and compounding miseries of without delay. victimized Tamils, those convicted delay, deny, defeat and discard those The gleaming feature of the US and jailed for the massacres of resolutions slapping the faces of Resolution 413 is the recognition, innocent Tamil civilians like the UN, UNHRC and the International of North and East as traditional TRINCO MASSACRE OF FIVE community. homeland of the Tamils, implying STUDENTS, are pulled out of the their inhabitation in the North and The Resolutions’ salient features jails to walk free, an act of insult East for more than 2000 years and as are as follows: - and a blot on the judiciary and legal a nation. Better late than never, it is [1] system. For 12 years, Sri Lanka has a historical recognition of the Tamil failed to take any simple action [7] The US Resolution 413 has hit nation in the North and East which on those Resolutions successfully hard at the government’s dereliction is entitled to exercise full rights employing the dilly dallying deceptive of obligations to implement and and powers over those living in the tactics. enforce the provisions of Enforced By Thambu Kanagasabai North and East subject to central [2] Sri Lanka has even failed to Disappearances Act of 2011 government’s control over defence, implement its own commitments, including the Office of the Missing exercise, customs, postal service including recommendations like Persons [OMP] which are almost [10] Increased surveillance, and immigration. In summary, Sri the LLRC of 2012 and Paranagama archives and forgotten. intimidation and threats against Lanka has abysmally failed to respect Commission Report on Enforced [8] The resolution has also slammed Muslims including arbitrary arrests its undertakings and international Disappearances - 2014. the Sri Lankan Government’s denial like the arrest of a Muslim Poet Ahnaf obligations and paid scant respect [3] Sri Lanka has failed to initiate of democratic rights to the people Jazeem to recognize the roles of UN and any local independent impartial living in the North and East by [11] The 20A Amendment to UNHRC thereby becoming an investigation including offeringpostponing the Provincial Council the constitution has placed the outcast. reparations, thereby has buried the elections, the only semblance of President above the laws of Sri In the face of these breaches, values of accountability and justice. power sharing mechanism half- Lanka by granting full impunity lapses and failings displayed by the [4] Sri Lanka excels in doling heartedly granted to the North and from prosecution for any civil and/ Sri Lankan Government, the Tamils out occasional promises meant for East under the much criticized Indo/ or criminal acts committed by him hope the UN and the international instant consumption, but without Sri Lanka Accord of 1987. in his official capacity as President community will rally together to back any good faith for compliance and [9] Sri Lanka’s open challenge during the term of his office. this important US Resolution 413 implementation. and defiance of UN, UNHRC and Coupled with the US Resolutions and make it a successful one by also the international community is fully is the European Union’s Resolution, cooperating with the US to initiate [5] It is high time the hollow and enforce the required measures promises and time buying tactics of exposed with its blatant breaches of which is calling for the immediate several promises made to the world repeal of PTA and implementation to force Sri Lanka to comply with Sri Lanka are exposed for suitable the wills and recommendations of actions by the UN, UNHRC and the organizations, particularly pledging of its own promises. to repeal the dreaded draconian UN, UNHRC and the international international community. There is no doubt the President Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1978 community commencing with has assumed supremacy over the [6] The promised accountability [PTA]. On the contrary, PTA has honoring and implementing the legislature, judiciary and executive and justice have been thrown now become the government’s main UNHRC Resolutions Nos. 30/1, overboard while Sri Lanka’s system branches, aided by his family 34/1, 37/1, 40/1 and 46/1. voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 23
MANDATORY VACCINES COME TO RYERSON AND YORK All Ryerson University students “This requirement is supported living in residence this fall will need by Toronto Public Health, as it is to be vaccinated. The university recognized that vaccines are a safe spokesperson Karen Benner said the and effective way to protect those decision was made due to the nature who come in contact with others, of communal living, the high volume especially in shared spaces. Through of cases and incidence rates among this commitment to protecting young populations, and to foster a health and safety, the goal is to welcoming and engaging community help students return this fall to the for students on campus. residence life experience they have NEW PROGRAM TO PREPARE UNB INTERNATIONAL come to know and expect,” said the “This measure is necessary to statement released on June 15. STUDENTS FOR JOB SEARCHES support students’ safety, growth and development, Ryerson’s mandate The requirement will not apply to Many International students in communications, to job market skills.” and commitments surrounding students living off campus or in York Canada are enrolling in the Skills Up for Success programme launched in The centre is offering the program applied knowledge and research to University apartments. Emily Carr May this year. Yosabeth Agonafer came to 20 international students, including address existing and emerging society University of Art + Design is planning to Canada in 2018 from Ethiopia with some studying outside Canada, needs, and to prevent and mitigate on having a hybrid fall semester, with plans to pursue chemical engineering teaching them “soft skills” such as outbreaks and disruptions during the a large component of online courses. at the University of New Brunswick in social media and video chatting. 2021-2022 academic year,” she said. It will function as a bridge semester Saint John. The program also includes crafting a for students who are awaiting visas or resumé, interview skills, and how to The transition became difficult communicate better through public The university is recommending are still unsure if they want to return students in residence get their dose when she tried finding a job in this speaking. to in-person learning. country and realized she needed some at least 14 days prior to their move- Samah El Maghlawy, who teaches in date, similar to the protocols put “If you plan to be in Vancouver new skills, particularly in the use of social media. Now in her fourth business at UNB and also works with in place at the University of Toronto and want to engage in more face-to- year of university, Agonafer has her the newcomers centre, said the centre and Trent University. In the same face instruction, register for “hybrid” eye on becoming an entrepreneur had noticed digital and soft skills were vein, York University is also requiring courses,” said Trish Kelly, vice- and starting her own company one sometimes a struggle for newcomers all students living in residence to be president academic and provost, in day. In the meantime, she’s using her because of cultural or linguistic vaccinated before arriving on campus the statement. experience in the New Brunswick job differences. El Maghlawy said some this fall. market to help other international students in the program are learning students succeed. remotely from countries like Egypt, China, India, and Brazil. Agonafer is interning with the 86 PERCENT OF US UNIVERSITIES PLAN Saint John Newcomers Centre this UNB has 100 students in its RETURN TO IN-PERSON TEACHING summer as a program co-coordinator Master’s of Business Administration with Skills Up for Success, developed program, 90 of whom are international In a recent survey in the IIE’s to participate in the in-person classes. by the centre and UNB. students. Annually the university COVID-19 Snapshot Survey Series, accepts 350 international students in the institute was able to shed light Through the survey, the institute “It’s kind of like a package for undergraduate programs, and while on the effects of the pandemic on requested the respondents evaluate international students,” Agonafer many say they want to stay and work the international student exchange the COVID impact on US higher said. “It generally prepares you for in New Brunswick, only 25 percent the Canadian market, and it starts land jobs. programmes in the US. The report education institutes and the global with personal branding, to effective revealed a positive outlook on the student mobility, to and from the future of international education in US. the country while highlighting the The revelations shed light on effects of the pandemic. the impact of the pandemic on the CARLETON STUDENT CIHAN ERDAL FREED FROM In the fourth edition of the IIE international student exchange TURKISH PRISON Survey, i.e. COVID-19 Snapshot programmes for Spring 2021, plans A Carleton University PhD Once released, Ongun said Erdal Survey Series, the institute released for Fall 2021 and beyond along with key learning from COVID-19 student and Canadian permanent will travel to Istanbul until he and his its revelations on the effects of resident who spent the last 262 days lawyers can secure permission for him COVID-19 on international that the HEI’s will use to support the international students post- in a Turkish prison was freed last to return to Canada. He will have to education exchange, to and from the month. Cihan Erdal, 32, was taken check in with local police twice a week. pandemic. US. As per the results, US institutions into custody in September while Erdal, an LGBTQ and environmental seem highly engaged in bringing International student enrolment visiting Turkey as part of a mass arrest activist, was once a youth member of students back on campus, including increases: 43 percent of the of dozens of people—including three the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), students and a university professor— a pro-Kurdish political party that is international students, especially for respondents reported a hike in their some kind of in-person study for the who were accused of fomenting anti- the country’s third largest. international student applications government protests more than six Fall 2021 session. for the 2021-22 academic year, years ago. The government of Turkish compared to the previous year. Some President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Mirka Martel, the Head of He was released on June 15, accused the HDP of encouraging Research, Evaluation and Learning reveal almost double the number of the previous year. according to Ottawa-based human supporters to take to the streets in at IIE, stated that US Universities rights lawyer Paul Champ, who is part 2014 to protest the government’s lack have been preparing for a strong Resuming in-person classes: 86 of Erdal’s legal team. Erdal’s partner of of support for the Kurdish town of recovery in the international student percent of the respondents reveal 10 years, Ömer Ongun, told the CBC Kobani, in Syria, while it was under enrollment post-pandemic. She they will be offering some kind of in- Radio that the release is conditional threat of attack from ISIS fighters. expects the recovery to be completed and Erdal can’t return to Canada yet. person study for Fall 2021. Thirty-seven people were killed in in phases, along with the vaccination “I’m jazzed. I am so happy that he’s clashes in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish and travel regulations that may be Additionally, the institutions also finally free. [It’s] just unbelievable. I southeast that October as people imposed. revealed the offer of only virtual am struggling to believe it,” Ongun filled the streets, angry that the learning will now no longer be said in an interview from Ottawa. Turkish Army wasn’t moving in to However, it should be noted the available. Ninety percent of the protect Kobani and its people. Erdal US higher education institutions institutions also revealed their plans “This was the first time he actually had been held at a detention centre are dedicated to reopening their of offering in-person classes to made a defence, and he made a in the Turkish capital of Ankara beautiful defence, an excellent campuses, encouraging both international students as well. and was originally kept in solitary domestic and international students defence.” confinement. PAGE 24 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
POPULAR UNIVERSITIES IN US ACCEPTING STUDENTS DEFEND YEAR-END APPLICATIONS WITHOUT SAT SCORES PRANK Some high school students in Cape Robertson said after the prank, Over 1,200 US colleges and the US that are offering admissions to Breton said last month they were there was a water gun fight from universities have made SAT optional international students without SAT confused when they were a told a teachers as a way of “[getting] us back” for the upcoming 2021-22 intakes. scores. year-end prank went too far. The Cape for the stunt. While a few such as the University of When a college announces it is Breton-Victoria Centre for Education California, Cornell, Amherst College, said the prank crossed the line. Although students said the matter and Williams College have decided going “test-optional,” it simply means was all in fun, school officials say it to drop both ACT and SAT, many scores of standardised tests like ACT Prior to the start of classes on June went too far. decided to go test-optional after a or SAT will no longer be mandatory 12, about 20 classmates at Breton 2019 lawsuit argued standardized to complete the undergraduate Education Centre in New Waterford “Parts of Breton Education Centre tests were biased against the poor and application. However, if an applicant sprayed silly string and hung streamers were vandalized,” the centre for Hispanic and Black applicants. chooses to submit SAT/ACT scores, in classrooms and hallways. School education said in a statement. “It the admissions committee will chairs and desks were piled into the appears this was intended as an end- Some might say going test-optional consider them while evaluating their centre of rooms, while sticky notes, of-year prank; however, the actions of takes away a lot of scholarship application. paper, tape, and balloons littered desks those involved went beyond what was opportunities from meritorious originally planned.” The number of US universities and floors. Glitter, paint, and markers international students. However, were used to create some mess. some also believe it will now give choosing to go test-optional has been Education officials said there was international students a chance to growing even before the COVID-19 “It’s something that goes on every no structural damage, but a big mess demonstrate their strengths or talents pandemic hit the world. However, single year,” said Kelly Pinhorn, who was left behind. However, they could through extracurricular activities, the pandemic sure led to a surge in was one of the soon-to-be graduates not say what, if any, damage was done. community involvement, academic the number after ACT and SAT test who took part in the prank. “There was Spokesperson Heather Calder said grades, and more. centres were closed temporarily. no harm done. There’s no structural police are not involved in the matter. damage.” The College Board has also brought It is also worth noting if a college Pinhorn described a tough year about two major changes to the SAT or university has made SAT/ACT Pinhorn said stories that students for 2021 graduates, with few ways to including discontinuing the SAT optional for the 2021 or 2022 intakes, dragged a small fridge and a tub mark milestones under COVID-19 Subject Tests and the SAT optional they might shift back to the traditional through hallways aren’t true. She said restrictions. She said describing Essay and moving it online. Now, let way of reviewing applications. they had everything cleaned up by their prank as vandalism has left her us look at the popular universities in 10 a.m. that morning after surprising graduating class feeling as though teachers with the mess. they’re bad people.
