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Unity in Diversity

KUUMBA Real Estate Developers & The Proceeds Of Crime

Content In this Issue 14

Yap About Financial

Hon Dimeji Bankole Visit to Canada

Politics or Politricks?

Politics and Multiculturalism

Unity In Diversity:

An Economic Exaggeration?

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EDITORIAL COMMENT

in Diversity

Unity

In the beginning they are one. No kinsman, no clan, no ethnicity, no tribe, no race, no nation, no state and no country. They are one. They are the humanity. The oneness is there. It is the first fundamental unity and it remains eternal. It is sublimely pristine. Besides, within the realm of geomorphology Rodinia is its name. It is the beginning of the habitat of humanity- the Planet Earth. Many eons after Gondwana, Pannotia and then the popular Pangaea are created as the progenies of Rodinia. Yet the Pangaea divides into the Continents of the Earth, as we know them today: Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Australia. They are the progeny of Rodinia. They are divided, diverse and disparate. Yet, they are one. They are all diversely united in the one entity of the Rodinia. And so are we, the humankind. Diversity according to Baha’i is a natural phenomenon. It beautifies the nature. It glorifies the nature sense of esthetics and its disapproval of monotony. Yet there is a human angle to it that is psycho-socioanthropological construct. In this Arrival World Magazine’s perspective, therefore, it is just a name, a label and not a substance. The Arrival World Magazine believes that at the end of this perceptive (and not fully cognitive) t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

diversity, and its social, political, economic and religious utilities, the fact still remains that we are one- Black, White, Yellow, or Copper. We are one human family, and not the diverse, loose, scattered lots we view and treat ourselves to be. We are one. We give more to the form than to the sublime substance that we truly are. The color, the geography, the great number of artifacts and many other creations we have evolved (through eons of civilizations) and perpetually clothe ourselves in, have robbed us of the fundamental understanding of ourselves, just as the different Continents we now inhabit can hardly think of themselves, were they to be humans, as the one and only Rodinia. The inevitability of clash of interests and the innate inclination to give in to the urge that almost always manifests murderous selfishness, have secured for us the perennial display of that that accentuates our artificial disparities and a constant push towards the abyss of cataclysm. We dwell more on that that is outside than the one that is inside- the true thing that defines us: oneness. And the unique ability to see one another as one, true and unbroken line of humanity is plagued with myopia. Hence turmoil is the only security we know and embrace, even joyfully, because of our wrong notion of what a “good life” is. There is need to stop and examine ourselves. There is need to embrace the universal truth: constant, straight and unchanging through the eons. It has been said by many that our understanding of our diversity should unmistakably lead us into understanding our pristinely primordial oneness: the core of our unity, albeit expressed in diversity or multiplicity. Ervin Laszlo says the journey to understand our unity, our oneness should be preceded by both the recognition of the existence and the acceptance of the universal principles, which are found as the nucleus of all major religions and most “noble cultural traditions”. They are “ values of universal brotherhood [sisterhood], love for one’s neighbour, and the golden rule of treating others” as we would love to be treated. It is so simple, and yet so powerfully sublime. More than two thousands years ago prophet Yisa (Jesus Christ) pronounces on these principles as a most effective abridgement to the Decalogue. He urges humanity to embrace and adhere to them, and that doing so will bring peace, unity and bliss in abundance to humanity. However, we have been overtaken and perennially pre-occupied with the

mundane as we de-construct, reconstruct everything into “…religious dogmas, political ideologies and national allegiances which bitterly divide the world.” Our total disrespect for the fundamental truth and its concomitant principles has resulted in the disrespect for the environment. Yet as the environment is using its natural oneness to hit at us, regardless of the locale of the disrespect, most of us are still inwardly blind to the reality of our oneness, our unity that expresses itself in our diversity. Why is it that so simple a thing becomes so intricately complex? Is it not the Sun that Japanese see in the morning in the East that the French see in the ‘noon and the Canadians, as their evening draws nigh? Is there a difference between the Moon the Chinese see in Peking and the one the Chileans see in the Andean city of Santiago? Is the wind that blows in the city of Lagos, Nigeria different in substance and effect from that that blows in the Buenos Aires city, in Argentina? Is there a difference in the substance of the Oceans we see in the East and the Oceans that bathe the littorals realm of the West? And are all these not parts of the uniform Universe that shows the mechanics of its true nature in diversity? Are we not a tiniest speckle of the whole fabric called the Nature? Truly our diversity is the language our unity has chosen to express itself. Our ignorance of the fundamental truth is now ebbing away. The Arrival World Magazine strongly believes that there should be a global concerted effort to rid the humanity collective of this open, cancerous sore which ignorance of our oneness is. And vigorously propagate and promote our unity in diversity. Currently on many continents, regions, nations and cultures the drumbeat is getting thunderous and earthshaking as

those that know are making others to be aware that the Black, the White, and the greater constituents of humanity collective are neither Black, White, Yellow nor Copper. We are the humanity, and we are one inside one Universe that speaks a language of diversity to accentuate the beauty of its creativity. The Arrival World Magazine speaks the language of Unity in diversity as it takes a global view of all things, through the diverse lenses of many who are a diversity collective expressing unity in purpose that keeps it one. The Arrival World Magazine believes that the dark cloud of disunity within the

humankind’s ﬁrmament has brought forth a silver lining. The election of Barack Hussein Obama, the Arrival Magazine believes, is the silver lining of the good tidings to every member of humanity that says truly: the truth in the Unity of our Diversity has ﬁnally revealed itself. Let the bell ring in Canada, let the bell ring in Europe, let the bell ring in the Americas, let the bell ring in Asia and Eurasia, let the bell ring in Australia, let the bell ring in every corner of the globe and within the crevices of humanity that we are all one. Our diversity is simply an eloquently loud expression of our unity and our strength as HUMANITY.

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COMMENTARY

UNITY IN DIVERSITY: An Economic Exaggeration? human life e.g. food, shelter, education etc. Lanrewaju Akinyemi

Without bias, one can argue that there is no unity in the diversity between the middle and wealthy class. How do we explain unity in diversity in situations where some are giving up a little of luxury due to economic downturn and others have their livelihood taken away? On the other hand, during period of economic boom, the wealthy class purchasing power usually outweighs that of the middle class and so is the multiplier effect on investment returns. I don’t see unity in diversity within the context of economic classes at least not from the perspectives mentioned above.

The discord in economic classes runs deeper than the exaggeration of “unity in diversity”. Economic classes such as the middle and wealthy class also varies among races, creeds, cultures, educational levels and in some cases tribes. These differences not only expands the variety of economic class deﬁnitions but also makes unity of these diversities more challenging due to the disagreements in the way we see things.

Thinking of unity in diversity is a great mental pondering but often times little or no knowledge of the concept negates or exaggerates its importance. Relying on the words of Samuel Johnson who said; “where there is no hope, there can be no endeavour” one can hope there is actually unity in diversity. It’s very fascinating to read several headlines, articles, op-eds and so on that touts unity in diversity but often times the phrase “unity in diversity” in my opinion is looked at from very narrow lenses which impairs thoughtful discussions.

It may be possible that the concept of “unity in diversity” might have been used in the restrictive terms of “race”, “creed”, or “culture” yet even in these contexts, discord runs even deeper among these diversities than my example of economic class diversity. Canada is a classic example of where different races, cultures, tribes, religions, and economic classes cohabit in peace and harmony. Does the fact Canadians live in harmony and peace promote “unity in diversity” some will say “yes” while others will argue “no”. Societal rules and norms deﬁned by the law of the land are key promoters of peace, harmony, and unity. I see diversity as a test of unity in every aspect of human endeavour and not only in race, culture, creed and tribe as it have often mostly been associated.

Under the current economic upheavals where distinctions between the wealthy and the middle class is becoming more glaring and the distinction between the middle class and poor is getting blurry, one cannot but think of the “diversity characteristics” of these economic classes. It’s becoming harder for middle class parents to feed their family talk less having little to save for the rainy day. Middle class families are being kicked out of their homes due to inability to meet mortgage obligations. While some will argue people in the wealthy class are also taking hits from the current economics downturn, it’s unclear whether these hits affect their fundamental needs of

The purpose of this piece is to broaden the lenses with which we look at unity in diversity and understand that the key to achieving unity in diversity is to pay close attention to where we agree and give less attention to where we are different. By this we may be proving the words of Joseph Addison a famous 18th century English poet “correct”. He said; “If men would consider not so much wherein they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less uncharitableness and angry feeling”.

By Lanrewaju Akinyemi

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A NATION OF COWARDS By Ahmed Ogunsola In a speech at an event celebrating Black History Month, the US Attorney-General Eric holder called the United States “a nation of cowards” when it comes to racial discussions. He went further to lament about the use of specially created discussion windows like the Black History Month to "force discussions on race" rather than the conversation occurring naturally. While Holder's remarks have sparked outrage and have drawn admiration from different quarters in the United States, there is yet to be a career politician to hold Canadians to task north of the American border. Canada's self adulation as a conduit for post-racial lifestyles and communities has often blinded its citizens to their own cowardice attitudes towards discussing race. One argument is that the discussion of racial relations in them would be an attack against the claim of being a post-racial society. After all, if you're post-racial, then why discuss race. However, even a not-so-keen observer would notice the discomfort Canadians exhibit through their conscientious and conscious use of expressions in public settings, largely to avoid race-based anger. While Canada is often seen as better in dealing with race relations than the United States, it must continue to work on perfecting its post-racial society aspirations. Its population make-up of not just slave and native descendants but of new and inter-generational immigrant communities gives Canada a unique advantage in discussing race. That advantage is however, not being maximized because, multiculturalism in Canada has often come down to a spread in Citizenship and Immigration Canada's source for skilled labour without deliberate policies on resettlement programs that foster better race relations. A deeper examination of the demographic distributions outside of Toronto's core, into the GTA areas would reveal the shortfalls of this self adulation more. The coagulation of similar individuals from a similar race or source region is often excused as a necessary step towards easing the integration of new immigrants into the Canadian society. In the end, most

immigrants would rather chose to live among familiar faces than move out of these integration cocoons and relate with other Canadians from different backgrounds. These kinds of integration programs have not helped Canada's efforts in transcending racial discrimination. When an immigrant residential cocoon becomes large enough to support its basic economic and social needs, then the second step in the integration process is lost. Government policies however, are not the only obstacles for Canada's ambitions towards a post-racial society. There is legislation that criminalizes race based employment discrimination but employers can always find a way around such legislation. The difficulties in integrating beyond immigrant’s settlement cocoon transcend legal options and must be tackled by Canadians as a whole. Mr. Holder's assessment of the work place being a place where the "melding" of the races takes place certainly holds true in Canada as well. The workplace has become a conduit for forged post-radial interactions but he also noted that this in itself still exhibits tensions. Individuals while in the work space know that to explore certain issues is an "embarrassment" risk and "at worst, the questioning of one’s character". The super-imposition of work-related race-centered ethics into our social lives outside of work strikes at the very core of our inability to muster enough courage to discuss race. The conversation has been far too long limited to academic discourse. Canadians must begin to bring racial discourse into the wider discourse of multiculturalism and socio-cultural globalization. For Attorney Holder, he has taken a significant step in ensuring that racial discussions are not limited to mutually agree muted boundaries in places of work, or confined to the halls of educational institutions. We have to talk about race, we have to discuss race related issues and we must do it at the mall, at the park, at the summer barbeque events and yes, we must discuss it with our work colleagues. Canada's journey towards a post-racial society is therefore not complete until it brings the discourse on race out into the open. JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

