All the time

It has taken me

To become, to merge

Into the Times…

Chad Norman, a seasoned poet from Canada shares his poetry

Chad Norman, Truro, NS, is a seasoned poet from Canada. His poems have appeared for nearly 40 years in literary publications across Canada, as well as a number of other countries around the world, also translated into Albanian, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Turkish, Italian, Czech, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Hungarian. In October 2016 he was invited by the Nordic Assn. for Canadian Studies to give talks on Canadian Poetry and read from his books at Borupgaard Gym in Copenhagen, and Risskov Gym in Aarhus, as well as other readings in both cities, and Malmo, Sweden. Because of that tour Norman started the manuscript, Counting Coins in Denmark and Sweden. In October of 2017 he read at various Eastern Canada venues in Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal, reading poems from his Selected and New collection, published by Mosaic Press (Oakville, ON). In October of 2018 he read at various types of venues from universities to cafes to pubs throughout Ireland, Scotland, Wales, while there he visited Swansea and slept three nights in the room where Dylan Thomas was born. A celebration of Canadian Poetry took place during this tour too. His most recent books are a children’s picture book, B and Boy, 2023, Cyberwit. Net (India), and a new collection, Parental Forest, out with AOS publications (Montreal). Finally, Norman’s poem, The Shoulds, has been selected to be included in the Vagabond Lunar Collection, part of the time capsule scheduled for a Fall launch to the moon. He is currently a member of The Writers Union of Canada, PEN Canada, and a volunteers for 12 local crow families.

A LIGHT SNOWFALL ON THE SIDEWALKS

It is the time,

The Times,

To be writing

About…

The place I visit

As often as

Time allows–

Canada, to be

The place I write

About–

I know you

My country–

Damn the politicians

And all the time

Lies use their mouths,

To fool the clock,

Fool us, fool the fools.

It is time,

The place I find

Is my country–

Canada, I want

Better for you–

Can I speak of you

Like you are a you?

Canada,

You allow me to know

Travels, many times away,

As someone calls it–

“A time away”– I will

Take it, Canada,

I want to write

About you–

Damn the Liars!

All the time

It has taken me

To become, to merge

Into the Times,

Right here where we

Can easily touch

Something…or somehow

Someone real close…

Very real…please.

***

A DEFINITION OF FREEDOM

So far,

As a

Canadian,

I

Can say

Whatever

I want

To the

World.

***

WHY SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT LOVE

Robert Smith

Unlike any other

Smith

Has come through,

Until this morning

His song titles

Hadn’t reached me,

But today I

Take upon me

The cure

And open

That which has always opened

When great songs

Have reached me,

I have been through it,

And so have

So many others

Who won’t allow themselves

To be shut down,

To be dumbed down,

To be the witnesses,

To become the ones

You know you are,

As Allison Goldfrapp  

Has asked us

To become, the ones

Who must lead now,

The ones who knew

What to do with Love,

Unlike me,

At the end

Ready to walk endlessly

Into all the voices

Trying to be human,

But were fooled, were

Led from their true voice,

Were no different

Than the voices of

The Wild, they didn’t know

They possessed,

The voices that led me

Into a place

I never want to leave,

Now the place, with you,

Please stay with me.

_____________

Read: It became normal – Poetry by an Albania-born Canadian poetess

The post Poetry: A Light Snowfall on the Sidewalks first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Overwhelmed with death, suffering, and hate

Overseas, babies and children die by genocide

Something mainstream media tries to hide.

Kathy Figueroa, an eminent poetess from Canada, shares her poems  

Canadian poetess Kathy Figueroa’s work has appeared in scores of newspapers, magazines, and anthologies, as well as in the realm of cyberspace. Her published collections include “Paudash Poems,” “Flowertopia,” “The Cathedral of the Eternal Blue Sky,” “The Ballad of the PoeTrain Poeteer:  Winnipeg to Vancouver,” “The Renaissance of Rhyme,” and “Canadian Pandemic-Era Poems.”

A Terrible State

The world’s currently in a terrible state

Overwhelmed with death, suffering, and hate

Overseas, babies and children die by genocide

Something mainstream media tries to hide.

Here, statistics about a certain mandated vax

Are met with denials, vitriol, and attacks

…And we’re powerless to do anything except watch and grieve

As death tolls climb to numbers almost hard to believe

***

European White Tribes Fighting

European white tribes fighting

To settle, or even, old scores

Internecine conflict expands

With others coaxed to join the wars

Humanity starts devolving

When base brawn triumphs over brains

God creates, errant Man destroys

Until a Hell on Earth remains

***

He Wanted To Win

He wanted to win at any cost

Many times it appeared that he might

In truth, so much was needlessly lost

Because he chose not to stop the fight

His emptied country was now in ruins

Many of the citizens had fled

Or in the missile-marred, blood-stained ground

Lay dead

***

Humanity Destroyed

Humanity is being destroyed

As mass weapons of death are employed

Which try to prove God doesn’t exist

And that it’s futile to resist

It’s becoming harder not to hate

As we long for the horror to abate

…And peace seems like an impossible dream

A quest of the naive, a futile scheme…

***

The November War

Huddled together at the side of the road

They were refugees in flight,

Frozen for a moment, for all time,

In the glare of the bright headlight.

