TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION- Why WWII still haunts Europe
An Endless Legacy
World War II brought more suffering to humanity than any other event in the 20th century. Nearly 60 million people died throughout six years of war, which saw atomic bombs, cities flattened and the Holocaust. Out of the war sprung the atomic age, the Cold War and the division of Germany.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/world_war_ii/
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Egypt's Cunning General: How the Military Plans to Keep Power
By Raniah Salloum
Photo Gallery: Celebrating Morsi's Fall on Tahrir Square Photos
REUTERS
Egyptian President Morsi has been toppled, and a judge will be the country's new interim leader. But in reality, he's just a puppet. Behind the scenes, General Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and his military apparatus will continue to call the shots.
Adly Mansour's rise to power has been a rapid one. On Monday, the career judge was sworn in as chief justice of Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court. By Wednesday night, President Mohammed Morsi had been deposed, the constitution suspended, and Mansour was declared the country's new interim leader, set to be sworn in on Thursday. Along with a cabinet of technocrats, he'll govern the country until new elections.
But no one knows if and when these elections might take place. And Mansour won't be Egypt's most important man, even if the justice, who served in the country's top court under deposed autocrat Hosni Mubarak, now calls himself head of state. That's because behind the scenes, the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, plans to continue running the show.
Since it took power in a coup in 1952, the military has remained the most important political player in Egypt. Neither Mubarak's fall in 2011, nor the short rule by Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, have changed this. El-Sissi demonstrated just how powerful the influence of the military's generals is on Wednesday night, when, after giving Morsi 48 hours to leave office, he summarily informed the president that he was no longer the leader of the country. No matter that Morsi was the country's first democratically elected head of state.
Photo Gallery
16 Photos
Photo Gallery: Celebrating Morsi's Fall on Tahrir Square Now Morsi and most of his aides are under house arrest. In addition, two leading politicians with the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) have been arrested. According to the state newspaper Al-Ahram, another 300 members are wanted.
Morsi Failed to Weaken Military
The Muslim Brotherhood, the region's most influential Islamist movement, has fallen into disfavor. In 2011 the army let Mubarak, who was one of their own, be deposed. This time they wanted to get rid of the disagreeable Morsi. It happened despite the fact that el-Sissi was at least nominally dependent on the president, who appointed him to lead the military in August 2012, after he fired the powerful Mohammed Hussein Tantawi. At the time, some feared the Muslim Brotherhood would form an alliance with the military.
El-Sissi is known to be devout, though he sees himself as a follower of the late, secular, authoritarian Gamal Abdel Nasser, the father of modern Egypt and a critic of the Muslim Brotherhood. Morsi had probably assumed that by making El-Sissi its leader, he had weakened the military. Apparently, he was wrong.
At 58, el-Sissi is the country's youngest general. He has never fought in a war, and only knows about conflicts with Israel from the stories of others. He belongs to a generation that was invited to receive military training in the West. In 1992 he was in Britain, and in 2006, the United States.
He made international headlines in 2011 when he justified the degrading "virginity tests" conducted by soldiers on Egyptian women who had taken part in the revolution. But el-Sissi learned from the debacle of 2011, when the military itself formed the government after Mubarak was toppled. The military leadership was openly pulling the strings, which quickly made it subject to the scrutiny of the public.
Behind the Scenes
This time the head of the military has been trying from the outset to stay in the background. The events of Wednesday night are clearly a coup -- the army has deposed a democratically elected president and suspended the constitution. Yet Sissi acted as if the generals had been compelled by the Egyptian people to intervene.
Indeed, many Egyptians have welcomed the coup. The military envisions a power-sharing setup where civilians will hold primary authority. That way, they will be the ones to draw the ire of the population as they slave away to solve the country's disastrous economic situation and mend deep political divisions.
Behind the scenes, Sissi and his colleagues set the tone, especially in two areas: Security policy is traditionally their domain, but the government should also keep clear of the generals' monetary privileges. The army is one of the most important economic power brokers in Egypt.
It remains to be seen whether this power-sharing structure will actually work. This is exactly what the military already tried in vain with the Muslim Brotherhood. But Morsi was rebellious. He began to interfere in security policy and didn't take the sharp warnings of the generals seriously. From their perspective, things will work out better this time under the duo of military chief and top judiciary.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/military-plans-to-maintain-power-in-egypt-after-coup-a-909386.html
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GERMANY SHOULD OFFER SNOWDEN ASYLUM.....
.... HEADS UP- free trade talks will continue-.... see global folks... it's always about the money.... we despise the UNITED NATIONS and their horrid human rights and care of the world's poor and hiding NewAgeNazi Muslim butchers who kill with no rules or law.... yet.... country after country will sell their soul 4 mere $$$$- Shame on the lot of ya!
COMMENT:
Germany should offer Snowden Asylum!
Letter from Berlin: Spying Scandal Shakes Up German Campaign
By Charles Hawley
Protesters in Berlin are demanding that Germany grant asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Zoom
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/spd-demands-investigation-of-nsa-head-as-spy-scandal-enters-campaign-a-909469.html#spLeserKommentare
REUTERS
Protesters in Berlin are demanding that Germany grant asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
German Social Democrats are demanding that Berlin investigate top managers at the American intelligence agency NSA for alleged espionage. It's just the latest example of how the vast spying scandal is making waves in the German election campaign.
Until early this week, Angela Merkel's re-election campaign had gone entirely to her liking. The center-left candidate Peer Steinbrück was having trouble gaining traction, controversial issues were few and far between and the chancellor herself was content to pursue her preferred campaign strategy: that of saying and doing as little as possible.
If only the Americans hadn't gotten in the way.
Revelations that Washington has spent years spying on the European Union and monitoring Germans as they surf the Internet have suddenly injected a bit of suspense into the campaign. And Social Democrat leader Sigmar Gabriel on Thursday showed that he is not about to let the opportunity go to waste.
In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, Gabriel demanded that German federal prosecutors launch an investigation against the leaders of America's National Security Agency intelligence service, and those of its British counterpart GCHQ. "I would find it appropriate were the public prosecutors' office to pursue proceedings against those responsible for the American and British intelligence agencies," Gabriel said. He said that those in Germany who were involved should also be investigated.
The SPD chairman also demanded that German prosecutors travel to Moscow to question Edward Snowden, the former NSA employee who is responsible for leaking information regarding the extent of NSA spying. Snowden is currently believed to be in the transit section of the Moscow international airport. Earlier this week, he sought asylum in several countries around the world, including Germany. Berlin rebuffed his request on Tuesday evening.