WOMEN ENTERPRISE

ROSA SUGRAÑES A W O M A N O F S U B S TA N C E

osa Sugrañes, Chairman of the Board and Founder of Iberia Tiles, one of the largest independently owned distributors of ceramic tile, marble and stone in the Southeast U.S. in this interview with Arrival World Magazine editor, Musediq Abdul revealed her exploit into the successful business world. The company, Iberia Tiles was founded in 1979. She is now responsible for overseeing the company’s activities of its various showrooms, warehouses and partnerships. These include Iberia Tiles showrooms in Florida (Miami, Coral Gables, North Miami Beach and Pompano Beach) and in Georgia (Norcross). The Iberia Tiles products are currently displayed across U.S.A at Lowes, TGI/Sears and Home Expo. Women enterprise Toronto

nominated her as a worthy model and mentor for women professionals. A native of Barcelona, Spain, became U.S citizen in 1996; Ms. Sugrañes resides in Key Biscayne, Florida. She has two children, Fernando (22) and Elisa (20). Excerpt Who is Rosa Sugranes and can we go a bit into your background? I am originally from Barcelona, Spain. I come from a family of entrepreneurs who have been in the tile business for three

generations. I graduated from Business Administration in the University of Barcelona. I came to Miami in January 1980. The reason was to study an MBA in the University of Miami. My father on the other hand was also coming to Miami to establish a subsidiary of our tile business in Spain with a local partner. What happened is that the local partner didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work out and my father made me a proposition:

Miami business community!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instead of paying for your MBA I will give you $ 100,000- and you start the business. You do your MBA in practice instead of â&#x20AC;&#x153;in theory â&#x20AC;&#x153;And this is why and how I started Iberia Tiles in Miami in January 1980.

Your words of advice for young women professionals looking to excel in their chosen careers/business?

What are the challenges facing women in business and how did you navigate the business terrain perceived to be male dominated? The challenges facing women in business are the same of the challenges facing men in business I think. The issue with women in business is what to do when you have children, then is a problem since you need to be always in two places at the same time. The key here is ďŹ&#x201A;exibility. I was able to survive the years when my children were small because since I had my own business I had lots of ďŹ&#x201A;exibility. Also it helped a lot that my husband was working with me during those years. He is no longer working with Iberia Tiles but remains a partner. As a woman and a mother how easy it is to manage a home and such a big business empire like Iberia tiles? The key here is to have help at home. I have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;wifeâ&#x20AC;?, a person who takes care of food, cooking, cleaning, ironing etcâ&#x20AC;Ś and again ďŹ&#x201A;exibility as I said before. It is also good to learn how to delegate at work. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to do everything, I have people at work who do almost everything better than me! Who is your mentor and why? My mentor was my father, who taught me the value of integrity, hard work and independence. Also taught me that the most difďŹ cult thing in any business is always to create a great team, to have them motivated at all times. The boss is always â&#x20AC;&#x153;at the serviceâ&#x20AC;? of everybody else in the organization. Also, one has to be humble but determined, to never to be full of yourself and brutally analyze the reality of your business. That those who have powerâ&#x20AC;Śnever want to seek powerâ&#x20AC;Ś.and that power and inďŹ&#x201A;uence is like a savings accountâ&#x20AC;Ś.the less you use the more you have. Can you share few of your embarrassing moments in life with us? When I worked as a volunteer in the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, to raise funds and to get more members, I have to dress like Carmen Miranda!! With a fruit hat and everything in front of the

Where would you like to see Iberia tiles company in the nearest future? Growing, to more retail stores in other cities in Florida, if we (the US) re-establish relations with Cuba. I would go there immediately.

My advice to them would be get the best education, the maximum education, do get your MBA, and when you are ready to have children, make sure you work for a great employer who would value your results more that the time you are at wok physically. Make sure you can be ďŹ&#x201A;exible. My guess is that if you are great at what you do you will get that ďŹ&#x201A;exibility! How do you relax and spend your leisure time? And your involvement in civic activities? I exercise a lot, I read, I meditate. My civic involvement and awards include: Civic Involvement t "QQPJOUFE CZ 'MPSJEB (PWFSOPS +FC #VTI UP UIF #PBSE PG 5SVTUFFT of the Florida International University (FIU), Miami, since 2001. t $IBJSNBO (SFBUFS .JBNJ $IBNCFS PG $PNNFSDF currently trustee. t .JBNJ %BEF $PVOUZ $VMUVSBM "GGBJST $PVODJM $IBJSNBO DVSSFOUMZ NFNCFS PG UIF $PVODJM t $IBJSNBO PG UIF .JBNJ "EWJTPSZ #PBSE PG UIF ,OJHIU Foundation.(2007-2008) t .FNCFS :PVOH 1SFTJEFOUT 0SHBOJ[BUJPO :10 TJODF t 1BTU $IBJSNBO PG UIF 'FEFSBM 3FTFSWF #BOL PG "UMBOUB .JBNJ #SBODI t 'PSNFSMZ NFNCFS PG UIF 'MPSJEB 5SBOTQPSUBUJPO $PNNJTTJPO appointed by Governor Jeb Bush (2000-2001). Awards t 3FDJQJFOU 4NBMM #VTJOFTT 1FSTPO PG UIF :FBS 4NBMM Business Council of America (SBCA), presented by U.S. Senator Bob Graham. t .FEBMMB BM .Ă?SJUP $JWJM BXBSEFE CZ ) 3 ) +VBO $BSMPT * ,JOH PG Spain, February 2000. t 4FSWJOH UIF "SUT "XBSE 5IF "SUT #VTJOFTT $PVODJM Miami-Dade County. t 'MPSJEB 8PNFO PG "DIJFWFNFOU t 4VDDFTTGVM )JTQBOJD #VTJOFTTXPNBO PG UIF :FBS $"."$0- t 1SFNJP '*%&. B MB .VKFS &NQSFTBSJB #BSDFMPOB t #FTU JO #VTJOFTT "XBSE )JTQBOJD &OUFSQSJTF .BHB[JOF Silver Medallion for Humanitarianism 2008. Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews (MCCJ). JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

INSPIRATION CORNER

The Fox’s Test Written by Cullen McGrail

Once upon a time there lived eight little people, four boys and four girls. They’re not dwarves or elves or gnomes. They’re just ordinary children except one. One little boy, the youngest of them all, could tell what will happen in the future. His name is Petar, Petar Juloss. One day while they were walking in the forest a fox came up told all eight children, “Listen to Petar. Do what Petar says. Or something terrible will happen to you!” and the fox scampered away. Two minutes later they arrived at a fork in the road. Petar suddenly stopped. “The path to the right is full of poisonous snakes as big as trees. The left path is safe,” he told the others. “But the right path looks more cheerful,” said one of the girls. “I’m going that way.” And she scampered away. Just then a big snake came and rapped its tail around her and slithered away never to be seen again. Just then the fox’s voice rang out in the cool crisp air, “Do what Petar says!” A short while later they came to another fork in their path. Again Petar stopped. “The left path has a giant mountain lion and the right path is safe.” One of the boys said, “I see candy on the left path.” And ran over and started to shove candy down his throat. All of a sudden a mountain lion charged out, grabbed him by the shirt and took off with him never to be

seen again. Yet again the fox’s voice came out of nowhere, “Listen to him!” As they walked on they came to a big pit. Petar stopped, “The left path is all quicksand, and the right path is safe.” Another boy piped up and said, “But the right path has cracks you could trip and fall into the pit.” He carefully walked to the left side of the path. He took three steps on the path and fell into the ground never to be seen again. “LISTEN TO HIM!!!” the fox’s voice screamed. Exactly twelve minutes later they came to a river with two boats on the beach; a yellow boat and an old, weak looking plain wood boat. Petar stopped and said, “The yellow boat attracts Parana, the old boat is safe.” This time a little girl said, “But that old boat won’t ﬂoat.” She hopped into the yellow boat. When she reached the middle of the river, Parana jumped out of the water trying to get in the boat. The girl started paddling furiously down the river never to be seen again. “I give up. You’re all as deaf as rocks,” the fox’s voice said and then quietly murmured the last part. After another twenty minutes they came to a little dog whining and shaking its limp paw. Petar yet again stopped and said, “Don’t help the dog. Just walk around it, you’ll be safe.”

M&B

Yet another girl said, “But he’s so cute, and he’s hurt.” With that she kneeled down beside him, stroking his fur. The dog suddenly began to grow bigger, bigger and still bigger until it was a little bigger then an adult. It’s a werewolf! It picked her up in one paw and ran away. She was never to be seen again. This time there was nothing said by the fox. The only three left were, the oldest boy and the oldest girl, and of course, Petar. “We’ve seen the bad stuff that has happened to the others,” said Jill, the girl. “Yeah. We’ll listen to you. We don’t want to be taken or chased away like the others,” said Jack, the boy. Just then the fox came out of a bush. “Well done Jill, Jack. You have passed ‘The Fox’s Test’. You have listened to Petar. As a reward I will grant you one wish each.” After a couple minutes of thinking they both decided. “I wish to be able to move things with my mind,” concluded Jack. The fox opened his mouth and magic blew over Jack. He looked at a rock and it rose into the air! “I wish to be able to talk to animals,” requested Madison. Again the fox opened his mouth and magic blew over Madison. She looked over at a squirrel and started to squeak rapidly. The squirrel started to squeak back! “Thank you fox. We will never forget you.” “Goodbye children,” he called and charged off through the undergrowth. Petar, Jill and Jack slowly made the journey back home, using their powers along the way.

