The dirt principle…

Aug. 5, 2016

Huffington Post – Baz Dreisinger
Norway Proves That Treating Prison Inmates as Human Beings Actually Works

Here’s the dirt principle laid out in all the contrariness possible.  The author visits a Norway prison and by describing the experience draws out the differences in our prisons and our approach to rehab.  The dirt principle says:  “Treat people like dirt, and they will be dirt. Treat them like human beings, and they will act like human beings.”  Read on…  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/norway-prison_us_578418b6e4b0e05f05232cb7?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Morning%20Email%20080416&utm_content=The%20Morning%20Email%20080416+CID_a8c14dd93c4c205f2e5bede25b344970&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=HuffPost

Ottawa Citizen – Ken Coates
Be prepared to be shocked by what the missing women inquiry uncovers

Coates describes the predicament of the inquiry: “the substantial and contradictory burdens of high expectations and widespread skepticism.”  He sees the inquiry pre-occupied with two thrusts, one in looking at the failure of social services, government, policing and the judiciary; and two, more explosive potentially, “the root causes of contemporary Indigenous poverty, marginalization and social difficulty.”   http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/coates-be-prepared-to-be-shocked-by-what-the-missing-women-inquiry-uncovers   Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Caroline Bennett and Patty Hajdu    Bennett and Hajdu: Why we’ve created the missing and murdered women inquiry   http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/bennett-and-hajdu-why-weve-created-the-missing-and-murdered-women-inquiry

Community Safety Knowledge Alliance (CSKA) (SK) – Cal Corley
Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being: Inaugural Issue Monday, August 8

Here’s a promising new development: an actual professional journal taking community safety and well-being from a multi-disciplinary peer review perspective.  The CSKA is a non-profit with Saskatchewan government support.  CSKA’s self-description: “A Saskatchewan based consortium of public, private and academic interests which aims to advance the knowledge, social science and evidence base in support of multi-sector approaches to building stronger and healthier individuals, families and communities in Canada and beyond.”  Subscriptions are free and you can register at:  www.journalCSWB.ca    CSKA site:  http://www.cskacanada.ca/   Journal link:  https://journalcswb.ca/index.php/cswb

Globe and Mail – Angelique Eaglewoman
Why the inquiry into missing, murdered indigenous women must engage all Canadians

There are certainly systemic issues involved in the MMIW inquiry and the inquiry itself should cross all lines around government services and policing.  But is there an expectation for the average Canadian as well?  Eaglewoman, the Dean of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University, has this comment:  “For it to succeed, all Canadians must support this effort through listening, understanding, and showing compassion for the survivors, for the families suffering loss, for those who were disregarded when they went to police and reported a missing indigenous woman only to be told “she will probably turn up.”   http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/inquiry-into-missing-murdered-indigenous-women-must-engage-all-canadians/article31271844/

Ottawa Citizen –David Pugliese
Military police watchdog gears up for investigation of alleged detainee abuse in Afghanistan

Canadian troops in Afghanistan were accused of torture and detainee abuse but at the time (2010) the Conservative Canadian government passed over the allegations, as seemingly the present Liberal government would prefer.  But the Military Police Complaints Commission, an independent federal watchdog, intends to hire two investigators to delve into the accusations around the famous “cell raids.”  There is no proposed timeline for the investigation.  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/national/military+police+watchdog+gears+investigation+alleged+detainee/12104230/story.html

Ottawa Citizen – Presse canadienne, Montreal Gazette
Man arrested for serving fish to customer who was severely allergic

The arrest, without charges at this point, is a historic first in Canada and because it may involve criminal negligence is sending shock waves and fear throughout the restaurant business.  Though the waiter was informed by the customer of a severe allergy to seafood and salmon, the customer was presented with and consumed salmon before realizing what he was eating.  The customer suffered two days of coma, a heart attack and six weeks in hospital.  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/arrested+serving+fish+customer+severely+allergic/12103431/story.html

Human Rights Watch…
Australia: Appalling Abuse, Neglect of Refugees on Nauru – Investigation on Remote Pacific Island Finds Deliberate Abuse Hidden Behind Wall of Secrecy

Amnesty International is estimating that about 1200 immigration detainees were transferred to a detention facility on Nauru Island where they were maltreated and severely abused, all part of a deliberate policy by the federal Australian government – with demands of strict secrecy, even from the medical personnel on the site – to discourage immigrants arriving by boat.  https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/08/02/australia-appalling-abuse-neglect-refugees-nauru