Sept 4, 2017
Globe and Mail – Reni Eddo-Lodge
I stopped talking to white people about race. Here’s what I learned
This article is an interesting reflection on inclusion of all kinds, a liberal insistence on the rightness of inclusion, and seeks to understand why differences are so hard to cope with from the political and personal point of view. The theme is the focus of a series called 6 Degrees Citizen Space (Sept. 25-27) and sponsored by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. (cf http://www.6degreesto.com/ ). The series is entitled Walls, Bridges, Homes and the author will appear at the forum in September. https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/i-stopped-talking-to-white-people-about-race-heres-what-i-learned/article36151409/
Toronto Star – Alan Woods
About 250,000 citizens of El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua may soon follow Haitians to Canada out of fear of losing their special immigration status in the United States
As in the case of the US based Haitians refugees, a group of Salvadorians, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans are facing the expiry in the US of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) visas and are not expecting the TPS to be renewed by the US. Renewal of the status lies entirely with the President and Homeland Security, and not the Congress. When the options in the US are exhausted, many of the 250,000 are expected to cross into Canada to seek refuge. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/09/04/salvadorans-hondurans-could-form-next-wave-of-asylum-seekers-us-advocates-warn.html Related article: Globe and Mail – John Ibbitson Persecuted in Chechnya, gay refugees face new struggles in Canada https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/rescued-from-chechnya-gay-refugees-face-new-challenges-in-canada/article36159840/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com& Related article: CBC News Mary Wiens ‘We’re allowed to stay here forever’: Deportation order for Mexican family overturned ( Canadian born children to have been deported with parents; such children NIC in deportation numbers) http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/we-re-allowed-to-stay-here-forever-deportation-order-for-mexican-family-overturned-1.4272700 Related article: Toronto Star – Nicholas Keung Refugees stuck in backlog have a chance at getting out of it — if they can afford the legal fees https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/08/19/refugees-stuck-in-backlog-have-a-chance-at-getting-out-of-it-if-they-can-afford-the-legal-fees.html Related article: Toronto Star – Nicholas Keung UN calls out Ottawa over lengthy immigration detention stays https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/immigration/2017/09/01/un-calls-out-ottawa-over-lengthy-immigration-detention-stays.html
Toronto Star – Lindsay Bever
U.S professor wears bulletproof vest to class in protest of campus gun law
Universities and Colleges in the US state of Kansas now have to contend with a permission to carry a concealed weapon on the campus. Other states are enmeshed in discussions about the issue. The Kansas legislation allows only a concealed weapon s that effectively no one may know who is armed unless there is a direct threat with the weapon. What is equally up0setting for many critics of the legislation is that the presence to one another is about to normalize interacting with armed players. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/09/04/us-professor-wears-bulletproof-vest-to-class-in-protest-of-campus-gun-law.html
CBC News
‘Time is crucial’: MMIWG asks for 2-year extension – Commissioner Michèle Audette cites lack of resources, string of resignations as reasons
The Commissioners for the inquiry into Murder and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls is asking for a two year extension in the commission’s mandate due to the complexity of the task and the resignation of seven key staffers. Criticism is coming from Indigenous leaders, family members, academics and government but at this point the government has not commented on the request. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/mmiwg-2-year-extension-demand-1.4274166
The Guardian (UK) – Polly Toynbee
‘Tough on crime’ created the prisons crisis. It’s time for justice to be rational
The UK has been for some time voicing objection to the reality of falling crime rates and increasing prison populations, in fact doubling prison population. The prisons are overcrowded and the violence inside the prisons has also seen increasing rates. Staff shortages are a large part of the problem but so is imprisonment for minor crime that may be best handled in the communities. Failure to grant bail is also part of the problem as is the increasing frequency of longer sentences and tougher parole. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/31/tough-on-crime-prisons-crisis-prisoner-numbers