Under Pressure
"The first step has to be that public prosecutors travel to Moscow to depose Mr. Snowden as a witness," Gabriel said. "If they come away with the impression that he is a reliable witness, then admitting him to the witness protection program must be considered. All we have to do is just let our legal system do its normal work. I expect as much from our government."
Gabriel's comments come during a week in which Merkel's government has been under pressure to come up with an adequate response to a report in SPIEGEL that the NSA bugged EU diplomatic representations in both Washington and New York. Furthermore, the report indicated that the NSA tried to gain access to an EU telecommunications system in Brussels. The information came from documents obtained by Snowden. According to those documents, the US intelligence agency likewise keeps a close watch on Internet and mobile phone communications in Germany.
On Wednesday night, according to statements released by both the White House and the Chancellery, Merkel spoke with US President Barack Obama about US intelligence gathering. Washington has promised to hold high-level meetings with German security officials "in the coming days" to talk about the spying allegations.
Merkel, though, finds herself in an uncomfortable situation. On the one hand, she has made it clear that US spying and overzealous surveillance is "unacceptable" and she has also repeatedly compared American intelligence activities to that which took place on both sides during the Cold War, when the US and the Soviet Union engaged in vast espionage.
Merkel's Achilles Heel
Yet an extended disagreement with the US is not in Germany's interest, particularly now that talks on a trans-Atlantic free trade agreement are imminent. Germany sees such a deal as a cheap way to stimulate the moribund European Union economy and is not willing to drop talks on principle. Indeed, Merkel and Obama reiterated their joint support for the deal during their conversation on Wednesday night, according to the White House press release.
Merkel, in other words, suddenly has an Achilles heel. Public opinion in Germany would seem to be one of overwhelming concern about the reach of US surveillance operations and most seem to have a great deal of sympathy for Edward Snowden. An unscientific online survey undertaken by SPIEGEL ONLINE this week found that almost 85 percent of those who responded are in favor of granting Snowden permission to stay in Germany. Other online surveys have arrived at similar numbers.
The SPD and other opposition parties have taken note and have not been shy this week about trying to take advantage. Gabriel said in his interview, for example, that his party continues to believe that intelligence services do not have the right to monitor everybody's communications.
"If that no longer applies in the Internet age, then we are destroying the values-based foundation of our society," he said. "And also the values that have bound the US together with Europe for decades. In this community of values, individual freedom and personal privacy are paramount. It is exactly this which differentiated us from the Communist Bloc."
The Green Party has also demanded a stronger reaction from Berlin and has been particularly vocal about demanding that Merkel's government either provide asylum to Snowden or bring him to Germany as part of the witness protection program. On Wednesday, the party launched an online petition demanding protection for the whistleblower. Berlin's refusal to grant asylum to Snowden is "a disgrace for Germany, a disgrace for Europe and a disgrace for democracy," said Jürgen Trittin, parliamentary floor leader for the Greens, on Wednesday.
Watching Closely
But it isn't just the opposition that is criticizing the government's handling of the spying allegations. Chancellor Merkel's junior coalition partners, the Free Democrats, have been struggling in public opinion polls for weeks and there is concern that, in September elections, the party won't managed to clear the 5 percent hurdle necessary for parliamentary representation. Their critique of Washington's surveillance techniques has been correspondingly shrill.
Leading the way has been outspoken Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger who demanded immediate clarification from the US on Sunday, as the first media reports were emerging.
On Thursday, it was the turn of senior party member Christian Lindner. He called for the immediate suspension of all data-exchange agreements with the US. "Data exchange should only be resumed when a joint understanding of civil freedoms exists," Lindner said in an interview with the German daily Die Welt.
It remains to be seen whether Merkel will suffer in the polls as a result of the NSA revelations. No public opinion surveys have been conducted since the SPIEGEL story hit the newsstands on Monday. But even if she doesn't lose ground immediately, the issue is almost certain to play a major role in the rest of the campaign. And the chancellor's every move will be closely watched.
With reporting by Horand Knaup, Veit Medick and Roland Nelles
COMMENT:
Germany should offer Snowden Asylum!
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/spd-demands-investigation-of-nsa-head-as-spy-scandal-enters-campaign-a-909469.html#spLeserKommentare
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CANADA: True Patriot Love Foundation launches Highway of Heroes concert tour
True Patriot Love Honours Military Members and Their Families
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysuRMMEQzrs
Limited-edition CD will raise awareness and funds for Canada's military, veterans and their families
TORONTO, July 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the True Patriot Love Foundation in partnership with Canadian musical icon John McDermott has launched a limited edition fundraising CD and three scheduled concerts along the Highway of Heroes. The new CD, Music in the Key of Giving, will be sold at all ONroute locations. Every dollar raised will support Canada's military, veterans and their families.
Joining the first True Patriot Love Heroes Tour will be Canadian military family members, musicians and supporters. John McDermott will host concerts at the ONroute Service Centres in Port Hope and Trenton. A third concert will be held at the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial in Trenton, ON.
"McDermott House of Canada is proud to partner with ONroute, President's Choice Financial and the True Patriot Love Foundation in supporting our troops and their families when they need it most. It is an honour to serve those who serve," said John McDermott.
Linda Blanchette, a military daughter, wife and mother, expressed her thanks, saying, "The military has been my whole life; between growing up the daughter of a soldier, marrying a soldier, and now being the mother of a soldier. My husband first got sick in 1995 when he came home from Bosnia. He will never be the same person I married as a result of his serious PTSD. Without support for military members and their families like ours, I know these ill and injured soldiers would be even worse off. They wouldn't have the care and support they need."
Also attending the Tour launch is Russell deCarle from the Canadian country roots band, Prairie Oyster and NHL great Wendel Clark.
"ONroute is pleased to provide hospitality along the Highway of Heroes for this initiative. We are providing Canadians with an opportunity to show their support for military families when they purchase a CD at any of our 17 locations across Ontario," said Ken Tanenbaum, Chairman of ONroute.
"The challenges facing our military families are unique and immense. This is our turn to support them after the sacrifices they have made to keep our country safe and strong," said Michael Burns, Vice-Chair and Co-Founder of the True Patriot Love Foundation.
ABOUT THE TRUE PATRIOT LOVE FOUNDATION - True Patriot Love honours the sacrifices of members of the Canadian Forces, Veterans and their families by:
-- stepping in where governments are unable to, funding programs that
support the physical, mental and social well-being of members of our
military, no matter where they are posted--in Canada or abroad;
-- promoting the special skills and capabilities of our military personnel
resulting from their unique conditions of service; and
-- providing a channel through which everyday Canadians, corporations and
philanthropists can express their appreciation for our military and their
patriotism. Visit www.truepatriotlovefoundation.com for more information.
