Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Thunder Bay Multicultural Association Volunteer Registration
Thunder Bay Multicultural Association Volunteer Registration
Special thanls to Thunder Bay Multicultural Association for thier consent. They have asked that people follow the link to help process volunteer aplications in a timely manner.
Paul
Special thanls to Thunder Bay Multicultural Association for thier consent. They have asked that people follow the link to help process volunteer aplications in a timely manner.
Paul
Friday, 20 November 2015
Young Refugee Who Fled Syria in Wheelchair Thanks ‘Days of Our Lives’ Stars Who Reunited for Her
"I won't let other people tell me who I can be," she said to me"
Noujain Mustaffa ( Article Not Found )
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/world/europe/young-refugee-who-fled-syria-Noujain Mustaffain-wheelchair-thanks-days-of-our-lives-stars-who-reunited-for-her.html?_r=0
Noujain Mustaffa BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34399423
"
Noujain Mustaffa ( Article Not Found )
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/world/europe/young-refugee-who-fled-syria-Noujain Mustaffain-wheelchair-thanks-days-of-our-lives-stars-who-reunited-for-her.html?_r=0
Noujain Mustaffa BBC
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34399423
"
Noujain
Mustaffa, a disabled 16-year-old who fled Syria in a wheelchair, first
came to the attention of the world’s news media last month when she
arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos in a rubber dinghy with her sister
and was photographed by an Irish photographer, Ivor Prickett, on
assignment for the United Nations refugee agency.
As Mr. Prickett wrote on Instagram,
when he asked Noujain if she had been afraid during the crossing, she
replied in fluent English: “No, I enjoyed it. I have never been on a
boat before. It was very beautiful. I didn’t know if I was going to live
or die, but thank God we are here.”
"
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Migrants and Refugees (HBO)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Migrants and Refugees (HBO)
your you know that thing Belgium is in
if if you watch the news at all lately
0:09
you cannot have missed what has been
happening there
0:11
Europe's migrant crisis is getting worse
by the day in my current crisis
0:15
spiralling out of control hundreds of
thousands of asylum-seekers are risking
0:20
everything on human wave washing over
Europe southern shores hundreds of
0:24
thousands of migrants have streamed into
Europe the largest influx there since
0:28
the end of World War Two wow the
launches since the end of World War Two
0:33
and remember millions of people back
then was searching both for a better
0:37
life until the booth where it was
rumored you could slap 28 hitler and
0:41
unlock the scale of this story can be
hard to get your head around hundreds of
0:46
thousands of people on the move just
within Europe and another four million
0:50
are being hosted in Turkey Lebanon and
Jordan and when numbers get that high
0:54
they can be hard to comprehend it's like
when someone tells you the size of the
0:58
audience of NCIS New Orleans 17 million
people how's that even possible how many
1:06
navy placed crimes could there possibly
be in new owners and when you are
1:13
dealing with a mass of people that large
you really want to be a little careful
1:16
with how you describe them unfortunately
David Cameron noted alleged swine
1:22
fellatio recently referred to a swarm of
people coming across the Mediterranean
1:28
and that language matters because a
swarm of anything sounds terrifying no
1:33
matter what it is if I hear there are a
lot of Kings coming my way I'm going to
1:38
be delighted
1:39
but if I hear there is a small
approaching I'm grabbing a shotgun and
1:43
I'm getting too high ground I'm not
going to let those for Rifqa strike me
1:47
like some in the media have chosen to
reduce the migrant population to one
1:57
simple stereotype a new video services
online showing why some are worried
2:02
Europe is opening its doors to potential
terrorists are reportedly muslim
2:14
refugees on a train in europe chanting
Allah Akbar or god is great to be clear
2:19
we're not saying that any of those
people are terrorists or in any way
2:22
affiliated with a terror group but it
does highlight just how many of these
2:26
refugees who are fleeing violence in
Iraq and Syria are Muslim ok ok you
2:33
don't get to claim that you're not
calling those people terrorists when you
2:36
lower third says terrorists in pound
question mark if you are really not
2:42
saying that terrorists might be changed
to something more accurate like people
2:45
take train somewhere hats of those left
2:50
and second video on the migrant crisis
is a little misleading we found a video
3:01
uploaded onto YouTube back in 2010
3:04
well before this crisis even began and
if you are going to use misleading old
3:09
footage to try and make people
frightened of Muslims why stop there
3:13
