April Reign

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes

Debra

The Handmaids Tale Dystopia Meets Reality

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This story is both a horrific example of the human trafficking going on in the world and a warning as to what could happen to women should the womb police get their way.

Anyone familiar with Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaids Tale will recognize this type of scenario;

In its promotional material, the Asia-based operation makes pregnancy sound like an illness. Its symptoms include “loss of intimacy,” growing “out of shape” and, of course, “birth pangs.”

The solution? Fertilize a foreign stranger who will be fed nutritious meals, housed in a Bangkok suburb, monitored around the clock and kept to a precise sleep-wake schedule. “It is quite suitable,” says the agency’s broken-English pitch, “for the women who desire to have kids but no time for pregnancy.”

Sadly this lives not in the pages of a dystopian warning but is a profitable business in Asia. Recent developments of the GOP war on women in the States has many bloggers and tweeters asking if the GOP and their supporters see women as breeding stock, anti abortionists have even caused women to be investigated and arrested simply for thinking about abortion. Some lawmakers are considering investigating women for miscarriages. How long before laws are enforced that require pregnant or pre-pregnant women to adhere to specific types of behaviour very much like this;

This high degree of scrutiny is actually promoted by the company on the Chinese-language portion of its site. Surrogates are “accompanied by hand” while walking around the community, according to the site, which also promises they’ll be woken at 7 a.m., fed at specific times each day and put to bed at 10 p.m.

International Women’s Day – The Canadian Numbers

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Some people of privilege believe that feminism has done it`s job, the battle is won, nothing to see here folks!

here is the reality by the numbers

Homicides

198 – the number of female victims of homicide in Canada in 2004. On average, 182 females were killed every year in Canada between 1994 and 2003.

62 – the number of female victims of spousal homicide in 2004. Of these, 27 women were killed by their legally married husband, 20 by a common-law partner and 15 by a separated or divorced husband. Among solved homicides involving victims aged 15 and older in 2004, one-half of all women were killed by someone with whom they had an intimate relationship at some point, either through marriage or dating. The comparative figure for men is 8%.

13 – the number of women killed by a current or former boyfriend in 2004.

Violence against women

7% – the estimated percentage of women in a current or previous spousal relationship who experienced spousal violence during the five years up to and including 2004. Rates of spousal abuse were highest among certain segments of the population: those aged 15 to 24; those in relationships of three years or less; those who had separated; and those in common-law unions.

23% – the percentage of female victims who reported that the most serious form of violence experienced was being beaten, choked, or threatened by having a gun or a knife used against them.

44% – the percentage of female victims of spousal abuse who indicated that they suffered injury because of violence, with 13% seeking medical attention.

38% – the percentage of women who reported the abuse to the police who sought a restraining order.

24% – the percentage of Aboriginal women who said they had suffered violence from a current or previous partner in the five-year period up to 2004. The overall rate of Aboriginal spousal violence (both men and women) was 21% during this period, compared with 6% for the non-Aboriginal population.

Stalking

11% – percentage of women aged 15 and older who stated that they were stalked in a way that caused them to fear for their safety or the safety of someone close to them. This was the equivalent of 1.4 million women. Among the victims of stalking, 9% of women reported that they had been stalked by either a current or previous spouse, or common-law partner.

Shelters for abused women

58,486 – the number of women who sought refuge in one of 473 shelters across Canada between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004. Overall, there were 543 known shelters in Canada providing residential services to abused women and their children. Of these, 473 participated in the Statistics Canada survey.

76% – the percentage of women who sought refuge in a shelter on April 14, 2004 who were escaping abuse. The vast majority of women staying in shelters to escape abuse were fleeing psychological or emotional abuse. Almost 7 out of 10 reported physical abuse, 50% threats, 46% financial abuse, 31% harassment and 27% sexual abuse. About one in three abused women in shelters on April 14, 2004 had reported their most recent abusive incident to police. Of the women who had stayed in shelters previously, 40% had been there once in the previous year, 38% had been there two to four times and about 1 in 10 had been to a facility five times or more during the previous year.

221 – the number of women, along with 112 children who could not, or would not be accommodated at one of 93 shelters on April 14, 2004. Of these 93 shelters, 62% reported the reason for referring them elsewhere was because the shelter was full, down from 75% in 2001/02. Other reasons for turning away clients relate to problems with alcohol and substance abuse as well as mental health issues.