ABOUT ONROUTE - ONroute Service Centres are clean, bright and modern beacons of hospitality along the highway. There are 17 ONroute Service Centres open across the province on highways 401 and 400. Two more are scheduled to open this summer. The centres feature food, fuel, fully accessible and automated washroom facilities (including a fully accessible family washroom), free WiFi, pet areas, seasonal picnic areas, Wellington Standard for accessibility and RV Waste disposal (at select sites). Staffed tourism information centres are located at Tilbury South and Bainsville, Ontario. Visit http://onroute.ca/ for more information.
ABOUT MCDERMOTT HOUSE CANADA - McDermott House Canada is a registered charity founded by Canadian Singer John McDermott. The charity is dedicated to serving those who serve.
McDermott House Canada's mission is to promote the highest quality of life for patients facing the final stage of a terminal illness. John's passion for honouring veterans and the selfless sacrifices they make to preserve our liberties dates back to his childhood where he learned of love, war and loss from his family's personal stories and through their music.
The first project for MHC is the expansion and renovation of the Sunnybrook Palliative Care Unit in the Veteran's Centre, creating an innovative and warm, home-like environment for Canadian veterans, military, first responders and the community.
Visit http://www.johnmcdermott.com/ for more information.
The "Music in the Key of Giving" CD is an initiative led by ONroute, President's Choice Financial, and John McDermott, in support of the True Patriot Love Foundation.
Image with caption: "MUSIC IN THE KEY OF GIVING by John McDermott for True Patriot Love (CNW Group/True Patriot Love Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130703_C5115_PHOTO_EN_28739. jpg
SOURCE: True Patriot Love Foundation
/CONTACT: CONTACT: David Eisenstadt or Rachel Yager
tcgpr (The Communications Group Inc.)
(416) 696-9900 ext.36 / 0
deisenstadt@tcgpr.com
ryager@tcgpr.com
Copyright CNW Group 2013
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CANADA DAY- GOVERNOR GENERAL- DAVID JOHNSTON
Smarter, more caring, a better place: GG’s Canada Day hope Provided by iPolitics
By iPolitics | Jul 1, 2013 11:21 am | 0 Comments
Governor General David Johnston’s Canada message lauded Canadian achievements and also offered a wish for the Canada this country’s citizens could build. Here’s the text of what the GG had to say.
My wife, Sharon, and I would like to wish all Canadians a very happy Canada Day.
This day is an occasion to take a moment to reflect on our good fortune as Canadians, and to celebrate.
As governor general, I have the privilege of travelling across this country, visiting communities large and small, and meeting with countless remarkable individuals. Let me tell you a little about them.
They are elders and grandparents. Sons and daughters. Neighbours and volunteers. They are teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs and artists. Public servants, students, labourers and community leaders.
Their backgrounds are as diverse as the nations and cultures of the Earth, but they all have one thing in common:
They are citizens of Canada.
The story of their lives and accomplishments would stretch as far and as wide as Canada itself.
It has been such an honour to meet with so many Canadians and to learn from them during the past year and throughout my mandate. For those who would listen, the people of this country have so much to offer.
Who built the remarkably stable, prosperous and dynamic country whose birthday we celebrate today? The country that in so many ways is the envy of the world?
Canadians did.
And who will build the smarter, more caring society of which we dream?
Canadians will.
It is important that we take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of those who have made this country what it is.
Canada did not happen by accident, and we must never take for granted all that has been accomplished.
By the same token, neither can we allow ourselves to become complacent.
Canadians are very fortunate, but we also face real and significant challenges as individuals and as a nation.
Across Canada, I have seen how people are fighting against poverty and inequality. I have seen people working to eliminate stigmas attached to mental illness, to improve literacy and learning, to care for others, for the environment, for their regions and communities.
In so many ways, Canadians are striving to make this country better.
This is the spirit that led to the birth of Canada 146 years ago to this very day.
Today is Canada’s day, and in four short years we will gather to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this country.
With that milestone in mind, let us each strive to discover what we have to give to this country. The essence of democracy is the understanding that we all have something to give, and a responsibility to do so.
Together, let’s make Canada smarter, more caring, and a better place for now and for the future.
Once again, I wish you a wonderful celebration of our nation’s birthday.
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Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on Canada Day
July 1, 2013
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered the follow remarks on Canada Day:
"Thank you, James.
"Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, greetings to all Canadians here on Parliament Hill, across our great country, and around the world, as we celebrate Canada's 146th anniversary.
"Happy Canada Day!
"And let's send a special Canada Day greeting to our troops serving overseas.
"You make us all proud.
"What a great day, what a great crowd!
"First, let our thoughts and prayers be with the people of Southern Alberta.
"What an example they set.
"When floods forced so many from their homes, communities dug deep, neighbours helped neighbours and people sheltered complete strangers.
"That's the spirit that makes Canada the best country in the world.
"The best, bar none.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here before The Peace Tower, a lasting symbol of Canada's greatness.
"Originally dedicated to Canada's victories during the First World War, the Peace Tower has come to symbolize our dearest values, that Canada is not just any country, but a people determined to do right - a fact that makes me proud as we approach the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of our country.
"Compassionate neighbours, courageous warriors, and confident partners, a bastion of freedom in an un-free world, a standard-bearer of goodwill, in a time when too many choose to hate, a land of hope in a sea of uncertainty.
"Ladies and gentlemen, that's our Canada.
"Now, I just want to especially welcome one man who's here with us today, who has seen more of Canada than most of us.
"In fact, he has seen all of Canada, every square inch of it.
"International Space Station Commander, Chris Hadfield.
Commander Hadfield is a multi-talented individual.
He shared his incredible perspective of Canada with the entire world.
"Chris, you do all that, and you're a musician too.
"We're glad you're back, and we all really look forward to hearing from you.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we also lost a great Canadian this year, a man who spoke for so many when he wrote: 'Keep the Maple Leaf flying high.'
"So as we celebrate our country today, let me leave you with this, from the late, great Stompin' Tom Connors: 'Be the Patriot Canada needs.'
"On behalf of my family, Laureen, Ben, and Rachel, and on behalf of
the Government of Canada, I wish each and every one of you a wonderful Canada Day!
"Happy Canada Day!"