just go the whole way and use a clip
from true lies to be clear we're not
3:17
saying that any of those people are
terrorists or in any way affiliated with
3:21
a terror group but it does highlight
just how many of these refugees who are
3:25
fleeing violence let's just take a step
back because for the record these people
3:38
coming from many different countries and
playing everything from civil war
3:42
economic stagnation each story is unique
3:45
many of them 16 and from Syria disabled
from birth she kind of war and made the
3:53
dangerous crossing from Turkey last week
4:01
understand why the world every country
has returned for registration on
5:08
december the 21st and that could be a
tricky three-month wait because he's not
5:13
allowed to work in that time and yet
that is nothing compared to this forum
5:17
given to an Iraqi refugees in Turkey
telling him to come back on june 15 2017
5:23
which sounds bad before you know just
the pink sticky note added at the bottom
5:29
clarifying that he's actual date will be
February 19 20 21 that is ridiculous
5:35
these people can't go five years without
working their refugees not Renee
5:40
Zellweger
5:41
and facing that kind of limbo it's no
wonder refugees want to try to push
5:47
deeper into your and many of them one
surprising country in particular that
5:52
seems to actually want them they keep
coming
5:55
thousands every day at the main train
station in Munich preferred destination
6:06
for so many refugees amazingly one of
the warmest welcome to offer to
6:11
immigrants comes from Germany a country
whose idea of a bedtime story is to
6:16
children being left to die in the forest
reporting nearly cooked and then
6:21
motoring and unfortunately many
politicians in other countries in
6:28
Germany actively hostile to anyone even
considering settling within their
6:33
borders no way it's a Danish government
has published the Lebanese newspapers
6:48
the text is obviously written in Arabic
and it's selling migrants don't come to
6:53
Denmark regulations and constraints that
await them there
6:58
Denmark is so averse to taking people in
its basically placing intentionally
7:03
missed connections as in other countries
7:06
Danish government official you person in
the lebanese refugee camp from the
7:10
moment I saw you I knew that was nothing
between us and it could never work
7:13
perfect sent even approach things
friendly next to the video apparently
7:20
produced
7:21
of Ashutosh in Hungary showing exactly
how he and his police will tease will
7:26
prevent migrants from coming to town
7:57
scary music as you want
8:06
there is nothing imposing about one van
driving along on a country road the only
8:11
message that he's sending democracies
make sure you wait for that one van
8:15
surpassed by border police and nightclub
bouncers are not about to throw some
8:24
girls with them and that is no outlier
hungary has been responsible for at
8:33
least mistreatment of refugees in Europe
8:42
of caged animals in a holding pen it's a
shocking video garnered attention from
8:48
around the world as waves of desperate
migrants holding Kevin hungry a
8:53
camerawoman running the woman also other
migrants as they run including a young
9:01
girl now the cameraman is out of a job
9:04
oh I'm sorry she lost her job that's
absolutely terrible don't worry I'm sure
9:10
she can find a new one on actual
monster.com
9:13
to be fair she later apologized saying
I'm not a heartless racist children
9:18
kicking camerawoman which occurred only
presuming she's a loving accepting
9:23
children kicking camerawoman children
kicking part is not really up for debate
9:28
anymore even those countries who are
offering to take refugees are sometimes
9:33
making those offers indeed most
insulting Lee selective way that
9:39
Christians Muslims migrants coming into
the country Muslim asylum-seekers
9:46
because they haven't got any mosque in
case you don't have any mosques you can
9:55
build mosques don't naturally occur in
the wild
10:00
erosion particularly devout Muslims to
resettle in Scottsdale Arizona and when
10:16
refugees I'm not be excluded on the
basis of religion that being accused of
10:20
being lazy freeloaders just listen to
one published MEP address the European
10:25
Parliament benefits and pretty strong
words coming from the Polish Six Flags
10:55
going and what what he said he's not
just offensive it's also wrong research
11:01
has shown that while some small costs in
the short term eventually an influx of
11:06
immigrants into a community tends to
raise wages for everyone else and I
11:11
working paper published last year
11:13
economies found that immigration
benefited local population in nineteen
11:17
of the 20 industrialized countries they
start adding immigrants makes things
11:23
better nineteen times
11:25
up to 20 that's a success rate matched
only by bacon and Paul rut and it's it's
11:31
just a little hard to hear these
migrants and refugees being pulled lazy
11:36
considering how hard many of them have
worked to reach Europe in the first