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The End

HEALTH

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies togetherâ&#x20AC;?. ~ Thomas Dekker â&#x20AC;&#x153;The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not toâ&#x20AC;?. ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald Debbie Papadakis, BCH, CI Featured in Oprahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Big Book of Happiness www.hypno-healing.com debbie@hypno-healing.com

To understand sleep disorders like insomnia, we have to understand how it affects us. Hypnosis has an important role to play here. Studies show that 60 percent of adults claim to have problems sleeping a few nights a week or more .The sales ďŹ gures for sleeping pills support this claim -- they topped $3.7 billion in 2007. Studies also show that 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness that interferes with their productivity at least a few days each month and 20 percent are sleepy a few days a week or more .Are you getting drowsy yet? (Howstuffworks.com). At the website How Stuff Works.com, they suggest that one means by which to understand sleep, is by examining what happens when we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough sleep. A Quick proďŹ le would be: t "T ZPV LOPX JG ZPV IBWF FWFS QVMMFE BO BMM OJHIUFS NJTTJOH one night of sleep is not fatal. A person will generally be irritable during the next day and will either slow down (become tired easily) or will be totally wired because of adrenalin. t *G B QFSTPO NJTTFT UXP OJHIUT PG TMFFQ JU HFUT XPSTF Concentration is difďŹ cult, and attention span falls by the wayside. Mistakes increase. t "GUFS UISFF EBZT B QFSTPO XJMM TUBSU UP IBMMVDJOBUF BOE clear thinking is impossible. With continued wakefulness a person can lose grasp of reality. Rats forced to stay awake continuously will eventually die, proving that sleep is essential. t 8IFO OPU HFUUJOH QSPQFS TMFFQ CFDPNFT DISPOJD TJNJMBS patterns tend to arise. We know that Growth hormone in children is secreted during sleep, and chemicals important to the immune system are secreted during sleep. Health is at the center of our concern for lack of sleep. It is looking at the role that the mind plays that can help us. We often donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sleep because of the strangest things that keep us awake. These things range from bad dreams and nightmare, up toward replaying the events of the day in our mind. We need our sleep and we need our dreams. Here, the role of the conscious and the subconscious come into play. Carl Jung, once a great proponent of hypnosis, who once studied under famous psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, felt that dreams allowed us to reďŹ&#x201A;ect on our waking selves and solve our problems or think through issues. Our dreams are important to our personal mental health, and sleep is important for our body to regenerate. In tackling insomnia,

we use hypnosis to interact with the subconscious to reduce or eliminate barriers, issues, matters, and oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience and personal history that can interrupt oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep while they try to fall asleep. Through our life we experience life events that can cause us to produce negative emotions. Parents ďŹ ghting, a childhood trauma, an accident, a personal fright can all cause us to create a negative emotion that will cause us to feel and behave in certain ways and colours the way we perceives our day to day world, often in the form of fears, habits, avoidance, and other behaviours. This affects our sleep and our dreams. This can cause insomnia if we are playing that same tape of fear repeatedly in our minds. Hypnosis talks directly to the subconscious mind. You see our conscious mind is the part of your mind that is responsible for logic and reasoning. When you do math, the conscious mind does the addition and subtraction. It uses rational information with short term (temporary) memory. This is the chatter that occupies the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind and blocks them from falling asleep. So if you reason or process your thinking, the conscious does the work. Your subconscious mind is the storage room of all your beliefs, emotions, feelings, habits and worries. It is like permanent organic memory in a computer. Emotions and fear based experiences reside in our subconscious. It is there to protect us. It may not be logical, but it gets us through life. Sometimes those negative emotions, beliefs and fears may not serve us now, as they once did in the past. The conscious mind is very critical of us, where the subconscious mind protects us. Therefore, with hypnosis we bypass the critical factor of the mind by talking with the subconscious in order to have conscious and subconscious mind agree on changes that we need. So, if those old fears, old stories, or negative emotions are at play when we try to sleep, chances are we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. By using hypnosis we can make friends with the subconscious mind and alter, change or eliminate the thinking or mind activity that can cause insomnia. Through hypnosis we can tap into our hidden power, dispel fears and limiting beliefs, heal our mind and body and make positive and lasting changes in our lives in order to reach our full potential. JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

POLITICS

Politics and Multiculturalism By Ayodeji Nurudeen Otiti Esq. Group Political Editor

Multiculturalism is a progeny of politics. Therefore, within the realm of politics it has continuously latched itself as a leech to the skin of its victim. Politics itself, as a discourse, is a dialectics on power conflicts and a way out of them; and where an exit is not possible, a co-habitation either in the name of compromise or submission. This is not a definition of the term multiculturalism, and it is because defining it is becoming “increasingly problematic.” This is what Cy Grant says. Yet he ventures to say that multiculturalism is about an umbrella of people living and co-existing together under what I may describe as aegis of political expediency. Cy Grant expands his notion further by saying: “ideas embedded in the notion of multiculturalism are lost within jargon surrounding theoretical constructions of ethnicity and hybridity.” The complexity that has made it difficult to define multiculturalism, or to be fully understood is, to my mind, linked to the fact that it is a contestation turf for a myriad of interests that either supports, or opposes it. Yet added to the melee, are the groups you may call the Constructivists, who are also afflicted with the dialectics of perspectives. For example the Integralist exponents like Douglas R. Holmes. And you may add Isaiah Berlin, the exponent of “Counter Enlightenment”. Furthermore, we may wish to add the effect of geography, because multiculturalism changes with the locale. t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

What I am boldly saying is that the trans-national, or trans-international understanding of what multiculturalism is, or its objectives, changes as fast in connotation and colors as a chameleon will replicate rainbows of colors in a variegated vegetation, as soon as the boundary of a locale is breached. For example the Canadian understanding of multiculturalism is about unity in diversity. It has become the institutionalization and celebration of the rights of the variegated minority pools. It is about the mutual respect for and within a collage of cultural practitioners and advocates alike. Within its wide political boundary it is cultural, economic, legal, religious, social, economic and even scientific, in fact it is many things and valuable. It is a harmony within disharmonies. It has strengthened the State of Canada, albeit cracks of defects are not entirely absent. Yet it is a vigorous exercise in progress in human relations. Whereas in the Netherlands it is fast becoming a taboo- ably discredited with the unfortunate deaths of Pim Fortuyn and Theo Van Gogh. Lack of patience with it, as a system, with the volatile mix of obdurate triumphalist-culturalhegemonism (trumpet by the ultranationalists), secures its ghoulish knell. In Germany it is a difficult issue to understand, like a lesson of the Greek alphabets on a blackboard for a sightless student. It further suffers from ambivalence, as a result of its identification with the label of religiosity, that is to say Islam extremism. The French situation is not better off. Many years ago the French Parliament, the bastion of liberty, fraternity and equality, passes the law to ban skullcap and hijab- the loose scarf Muslim-women cover the head and a bit of the thorax with. In fact the target is not the skullcap, worn by the devout Jews. The primary target is Islam. The skullcap becomes what they politically called collateral damage. A strong voice for Multiculturalism in France may be equated with the advocacy for Bourbon monarchism. In Britain the cat and mouse scrimmage is visible. According to Tariq Modood, a leading Sociology professor in the Bristol University, the British government and its intelligentsia have an official mantra: it is integration. Yet the “British nativism” is a redoubtable major obstacle. To a native born Briton, it is difficult to be warmly disposed to non-European minorities- say a mongoose and a snake sharing a cage! The fact that prince Harry, the third in line to the English Royal throne, is being rumoured to undergo sensitivity counseling over his lovingly affectionate use of “Pakie” (a derogatory alias for Pakistanis or people of Southeast Asian descent) underscores this point. Historically, in the beginning the racism is simple, and it is meant for the Black (both from Africa and the Caribbean). For the reason, you need to stretch your imagination far beyond

slavery, because deep down some segments of humanity still give much tolerance with credit to the Neanderthals than they give to the Black. The British racial issue soon changes, however. And it is the demography of racism that changes when the Southeast Asians are added to the unpalatable sauce of racism. It soon becomes multifaceted by its extension from the racial purview into the variegated cultural ﬁeld, mostly in term of religion. Most Southeast Asians are Muslims. You also have Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jainists and others. Ignorance and impatience with others is still the bane of the average British native. In fact in Europe the multiculturalism praxis is a seriously lame man. Frances Stead Sellers believes that ignorance, as a plague, plays a vital part in this. For example, she says an average native European, a native Briton in particular, hardly understands what being a Muslim and a devout practitioner of Islam entails. Reiterating Tariq Modood, Ms. Sellers explains that “Islam” is more than rituals and prayers in the life of a devout Muslim. In fact Islam is a “mode of being” to a devout Muslim. This means that Islam represents and totally deﬁnes a Muslim. And this is what connects every devout Muslim to the Umma-the global Assembly of Muslims as one whole indivisible group. What this means is that Islam is a world or a universe where everyone is consanguineously related. Hence, when a Muslim is killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, say by a British bomber, a British non-relation Muslim, say living in Glasgow, is saddened and enraged as if the person killed, thousands of kilometers away, is actually his or her nuclear family member. Yet it is claimed that no less an illustrious person, former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, hardly understands this. It is the racio-cultural turmoil in Europe and particularly in Britain, as it is narrated above, that prompts Arrival World Magazine to pose the question: is the Obama phenomenon possible in Europe (or Britain) or Canada? Trevor Phillips, the chairperson of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Britain, says that a British equivalent of Barack Obama is well nigh impossible. His reason: there is an institutionalized strangle hold on power within the Labour Party, and as such a British Obama will be choked politically by the political lethal effect of such an obstacle. Yet some say Trevor Phillips’ comment has no general British support and that Obama phenomenon is possible. They point out that Black personalities like Bernie Grant, Paul Boateng, Keith Vay and Dianne Abbott are all in the British House of Commons.

MOKTRAVEL

Some people have concluded that this fact is an illusion of progress. They point out that somebody like Dianne Abbott, a Chancellor before going into the House of Commons, has not been promoted within the ranks of the Labour since 1987! However, a flamboyant Black personality, John Taylor, sits in the House of Lords! Does this fact not say that Obama phenomenon is possible? Some have also countered, reasoning that the Dianne Abbott’s political stagnation should not be given dark, sinister meaning. My take is that never ever say never! In the beginning of the year 2008 if anyone had come out with the crystal ball and predicted that Barack Hussein Obama would be the next most powerful man in the world, after George the son of elder president Bush must have vacated the White House, the name of that person would have easily made it into the Guinness Book of Records, as the world most condemnable liar, because the entire world would have vilified him and called him a mad man! But today the reality seems stranger than the truth it reveals. Never ever say never! Canada’s race relations are on solid ground, at least not as bad as in Britain, or other parts of Europe. Yet with the long history of Black on the Maple sub-continent, the visible minority, particularly Black, is not so visible in Ottawa! What does this say to the question of Arrival World Magazine? It may mean the journey is still far for the Obama phenomenon in Canada. Yet Obama has become a brightly shining symbol of hope, and the Obama phenomenon may be already in the offing. As I have said earlier, if the Obama in the White House in the year 2009 was hardly predictable in the year 2008 January, no one should rule out Obama Phenomenon either in Canada, Europe or anywhere else. Sonja Gandhi is an Italian born leader of the Congress Party of India today. She has been on that august seat since the year 2004. In fact her rightful post, some have vigorously argued, should be the seat of the Prime Minister, that Manmohan Singh, the current PM of India occupies. Modesty and other considerations make her to reject the prime ministerial seat. Multiculturalism should be seen as a genus of rights within the holistic human rights genre, our civilization is progressing faster than we have thought it possible- for good or for bad. The Gay, the Queer, the Trans and many more have well-established castles of rights within the continent of human rights lexicon across the civilized world. In a democracy, in any democracy every non-encumbrance citizen has the fundamental right to vote and be voted for, and free to aspire to occupy the highest office in the land. OBAMA PHENOMENON IN CANADA OR ANYWHERE ELSE IS WELL POSSIBLE!