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DEFENCE MINISTER PETER MACKAY- HAPPY CANADA DAY
Happy Canada Day (link)
This July 1st, from coast to coast to coast, people gather to celebrate Canada’s 146th birthday.
We celebrate nation builders, growth, and achievement.
We celebrate our unique history, diverse cultures, and vast landscapes.
Past traditions and future aspirations continue to unite us and shape our identity.
Canada Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to our country’s remarkable people.
For generations, Canada has been a home to a proud and generous people, and a beacon of hope for families with dreams of freedom, prosperity and a brighter future. And many of those families came to Canada's doorstep through Nova Scotia's very own Pier 21.
That spirit of perseverance is woven into our fabric, and is reflected in the positive and respected influence Canada has around the world.
We can be proud to live in this peaceful and democratic nation.
As Minister of National Defence, I truly appreciate the personal freedoms we enjoy in our daily lives.
Let us not forget those who have defended and continue to defend freedom around the world –our veterans and our Canadian Forces.
From the War of 1812, through two World Wars, to Korea, Afghanistan and beyond, Canada has worked to achieve peace and security around the world, and to defend and protect the values that we hold dear.
We have so much to be thankful for and so very much to celebrate. From my family to yours, enjoy the festivities, and have a safe, healthy and happy Canada Day.
Peter MacKay
MP for Central Nova
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MARC DIAB- CANADIAN SOLDIER
Fallen Mississauga soldier never forgotten
http://www.mississauga.com/community-story/3872980-fallen-mississauga-soldier-never-forgotten/
MARC DIAB- Canadian Soldier
If I Should Fall (International Award-Winning Doc)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeBbwTwAsEE
DVD Available Now . Proceeds from DVD sales go towards The Marc Diab Children's Foundation and the Military Families Fund.
Spirit Award - Toronto Beaches Film Festival 2012
Audience Award - Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, 2012
Honourable Mention - Spirit Quest Film Festival, Pennsylvania, 2012
Best Documentary, Amelia Island Film Fest, Florida 2012
Best Documentary - Silver Wave Film Fest, NB 2011
Best Documentary - Hamilton Film Fest 2011
Award of Excellence - Canada International Film Fest 2011
http://www.IfIShouldFall.com / https://www.facebook.com/IfIShouldFall
In March of 2009, 22-year old Trooper Marc Diab of The Royal Canadian Dragoons was killed in Afghanistan when his vehicle struck an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). In the wake of his death, countless lives were changed forever. If I Should Fall tells the story of Marc's life through the accounts of those who loved him: his family, his comrades of D Squadron, and his beloved girlfriend.
Told in 13 chapters and going beyond the six o'clock news, viewers see the human face behind the honour and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers.
Supported by an ensemble of renowned Canadian military experts, including retired Major General Lewis MacKenzie, Esprit De Corps Magazine's Scott Taylor, and author Captain Ray Wiss M.D., the film explores Canada's role in Afghanistan and the timeless tragedy of what it means to lose a loved one to war.
Featuring music by award-winning, Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt, If I Should Fall eloquently portrays the story of one, and in doing so, tells the story of many.
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UNITED NATIONS- Unhuman Rights Council- where even USA refuses to sign WOMEN R EQUAL and children matter
Ex-Taliban official vows to protect Afghan women, but alarm bells ring
Human Rights Appointments Draw Fire In Afghanistan
The president was expected to consult civil society leaders and select commissioners based on their political impartiality and track record of defending human rights. Instead, Karzai sidestepped the public and promoted a former Taliban official, a retired police general, and a former lawmaker linked to a fundamentalist political party to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), the presidentially appointed watchdog.
http://nova0000scotia.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/united-nations-unhuman-rights-council-where-even-usa-refuses-to-sign-women-r-equal-and-children-matter/
Ex-Taliban official vows to protect Afghan women, but alarm bells ring
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/17858838/
TWITTER
UNITED NATIONS- Unhuman Rights Council- Ex-Taliban official vows to protect Afghan women, but alarm bells ring
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Japanese defence force visits Canadian Forces base in Nanoose
VIDEO
By Chris Bush - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: June 30, 2013 2:00 PM
Naval aviators from Japan's Maritime Self Defence Force paid a visit to Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges Wednesday for a first-hand look at where and how Canadian and U.S. military forces train to seek and destroy potential underwater threats.
The skies and waters of the torpedo test range off Nanoose known as Military Exercise Area Whisky Gulf was a busy patch of the Georgia Straight as five aircraft operating from CFB Comox and at least as many surface vessels from CFMETR worked together to launch training torpedo attacks against a Mk-30 remotely controlled underwater target.
Japanese observers from VP-2, a P-3C Orion antisubmarine squadron, watched, were given a tour of the facilities and oriented with the Mk-30 target and Mk-46 training torpedo before they were taken to the Range Operations Control Centre on Winchelsea Island to watch a Canadian Armed Forces Aurora aircraft track and drop a MK-46 torpedo on the target. That exercise was followed up with a second torpedo "attack" by a Canadian Forces Sea King helicopter.
"It was up here in the Strait of Georgia that both sides had arguably the best conditions and waters, for the kind of testing and evaluation that was needed, that was present on the whole west coast of North America," said Cmdr. Gerry Powell, CFMETR base commander.
http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/213390161.html
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Chinese-Canadian veterans and Tuskegee Airmen defied prejudice to serve during the Second World War
By Kent Spencer, The Province
Chinese Canadian veteran Frank Wong (L) and Tuskegee airmen Robert Ashby stand together at UBC's Irving Barber Learning Centre in Vancouver, BC, June 28, 2013. The WW2 U.S. Black Tuskegee airmen and Chinese Canadian veterans from WW2. Both groups suffered discrimination and their exploits changed societal attitudes following the war.
Photograph by: Arlen Redekop , PNG
Chinese-Canadian fighting men bombed Berlin, fired artillery shells in Normandy and perished in Italy.
Little-known facts have emerged about an estimated group of 800 Chinese-Canadians who served with the Canadian Army, navy and air force in the Second World War.
They were brought together for the first time at UBC on Friday with the group of Afro-Americans known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
The groups are vastly different but they have only recently come to realize their experiences were similar.
The armed forces didn’t want them, the laws didn’t protect them and they faced racial discrimination.
Despite that, they said they were eager to don their country’s colours.
Grey-haired veteran George Chow, 92, told the audience that he had seconds to dive into a trench in Holland as British and Canadian bombers pulverized the area.
When he emerged, his three buddies were dead.
"I had just finished talking to them," he said.
The Canadian Forces had advanced so fast the bombers believed they were hitting German positions.
