Ryerson Free Press July 2010

j u ly

2010

BATTLE OF TORONTO

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20 PHOTOS: JEFF BUCKLEY; DAN RIOS

JOURNALISTS MUST GIVE VOICE TO THE VOICELESS There is too much reliance on information from elites says panel on journalism in the Middle East

By Mariana Ionova

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As conflicts ravage Iraq, Afghanistan and IsraelPalestine, the media is the world’s eye and ear for everyone outside of these regions. But, as a panel of independent journalists spoke to a small crowd at Beit Zatoun on June 21, their message was clear: the challenges for reporters are many and coverage that misses the real story is all too common.

Carmelle Wolfson, a correspondent for the Daily Nuisance and one of the speakers at the “Legacy of Occupation and the Challenges for Independent Media in the Middle East” discussion, noted that mainstream media often focuses on what authorities emphasize and, as a result, obscures the reality of the conflict.

“The mainstream foreign press is [currently] focusing on the recent announcement that Isreal is easing the siege on Gaza by allowing more goods through the land crossings but still using security measures and maintaining the naval blockade,” said Wolfson. “Meanwhile the news that eight European parliamentarians were denied entry in Gaza on Sunday is being buried in the media.”

A prime example is the recent attack by media launched upon Vancouver MP Libby Davies over her statement that Isreali occupation dates back to 1948. According to Derrick O’Keefe—an anti-war activist, long-time journalist, and co-chair of the Canadian Peace Alliance—the media frenzy over the remarks only took the focus away from the issues that should have been discussed.

“What Libby Davies did was mention the unmentionable year of 1948 and with that, [mainstream media] were actually able to take the story, to take the main focus of public media discussion, from the flotilla massacre to one lone Member of Parliament acknowledging the catastrophe of 1948.”

In the case of Israel, this type of selective reporting not only reiterates the military’s agenda but also allows them to dodge accountability, according to Daily Nuisance reporter Jesse Rosenfeld. Rosenfeld, who reports from Jaffa, Israel-Palestine, argued that the flotilla massacre—the Israeli army’s brutal attack on six humanitarian aid ships off the coast of Gaza in May—happened partly because the military’s prior infringements on human rights went unreported by the media.

“What we saw was this massacre played out in front of Al Jazeera and the international media,” said Rosenfeld during the panel discussion. “The Israeli army somehow thought that they could treat the international activists the same way that they treat Palestinians daily and that the world would turn a blind eye to that as well.”

Part of the reason for such gaps in media coverage may be that journalists reporting on the conflict in Gaza often have never actually stepped foot in the occupied territory, according to Wolfson. This disconnect from Gaza often translates into coverage that reflects the perspective of those in power and leaves Palestinians voiceless, she added.

“Foreign journalists are often embedded in Israeli society, living in West Jerusalem, and don’t have much relationships with Palestinians,” Wolfson said. “They rely on Israeli elites for sources, so they don’t want to step on their toes too much.”

But, the key flaw of most mainstream journalism is precisely that it plays politics instead of delivering the real story, according to O’Keefe. In his mind, the job of independent media is to counter this pattern in mainstream reporting by seeking out the voices of the voiceless.

“For all Afghan voices that are struggling in Afghanistan, one of our duties as alternative media and one of our key jobs, I think, is to amplify what they are already saying,” O’Keefe told the audience.

But the biggest challenge arises once reporters hand their stories over to the audience, according to Hadani Ditmars, a reporter for the New Internationalist who joined the discussion over Skype from Baghdad.

“Once you get here, there’s the apathy,” said Ditmars. “It’s also about getting people to really care about what’s going on in the Middle East.”

PHOTO: WAN-PRESS.ORG

TORONTO ACTIVISTS SPEAK THE FUCK UP ON MATERNAL HEALTH RIGHTS

By David Thurton

Activist Judy Rebick pelted cuss after cuss challenging Conservative senator Nancy Ruth who told women’s NGOs to “shut the fuck up,” or they’ll loose more federal funding.

“I’ve never shut the fuck up in my life. And I’m really happy because I can swear a lot tonight. I can say fuck as many times I want,” Rebick said at a June panel discussion on maternal health in the lead up to the G8/ G20 summits entitled “Speak the Fuck up.”

Toronto Star columnist Antonia Zerbisias tossed more obscenities into the Clinton’s Tavern crowd, too, in her contribution to the panel discussion hosted by rabble.ca and This Magazine. Zerbisias said she suspected Prime Minister Stephen Harper was preparing to stifle funding to women’s groups after a January op-ed in the Star by Harper said part of the G8/G20 summit would focus on maternal health care funding in poorer countries.

“I read it and I was like, ‘what the fuck,’” Zerbisias said.

Zerbisias said the 672 word op-ed said nothing about providing contraception and abortion services to women in developing countries. And she said that the article suggested that women were mere baby makers and did not empowere them to be the social and economic change of developing countries.

Following Harper’s article, the government slashed funding to women’s NGOs, the columnist said, and ramped up funding for the Girl Guides of Canada to fight violence against women and to translate the Bible into Indigenous languages.

“Not to knock Indigenous people but I think they can do better with development in their own areas than Bibles in their native tongues,” Zerbisias said.

Oxfam Canada Executive Director Robert Fox condemned Harper’s actions as well. Fox said that approximately every eight minutes one women around the world dies from an unsafe abortion. And 99 per cent of these deaths occurred in the developing world.

Fox said that abortion was going to happen regardless of whether the government liked it or not. But, the question is whether these abortions will take place in alleys, in fields or with medically trained professionals.

Fox said it was obscene that the Canadian government had a global maternal health policy that excluded access to abortions. Particularly where rebels in developing countries raped women as an act of war, when husbands refuse to use condoms and when women mother children after children.

In these realities, Fox said women must have access to

counseling, condoms, abortions and outlets to advocate for their health care needs.

Third panelist Josephine Grey of Low-Income Families Together, refocused the discussion to remind the audience that maternal included care during birth right up until children are adults. Nevertheless, Grey said even in this regard the government failed as poverty continues affect many Canadian families in ways that are often unknown.

“I get phone calls from women hiding out living in their cars. And they don’t want anybody to know that they’re poor because in their small town there is a grand intolerance to poverty. So if you have the nerve to admit your poor, you’re going to get shunned, isolated and cut out.”

Grey also questioned the state’s moves, in her experience, to take children out of the hands of their parents and place them in foster care.

This breeds delinquency Grey said and benefits the rich.

“They not only make profit from running juvenile jails in this country. We know they’re private prisons in this country.

But us mothers have to sit there and realize what they’ve done is created a big cheap labour force because those prisoners become basically slave labour for some corporation,” Grey said.

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RAIN on the REIGN Full coverage of the Canadian government’s shameful oppression attempts, the possible use of agents provocateurs and the aftermath

By Raynold Mobedi Despite massive government propaganda which ranged from fabricating thank-you emails all the way to David Miller’s “the protesters are not from Toronto” comments on CP24, much of the world was capable of seeing the true colours of the Canadian government as it tried to crush dissent and suppress the voice of people.

The question remains: did some authorities decide to take it too far and use riot police as fake protestors, as they did in Quebec, in order to create chaos and undermine the movement of people? This attempt would devastate the legitimacy of the ruling regime.

From the Middle East all the way to North America, when it comes to public protests and gatherings, I have witnessed and studied hundreds of incidents where people decided to challenge a government to voice their opinion of what they believe is right and wrong. Having said that, what I witnessed on the G20 weekend was a very peaceful protest especially when compared to others around the world in the past decade. Yet at the same time, I also witnessed some of the most shameful media coverage. The coverage, provided

by Canadian news agencies including CTV and CBC, effectively called the protesters “rioters,” “anarchists,” “criminals” and even “outsiders.” leaving some to believe that they are nothing but biased, government agents.

THE MISSION THE RIDE – SATURDAY JUNE 26 The plan was simple: get downtown, take photos, report the events live via mobile. My long-time friend John was to stay at home, record my voice/coverage, and at the same time provide me with the live coverage from CTV so that I would know about the clashes and the places they take place. CTV was the only Canadian news agency that reported all the events live.

Nearly midday, when tens of thousands of outraged protesters had already started marching in the streets, I took the subway at Finch. The subway cars were mostly empty, with the exception of a few cops here and there. The announcements were talking about the “normal operations but with major delays due to security concerns.” At Sheppard station, a massive number of people entered the subway, many of whom appeared to be going to join the fellow protesters downtown.

A small and friendly group of student protesters who saw me programming my camera approached me. “School reporter?” said Jennifer an Osgoode Hall student. “Else he’d have a yellow identification card” added Tommy, an aerospace student at U of T. “You got it” I replied smiling.

The rest of group included Martin and David – both law students from Osgoode Hall. The group was protesting HST and Harper’s minority government. About twenty minutes later, the subway stopped halfway at Bloor Station – an apparent attempt to stop more protestors from joining the crowd.

“We will crawl to union station if we have to” said Tommy. At this point, most of the crowd seemed even more determined to join the dissent.

THE PROTEST The Theory of the Watchman argues that people in charge of law enforcement may not have the same ideology or mentality as the people they watch. I think that this theory was applied over the Summit weekend: over 22,000 law enforcement officers were drawn from across Canada. Of the riot police I interviewed, all were either from Alberta or

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British Columbia. On Saturday, this controversial method proved to be effective as authorities and media called the Toronto Police (non-riot) “incompetent” for not being able to control the crowd. Toronto Police officers were seen in many occasions talking to people, respecting their constitutional right to assemble. They seemed less willing to beat or injure the people that they have to live with everyday for the rest of their lives.

The scenes along my walk from Bloor Street were breathtaking and fascinating: liberals, conservatives, feminists, vegetarians, meat-lovers, environmentalists, business people, lawyers, Christians, Muslims, Jews, immigrants and people with or without status put up a united front.

Not a single incident was reported in which people clashed among one another. The protestors’ demands were more varied than the number of attending country leaders in the Summit, but one thing was clear: People were unhappy with the government, its (indirectly elected) Prime Minister, its unelected Senators, and more importantly, unhappy with the ridiculous cost of the Summit.

John was navigating me through the area by phone.

Hours after marching around downtown, interviewing individuals and witnessing the peaceful protests I began to stop at a heated showdown. The protesters, who were well away from the “G20 Security Zone,” were hesitant in backing down. “Hey! You! Be careful they only attack people with cameras,” said Melissa. I was reluctant to listen to her, given the fact that the protestors were not advancing or being violent, and that since the riot police were very slowly advancing. At this point, things turned around and all hell broke loose.

The riot police started attacking people like animals.

They started advancing very rapidly, alongside another group of riot police–that had just suddenly showed up– beating people from another side. The crowd resisted.

Splashes of blood were spilling from a protester’s head. A third group of riot police approached from another direction. A cop violently grabbed me, ripping off my shirt. The first baton aimed for my camera, effectively breaking it into pieces. That cop’s second move was to smash my camera with his foot. It seemed like a procedure – a very structured, well-thought procedure. I managed to get away. As I ran back I watched people being dragged on their faces against the pavement. As they “arrest” you, at least four to five cops would sit on you, strip you and take off your shoes.

The ground was filled with drops of blood. A cop car was set ablaze. I could not verify whether the action was as a result of police provocation, out of dubious intent, or simply an action that was aimed at distracting the police so the innocent civilians could get away. I heard gunshots at this point. I could see the police rising what is similar to a machine gun against the crowd. Some reports said that the gunshots came from the “rubber and real bullets burning inside the police cruiser” while others reported it was from a special weapon that dispenses gas and is supposed to “shock the protesters.” My camera and my phone were gone.

After this point, I was just there to protest against the police crime and brutality. People were violently beaten with clubs, and many were badly hurt – all so that some international guests could have a beer and watch the game in peace.

Further north, people had gathered in a small park.

People there were not shouting or advancing – simply just standing and waving signs in attempt to be heard by the government and the world. It was not long before the line of riot police approach quickly behind their shields. From time to time the shields would go away and a few groups of

thugs would come out quickly to arrest individuals in the most horrifying manner. When asked about “which people they choose to arrest,” Security Analyst Allen Bell replied: “they look for leaders, and the people that look suspicious.”

Apparently young men, women in shorts and tank tops who stand there with tiny cameras or cell-phones translate into “vicious leaders” and “troublemakers” to the “law” enforcement of this nation.

I witnessed hundreds of incidents in which police acted violently, illegally and criminally on that day. In one case, a riot police tried to provoke peaceful protesters yards away by yelling: “SHOW ME what you got, show me the power, pussy!” Thankfully we managed to take his picture and keep it in our possession.

