Giving houses for Christmas

Merry Christmas Toronto! And the rest of the world ... regardless of your religious affiliation. I'm not Christian, but I'm in a Christian family ... sort of ... and Christmas is an occasion we mark with friends and family. Christmas for me isn't about celebrating Big J's birthday -- because let's face it -- it's not his birthday -- it's a creation of the church, and nothing more, which coincidentally, co-opted a number of pagan celebrations. Go figure -- the church -- political. Christmas is a time however, for a little introspection -- a time to take a deep breath, regard past misdeeds with a sigh, and make promises to build an improved future in the coming year. Goodwill to everyone, and all that sort of stuff, which the world could always use a little bit more of.

Which is precisely what Habitat for Humanity is all about this Christmas, for the Mpianas -- a family that fled the Congo in 2002 to find refuge in Toronto. The Mpianas were recently given the keys to a brand home built by volunteer hands motivated by goodwill -- a volunteer that includes my eldest daughter, who spends a few days (evenings, weekends) per week at Habitat -- literally putting the roof over needy heads. For the folks who volunteer at Habitat -- those that donate money and materials -- the Christmas spirit is one that is celebrated year round, in countless builds, around the world. If all of us just gave a little -- just a little time, if nothing else -- what a different world it would be.

UN votes on right to food: US the only country that votes against. WTF?!

By a vote of 180 in favour to 1 against (United States) and no abstentions, the Committee also approved a resolution on the right to food, by which the Assembly would “consider it intolerable” that more than 6 million children still died every year from hunger-related illness before their fifth birthday, and that the number of undernourished people had grown to about 923 million worldwide, at the same time that the planet could produce enough food to feed 12 billion people, or twice the world’s present population.

And there you have it folks. It's quite simple. The United States has voted to starve the world -- including people in the US -- in its participation on the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on the Right to Development.

By the terms of the text, the Assembly would express concern that, in many countries, girls were twice as likely as boys to die from malnutrition and childhood diseases and that twice as many women as men were estimated to suffer from malnutrition. Accordingly, it would have the Assembly encourage all States to take action to address gender inequality and discrimination against women, including through measures to ensure that women had equal access to resources, including income, land and water, so as to enable them to feed themselves and their families. By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would urge Member States to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people, who have expressed in different forums their deep concerns over the obstacles and challenges faced in the full enjoyment of the right to food.

After the vote, the representative of the United States said he was unable to support the text because he believed the attainment of the right to adequate food was a goal that should be realized progressively. In his view, the draft contained inaccurate textual descriptions of underlying rights.

Is it me, or is the US set on declaring war on the poor, starving, children and girls? Or maybe this is the US' war on the rest of thw world? If the world goes one way, the US needs to go the other -- especially where the UN is concerned. I for one can't wait until the Obama government boots the Bush lackeys out of power. Hopefully the Obama administration won't disappoint the world.

Read more here.

HeroRATS saving the world!

The problem of landmines in Africa is horrifying in its numbers, as it is deadly effects. The numbers are astounding. There are probably close to 45 million landmines scattered across the continent, left over from various conflicts – much of the mines having been manufactured, sold or given to various pet projects by the developed world to fight their proxy wars.

To make Africa a safer place, heavy investment is needed and lots of time. Traditionally, dogs have been used to sniff out mines so they can be properly disposed of. But dogs take a long time to train, are costly to maintain and there are only so many dogs that can be handled. Enter a new and unique solution to this problem: rats. Not just any rats however – HeroRATS!

HeroRATS is project by APOPO, that train rats to sniff out landmines (as well as certain diseases and as to aid search and rescue workers). Other ways of detecting landmines are expensive and rely on foreign expertise for development, maintenance and execution. Rats however, are a low tech vapour detection technology.

It’s a totally cool, inexpensive idea, that empowers those in the countries affected, to help themselves. What better way to save the world? If you have a bit of spare cash, you can help this program by sponsoring a HeroRAT. It takes 5€/month to sponsor a HeroRAT, that can clear a 100 square metre landmine field in 30 minutes –- much faster than a human can.