U OF C STUDENTS OPPOSE PRIVATIZATION OF ISLAND PARENTS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT STUDENT CAMPUS BOOKSTORE MANAGEMENT WELL-BEING ON HOT DAYS As the University of Calgary With record-breaking temperatures Xu wasn’t the only parent bothered very concerned about the price of warming up the Island, some P.E.I. by the situation. In fact, several others contemplates the future of its textbooks and other course materials parents are raising concerns about took to social media sharing stories of bookstore operations, the Students’ will increase drastically.” their children in classrooms and their children coming home red-faced Union (SU) has released a survey Schmidt said if that were true, the school buses. Environment Canada or with headaches. Norbert Carpenter, showing that 89 percent of last month issued a heat warning the director of P.E.I’s Public Schools university would have considered students oppose the privatization of reminding people to be aware of the Branch (PSB) is urging more parents bookstore management operations. the SU. The SU currently runs elevated risk of heat illnesses. One to let schools know about their child’s another bookstore called Bound and parent said their son experienced such complaints. Nearly 2,000 undergrad students Copied, which is a used bookstore in the classroom. responded to the survey between on campus. In a letter posted online With guidance from the Chief April 20 and May 14 where they in April, the U of C’s vice-president “Last Tuesday (June 8) he comes Public Health Office, the PSB has were asked to provide feedback on of finance said the bookstore receives back complaining that the classroom’s adjusted mask requirements for future potential changes to the campus no funding from the provincial kind of hot, it’s like scorching hot,” days when a heat warning has been bookstore operations and their use government, student tuition or said Richard Xu, who has a son in issued. Grade 7. of the bookstore. student fees. “We know wearing a mask in the “He just didn’t feel really good at classroom or in a setting such as the “Ninety-three percent of A survey was launched by the students actually believe that the SU school.” bus is tough at the best of times, so U of C to gather public feedback throw in very warm temperatures and should take over operations for the in April, but those results have not Students were also required to wear it’s very uncomfortable.” University of Calgary bookstore,” been made public. A decision is masks, which added to the heat his said SU president Nicole Schmidt. expected in the coming weeks. son felt, Xu said. As for Xu, he said the change is a great strategy, but he wants to see “Students also chose the campus “He mentioned it was kind of hot it go a step further. If temperatures bookstore being run by private riding the bus with other classmates continually rise above the norm, there companies as overwhelmingly their especially during the summertime, would be consideration for a policy, most disliked option … students are and everyone has to wear masks.” Carpenter said.
CHAPTER: GIVING ‘Mid devotees they’re great who hunger’s pangs sustain, Who hunger’s pangs relieve a higher merit gain Explanation: The power of those who perform penance is the power of enduring hunger. It is inferior to the power of those who remove the hunger (of others) voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 25
METHOD TO STOP VIRUSES CAUSING RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN IMPROVED
Human parainfluenza viruses, Moscona and Matteo Porotto at or HPIVs, are the leading cause of Columbia University, researchers childhood respiratory infections. built upon years of work on peptide They are responsible for 30 percent treatments to generate one capable to 40 percent of illnesses like croup of blocking the HPIV3 attachment BULLYING, OBESITY CAN AFFECT GIRLS’ AND and pneumonia. process. BOYS’ MENTAL HEALTH Researchers have improved a To enter host cells, HPIVs use Depressive symptoms are more 2018). The respondents’ mean age was method in rodent models intended specialized fusion proteins that common in teenage girls than in their 14.4 years on the first occasion and to help keep children healthy by resemble three corkscrews laid side- male peers. However, boys’ mental 19.9 years on the last. engineering a short chunk of protein, by-side. Earlier work by the Moscona- health appears to be affected more if Based on BMI, the adolescents or peptide, that can prevent the Porotto lab showed scientists could they suffer from obesity. Irrespective were divided into three groups: those attachment of human parainfluenza do a partial chunk of this corkscrew of gender, bullying is a considerably with normal weight, overweight and viruses to cells. protein from HPIV3, introduce this greater risk factor than overweight for obesity, respectively. They were also peptide to the virus, and prevent the developing depressive symptoms. grouped according to the extent of The viruses also affect the elderly corkscrew from driving the infection These conclusions are drawn by their depressive symptoms. Overall, and people with compromised process. immune systems. The researchers researchers at Uppsala University who regardless of their weight, the girls published their findings in the The peptide, itself a corkscrew, monitored adolescents for six years in stated more frequently they had Journal of the American Chemical essentially zippers up with the virus’s a questionnaire study. The findings depressive symptoms. In 2012, 17 Society. corkscrews, creating a tight bundle of were published in the Journal of Public percent of the girls and six percent of six corkscrew shapes. The new peptide Health last month. the boys did so. To sicken people, HPIVs must persists longer in the body, making it “The purpose of our study was to By 2015 the proportions of latch onto cells and inject their genetic about three times more effective in investigate the connection between adolescents with these symptoms material to start making new viruses. blocking infection in rodent models body mass index (BMI) and depressive had risen to 32 percent for the girls HPIV3 is the most prevalent among of disease than the original form. these viruses. There are currently no symptoms, and to take a close look at and 13 percent for the boys. The approved vaccines or antivirals for The research team started by trying whether being subjected to bullying corresponding figures for 2018 were 34 HPIV3 infection in people. to engineer the original peptide to be affects this relationship over time. We percent and 19 percent, respectively. more resistant to protein-digesting also wanted to investigate whether A higher BMI did not, as far as the In a study led by the Sam Gellman enzymes in the body, which can any gender differences existed,” says researchers could see, affect the girls’ Lab in the chemistry department easily shred proteins and make them Sofia Kanders, a PhD student at mental well-being to any great extent. at the University of Wisconsin- useless. Uppsala University’s Department of Madison, and the lab of Anne Neuroscience. Among the boys, however, the pattern observed was entirely different. The In the study young people born study has been unable to answer the in Vastmanland county replied to question of what causes this gender questions about their height, weight difference, and the researchers think STUDY LINKS EARLY CANNABIS USE and depressive symptoms on three more research is needed in this area. TO HEART DISEASE separate occasions (2012, 2015 and Smoking cannabis at a younger age co-authors were Dr. Jamie Burr and may increase the risk of developing Dr. Philip Millar, both professors in AMOUNT OF COFFEE CONSUMPTION DEPENDS ON heart disease later in life, according to HHNS and PhD student Alexandra a recent University of Guelph study. Coates. BLOOD PRESSURE In the first study to look at specific The team studied 35 subjects A recent study led by the University “But what we do not recognise risk indicators for cardiovascular of South Australia (UniSA) researchers is that people subconsciously self- disease (CVD) in young, healthy aged 19 to 30, half of whom were cannabis users. For all subjects, they found causal genetic evidence that regulate safe levels of caffeine based cannabis users, researchers found influences the amount of coffee on how high their blood pressure is, subtle but potentially important used ultrasound imaging to look at the heart and arteries. consumption in people. and this is likely a result of a protective changes in heart and artery function. genetic mechanism.” In a world-first study of 390,435 Cigarette smoking is known to They measured arterial stiffness and arterial function, or the ability of people, conducted in partnership “What this means is that someone affect cardiovascular health, causing with the South Australian Health who drinks a lot of coffee is likely changes to blood vessels and the arteries to appropriately expand with greater blood flow. All three measures and Medical Research Institute more genetically tolerant of caffeine, heart. Less is known about the (SAHMRI), the team found that people as compared to someone who drinks impact of smoking cannabis on are indicators of cardiovascular function and potential disease risk. with high blood pressure, angina, and very little. long-term CVD risk, even as use of arrhythmia were more likely to drink the substance grows in Canada and Arterial stiffness was greater in less coffee, decaffeinated coffee or Conversely, a non-coffee drinker, abroad. cannabis users than in non-users. avoid coffee altogether compared to or someone who drinks decaffeinated coffee, is more likely prone to the Cannabis is the most commonly The team measured how fast a those without such symptoms. They pressure wave travelled down the found this was based on genetics. adverse effects of caffeine, and more used recreational substance susceptible to high blood pressure, as worldwide after alcohol. artery; stiffer arteries transmit a wave more quickly. Lead researcher and director per the study. of UniSA’s Australian Centre for “Cannabis is really widely used as a Using data from the UK Biobank, recreational substance all around the In cannabis users, cardiac function- Precision Health, Professor Elina -inferred from how the heart moves Hypponen said it is a positive finding researchers examined the habitual world and is becoming increasingly coffee consumption of a total of so,” said Christian Cheung, a PhD as seen in echocardiographic images- that shows genetics actively regulate -was lower than in non-users. the amount of coffee a person drinks 390,435 people, comparing this with student in the Human Performance baseline levels of systolic and diastolic and Health Research Lab, part of and protects people from consuming Cheung said the team was surprised too much. blood pressure, and baseline heart rate. the Department of Human Health to see no difference in artery dilation Causal relationships were determined and Nutritional Sciences (HHNS). in response to changing blood flow. “People drink coffee for all sorts of via Mendelian randomisation. “Scientists haven’t done that research All three measures normally change reasons - as a pick me up when they with cannabis.” in cigarette smokers, with stiffer feel tired because of its good taste, or Professor Hypponen says how arteries and lower vascular and heart simply because it is part of their daily much coffee we drink is likely to be an Cheung is the lead author of indicator of our cardio health. the study, published recently in the function. routine,” Professor Hypponen says. Journal of Applied Physiology. His PAGE 26 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
RESEARCHERS FIND AVOCADO MAY OFFER BREAKTHROUGH DISCOVERY COULD SPEED BONE ROUTE TO LEUKEMIA TREATMENT IMPLANT RECOVERY An international research team led genetic material inside stem cells. A new University of Guelph study involved in their metabolism, said by Monash University has uncovered suggests a compound in avocados Spagnuolo. His team screened a new technique that could speed Not only was the research team may ultimately offer a route to better nutraceutical compounds among recovery from bone replacements able to define the topography of the leukaemia treatment. The compound numerous compounds, looking for by altering the shape and nucleus of pillar sizes and the effects it had on targets an enzyme that scientists have any substance that might inhibit the individual stem cells. stem cells, but they discovered four identified for the first time as being enzyme. “Lo and behold, the best one times more bone could be produced critical to cancer cell growth, said Paul was derived from avocado,” he said. The research collaboration involving compared to current methods. Spagnuolo of the Department of Food Monash University, the Melbourne Science. Earlier, his lab looked at avocatin B, Centre for Nanofabrication, CSIRO, Researchers are now advancing a fat molecule found only in avocados, the Max Planck Institute for Medical this study into animal model testing Published recently in the journal for potential use in preventing diabetes Research and the Swiss Federal to see how they perform on medical Blood, the study focused on acute and managing obesity. Now he’s eager Institute of Technology in Lausanne, implants. Engineers, scientists, myeloid leukaemia (AML), which to see it used in leukaemia patients. developed micropillar arrays using and medical professionals have is the most devastating form of known for some time cells can take Currently, about half of patients UV nanoimprint lithography that leukaemia. Most cases occur in people essentially “trick” the cells to become complex mechanical cues from the over age 65, and fewer than 10 percent over 65 diagnosed with AML enter microenvironment, which in turn palliative care. Others undergo bone. Nanoimprint lithography allows of patients survive five years after for the creation of microscale patterns influences their development. diagnosis. chemotherapy, but drug treatments are toxic and can end up killing patients. with low cost, high throughput, and However, Dr. Victor Cadarso from Leukaemia cells have higher high resolution. Monash University’s Department amounts of an enzyme called VLCAD When implanted into the body as of Mechanical and Aerospace part of a bone replacement procedure, Engineering says their results point such as a hip or knee, researchers to a previously undefined mechanism where “mechanotransduction WIRELESS DEVICE MIGHT HELP WEIGHT LOSS found these pillars--which are 10 times smaller than the width of a human signalling” can be harnessed using hair--changed the shape, nucleus, and microtopographies for future clinical Scientists have developed a small “We wanted to create a device that settings. wireless device, which can help fight not only requires minimal surgery obesity and shed body weight by for implantation but also allows us VR GAMING BOOSTS NAVIGATIONAL stimulating nerve endings. to stimulate specific nerve endings in the stomach,” said Dr. Sung II Park, EFFICIENCY This device could be inserted via assistant professor in the Department a simple implantation procedure of Electrical and Computer A new study has found individuals According to the team, instead according to a study led by researchers Engineering. playing a virtual reality (VR)-based of traditional free movement, node- of Texas A&M University. game can develop higher navigational based movement can be used in virtual “Our device has the potential to do efficiency and less disorientation than reality (VR) games. The study, which was published in both of these things in the harsh gastric those playing a non-VR immersive Nature Communications, said gastric In node-based movement systems, conditions, which, in the future, can desktop version. bypass surgery is sometimes the last be hugely beneficial to people needing players navigate by jumping to set resort for those who struggle with dramatic weight-loss surgeries,” he The study, published in the journal locations, and it is similar to hypertext obesity or have serious health-related added. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social navigation. issues due to their weight. Networking, revealed that navigation In a randomised controlled trial Obesity is associated with health in VR can be overwhelming for its Since this procedure involves with 25 adolescent participants, an problems and has a significantusers. making a small stomach pouch and economic impact on the US health immersive desktop game environment rerouting the digestive tract, it is very care system, costing USD $147 billion “Participants in the VR condition and a VR game environment were invasive and prolongs the recovery a year. performed better on spatial-based compared on the transmission of period for patients. knowledge questions,” said study in-game educational content and Additionally, it puts people at risk co-author Egon van den Broek from navigational efficiency. Researchers said their centimetre- for chronic diseases such as diabetes, Utrecht University in the Netherlands. sized device provides the feeling of heart disease and even some cancers. The findings showed that the fullness by stimulating the endings of “An interesting use of VR, in “hypertext lostness” measure is also the vagus nerve with light. For those with a body mass index addition to education and training, valuable outside its original hypertext greater than 35 or who have at least is its use to rehabilitate decreases domain in VR. Unlike other devices that require two obesity-related conditions, surgery occurring in navigational abilities and a power cord, this wireless device can The researchers revealed VR did offers a path for patients to not only spatial memory in older individuals.” be controlled externally from a remote lose the excess weight but maintain not improve players’ retention of radio frequency source. their weight over the long term. Spatial memory is a cognitive factual knowledge but did significantly process that enables a person to improve players’ spatial knowledge remember different locations as well as and navigational efficiency. GRAPES MAY PROTECT AGAINST spatial relations between objects. SUNBURN AND UV DAMAGE Researchers have found eating topical sunscreen products,” said lead The results showed grapeconsumption and we were able to grapes can help protect against sunburn researcher Craig Elmets from the consumption was protective as identify molecular pathways by which and ultraviolet (UV) skin damage, University of Alabama, Birmingham more UV exposure was required that benefit occurs—through repair and natural components found in in the US. to cause sunburn following grape of DNA damage and downregulation the fruits known as polyphenols are consumption, with MED increasing of proinflammatory pathways,” said thought to be responsible for these The study investigated the impact on average by 74.8 percent. Elmets. beneficial effects. of consuming whole grape powder— equivalent to 2.25 cups of grapes Analysis of skin biopsies showed Most skin cancer cases are associated A study published in the Journal per day—for 14 days against photo the grape diet was associated with with exposure to UV radiation of the American Academy of damage from UV light. decreased DNA damage, fewer from the sun—about 90 percent of Dermatology revealed participants in deaths of skin cells, and a reduction nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86 the study showed increased resistance The participants’ skin response in inflammatory markers that if left percent of melanomas, respectively. to sunburn and a reduction in markers to UV light was measured before unchecked, together can impair skin of UV damage at the cellular level. and after consuming grapes for two function and potentially lead to skin Additionally, an estimated 90 weeks by determining the threshold cancer. percent of skin ageing is caused by the “Grapes may act as an edible dose of UV radiation that induced sun. sunscreen, offering an additional visible reddening after 24 hours—the “We saw a significant photo layer of protection in addition to Minimal Erythema Dose (MED). protective effect with grape voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 27
OVER 128 MILLION IOS USERS AFFECTED BY XCODEGHOST MALWARE More than 128 million iOS malware was identified, Apple asked SCIENCE users were allegedly affected by the developers to immediately recompile & “XcodeGhost” malware which first their apps with a genuine version of surfaced in 2015--responsible for Xcode, it added. TECHNOLOGY injecting malware into several iPhone and iPad apps that were subsequently Following this incident, Apple has uploaded to the App Store. reinforced both the security of the Xcode installation process and the HUAWEI LAUNCHES OWN OPERATING SYSTEM TO Internal Apple emails have revealed malware scanning when submitting CHALLENGE ANDROID during the Epic Games vs Apple apps to the App Store. As the legal trial that 128 million consumers had battle between Apple and Epic Games Last month Huawei finallyRichard Yu, executive director and downloaded more than 2,500 apps began in the US this week, new details launched its self-developed operating CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business infected by the malware that came emerged, also revealing Epic Games system called HarmonyOS 2.0 Group. from the fake copy of Xcode. In CEO Tim Sweeney asked Apple CEO that will power nearly 100 devices total, these 2,500 infected apps have Tim Cook to open its iPhones to other including smartphones. Fed up The company announced roughly been downloaded more than 203 app stores as early as 2015. with the US restrictions, Huawei 100 other Huawei devices–-including million times in the App Store, reports announced plans in 2019 to build its both smartphones and tablets–-will Motherboard. While Epic Games argues about own operating system (OS) to end the be upgraded to run on HarmonyOS Apple’s monopoly over the app market dependency on market leader Google’s 2, giving consumers access to a An employer mentioned “China and treats 30 percent standard fee Android OS. seamless intelligent experience across represents 55 percent of customers amount to anti-competitive behaviour multiple devices in all different types and 66 percent of downloads,” that must be regulated by antitrust law, HarmonyOS 2.0 will bring a of scenarios. also referring to the “XcodeGhost” Apple contends “the whole antitrust comprehensive upgrade to its existing malware. According to more internal allegation and associated dust-kicking distributed capabilities, including For developers, HarmonyOS allows Apple emails, about 18 million is little more than a PR stunt.” software bus, data management and cross-platform development and cross- affected users were based in the US. security. Huawei has launched a range device deployment of apps, making The Fortnite game was removed of smartphones, smart-watches and the development of apps across devices Several developers downloaded from App Store in August last year tablets powered by its new HarmonyOS easier than ever before. Huawei said the infected Xcode because Apple’s after the company allegedly violated 2 operating system, including a new it is committed to protecting user servers were slow, so they looked for rules by adding an in-game payment version of the HUAWEI Mate 40 privacy and security. alternative download links, the report system aimed at depriving Apple of its Series and HUAWEI Mate X2, the said. commission on in-app purchases from The Chinese conglomerate began App Store. HUAWEI WATCH 3 Series, and the work on its own OS as major chips Even popular apps like “Angry HUAWEI MatePad Pro. and technologies from the US have Birds 2” were affected. As soon as the “Every single one of us is a part of not been available to the company this fully connected world, as is every since 16 May, 2019, due to restrictions device. We look forward to working imposed by the Donald Trump AFTER APPLE, FB SET TO LAUNCH PODCAST FEATURE with more partners and developers administration. Huawei’s consumer to build a thriving HarmonyOS businesses faced a tough time due to ecosystem and provide even better inability to use Google’s ecosystem in experiences, products, and services to overseas markets. our customers the world over,” said AMAZON FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS TO FLY TO SPACE
Amazon’s billionaire founder Jeff of the auction last month and said Bezos said last month he and his it had received more than 5,200 brother Mark will fly on the first bidders from 136 countries, without With an aim to allow podcasters being sent to additional page owners, crewed space flight from his rocket disclosing the highest bid from the to easily publish new episodes on the suggesting the rollout might be wider social network, Facebook is planning than initially anticipated. company Blue Origin this month. round. to roll out its podcast product on “Facebook will be the place where “Ever since I was five years old, The current highest bid stood June 22 at a time when Apple has also people can enjoy, discuss, and share I’ve dreamed of traveling to space. at $2.8 million in the ongoing launched its new Podcast Subscriptions the podcasts they love with each On 20 July, I will take that journey and Channels initiative. second round of auction, according other,” the company said in this email. with my brother,” Bezos, who is one to Blue Origin’s website. Its New The social media network is also of the richest people in the world, Shepard rocket-and-capsule combo likely to add a new feature that will Podcasters who publish on the said in an Instagram post on June 8. is designed to autonomously fly allow listeners to create clips from platform will also be opting into six passengers more than 100 km their favourite shows. According to an Facebook’s podcast terms of service, Bezos, who is due to step down above Earth into suborbital space, the report said. On the other hand, as Amazon’s chief on July 5, will join email sent to podcast page owners and high enough to experience a few viewed by The Verge, hosts can link Apple Podcasts Subscriptions allow the winner of an auction for a seat minutes of weightlessness and see their show’s RSS feed up to Facebook, creators to host bonus content and on the first space flight from Blue the curvature of the planet before which will then automatically generate ad-free versions of their shows, in Origin. Bezos, fellow billionaires the pressurized capsule returns to News Feed posts for all episodes exchange for a monthly subscription. Elon Musk and Richard Branson earth under parachutes. published from that point forward. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions are now have been investing billions of available for listeners in more than dollars on their rocket startups, but The capsule features six These episodes will show up on a 170 countries and regions. Bezos will be the first of the three to observation windows that are nearly ‘”podcasts” tab that doesn’t appear to actually travel into space on a rocket three times as tall as those on a be live yet, but the company teased Listeners can discover thousands of developed by his own company. Boeing 747 jetliner and the largest about it in a wider announcement subscriptions and channels featuring brand new shows that span many ever used in space, Blue Origin said. about audio initiatives in April, the genres and formats, including news, The Blue Origin spacecraft, which Bezos’s rocket startup is targeting 20 report said on June 17. Podnews first comedy, sports, and true crime, thus is set to carry Bezos and others, has July for its first suborbital sightseeing reported the date earlier this month offering listeners premium experiences undergone 15 test flights, none of trip, a landmark moment in a and at the time, Facebook confirmed a which had any passengers onboard. limited number of page owners would that help them stay informed, competition to usher in a new era of entertained, connected, and inspired. Blue Origin closed the first round private commercial space travel. have access. However, emails are still PAGE 28 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