3,519 – the number of women admitted to 31 on-reserve shelters between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004.

source stats can

[I refuse to link to Barbara – fucking – Kay, Wente is bad enough]

Stephen Harper – He’s Not In It For You!

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Stephen ‘we aren’t in election mode‘ Harper’s attack ads on Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff takes various quotes with no context in order to paint him as someone with no love for Canada and apparently by extension no right to govern. Now I’m neither a Liberal nor a great supporter of Ignatieff, however, if this is the litmus test for leadership let’s see how Harper does when hoisted on his own petard.

“A culture of defeat…”
describing the Atlantic provinces

“Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it. Canadians make no connection between the fact that they are a Northern European welfare state and the fact that we have very low economic growth, a standard of living substantially lower than yours, a massive brain drain of young professionals to your country, and double the unemployment rate of the United States.”

June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

“I was asked to speak about Canadian politics. It may not be true, but it’s legendary that if you’re like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians.”

June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

“Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status, led by a second-world strongman appropriately suited for the task.”

“It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada,”

“In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don’t feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don’t feel bad about it themselves, as long as they’re receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance.”

June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

Harpers views on particular Canadians

Immigrants

“You have to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from Eastern Canada; people who live in ghettos and are not integrated into Western Canadian society.”
Report Newsmagazine, 2001.

Does that make NDP supporters Satanists?

“The NDP could be described as basically a party of liberal Democrats, but it’s actually worse than that, I have to say. And forgive me jesting again, but the NDP is kind of proof that the Devil lives and interferes in the affairs of men.”
June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy, a right-wing American think tank.

Feminist -read women’s rights and health care oh my!!

“The establishment came down with a constitutional package which they put to a national referendum. The package included distinct society status for Quebec and some other changes, including some that would just horrify you, putting universal Medicare in our constitution, and feminist rights, and a whole bunch of other things.”
June 1997 Montreal meeting of the Council for National

Lost your job? don’t worry daddy Harper cares or maybe not…

In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, I don’t feel particularly bad for many of these people.
Rebel Youth magazine

Gay? no rights for you!

Same sex marriage is not a human right. … [U]ndermining the traditional definition of marriage is an assault on multiculturalism and the practices in those communities.
Hansard, February 16, 2005

Poor child? Suck it up wussies!

These proposals included cries for billions of new money for social assistance in the name of “child poverty” and for more business subsidies in the name of “cultural identity. In both cases I was sought out as a rare public figure to oppose such projects.”
The Bulldog, National Citizens Coalition

On coalition

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

From a letter to then-Governor General Adrienne Clarkson signed by all three opposition leaders: Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Stephen Harper (September 9, 2004)

“We’re in safe hands with Stephen Harper” and other Conservative lies

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Since Canada’s Conservative Government took power in 2006, significant budget cuts have been made to Canadian gender equality, political justice, social policy and research programs including the virtual elimination of a Canadian government department devoted to Women’s equality and women’s issues.

    2011 Federal Conservative Government Cuts (to date)

    Canadian Teachers’ Federation’s International Programs – FUNDING ELIMINATED

    2007-10 Federal Conservative Government Cuts

    KAIROS – working for 30 years with Women in Dev Countries – FUNDING ELIMINATED

    Alberta Network of Immigrant Women

    Association féminine d’éducation et d’action sociale (AFEAS)

    Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW)

    Centre de documentation sur l’éducation des adultes et la condition feminine

    Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA)

    Conseil d’intervention pour l’accès des femmes au travail (CIAFT)

    Feminists for Just and Equitable Public Policy (FemJEPP) in Nova Scotia

    Gay pride parades

    International Planned Parenthood Federation – 31 million women & children helped each year.

    Maternal health agency, Marie Stopes International – which has received only a promise of “conditional funding IF it avoids any & all connection with Abortion.