11:40
place you would want to talk about
11:42
migrants played on the only things
always escape public indifference and it
11:51
almost certain future as the total of
Prince Harry's entourage as a continent
12:09
according to the UN the average woman
needs to have 2.1 children to maintain
12:17
the population of a developed country
but in the European Union every single
12:21
country is below that 2.1 level by 2050
some countries like Greece Portugal and
12:28
Germany will see that populations
dropped by double-digit percentages
12:32
according to Pew if you're doesn't open
its doors to more migrant this is not
12:39
the changing face of Europe should be
frightened Gulf this is everything is
12:47
going to be the perfect economic
Wellspring but instead of worrying about
12:50
the hypothetical downside of letting
these migrant seen country should be
12:54
more worried about the actual downside
of turning them if you might miss out on
13:01
someone like imogene who seems like she
would in any country that would just
13:06
listen to how she told herself English
13:10
in fact even into marriage Walker who is
also impregnated and then he kidnaps
14:02
sammy's baby and I don't think it was
dead shot him in the head but you know
14:06
what that's the kind of thing couples do
besides go through all that and yes yes
14:13
I did then cheat on Sammy before their
wedding with that Trollope apical
14:17
temporal but he still didn't deserve to
die from yet another gunshot wound even
14:22
though yes it was the best reckless from
to have a secret meeting with hillbilly
14:26
drug lord k-lite Western in the middle
of the points
14:41
and any country would be lucky to have
her lots of people still have these
14:53
fears that migrants will bankrupt social
systems which many studies show does not
14:58
happen
14:58
fears that migrants might have an ice
member looking among them which there
15:02
has been no credible example of and no
one is saying this is easy but the fact
15:07
it's so hard is not a reason to do less
reason to do more from countries
15:12
expediting the application process to
properly funding the UN High Commission
15:16
for Refugees responding to Syrian
refugees in neighboring countries is
15:20
less than half of where it needs to be
to simply and I know this sounds crazy
15:24
just not kicking them when they're
moving around and there is actually one
15:35
thing that we thought we could do it is
admittedly very small and it is just 41
15:40
refugees and we sold justifiably
saddened by the death of EJ from days of
15:47
our lives we made some calls and we have
a surprise that he's literally just for
15:52
you
16:39
bigotry and hatred from a child that my
child I read about this incredible 16
17:26
year old girl from yes jeans
Syrian refugees: Resort manager offers to let newcomers stay at his place
Audio link is in the story :
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/syrain-refugees-resort-manager-1.3313489
Partial Excerpt:
"
"I think it's really a true reflection of what we believe: that we're proud to have refugees and that we believe we can do it," he said.
"I think giving them the opportunity to stay at a resort or a place that they can be at ease without worrying where they're going to live and when they're going to depart … I think that's an exciting opportunity for them."
He says that while the resort is remote, the fact that all the refugees are in one place would make it less difficult to get them used to Canadian culture and access social services, especially since the resort has vehicles.
"Golden, I've been there many times. It's a good town with good facilities that people can use, or they can interact with the local Canadians and long-term residents and really build up relationships," he said.
He says the things that Assaf and the owners of Beaverfoot need to ensure are in place are orientation support, cultural support and language education.
Chan says the local community and groups like Mosaic could be valuable partners.
To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Resort manager offers his property to refugees, free
"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/syrain-refugees-resort-manager-1.3313489
Partial Excerpt:
"
Proposal has refugee and immigrant support group 'excited'
Sherman Chan, director of family and settlement services with Mosaic, an organization that helps to settle refugees and immigrants, says he's excited by the proposal."I think it's really a true reflection of what we believe: that we're proud to have refugees and that we believe we can do it," he said.
"I think giving them the opportunity to stay at a resort or a place that they can be at ease without worrying where they're going to live and when they're going to depart … I think that's an exciting opportunity for them."
He says that while the resort is remote, the fact that all the refugees are in one place would make it less difficult to get them used to Canadian culture and access social services, especially since the resort has vehicles.
