Attempting to answer the difficult questions of genocides

New College pays homage to victims of the Rwandan Genocide
by GEORGE KAGAME



On 6th April 2009, the Mayor of Toronto David Miller issued a press release proclaiming 7th April as a ‘Day of Reflection’ for the victims of the genocide against the minority Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994 beginning on 6th April.

A sombre looking Councilor Gord Perks presented Mayor Miller’s proclamation to the Rwandan Community in Toronto, and said he was too overwhelmed beyond to say anything at the time.

Rwandans living in Toronto, many of who are survivors of the genocide, Canadians and others interested in Rwanda were brought together by the University of Toronto’s New College to deliberate on the events of the 1994 genocide in a weeklong commemoration of the victims and survivors of the genocide.
The genocide in Rwanda was so efficiently executed such that 100 days later when the Rwanda Patriotic Front under Paul Kagame stopped it, almost one million Rwandans of Tutsi descent and their Hutu sympathizers had been hacked to death.

The deaths were planned by the central government and fueled to all levels of society by the highly effective radio and print journalists. The media had fired up any able-bodied Hutu with any stake in the existing leadership in Rwanda at that time up to “participate in nation building.”
The killers were armed with hastily procured machetes from China through Egypt and South Africa.

Like all events to commemorate genocides not just against the Rwandan Tutsi but other races, very unsettling questions are asked, many people are in put in awkward positions as well. There are usually no answers in such times even if in most cases the best-qualified persons by experience and learning are brought forward.

In the Rwandan situation such questions normally circle around the role of the ‘International Community’, the UN, the ‘West’, religion and most importantly; what is it that is so important to justify murder by a machete, by one person, then the next and finally a whole community. As the Rwandan Community met this week at New College, they were trying to find answers to such questions as the ones the above.

Like so many similar events organized all over the world, the answers to the causes, effects, and possible solutions were not forthcoming. In such circumstances, all the speakers could only speak about hope, hope that the lives of the survivors of the genocide can be rebuilt, that the country can and will once more cooperate, love and trust each other, that many of the suspects of the genocide and their supporters can have humility and stop revising and negating the events of Rwanda in 1994 and hope that Rwanda will once more achieve and sustain her place as pillar of pride in the centre of Africa.

Most of the questions asked however were directed to the media, the western media specifically. Very few asked or even tried to ask powerful African leaders and countries for their actions or inactions. Tunisia’s president in 1994 Zine El Abidine Ben Ali being chairman of the OAU, his primary concern was welcoming Nelson Mandela for his first address to African leaders meeting in a presidential summit in Tunis.

The international community, which in Africa is the term used to describe rich western countries was aloof to the Genocide in Rwanda and did nothing to stop it, not many on the continent however have made this accusation in similar weight to the responsibility and nature with which rich African countries at the time treated the genocide.

1994 was a landmark year in African history by many aspects. Leaders on the continent having failed to achieve the objectives of the Organization of African Unity, OAU since 1963, they were considering changing its name to its current acronym the AU with the inspiration of Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi.
Egypt in 1994 was the leading economy on the African continent and its president at that time as today was Hosni Mubarak the immediate past chairman of the OAU in 1993-4, yet it was in Egypt and South Africa that deals to procure the machetes to be used in the genocide were done.

Some people chosen by circumstances and fate happen to have been put in a situation to answer questions concerning Rwanda. Some of the most prominent among these are the two Canadians. One a senior military man and who headed a UN peace keeping mission Dallaire and the other international politics and medicine activist James Orbinski, who was present give his personal accounts of what happened in Rwanda when he was in the country in 1994. Orbinski a resident of the Annex was a head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Rwanda throughout 1994. His work is documented in the movie: Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma.

Orbinski said that among all the major players in global politics, only Canada continued supporting peacekeeping efforts during the genocide. He said that the voices of people speaking out against genocides has continued and was recently even more loud when the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the President of Sudan Omar Bashir and 8 important figures in his government.