Four, leaning against each other,

Paused, on their desperate run,

As they sought shelter

From the dog and the gun.

Trepidation and sheer terror

Could be seen in their eyes

And that awful knowledge

Of how their kind dies.

Their days were numbered –

Maybe hours remained,

Not much more,

As they tried to escape

The November war.

Could they sleep or even rest?

Would they have the strength to fight?

Or would their legs fail

From exhaustion and fright?

If only there was somewhere to stay

By a house, or on a farm –

A shelter, refuge, or sanctuary

Where they’d be spared from harm.

But, anywhere they hid,

Unleashed dogs would find them

And, immediately, give chase

To the waiting guns of men

Who lacked mercy and grace.

Did they silently cry out to humankind

As near men’s homes they stood,

And plead to be allowed to return

To their place in the wild wood?

Do they face the houses of men

Like men turn their faces to the sky

To ask a higher power

For mercy and a reason why

They must endure such times

Of misery and strife?

And do they ask that higher power

To spare a humble life?

An elderly friend told me a story

About her history.

She and her family were captured

Long ago, in another country.

They were moved to an enclosure

With an open gate,

But no one ventured out

Because they knew what lay in wait.

Though it was Christmas Eve,

No one dared to run

Because the men were waiting

With the dog and the gun.

When I saw those frightened deer

That evening so dark and cold,

I remembered my friend

And the story she told.

Those images have never left me

So, now, I write this poem

And hope, one day,

All inhabitants of Earth

Will share in peace

This planet we call home.

“The November War” was first published on the National Post newspaper website on October 8, 2008, in The Bancroft Times newspaper on November 15, 2012, and included in Kathy Figueroa’s book, “Paudash Poems.”  

_______________

Read: At the door of the tents – A Poem from Palestine

The post A Terrible State – Bouquet of Poems from Canada first appeared on Sindh Courier.

• The policy change is particularly concerning for Afghan refugees, many of whom are currently living in neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and India

Monitoring Desk

In a major announcement today, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed a significant reduction in the country’s immigration targets, marking a notable shift from Canada’s historically welcoming stance. The new policy will lower the number of permanent residents admitted in 2025 to 395,000, down from the previous target of 500,000, with further reductions planned through 2027. This decision comes as the government attempts to address growing concerns among Canadians over housing shortages, healthcare strain, and rising unemployment, Khaama.com reports.

Sharp Reductions to Immigration Plans

Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged that the country’s post-pandemic immigration policies, which aimed to address labor shortages, may have outpaced the capacity to provide adequate services. “We didn’t get the balance quite right,” Trudeau admitted during today’s announcement. The new policy aims to give provinces time to expand essential services like housing and healthcare while temporarily pausing rapid population growth.

In addition to reducing permanent resident admissions, Canada will also lower the number of temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, by about 30,000 in 2025. This adjustment represents a major departure for a country that has relied on newcomers to support its workforce and drive population growth for decades.

Impact on Afghan Refugees

The policy change is particularly concerning for Afghan refugees, many of whom are currently living in neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and India. Over the years, Canada has been a key destination for Afghan refugees seeking to escape conflict and instability in their home country. However, the sharp reduction in immigration quotas may leave many Afghan refugees uncertain about their resettlement prospects.

Read: Iran reports arrest of nearly 2,000 Afghan refugees in Lorestan

Afghan refugees, who have already faced difficult conditions in countries with limited resources to support them, have long looked to Canada for a fresh start. Government-sponsored and private resettlement programs, often facilitated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have provided hope for thousands. With Canada’s decision to cut both permanent and temporary immigration numbers, the chances for Afghan families to find a new home in Canada may now be in jeopardy.

Widespread Criticism of the Policy

The immigration reduction has sparked criticism from migrant rights advocates and humanitarian groups. Organizations like the Migrant Rights Network have accused the government of unfairly placing blame on immigrants for Canada’s housing and social service challenges. “Migrants are not responsible for Canada’s housing crisis or strained healthcare systems,” the group said in a statement. They argue that reducing immigration will do little to address systemic issues and will instead harm vulnerable populations, including refugees.

However, the Canadian government maintains that the changes are necessary to ensure long-term economic and social stability. The new immigration plan emphasizes in-country applicants, with over 40% of permanent residents in 2025 expected to come from individuals already living in Canada as temporary residents. This approach, according to Trudeau, will help ease the immediate strain on housing and public services while still supporting the labor market.

