government systems

Our current prime minister of Canada is Stephen Harper. He was born on April 30 1959 in Toronto Ontario. His wife’s name is Laureen and he has a daughter named Rachel and a son named Benjamin. The Harper’s maintain a permanent residence in Calgary. Stephen Harper has received bachelors and master’s degrees in economics at the university of Calgary.
The Main Political parities in Canada are New Democratic, Liberal, Conservative, Green, and Bloc Quebecois. Each party has a different set of ideas on how to run the country. Normally people vote for the party that has the same ideas and values as them. The reason why we need different parties is so that one party can’t take over. Communist only allow one party so that when elections come only they can win and they have full control. As Canadians we have a freedom of choice but what would we do if there was nothing to choose between?
An Election can be called by the Prime Minister at any time he wishes but one has to be called within five years. For and election the Prime Minister will ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament. Currently our Governor General is Michaelle Jean.
Some differences between the Canadian and American government are that the Americans have only two political parities but Canada has unlimited groups. For President Americans vote for a specific person while Canadians vote for the members of a party and whatever party that gets the most of their members to win has there party leader become Prime Minister. We have different titles for our leaders Canada calls the leader Prime Minister and America calls them Presidents. Our province leader is the Premier while the State leader is a Governor. But no matter what we are both Democratic which means that the people have the final say because the government need our votes to get anywhere.

Dogeball

One game that all guys seem to agree on is Dodge ball. A game basted on who came hit the most people with a ball to declare then out. Unfortunately most guys tend to want to show how strong they are to their friends so they throw the ball as hard as they can. Mix that with their uncontrolled hormones girls tend to become the target of choice. How do I know this? I was one of those targets.  I quote this from wikipedia “the size of a volley ball and are made of HARD light RUBBER or LEATHER. How would you like to see that coming straight at you? It is a barbaric game that gives someone the excuse to hit people.

Oka Crisis Timeline

1717-Governor of New France granted the lands that the cemetery is on to a catholic seminary

1800's Mohawks and Algonquins plant pine trees around the burial area to slow settlement in the area.

1868- Mohawk chief Joseph Onasakenrat wrote a letter telling the church they were illegally holding the land and demanded the return.

1869-Onasakenrat moved against the seminary with a small armed forced but was ended by local authorities

1936- Seminary sold territory and left area because of local Mohawk protest

1961 the original Le Club de golf d'Oka is built and Mohawks launched a legal protest against construction

1970 archaeologists confirm Mohawks claim of the cemetery

1974 National Geographic confirms claim

1977- an official land claim was filed to the federal office of native claims

1986- claim was rejected

1989- Mayor of Oka Jean Ouellette announces the golf courses expansion into a eighteen hole coarse. The Pines forest would have to be cleared to make available land.

1990:

March 10- Mohawks start to occupy around the burial ground to protect it and the trees they planted.

July 11- Mohawk protesters set up barricades around burial ground

5:30am- Surete du Quebec position around "the pines"

around 6:30am- Mohawks at Kahnawake block the Mercier bridge

8:45am-SQ police rush the barricades, gunfight started, and Corporal Marcel Lemay died

July 15- the SQ police are replaced by the Canadian Armed Forces

August 29-Mohawks at the bridge negotiated with lieutenant colonel Robin Gagnon. siege of the Kahnawake reserve was resolved and traffic began to flow again. Mohawks lost the bridge their best bargaining chip.

September 25- a Mohawk warrior set off all the flares that the army had set up to signal any escapes. the army hosed him but it wasn't powerful enough for a crowd and the Mohawks taunted the soldiers and through water balloons at the army.

September 26- Mohawks returned to their reserve

Things I Would Like to Know From Obama

I would ask what his long term plan for the countries america is in war against is? Does he plan to have the countries to start there own democracy or is he planning for the US to have a permanent hand in the affairs of those countries to keep a some control?  

