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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012 - $1

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Western nations expel Syrian diplomats

Gas prices in British Columbia hit a new high of 1.50.3 to $1.52.3/litre last week 14 cents over the national average. Remember to mark July 1st, 2012 on your calendar; that’s when the carbon tax adds about two cents a litre more.

Note with severed foot warned of more killings

A note sent with a severed foot to Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa indicated that more body parts had been sent through the post, and that the person who dismembered the victim would kill again, CTV News has learned. Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported late Wednesday that the note with the foot, which arrived at Tory headquarters Tuesday morning, said six body parts had been distributed. Police found a severed hand in a parcel addressed to Liberal Party headquarters in Ottawa later Tuesday. The shocking news comes after Montreal police issued a Canada-wide warrant for a 29-year-old suspect in the case of a severed torso found in a suitcase in Montreal, the severed foot sent to Tory headquarters and the hand intercepted at the Ottawa post office. Police said Wednesday they are seeking male model and porn actor Luka Rocco Magnotta, who also uses the names Eric Clinton Newman and Vladimir Romanov. Later Wednesday, a video making the rounds on the Internet purportedly shows a young man being stabbed and dismembered, and may be connected to the torso found in Montreal and the two body parts found in Ottawa. The video was posted to a website that specializes in gory videos and photos, but by Wednesday evening the link was slow to load and the video disabled.

It’s believed that the male victim, whose torso was discovered Tuesday in a suitcase, knew his assailant, Montreal police Commander Ian Lafreniere told reporters on Wednesday. Lafraniere said anyone with information about Magnotta’s whereabouts should call 911 immediately. Homicide investigators are also still trying to establish a clear link between the torso and the

severed foot and hand that were mailed to Ottawa. Police will have to wait for DNA tests to confirm the link, said Lafreniere.

Meanwhile, Ottawa police have confirmed that the body parts sent to Ottawa originated in Montreal. Lafreniere confirmed that the torso, which was found Tuesday morning in a pile of garbage behind an apartment in the Cote-des-Neiges neighbourhood, belonged to a white male, but said the victim’s identity has yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, police in Montreal are sifting through a second-floor apartment in the Cote-des-Neiges near the Decarie Expressway that has been identified as a crime scene. The building’s manager told The Canadian Press that Magnotta had lived there for about four months. Residents told CP that a horrible stench had been emanating from the unit. Eric Schorer, the building’s manager, said Magnotta “seemed like a nice guy.” While Lafreniere would say little about the crime scene, reporters who looked in the open doorway noticed a great deal of blood. Magnotta gave an interview to a Toronto newspaper five years ago, denying reports that he was dating convicted killer Karla Homolka. When asked about the rumoured connection between Magnotta and Homolka, Lafreniere said police have heard about it. Magnotta has also written several lengthy blog posts that appear online, including a 2009 piece entitled “How to Completely Disappear and Never Be Found.” The blog offers a six-step process to shedding an identity, including cutting ties with all friends and acquaintances and acquiring false identification. Lafreniere said Wednesday that Magnotta does not have a criminal record. The gruesome case broke Tuesday, when a human foot arrived in a package delivered to the Conservative Party’s Ottawa headquarters, triggering a lockdown of the building and nearby street. Lafreniere said there appears to be no political motivation for the mailings. He said both Ottawa police and the RCMP are assisting with the investigation.

Source: CTV News

Western countries have expelled Syrian diplomats after the United Nations said most of the victims of the massacre in Houla village were summarily executed without decisively saying who carried out most of the killings.

The United States, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Australia, Canada, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands said on Tuesday they were protesting the massacre in Houla on Friday of at least 108 people. In Damascus, after meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, international mediator Kofi Annan said Syria had reached a tipping point as his six-point peace plan was not being properly implemented. The diplomatic pressure came as France talked of military intervention backed by the United Nations Security Council. “It is not possible to allow Bashar al-Assad’s regime to massacre its own people,” French President Francois Hollande told France 2 television.

“Military intervention is not excluded provided it is carried out under the auspices of international law, namely via a Security Council resolution.” “It is down to myself and others to convince Russia and China, and also to find a solution which is not necessarily a military one,” said Hollande, who is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Paris on Friday. Friday’s killings in Houla, a collection of farming villages in Homs province that has become a focal point for opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was one of the deadliest single events in the 15-month-old uprising against Assad that has killed thousands. Kofi Annan has called the Houla killing “an appalling moment with profound consequences”. “The Syrian people do not want the future to be one of bloodshed and division. Yet the killings continue and the abuses are still with us today. “I appealed to him [Assad] for bold steps now - not tomorrow, now - to create momentum for the implementation of the plan.” Annan, arrived in Syria a day earlier, and held meetings with UN observers and Walid al-Muallem, the Syrian foreign minister. The success of Annan’s peace plan depended on “the end of terrorism”, Assad told him, state television reported. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said that some countries were trying to derail the peace plan offered by Annan

Continued on pg 7

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Pakistan successfully test fires Hatf-VIII

Pakistan conducted a successful flight test of the indigenously developed Air Launched Cruise Missile Hatf-VIII

(Ra’ad) Thursday, Geo News reported. According to an ISPR statement, Ra’ad Missile has the range of over 350 km that can enable Pakistan to achieve strategic standoff capability on land and at Sea. ‘Cruise Technology’ is extremely complex and has been developed by only a few countries in the world. The state of the art Ra’ad Cruise Missile with Stealth Capabilities is a low altitude, terrain hugging missile with high maneuverability, and can deliver nuclear and conventional warheads with pin point accuracy. A major additional feature of today’s test was the effective employment of the National Command Authority’s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS).

It has enabled robust command and control capability of all strategic assets with round the clock situational awareness in a digitized network centric environment to decision makers at National Command Centre (NCC).

The system has the added capability of real time remote monitoring of missile flight path. The successful launch has been commended by the President, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee who have congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement. AFP adds: Pakistan on Thursday tested a fourth nuclear-capable cruise missile since India launched a new long-range weapon capable of hitting China last month. On April 20, India successfully

test fired the Agni V capable of delivering a one-tonne nuclear warhead anywhere in rival China, marking a major advance in its military capabilities.

Previously, Pakistan test-fired Short Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) Nasr Hatf IX on Monday in a reported development that saw the completion of the scheduled test exercise of SRBMs and Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs). The Multi-Tube Hatf IX Nasr has a range of 60km Surface-to-Surface Range and is reportedly capable of carrying nuclear warheads upto 50kg. The test was conducted in connection with Pakistan’s 14th anniversary as nuclear power (May 28 atomic blasts), officials said. Earlier on April 25th, Pakistan had test-fired MRBM Shaheen I-A, the upgraded version of Shaheen-I followed by the test-launch of SRBM Ghaznavi-I on May 10th. An official statement says, Nasr can ‘carry nuclear warheads of appropriate yield, with high accuracy and possesses shoot and scoot attributes. This quick response system addresses the need to deter evolving threats, specially at shorter ranges’. Reportedly, the next test-exercise of MRBMs would start in July this year.

Official sources say, Nasr’s ‘impact time’ (the amount of time it takes to hit the target after setting off from launching pad) is 1.5 to three minutes, which according to officials, is the shortest impact time of any Pakistani SRBM. Nasr Hatf IX is said to be the joint venture of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD), National Development Complex (NDC) and China’s State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND).

Since last year, the missile is under the pre-operational phase and is yet to be inducted into Pakistan’s strategic fleet, it is learnt.

The Monday test, reportedly carried out in Somiani near Karachi, was witnessed by Director General NDC Anwaar Muzaffar, DG SPD Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Kidwai, DG Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC) Lieutenant General Tariq Nadeem Gilani and Chairman National Scientific and Engineering Commission (NESCOM) Irfan Burni.

A statement quoted Kidwai as terming the Nasr missile as a ‘weapon of peace’, stating that the test was a major development which would consolidate Pakistan’s deterrence capability at ‘all levels of the threat spectrum, thereby ensuring peace in the region’.

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012 BRINGING HARMONY TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES

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New TV Series ‘MANGOES’ Celebrates Diversity in a Unique Way

By Joseph Pooley Canada’s rich multicultural mosaic is a thriving and essential part of the country’s identity. In mainstream television, however, the diverse and often intersecting stories of young Canadians negotiating their cultural identities are often overlooked.

In Mangoes, a new TV series produced by local filmmakers the SUHRWARDY BROTHERS, these stories are brought to life.

The series chronicles a spirited group of South Asian urbanites coming to terms with what it means to be a Global Citizen in rapidly changing times. For the SUHRWARDY BROTHERS, the social dynamic of today’s youth, inundated with social media and technology, is a fascinating theme,

especially when considered alongside the cultural issues facing Canadians with foreign heritage. These tech-savvy youth also have exciting new stories to tell. As the Suhrwardys explain, they have “access to information like never before and have experience to draw from that perhaps generations before them never had” With the Mangoes series premiere close at hand, anticipation is high, as are expectations. The SUHRWARDY BROTHERS have been the creative force behind several popular projects of late. With a talented young cast and a first-of-its-kind partnership with Canadian mobile carrier Mobilicity, everything is in place for this project to come off as a roaring success.

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i n t e r n a t i o n a l

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Census: Aging population a potential health-care time bomb

Sixty-five is the new 55, or so the mantra among aging boomers holds. But while Canadian men and women are living longer than at any other time in the nation’s history, lifestyle diseases driven by excess weight and sloth - fewer than half of Canadians are as active as they should be - could see people developing age-related ailments faster than generations before them. People over 65 aren’t all equal; they’re a highly diverse bunch, says Dr. Parminder Raina, lead principal investigator for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a major national study that is looking at why some people stay healthy with age, and others don’t. Whether that translates into more disability down the road is unknown. The looming question is: how will those lifestyle changes affect the quality of our extra years of life? According to a recent House of Commons health committee report, the average life expectancy of Canadians has increased by more than 30 years since the early 1900s - to 78 for men, and 83 for women in 2011. But the number of years lived in good health peaked

in 1996, and has been on a downward slide since. The majority of seniors have at least one chronic condition; as many as one in four has two or more. Diabetes, chronic pain, bone-related diseases and some cancers are on the rise. Currently, half a million seniors suffer from dementia, a number that is expected to rise to more than a million by 2038, the committee heard. Eighty per cent of lung cancers occur in people over 60, while rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by asthma and smoking among 65- to 75-year-olds is triple that of younger Canadians. Overall, the 2011 census counted 4,945,060 people aged 65 and older in Canada, an increase of more than 14 per cent since the last count in 2006 - a rate of growth more than double the 5.9-per-cent increase for the Canadian population as a whole. This demographic shift - especially strong in Atlantic Canada and Quebec - is being driven by longer life expectancy, and the fact women aren’t having enough babies to replenish the population. By 2031, 22.8 per cent of the population will be 65

and older. The proportion will jump to one quarter - 25.5 percent - by 2061. In addition, the older the population, the higher the prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, said UBC’s Cynader.

The risk factors for stroke - age is the leading one - are the same as for heart attack: “Being overweight, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, eating too much red meat,” Cynader said. Humans experience a “depressingly steady decline” in cognitive performance - everything from reaction time to working memory - beginning in our early 20s. Yet, “things that you might call wisdom,” he said - our vocabulary, the ability to see the big picture, synonyms and antonyms - improve slightly with age, even into our 70s and 80s. The single most important thing people can do to reduce the risk of age-related brain decline is exercise, he said. It used to be thought that humans were born with all the neurons they would ever have. Normally the hippocampus, which is important in learning and memory, shrinks with age, increasing

dementia risk. A recent study involving 120 older adults without dementia found that moderate-intensity exercise - a 40-minute walk, three times a week - increases the size of the hippocampus and improves memory after one year. Sleep is also vital for the aging brain, he said. “There is evidence that if you disrupt sleep . . . your memory capabilities degrade.” Most people should also be eating less. “There are documented studies that you basically age more slowly if you eat less,” Cynader said. In addition, having a stimulating lifestyle - “exposing yourself to new ideas, exposing yourself to social contacts, basically being emotionally, socially, cognitively connected - is good for you,” he added. Stress, on the other hand, is toxic to the body. Chronic stress suppresses the immune system; it also triggers the release in the brain of the hormone cortisol, which is toxic to neurons - “and it’s especially toxic to the new babies,” Cynader said.

Source: Vancouver Sun

Quebec student leaders say province budging on tuition

The Quebec government is willing to modify its plans to hike university tuition, student leaders said Tuesday night as they exited a second day of talks aimed at ending the province’s student strike. Asked whether a deal is imminent, Desjardins told reporters outside the Education Ministry’s offices in Quebec City, “We’ll be discussing for all of tomorrow, so it depends on what you mean by ‘imminent.’” Both sides introduced proposals on Tuesday to end the impasse, with “several scenar-

ios around the table from the different parties,” according to Gabriel NadeauDubois, spokesman for the more hardline student group CLASSE. “We’ll take the night and probably the morning tomorrow to evaluate them,” NadeauDubois said. The two sides haven’t yet set a time for discussions to resume on Wednesday. It’s the first sign the talks might be nearing a deal to end a student strike and a wider social uprising, which has seen tens of thousands of people rally in the streets of Montreal, Quebec City and other communities over the past 3½ months. Nightly protests, the most intense of which involved the mass arrests of hundreds of people and clashes with police, have gone on for the last 36 days. It’s unclear whether Tuesday’s negotiations touched on Bill 78, the controversial emergency provincial legislation brought in on May 18 to quiet the protests. CLASSE had said it would only participate if the revocation of Bill 78 was on the table. But

Nadeau-Dubois said going into Tuesday’s bargaining that so far, the topic of Bill 78 had not been broached. It’s also unclear whether any deal would be ratified by striking students. The last tentative agreement to end the strike, on May 5, was roundly rejected when students voted on it and failed to end the impasse. Education Minister Michelle Courchesne said going into Tuesday’s talks that she was happy with the attitude the student side brought the day before. “I said yesterday that we share responsibility for arriving at a solution, and … they showed openness,” Courchesne said.

The minister did not speak to reporters following Tuesday’s meeting. The Liberal government’s original plan, conveyed in its March 2011 budget, was to raise tuition by 75 per cent over five years, to $3,793 a year before ancillary fees. It then softened its position in last month’s negotiations with students and said it was willing to spread the increase out over seven years and to wait six more months to implement it — likely delaying any fee hike until after the next provincial election. Quebec Finance Minister Raymond Bachand said Monday that whatever agreement the province and student leaders arrive at in the latest round of talks, it cannot involve more taxpayer money going to higher education. The tuition hike could still be attenuated, however, by rejigging other university budget items such as infrastructure spending, Bachand said.

