Tolerance

Peace in Darfur??

- Benny Powers

All over the world, people are celebrating: the road to peace in the Darfur region of the sudan has been paved. The question now is weather or not we shall all walk it together.

Over 400 000 people have lost their lives in the continuing genocide in Darfur. The signing of this peace deal marks the beginning of the process of ending the genocide.

For more information, including things that YOU can do TODAY to help, visit these websites:

www.savedarfur.org
www.darfurgenocide.org
www.projectequity.org

Goths do Good

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

BoingBoing has a post about a study that found out that goth subculture helps protect self-harming kids. BoingBoing also looks at how different media outlets deal with the research.

“One common suggestion is they may be copying subcultural icons or peers [when they self-harm], but our study found that more young people reported self-harm before, rather than after, becoming a goth. This suggests that young people with a tendency to self-harm are attracted to the goth subculture,” says Robert Young, who led the study.

“Rather than posing a risk, it’s also possible that by belonging to the goth subculture, young people are gaining valuable social and emotional support from their peers.” But he cautions: “However, the study was based on small numbers and replication is needed to confirm our results.” Only 25 participants felt strongly associated with goth culture.

I never thought that goths would ever be mentioned on this site….

Doctors Expose Guantanamo Cruelty

- Vanessa King

Hundreds of doctors from all around the World have added their signatures to a letter condemning doctors in Gunantanamo for force feeding inmates on hunger strike. The letter is published in the Lancet Medical Journal and states that techniques such as restraints and the use of force to feed prisoners by nasal tube should be prohibited.

The principles of the World Medical Assiciation represent physicians in the US as well as countries all around the globe and specifically ban the use of force feeding as it is seen as cruel behaviour.

Some 500 prisoners are still being held in Guantanamo, however, several prominent groups, such as Amnesty International and the UN, are presently urging the U.S. to close down the facility. Since Amnesty’s initial involvement in letter writing campaigns 15 detainees have been released from US custody, 8 of which have been freed indefinately.

Care to send a letter to the U.S. to speak out against torture and injustice in Gunatanamo?
Follow the link to good action!

International Women’s Day

- Adam Clare

Today is International Women’s Day and in Toronto tonight their is a fundraising event happening.

“International Women’s Day is upon us and it is time to celebrate Women and ensure that all people are treated equally. Bring whatever donations you can as well, we’re trying to raise as many funds as possible.”

The details:
Amnesty International, Stop Violence Against Women Fundraiser
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 (7:30 PM)

Squirly’s
807 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario

White Ribbon Campaign

- Stewy 1 Comment

White Ribbon Campaign

December 6th marks the end of White Ribbon Days. Not coincidentally, the day is also the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, a tragedy that occurred in 1989 when 14 women were murdered at the city’s L’Ecole Polytechnique. Vigils were held across Canada today to mark this sombre anniversary.

White Ribbon Days are sponsored by the White Ribbon Campaign. The WRC is the largest movement of its kind in the world, and is organized by men in an effort to eradicate male violence against women. However, the WRC does not make any public statements on December 6 because it believes that men should “step back and listen to the voices of women.”

While certainly not good news, these statistics are worth repeating: Girls are four times more likely than boys to be victims of sexual assault by family members. 12 per cent of girls in grade nine are pressured to have sex. Adolescent wives are three times more likely to be murdered. (Stats courtesy of The Toronto Star)

P.S. (9:55 pm) Just came across this great website created by the National Film Board and the Global Women’s Memorial Society. “The Global Women’s Memorial Website project is dedicated to remembering women who have been murdered & promoting women’s memorials as an act of resistance to violence against women.” It’s worth checking out.

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