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FAMILY FINANCE

Yap About Financial ~Diversity~

Feiling Yap

In preparing to write this column, I was advised that the theme for this edition publication of Arrival World would be about Diversity. My initial reaction, when I heard this, was what does family ďŹ nances have to do with diversity? Money is money and everyone has to manage and cope with ďŹ nancial matters. Upon reďŹ&#x201A;ection, I soon realized that as a ďŹ rst generation immigrant here in Canada, I may have some perspectives that may be different than people that were born and raised here. My experience as a ďŹ rst generation immigrant, seeking economic prosperity, is something that I can share with my readers. Arriving in Canada and getting married, we were, needless to say, ďŹ nancially challenged. No surprise here, most young married couples typically are â&#x20AC;&#x201C; immigrant or not. The key attribute of our immigrant background that worked to our advantage was that we were used to not living in luxury. It was relatively easy for us to cope without the â&#x20AC;&#x153;luxuries of the dayâ&#x20AC;?. The little monies that we earned were very precious (not to imply that it is not today, but more so then) and our objective was to maximize its value. We lived well within our means. Here are some of the things that we did to maximize the value of our expenses: t 8F XFSF GSVHBM XJUI PVS NPOFZ t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

t 8F XFSF WJHJMBOU JO TFFLJOH PVU HSPDFSZ BOE PUIFS QSPEVDU coupons for stuffs that we needed. This took some effort, but the rewards were signiďŹ cant savings in our grocery bills. Back then, I carried a pouch pull of coupons for almost any household QSPEVDU UIBU ZPV DPVME UIJOL PG t 8F XFSF DPOTUBOUMZ MPPLJOH GPS TBMF JUFNT o GPPE GVSOJUVSF DMPUIJOH t 8F BWPJEFE LFFQJOH VQ XJUI UIF GBTIJPO UPZ PG UIF EBZ 8F never owned the latest electronics, cars or other things of that OBUVSF 0VS GPDVT XBT DMFBSMZ GVODUJPOBMJUZ t 8F PQUFE GPS TJNQMF WBDBUJPOT DMPTF UP IPNF t -JWJOH XJUI FYUFOEFE GBNJMZ o NZ QBSFOUT MJWFE XJUI VT *U JT amazing how economic that can be. Childcare expenses for us were minimal, not to mention the convenience of in home day DBSF t 'BNJMZ NFNCFST IFMQJOH FBDI PUIFS ReďŹ&#x201A;ecting on our past brings back many memories for us. How we managed our ďŹ nances back then was informed by our background. Our approach to ďŹ nances tended to be conservative. Having been in Canada now over 25 years, our careers having progressed, our lives signiďŹ cantly busier, we still try, but ďŹ nd it more difďŹ cult to do some of the things we did in our FBSMJFS EBZT 5PEBZ XF TFF PVSTFMWFT JO UIF ZPVOHFS OFX immigrant population. We chuckle every time we see people doing things that we did not so long ago.

INVESTMENTS

Top 10 TFSA Tips Leslie Fenicky, P.Eng., CFP Executive Financial Consultant

601-2345 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4P 2E5 Les.Fenicky@investorsgroup.com

416.483.7667 x 295

By Leslie Fennicky With the introduction of the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Canadians now have more options than ever before to help them save money and reduce taxes. Below is the Top 10 TFSA Tips you should know: 1. Use your tax-refund wisely. Use the tax refund from your RRSP contributions to invest in your TFSA for an optimal combination of growth and flexibility. 2. If you have used-up all of your RRSP contribution room and are looking for additional investments, ensure you use-up all of your TFSA contribution room prior to investing in non-registered accounts. 3. Resist the temptation to dip into your TFSA. The TFSA offers more flexibility than RRSPs and therefore there are fewer barriers to discourage an individual from accessing the money. Remember, the longer your investments sit uninterrupted, the longer you may benefit from the positive effects of tax-free compound growth. Discipline and a clear objective are essential when investing within a TFSA. 4. Procrastination can be costly, so make your TFSA contribution early in the year. The sooner you put your money into a TFSA, the sooner you stand to benefit from the effects of tax-free compound growth. If you can’t do it all in January, monthly contributions can also be effective. 5. Ideally, you should use your full allowable contribution room each year. But if you don’t, you will accumulate unused TFSA contribution room that can be used at a later date. When possible and if it fits your financial strategy, strive to maximize your TFSA contributions.

6. Investing in a TFSA during your accumulation years could help reduce claw-backs on income-tested benefits such as Old-Age Security and Age Credits when it comes time to withdraw retirement funds. Because returns on investment within a TFSA are non-taxable, they will not be included as part of your net income, potentially saving you money over time. 7. Unlike RRSPs, there is no age limit on making contributions to a TFSA. In fact, you can contribute well into your retirement years, helping you save for short term goals like that dream vacation, a new car or even home renovations. The income generated from investments in your TFSA is tax-free, therefore it will not affect your federal income-tested benefits such as OAS or Age Credits. 8. If you anticipate that your marginal tax rate will increase at a later date, you may benefit by saving through your TFSA rather than making additional RRSP contributions. That’s because the tax reduction that your RRSP contribution may generate now may be less than the tax reduction it could generate later on. 9. Make a contribution for your spouse or common-law partner. You can contribute to a partner’s TFSA without affecting your own contribution room. Income attribution rules which govern RRSPs do not apply. This can effectively double your family’s TFSA annual contributions if one partner cannot afford to make such an investment. 10. Get expert help. In most cases, the TFSA is an investment vehicle that should compliment your current retirement strategy, not be the primary focus. To find out what’s the best strategy for you contact an Investors Group Consultant. JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

ENTERTAINMENT

JAMAICAN-CANADIAN 10TH ANNUAL ANNIVERSARY Guess Shelly Jones accepting her prize, to transfer $200:00 from Donggie MacDonald of Jamaica National Inter. Money Transfer

By Roy Virtue

Hon Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion left with Anne Marie Bonner Consul General of Jamaica and Her Excellency Ms. Evadne Coye High Commissioner of Jamaica pause from having their brunch at J.C.A. 10 Annual Boonoonoonos Fundraising Brunch, celebrating our men from Marcus Garvey to Barack Obama.

Some of the guess who was at the Annual Brunch

These young men got a certiďŹ cates for Role Models for youth, from left is Dominic McLaughlin, Jason Pilgrim and Justin Pilgrim

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LEGACY POSTER BLACK HISTORY GALA NIGHT

Some members of the Toronto CC Choir & Performance Company playing the drums

“Taking Black History Month to a new Level” that was the theme of the ﬁrst Annual Legacy Festival Black New Years Gala held at the Manyata Courtyard Cafe, to launch this years Legacy poster launch by artist Robert Small. This year poster featured Journalist Jojo Chintos former CityTV Featured and documentary reporter and now own his production company Black Heritage Productions Inc. Director Weyni Mengesha. Who has focus Her attention on Toronto Theatre production such as Trey Anthony's "Da Kink in my Hair". D'Bi Young Anitafrika's "Blood. Claat "and Lorraine Hansberry's" A Raisin in the Sun" and Dr Felicia Eghan currently an Associate Professor in the Family Studies & Gerontology Department, and Coordinator of the Peace and Conﬂict Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. And also has a PHD in Home Economics Education.

Some of the ladies who attended the ﬁrst annual Legacy Festival Black New Year Gala

Director Weyni Mengesha one of Dr. Felicia Eghan one of this this year Legacy poster personalities show off her beautiful outﬁt year Legacy poster personalities

Dwayne Morgan Author, Poet and motivational speaker performing.

Percussionist Guiomar Campbell performing at the event JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

AFRICAN POLITICS

Nigeria: State of the Nation

Politics or Politricks?

By Musediq Abdul & Ayodeji Otiti

postmortem! This is a postmortem of sort on Nigeria. But why conducting an autopsy on a live, breathing entity that Nigeria is? And if the idea is about the nation’s politics, is it not too early to take out the literary scalpel to dissect the Nigerian politica? “No!” in a vociferous stance is the thunderous retort of millions of Nigeria. Many Nigerians do beg to differ on the suggestion that the Umaru YarAdua-led democratic government, in Nigeria, is still very much in its infancy and should not be treated as a grown up. They observe that the current phase of the Nigerian democratic governance is verily very ripe to be completely weaned off the security and privileges as enjoyed by the government that is at its infancy. First and foremost, they argue, the essence of a democracy is to regularly and consistently take out the scalpel and dissect every intention of a government in a democracy and the policies emanating from it. They contend that a government that is constantly on the political lab for the dissection of its intentions and policies is less likely to have many dirty entrails and policies that are anti people. Besides, it is the strongly held view of many Nigerians, both within and without (the Nigerian diasporaic entities), that the Umaru YarAdua-led government is just about at the threshold of the second anniversary of its inauguration (sworn in on the 29th of May, 2007), and two years in the life of an administration are long enough a period to ask what such a government has done regarding its mandate and other ingredients of its manifesto (platform). Furthermore, they strongly assert that the government of YarAdua is ever very mouthful on the Rule of law, and it is no sin to ask what that slogan means to a government that makes it a fundamental cornerstone of its existence in governance, and wears it round its neck like a badge of honour. Moreover, they persuasively contend that the recent visit, to the Canadian mega city of Toronto, of the number four citizen of Nigeria- the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. ‘Dimeji Saburi Bankole, also begs for a scalpel for the Nigerian politica. Honorable Dimeji Bankole did not mince words in his support for the Umaru

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President Musa Yar’adua

YarAdua-led government. This is expected because both entities are within the same political party. However, the unqualiﬁed support of the Hon. Speaker went beyond this, and it was because the Honorable Speaker was, straight talk, vouching for the honesty and integrity of the government. Besides, he was of the view that the government was on the right course in all matters material and particular. Therefore, this is an analysis of what the state of the nation is so far into this current phase of Nigerian democracy. It is good to begin within the context of the return of the Achebes. Chinua Achebe, of the “Things Fall Apart” fame, visited Nigeria recently. He sojourned in the United States for close to twenty years before his most recent visit. His involuntary long sojourn was traceable to “the troubles with Nigeria”? Well, here is his heart-moving story: several years back, he claimed to be on his way to Lagos from his State in the Eastern part of Nigeria. Then an accident occurred. The car danced- a death dance. It rolled and rolled, and it eventually laid on him- chassis and all! And that was what led to his lower limb paralysis. He wanted to stay in Nigeria and be treated in

