Our village is burning…

Cliche as it may sound- 2008 has flown by so fast, it’s almost like it couldn’t stand to be around. However, though it came and went like the wind, it left scar tissues deep enough for humans to double up in pain for days, months and years to come!

From the hurricanes  and earthquakes to the never-ending terrorist attacks, it seems like Mother Nature and Human Beings are head to head in a petty war that is quickly bloodying and destructing the homes we sleep in and the souls that live within us.

For me, it’s been a whirlwind of decision making and activity. Having left Toronto, during the summer, after making it my home of five years- I still feel an ache in my heart that Dubai, my ‘home’ of almost 23 years, has not been able to soothe.

Complain as I might, the truth is, I was completely sane when I bought my one-way plane ticket to the desert.Being back for five months now,I’m still getting used to the grains of sand that carry, with it – bureaucracy that borderlines insanity, a society that, from appearance, only sees itself staring back through the mirror and a slow rising culture that rings hollow.

Though, I do believe that U.A.E has given it’s residents a platform to become and succeed , Dubai’s glitz and glamor, well deserved to those who have the conscience  to understand that they truly  and rightfully deserve it- almost makes me slip into an oblivious denial about the darker, not so shiny, side.

Sipping on a smoothie, soaking up Decembers warmth while reading a book, at a cafe in Dubai Marina- I find myself  being pulled into a world where reality barely skims past the rays that are coloring my skin.

I forget that far away, in places like Darfur, the suffering and pain has reached levels that cannot even be imagined.  I forget that without activists and support groups, who continually stand up for injustice and forever are trying to evoke a sense of responsibility in us  , the extreme cruelty acted upon against women and children in various parts of the world, evades me.And as I write this- I struggle with knowing that I forget the many who have been tortured or have had their lives stolen from them for creating magic with their words.

Tucked away in Dubai’s ‘safe’ haven- I forget.

My senses were jolted while sipping on a glass of Asti Martini, at a friends place for Christmas.

A few of us were talking about a cafe that I am opening with my cousin. One of the partakers decided to take charge of the conversation and suggest that I hire “Indian and Filipino laborers” to serve at the cafe since they are “cheap” and will help us “make money” for very little in return. Who cares about their dreams and their hopeful achievements, right? Slave labor is obviously the way to go.

In response to my indignation he stated that I wasn’t opening “a charity house but a business”.

In the the race to finish first, as long as we’re ensuring our wealth and safety along the way, it doesn’t matter who we crush and exploit, because they don’t deserve to run along us, they’re just there to carry our load and lighten our burden.

Where is the ‘us’, the ‘we’? How long before we realize that the ‘I’ and the ‘me’ are so far isolated that it won’t be long until they snap and are driven to levels of insanity that will cease to have a point of return?

“He was man enough to unzip his pants for me”

Imagine this: a girl walks up to a group of students- the majority of them males- to take a picture for the student newspaper. Instead of being able to take the picture and walk away she had to endure being ‘teased’, as one of the boys decided he was man enough to unzip his pants for her.

Mortifying as it is – it was made worse as everyone just stood around and laughed, including the only two girls were part of that group of 10- 15 students. Somehow, that kind of obscene behavior, at Centennial’s Ashtonbee Campus was accepted.

That girl was me.

For the courier, we are doing a series of stories that explore social disconnect and integration on our campuses. I was at Ashtonbee with Seljan Gryphon to get a feel of whether or not girls feel out of place on the campus’s male dominated environment.

Though, I don’t necessarily believe that social disconnect is a bad thing – in fact, I think that necessary in certain cases – I believe that accepting situations just to be integrated, among social groups, needs to be questioned.

We spoke to a number of girls at the campus, all of whom acknowledge that harassment did occur but that they weren’t threatened by it. All of them brushed it off as mere teasing or flirting. None of them, spoke about it as if it could be embarrassing or difficult for them. Me on the other hand- my experience was definitely and extremely unpleasant.

The alarming factor is that none of these girls want to be quoted in the paper. They specifically asked for their name to be left out and therefore we have either changed names or not given any for our story.

Sexual harassment is a delicate issue. I don’t have the experience or education to be able to point fingers and say that it is wrong for students to just stand around, watching inappropriate behavior occur, without standing up or saying something about it.

It is easy to question why female students seem to tolerate this kind of behavior or don’t want to be insinuated as the ones who are ‘talking’.  It almost seems like a forbidden topic.

