Holocaust Memorial Berlin
Monday, October 31, 2011
All Out
For those of you who are in the "human rights for all" mindset, check out ALL OUT. This is a great site where opinions can be voiced, petitions can be signed, and people can become proactive in the fight against discrimination. I've also added a more recent posting with a video about the organization...
Thanks,
Terry
Monday, June 20, 2011
Failed or Failing States
In a recent article of Foreign Policy Magazine, a series of photos were taken with captions which listed a number of countries (63 I believe) that are on the verge of, or on the road to failing. What does this mean exactly? Much of what is listed deals with issues of poverty related to war, human rights, corruption, distribution of wealth, and health and education.
These states that are failing aren't doing so due only to internal problems, but also because of the external factors which are influencing their growth and development. The developed world is part of the problem: we use resources, manipulate markets, ignore policies, occupy territories, restructure social programs, and cast a shadow of blame when countries cannot get out of the debt loads they carry.
As sad as some of the stories are, there are also some success stories interwoven. It is a fascinating look at our world.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/postcards_from_hell_2011?page=0%2C39#.
These states that are failing aren't doing so due only to internal problems, but also because of the external factors which are influencing their growth and development. The developed world is part of the problem: we use resources, manipulate markets, ignore policies, occupy territories, restructure social programs, and cast a shadow of blame when countries cannot get out of the debt loads they carry.
As sad as some of the stories are, there are also some success stories interwoven. It is a fascinating look at our world.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/postcards_from_hell_2011?page=0%2C39#.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Right Way to Do Things
We are in a very interesting yet disturbing period in history. Life is leaning to the right, pivoting on the side of economic growth, religious fundamentalism, and conservative social policy. Globally, we are more concerned with trade deficits than with human development; more in touch with an irrational interest in the evils of those people who fall outside of the norms, than in the creation of human connection and the acceptance of diversity.
Globally, there is much to be concerned about. Certain African nations are becoming more concerned with the targeting of sexual minorities, women, and children, in an effort to superstitiously rid themselves of poverty, corruption, disease, and famine. Education, healthcare and science have taken a back seat to witchcraft and scapegoating.
Europe is becoming increasingly Xenophobic, paying lip service to a more unified community, while reducing immigration and excluding those who are undesirable; tougher policies are ensuring that the European Community is not at risk of progressive multiculturalism.
In our own backyard, a new era of conservatism is upon us. Canada has never really known (from what I know) a government so right on the scale that we can actually hear our voices being taken away from us. This country has long shown itself to be a progressive entity even in times of hardline world trends. But alas, we have succumbed to the pressures of a new world order, forged years ago by G. Bush as a way to make certain that fear and paranoia prevail.
Stephen Harper will create a new Canada, made up of a Science Minister who does not believe in evolution, a Health Minister who will privatize healthcare and profit from the illness of others, and an Education Minister who will opt to put a balanced budget ahead of literacy and an enlightened future generation. Mr Harper has already done away with development funding , and is monitoring our speech online, and although won't admit it, is planning to deny women sexual/reproductive rights, reserve marriage for "traditional" partnerships, and put more and more funding into Draconian law enforcement measures and bigger prisons.
We are in a changing world, one which has forgotten the mistakes of the past, and is downplaying our mutual responsibilities to one another...humans have the capacity for great developments and progress, but as history shows, we also have the capacity for great destruction. Although I would like to have faith in the former, I realistically predict the latter.
Globally, there is much to be concerned about. Certain African nations are becoming more concerned with the targeting of sexual minorities, women, and children, in an effort to superstitiously rid themselves of poverty, corruption, disease, and famine. Education, healthcare and science have taken a back seat to witchcraft and scapegoating.
Europe is becoming increasingly Xenophobic, paying lip service to a more unified community, while reducing immigration and excluding those who are undesirable; tougher policies are ensuring that the European Community is not at risk of progressive multiculturalism.
In our own backyard, a new era of conservatism is upon us. Canada has never really known (from what I know) a government so right on the scale that we can actually hear our voices being taken away from us. This country has long shown itself to be a progressive entity even in times of hardline world trends. But alas, we have succumbed to the pressures of a new world order, forged years ago by G. Bush as a way to make certain that fear and paranoia prevail.
Stephen Harper will create a new Canada, made up of a Science Minister who does not believe in evolution, a Health Minister who will privatize healthcare and profit from the illness of others, and an Education Minister who will opt to put a balanced budget ahead of literacy and an enlightened future generation. Mr Harper has already done away with development funding , and is monitoring our speech online, and although won't admit it, is planning to deny women sexual/reproductive rights, reserve marriage for "traditional" partnerships, and put more and more funding into Draconian law enforcement measures and bigger prisons.
We are in a changing world, one which has forgotten the mistakes of the past, and is downplaying our mutual responsibilities to one another...humans have the capacity for great developments and progress, but as history shows, we also have the capacity for great destruction. Although I would like to have faith in the former, I realistically predict the latter.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Welcome to the Dark Ages Uganda!!!
As ridiculous as it seems, some countries are regressing. Rest In Peace Mr. David Kato, may your death be a catalyst for change.
Please cut and past the link, it speaks for itself:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/110127/uganda-gay-rights-activist-brutally-killed
Please cut and past the link, it speaks for itself:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/110127/uganda-gay-rights-activist-brutally-killed
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