Nigeria- always a good patriot. However, every Nigerian knows what the state of our potable healthcare system is now and then. Today, hospitals or medical facilities do not guarantee cure, albeit it is predatorily and prohibitively pricy. Hospitals exist only in names. YarAdua himself does not go there at all. He seeks medical help from France, Germany, and most recently from the Saudi Arabia. A man wielding a supreme power, and with a chronic health condition as he has, will consider a potable and accessible universal health care a fundamental must for Nigeria! Well, the irony of public power- particularly in Nigeria- is that most of the wielders use it largely to benefit themselves (with their cronies and lackeys) and not for the public for whom they hold and wield it in trust (is there anything like a political fiduciary duty?). The air-car (aero-plane) is ever on standby at the beckons and calls of the president. The foreign exchange is not a problem either. All the hundreds of thousands in hard currenciesdollars and euros- that such intermittent medical visits will gulp from the national coffers are readily available, even when the nation reserve is losing its gravity faster than a plane violently losing its altitude to crashland! We need a detour on this digression. On the Chinua Achebe’ recent visit were members of his nuclear family, especially Dr. Chidi Achebe (medical doctor in the United States- did you say brain drain?). The reading of the verdict of the younger Achebe was that things were (and still are) falling apart in Nigeria. Most basic food could not be guaranteed to Nigerians. Good roads were securely within the elements of painful reminiscence. Pipe-borne or potable water was hardly present anywhere or in any State, and where it could be found, it was normally sold to the highest bidders. The new water parlance was purewater! Security was in complete tatters. Police was hardly seen doing the normal “to protect and serve” thing, it was to extort at every opportunity. Electricity production dwindled down every blessed day. This had created the predatory and avaricious group of the electricity generators marketers. They reaped ghastly profit in billions of naira, and could it be in their best interest to take the nation of Nigeria out of the perpetual realm of self-inflicted darkness? The government was in no hurry to destabilize the billions flowing into the private coffers of these surrogate electricity generators. The younger Achebe was of the view that what plagued Nigeria was a combination of problems of leadership, corruption and mismanagement, which coalesced to perennially destabilize the nation of Nigeria. Which

way Nigeria? Indeed Honorable Dimeji Bankole’s talk at the renowned Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Canada clearly was in consonant with what the younger Achebe’s verdict was. However, speaker Bankole was of the view that YarAdua would deliver, especially in relation to corruption. Yet, many Nigerians are asking why the speaker was so strongly a believer in the anti-corruption poise of the YarAdua-led government. They are of the view that the YarAdua- led government is best placed within the context of the Orwellian 1984. Where double speak was the norm. Government would say something and its opposite was what it was meant to do. In the Orwellian 1984, the Ministry of truth dealt only with the manufacture of pure propaganda. The Ministry of Peace was perpetually designing and creating wars. The Ministry of plenty, as you would rightly guess, was to deal with scarcity. Many Nigerians see YarAdua-government as a perfect parallel to the Orwellian 1984, irrespective of the speaker Bankole’s clean bill of health on corruption to the YarAdua-government. For instance, they observe that both the surreptitious and openly aggressive death to the purposive and resultoriented leadership at the EFCC (Economic & Financial Crime Commission) was purely the handwork of the YarAduagovernment. They charge that the unceremonious removal (hounding?) of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as the chairman of the EFCC, was a way the YarAduagovernment was telling the corrupt Nigerians that the coast is now clear for business as usual. They observe that the trouble that chased Nuhu Ribadu out of the EFCC was too closely connected with the investigations for corruption and the subsequent arraignments of Messrs Nnanefe Ibori and Kalu Orji Kalu (both erstwhile governors of Delta and Abia States). They observe that such a connection could not be a coincidence. They also observe that Umaru YarAdua, despite the daily airing of the sordid story in the media in

Nigeria Nigeria, has never come out to deny that Ibori contributed stolen billions of naira to the political campaign that eventually somehow produced him as the current Nigeria president! They ask that why is Ibori, battling with prosecution on account of money laundering and corruption, is freely going in out in the YarAdua’s administration? They are of the view that a good judgment requires that YarAdua should distance himself from such an embarrassing, open association with Ibori. They also charge that one of the ﬁrst places that Orji Kalu went, after he was granted a bail, was the State house in Abuja, to see the president, Umaru YarAdua! What a moral incongruity or statement is the YarAdua-government pushing to the public to see and analyze? And most recently is the issue of Electoral Reform. The Justice Uwais-led commission recommended a far-reaching set of reforms. Inter alia, that the appointment of the Chairman of the independent electoral commission should be taken off the president’s table. It suggested that such an appointment should be made by the national judicial service commission and to be vetted, probably, by the joint sitting of the National Assembly. The YarAdua-government spun the theory of independent of the judiciary and/or checks and balances to pooh-pooh the Uwais-commission to make the selection of the electoral chairman transparent (who was the farcical constitutional pundit spinning webs of constitutional deceits to the Nigerian Umaru YarAdua?). To the Nigerians, all these do not support the speaker Bankole’s assertion that the YarAdua-government is strongly bent on eradicating corruption and sharp practices in Nigeria. What the YarAdua-government is doing,

they observe, is what they describe as politricks. It is a politics loaded with half-truths, truth- manipulations, propaganda, political ambivalence, “power-show”, double-speak, all couched in the rigidity of the Orwellian 1984. They observe that almost two years into the YarAdua administration things are not getting better. Nigeria is still in darkness. Food and jobs are still scarce. Roads are still bad and killing and maiming Nigerians in thousands. Air travel, in spite of being prohibitively expensive, is like playing the Russian roulette. Security is nil. Robbers and the area-boys are in total control of the turfs called the Nigerian space. Police are still many and present everywhere, but to extort and preach the gospel of service through oppression and ofﬁcial brigandism. Nigeria, they observe, is far off from the promised land of milk, honey, life more abundant and Uhuru. Yet speaker Bankole said the truth when he claimed that his speakership, with the active and ready co-operation of the YarAdua-government, was gnawing seriously at the jugular veins of the giant plague of Nigeria-corruption. The Speaker spoke of the discoveries and recoveries of stolen money running to millions and billions of naira. He enumerated on the genuine efforts of the government to tackle lack of well-maintained roads and lack of basic infrastructural facilities- a la privatization? And the employment of the Nigerian youth was squarely being addressed. All these, no doubt, are a plus to the Nigerian government. They are commendable efforts. However, Nigerians are still worried and leery of how many of these are a tool being used by the government that practices politricks? JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

AFRICAN POLITICS

FACES AT OPUTA LECTURE DELIVERED BY SPEAKER OF NIGERIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, RT. HON. DIMEJI SABUR BANKOLE ON MARCH 27, 2009 AT OSGOODE HALL, YORK UNIVERSITY, TORONTO, CANADA The number four Citizen of the most populous country in Africa; Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole (Speaker of House of Representative) recently delivered the 2009 edition of Oputa Lecture at the Presigious Osgoode Hall, York University, Toronto, Canada on Governance in Africa. Hon. Bankole, dazzled the audience with his unique style of humour and brilliance as he delivereed a detail lecture on the bane of political development and way forward in Africa. By Ayodeji Otiti Esq

L-R: Nicholas Bastine, W Ubochioma, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, a Guest and Nigerian Ambassador to Canada Prof. I Hagher

L-R: Barr. Dawodu, Hon. Dimeji Bankole & Prof. Okafor

L-R: Speaker: Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Mrs. Opeoluwa Badaru and Mrs. Jude Odinkinigbo

L-R: Prof. Obiora Okafor of York University Law School, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Musediq Abdul and Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher

Dr. Peer Zumbansen (left) and Prof. Craig Scott

Hon. Dimeji Bankole with Musediq Abdul Editor of Arrival World t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

Mrs. Opeoluwa Badaru and Barr. Ayodeji Otiti

POERTY & INSPIRATION CORNER

Barrack Obama

By Live McGrath - Sarnia, Ontario

... A Man For All Reasons People everywhere have a good reason to celebrate as we ﬁnally have a man named 'Barack Obama" who will listen to the voices of the people. He is caring, works hard, and is smart, open to all with questions. He appears to be a loving father and husband (very noticeable) and ready to enter the world of politics in a big way. As a Canadian, I am in awe of his presence and have not yet seen a President who ﬁts the slogan “One for all and all for one” as he his. I am one of the people who want to help him with all I can, as he makes you feel you can do anything with hard work and by

working all together. He does not shy away from the tough problems; rather he faces them head on. I, like his connection with God, the people, and his mighty team, we are a force to be reckoned with. Obama has done a great job thus far and as time goes on, I know we will see and feel his worth and goodness. We all know that this mountain of problems is not his creation but as we continue, President Obama should be called a HERO...well, a hero is a brave and noble man, one who stands up against all odds for what he believes (that most deﬁnitely is President

Thoughts of Blackness…

Barack Obama). As he took the oath of ofﬁce on January 20, 2009, to become the 44th President of the United States, I was full of hope and pride, even when the crisis of the world was very great. So, to go back to what I think a 'HERO' is...as far as President Barack Obama is concerned I didn’t' see a HERO (although I know he will be thought of and chosen to be one in years to come)...I did see the love and care he has for his family and all people. I saw someone who was humble, proud and willing to face everything to make this world a better place.

..it’s Okay By Justin Tumer - Age 10

By Gafar Olaide Madamidola

Thoughts of blackness encircle my mind to a point where… I’m lost in a state of confusion. Forced to look within the depths of my soul to ﬁgure out what constitutes who I am in the …dreadful realities of this world You see all I envision in my minds eyes are…bodies outlined in chalk on streets…corners where crack salesmen are allocated to numb the effects of actuality…diminished social programs teach young ones to only score on concrete ﬂoors of dark lanes… I’m dizzy…feels like I’m going insane cause…this can't be who I am…I still feel the ever pound-

ing, ever forceful rhythm of ancestors drumming in my ear…the hopes and dreams of lost souls and Africa is embedded in my veins… Daydreams are plagued with the faces of those gone…Kuti, Coltrane, King, Parks, Marley, Davis, Wallace, Douglas, Shakur, X, Tubman …and those unnamed in untold graves standing aligned in a row upon the horizon… Today?...today is a new day, where we replace the high supply of coke dealers with scholars…prostitutes with mothers….poverty with wealth THE EMANCIPATION OF BLACKNESS… IS NOW!!