Students are mainly represented at the table by the 125,000-strong FEUQ, the 100,000-member CLASSE and the 80,000-member Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec, which represents students at Quebec’s CEGEP preparatory colleges. The smaller Table de concertation étudiante du Québec, or TaCEQ, is also taking part. About 150,000 Quebec post-secondary students are still on strike and boycotting classes.

Qatar orders arrests after deadly mall fire Qatar issued arrest orders for the owner of a fire-ravaged mall and four others as investigations widened Wednesday into possible safety lapses during a blaze that killed 19 people, including 13 children at a daycare center catering to the Gulf nation’s large expatriate community.

‘Bin Laden doctor’ jailed for ‘fighter links’ A Pakistani doctor who helped the US find Osama bin Laden was imprisoned for aiding fighters and not for links to the CIA, as Pakistani officials had said, according to a court document. Last week, a court in the Khyber tribal region near the Afghan border jailed Shakil Afridi for 33 years.

At the time, Pakistani officials told Western and domestic media the decision was based on treason charges for aiding the CIA in its hunt for the al-Qaeda chief. “When the verdict came out on May 23, it said he was being charged for treason because of his involvement with the CIA,” Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said. However, the judgement document made available to the media on Wednesday states that Afridi was jailed because of his close ties to the banned group Lashkar-e-Islam.

“Americans lashed out at Pakistan, but when the ruling came out today, it made no mention of the CIA,” Hyder said. “People are asking all sorts of questions whether the Americans overreacted, or the Pakistanis overreacted.” The government may have wanted to show a largely anti-US public that Pakistan will not tolerate any co-operation with the US spy agency, especially at a time of troubled relations with Washington. “There was a lot of friction because of this case with the United States,” said Mansur Mehsud, director for research at the FATA Research Centre, an independent think tank based in Islamabad. “This appears to be an effort to patch things up with the United States, while also satisfying the people of Pakistan that Afridi has been punished. “The mindset is being managed, confusion created, about what exactly he

has done.” While the document stated there was evidence that Afridi “has been shown acting with other foreign intelligence agencies”, it noted the court in Khyber had no jurisdiction to act on that.

But the court recommended that the evidence may be produced before an appropriate court for further proceedings. The Afridi case has further strained ties between the US and Pakistan, already damaged by a series of events, including a NATO cross-border air attack last November that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. US officials have hailed Afridi as a hero who helped the CIA track down bin Laden, who was killed by US Navy SEALs in a raid in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad in May last year. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities said that they feared the doctor could be killed and requested that he be transferred to a more secure prison. “This man is a target, not just for the alQaeda, but also the Taliban,” Hyder said. He is being held in the central jail in the northwestern city of Peshawar, where Taliban and other Islamist fighters are being held on terrorism charges. “We have requested the federal government to move Doctor Shakeel Afridi from Peshawar to another jail. We fear he could be attacked,” Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister for northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said. “There are more than 3,000 prisoners here and 250 of them are incarcerated on terror charges. These diehard militants could attack Afridi. “Intelligence agencies also warned us about the possibility of an attack on him. We do not want a replay of the recent jail break in Bannu.”

Source: Al-Jazeera

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i n t e r n a t i o n a l

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Romney seals party nomination to challenge Obama Mitt Romney clinched his Republican party’s White House nomination by winning its Texas primary, vowing to get America “back on the path to pros-

perity” by defeating Barack Obama in November.

But the milestone was clouded by a rehashed controversy over claims by billionaire tycoon Donald Trump, a high-profile Romney supporter, questioning President Obama’s birthplace. The former Massachusetts governor, the only candidate who actively campaigned in Texas, won 71 percent of the vote, according to Fox News, CNN and NBC television.

US congressman from Texas Ron Paul won 10 percent in his home state, Catholic conservative Rick Santorum 7 percent and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich 5 percent, according to CNN. In Texas 155 delegates were at stake -- which added to Romney’s tally of 1,064 should take him well over the 1,144 nomination threshold, according to the website RealClearPolitics. But while Romney celebrate the achievement, the campaign risked veering off message thanks to interventions by flamboyant real estate tycoon Trump, who endorsed the candidate in February. Trump -- with whom Romney was attending a fundraiser in Las Vegas as the Texas results came in, spent much of Tuesday insisting there were still lingering doubts about whether Obama was really a natural born US citizen. “Nothing has changed my mind,” he told CNBC about the socalled “birther” issue, adding: “There are some major questions here and the press doesn’t want to cover

it.” That provided an opening for Obama’s campaign to slam Romney for lacking “moral leadership” over his appearance with Trump. Romney’s campaign was forced into awkward damage control hours before the two men appear together, with spokeswoman Andrea Saul saying Romney “has said repeatedly that he believes President Obama was born in the United States. “The Democrats can talk about Donald Trump all they want -Mitt Romney is going to talk about jobs and how we can get our economy moving again.” Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Reince Priebus hailed Romney’s Texas win, saying it paves the way for the party’s August convention in Tampa, Florida, where Romney will be formally nominated and reveal his running mate. In nominating a multimillionaire former businessman, the Republican Party is in familiar territory, but in one key respect Romney is making history, as the nation’s first-ever Mormon nominee of a major political party. The Republican base has long been dominated by evangelical Christians, and Romney’s faith has occasionally come under scrutiny by some religious leaders. But Romney is counting on Americans seeing him as the pragmatic problem solver with the business credentials to turn the economy around better than Obama has. Romney, 65, pivoted toward Obama in his campaign speeches and events more than a month ago, when it became clear his long march toward the nomination at the party convention in August would not be stopped. But it was a brutal primary season. Rivals like Gingrich and Santorum humbled Romney by stealing some victories, rallying voters to their more conservative agenda and highlighting his flipflops on key issues such as abortion. Polls show a steadily tightening White House race, with Republicans coalescing behind Romney in the weeks since Gingrich and Santorum dropped out. Poll aggregates show Obama narrowly ahead. The latest RealClearPolitics average shows the president with a two-point lead, 45.6 to 43.6 percent.

Source: AFP

Man’s violent rampage ends in fatal shootout with police The manhunt for Angus David Mitchell has ended with the attempted murder suspect shot dead by police after he allegedly opened fire on officers in Maple Ridge Wednesday afternoon. A critically injured Mitchell was loaded into an air ambulance shortly before 1 p.m. following a police confrontation somewhere in the area of 132nd Avenue between 216 and 224 streets. He was pronounced dead at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. Mitchell is accused of shooting his former landlord in Burnaby on Tuesday, and is also considered a person of interest in a double murder in the same city earlier over the weekend. A tip from the public led investigators to the rural Maple Ridge area after a public warning was issued about the wanted man Wednesday morning. Police say they followed Mitchell’s van and he opened fire on them when they tried to engage him. Several shots were fired, but no police officers were injured in the shootout.

The Vancouver Police Department has agreed to investigate the fatal confrontation. Investigators believe Mitchell shot his 51-yearold former landlord in front of the man’s home in the 4400-block of Gilpin Crescent, and warned he was in possession of a high-powered Mossberg Maverick rifle with a scope. Mitchell had recently been evicted from the house. The victim in that attack survived the shooting, but is in hospital in serious condition. Mitchell, who police say was living out of a 1994 green Ford Aerostar van with B.C. licence plate 591 PTG, is also considered a person of interest in the May 27 double-homicide at the Royal Oak Sushi House in Burnaby. Those who know Mitchell or have had a conflict with him in the past, including former co-workers, employers, landlords and roommates, were advised to be “extremely cautious about their personal safety.”

Mirko Filippovic, owner of Themis Security in Victoria, said Mitchell worked for him as a contractor three times, with his last contract expiring six weeks ago, but could not comment on his time at the company. “We’re limited as to what we can say at this point until we get some updates from Victoria police,” Filoppovic said, adding that he had scheduled a meeting with officers Wednesday afternoon to discuss personal safety precautions. Filippovic said Mitchell did not leave on bad terms, though a post Mitchell made on the company’s Facebook page in early May suggests his relationship with his former employer had turned sour. Mitchell had also been laid off from Royal Victoria Security a few weeks ago, but staff there declined to talk about him.

Source: CTV News

UN issues most serious cyber warning ever after ‘Flame’ virus infects thousands of Mideast computers A United Nations agency charged with helping member nations secure their national infrastructures plans to issue a sharp warning

about the risk of the Flame virus that was recently discovered in Iran and other parts of the Middle East. “This is the most serious [cyber] warning we have ever put out,” said Marco Obiso, cyber security coordinator for the UN’s Geneva-based International Telecommunications Union. The confidential warning will tell member nations that the Flame virus is a dangerous espionage tool that could potentially be used to attack critical infrastructure, he said in an interview.

“They should be on alert,” he said. Evidence suggest that the virus, dubbed Flame, may have been built on behalf of the same nation or nations that commissioned the Stux-

net worm that attacked Iran’s nuclear program in 2010, according to Kaspersky Lab, the Russian cyber security software maker that took credit for discovering the infections. He said the ITU would set up a program to collect data, including virus samples, to track Flame’s spread around the globe and observe any changes in its composition.

Kaspersky Lab said it found the Flame infection after the ITU asked the Russian company to investigate recent reports from Tehran that a mysterious virus was responsible for massive data losses on some Iranian computer systems. So far, the Kaspersky Lab team has not turned up the original data-wiping virus that they were seeking and the Iranian government has not provided Kaspersky a sample of that software, Obiso said. Iran has not disclosed any data lost to the new virus, but Israel’s vice-premier did little to deflect suspicion about possible Israeli involvement in the latest attack. It is the most complex piece of malicious software dis-

covered to date, said Kaspersky Lab security senior researcher Roel Schouwenberg, whose company discovered the virus. The results of the Lab’s work were made available on Monday. Schouwenberg said he did not know who built Flame. If the Lab’s analysis is correct, Flame could be the third major cyber weapon uncovered after the Stuxnet virus that attacked Iran’s nuclear program in 2010, and its data-stealing cousin Duqu, named after the Star Wars villain played by Christopher Lee. The discovery by one of the world’s largest makers of antivirus software will likely fuel speculation that nations have already secretly deployed other cyber weapons. The Moscow-based company is controlled by Russian malware researcher Eugene Kaspersky, and gained notoriety in cyber weapons research after solving several mysteries surrounding Stuxnet and Duqu. Researchers at Kaspersky said they were only starting to understand how Flame works because it is so complex.

The full significance will not be known until other cyber security firms obtain samples of Flame. The Lab’s research shows the largest number of infected machines are in Iran, followed by the Israel/Palestine region, then Sudan and Syria. The virus contains about 20 times as much code as Stuxnet, which attacked an Iranian uranium enrichment facility, causing centrifuges to fail.

It has about 100 times as much code as a typical virus designed to steal financial in-

formation, Schouwenberg said. Flame can gather data files, remotely change settings on computers, turn on PC microphones to record conversations, take screen shots and log instant messaging chats. He said there was evidence to suggest the code was commissioned by the same nation or nations that were behind Stuxnet and Duqu, which were built on a common platform. Both Flame and Stuxnet appear to infect machines by exploiting the same flaw in the Windows operating system and employ a similar way of spreading. That means the teams that built Stuxnet and Duqu might have had access to the same technology as the team that built Flame, he said. Schouwenberg said he believed the attack was highly targeted, aimed mainly at businesses and academic institutions. He estimated that no more than 5,000 personal computers around the world have been infected, including a handful in North America. Kaspersky Lab discovered Flame while investigating reports that a virus dubbed Wiper was attacking computers in Iran. The International Telecommunications Union, a UN agency that promotes research and cooperation on telecommunications technology, asked Kaspersky Lab to investigate those reports. Schouwenberg said that his team discovered Flame, but failed to turn up anything that resembled Wiper.

Source: National Post

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

PENALISING THE UNEMPLOYED

The Conservatives under Prime Minister Steven Harper are running the show like a dictatorial regime which never hesitates when it comes to shutting down adequate debate on important national issues such as the EI or F35 procurement. As usual, they’re again after the ‘short term gain,’ yet they don’t realise the long term financial pain later on.

Next year, the regime is implementing the new EI (Employment Insurance) rules and is setting aside $21 million for overhauling the system.

Whether the overhaul would guarantee any financial security to the vulnerable jobless workers is far from clarity.

Apparently, the following three categories are aimed at remedying the crisis created by the unemployed including the “cheaters and the lazy workers”: Tier 1: Long-tenured workers who have paid into the EI program for seven of the past 10 years, and over the last five years have collected regular or fishing benefits for 35 weeks. These workers will be allowed to restrict their job hunt to positions that pay 90 per cent of their previous earnings and are in the same occupation. After 18 weeks, however, they will be expected to accept jobs that pay 80 per cent of their previous salary in the same field.

Tier 2: (Occasional) Frequent claimants are

those who have had three or more claims (regular or fishing) for a total of more than 60 weeks in the past five years. Those out of work that fall between the definitions of long-tenured and frequent, can spend 18 weeks looking for a job in their “similar” occupation at 80 per cent of previous pay.

After 18 weeks, those recipients will be expected to take any work that pays at least 70 per cent of earnings. Fifty eight percent of claimants are occasional claimants.

Tier 3: (Frequent) Occasional claimants are all other claimants, who have limited experience in being unemployed .Frequent EI users will be defined as someone who has made three or more regular or fishing claims and collected 60 or more weeks of benefits in the past five years. This category currently makes up 17 per cent of all EI claimants - mainly in Atlantic Canada.

These recipients will only have six weeks to find a job in a “similar occupation” at least 80 per cent of pay.

Introducing new rules with the intention of going after the repeat claimants indiscriminately for no fault of theirs is certainly frustrating.

Approximately 17 per cent of EI claimants are considered frequent users, while 58 per cent fall under the occasional category and 25 per cent fall under the long-tenured category.

L E T T E R S

‘MAA’- MOTHER-WOMAN’! AND ‘KILLING OF A FEMALE CHILD’

By: Gulshan Aalani, Vancouver

The most precious word ‘Maa’/Mother is also a precious Woman, who has to play many different roles in her life, but the most important role is of a Mother that is the highest, confirmed by the Sharia/Divine Law from Creator-GOD the Supreme-Being: Messenger Muhammad (SAWS) repeated the divine Revelation and said: “Jannah/ Paradise is under the feet of your Mother, respect her, and don’t even say a single word of disrespect to her”. (The Mother also has to be respectful of children): followed by the respect of Fathers who will enter Paradise for looking after more than one daughter giving her best of education of moral, ethics and law, which also obviously includes the worship of One Creator-GOD. Apparently, in pre-Islamic period the female Child use to be buried alive after birth. Consequently, the killing, or aborting of a female child is forbidden and is considered a ‘Sin’.