"Golden, I've been there many times. It's a good town with good facilities that people can use, or they can interact with the local Canadians and long-term residents and really build up relationships," he said.
He says the things that Assaf and the owners of Beaverfoot need to ensure are in place are orientation support, cultural support and language education.
Chan says the local community and groups like Mosaic could be valuable partners.
To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: Resort manager offers his property to refugees, free
"
Vancouver Developer Offers Support For Refugees
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-real-estste-developer-ian-gillespie-syrian-refugees-1.3327123
Updated Nov 26 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver real estate magnate offers up building for Syrian refugees
Ian Gillespie has offered temporary use of a 12-unit building for refugees waiting for permanent homes
CBC News
Posted: Nov 19, 2015 6:21 PM PT
Last Updated: Nov 19, 2015 6:21 PM PT
Vancouver property developer Ian Gillespie is offering
Syrian refugees temporary accommodations. 'We're in the property
business, so it seemed an obvious place to start.' (CBC)
| ||||
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Vancouver property developer Ian Gillespie is refurbishing and
furnishing a 12-unit property in the city's West End in order to
provide temporary accommodations for Syrian refugees.
"Some can volunteer time, donate money.… We're in the property business, so it seemed an obvious place to start."
Gillespie, just this week named No. 1 on Vancouver magazine's Power 50 list, called the Immigrant Services Society offering a minimum commitment of four months' use.
"I don't even think he finished his sentence before I said yes," the group's Chris Friesen told CBC News.
"Some of the dialogue you're hearing isn't particularly Canadian," he said, "I think a lot of people need to show some leadership and turn the conversation into a positive.
"We had a well-earned reputation for being good citizens. I think we lost some of that and have lost the concept of [us all] being immigrants. We are one of the most multicultural cities in the world."
Gillespie said we all have a responsibility to help, and that he hopes his company will be able to do more.
"And to those who might be fearful," he said, "grow up."
With files from Laura Lynch
Gillespie, founder of Westbank
Developments, has offered the building to the Immigrant Services
Society to be used as first-stop housing for refugees waiting for
permanent homes in B.C.
"For me, it started with what I'm best able to do," Gillespie told CBC News on Thursday."Some can volunteer time, donate money.… We're in the property business, so it seemed an obvious place to start."
- Vancouver Jewish temple raises $40K to sponsor Syrian family
- ANALYSIS | Syrian refugee screening will be a challenge, but one Canada can meet
- B.C. prepares for Syrian refugee influx
Gillespie, just this week named No. 1 on Vancouver magazine's Power 50 list, called the Immigrant Services Society offering a minimum commitment of four months' use.
"I don't even think he finished his sentence before I said yes," the group's Chris Friesen told CBC News.
Fearful? Grow up
Gillespie said he has been disappointed by some negative reactions over the arrival of the refugees."Some of the dialogue you're hearing isn't particularly Canadian," he said, "I think a lot of people need to show some leadership and turn the conversation into a positive.
"We had a well-earned reputation for being good citizens. I think we lost some of that and have lost the concept of [us all] being immigrants. We are one of the most multicultural cities in the world."
Gillespie said we all have a responsibility to help, and that he hopes his company will be able to do more.
"And to those who might be fearful," he said, "grow up."
Updated Nov 26 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Paul,
Thank
you for your email. Westbank has been over-whelmed by the out-pouring
of generosity and offers to assist us in welcoming Syrian refugees, to
our community.
If you wish to learn more or help out, please visit our website,
www.westbankcorp.com. We have set up a How to help section and a donation page.
Please
know that we are working with Immigrant Services Society of BC
(ISSofBC). All donations submitted to the Westbank Syrian Refugee
Initiative will be donated
directly to the Refugee Sponsorship Fund of the ISSofBC.
Thank you.
Hweely Lim
w e s t b a n k
501, 1067 West Cordova Street, Vancouver BC, Canada V6C 1C7
direct
604 893 1722 / main 604 685 8986 / fax 604 893 1708
direct
604 893 1722 / main 604 685 8986 / fax 604 893 1708
visit our new website,
www.westbankcorp.com
Refugee drive gets closer to goal Fort Frances Times Nov 18 2015
http://www.fftimes.com/news/local/news/refugee-drive-gets-closer-goal
Refugee drive gets closer to goal
Wednesday, Nov 18, 2015
Category:
Over
the past week, donations to the “Families for Families” refugee family
fundraiser have continued to pour in, with the tally jumping from
$16,000 to $28,000.
