"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than to Curse The Dark" (K'Naan)

skeptic (noun)
1. a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
2. a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.
3. a person who doubts the truth of a religion, esp. Christianity, or of important elements of it.

cynic (noun)
1. a person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness.
2. a person whose outlook is scornfully and often habitually negative.

I look at the world with a pair of critical eyes, but I need to remember not to focus so much on the ugliness that the beauty is forgotten.

Taking a Short Break

Hello friends,

I apologize for not posting in awhile. Things are a little hectic for me right now, so I will be taking a short break from my blog. I hope to be back in full effect by June. For now, please enjoy the many videos and articles I have posted in the past 7 months.

Thanks, take care

Pam

Anti-War Demonstrations Across Canada Tomorrow

Click here to see where protests, rallies and marches against the war in Afghanistan are taking place this Saturday, April 4th 2009.

Let Go Of Your Post-Colonial Guilt

I went to a lecture by Maryam Namazie at the Centre for Inquiry in Toronto this past Monday and felt I should highlight the key points here. Maryam is the spokesperson for One Law For All, a British organization opposed to Sharia law. Sharia is the Islamic law that dictates every aspect of a Muslim's life, offering rules and guidelines for their sexuality, their business, politics, etc. Sharia courts have been set up in the UK, as well as here in Canada, which bypass civil and criminal courts in order to 'deal with' issues within the Muslim community in whatever way they see fit, much to the detriment of Muslim women and children. I will now go through the main points that Maryam made during her talk:

• Freedom of Expression is not a Western value, or a privilege, it is a universal right and it is most important when criticizing religion.
• Freedom of Expression is necessary for the progress of human civilization.
• We hear people in mainstream media criticizing and opposing supposed 'cults', but what is the difference between a 'religion' and a 'cult'?
• Islam is not just a religion that is a part of one's life, it encompasses every aspect of life, it is in the political process and the education system. It is in the public sphere, and that is why we must vehemently criticize it.
• Critics of political Islam are accused of not looking at the full 'reality' of Islam, however the 'reality' of Islam is far more violent than what is even discussed.
• Ideas such as 'feminist Islam' and 'moderate Islam' are oxymorons.
• The real problem here is the dangerous mix of religion and political power. Religion needs to be pushed out of the political sphere. This has happened almost entirely with Christianity, but Islam is still very much a part of the public sphere and that is why it is getting more criticism than the other religions. This is not 'Islamaphobia'. This is a strong opposition to religion and politics being so closely intertwined. Too many lives are at stake to compromise on this.
• Everyone is entitled to believe in whatever they want, but religion is a private matter. It should not be a part of the education system, nor any other part of public life. One should compare freedom of religion to the freedom to smoke. People are allowed to smoke, but there are restrictions on where and how, as well as taxes and warnings that say "Smoking kills". Now, where is the warning that says "Religion kills"?
• Criticizing religion is not the same as condemning an individual. We must see the difference between a person and a person's beliefs. The human being is sacred and human rights are for people, not for religion. Many human rights organizations often get this point wrong.
• Change happens through progressive social movements, we need to mobilise.

At this point, the floor was opened up for questions and a woman went up to the microphone and said "Change within the Muslim community, and particularly Iran and other places where political Islam is a very real thing, has to come from within the community itself. What are we supposed to do here in Canada? We went through many changes to get to where we are today and we can't tell other people how to live and how to change. They need to change their own mindset and push for change on their own."

To which Maryam said "This idea that Iranians and other people who have these rules and restrictions imposed on them every day actually want this is almost offensive. Iran went through a middle-class workers' revolution years ago and great social progress was made, this political Islamic regime has been forced on them and there is great resentment and opposition to it within Iran, as well as other Islamic states. Westerners need to get over their post-colonial guilt and help push for universal rights for everybody, no matter their nationality or geographic location."

Now, this last statement really hit me hard. For years I have been struggling with two opposite worldviews that pull me in different directions. One is that I should help push for social change and progress in the world regardless of where the problems are. This is the humanist perspective where I see all human beings as having value and I want to fight for universal human rights without any regard for lines drawn on a map. Now, the other side is always reminding me that I don't, nor will I ever, fully understand a culture or a people different from my own. That people who live in a certain country have a history, traditions and values that I would need to be a part of in order to push for social change. And what am I even pushing to change? Should things change? Would I just make things worse?

With this one sentence "You must let go of your post-colonial guilt", I was set free. I realized that I have been scared and hesitant to say something or ask something because I know how badly 'westerners' have fucked things up in the world, and particularly Africa. But, what I am fighting for, I realize, are universal rights. People have the same rights, and the same value, no matter what part of the world they are born. I do recognize that particular countries will have political, economic and social situations that I must try to understand as best I can, but sitting back and saying "I'm not going to interfere, that's not my place, who am I to tell someone else how to live their life?" is not an option for me anymore. I am pushing for positive social change, I am fighting for human rights, I am championing the human being.

All The Things I Want To Say

My good friend Neil posted this video on his Facebook page and I felt I needed to re-post it here. It shows Severn Suzuki, David Suzuki's daughter, addressing the United Nations back in 1992 and saying the things that I have always wanted to say to world leaders. It has been 17 years since these words were spoken and we still face the same challenges that she outlines. I have asked this in a previous post and will ask it again now, how far have we come? Are we still in the same place?

If you could address the 'decision-makers' of the world, what would you say?