Afghan Refugees and Regional Implications

For Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and India, Canada’s immigration cuts could force them to reconsider their resettlement options. These neighboring countries host millions of Afghan refugees, but they often struggle with providing adequate resources to manage the influx. Canada had been seen as a viable resettlement option, but the new policy may reduce opportunities for Afghans hoping to escape their precarious living situations.

The cuts also come at a time when global displacement is at a record high. According to the United Nations, over 100 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide, and Afghanistan remains a major contributor to this figure due to its ongoing conflict and political instability.

Conclusion

Canada’s decision to reduce immigration targets marks a turning point in its approach to immigration and refugee resettlement. While the government aims to address domestic concerns, this policy shift poses significant challenges for Afghan refugees and other vulnerable groups seeking to rebuild their lives. As Afghan refugees living in neighboring countries face mounting uncertainty, Canada’s role in global migration and resettlement will continue to be closely scrutinized. The impact of these cuts on Afghan families and their future prospects remains to be seen.

Read: 400000 Unregistered Afghan refugees are settled in Karachi 

________________

Source: The Khaama Press 

Courtesy: Central Asian Light (Posted on October 25, 2024)

The post Canada Announces Immigration Reduction Plans for 2025 first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Dr. T. S. Anand, a renowned author, based in Canada, shares his poems  

Dr. T.S. Anand has authored, edited and co-edited 18 books of creative literature and criticism, and published research papers on Indian English Literature, American, Afro-American and American-Jewish literature. He was President of Indian Association for American Studies (2002-2004), an academic body of university – college teachers in India. Currently, Dr. T.S. Anand lives in Canada and edits Literary Voice: A Peer Reviewed Journal of English Studies. He was Professor of English for two years in the University of Sirte, (Libya 2009 – 2011). Earlier he had retired as Principal of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Ludhiana (India) in 2008.  

REFLECTIONS ON MOTHER ’S DAY

Don’t mind, my first love

If my drugged drowsiness

Switches off the mains

And misses ritualistic remembrance.

How to forget the transition

From infancy to crawling

From prattle to chatter

Overseen by smiling mien,

The prelude to

Cunning and cheating,

Awakening the strangeness

In making and breaking

To push upwards

Or drag downwards?

His departure ushered in

A world of woes

Soaked with throes of blight

Of abject penury

And social taunts

As hearth awaits fuel

Stomachs growl

Deprivations reign

An awful drain

On man-in-making

Wrenching and straining.

Bounties of indulgent love

Drilled trust in Him

And faith in self

That shed cast-offs

To don new mantle

Of service sans self

Of selfless absorption

Beyond distortions

To nurture siblings

With love and care

Sans cold stare.

A lot had happened

When you were gone

In pools of misery

I was nearly drowned,

The inputs on life

Streaming in system

Kept me afloat

As seasons changed

Others disowned

The darling siblings

Nurtured on lullabies.

Each year

As the day draws near

Search for words

In moments of scare

But can I square

In the remaining years

Of uncertainties and fears

Or pay a fraction

Of the debt so rich

Maternally darned

In life’s tunic?

***

BEFORE EPIPHANY

With aching limbs

And falling vision

A heavy baggage

Of million treasons

Searching in greens

And sandy zones

on top of hills

In mysterious caves,

Awakened by

Deafening conches

And calls for prayers

Quest persists

In cozy laps

Varied forms

Of broken commands

Or narcissistic dips

On the treadmill of life

Myriad losses or gain

Recurring bruises

Of sufferable pain

That visit often

Like hibernating stream

The elusive metaphor

Changing hues

Running wildly

Offering no clues,

Words eternally ring

‘Some day or some other day’

Waiting abides

Wisdom chides

As innocent charm

Slowly subsides.

No sign

Of the elusive glue

Ever yearned

Ever spurned

As appetite gnaws

And drills the mind

Like worm of sins

Needling the numbness

With pricks and pins,

Rejuvenated urges

Cherished long

Seeking satiation

In epiphany of bliss.

***

REBORN

Essaying a glance

At deserted paths

Meandering through

Mossy tracks

Of anguished soul

As mind

Leaps beyond

Fathomable equations

Tormented by

Macho stances

Firmly rooted

In antique commands

Coursing through

Mute dumb

Preceding generations.

Adulation averted

Dignity subverted

Always a game

For minds perverted,

Measured my being

In corporeal norms

Without qualms,

A punching bag

For nocturnal delights,

Trampled feelings

Under brutish heels

The absurdities enacted

Yet no one feels.

A solicitous look

Caressing touch

Persona non grata

For the dressed doll

Strings manipulated

By hoary hands

And insane minds.

Staleness reigns

Dungeons of ‘bliss’

Of orderly life

Sister to abyss

Visitors not speak

But only hiss.