CANADIAN MEDIA AND THEIR “COVERAGE” OF THE EVENTS Being out on the streets caused many protesters missed was the shameless media “coverage” of the events and the authorities’ response of the crackdown on dissent. David Miller called the protesters “criminals” adding “that’s all I really can think of ” during a live interview with CTV. While watching his people being beaten up and dragged against the rough pavement he added “these people are not from Toronto. They are outsiders, coming here to make trouble.”

CTV’s security analyst repeated called the civilians “anarchists” – all tens of thousands of them!

Outrageously, on June 27, CBC News reported “150 arrests” while subtly quoting Integrated Security Unit. The Associated Press reported “over 400 arrests.” Some international reports reported about 500 arrests.

While CBC is a famous player when it comes to criticizing and condemning crackdowns on protests continents away in Iran or Israel, they seem to have their tongues gotten away by the cat when it comes to the violent crackdowns right here on their doorsteps.

Among Canadian news agencies, one thing was common: None of them dared to criticize the violent suppression of people, or to provide an unbiased coverage. They all seemed too focused on a suspicious (yet very, very small) group of people sporting black.

SUNDAY – JUNE 27 POLICE KIDNAPPING AND RAIDS

By Sunday, I had recuperated and was able to get another camera. Before the day had even begun, the Associated Press reported that police had raided a university building and rounded up hundreds of protesters. In addition, AP reported that, “Plainclothes police jumped out of an unmarked van, grabbed a protester off the street and whisked him away in the vehicle.” In early afternoon, before I made it to Bloor and Spadina, the police had violently crushed the crowd that included bicyclists and a group of 16-year-old girls.

POSSIBLE COVERT MISSIONS: DID THE GOVERNMENT USE PROVOCATEURS? On Monday, June 28, the National Post called the Black Bloc “Stephan Harper’s best political friend today.” AP reported that, “Harper suggested the violence justified the controversial cost. ‘I think it goes a long way to explaining why we have the kind of security costs around these summits that we do.’”

Some may find the idea of police dressed as protestors and insurgents appalling, unbelievable, preposterous or even fictional. However, police provocateurs have been

The weekend of June 26 and 27 during Toronto’s G20 Summit was a weekend of polar opposites.

Scores of peaceful protesters were contrasted with a minority of vandal rioters. Police officers who would offer you information and a helping hand were counterbalanced by officers who would sooner greet you with rubber bullets and the wrong end of a baton. Citizens who say that the intimidation, unlawful arrests and police violence are contrary to our rights and freedoms as Canadian citizens were met with those who say that given the situation, police acted appropriately and that those arrested were detained for proper reasons. However, one aspect can be agreed upon: whether the blame lies on vandals or aggressive police actions, our city disappeared for the weekend. In its place was bastardization; a Toronto in which none of us felt at home.

On June 26, third-year Ryerson Journalism student Roland Campbell joined a peaceful march which left from Queen’s Park and eventually ended outside the Novotel Hotel on Saturday night. Describing the protest as “spontaneous and organic,” he was a passive observer. Armed with a voice recorder, his plan was to document the protests for an audio segment.

The protest’s purpose was to support the striking labour workers while showing dissent towards the G20 leaders staying at the hotel. While a police presence was noticeable during the entire march, once they arrived outside the Novotel, they were quickly surrounded.

The protest marshals told everyone to sit down. The crowd, which was “peaceful and harmonious,” was likened to a sit in from the 60’s by Campbell. However, they were threatened with arrest if they did not disperse. The police reportedly did not offer a way out.

“It was at this point where I stuck my recorder in my jacket pocket and kind of dropped being a passive observer,” says Campbell.

“I was very much interested in our and my own well being.” Chants of “let us go” were yelled, but quickly it became clear that the only way out was in leg shackles and zip ties.

Police began grabbing people

from out of the crowd. “They would come in, and literally rip is the perfect word, rip someone off the ground,” states Campbell.

Describing the police as “faceless large men” identified only by their batons, shields, gasmasks and helmets, he says “it’s hard to see them as people at that point.”

Not all hold the belief that the police disregarded rights or acted overly aggressive during the weekend. Daniel Smullen, 22, is an RCMP recruit and was downtown to meet his girlfriend.

Present during the

fied, he argues that even during the peaceful protests there were grounds for detention. “That’s not to say that they were not also protesting peacefully and lawfully at one time, but when they failed to comply with police orders, they would then quickly become in violation of what constitutes lawful protest.”

Campbell was arrested at ap-

other’s Other.” Saying that characteristics apply to the group whether or not they are accurate, he notes that the protesters saw police as “violent, enforceful and authoritative creatures who were scary and our enemies,” while police viewed them as “capricious protesters who have the capability of violence, whether or not they are acting that way.”

Overall, Campbell believes that most of the cops were pleasant once the visors came off. However, he says their “visage was

A TALE of

TWO CITIES

By Danny Viola riots as well as other protests, he says that the police used proper procedure and that the attitude and actions of the protesters led to arrests.

Stating that “the atmosphere was tense, there was certainly an element of chaos and confusion,” during the rioting, he noticed much belligerence on part of the crowd.

“The protesters were directly confronting police, not in a violent way, but still imposing themselves in a confrontational situation.”

Saying that many, but certainly not all of the arrests were justi-

proximately 11:10 PM on Saturday.

He would not be released until 12:15 AM on Monday. His charge of breach of the peace would be dropped.

During his arrest, he says that there was an us-versus-them mentality on the part of both parties. “When we are cast in different groups, humanism of the situation disappears and we are both each

used before and it’s entirely possible that they were among the Black Bloc. In Quebec at Montebello, the riot police dressed as protesters and tried to get other protesters to become violent. In Toronto, the police did come out as plainclothes individuals beating, seizing and arresting people – what would stop them from taking it a step further?

Canadian news agencies seem to have completely blanked out the existence of plainclothes police, and the amount of violence they exercised. On Sunday, we witnessed a massive number of plain/ordinary cars driven by police officers driving carelessly provoking the drivers and people. In one case one of them almost ran over a mother and her baby in the stroller. And while the police were allowed drive unsafely through the streets, the individuals seemed to be free to loot.

AFTERMATH: STOPPING THE MOMENTUM Unlike the common belief that the Canadian government is amateur when it comes to power establishment and retention, the Canadian government is an expert in identifying dangers to its kingdom. They are taking all the necessary steps in order to make sure that the Summit protest remains an isolated incident, and that there will never be another act of defiance or another mass dissent – including those aimed at bringing more democracy to Canada.

Unsurprisingly, Barak Obama failed to issue any statement of condemnation regarding the violent crackdown of the protesters in Toronto. The American government is famous for issuing timely condemnations of Middle Eastern nations (in particular Iran) when it comes to protests as small as 150 people, yet they seem to overlook brutal clampdowns in their neighboring nation. Obama showed that while he may be a compassionate friend to the

kindness but their actions and behaviour was indifference.”

There were instances when a detainee asked an officer if he knew that their rights and freedoms were being violated. The officer simply replied “good.” However, there were officers who genuinely seemed to care and would try and accommodate the detainees.

Demands for phone calls persisted throughout the day, becoming more frustrated as time passed.

Campbell’s restraints were off by 7:30 AM. He was finally given a

phone call by 8 AM. “Our basic rights as Canadian citizens weren’t their priority,” he said. “Relative to more authoritative countries, we were treated well.

But given that we are in Canada and this is democratic society with specific rights and generally upheld rights, I thought for the citizens it wasn’t an experience that demonstrated that.”

Calling into question the decision to hold the summit in Toronto, Smullen says that police could have been more proactive in order to educate people as well as show the public that they are on their side. He notes that the police did well to make sure that no one was seriously injured and that those detained who were innocent were set free quickly.

“There would have been a lot more damage and there would have been a lot more people getting injured, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were people who got killed,” he says. “That’s better than we can say for many of the other G20 Summits that occurred around the world.”

Smullen maintains that public perception of police has to change, as the animosity they face is not justified.

“People seem to be able to respect the authority of ambulance drivers and emergency personnel and firefighters when a building is burning or someone is injured, but yet when the police give a similar order it’s met with protesters, it’s met with cries of ‘police state’ and similar comments.”

Amnesty International stated in a news release on June 27 that the weapons used, unclear police powers, and high levels of surveillance were a “curtailment of civil liberties.”

Campbell says that this experience has shown him that a basic knowledge of rights and freedoms as well as the law is essential for active citizens. He believes that the police will not admit guilt until the judiciary system proves it. He is hoping that he, among many of the other people who were wrongfully detained, will be vindicated through the class action lawsuit.

“You have to push and push and push until you can’t push anymore.”

people of his nation, he is no friend of the Canadian people–just friends with the unelected, bureaucratic Canadian government.

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair promised that the police will continue the crackdown on the “criminals” and that they “will investigate every crime committed at the Summit and track down and charge all those responsible.” Meanwhile, many voices across Canada are calling the country “a police state.” On Monday June 28, thousands of people gathered outside Toronto’s police headquarters to protest the unjust police operation and to try to persuade the police to release the political prisoners. Many protestors have accused the police for illegal conduct. “The only violence against humanity …. Was committed exclusively by the police” a protestor said in an online. Thousands of protestors, including many students who were able to escape false imprisonments, are outraged at the bias Canadian media- and are demanding an explanation. “[The government] took our city to hold a meeting and bullied us out of the core, damaging the commerce of thousands of merchants and inconveniencing the entire population.” the Star said.

Throughout the protests the overcast sky chose to rain a few times. In the end a heavy and symbolic rain fell upon the city and Harper’s reign – washing the streets and its cover clean. By the time the rain was done, everything was clearer – not just to the Canadians but also to the global community.

Do you have pictures, comments or complains, or launching a class action lawsuit – email me at Raynold.Ryerson@hotmail.com

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REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS PANEL: HOW TO FIGHT BACK THEN TAKE TO THE STREET

By Scaachi Koul

When the vandalism and violence occurred on Saturday’s G20 protests in Toronto, it wasn’t what all the protesters had in mind.

At a panel discussion on June 21 organized by the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics, the tone was peaceful and hopeful but determined.

“I think we all are well-aware that Stephen Harper made a political blunder,” said Carolyn Egan of the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics. “It is clear across this country that we should have the right to abortion here, but around the world [as well.]”

The panel, titled “Harper’s Attack on Reproductive Rights - At Home and Abroad,” dealt with how Harper’s government excluded the provision of abortion as a part of the “maternal and child health policy” they pushed at the G20 summit.

Jessica Yee from the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, was one of the more outspoken members of the panel and easily the most incensed. “When Harper all of a sudden starts saying that he cares about vaginas when we know he hates vaginas, that’s insulting,” she said, wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with “Warrior Woman” on the front.

Working closely with Aboriginal women, Yee supports their maternal rights to choose and to raise their children without the unjust interception of social services.

She explained how it’s harder for women to get abortions since small communities make for stigma, specifically in Yellowknife. “It’s a small community and you get abortions on Wednesday and Friday. So everyone knows abortion day is Wednesday and Friday.”

Angela Robertson of Women’s College Hospital, explained how Harper’s decision to exclude abortion rights in Canada’s policy links Canadians to women internationally.

“This is yet another call where we are tied to women internationally as they defend their rights,” she said. “This is your public institution - hold it accountable.”

The room at 25 Cecil Street was cramped - there were more attendees than seats ready to hear out the six panelists and ask questions. One attendee was a man who grew up in Somalia and witnessed the torment women can face when birth control and abortion is not available. While in Somalia, his sister died in childbirth. “Harper can come out and say he supports mother and child but in a sinister way, doesn’t support the right to choose,” he said. “I don’t agree with that. I’m glad you guys exist,” he said to the panelists.

“This is not a moment where we can be apathetic,” said Robertson. “Many of us have

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been challenged by the shut-the-f-up comments. There was a lull because they wore us down.” Robertson explained that the opposition uses stealthy, almost insidious ways of rallying youth to support their side. The prochoice movement can’t get lazy or sloppy.

“The Canadian government is really choosing to pick a fight with the weakest women,” said Ronda Roffey from Women’s Habitat. “Children have huge implications for women. If we don’t have [abortion rights], we don’t have anything.” For some women, having unplanned children can mean falling into poverty, death, stigma from their communities, humiliation and leaving their previous children neglected or motherless.

Roffey also detailed the techniques the pro-life movement has used in the past 25 years. “First they told us God didn’t like it but none of us really cared. Then they told us abortion is murder. Abortion causes breast cancer, suicide. It’s about as evil as this government has gotten. First it’s our most vulnerable sisters and then it’ll be us.”

Also in attendance at the panel were Ayesha Adhami from the Immigrant Women’s Health Centre and Kelly Holloway who acted as organized opposition to the Genocide Awareness Project, an anti-choice movement.

