Miller calls sets April 7th as day of reflection for Rwanda’s genocide victims

U of T to host three day conference in memory of victims and discussions for unity and reconciliation

by GEORGE KAGAME

Toronto Mayor David Miller has proclaimed April 7, as a Day of Reflection on the Rwandan Genocide and to observe the memory of the victims.

Miller’s message was contained in a press release on Tuesday ahead of a major workshop on the Rwandan genocide organized by the University of Toronto’s New College. The statement reads in part: “Everyone has the right to live in conditions of dignity, respect and peace,” noted Mayor Miller. “We must never forget the untold suffering of the Rwandan people and we must support Toronto’s Rwandan community as they seek to rebuild their lives.”

Beginning on April 6, 1994, it is estimated that one million Rwandans of Tutsi descent were murdered in a government instigated campaign that lasted for 100 days. At the end of the killings, the United Nations’ recognized the murders as a genocide. Two prominent Canadians were part of international efforts to stop the genocide before it escalated. One is the famous UN peacekeeper General Romeo Dalliare and the other is a Nobel Peace prize winner in 1999 with Doctors Without Borders and Annex resident James Orbanski.



On Thursday after 6 pm, Orbanski will also present his account of events in Rwanda during the genocide between April to July 1994. The three day conference, to be held in New College’s William Doo Auditorium 45 Willcocks street at Spadina Ave. Among events organized during the workshop are a candle light vigil for the victims to be led by City Councillor for Ward 14, Gord Perks and live music performance by Rwandan artist the Mighty Popo as well as poetry readings from Patrick Sharangabo Ntare a Rwandan alumni of U of T.

Miller will be represented at the opening ceremony of the workshop by Councillor Gord Perks will present the Mayor’s proclamation at the opening ceremony and candlelight vigil. Perks said of the event: “The Rwandan genocide is a horrendous piece of our world’s history,” said Councillor Perks. “It marks our complete failure collectively and individually to do our duty as members of the human race.”

Perks will be among other key figures to speak at the event including Rwanda’s Ambassador to Canada Edda Mukabagwiza, renown genocide scholars like Jerry Caplan, former Toronto Star Publisher and Summerhill resident John Honderich, Meric Gertler the Arts and Science dean of U of T and Rick Halpern the Principal of New College. Several members of the Rwandan community, some survivors of the genocide living in Toronto will also present their accounts of the genocide and their hopes of the reconstruction of Rwanda. Rwanda’s former Minister of Justice Jean De Dieu Nucyo, will also discuss the theme of justice and reconciliation in Rwanda.

The conference will be the second in a short while to be hosted by the U of T, in March the university hosted another conference titled: “Remembering Rwanda 15: Lessons learned/ Not Learned,” in which several Canadian genocide scholars and activists among whom former federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler participated.

The conference will also feature other international renowned genocide scholars and activists, students, teachers, members of the Rwandan community, and other members of the general public are invited to attend. For those that will not be able to attend, information on proceedings can be followed on webcasts: www.newcollege.utoronto.ca



NOTES.
Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of Toronto's incorporation as a city. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.

Walk to help treat multiple Sclerosis in Scarborough

5 to 10 Km walk to raise funds to assist families of patients and research programmes
by GEORGE KAGAME


The Multiple Sclerosis calls upon all residents of Pickering, Scarborough and Etobicoke to participate in the annual MS Walk taking place on Sunday April 19th.

The walk will raise funds to ensure support to people who live with the disease. This support includes national research programs to fund possible causes and cure of the disease, as well as family assistance for those affected by the disease. For 2009, 60,000 people are expected to walk while $6.7 million is targeted to be raised from the participants and sponsors. The walk is held annually in all parts of the country on the same day.

According to MS Canada, the disease refers to a complex system whereby the immune system of the body attacks the central nervous system causing scars or plaques. Symptoms and effects include: vision disturbances such as double or blurred vision, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, stiffness of muscles speech problems, bladder and bowel problems, and short-term memory problems.

The MS Canada web page states that the causes of the disease are so far unknown and there’s no cure yet but researchers are close to finding the answers to these questions. They add that Canda has some of the highest cases of Multiple Sclerosis with an average of three news cases everyday.
Commenting on the walk, Mark Holland the Member of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering said: “Ajax-Pickering is a community that cares. Even during these challenging times, I am confident that our community will raise record support at this year’s MS Walk that will help give people who live with great challenges like MS a brighter future.”


The 5km to 10km MS Walk will start at 9.30 am on Sunday 19th April in the following places: Pickering at Pine Ridge Secondary School-Address: 2155 Liverpool Rd.
Etobicoke: at St. Mark Catholic School-Address: 45 Cloverhill Road.
Scarborough: at Cedarbrae CI- Address: 550 Markham Road, Toronto

Toronto Mayor's Luncheon to discuss 'bad' economic times

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Toronto Community News sponsors forum to discuss challenges of ‘turbulent economic times
by GEORGE KAGAME

The economy and the recently approved Toronto City budget are set to be the major discussion topics as Mayor David Miller meets with the Toronto Board of Trade in the annual Mayor’s Luncheon at Delta Toronto East Hotel in Scarborough on Thursday 9th April.