“It’s so great to see,” enthused committee chair Kathy Mueller, noting they’re well on their way to the $35,000 goal.
Mueller was pleased with the support from the Zion Lutheran Church here, which hosted a “Baron of Beef” fundraising dinner for the cause Friday evening.
The meal was prepared by Todd Moxham, and saw much of the food donated in order to maximize the funds going to the initiative.
“It was just wonderful,” Mueller remarked.
But she added no other fundraisers are planned at this time.
“We’re just going to rely right now on donations coming in because everybody is busy as Christmas gets closer,” she explained.
However, Mueller hopes people continue to contribute to the “Families for Families” drive.
“If people want to contribute—don’t wait,” she urged. “It’s time.”
Mueller noted a number of people have indicated that they are planning to donate, but haven’t done so yet.
She added some groups likely are waiting until they have collected $1,000.
“If they already have an amount, just send it in,” Mueller stressed. “We might have enough without them raising the larger amount.
“Every little bit helps.”
Mueller stepped forward with the idea to help families in the war zone in the Middle East after everything she heard on the news.
Since local residents are so good about helping people within our communities and supporting those in need, she thought perhaps the district could open its arms to helping another family.
Her idea was solidified when about 20 people turned out to a meeting held Oct. 15 to strike a committee—a necessary step to support the application to sponsor a family.
Mueller is chairing the committee which, in order to expedite the sponsorship process, is operating under the D.O.O.R.s to New Life Refugee Services run by the Catholic Diocese of Thunder Bay.
She said it costs about $7,000 per person. So for a family of five, it would be $35,000.
And the committee is hoping to raise that amount by Christmas Eve.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to reach our goal and then be able to give a Syrian or Iraqi family an amazing Christmas present—a chance for a new life,” Mueller remarked.
In fact, she noted a family already has been assigned to Rainy River District and she expects to know more about them later this week.
So far, Mueller knows they’re a Christian family currently are living in a refugee camp.
“So as long as everything goes through, they will be able to come,” she said, though adding she hopes none of the recent “commotion” has caused any difficulties in the process.
“We just need everybody who is thinking about contributing to just do it,” she reiterated.
In addition to raising the funds, Mueller noted the community also must assist the family during their initial year in Canada.
“The sponsorship group prepares a home [or apartment], complete with necessary furnishings, appliances, utensils, cleaning supplies, clothing, and food,” she explained.
She indicated the family also will need help applying for government documentation, finding a job, registering children in schools, getting to know the community services, finding a doctor and dentist, getting help with improving their English (if necessary), and connecting them with people with common interests.
“It is the hope of the committee that our community make this sponsorship possible, and then help the refugee family in its transition to regain a sense of belonging and safety and give all family members a chance for a brighter future,” Mueller said.
She’s thrilled with how supportive the community has been so far.
“We’re just rejoicing in the fact that we have $28,000 and we’re getting near our goal,” she enthused.
“We’re very happy that people have been supporting us.”
Donations can be dropped off at the CIBC here in Fort Frances or brought to St. Mary’s Church on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
E-transfers also can be made to stmarys@jam21.net
Charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more.
Make cheques payable to St. Mary’s Church, with “Families for Families” on the memo line.
For more information, call Mueller at 274-0583.
“It’s so great to see,” enthused committee chair Kathy Mueller, noting they’re well on their way to the $35,000 goal.
Mueller was pleased with the support from the Zion Lutheran Church here, which hosted a “Baron of Beef” fundraising dinner for the cause Friday evening.
The meal was prepared by Todd Moxham, and saw much of the food donated in order to maximize the funds going to the initiative.
“It was just wonderful,” Mueller remarked.
But she added no other fundraisers are planned at this time.
“We’re just going to rely right now on donations coming in because everybody is busy as Christmas gets closer,” she explained.
However, Mueller hopes people continue to contribute to the “Families for Families” drive.
“If people want to contribute—don’t wait,” she urged. “It’s time.”