CHINA COMPLETES HISTORIC CYBER CRIMINALS HIT MAJOR FUEL PIPELINE IN US Cyber criminals recently attacked and efficient restoration of our service MARS SPACECRAFT LANDING one of the largest fuel pipelines in and our efforts to return to normal the US, prompting an immediate operation,” the company said in a shutdown by its operator Colonial statement on May 8. An uncrewed Chinese spacecraft consisted of “nine minutes of Pipeline. Colonial Pipeline, which “This process is already underway, successfully landed on the surface of terror” as the module decelerates carries 45 percent of the fuel supplies and we are working diligently to Mars last month, state news agency and then slowly descends. The for the eastern US, said in a statement it took “certain systems offline to contain address this matter and to minimise Xinhua reported, making China official landing time was 2318 disruption to our customers and those the second space-faring nation GMT (0718 Beijing time), Xinhua the threat, which has temporarily halted all pipeline operations and who rely on Colonial Pipeline,” it after the United States to land on said, citing the China National affected some of our IT systems.” added. the Red Planet. The Tianwen-1 Space Administration. spacecraft landed on a site on a vast According to The New York Times, US-based third-party cyber security plain known as Utopia Planitia, The rover took more than 17 the pipeline is 8850 kms long and firms were engaged to probe the nature and scope of the incident. The cyber “leaving a Chinese footprint on minutes to unfold its solar panels carries jet fuel and refined gasoline attack on the fuel pipeline is a huge one Mars for the first time,” Xinhua and antenna and send signals to from the Gulf Coast to New York, after the SolarWinds software attack. said on May 15. ground controllers more than 320 transporting some 2.5 million barrels million kilometres away. The rover, daily. Media reports said it was a In the cyber-attack after SolarWinds, Chinese president Xi Jinping named Zhurong, will now survey ransomware attack, but the identity at least 30,000 organisations across issued a message of congratulations the landing site before departing of the cyber attackers could not be the US, including government and to all the people involved in the from its platform to conduct established. commercial firms, were hacked by mission. inspections. “Colonial Pipeline is taking steps to China-based threat actors who used understand and resolve this issue. At Microsoft’s Exchange Server software “You were brave enough for the Named after a mythical Chinese to enter their networks. challenge, pursued excellence and god of fire, Zhurong has six this time, our primary focus is the safe placed our country in the advanced scientific instruments including ranks of planetary exploration,” a high-resolution topography he said. “Your outstanding camera. It will study the planet’s APPLE MAY HALT IPHONE 12 MINI PRODUCTION achievement will forever be etched surface soil and atmosphere. in the memories of the motherland Zhurong will also look for signs Because of poor demand for million scheduled for the iPhone 12 and the people.” of ancient life, including any sub- iPhone 12 mini, Apple is likely to halt series in the second half of 2020. its production in the second quarter surface water and ice, using a According to him, there may not The craft left its parked orbit at ground-penetrating radar. this year, according to multiple about 1700 GMT Friday (0100 reports based on the new forecast be new iPhone SE models in 2021. Beijing time on May 15). The Tianwen-1, or “Questions to note by JP Morgan Chase. iPhone 12 mini is the smallest, landing module separated from Heaven,” after a Chinese poem JP Morgan Chase supply chain thinnest, and lightest 5G smartphone the orbiter three hours later and written two millennia ago, is analyst William Yang adjusted his in the world, re-architected to pack entered the Martian atmosphere, China’s first independent mission forecast for the current iPhone 12 all the technology of iPhone 12 into the official China Space News said. to Mars. A probe co-launched with series and the next-generation iPhone a delightfully compact size, while still Russia in 2011 failed to leave the delivering an impressively large and It said the landing process series, expected to be launched in the Earth’s orbit. second half of 2021. immersive edge-to-edge display. Yang lowered the production With a 5.4-inch screen, compared with the standard model’s 6.1-inch RUSSIA TESTS COVID-19 VACCINE AS NASAL SPRAY volume of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini by 9 million units and 11 display, it sports the same dual- FOR CHILDREN million units, respectively, reports camera setup on the back as the 12 AppleInsider. model and looks absolutely stunning Last month Russia tested a nasal as saying during a meeting with in hands. spray form of its COVID-19 vaccine President Vladimir Putin. The According to him, “given that Apple delivered a phenomenal that is suitable for children aged research group tested the vaccine on demand for the iPhone 12 mini performance in the December 8-12, and plans to launch the new children aged between eight and 12 seems to be weak, the supply chain quarter, returning to the top position product in September, the scientist and found no side effects among the may stop production of the phone in with 90.1 million devices shipped, who led the development of the test group, including no increase in the second quarter of 2021.” driven by the success of the iPhone Sputnik V vaccine said on June 12. body temperature, Gintsburg said. The analyst, however, raised the 12 series, according to data from the Alexander Gintsburg, who heads the iPhone 12 Pro Max sales forecast by IDC’s “Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Gamaleya Institute that developed “We are inoculating our little 11 million units, iPhone 12 Pro by Phone Tracker.” Sputnik V, said the spray for children (patients) nasally, we are just administering the same vaccine as two million units and iPhone 11 by used the same vaccine “only instead For Apple, the festive quarter a nasal spray,” Gintsburg added, eight million units. of a needle, a nozzle is put on.” represents the highest shipment without giving further details about Yang predicted Apple aims to volume from a vendor in a single The children’s shot is expected the study such as how many children produce 80 million to 90 million quarter and resulted in 23.4 percent to be ready for distribution by 15 were involved. iPhone 13 series, higher than the 76 market share and 22.2 percent (YoY) September, Gintsburg was quoted growth.
CHAPTER: GIVING Let man relieve the wasting hunger men endure; For treasure gained thus finds he treasure-house secure Explanation: The removal of the killing hunger of the poor is the place for one to lay up his wealth voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 29
HOUSING SHORTAGE AGGRAVATING COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN KASHECHEWAN
A COVID-19 outbreak in a 23. It also said the department remote, northern Ontario First spent more than $49 million to Nation would not be as severe if build 52 raised duplexes to replace Ottawa had provided more housing flood-damaged homes and reduce before it hit, Indigenous Services overcrowding between 2015 and Minister Marc Miller said last 2017. Friday said the urgent month. need for housing is outpacing the funding being offered. Kashechewan, a Cree community HOME PRICES IN CANADA CONTINUED of about 1,800 people near the As of June 22, Miller said, TO CLIMB IN MAY western shores of James Bay, Indigenous Services Canada is reported more than 300 members aware of 87 active cases and 215 Home prices continued to climb That means total mortgage debt in infected with COVID-19 this recovered cases of COVID-19 to an average of just over $688,000 in Canada has grown by 7.8 percent in past month. Chief Leo Friday has in the community. Cases have May—a figure that has increased by 38 the past year. repeatedly blamed overcrowding declined in Kashechewan by more percent in the past year, according to for the crisis, which is being than 65 percent since June 15, he the latest statistics from the Canadian Zlatkin says people are borrowing driven by the spread of the highly said. Real Estate Association. Leah Zlatkin, more because lending is cheap, and transmissible Alpha variant. pandemic lockdowns compelled them The vast majority of people a housing market expert with Lowestrates.ca and principal broker to make their housing situations as It’s not unusual for up to two who have tested positive in the pleasant as possible. dozen people to share the same community are unvaccinated at Brite Mortgage in Toronto, says home in Kashechewan, and there youth. Many of the young people growing mortgage debt makes perfect Mortgages aren’t the only form of are 200 people on a housing wait who have been hit with infections sense considering what’s happening in housing debt that’s growing. Home list, Friday said. If there were more have asthma because of living in the housing market right now. equity lines of credit or HELOCs, houses, he said, the virus would mouldy homes, said Friday. Statistics Canada reported on June where owners borrow against the not spread as quickly, and the equity in their homes, also rose to a Extra military support was 18 Canadians took out almost $18 current emergency could have been billion worth of new mortgage debt record of just over $262 billion. avoided. deployed in mid-June to the community. Miller said the in April, the fastest monthly increase When the total value of mortgages Indigenous Services Canada personnel on the ground include 17 on record and enough to bring total and HELOCs are added together, has made more than $4.3 million nurses, four paramedics, 10 mental housing debt to almost $2 trillion. that’s more than $1.9 trillion worth of available to Kashechewan this year health providers, 16 team members The report says while consumers housing debt. That’s almost as much as to address housing needs and is from the Canadian Red Cross, 14 appear to be tightening their belts the $1.97 trillion that Canada’s entire funding a new 20-unit housing Canadian Rangers and 13 soldiers when it comes to other forms of debt, economy is worth, according to the project, said Miller’s office on June from the Canadian Armed Forces. they seemingly have an inexhaustible most up to date GDP numbers from appetite to borrow money to purchase March. and renovate homes. Non-mortgage debt also increased, MEDIAN CANADIAN HOME PRICE TO HIT Canadians had a total of almost but at a much slower pace. That figure $707,000 IN 2021 $1.69 trillion worth of mortgage debt ticked up 0.2 in April to reach $782.7 at the end of April after a $12.9 billion billion, but the data agency notes other increase in March followed by an even Home resales in Canada are likely another $150 per month. forms of debt are still not as elevated as larger one—$17.7 billion—in April. to jump 16 percent to 636,700 in they were at the end of 2019. 2021, says RBC Economics—up Not only are mortgage payments going up, so are down payments, from its initial forecast of 588,300 SECOND HOME PREMIUM TAX LEGAL ACTION IN back in January—before softening and the accompanying debt burden to 505,300 in 2022. The bank, is turning homeownership into WALES DROPPED which updated its projection in a what Hogue called “a more distant June 8 policy report from senior dream for an increasing number of Campaigners have ditched the plans in the county were now second homes. Canadians.” to launch a legal challenge to higher economist Robert Hogue, also Those against the move said their increased its home price forecast to council taxes on second homes in part Resulting from Canada’s of Wales. A group had raised £8,000 prospect of getting a judicial review 14.1 percent, bringing its revised runaway housing prices are was at between 50 and 60 percent but 2021 benchmark to $707,000. towards their bid, claiming Gwynedd policymakers’ intervention and council was being “discriminatory and with a risk of incurring “substantial However, RBC expects both nascent signs of self-correction in unfair.” legal costs” in court. The organisers sales pace and price growth to the market, but neither has been behind the legal bid and a petition said begin moderating later this year particularly impactful. A 100 percent council tax premium many second homeowners were in the and into 2022, when it anticipates was introduced as second-home process of taking measures to avoid Although major policy change ownership surged across the county paying the increased charges. housing appreciation will climb by could be the impetus needed to only 2.9 percent. Despite housing with more in Gwynedd than any other cool prices—Hogue recounts the part of Wales. The campaigners cited It included making their homes appreciation tapering, Hogue’s foreign buyer taxes introduced in officially a business, for letting as report doesn’t foresee any issues the “potential pitfalls” of losing the British Columbia and Ontario, challenge. holidays, and thus attracting business arising for existing homeowners; implemented in 2016 and 2017, rates rather than council tax, with however, the same cannot be said respectively—a confection of In a message to those who had many eligible for business rate rebates. for first-time homebuyers, whom other factors, namely long-term supported the bid, the group said risks Others are naming their properties as he sees having even greater barriers rate hikes, dwindling affordability, “outweigh the chances of success, and their primary residence, while others of entry into Canada’s housing more mortgage stress testing, and we do not propose to take the matter have taken the decision to sell. market. workers returning to their offices, further as a group.” will most likely have cooling effects. While the proposed class action will During the COVID-19 They had accused the Gwynedd not be taken any further, the organisers pandemic, mortgage payments on Additionally, surging home council of “indirect discrimination” suggested individuals unhappy with a standard home in the country, equity could also compel Canadians as the largest proportion of those council taxes doubling should write pegged at $724,000 in April, to sell their homes. Still, as long as affected by the rule on second homes to Gwynedd Council, before applying have risen by $330 to $2,500 a supply and demand disequilibrium were English. The hike in tax was to the Valuation Tribunal Wales to month, and with a projected 4.2 exist prices will keep rising. introduced in March, amid growing challenge Gwynedd council’s decision. percent increase over the next year, concerns more than one in 10 homes mortgage payments would increase PAGE 30 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
