Dec 7, 2022
CBC News
Indigenous leaders and advocates in Winnipeg say the MMIWG crisis is a national state of emergency – ‘It’s become a genocide,’ MLA Bernadette Smith says
While Canada notes the 33rd anniversary of the 14 murdered women in Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique, Indigenous women are outraged that Winnipeg police who suspect that the bodies of three more MMIWG are in a Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg, police have no plans to attempt to recover the bodies of two named women, “Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and a third woman — also believed to be Indigenous — who has not been identified.” Advocates want the third unnamed women to be known as Buffalo Woman, representative and in honour of all the murdered and missing. The police position is causing outrage in the community. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mmiwg-winnipeg-rally-national-emergency-1.6674143 Related tweet: Leah Gazan (Proudlakota) (NDP Member of Parliament: “Another three Indigenous women murdered by a serial killer, & police indicate they aren’t going to search for their remains in the Brady Landfill. I’m asking the gov’t to provide immediate funding to stop this genocide, & search for the remains of our precious sisters. #MMIWG2S” (Link includes question in the House) https://twitter.com/LeahGazan/status/1599853184427520000?t=S-KcaePTiNDzkOsexvVHcQ&s=03 Related tweet from Brandi Morin – On national genocide “Canada is a killing field of colonial genocide against Indigenous Women, Girls/2S Peoples who continue to die and disappear at horrifying rates. Recent staggering losses have united advocates, allies and families to demand Canada declare a State of Emergency.” https://twitter.com/Songstress28/status/1599914546470490113?t=-rlkQvnT466o16oM72pQGQ&s=03 Related Youtube video: Indigenous reaction to the investigation of the death of Jared Lowndes in Campbell River, BC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUk_1M5YHY4
Toronto Star – Jeremy Nuttall
More ‘police stations’ run by China found in Canada, report says – China has insisted the stations are there to help citizens with tasks such as renewing their driver’s licences.
Safeguard Defenders is a security group operating out of Spain and claiming that China has over 100 police stations all over the world, collecting data and tracking – read harassing – Chinese people. There are allegedly three in Metro Toronto, one in Vancouver, and one whose location is unknown. “Authorities in Canada have said they are investigating the matter. Last week, it was revealed during a House of Commons committee meeting in Ottawa that Global Affairs had summoned China’s ambassador over the stations.” https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/12/05/more-police-stations-run-by-china-found-in-canada-report-says.html?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=bn_157308 Related article: Amnesty International (Canada) Amnesty International Canada target of sophisticated cyber-attack linked to China https://www.amnesty.ca/news/news-releases/cyber-breach-statement/ Related tweet from Amnesty International (Cf string) https://twitter.com/AmnestyNow/status/1599841470709891072?t=3nv8HEbRVeenJEcj5tDIxw&s=03
Edmonton Journal – Jonny Wakefield
Convicted murderer who won ‘faint hope’ at parole while maintaining innocence still seeking release
The link offers commentary on the case of Landon Karas who is serving 25 years to life, minimum of 15 years for parole, for the murder of businesswoman Doreen Bradley in 2002. He has consistently claimed innocence but the issue of pursuit of prison programs for violent offenders became an obstacle to parole. Though Karas’ lawyers have presented evidence that Karas was medically incapable of leaving sperm at the scene, the only element connecting Karas to the murder, both an appeal court and the Supreme Court have refused to hear the case. A parole board appeal process has critiqued and denied the board’s parole decision and is requiring a new parole hearing. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/convicted-murderer-who-won-faint-hope-at-parole-while-maintaining-innocence-still-seeking-release
APTN National News – Annette Francis
Kiashke Zaaging Anishnaabek taking legal action against Canada over policing