Mueller noted a number of people have indicated that they are planning to donate, but haven’t done so yet.
She added some groups likely are waiting until they have collected $1,000.
“If they already have an amount, just send it in,” Mueller stressed. “We might have enough without them raising the larger amount.
“Every little bit helps.”
Mueller stepped forward with the idea to help families in the war zone in the Middle East after everything she heard on the news.
Since local residents are so good about helping people within our communities and supporting those in need, she thought perhaps the district could open its arms to helping another family.
Her idea was solidified when about 20 people turned out to a meeting held Oct. 15 to strike a committee—a necessary step to support the application to sponsor a family.
Mueller is chairing the committee which, in order to expedite the sponsorship process, is operating under the D.O.O.R.s to New Life Refugee Services run by the Catholic Diocese of Thunder Bay.
She said it costs about $7,000 per person. So for a family of five, it would be $35,000.
And the committee is hoping to raise that amount by Christmas Eve.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to reach our goal and then be able to give a Syrian or Iraqi family an amazing Christmas present—a chance for a new life,” Mueller remarked.
In fact, she noted a family already has been assigned to Rainy River District and she expects to know more about them later this week.
So far, Mueller knows they’re a Christian family currently are living in a refugee camp.
“So as long as everything goes through, they will be able to come,” she said, though adding she hopes none of the recent “commotion” has caused any difficulties in the process.
“We just need everybody who is thinking about contributing to just do it,” she reiterated.
In addition to raising the funds, Mueller noted the community also must assist the family during their initial year in Canada.
“The sponsorship group prepares a home [or apartment], complete with necessary furnishings, appliances, utensils, cleaning supplies, clothing, and food,” she explained.
She indicated the family also will need help applying for government documentation, finding a job, registering children in schools, getting to know the community services, finding a doctor and dentist, getting help with improving their English (if necessary), and connecting them with people with common interests.
“It is the hope of the committee that our community make this sponsorship possible, and then help the refugee family in its transition to regain a sense of belonging and safety and give all family members a chance for a brighter future,” Mueller said.
She’s thrilled with how supportive the community has been so far.
“We’re just rejoicing in the fact that we have $28,000 and we’re getting near our goal,” she enthused.
“We’re very happy that people have been supporting us.”
Donations can be dropped off at the CIBC here in Fort Frances or brought to St. Mary’s Church on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
E-transfers also can be made to stmarys@jam21.net
Charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more.
Make cheques payable to St. Mary’s Church, with “Families for Families” on the memo line.
For more information, call Mueller at 274-0583.
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Donations Can Be Made By Cheque To :
Hi Paul,
People can make cheques out to D.O.O.R.S.
to New Life Refugee Centre and they will get a tax receipt.
D.O.O.R.S. to New Life Refugee Centre
P.O. Box 10400
1222 Reaume St.
Thunder Bay, ON
P7B 6T8
Canada’s tolerant, liberal society is Islamic State’s worst nightmare
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/canadas-tolerant-liberal-society-is-islamic-states-worst-nightmare/article27353020/
"When a member of Islamic State wakes up
screaming in the night, terrified by a nightmare, it’s not images of
beheadings or rape or mass slaughter that bedevil him. No, his personal
hell is Canada – a pluralistic, tolerant Western society where Muslims
and people of all faiths and none are welcomed and live together in
peace. For terrorists who exploit religious hatred for their own ends,
that’s real horror.
Since the Paris attacks, Canada has seen
incidents that undermine those values. An arsonist set fire to a mosque
in Peterborough, Ont.; two thugs assaulted and robbed a Muslim woman in
Toronto, apparently because she was Muslim; racist graffiti has appeared
on buildings; and some Muslims have reported being verbally harassed.
Some say they feel so threatened that they are afraid to walk alone,
especially at night.
One imagines that
the people committing these vile acts of intolerance see themselves,
perversely, as patriots. In fact, they are the unwitting dupes of IS,
acting according to its script. Racist attacks that marginalize Muslims
become the propaganda that IS uses to advance its idea that the world is
one big, global religious war. Every time someone burns a mosque or
kicks a defenceless Muslim woman in the stomach, the IS cause is
advanced, and its soldiers sleep a little better.