FACTORS IN CANADA’S REAL ESTATE MARKET CANADIANS QUICKLY ADOPTING INCREASED INFLATION GOVERNMENT’S GREENER HOMES GRANT Statistics Canada’s measure of goods and services. what it would cost homeowners to replicate their current living A year ago, deflation was the conditions increased at the fastest bigger worry, as the COVID-19 rate in 34 years in May, sparking recession caused the year-over-year an increase in the Consumer Price rate of change to contract for a brief Index that caused some economists period. That weakness explains to wonder if the Bank of Canada much of the CPI’s startling jump might be losing its grip on inflation. this spring, but those so-called base The CPI rose 3.6 percent from effects were starting to fade last May 2020, the highest increase in a month, Statistics Canada said. decade, and well outside the central Statistics Canada put a spotlight bank’s comfort zone of one percent on housing, as the homeowners’ to three percent, Statistics Canada replacement index shot up 11.3 reported on June 16. percent, the highest yearly increase It was the second consecutive since 1987. That’s noteworthy month the CPI grew at an annual because it suggests record house rate faster than three percent, prices are starting to show up in the prompting questions about whether CPI indirectly. The federal government’s Canada Greener Homes Grant also covers underlying inflation pressure might It disregards the housing market be stronger than the Bank of Canada Greener Homes Grant is proving renewable energy, which can involve in its inflation calculations because wildly popular after coming online installing photovoltaic panelling to assumes in its forecasts. For much it considers property an asset, not a of the last decade, economists were less than a month ago. The grant, regenerate electricity that’s used in good that is purchased on a regular which will draw upon a $2.6 billion the home, and in some cases is fed puzzled by why there was so little basis. Instead, it measures “shelter” inflation, at least as measured by pool and is targeting 700,000 back into the grid. costs by recording such things as homes nationwide over seven years, indicators such as the CPI, which changes in rents and mortgage rates. The Canada Greener Homes aggregates the prices of about 700 provides Canadians with up to $5,000 to make energy-efficient Grant is also being touted as a way retrofits that follow EnerGuide to boost the economy by creating standards to their homes. what the government says are HOUSING MARKET WILL BE FIRST 110,000 jobs. “We’ve had a huge uptake CASUALTY OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES since the program started,” said “We worked with Statistics Jordan MacDonald, president Canada on the model of the program—we think it’s about Activity in the housing market price growth; and the annual rate of of ThermalWise, a building 110,000 direct and indirect is becoming further detached from household credit growth. performance consulting company local jobs in their communities,” fundamentals, two new reports in Atlantic Canada. Minister of Natural Resources show, reinforcing fears among some New Zealand sits on top of the list, “We have a team of energy Seamus O’Regan told CREW. housing experts that Canada’s real posting the highest marks in four of advisors in New Brunswick and “We’re also taking into account estate market has entered a bubble. the five categories. Canada is second, Nova Scotia. We were providing a the recruitment, training and A former Bank of Canada economist followed by Sweden, Norway, and similar service before the Greener mentoring of up 2,000 EnerGuide published research that suggests the United Kingdom, respectively. Homes program, but we’ve energy advisors.” housing in Toronto and Ottawa National rankings of that sort are of seen a tenfold increase since the is overvalued based on historical limited use because housing is almost government launched it, and we’re The incentive for Canadians metrics, while Montreal is becoming always driven by local factors, St- in the midst of increasing our to take advantage of the program increasingly so. Arnaud said. staffing.” is energy efficiency upgrades, in addition to creating a healthier The heat in those eastern That’s why he decided to focus The upgrades covered include environment, can augment home cities, combined with Vancouver’s on Canada’s seven biggest cities— building envelope insulation, air values, added Minister O’Regan. chronically elevated prices, is making Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and sealing, replacing windows and the national numbers frothy, as “Any time you improve your Montreal—to determine the extent doors with energy-efficient units, conditions in Calgary, Edmonton, home, one would think it increases to which affordability is stretched and installing air or ground source and Winnipeg look reasonable, the value, but you’re also going to across the country. The analysis heat pumps, which function better according to Alberta central chief see an increase in the literacy of showed changes in interest rates in colder climates. The Canada economist Charles St-Arnaud’s this,” he said. analysis. could generate significant headwinds in the housing markets of major Bloomberg’s “Bubble Ranking” cities, as large numbers of people soon as the second half of next year, same month last year, according to generates country scores by would otherwise struggle to keep up he will have to be mindful of the Statistics Canada, thanks in large considering what it costs to buy a with lofty prices. ripple effect the policy change could part to the record-low interest rates home compared with renting; the have on Canadian homeowners. the Bank of Canada put in place to When Bank of Canada Governor price-to-income ratio; inflation- In May, housing prices increased counter the COVID-19 crisis. Tiff Macklem looks to raise interest adjusted price growth; nominal 11.3 percent nationally from the rates, as he has said he could do as
CHAPTER: GIVING Whose soul delights with hungry men to share his meal, The hand of hunger’s sickness sore shall never feel Explanation: The fiery disease of hunger shall never touch him who habitually distributes his food to others voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 31
NORWAY AND UK STRIKE POST-BREXIT TRADE DEAL Non-European Union member North Sea ended when the UK left Norway said last month it has the bloc’s economic rules at the end reached a post-Brexit trade deal of 2020. with its greatest trading partner, the United Kingdom, which “Although it is not as good as left the EU last year following a the EEA agreement, this is the 2016 referendum. The agreement most comprehensive free trade JAPAN EYES ANOTHER LARGE includes Iceland and Liechtenstein, agreement ever,” Solberg said in a which are also outside the bloc press conference. STIMULUS PACKAGE BEFORE POLL and which together with Norway Norway’s exports to the UK are form the European Economic Area worth close to 200 billion kroner (EEA). Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has repeatedly brushed aside ($24 billion), Solberg said. The Suga is likely to compile another the chance of compiling another On June 4 Norwegian UK said total trade with Norway, substantial economic stimulus stimulus package any time soon, Prime Minister Erna Solberg Iceland and Liechtenstein was package before calling a snap election arguing the government still has called the deal “ambitious and worth 21.6 billion pounds ($30.6 in September. This is in spite of the money left over from a pool of reserves comprehensive.” billion) in 2020. fact most major economies have set aside to meet immediate funding scaled back crisis-mode policies to needs to combat the pandemic. “When Norway is speeding up UK International Trade Secretary combat the coronavirus, the Nikkei With some lawmakers from on its way out of the pandemic, Liz Truss called the deal “a major newspaper reported on June 10. boost for our trade with Norway, within his own Liberal Democratic then good export agreements are Opposition parties have called for Party (LDP) calling for higher important,” she said. Iceland and Liechtenstein,” while International Trade Minister Ranil a package sized around 30 trillion spending, many analysts expect Suga yen ($274 billion), a proposal Suga to compile an extra budget to fund Negotiations have been going Jayawardena said it “shows that the brushed aside in a debate with their another stimulus package later this on since 2020, and some of the United Kingdom will continue to leaders on Wednesday. year. differences included the import of be a trade partner of choice.” agricultural goods such as meat and While the Nikkei did not report The size and timing of the package cheese to Norway, and fish exports The UK side said British farmers the expected size of the package, some will depend largely on when Suga to the UK, Norwegian media said. will benefit from lower tariffs and analysts put a ballpark figure of 20-30 calls a snap election, a decision more duty-free access on goods like trillion yen as it would be enough to complicated by low approval ratings Norway’s EEA membership cheese, pork, and poultry. They also fill Japan’s output gap or the estimated for his handling of the pandemic grants it access to the EU’s vast stressed reduced import tariffs on size of slack in the economy. and the Tokyo Olympic Games common market and most goods shrimp, prawns and haddock will beginning July 23. A lower house Tokyo has deployed massive are exempt from duties. However, lower costs for UK fish processing. election must be held around the stimulus packages totalling $3 trillion obstacle-free trading across the time the incumbent lawmakers’ term over the past year to combat the ends on 21 October. Suga must also pandemic, further straining public win a ruling party leadership election finances by adding to the debt pile when his term ends on September that is the biggest among major 30. CHINA URGES BANKS TO CRACK DOWN ON industrialised nations. CRYPTOCURRENCIES CANADA SHEDS JOBS AS PANDEMIC
China’s central bank said last Bitcoin’s bull run globally had RESTRICTIONS BITE month it had recently summoned revived speculative trading in China, some banks and payment firms, where people buy cryptocurrencies Canada’s labor market weakened same recovery this time. The current including China Construction Bank using yuan via bank accounts or for a second month amid widespread wave coincided with new restrictions and Alipay, urging them to crack payment platforms. In May three restrictions to control a third wave that began in April. Many provinces down harder on cryptocurrency industry associations issued a ban on of COVID-19. The economy lost kept COVID restrictions in place for trading. The People’s Bank of China’s crypto-related financial services, but 68,000 jobs in May, Statistics Canada most of May as they tried to control meeting came after China’s State the bodies are much less powerful reported on June 4 in Ottawa. That a third wave of the virus. Council, or cabinet, said in May it than the PBOC. adds to the 207,100 positions lost in would tighten restrictions on bitcoin April. Economists are predicting a trading and mining. Beijing has The PBOC said its recent meeting healthy rebound in the second half sharply ratcheted up its campaign in with financial institutions was aimed The unemployment rate rose of the year as businesses reopen the last few weeks. at fully implementing State Council’s to 8.2 percent, from 8.1 percent. and consumers get comfortable crypto ban. Economists in a Bloomberg survey again attending in-person activities. On June 21 the PBOC urged had predicted a loss of 25,000 jobs, However, some concerns are creeping institutions at the meeting to Bitcoin tumbled almost 10 percent with a jobless rate of 8.2 percent. in about disruptions that could launch thorough checks on clients’ on June 21, with market players Despite the back-to-back monthly undermine any rebound. accounts to identify those involved citing jitters over China’s expanding setbacks, analysts expect a quick in cryptocurrency transactions and crackdown on bitcoin mining in thin rebound as early as this month as The U.S. labor market, where promptly cut their payment channels. liquidity for the losses. It was last containment measures are lifted. employers are struggling with It did not mention when the meeting down 8.3 percent, on course for its shortages, is one reason for worry, was held. biggest daily drop in a month. Ontario and Quebec—the as many workers south of the border two biggest provinces—have been choose to stay on the sidelines “Speculative trading in virtual The PBOC asked banks and gradually reopening in recent weeks, because of childcare obligations, currencies roils economic and payment companies to invest more with the pace of vaccinations picking enhanced jobless benefits and skills financial order, spawns the risks of in technologies used to better identify up speed and cases falling. The mismatches. criminal activities such as illegal asset crypto-related transactions, and know country went through two major transfers and money laundering, their customers better, the central waves of COVID-19 lockdowns At 64.6 percent, Canada’s labor and endangers people’s wealth,” the bank statement said. over the winter months that have force participation fell for a second month to its lowest since August. The PBOC said in a statement. After the central bank’s notice, hampered recovery efforts, starting with restrictions in December. Canadian jobs report coincided with Other participants in the PBOC’s AgBank, ICBC, CCB and Alipay the release of U.S. payroll numbers, meeting included state-owned vowed to execute what they were told The 270,000 jobs lost in that which increased by 559,000 in lenders Industrial and Commercial to do. Cryptomining is a big business second wave were more than fully May—short of an expected 675,000. Bank of China (ICBC), Agricultural in China, which accounts for over recovered in just one month in Bank of China (AgBank) and Postal half of global bitcoin production. February when restrictions were Savings Bank of China. lifted. Economists anticipate the PAGE 32 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS TO 5.8 REPORT WARNS UK COULD BE LEFT BEHIND IN THE PERCENT IN US ELECTRIC CAR RACE Hiring in the United