Quran 31: 14- “And WE have enjoined on man to be good to his parents: in travail upon travail did his Mother bear him…..

Show gratitude to ME and to thy parents”.

16: 58, 59:-“When news is brought to one of them of a birth of a female child, his face darkens, and he is filled with inward

grief….or bury it in the dust? What an evil choice they decide on?”.

Evidently, 15C. ago GOD gave the criterion Legislated Blue print containing A-Z guidance and remedies for every walk of life issues, including resolving the social issues, but the rebellious mankind has ignored HIM, HIS Sharia/ Divine law and has no fear of HIM, and so the suffering continues.

Since centuries all around the world East or West the violence against women, is still on going. Though, the ratio is much higher in Eastern ethnic community and has increased in many ways: The forced abortion of female child has increased rapidly, the wife is threatened of divorce if disagreeing to abortion, even though Scientifically it is proven that husband is the one responsible for child’s gender and not the wife, the Dowry problem is burning alive and killing more women, even though the Sharia/Law is clear that the Dowry is given by the husband to the wife but the Divine Law is turned and twisted by the fearless rebellious ones forcing wives to provide dowry. Such are not misguided for the lack of education but for the lack of the Divine Law. Luckily, in West we have all the facilities empowering Women and most are already empowered yet, we are unable to eliminate the barbaric practices, due to not

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In fact, the bias against the unfortunate ones is not only contemptuous but is unethical too, as the new 70 percent rule would bring more misery to the jobless Canadians.

If you lose your job, you must be willing to accept a wage cut of up to 30 percent to qualify for EI benefit.

But upon losing that job, you are getting another 30 percent wage decrease and the unfair trend would continue.

Under the proposed changes, benefit collection history of the claimant would be a determining factor to decide the amount and duration of EI benefits. Assessment would be based on evidence of job search activities, the intensity and frequency of the claimant’s efforts and the type of work he/ she searches on daily basis.

There is a fear factor that new rules may further jeopardize the economic security of communities earning their living from seasonal industries. A seasonal worker in the fishery, tourism, forestry or agriculture won’t be allowed anymore to turn down the available position. Those looking for work must be willing to work at a job that is within one hour of commuting distance from their home, or longer in communities where longer commuting times are the norm. Under the new rules the internet access will be needed to receive the daily job posting emails.

Waan laysa lil insani illa ma’ sa’aa That man can have nothing but what he strives for.

O P I N I O N S

implementing the Divine law in all the issues..

Thus, the recent remarkable positive campaign by activist Actor Aamir Khan against the horrific, barbaric treatment of Women presenting through his interview with brutally battered women, their experience of barbaric torture, savagely eaten disfiguring the face, would probably give some a heart attack, but the Video must be seen by the whole world to support his campaign of ban on forced female abortion: the pregnant women are tricked by their husbands into going for check up, but in advance collaborating with the physicians to perform the abortion without the knowledge or consent of a wife.

Kudos to Aamir Khan, who has brought this issue in a complete different ‘Light of awareness’.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=u1vASMbEEQc

Cyclists By: M . Hajee, Surrey Enough about cyclists already! They need to be licensed and regulated just like vehicles. This is what I propose: * Annual licence fee of $100. Before they get the licence, they bike should ber inpected that it is safe and meets all safety regulations (see below) * Rear mudguards on all bicycles; should have reflective stripes on the rear guard so that the cyclist can be seen at night * Front light: most cyclists still do not have any lights in the front. They ALL

Founder : Nusrat Hussain Managing Editor: M. Naseer Pirzada Sub-Editors: Khadija, Misbah & Sabeeh Hon. Chief Editor & Urdu Editor Mohammad Rafiq Advertising : info@miraclenews.com Ph: 604-690-0400 Email: naseer@telus.net,

It’s important that some serious steps are taken to persuade the repeaters to look seriously for gainful employment. Since some people make a career out of staying on EI for a prolonged period of time; new rules won’t mean much to them unless there is effective counselling to help them out of the chronic addiction.

Scapegoating the unemployed Canadians might give some political mileage to the Conservatives, yet the plight of common man won’t change much unless the abusers find no more loop holes for bilking money out of the system. Most importantly, some drastic economic measures have to be in place to bring back the outsourced work from foreign lands. Surely, more employment opportunities will ease the financial strain on the EI program.

Reforming the EI system to favour the jobless is a long way to go yet, and there is a lot of catching up to do indeed.

Question remains if recession is the perfect timing for gearing up against the unemployed.

need to have light in the front * Horn / bell on the handlebar to warn pedestrians * Must flow WITH the traffic not against it. In other words, KEEP RIGHT * Safety helmets to be worn at all times With these few safety standards, ALL will be safe on the roads

UN : Continued from pg 1 and accused the Syrian opposition of trying to incite civil war in the country. “We are certainly worried by continuing attempts to derail Kofi Annan’s plan. Now the pretext being used is the tragic events outside the town of Houla on May 25,” he said. Tuesday’s meeting in Damascus came as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that entire families had been shot in their homes and that fewer than 20 of the 108 Houla victims were killed by artillery.

Most of the victims, including children, were shot at close range, the UN human rights office said. Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the body, said the conclusions were based on accounts gathered by UN monitors and corroborated by other sources. “Most of the ... victims were summarily executed in two separate incidents,” Colville said in Geneva, Switzerland. He said witnesses blamed armed pro-government forces, known as “shabiha”, for the attacks. He noted that the shabiha sometimes acted “in concert” with government forces. The UN has said that government forces fired tank shells and artillery at Houla, but has stopped short of holding the government entirely responsible. Assad’s regime has denied any role in the killings, blaming them on “armed terrorists” who attacked army positions in the area and slaughtered innocent civilians. “What is very clear is that this was an absolutely abominable event that happened in Houla and at least a substantial part of it was summary executions of civilians including women and children,” Colville said. Activists have posted videos of tanks and armoured vehicles in the middle of cities, a violation of Annan’s six-point peace plan, and UN observers said they found spent tank and artillery shells in Houla after the massacre there.Source: Al-Jazeera

Editorial Board : Mr.Shums Jillani, Mr Aslam Hayat, Azhar Syed, Mr. Shams Siddiqui, M.A.L. Naumani, Mr Tariq Mian Graphic Design: Design Teams Copyright ® 2001 Miracle Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved Printed in Canada

Attention: The opinions expressed herein contain positions and viewpoints that are not necessarily those of ‘The Miracle’. These are offered as a means for ‘The Miracle’ to stimulate dialogue and discussion in our continuing mission of ‘Bringing Harmony To All The Communities.’

Phone: 604-690-0400 -Email: miraclenews@telus.net, info@miraclenews.com ,Website: www.miraclenews.com

Contents Editorial & Letters Int. News Local Special Articles Faith Health Sports Urdu

7 5,6 8, 10, 12-14 14,20,21 16, 25 8 15 27 28-36

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

f a i t h

Introduction to the Status of Dhikr

By: Huda Shaka Every limb of the human body has the capacity to engage in a brief act of worship.

The remembrance of God (dhikr) is the worship of the heart and tongue, except it is not as transient. They [the heart and tongue] have been ordered to remember the Object of their worship and love in every state standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides. For just as dhikr plows the otherwise barren fields of paradise, it nurtures and develops the desolate wrecks of our hearts.

Dhikr is what cleanses and polishes the heart; it is medicine for the heart when it falls ill. The more the worshipper increases her focus in her dhikr, the more the Remembered increases in love and yearning to meet her. If the heart is in harmony with the tongue in dhikr, it forgets everything else; and God preserves for it everything else.

Dhikr itself compensates for everything. It dispels the weakness from one’s hearing, the muteness from one’s tongue, and the darkness from one’s sight.

With it, God adorns the tongues of those who remember [Him], as He adorns with light the sight of the beholders. The heedless tongue is like the blind eye, the deaf ear, and the paralyzed hand.

Dhikr is the greatest of God’s doors that remains open between Him and His servant as long as the servant does not close it with his heedlessness. Al-Hasan al-Basri, may God have mercy on his soul, said: “Seek the sweetness [of faith] in three things: in prayer, in dhikr, and in the recitation of the Qur’an. If you find it [then be it], otherwise know that the door is closed.”

With dhikr, the [believing] servant prevails over Satan, while Satan prevails over those who are heedless and forgetful [of God].

Dhikr is also the soul of good deeds. Should a deed lack in dhikr, it becomes like the soul-less body.

Allah (SWT) gave us a general order to remember [Him]: “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance, and exalt Him morning and afternoon.” Qur’an 33:41-42 He forbade us from its inverse states-heedlessness and forgetfulness: “And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech - in the mornings and the evenings; and do not be among the heedless.” Qur’an 7:205 “And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient.” Qur’an 59:19 He hinged success on remembering Him, much and often: “...and remember Allah much so you may be successful.” Qur’an, 8:45 He greatly praised those who are mindful and told of what He has prepared for them of Paradise and forgiveness: “...and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Al-

lah has prepared forgiveness and a great God. reward.” Qur’an 33:35 In such dhikr is the preservation of the And He told us of the loss of those distractheart’s goodness, maintenance of etiquette Narrated ‘Aisha: Abu Bakr Ased by money and progeny: with God, guarding against heedlessness, Siddiq had never broken his oaths “So remember Me, I will remember you; and protection from Satan and the nafs till Allah revealed the expiation and be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.” (self).

Qur’an 2:152 The Prophetic Dhikrs combine all three, for for the oaths. Then he said, “If I And he told us that His Remembrance is they include God’s praise, supplication, and take an oath to do something and greater than anything else: perfect protection [for the self and heart]. later on I find something else better “...and the remembrance of Allah is the Source: SuhaibWebb - Excerpts from than the first one, then I do what is greatest.” Qur’an 29:45 Madarij as-Salikeen by Ibn al-Qayyim. better and make expiation for my God sealed with it good deeds, such as fastAbridged by Ahmed Mustafa Qasim atoath.” ing: Tahtawi. Translated by Huda Shaka “...and to glorify Allah for that which He has guided you [to]; and perhaps you will be grateful.” Qur’an 2:185 And He sealed with From June 1-15, 2012 (Rajab 11-25, 1433H) it the pilgrimage: “And when you have Rajab JJuJune Day Fajar SunR Zawa1 Dhuhr Asar Maghrib Isha completed your rites, Fri 2:55 1:17 6:40 Rajab 11 June1 5:09 1:10 9:15 11:15 remember Allah like you Sat 2:54 1:17 12 2 5:09 1:10 6:41 9:16 11:17 remembered your fathers, rather with a [much] 1:18 6:42 13 3 Sun 2:53 5:08 1:11 9:17 11:18 greater remembrance.”

1:18 6:42 14 4 Mon 2:51 5:07 1:11 9:17 11:20 Qur’an 2:200 Tue 2:50 1:18 6:43 15 5 5:07 1:11 9:18 11:21 And He sealed with it prayer: 1:18 6:43 16 6 Wed 2:49 5:06 1:11 9:19 11:22 “And when you have com1:18 6:44 17 7 Thu 2:48 5:06 1:11 9:20 11:24 pleted the prayer, rememFri 2:47 1:18 6:44 18 8 5:05 1:11 9:21 11:25 ber Allah standing, sitting, Sat 2:46 1:19 6:45 19 9 5:05 1:12 9:21 11:26 or [lying] on your sides.”

Qur’an 3:103 1:19 6:45 20 10 Sun 2:46 5:05 1:12 9:22 11:27 And He sealed with it the 1:19 6:45 21 11 Mon 2:45 5:05 1:12 9:23 11:28 Friday prayer: Tue 2:44 1:19 6:46 22 12 5:04 1:12 9:23 11:29 “And when the prayer has 1:19 6:46 23 13 Wed 2:44 5:04 1:12 9:24 11:30 been concluded, disperse within the land and seek 1:20 6:47 24 14 Thu 2:43 5:04 1:13 9:24 11:30 from the bounty of Allah, Fri 2:43 1:20 6:47 25 15 5:04 1:13 9:25 11:31 and remember Allah often Source: Masjid Al Noor so you may succeed.”

Qur’an 62:10 For this reason, dhikr is the [best] ending for this life, and if it is the last of a servant’s speech, God enters him into Paradise.

The mindful heart is like the living in the homes of the living, and the heedless [heart] is like the dead in the homes of the dead for there is no doubt that the bodies of the heedless are graves for their hearts, and that the hearts within them are like the dead in their graves.

Dhikr of the tongue, in harmony with the heart, is of different kinds.

• Dhikr with praise, such as “Glory be to God,” “Praise be to God,” “There is no god but God,” and “God is the Greatest.”

• Dhikr with supplication, such as

AQEEM USS SALAAT

• “They said, ‘Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.’” [Qur’an, 7:23] • Dhikr with statements to guard the self, like “God is with me,” “God is Observing me,” “God is witnessing me” which are used to strengthen [one’s] mindfulness of

ATTENTION! Beware of Fraud Phone Calls and Fake Emails

If you will receive an email from an obscured email address with the subject “Urgent” please disregard it. All the information in that email is likely fake.

Second beware from the Fake phone calls either from local numbers, toll free or from your country of origin. The fraudulent people are calling mostly in day time at your local home phone numbers and may ask to talk to any female or children and tell the stories that your family member, either parents ( father or mother), husband or wife, won the lottery luckily in any city and they need more information to send the Money in his/ her account, so please tell us date of birth and address and first and last name.

So please inform all your family members and friends to avoid giving any personal information on phones and email to any unknown person so may may avoid fraud in bank accounts and others problems.

May Allah (God) (swt) protect you all from the evils of this world and may He (swt) bless you all.

Managing Director Miracle Media

(Establish Prayer)

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Imam Delic helps in raising $24K for Masjid Al-Salaam

On May 27, the BCMA Burnaby Branch/ New Westminster/Tri-Cities branch raised 24,000 dollars for Brick Completion & Painting work of Masjid Al-Salaam & Education Centre at Canada Way, Burnaby.