The Business of Human Rights

Here's a new one for you -- the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre -- tracking the impact of over 4,000 companies operating in over 180 countries around the world. Allegations of corporate misconduct get a little light, with the organization confronting businesses and seeking responses. As expected, a lot of the issues deals with first world corporate giants and their colonial adventures in far off lands. But, there are still issues right on our doorstep, and the BHRRC is there too. The site acts as a clearinghouse for social responsibility news, and is worth the bookmark for those passionate about justice.

Environmental Crime - a Threat to Our Future

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) recently presented a report, Environmental Crime - a Threat to Our Future, to a UN meeting on trans-border organized crime. According to the report, environmental crime generates billions in profits for criminals annually. Environmental crime includes the illegal trading of wildlife, smuggling of toxic substances and hazardous waste, illegal fishing, illegal logging and trade in stolen timber.

The fact that there are those willing to steal and destroy the environment for profit, doesn't surprise me. How often do you hear of legitimate businesses that take advantage of public trust and harm the environment? Be it the dumping of toxic waste, including banned substances in their products or lobbying governments to reign in regulators -- well respected corporate giants already do it -- although those that break the law are thankfully few. I'm not suggesting that the criminals in the EIA report are no different from legitimate businesses. They are different. Crime is the enterprise of criminals -- not legitimate businesses.

The hardened criminals and legitimate businesses, have one thing in common however -- customers -- the public. There are people willing to buy the tusks of elephants; the skin of endangered animals; the fins of shark -- and by extension, shark-fin soup; trees cut illegally and the products made from them; and yes, even chemicals that contribute to the destruction of the planet they and us, live on. You've probably know the type. They're the ones for whom doing the right thing is for someone else. They're motivated by self interest and feel no remorse for their wrongdoing. It's not enough to just shine the light on the criminals -- more needs to be done to expose the market these criminals service.

Still no consensus to save the world

The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently wrapped up its 10-day World Conservation Congress in Spain, with high hopes for the future. High hopes, because IUCN believes the tide is turning in trying to save the world by conserving biodiversity.

Hope came from the commitment of stakeholders to protect Sumatra -- the world's sixth largest island and a garden of Eden for biodiversity. Since 1985 for instance, Sumatra has lost 48% of its forests, and there is still danger as deforestation continues to increase production of palm oil and acacia.

Still, there is much work to do when the blinders of short-term economic gain are being rigorously protected. Japan and Norway for instance, continue to refuse to heed the calls for conservation to allow whale populations to recover.

An IUCN study assessed the 5,487 mammal species on Earth and found that at least 1,141 are threatened with extinction. Another IUCN report shows that 35% of the world's birds, 52% of amphibians and 71% of warm-water reef-building corals, are likely to be negatively impacted by climate change.

The world will soon be thirsty

I missed FLOW, when it was showing at one of the documentary film festivals in Toronto this summer -- I still want to see it, although it will be preaching to the converted. I just recently came across this review on CNN, echoing the dire warning of the world running out of clean water. The planet may be mostly water, but most of it can't be consumed by humans. We can't drink the water in the oceans -- and the limited quantities that are in our lakes and rivers are being poisoned. We shit and dump toxic pollutants in the same glass that we drink from -- how stupid is that?

Recently, to Canada's shame, the Harper government voted to reject a UN resolution that would declare water as being a fundamental human right -- a UN motion, which would have no teeth, would nonetheless enshrined in the International community the notion that clean water should be held sacred. Canada, with its abundance of fresh, clean water, probably has little to worry about -- but in places like Africa, Asia, and alarmingly, the United States, clean water is rapidly becoming scarce. Like the environment, the warning signs are there, but unless people start dying in the thousands, public interest and policy will hardly budge.

Court to consider divorce for 8-year-old girl

There's something really fucked up in the world, when an 8-year-old can be married off. Married off to a man in his fifties. Married off by her father. Where in the world does this fucked up sort of thing happen? In the Arab world, where a strict Wahabi version of Sunni Islam rules.