I’m not okay But that’s okay Because Jesus loves me Anyway He sees on down the road a ways To mended hearts & sunny days And as I lean against His arm He gently guides & shields from harm One day soon I’ll hear Him say ‘Come home my child It’s all okay’ I’m not okay But that’s okay Because Jesus loves me Anyway Aug 1, 2000 – Feb. 3, 2009 JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

SERMON

Raise a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6. This is one of the famous proverbs it reinforces the importance of early training in forming a person’s lifelong character. But you can find individuals who though well trained and brought up, choose to reject their training. The phrase, ‘Train Up’ means to ‘Hedge Up’ or ‘Hedge In’. It is like building a fence around a child. What we fence in or around a child is very important. The most important is the word of God, the BIBLE. The Bible says, “the entrance of the Word of God brings life’. So training and nourishing a child does not come from the physical food, the clothing and other essentials of life. Don’t get me wrong, these things are important, but the Word of God is far more profiting than all the aforementioned. The Bible says that ‘Children are a heritage from the Lord’, Psalm 127:3. ‘They are a reward from Him’. Having children is a privilege and not a right, as many people seem to think, this is why it is very important to bring them up in the fear of the Lord. This privilege could be lost if we do not do that which the owner, ‘GOD” wants us to do. ‘Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child’ Proverbs 13:24. This may be the most famous of the Bible’s proverbs. There is no doubt or argument that proverbs calls for punishment in one form or the other, this should be done solely for the purpose of correction, in “LOVE” And the parents who won’t discipline their children are in danger of ruining them, Proverbs 29:15 and Proverbs 13:24. Let us understand one thing before proceeding that this much quoted maxim is only a small part of what Proverbs has to offer on the subject of bringing up children. Why there may be disagreement on the word, ‘ROD’ it is suffice to say that ‘ROD” could not only mean whips,

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canes, belts, shoes, etc.. This word means more than these objects that are mentioned. It means, ‘Discipline’. There is an overwhelming emphasis in the Book of Proverbs on verbal encouragement and teachings. The old fashioned method of using your children as punching bags and soccer ball or treating them as adversaries is not permitted in the Bible. Listen to what God says in Ephesians 6:1-4. ‘Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right’ Another book, Colossians 3:20-21 ‘Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Mark the words, ‘in the Lord; and ‘everything;’. One is addressing all parents regardless of your faith, while the other is addressing the God fearing parents. The whole Book of Proverbs is framed as father’s words to his son, teaching him those ‘facts of life’ that have nothing to do with science. Many parents transfer the responsibility of training their child to a friend or grandparents. The Bible did not say that grandparents or friends should train the children, but you. You must surely give an account of how you train your children to God. The relationship between the father and child should be cordial. Listen to each other and not jut wanting our children to listen to us alone. The Book of Proverbs always uses the phrase again & again, pleading to the son to,…’LISTEN, my son’. Admonish them in love. The mother has important words too (Prov. 1:8 and 6:20) The parent/.child relationship is a warm one; and Proverbs 17:6 bears out what the whole book implies: Parents and children are not meant to be adversaries, but allies in life who are proud of each other. The children are our future; help shape them to be just that.

REAL ESTATE LAW

Real Estate Developers & The Proceeds Of Crime Adeyinka Oyenubi

Barrister & Solicitor, Markham, ON, Canada. Tel: (905) 771-8543

Written by Adeyinka Oyenubi Are you doing business with unfamiliar customers or purchasers? Do you suspect that the purchase of real property is being used to clean laundered funds? Take heed, because earlier on this year, new regulations made under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorism Financing Act were passed imposing mandatory recording and record keeping obligations on real estate developers who have sold to the public, after 2007, other than in the capacity of a real estate broker or sales representative, the following types of real property: (i) 5 or more new homes or condominium units; (ii) 1 or more new commercial or industrial buildings; (iii) 1 or more new multi-unit residential buildings containing 5 or more residential units or 2 or more new multi-unit residential buildings that together contain 5 or more residential units. Amongst other things, any person or corporation that has sold units/buildings to the public as stated above has to verify the identity of its client by examining an original, valid, government-issued identification document such as a driver’s licence. In the case of a corporate client, the names of it’s’ directors should be ascertained and the corporation’s identity verified by ordering a Certificate of status (which can be obtained in electronic form). This government issued document confirms the corporation’s existence.

The new regulation came into effect on February 20, 2009, and requires developers to record and report to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) any suspicious transaction, or large cash transactions involving $10,000 or more and any property in their possession that is owned or controlled by terrorists. Any such report is to be made within 30 days and 15 days respectively. Developers are now obliged to take reasonable efforts to determine whether individuals that properties are being sold to are acting on behalf of third parties. Unless funds are received from a financial institution (e.g. Banks, Trust Companies, Credit Unions and Cooperative Credit Associations) or a public body, (e.g. Federal, Provincial or Municipal government department) client information records and record of all funds received in the course of every transaction involving the types of units/buildings earlier referred to must be kept and retained for at least 5 years from the date of the transaction. The amount and currency of funds received, including the payment method (i.e. cash, cheque, wire etc.) must be recorded including the type of account and name of account holder. Other record keeping requirements include the name, address, date of birth, and occupation of the purchaser. In addition to the foregoing, real estate developers must now develop a compliance regime which should include the appointment of a compliance officer, written compliance policies and procedures as well as developing a written training program for all the developer’s agents, and employees. In the event of a failure to comply with these requirements, criminal and administrative monetary penalties may be imposed. Criminal penalties range from 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $2,000,000. The administrative monetary penalties range from maximums of $1,000 to $500,000 per violation, depending on the type of violation which are classified as “Minor” “Serious” or “Very Serious”. Please visit FINTRAC’s website at: http://www.fintraccanafe.gc.ca/intro-eng.asp to view the regulatory instruments and apprise yourself of guidelines and your new obligations. JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

IMMIGRATION

By Temowo Adeniyi - Immigration Columnist

CANADA REFUGEE CLAIMANTS IF MY REFUGEE CLAIM IS REJECTED, ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO OBTAIN PERMANENT RESIDENCE? The answer to this question is yes, but such options are time sensitive and limited. First, who is a refugee? According to United Nations High Commission for Refugee(UNHCR), a convention refugee is a person who, by reason of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, (a) is outside the country of person’s nationality or place of habitual residence (stateless person) and is unable or, by reason of that fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or (b) not having a country of nationality is outside the country of his former habitual residence, and is unwilling or, by reason of such fear, is unwilling to return to that country of nationality. When a refugee claimant is refused by the Immigration and Refugee Board, he/she has 15 day to seek for leave (permission) from the Federal Court trial division for judicial review of the decision. This is not an appeal; but mere request for permission of the court to judicially review the case. At present, refused refugee claimant has no right of appeal on merit. The only option at this time is judicial review and this is limited to errors in law excluding facts of the case. Most of the time, such requests are denied without reasons. In rear situations where the leave (permission) is granted, the Federal Court is not bonded to review facts of the case, instead the court will “judicially review” only the narrow aspect of the case i.e. technical errors not factual errors. For example, if a decision of an Immigration and Refugee Board member (judge) is wrong, but was arrived at in a legally correct manner, the court will side with such decision maker even if it will lead to deportation of someone to danger. It is ironical to know that the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) created refugee appeal division in 2001, but the Canadian government is yet to implement the appeal division. So it is reasonable and correct to say that there is no appeal for rejected refugee at present. Another possible option for refused refugee claimant to seek for permanent residence is Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). This is a process that allows refused refugee to present new evidences to justify why he/she should not be deported from Canada. After a refugee claim has been denied and the person has exhausted “appeal” mechanism, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

contact the person for interview and then hand forms to the person to fill out and return at stipulated time with supporting evidences. The reviewing officer will not consider any documents or issues that have already been deal with at the Immigration and Refugee Board. This usually happened when the person is deemed “removal ready.” The enforcement responsibility has now been transferred to Canada Boarder Control Service Agency since 2003. Ironically, success rate of Pre Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) is about 3%. Immigration officer or border control service agency officer depending on province or territory the applicant resides in Canada will usually contact the applicants for PRRA when is time (removal ready). Furthermore, a refused refugee claimant can submit application for permanent residence under the Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds (H&C). The Canadian government encourages anyone without immigration status to apply for permanent residence through this route. This is a process that allows anyone, mostly in Canada without immigration status to make special request to the minister of Citizenship and Immigration to apply for permanent residence despite their situation. The Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application must be file with applicable fee of $550 for adult and $150 for each child under the age of 22 years. The decision is made by an immigration officer or Canada Border Service Agency officer where issue of risk is raised. In some situation both officers are responsible for such decision. This kind of application usually takes longer period to complete. It is more reasonable therefore for applicant to be silent about risk factor if it’s unnecessary. There are no standard rules for such decision it is purely discretionary. When can a person submit Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application? There is no right or wrong time for this kind of application. It can be submitted anytime once the appropriate fee is included. It is important to note that such H&C application does not stop deportation. If H&C is refused you can resubmit another one, there is no limitation to the number of application a person can submit. But each application must present new evidence and argument different from previous application. There are situations where people who were previously refused on the first H&C application were later granted permanent residence on the second or third application.

AR-RAHMAN ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION, TORONTO, CANADA BISIMILLAH RAHMAN RAHIM

Adeniyi Temowo

Another viable way a refused refugee claimant can become a permanent resident of Canada is if he or she has a spouse or common law partner who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen. Through him or her application for permanent residence could be submitted under the in Canada spouse or common law partner class. Moreover, in exceptional circumstances, if the refused refugee claimant is deported, the spouse can sponsor him/her to Canada. In conclusion, as earlier pointed out, at the moment refugee claimants in Canada has no right of appeal. It is therefore important for refugee claimants to due their due diligent and ensure they present their refugee case properly and prevent avoidable mistakes. Be vigilant and participate actively in presenting your case. Do not leave everything for your counsel. It is your life, take it seriously. More so, it is important to know that since 2001, you can only make refugee claim in Canada once in life time. Ask right questions; if not comfortable with your counsel make efforts to raise your concerns, if there is no improvement, replace him or her. Make sure you are able to obtain necessary documents to support your claim. As convention wisdom dictates, prevention is better than care. The refugee determination process is design to be efďŹ cient and effective. The onus is on the claimant to demonstrate why he/she needs protection. Whether or not the refugee claim is accepted or rejected, the counsel will be paid. So a refugee claimant must be proactive and prepare to present the case properly. Therefore, reasonable efforts should be made to support the claim with adequate documents.

In The Name Of Allah, The Merciful, The BeneďŹ cent

Invites Members of the public to its weekly Islamic Education forum for adult and children (Yoruba, Arabic and English sessions available)

A claimant is expected to revise his/her personal information form carefully before the refugee hearing. Finally, as a refugee claimant try as much as possible to provide credible answer when questioned at the refuge hearing. The key thing is to establish credibility of the claim so that the judge could easily come to a decision that is reasonable, timely and positive rather than going through uncertain routes in order to become a permanent resident.