States May marked the fourth picked up in May after a shockingly consecutive month the gauge has disappointing read in April, but the shattered records and was 26 points number of jobs created was still on higher than the 48-year historical the lower end of expectations. The reading of 22 percent. Economists economy added 559,000 jobs last and policymakers are divided month, pulling the unemployment over why, in a nation awash in rate down to 5.8 percent, the US unemployed workers, businesses are Bureau of Labor Statistics said on bereft of eager job hunters. June 4. The number of unemployed workers fell by nearly half a million Some Republicans are blaming to 9.3 million. the $300 federal weekly top-up to state unemployment benefits for While joblessness is moving in disincentivizing the unemployed the right direction, it is still far to find jobs. Twenty-five states off pre-pandemic levels when the led by Republican governors have unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, announced plans to withdraw from and the number of unemployed federal unemployment benefit persons stood at 5.7 million. Despite programmes, which include the that yawning gap, there are millions weekly top-up. But many economists of jobs going begging in the US right believe there are other factors at play. now. Some point to bottlenecks The UK risks being left in the 2030, is among the most ambitious. Increasing coronavirus forming as millions of businesses slow lane when it comes to building vaccination rates and rollbacks of reopen and expand operations at electric cars, according to a new report According to the study by T&E, pandemic restrictions are unleashing once. A lack of childcare options released last month. Influential green manufacturers based here are pent-up consumer demand for for working parents, older workers group Transport and Environment among the worst prepared for the goods and services, prompting opting for early retirement and (T&E) says as recently as 2018, change. T&E’s report is based on businesses to ramp up operations in fear of contracting COVID-19 the UK produced roughly half of information compiled by industry earnest. Nearly half of small business are also believed to be keeping the all electric cars built in Europe. It data specialist IHS Markit, including owners--some 48 percent–reported unemployed on the sidelines. claims a lack of investment by UK the carmakers’ own market and unfilled job openings last month, the manufacturers means by the end of production forecasts. National Federation of Independent the decade that figure will have fallen It concludes by 2030, battery- Business said on June 3. to just four percent. powered electric cars will account This comes at a time when the for 48 percent of production across market is expanding rapidly. As a the 27 countries of the EU and the BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA result, the Brussels-based campaign UK. Plug-in hybrids will make up group says despite being one of the 11 percent. However, it suggests the ANNOUNCE FREE TRADE DEAL first countries to outlaw the sale of difference in the way manufacturers new petrol and diesel cars, the UK will have approached the transition be almost wholly reliant on electric means the balance of power in the vehicles imported from abroad. industry is expected to change. The market for electric cars remains Germany is expected to remain the relatively small, but it is growing dominant car producer in Europe. rapidly, largely due to increasingly By 2030, its output is expected to stringent emissions limits. increase from 4.5 million cars a year A number of European to 5.1 million with half of them governments have already set targets being electric. The UK, it says, will Britain and Australia announced then European common market in for phasing out the sale of new see output fall from its pre-COVID a trade deal last month that will 1973, Britain was Australia’s most petrol and diesel-powered vehicles in level of 1.3 million cars a year to just eliminate tariffs and red tape. It was lucrative trading market. their efforts to meet climate change one million and only 24 percent hailed by British Prime Minister targets. The UK, which plans to are expected to be battery-powered Boris Johnson as “a new dawn” in the Though details have yet to ban the sale of most new cars with electric vehicles. two countries’ relations. emerge, some official estimates say internal combustion engines by the agreement could add 500 million The British Government sees the pounds ($705.7 million) to British deal as an important piece of its post- economic output over the long term WEST AFRICAN REGIONAL BLOC TO LAUNCH SINGLE Brexit trade and diplomatic strategy - a small fraction for an economy to shift the country’s economic centre worth around two trillion pounds. CURRENCY away from Europe and seek out A group of fifteen West African the heads of state had decided to new opportunities in higher-growth Nevertheless, it was hailed as an countries in June adopted a new suspend the implementation of the Indo-Pacific nations. Australianimportant steppingstone as Britain road map to launch a single currency convergence pact in 2020-2021” Prime Minister Scott Morrison and develops its own trade policy for in 2027 after its previous plans Brou said. Johnson overcame sticking points the first time in decades following its departure from the European were derailed by the coronavirus during talks after the Group of Seven “We have a new road map and a Union. The deal will be scrutinised pandemic. meeting in Britain over the weekend, new convergence pact that will cover by British farmers, who fear they which Morrison attended as a guest. The new road map was agreed the period between 2022-2026, and could be forced out of business if the by heads of state of the Economic 2027 being the launch of the Eco,” “Today marks a new dawn in the deal eliminates tariffs on lamb and Community of West African States he said, referring to the name of the UK’s relationship with Australia, beef imports from Australia. (ECOWAS), Jean-Claude Kassi new currency. underpinned by our shared history The government said BritishBrou, president of the ECOWAS and common values,” Johnson said Nigeria, the largest economy in farmers would be protected by a cap Commission, told a news conference in a statement on June 15. West Africa, currently operates a on tariff-free imports for 15 years. after a summit of the leaders in managed float for its currency, while Britain is Australia’s eighth-largest Australian minister for trade David Ghana on June 19. The countries eight others including top cocoa trading partner and Australia is Littleproud declined to reveal details hope a single currency will help boost producer Ivory Coast, use the France- Britain 20th largest, with two-way but said Australian farmers would trade and economic growth. backed CFA, pegged to the euro. trade worth AUS$26.9 billion ($20.7 benefit from the deal. “Due to the shock of the pandemic, billion). Prior to Britain joining the voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 33
FAMINE RISK SPIKES AMID CONFLICT, COVID-19 AND FUNDING GAPS
The impact of conflicts old on the brink of famine has risen “These are people in Ethiopia’s and new, climate shocks and from 34 million projected at the Tigray region, Madagascar, COVID-19, in addition to a lack of beginning of the year, to 41 million particularly the southern part; funding, have left millions more on projected as of June,” he said. South Sudan, especially as we are the verge of famine than six months now at the height of the lean season ago, the World Food Programme According to the latest IPC in that country, and Yemen.” (WFP) said last month. food insecurity assessments - which humanitarians use to assess needs Launching its Global In an appeal for $5 billion “to on a scale of one to five – the 41 Operational Response Plan, the avoid famine” and support the million “are people who are in IPC UN agency highlighted operations “biggest operation in its history,” phase 4 – emergency,” the WFP in no less than eight countries their rations and unable to pay for the World Food Programme (WFP) spokesperson explained. and regions where it has had to increasingly expensive staple foods. spokesperson Phiri Tomson said make “brutal choices” because of on June 18 millions of refugees New refugee influxes linked to significant funding shortfalls. “Countries like Chad, Niger faced “uncertainty and hunger” conflict and drought have increased and Burkina, Mauritania; these are as the impact of the pandemic on needs for people in “IPC phase 5 In practice, this has meant all countries of concern, including emergency aid budgets became – catastrophe” and “that number reduced rations “across east and Sierra Leone as well,” said Mr. clearer. stands at 584,000 people,” Mr. southern Africa, as well as the Phiri, after a warning by the UN Phiri continued. Middle East…among some of the agency that the world was no “The number of people teetering world’s most vulnerable people who longer moving towards zero hunger. rely on WFP to survive,” said Mr. “Progress has stalled, reversed, CHILD LABOUR SWELLS FOR FIRST TIME IN TWO Phiri. and today, more than 270 million people are estimated to be acutely For many vulnerable aid DECADES food insecure or at high risk in recipients in West and Central 2021,” it said in a statement. The world has marked the first numbers of families plunging into Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic rise in child labour in two decades poverty, nearly 50 million more kids has left them without the and the coronavirus crisis threatens could be forced into child labour to push millions more youngsters over the next two years. opportunity to work to supplement toward the same fate, the United Nations said last month. In a joint “We are losing ground in the report on June 10, the International fight to end child labour,” UNICEF Labour Organization and the UN chief Henrietta Fore told reporters, OVER 80 NIGERIAN CHILDREN children’s agency UNICEF said the stressing “the COVID-19 crisis is number in child labour stood at making a bad situation even worse.” ABDUCTED 160 million at the start of 2020--an If the latest projections of poverty increase of 8.4 million in four years. increases due to the pandemic Gunmen killed a police officer students and teachers. The hike began before thematerialise, another nine million and kidnapped at least 80 students children will be pushed into child and five teachers from a school in Atiku Aboki, a resident who went pandemic hit and marks a dramatic to the school shortly after the gunfire reversal of a downward trend that labour by the end of 2022, the report the Nigerian state of Kebbi last said. month. The attack made on June 18 stopped, said he saw a scene of panic had seen child labour numbers and confusion as people searched shrink by 94 million between year is the third mass kidnapping in three However, statistic modelling weeks in northwest Nigeria, which for their children. Bandits seeking 2000 and 2016, it said. Just as the shows that number could potentially ransom have kidnapped more than COVID-19 crisis was beginning authorities have attributed to armed be more than five times higher, bandits seeking ransom payments. 800 Nigerian students from their to pick up steam, nearly one in 10 according to UNICEF statistics schools since December in a series children globally were stuck in child specialist Claudia Cappa, who co- Kebbi State police spokesman of raids. Some have been freed while labour, with sub-Saharan Africa the authored the report. The report, Nafiu Abubakar, said the gunmen others remain missing. worst affected. which is published every four years, killed one officer during an exchange showed children aged between five and also shot a student, who The raids in the northwestern While the percentage of children region are separate from Islamist in child labour remained the same as and 11 accounted for over half of the was receiving medical treatment. global figure. Boys were significantly The attack took place at a federal insurgencies centred on the in 2016, population growth meant northeast, where the Boko Haram the numbers rose significantly.more likely to be affected, accounting government college in the remote for 97 of the 160 million children town of Birnin Yauri. Abubakar militant group made global headlines The pandemic risks worsening the in 2014 when it abducted more than situation significantly, the agencies toiling in child labour at the start of said security forces were searching 2020. a nearby forest for the abducted 270 schoolgirls from the town of said. They warned unless urgent Chibok. action is taken to help ballooning
SOARING E-WASTE AFFECTING HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF CHILDREN Effective and binding action is As many as 12.9 million women e-waste recycling because their small relative to their size and are less urgently required to protect the are working in the informal waste hands are more dexterous than those able to metabolize or eradicate millions of children, adolescents, and sector, which potentially exposes of adults. toxic substances from their bodies. expectant mothers worldwide whose them to toxic e-waste and puts Workers, aiming to recover valuable health is jeopardized by the informal them and their unborn children at Other children live, go to school, materials such as copper and gold, processing of discarded electrical risk, according to the new ground- and play near e-waste recycling are at risk of exposure to over 1,000 or electronic devices, says a global breaking report from the World centres where high levels of toxic harmful substances, including lead, report last month. Health Organization: Children and chemicals, mostly lead and mercury, mercury, nickel, brominated flame Digital Dumpsites. can damage their intellectual retardants and polycyclic aromatic “With mounting volumes of abilities. Children exposed to e-waste hydrocarbons (PAHs). According production and disposal, the world Meanwhile more than 18 million are particularly vulnerable to the to the Global E-waste Statistics faces what one recent international children and adolescents, some as toxic chemicals they contain due Partnership (GESP), they grew by 21 forum described as a mounting young as five years of age, are actively to their smaller size, less developed percent in the five years up to 2019, “tsunami of e-waste,” putting lives engaged in the informal industrial organs and rapid rate of growth and when 53.6 million metric tonnes of and health at risk,” said Dr Tedros sector, of which waste processing development. e-waste were generated. Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO is a sub-sector. Children are often Director-General on June 15. engaged by parents or caregivers in They absorb more pollutants PAGE 34 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
