Friday, October 23, 2009

SECURITY CAMERAS FOR "AT RISK NEIGHBOURHOODS"

The Toronto Police Services Board, has recently approved an additional 11 cameras, to be added to the 15 security cameras, that already existed in "high risk neighbourhoods" in Toronto. This will give 24 hr coverage of those neighbourhoods that the police has also deemed, as being more criminal than others. Among the factors that went into their decision, was also the socio-economic level of those communities. The problem with this also, is that some of those neighbourhoods in question, has also a higher visibility of minorities and they are also considered, by the Toronto police, as worth watching. The economic gap between the poor and the rich, has also put the former in the category, of being watched by the police and for the simple fact, that, those on the lowest economic scale, are also minorities. Their actions besides promoting racism, also does not help to promote human rights either. The specific neighbourhoods, in which the cameras were installed, are also being kept a secret, but that is not entirely difficult to find out, because of the criterias, that were also used by the police, in the targeting of those neighbourhoods. Most people will agree too, that the decision of the Toronto Police Services Board to target such neighbourhoods, was also racist and bias. Based also on the demographics that were also used by the police. And also in subjecting those within those areas, to be constantly watched by the police, 24 hours a day, by those video cameras, which by the way, has very little effect, in the prevention of crime anyway. The actions of the Toronto police, has also reinforced the myth, that crimes are also mostly committed by the poor, as this was also a part of their decision, in regards to the installment of those cameras. It is no wonder that there are no improvements between the police and those groups, which are also generally targeted by them. Surveillance cameras in our society has become common place. Setting up cameras in specific neighbourhoods, to watch the day to day activities of those in such neighbourhoods, could be challenged, because it also infringes upon their rights and especially when the reasons for those cameras, also pointed to those communities also being targeted by the police and for reasons that has also clearly discriminated against them.

Canada Rejects UN Human Rights Recommendations



UNITED NATIONS - Canada has told the United Nations that more than half of the 68 recommendations which other countries says will improve Canada's human rights standards are unacceptable. In an address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Canada has rejected outright 14 of the recommendations issued in March and partially rejected another 22. Rejected advice touched on issues that included racial discrimination, aboriginal rights,fighting poverty and seeking clemency for Canadians facing the death penalty overseas.
For instance Canada also rejected a recommendation from Egypt that called for the training of judges and prosecutors on the nature of race-based hate crimes.
Canada has also rejected recommendations from Russia and Ghana to launch a national poverty-elimination program. Canada has said that provinces and territories have jurisdiction in that area. On the death penalty Canada also rejected calls by Denmark and the Netherlands to seek clemency for Canadians facing capital punishment in all cases, including those where Canada considers the "rule of law" reigns.
According to Louise Arbour, former Supreme Court Justice and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "Canada has quandered its international goodwill."
"There is a sense inside the UN and the human-rights community that... We’re not a real presence anymore"... "If you can’t lead on issues that are hard for you, how can you tell other nations to lead on issues that are hard for them?" she says. She also said that "unlike countries such as Norway or Sweden, Canada isn’t spending as much as it could, or should, to promote development and rights." Arbour has also said that Canadian diplomats have also backed away from advancing the rights agenda in international forums.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff Comments

