Native Canadians See Way of Life Under Assault – IPS ipsnews.net.

Money or a sustainable and spirit-filled life? Not an easy choice, if you are allowed a choice…

Dismissing the financial promises made to the affected B.C. First Nations, Thomas argued that these benefits can never replace a way of life marked by fishing, hunting, berry-picking and traditional medicine. Following earlier consultations with outside technical advisers, she said her community refused Enbridge’s economic overtures due to concerns over oil-leak damage to waterways, food sources and wildlife. 

What? | yardsharing.org. borrow and share space for gardening? A practice whose time is now – check this example out! What is Yard Sharing?

I see yard sharing as resource sharing. Many people have become aware that your yard can be much more than grass and there are simple things that make a difference. Yard Sharing is a way for the community to empower itself, for people to grow.

Yard sharing is a connection. It’s a person who owns a home and has space for a garden giving up some of that space to another person who has time to create a garden.

In return the homeowner can get a share of the food the garden produces.

Excess food that both the Gardner and property owner cannot consume can be donated.

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | The Protest.

Sleeping shouts
Came out for the first time in their lives
Because they were tired of injustice,
Tired of living in a jail, even if it is like a heaven.
Because they believe in freedom.

They came out even though they knew they might die.
They never experienced a protest, but they wanted to,
It could be a huge win
Or a defeat.
No one could believe these sleeping souls
Now awakened to make history
That will take many pages in the history book of life!

They did their parts as members of a group.
They proved we are human –
The same as you –
Our difference is not a reason for our weakness.
They came out and they did what they wanted
Even if they were surrounded with wild animals in human clothes.
The animals pushed them back, giving them a feeling of weakness.

But it was their shouts…

I am the same as you – with the same rights
You can stop my life or keep me at home
But you can never stop our hearts
We will fly and one day defeat you

By Masooma

Editor’s note: On April 15, 2009, our writer participated in the demonstration against the Shia Family Law, which was backed by powerful cleric Sheikh Asif Mohseni. About three hundred women faced angry mobs as they walked two miles to deliver their petition calling for the repeal of the Taliban-like restrictions.

– STREET ART UTOPIA. birds of a feather – Austria

Mississippi riot at immigrant correctional facility underscores more broken than just nation’s immigration policy : Latina Lista: News from the Latino perspective. “for-profit” prison site of trouble over housing immigrants

On Sunday, a fire and riot broke out at the correctional facility, operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). For anyone who has advocated for undocumented immigrants, CCA is a familiar company. They operate a number of facilities specific to housing undocumented immigrants — such as the Mississippi facility.

The Adams facility houses 2,500 low-security inmates. A spokeswoman for the CCA said that the majority of the inmates are there because they came back into the country after being deported and there were some inmates, again, according to the CCA, who had also been convicted of other crimes. Yet, if everyone is considered low-security, then it should be assumed that none of the inmates are incarcerated for hardcore crimes like murder, rape, etc.

The official explanation for the riot is that it was either a gang fighting among themselves or two rival gangs fighting for control. About 300 inmates participated in the riot where 19 people were injured and one young CCA guard was beaten to death. That left 2,200 inmates on the sidelines watching.

UN says it’s close to nuclear inspection deal with Iran | News | DW.DE | 22.05.2012.

“A decision was made to conclude and sign an agreement … I can say it will be signed quite soon,” Amano said after returning to the IAEA’s Vienna headquarters from Tehran. The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog conducted talks with Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.

The promised agreement would also include the right to inspect the Parchin military site near Tehran, where some Western powers believe Iran is conducting nuclear warhead tests.

Hope it is true and it defuses talk about attacking Iran…

Beautifully put and illustrated – Thank you!

Hijab Ban Lifted for Women in Sport: Hats off to Prince Ali of Jordan | Green Prophet.

Last March, in a separate action, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) defied FIFA’s ruling: permitting players to wear their headscarves. IFAB is comprised of a single representative from each of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish football associations, plus four reps from FIFA. IFAB actions must be approved by 75% of the vote and FIFA approval is necessary for every decision.

IFAB meets to ratify its decision to lift the ban in July.

Women Thrive Worldwide.

Congress must pass comprehensive international legislation that would incorporate solutions into all U.S. foreign assistance programs – such as promoting women’s economic opportunity, addressing violence against girls in school, reforming the judicial response to violence against women, preventing transmission and deaths from HIV/AIDS, and working to change public attitudes. We also must make ending violence against women a diplomatic priority by requiring the U.S. government to respond to critical outbreaks of gender-based violence in armed conflict – such as the mass rapes now occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti – in a timely manner.

If we grown ups could just see with our child’s eyes – oh what we could see…