Br. Imad Ali was the master of ceremony, and conducted it very well. He briefly told history of 45 years of BCMA. The program started with the recitation of Holy Quran by Masjid Al Salaam’s Imam Ameer. After the recitation of Quran, BCMA President Br. Musa Ismail said that fundraising for Burnaby has always been great. Allhumdulillah this centre is already paid off and after completion of any project, it needs support for the maintenance, repair, utilities bills and facilities and the service it provides.

“Don’t go by today’s less numbers we are here, but we shall meet our goal for rest of work with your ongoing support,”said Br. Ismail.

Co chairperson Br. Daud Ismail mentioned that 14 years ago a group of Burnaby people dedicated their time and thought about to build a Masjid in this location to serve the Muslim Community and he is proud to still be a member of that visionary committee of his Masjid and Islamic Education Centre. The first fundraising dinner raised $200K and second raised $100K and then it has been carried on till today to finish this House of Allah(SWT) so BCMA is very grateful of our community.

This centre is serving multiple operations, such Islamic, social aspects, interfaith dialogues, seminars and as well as five times Salah(Prayers), Arabic lessons and

Quran Classes for children, adult education, public seminars for non-Muslims on Islam, lectures on health, movie screenings on Islam and related matters, a library and laptop computers are available at this modern Masjid. He also requested support for rest of the external brick completion and painting work.

Masjid Al Salaam Architect Br. Shareef Sanibel was also invited to talk about his beautiful religious project. He said, “I am very blessed by Allah (swt) that I am a part of this Masjid team. This Masjid is not only the pride of Burnaby’s Muslim Community, it is pride for all Lower Mainland people”.

He said that Masjid is so popular in public because it is a unique religious landmark at Canada way in Burnaby. Now the rest of exterior bare concrete wall needs sand blasting, grinding, filling and painting work and some brick work has to be done. So this work needs more support. After this project the commercial kitchen, maple paneling upstairs, posture chairs etc projects will be finished.

Dr. Zijad Delic, Imam of South Nepean Muslim Community Ontario, was the keynote speaker and led the fundraising efforts.

After Imam Delic left from British Columbia he continues to be a part of BC’s Muslim community through his frequent visits to the province. Dr. Delic said that this Masjid is very unique in North of America, unique in many perspective as per Canadian requirements. It accommodates many faiths, cultures and nations by seminars and forums. This Masjid’s female members

are very hard working and dedicated all the time. These open doors and open hands show their hospitality.

The teachings of Prophet Mohammad(saw) included “Unity of purpose”. We are now 1.7 billion Muslims which means every 5th person is a Muslim in this world. Muslims are not lacking in numbers and resources but unfortunately lack of unity of purpose. The Masjid also fulfills the social aspects and this Masjid is doing very well in this aspect.

The Quran says about Unity in many ways, Harmony, unity of Muslims,(hold fast the rope of Allah and don’t go in division),Unity of Family (husband and wife). Masajids are the source of identities as this centre has proved.

This project has been completed to date with about $5.5 millions by all community support. He further encouraged the audience to show their maximum support in order to complete external bricks and painting work of this Masjid Al-Salaam & Education centre for their future generations.

Imam Delic started with the target, and by the end of the event, about $24K dollars had been raised. He then made the Duaa for the betterment of Muslim Ummah.

Burnaby’s dedicated women chapter did a great job in the collection of more than $6000. They always stay a step ahead from the Men. They do the catering, servicing at most of the Masjid events to save dollars for Masjid funds. At the end Sr. Nisheet did the vote of thanks followed by the dinner.

The Maria-Helena Foundation presents a panel discussion on Pakistan’s Socio-Economic Development: The Role of Diaspora beyond Remittances Saturday, June 2, 2012 ~ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Room 120, Surrey Centre Library, 10350 University Drive, Surrey Shams Alibhai, Executive Director, BC Council for International Cooperation Shuja Alam, Consul General of Pakistan Aamir Baig, Entrepreneur Hafsa Ishtiaq, Volunteer, CARE Foundation Pakistan Ashfaq Khan, Donor/Volunteer, International Development & Relief Foundation Furquan Gehlen, Board Member, Human Concern International Mohammad Rafiq, Urdu Editor, The Miracle Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Founder and President The Maria-Helena Foundation

Moderator Leveraging Diaspora’s Knowledge, Skills, and Wealth Information Technology Transfer Shipping Used Books Installing Water Filtration Plants Disaster Relief & Sustainable Development Promoting Urdu as Soft Power Social Development

Nearly 5 million Pakistani emigrants make up the world’s 7th largest diaspora. Among permanent emigrants there are 1.2 m in the UK alone. In North America we are about 1 m strong with a total net-worth running into several hundred million dollars. And, our current level of remittances has climbed to almost 12 billion dollars. While we contribute significantly toward disaster relief, we are lacking in our roles as investors, customers, ambassadors, technology transferors, and social development workers for our homeland.

For further information, please contact: iqbal@mail.ubc.ca

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Bad Medicine” or “Kharaab Daru” Documentary shown in Seminar at Kwantlen University By: Gary Thandi The City of Surrey has proclaimed May 27 - June 2 as Substance Use Awareness Week. The week will include a variety of events designed to increase public awareness about signs and symptoms of substance use, and supply resources on how to get help.

“Drugs and alcohol abuse have a devastating effect on families and communities,” says Mayor Dianne Watts. “We want parents and loved ones to be able to recognize the dangers and signs of substance use, and know where they can get the support and resources that are available to them.”

A showing of the movie “Bad Medicine” or “Kharaab Daru” was be held on May 22 between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm at Kwantlen Polytechnic University as one of the events leading up to Surrey’s Substance Use Awareness Week. The evening began with a welcome and introduction from Surrey City Councillor Barinder Rasode. The Councillor then introduced the evening’s host, Bhinder Sajan from CTV News.

The production of ‘KHARAAB DARU’ (‘BAD MEDICINE’) was inspired by the tragedy that occurred in August 2008 in which a Punjabi man shot and killed his wife and also shot his daughter during a family conflict. Newspaper articles at the time indicated that the man was feeling depressed

after his business failed and he began to drink heavily. The video’s Co-Producer Jas Sandhu (also one of the evening’s presenters) noted that some Punjabi men misuse alcohol in a failed attempt to cope with personal suffering or problems.

Three counsellors were on hand to give brief presentations as well as answer audience questions. Jas Sandhu spoke about the cycle of addiction; Kuldip Gill spoke of the impact addiction to drug, alcohol and gambling has on families and the general community, and emphasized that for full success in recovery that those affected should seek help as well; and Dr. Rajpal Singh spoke of the increase in use of heroin, opium and doda in the South Asian community.

Themed fact sheets will be posted daily on the City’s Crime Reduction Strategy Website and distributed through social media. The themes are: * Sunday, May 27: Prescription Medications * Monday, May 28: Substance Use and Body Image * Tuesday, May 29: A Closer Look at Process Addictions * Wednesday, May 30: Parenting * Thursday, May 31: Cool Refusal Skills * Friday, June 1: Soft? Social? Natural? Drugs – Are they really? * Saturday, June 2: Substance Use and Older Adults For more information, visit: www.surrey.ca/crimereduction

Pakistan Pharmacists’ Delegation Visits British Columbia

Local Pharmacists, of Pakistani decent, recently honored one of their own. It was an evening to honor one of Pakistan’s finest, Mr. M. Bilal Maqbool, a leading influence in the maturing pharmacy profession in Pakistan.Mr. Nadeem Zia, one of our community’s well-known activist and a pharmacist by profession, hosted a dinner in honour of his fellow Pakistani pharmacists to welcome Mr. Maqbool.Mr. Mr. Maqbool, visiting Canada as a part of the Pakistani delegation attending the annual BC Pharmacy Association (BCPhA) conference, held in Victoria, May 23-26.He is currently serving as President of Society of Health System Pharmacists and Vice-President of Pharmacy Council of Sindh. He is the head of Pharmacy Services at Liaquat National Hospital, which is the largest private trust hospital in Pakistan. Also present was Dr. M. Shakeel Bhatti, a prominent BC pharmacist and pharmacy academic, Dr. Shakeel’s career spans more than 25 years of professional service across two continents, UK and Canada. Dr. Shakeel, the current past president of BCPhA, and Mr Zia is

current Director of BCPhA, they hosted Mr. Maqbool at a private dinner, where Mr. Maqbool described the recent advances in Pharmacy Practice in Pakistan and hopes for the future maturation of the profession.

Mr. Rashid Mir started the evening with a recitation from the Holy Quran followed by opening and welcoming speech by Mr. Zia, he thanked all the guest for coming and introduced the chief guest, Mr. M. Bilal Maqbool, in his speech he gave details on how Pharmacists are striving to make a difference in people’s lives, not only in BC but in Pakistan as well. In his brief yet precise speech Mr. Maqbool covered various areas pertaining to Pharmacy education and challenges Pharmacy faces in Pakistan.

Mr. Maqbool thanked all the guests and Mr. Zia for his kind introduction of him, it was his first visit to BC and said he has been to many parts of the world but he found BC as the best place he visited.

For most of the audience it was first hand information about how the profession of pharmacy is working in Pakistan and the improvements that have been made in the last few

years. Some of the key facts Mr. Maqbool mentioned during his speech included the number of institutions (over 30) that now offer Pharmacy education, and the cost of the PharmD, Doctor of Pharmacy, degree.

He also explained how various pharmacy association and organisations like PSHSP and PCS are working to improve the regulation of pharmacy and improve patient outcomes. One of the significant accomplishment by these organisations, as mentioned by Mr. Maqbool, was not achieved in the field of pharmacy rather than in the chambers of supreme courts, where they won a landmark decision by the supreme court of Pakistan that only allows a pharmacist to be installed as a dean of the faculty of Pharmacy in any university or educational intuition in Pakistan.The role of pharmacist in the health care system is escalating day by day due to the introduction of uncounted new drugs, emergence of new resistant microbes, and the changes in health care delivery systems. Pharmacists are the third largest healthcare professional group in the world. Currently, there are

about 6000 pharmacists in Pakistan, however, according to the WHO recommended pharmacist/population ratio of 1:2000 for optimal health care delivery, more than 75,000 pharmacists are required for the current population of the country. This situation has created a huge demand for more pharmacists. Not only this, there is also an international shortage of pharmacists.

Mr. Maqbool then went to the conference in Victoria where he met with, amongst others, Dean Sindelar (Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Faculty at UBC), Mr. Bob Nakagawa (Registrar of the College of Pharmacists of BC), Ms. Geraldine Vance (CEO of the BCPhA) and many other notables BC Pharmacists and regulators.

At the Victoria conference Mr Maqbool was acknowledged by the BCPhA and presented with a gift of acknowledgement

by Dr. Shakeel, on behalf of the BCPhA. In all Mr. Maqbool was very well received by his BC peers with hopes to build further relations and bridges with the pharmacists of Pakistan.

11

local

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Iqra Boys Camp at Sunshine Coast Victoria from May 18 to 20

By: Izaaz Badshah Over the Victoria Day long weekend, the Iqra boys from grades 5 to 8 went to Camp Byng in Gibson on the Sunshine Coast.

The boys boarded the bus with unbridled enthusiasm, which remained high all throughout the trip, even during the low points of the trip (such as when we missed boarding the first ferry). After reaching Camp Byng, the boys claimed their beds (unsurprisingly the top bunks were spoken for first) and unpacked. Once the initial orientation and prayers were completed, the boys immediately went outside and started playing soccer, tetherball and football. The boys definitely maximized their time outside, enjoying every minute of it until just before sunset. After an excellent dinner (a first rate chef Brother Yasir was our cook), we went down to the beach for a campfire. A few of the boys were spooked – not only was the path dark and rocky, but during the orientation, Ranger Elliot had warned us about bears in the area (47 sightings over the past few months). Once there though, the boys amused themselves by telling stories, riddles and jokes.

Upon returning we went to bed to prepare for Fajr and another long day outside.

The next day ended up being much the same (sports outside, campfire, etc.) but there were a couple of additions to the itinerary. The one the boys were particularly pleased to participate in was a water fight. For over an hour the boys mercilessly pelted each other with jets of water. There wasn’t a dry shirt to be found. The second addition was an excursion to the beach.

Here the boys skipped rocks (the record

was seven jumps) and explored the rocky terrain. The boys started to get bored until we stumbled upon a tiny garden snake.

They watched it crawl, hiss and swim. A couple of the boys were even brave enough to pick it up! During the evening, we played a rousing game of Jeopardy, which tested knowledge of Islam, Science, Sports and History.

The mood of the final day was reflected in the weather – gloomy. After two days worth of making messes the boys were put to work cleaning up after themselves. Sweeping and mopping, they ensured that the camp was as clean as when we entered. After a long journey (we missed the first ferry again) we ended up back at Iqra, safe and sound. It was a fun weekend (too short for a few of the boys - some suggested that the trip should be a weeklong), which packed in a lot of activities. They boys (and adults) enjoyed themselves tremendously. It was a perfect weekend which combined both deen and dhuniya.

Highlights: Day 1: Leave Iqra excited -Miss first ferry -Arrive, unpack and go through orientation -Go outside and play-Come back inside for dinner and

Magribh-Beach campfire-Go to bed Day 2: After breakfast, water fight-Go

down to beach, skip rocks, see snakeCome back for lunch/prayers-Go outside and play until evening-Dinner, jeopardy and prayers-Campfire Day 3: Clean-up, packing-Leave for ferry-Miss first ferry-Back to Iqra-Home safe and sound

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

local

A Lesson in Tazkiyyat an Nafs “Swallow Your Anger: Then Digest It”

By Shaykh Nazim Adil al Haqqani For those of us whose physical bodies are “over the hill”, by this I mean over the age of fifty or so, we must face the fact that, no matter how well we look after ourselves, our physical powers are gradually deteriorating: step by step we are approaching death.

But as for our spiritual condition, there is no such limit, no age when powers are at their maximum, then recede. Spiritual power may continue to grow strongly throughout our lives, but we must seek out conditions conducive to that continuing growth, and weed out those qualities which threaten to choke the precious plant.

One of the most harmful weeds, the most inimical to our spiritual growth is the anger generated by the vanity of our egos.

When anger rages it engulfs the light of faith (Imaan), transforming it into fire. The light of Faith is the pure light of God, but when it is transformed into fire it no longer illumines, it burns. When you find yourself overcome with anger you must quickly run to a mirror and behold your own face. That ugly spectacle will be enough to calm your anger: for who wants to look like the devil himself? When a person is angry his actions are satanic - destructive and self-destructive.