Ignatieff's Not So Very Sentimental Views About His Native Canada. And Also His Very Pro Israeli Attitude Was Also Revealed.
At a 2005 lecture at the University of Dublin’s Trinity College Ignatieff exhorted his views on his native country in his statements about Canada's human rights issues when he also berated Canadians for trading on Canada’s “entirely bogus reputation as peacekeepers for 40 years." He also followed this up by stating that Canadians also favoured “hospitals and schools and roads” over international citizenship. “If you are a human rights defender and you want something done to stop [a] massacre, you have to go to the Pentagon, because no one else is serious,” Ignatieff said.
"It’s disgusting in my own country... Canada, but they would rather bitch about their rich neighbour to the south than actually pay the note” he said in response to a question about peacekeeping. “To pay the bill to be an international citizen is not something that they want to do.”
Ignatieff gave the lecture while he was director of Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. He also specifically said during a lecture in Toronto and placing his hand on his heart that there was nothing more important for him than ensuring the continued existence and safety of the state of Israel. That comment may have also come not only from his personal attitude but also his professional view on the matter. In 2006 he had received criticism for his comment for saying that the Israeli government had committed "war crimes" in the bombing of a south Lebanon village, Qana, in which a building had collapsed, killing dozens of civilians. For that comment Ignatieff had said also that "all hell broke loose" and also that "It was the most painful experience of my short political life". He also had apparently learned from that mistake. To further proved that his views about Israel were also paramount in some of his decisions, Ignatieff has also endorsed a book that was pro Israel and ended up calling its authors "his friends" as well as stating that one of the "greatest influence of his intellectual life" was the zionist thinker Isaiah Berlin, whom he also said that "next to my father, I love most dearly" and "who had the greatest effect on my thinking". Finally Ignatieff has also admitted that "Israel may not have complied with the Geneva Convention." In his defense he did say "that both the Palestinian and the Israelis has a right to statehood." And also that "Canada can't remain in neutral" in regards to that matter.

Note: I'm interested in his views on Human Rights, which was his platform for many years before he went into politics, but which now also seemed to be contradictory after also stating his views in regards to the Israeli government, which has also been blatantly in violation of the International Declaration on Human Rights, that even the United Nations has also condemned in regards to its actions. Further Micheal Ignatieff's views on human rights issues will also affect the way that he deals with other countries in regards to Canada's foreign policy, and whether those practices will be considered as being humanitarian or not. I am talking here about those poorer countries that this government has also exploited directly and also in its immigration policy to exclude others from benefiting in return under international human rights laws. We also know that previously he did not think that this was the case. The question then is what are his views on those same issues now?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY: NONEXISTENT

The Global Integrity 2008 Report has labeled Canada as so called "Moderate" in its World's Most Detailed Assessment of Government Integrity and Democracy. The report which assesses the strength and weakness of national level anti corruption system has also found that "Canada is struggling with the controlling influence of money in the political process." Among the areas that has received the lowest ratings in regards to corruption are legislative accountability, judicial accountability, civil service regulations and law enforcement. The report is also in the opinion of some also deficient. Compared to other countries around the world no serious actions has ever been taken against any Canadian government officials who has acted corruptly. There has been investigations plenty but for those corrupt government officials no direct punishments has ever really been handed out. They have somehow managed to avert all of this during the process. The worst that they have gotten is some bad publicity for their actions.

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE: HOW THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS CARRIED OUT THE TORTURE OF PERSONS DIRECTLY