Extinction of the orangutans

Orangutan populations are in rapid decline on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo according to a just published study. This is leading scientists to warn that we may be at the cusp of the first extinction of a great ape species, our closest genetic cousins. Both Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's top palm oil producers, have been aggressively expanding plantations to meet a growing global demand for biofuels -- which continue to destroy orangutan habitat. In addition, orangutans continue to be hunted for food and trade. Unless something is done immediately to turn the tide laying waste to these great apes, some researchers are predicting orangutans could be extinct by 2011.

Anyone for whale?

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) just wrapped up its annual meeting in Chile, and nothing has really changed. There are still two factions: those that support the hunting of whales, and want more; and those that oppose. I'm not entirely sure why the whaling industry is so important -- especially for a country like Japan, which has a special permit allowing it to hunt whales for research. The research permit allowed Japan to kill close to 1,000 whales in 2007, with the research meat ending up in the fat bellies of the Japanese. That doesn't even take into account the other whales that the Japanese consume, that were taken illegally from the oceans. The one surprise from the meeting, for me anyway, came from Denmark. The Danes, who we tend to look to with adoration because of their high scores in standard of living, want to increase the whales Greenland is allowed to slaughter for aboriginal subsistence. There's a load of bullshit. Japan shouldn't be doing it, and Greenland definitely shouldn't be doing it. Whale populations are nowhere where they used to be. Until populations increase and stabilize, hunting should be stopped.

SUVs killing the malnourished

Yes, your gas guzzling SUV is not only contributing to the destruction of the environment, it's also putting the world's poor and starving in more jeopardy. According to the Guardian, a secret World Bank report finds that the production of biofuels has contributed up to 75% to recent rise in food prices. The report, completed in April, was not released in order to not cause an embarrassment to George W. Bush, who's championing biofuels to reduce American dependence on foreign oil. Read more here.

Two birthdays and a world to save

My birthday went by this past week. It was a sort of celebratory event the entire week, culminating in a birthday breakfast this morning, which included a few presents -- even though I didn't really want anything -- and wasn't expecting much. This past week also marked the first time I registered for a stay at a hospital.

The hospital visit was planned -- been in the plans for a few months at the very least, following a visit to my GP. The whole process of, "there's something weird there, touch it," through to, "nice to meet you, drop your pants," and "don't worry, you won't feel a thing," probably took six months. It was not an emergency, but a proactive move on my part to take care of my health. Six months move pretty fast. It was my first encounter with the process of surgery, and having no expectations, I guess I am satisfied. There are those who rail against the Canadian health care system, but taking the context of my encounter out of the picture, it was not a bad experience -- even a pleasant one. There was the issue of the hospital losing my pre-op paperwork -- which meant I had to refill a form and sign the consent just before being wheeled into the OR -- but that was it. I was out of it. The doctors did their thing. I apparently woke up to the OR staff singing "happy birthday" -- which I don't remember. I was loaded up on drugs and shipped off to home. The next day, I got a courtesy call from one of the nurses at the hospital wondering how I was handling the pain. The pain was being handled. Like I said, I am satisfied. Something that in a different time would have killed me, is now routine day surgery. In and out. Just like that, and I even dropped into work a couple of days after for a few hours. I didn't need more reason or evidence to be thankful to be a Canadian -- having the luck to have circumstances put me on Canadian soil -- a citizen -- but this week, I had another reason handed to me. What I took for granted this week is a luxury that most of the world can't even dream of. I took for granted the fact that my life wasn't on the edge -- I wasn't at risk -- that I would be well. In a couple of days, Canada will celebrate another birthday. I will spend it quietly, reflecting on where I am, and the opportunities that are before me. Yes, another luxury.