Making Choices

To be entirely honest, I do not have the highest hopes for our civilization. We have caused so much damage and harm to the Earth, as well as to each other, that I feel our days of careless wastefulness and seemingly endless consumerism are numbered. How long can we sit comfortably in our air-conditioned houses, watching our TVs and driving our cars before the Earth finally says Enough. We have raped and pillaged this precious land that gave us life and I fear that this 'eco-revolution' might be too little too late.

However, with that said, we are making great strides in undoing the wrongs that we have committed against each other and our environment (of which we are a part, not which is apart from us). And with increasingly organized and mobile movements across the globe to promote peace, corporate accountability, democracy and the like I feel a new age is upon us. There has been a strong shift in perception among many people who no longer feel war is legitimate, who feel that power should be in the hands of the people rather than with a handful of people and who are tired of being subservient to governments and corporations who refuse to listen to them.

A new time is upon us. Let your voice be heard. We are all members of this global community, none 'higher' than others. All of our thoughts, ideas and opinions have equal value and it is time to let them be known. 

Ray Anderson is the CEO of Interface, the world's largest commercial carpet manufacturer. He has been incredibly profitable and successful according to the capitalist framework. Simultaneously, he has been a huge part of the damage and harm done to our world through the manufacturing of his products. In 1994, he had an awakening after reading the book "The Ecology of Commerce" by Paul Hawken as his eyes were opened to the environmental and social impacts that his corporation was inflicting. Imagine being a 60 year old, multi-millionaire in the U.S. and being confronted with this decision: continue on the path you are on to make unimaginable profits while also continuing to cause immense harm to the world's resources and people or make a huge shift in your life and perspective in order to diminish and reduce your ecological footprint while possibly reducing your profits and perhaps angering your fellow peers and shareholders. 

Ray Anderson chose the second option. 

Everyone has the power to make choices. 

What choices will you make today?

Here is a video of an interview with Ray Anderson from the film The Corporation.

Avaaz - let your voice be heard

I am a member of Avaaz which is a group of online social activists who campaign and petition for global peace. Please read the letter I received from Avaaz a few days ago and learn more about what they are about. This is a great way for people of like minds to organize themselves and to really have our voice heard.


Dear friends,

A shocking new far-right politics is taking hold in Israel and it threatens all we've worked for --let's help progressives in Israel organise and build a fresh new voice for peace: Watch the Shocking Video, Take Action Now

It's a dark day in the Middle East: the right-wing has won the most seats in Israel's elections, and racist extremist Avigdor Lieberman is now the kingmaker in forming the next government.[1] Lieberman and his fellow leaders are promising tobomb Iran, re-invade Gaza and abandon any ceasefire, stop negotiations and crack down on Israel's large Arab minority. This could kill all we've worked for in the Middle East. But many progressives in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) share our feelings -- and they desperately need our solidarity today.

Wherever extremists have triumphed, we have to organise to beat them. Many thought all hope was lost in the USA after the neo-conservatives' victory -- then progressives used the internet to come back from the wilderness, and achieved the unthinkable by putting Barack Obama in the White House.[2] In Israel today, the despair of the old peace camp opens up a powerful moment to build a fresh new voice against hatred and for peace.

Just $10,000 could help two young Israeli activists use the Avaaz model of internet organizing to reach and mobilise tens of thousands of other Israelis this year -- $5000 would buy billboards in Jerusalem to launch their first campaign with a splash. Follow this link to watch our shocking short video of Lieberman's extremist agenda -- and let's donate now to help a new generation in Israel urgently speak out for peace and change:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/change_in_israel

We have a strong network in Israel to work with already, with almost 10,000 Avaaz members and contacts with promising young organisers who are hungry for change. They just need our support to organise across divides, uniting Israel's scattered constituencies for peace and justice. Many Israelis supported our global campaign for a Gaza ceasefire and joined their voices with ours on climate change, Burma, Tibet and Zimbabwe -- now it's time for us to stand with them.

Even if they are in a minority at first, a strong progressive voice in Israel should make our efforts for the right kind of US and international diplomacy much more effective. We know the forces we're up against. But beneath the surface we often find Israeli majorities for peace, social justice and pragmatism. Before these elections, when Israel's government broke off talks and launched the Gaza offensive, a majority polled wanted to renew the ceasefire with Hamas instead, and we've seen broad support for a wider peace at many times.[3]

Lieberman's rise itself demonstrates how effective, targeted organising can shape Israel's path for ill -- now a new generation of Israelis need solidarity from us to mobilise against this extremism, and to advance the values and causes we share. Everyone who donates to help fund this Israeli organising effort will be kept informed with reports on its progress. Watch the short video of Lieberman's savage campaign now at the link below, and help support a new generation in Israel to organise for change:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/change_in_israel

With hope and determination,

Paul, Graziela, Ricken, Ben, Alice, Paula, Iain, Pascal, Milena, Brett and the whole Avaaz team

Sources:

1. "Key to who will govern Israel: Avigdor Lieberman", Christian Science Monitor (12 February 2009):
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0212/p01s04-wome.html

Ha'aretz: "Unite to block Lieberman's march on Jerusalem" (1 February 2009)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1060124.html

2. See this report from MoveOn.org on the impact of the online organising efforts they pioneered: http://s3.moveon.org/pdfs/moveon_postelectionreport_ah14.pdf

3. See this Hebrew University poll published in December 2008:
http://www.bicom.org.uk/background/opinion-polls/truman-psr-poll--16-december-2008

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ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. Call us at: +1 888 922 8229 or +55 21 2509 0368 Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages!


To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to info@avaaz.org. You can also call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US) or +55 21 2509 0368 (Brazil) If you have technical problems, please go to http://www.avaaz.org