Now in its 11th year, the Mayor’s annual luncheon brings together city administrators and the city’s business community, this year’s luncheon comes only a week after the budget totalling $ 8.7 billion was approved by the city council. The 2009 version is sponsored by Toronto Community News which publishes weekly newspapers in almost all the suburbs of Toronto and its business hubs in the centre and downtown.

Even many media houses have reported that the business community welcomed the budget, a communique from the organizers of the luncheon stated that members of the public are welcome to listen to the city’s economic players in analyzing the challenges of the current economic recession: “Given these turbulent economic times, join us at this year’s luncheon, perhaps more anticipated that any before, to hear the Mayor address the challenges our city faces and shared vision for the future”.

The luncheon is free for members of the public with tickets starting from $45 and tables available for booking at www.bot.com or by calling 416 862 4500

Peace activists hope Canada will create peace department

Initiative seeks similar agenda for as peace as there’s for defense ministry

by GEORGE KAGAME


With several parts of the world bubbling with conflict currently, Rob Acheson a resident of Pickering and his colleagues in the campaign to establish the Canadian Department of Peace, are hopeful that governments across the universe will reserve the same commitment to peace efforts as they do for war.


The Canadian department of peace initiative (CDPI) is part of a worldwide peace campaign that activists propose to be part central government cabinets around the world. It currently has a 24 country membership. Members join the movement as countries-where the initiative has been adopted like in Nepal with a full Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction-while in other countries like Canada, enlistment is according to chapters based on provinces and cities. There are now more than 8 chapters across Canada, 19 organizations representing 120,000 Canadians. Rob Acheson leads the Toronto Chapter, he is a busy man Acheson.

On top of his day job as operations officer of a logistics company in Scarborough, Acheson has to coordinate meetings of the Toronto Chapter once or twice a month downtown Toronto. “Our group is comprised of regular folks with interest in adding their voices to global peace activities, they are drawn from a wide range of social demographics and we meet at a downtown Toronto bar on a monthly basis.”

He is now busier because the CDPI is in advanced stages of organizing their annual general meeting set to take place on the 17 through to the 19th of April at McMaster University in Hamilton.
Among participants at the AGM are high profile public speakers and opinion leaders, they include a bi-partisan cast of members of parliament while renown journalist and writer Linda Mcquaig will deliver the keynote address titled: “After Afghanistan: Reinvigorating Canada’s role as a global peace builder”.

According to CDPI official documents, among its major aims is to create a Department of Peace just as there’s one for Defense. A Minister of Peace would be charged with keeping Canada’s peace-building capacity current, flexible, proactive, and responsive to ever-evolving conflict. Peacekeeping—and conflict transformation and peacemaking, all of which are distinct aspects of the larger field of peace building—is not a one-size-fits- all approach.

“We have a very highly elaborated architecture of war,” says Saul Arbess, a one of the key figures in CDPI.
“It consumes over a trillion dollars and can be mobilized at a moment’s notice. We have no corresponding architecture of peace.”
Furthermore, the CDPI draws upon the inspiration of the climate change activism that was deemed unreasonable fifty years ago but have taken centre stage in key policy circles all over the universe today.

After the Budget breakfast due on Friday at Scarboro

by GEORGE KAGAME


A panel of Scarborough MPPs and the Toronto Board of Trade along with business community representatives will this Friday 28th share their perspectives and answer questions about the $8.7 billion provincial operational budget due to be released on Thursday afternoon.

MPPs that will attend the breakfast are Gerry Phillips, chair of cabinet, Brad Duguid, minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Margaret. R. Best for Health, Wayne Arthurs and Lorenzo Berardinette and Bas Balkissoon. The provincial legislators will discuss the budget, its implications on the local businesses during the annual ‘After the Budget Breakfast’ event at Scarboro Golf and Country club on Friday beginning at 7.30 a.m.

Among the issues set to be tabled at the two hour debate include a 4 percent tax increase on home owners, hiring new city councils employees and a hike in the TTC fares.
The budget breakfast discussion is open to the public at a subsidized fee. Members are required to pay $25 and non members $40.

Ex justice minister calls for an en to war crimes impunity

Sudan must be taught that it is vulnerable

by GEORGE KAGAME

Canada’s former minister of Justice and current Member of Parliament of Mount Royal Quebec, Irwin Cotler has called on the international community to arrest people suspected to have perpetuated war crimes and crimes against humanity wherever they maybe.

Cotler was speaking at the University of Toronto while presenting a paper titled; “Rwandan Genocide: Lessons to be Learned, Actions to be undertaken” at a conference organized by the Canadian Centre for Genocide Education. Referring to the fugitives of the Rwandan genocide who are living in many powerful countries including Canada while evading justice at home, Cotler said; “The wheels of justice don’t stop, if there’s anybody that perpetuated crimes in Rwanda, they will be brought to justice.”