“It’s reprehensible, it’s irresponsible,” said Adhami about Harper’s maternal health policy. “The right to choose is a right that is globally understood. It’s up to us to support them and the voice for the voiceless.” Adhami moved to Canada at three months, but returned to her native Pakistan at 16 years old. There, she attended a Catholic college but knew that outside of her affluent life, there were women suffering in her country.

“Outside of those well-manicured gardens [was] the reality.”

On June 26, the women of the panel, along with thousands of supporters, led the Queen’s Park protest holding a giant wire coat hanger as a representation of what some women have to resort to when abortion resources are unavailable. It could have been the statement of the day. But as the city descended into rioting and as the police began arresting individuals haphazardly, the message may have been lost in the chaos.

Three year-old Layla was brought to the panel by her mother and aunt. They listen intently to the speakers while she draws pictures and hands them to strangers. Halfway through, she gets bored, and asks her mother why they need to be there.

“For you,” her mother says. “We’re here for you.”

PHOTO: DAN RIOS

FEAR AND LOATHING IN TORONTO

By Nora Loreto, Editor-in-Chief As fear gripped Toronto during the G8/G20 Summits, democracy vanished.

To anyone paying attention, it seemed like the public relations machine that was kicked into gear for the G20 Summit was a neverending set of announcements meant to elevate concern about the potential dangers of having the world’s most powerful people in Toronto for a weekend.

Early on, the University of Toronto announced that the possibility of danger on the St. George campus was so great that the entire University would be shut down during the Summit.

Even student residents would have to be moved as the city would be so unsafe that students should not be allowed on campus.

This set the bar pretty high for what level of danger to expect. Of course, there were some rational heads on campus who challenged this decision by defying the university’s orders and keeping their offices open. They also called the university out when it was revealed that security agents would be taking the temporarily-moved students’ rooms.

These organizations were targeted for their courageous stands. One, the Graduate Students’ Union, was raided and every person inside was detained, likely with the help of Campus Police.

What a price to pay for standing up against an administration that conspired with security officials to detain progressive students.

The message sent by the Integrated Security Unit, the joint-security force comprised of the RCMP, the OPP, Toronto Police, Canadian Forces and private firms, as a result of this raid was clear: don’t challenge the notion that the security measures taken are warranted, or you could be considered an enemy of the state.

The federal government, security agencies and the province all seemed to manipulate information to make everyone fear each other: the protesters were to fear the police, the general public were to fear the protesters and no one should go near the fence. With everyone’s rationality turned off and replaced with fear, the purpose of the summits would continue generally unchallenged, especially by mainstream journalists.

Fear was used to rule the City of Toronto that weekend. Our powerless mayor stepped back as Martial Law was imposed by Police Chief Bill Blair, while the Premier looked the other way. Blair was ordered by someone to allow for his officers to conduct sweeping powers of search and detention that were not contemplated by the anything passed by government.

As a result of these expanded powers , fear spread among citizens of being searched and detained without any due process, having hearing damage as a result of being blasted with a sound cannon, or going blind or choking because of tear gas.

I saw fear in the eyes of many, many people I talked to that weekend. I was afraid too. On Sunday night, I was standing with four people at Queen and Soho Streets in awe of seeing busloads of people shipped off to cages. Two officers came up to us and told us to leave immediately.

We were told that by standing together in a group we were “violating the riot act” and that we were not legally allowed to “converge.”

When I challenged one of the officers and demanded to know which part of what law he was citing, fear came through his eyes, and anPHOTO: KOWALESKI/FLICKR

ger through his mouth. All he could do is yell, “I have told so many people tonight about this and I’m tired of it.” He threatened to arrest us again, if we asked any more questions, so we dispersed.

Blair was on the front lines of generating fear. He wasted many words whipping people up against the violent protesters, and convinced a cadre of journalists to advance this view.

Before long, people uninvolved with the day’s events were decrying vandalism shown over and over on television news stations as if someone had actually been hurt.

Of course, many people had been hurt, but broken windows were the only image used to demonstrate violence. Many people who had been hurt were shipped off to a detention centre away from the city’s core.

We were all under attack. At times, we were all afraid. And despite using the force that they had, the security forces didn’t even unleash their entire arsenal. At each confrontation, this led many of us on the streets to wonder, what will they use next?

When I saw horses charging dense crowds, or people running as if their lives depended on escape, I wondered how instilling this fear among us had anything to do with G20 leaders like Manmohan Singh, Hu Jintao or David Cameron. There wasn’t even a remote possibility of a world leader being hurt, indeed no political leader has ever been murdered in Canada by a protesting mob.

Instilling fear in people only served to disempower us. The move toward a near removal of all freedoms stated in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms happened so fast that only after the Summit has anyone realized that the power on which the ISU was operating didn’t exist. But that didn’t matter. More than 1,000 people were rounded up and dehumanized, regardless of what powers the police did or didn’t have.

It degenerated into seemingly random arrests that were based only on the colour of one’s clothes, the language one spoke, or whether or not a protester came prepared to be tear gassed.

When I was hit over the shoulder and knocked to my knees by a riot officer, my hope of demonstrating against what the G20 stood for dissipated, and I knew that the rest of the weekend would be pure resistance to the violence perpetuated by the police state.

The police response to us in the streets during the G20 is an important reminder of this: The freedoms we enjoy were hard fought for by generations of activists, and they remain absolutely fragile.

The reaction of the police to peaceful protesters with important and legitimate concerns of the work of the world’s elites is a necessary reminder that the powerful actually fear the power of the citizens when they come together to resist a global agenda that continues to rob and marginalize the world’s poor. They will promote fear, they will detain and they will raid our homes or places of work if the chance is presented to them.

If we know that fear will be used to advance an oppressive agenda, everyone who refuses to buy into that fear must stand up to it. And, in all circumstances, we must challenge those people in positions of power and demand justice for Canada and the world’s oppressed.

Especially now, as we know just how scared the elites are.

G20

For many people, both on the ground and away from Downtown Toronto, Twitter was the only medium providing up-to-the-minute and honest coverage of the G8/G20 protests.

Editor-in-Chief Nora Loreto Tweeted from the streets what she saw as she wandered, protested and ran through the streets from July 25 to 27.

#G20report

Insane bottleneck forced on crowd to keep ppl well away from the US consulate. #g20 #g20report

June 25, 2010 6:16:02 PM EDT

Older man with me is taking photos of himself and the fence. Another guy with a camera got in his way. #g20 #g20report

June 26, 2010 2:15:46 PM EDT

June 25, 2010 6:25:30 PM EDT

They’re on lockdown. I am locked in. The riot is coming I’ve been told.

June 25, 2010 6:45:50 PM EDT

There’s enough cops at #ryerson to stage a coup d’etat. Just counted 5 minivans of cops drive by the Ram. #wtf #copsoffcampus #G20 June 24, 2010 3:58 PM EDT

Found the buses. 3 #busfullofcops sans cops is living south of Bay and Gerrard. But where are the cops? (Delta Chelsea!) #G20 June 24, 2010 9:57 PM

Ever since I learned about the October Crisis, I yearned to live under Martial Law. #G20 #wtf #copsgohome #newlow June 24, 2010 10:06 PM EDT

FRIDAY, JUNE 25 A woman just tied her bike up and went into a Rabba. A cop car pull up and inspects the bike and lock. Then pulls off #G20 #worthabil?

June 25, 2010 3:26:36 PM EDT

Just passed a guy right out front of the MTCC with a shirt that said TYRRANY RESPONSE TEAM. RCMP didn’t seem phased. #g20.

June 25, 2010 3:36:17 PM EDT

Only saw 2 protesters on my walk #G20 #g20report June 25, 2010 4:29:57 PM EDT

Most officers look painfully bored. One said she liked my dress, as if to say “I’m dying to talk to someone” #g20 #g20report June 25, 2010 4:32:34 PM EDT

First illegal sighting: van just jumped the curb in front of me. A journalist jumped out. #G20 June 25, 2010 4:35:36 PM EDT

Cop to the journalist: “you’ll hafta park somewhere legal” #nokidding #g20 #g20report

June 26, 2010 2:19:11 PM EDT

Just realize I have the same uniform on as the blackblock. Uh oh. #g20 June 26, 2010 2:19:58 PM EDT

We broke through. Just saw a broken nose.

Riot cops are slamming their shields June 26, 2010 2:31:04 PM EDT

Someone’s making small talk with a cop.

From Calgary. I wonder if he arrived on a #busfullofcops. #g20

Just got beat down by a cop while I was huddled in at speakers corner. Thanks to the folks who dragged me out. I’m fully shaken #g20

June 25, 2010 6:54:01 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 2:35:00 PM EDT

The cops have a handsome refreshment stand on a golf cart. #g20.

I was trying to take a photo of them hitting another person and a cameraman. #g20 #g20report. June 26, 2010 2:36:46 PM EDT

June 25, 2010 6:58:45 PM EDT

Yes I’m out!! Said one cop: be careful tho, its still martial law on the other side. #g20 #cophumour #g20report

I’m fine, have a baton sized welt. #g20 #g20report

June 25, 2010 7:22:47 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 2:43:23 PM EDT

The hippocratic oath for journalists says Amy Goodman: “We shall not be silent” June 25, 2010 8:17:07 PM EDT

“In an age of hyper-individualism, there is nothing more surprising than solidarityNaomi Klein” #shoutout #g20 #justice June 25, 2010 10:07:23 PM EDT

We’re past Another World is Possible. We’ve reached Another World is NECESSARY. #G20 #cdnleft #G20report June 25, 2010 10:35:59 PM EDT

Just blocked by cops to access my own campus. First time in 7 years. #copsoffcampus #G20

Zombies just marched by. Figured that was going to happen next. #g20 #g20report

June 25, 2010 10:57:33 PM EDT

The #G20 is like the shittiest concert ever.

My bags get searched and there isn’t even a sweet band on the other side. #G20report June 25, 2010 11:07:58 PM EDT

@CP24 says that cops have confiscated gas masks from a car near Allan gardens. No word on whether or not urine soaked rags are allowed #G20 June 26, 2010 10:46:33 AM EDT

This rally is MASSIVE. We can’t make it thru the crowd to the stage. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 1:07:41 PM EDT

People are running like crazy away from the riot cops. “I’ve never been so scared in my life” a young looking guy. #g20 #g20report This is how anger manifests itself when the powerful ignore the powerless #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 4:24:17 PM EDT

This is how anger manifests itself when the powerful ignore the powerless #g20 #g20report http://twitpic.com/207wby June 26, 2010 4:24:17 PM EDT

Riot cops remain on guard for the american empire. Kinda. Many are stretched out. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 5:05:26 PM EDT

55 vans and minivans, 2 coach buses parked outside Mars on Univ. If the street’s closed, this is why. Looks like a traffic jam #g20

June 25, 2010 5:27:06 PM EDT

Some G20 officials just got locked out by fence closure. Ppl now running to fence to escape before the chains are locked. #G20

G20

June 26, 2010 4:01:37 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 4:18:39 PM EDT

SATURDAY, JUNE 26

Aaand just got questioned by rcmp. I’ve been sitting on this bench too long. Yup, that’s me in the orange dress, intelligence. #g20

Random cyclist who was trapped “does anyone know how I can get out?” #G20

Word is cops will encircle the line south on queen to trap the protesters. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 3:20:17 PM EDT

June 25, 2010 4:36:31 PM EDT

June 25, 2010 6:13:25 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 2:17:26 PM EDT

Just heard someone talking about the cops having rubber bullets. #g20.

Below is an unedited collection of what she saw and what she reported on Twitter. For the entire suite of Tweets (some have been removed due to space constraints) or to read what came after, check out Twitter. com/NoLore.

THURSDAY, JUNE 24 THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Lots of people photographing the cops. “How do you sleep at night?” People yell. #g20 #g20report

June 26, 2010 5:17:52 PM EDT

The rally fills univ ave as far as I can see. Are we at 15k yet? #g20 #g20report.

June 26, 2010 2:01:13 PM EDT

“Who’s protecting Obama?? Who’s protecting the fence?” Yells a woman at the riot cops #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 5:21:45 PM EDT

PHOTOS: NORA LORETO; BACKGROUND PHOTOS: DAN RIOS

The 5 ambulances parked among the vans reportedly carried more riot cops. #g20 #g20report

My friend saw someone get run over by a horse. “Took a horseshoe to the fuckin back” he said. #g20

Passed 14 vans full of cops all on Huron, passed 30 bike cops. No terrorist sightings. #g20

“What are you trying to protect?” “They’re protecting Godot” #g20 #g20report

It looks like John Tory is in the newstalk 1010 truck. He’s safe and secure. How nice. #g20

#G20. #fail. #epicfail.