We meet every Sunday from

Adeniyi Temowo is an LL.M candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, he can be reached at 416-250-9449 or adeniyi@temowoimmigration.com

Email: arrahmanislamic@gmail.com Join us for your spiritual upliftment

1:00pm EST â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00pm EST at 3100 Weston Road (Sheppard/Weston Road Junction), North York (Room 209), Toronto, ON, Canada Telephone:

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ENTERTAINMENT

KUUMBA Kemer Yousef known at the Lion of Africa, performing following his triumphant Ethiopian tour.

HARBOUR FRONT CELEBRATION OF BLACK Dancer and drummer Saba Alemaychu of Novel expose that had the audience mesmerize by her beauty and dance moves.

HISTORY

By Roy Virtue

MONTH

Harbour front Centre presented Kuumba the longest running, largest African Heritage Month Festival returning for the12th year Anniversary. Kuumba is two weekends of music, dance, ďŹ lm comedy, spoken word and literary events, designed to celebrate and support innovative local and international artists from African and Caribbean in Diaspora. On Saturday and Sunday Feb 7& 8 Kuumba showcase African Drum and its relationship to music, dance and storytelling and Feb 14th and 15th Kuumba salutes some of Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural entrepreneurs. A Different Booklist -Itah Sadu; Up From the Roots-Dwayne Morgan; Kenny Robinson's Nubian Disciples Comedy Crew; and Muhtadi's International Drumming Festival.

Members of the DLM Dance and Entertainment Company performing at Kuumba Choreographer's Congress on Sat. Feb 6th at the Lakeside Terrace.

Melissa Mohamed a guess at the Harbourfront Centre Kuumba a celebration of Black history checked out a wood carving, depicting the "Underground Railway"

Saba Alemaychu playing the drums, to drum up audience participation.

Daniel Nebiat from Eritrea playing the Krat a 6 strings instrument from Ethiopia. Celebrating Black History Month The Horn of Africa: A Musical Odyssey

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TORONTO AFRICENTRIC ALTERNITIVE SCHOOL Children watching and taking part in science experment of D.N.A. extraction.

The TDSB celebrated Black History Month with the Africentric Community Fair. More than 500 community members gathered at the Sheppard Public School for a community fair to drum up support for the Africentric Alternative school, set to open in September. The event featured local arrtists and organizations The event was held to get families and community together to provide more information about the Africentric Alternitive School. Registration for the school has surpass the required enrolment.

By Roy Virtue

Pans music being played as part of the entertainment for those attending the fair.

Children who attended the fair clapping to the entertainment going on.

Some of the supporters who came out to the Aricenttric Community Fair on Saturday Feb 7th are from left Elizabeth Noel Principal of Jarvis Central Institute, Paul Junior teacher Nelson A Boylen C.I. and Shelina Kassam Vice Principal Westview Centennial.

Writer and community historian Murphy Brown and Winston LaRose of The Jane and Finch Concern Citizen Association, came to show their support for the Africentric Alternative School

Lloyd McKell Executive OfďŹ cer, Student and Community Equity at the TDSB with Ira Applebaum Principal of Sheppard Public School. JTTVF t t BSSJWBM XPSME t

LAW AND IMMIGRATION

EFFECTIVE LEGAL STRATEGY

By Bode Odetoyinbo

How to Achieve A+ Results from Your Lawyer in an F World When is the best time to consult a Lawyer in an F world? Very simply, it is when you don’t NEED one. Put differently, the best time to consult with your Lawyer is when you have a concern NOT when you have an issue.

Reason # 4. Talk to your lawyer early (S)he will consider all possible outcomes in your case. (S)he is trained to see the pros and cons of both sides of the case and offer practical solutions for your matter.

Here are ﬁve reasons to consult with a Lawyer:

Reason # 5. Cheap is expensive: The Consultation you should have had with your lawyer months or years ago can cost you a lot more today. Many people try to do their legal work themselves in an attempt to save money. A will is a typical example. Though nothing stops you from writing your own will, I suggest you retain Counsel to do it right. Your children will thank you for getting it right. Your descendants will live an A++ life by you getting it right.

Reason # 1. To get the relevant facts the whole facts and nothing but the facts: Consult with a lawyer whose practice is in the area of the law where you have concerns. Often time (S)he is able to obtain information you are unable to get. Early “intervention” by your legal eagle typically produces A+ result. Reason # 2. To arm yourself with current knowledge and legal implications of your options: Laws are dynamic. Consult with your Lawyer so that you stay on the right side of the law. Consult with your lawyer about the current law, how the courts have interpreted them, if there is a time limit, strategies in the event that litigation becomes necessary. Consult early. Consult now. Reason # 3. It reduces stress and is empowering: Most people are scared and don’t know what to do next when they have concerns. Concerns can become issues. Avoid issues by addressing concerns with your Lawyer. Being paralyzed and ignoring problems usually makes the situation worst. Consult a lawyer when you can. Consulting only when forced or when you have no choice is an expensive way. It’s the best way to get an F mark. t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

Now let’s drill down to speciﬁcs: Here are seven occasions you will be insane NOT to consult with a Lawyer. 1. Buying, selling or closing a business, forming a partnership or corporation. 2. Signing a major contract – such as a promissory note, major equipment leasing agreement etc. 3. Contemplating marriage dissolution, adoption, or certain immigration matters. 4. Buying or selling a major asset – such as real estate. 5. Before undergoing any major surgical procedure – Make sure that your wishes are carried out in case you are unable to speak for yourself (such as being in a coma) & making sure your family will be ok. 6. Considering pleading guilty to a criminal charge, or if you are a possible suspect in a criminal investigation.

7. Attempting to resolve a personal injury matter all by yourself.

Be realistic.

What sort of Lawyer do I need? 1. A Lawyer that practices primarily in your area of concern. For example, if you have a divorce case, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t call a personal injury Lawyer. The days of a Lawyer that does every kind of law are gone. 2. A Lawyer that listens to you seems interested in your case and speaks so that you can understand legal terms and concepts. 3. A Lawyer that explains the pros and cons of your case. 4. A Lawyer that you trust. 5. A Lawyer that insists on both of you signing a Legal Services Agreement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it should clearly state what the Lawyer is going to do, how much they are going to charge and how much you are going to pay.

How can you ďŹ nd a Lawyer in Ontario? 1. Ask your friends and colleagues who they recommend. 2. The Lawyer referral service of the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario residents) can refer you to a Lawyer in your area. 3. The yellow pages and the internet, etc. Be aware that all advertisements have been paid for. The bigger the yellow pages advert, the more money spent. The biggest ad does not mean the best lawyer 4 you.

What sort of Lawyer should I avoid? 1. A Lawyer that makes guarantees or promises that they win 100% of their cases. 2. A Lawyer that will represent both parties in a lawsuit. 4. A lawyer you cannot afford. If the lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hourly rate is $600/hour and you make minimum wage, there is no way you can afford to hire this attorney for a prolonged child custody battle.

In conclusion, the best and most cost effective work that a Lawyer does on your behalf will occur when you involve her early enough in the process NOT after you have made errors that cost a lot in time, energy, effort and money to turn around. To be the beneďŹ ciary of A+ legal services, in an F world, empower your lawyer early so that your actions or inaction do not have unexpected consequences. Bode Odetoyinbo is a Brampton Ontario based Lawyer. He can be reached by email at bode@lawyer4me.com by telephone at 905-487-6333. See also www.lawyer4me.com

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OPINION

Getting Political Barack Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s election to the ofďŹ ce of President of the United States has highlighted the deep void and lack of participation by black Canadians. Gwyneth Chapman, community activist and president of Inspiring You Productions Inc. is looking to create political change through the recent formation of a non-partisan black political caucus. The newly formed caucus brings together community leaders and prominent politicians with the aim of supporting those pursuing politics. One of the primary goals of the caucus is to provide a much-needed political voice for blacks within Canada, while creating avenues for motivated individuals to get involved. Several years ago, the lack of representation within the political system inspired Chapman to take action and educate herself about the political system, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;When I realized that we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot of representatives in government, I decided that I had to do something to better the situation and create opportunities,â&#x20AC;? says Chapman. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I decided to get involved politically,â&#x20AC;? Chapman became involved in local politics, acting as co-chair of John Toryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mayoral campaign before moving onto other roles and ultimately working for the caucus. The immediate need to get more black Canadians registered with the major political parties is a priority for the caucus and an important ďŹ rst

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Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Black Political Caucus Takes Shape in Toronto By Gwyneth Chapman

step toward increasing the political participation of blacks in Canada. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Regardless of your political leanings and inclinations, it is important to take an ofďŹ cial stand with your desired political partyâ&#x20AC;? says Chapman. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We have to be a part of the system if we want the system to work toward our beneďŹ t.â&#x20AC;? The caucus will reach out to members of black communities from across Canada, with a special focus on youth and young professionals who will be able to grow within the system. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to get as many young professionals involved in different committees so that we can bring our voice to the table,â&#x20AC;&#x153; says Chapman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not at the table when decisions are being made, decisions are being made for us.â&#x20AC;? The caucusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work will also extend into the school system with the formation of a youth council made up of university, high school and junior high students. Getting the younger generation involved now is key, as statistics show that while 75 percent of black immigrants vote, only 53 percent of Canadian born blacks vote. As the caucus grows, future plans include organizing conferences, partnering with like-minded organizations in the United States and providing a forum for networking with members from all political parties. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This caucus reďŹ&#x201A;ects the desire of our communities to be involved in the political process,â&#x20AC;? says Chapman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a giant leap ford in having a greater inďŹ&#x201A;uence on the way that our communities grow.â&#x20AC;? To ďŹ nd out more about the newly formed black political caucus email Gwyneth Chapman at: info@inspiringyouthawards.com

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Life in Bangla Town Life in Bangla Town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; This is the title of a 34 minute documentary ďŹ lm showcasing the challenges facing immigrants from Bangladesh as one of the visible ethnic minority groups in Canada. Toronto, the commercial nerve centre of Canada and home to diverse culture of the world is a place most immigrants start their lives and learn to integrate into the Canadian culture. The challenges of survival and raising family confronting Bangladeshi immigrants showcased in this documentary are similar to what most ethnic minorities face in their various cocoons. Bangladesh is a South-Asia common wealth country which got her independence from Pakistan in 1971 after nine months of civil war which led to the death of millions of people. Though unskilled in warfare and weaponry, Bangladesh independence ďŹ ghters fought courageously with their blood and lives to liberate themselves from autocratic rule of Pakistan. After, the independence, Bangladesh still remain a devastated nation therefore, her citizens started looking out for

opportunities outside the shore of the country and many of them made it to Canada in the 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and early 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most of them settled in Greater Toronto Area and concentrated in the Crescent town (crescent places, massy squares, dawes road, Second avenue, Danforth road and avenue, Victoria park etc.) and its surrounding neighborhoods. City of Toronto designated this area as a priority neighborhood because

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of the poverty level and other socio-economic problems. This area is unofďŹ cially known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bangla Town`` - thousands of Bangladeshis live here therefore Danforth â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Victoria park area has almost all the traditional Bengali foods and other stuffs. So, all the culturalsocial-political activities have been accelerating here for the Bangladeshi families and their children.. Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services recently produced and screened a documentary on the lives of Bangladeshi families with a focus on youthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development and economic emancipation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Life in Bangla Townâ&#x20AC;?. The ďŹ lm captured the culture, social and political strategies to emancipate the vulnerable youths in the neighbourhood where gangs and illicit drug use has been a serious obstacle for the kids and family. The documentary is well shot, interesting and a must watch. The co-coordinator of the documentary, Mr. Souri Zaman described the piece as an important material for Canadian immigrantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life as far as multiculturalism and diversity is concerned. By MustaďŹ z Abdullahi

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YOUR HEALTH

UTERINE FIBROIDS By Dr Leke Badmos the uterus and (4) pedunculated – when its on a stalk

Submucosal

Fibroids are benign, smooth muscle tumours of the uterus. Usually called leiomyoma or leiomyomata, they are almost always benign and occur in 30% of women. It is believed it may be as high as 80% of all women ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a grape and may grow in some women to the size of a football or even bigger. There is a higher preponderance in dark-skin women (40%) compared to Caucasian women (20%), the reason which is not clear-cut, but heredity has been shown to be a possible factor.