I would like to see Mr.Obama do something about the environment. I don't need anything extreme. When I go to the bottle Depot to recycle they tell me that All American juice boxes, pop cans, and bottles can't be recycled because of how they are made. Think of all those bottles being used by the massive population in America and the only place they can go to is the landfill, on the ground, or in the ocean.  

I would like to see Barack Obama do something with all those banks who made the huge mistake of giving all those loans that they knew wouldn't get paid. They are playing a huge part in the economies recession all because of a stupid gamble. Some laws should be put so the banks can't give loans to people who they know won't be able to pay them because it would also prevent the person taking the loan from eg. losing their house that the bank was planning would happen anyway. It's taking advantage of them.

news4youth activities

I read about black beard and his treasure at the National Geographic website

I voted for option A on the News for youth monthly poll

Britian Control in Canada and India

In 1619 the first outpost in India was made. The British were in India because it was close to Asia. In order to keep that good location and establish permanent trading the East India Company was created. In 1707 when the Mughal Empire collapsed the East India Trading Company took over India's economy. India became Britain's primary center of trades with Asia and their control spread to most of present day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In addition to the close trading with Asia the Indian population provided a massive buying market. Britain’s power and influence grew so much that in 1858 Queen Victoria declared India part of the British Empire. Britain would use the Indians to fight their wars for them. The British stopped all Indians from manufacturing their own goods. This forced the people to buy the goods that Britain presented and they took advantage of that by selling their poor goods that no one else would buy. India’s spices were taken over and tea the most British drink was first cultivated by the British in India. It wasn’t until August 14 1947 that India gained independence from Britain.

Adventurers came across the Atlantic Ocean looking for a shorter route to Asia. Instead they found the new world. North America had huge amounts of fish that Europe came to harvest. The land had fresh resource of animals for fur. Beaver felt just so happened to be in high demand for top hats. The Britain it was a whole new supply of resources. In Canada the Natives were the people affected. Diseases were brought with the Europeans and the Aboriginals were not immune like Britain. Between 1780 and 1782 and later in 1837 a small pox outbreak devastated many plains natives. The introduction to alcohol was sometimes used to take advantage of the natives when trading because the natives were not fully aware of alcohols affects and there decisions were impaired. Unfortunately like India, Britain also had the natives fight their wars. Tribes with Britain were told to fight tribes that had alliances with France.

Today Canada still has huge ties to Britain. The ruler of England is shown on our currency. Queen Elizabeth is head of the Commonwealth because she was invited to the first one by Pierre Trudeau, a Canadian Prime Minister. The Queen’s title in Canada is Queen of Canada and she plays a role in many ceremonies and is the symbol of our sovereign. The Queen however abides by the decisions of Canada’s government. Britain, Canada, and India all use Prime Minister as the title for their leader. Today Britain and India are on good terms largely to the state that India’s independence came. Thanks to Gandhi, who studied law in London, it was peaceful. Instead of fighting violently with Britain he encouraged things like boycotting British products. Britain would lose their economic gain from India and India would rely on their own resources and increase the spending at their own businesses. Gandhi shows up on much of India’s currency.

Sudan

In 1881 Britain was in control of Sudan. Egypt gained joint control over Sudan in 1899. The British wanted to bring modern technology to Sudan for modernization and teaching the People English traditions. In Sudan the north is inhabited by those with Arab descent while the south is made up of those with African origin.
The British thought the south wasn’t ready for modern influence and so they closed the area from all outsiders. Only a few Arabs controlled the laws and businesses and Christian missionaries ran the schools and medical clinics. The full separation that was made caused the Arabs to believe that Sudan was an all Arab country.
Sudan became independent in 1956 with Britain handing control over to the Arabs and the separation of north and south became no more. The Arabs began to impose Islamic culture and religion on all Sudanese people. Southern Sudan resisted becoming Islam and a civil war broke out. The result left the south depopulated and displaced.
What I don’t understand is why the British didn’t let Sudan become two separate countries because that was how they had treated them when they isolated the south. Like most countries in Africa the Europe was the one who had determined counties borders at the end of the 1800’s.