CTV reporter dons his Kandahar protection in front of riot cops #g20 #g20report

We are all being pushed onto the tarmac of QP. Yup, way closer to the Leg Ass. #g20 #copssansplans

June 26, 2010 5:25:00 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 5:36:05 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 5:39:44 PM EDT

Now singing O Canada at the cops. #g20 #g20report. Belted out Glorious and Free.

Irony lost on no one June 26, 2010 5:42:46 PM EDT

Tear gas Shot at crowd. Crowd is doing NOTHING. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 6:04:43 PM EDT

People are now able to reach the fence cause most cops are at queens park. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 6:05:53 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 7:33:36 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 7:35:54 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 7:40:45 PM EDT

“The whole world is watching” we’re chanting. The riot cops keep charging. #G20 June 26, 2010 8:02:31 PM EDT

Had the cop that hit me had hit a window instead, it would have smashed. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 8:09:52 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 1:28:55 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 1:39:24 PM EDT

The #G20 critical mass stretches two thirds of Queens Park circle. Absolutely impressive.

June 27, 2010 2:49:07 PM EDT

An empty Queens Park. Hard to believe I witnessed ppl here running in sheer terror yesterday. #g20 June 27, 2010 3:05:11 PM EDT

Just passed 3 cops with giant letter A’s on their backs. No sign of cops C, N and D. #g20 #g20report June 27, 2010 3:24:10 PM EDT

Cops now closing in from the east of the designated protest zone. No idea where we”re being forced. #g20

On Yonge, random guy: “I expected way more than this to be honest.” Maybe cuz media’s reporting hasn’t been fair or accurate? #g20

I keep hearing a loud bang and people ahead of me are running away frantically. #g20

“This is not democracy” said a bystander at King and Bay to a @torontostar reporter. #g20

Well, they’ve pushed the protest now back into the streets. Motorists, blame the cops.I can’t make sense of this #g20

Line of cops walking down spad with media, escorting them away from the protest. About 15 with visible media credentials #g20

So the cops have succeeded in creating total chaos. Protest is now running to bloor. #g20

Ppl should expect arrests with media out, that’s our guess. #g20

The protest just took bloor. This doesn’t seem to be a better idea than having us chill in a park. #g20 June 26, 2010 8:37:54 PM EDT

Worried parents of 2 boys trapped by the cops have joined us. #g20

Hoeses are charging the crowsd

Bill Blair claims that we were black block at QP in press conference, this justifies the violence today. That’s a lie. #g20

The parents all try to get through the line.

They are rejected. #g20

See that line of riot cops? They’re pushin us somewhere. Closer to QP. Seems counter intuitive #g20

Blair says no rubber bullets. Global reporter says that he has some bullets. Blair claims that there were no rubber bullets. #g20

Consensus here is that there are now more cops than protesters. #g20 #g20report

It seems that the mainstream media is concerned about Starbucks and empty police cars. Our media is broken. #G20

Never seen an NBC truck at queens park before. #g20 #g20report

June 26, 2010 8:19:52 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 8:17:49 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 8:21:51 PM EDT June 26, 2010 6:08:34 PM EDT

they keep moving in toward the crowd at. QP. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 6:14:03 PM EDT

From the fence: no cops. WTF are they protecting here, then? #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 6:27:44 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 6:33:01 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 6:40:19 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 6:58:35 PM EDT

Hundreds of riot cops are shifting in from college to QP. They really outnumber us now. #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 7:04:41 PM EDT

Ah, protester reinforcements have arrived.

They could still arrest every one of us and still have enough cops to hold a line #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 7:12:20 PM EDT

People just got hit by bikes south of QP #g20 #g20report June 26, 2010 7:21:55 PM EDT

Horses charging the crowd not too. We’re being pushed out. #g20 June 26, 2010 7:26:51 PM EDT

We are literally just being pushed further toward the legislative ass’ly. #wtf #g20 June 26, 2010 7:28:02 PM EDT

Horses circling the park, charging the crowd. #g20 sry the phots not great, I was running away. June 26, 2010 7:31:09 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 8:33:56 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 9:20:30 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 9:21:34 PM EDT

June 26, 2010 11:40:59 PM EDT

“The protesters spraypainted some of the mannequins” -CTV. Can someone tell CTV they only have feelings when their special hats are on? #g20 June 26, 2010 11:43:55 PM EDT

CTV has shown the same b roll of the burning cop car 7 or 9 times. No images of cops beating/charging/trampling people. #ctvwetdream #g20 June 26, 2010 11:51:55 PM EDT

BREAKING: so called black block protesters who smashed Starbucks windows were apparently Tim Horton’s shareholders #g20 June 27, 2010 12:01:56 AM EDT

SATURDAY JULY 27 5 ETF vehicles, a #busfullofcops all stopping traffic on Spad circle, outside of GSU office at UofT. #g20 June 27, 2010 1:19:43 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 5:17:06 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 6:08:48 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 7:38:27 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 7:39:30 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 7:47:55 PM EDT

June 27, 2010 8:00:31 PM EDT

Another ambulance left, was definitely with cops inside. Saw one jump in. #g20 June 27, 2010 8:07:53 PM EDT

A person just came by from the intersection.

I asked if people were still there. “They’ve arrested everyone” he said to us. #g20 June 27, 2010 8:16:31 PM EDT

An elderly woman just hit a cop. Really. She wasn’t detained. Queen and Peter #g20 June 27, 2010 8:32:42 PM EDT

Was just threatened with arrest for breach of the police for standing with 5 ppl at queen and peter. #g20 June 27, 2010 8:36:29 PM EDT

“We’re arresting ppl for converging” he told us. We dispersed. #g20 June 27, 2010 8:38:37 PM EDT

Found the parents again. Their sons are held on the street and are being arrested. Theyve been told to go home and wait for a call #g20 June 27, 2010 8:40:54 PM EDT

“How would we know they are your sons?”

They were asked by the cops. They have their sons’ IDs. #g20 June 27, 2010 8:42:37 PM EDT

If black bloc was used to justify police violence yesterday, how can they justify just as much violence today? Oh..it was all lies. #g20 June 27, 2010 10:57:23 PM EDT

G20

NEWS

NOT EVERYONE ON BOARD AS TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST NATIONAL EVENT

By Nick Ferrio THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION Commission of Canada held their first national event on Indian Residential Schools last month in Winnipeg. It is the first of seven national events planned by the commission.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was established out of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement in 2007 with the mandate to learn the truth about what took place during the operation of the schools.

The first residential schools were established in the 1870s as government-funded, church-run institutions. The schools were designed to eliminate parental involvement in the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development of Indigenous children. Upwards of 130 schools were in operation throughout Canada, with the last school closing in 1996. The Office of Indian Affairs, often without parental consent, placed over 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit children in these schools. Many consider the Indian Residential School system cultural genocide, as children were sexually and physically abused and infected with tuberculosis at the schools while being deprived of access to their languages, their families and their communities.

Although there is an estimated 80,000 Residential School survivors in Canada, the impact of their experiences in the schools continues to be felt throughout communities and has contributed to many of the social problems that continue to exist on and off reserve for Indigenous peoples.

As part of the Settlement, the TRC is responsible for telling Canadians what happened in the Indian Residential Schools, honouring the lives of former students and their families and creating a permanent record of the Indian Residential Schools legacy. While there is a large body of research already established on the Residential School system, through archival material from the Ministry of Indian Affairs and the churches, there is a lack of Indigenous voices - from survivors of the schools and their families - in the research thus far.

The event, held between June 16 and 19 at the Forks national historic site in downtown Winnipeg, was the first of its kind in Canadian history. It was an attempt at “a holistic and culturally appropriate” reconciliation of the residential schools legacy and an attempt to bring all of the participants together as a means of moving forward. While the event was largely intended to educate the public about residential schools and its place in the ongoing history of colonization on Turtle Island, it also provided a space for residential school survivors and their families to voice their experiences publicly.

Reportedly, the TRC collected a total of 425 statements, documents and photographs over the three-day event. Some chose to provide statements in public, while many chose to speak privately about their experiences. The statements of survivors and their families provide an important insight into the residential schools experience, which thus far has been largely undocumented.

In his opening statement, Manitoba Justice Murray Sinclair, TRC chair said the event has begun “a national dialogue that sheds light on a terrible chapter in our history.

“It has been a painful experience for many,” Sinclair said, “but an important first step in what will be a lengthy but vital healing process for our country.”

However, outside of the event a number of protesters stood with residential school survivors in resistance to the TRC. The rally, sponsored by The Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared (FRD), called for the prosecution of the churches that ran residential schools. Many of the protesters, who are residential school survivors themselves, feel that reconciliation with the Churches should not grant perpetrators of sexual and physical abuse clemency.

For many, the TRC’s statement gathering process is another act of whitewash by the Canadian Government and an obstruction of justice. Reportedly, the protest was called in response to restrictions and censorship imposed on survivors, claiming the TRC should be invested with the power to lay criminal charges against the churches for the crimes committed.

12 FRESHWATER LAKES THREATENED Federal government is slowly handing over lakes to mining companies

By Natalie Guttormsson CANADA’S FRESH WATER lakes are silently being sold off to mining companies to be used as waste dumping sites.

This secretive piece of legislation is known by many simply as Schedule Two. In 2002 Schedule Two came into effect providing a loophole in the Metal Mining Effluent Regulation of the Federal Fisheries Act. Once a lake is added to Schedule Two it loses all protections normally guaranteed to fresh water bodies. The government then hands them over to mining companies to do as they wish with them.

The public awareness of this issue is more than lacking and although the majority of Canadians are unaware that this backroom deal is occurring, residents of communities where their water sources are up for grabs are unable to ignore what is unfolding.

12

RYERSONFREEPRESS.CA

There are 12 fresh water bodies in Canada currently on Schedule Two’s list. Three are located in Nunavut, one is located in the Northwest Territories, five are located in British Columbia, one is located in Manitoba, one is located in Newfoundland and one is located in Ontario. In Newfoundland two additional watersheds have already been given to the mining company Aur Resources/Teck Cominco for destruction in the project known as Duck Pond.

In British Columbia there are several lakes awaiting assessment but the current conflict is over Fish Lake, a small lake not too far from the city of Williams Lake. The communities in the vicinity are divided on the issue. The logging industry that provided many jobs in the past decades has suffered severely from the pine beetle explosion and the softwood lumber dispute with the United States. This has left the job industry in Williams Lake hungry for employment opportunities.

Taseko Mines Limited has offered just that with their proposed Prosperity Mine.

The conflict begins with the proposed plan for the mine, which would destroy Fish Lake. The minerals lie below the water and Taseko has plans to drain part of the lake and then use the remainder as a form of tailings pond when it finishes. The company has pledged to build a new lake, dubbed

Prosperity Lake, to replace the one they destroy. Their plans also includes moving the current fish population from Fish Lake to this new lake that they will construct, in a attempt to preserve the natural wildlife.

Talk of draining lakes, building new ones and transporting fish populations all sound a bit like science fiction but it is indeed the very real plans of Taseko Mines and it has the Tsilhqot’in people more than a little concerned. Not only is Fish Lake a crucial part of an already fragile freshwater ecosystem but it is a part of the Tsilhqot’in traditional hunting grounds and is also a sacred location of past generations.

Although the majority of the Tsilhqot’in nation is opposed to the Prosperity Mine because it does not display itself as either environmentally or culturally sustainable, there are those who desire the wealth and development that the mine could bring.

Although many in Williams Lake desire the jobs, there are many who oppose the project because of the environmental damage it will cause. Fish Lake is a part of the drainage system that feeds into one of the few remaining wild salmon runs as well as the Fraser Valley river system.

Schedule Two also threatens Bamoos Lake near Marathon, Ontario. Mining company Marathon PGM has requested the use of the lake as a tailings impoundment area for their proposed multi-million dollar mine’s waste. Bamoos Lake is home to several species of fish and is also a popular local fishing destination.

The Harper Government has made it very clear that it has no issue with selling off fresh water bodies for mining companies to contaminate. In a time when fresh water is threatening to become scarce it seems the government’s focus is in the wrong direction, especially when there is also a global trend to preserve water and make it a universal basic human right.

For more information on Schedule Two and water issues visit the Council of Canadians Website: www.canadians.org/water PHOTO: PROTECTFISHLAKE.CA

NEW CANADIAN COPYRIGHT LEGISLATION UNVEILED

Breaking Down Bill C-32—the Copyright Modernization Act

By Richa Gomes

RYERSON FREE PRESS THE MONTHLY NEWSPAPER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION, DISTANCE EDUCATION AND PART-TIME STUDENTS AT RYERSON Address

FOR MORE THAN 14 years, the Canadian government has been struggling to implement a modern copyright act—legislation that reflects the rapidly changing technological age. On June 2, Bill C-32—the Copyright Modernization Act—was unveiled at the office of Electronic Arts (EA), an American video game corporation. Many Canadians are having a hard time understanding why Canadian legislation was first presented on American soil. There are concerns that the new copyright bill is Made-in-the-USA. However, Bill C-32 is not a law yet. Industry Minister Tony Clement says the bill is not written in stone. The Conservatives and opposition parties were to deliberate Bill C-32 over the summer, but the House of Commons has broken for the summer. Examination of the Act will resume in the fall.