As life exists

Quest persists

To decipher destiny

Ordained by oracles

A life of shackles

Eternal battles

Against pillory

Shams of glory

An old long story

Passed as gospel.

Sphinx rises

Sky is domain,

Surveyor of

Terrific terrains

Trailing behind

Coffins of restrain,

Vision mirrors

Virgin plains

Dizzy hills

Peaks of glory,

That pave the way

For a new story.

______________________

Prepared by Angela Kosta Academic, journalist, writer, poet, essayist, literary critic, editor, translator

The post Reflections on Mother’s Day – Poems from Canada first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Dr. Jernail S. Anand

Gita’s parents were worried. She was growing up. And the major cause for worry was that she was beautiful. Ramakant, her father, often asked himself: The girl is growing up. She has to be married off. Marry her off to any person means a lot of dowry, loans from banks, and friends, and then, there is always the fear of maltreatment by the in-laws.

Marrying a daughter off is not easy for a poor household. Ramakant was not unaware how the daughters of the poor are abducted by the powerful landlords, and raped and then, hung on trees. He had also heard stories what happened to such girls, who were later consigned to fire. And when their fathers tried to seek justice, they too were killed in accidents.

Being the father of a young beautiful girl was no less a horror, if not altogether a curse. Many young boys were already making rounds of their house. A maternal aunt had come with a marriage proposal. Five lakhs in dowry. It was a modest demand. But, Ramakant, who lived from hand to mouth, could not afford it.

The girl was growing up. There was every fear of her going astray. Or running away with some man. It might bring a bad name to the family. He had two more daughters. In all his relations, not one was coming forward with a marriage proposal for the young girl who was educated and well bred.

He used to visit a godman. Thousands of people were there to seek his blessings. He often saw some young ladies escorting the godman. They were always full of smiles. One day, he came across Guranditta, another business man from a nearby town. They were taking lunch at the paid ‘langar’. Guranditta was all praise for the holy man. His daughter Simi was already among the chosen girls who were in attendance with the godman.

Why don’t you offer your daughter to the ashram? She will spend her life happily here. Here, she can find a match also. There is no question of dowry. Both of them can serve in the ashram and lead a happy life. Guranditta painted a rosy picture of the life in the ashram. It impressed Ramakant. He could see light at the end of the tunnel.

Once you give away your daughter, Ramakant Ji, you will not have to look back. You will get enough benedictions in return.

Why don’t you offer your daughter to the ashram? She will spend her life happily here. Here, she can find a match also. There is no question of dowry. Both of them can serve in the ashram and lead a happy life.

What have you got? Ramakant was interested to know the benefits of such a proposition.

They have given me enough money to start my own business. Now, we are having good time. The girl is living in a good environment, always in the company of the godly people, singing hymns and praying to gods. What more you want?

Ramakant was not easy to surrender. Won’t you marry her off?

Guranditta said: Why marry? They are to live here like celibates. Forget about dowry and any other problem young girls are facing. It is all godly atmosphere here. Pure and divine.

But Ramakant was not convinced. Celibate? It irked him. Why to force the girl to remain unmarried throughout her life? Isn’t it injustice, a crime? But Guranditta made his mental complexes easy by telling him that his daughter is here for the last five years. And they have not faced a single problem.

These places are not all that sacred, Ramakant had his own fears. Because he had heard the cases of many godmen who were in jails for moral crimes.

Ramakant was on the verge of deciding against sending his daughter to the ashram, when Guranditta shot an arrow, which silenced Ramakant’s doubts.

Look, Ramakant, I decided to let my daughter stay here forever because, otherwise, I would have to find out a match for her. They demand dowry, you know. We are poor people. Cannot afford rich dowry. Then, women create so many problems in the families. Tell me who is happy? I don’t want to say it, Ramakant, but I have offered my daughter to godman. Here she is better off than in any other poor household. And, when I offered her to the ashram, and signed the papers, I was given enough to run my own business. I can give education to my other daughters. For me, it is like sending a son to Canada, who does not return to you.

Read: Then and Now – A Short Story

__________________

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand is President of the International Academy of Ethics. He is author of 161 books in English poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. The Academy of Arts and Philosophical Sciences, Bari (Italy) honored him with the prestigious position of Honorable Academic. He was awarded Charter of Morava, the great International Award in Creativity by Serbian Writers Association, Belgrade at the60th Belgrade International Writers Meeting (Oct 2023), and his name was engraved on the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. Recently, he was awarded Doctor of Philosophy [Honoris Causa] by the University of Engg and Management, Jaipur. His most phenomenal book is Lustus: The Prince of Darkness [first epic of the Mahkaal Trilogy]. [Email: anandjs55@yahoo.com]

Bibliography Link:

https://atunispoetry.com/2023/12/08/indian-author-dr-jernail-s-anand-honoured-at-the-60th-belgrade-international-meeting-of-writers/

The post Canada….. A Shock Story first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Tandojam, Sindh

Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam, in collaboration with HOOPO, a Canadian organization, recently concluded a student article writing competition aimed at enriching students’ writing skills and deepening their understanding of the Carbon & Plants for Property Project objectives.