Let the truth be told that the Canadian government also tortures people directly. This fact is now being uncovered because of those victims of the Canadian government who are now speaking out about its role in the torture of persons in this country. Their stories are available to all and is a testament also to human rights abuse in that country which are also carried out directly by the Canadian government and which also can no longer be ignored. It is no secret that Canada's police agencies such as CSIS, the RCMP and the local police has carried out the torture of individuals on a regular basis as well as in ways that are also fundamentally against human rights. Those police agencies has also used extreme measures including the use of both physical and psychological torture against those subjected to such treatment and this has also been carried out against the knowledge of the general public. The Globe and Mail Canada's news agency has also stated on this issue "how morally confused Canadian authorities have become .... Somehow, human rights have become viewed as an inconvenience, and not a legal obligation." Victims suffers silently as these atrocities are being carried out. They include those who are on the police "watch list" such as some activists and also those who can help those agencies in one form or the another such as being spies for the government or the police without their consent usually. First coercive means are employed to get those persons to cooperate with their abusers. If that doesn't work then more extreme methods are used to get the required results. Refusing to participate often leads up to those persons being subjected to more abuse both directly and in other ways. Direct abuse of the person also involved the use of illegal methods such as physical torture of the victim and also involved the abuse of that person's rights as a human being. Those methods are employed anyway with the result being that the victims are also subjected to intense physical and also psychological pain and trauma and these are also carried out in secret with the isolation of the victim through other means directly. (See my other articles on the isolation and torture of the victims of this form of human rights abuse). Lifting the veil in regards to this government's role in the torture of persons will also help in exposing the real picture of its human rights abuse to the world that it will no longer be able to hide because of the fact that its actions are now finally coming to light. This information is important also in assessing its role also in international affairs and also its true intentions as well. As they often say also that "whatever is hidden, will also come to light". Now finally its actions are being exposed and the victims are also now getting some kind of justification for the atrocities that has been committed against them.
Below I have also included some excerpts from other articles on the same subject. One of which is called Corporate Terrorism, Torture and Government Cover Up which was presented at the World Congress on Economic Crime Prevention in January 2009 that has also emphasized the use of the Zerzetzen technique that is now favoured by such countries as Canada in its current use by that country's police agencies like CSIS (CSIS is no longer a police agency but still acts like one when it suits its purpose). The article is covered in detail at this site. http://zerzetzen.wikispace.com by rodus or more correctly by Roderick Russell his official name. It is called Serious Human Rights Abuse in 2 G8 Countries - Being Covered-UP by their Establishments - Use of the Zerzetzen Torture Technique by ... and CSIS in Canada. "Human Rights Organizations are scared to help". And "this human rights abuse is happening in Canada today". Proof that CSIS practices torture in Canada... How elements in the top establishment have used the CSIS intelligence services as a private crime gang ...CSIS is carrying out this torture for people whom they know are not only evil, but also extremely stupid. What has followed? Shots fired...threatening phone calls to his children...he is under surveillance and he can’t find work as people are scared to hire him. Furthermore regarding the Neutering Canada’s human rights industry. "What is interesting is the absence of the Human Rights Industry... Abuses that come from the establishment at home are definitely not fashionable. Contrary to popular belief there is no human rights organization in Canada to which victims of zerzetzen can turn to for help".
Zerzetzen by CSIS “no touch torture” – slander, surveillance, telephone tapping, Intimidation, harassment, death threats. There are many death threats but if finally carried out it is made to look like an accident.
CSIS is not telling the truth about torture in Canada ... "But it’s worse than that – Canada’s government is covering the matter up...our intelligence services is now so bad and our politicians now so neutered by the establishment that Canada does not pass this basic test of democracy".
Zerzetzen in my own personal case. Harassment and intimidation used against me which has also included the following: My telephone numbers being hooked up to fax lines and I get calls at 5 am in the morning and at other times. The telephone ringing incessantly and no one is on the other end of the line. They also work with employees to harass me on the job or to destroy my business at other times. They've even contacted my clients directly. Taps my telephone, intercepts my emails and opens my regular mails. They have also turned friends and acquaintances against me with lies about me. Threatened and harassed my children using intimidation and fear. Works with neighbours who are also used in their attempts to entrap me. Disregarding the administration of justice in all legal matters regarding me such as obstruction of justice by directly interfering with all legal proceedings and to ignore my rights in all of these. This is the wider government conspiracy against me. They have also used advanced technology to spy on me in my home and also to carry out torture that has also resulted in physical injury. Death threats (and extortion)letter which has also told me never to show the letter to any one else (which I also ignored and showed it to others instead). Black listed regarding jobs, friends and in every area of my life. Most could not have survived this but I have lived to talk about it and much to their regret right now.
In another case. CSIS had asked the Sudanese government to arrest a Canadian man as files revealed. Abdelrazik is the 'first case of Canadian rendition,' MP says. (See also article below on Mr. Abdelrazik's case and how he was tortured directly by CSIS).