Superficially Bill C-32 has many great qualities, unlike its predecessor, Bill C-61, which died on the order paper (the official daily agenda outlining parliament business) when Harper called an election in 2008. Industry critic Marc Garneau blames the Conservative government’s “tactical manoeuvres,” for Canada’s antiquated copyright legislation. He says, “They’re responsible for some of the delays,” referring to Harper’s proroguing of Parliament as the reason behind slow progress in passing modern copyright law.

The new copyright legislation seems to have been formulated for the benefit of Canadian consumers and creators alike. It adapts to the rapidly changing technological atmosphere of Canadian society. Dig deeper into the Act and you discover laws pertaining to technological protection measures (TPMs) or digital rights management (DRM)—also known as digital encryptions or locks—make the act of breaking them illegal. These digital locks provisions void all of Bill C-32’s progressive rights.

Critics of the Act say Americans got what they wanted: break a digital lock and you’re breaking the law. However, Canadian law professors find DRM protection to be “constitutionally suspect” because they do not have a clear link to conventional copyright law. Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, has been addressing questions and comments about Bill C-32 on his website and believes digital lock provisions are “arguably far more about property rights than copyright law.”

FAIR DEALING EXCEPTIONS There are several exceptions under Bill C-32 that explain how an individual can use copyrighted material and under what circumstances he or she is permitted to reproduce material or subject-matter without infringing on the material’s copyright.

In this new Copyright Act, individuals are allowed to reproduce copyrighted material for the purposes of research or private study, education, criticism and review. The legislation will also protect parody and satire, which are currently not protected under Canadian copyright law, even though they are integral aspects of contemporary Canadian culture. News reporters may reproduce copyright material insofar as it does not infringe copyright, and if the source and its creator are mentioned. Individuals are also allowed to use existing work that is available to the public when creating new works, such as musical remixes.

When it comes to music, Bill C-32 recognizes the consumer’s need for ease and convenience. You’re allowed to copy CDs onto your iPods or other mp3 players just so long as it’s for private purposes, you own the medium or device onto which you copied the work and you obtained the work legally (meaning you didn’t break any DRMs in the process of copying your music files). Transferring music from a CD onto an mp3 player, for example, is known as format shifting—copying information from one form of storage to another. However, you can’t give away, rent or sell the reproduction. And if you decide to sell your mp3 player, you must destroy all reproductions of the work you copied or you’ll face copyright infringement.

Fair dealing also includes time shifting, allowing consumers to record programs for later viewing or listening. You must have obtained the material legally and you cannot distribute it. The work must be for personal use and you can only keep it until you’ve had a chance to watch or listen to the work you’ve copied.

Limitations imposed on educational institutions and libraries are more stringent. Educational institutions, libraries, archives and museums may copy materials protected by copyright law if they have no motive or gain in doing so. However, these institutions face time-limited use of reproduced copyright material. Educators must share their reproduction on school premises and have up to one month until the course concludes to destroy the copied material otherwise it will be infringement. Course instructors will therefore have to recreate their instructional material yearly to comply with copyright law. Students are allowed to record their instructors to facilitate learning, but they, too, must destroy these materials within a month after the day they receive their final course mark in order to avoid copyright infringement.

Similarly, for libraries, digital copies must be destroyed within five business days from when the person first uses them. Libraries must enforce self-destructing inter-library digital loans. Implementing DRM protection on digital copies will ensure time-limited usage, which is necessary for librar-

ies to remain in compliance with Bill C-32.

Many critics have reproached these fair dealing exceptions, calling them restrictive because of the TPM provisions, which limit Canadian copyright freedom and create a technological lockdown.

CIRCUMVENTION PROVISIONS

SUITE SCC-301 RYERSON STUDENT CENTRE 55 GOULD STREET TORONTO, ON CANADA M5B 1E9

Phone (416) 979.5000 x7715

Right now in Canada, anyone can break a digital lock and not suffer the consequences. Once this legislation passes—if it passes—breaking a digital lock will be illegal. There are various, but limited, circumstances in which individuals are allowed to legally circumvent (or bypass) digital locks, such as in the act of unlocking a cellphone.

Canadians are allowed to break TPMs for reasons pertaining to encryption research, security, ephemeral recordings, retransmissions, network services, interoperability of computer programs and accommodation for persons with perceptual disabilities. Essentially, you can break a digital lock if you can legally justify your actions. The ephemeral recordings clause is targeted mainly to journalists who can, by law, use clippings for mashups and media-related segments, such as musical introductions for news programs. However, as outlined in the fair dealing section, your sources need to be identified within your recreation, if you have used copyright material.

In certain instances, such as for the interoperability of computer programs, there are licence ownership and time-limited factors to consider as well.

Fax (416) 979.5223

Email RYERSONFREEPRESS@GMAIL. COM

Website WWW.RYERSONFREEPRESS.CA

Editor-In-Chief NORA LORETO

News Editor JAMES BURROWS

Features and Opinions Editor JAMES CLARK

Layout Editor

PENALTIES UNDER BILL C-32

ANDREA YEOMANS

Prior to conviction of copyright infringement in Canada, individuals who break copyright law will receive notice upon notice of their unlawful behaviour. In America, however, copyright offenders usually receive a notice followed by a takedown. France and the UK have a three-strike policy, after which you’re banned from the Internet. Clement assures Canadians that the three-strike legislation is “not part of our culture.” The emphasis of the bill is to target the “big, bad guys,” those who destroy the value and integrity of the creator or copyright holder by uploading hundreds and thousands of movies and music onto Bit Torrent sites, for example.

Criminal remedies for copyright infringement have been significantly reduced from those outlined in Bill C-61. Under this new act, the maximum fine is $5,000 per work, down from $20,000, and the fine is tied to damage done. Furthermore, under this law, Internet Service Providers are expected to notify legal authorities when they suspect user infringement of copyright.

COPYRIGHT CONTROVERSY TURNS UGLY There is a cognitive dissonance between the Conservatives and consumers (and even creators of copyright material). Three weeks ago, Canadian Heritage Minister MP James Moore derided opponents of Bill C-32; he called them “radical extremists.” In a release, NDP MP Charlie Angus says Moore’s comments were “way out of line, bombastic, hyper-defensive.” Although it was Angus who proposed an iPod levy to the Copyright Act in a fair dealing motion, which he claimed would help “balance the interest of both creators and consumers in the digital age.”

On Twitter, Geist announced that through Twitter’s private direct messages feature, Moore denied calling opponents radical extremists. “Not what I said,” Moore said, “Not even close.” Furthermore, on the Canadian Research Chair’s website, Geist talks about how there was an attempt to bury Moore’s comments.

COPYRIGHT LAW AND THE PUBLIC In an interview with Jesse Brown, of TVO’s Search Engine (a weekly tech podcast), Clement assured Canadians that the Conservatives “took the public considerations...very seriously.” But comments such as those from Moore perpetuate public scepticism and disbelief in the government’s ability to pass a fair copyright law that recognizes creators and consumers to be on a level playing field. The comments create a divide between the citizens and lawmakers and convince the public that their inputs, needs and wants have no bearing in Senate discussions about copyright legislature. Nevertheless, when asked about transparency in copyright discussions, Garneau said people are allowed to be present at the reading and the entire process would be open to the public.

There is mounting public concern that Canada is lagging in this digital age and has left itself in a digital ghetto. With Bill C-32, many worry Canada is stifling and punishing the nation’s innovators, rather than fostering technological and intellectual growth. As one of the world’s leading nations, it remains incumbent upon the Canadian government to reach a resolution and implement copyright law that will be flexible and fluid enough to fit with the times.

Garneau stressed copyright law must be fair and balanced. “It’s got to be as modern as it can be at the moment; realizing technology is changing at a blinding speed.”

Culture Editor AMANDA CONNON-UNDA

Photo Editor DAN RIOS

Cover Photo DAN RIOS

Contributors JEFF BUCKLEY STEPHEN CARLICK MICHAEL CHU AMANDA CONNON-UNDA DIANA DUONG NICK FERRIO KAITLIN FOWLIE RONAK GHORBANI ROOP GILL RICHA GOMES NATALIE GUTTORMSSON MARIANA IONOVA GURSEVAK KASBIA SALMAAN ABDUL HAMID KHAN

SCAACHI KOUL DAVE LINDORFF NORA LORETO HASEENA MANEK RAYNOLD MOBEDI LIAN NOVAK NICK NURSE KIM GOTTFRIED PICHÉ DAN RIOS VANESSA SANTILLI GRAHAM SLAUGHTER KATE SPENCER DAVID THURTON SARA TORVIK DANNY VIOLA ANGELA WALCOTT

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RYERSON FREE PRESS JULY 2010

13

OPINION WHAT KEVIN NEISH SAW

Eyewitness to the Israeli Assault on the Mavi Marmara

By Dave Lindorff KEVIN NEISH OF Victoria, British Columbia, didn’t know he was a celebrity until he was about to board a flight from Istanbul to Ottawa. “This Arab woman wearing a beautiful outfit suddenly ran up to me crying, ‘It’s you! From Arab TV! You’re famous!’” he recalls with a laugh. “I didn’t know what she was talking about, but she told me, ‘I saw you flipping through the Israeli commando’s book! It’s being aired over and over!’”

A soft-spoken teacher and former civilian engineer with the Canadian Department of Defense, Neish realized then that a video taken by an Arab TV cameraman in the midst of the Israeli assault on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza of him flipping through a booklet had been transmitted before the Israelis blocked all electronic signals from the flotilla. The booklet had pictures and profiles of all the passengers, and he’d found it in the backpack of an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) commando.

Neish, 53, was on the second deck of the flotilla’s lead ship, the Turkish Mavi Marmara, with a good view of the stern, when the IDF, in the early morning darkness of May 31, began its assault with percussion grenades, tear gas and a hail of bullets. He then moved to the fourth deck in an enclosed stairwell, from which he watched took photographs as casualties were carried down past him to a makeshift medical station. Several IDF commandos, captured by the passengers and crew, were also brought past him.

“I saw them carrying this one IDF guy down,” he recalls.

“He looked terrified, like he thought he was going to be killed. But when a big Turkish guy, who had seen seriously injured passengers who had been shot by the IDF, charged over and tried to hit the commando, the Turkish aid workers pushed him off and pinned him to the wall. They protected this Israeli soldier.”

That was when he found the backpack which the soldier had dropped. “I figured I’d look inside and see what he was carrying,” Neish says. “And inside was this kind of flip-book.

It was full of photos and names in English and Hebrew of who was on all the ships. The booklet also had a detailed diagram of the decks of the Mavi Marmara.”

Meanwhile, he says, more and more people were being carried down the stairs from the mayhem above—people who’d been shot, and people who were dying or people already dead. “I took detailed photos of the dead and wounded with my camera,” he says, adding, “There were several guys who had two neat bullet holes side by side on the side of their head--clearly they were executed.”

Neish smuggled his photos out of Israel to Turkey despite his arrest on the ship and imprisonment in Israel for several days. “I pulled out the memory card, tossed my camera and anything I had on me that had anything to do with electronics, and then kept moving the chip around so it wouldn’t be found,” he says. “The Israelis took all the cameras and computers. They were smashing some and keeping others. I put the chip in my mouth under my tongue, between my butt cheeks, in my sock, everywhere, to keep them from finding it,” he says. He finally handed it to a Turk who was leaving for a flight home on a Turkish airline.

He says the card ended up in the hands of an organization called Free Gaza, and he has seen some of his pictures published, so he knows they made it out successfully.

14

RYERSONFREEPRESS.CA

Neish says that claims that the Israeli commandos were just armed with paint guns and 9 mm pistols are “Bullshit--at one point when I was in the stairwell, a commando opened a hatch above, stuck in a machine gun, and started firing.

Bullets were bouncing all over the place. If the guy had gotten to look in and see where he was shooting, I’d have been dead, but two Turkish guys in the stairwell, who had short lengths of chain with them that they had taken from the access points to the lifeboats, stood to the side of the hatch and whipped them up at the barrell. I don’t know if they were trying to hit the commando or to use them to snatch away the gun, but the Israeli backed off, and they slammed and locked the hatch.”