The competition garnered an overwhelming response from SAU Tandojam students, with a total of 39 articles submitted. After a thorough evaluation process, the winners were announced and honored at a ceremony held at the Faculty of Crop Protection.

Aneeta Lashari, a Post-Graduate student of the Faculty of Crop Protection, clinched the first position, followed by Ayaz Ali Hajano, an Undergraduate student of the same faculty, securing the second position. Muzafaruddin Chachar, also a Post-Graduate student of the Faculty of Crop Protection, secured the third position.

During the ceremony, cash prizes and certificates were presented to the winners by Amity Global Foundation, Canada. Professor Dr. Manzoor Ali Abro, Dean Faculty of Crop Protection, chaired the event, and Saad Husnain, CEO of Amity Global Foundation Canada, was also present.

Dr. Manzoor Ali Abro lauded HOOPO’s efforts against carbon and emphasized the significance of collaboration with international organizations in providing opportunities for students’ academic growth and development.

“This initiative symbolizes the fruitful collaboration between Pakistani educational institutions and international organizations, opening doors for further opportunities for students’ academic advancement,” he added.

The ceremony witnessed the presence of key figures including Dr. Abdul Waheed Solangi, Focal Person of HOOPO Canada, Dr. Mehar ul Nissa Raees, an Agricultural Economist, faculty members, and students from various disciplines, highlighting the competition’s importance in fostering academic excellence. (PR)

Read: Turkey to establish Greenhouse Facility at Sindh Agriculture University

______________________

The post SAU and HOOPO Canada Organize ‘Student Article Competition’ first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Tom Arms

India is likely to escape the consequences of allegedly murdering a Sikh Canadian on Canadian soil.

And this in turn will have consequences for democracy and political structures in India, the sub-continent’s relations with the rest of the world, Canadian relations with its allies and the international rule of law.

Let’s start with the fact that the claim that Indian intelligence agents were responsible for the murder of Sikh nationalist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is—so far—an allegation. And that the government of Narendra Modi has dismissed it as “absurd.”

But, at the same time, it is inconceivable that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would have stood on the floor of the Canadian parliament and announced that he had “credible evidence” that India was behind the murder given the dire repercussions of such a claim.

India is fast becoming one of the most important countries in the world. It has overtaken China as the most populous. Its economy is growing at 7.8 percent and is set to overtake Japan as the world’s third largest.

It has become a go-to destination for Western companies seeking to “de-risk” their investments in China. And as a member of the Quad Alliance it is a key counter-balance to Chinese influence in the world.

All this means that the US and its allies – including Canada—have been actively courting the Delhi government of Modi and this courtship has turning a blind—or at least blinkered—eye to its excesses.

India is more of a loose confederation than centralized federal system. It has 12 official languages and an estimated 2,000 tribal groupings. Its 76 years of independence have been marked by a constant struggle to maintain a unitary state develop a common national identity.

Modi is determined to forge that identity based on the dominance of Hinduism, which is practiced by 80 percent of the population. To that end he is prepared to suppress press freedom, the courts and even use violence to achieve his objective. The establishment of a unified Hindu nation—not democracy—is now the defining goal of the Indian government.

The Sikh Diaspora’s struggle for an independent Sikh nation known as Khalistan is seen by the Indian government as a threat to its objective.

India’s well-established foreign policy is an additional problem. It is studiously not pro-Western. It is, however, anti-Chinese because of a long-standing border dispute. But it also has historic good relations with Moscow which it is struggling to maintain while improving relations with the West.

But most important of all India sees itself as non-aligned and the leader and spokesperson for the developing world. And in common with the developing world—and China and Russia—India resents the post-war legal and political structures which it says were written by America and Europe for the benefit of America and Europe.

One of those laws is that countries cannot murder the citizens of other countries on the other country’s territory. Russia suffered the consequences of breaking that law when in 2018 it attempted Russian to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. A remnant of lethal novichok when onto kill Brit Dawn Sturgess.

The result was the expulsion of Russian diplomats and sanctions by Britain and all of its allies. British Prime Minister Theresa May had no more evidence of Russian involvement than Trudeau when he accused the Modi government.

The murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has sparked off a round of tit for tat diplomatic expulsions between India and Canada; the shelving of a major Indo-Canadian trade deal and ominous travel advisories from both countries. But the reaction from Canada’s allies has ranged from muted to a deafening silence.