AETIOLOGY The cause of fibroids is unknown but its commoner in blacks than whites. Heredity is believed to be a possible factor with a slightly higher preponderance of the smooth muscle wall of the dark skin patient to reproduce, multiply and grow into a mass of tissue separate from the normal uterine wall. Estrogen hormone increases the growth of fibroids. Fibroids have been shown to have more estrogen receptors than the surrounding uterine wall, thereby causing isolated growth of these tumours. No particular diet, behavioural pattern, exercise or lack of it has been shown to have any effect on the cause of fibroids. There is, therefore, nothing that can prevent it. There have been articles raising the hope of preventing the cause of fibroids with particular diets. Weight reduction etc but to date, no research has validated these claims.

TYPES OF FIBROIDS Fibroids can be (1) intramural – when it grows and is located within the thick wall of the uterine or (2) submucous – when it grows within the uterine wall but just underneath the uterine lining, thereby pushing into the uterine cavity, (3) subserous – when its located closer to the surface and projects to the outside of t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

SYMPTOMS Most fibroids are asymptomatic. Common symptoms are heavy menstrual periods both in amount of flow and duration. The amount of clots may be more with cramps. Periods may also be painful. There may be progressive increase in abdominal girth as the fibroids increase in size with pressure symptoms in the pelvis. There may also be increased frequency of micturition, backache, and constipation due to pressure on the rectum Consult your doctor for gynaecological checkups if you are feeling these symptoms. Fibroids may affect fertility depending o size and location. If they are big enough and affecting the uterine cavity, they may occlude the fallopian tubes and distort the cavity, thereby affect sperm migration and implantation. It can also result in miscarriages and premature labour In pregnancy, fibroids may increase in size due to the high estrogen level of pregnancy causing the uterus to be much larger than dates and associated pain and degeneration due to the fibroids outgrowing its blood supply. There is also the risk of malpresentation, e.g. breech due to uterine cavity distortion. In the third stage of labour, it may delay the adequate contractions of the uterus, thereby resulting in post partum hemorrhage. Rarely there is a small risk of malignancy in about <1/1000 whereby the fibroids undergo “sarcomatous” degeneration. This usually presents with rapid increase in the size of the fibroids with severe pains. It is believed that fibroids rarely undergo this change and most sarcomatous fibroids start de novo.

While most of these symptoms appear alarming, most ﬁbroids are actually asymptomatic and some of them shrink in menopause (although some do increase in size in this age group).

DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis is based on history and good abdominal and pelvic examination if they are big enough. Pelvic and transvaginal ultrasounds will conﬁrm the size and location. A sonohysterogram will also be helpful to localize the submucous and intracavitory ﬁbroids that mat be distorting the cavity and occluding the fallopian tubes.

MEDICAL TREATMENT Asymptomatic, small ﬁbroids do not usually require treatment. Treatment usually depends on symptoms, size and desire to have children.

Endometrial Ablation: Using heat or radio frequency wave, the lining of the uterus is destroyed to reduce or prevent cyclical bleeding. These do not actually destroy the fibroids. Not everyone with fibroids is suitable for this treatment option. Consult your doctor who will advise you on which treatment options are possible in your case. Uterine Artery Embolization: This is a relatively newer technique where “gel foam” particles are injected into the uterine arteries to block the blood supply to the uterus and the fibroids within. This automatically shrinks the fibroids but they will not disappear. The advantage is that no incision is required but complication may occur if blood supply to other pelvic organs is mistakenly occluded, resulting in injury to the bladder, rectum or ovaries. The fibroids may also not shrink significantly and may regrow after few months to years due to reopening of alternative blood supply to the uterus from ovarian and vaginal arteries. It’s also unsuitable for people whose family has not been completed due to untoward fertility issues post embolization. Hysterectomy: This is the last resort for dealing with very symptomatic fibroids in patient when fertility is not an issue.

Medication: Use of progesterone and estrogen birth control pills (combined OCP) has been shown to decrease the size of ﬁbroids in some patients. It also decreases heavy and painful menstrual periods. This may be beneﬁcial especially when fertility is an issue.

All surgery should be considered as last resort in the treatment of uterine ﬁbroids.

Analgesics: Non-steroidal anti-inﬂammatory agents can help to decrease the cyclical pain of ﬁbroids in most cases.

Uterine ﬁbroids, while benign can be symptomatic although a high proportion is not. Routine annual gynaecological checkups and pelvic ultrasound will pick them in early stages. These can be followed up and perhaps treated early before requiring surgical intervention as last result.

Hormonal: Lupron is an injectable hormone that helps to shrink the size of fibroids. It is given monthly or once a month (long acting) but not advisable for more than 4 to 6 months because of risk of osteoporosis. It stops menstrual periods by stopping estrogen production by the ovaries, thereby creating a “medical” menopause, which returns to normal after cessation of the drug. Patients should, therefore, expect symptoms of menopause – hot flashes, mood swings, irritability and at times loss of libido during treatment. It costs about $300 per month but most insurance covers this. The fallback of this treatment is that the fibroids will bounce back after stopping the treatment hence it is only a temporizing treatment.

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Danazol: This is a testosterone-like hormone given orally to shrink ﬁbroids. Side effects may be unpleasant ranging from weight gain, acne and increased hair growth to rarely, voice changes.

SURGICAL TREATMENT Fibroids may occasionally require surgical intervention, especially when they are big and symptomatic. It may also be indicated if fertility is desired. Myomectomy: This is surgical removal of fibroids. This may be open technique by laparotomy depending on size, location of the fibroids or by hysteroscopic procedure which is an approach through the vagina into the uterine cavity for the submucous and intracavitory ones. Laparoscopic approach may be possible through keyhole incisions into the abdomen and using the slender keyhole instruments, which can remove small subserous fibroids. The shortfall of this treatment is that the fibroids can regrow and require future removal.

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HEALTH

Procrastination Hypnosis Debbie Papadakis, BCH, CI Featured in Oprah’s Big Book of Happiness www.hypno-healing.com debbie@hypno-healing.com

Maybe I can put it off until tomorrow all this busy stuff and just sleep in, watch a little more television, read this magazine, or just plain “chill”. Haven’t I said all this before? Wow, a recipe for disaster. The need to praise the gods of will power, use self discipline, beat myself up and pull up my bootstraps has fizzled as a mantra as it has never worked, and perhaps never will. The fact is that procrastination often has its’ roots in the subconscious, and has served your uncertainties about yourself and your world well, over the years. It is here where the hypnotist must get involved and assist, where possible, to help you turn your life around, and help you understand the differences between priorities and procrastination. However, we tend to make the line between priorities and procrastination a little less black and white, and a little grayer through rationalization and negative emotions. Procrastination may be a symptom of something deeper. We often find it takes root in areas such as fear and perfectionism. The fear model is sometimes a conflict within one’s own mind. That form of procrastination may show itself as being as simple as discipline versus discomfort. Do we avoid discipline, or do we not like being uncomfortable? We see this in the form of avoidance coupled with a strong desire to put it off, or one might even wait until that task disappears. One such case study offers an insight to Bob, a client who could no longer do “cold calls” for his company. Bob reached our clinic when his job was in jeopardy as a result of declining sales. Bob insisted that he was being thorough and particular about his approach which had netted success in the past. “I guess I’m a bit of a perfectionist and want to get those cold calls just right”, he exclaimed. In fact, Bob was making excuses for putting off calls now that he used to make easily in the past. So we introduced Bob to hypnosis to get to the initial events that may have caused this matter. It turned out that Bob had run into some past high school classmates while on vacation in the Bahamas. One of the alumnus’s was a girl, now a woman, with whom he had a “crush”, and had been ridiculed when he had approached her about 20 years previous. When Bob met her again, she remained somewhat detached, but somewhat friendly, and spoke few words. Well, this was it for Bob. He played those old tapes in his head when he was rejected as a teen, and rejection followed him back home from the Bahamas. When Bob returned to work, it was as if he had visited another planet and began to fidget and avoid work. This memory had exploded into a full fledged dilemma for Bob, and practically ruined him at work. His employer remained sympathetic as Bob had a good work history, and his past had dredged up some self-criticism that knee-capped poor Bob. In working with the subconscious through hypnosis, and curbing that self criticism of the conscious mind that creates mountains of t BSSJWBM XPSME t JTTVF t

current problems, from the molehills of the past, we were able to get Bob to understand, through his subconscious, that he had become successful in his present life, and that the rejection of the past was small in comparison to his life today. “Well, she wasn’t a nice person anyway, so I wish her the best, and I’ll just get on with my life”. Bob no longer took the cold call rejections as personal, and his sales began to move forward. In a follow up interview Bob was amazed how such a small matter could explode into a present day problem. Ah, the mind, what a wonderful and complex thing to behold. Yet, a small incident from the past can cause issues of great proportion and be seen in one’s waking life as an interesting package. In this case, it was procrastination. Bob returned to his professional discipline and remained quite comfortable. Nevertheless, many people carry procrastination around for years never knowing its origins or really ever dealing with such difﬁculties. We just rationalize and continue on bumping into walls and never really ﬁnishing or completing what we had started. Although procrastination can reveal itself in many ways and in many forms, this has been one account of how procrastination shows up as a terrible situation. The number of projects that we may have quietly abandoned through procrastination can cause injury to one’s reputation, and the result can be an actual cost in real dollars to yourself and your family. Procrastination is a neglected priority to a lot of people and a yet remains a quiet and destructive force. You give power to procrastination by doing nothing.

CENTRE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CEFARD), CANADA

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