The Prophet(s) stressed the necessity of abandoning anger, for when the ego’s anger dominates a person he may readily deny even the sovereignty of God, and put himself in rebellion against the Overwhelming One - and that is very dangerous. Anger also wreaks havoc on our physical bodies, causing illness and premature aging, especially when a high level of anger is maintained over a long period of time. Very few people

can turn back anger when it assaults them.

This is why so few people advance spiritually. The reason that anger is so difficult to defeat is simply because it is an intrinsic part of our physical and spiritual constitution.

Anger corresponds to the element of fire in our make-up, which is a balance of fire, water, earth and air. Only those who are trained from a very early age by pious parents or teachers will have learned to keep these elements in balance. As for most people, each of these elements may predominate on different occasions according to exterior circumstances and intrinsic propensities, setting the equilibrium off center. Fire flares up in the face of provocation and teasing, aggression or attempts to subdue the will (of the child). Since these occasions are usually frequent in our early lives, we are all adept at getting angry, and from a very early age.

Our mashaykhs and scholars have suggested that we perform a special Dhikr (prayermeditation) at night in order to gain the upper hand in our struggle against anger.

When you arise in the last third of the night (Tahajjud) to perform supererogatory prayers (Nafl), after performing your ablutions (Wudu), start by turning your face to the Qibla, House of God, and implore Him to aid you in your attempt to subdue anger.

Then repeat one-hundred times. “Ya Halim” which means “Oh (God, who is) Forbearing and Slow to Anger” This name, al-Halim, is a Divine attribute of God which He wishes to bestow generously upon us, should we seek to receive it.

The first step is to ask God, in this manner, to help us become forbearing; then we must meditate on that Divine Attribute, that it may be absorbed into our being. We are

literally calling it upon ourselves. Next we must adopt a practice in our everyday lives that will further our purposes. This practice is, simply, not to show anger, even when you feel it welling up inside. Don’t spit that anger out at those around you and poison the atmosphere, like a fire-breathing dragon.

Hold it in, but not like a lump of undigested food; no, you must digest it.

A certain amount of anger is part and parcel of every personality. Without some of that fire in our constitution we would die; therefore, it is possible for us to digest a certain amount of anger without suffering adverse side-effects. Of course, if we were to remain unchanged over a long period of time and swallow the same amount of anger, we would overdose; but that is not the case, for in time our intake of anger decreases as we learn, and are granted the ability not to react angrily to provocation in the first place. So, just as a baby initially drinks great quantities of milk, then graduates to solid food, decreasing its milk consumption drastically, we can swallow and digest anger, in the full knowledge that other forms of nourishment are soon forthcoming.

If you can manage to refrain from showing anger for forty days, you will have passed a great milestone. When it assails you, you must evade it, and when it is going to issue from you, you must swallow it. If you can successfully avoid it for forty days, anger will begin to assault you less frequently: once every forty days. If you can manage to keep yourself in this manner the initial forty days, and thereafter, in the face of forty more assaults (forty periods of forty days, a little more than four years), Satan will announce to his helpers: “Don’t bother

attacking that person; you are just wasting your time and energy. His defenses are impenetrable: one thousand attacks are just Shaykh As-Sayyed Nurjan Mirahmadi, as futile International Representative from Vancouver as one.

Leave him alone, he has escaped from our hands”. Satan’s helpers are the selfish ego, vain desires and worldliness: these are our four great enemies, and whoso learns to control his anger will be victorious against these base influences. Whenever you feel anger arising you must be aware that you are being tested. Such tests are sent your way from Allah in order to ascertain your trustworthiness. Disliked events are sent from that realm so that you may have the chance to forbear, and thereby advance toward your spiritual goal. If there were not some benefit to be found in anger it would not exist. The benefit is found in being patient in the face of it. Without passing this test there can be no improvement.

Forbearance is a key to Divine Stations, and that key is forged by facing odious events with patience and controlling our anger.

So, anger is a two-edged sword: if you can grasp its handle firmly you may rent the veils that blind your heart’s eyes, but if it is in the hands of your enemies your faith will be severed. We pray that Allah help us to control our Anger and give us Patience Inshallah, Al-Fatihah.

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13

Exclusive

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Miracle Exclusive: Late

Br. Aziz Khaki

Earlier this year, Miracle Media got a chance to talk with late Br. Aziz Khaki in Vancouver General Hospital during his illness. Mr. Pirzada acknowledged efforts throughout his life and his outspoken addresses in mainstream media for Muslims or other community issues - be it Social Justice System, war and politics, women’s rights, racism or Interfaith dialogues. City halls, Vancouver Art Gallery,and around the Lower Mainland - over the years The Miracle has covered many events attended by Mr Khaki. Mr. Khaki was also a very strong supporter and a regular reader of Miracle Newspaper. He always stood by us and encouraged us with smiling face and light jokes. May Allah SWT forgive his soul and give patience to his loved ones. Ameen

Tribute to a community activist Late Br. Aziz Khaki By: Imad Ali My earliest memory of Aziz Khaki is from when I was very young. I knew him in those days as this kind family-friend who was always laughing, gentle, and smiling. Later as a teenager, I found it almost strange then to read newspapers and see this same man quoted on so many serious issues: from women’s rights to racism, from war to politics. In my University years, as I became involved in my community I got to know him more, and work alongside him on some initiatives and served with him on the Muslim Canadian Federation. I interviewed many prominent Muslims, including Aziz Khaki.

During this time, I had asked him about doing an extensive story just on him and his work and a brief biography for future generations to know about him and some of our other community pioneers. He then told me that I needed to get involved with many of the committees he was involved with. He and his wife supported every event I ever did, and in 2008, when I gave a lecture on the History of Muslims in North America, he was the first one to come and tell me after how proud he was of my research and how much he learned. I never did get to write that biography on Aziz Khaki. Instead, what I have attempted to do in this document is to summarize much of the work he did for the Muslim community, the anti-racism movement, and various other causes. Full disclosure: its not very well-written nor organized, as on this, the eve of Mr. Khaki’s funeral I am attempting to compile all my notes, articles, interviews and research into a quick bio so that we may remember and acknowledge him. He should be remembered for truly being one of the most important and influential Muslim leaders in Canadian History.

The following is an excerpt from the biography prepared by Br. Imad. We appreciate his work and his willingness to share it with the rest of the readers.

the UK for three years, then headed to Canada, drawn by its multicultural policies.

Almost immediately, Aziz Khaki became a community leader and emerged to serve in many roles, including: • President of the Pacific Interfaith Citizenship Association • Head of the Committee for Racial Justice • Adviser to the BC Muslim Association • Vice President of the Council of Muslim Communities of Canada • Vice President of Canadian Muslim Federation.

• A founder of the IDRF (international Development & Relief Foundation) • Co-chair of the Provincial Committee on Diversity and Policing; • A member of the Commanding Officer’s Advisory Committee on Cultural Diversity - RCMP ‘E’ Division; • Advisory Committee to the Federal President of the Treasury Board on Employment of Visible Minorities in the Public Service and Crown Corporations.

• National Defence Consultative Committee on Social Change

Aziz Khaki Background: Aziz Khaki was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania in 1929 and raised in Dar-es-Salaam. In August 1962, he married Gulbanu Haji. Their son, El-Farouk Khaki, a well-known lawyer and human-rights activist was born in 1963. Mr. Khaki worked as a political activist for Tanzania to achieve its independence, and for the betterment of the Muslim community. As the Secretary General of the Tanzania Welfare Society, he was instrumental in creating a Muslim secondary school system that made education possible for thousands of Africans from various backgrounds.

In 1964, Mr. Khaki completed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

In 1970, escaping political persecution, he took his family to

He was also recognized on various occasions: • Recipient of the Federal Minister of Multiculturalism Award on Excellence in Race Relations • Recipient of the Governor General’s Award on 125th Anniversary of Canada.

• In 2000 Aziz was declared as one of the 25th influential spiritual leaders of the past 100 years in British Columbia by the Vancouver Sun newspaper.

• In 2009, he received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from St. Marks at UBC. Here is a further brief summary of just some of what he did: Anti-Racism/Pro-Equality: Mr. Aziz Khaki was a well-known leader in the quest for ra-

L e t t e r s We will Continue our struggle

By Gul Khaki, Vancouver Aziz Khaki, may the Creator be pleased with his life’s work and bless his soul, left this world in full presence of it, with a profound sense of timing, in his youthfulness dancing and clapping with vitality while celebrating his own birthday at a party in the company of his wife, Gul Khaki.

Canadians who struggle for racial and social justice have lost one of our leaders. We will miss Aziz while we continue our struggle.

--------------------------

Remember Khaki’s good deeds By: Nusrat Hussain, Founder of The Miracle Media You are doing a great job by letting people send their views about a man who lived in and worked for this community.

During the life of a person we can agree and disagree with him. Great communities always acknowledge and remember the good deeds of the departed soul.

I came in contact with Mr. Aziz Khaki after the September 11 attacks on American soil. I found him to be a concerned person on every political issue in general and the issues relating to the Muslim world in particular. I saw him expressing his views loud and clear and without hesitation. He lived and worked for the concepts he believed in. He will always be remembered in my heart as a smiling helpful man. May Allah Paak bless his soul and give him a place in Jannah.

--------------------------

Tribute to Dr. Aziz Khaki Chair, Muslim Canadian Federation By: Mahmood Awan, Co-Chair, Muslim Canadian Federation

o f

cial justice. He fought for equality, spoke out against discriminatory and bigoted practices in various sectors, and never relented from this fight.

Global Issues: Mr. Khaki’s work did not just focus on local issues, as his commitment to social justice also inspired him to speak out on global events. He worked with the Anti-Apartheid Network of B.C., sponsoring conferences at UBC on ending apartheid in South Africa, hosting groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) and the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), the leading liberation groups in, respectively, South Africa and Namibia (Southwest Africa).

He also spoke out about peaceful solutions to the Middle East conflict, the troubling upsurge of neo-Nazi activities in Germany and Spain in the 1990s and the failed Louisiana gubernatorial campaign of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

When discussing the Gulf War with local reporters, he talked about the peaceful message of his faith, and urged the call for a peaceful solution to conflicts.

A Trusted Voice: Mr. Khaki was often asked to speak out on a number of issues, ranging from racism to holidays to abortion. His honesty and frank nature didn’t allow him to hold back.

Muslim Community Leader: Mr. Khaki’s leadership within the Muslim community was significant, in part, because his outlook was not insular.

He never thought of the Muslim community as an isolated entity, but as a vital part of the greater Canadian mosaic.

As a Public Servant: Mr. Khaki was an embodiment of John F. Kennedy’s statement that citizens should “Ask not your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Whenever government agencies or organizations called upon him to serve, he accepted. The RCMP requested Mr. Khaki’s help in the 1980s when they established a multicultural advisory committee to investigate whether there were “hidden barriers” to minorities becoming RCMP members. At the time, the RCMP estimated that less than one percent of Canada’s National Police force was non-white. Mr. Khaki went to Ottawa as part of the nine member national committee where he declared that ‘’Multiculturalism to us is not dance, song and music but fairness and equality in the system.’’

It was an honour for me to know Aziz Khaki, as it was for many others. But personally, I was especially honoured that he agreed to let me write about him. Unfortunately, I was unable to write as extensively as I would have liked, but I hope this information can give readers a sense of his leadership, his bravery, and his commitment to social justice, from which we all can learn.

R e m e m b r a n c e

Dr. Khaki has contributed to the Muslim Community and the community at large to the best of his ability for many decades. His vision and his contribution has been very well received and greatly appreciated. Dr. Khaki had always put the Muslim cause ahead of all other causes. He was a great leader, educator and activist. He was the founding member and Chair of the Muslim Canadian Federation. I have worked with Aziz for many years on issues that we both held dear and I will deeply miss his collaboration on many issues and most of all, his invaluable friendship.

The community will miss his vision and foresight for years to come.

Fear was created and the insults were thrown at people of color. Aziz organized to fight against this injustice. He gave courage to people to stand against White Supremacy group.

A lots of people were afraid to stand against this group but Aziz showed courage and guts to become a leader. He was not afraid from these groups although they were threatening to kill leaders.

Aziz presented visible minority groups on many Federal and Provincial institutions to seek equal representation of visible minority groups. He was not afraid to speak out. He did enormous work for the community. For the work he did, he will be remembered and sadly missed.

--------------------------

--------------------------

Aziz organized to fight against this injustice

Attributes of Mr. Khaki

By: Charan Gill, CEO PICS Society Surrey I have known Aziz Khaki since 1980s when he formed Committee for Racial Justice. He became the first President and fought vigorously since then for racial justice, equality and dignity for people of color.

During those days KKK was very prominent spreading hate messages to the general public in regard to immigrants especially people of color. David Duke, head of the KKK organization, spoke at CJOR predecessor of CKNW and asked people that all the immigrants should be sent back to their home country and First Nations people must go up North.

As a result of this hate propaganda some of the fringe racist organizations started to throw rocks and eggs at the homes of people of color. Some of the skin heads and people of Arayan Nations bombed a home of an immigrant in Delta. Khuspal Gill was murdered in the South Memorial Park in Vancouver.

By: Gulshan Aalani, Vancouver We are all saddened by the passing away of our family friend Br. Dr. Abdul Aziz Khaki, on May 22, instant. Since he came to Canada through England from Tanzania East Africa (in late 70’s) he became more active pursuing his Social work.

He was very well known among all the communities for his involvement in Social issues, racial justice, human rights, race relation: joining Multicultural, and interfaith groups, supported by his good wife Sister Gulbanu. Since their conversion to Islam his passion for the religion of Islam was displayed in all his work. He was one of the organizers and participant for the ‘Spirit of Islam’ at U.B.C. Anthropology dept.

He was an Continued on pg 16

14

local

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Vancouver Activists Join 15,000 Strong Protest Against NATO in Chicago

By Alison Bodine – Co-Chair of Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) - Special Report for the Miracle On May 20th and 21st NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) held a Summit in Chicago. This meeting brought together world leaders, including the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper to discuss how best to continue colonial wars and occupations, focusing on the continuing occupation of Afghanistan. But this Summit was not held without opposition from peaceloving people of all backgrounds, beliefs and religions, gathered in Chicago for an international protest against NATO. including thousands of activists and organizers who participated from around the world.