I am a Canadian (eh!), but as I like to think, I am also a citizen of the world. The luxury of being Canadian allows me to think of myself as a global citizen first, and a Canadian second. In keeping with my international citizenship, my wife gave me something I didn't already have, for my birthday -- a donation to the David Suzuki Foundation, directed to be used for their Oceans Preservation Project. The oceans cover most of the planet and are key to sustaining life as we know it. Life on land and the oceans are connected in ways we probably still don't fully understand, from the food chain to the air we breathe; yet we treat the oceans as a garbage dump. Effluent from industry to household waste not properly disposed of, ends up far away in the ocean -- out of sight and out of mind. We've managed to affect chemical changes to the oceans. The oceans are becoming more acidic, and as a result, tiny lifeforms at the bottom of the food chain are being killed off. It's not called a chain for nothing. The higher lifeforms are connected to the lower ones -- as the lower lifeforms die out, the danger will spread outwards on the chain. At the end of that chain, are humans. The danger isn't for the coral reefs, the dolphins and the whales. We're the ones in danger. Us, and our oversized appetites that trawl the planet leaving destruction in our wake. [Sigh ...] Saving the world means saving ourselves.

Check out the latest Discover Magazine for a pop-sci education on the topic.

How to train death squads and quash revolutions from San Salvador to Iraq

Julian Assange of Wikileaks introduces the 219-page U.S. military counterinsurgency manual, titled, Foreign Internal Defense Tactics Techniques and Procedures for Special Forces (1994, 2004), with the declaration:

How to covertly train paramilitaries, censor the press, ban unions, employ terrorists, conduct warrantless searches, suspend habeas corpus, conceal breaches of the Geneva Convention and make the population love it.

That there exists such a manual isn't at all surprising. Those that know the history of the U.S., knows the country has repeatedly engaged in some questionable colonial excursions to other countries, usually with disastrous consequences for the peoples of the host nation. What should be surprising -- shocking, even -- is some of the tactics the manual advocates: warrantless searches; detainment without charge; the suspension of habeas corpus; prosecuting individuals for terrorism who are not terrorists; concealing human rights abuses from journalists; and, the use of subterfuge and "psychological operations" (propaganda) to make these and other "population & resource control" measures more palatable. These are exactly the tactics the administration of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have employed on the United States.

Saying no to human rights

The United States has decided to withdraw its mission to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) -- the UN body charged with dealing with human rights violations around the world. The UNHRC was created in 2006 to replace the UN Commission on Human Rights. At that time, the U.S. decided to not participate as a member, but instead send its mission as an observer. Even that, is now being pulled and it's a move that is shocking to many. One obvious way to view this position by the U.S. is that it has no regard for human rights. That would be a mistake however. The U.S. position on human rights needs to be seen beyond the tarnished perspective of the current American administration. King George has done much to destroy world's confidence in America's commitment to human rights. But, America has always practiced a less than idealized position on human rights. Human rights for America has always been tied to its political aims. America has never been a perfect state from a human rights perspective. Its criticism of the UNHRC however, does have validity. The UN's business of human rights has been checkered. The UNHRC allow as members, those who do not respect the human rights of their own citizens -- and allow such mockery of the system, as having Pakistan sponsor a resolution that would prevent the defamation of religions; and prevent resolutions with force being passed against states such as North Korea and Myanmar. While the UNHRC has had some positive impacts, it is also hampered by some members who are bent on manipulating the idealism of an international human rights enforcement body.

There will be a lot of criticism for the U.S. pulling out of the body. This time however, I may be more inclined to understand America's position.

Evil Cola

What's wrong with Coca-Cola India? They're supplying a toxic sludge to local farmers in Kerala as fertilizer, to placate them for the pillaging of their water supply to create sugar water and profits for Coke's coffers. Coke claims the toxic sludge is good crops, but an independent study revealed that the sludge would be totally useless as a fertilizer.