GANG VIOLENCE ACROSS HAITI’S CAPITAL UNFPA SAYS $67 MILLION REQUIRED DISPLACES THOUSANDS FOR DR CONGO WOMEN An upsurge in deadly clashes have also been burned. The latest On a recent visit to the Democratic partners launched a humanitarian between gangs in Haiti’s capital, displacement adds to the more Republic of the Congo (DRC), Dr. response plan that requires nearly Port-au-Prince, has displaced than 4,000 people uprooted in Natalie Kanem, the head of the $2 billion to provide life-saving more than 5,000 people since the the last 12 months due to similar UN Population Fund (UNFPA), assistance to the most vulnerable. beginning of June, the United incidents. the UN’s sexual and reproductive UNFPA estimates that $67 million Nations said on June 10, citing health agency, bore witness to the is required to provide reproductive preliminary estimates from its OCHA reported the national horrific legacy of sexual violence in healthcare and women’s protection humanitarian agency, OCHA. police force is often not able to provide security and protection DR Congo, which is undergoing services through the end of 2021. People are fleeing to safer areas during the clashes, leaving one of the world’s longest-running The country’s multiple challenges to stay with relatives, though vulnerable populations to fend humanitarian crises. call for coherent and collaborative many others, including children, for themselves. Police stations DRC faces pressing humanitarian interventions to support affected are sleeping outside or in informal have also come under fire. One challenges, compounded by the communities before, during and shelters. UN Spokesperson policeman was killed and another impact of COVID-19, natural after crises, says Dr. Kanem. Stéphane Dujarric said the newly injured when armed assailants disasters, localized conflict, displaced require urgent assistance attacked all three police stations in and disease outbreaks. DRC is “We are looking at humanitarian and protection. Cité-Soleil on Saturday, stealing geographically the second largest interventions that pave the way several weapons. for the longer-term objectives of “Priority needs include country in the world, one of the most advancing human rights and gender sanitation, shelter, access to “The unprecedented levelpopulous, and one of the richest in equality, building social cohesion, clean water and food,” he told of violence and subsequent natural resources in Africa. and sustaining peace.” journalists. displacements is creating a host Despite its vast resources, 63 of secondary issues, such as Strengthening the resilience of “Response efforts are underway percent of the population are living the disruption of community- people, communities, and systems, to assist some 2,000 of the most below the poverty line and food level social functioning, family and fostering fair and equitable vulnerable people. These efforts insecurity is taking its toll, especially separation, increased financial access to essential services such as are led by the Municipality and on pregnant and lactating women burdens on host families, forced sexual and reproductive health care, Civil Protection, with the support and newborns. school closures, loss of livelihoods she added, are crucial to successful of the UN.” and a general fear among the More than 25 million people efforts. The violence has left several affected populations,” OCHA said in DRC are projected to need UNFPA works towards the people dead, or injured, as rival in a situation report last month. humanitarian assistance this year. achievement of three transformative gangs battle to exert control over The UN and partners are closely Of those, UNFPA aims to reach results by 2030 – zero preventable populous areas such as Martissant, coordinating with the Haitian 5.7 million women and girls of maternal deaths, zero unmet needs Cité-Soleil and Bel Air. Hundreds authorities to ensure humanitarian reproductive age with lifesaving for family planning, and zero gender- of homes and small businesses access. sexual and reproductive health services and supplies, prevention, based violence and harmful practices, and response to gender-based including child marriage and female genital mutilation. OVER 5.7 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER FIVE violence and psychosocial support. Against this backdrop, the UN and ON THE BRINK OF STARVATION SENIORS HAVE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR SEXUALITY IN An estimated 5.7 million children percent between 2019 and the end LTC HOMES under five are on the brink of of 2020, with two in three people Long-term care (LTC) homes guidelines to support staff, residents, starvation across the globe as the in the country needing food or have received considerable media and families in navigating sexual world is facing the biggest global livelihood support. In Burkina Faso attention over the past year, giving rise expression in LTC are necessary. hunger crisis of the 21st century, and Yemen, hunger levels rose by to many discussions about how long- Principle-based guidelines are Save the Children warned last almost 10 percent. In Afghanistan, term residential care post-pandemic instructional documents that guide can be improved. Care staff navigate users to make decisions based a wide variety of resident needs. One on ethical principles. They don’t need that is often overlooked is sexual attempt to prescribe rules for every expression, which means a range of situation. Instead, they emphasize, behaviours, practices, identities, and and in some cases prioritize, central relationships. values that can be applied as cases month. The organization said in a almost one in two children under arise. Principle-based guidelines offer press release on June 25 a further 13 five (3.1 million children) is facing Sexual expression is associated several potential benefits. million children under 18 are facing acute malnutrition and needing life- with multiple benefits for resident extreme food shortages. saving treatment. health and well-being and is First, they offer a more consistent recognized as a human right. The approach to decision-making about For the first time in decades, Danny Glenwright, President need to address sexual expression in sexual expression than currently child hunger and malnutrition is and CEO of Save the Children, said: LTC has garnered more attention exists. They provide shared concepts on the increase, with many families “Storms, floods, droughts, wars and recently as sexually transmitted and language that can help care staff and communities struggling to the COVID-19 crisis have deeply infections have been on the rise discuss complicated and “taboo” provide their children with enough impacted harvests, livestock, food among seniors. Most care staff do issues in a more systematic way that nutritious food. Women and girls prices and people’s livelihoods. But in not receive education or training on is less prone to personal biases. have been particularly hard hit with today’s world, where there is enough how to anticipate and respond to gender inequality being both a cause food to feed every child and adult if sexual expression in care homes. Second, the guidelines provide and consequence of malnutrition. we distribute it fairly, it is outrageous flexibility to address diverse that millions face malnutrition and In the absence of related policies or expressions (for example hand A deadly combination of starvation. We have an opportunity standards, staff are left unprepared for holding, new relationships, and COVID-19, conflicts, and the to save many of these children, but residents’ sexual expressions, and as a sexual acts) and varying degrees of impacts of climate change have we need to act now.” research participant aptly described, complexity. pushed hunger and malnutrition they “just wing it” in response. levels to a record global high. To stop a disaster from unfolding This haphazard approach can lead Third, such guidelines affirm Without urgent action, we could further, Save the Children is to outcomes that harm residents, residents’ sexual rights and encourage see thousands of children starving to launching the largest ever appeal frustrate and confuse health-care organizational accountability for death, reversing decades of progress, in its history, aiming to raise $130 workers and family members, addressing them. This can help said the press release. million in the coming months. damage caring relationships and/or destigmatize sexuality in older erode public trust. adulthood and for those with chronic In Syria, hunger levels rose by 56 health conditions. Development of principle-based voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 35 KATRINA TO STAR WITH VIJAY SETHUPATHI IN SRIRAM RAGHAVAN’S NEXT FILM Katrina Kaif is expected to be seen seen next in the highly anticipated opposite Vijay Sethupathi and will Sooryavanshi and horror-comedy begin the shoot after she completes Phone Bhoot co-starring Ishan Tiger 3. The film will be directed by Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Sriram Raghavan. After the news of Katrina Kaif’s collaboration with Sriram Raghavan broke out, an official release confirmed the actor has started the reading sessions of her next film with the director. Katrina Kaif will spend a lot of time with the filmmaker to understand and get into the skin of her character. Making for an interesting casting decision, the film is said to be a straight 90-minutes- long with a shooting schedule of 30 days. In addition to this, Katrina will be
DHANUSH TAKES RECORD SALARY FOR NEXT MOVIE Dhanush is on a roll career-wise According to reports from as his next release is going to be the Tollywood, Dhanush will be paid Bollywood biggie “Atrangi Re.” Then a whopping 50 crores for this film. most probably the grand Hollywood The yet to be titled film is a pan- spectacle “The Gray Man” boasting India enterprise and demands a of the ensemble star cast of Ryan large budget, and the producers, Gosling, Chris Evans, Regé-Jean Narayan Das Narang and Puskuru Page, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick Rammohan Rao, have reportedly and Wagner Moura among others allotted a whopping Rs 120 crores, and directed by Anthony and Joe banking on Dhanush’s universal Russo. charisma and the hit making ability of Sekhar Kammula. Dhanush is also slated to star in a trilingual film directed by Sekhar Trade analysts opine this would Kammula to be made in Tamil. not only be the biggest remuneration Telugu and Hindi. The formal that Dhanush has received so far but announcement for the film, was also the biggest film in his career that made on June 19. Now, an intriguing would catapult him into the next update regarding the film is making league in Indian cinema. the rounds on the internet.
BRITNEY SPEARS TELLS FANS WHEN EELAM TAMILS DIASPORA MAKES A REQUEST SHE’LL TAKE THE STAGE AGAIN TO FILM INDUSTRY
Britney Spears opened up last reported back in April Britney had Representatives of Eelam Tamils The representatives suggested the month about whether she’ll take been granted a hearing to address living in England and other countries struggles of the Eelam Tamil people her social media dance moves to the court directly. have urged Kollywood not to show have been misrepresented. the stage ever again. The 39-year- the victims of genocide (in Sri old pop star took to Instagram on Britney’s attorney, Samuel “The mention of words such Ingham, shared in court at the Lanka) in a poor light in films/OTT June 18 to answer some questions content. In a letter to the Tamil Film as ‘Eelam Tamils,’ ‘Point Pedro,’ from fans, including one about her time that his client “requested” ‘Eelam,’ and ‘North Sri Lanka’ as he “seek from the court a status Producers Council, the Tamil Film future in performing. Active Producers Association, and well as similarity of scenes to the hearing where she can address the last stages of the genocidal war “OK, so I hear that you guys court directly.” the South Indian Artist Association, the representatives made a mention in Sri Lanka and violent streaks have been writing in and I’m here exhibited by the characters clearly to answer all of your questions,” Britney has been under legal of “The Family Man 2,” the Manoj constraints for 13 years and has Bajpayee-Samantha Akkineni web demonstrates the fabricated agenda Britney said. “The question is, Am to illustrate the Eelam Tamils as I ready to take the stage again? Am I expressed through her attorney series. she fears her father, Jamie Spears people prone to mindless violence,” going to take the stage again? Will I “There is a falsification of the the letter says. The letter also took ever take the stage again? I have no and will not perform on stage as long as he remains a part of the just struggle of Eelam Tamils a strong exception to how Eelam idea,” she continued. “I’m having against state oppression in ‘Family women were portrayed. fun right now. I’m in a transition conservatorship. While Britney hasn’t publicly spoken out in detail Man 2.’ We have already conveyed in my life, and I’m enjoying myself to Amazon Prime our objections “A request has been made to the so, that’s it.” about her conservatorship, she South Indian Artists Association, recently assured her fans she was against the same. Members of the Tamil diaspora have demonstrated Directors Association, and the The new Instagram post comes doing well. Producers Council not to produce or less than a week before Britney’s in front of the Amazon Prime offices,” they said in the letter. release this sort of film in the future,” next court hearing in her ongoing the letter further reads. conservatorship battle. ET Mortgage rates are currently low, this may be the best time for you to act. Book your appointment now to speak with a Mortgage Agent, at Obsidian Mortgage Corp., you may qualify for a lower rate.
