HIV cured by 2030?

    July 22, 2015

Globe and Mail – James Orbinski and Heather Johnston
We can end AIDS, so let’s do it!

The United Nations and a whole bunch of scientists gathered in Vancouver this week are of the opinion that the world can end the scourge of HIV by 2030, given the advances in controlling the epidemic.  The reduction in the death rate and the success of treatment promises that, given the right choices, the HIV virus could be history.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/we-can-end-aids-so-lets-do-it/article25610382/      Related article:  UNAIDS Report – World must drastically accelerate AIDS efforts or face more HIV infections and deaths than five years ago—says UNAIDS and Lancet Commission    http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2015/june/20150625_PR_Lancet

Toronto Star – Dan Taekema
Journalist group and civil liberties association start constitutional challenge to anti-terrorism Bill C-51

Two organizations, Canadian Journalists for Freedom of Expression and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, are calling C-51 “the most dangerous legislation we’ve had in recent Canadian history.”  They have launched a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the legislation on five different grounds and are working with well-known constitutional lawyer Paul Cavalluzzo.   http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/21/journalist-group-and-civil-liberties-association-start-constitutional-challenge-to-anti-terrorism-bill-c-51.html   Related article: Canadian Press: Jim Bronskill  Canadian spies might blow our efforts abroad if caught by authorities: RCMP   http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/07/21/canadian-spies-might-blow-our-efforts-abroad-if-caught-by-authorities-rcmp/#.Va5gl_lQRUZ

Globe and Mail – Lisette Surette
Motherhood takes on a different meaning when you visit your 19-year-old son in jail

Surette is a guest contributor from Fredericton, NB, whose 19 year old is in jail.  She describes motherhood reduced to its basic of providing love and support.  The 19 year old is on remand, i.e., not convicted but awaiting trial; the previous year he waited on remand for two months and then the charges were stayed.  His mother didn’t realize that the phone calls from him had a special rate and she ran up $800 in phone bills.  A needless anguish for all?  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/visiting-my-son-in-jail-love-and-compassion-have-become-my-new-job/article25607242/

Canadian Press – Colin Perkel
Long-term Canadian expats lose right to vote in split Appeal Court ruling

Ex-pats who are living outside Canada for five years or more will no longer be eligible to vote in a federal election.  So ruled the Ontario Appeal Court this week, overturning a lower court ruling that permitted the vote.  The ruling impacts on more than a million Canadians living outside Canada.  The legislation dates from 1993 but has not been legally challenged.  http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2015/07/20/no-voting-rights-for-long-term-canadian-expats-appeal-court-rules/#.Va5ecPlQRUZ

Ottawa Citizen – Kady O’Malley
Found – one PMO communications director, one Ontario issues manager. Still missing: The rest 

O’Malley is reporting that a number of key PMO staffers have been deleted from the phone listings leading to the suspicion that the key players for the coming election are gathering their forces and that an early writ may soon be dropped.  http://ottawacitizen.com/storyline/kady-the-mystery-of-the-possibly-disappearing-pmo-staffers

CTV News
New child benefits may not be worth as much as advertised, experts say

Tax experts are suggesting that the UCCB is not the goodie it is painted to be.  They say that the benefit will be clawed back at the tax rate for the bracket the parents are already paying.  Additionally, the Child Tax Benefit is eliminated – usually $30 per month per child.  http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/new-child-benefits-may-not-be-worth-as-much-as-advertised-experts-say-1.2481038  (A two minute video report at the link.)  Related article: Toronto Star – Jordan Press    Enriched child benefits will help Tory ridings most, says analysis – Universal Child Care Benefit payments for kids under 18 rise Monday. According to census analysis, of the top 20 ridings to gain from this, 17 are Tory  http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/07/19/enriched-child-benefits-will-help-tory-ridings-most-says-analysis.html

The Real News.com (US) – Eddie Conway
Are Incarcerated People Poorer Than Non-Incarcerated People?

Prison Policy Initiative’s researcher Bernadette Rabuy is interviewed by Eddie Conway about the income status of people, especially women, who are convicted and sentenced to jail terms in state prisons.  We can’t be surprised to find that the research says that people in prison made considerably less money than their non-imprisoned counterparts.  Prison has always been a poor person’s consequence by and large.  But the report adjusts the stats to reflect the younger prison population as well.  http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=14294

Seattle Times (US) – Peter Baker and Erica Goode, NY Times
Obama questioning use of solitary confinement

Obama’s views on solitary have to be understood as the tipping point for the issue according to the ACLU’s Margaret Winter, associate director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project.  Other NGO’s see solitary as torture and called Obama’s denunciation of the practice “a game changer.”  http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/obama-questioning-use-of-solitary-confinement/