For over a week, tens of thousands of people from around the world, from Canada to Europe, and South Asia to Latin America, participated in events organized in opposi-

tion to the NATO Summit, including rallies, teach-ins, film showings, press conferences, a “People’s Summit conference to respond to the Summit of the leaders of colonial powers. On May 20th a historic mass rally of over 15,000 people marched to the NATO Summit meeting place where over 50 US Iraq and Afghanistan war Veterans returned their medals in protest to the the lies and deceptions of the war-mongers in Iraq and especially Afghanistan.

A team of organizers and activists from Vancouver’s peace coalition Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) participated in the week of actions against the NATO summit. The May 20th rally and march had many US and international organizers speaking, including the author of this article as well as Reverend Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader; Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, from the Muslim Peace Coalition and founder of the Muslim Peace Council;

and Kathy Kelly, director of Voices for Creative Non-violence. There was also a statement from Malalai Joya read by women activists from Afghans for Peace.

In the world we live in today Muslim and third world countries are increasingly facing the bombs, invasions and sanctions from US-led wars and occupations abroad, alongside growing racism, Islamophobia and prejudice at home. In order to stand up against this we need more united international actions against war and occupation under one common demand of No to NATO! No to War! No to Occupation! Hands Off the Third World and Muslim Countries!

To find out more information about Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) and our activities visit: www.mawovancouver.org.

Harry Bains consults with Business Owners Surrey- Joined by Adrian Dix, Leader of the Official Opposition, and surrounded by nearly 100 business owners in Surrey, Harry Bains discusses the future of our province in the eyes of business people.

“I was very encouraged by the turnout to our business forum. I feel in order to do my job as a Member of the Legislature of British Columbia it is my responsibility to communicate with different sectors of the community and listen to their concerns, comments and ideas.” said Bains.

People from a broad section of the business community participated in a round table discussion on the pros and cons of government policy and legislation. How legislation and government policies affects their business, what is beneficial and what legislation and policy needs to change.

“There was a very broad based dialogue from a diverse group of business people who shared their concerns and ideas, continued Bains, “as MLAs I feel this is who we need to listen to, to learn about the issues business owners face to manage and grow their business. We need to have more positive discussions with people regarding what is working, what is not working and what more needs to be done to make it easier for businesses to thrive in British Columbia.”Bains concluded.

This is the second time Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton has sat down with Surrey business owners to discuss their issues.

It is his way of bringing everyone to the table to discuss issues that are in many cases the same for everyone.

Please Remember The KOMAGATA MARU By: Raj Hundal 98 Years ago on May 23, 1914 the Komagata Maru carrying 376 passengers had arrived in the Vancouver harbour. The Sikh, Hindu and Muslim passengers were prohibited from docking because of the racist “continuous journey” clause, a deplorable exclusionist Canadian statute designed specifically to deter immigration from India.

For 60 days, the South Asian community struggled by every legal means possible to stop this injustice while those held captive on the Komagata Maru suffered through intolerable conditions of heat and overcrowding.

That is why every year on May 23rd a candle light vigil is held at Surrey’s Bear Creek Park to commemorate that tragic incident and call for an official apology in the House of Commons. We must not forget the Komagata Maru because although their journey to a new country and a promising future was stopped, the

struggle against injustice and for freedom

MLA Chouhan highlights plight of migrant agricultural workers at Rally in Vancouver On May 22, Raj Chouhan New Democrat MLA for Burnaby Edmunds and opposition Labor critic spoke at a rally in Vancouver to draw attention to the plight of blacklisted migrant agricultural workers in Canada. Chouhan is advocating for equal rights, better working condition and equable pay for migrant farm workers in all sectors of the agricultural industry.

continued. And because of those that continued to fight racism and repression, it is essential that we share this history with our youth so that they may too understand, cherish and celebrate the tremendous accomplishments of the South Asian community in British Columbia and Canada.

We have built the Canadian mosaic, truly the envy of the world, a proud nation that embraces and celebrates different cultures, customs and languages.

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15

politics

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

Egypt’s elections leave its divisions unresolved

The results of the first round of Egypt’s presidential election are at once hugely positive, and hugely negative. They are hugely positive because they show that by far the biggest of the Arab Spring countries has more or less successfully embraced the democratic process. Some 16 months after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt has elected a lower house of parliament and looks set to elect a President.

Despite periodic doom-mongering and a few localised clashes, the country has not descended into violence, nor have the elections been discredited by widespread violations. Not everything has been perfect, but the process has been cleaner and better organised than many anticipated. It is to be hoped that this impression is not contradicted by anything that might come to pass before the run-off next month.

It is here, in the choice produced by the first round of voting, that the hugely negative assessment comes in. When the crowds of mainly young protesters took to the streets in January 2011, there was a spirit

of enormous optimism and excitement in a new start. Tahrir Square became the emblem for the change promising to sweep across the Arab world. That the revolution triggered a mercifully brief civil war in Libya and now appears to have stalled, with much bloodshed, in Syria does not diminish what has been achieved, mostly peacefully, in Egypt.

What is regrettable is the way this young, generally moderate and secular swathe of society has largely vanished from view.

As in so many revolutions, the forces that created it have split. The effect is to leave Egyptian voters with the very same polarised alternatives that helped fuel the uprising in the first place: on the one hand is the Muslim Brotherhood, formerly banned from politics; and on the other, the forces of conservative and secular patriotism represented by the Mubarak clan.

The two names on the ballot paper on 17 June will be those of Mohamed Morsi of the Freedom and Justice Party – the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood

– and Ahmed Shafik, the ousted President’s last Prime Minister.

The forces that made the revolution were too fragmented to produce a second-round contender.

All is not lost. Neither candidate can win only by consolidating his own constituency. They must both seek to appeal more widely. Mr Morsi has his eyes set on the more conservative Muslims, whose favoured candidates did unexpectedly well in parliamentary elections. Mr Shafik, to his credit, is pitching for the votes, among others, of the young revolutionaries.

But he faces several obstacles, among them his close association with the Mubaraks and the military, which tends to obscure the reputation for competence he built up as air force chief and then Civil Aviation Minister in the early 2000s.

An even greater handicap might prove to be the disappointment and disaffection now felt by younger voters. Although queues built up at many polling stations, the first-

The West has lost its grip on war

By Tarak Barkawi Some anti-war veterans threw away their medals at anti-NATO protests in Chicago [EPA] New York, NY - Whether they are against it or for it, few in the West seem to have a coherent account of war, in Afghanistan or anywhere else.

Last week, Occupy Chicago demonstrated against “NATO/G8” in the name of the “Planet over profits and war”. They were particularly incensed that “NATO/G8 member Canada” had “declared war on the Alberta Tar Sands and on the planet”. Apparently, Stephen Harper’s government has declared war on Mother Earth, unwittingly involving his NATO allies.

At the demonstrations of the NATO summit, anti-war veterans threw away their medals in protest. One demanded that he enjoy his “right to heal”. Another ex-volunteer soldier referred to his medals as “instruments of control”. “No NATO, no war!” was about all the veterans could muster as a chant.

A Guardian columnist termed the medal tossing a “heroic act”.

Meanwhile, elected officials imagine they can manage wars on electoral calendars, as Obama did when he disastrously announced the timing of his withdrawal from Afghanistan even before his surge began. The new president of France has unilaterally announced he will pull out his forces a year earlier than planned to make good on an election promise, his alliance partners be damned. Sarkozy had been looking to do the same thing to win the election he lost. In combat terms, the French comprise the third-largest NATO force in Afghanistan.

This is the same NATO - which can see off neither pirates nor insurgents - that the General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament refers to as a seemingly unstoppable agent of US “global interests” on this opinion page. Such an agent it may be, although recent evidence suggests that only ramshackle desert kingdoms need beware.

For much of the Democratic Party in the US, it is time to stop “nation-building” abroad and start doing so at home. Whatever else one can say, invading and destroying countries, and making war upon their populations, does not constitute “nation-building”.

One wonders what Afghans make of all this.

Soon, only a weak and corrupt government will stand between them and militant networks with the advantages of nearby sanctuaries and sponsors. Afghans will be left to the fates.

Many of the reasons Westerners have for opposing the war have to do with their own

interests narrowly conceived rather than any higher values. There are concerns about social welfare at home and over budget deficits.

Of course, abandoning Afghanistan and other countries facing Islamic insurgency and terrorism is arguably more helpful than continuing the “war on terror” and the militarisation it entails.

Yet, is there no more positive vision? Westerners fought and protested the Cold War in the name of freedom and democracy. In either case, it was a half truth opposed to a lie, but it was something. Now we offer nothing but drone strikes and concern about our own finances.

The Western left would seem to lack a genuinely internationalist response to the situation in Afghanistan, or to places like Yemen and Somalia, where the West also makes war against the networks of militant Islam.

Other than loony environmentalists, there is apparently little love left for the natives among Western liberals. Many Westerners seem to want to wash their hands of the hot places they have been messing around in for centuries.

These are the same liberals who in the imperial era used to demand that the souls of the natives be saved, their minds educated, and their societies developed. In the Cold War, they would “bear any burden”, and strafe or napalm any peasant, to save non-European countries from communism. Lately, they will give to any NGO, while expressing especial concern for child soldiers and endangered animals.

If the left of the political spectrum largely wants to return home to nest with their families, live environmentally sustainable lives and advocate for social justice in their own countries, much of the right wing wants to “stay the course” in Afghanistan and elsewhere. This means more bombing, more drone strikes, more special forces missions, and not much else.

Above all, the purpose is to demonstrate “resolve” and “determination” by striking with impunity from on high. Like the fantastical neocon vision of the world that got us here, it is entirely unclear how this global war on terror amounts to a realistic policy that leads anywhere but more war.

With the absence of effective state control in much of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, there are endless spaces for militants to proliferate, while the social conditions that produce militancy worsen. Is the idea that more and more of the world becomes a special forces playground, open to drone strikes?

Is that all the once world-bestriding West

has to offer humanity?

It wishes to make war and take life in the name of the perpetual policing of large tracts of desert?

That Westerners can no longer muster a coherent account of wars they either oppose or favour is only the latest sign of the political bankruptcy of the West. Many mistake the crisis for an economic one only, or see the problem as one of “experts” - financial, military - who know what to do versus “politicians” who don’t.

The problem runs much deeper and is fundamentally political. Increasingly, Westerners cannot articulate meaningful, attractive

round turnout was lower than had been hoped, and could fall below 50 per cent in the second. Questions might then be asked about the new President’s credibility, and the extent to which he will be able to fulfil his mandate.

This is not to underestimate what has happened in Egypt. An orderly and genuinely contested election for President is a considerable achievement in itself. But if its democracy is to grow sturdy roots, Egypt needs a leader who can command respect across its political and religious divides.

Source: The independent visions of the world and of their role in it.

They play the same records - about saving the whales, fiscal responsibility, staying the course, or what not - but the songs no longer speak to the situation we are all in.

Ultimately, the loss of coherence of the West is a sign of the new times which have arrived, in which the old categories of West and East, North and South no longer provide a grip on events. Even so, we will continue to act as if they do for some time to come, for as yet we know no other script.

Tarak Barkawi is Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, New School for Social Research, New York.

BC MUSLIM SCHOOL

Teaching Positions The BC Muslim School is now accepting teaching applications for full-time positions in Arabic, Islamic Studies and Qur’an subjects beginning the academic year 2012-13.

Skills and Qualifications Requirement: - Possess or is eligible for BC Teacher Certification.

- Degree or Post-Secondary Certificate from a recognized Islamic Institution for the subjects to be taught.

- Proven experience teaching Arabic, Islamic knowledge and Qur’an to children ages 5–12.

- Excellent oral and written communication skills.

- Possess excellent planning and organization skills.

- Computer competence in English and Arabic.

- Ability to work within a team, with integrity, enthusiasm, initiative and confidence.

- Capable of serving in a multi-ethnic environment.

Experience with children in an education setting is an asset.

Please send your resume and cover letter to the attention of The Principal at the following email address admin@bcmuslimschool.ca

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1, 2012

oofing & enovation Solutions

Miracle’s Building Construction and Maintenance series

Imran Tipu, B.Sc. Civil Eng In my series of articles for roofing and renovation solutions, the current ninth article is regarding residential flooring. Today we will discuss the possible choices of residential floorings and in the coming articles I will discuss their professional installation mechanisms and at the same time I will also highlight the aspect of do-it-yourself installation. The good news is that many options in the market today are designed for the weekend project. For instance, you could go with residential flooring such as laminate or hardwood that installs with a tongue and groove design, making installation much easier.

Residential Flooring Options There are endless options for residential flooring. Before purchasing, it is important to consider all the possibilities and select the one that will fit the room, the budget, and the taste of the homeowner. Residential flooring ranges from the mundane to the exquisite. It encompasses everything from carpeting to marble. Often times, a home owner cannot settle with just one kind of residential flooring. Consequently, he or she may pick a different one for each room in the house.

The possibilities for residential flooring are truly incredible. Although the list of options is too long, residential flooring is defined primarily as carpeting, which would include

wall-to-wall area rugs, hardwood, tile, natural stone covering, marble, ceramic, porcelain, vinyl, and miscellaneous such as cork, rubber, and so on. Typically, people have a combination of residential flooring in the home. For instance, the kitchen may have ceramic tile, vinyl in the bathroom, hardwood in the bedrooms, and then carpeting in the family room.

When you begin searching for new flooring material, you will discover that residential flooring is broken down into two categories.

First, you have a soft surface, which covers carpeting. Second, you have a hard surface, which includes tile, stone, hardwood, vinyl, and laminate. Regardless of the choice you prefer, residential flooring is available through flooring companies, home improvement stores, lumberyards.

Remember that each option for residential flooring offers both pros and cons. Therefore, you need to determine your needs first.

For instance, if you need flooring for a hightraffic area such as a family room, kitchen, or hallway, then you want something that is strong and durable, capable of holding up.

However, if you want residential flooring for a spare bedroom or office, rooms with low traffic, you could choose carpeting or hardwood floors. Keep in mind that not all types of residential flooring work well in every room. For instance, while hardwood is a great choice in just about every room of the house, this type of residential flooring would not be a good choice for bathrooms due to high moisture content. Now I would like to have a cursory glance on most common residential flooring options one by one

L e t t e r s Continued from Page 13 adviser to the BCMA, Vice President of the Council of Muslim communities of Canada, Vice President of Canadian Muslim Federation and one of the founders of charity foundation I.D.R.F. He was also co-chair of the Provincial committee on Diversity and Policing: a member of the Commanding Officer’s Advisory Committee on Cultural Diversity RCMP ‘E’ Division; and the Advisory Committee to the Federal President of the Treasury Board on Employment of Visible Minorities in the Public Service and Crown corporation; including he sat on the National Defense Consultative Committee on Social change: was recipient of the Federal Minister of Multiculturalism Award on Excellence in Race Relations and was recipient of the Governor General’s Award on 125th anniversary of Canada.