Fortunately,
in typical Canadian fashion, a crowdfunding initiative to raise money
to repair the Peterborough mosque has far surpassed its goals, and local
residents have gone out of their way to show support for their
devastated Muslim neighbours. There are far more good and decent people
in Canada than hateful ones.
Even more
significantly, over the past few years Canadians have repeatedly
rejected politically motivated efforts to marginalize newcomers,
especially Muslims. Quebeckers sent the Parti Québécois and its Charter
of Values packing in 2013. Last month, Canadians said a loud “No” to the
divisive tactics of the Harper government, which deliberately demonized
Muslims with its attacks on the niqab and its ridiculous “barbaric acts
of cruelty” hotline.
In a world where a
small number of marginalized French citizens of Muslim descent were
recruited to carry out attacks in Paris, Canada’s best defences against
radicalization are its inherent decency, its generosity and its
acceptance of all cultures. Our values, and our expression of them, have
never been more important than now.
Follow us on Twitter: @GlobeDebate "
Wab Kinew Speech Cape Breton University
http://wabkinew.ca/cbu-convo/
http://vimeo.com/110242034
Please cut and paste .
submitted
2 years ago by combzy89
“So live
your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one
about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they
respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your
life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your
people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great
divide.
Always
give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a
stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to
none.
When you
arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you
see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one
and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its
vision.
When it
comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear
of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more
time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song
and die like a hero going home.”
Social Media Support for Refugee NorthWestern Ontario - Contact Information
Here are two ways to reach out and find community supports.
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1115483191819463/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/RefugeesTBay
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1115483191819463/
https://twitter.com/RefugeesTBay
Refugee Needs
Refugee Needs:
Newcomers Employment and Education Development Services (NEEDS Inc.) and Welcome Place have made the move in response to an anticipated influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.
The new Liberal government says it plans to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada by the end of this year, honouring a promise it made during this fall's election campaign.
"People who work in this sector are always always committed to clients, and so we have taken the necessary steps and told staff we all need to be on standby, including myself," said Rita Chahal, Welcome Place's executive director.
Chahal said she learned on Thursday from the federal Immigration Department that Welcome Place, a refugee resettlement centre based in Winnipeg, is being asked to receive three refugee families on Nov. 18.
"That'll be a total of about 18 more that we had not expected," she said.
"We don't know whether these were people who had been pre-approved or was this as a result of this new announcement, or were they already in the pipeline before."
In the past year, Welcome Place received four government-sponsored refugees.
Chahal said the centre currently has 60 refugees living there, but it can accommodate up to about 120.
Welcome Place expects to be ready to receive refugees on weekends and well into the Christmas holidays. It generally doesn't receive clients after Dec. 15, but Chahal said she expects that to change this year.
NEEDS program running at capacity
NEEDS Inc. works with young newcomers age six to 18 to get them ready for the Canadian education system.
Refugee children and youth at NEEDS Inc., a
Winnipeg-based organization that works with young newcomers to get them ready
for the Canadian education system. (Chris Glover/CBC)
"This is a great opportunity for them to come to Canada," Margaret
Von Lau, executive director of NEEDS, said of the expected influx of refugees."We teach them about multiculturalism. We also have a component of integration into Canadian society, as well as crime prevention, which is extremely crucial for kids who are coming from war-affected countries," she added.
The program is running at capacity right now with 48 kids, Von Lau said. They have room for one more classroom, but that requires more funding, she said.
"To accommodate more children, we would definitely need to have more staff," she said. "If you want to have the quality services, you have to hire quality professionals. At the same time, you cannot only run programs on volunteers."
NEEDS operates with federal funding.
Manitoba offering $1.2M to resettlement services
In response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the Manitoba government committed $1.2 million to resettlement services and another $200,000 to immediate on-the-ground aid in Syria.Some local agencies are scrambling to secure a share of the provincial funding, none of which has gone out yet.
"I think it's going to flow very quickly, no question about it," Selinger said Thursday.
Selinger said usually, the province takes in about 1,500 refugees a year, "which is the highest per capita amount for any province."
He added, "We certainly do our share and we're prepared to do more. We've said we're prepared to double that up to 3,000, so we're working with the local organizations at how to gear up to that."
Selinger said that 3,000 may or may not come to Manitoba by the end of this year.
With files from the CBC's
Jillian Taylor and Chris Glover
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