Potlatch

The potlatch is a ceremony where the host obtains a status that is based on how much they give to their guests. It was a big party with speeches, singing, dancing, feasting, and formal business. When the host shared food and gave gifts it show that he was wealthy enough to share. Potlatches could be used to celebrate important occasions, and was also a good time to peacefully celebrate and strengthen alliances. The potlatch is celebrated by many first nations cultures in the pacific coast.

A potlatch is almost like a birthday in my family. I invite friends and they bring a birthday present but I also give them presents. I have nice party favors to show that I’m thankful they came and that I appreciate their friendship. I’m also the one who provides all the food. I wouldn’t ask them to bring any that would be rude because I’m the host.

Weddings also seem to have some of the same traits as a potlatch. To show your statues you throw a beautiful wedding. The quality of food, decorations, and the wedding dress show your wealth and you are there to celebrate. Weddings also happen to include singing, dancing, speeches, and feasting.  

I think the only concept that the Europeans didn’t like about the potlatch is that you had to give things away. They liked to keep their wealth, not give it away. With the cultures that practiced potlatch they believed it helped distribute wealth to their people so everyone would gain as a whole.

My Canadian Wilderness

What kind of world?

I would really appreciate it if we were given at least an intact world. I wouldn't want to fight our fathers war that I had little say about it because I wasn't old enough. However I will be older when some of the consequences strike. In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan children have suffered the most. They didn't get to say if they were willing to continue a war when they become of age, they didn't get to say if they wanted their homes attacked. My future is at the mercy of the choices of those in charge know. Look at the condition of the environment there are huge landfills, and pollution and all those adults who didn't have to care about the environment because it wasn't an issue then and know we are the ones who clean it up. I want a world that gives me every opportunity I can have. I like to research animals and by the time I have the opportunity to see a wild Polar Bear I may not be able to because they may be extinct by then. Who were those before me who made the choice that I would never see a dodo bird. Who knows maybe if they were still around I would. In a world that I would want to leave my future children would have to be one that they can see the immense beauty on earth to help them stay away from the evil. They deserve to see the good things in life that those before them took for granted because they were common and therefor uncared for.

Rights of Indigenous People

Article 25

Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their

distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or

otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal

seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to

future generations in this regard.

The Lubicon can no longer continue their traditional livelihood because the oil wells have disturbed moose habitat. 90% of the community has to rely on social services. Their traditional lands are being destroyed and/or permanently altered

Article 19

States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous

peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in

order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopt-

ing and implementing legislative or administrative measures that

may affect them.

Article 18

Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making

in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives

chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures,

as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision-

making institutions.

Article 19 says it is the governments responsibility to inform and discus any changes the government may be making that could effect the indigenous people. Article 18 says the Indigenous people have the right to discuss issues with the government. The first time both parties met was when the Lubicons blocked the roads that the loggers were using despite many attempts on the Lubicons efforts to meet with the government.

Article 6

Every indigenous individual has the right to a nationality.

The government would refuse to even recognize the Lubicons as a First Nations people.

These acts help keep the identity of indigenous people and to help insure they get equal rights. with the Lubicons they were trying to keep their land and with it their livelihood. Because they can no longer hunt and trap to support their families all the skills they have for that are useless and there will be no need to pass on their knowledge to the next generation. If the Lubicons aren't a first nation than what are they? If nothing is done they will have no chioce but to become assimilated.

Lubicon Land Claims

Between 1979 and 82, four years, 400 wells were placed within 24 km of the Lubicon community. the wildlife impact has destroyed the Lubicons livelihood by driving away the moose population. The government will not acknowledge the fact that the Lubicon people are a first nation and therefor the Lubicons cannot claim their traditional lands. The lubicon is has saught out the help of organizations such as Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, Amnesty International, and the Un Human Rights Committee. these groups are to help spread awareness of the Lubicon situation and put pressure on the government for the two violations of human rights. One: the government won't meet with the Lubicons to discuss their concerns. Two: the Lubicons were not advised about the oil wells that were to be set up in their area and they have a right to their land.

