Hollow Water hope…

  Oct. 30, 2013

 IIRP Blogger Robert Koehler
Hope flows from Hollow Water…

Chicago Journalist Robert Koehler writes about the experiences of the Hollow Water First Nations Reserve in eastern Manitoba.  Elder Burma Bushie and former crown Rupert Ross tell the story of the 1980’s start of an effort at restoring a future for the children in this village of 900.     http://restorativeworks.net/2013/10/guest-blog-robert-koehler-hope-flows-hollow-water/?utm_source=eForum+October+Monthly+Highlights&utm_campaign=October+2013+Monthly+Highlights&utm_medium=email   

 Globe and Mail – Margaret Wente
Are bullying laws even helping?

Wente notes the rush to get cyberbullying laws passed – so far in Nova Scotia and Manitoba and the feds promising while BC has established a snitch line.  Her challenge in the effectiveness of laws as a response to bullying is that though bullying is common it is rarely devastating.  Concerns around cyberbullying may instead reflect a widespread suspicion that “kids are spinning out of control in a world of technology and pop culture.”  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/bullying-laws-arent-helping/article15123341/   

 CFRA – Ottawa –  Stephanie Kinsella
Gangs using new methods to thwart police investigations

Ottawa police say the gangs are getting more sophisticated in the way they do business and are learning to thwart police efforts to monitor and investigate gang activities.  Taking off colours, changing cell phones and nicknames, relocating temporarily are all current reactions to police surveillance.  So far this year, nine shootings have been identified as gang related.    http://www.cfra.com/News/Ottawa-Regional-News/Gangs-using-new-methods-to-thwart-police-investiga

Washington Times – Stephen Dinan
Immigration advocates want human rights monitors to oversee U.S. deportations 

The US is setting new records in the number of deportations each year – now at 400,000.  Immigration advocates are asking for international monitors from the Organization for American States to oversee the deportation process, including the detention of immigrants.  At issue in particular are the familial consequences of deportation.    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/28/immigration-advocates-want-international-human-rig/   

 Democracy Now!
Apartheid Regime Bomb Victim Father Michael Lapsley on Using Forgiveness to heal from tragedy

 There are several links to videos on Lapsley whose hands were blown off by a bomb mailed to him consequent to his activism in South African apartheid.  Lapsley describes his experience of personal movement through healing and grief.  He now runs a centre for healing of memories in South Africa.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shCytyDtxfY     

The Baltimore Sun – Justin Fenton
U.S. judge says government view on marijuana raises ‘equal justice’ issue 

A federal judge has reduced the sentence for two defendants in a marijuana case that included 100’s of pounds and laundering the proceeds.  The judge, who imposed a five year sentence instead of eleven, thinks that marijuana offences are coming to look like offences around smuggling cigarettes.    http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bs-md-ci-marijuana-sentence-reduced-20131028,0,4542403.story  

 Star Tribune (MN) – Paul McEnroe
A Beltrami County inmate was jailed, beaten – then freed 

Here is a new measure of how far some will go to save money.  Properly, health expenses while in custody are the county’s but all the evidence suggests that this mentally ill inmate with a long criminal record was released specifically to avoid hospital costs.     http://www.startribune.com/local/229802021.html  

 Prison Reform Trust (UK)
Newsletter Autumn 2013 

 This newsletter is an excellent source for new developments in the research around prisons and incarceration.  This edition has commentary on super-sized prisons and the tendency to greater use of them, community justice for women, a 52 page pdf report on how computers can help in rehabilitation, prisoners with learning disabilities and the aging population in prison.      http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/?dm_i=47L,1X4PH,6JSCMH,6W4KY,1