Britain has simply said it is in close touch with its Canadian allies. Australia is “deeply concerned”. Washington is also “deeply concerned” and has urged Delhi to cooperate with Canadian investigations. But so far none of Canada’s allies in NATO or the Five Eyes Group have talked about sanctions or diplomatic expulsions.

It seems likely that economic and security considerations trumps the rule of law.

Also read: How the murder of a Sikh leader sparked an international incident between Canada and India

World Review

Ukraine has approximately 30 days before the autumn/winter rains bring their counter-offensive to a muddy halt.

To date they appear to have broken through the first line of a three-line Russian defense in an area around Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia. There is an outside possibility they can achieve a major breach, but that is highly unlikely.

There is more depressing news for Ukrainian troops. For a start the bromance between Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un will keep the Russian troops supplied with artillery shells to help keep the advancing Ukrainians at bay.

Then there are problems with Poland. Up until this week the Poles have been a driving force behind EU and NATO support for Ukraine. But Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki—with one eye on the farming vote and next month’s general election—has stopped military supplies to Ukraine because Ukrainian grain is driving down Polish wheat prices.

Poland has the support of Slovakia and Hungary and wants EU-wide restrictions on the import of Ukrainian grain. The Ukrainians, of course, are exporting their grain to EU countries because the Russian blockade makes it impossible for them to ship it to their usual customers in the Middle East and Africa.

The next problem is signs that US support is waning. This week Volodomyr Zelensky turned up in Washington to assure American lawmakers that Ukraine is slowly but surely winning. President Biden responded with a $325 million military aid package. Zelensky also has the support of the leadership in both the Senate and House of Representatives. But a group of far-right Republican Trump supporters are threatening to block a financial package which includes an extra $24 billion in aid to Ukraine.

And then, finally, there is the fact that Trump has pledged to stop military aid to Ukraine if he is elected in 2024.

It has taken seven years, but it looks as if the investigation of France’s right-wing leader Marine Le Pen may end up in court.

She and 23 members of Her Rassemblement National—including her father Jean-Marine Le Pen—are accused of misuse of EU funds. They allegedly used a total of about $620,000 of money which was meant to be spent EU administration to fund party activities.

The accusation comes from the Paris Prosecutor’s office and still has to be confirmed by the prosecuting judges. But it seems highly likely that that is a formality.

If she is found guilty, Marine Le Pen faces the possibility of a $1 million fine, 10 years in jail, and a 10-year ban on holding public office. Her conviction would have a major impact on the French and European political landscape.

According to the Paris Prosecutor, Ms Le Pen spent $45,000 of EU funds to pay her personal bodyguard. On another occasion she is alleged to have diverted EU funds to pay for a meeting to discuss party activities and hung an EU flag outside the meeting room. When the meeting started she told party members “take that s**t down.”

It looks like more American presidential impeachments. Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy this week ordered the House of Representatives to set up a committee to start formal investigations into whether or not to impeach President Joe Biden.

This is despite what most observers reckon is a total lack of any credible evidence linking the president to any wrongdoing regarding his son Hunter Biden. And Speaker McCarthy’s previous insistence that he would not start formal committee hearings without a full vote of the House.

McCarthy’s change of direction is for three reasons. First is that the Republicans need to establish a whataboutery context to counter the mounting number of court cases facing Donald Trump.

The second is that Speaker McCarthy believed that a vote of the full house would have stopped impeachment moves. This is because several moderate Republicans signalled that they would vote against impeachment hearings because of the lack of hard evidence.

The third is that McCarthy is frightened of losing his job. To secure election in the first place he was forced to agree to a far-right sponsored change of the rules that allow any one member of the House to force a vote that could remove him from office.

Several members of the right-wing Freedom Caucus told McCarthy they would initiate such a vote unless he started committee hearings without the previously promised vote.

Their insistence could well backfire. To date Biden’s White House has cooperated with every subpoena request (unlike Trump’s administration) and is likely to continue to do so. And this week the hearings started with a televised grilling of Attorney General Merrick Garland during which Republicans looked like badgering bullies.

America has a new Asian buddy— Vietnam. The burgeoning partnership between the two countries is testament to wisdom of British statesman Lord Palmerston who said “We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual and those interests it is our duty to follow.”

At the moment the mutual interests of Vietnam and America are helping to erase the memory of a long, bloody and messy jungle war that left both countries scarred.

The communists won the war against America. They are in power in a unified Vietnam. The country is a one-party heavily centralized socialist state, albeit with some free market conditions to attract foreign investment.

Now the two countries could be on the verge of an alliance. Ten years ago the Obama Administration started the ball rolling. Joe Biden’s recent visit to the country raised the relationship two rungs on the diplomatic ladder to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Biden claimed at the end of his visit that its purpose was not to “contain China” but to “seek stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” It followed at the end of a period of whirlwind diplomacy in which the US increased security ties with the Philippines, South Korea, Japan and India as well as Vietnam. So, unsurprisingly, the Chinese do see Biden’s Asian diplomacy as Cold War containment.

