Sept 26, 2014
Toronto Star – Carol Goar
Parliament finally debates slain aboriginal women – New Democrats force a parliamentary debate on murdered aboriginal women, with revealing results.
Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq was called on to respond to NDP questions in the house around the murdered and missing women and her venture into the personal has resulted in a much clearer rationale for the inquiry the Federal government is trying to avoid around the sociology of the culture for women. The Aboriginal women do not have the same rights as non-Aboriginal women and the failure goes well beyond matrimonial considerations. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/09/25/parliament_finally_debates_slain_aboriginal_women_goar.html
Star Phoenix (SK) – Betty Ann Adam
A fearless defender of women’s rights in prison
Kim Pate, Executive Director of Elizabeth Fry Canada, has been named to the University of Saskatchewan College of Law Ariel F. Sallows Chair in Human Rights. Pate, a member of the Order of Canada, and a tireless worker for the rights of incarcerated women, especially those mentally ill, enjoys a reputation for persistence in getting abuses corrected. Smart Justice Network Canada joins in heartfelt congratulations to her. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/fearless+defender+women+rights+prison/10230711/story.html
Globe and Mail – David Butt
Should sex offenders face more jail time after a sentence ends?
Butt ignores the dangerous offender designation in Canada and offers “civil” incarceration following criminal sentencing as an alternative according to an American model. Also ignored, Canada has also had a hugely successful program whose federal funding was just cancelled by the federal government called CoSA or Communities of Support and Accountability. Butt offers three pro’s and con’s for each side of the US practice. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/should-sex-offenders-face-more-jail-time-after-a-sentence-ends/article20799256
Statistics Canada – Government of Canada
Police-reported cybercrime in Canada, 2012
Just released, the cybercrime reported to police for the year 2012. The report includes some definitions and commentary on how the data was collected. Frauds make up over 50% of the crime reported, followed by sexual crimes against children. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2014001/article/14093-eng.htm
Huffington Post (US) – Anna Almendrala
A Blood Test For Depression Shows The Illness Is Not A Matter Of Will
The Translational Psychiatry Journal is suggesting that depression may be diagnosable on the basis of a blood test, even different types of depression and at once capable of suggesting different treatments even before an incident. The lead investigator, Eva Redei, Ph.D., a professor at Northwestern School of Medicine, thinks that the process may also significantly contribute to the reduction of the current stigma around depression. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/16/blood-test-depression_n_5826592.html?utm_hp_ref=stronger-together Related article: Medical Express (UK) – Charli Scouller New study finds vulnerability to radicalisation is linked to depression http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-09-vulnerability-radicalisation-linked-depression.html
The Big Story (US) – Sharon Cohen, AP
War vets, kids scarred by gangs help each other
Two distinct groups who share trauma and violence have found a way to help each other. The kids, trying desperately and fearfully to avoid gang involvement, meet at the local Y with the vets. The vets, calling themselves Urban Warriors, become mentors and the kids get a sense of protection and belonging. The idea came from prison. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/eacc2c5bb75d467da754edcc8fa319b9/war-vets-kids-scarred-gangs-help-each-other
iPolitics.ca – David Stewart-Patterson
Young, underpaid and angry: The coming clash over the income gap
Stewart-Patterson argues that the widening of the income gap over the last twenty years between the older (50-55) and the younger age group (25-29) has very specific implications for pensions, health care and deficits. Given that the current social and economic circumstances of the 50 year olds were won only after long and hard struggle, and given that the 25 year olds are falling below the standards that their parents established in the workplace, how long, wonders Stewart-Patterson, before the youth start pushing back? http://www.ipolitics.ca/2014/09/23/young-underpaid-and-angry-the-coming-clash-over-the-income-gap Related article: Financial Post – Lee-Anne Goodman, Canadian Press Age, not gender, is the new income divide in Canada, study finds http://business.financialpost.com/2014/09/23/age-not-gender-is-the-new-income-divide-in-canada-new-study-finds Related article: Huffington Post (US) – Sean McElwee Five Reasons Why Democracy Hasn’t Fixed Inequality http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sean-mcelwee/five-reasons-why-democrac_b_5858160.html
Des Moines (Iowa) Register – Editorial
‘Justice’ gone crazy, all for 1 bullet or 7 shells
This is one of those patently absurd incidents that shout out for the justice system to fix itself but the system just plods ahead and confirms the most ridiculous conclusions. A man in Tennessee helps clean up after a friend’s death, and gets 15 years for holding on to a few shotgun shells. The judge recognized the absurdity but allowed the sentence to stand. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/09/23/registers-editorial-prison-sentences/16085451