Chief Wilfred King of the Gull Bay First Nations: “In recent incidents where we have had a violent offender in the community, the police would not respond because they could not get the necessary back up from Armstrong or Thunder Bay detachment.” So, the community of 300 is using Ottawa for $10 million “for negligence and breaching its common law and fiduciary duties.” Lawyers for the community say that the underfunding has been a long standing problem. https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/kiashke-zaaging-anishnaabek-taking-legal-action-against-canada-over-policing/
Transform Harm Organization: A Resource for Ending Violence (US) – Mariame Kaba
Rather than an organization, the site is intended as a resource in six areas: Transformative Justice, Restorative Justice, Community Accountability, Abolition, Carceral Feminism, Healing Justice. Kaba is author of We do this ‘til we Free Us: Abolutionist organizing and Transforming Justice. (Haymarket Books, Chicago, 2021) “TransformHarm.org is a resource hub for ending violence. We are not an organization. This site offers an introduction to transformative justice. Created by Mariame Kaba and designed by Lu Design Studio, the site includes selected articles, audio-visual resources, curricula, and more… You can use what is here, and submit recommendations to be added to the focus areas listed here. We hope you will use these materials to foster your own education and also share them with your communities to build something new. Only together can we transform our relationships to each other and society. We hope that this site helps in this effort.” https://transformharm.org/
House of Commons (Canada) – Report of the Special Committee on Afghanistan
Sukh Dhaliwal, Chair – June 2022, 44th Parliament, 1st Session
Honouring Canada’s Legacy in Afghanistan: Responding to the Humanitarian Crisis and Helping People Reach Safety Report of the Special Committee on Afghanistan
This report following Canada’s military withdrawal from Afghanistan is conveniently divided into two parts: the history of Canada’s presence there and the future from the perspective of the humanitarian needs of the people. The report gives statistical information on the people of Afghanistan displaced by their loyalty to Canadians but still exposed to danger. The report includes both thirty-two recommendations to the Canadian government and supplements from both the Conservative party and the NDP. The participating people and organizations occur in appendices. https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/441/AFGH/Reports/RP11826943/afghrp01/afghrp01-e.pdf
The Conversation (Queen’s) – Sarah Tranum
Supporting feminine leadership can help create a just and kinder future
Tranum offers both a summary of the struggle for valuing the distinctive contribution that leadership from women offers both the workplace and the home, and the long struggle to have the distinctive contribution recognized and valued. “Instead of being told to “lean in”, research and women’s experiences underscore the need for their contributions to be recognized and for workplaces, and society, to value collective care. Critics of ‘leaning in’ state that it puts the onus on women to change their behaviours and ignores the systemic barriers at play.” Furthermore, she says, the feminine traits of empathy, support and community building are alive and well in all of us, sometimes sadly ignored by some of us. https://theconversation.com/supporting-feminine-leadership-can-help-create-a-just-and-kinder-future-193607?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20December%206%202022&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20December%206%202022+CID_3bfa8927983de358eb1ae0db58986ab4&utm_source=campaign_monitor_ca&utm_term=Supporting%20feminine%20leadership%20can%20help%20create%20a%20just%20and%20kinder%20future
Outreach (US): An LGBTQ Catholic Resource – Greg Boyle, sj
Jesuit Father Greg Boyle: Our LGBTQ sisters and brothers are “unshakably good”
The link may well provide a reflection piece for the current tensions over various gender based political offerings. Boyle is a well-known youth advocate and founder of the Los Angeles Homeboy Industries, a gang rehab program founded in 1992. The link offers the story of two young people – Daniel and Emily – who were gang members and now youth advocates. Says Emily: “I looked at G (Boyle) and asked him if I was going to hell because I was a lesbian. I was sobbing. Father Greg hugged me and told me I was perfect, that I was a brilliant light and if I wasn’t in heaven when he got there, he’d find another place to stay.” https://outreach.faith/2022/12/jesuit-father-greg-boyle-our-lgbtq-sisters-and-brothers-are-unshakably-good/?fbclid=IwAR0JkX7iXKTHf73oJYqvvkf8QAdXbSFt2gIyKpVfg7_QEJjwfN-XN2Kg2Xg