The conference, titled “Remembering Rwanda15, Lessons Learned/ Not learned” is part of a long running series of activities organized internationally to commemorate 15 years since the genocide was stopped in July 1994.
Referring to the current arrest warrants against Sudanese President Hassan El Bashir, Cotler said African countries should stop giving the excuse that the warrants were a ploy by ‘colonialists’ against Africans because there are 30 African nations that signed to the treat creating the ICC’s 108 membership and therefore should stop portraying the warrants as ‘selective justice.’

Cotler also said that Bashir was helping in enforcing the culture of impunity by promoting his minister Ahmed Haroun whom the ICC initially targeted for his role in the killings in Darfur by appointing him into a senior position directly responsible for efforts to save the native black Sudanese in Darfur who are allegedly targeted by Arabic militias supported by Bashir’s government. Cotler suggested that as a way to force Sudan to change its policy on Darfur or arrest Bashir, telephone networks in Sudan should be jammed, establishing a millitary presence at Sudan port to show the vulnerability of Sudan and enforcing a no fly zone over the country.

The Conference was attended by Canada’s leading academicians and activists on genocide who debated the causes, the implementation of the genocide, how to stop future genocides and the reconstruction that Rwanda has gone through since 1994. Beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday 22, it brought together such experienced figures Professor James Orbinski who as head of the Doctors’ Without Boarders was present when massive killings erupted in Rwanda in April 1994 and after 100 days, the killings had claimed close to one million Rwandans.

Orbinski who also won a Nobel Peace prize with his organization in 1999 gave a moving account of events in Rwanda’s capital Kigali as a witness to the genocide, others included academicians from leading universities in Canada including Professors Marie Eve Desrosiers, University of Ottawa Villia Jefremovas Queen’s University Adam Jones, British Columbia and many more.
The conference also paid homage to Allison Des Forges a researcher and human rights activist who first drew attention to the Rwandan genocide in the international community as early as 1993, later chronicling it in her book “Leave None to Tell the Story”, Des Forges died last month in a plane crash in Buffalo USA.

The activists also discussed on efforts currently underway in the Sudanese region of Darfur where over 250,000 people have been killed in a government insurgency instigated by an Arabic militia, the recent arrest warrant and its implications issued by the International Criminal Court against Sudanese current president Hassan Bashir. Gerry Caplan an influential academic on the Rwandan genocide said that the killings in Rwanda were precipitated by negotiations by politicians who were engaged in talks in neighbouring Tanzania known as Arusha Accords.

Desrosiers argued that contrary to what is known in Rwanda today, the governments of Gregoire Kayibanda and Juvenal Habyarimana which created a fertile ground for the Rwandan genocide were very intelligent and calculating politicians; “They shaped behavior in order to control the behavior of Rwandan.” Jefremovas an economist with wide expereince from Rwanda said that the current Rwandan leadership needs to listen more to the views of its citizenry; “Rwanda is a country that needs its people to speak truthfully to the administration.”

Scarborough artist to participate in Ideal-Way exhibition

Inspirational Javed part of a select team to showcase their talent
by GEORGE KAGAME

A Scarborough resident Shabana Javed is among a few artists selected throughout Toronto to participate in a four day long art show dubbed Ideal-way exhibition at Varley Gallery’s Eckhardt McKay house in Unionville.

The art exhibition which seeks to promote the talents of intellectually disabled persons in Ontario starts on 1st and ends on 5th April. The selection process was supervised by Andrew Hamilton an established painter, fine arts professor and curator. Javed who was born with Down syndrome and turns 27 next month, is a well established artist as well as humanitarian activist according to her mother Lolita Javed also a Scarborough artist.

“She started painting aged 14 and has participated in many festivals in Toronto, she has also donated many of her art pieces to community art groups.” In fact Javed is much more than just an artist, she is a dancer with widespread experience. As well as participating in art exhibitions, Javed has also been part of the Kiwanis dance festivals at York University. She favours the Indian classical North Indian dance styles which have ensured her entry in the York University Kiwani dance festivals since 2006 to 2008.

Javed has also participated and exhibited in the Scarborough Civic Centre exhibitions annually from 2006 to date and the Port Union Community centre winning many trophies and medals in the process. “She specializes in the multi colour and is also very good in Chinese brash paintings. Her work has been described as unique and mastepieces”, Lorita adds.

Javed was among a handful of applicants that applied to showcase their talents in the Ideal Way Exhibition from 500 initial competitors. The competition according to organizers targets ‘To build bridges joining those with an intellectual disability and others, as a pathway to inclusion. To improve the lives of such persons by creating, and enhancing, opportunities for mainstream community interaction. To educate, and positively improve mainstream social attitudes in order to make all persons with intellectual disability feel I.D.E.A.L.... Included, Deserving, Equal, Appreciated and Loved.” Organizers say it is the first of its kind in the province.

Javed will also stage her own art exhibition mid May to early June at the Scarborough Civic centre