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Gilad Atzmon reflects on anti-semitism and Jewish ethnic identity

Tribalism, Racism and Projection

 

It doesn’t take a genius to see that people who are identified as Zionist and Jews are, somehow, over represented in many blunders in today’s world affairs. The pro-war, Neocon think-tanks were overwhelmingly saturated with Zionist Jews, and the ‘moral interventionist’ advocates within the media are also largely Zionist Jews.

The ‘brains’ behind the so-called Bush doctrine i.e. The ‘War Against Terror’, were Paul Wolfowitz and Scooter Libby, and if that were not enough, at the heart of the financial turmoil we also find Jewish persons, and financial institutions that are clearly recognizable as Jewish – such as the Lehman Brother, Goldman Sachs, Alan Greenspan, Bernie Madoff, and many others.
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Posted by on Feb 19, 2012 | 0 comments

African amazed at number of homeless people in Canada

African shocked to discover homelessness in Canada

Sylvester Bagulo Bayowo

It’s 7:30 p.m., incredibly cold (-10C) and we are sitting at a Tim Hortons in downtown Toronto, waiting for Rev. Joe Elkerton from Ekklesia Inner City Ministries Project 417 to arrive. He will lead us on tonight’s mission to give food to the homeless, though the idea still seems impossible to me.

Homeless people in Canada? I can’t imagine it. Are they like the homeless on the streets of Accra in my home country of Ghana, young mothers and children living near mosquito-infested gutters and men who have come from the deprived, northern parts of the country to seek economic emancipation? I suppose I will soon find out.

I grew up in Ghana’s northern region, and today I work there as a development planning officer with the local government service secretariat. I am visiting your country, along with four other young leaders from Africa, as part of the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) African Leadership Program.

Over six weeks, I have spoken about the challenges facing my country at a national conference, and completed internships with engineering firm CH2M Hill and the City of Cambridge, gaining valuable knowledge and insights that I can apply in my work back home. Tonight’s activity is an opportunity to learn more about Canadian society, and it is clearly important. Despite all the stories I’ve heard about social challenges in North America, I have never once imagined homelessness in Canada.

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Posted by on Feb 19, 2012 | 1 comment

Omaima Makdesi claims France and Syria can not protect her against abusive husband, wants refugee status in Canada

 

Mother and children who fled violent abuser in France must now face new refugee hearing

By Don Butler, The Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — Omaima Makdesi and her three children fled to Canada in 2008 to escape a violently abusive husband who regularly beat and threatened to kill them. Last year, the Immigration and Refugee Board granted them protection as refugees.

It’s a common enough story. Desperate women regularly turn to Canada when authorities in their own countries are unable or unwilling to protect them.

The twist is that Makdesi and her children were living on the island of Martinique, a territory of France, and are dual citizens of France and Syria. While Syria is seen as a place where domestic abuse goes unpunished, few would say the same of France.

That places Makdesi’s family in the category of refugee claimants who’d be less likely to succeed under reforms unveiled last week by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.

Under the proposed changes, refugee claimants from countries designated safe by the minister — including France and most other EU countries — will be processed within 45 days, severely curtailing their time to prepare their cases. And if their claims are rejected, they’ll be swiftly deported, even if they apply for judicial review by the Federal Court of Canada.

Makdesi’s case also highlights the disconnect between the way the law handles refugees and the real-life perils many face. As the recent Shafia trial graphically demonstrated, even a democratic state can’t always protect vulnerable women and children from family members bent on mayhem.

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Posted by on Feb 19, 2012 | 0 comments

Winnipeg: Shots fired at Modern East African Tapas Restaurant and Lounge

CBC News

Winnipeg police are investigating after shots were fired at a downtown restaurant.

A window was shattered at the Modern East African Tapas Restaurant and Lounge on Portage Avenue just before 3 a.m. Saturday, Const. Jason Michalyshen said.

“I can tell you that we have information about a projectile being located,” he said, [but] “no information as to type of weapon being used.”

No injuries have been reported.

Last September two people were shot after leaving the same restaurant. Police said there is no indication the two incidents are related.

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Posted by on Feb 19, 2012 | 0 comments

Brampton: Joshua Raphael sought by police

Brampton babysitter sought by police after house set on fire

Molly Hayes and Dylan C. Robertson, The Star

A Brampton teen is wanted by police after he allegedly lit a fire in a home where he was babysitting his young niece and nephew — and then fled.

Peel Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Joshua Raphael, 19, after a fire was lit in a home where he was babysitting.

It’s not known why 19-year-old Joshua Raphael allegedly set the fire on Wednesday evening, or why he fled, leaving the two young kids behind at the house near Kennedy Rd. N. and Vodden St. E.

“I was shocked someone would do that,” said Const. Thomas Ruttan. When asked his reaction, he said “I’m not sure I can put it into words.”

The teen’s 9-year-old niece was able to quickly extinguish the ground-level fire with a bucket of water, preventing any injury to herself or her 5-year-old brother. There was minimal damage done to the home, Peel Regional Police said.

Police said an accelerant was used to start the fire. A smoke alarm was activated, and a neighbour called 911.

“It’s not a typical call we deal with,” said Const. George Tudos. “Trying to locate him is a priority so we can understand what the motivation was.”

A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for Raphael for arson and mischief endangering life. Police believe he is travelling by foot or using public transit, but is in the Brampton area.

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Posted by on Feb 19, 2012 | 0 comments
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