Frank Wong, 94, was at Normandy, half a block from Chow, but it took them 50 years to discover that association.
Wong was with Canada’s heavy artillery units liberating Holland when they were approached by starving children.
"The kids were fighting over garbage cans," he said. "We offered them our rations, but when an officer found out, he told us we would need them for the final stage of the war."
Douglas Sam, a pilot shot down in France, escaped capture because the Germans couldn’t believe he would be in the Canadian air forces.
They thought he must be running a Chinese restaurant, said King Wan, president of the Chinese-Canadian Military Museum Society.
Some heroes received special honours at home.
Fred Ho, an infantryman killed in Ortona, Italy, has a mountain on Vancouver Island named after him.
Quon Louie, whose plane was shot down over Berlin, has a lake named after him in the Capilano watershed.
Chinese-Canadians were denied their basic human rights for decades after arriving to help build the national railroad in the 19th century.
Their identity papers said they had no legal status in Canada. They couldn’t vote and they had to receive special permission to hold certain jobs.
As reprehensible as their treatment was in this country, their experiences were less extreme than those related by the Tuskegee airmen.
Col. Dick Tolliver was 10 years old when a lynch mob from the Ku Klux Klan arrived to murder his father.
His dad, who was not at home, escaped with his life, but Tolliver said the experience traumatized him for life.
"Dick has every reason to be angry. He taught me a lot about getting over anger," said conference organizer Don Chapman.
"We’re the beneficiaries of what they did in the war."
kspencer@theprovince.com
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Chinese+Canadian+veterans+Tuskegee+Airmen+both+defied+prejudice+served+uring+Second+World/8595067/story.html
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MOJAVE DESERT CROSS HONOURING WWI VETS
thanks to all old 875 friends on old myspace..... we helped so much with this- from all over the world
PLEASE DON'T TEAR ME DOWN- THE MOJAVE DESERT CROSS- WE WON WE WON AMERICAN TROOPS WON-the world wins
American Legion convention honors local heroes
Henry and Wanda Sandoz receive a proclamation during the American Legion Department of California's conference in Palm Springs on Saturday, June 29. The couple was acknowledged for maintaining a veterans memorial in the Mojave Desert and trying to keep it there during a battle involving the American Civil Liberties Union. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the memorial could stay.
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Henry and Wanda Sandoz receive a proclamation during the American Legion Department of California's conference in Palm Springs on Saturday, June 29. The couple was acknowledged for maintaining a veterans memorial in the Mojave Desert and trying to keep it there during a battle involving the American Civil Liberties Union. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the memorial could stay. / Colin Atagi/The Desert Sun
This photo provided by Liberty Institute shows people gathering beneath a 7-foot-tall World War I memorial cross on a rocky hilltop within a national park at its rededication in the Mojave Desert community of Cima, Calif., in 2012. / AP
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View a video with this story at mydesert.com
PALM SPRINGS — Henry and Wanda Sandoz never served in the military, but they still endured a years-long legal battle on behalf of veterans that earned them a standing ovation Saturday afternoon.
During the American Legion Department of California’s 95th annual convention held at the Riviera hotel in Palm Springs, the Yucca Valley couple was acknowledged for trying to keep a war memorial cross in the Mojave Desert — a battle that ended in their favor in 2010.
"I really can’t put into words what they done," William Proud, a member of American Legion Post 211 in Lompoc, said Saturday as he held back tears.
The battle between the couple and the American Civil Liberties Union made national headlines, culminating in an April 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the cross could not be removed.
"I was very, very relieved," said Henry Sandoz, 74, who promised his friend, a dying World War I veteran named Riley Bembry, he would take care of the memorial.
Bembry was among the veterans who installed the wooden cross on Sunrise Rock in 1934. It was later replaced with one made of steel pipes.
Sunrise Rock became part of the Mojave National Preserve in 1994, putting the cross on public land.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in 2001 on behalf of a retired park service employee who argued the cross was unconstitutional on government property because of the separation of church and state, and federal courts ordered it removed.
"I said, not ‘No,’ but ‘Hell no,’" Henry Sandoz said.
He and his wife ultimately traded five acres of their land for the acre occupied by Sunrise Rock.
It was turned over to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Barstow and the Veterans Home of California-Barstow.
Congress had ordered the land swap in 2003.
The cross returned on Veterans Day 2012, officially ending the dispute.
On Saturday, the Sandozes said they were happy to do their part for veterans across the country.
"We keep saying the veterans are honoring us, but we should be honoring them," said Wanda Sandoz, 69.
New assisted-living facilities
Efforts to assist veterans continued with an announcement during Saturday’s convention of new assisted-living facilities for veterans that are in the works.
Officials with the Patriot Outreach program plan to build nine facilities across California, and the first one will be built in Loma Linda.
It may open in about a year to 18 months, Patriot Outreach President Antonio Monaco said.
"We’re beginning to address a problem and keep working on it," Monaco said.
Each facility will be available for anyone who’s a veteran and assistance will be provided even if health conditions aren’t service related.
Monaco didn’t know the cost of building each facility.
Their locations haven’t been identified, but they should be next to Veterans Affairs hospitals and centers.
"It’s more need oriented and understanding the warriors’ and families’ needs," Monaco said.
The American Legion convention ends Sunday.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130629/NEWS01/306290023/American-Legion-convention-honors-local-heroes?nclick_check=1
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Bravery Park soldiers on despite soil fears
Bravery Park Chris Halliday Orangeville Banner
photo
Orangeville Hydro has remediated the soil near the Mill Square Park, after discovering traces of arsenic on its land about a year ago. Orangeville council is investigating whether the land at Mill Square Park, which has been earmarked as the future home of Bravery Park, is contaminated as well.
Even as the town investigates whether the ground at Mill Square Park is contaminated, Orangeville’s Bravery Park plans will soldier ahead.
"It’s kind of like our Canadian soldiers. They never give up," said Coun. Jeremy Williams. "Just because something is hard, difficult or challenging, doesn’t mean you stop."
Nearly three years ago, Valerie McGrady created the concept for Bravery Park after her son, Cpl. Matt McCully, died while serving with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.
The park, which evolved to become a tribute to Canada’s soldiers, has faced numerous delays. Unfortunately, those plans face another roadblock.
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" "Canada's close intelligence-sharing relationship with American spy agencies appears to have spared it from the type of intrusive surveillance that has prompted outrage in Germany, France and other European Union nations.
