July 13, 2014
Huffington Post (Canada) – Corey Levine
How a Group of Incarcerated Men Taught Me Diet Discipline
Levine is part of a restorative justice group who visit the prison and listen and talk with the offenders and victims. Instead of the usual exchange one week the group had a purely social function in which the inmates produced food they had prepared themselves. The usual agenda abandoned for the occasion the conversation turned to the food, its ingredients, its dietary impact and lessons were learned! http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/corey-levine/diet-discipline_b_5576685.html
Toronto Star – Humera Jabir, Editorial Comment
Ottawa’s cruel treatment of Omar Khadr must stop
The Alberta Court of Appeal is clear: the conviction of Omar Khadr is unconstitutional under Canadian law, based solely on a confession extract under torture and then a trail under military law. The court condemned the underlying legal principles of the conviction. But less than three hours after the court’s decision was announced, the federal government announced the intent to appeal the ruling and its determination to keep Khadr in an adult maximum security prison for the rest of his US sentence due to expire in 2018. Khadr’s first seven months was also served in solitary, a practice that violates the two week maximum norm set by the UN. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/07/12/ottawas_cruel_treatment_of_omar_khadr_must_stop.html
Vancouver Sun – Mike Hager
U.S. prisoner Martin Chambers fights to return to Canada
The question of the protection of Canadian prisoners in US jails and their welcome to Canadian jails to serve their time has taken another twist. Chambers, now 74, convicted in Florida for money laundering, has already served more than he would have received in Canada and has the approval of the US prison authorities for the move back to Canada where he would be released, but CSC has invented some extra-legal reasons for refusal. In BC court Judge Arne Silverman ruled last week that Chambers “has been and continues to be unlawfully detained according to Canadian law.” The case now looks for a federal court order to CSC for repatriation. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/prisoner+Martin+Chambers+fights+return+Canada/10023139/story.html#ixzz37G6I9t7d Related article: Canada.com – Aaron Derfel Porter’s lawyer still waiting for word from Panama on extradition http://www.canada.com/news/Porter+lawyer+still+waiting+word+from+Panama/10022467/story.html
N. Y. Times – Sonia Nazario
The Children of the Drug Wars – A Refugee Crisis, Not an Immigration Crisis
Nazario draws a bleak picture of daily life in the capital city of Honduras and adds to the rationale for children leaving for the US. As many as 90,000 children are expected to show up, unaccompanied, on the southern borders of the US, some economic refugees, some seeking parents already in the states, some fleeing murder and violence on the periphery of illicit drugs. Nazario tells the story from the real life experiences of these children. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/opinion/sunday/a-refugee-crisis-not-an-immigration-crisis.html?_r=0
Jewish Daily Forward –
Families of Slain Israeli and Palestinian Teens Turn to Each Other for Comfort
The families of the recently slain Jewish and Palestinian teenagers have a different take on the need for revenge and escalation of the violence. They are meeting face-to-face in one another’s homes to console each other on their losses. One of the Palestinian men said at the house of one of the Jewish families: “Things will only get better when we learn to cope with each other’s pain and stop getting angry at each other. Our task is to give strength to the family and also to take a step toward my nation’s liberation. We believe that the way to our liberation is through the hearts of Jews.”
http://forward.com/articles/201500/families-of-slain-israeli-and-palestinian-teens-tu/#ixzz37G4TPPtz
Calgary John Howard Society
Housing First
The video (approximately five minutes) offers the point of view that by assuring housing immediately on release from prison, former inmates are able to cope and confront the myriads of other problems attendant on rehabilitation and re-integration. Housing First is a movement gathering strength in anti-poverty efforts as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIiV1GnJ6Jk
Vancouver Province (BC) – Elaine O’Connor
Kids stay silent about cyberbullies because they fear parents will take away the technology, researchers say
The article sheds a little light on why kids are willing to endure painful and difficult cyberbullying. Researchers say that 90% of parents in a cross Canada survey say that their kids would tell them about cyberbullying but on 8% of the kids tell their parents. The survey also suggests that parents wait too long before talking with children about the issues. http://www.theprovince.com/news/Kids+stay+silent+about+cyberbullies+because+they+fear+parents/10019176/story.html Related article: Globe and Mail – Caroline Alphonso Incidents of schoolyard bullying drop in Ontario http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/incidents-of-schoolyard-bullying-drop-in-ontario/article19517943 Related article: Toronto Sun – QMI Agency Half of Canadian parents worry kids are cyberbullies: Survey http://www.torontosun.com/2014/07/09/half-of-canadian-parents-worry-kids-are-cyberbullies-survey
Star Phoenix (Regina, SK) – Jordan Press, Postmedia News
Government looks to cap veterans’ medical pot use
The only government health care body to cover the cost of medical marijuana is looking to cap the use and the quantity it is willing to pay for. Veterans Affairs will accept 5 grams per day prescription from a doctor for a vet but is now facing applications for increased dosage and additional numbers on the prescription. In 2013, 121 vets used $353,000 worth of pot. Advocates say it replaces anti-psychotic drugs and pain killers. http://www.canada.com/health/Government+looks+veterans+medical/10024681/story.html