He will be missed by many.

“Aziz will be remembered for his outspokenness and uncompromising love of his Creator and Creation--”. By Multifaith admin.

May Allah-Creator-GOD shower HIS mercy and Blessings.

--------------------------

A tribute to Br. Aziz Khaki By: Dr. Naiyer Habib, Abbotsford Respected Br. Khaki is no more with us.

Allah grant him Jannah and bless his soul.

Allah give patience and power of tolerance to the family to accept this loss. Aameen!

Although we met often in various Muslim community functions, We met last in one of the functions of Pakistan Canada

o f

Cultural association. We sat together with Azhar bhai’s family. His smiling and calm face remains in our memory.

I first became acquainted with him in Council of Muslim Communities of Canada in which I also used to participate as the President of Islamic Association of Saskatchewan(Regina). He impressed me as outspoken, honest and to the point speaking individual which he continued to show till last in all the positions he held.

He served all irrespective of race and religion in various positions and was recognized for his services. He was community icon for human rights and social Justice. He received the Federal Minister of Multiculturalism Award on Excellence in Race Relations and was recipient of the Governor General’s Award on 125th Anniversary of Canada. He was also honored by Canadian Islamic Congress for his services to the community. The Link Paper has published commendable facts about him. I refer you to http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=16799 for details rather repeat the remarkable work that Br. Aziz Khaki showed in his leadership be it Human rights , Social justice, RCMP, Police, and serving on various governmental committees.

He is a loss to the nation but will be alive for his commendable work for all of us.

--------------------------

He left us with his mission to continue By: Captain M. S. Mahtab, Coquitlam Indeed we have lost a wonderful person and a stead fast torch bearer of social justice and human equality in our community. Aziz was my good personal and

along with some of their merits and demerits.

Laminate Flooring One of the most basic types of residential flooring is laminated flooring. High quality laminated flooring can look great in many rooms in the house, especially the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room.

It will not easily show everyday wear and tear and is easy to install.

Laminate Hard Wood Flooring Some people have opted for laminate hard wood flooring. At a quick glance, it looks like beautiful hardwood flooring; yet, it is laminate and much cheaper than actual hardwood.

Vinyl Flooring Vinyl flooring is also great for homes. It can look great and be extremely durable. In addition, it is among the most economical types of residential flooring. It is also easy to maintain and can be installed in any room.

Ceramic Tiles One of the most popular kinds of residential flooring is ceramic tile. It is both beautiful and durable. It is most popular in kitchens, bathrooms, and even patios.

Ceramic tiles are made up of clay, talc, and other minerals. It comes in a wide range of colors and is often used in combination with hardwood flooring to create a unique design.

Porcelain, Marble and Natural Stone Flooring Other types of residential flooring include porcelain, marble, and natural stone. All are remarkable and will be eye-catching in any room. Porcelain is rather durable and will not chip easily. It is possible to find porcelain that looks just like natural stone

but is scratch-proof. Marble is a sophisticated choice and can be rather expensive; yet, it comes in wonderful colors and is great for bathrooms and other low-traffic areas. Natural stone is always a stylish choice, with exceptional colors and textures.

Hardwood Flooring There are numerous possibilities for those who prefer hardwood flooring in their homes. One of the most popular kinds of hardwood flooring is oak. It comes in many colors from light to dark; yet, the red oak is among the most common. Pine, maple, mesquite, beech, pecan, elm, bamboo, and cork are all options – they vary in color, price, and the amount of texture or knotting.

Carpet Flooring Lastly, there is always carpeting. A high quality, thick carpeting can feels great on the feet, especially with an extra thick pad underneath. There are also economical options, with thinner carpeting and pads. Carpeting is not recommended for high traffic areas or areas with frequent spills, but is perfect for bedrooms and home offices.

For more information about these article series and/or all our previous articles, please visit: www.rtmroofingandrenovations.com

R e m e m b r a n c e family friend and he would always be in our sincere thoughts and prayers. I have had the privilege to work with him from various forums and platforms. The best and the most meaningful numbers of years together we spent was through the ‘InterFaith’ interactive meetings and dialogues to promote peace, mutual understanding, respect and more importantly the tolerance among several religions/faiths and their followers. Aziz was a great listener too who often was mistaken as he was accepting and agreeing with whatever he was listening to, however, every time he proved to be a great leader who was very comfortable and eloquent when it came to expressing his true thoughts and feelings. At times, Aziz and his friends used to have strong

difference of opinions but Aziz never let them grow as difference in our hearts and always moved on to achieve our common goal; and that surely was a gifted quality not many people can have. Aziz has left us with his mission to continue.

-------------------------Great loss of Community By: Shahid Yusaf, Pakistan I am so sorry to hear about Aziz Khaki sb.

He was a good friend. This is not only a great loss for the his family and friends but for the entire community. May god bless his soul and may he rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all those who cared about him. This indeed is a very sad news.

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17

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

BOOKMAN OR TAXMAN! DOES YOUR ACCOUNTANT SAVE TAXES FOR YOU OR JUST FILE YOUR TAX RETURNS?

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

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Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

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lifestyle

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

The Vitamin B12 & Dementia Relationship: Part 2 of 2

By Nada Adams Though you’re likely not a chemistry major and don’t really need to know the details of methyl donors, I encourage you to know enough about this to at least understand how B12 works especially if you find the field of anti-aging interesting. A methyl donor is any substance that can transfer (donate) a methyl group [a carbon atom attached to 3 hydrogen atoms (CH3)] to another substance. Many important biochemical processes in the body rely on Methylation, including metabolism of lipids (Fats) and DNA. Scientists believe having adequate Methylation of DNA can prevent harmful cancer genes from activation. As we age, most of us will experience a decline in Methylation eventually causing the aging process.

What can Methyl Donors do for you? A methyl group is helpful in producing several brain chemicals therefore improve your mood, wellbeing, energy, alertness, concentration and visual clarity. Vitamin B12 is one of the eight B vitamins that are important for brain function and the formation of blood. B12 deficiency can cause many diseases. Deficiency can be treated by diet or

by B12 injections. Since B12 is difficult to assimilate through small intestine for most people, sublingual B12, or injections are advised. B12 is a water-soluble, complicated chemical structure that contains the element cobalt. The cheap and ineffective type of B12 used in most food supplements today is called ‘cyanocobalamin’ that I mentioned in the previous article to avoid at all cost!!

Methyl groups support your liver in detoxification and removal of the bad estrogens (a.k.a. Xenoestrogens) and many toxins (77,000) that have been introduced into our environment since 1940. These toxins are in our air, food and water compromising our liver and total wellbeing if they are allowed to remain inside our body. Removing the toxicity requires us to ingest a substance known as ‘methyl donors’ so our liver can detoxify and flush these poisons out; otherwise, you’ll experience hormonal dysfunction – male or female.

What Disrupts B12 Absorption? Vitamin B12 deficiency is especially common among vegetarians and vegans, because typically B12 comes from animal sources i.e. meats, yogurt, yeast, algae etc and it has become also surprisingly common in meat eaters, too now-a-days. Why? Because B12 can only be absorbed in the small intestine, and due to common intestinal ailments, even meat eaters who consume high levels of B12 are unable to absorb it in their gut.

It’s a vicious circle; B12 is needed to produce strong Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) to break down your food sufficiently in order for your body to absorb more B12 from the food just eaten. If your B12 deficient, your digestion is poor (suffering from lots of bloating, gas and discomfort) caused by insufficient levels HCl Acid. What can cause insufficient Hydrochloric Acid? --if you regularly take any form of antacids to reduce acid reflux symptoms, --if you drink water with your food (diluting the strong acids) --you’ve reached 40+ years of age (reduces with age) or --you have intestinal parasites.

If that were not enough of a challenge, some prescription drugs can also interfere with B12 absorption in illnesses like diabetes and pain management: Proton pump inhibitors, ie. omeprazole (Prilosec®) and lansoprazole (Prevacid®), are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease –

can interfere with B12 absorption from food.

Histamine H2 receptor antagonists, used to treat peptic ulcer disease, include cimetidine (Tagamet®), famotidine (Pepcid®), and ranitidine (Zantac®) – can interfere with the absorption of B12 from food Metformin, a hypoglycemic agent used to treat diabetes, might reduce the absorption of vitamin B12.

If you suffer from heartburn/digestion problems, I recommend you take a product called “HCl – By Renew Life,” with each meal to see a noticeable difference – this product can ONLY be found at a health store.

WHAT IS THE BEST B12 TEST? In 1970, Dr. Freeman recommended the removal of Cyanocobalamin from the market as his experience showed it was completely ineffective and gave patients ‘a false positive’ blood test. What’s the use of having a B12 in your bloodstream that your body cannot use and worse can be harmful by causing more free radicals? The Gold Standard for testing B12 is NOT the common B12 blood serum test but rather a urinary test called ‘MMA - Methyl Melonic Acid’ test OR ‘Hcy – Homocysteine’ Blood Serum Test. These are effective because Methyl Melonic Acid and Homocysteine levels increase when B12 metabolism is low. As a result, testing urine for high amounts of MMA is more accurate in assessing B12 since both these exams have an inverse relationship to B12 levels. But wait! Don’t run to your Doctor requesting the Hcy test, (I asked my MD) and supposedly your MD cannot order this test for you, only a Cardiologist can request such a test, if you want MSP to pay. Why would anyone want to wait to develop heart disease to be tested?? Ensure your B12 levels are elevated so your body will naturally lower your risk for heart disease by lowering Homocysteine levels and reducing the inflammation in your body. If you’re concerned you’re B12 deficient or already have symptoms of heart disease and need to pay for the Hcy or MMA test, I highly recommend you do so for your own good health.

DIFFERENT TYPES of METHYL DONORS: Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) and Vitamin B12 are considered to be methyl donors that can help lower Homocysteine levels (inflammation). Other nutrients considered Methyl donor that are involved in Methylation are: TMG (Trimethylglycine), DMG (dimethylglycine), SAM-e (S-AdenosylMethionine), and DMAE (Dimethyl-aminoethanol).

Natural Food Sources of Methyl Donors: Onions, Garlic and Beets! Make sure your daily diet includes at least two of these foods daily to ensure a better functioning liver raw is best!

TOP 3 SOURCES OF B12: B12 comes from meats and fish. It is hard for vegetarians to get enough B12 because most of the sources are of animal origin.

1. BEST source of B12 – Clams and other mollusks – 3 ounces of clams have nearly 85 mcg of B12.

2. Second best source – Organic raised liver only – otherwise, it will be full of toxins – 1 slice has 47 mcg of B12.

3. Wild Salmon and Trout (Avoid farmed fish) – 3 ounce piece has 5 mcg of B12.

Dr. Russell Blaylock’s (retired Neurosurgeon) recommends B12 dosage between 5,000-10,000 mcg per day (5-10mg). If you’re in your 50’s and 60’s, I suggest you consider taking higher dosage of 10mg per day of the oral sublingual form mentioned below to avoid deficiency that can lead to brain atrophy. If you’re elderly and deficient it’s far more superior to have B12 intramuscular injections or intravenous infusions.

I personally take B12 ‘AOR’ Brand 5mg sublingual tablet daily’ –it dissolves under the tongue. Do not crunch it; B12 in high doses is better absorbed by the oral mucosa in the mouth taken on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Do not fear the dos-

age, there has never been a report of adverse side effects from B12, nor has there been any toxicity associated from any over dosage.

Excess B12 is stored in your liver. So be sure to get enough vitamin B12 to fuel your brain, your blood, and your heart – because B12 deficiency is the most widespread deficiency worldwide – a crucial nutrient for nerve health and the building of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body. Recipe to help Detoxify your Liver: juice the following ingredients for you and your loved ones daily to easily give you the methyl groups you need to be and stay healthy: Beets, Organic celery, a clove of garlic and Carrots. Do your best to buy organic as much as possible. Print out this list ‘Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen’ [www.ewg.org] to find out which fruits and vegetable are a MUST to buy Organic to avoid eating the most heavily poisoned with pesticides (fluoride esp.) on the market.

Natural Supplements To Enhance Your Mind, Mood and Memory: You’ve done the B12 injection and you’re energy is back thank God! But, maybe you’re still not as mentally sharp as you used to be?

Do you get mental fatigue and have trouble focusing or concentrating? Exercise your mind by doing crossword puzzles, avoiding all forms of MSG and add physical exercise to boost your mind. The following supplements can also provide needed nutrients to improve your cognitive ability to function at its peak and are only found a health store: Acetyl-L-carnitine – improves focus and alertness, acts as a neurotransmitter and helps increase energy production on a cellular level.

Carnosine – a potent antioxidant, chemical messenger in the nervous system, is found in relatively high concentrations in nerve tissue and brain.

DMAE – improves mental alertness and clarity of thinking.

Trimethylglycine TMG – a methyl donor that helps improves mood, energy, wellbeing, alertness, concentration, and visual clarity.

Tyrosine – an amino acid that enhances alertness and focus – also found in ‘Thyrosense’ in treatment of Thyroid too.

B50 or B100 vitamins – water soluble, crucial in mental health: enhance mental energy.

No fear of overdose – what your body doesn’t use you will excrete daily. The following 2 vitamins are usually found in a B50 or B100 formulas (look to make sure you see them): Choline – a building block for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and other chemical messengers in the brain; and Inositol – an essential component of the phospholipids found in virtually every cell in the body. (Remember to avoid ‘cyanocobalamin’) Mind-enhancing herbs: Ashwagandha helps you relax and focus Bacopa monnieri - improves memory Ginkgo biloba - improves blood flow to the brain and helps with clarity of thinking Ginseng – provides overall energy and vitality Gotu-Kola – used in India as a nerve tonic for memory and clarity of thinking Mucuna pruriens extract – increases motivation and mood Rhodiola – popular herb in Russia, for enhancing mental and physical endurance.

