Volume XXIX, No. 10 October 2011 http://www.filipinostar.org “Occupy Wall Street” spreads (October 15, 2011 by Evelyn Juan of the Dispatch) TORONTO–Protesters took to the streets of Canada’s financial capital Saturday, kicking off “Occupy Bay Street,” as demonstrators around the world converged on cities from London to Sydney, copying the Occupy Wall Street protests that have convulsed New York and other U.S. cities. The protesters here were relatively small, with police on site estimating crowds of about 2,000. The crowds centered midmorning in the financial district of the city, home to the country’s main stock exchange and the headquarters of Canada’s biggest banks, clustered around Bay Street. Seemingly unaffiliated protesters joined organized labor groups in the protests. Similar demonstrations were planned for other Canadian cities, from Calgary in the western province of Alberta to Montreal in French-speaking Quebec. Organized loosely over previous weeks, demonstrators in See Page 4 OCWS A general assembly of protestors held at Washington Square Park, October 9, 2011 Mayor Tremblay acknoweldges vital role of the Ethnic Press in the community Contents Editorial . 2 Cooperative News . .. 3 Tagalog Corner. , . 9 Mayor Gerald Tremblay holds in his hand a copy of Any Which Way (Op.Ed.) . 10 Montreal’s Charter of Rights and Responsibilities as he appeals to the Ethnic Press to inform their respective communities about its importance. Ask the Video Guy . .15 Montreal, October 14, 2011 - The Mayor Gerald Tremblay poses with members of the Ethnic Press, October 14, 2011 Philippine Cuisine . 14 Mayor of Montreal, Gerald Tremblay, responsible for cultural communities “This meeting shows the rich welcomed at City Hall representatives and Mr. Frantz Benjamin, associate cultural and social heritage of a Showbiz Gossip . 16 of the media from diverse cultural councilor, and Mme Jocelyn Ann cosmopolitan city where hundreds of communities on the occasion of Campbell, responsible for social and communities live together in harmony. Classified Ads. 21 developing networking. He was community development, of the family See Page 4 Mayor Tremblay accompanied by Mme. Mary Deros, and seniors. www.filipinostar.org 2 The North American Filipino Star October 2011 Harper Government police background checks, pass a firearms safety training course and Editorial introduces the Ending comply with firearms safe storage and Will the Occupy Wall Street movement the Long-Gun Registry transportation requirements. In Act addition, individuals will continue to be lead to any changes in our life? required to register prohibited and Ottawa, October 25th, 2011 — restricted firearms, such as handguns. “OWSM” or “Occupy Wall is in this regard that we need to use our Today, in the House of Commons, the “The Harper Government is committed Street Movement” is spreading like a critical thinking ability to analyze and Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of to putting the safety of Canadians first wildfire across the U.S., Canada, synthesize information as well as our Public Safety, introduced the Ending with real action on crime that delivers Europe and the rest of the world. It is personal motivation to be really the Long-Gun Registry Act. enhanced protection for communities,” amazing how it had been spawned in involved in our communities. The Minister made the said Parliamentary Secretary Canada, yet, it found its first Most people nowadays seem announcement alongside the Hoeppner. “That is why our manifestation in New York City on to feel that easier times are gone and Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister government is investing in a number of September 17, 2011 by about a 1000 we must keep working harder for less of State (Small Business and Tourism), effective measures such as putting people. As of this writing, it has been money. The OWSM testify to this and Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary more police on our streets, fighting gaining momentum by the increasing common discontent - the rich gets Secretary to the Minister of Public organized crime, introducing number of people who are becoming richer, and the poor gets poorer. The Safety, in Richmond, Ontario, where mandatory minimum penalties for angrier and angrier against the hard question to answer is - why did they met with various stakeholders serious gun crime and combating gun financial establishments that received we allow this to happen? What have who support the long-gun registry’s smuggling.” huge bailouts but have not shown we been doing over the years? Who abolition. The introduction of this anything to prove they deserve to do we blame for this predicament? Is it “The Harper Government has legislation is consistent with the receive a handout of taxpayers’ money. the government? Or is it the always been clear; by eliminating the Government’s