But the bigger question, says one leading intelligence expert, is whether Canada is snooping on its supposed friends and allies as well. European leaders are incensed after media reports based on information provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden said the United States has been spying on EU diplomatic missions for years. Germany and France have even threatened to scuttle nascent free trade talks with the U.S. in retaliation for what they see as a serious breach of trust between friends. The U.S. has also reportedly targeted other allies such as Japan and South Korea, and friends such as India and Turkey. But Canada is among a small group of nations the U.S. National Security Agency calls "2nd party partners" that are exempt from such snooping, according to a top-secret document cited by German newsmagazine Der Spiegel ...."
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" "This week's Canada Day and U.S. Fourth of July celebrations have brought belated recognition to a group of Second World War veterans who served together in the elite commando unit known as the Devil's Brigade
- about 175 surviving members of which are to be awarded a U.S. Congressional Gold Medal in honour of their battlefield heroics and sacrifices 70 years ago. The proposed tribute was approved last week by the U.S. Senate, as it had been in May by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill conferring the medals now awaits only the signature of U.S. President Barack Obama, who is expected to quickly approve the award to the remaining veterans of the 1939-45 war's eventual 3,000-strong First Special Service Force - including about 60 of the 1,000 Canadians who served in the top-secret unit immortalized in a 1968 film starring William Holden. The planned U.S. honour for the war's only joint U.S.-Canada military unit follows Canadian government recognition earlier this year when Defence Minister Peter MacKay presented brigade veterans with the Minister's Award for Operational Excellence at a ceremony on Parliament Hill ...."
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Peace Talks in Doha: A Reality Check Posted
on July 2, 2013 by Christoph Zuercher
Last week, White House officials announced that the U.S. and the Taliban would start peace talks in the reopened Doha office of the Taliban. The announcement made headlines around the world, nurturing hopes that the protracted conflict in Afghanistan may finally move a bit closer to a peaceful solution. In the meantime, the war in Afghanistan is going on. After the harsh Afghan winter, the fighting season is in full swing, and the Taliban are as determined and capable as ever of mounting serious pressure on the Afghan military forces. They also conducted three spectacular attacks in Kabul in the last three weeks, attacking the military airport, the Supreme Court, and Kabul’s highly secured ‘green zone’ in which the CIA headquarters and the Presidential palace are located. It does not make sense for the Taliban to enter into serious peace negotiations before it becomes clear how much military and political power Kabul will be able to retain after 2014. Meanwhile, at the Doha office, the Taliban hoisted their flag and unveiled a sign referring to the Doha office as the "Political Office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan". This is the how the Taliban referred to Afghanistan while in power. Predictably, and legitimately, this was perceived by the government of Afghanistan as a direct challenge and provocation, adding to its frustration with the Doha ‘peace process’. The U.S. had not bothered to include the Afghan government in the Doha process. In the eyes of the Afghan government, the U.S. had thus accepted the Taliban’s long-standing refusal to negotiate with the current government of Afghanistan, which the Taliban see as a puppet regime of an occupying force. As an immediate reaction, President Karzai suspended talks with the U.S. about bilateral security arrangements after 2014. Indeed, not a good start for peace talks. A reality check reveals a few unpleasant facts about these talks. First, it is predominantly the U.S. who need a deal, not the Taliban. The Americans are desperate to pack up and leave, since ending the war in Afghanistan is a domestic imperative. It was promised by President Obama, and is also an economic necessity given the state of the U.S. economy. The remaining objectives of U.S. policy in the region are now to obtain some guarantees that Afghanistan will not become a safe-haven for terrorists, and keeping a military presence in Afghanistan in order to keep up pressure on Iran and possibly China. All the rest—peace-building, state-building, good governance, poverty reduction or women’s rights—are ‘nice to haves’, but not essential. In order to achieve their remaining objectives at the least possible cost, the U.S. is pushing for a deal with the Taliban. Second, the Taliban can and will outwait the U.S. Currently no one knows how many troops the U.S. will actually leave in the country, but U.S. media have repeatedly reported figures between 9,000-12,000 troops. That would be enough for training the Afghan army and for keeping the Taliban out of Kabul. However, it would certainly not be enough to credibly deter the Taliban from taking over major parts of rural Afghanistan. The Taliban will wait and see who will be the new president of Afghanistan after the elections scheduled for spring 2014. They will closely watch whether the new leader is able to build a stable coalition among Afghanistan’s power brokers or whether the political elite is internally divided—which would it make easier for the Taliban to cut separate deals with some of the power brokers. It does not make sense for the Taliban to enter into serious peace negotiations before it becomes clear how much military and political power Kabul will be able to retain after 2014. Most observers expect that it will be less than it is today, at least for the next few years. Time is on the side of the Taliban. In the meantime, opening the Doha office does not hurt. It is a diplomatic boost for them, and having channels of communication may come in handy at a later stage. Sidelining president Karzai was not a smart move by the U.S. for two reasons. One, it is simply not polite to sideline an elected president of a sovereign nation for peace talks that concern primarily said sovereign nation. Diplomatic rudeness and arrogance erodes soft power, and the U.S. has precious little soft power left, especially in this part of the world. Secondly, the U.S. bet that Karzai is a lame duck might prove to be very wrong. It is true that Karzai’s second and last term ends in spring 2014, but many political observers in Afghanistan believe that the Karzai camp will be able to cling to power. Various scenarios exist; for example, Karzai might be ‘asked’ to stay in power by his Afghans. This scenario is part of the political culture of the region. The presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan all extend their presidency indefinitely at the ‘request’ of their people. In another scenario, Karzai might become Prime Minister, relegating the presidency to a largely representative office. Putin and Medvedev in Russia have demonstrated how this is done. Most likely, the Karzai camp will find a suitable candidate that can run and win on their behalf. Either way, the Karzai camp is likely to retain political power beyond 2014, and they will not forget how the U.S. humiliated them by sidelining them in Doha. In sum, the U.S. effort in Doha is an attempt at micro-managing a very complex and delicate process with a sledgehammer. It is not likely to bring peace in Afghanistan any closer. This is indeed not good news for Afghans, who have suffered terribly during three decades of wars. A recent article by Spiegel Online reports that out of 100 Afghan diplomats whose term abroad ended, only five returned to Afghanistan. The others chose to stay abroad and wait to see what happens in 2014. The recent news from Doha is unlikely to change this mindset. And who can blame them? - See more at: http://cips.uottawa.ca/peace-talks-in-doha-a-reality-check/#sthash.s88NljiT.dpuf
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Letter to the Editor
The Wearing of Uniforms by Veterans – Clarification
June 24, 2013
Letter to the Editor: 45e Nord, All Maritime Morning Newstalk Radio, CBC (Power and Politics, Inside Politics, TV), Frontline Magazine, Globe and Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Times Colonist
To the Editor:
I regret that a lack of clarity and misreporting of a recently released internal order related to the wearing of uniforms after release from active service has resulted in avoidable confusion and insult to veterans.