Australian Aboriginal Art

If you can't tell 

this is supposed

to be a kangaroo.

National Sorry Days

This unofficial holiday started in Australia on May 26th 1998 and has been held every year since. The final report about aboriginal and Torres strait islander children being forcefully separated from their families was released in 1997. These children are known as the stolen generation. One year latter from the release the National Sorry Day was made to help publicly acknowledge the wrong that was done and to start the healing. It wasn't until ten years of this tradition passing that the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an official apology from the government. 

space. a tourist attraction?

If I was offered a trip on a space ship just for tourism I would decline. First reason is because I'm afraid of heights and that is totally the ultimate height. Okay getting serious. Now think about all the fuel that is needed. Sure if you can afford it no problem right, wrong all those CO2 emissions are just going to mess up our atmosphere even more. Think of all the resources it took to make the space craft. Most of it falls of once you get into space and is just left their as space waste and who knows what all of it will do in twenty to a hundred years. Safety hazard is another problem. With space crafts being made more often, like the mass production of goods, they aren't going to be looked over as carefully as at NASA and that could lead to problems. They have peoples lives on the line and the producers could be a huge target for law suits if they are not careful.

how I would vote on october 14th

At new4youth on the poll that asked if I could vote who would I vote for? I voted I wouldn’t vote. The reason is because none of them seem to value their values. If you turn on the your television you may see a few of the commercials that are backing my opinion. The various commercials have one party simply telling the bad things another party has done. If they were trying to get my vote they should talk about what they will do not just blame others from what they have done wrong. Besides in school elections if we bad talked out opponents we are thrown out of the race. They should be setting an example for the future generation.

food alerts

September 18 - October 1 these warnings and food callbacks were announced

18th   Products under the brand name of smith snacks. Possible listeria monocytogenes

19th   (Allergy) milk was improperly declared in in Oceania duo mousse lobster with 

tomatoes and basil as well as the smoked salmon and pesto.

19th    (Allergy) Baltic bread bakery products failed to label egg, milk, and soy in their ingredients

21st   Nissin Cha Cha dessert may contain melamine

22nd  (advisory) Mr. Brown 3in1 instant coffee products may contain melamine.

23rd   Fromagerie La Voie Lactee made cheese may contain pathogenic bacteria.

24th   Sandwich products by Hygaard possibly contain listeria monocytogenes.

25th   White Rabbit brand may contain melamine

26th   Mr. Brown 3in1 instant coffee products may contain melamine.

30th   Koala's March filled cookie by Lotte may contain melamine

1st       Ok Ok Kaiser pretzels may contain melamine.

Q2 A on pg.58 APTN

With APTN it was all based around the different aboriginal beliefs. I found the most aboriginal material was in the kids programs because they want to pass on their stories to the future generation. With their News they make an extra effort to report any aboriginal related events. Even Kyle and Janelle's wardrobe is provided by Warehouse one which is a Canadian company. I think it helps to keep the basic aboriginal ideas in their culture. The APTN is doing something that no one else seems to be attempting to do.

UNESCO

On May 16 2007 it was announced that the year 2008 was to be the international year of languages. Their slogan is Languages Matter. UNESCO has put up a list of projects to promote this theme. To help with endangered languages they have created dictionaries and encyclopedias to document as much of these languages in case they are lost. To promote awareness they have created holidays like Mother Language Day that is held on February 21. At the Prudue University they had the regional languages come and perform to represent the importance that a language is to a unique culture. A program to help Nigerian language protection continues well into the next year. They create institutions to teach the language as well as hold Nigerian creative writing contests for encouragement.

Dark Days In Afganistan

If I was offered a job with an aid agency in Afghanistan I would decline. Personally I would only be a burden to anyone because I would always be so worried. The attack on August 13 is devastating news and the people were trying to help. The worry would preoccupy my mind so much that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on a task that is given to me. It's not that I don't want to help I just think I could be a better help with my mind clear here in Canada by preparing what those in Afghanistan need. Sure I would be on the sidelines but I would know I'm helping. I just wouldn't be able to accept.