Saying No to Weapons Export

Way to go South African dock workers! A Chinese ship docked at a South African port encountered problems when it tried to offload its shipment of weapons destined for Zimbabwe. While there is currently no UN or AU embargo on shipping weapons to Zimbabwe, public interest groups are concerned about the use of those weapons in the political turmoil that is Zimbabwe today. So, dock workers refused to offload the ship, and it had to leave. The ship had on board, three million rounds for AK-47s, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and several thousand mortar rounds. Just what is a country, with no economy, doing, in importing such weapons? And what is China doing, exporting such weapons to such an unstable country?

The Arms industry is huge. The economics of dealing in death just makes for good business. It's startling however, when you start digging into the flow of cash for weapons. The top 20 arms exporters in the world include the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Yes, the body whose "primary responsibility, under the [UN] Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security," supplies the arms to conflicts around the world. Canada is just as guilty as the five permanent members. We rank number 12, and export $10-25MM in small arms. Those very weapons that are handy in ethnic and religious conflicts in developing nations; those very weapons that are light and easy to carry and use by children who supply the bodies in some of those armed conflicts.

The Dirty Truth About Plastic

Plastics were making the news this week in Canada, with Health Canada not really announcing much that they haven't already announced. In effect, what Health Canada said this week was, yes, plastics do represent a risk, however, at the end of the day, plastics are so ubiquitous in our environment, that an outright ban due to the risks of chemicals such as Bisphenol A would create a vacuum that would cause more harm than good. And to be sure, the economic ramifications to an outright ban would be tremendous. That doesn't mean that Health Canada made a political decision and closed the door. The door remained open, even if it is just slight. Health Canada label Bisphenol A toxic, and that will now allow the government to regulate the chemical. It's a warning to industry that the days of using human health and the environment as a test bed, are gone.

Will there be changes overnight? Not the dramatic ones that vocal critics of the chemical industry had hoped for. Sure, there were forward thinking retailers who saw the financial risks of still carrying such products -- and they reacted, even to just the rumour of Health Canada releasing findings, but that will not be the end of it. The chemical industry needs to innovate, and that will result in some hits and misses -- but it also represent an opportunity for companies to deliver alternatives and shift the game in their favour.

As much as Bisphenol A is a problem, there are also a slew of other chemicals that are in plastics that remain a potential risk, and these will be examined over time by Health Canada. Verdicts will be delivered. The old ways of industry doing as they please are changing. Consumers are more educated, and a vocal subset are advocating for more transparency and social responsibility. Businesses have to respond. It's a moral imperative. To not respond to this awareness would be unethical. Responses at this juncture will signal whether corporations respect their customers and the environment, or are simply evil.

This month's Discover magazine is also running an article on the Dirty Truth About Plastic. As I said above, phenols aren't the only concern -- so are phthalates and the sheer volume and longevity of plastic. We live in a plastic world it seems, and are slowly getting buried under the stuff. There are viable alternatives out there, so why aren't they being used?

Why do we let this shit happen?

Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear

There are few faceless corporations that are truly evil. Monsanto is one of them. One must wonder about the people who are the tireless cogs in its machinery -- as they slog away, do they ever wonder about the machine they power? Vanity Fair is running an investigative piece that looks at Monstanso: its quest to control the food supply chain and the destruction of the environment that it is responsible for. If I worked for Monsanto, I think I would breaking glass and diving out of the offices of its highest towers, because I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Evil.

Not just one ... two assholes encountered this weekend!

Two assholes encountered in one weekend. I'm so friggin' lucky. First asshole was found at the Brick Works. I was there on Saturday for the first time to check the place out. I've been thinking of it as a destination for a team event -- getting back to nature sort of thing. For those who don't know the Brick Works, here's a bit of backstory from the Brick Works website -- it's important context.

Evergreen is transforming Toronto’s historic Don Valley Brick Works factory from an underused, deteriorating collection of buildings into a thriving environmentally-based community centre that engages visitors in diverse experiences connected to nature.