The Royal Canadian Navy holds veterans in the highest regard and has no intent or authority to limit the wearing of older orders of dress, such as wartime patterns. Historic headdress, medals, and uniforms that are no longer in use are explicitly exempt from our authority. Their use in celebrating previous service and sacrifice should continue and be encouraged.
The intent of the order was simply to inform serving members – and by extension those retired members still affiliated with the RCN through our messes and other organizations under our influence – of the protocols associated with a long-standing regulation about wearing current pattern uniforms, specifically Mess Dress (a formal evening uniform), after retirement. This specific pattern of uniform still exists and is worn by active serving members. It is important therefore to avoid any confusion in identity between those who are on active service and those who are retired and no longer subject to the same rules and expectations as their serving colleagues.
The desired outcome is to have a process that both respects the regulations as well as honours those who are no longer serving.
Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, CMM, CD
Commander RCN
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Canadian love our China Dragon
Canadian military wants to get friendly with China
By Lee Berthiaume, Postmedia News
PHOTO
Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, speaks at the 12th Asia Security Summit in Singapore on Sunday, June 2.
Photograph by: ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images , Postmedia News
OTTAWA — Canada is looking past concerns about Chinese cyber-espionage and aggression in the South China Sea in an effort to build military-to-military relations with the emerging Asian power — and prevent a possible war.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay became the first Western defence minister to meet with Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan during a stop in Beijing on Monday, where the two announced several initiatives aimed at opening channels between their respective militaries.
This included plans to establish regular discussions at the highest levels to talk about issues of common interest, and a commitment to establish a working relationship so the Canadian Forces and Chinese military can participate in joint exercises and other activities.
In an interview with Postmedia News, MacKay said the Conservative government is working to increase contacts between the Canadian and Chinese militaries in the hopes of building trust between the two countries.
"These types of face-to-face discussions really add value and build that sense of mutual understanding and trust that is critical in a very volatile world," MacKay said. "The risk of miscalculation and misunderstanding can be grave."
There has been no shortage of tension between China and its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region over sensitive territorial claims in the South China Sea, which has resulted in a great deal of sabre-rattling in recent months.
At the same time, Western countries such as the United States have accused the Chinese government of having a hand in cyber-espionage attacks that have seen classified military information stolen, including data on the F-35 stealth fighter.
The fact that China has become one of the world’s most economically dynamic nations has highlighted the risks of war in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in the U.S. pivoting its military focus from Europe during old Cold War-era to Asia.
China has responded by calling the U.S. redeployments to the region as confrontational, further escalating tensions on both sides of the Pacific.
MacKay’s visit was the latest military exchange between Canada and China. Former chief of defence staff Walter Natynczyk spent more than a week in the Asian nation last year. Briefing notes prepared for Natynczyk in advance of his March 2012 trip highlight Canadian interests in peace and stability in the region.
But rather than deploying large numbers of troops to the region, the notes indicate the hope that high-level military engagement will "produce greater understanding of (China’s) motives and world view."
"In support of national interests, DND is initiating an engagement strategy to develop a relationship with the (Chinese military) upon which we can build dialogue and trust," the notes say.
"We are fully aware that this is a long-term project, and that progress will be slow, but it appears that China is equally willing to engage with us."
However, MacKay said Canada is concerned about the South China Sea disputes and allegations of Chinese hacking.
"It was one of the first things I raised in our bilateral meeting," he said. "I called upon my colleague to work more constructively with other countries, including Canada and internationally, in moving towards a more rules-based forum and mechanism to contain cyber-attacks and hacking, as it’s commonly known."
But MacKay maintained that the Conservative government and Canadian military "don’t perceive China as a threat, militarily, to Canada," and insisted talking to each other is the best way to avoid conflict.
He noted China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth approximately $70 billion each year, which reiterates the need to develop a close working relationship based on transparency and understanding.
"This comes back to the issue of trust and confidence in one another and the desire to avoid mishaps or miscalculations," MacKay said. "This is about increasing our ability to work internationally with China. It’s in recognition of the fact that China plays a very prominent role, not only in Pacific, but globally."
lberthiaume(at)postmedia.com
Twitter:/leeberthiaume
Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/Canadian+military+wants+friendly+with+China/8472504/story.html#ixzz2XyFMvgeu
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Conrad Black: Canada’s Day, Canada’s era
The U.S. led the world to the triumph of democracy and the free market. But it is not now one of the more exemplary practitioners of either
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/06/29/conrad-black-canadas-day-canadas-era/
COMMENT:
Happy Canada Day!
and thank you to the First Nations, the true founders of this great nation!
http://twitpic.com/d061mc
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oops correct post- we did say that we wld probaly walk 2 mulcair right?
CANADA AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS- 13 Million votes wld dance 2 other parties-VERY FAST- if Peter MacKay left Defence June 28 2013-many wld choose Mulcair ovr THE MICHAEL libs Justin-13m votes
WELL THERE GOES THE TORY MAJORITY- Golden Votes changed 2 tory 4 our troops and realistic stability- mean seriously THE MICHAEL??? - AND NDP????- NOW wld look at NDP Mulcair- Justin just has no damm real experience and old liberals is why THE MICHAEL in the 1st place- NOW IF JUSTIN CLD DUMP LIBS OLD MENTALITY.... hmmm might switch back..
2013 CANADA DEFENCE MINISTER PETER MACKAY- New Vessels 4 Canadian Coast Guard Fleet- One named after Capt. Nicola Goddard- Afghanistan -Canadians Remember coast guard vessels 003
Peter MacKay Would Consider Leaving Tories If Leadership Rules Change June 2013
http://nova0000scotia.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/canada-and-federal-elections-13-million-votes-wld-dance-if-peter-mackay-left-defence-june-28-2013/
AND....
COMMENT:
The ONLY WAY THIS WOULD WORK 4 MILLIONS WHO CROSSED OVER 2 VOTE MACKAY TORY MAJORITY 4 HARPER- is if Defence Minister agrees 2 Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and passing the baton to John Baird 4 our beloved Military.... other than that.... watch millions of us do the dance 2 other parties... seriously.... our troops mean the world 2 millions of Canadians... Mulcair maybe... Justin has 2 many 'THE MICHAEL' hangers on.... Canada needs good government not bullshit and beans... imho..... MacKay at Foreign Affairs.... hmmmm kinda like that.... our troops adore MacKay... who was the only politican on the hill watching their backs 4ever...and we all know it..
