May 25, 2021
National Newswatch – Glen Pearson
Our Sense of Patriotism Has Changed
Here is a poignant but forceful analysis of how we Canadians have changed over the year of confinement. It is fortuitous that the article is coming with the May 24th weekend when all things traditional, and perhaps staid, are celebrated. Pearson has some broad strokes that may engender a little more hope and confidence for the immediate future. “We have changed and our sense of patriotism has transformed along with it.” https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2021/05/19/our-sense-of-patriotism-has-changed/#.YKkXn6EpA2w Related article: CTV News – Sara Turnbull Retiring Supreme Court Judge Abella on dangers of populism, the role of the courts and a cherished family life “I never, never felt anyone had a happier home than I did, notwithstanding what they’d gone through. That to me is the ongoing miracle of their life, the way they reconstituted their lives here in Canada, and the way they never stopped being grateful to the country, for all of the opportunities it gave their children,” she said. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/retiring-supreme-court-judge-abella-on-dangers-of-populism-the-role-of-the-courts-and-a-cherished-family-life-1.5439048 Related article: Ted Talks – Julie Dhar How to have constructive conversations (a 10 minute talk on the curiosity conversation) https://www.ted.com/talks/julia_dhar_how_to_have_constructive_conversations Related article: CBC News (SK) – Heidi Atter Important to talk about race early, organizer of anti-racist camp in Saskatoon says https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/anti-racist-camp-saskatoon-1.6038734
The Conversation (Queen’s University) – Amie Tsang
Policing and evicting people living in encampments will not solve homelessness in Canada
Sometimes we seem to automatically reach out to police to solve persistent and annoying problems like homelessness: “Research conservatively estimates that 35,000 Canadians experience homelessness on any given night, with an average of one person sleeping outdoors for every five individuals staying in a shelter.” The questions raised by Tsang are all the more important as the country sees large police movements against homeless encampments in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. Does anyone ask where do the homeless go then? Is housing a human right? https://ca.news.yahoo.com/policing-evicting-people-living-encampments-133055732.html Related article: CBC News – Kate McKenna Montreal calls a new housing bylaw ‘the most powerful in North America’ but critics say it’ll drive up costs -The bylaw is set to become an issue in upcoming municipal election this fall https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bylaw-mixed-metropolis-montreal-1.6034993
NBC News (US) – Cary Aspinwall, The Marshall Project
Life-without-parole sentences are exploding. But America’s legal defense system hasn’t kept pace. Almost 56,000 people are serving sentences that will keep them locked up until they die, but most states don’t have minimum qualifications for their lawyers.
There is a contradictory explosion of life sentences (without parole) taking place in the face of a common acknowledgment of the need to reduce mass incarceration. The quality of the defence offered people accused of capital murder depends on whether they face the death penalty or not. “Life-without-parole sentences are steadily replacing the death penalty across the United States. Almost 56,000 people nationwide are now serving sentences that will keep them locked up until they die, an increase of 66 percent since 2003, according to The Sentencing Project, a nonprofit that advocates for shorter prison terms.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/life-without-parole-sentences-are-exploding-america-s-legal-defense-n1268122
Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
JOIN US UPSTREAM: A Virtual (Re) Thinking Series June 10th from 6:30-8:30pm
This is a series of conversations about how to reduce crime and its harmful impact by upstream intervention. “We define harm as encompassing social, economic, psychological, and environmental injury or damage inflicted on individuals, communities, and society either intentionally or unintentionally. Through this series, we will explore how many systems construct and perpetuate punitive approaches beyond the justice system.” https://preventingcrime.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/UPstream-Media-Release.pdf Related description for the series: https://preventingcrime.ca/our-work/upstream-speaker-series/
Justice for Soli and the Concordia Forum
Searching for Justice: The case of Soleiman Faqiri – Friday May 28th (14:00 PST | 17:00 EST | 22:00 BST). (A Zoom conference)
Soleiman Faqiri died in a prison cell of unexplained injuries. “In December 2016, Soleiman Faqiri suffered fatal injuries in Ontario jail whilst waiting for a mental health assessment. No guards were charged for his death… Soleiman’s case serves as an example of a man who lost his life in an institution that was supposed to take care of him. Now years later his family is still searching for justice.” Panelists include Soli’s brother Yusuf, filmmaker Michelle Shepherd, author Rabia Chaudry, podcaster Yusuf Zine, and TV broadcaster Evan Solomon. Host is Muddassar Ahmed, President of the Concordia Forum. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WZ2Td20ZS_mDFU3yH4XGEg Related article: Center for American Progress (US) – Kenny Lo How To Address Concerns About Data on Deaths in Custody – Congress and States Can Take a Critical First Step Toward Police Accountability https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/reports/2021/05/24/499838/address-concerns-data-deaths-custody/ (A needed commentary on the unreliable statistical information from the US around deaths in custody.) Related article: Gazette Extra (South Carolina) – Emily Bohatch Is SC’s new execution law unconstitutional? Death row inmates ask court to weigh in https://www.gazettextra.com/news/nation_world/is-scs-new-execution-law-unconstitutional-death-row-inmates-ask-court-to-weigh-in/article_aea4a0a9-f329-5dcf-a124-dbe3f8d7356e.html