“I never saw a single paint gun, or a sign of a fired paint ball!” he says. He also didn’t see any guns in the hands of people who were on the ship. “In the whole time I was there on the ship, I never saw a single weapon in the hands of the crew or the aid workers,” he says. Indeed, Neish, who originally had been on a smaller 70-foot yacht called the Challenger II, had transferred to the Mavi Marmara after a stop in Cyprus, because his boat had been sabatoged by Israeli agents (a claim verified by the Israeli government), making it impossible to steer.

“When we came aboard the big boat, I was frisked and my bag was inspected for weapons,” he says. “Being an engineer, I of course had a pocket knife, but they took that and tossed it into the ocean. Nobody was allowed to have any weapons on this voyage. They were very careful about that.”

What he did see during the IDF assault was severe bullet wounds. “In addition to several people I saw who were killed, I saw several dozen wounded people. There was one older guy who was just propped up against the wall with a huge hole in his chest. He died as I was taking his picture.”

Neish says he saw many of the nine who were known to have been killed, and of the 40 who were wounded, and adds, “There were many more who were wounded, too, but less seriously. In the Israeli prison, I saw people with knife wounds and broken bones. Some were hiding their injuries so they wouldn’t be taken away from the others.” He also says, “Initially there were reports that 16 on the boat had been killed.

The medical station said 16. There was a suspicion that some bodies may have been thrown overboard. But what people think now is that the the other seven who are missing, since we’re not hearing from families, may have been Israeli spies.”

Once the Israeli commandos had secured control of the Mavi Marmara, Neish says the ship’s passengers and crew were rounded up, with the men put in one area on deck, and the women put below in another area. The men were told to squat, and had their hands bound with plastic cuffs, which Neish says were pulled so tight that his wrists were cut and his hands swelled up and turned purple (he is still suffering nerve damage from the experience, which his doctor in Canada says he hopes will gradually repair on its own).

“They told us to be quiet,” he says. “But at one point this Turkish imam stood up and started singing a call to prayer.

Everybody was dead quiet--even the Israelis. But after about ten seconds, this Israeli officer stomped over through the squatting people, pulled out his pistol and pointed at the guy’s head, yelling ‘Shut up!’ in English.

The imam looked at him directly and just kept singing!

I thought, Jesus Christ, he’s gonna kill him! Then I thought, well, this is what I’m here for, I guess, so I stood up. The officer wheeled around and pointed his gun at my head. The imam finished his song and sat down, and then I sat down.”

While the commandeered vessels were sailed to the Israeli port of Ashdot, the captives were left without food or water. “All we were given were some chocolate bars that the Israelis pilfered from the ship’s stores,” says Neish. “You had to grovel to get to go to the bathroom, and many people had to just go in their pants.”

Things didn’t get much better once the passengers were transferred to an Israeli prison. He and the other prisoners with him, who hadn’t eaten for more than half a day, were tossed a frozen block of bread and some cucumbers.

On the second day, someone from the Canadian embassy came around, calling out his name. “It turned out he’d been going to every cell looking for me,” says Neish. “My daughter had been frantically telling the Canadian government I was in the flotilla. Even though the Israelis had my name and knew where I was, they weren’t telling the Canadian embassy people. In fact the Canadians--and my daughter--thought I was dead, because people had said I’d been near the initial assault. The good thing is that as they went around calling out for me, they discovered two Arab-born Canadians that they hadn’t known were there.”

“Eventually they got to my cell and I answered them.

The embassy official said, ‘You’re Kevin? You’re supposed to be dead.’”

After being held for a few days, there was a rush to move everyone to the Ben Gurion airport for a flight to Turkey. “It turned out that Israeli lawyers had brought our case to the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of our capture on international waters. There was a chance that the court would order the IDF to put us back on our ships and let us go, so the government wanted to get us out of Israel and moot the case. But two guys were hauled off, probably by Mossad (the Israeli intelligence agency). So we all said, ‘No. We don’t go unless you bring them back.’”

The two men were returned and were allowed to leave with the rest of the group.

“I honestly never thought the Israelis would board the ship,” says Neish. “I thought we’d get into Gaza. I mean, I went as part of the Free Gaza Movement, and they had made prior attempts, with some getting in, and some getting boarded or rammed, but this time it was a big flotilla. I figured we’d be stopped, and maybe searched. My boat, the Challenger II, only had dignitaries on board including three German MPs, and then Lt. Col. Ann Wright and myself.

At one point in the Israeli prison, all the violence finally got to this man who had witnessed more death and mayhem than many active duty US troops in Iraq or Afghanistan. “I broke down and started crying,” he admits. “This big Turkish guy came over and asked me, ‘What’s wrong?’ I said, ‘Sixteen people died.’”

“He said to me, ‘No, they died for a wonderful cause.

They’re happy. You just go out and tell your story.’”

Dave Lindorff is a founding member of the new independent collectively-owned, journalist-run online newspaper ThisCantBeHappening.net

NXNE 2010

FIVE LESSONS LEARNED FROM FOUR NIGHTS OF MUSICAL EXPEDITION

BY STEPHEN CARLICK

F

or indie music fans in Toronto, it doesn’t really get any better than North by Northeast. For just $50, students can pick up wristbands which allow access to nearly any concert over the five-night music portion of the festival. This year, NXNE saw more overwhelming attendance and support than ever before, and featured over 500 performers, guaranteeing five nights of loud, sweaty excellence.

Of course, the festival isn’t for the faint of heart. Five nights is a long time to party, especially if you want to squeeze every last drop out of your pass. Shows typically start around 8pm, with each band in a venue’s showcase playing for 45 minutes starting on the hour. At 2am, a special guest - usually a band already playing the festival, albeit at a larger, less intimate venue - will typically take the stage and play a surprise show. A night out at the festival can mean more than six hours of live music. Those who might find five days of that a daunting exercise might be inclined to pick up just a singleday pass, which allows venue-hopping for a full evening.

Still, for ‘hot new thing’-hungry music fans, a five-day excursion can mean finding all sorts of interesting shows, just a couple of which I stumbled upon along my NXNE travels.

On Thursday (June 17), I began my adventure at Sneaky Dee’s, where I caught sets

by Zola Jesus and London producer Gold Panda. Zola Jesus played a respectable set from their catalog of dramatic gloom-pop, while sunlight pouring into the venue’s windows may have killed the mood were it not for singer Nika Roza Danilova’s stage presence. It was Danilova’s sublime voice (she’s an opera-trained singer from from Madison, Wisconsin), which made the band’s synthdriven performance likable, if not very good.

Gold Panda’s 40-minute performance could have been a downer - it’s hard to translate a one-man DJ set into a live setting - but his energetic bobbing to the music was utterly infectious, convincing the majority of the venue’s patrons to start feeling his cut-andpaste sampling of oriental-inspired grooves.

Still, Gold Panda’s live performance didn’t quite capture the emotional resonance of his recorded material, especially the excellent title track from his latest EP, “You.” The rest of my night was spent doing some serious venue-hopping, which can be quite trying, especially if you plan to travel

by TTC. Unless you have money to burn, it’s advisable either to pick a venue and stay there, or plan to travel slowly between venues by TTC. Some shows, depending on the guest, can get congested pretty fast, so

in that case only, a cab might be your best chance to catch an intimate performance by one of your favourite NXNE acts. Such was the case with the American band Glass Candy. After madly rushing to catch Toronto synth pop band Bishop Morrocco at the Drake Hotel and Fucked Up guitarist Ben Cook’s side-project the Bitters at the Silver Dollar, it was imperative I made it to Glass Candy, who put on one of the festival’s highlight shows. The nu-disco duo’s ability to manipulate a crowd was impeccable: as they dropped their first beat of the night, the crowd started bumping along as if instinctively, and singer Ida No kept the energy up by coercing the audience in her thick European accent.

After receiving a tip that Vancouver garage-punk duo Japandroids were playing a secret show, I headed to the tiny Dakota Tavern, where my Priority Pass allowed me to skip a long lineup to access the at-capacity bar. Not being a tremendous fan of the band, I attended the show on the strength of hearsay alone, and was treated to another of the highlights of my NXNE experience.

Japandroids’ guitar-fueled din stirred the tiny venue’s packed audience into a frenzied mosh pit in which good-humoured participants were drenched in sweat and nobody was hurt. Through some broken strings and sound problems, the duo raged on with unfazed smiles, ensuring their small audience went home in a similarly joyous daze, not to mention ringing ears.

After Thursday’s hectic travel schedule, I was decidedly less ambitious on my second day of NXNE show-hopping. I started at the Garrison for a much-anticipated set by hotter-than-hot lo-fi beach-pop duo Best Coast. In typical California slacker-style, singer Bethany Cosentino spoke candidly about her sweaty body parts (“I feel so aware of all [of them]”), made a reference to 1998 stoner film “Half-baked,” and asked the audience whether her long-haired guitarist Bobb Bruno should cut his hair.

Unsurprisingly, the duo’s performance of seven-inch singles such as “Sun Was High (So Was I)” and “When I’m With You” were laid-back and breezy, while new song “Crazy For You” prepped the audience for the band’s similarly-titled debut LP, due for release this July.

After hearing that the Horseshoe Tavern’s power had gone out (the MuchMusic Video Awards were happening just down the street), I headed with trepidation to the ‘legendary’ venue to catch a reunion set by 1990s surf-punk heroes Man or Astroman? whose kitschy, space-themed stage setup and energetic run through crowd favourites blew more than a few beer-addled minds.

Since the power outage had forced the band to take the stage a half-hour late, I had to cut the fun short when I caught wind that San Francisco rock experimentalists Thee Oh Sees would be playing a secret show at the Bovine Sex Club two blocks up the street. Having played the night before at the much-larger Great Hall, the band treated the tiny venue to an intimate, up-close look at their manic performance. Singer John Dwyer was a man possessed as he whooped and hollered along to his band’s frantic, jangling performance, his guitar held close under his chin. It was a stellar show - do not miss Thee Oh Sees the next time they come to town.

The third day of NXNE’s music festival (Saturday, June 19) raised some tough questions for a number of festival-goers.

Go to Toronto Island to catch Pavement, or stick around for a free Iggy Pop show at Yonge and Dundas Square and a night of shows that featured NXNE heavyweights Surfer Blood and Les Savy Fav? For me, the answer was complicated, but I settled upon leaving the island just a few songs early to ensure I made it into the hilariously-crowded Wrongbar on time for Surfer Blood’s midnight set. As it happened, I made it in just in time to catch the opening chords of the band’s first song, but a mix of unrealistic expectations on the Florida quintet and a tense, slowed-down performance of their highly-lauded debut LP made for a slightly disappointing show. Surfer Blood seemed unwilling to replicate their shambolic, unrefined recorded sound onstage, making for a show whose few highlights came only when the band were at their most freewheeling.

Les Savy Fav were a different beast altogether. From the get-go, singer Tim Harrington began affixing protective gear to his elbows, knees, and wrists, giving the audience a preview of the mayhem that was to ensue. Hanging from Wrongbar’s rafters, tip-toeing along the banisters, wrapping his sweaty, overweight form in toilet paper, and yes, opening the shirt of a male audience member and suckling his nipple were all on Harrington’s insane agenda, but his wasn’t the only form of entertainment on show that night. The remaining members of Les Savy Fav, led by bassist Syd Butler, are a band to behold live, as they artfully performed some of the band’s greatest songs - “The Equestrian,” “The Sweat Descends,” “Patty Lee” and “Yawn Yawn Yawn” - without losing any of the recorded versions’ intensity. Harrington even managed to chip in his hollering vocals while he madly stalked about the club, making Les Savy Fav’s all-encompassing performance the unquestionable highlight of many a

festival-goer’s NXNE - just don’t bring it up with the throngs of fans who still stood lined-up outside the venue as the band took the stage.

Having missed Iggy Pop, it seemed the last missing piece of my NXNE puzzle was to catch a show with the hundreds of fans at Yonge and Dundas Square, so on Sunday night, I made my way over to catch a free set by hip-hop icons De La Soul. The veteran Long Island trio played an hour-long mix of songs from their twenty-year career, proving why they’ve lasted so long. But frustratingly short, sometimes minute-long snippets of their standout tracks like “Potholes In My Lawn,” “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays,” “Stakes is High” and “Rock Co.Kane Flow” made it hard to really dig in live. The show would have benefitted from fewer, fuller song performances, but at a free show, it’s about pleasing as many fans as possible, which could explain the set’s “mega-mix” format.

With a final goodnight and a short snippet of “Magic Number,” De La were finished, and my NXNE trip had come to a close.

Until next year, I leave you with five lessons learned at this year’s NXNE: 1. Plan shows according to your budget.

Taking TTC and cabs can be expensive, and so can drinking copious amounts of beer.