John Baird: The Next Minister of National Defence?
by Roland Paris CIPS Blog
http://cips.uottawa.ca/john-baird-the-next-minister-of-defence/#sthash.SpkOsj5l.dpuf
I don’t normally follow Canadian politics closely enough to play the parlour game of predicting the winners and losers of the next cabinet shuffle, but sometimes you get a hunch worth wagering on, and this is one of those times. I’d bet a whole dollar that John Baird will be moved from the Department of Foreign Affairs to National Defence this summer.
Look at it from the prime minister’s standpoint. He needs a minister of defence who can weather the political storm that’s gathering around the department. Projected costs of the controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will probably continue to rise, which is terrible news for the Tories, who have attempted to build their brand on fiscal discipline. Further, as Postmedia’s Lee Berthiaume reported yesterday, even the enormous price tag on the F-35 acquisition is dwarfed by the government’s $35-billion shipbuilding plan, which is already behind schedule. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is too smart not to see the great political risks.
John Baird is the toughest minister in Harper’s lineup. Yet, the prime minister’s loyal consigliore has been over at the Department of Foreign Affairs doing… well, it’s not entirely clear what Baird has been doing. His big project – a new Office of Religious Freedom – has been delayed, but will presumably be launched very soon, liberating him to perform more challenging tasks elsewhere.
This would be reason enough to consider Baird a leading candidate for minister of defence, but there’s more: Harper seems to think a conflict with Iran is possible, and he surely knows the situation in Syria is unpredictable. If the prime minister believes there’s any chance that the Canadian Forces will go into action in the Middle East, he will want a rock-solid defence minister in place.
Now for the clincher: As foreign affairs minister, Baird has been following the Syrian and Iranian situations closely, and he has been the government’s chief interlocutor with Israel. He would need little preparation to dive into the job of defence minister. If anything, his appointment to the Department of National Defence would communicate continuity in Canadian foreign policy. Critics of the government’s foreign policy would find little comfort in this continuity, of course, but from the prime minister’s standpoint, it would make sense.
So, who would replace Baird as foreign affairs minister? Well, that would require another bet – and one dollar is all the skin that I’m willing to put into this game.
- See more at: http://cips.uottawa.ca/john-baird-the-next-minister-of-defence/#sthash.SpkOsj5l.dpuf
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Spirit of neighbourliness during floods is what makes Canada great: Harper
Ottawa Citizen
They've set an example for the rest of the country, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. "When floods forced so many from their homes, communities dug deep, neighbours helped neighbours and people sheltered complete strangers," he said. "That's the ...
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President Morsi overthrown in Egypt
Army suspends constitution, appoints head of constitutional court as interim leader and calls for early elections.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/20137319828176718.html
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Canadian Forces and peaceniks get messages out on Canada Day
by Charlie Smith on Jul 1, 2013 at 1:14 pm
The machine gun display proved to be popular on Canada Day.
Charlie Smith
In recent years, Canada Day has become a vehicle for the federal government to promote the work of the Canadian Forces.
And this year at Canada Place, there was once again a display of military hardware, which attracted hordes of passers-by, including many children.
What six-year-old boy wouldn't get excited to hop in a simulated cockpit of a CF-18 fighter plane? Or hide behind a camouflaged bush and fire an unloaded machine gun?
However, this blatant celebration of all things military is also a longstanding irritant to Vancouver peace activists.
Once again, a few StopWar.ca members showed up to hand out stickers opposing militarism.
One of them, Kimball Cariou, told the Straight that this year, they decided not to try to enter the massive Canadian Forces showroom.
He said he didn't see much point because in the past, activists have been prohibited from engaging military personnel in any discussions.
For a glimpse of what the display looked like, check out the video below.
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God bless beloved Israel...
IDF wishes Canadians 'happy Canada Day' via Twitter
Also attatched to the Tweet was a picture of the IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz beside the Canadian Armed Forces' General Thomas J. Lawson, emphasizing the positive relationship between the two armies.
The IDF and the Canadian Armed Forces have always had a good relationship, and Canada has always been an important supporter of Israel, and Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird made that clear with his several visits to Israel just this year. He was even quoted saying that "Israel has no greater friend than Canada."
Canada Day is celebrated every July 1st, marking the anniversary of when Canada's three colonies united as one, into a single country called Canada, within the British Empire.
The holiday is celebrated in Canada as well as by Canadians abroad with parades, parties, and dressing in the colors of the Canadian flag: red and white.
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Canada Day celebrations in TT
By Anne Hilton Tuesday, July 2 2013
Hans Hanomansingh, as the MC at the Canada Day function in the Hyatt Regency last Friday, introduced High Commissioner Gérard Latulippe to express greetings (as listed in the printed programme) and speak on the occasion of Canada Day.
His Excellency began by saying the warmth and the friendship between the peoples of TT and Canada, surprised him, that he was proud of the contributions of Trinbagonians made to Canada society, He then gave a short history of Canada from the war of 1812 to the present day. He pointed out that Canada spans the North American continent, that the journey from Toronto to Paris is shorter than flying from coast to coast across Canada.
High Commissioner Latulippe stressed that 25 percent of Canadians speak French as their first language, that Canada was indeed a "rainbow" country due to the many immigrants from countries all over the world, that they lived together in peace while maintaining their own cultural identity.
He mentioned Canadian troops’ tours of duty in Libya and Afghanistan. He said that Canada’s financial system is known to be one of the most sound in the world today. He went on to emphasise Canada’s leadership in the mining, oil and gas industries, in trade and investment. Closer to home, he touched on the visit to Canada of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bisessar, Canada’s assistance to TT in the fields of the criminal justice system, military training and educational exchanges. He reminded his guests that Canada celebrates 50 years of diplomatic relations with TT and thanked Canadian companies operating here for their support in mounting the Canada Day celebrations. He concluded with the traditional toast to friendship and cooperation.
In his reply Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran echoed the High Commissioner’s statement that both TT and Canada were democratic, freedom loving countries respecting the rule of law and human rights.
He reminded the High Commissioner that as far back as 1938 there was a Canadian resident Trade Commissioner appointed to Trinidad. He, too, touched on Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissesar’s official visit to Toronto, that despite the disparity in size, TT and Canada enter into equal strategic partnerships in their common aims to tackle world problems.
He also ended his speech with a toast to friendship and cooperation.
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