However, there is more webbed to it when it comes to just saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to being harassed, or witnessing harassment occur. There seems to be some kind of fear in standing up against it. I’m not surprised. If I attended a school where the majority of students were male and if in fact, sexual harassment was an ongoing issue – I think I might watch what I say or do, as well.

The puzzling part is- why are students taking this lightly. When students are asked, why aren’t they reporting the times that they have been harrassed?

Laurie Sanci, Centennial Colleges Sexual Harassment Officer syas, “There are often practical reason why a woman wants to deny that they are experiencing problems. They might not want to be seen as ‘stirring up trouble’. They may be worried about being labeled as a feminist or being called a ‘bitch’ by the men at school. Some may be eager to be seen as fitting in to the culture, to be seen as ‘one of the boys’.”

I do not want to make Ashtonbee sound dangerous or monstrous. The girls we spoke to, seem to comfortable there which proves that it hasn’t been a bad experience for everybody. But after spending an hour and a half at that campus and experiencing what we did, I can definitely say that it is not an issue that should sit on the back burner. Easy as it may sound, I think students should feel safe to speak out against unacceptable and inappropriate behavior.

Dubai- a place to live or a place to leave?

Is the dramatic growth of Dubais economy negative?

Dubai, an Emirate in the U.A.E, is one of the fastest growing city’s in the world. With the worlds tallest building, one of the only 7 stars hotel, and with an island representing the world map- Dubai has made a  place for it’s self on the world map.

According to http://www.internationalreports.net/middleeast/dubai/2005/model.html, ‘Dubai has been defying the global trends, including the 9/11 developments. In the past decade, Dubai has stunned the world with its mind-boggling growth and its ambitious developments.’

Having been born and brought up in this Middle-East region- I have mixed feelings about the city’s spurt of Growth. When I go back home- it isn’t the same place I grew up in. In fact, I feel like it, now, lacks culture and a soul. Living in Dubai is all about the bag you carry and the car you drive.

With the current rate of inflation and human right violations, for example-in terms of labour camps, Dubai needs a reality check. If they are competing with some of the worlds largest markets- they need to ensure that they are able to grow at all levels.

Dubai represents 5 Star living- it is in affordable for most people- paving a path for the rich and leaving no place for anyone else.  Any successful city, like New York and Singapoore, needs to carter to all levles and types of people. How long before this economy crashes?

Out of Afghanistan, into Darfur

With over 200,000 people dead in Darfur- why isn’t the Canadian government taking a leadership role in putting an end to the horrific crimes occurring in the Sudan region?

The International community is standing on the sidelines, letting Genocide occur, without intervening.  The Canaidan millitary, is busy in Afghanistn. Unfortunatley, their services aren’t needed as much as they are needed in Darfur.

The Canadian Military, a peace-keeping force, is now, in Afghanistan is a combat force. Are they helping the situation there? No. Can they help the destruction in Darfur? Yes.

Accoridning to CTVs story ‘NDP wants Canada to lead on Darfur mission’, “NDP defence critic Dawn Black, whose riding Layton visited, said it’s unlikely the armed forces can make the necessary commitment to a Darfur mission and maintain its forces in Afghanistan at current levels.”

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060507/layton_darfur_060507/20060508/

So why isn’t the Government doing more to help the tragic situation in Darfur? Obviously, they don’t have enough invested in the Sudan, to take action against he crimes of humanity that are occurring there.

A cheaper yet unsafer city

I almost slipped and broke my head last night, because the side walk was covered in ice!

Last month,the City of Toronto proposed budget cuts that included reduced snow removal from sidewalks- until it reaches 15 centimeters. Before snow would be cleared at 8 centimeters. Now we’re talking about double the amount!

City officials insist that the four million slash in winter maintenance costs will not hinder our safety.

Apparently, sidewalks and roads are still going to be hazard free, despite the piles of snow lying around- waiting for a disaster to happen.

In a Toronto Star article,Streets will be plowed, safe despite budget cuts, city says-Chair of the public works committee,Councilor Glenn De Baeremaeker says,”We promise to make sure the streets are clear and safe.”

Not only are we going to have a slippery city but we’re going to have a dirtier city! The budget cut also included a reduction in litter pick up from the streets.

That’s just what Torontonians need. If the snow won’t cause you to slip and fall- a banana peel will!

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/281301