    MATCH International

    National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)

    New Brunswick Pay Equity Coalition

    Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH)

    Réseau des Tables régionales de groupes de femmes du Québec

    Womenspace Resource Centre – Lethbridge, AB

    Women’s Innovative Justice Initiative – Nova Scota

    2006 Federal Conservative Government Cuts (November 2006)

    Canada Policy Research Networks – ELIMINATED

    Canada School of Public Service – FUNDING REDUCTION

    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation – FUNDING REDUCTION

    Canada Revenue Agency Visitor Rebate Program – ELIMINATED

    Canadian Heritage Centre for Research and Information on Canada – FUNDING ELIMINATED

    Canadian Heritage Support to Canadian Volunteerism Initiative – ELIMINATED

    Canadian Labour Business Centre – ELIMINATED

    Canadian Policy Research Networks – FUNDING ELIMINATED

    Canadian Volunteerism Initiative – ELIMINATED

    Community Access Program, internet access for communities at libraries, post offices, community centers – ELIMINATED

    Court Challenges Program – ELIMINATED

    Court Commission of Canada – ELIMINATED

    Environment: Youth International Internship Program – ELIMINATED

    First Nations and Inuit Tobacco Control Program – ELIMINATED

    Foreign Affairs and Public Diplomacy Program – ELIMINATED

    Foreign Affairs Youth International Internship Program – ELIMINATED

    Health Canada – $28.1 MILLION REDUCTION

    Health Canada Policy Research Program – ELIMINATED

    Health Canada Medical Marijuana Research Program – ELIMINATED

    Human Resources and Skills Development – SIGNIFICANT FUNDING REDUCTIONS

    HRD Adult Learning and Literacy programs – REDUCED AND ELIMINATED

    HRD Youth Employment Programs – REDUCED AND ELIMINATED

    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada – FUNDING REDUCTION

    Industry Canada Programs including Technology Partnerships Canada – FUNDING REDUCTION

    Industry Industrial Programs including Technology Partnerships Canada – FUNDING REDUCTION

    LAW Commission of Canada – ELIMINATED

    Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative – ELIMINATED

    Museum Assistance Program – FUNDING REDUCTION

    National Defence High-Frequency Surface Wave Radar Project – ELIMINATED

    Natural Resources and Environment Climate Change Programs, including the One Tonne Challenge, 40 public information offices across the country, and several scientific and research programs on climate change – 40% BUDGET CUT

    Natural Resources Programs for Studying Concrete and Other Materials – ELIMINATED

    Public Works and Government Services Canadian Identity Grant and Contribution Program ELIMINATED

    Royal Canadian Mounted Police Drug Impaired Driving Program Training Budget – ELIMINATED

    Statistics Canada – SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS

    Status of Women Canada, SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CUT

    Status of Women Canada mandate CHANGED; EXCLUDES “gender equality and political justice”

    Status of Women, advocating, policy research and lobbying – TOTALLY BANNED

    Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada – FUNDING REDUCTION

    Workplace Equity/Employment Equity Program – SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION

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Climate Change Threatens Amazon

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While some debate if it even exists the devastating effects of climate change are plainly seen;

Billions of trees died in the record drought that struck the Amazon in 2010, raising fears that the vast forest is on the verge of a tipping point, where it will stop absorbing greenhouse gas emissions and instead increase them.

The dense forests of the Amazon soak up more than one-quarter of the world’s atmospheric carbon, making it a critically important buffer against global warming. But if the Amazon switches from a carbon sink to a carbon source that prompts further droughts and mass tree deaths, such a feedback loop could cause runaway climate change, with disastrous consequences.

“Put starkly, current emissions pathways risk playing Russian roulette with the world’s largest forest,” said tropical forest expert Simon Lewis, at the University of Leeds, and who led the research published today in the journal Science. Lewis was careful to note that significant scientific uncertainties remain and that the 2010 and 2005 drought – thought then to be of once-a-century severity – might yet be explained by natural climate variation.

“We can’t just wait and see because there is no going back,” he said. “We won’t know we have passed the point where the Amazon turns from a sink to a source until afterwards, when it will be too late.”

from the Guardian

Harper V CRTC

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On the face of it Harpers’ decision to interfer with the CRTC’s decision on UBB may seem like a cause for celebration, after all even a stopped clock is right twice a day. However, let us be mindful that this is a man who does nothing that does not benefit himself. So in what way does this benefit Harper?

First despite claims to the contrary Harper et al have been campaigning for months now yet he has not found that one thing that will bring him the populist vote. This may be the dam that stems the tide of minority governments.

Second this sets a precedent for future involvement in CRTC don’t like CanCon, don’t like the ban of faux journalism, don’t like programming that doesn’t suit your side? Well there is a precedent for that!

Harper is a Canadian and hockey fan, if there is one thing every Canadian hockey fan can appreciate it is the execution of a good deke and it is a skill at which Harper excels.

So let’s not forget that beneath Harper’s velvet glove lies an iron fist.