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

THE HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

Canada and the war in Sudan
The operation of Canadian oil companies in the Sudan has cause economic hardship, for the Sudanese people who has not only faced civil unrest in their country from that government itself which has also profited from those foreign oil companies but many Sudanese were also killed or displaced by these civil unrest for which their government is also to be blamed and for working with those foreign oil companies to exploit them even more. Exploitation and greed is what has kept those oil companies in the Sudan and other places like South America. Talisman Oil is one of those Canadian companies that has exploited the resources of the Sudanese people without giving any thing back to the people. That in my opinion is a human rights violation. To profit off of the people for their own benefit. Canada and its global conglomerate of oil companies in Africa and other countries around the world has also violated international human rights standards through its exploitation of the natural resources of those countries and putting the inhabitants in economic hardships that is evidence by the wars and internal turmoils that is often the result of the direct interference of those foreign countries that has used these internal conflicts for their own benefit.
Canada's Role in the Congo Wars:
A recent report that has come out has also said that Canada has funded and profited from the war in the Congo. This fact has also been known for a long time but these reports has also cited the direct role that Canada has played in the massacre of the Congolese people through its direct support of the rebel groups that it has also funded that has also resulted in the deaths of millions of Congolese. According to Denis Tougis in his report Canada In Africa he has cited that "Canada’s image as a moderate country and disinterested development partner in Africa is now thoroughly outdated". Another report by writer Zahra Moloo has also cited Canada's role in the Congo in her report called Canada’s Contribution to Congo’s Wars. In it she has described some of the atrocities that were committed by Canadian oil companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She also gave documented evidence of this fact including stating in her report that "documented support for rebel groups and massacres by Canadian mining companies" had also caused the Congolese government to review the contracts of some 63 of those mining companies that were issued during the bloodiest years of the war that has also resulted in the deaths of some 5.4 million people who have been killed since 1998 as a result of that war. The review of the Congolese government which has also claimed that 45,000 people had died each month from war-related causes. In the report also Anvil Mining employees were taken to the Congolese courts in June 2007 over allegations that they had provided logistical assistance and ground transportation to the Congolese Armed Forces during an assault on a fishing town called Kilwa in October 2004 in which 70 to 100 civilians were killed. Other reports have also claimed that "the company’s vehicles were used, among other things, to remove corpses in the aftermath of the assault" and that "Despite multiple eyewitness testimonies, the company employees were acquitted". In one report also Canada's Barrick Gold was said to have had access to gold areas that were also out of bounds of the Congolese government and that it was also funding at least two rebel groups the UPC (Hema Union des Patriotes Congolais) and the FNI (Front des Nationalists Integrationnistes) to carry out the massacre of civilians of those areas. One final inclusion. In his book called Noir Canada: Pillage, corruption et criminalité en Afrique’ writer Alain Denault has described how "Canadian mining firms operating in Africa are involved in levels of abuse worse than those perpetrated by the former colonial empires". Canada now has assets of over 300 billion dollars in those African countries and has continued to exploit the natural resources of those poor countries not just in Africa but also South America and other countries around the world. These in my opinion has all constituted human rights abuses and most of which has taken place under that country's auspices of its "service to humanity" which has never been regarded in its true light until now. Now that its actions are being exposed finally that has also contradicted everything that human rights stands for and which has also been unknown to most people.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

WHY THESE T.O. PUBLIC OFFICIALS SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION


MARIA VARLOKOSTAS is the current Manager of Funds and Risk Management with the Toronto Social Housing Unit and these others. TONI MULGREW, PHIL BROWN, ADAM SHERMAN, HOWARD RUBENHOFF and JANET DAVIS, Toronto City Councillor should be investigated for corruption in how they go about hiring public companies and distributing funds to those companies whose actions are questionable. They also do everything possible to keep those companies on the City's payroll even after it has been proven that their actions goes against public interest. Councillor Janet Davis is the chairperson for several of those committees that oversees the hiring and funding of those companies including also those for the Toronto Social Housing Unit and she has also been instrumental in overlooking public complaints against some of those publicly appointed companies in order to keep them on the City's payroll. As for Maria Varlokostas who is the Manager of Funds and Risk Management for the Toronto Social Housing Unit and in regards to her proven record of keeping on those companies who do not serve in the best interest of the public and her other questionable actions all seemed to be a prerequisite also for her getting promoted with the City of Toronto. They also go about quietly maintaining their actions and when questions arises from the public in regards to their hiring practices which also in many cases has also shown a conflict of interest on their part and in the distribution of funds to some of those companies and how they also go about keeping them on after they have been discovered to have acted contrary or outside of their duties these are also overlooked by them and those companies are kept on indefinitely. The City of Toronto gives out millions of dollars in contracts to private companies each year and many of those that are kept on after their actions has proven to be against public interest has been allowed to do so because of the corrupt practices of those in charged of hiring those private companies. Some of those companies like Mintz and Partners Limited the accounting firm and M&P Property Management Ltd. are also undeserving of those appointments because of their actions or the actions of their employees that are also questionable. Both companies are also run by the larger accounting firm Deloitte which is a global accounting firm which does business also in many other countries besides Canada. And when questions arises from the public regarding their actions these are also ignored by those who has hired them. The Auditor General who is in charged of investigating the actions of Toronto City employees regarding the mismanagement of funds may also have a hard time investigating such companies or the agencies that has hired them such as the Toronto Social Housing Unit because their actions are covered up for the most part (in most cases complaints against them do not get any further than the committee that has hired them and the rest of City Council do not get to hear those public complaints against them)and also because of the conflict of interest that is also present regarding the actions of those City of Toronto employees in regards to their duties to the public and the private agenda that they also maintained which also makes it more difficult to scrutinized their actions which they also seemed to have covered up so well. The corruption also comes from their actions of not only maintaining those companies but also in going after members of the public in ways that are also criminal (such as reprisals) and that also goes against their office as well. They also go about doing so in secrecy by taking measures against such persons that has also violated their rights including in some cases more serious criminality on their part that should also be investigated because it involved further corruption by them and those targeted has to then take measures against them to protect their rights or to exposed them further. A classic example is in the recent reappointment of one of those companies Mintz and Partners Ltd and M&P Property Management Ltd. whose term as the court appointed receiver and manager was expired on August 12, 2009 (in regards to one of the properties that they have managed)but who has managed to keep their current position by being reappointed on August 4, 2009 thanks to those people just mentioned. Those companies mentioned has a very bad track record with regards to their actions and the public. From racism leveled against them to more serious accusations against them directly that has also charged them with more serious criminal actions by either their individual clients or the general public in regards to either them or their employees that also goes against the interest of the public. In order to be reappointed complaints against them from the public had to also be ignored by those in charged of hiring them and keeping them on. Those companies are very rich and has also handled millions of dollars in assets and properties for the City of Toronto and besides being rich they are also very corrupt and are also engaged in taking advantage of those who are in lesser positions than themselves not to mention some of their employees who has also been accused of being involved in some very serious crimes against the public. This is not defamation because all of these accusations about those companies can be proven and some has already been proven. Those complaints against them in regards to their recent reappointment were also never made available to the court (which had appointed them presumably in good faith but more so because no one had disputed their actions in regards to the said properties at that hearing which was also not made available to those who should have had that information) and their actions as the receiver and manager of the assets and properties amounting to millions of dollars or of their other duties as publicly appointed companies were therefore never questioned by the court and so these companies were allowed to carry on with their corrupt practices as usual. Thanks to those members of the Toronto City Council and the several agencies that they have also given autonomous powers such as the Toronto Social Housing Unit to hire such private companies and doing everything in their power to keep on those companies whose actions the public has now questioned in regards to the handling of their public duties or even in their private practice that has also gone against public interest. Those to be blamed for such companies actions are those corrupt Toronto public officials whose conflict of interest is so obvious also in regards to so many of their actions. Like those I've just mentioned. They have also attempted to go after those who has also exposed their actions to the public including me and some of them has also employed ways to go about doing so that are not only criminal but has also revealed their true characters as well.