Download Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Simon Helweg-Larsen on Guatemala’s elections ¶ Jon Elmer interviews Israelis against the occupation Yuill Herbert reports from FTAA meetings in Miami ¶ Ontario’s new private hospital ¶ & more » dominion, n. 1. Control or the exercise of control. 2. A territory or sphere of influence; a realm. 3. One of the self-governing nations The Dominion within the British Commonwealth. CANADA’S GRASSROOTS NATIONAL NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 2003 • DOMINIONPAPER.CA • Vol. I, #11 Bombing Iraq, world’s compassion is momen- Building Fences, tarily captured by war or natu- ral disaster.” “The problem is Demolishing Homes not so much the lack of food but the absence of a real political Amnesty International will,” he added. stated that the United States UNAIDS, the UN agency appears to be destroying the responsible for fighting houses of those associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency guerilla attackers as a form of Virus (AIDS), reported that “collective punishment”. The the number of people infected Pentagon said that “the idea with AIDS worldwide grew by that this is some type of collec- 5 million in 2003. The report tive punishment is just abso- estimates that between 34 mil- lutely without merit.” Amnesty lion and 46 million people are pointed to one report of a living with the virus, 26 mil- family being forced to evacuate lion of them Africans. 3 million a house with five minutes notice people died from AIDS in 2003, before the structure was razed the report said. (AP) by tank and attack helicopter fire. In other instances, houses Israeli Attacks have been obliterated by 500 pound bombs dropped from Leaving Thousands F-16 fighters, attacks Amnesty Homeless: UN has suggested were solely for The remains of the former homes of the extended family of a suicide According to UN observers, retribution. Under the Geneva bomber. Valerie Zink/FromOccupiedPalestine.org Convention, destruction of “real a recent Israeli attack in Gaza or personal property” is “pro- 55,000 people. The report, ture here of really trying to hide left 200 homes demolished and hibited” unless it is “rendered entitled “Continuing Collat- and obfuscate what’s going on, over 2,000 people homeless. absolutely necessary by military eral Damage: the health and and the wounded and injured The demolitions, which occur operations.” environmental costs of war on are part of it.” Other commenta- with little warning, were a part Occupying forces have Iraq”, also highlighted the long tors have noted that George W. of “Operation Root Canal”, an surrounded the Iraqi village of term health effects of the war, Bush has yet to attend a funeral Israeli effort to destroy tunnels Auja, Saddam Hussein’s birth- including a health crisis that is of US troops killed in Iraq. that Palestinian fighters use place, with a fence topped with disproportionately affecting the (BBC, Orlando Sentinel) to smuggle weapons into the concertina wire. Residents of young, women, and the poor. Occupied Territories. Auja have been issued identi- Ongoing crises in Iraq include a Starvation, AIDS on “It’s a sad factor that the fication cards, and must pass a sharp increase in malnutrition, the Rise: UN Reports people of Rafah, the innocent US security checkpoint to enter high maternal mortality, and civilians who live there, have to or leave the village. (Agence a continued increase of water- Over 800 million people pay the heavy price for the mob- France-Presse, Al-Jazeera) borne diseases. worldwide are not getting sters and gangsters who operate Recent figures from the enough to eat, according to a these tunnels,” said Sharon Pentagon show that 9,675 recent report released by the Feingold, the Israeli general in Casualties to date: US soldiers have been killed, United Nations (UN) Food and charge of the operation. Israeli 22,000 Iraqis wounded, injured, or evacuated Agriculture Association (FAO). forces has recently used mili- 10,000 Americans for other reasons. “We really Though the number of starving tary-grade bulldozers and rock- think there’s an effort to hide people decreased by 37 million ets to demolish the homes of A recent report by medi- the true cost in life, limb and the in the early 1990s, numbers the extended families of suicide cal charity Medact estimates mental health of our soldiers,” have increased by 18 million bombers, or those suspected of that the total number of Iraqis said Nancy Lessin of the anti- in recent years. FAO director housing Palestinian fighters. killed as a direct result of the war group Military Families Jacques Diouf said that starva- (Jordan Times, Australian war is between 22,000 and Speak Out. “There’s a larger pic- tion “goes unnoticed unless the Broadcasting Corp.)