Orbinski however added that the decision had created a complex situation for the people of Darfur and as such Doctors Without Borders will not support the court proceedings in charging Bashir.


Eric Rutsindintwarane a Rwandan diplomat in Ottawa told the gathering that the genocide in Rwanda is “our history, its a bad history but all the same it defines our past,” while Professor Rick Halpbern, the Principal of New College said that other survivors of past genocides like the famous Holocaust need to support efforts in rebuilding Rwanda and keeping the memory of the victims. “As a historian I know how important memory is and how dangerous forgetting is as well.”

The world has undergone considerable changes since the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda; the OAU changed its name to the African Union but remained with the same hallmarks of failure.
The UN started the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; the ICTR has turned out by many accounts to be a mockery of justice. And many survivors of the genocide don’t even know of what the court is actually doing.

The international Community has formed that International Criminal Court, with the recent arrest warrant against Sudanese president Omar Bashir as exception, the ICC is yet to fully explain the events happening in Darfur and the media as is wont has not seriously led a campaign to sway public opinion towards the situation either. And in Rwanda we all are saying NEVER AGAIN.

Walmart in dental care campaign throughout April: Oral health month

Good dental care can lead to prevention of other health complications
by GEORGE KAGAME

Walmart Canada outlets and its dental health partners along with National Oral Health Month have joined forces to bring to residents of Scarborough “A better check Up,” beginning next weekend at Milner Ave.

The check up is meant to raise dental health awareness across Canada, residents of Scarborough will see this operation on Friday 18th and the following weekend beginning on 24th April. A statement from the organizers reports that only half the number of Canadians do visit a dentist on a regular basis and adds that ignoring dental health leads to other complex health care issues which can be avoided if people took good care of their teeth. Among the threats of poorly cared for dental conditions are heart disease, diabetes, gum disease and stroke according to dental health experts.

The program has recruited dental health hygienists and dental students to share their expertise with consumers and shoppers in the 100 out of the 312 Walmart outlets across the country. Scarborough has 5 of such outlets where Canadians will be sensitized about the need to take good care of teeth and gums, preventing gum disease and the benefits of dental floss.

Dental hygienists and students will be at specifically market booths in Walmart’s health and beauty department, they will be discussing steps for improving dental health practices, providing literature and offering demonstrations on proper dental care.

The awareness campaign will also include donating part of proceeds from sales of products like Crest and Oral B products purchased at Walmart stores through out the month of April to Dentistry Canada Fund. Participating brands include Crest Pro whitening toothpaste, Crest Pro health rinse, Crest Pro toothpaste, Oral B crossAction and Oral B vitality precision clean.

Participating outlets in Scarborough are:
799 Milner Ave April 18th 12 to 4 pm
300 Borough Drive April 18th 12 to 4 pm
3850 Sheppard Ave East April 24th 12 to 4pm
1900 Eglinton Ave April 24th 12 to 4pm
5995 Steeles Ave East April 26th 12 to 4pm

RBC partners local hospital in fund-raising for cardiac treatment machines

by GEORGE KAGAME

Rouge Valley Hospital’s Cardiac Care Program is set to be boosted by a fund-raising campaign from Royal Bank of Canada dubbed ‘Gift from the Heart to save a Heart’ starting April 16 to 14th June 2009.

RBC announced in a press release dated 15th April that their branches in Scarborough, Ajax and Pickering will be fund-rasing for three Electrocardiogram-ECG- machines for Rouge Valley Health System’s cardiac program.
RBC clients will donate to the campaign after getting the raffle tickets with many prizes stationed at RBC branches in Scarborough, Pickering and Ajax. The tickets will also include a financial services banking appeal.

According to Lisa Gallagher RBC’s regional Vice President for Scarborough, Pickering and Ajax said that campaign was part of the bank’s health care promotion programs; “As a dedicated supporter of local health and wellness causes, we are pleased to partner with the Rouge Valley Health System-a world class health care centre right in our backyard. We know a healthy community is a strong community,” She added that the campaign is about keeping RVHS at the forefront of acute service by ensuring that leading-edge diagnostic tools are available to all members of the community.