The Vietnamese are also keen to contain Beijing’s influence. China is Vietnam’s biggest trading partner, but the two have a long fractious history. Vietnam disputes China’s claims to the South China Sea and has a number of border disputes. In 1979, when Vietnam was recovering from its 30 years of war with the French and Americans, the Chinese invaded and the two armies fought on and off until 1990 when Beijing finally withdrew.

The enmity between China and Vietnam reaches 2,500 years back into history. For most of its history, Vietnam has been an on-off vassal state of China. It ceased to be one when the French took over as the colonial power in 1884. In fact, the Sino-Vietnamese relationship may be the exception that proves Lord Palmerston’s diplomatic rule.

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Tom Arms is foreign editor of Liberal Democrat Voice. He is currently working on an update of his “Encyclopaedia of the Cold War” and present a weekly world affairs podcast called “TransAtlantic Riff” which can be heard by clicking here https://open.spotify.com/show/3ntjretAKNLZNFpA5ZEGDG

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Geneva

An independent UN human rights expert on Wednesday expressed concern over Canada’s temporary foreign worker programs, describing them as “a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery”.

Tomoya Obokata, the Human Rights Council-appointed Special Rapporteur on the global scourge of modern slavery issued his statement at the end of a 14-day visit.

He called on the Canadian Government to intensify its efforts to safeguard workers’ rights and offer a clear pathway to permanent residency for all migrants.

Migrant workers at risk

“I am deeply disturbed by the accounts of exploitation and abuse shared with me by migrant workers,” he said

“Employer-specific work permit regimes, including certain Temporary Foreign Worker Programs, make migrant workers vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery, as they cannot report abuses without fear of deportation,” Obokata said.

He acknowledged recent policies enacted to promote human rights across the business sector such as the creation of a Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) and other codes of conduct.

But he emphasized the need to regularize the status of foreign migrant workers, citing their valuable skills they bring to the economy.

“I urge the Government to bring forward legislation requiring Canadian companies to implement mandatory human rights due diligence, and expand the independence, powers, and mandate of the CORE,” he said.

Trauma twice over

While visiting, Mr. Obokata noted that the communities at the highest risk of contemporary slavery and exploitation were those already experiencing structural discrimination and violence.

This included individuals with precarious migrant status, Indigenous Peoples, those with disabilities, individuals of African descent, former prisoners, and the homeless.

He drew a line between Canada’s colonial history and the disproportionate effect of contemporary forms of slavery on Indigenous Peoples, such as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, who have reported instances of unresponsiveness from law enforcement over the issue.

“I am extremely concerned by the extent to which Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people go missing or are murdered, often as a result of being trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation,” Mr. Obokata said.

He said they were reportedly targeted by traffickers when traveling to seek employment or services.

#Canada: Temporary foreign worker programmes are a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery – @TomObokata urges authorities to do more to protect workers and offer a clear pathway to permanent residency for all migrants.https://t.co/GJa1pTPk2g pic.twitter.com/bWpUCBSYMV

— UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) September 6, 2023

Legal challenges and solutions

Canada’s efforts to address slavery within domestic frameworks have improved. However, the independent expert said he had witnessed a lack of trauma-informed personnel and human rights-centered approaches within law enforcement and the judicial system.

“Victims and survivors are forced to relive their trauma in their interactions with law enforcement and the court systems, and the outcome of legal proceedings often fails to provide adequate compensation,” he said.

He said there was not enough consultation with survivors over policymaking and insufficient protections and remedies for victims.

“I am also seriously concerned about the misuse of anti-trafficking legislation to target sex workers, which seriously impacts their human rights,” said Obokata. “Full decriminalization of sex work is necessary to prevent further abuses.”

Special Rapporteurs and other UN experts are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and receive no salary for their work.

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Courtesy: UN News (Posted on September 6, 2023)

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Peterborough, Canada

World Sindhi Congress (WSC) held an interactive discussion event on 30th June 2023 in Peterborough, Canada, titled ‘Current Situation in Pakistan – What the Oppressed Nations Should Do?’

The special guest of the event, Atif Tauqeer, a renowned vlogger, poet, journalist, and human rights activist from Germany, spoke in detail on the subject. The other participants included leaders of the diaspora organizations of the oppressed nations, political activists, writers, poets and journalists.

The contributions on the subject were made by Dr. Zafar Baloch, the leader of the Baloch Human Rights Council, Mumtaz Khan President of the International Center for Peace and Democracy, Andrew Lamkiewicz of World Sindhi Congress. Afaf, a researcher on forced religious conversion, poetess Huma Dilawar, human rights activist and poet Ruhi Kalhoro, and president of Sana Ontario, Imtiaz Shaikh.