To learn more, watch a replay webinar about B12: www.VitalB12.info. Have a Question or Comment? Please email your questions/ comments to: info@vipresultscoaching.com and indicate if you’ll be attending the next meet-up to receive your answer in person on Saturdays between 5-6pm PDT. RSVP at: www.meetup.com/Lower-Mainland-MuslimMeetup About the Author: Nada Adams is a 13-years natural health researcher, author and master coach with a strong interest in personal health/wellness, heart and mind connection, living in core values and authenticity and the power of herbs to help us all heal. She is a devout religious teacher and a life, success and wellness coach helping men and women live an Islamically Authentic Life. She has been an Islamic teacher since 1990 and youth teacher for over 12 years. Adams was the ‘Dear Diary’ columnist for 2 years in the GCDA Magazine, a National Canadian Magazine focused on educating Teens. She’s also the founder of “Lower Mainland Muslims Unite” meet-up group primarily to teach the authentic creed of Islam to new converts and those individuals wanting to know the genuine meaning of Islam.

Healthy LifeStyle

Shabnam Khan - Family Counsellor Exercise is critical - literally for the length and quality of your life. It is time that you educate yourself about the importance of exercise during your entire life. With the rate of obesity, cancer, heart disease, depression and diabetes, we can no longer avoid this essential issue in our lives.

The shadow side of our postmodern lavish lifestyles in our lack of movement of our bodies. Most of us has long commutes in a car, train or airplane. Many of us live in front of computers either at the office or in our homes. To add to a lifestyle that is already sedentary and out of control, the average person watches more than four hours of television each day. This means by the time the person is 65 years old, she or he will have watched nine years of television!

Consider how magnificently exercise benefits our health and well-being.

Exercise lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol and controls blood sugar.

It strengthens, builds and tones the muscle, increases energy level, reduces body fat and helps increase the strength

of the heart. It prevents heart disease, cancer, arthritis and a host of other serious medical conditions.

You can choose a variety of exercise - from walking, treadmills, tread climbers, yoga or anything that integrates with your lifestyle and hopefully something you love. As you align yourself with something that brings you passion and energy, you create health in both your mind and your body. Exercise gets essential nutri-tion into our bodies.

Exercise alleviates stress, anxiety and depression. It strengthens the immune system, stimulating “natural killer cells” that play a vital role in fighting viruses.

Our bodies are meant to move. Lack of activity contributes to a host of physical and psychological disorders. If exercise is so beneficial and it’s so good for us, why do we dislike it so much?

Often exercise has been experienced as punishment and ordeal. We see it as competition and our failure to “measure-up “ as defeat. It has been proclaimed that if exercise could be packed into a pill, it would be a single most prescribed and beneficial medication in the nation!

Exercise is a gift for our Mind, Body and Soul. shabnam@skcounselling.ca

26

finance

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

Financial shock would never have happened under sharia and the example set by the prophet in the Sunnah.

Most of us are aware that Islam prohibits usury and few would be surprised to learn that a Muslim should not profit from the sale of alcohol or from the distribution of pornography.

What most of us do not know is that the sharia presents a positive vision, based on principles of equity, as to how business should be carried on. In a financial transaction, the person who brings the money should share risk with the person to whom it is brought.

An investment should normally be backed by a tangible underlying asset. One should make an investment only if it is reasonable to suppose it will bring a return.

How are these principles applied in practice? Some conventional instruments, including many of the more exotic creations of Wall Street, are so irremediably unIslamic that no amount of ingenuity could produce an equivalent which was sharia-compliant.

Into this category would fall the high-risk products of casino capitalism and instruments which derive their value not from assets but from algorithms.

Other, more familiar, financial products have their Islamic equivalents. A Western bank pays a saver interest by reference to the “time value of money”. A depositor in an Islamic bank shares in the profit and losses which the institution generates when it puts the deposit to use. An Islamic institution cannot grant a mortgage but it may lease a property to its customer.

In the Christian (or post-Christian) West, Islam can resonate negatively. We often focus on aspects of that civilisation which

LEGAL OPINION: In the West we have, over many years, created a range of financial instruments to meet the needs of business, of investors and of the man and woman in the street. In the recent past, institutions in the Islamic world have developed a parallel set of instruments which seek to fulfil those needs in a way which is consistent with sharia law.

Islam dates its foundation to the year 622 CE, when the prophet Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina in the incident which Muslims celebrate as the Hijra.

However, Islamic finance as we now know it has a much shorter history, having its origins in the post-war world.

To the extent they think about such things at all, it is probable that many in the West regard Islamic finance as a harmless eccentricity. Some may see its arrival in Europe and North America as an unwelcome intrusion. Few would ever take the time to examine its underlying principles.

In the decades which followed the Reagan revolution, we came to think that markets, including financial markets, could, by and large, look after themselves. Since the onset of the global financial crisis, many in Europe and America have come to believe we need to apply a new ethic to the conduct of financial markets. However, in the West, where public morality is divorced from revealed religion, there is as yet no consensus as to what form this should take.

In the Islamic world, the problem is different. To pious Muslims, it is self-evident that financial markets should be organised in accordance with sharia law, which reflects the truths revealed in the Koran,

Vancouver Public Library presents

2012

Multicultural Fair

photo credit: flickr user Lucy Nieto, under a Creative Commons license

Wednesday June 27 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Promenade and Alice MacKay Room Central Library 350 West Georgia Street Admission is free

www.vpl.ca

Come and celebrate Canada’s Multiculturalism Day at the library. Enjoy the arts, culture and exhibits from around the world right at home.

are foreign and threatening to us and ignore features of Muslim life and beliefs which we might consider more benign.

Our Government is anxious that Dublin should develop as a centre for Islamic finance and, with that in mind, we have amended our tax code so as to create a level playing field for conventional and Islamic financial instruments. So where a bank depositor receives a share in the profits (and losses) generated from, for example, the deposit, the Revenue Commissioners will treat such return as if it was interest.

Opinion in the West is often suspicious of, or antagonistic towards, sharia. Is it right then that our law should accommodate practices which are informed by that code?

In the US housing bubble of 2005-2006, unscrupulous institutions lent money to poor people on the security of their homes.

By some form of financial alchemy, investment banks converted these mortgages into triple A securities which they then sold on to fund managers. Some shrewd investors could see this market was heading for a fall and placed their bets accordingly. In the resulting debacle, the global economic system received a shock from which it has not yet recovered.

Nothing remotely like this could have happened if the actors in this drama had been constrained by sharia principles, so we should not be surprised that many Muslims feel that, in the era following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, we might when we come to regulate financial markets consider taking a leaf out of their book.

John King is a partner in Ivor Fitzpatrick Company Solicitors, where he specialises in media and commercial law.

Fundraising Dinner for the

FIJI FLOOD

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 6:00 pm Venue: Newton Community Arena (Newton Recreation Centre)

7120-136B Street Surrey Tickets: $25 per family Your generous support is greatly appreciated for this Global cause

For more information: Shiraj :604-783-3786, Najir: 604-318-6630 Firoz: 604-726-4644, Najma: 604-572-8918 Event is sponsored by Patel Welfare Society of BC

27

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

28

sports

Volume 12 Issue 311 Rajab 11, 1433 AH / June 1 2012

Vigneault ‘didn’t mean what he said’ on Luongo trade request, says GM Gillis

Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday that head coach Alain Vigneault “misspoke” when he told a French-language TV show that goalie Roberto Luongo wanted a trade out of Vancouver. Appearing on the club’s flagship radio station Team 1040, Gillis said that he and Vigneault talked Thursday night and the coach explained that he “didn’t mean what he said” about Luongo. In the original interview Wednesday night, Vigneault was asked if he agreed that Luongo needed a fresh start after being supplanted as the Canucks’ No. 1 goalie

by Cory Schneider during the playoffs. Vigneault replied (translated): “That’s what he wants right now.” According to Gillis, Vigneault later corrected that statement with his interviewers. “[That] is my understanding,” Gillis said. “I haven’t heard the interview but he went and told whoever was conducting it that he had misspoke immediately after it happened and I think he did. Like I said, I haven’t heard the interview but that’s what Alain told me last night and that he clarified it in his mind ... you know, [he] didn’t mean what he said.” Gillis reiterated Luongo has maintained the same stance — he would accept a trade if it best suited the team — that he declared to reporters

in his April 24 exit interviews. “No, it’s not full-on that we’re trying to find him a new home,” Gillis said. “What he indicated was that if we felt a change was necessary, he would do whatever was best for the team once we made that decision. And that’s all he said. “We haven’t come to the conclusion yet what’s in the best interests of the team and Roberto is going to be part of the process. I talked to him again last week to see how he was feeling and we’re going to start moving ahead now that we’ve cleared up some other issues. We’ll start looking at where we want to go with this situation and others.” Gillis further added that if both Luongo and Schneider were back, they would compete for the No. 1 job. (On his conference call Wednesday, Vigneault had strongly hinted Schneider would start next season as the No. 1. “What happened in the playoffs would be an indication of what might happen moving forward,” said the coach.) “I know you guys want to read into every possible meaning that you can,” Gillis continued, “but the reality is that if both are back, they’ll be competing for the No. 1 job and whoever wins it will win it.” Luongo’s agent, Gilles Lupien, did not reply to an interview request Friday. On another matter, Gillis said he felt there would

be no divide between Vigneault and centre Ryan Kesler after comments by the coach on the player’s performance didn’t sit well with the latter, or his agent. “No, not at all,” responded Gillis.

“Coaches are paid to make hard decisions and to get the most out of people. We’re at a point in time in the evolution of our organization where excuses aren’t accepted and, if you’re cleared to play, you play. We’ll take into account everything that goes into it but I’m not worried about any divide.” Kesler injured his left shoulder Feb. 9, didn’t miss a game but then required major surgery on May 8. He finished the season on a 17-game goal-less streak. Gillis also explained the Daniel Sedin concussion situation and how Vigneault was caught off guard when Daniel wasn’t ready to start the playoffs. Sedin was hurt March 21 when elbowed in the head by Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith. Source: Vancouver Sun

Hafeez ready for tough series

Pakistan’s new Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez has said he expects a tough contest in all three formats against Sri Lanka. “We all know that Sri Lanka is always good on their own soil and we are looking forward to a very tough series,” Hafeez said at a media conference held a few hours after the team’s arrival on Monday for a seven-week tour. “We have experience playing them in the recent past and had good success against them,” he

said, referring to the Test and ODI series victories when the sides met in the UAE late last year. “I personally feel the boys have worked really hard in the last one and a half months.

Although we were not playing any international cricket (recently) some of the guys were doing their own training and the PCB arranged some matches for us to get match practice.”

The Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore was happy with the team’s preparation for the series. “Although Pakistan is unable to play any international matches at home due to the security concerns in their country, they managed to practice together before coming to Sri Lanka,” he said. “We had a pretty decent two weeks camp before we came here finishing up with some prac-

tices that were attended by conservatively 15,000 people who were starved of cricket and they just loved them. “The advantage a country like Sri Lanka has, apart from IPL of course, is they are all centralised in one spot. In our case a lot of the boys are spread out. There are a lot of weeks of build-up before we come together for a camp. From that point of view you can’t be in all the places at once taken in good faith that they are working and the boys have. But the two weeks was very good at the other end.” Whatmore served as head coach of the Sri Lanka team on two occasions and is best remembered for guiding them to win the World Cup in 1996 in his first attempt. “That was a long time ago when I finished with Sri Lanka and a lot of water has passed under the bridge. I maintain some friendships which are always good but the task here is to win. It will be nothing less than working 100% to achieve

that. The longer goal is to take Pakistan high up in the rankings in all three formats.

It’s a simple statement but it requires a lot of work.” Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said that it was a good challenge for his team to play Pakistan at home. “If you take their performances in the last six months they have performed well in all three formats. To play them in our conditions is a good challenge,” Jayawardene said. “We must move forward from the series against England. One-day cricket is important to us and also the T20 because in another 3-4 months we have the World T20 so the T20 matches against Pakistan and the two we will play against India in July are extremely important to us.” Pakistan being their tour of Sri Lanka with two T20 Internationals at Hambantota on June 1 and 3 before moving into the five-match ODI series and the Tests.

Source: Cricinfo

Italian PM suggests suspending football Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Tuesday suggested that football should be suspended for two to three years in the wake of the latest matchfixing scandal. “I’m not making a proposal and even less so a governmental one but it is something that sometimes I wish for as someone who has loved football for many years,” he said during a meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “Maybe it would benefit the development of our citizens to have a total suspension of this game for two or three years.

“It’s particularly sad when a world, such as sport, that should express high values is guilty of the most reprehensible ones such as treachery, illegality and deceit.” Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete said that would be an unfair measure and would tarnish and punish a lot of innocent people. “I’m entirely in agreement that there should be no discount for those who cheated but suspending the league would be to mortify the whole of football,” he said. “It would penalise those who operate honestly, the majority of our system, losing thousands of jobs. “That’s not a solution. “Football is part of civil society and it’s not worse than society. It’s not

better but neither is it worse. “In such a delicate moment for our country it’s necessary to avoid generalisations and demonisations.” Italy’s footballers travel to Poland in less than a week to take part in the European championships but their preparations were thrown into turmoil after police on Monday made a series of dawn raids as part of a match-fixing investigation.

Investigators even searched the room of national team defender Domenico Criscito at the team hotel near Florence while elsewhere around the country, 19 people, including Lazio captain Stefano Mauri, were arrested.

Criscito, later left out of coach Cesare Prandelli’s squad, said he has done nothing wrong. Mauri and Lazio also deny any impropriety. The corruption allegations are the latest to hit Italian football and the third time in just over 30 years that the sport has been dragged through the mud. In 1980 top teams including AC Milan and Lazio were relegated from the top flight for their part in the “Totonero” matchfixing affair. Then in 2006 Juventus suffered the same fate and were also stripped of their 2005 and 2006 Serie A crowns for trying to influence the referees’ commission. This time the

“Calcioscommesse” or football-betting scandal has mostly affected teams and players outside the first division. But Atalanta were deducted six points before the season began for their role while Siena and their president Massimo Mez-

zaroma have also been accused of involvement.

However all that stems from last season when both teams were in Serie B. Source: AFP

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL READERS

The Miracle Media Group has been serving the community for almost 11 years.

The management has kept and maintained newspaper boxes at the entrances of the Mosques entrances for the facility of Miracle’s readers to avoid violation of any regulations by the mosques. It also keeps the newspapers to be scattered around the place by wind and other elements and inadvertently, creating a problem on Mosque premises. We also avoid forcefully distributing the copies in your hands and leave it on your discretion to pick up the copy at your convenience without disrespecting Islamic literature and pictures. Therefore, we request all of you to continue using the newspaper boxes to obtain a copy of your favorite newspaper.

In spite of repeated requests, it is being observed that different newspapers are still using Miracle boxes without prior consent. Such businesses are asked to respect business ethics and principles.

Miracle Management

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