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UEFA SCRAPS AWAY GOALS RULE IN ALL CLUB COMPETITIONS
DJOKOVIC BEATS TSITSIPAS TO WIN FRENCH OPEN TITLE Novak Djokovic captured his second got the early break in the decider and French Open title as he recovered from although he was pushed hard, he was European soccer’s governing body runs counter to its original purpose being outplayed for two sets by Stefanos never threatened again. Tsitsipas to win 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 UEFA said last month it had approved as, in fact, it now dissuades home There were nerves as he served at a proposal to remove the away goals teams – especially in first legs – victory on June 13. Djokovic’s seismic semi-final win over 13-times champion 5-4, netting an easy volley and then rule from all its club competitions from attacking, because they fear seeing a Tsitsipas backhand flash past involving men’s, women’s, and youth conceding a goal that would give Rafa Nadal looked like being in vain as an inspired Tsitsipas moved to the him on championship point. Djokovic teams, beginning with the qualifying their opponents a crucial advantage.” would not be denied as he claimed phase of the 2021-22 campaign. brink of becoming Greece’s first Grand “There is also criticism of the Slam champion. victory by angling away another volley The away goals rule, introduced by unfairness, especially in extra time, at the second time of asking after four UEFA in 1965-66, has been applied of obliging the home team to score After failing to convert a set point hours 11 minutes. in an enthralling 72-minute opener full when the score of a two-legged tie is twice when the away team has In moving just one behind the level on aggregate after 180 minutes, scored,” Ceferin said. of brutal rallies and then crumbling in surprising fashion in the second set, record of 20 shared by Nadal and with the team scoring more goals Roger Federer, Djokovic became the away from their home venue declared The decision to scrap the away Djokovic looked drained. The 34-year- goals rule was taken on June 24 old, who won his first French crown first player in the professional era winners. It came under scrutiny last to win each Grand Slam title at least season with some matches being held by UEFA’s Executive Committee in 2016, rattled through the third and following the recommendation of its fourth sets as Tsitsipas, playing in his twice. Djokovic earned his 19th Grand at neutral venues without spectators Slam title the hard way. Not only did due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Club Competitions Committee and first Grand Slam final, struggled to the Women’s Football Committee. maintain the intensity that had put he inflict only a third ever defeat on Instead, two 15-minute periods him in charge. Nadal, he also became the first player of extra time will be played at the UEFA said since away goals will in the professional era to win a Grand end of the second leg, followed by no longer be given additional weight Fifth seed Tsitsipas appeared to be Slam title having come back twice a penalty shoot-out if the teams are to decide a tie, they would also be struggling physically but valiantly tried from a two sets down and having also still tied. Explaining the decision, removed from the criteria used to to dig in at the start of the fifth set found himself staring at defeat against UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin determine the rankings when two or as the shadows spread across a sunlit Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round. said: “The impact of the rule now more teams are equal on points in the Court Philippe Chatrier. Djokovic group stage. JAPAN’S EMPEROR NOT WORRIED ABOUT REDBIRD ACQUIRES 15 PERCENT OLYMPICS STAKE IN IPL’S ROYALS On June 25 Japan’s prime government spokesman Katsunobu minister dismissed claims the Kato. Nishimura “was asked to Private investment firm RedBird million. Badale said the Redbird deal country’s emperor is “concerned” the comment on his own feelings about Capital Partners, which has interests was an illustration of how popular Tokyo Olympics could spread the the Olympics, and ... (he) discussed in the parent company of Liverpool the IPL had become. coronavirus, saying the comments his feelings,” Kato told reporters. and the Boston Red Sox, has picked were the opinions of an imperial up a 15 percent stake in Indian “Such an investment is testament household representative. Japan’s US-drafted post-war Premier League cricket franchise to the global standing of the IPL constitution strictly limits the role of Rajasthan Royals for an undisclosed and India as an attractive investment On June 25, Yasuhiko Nishimura, the emperor to a symbolic figurehead amount. destination,” said Badale. the head of the Imperial Household with no political role. On June Agency that manages royal affairs, told 24 Kato insisted the government The Royals won the inaugural The eight-team IPL featuresreporters Emperor Naruhito is “very remained committed to hosting a edition of the popular tournament, celebrity owners, including top worried about the current infection “safe and secure” Olympics, Kyodo which is played in the sport’s shortest names from business and Bollywood situation of COVID-19,” Japanese reported. Twenty20 format, in 2008 and are and attracts the biggest names in media reported. Nishimura said he majority owned by London-based world cricket to a nation devoted to believed the emperor “is concerned Public opinion has for months venture capitalist Manoj Badale’s the sport. The television and digital that while there are voices of anxiety been firmly opposed to holding the investment firm Emerging Media. rights for the tournament, which among the public, the holding of the Games this year, though recent polls Emerging Media and RedBird, which runs for about two months during a Olympics and Paralympics ... may suggest opposition may be softening. is founded by former Goldman regular window in April-May, went lead to a rise in infections,” No overseas fans will be allowed, and Sachs Partner Gerry Cardinale, for 163.48 billion rupees (US$2.20 domestic spectators will be capped at announced the stake acquisition in a billion) to STAR Sports for a five- He noted he had “not heard such 10,000 per event. year period from 2018-2022. words directly from his majesty” but joint statement on June 24 but did Japan has seen a comparatively not disclose financial details of the believed he “feels that way,” Kyodo Like most other businesses, news agency reported. small virus outbreak, with around transaction. the IPL’s finances were hit by the 14,500 deaths despite avoiding “The IPL is a dynamic league COVID-19 pandemic last year when While the emperor holds no harsh lockdowns. Its vaccine rollout with a global audience and forward- India’s cricket board had to stage the political power, he is an important started slowly but has picked up thinking mindset regarding fan and event in the United Arab Emirates. symbolic figure in Japan. The remarks pace in recent weeks, with nearly player engagement,” Cardinale said According to financial consultancy were dismissed on June 25 by Prime nine percent of the population fully in the statement. firm Duff and Phelps, the IPL’s Minister Yoshihide Suga, who told vaccinated. brand value shrunk by 3.6 percent to reporters Nishimura had “expressed A source close to the deal placed US$6.19 billion last year because of his own opinion,” an enterprise value of the franchise at the pandemic. between US$250 million to US$300 The line was echoed by Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa and top PAGE 38 voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021
MR. SATHEESAN editor for an online journal since Brian Senewiratne was born in Sri channel and generates quality KUMARASAMY 1999. Mr. Kumarasamy received Lanka and educated at Cambridge content. Young and enthusiastic, a Bachelor of Science in Biology University and London University. she has participated in many (Natural Science) and Bachelor He rose to be a consultant physician global pop-up newsroom projects of Arts in Political Science with in London, but voluntarily opted and has come up with innovative Honours, and Master of Arts in in 1968 to return to Sri Lanka as ideas for the future of journalism. Integrated Studies degrees with associate professor of medicine specialization in Political Science. and consultant physician in the MR. SARAVANA Mr. Kumarasamy is currently teaching hospital in Kandy. With RAJENDRAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF pursuing his studies in LLM at increasing instability in Sri Lanka, Mr. Satheesan Kumarasamy has Osgoode Hall Law School and he moved to Brisbane in 1976 as worked in the media nearly two PhD in Human Rights. associate professor of medicine decades. He has contributed at Queensland University, and a articles in English and Tamil for senior specialist visiting physician in Princess Alexandra Hospital various newspapers, and is an MS. JANET MUSICK (PAH), a post he held till 2000. He relentlessly campaigns against ONLINE EDITOR – TAMIL violation of the human rights of the TAMIL.VOICEFORJUSTICE.CA STAY IN TOUCH Tamil minority, and for their right Mr. Saravana Rajendran 11 - 2623 Eglinton Ave East to live with equality, dignity and completed his post-graduate work Scarborough, ON M1K 2S2 safety in the country of their birth. in chemistry. He worked at British Tel: 416-723-7524 Dr Senewiratne is a Sinhalese from Petroleum in its research section [email protected] the majority community. for several years. Due to his COPY EDITOR - ENGLISH passion for journalism, he shifted MR. RAVI DEVARAJ his career to newspapers in 2008. Ms. Janet Musick has a Bachelor He provided his services to Thina of Arts degree in English, and Thanthi, a Tamil newspaper in the has worked as an editor, writer Mumbai office for a few months. and proofreader. She has a strong Then he served Maharashtra background in manuscript editing, State Government Secretariat and copy editing and proofing, as well Mumbai Corporation Office as as corporate communications. translator in the public relations Currently, she edits manuscripts sections. At present, he works as for Texas-based Defiance Press EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR-SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY a journalist in Chennai. He is a and Publishing, as well as for prolific translator in Tamil, Hindi, Mr. Satheesan Kumarasamy Mr. Ravi Devaraj obtained his individual authors. She also works Marathi and Arabic languages. law degree in BABL. He currently with new authors at a discount to His books have been published by COPY EDITOR – ENGLISH works as deputy manager in help them become better writers Eastern Publishers, Self-Esteem Ms. Janet Musick Quadrant Televentures in the as a way to give back to the writing Publishers and Manimegalai southern State of Tamil Nadu. Mr. profession. Publishers, and he currently writes Devaraj does research in Tamil, LAW & POLITICS EDITOR articles for Tamil and Hindi dailies Tamilian History. He is interested Dr. Paul Newman and weekly magazines. in restoration and reclaiming the history of the Tamil race, culture, MEDICINE & HEALTH EDITOR DR. PAUL NEWMAN and identity. He has more than ten MR. KABIR BADAL Dr. Brian Senewiratne years of experience and expertise HUMAYUN in Tamil, Indo-European open SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY source interpretation, and analysis. EDITOR Currently, he is doing research on Mr. Ravi Devaraj the history of the Tamil language EDITOR-LAW & POLITICS and Tamilian in Homeland ECONOMY & SOCIAL ISSUES (Tamil Nadu and Eelam). He is Dr. Paul Newman is a professor of collecting Tamil words to compare EDITOR Human Rights at the University of ONLINE EDITOR - ENGLISH Dr. Subra Jayahanthan with the words of European and VOICEFORJUSTICE.CA Bangalore, India. He holds a PhD, Asian languages and has found and his research thesis was ‘Internal the influence of Tamil in these Mr. Humayun Kabir Badal is a senior SENIORS, WOMEN & Displacement and Human countries’ languages. journalist based in Bangladesh. CHILDREN ISSUES EDITOR Rights situation in Northern Sri After obtaining a Bachelor of Ms. Dayasiya Puviraj Lanka from 1995 - 2001.’ He is a Arts degree in 1988, he became a member of the Forum Against journalist for about 30 years. He has Death Penalty based in Chennai MS. SRIMATHI SRIDHARAN worked in both Bengali and English ONLINE EDITOR – ENGLISH in India. Dr. Newman is a staunch daily newspapers. Currently, he Mr. Humayun Kabir Badal supporter and voice for oppressive works for the English version of and suppressive regimes around Daily Nayadiganta as a special ONLINE EDITOR – TAMIL the world; in particular, he is a correspondent. A committed Mr. Sivasankaran Balasubramanian voice against human rights abuses human rights activist, Mr. Kabir is a perpetuated against minority founding member of Shishu Kalyan groups. Sangbadik Parishad (Children PRODUCTION MANAGER EDITOR- SENIORS, WOMEN & Welfare Journalists Association), Mrs. Vithya Satheesan CHILDREN which works for poor and Ms. Srimathi Sridharan has been oppressed children. He advocates GRAPHIC DESIGNER DR. BRIAN SENEWIRATNE a journalist for the past five years. for the welfare of the down-trodden Mr. Selvaratnam Amutheesan Her experience in working in a section of society when they newsroom has brought immense become victims of government WEBSITE DESIGNER value in addition to copy editing, repression, discriminatory policy, Mr. Vinoth Poovalingam reporting and journalistic ethics or are exploited by any vested of the journal. She has a bachelor’s quarter around the world. CONSULTING degree in Electronic Media and Mr. Samy Ramachandran masters in Communication and EDITOR-MEDICINE & HEALTH Journalism. She also has a YouTube voiceforjustice.ca | July 2021 PAGE 39 Is it beautiful...? Advertise your business on this page...
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