At the start, Hajan Kalhoro, the Senior Vice Chairman World Sindhi Congress, welcomed the guests who came to speak and participate. He presented the case of Sindh against the backdrop of the dire situation of the oppressed nations in Pakistan. To remember the missing persons the video of Sheikh Ayaz’s song ‘We will meet when the red flowers bloom’, sung by Saif Samijo in his melodious voice was shown.

The speakers talked about various aspects of the situation of oppressed nations in Pakistan particularly on enforced disappearance of political workers and forced conversion of Sindhi Hindu girls. As a coincidence the WSC documentary about forced religious conversion produced for the ‘The Hague Human Rights Film Festival’ by the Global Human Rights on the same day was screened at the event.

Afterwards, Affaf Azhar talked in detail about his research and findings on forced religious conversions in Pakistan.

The key message of the deliberations was that the current situation of the oppressed nations is the gravest that keeps worsening. The way forward is the unity of the oppressed nations on the ground and internationally. A large scale mobilization is needed on the ground to counter the atrocities and internationally to muster the action from the International Community.

Following this, Nadir Baloch presented the poetry of Gul Naseer Khan’s Balochi with translation. Irfan Sattar, Salman Haider and Huma Dilawar recited their selected poetry in the program on the subject of the situation of oppressed nations, highlighting the human rights atrocities.

In the end, Atif Tauqeer recited his famous poem on forced disappearances reminding and remembering the pain from Sindhu to Attock:

ميری گلياں يہ خبريں اگلتی رہيں

ميرے اپنے کئی گمشده ہوگئے

مسخ لاشيں تواتر سے ملتی رہيں

سلسلا ہوس ناک چلتا رہا

شہر جلتا رہا، ديس جلتا رہا

لوگ مرتے رہے، در اکهڑتے رہے

ايک کے بعد ايک گهر اجڑتا رہا

آج سندهو سے فاٹا تلک خون ہے

ميرے کشمير بولان سنسانياں

ميرے شہروں ميں ہيں عسکری ٹولياں

My streets continued to spew the news

Many of my own have gone missing

Mutilated corpses continued to be found

The perennial cruelty continued

The city kept burning, the country kept burning

People kept dying, doors kept falling

One after the other house got ruined

Today blood spreads from Sindhu to Fata

Hush prevails in my Kashmir and Bolan

Military clusters keep wandering my cities.

At the end of the program, Fiza Kalhoro thanked the guests. The event was moderated by Sindhi journalist Manzoor Mirani. (PR)

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Vancouver

For centuries, Metis were targets of systematic discrimination and oppression together with First Nations and Inuit people in Canada.

A drama depicting the spiritual journey of an Indigenous woman to reconnect with her cultural origin is on stage in Vancouver. Playwright and actress Jani Lauzon wrote and performed Prophecy Fog in hopes that her art could raise the public’s awareness of the systematic persecutions of Indigenous people.

Born as a Metis girl, Lauzon knew all about discrimination as a child. Metis are the descendants of native residents and early white settlers in North America.

“I can’t say that the Metis experience is much different than the First Nations’ experience, because we have mixed ancestors. I didn’t grow up on reserve. I actually didn’t grow up knowing very much about my indigenous ancestry at all,” she said.

For centuries, Metis were targets of systematic discrimination and oppression together with First Nations and Inuit people in Canada.

“It was later on in doing a lot of work around genealogy and sitting in the Archives in Ottawa trying to find answers to these things that I felt so strongly connected to,” Lauzon said, adding that what she found about how Indigenous people were treated was very traumatizing.

Her father was a survivor of Indian Residential School, a mechanism to erase aboriginal culture and language from indigenous children for more than a century.

“Canada was created on the backs of free labor which is another reason for the residential schools. Those kids were free domestic service and free agricultural service. The agricultural industry in Canada was created and possible on the backs of students who went to those schools,” said Lauzon.

“That’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the stories and the atrocities that happened,” she added, pointing out that she wants to make candid dialogue with the audience of how indigenous people were severed from their ancestral culture.

For more than a century since the 1830s, school-age children of the Indigenous community were snatched from their mothers’ arms and corralled in distant residential schools funded by the Canadian government, where they were surveilled by the clergy of the Christian church, barred from family visits, and institutionalized away from their cultural traditions.

“It still breaks my heart that there are so many people in this country who have no idea what happened, who have not educated themselves, who have not taken the time to better understand the circumstances,” she said, hoping her audience to ponder on the dark pages of Canada’s history.

Over 150,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit children were separated from their families and forced to attend government-funded schools between the 1870s and 1997.

In 2015, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the Canadian government concluded that children were physically and sexually abused and died in the schools. While it has documented at least 4,100 deaths, the real numbers may never be fully known.

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Courtesy: TeleSur (Posted on March 16, 2023)

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