efforts to ensure our In spite of its apparent “leader-less” complacency of the people themselves wasteful and ineffective long-gun firearms laws target real criminals and structure, and “fuzzy” idealism, the that allowed such inequality to exist? registry, we can instead focus our protect the safety of the public. movement is expected to continue for It seems difficult to put blame efforts on measures that actually tackle an indefinite period. Then what’s next? on any one particular group of people. crime and make our streets and For an online version of the legislation, This question has no answer yet, but But if we begin to analyze the source of communities safe,” said Minister visit: www.parl.gc.ca. as we discuss this new phenomenon, the problem, it seems that no one Toews. “Our Government will continue many of us who are standing by the intentionally want to make bad laws. It to uphold our commitment to effective * Abolishing the Long-Gun Registry: sidelines cannot help but wonder what just happens that over a period of time, gun control measures that help keep Proposed Reforms to the Firearms Act we can do in solidarity with the they no longer work but no one seems firearms out of the hands of criminals and Criminal Code movement. to complain about it until its effects and off our streets.” Although Canada has a have become too serious to ignore. The legislation introduced today will: For further information: stronger banking system than the U.S., Perhaps, we are not even talking about * Repeal the requirement to register we also suffer the same problems like only one law, like taxation, banking, non-restricted firearms (long-guns); Media Relations most people in the world - huge etc. It is a complicated business to see * Provide for the destruction of all Public Safety Canada deficits, and debts which cannot be how different laws affect people’s lives. records pertaining to the registration of 613-991-0657 resolved without belt tightening and The OWSM seems to highlight certain long-guns currently contained in the austerity measures. However, most laws that favor only the rich. Who will Canadian Firearms Registry and under The greatest need of the future is for people are showing impatience with take the initiative to see to it that these the control of the chief firearms more and better leaders in all fields of government wastes and the disparity laws are revised to make the economic officers; and human endeavour - leaders who will between the rich and poor is quite system favorable to the 99% of the * Maintain controls over restricted have the knowledge, courage, disturbing. It is therefore easy to population instead of only to the 1%? and prohibited firearms. conviction and human understanding understand why the OWSM is gaining Do we have the political power to Under the proposed reforms, to cope with the problems of a popularity. The people can no longer demand these changes? Will our firearms owners will still require a valid shrinking world, freer trade, the accept the glaring inequality and representatives be willing to take the firearm licence to purchase or possess step voluntarily to protect the common population explosion and the need for powerlessness of 99% of the firearms and to purchase ammunition. improved living conditiions for all. people’s interests? population. To make things worse, They will also be required to undergo Anton Rupert governments are seen to be catering to Undoubtedly, there are many the needs of the 1% of the population political and economic upheavals by passing laws that allow them to happening around the world. We reap more profits at the expense of the consider ourselves luckier in Canada 99%. that our banking system is stronger, There is no doubt that OWSM nevertheless, this does not mean that has a lot of potential for good but this we do not have to worry about other depends on the ability of the majority things. We cannot afford to be of people to be fully involved, not complacent as the same inequality exists here with a slight difference. 5320-A chemin Queen Mary Tel.: 514-485-7861 necessarily to be living under a tent in Montreal, Quebec H3X 1T7 E-Mail: [email protected] Instead of 1% vs 99%, it is 3% vs. 97%. the park but as a participant in the (www.filipinostar.org Published by: Filcan Publications, Inc. discussion of alternatives or choices. The rich still controls the mechanism of In order to do this, we must all have the government that believes it is doing the Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi facts but the problem we will surely right thing because the 3% are the Chief Editor & Publisher Hilda T. Veloso Al Abdon encounter is that it takes an extreme ones creating jobs, hence, they get all Sam Kevin W.G. Quiambao the incentives and the tax breaks. But Jerry Estrada Community News amount of time and energy to gather News & Layout Editor data we need.