••• International News For full stories and additional reading, visit www.dominionpaper.ca International News compiled by Dru Oja Jay, [email protected] The Dominion, December 2, 2003 • Vol. I, #11 Canadian News 2 3 The Dominion, December 2, 2003 • Vol. I, #11 Ontario Liberals country will be free to exercise Proceed with their judgment on behalf of Private Hospitals the people without violence or intimidation. Our vigilance is Ontario health care not only for Andy and for those activists are claiming that with whom we might agree but two planned “Public Private for the freedom and integrity of Partnership” (P3) hospitals in our democracy”, Short wrote. Ontario will be more expensive, “Please accept my gratitude not publically controlled, and for your public witness and represent a dangerous step be assured of my support for towards privatized health care. Andy.” The plan for the Ottawa While the feelings of soli- and Brampton hospitals--which darity and strength were in the will be financed, owned and air Friday evening, vigil orga- operated by private companies- nizers said there were people -was designed by the Conserva- missing from the crowd due to tive government two months fears of intimidation and retali- before the Ontario provincial ation. Those at the vigil empha- elections. Under the unprec- sized a need “to mobilize a lot edented agreement, private Fredericton MP Andy Scott participating in a Knit-in For Peace on more people–a mobilization for firms will provide services that International Womenʼs Day in Fredericton. Andrea Markey freedom of existence.” are not directly clinical, such “The circle here tonight as cleaning, laundry and main- Ernie Eves announced here two Friday evening in support of represents a new bond we have tenance. months ago, so from that stand- Fredericton MP Andy Scott. The formed–it will never be broken”, Kevin Armstrong of the point we’re thrilled”. vigil took place in front of the Daborn told the crowd. Ontario Health Coalition –Dru Oja Jay Justice building in downtown Andy Scott and his family argued that such services may Fredericton, where, only hours have reportedly received death appear to be “ancillary”, but are 30,000 Protest earlier, Terrance Curtis entered threats. integral to the quality of care Charest’s Cuts his pleas on four charges in –Andrea Markey provided. Armstrong also called relation to an assault a week the P3 project “vastly more 30,000 citizens and trade earlier that left Scott bruised costly” than publically funded The Dominion is a not unionists made the long trip and shaken. Curtis will undergo and controlled initiatives, due for profit free newspaper to Quebec City to protest cuts a 30-day psychiatric assess- to the need for profits and covering topics of interest to social programs. Recently ment. Curtis” wife said Curtis is higher interest rates that come to Canadians. We aim to elected premier Jean Charest against same-sex marriage with private-sector financing. provide a counterpoint to the recently announced plans to After a five-minute silence The bottom line, he said, is that mainstream papers, direct overhaul Quebec labour laws. to start the vigil, people took “hospital funds are going to be attention to independent Workers at the protest turns expressing their support diverted to profits”. A recent journalism, and establish accused Charest of making for Andy Scott, their concerns, report on P3 hospitals released a venue where alternative things worse for workers while and their determination to by the Canadian Centre for forms of journalism can be making few improvements. make a united stand for equal- Policy Alternatives found that practiced. Many decried recent cuts ity. privately run hospital services The Dominion is published to social programs, such as Greg Daborn, of Moncton, were 10% more expensive over bi-weekly in print and web Quebec’s sucessful $5-a-day New Brunswick, is the Atlan- the long term. formats. day care, which is now up to $7- tic (male) representative for A spokesperson for the For more information, visit a-day. The Liberal government EGALE Canada who traveled Ontario Ministry of Health said our web site: has also suggested cuts to edu- to Fredericton for the vigil. “We that the plan was going forward dominionpaper.ca cation and health care would need more politicians like Andy to meet an “urgent need”, but “bring Quebec into line” with Scott”, he said. A former grade- would not directly respond to Coordinating Editor the rest of North America. school classmate of Scott”s questions about anticipated Dru Oja Jay –Dru Oja Jay agreed. “I was so proud of Andy costs or public consultation. the day he cast the deciding vote Arts Editors The recently elected Liberal Community shows in Parliament”, Kim Hill said. Max Liboiron government has repeatedly The Moderator of the Jane Henderson affirmed its commitment to support for United Church of Canada, Peter Canadian News Editor halt “creeping privatization” Fredericton MP Short, sent his support for Scott Daron Letts in health care. Conservative and those at the vigil via e-mail Environment Editor MPP John Baird was quoted as Despite drizzle in the air, to be shared with the crowd.