Consider working your budget beforehand so that you can afford to take TTC and get a certain amount of drinks per night.

2. Plan shows according to time. If you won’t be able to make it across town by TTC or cab, pick a band you really want to see and stick around for their whole showcase you might be pleasantly surprised by a new band.

3. Keep an eye on the NXNE Twitter feed. That way, you’ll know important, last-minute information about the festival, including added and cancelled shows, and most importantly, who is playing secret shows, and where.

4. Get a Priority Pass. If you want to make sure you see everything you want, you’ll want a Priority Pass (which costs $100). Wristbands are cheaper, but they don’t allow you to bypass lines, and with the growing popularity of NXNE, lineups are getting ever longer, to the point where many wristband-holders have ended up missing the most popular shows.

5. Get your money’s worth. Even if you haven’t heard of any bands playing on a given night, check out some MySpaces, take some advice, or tag along with friends - hearing new music is what NXNE is all about!

See you next year!

ALL PH

EMMA LEE When Toronto-based soul-pop-jazz songstress Emma Lee released her album Never Just A Dream last year, it created quite a buzz; even prompting one Toronto Star music critic to say Lee is destined for big things. A vet to the North by Northeast circuit, Lee performed at The Painted Lady on June 17.

Ryerson Free Press: Many of the reviews of your album Never Just A Dream point out that your vocal style isn’t like the typical jazz-singer but that it’s unique, luscious and creative. What influences your music?

Emma Lee: I’ve listened to pretty much anything I can get my ears on.

I grew up on lots of Beatles, Rolling Stones but also singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and lots of jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald who is probably one of my favourite vocalists. In recent years, I just listen to lots of contemporary singer-songwriters like Jenny Lewis, Nicole Atkins and Feist. I just think there are so many great artists at the moment. It’s important to listen to all the stuff that happened before but it’s also important to not dwell on what’s been done in the past.

RFP: This is going to be your second year playing NXNE – how do you find playing big festivals?

EL: NXNE is cool because within each venue there’s at least six or seven acts throughout the night and it’s just like a musical frenzy. You can hop around to each venue and try to check out as much as you can... I like the focus within the city on live music. It’s really important that we always remind people...to go out and see music and hopefully it carries with them in the rest of the year.

RFP: I read that as a teen you bought your first guitar after saving up from your job at Tim Horton’s. Do you ever use that guitar on stage?

EL: Actually it’s a very sad story. I don’t have that guitar anymore. That was my first electric guitar. I think I was 18 and decided I didn’t want to play electric guitar anymore so I sold it and got a new acoustic guitar and now I want an electric one. I really wish I still had that electric guitar because it was beautiful; it was a pink Fender Stratocaster.

RFP: It’s been a little over a year since your last album dropped – are you working on new material?

OW: We’re about to start working on some new stuff. We’re probably going to gear towards keeping people’s feet shuffling, booty’s moving on some of the new stuff. But also keep some of our social commentary in there because it’s important to us.

TASSEOMANCY (formerly known as Ghost Bees) Twin sisters Sari and Romy Lightman have an enchanting quality to their music. While performing stripped down acoustic tunes, their soft voices have a haunting element. Recently renamed as Tasseomancy, the name pays homage to their fortune telling tea-leaf reading greatgrandmother who immigrated to Canada in the 1800s during the Russian pogroms. The duo had two showcases at this year’s NXNE at the Gladstone Hotel and C’est What on June 18.

RFP: It seems like your great-great grandmother had quite the journey coming from Russia to Canada. Why did you decide to feature her on your album cover?

Sari Lightman: The title track of the album Tasseomancy was about her and her life and we wanted to ... give her a voice she didn’t necessarily have. She was an unknown ancestor in our family and once we were writing the song we began to learn more about her and her experience, we wanted to give her some respect.

RFP: Why is family history important to you?

SL: I think family history and ancestry is important to all of us whether or not we’re aware of it, it’s why we are what we are. Being able to look back and recognize the profound effect of your relationship to everything around you and what you’re doing in your life is pretty significant. Everyone has a really interesting past. Considering my other band mate is my sibling, we share the lineage so it’s played a role in both our lives.

RFP: How would you describe the Halifax music scene in comparison to Toronto’s?

GRAND ANALOG Since forming in 2006, Grand Analog has taken a fresh spin on Canadian hip hop by melding together various genres from dance to rock ‘n’ roll and a socially conscious message. Band leader Odario Williams is energetic and always hypes up a crowd into a dancing frenzy at their shows. Grand Analog played a NXNE showcase at the Rivoli on June 17.

RFP: Lyrically, what I really like about the album is that you can jump from talking about welfare and drug addiction to love and heart break – what inspires your lyrics?

Odario Williams: Well, I’m the main lyricist so I basically work with the guys to get a groove going. Seeing as we all like so many different sounds, it takes some time to decide what goes with what. If I wanted to play a kazoo on a track the question is: What kind of track? That’s the big question. So once we develop a particular sound we like, then I start working towards a theme with that sound. It begins with the music first then the lyrics comes after.

RFP: Your collective is rather large, swelling to eight members at times. How is it when you’re all collaborating and recording?

OW: Being the band leader I have to decide who will contribute on what. For example, our guitarist Damon Mitchell lives out in Winnipeg so I can’t just include him in everything all the time when I’m working on something in Toronto. So if I know for sure I’ll need guitar on a particular track then I’ll work with him on that or if I know I need a trumpet player, I know I’ll work with him on that. Otherwise, I try not to get too many influences and too many heads going because it could turn into a track with too much shit in it like an Arcade Fire track.

RFP: On the song “Electric City” there’s one line that I really love “I’m a record shop nerd on a mission” – What’s the ‘mission’?

SL: The Halifax music scene is way smaller in size, just in relation to the city itself. There are neighbouring cities around Halifax but it’s not like Toronto which is close to Montreal and the States. The music scene in Toronto definitely [works] on an industry level where as the music scene in Halifax is much more isolated. It’s really unique and there’s this very supportive community of thriving musicians who rely on the support of other artists. We feel lucky that when we began to make music we were really fostered and supported in this loving and nurturing environment.

KIRK SPECIAL Traveling all the way from Australia for this year’s NXNE, Kirk Special brought his own special brand of blues-punk to the Hideout on June 18. As a non-traditional blues musician, he’s created some enemies down south but pays no attention to them as he always has a raucous and fun time on stage.

RFP: How did you become Adelaide’s only one-man-hick-garageblues-band?

Kirk Special: Kind of by accident. I started playing guitar when I finished high school four years ago… All I ever wanted to do was play in a Black Keys cover band but my friends wanted to cover the Chilli Peppers so I started the one-man-band.

RFP: I read that you make some of your own instruments. How? KS: It’s a washboard with a contact mic and tambourine tapped to it.

It’s like a home made stomp thing. Nothing had the sound I wanted. I used to use a kick drum on a snare but it had the tendency to fall apart so I did that (the washboard invention) and it didn’t fall apart. I was in America last year and I was in a guitar store and they had an authentic musical washboard and I thought that was hilarious so I bought it.

RFP: What’s the Adelaide music scene like?

OW: To discover as much music as my brain can hold, as my life can obtain. I used to work at Sam the Record Man before it closed down, [and then at] HMV. I used to work at small record stores in Winnipeg ... I was a music nerd on a mission. Whenever an order book would come in for new stuff, we would read it like it was some Harry Potter novel. We just wanted to know what was coming out and where it was from. Who’s distributing it? What country are they from? We wanted to know everything about it [the music] and we realized that we’re music nerds.

HOTOS BY DAN RIOS

KS: The Adelaide music scene is saturated with indie pop bands and they just gravitate towards whatever Vice magazine says [is good]. I’m kind of the only person that’s doing something bluesy that isn’t just 12-bar blues...The South Australian Blues Appreciation Society hate me. I played the Adelaide Blues Festival which is a whole lot of whiteboy blues that is pretty tragic and then there’s me playing ballsy not traditional blues and they did not care for me. They told me how I can call what I play blues is beyond them. [It was] funny because I don’t [call it that], other people do.

BY RONAK GHORBANI

INTERVIEWS WITH NXNE PERFORMERS

OIL STILL SPILLS IN THE GULF

By Kaitlin Fowlie

BRITISH PETROLEUM, THE fourth largest company in the world and third largest oil giant is increasingly criticized for being corrupt, careless and unprepared, and the company will be the first to own up to such allegations. As a series of recent news reports have brought to the forefront, BP has a history of cutting corners. There were many indicators of impending disaster that led up to the events on April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico– and the Obama administration failed to take note of the signs. The deepest oil and gas well ever – over 35,000 feet beneath water and rock was not something to be taken lightly, but it was, and the carelessness of one company, under Obama’s approval, landed us in one of America’s monolithic environmental disasters in American history.

BP’s 582 page emergency response plan appears to have never been taken seriously by the company. In it, the worst case scenario was predicted to be an oil spill lasting up to 30 days with a 20 per cent chance of oil reaching the Louisiana coast. The reality has been over two months of continuous leakage, the consequences of which we may not realize for years to come. The company anticipated no coastline problems since the drilling site was so far offshore. According to the site plan, “due to the distance to shore (48 miles) and the response capabilities that would be implemented, no significant adverse impacts are expected.” More than 200 dead turtles, several dolphins and countless fish have washed ashore, and some beaches, such as Gulfort Mississippi, have seen oil soaked debris and seaweed floating into the shoreline. The oil plumes continue to be swept into the Gulf Coast current, which is anticipated to eventually send oil hundreds of kilometres around Florida’s southern tip and up the Atlantic coast. This possibility isn’t even mentioned in the plan.

Perhaps the most absurd error in the cleanup plan included safety precautions for walrus’s and sea otters - such creatures have never existed in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS), a bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior responsible for managing the nation’s natural gas, oil, and other mineral resources, played a significant role in the April disaster by approving BP’s inadequate emergency response plan. Since its inception in 1982, MMS has had a reputation for being lax with approving permits, accepting bribes from companies, even engaging in sex/drug related exploits. In granting BP the permission to drill, MMS allowed the company a categorical exclusion, which are usually applicable only to activities that are minimally intrusive projects – like outhouses and hiking

trails. Without that exclusion, BP would have been required to produce a report that included a study of the possible damages caused by a blow out or spill. MMS granted the permit with one suggestion – “exercise caution while drilling due to indications of shallow gas” – an example of the many ways they trusted the company to regulate itself.

So too, did the president. Obama had the final word in permitting the company to drill, and his administration simply didn’t acknowledge the numerous indicators of potential disaster to come. His oft mentioned lacklustre response to the explosion that killed 11 workers and injured 17 has triggered an outbreak of angry responses – from Youtube videos to blog posts to eight page editorials in Rolling Stone magazine. For weeks, the administration refused to play anything more than a supporting role in the spill. (Aforementioned Rolling Stone editorial notes that this is a curious line of argument from an administration that has reserved the right to assassinate American citizens abroad). Eventually, Obama acknowledged that his administration failed to adequately reform the MMS. The scandal ridden federal agency did act as a significant link in the chain of events leading up to the disaster, but BP, notorious for its many brushes with the law, should have been under greater super vision.

In 2005, the oil giant plead guilty to a felony for failing to have adequate written procedures for maintain the ongoing mechanical integrity of process equipment at the Texas City refinery – which blew up and killed 15 workers, and injured hundreds. Again in 2006, it plead guilty to a misdemeanour violation of the US Federal Water Pollution Control Act which resulted in a 4,800 barrel spill in Prudhoe Bay. Perhaps most significantly, BP was involved in the previously worst oil disasters in American history, the Exxon Valdez in 1989. BP failed to respond to the Valdez during the hours of the spill when the worst damage occurred. Vital equipment was buried under snow, no cleanup ship was standing by and no containment barge was available to collect oil.

In addition to its history of negligence, BP’s frugal attitude cost it the assurance of safety. The company contracts out all its equipment, owning nothing. In a cost cutting strategy, BP shaved 500,000 dollars off its costs by positioning a blowout preventer without a remote control trigger – a safety precaution required in many countries but not mandated by MMS. BP opted for cheap, single walled piping for the well, and installed only 6 of the 21 cement spacers recommended by its contractor. It also skimped on critical testing that could

have shown whether explosive gas was getting into the system as it was being cemented, and began removing mud that protected the well before it was sealed with cement plugs.

The company has repeatedly made the same mistakes, cut corners, put its workers lives at risk, and the Obama administration continued to trust them.

