2009 In Review

Well it's nearly the end of the year... I think it was very early in 2009 that I began writing this blog...

What was most important for me this year.. without a doubt the events of this past August...my best friend and spouse and I celebrated 40 years of marriage. We really enjoyed celebrating it with friends in both Regina and Ottawa.

We also waited for and enjoyed the very recent news of the arrival of our fourth grandson.

(Friends of ours will receive a more personal account of our year in a few days)

The country of ours...well...somehow we did not have a federal election. Though I would not have minded one (it is the 'highest expression' of a democracy), I am glad one did not occur. Our electorate is quite polarized and I don't really know how an election would have turned out.

Some things I liked about the year in our political life in Canada -- well it's hard to say... maybe one bright light was the Ontario government's decision to have a new advisory group provide input into social policy - adjustments to welfare rates may be one result. But the province has a huge deficit brought on by the economic downturn so nothing may result from the group's work...

Lots of things not to like about the year past in the political world...our federal government's mean streak especially in dealing with critics and several Canadians seemingly abandoned when in trouble in other countries, and our almost absence or foot dragging on dealing with environmental issues... I was embarassed at our country's receiving of 'fossil' awards in Copenhagen.

Last winter's conflict in Israel and Gaza was most distressing. Both sides committed war crimes (according to human rights groups) yet neither appears to be taking that issue seriously...

The Sri Lankan civil war ended but justice has not arrived in that part of the country.

More locally I was continually amazed at how hypocritic and demonic' some of our talk show hosts in our city can be in their discussion of current events. Last winter's regrettable transit strike brought out the worst in their continuing war against public services and unions. Their attitudes towards Afghan detainees was most upsetting.

The continuning strife in Iran seem to predict interesting times in the month ahead.....

Times Change - Activities Vary

For the last ten years I have been a member of an amazing group of human rights activists. All are members of English speaking branch of Amnesty International Canada.

The organization has a nearly half century long live in our world. It is one of the largest human rights organizations in existence today. It is a widely dispersed membership organization in countries all over the world.

It has shown itself to be quite adapt to changing circumstances. Whether one looks at its various websites or chats with activists one can see it has joined the social network world.

In Canada at least it has found a way to actively engage people who are post 'baby boomers'. It has had very young adults hold top positions in its volunteer leadership.

The 'amazing group' I spoke about earlier are called fieldworkers. We have been about 50 really activist people. Any reader in Canada interested in learning more can contact staff via www.amnesty.ca.

Having said all this it is time to move on in my life... interests do change over one's life. I remain a committed human rights activist.