An Electrocardiogram is the most commonly performed cardiac test, it is a valuable screening tool for heart disease related treatment tool and mostly diagnoses lethal arrhythmia. The machines are used on many patients in the hospital’s cardiac diagnostic service and only every patient over 50 years that is admitted for elective surgery.

In an earlier interview Dr. Paul Galiwango a cardiologist at RVHS stated that heart related complications the hospital receives are representative of the general situation across the country; “a large number of patients we receive here have heart related problems. The most common problem we deal with here is heart failure especially coronary artery symptoms.”

Sonia Peczeniuk, Vice President of medical affairs and clinical support at Rouge Valley Hospital said that the hospital is known for its history of leadership in cardiology and ethnically diverse patient population. RVHS is an excellent acute care community hospital and is known as one of the best in regard to cardiac computed tomography (CT0 and a strong intervention al cardiology and electrophysiology.

Scarborough hospital to fundraise for fetal heart monitors

Fund-raising gala to be held at The Carlu

by GEORGE KAGAME

Members of the general public in Scarborough and surrounding areas are invited to attend a fund-raising gala in support of The Scarborough Hospital Foundation as it celebrates 10 years serving the community.

The hospital, the largest urban community hospital in Canada is looking for funds toward the purchase of ‘much-needed’ fetal heart monitors to compliment a dozen that it already has. The gala to be hosted by the physicians and staff of Scarborough Hospital will involve a ;tantalizing cuisine, dancing, live and silent auctions and the performance of The Wizard of Oz by the doctors.

Michael Mazza the President of the hopistal said; “We have one of the busiest family maternity centres in the GTA with almsoy 6,000 deliveries each year. Our centres at General and Grace campuses provide a wonderful, home like setting, large private rooms and superior care. We want to help enhance that care.”

Patrons will pay for $400 for the event which will take place at The Carlu, the proceeds will go towards the purchase of more fetal monitors which hospital needs to place in its 15 delivery rooms and another to cover triages, operating rooms and clinics. One such monitor costs $35,000. According to a press release from the Scarborough Hospital the machines are used in half of all deliveries at the hospital and they are essential in high risk labours and can assist medical experts in decision making.

Teenage expert to offer counsel to Scarborough parents

T
Saturday event to help parents in dealing with complex late teens’ and adolescent issues
by GEORGE KAGAME

Parents in Scarborough and surrounding areas have an opportunity this saturday April 25th to learn more about taking care of their teenage children with Canadian teen expert Mark Gregston at Morningstar Christian Fellowship in Scarborough at 7 pm.


The speaking event is aimed at helping parents deal with their teenage children who fall into self destruction like sex, drugs, and risk taking in their late teenage years. It is named The Turbulence Ahead, sticking with your kids through the bumpy years and will focus on parents that are concerned the delicate stage of adolescence and will offer insights into what Christian parents should do to handle that stage of their children’s development. The speaking event is sponsored by Focus on Family Canada.


Gregston in a press statement says: “By far, the cultural pressures and consequences are worse for kids today. They are exposed to all types of influences-to things i never even thought about seeing as a kid. In my own life, i have a benchmark of what is appropriate and moral and an understanding of right and wrong. And as if satisfying their natural need for individuality and independence, it can literally take over their lives.”

He says that he aims to advise parents to take on a ‘position of loving respectful authority instead of letting children take their own directions and the parent assuming ‘a chummy friend,’ or the tendency to push the children away and criticizing their choices. Gregston runs a youth residential a 9 to 10 month program where teenagers are placed by their parents for counselling and says that Scarborough parents will have an opportunity to draw from his wealth of experience working with teens. He will discuss how to recognize warnings signs of teenage problems and how struggling parents can deal with them.

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