Yes, an urban forest -- right beside the Don Valley Parkway. You'd think that the people who frequent the Brick Works would know this. On Saturday, I stopped by for 30-minutes, snapped a few pictures, and left. In the parking lot when I parked, there was a Toyota Corolla, with its lights on, engine running. I thought nothing of it. When I came back to my car, who was there? Yes, same Corolla, engine still running, with the driver reclining back in her seat, reading a book. WTF? Is the concept behind the Brick Works lost to the moron in that car? Apparently so. And so that was when I had my first asshole encounter this weekend. The Corolla carried a license plate BBEC 647 for those who know this person.

My second asshole encounter happened earlier today. I was at the Laureleaf Plaza, which I had walked to to have a coffee at the local Second Cup. It was a nice day, a bit windy, but the sun was out, the clouds were being blown away to reveal a bright blue sky. Out there in the parking lot was another Corolla. The passengers were waiting for a pizza to be ready apparently, and in the backseat was a teen -- not a child -- an older teen or a young adult. The car door kept opening, and this asshole kept throwing trash out into the parking lot. WTF? This is my neighbourhood, and probably this asshole's as well. Why would people do that? No reason needed if you're an asshole. This Corolla carried a license plate AVKX 468 for those who know this person.

With Asbestos, Canada Deals Death to the Poor in Developing Countries

You don't have to spend anymore time wondering about the Canadian government. Their thinking is rather limited to the short term and what is economically progressive for Canada now. Take cancer-causing asbestos for instance. Canada is one of the world's largest producer at close to 350,000 tonnes, most of which are destined for South-East Asia and South America. The government (Harper's and previous) actively promotes asbestos as safe to use in controlled situations, and has actively worked to ensure that the Rotterdam Convention, a UN directive to create a list of hazardous chemicals that countries can't export without the importing country's permission, doesn't get passed. Yes, Canada is an international pariah. We're exporting death for profits.

Health Canada warns about the use of asbestos, pointing out that its use is highly regulated by the Hazardous Product Act and its production regulated by the Environmental Protection Act -- but Health Canada tows the government line, and doesn't say the stuff will kill you. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency has attempted to ban the substance, but has faced stiff opposition from industry.

Who produces asbestos products? Well, you won't find many companies declaring they deal in asbestos. Fibrox for instance, a private company operating in Quebec, speaks only of mineral fiber on their website. There are approximately 2,000 people employed in the asbestos business in Quebec, and to be sure, most are probably equipped for the safe handling of asbestos. In developing countries however, where the poor are a commodity resource, asbestos handling is anything but safe.

Help make a difference, and send a message to the Canadian government -- we need to take a more global outlook on human life and the environment.

My Neighbours Don't Give a Shit

Earth Day was yesterday. It was a day for me, to show respect. Respect for the planet we live on, and recognition of the fragile ecosystem that sustains human life. All that was asked to mark the occasion was to turn off non-essential lights for 1 hour. Drop electricity consumption for just an hour. That was all.

So we gathered as a family in the living room, a couple of candles lit, and all the lights off. I even turned off the computer. Yes, I turned off the computer. Those that know me, know I never have the computer off. Last night, it was off. I shutdown.

Apparently I was in the minority. At 8:15PM, I took the camera to the balcony to take a couple of shots at the condo across from us. I went back out at 9:15PM. The before and after are below. WTF people? Were these people simply unaware? Like our PM, dumb-ass Harper, didn't give a rat's ass? I'm at a loss. I don't comprehend. It was big in the newspapers. It was on TV. It was everywhere! What does it take to make these people give a shit?

Assaulting the Poor

This image was taken by Luis Vasconcelos and posted on Reuters blog. The caption:

An indigenous woman holds her child while trying to resist the advance of Amazonas state policemen who were expelling the woman and some 200 other members of the Landless Movement from a privately-owned tract of land on the outskirts of Manaus, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon March 11, 2008. The landless peasants tried in vain to resist the eviction with bows and arrows against police using tear gas and trained dogs. REUTERS/Luiz Vasconcelos-A Critica/AE (BRAZIL)

More on the Landless Workers' Movement can be found on Wikipedia. Yet again, another example of the rich living off the poor.