Obama has assured us that he has assembled a team

of the Nation’s best scientists and engineers to confront the challenge. There are nearly 30,000 people working across four states to contain and clean up the spill, and they have successfully removed millions of gallons of oil and laid five and a half million feet of boom to block and absorb oil. However, this disaster, unlike a hurricane, tornado or tsunami, is different than any other environmental devastation based on the fact that the damage didn’t simply occur in a matter of days. This oil spill is like an epidemic that is continuously leaking every day. The tragedy unfurling on our southern neighbours coast is a painful and powerful reminder of the underlying issue at hand – our dependence on oil. The president may have made mistakes in his lack of foresight, and the previous decade of politics paved the way for environmental adversity, but we have no choice to take the Gulf oil spill as an indicator that the time to embrace a sustainable energy future is now.

CULTURE SHOCK: FROM TORONTO, HOME TO ALBERTA’S FOOTHILLS

By Kate Spencer PICTURE A COWBOY in the Albertan Foothills. Behind him, the majesty of the mountains, blue and snow capped and shining. In front of him, his cattle grazing freely. All around him, hills sprawling and dotted with evergreens.

Picture now the Environmentalist, hurtling toward the cowboy, waving pamphlets and soy products, shouting, “Oil spills! Clear cutting! Melting ice caps! Death and destruction!”

And picture the cowboy, tilting back his hat (used for shade, not style). See him glance to the endless sky, breathe the crisp, dry air, and ask, “Where would that be, exactly?”

When you’re in small town Alberta, you can almost understand environmental skepticism.

As one of the doomsayers, coming to Turner Valley, population just over two thousand is always a bit of a culture shock. This is a town too small for a grocery store, but big enough for a breakfast place that proudly serves Triple A Alberta beef. It is a town that gets its mail delivered to a central post office, where you will find postings for chilli cookoffs and mall walking for seniors. There is one bar – cougar themed – one coffee place named the Coyote Moon, and a surprisingly lovely florist and sweets shop.

Things always seem to go at a slower pace out in the Foothills. Maybe that’s because you can see more of the sky. In Toronto, I am accustomed to striding from one place to another. I am goal oriented, with my eyes on the ground looking for obstacles, or held firmly in an awayfrom-homeless-people direction to avoid guilt from lack of change. I have yet to see anyone asking for money on the corners of Turner Valley, because let’s face it, there’s nowhere to go if you don’t have a home. There are no homeless shelters here, no convenient parks or warm ATM vestibules – just a lot of highway on all sides. So I spend more of my time seeing shapes in the clouds and going for rambling walks. It’s still lilac season here, which is another perk of a place less climactically charged. Seasons seem longer and lazier, and more content to linger, which can sometimes lead to snow in June.

Of course, that lovely slow pace of small town Alberta can be a huge frustration when the purpose of your stay is to find work. Two years ago there seemed to be a plethora of positions here, a true overabundance which meant, so the legend went, that you could find yourself working in a Tim Horton’s for 13 dollars an hour. But the recession hit here too, though to a PHOTO: DUNCANDAVIDSON/FLICKR

lesser extent, and the Dairy Queen a few towns over is now advertising a measly 10 dollars for front staff positions. And perhaps in Calgary or Edmonton there is more of a drive to fill positions quickly, but in Okotoks, the closest town sporting a Wal Mart, minimum wage hopefuls can expect to wait a couple of weeks before hearing back.

There are also the obvious problems that come from being a lover of Arts and Culture living in a province run by Ed Stelmach. In early February of this year, grants available from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts were cut by 16 per cent, or $5.6 million. Cuts were also made to parks operations, museum funds and non-profit organizations. Alberta was one of the few provinces that made cuts to their arts funds, rather than adding to it. Money instead continues to be pushed toward the oil industry, whose returns are actually much lower on a dollar by dollar basis than the film industry which is working with $3 million fewer dollars than it was in 2009.

And of course, living in such an oil driven economy rankles whenever I think about it.

The oil sands in Alberta supply 1.4 million barrels of oil per day to the United States, and one job in 15 in Alberta is directly related to energy. The Government of Alberta and private industry have each invested more than $1 billion in oil sands research – and I have to wonder whether that money could have been better spent. You just can’t help feeling the cruel irony - being surrounded by natural beauty when you drive everywhere while eating nothing but beef. To then go home to live with cement buildings and liberal guilt when you walk to all destinations and use high efficiency light bulbs seems bizarre.

My feelings for Alberta, and for Turner Valley especially, have come to the forefront of my mind now, as I read the Globe and Mail, or friends’ Facebook statuses. In a week and a month where everyone I know has an opinion about the G8 and G20, I am remarkably sheltered from it all. I shipped out of Toronto before the barricades went up, before people’s houses were boarded, and before people I knew experienced first hand what it’s like to be hit with a police baton. There is a frustration and a peace that comes from knowing that I won’t have to deal with any of that – geography is my protective cushion. And while a part of me can’t wait to get back in the thick of things, I can’t help but give in to the urge to turn off the news, step away from the Twitter updates, and go read a book in the backyard.

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WORLD CUP

THE TRUE CRY OF THE VUVUZELLA

By Gursevak Kasbia

LOST IN THE euphoria of World Cup fever the world has once again lost sight of the true plight of many South Africans. As of 2004 over 55 per cent of South Africans are considered to be living in poverty. South Africa paid FIFA, soccer’s governing body, billions of dollars to host the games in an attempt to win corporate and global trade partners. It was only a few short years ago that the South African government as well as advocacy groups were fighting for life saving drugs from giant drug companies complaining that costs were too high for treating a country with a pandemic on its hands. Yet, the South African government somehow found the money to be able to not only pay FIFA but also build new stadiums known as “white” elephants by the country’s archbishop Desmond Tutu.

To date, sub-Saharan Africa has some of the highest rates of HIV-AIDS in the world, with great controversy created by drug companies who did not want to subsidize the cost of anti-retroviral drugs to infected South Africans without some form of compensation.

Knowing that South Africa was one of the poorest African nations, it is of great shock that the South African Government “invested” over 800 billion rand ($108 billion USD), in luscious stadiums. In a small attempt to create economic growth, South Africans were offered temporary jobs such as driving tourists to games and concession stands selling souvenirs for the month long event. Short term economic gains for a country, which still has some who deny the impact of HIV-AIDS. To date only 28 per cent of those infected with HIVAIDS are treated with anti-retroviral drugs, and it is estimated that over 5.7 million people are currently infected with HIV-AIDS. Poverty has been identified by the Ottawa Charter on Health Promotion as a major determinant of health, and in a country where 55 per cent of people are considered to be in this state, spending billions of rand does not seem to be a quick fix to this problem. It is estimated that South Africa has unemployment of over 40 per cent in some areas, and further to this, conditions for living are still of the developing world, with communities of shack dwellers, who do not have access to potable water and sewage, a formula that from a public health perspective spells grave trouble. The idea of spending billions of rand on building soccer stadiums with very little use after the world cup other than perhaps to build recreational soccer leagues and teams, along with part-time short term job positions in the thousands was highlighted initially by protests from workers who claimed they had not been paid fair wages by organizers. They were quickly whisked away by police and security forces, and further the South African Police force claimed it could take care of security at venues on its own. With over twenty thousand fans at some venues this may prove to be quite difficult.

Countries rely on sporting events to serve as an economic benefit, yet when all costs are calculated the true losers tend to be nations that host these events. For example Greece hosted the summer Olympics in 2004 where overspending may have contributed to much of the Greek deficit and subsequently its collapse. Closer to Canadians is the Montreal Olympics which still has the city of Montreal paying the bill, and the eyesore of the Olympic “O” Stadium. Still, the lure of millions from corporate sponsorships, and joining the international community of trade keeps many nations using its citizens as collateral in mortgaging their future in the hunt for major sporting events.

EARLIER BOOZE HOURS FOR TORONTO’S FOOTBALL FANS

By Diana Duong

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For more information: South African Regional Poverty Network - www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0000990/ Abahlali baseMjondolo: The Durban Shack Dwellers Movement - abahlali.org/taxonomy/ term/1525 Democracy Watch: Upside Down World Cup - www.democracynow.org/2010/6/11/upside_ down_world_cup_raj_patel

ONTARIO MAY BE six hours behind South Africa, but Ontario football fans are now able to raise their glasses one hour earlier.

Bars and restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol at 10 a.m. –one hour earlier than usual- during the World Cup tournament, from June 11 to July 11.

“Johannesburg is six hours ahead of Toronto, the time difference will have World Cup games airing at 7:30 and 10 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.,” said the Toronto mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone, who initially proposed the idea of extending the booze serving hours.

“Residents will be patronizing local cafes and restaurants earlier than normal during this specific time period.”

Over 17,000 bars and restaurants across Ontario will be able to serve alcohol at 10 a.m. rather than the routine 11 a.m. This is to coincide with the kickoff that broadcasts at 10 a.m. in Ontario because of the six-hour time difference with South Africa. The change in booze serving hours is temporary; it will last only during the World Cup tournament period, ending on July 11. City councillor Pantalone put forward the proposition earlier this

month and Toronto city council successfully passed the motion.

Pantalone is the city councillor for Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina, the western region of downtown Toronto. Pantalone is one of six major candidates running in the Toronto mayoral election to replace the incumbent David Miller this October.

He joked, “I’m not even mayor, and I’m already leading [the] province.”

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has the power to extend drinking hours for events of “municipal, provincial, national or international significance.” In the past, the AGCO has extended the 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. booze serving hours for live, not televised events. The events also typically occurred within the province, mainly Toronto Fashion Week and Toronto Pride Week.

The province has noticed the importance of the world’s game and therefore, extends this special exemption.

As bartenders turn on the taps earlier, patrons will be motivated to enjoy their drinks at their local pub rather than drink at home. Because of the flexibility in service, fans of sporting events, mainly football, will have their needs met. An in-

crease in patron attendance will be a boost to the restaurant industry.

In today’s weak economy, this could be “a nice little shot in the arm,” according to Pantalone.

The Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant located on Yonge Street entertains a large number of clients, including many tourists, on a daily basis, according to Shaun Waterman. The 30-year-old bartender has personally seen the effects of drinking hours change on the restaurant industry. “The highlight for us was at the EnglandUSA game,” said Waterman. “We were at full capacity by mid-afternoon. This entire place was packed during that match. We were as busy as we are on St. Patrick’s Day.” Waterman looks around the restaurant, “It’s delightful to the industry, to be able to serve alcohol and give fans what they want, especially during sporting events.” The colour commentator lets out a long yell of excitement, “GOOOAL!” Waterman’s attention briefly snaps to the large television screen and continues, “It’s time to kick back and have a little fun. The beautiful game brings us all together, we only get to cheer like this once every four years.”

PHOTO: JORGE LASCAR/FLICKR

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME?

By Salmaan Abdul Hamid Khan NEXT TO THE Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup trumps all other international sporting events, earning it the title of “The Greatest Sporting Event in the World.” Drawing the attention of millions across the globe-from the Favelas of Brasil to the bustling streets of Tokyo-this monstrosity of an event lasts about a month, and sets 32 teams, from 32 different countries against each other. The winners of course, earn the title of ‘world cup champions’ for the next four years.

This year, to the surprise of many, the games have found themselves in South Africa, Africa’s “glimmer of hope.” The story goes that current FIFA president, Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, promised the African continent the World Cup back in 1998 while he was campaigning to become head ‘impresario’ of the powerhouse football association. In exchange for African votes, which would put him over the top, Blatter promised to bring the games to Africa. Side stepping Nigeria and Morocco, Africa’s fastest growing economy and “bread basket” as some have titled it, stood as the favourite, and soon, South Africa would enter into a frenzy of anticipated construction projects.

In order to accommodate the famed games, South Afri-

PHOTO: BABASTEVE/FLICKR

ca has sunk an estimated $6 billion USD into infrastructure development, mostly in the form of massive stadiums, or “white elephants” as critics have termed them. Today these white elephants, such as the $300,000,000 Soccer City stadium, or the $287,000,000 stadium at Port Elizabeth, are but 2 of the 10 in total that stand alongside the 45 per cent of South Africans-20 million citizens-who live off less than $2 a day. With an unemployment rate of 40 per cent and a foreign debt that stretches into the dozens of billions, South Africa is one of the smallest and shakiest economies to have ever organized the World Cup. The logic behind creating these ‘White elephants’ themselves raises much controversy as locals are perplexed as to what to do with these massive stadiums -such as the 65,000-seater giant in Cape Townonce the World Cup is over with. To quote Trevor Phillips, former director of the South African Premier League, “what the hell are we going to do with a 70,000-seater football stadium in Durban once the World Cup is over? Durban has two football teams which attract crowds of only a few thousand.” Furthermore, the areas surrounding these massive stadiums have been swept clean of the poverty and misery that surrounded them as thousands of shack dwellers have

either been relocated to poorly constructed government camps or forcefully evicted by government thugs. To quote a FIFA report on this matter, “A billion television viewers don’t want to see shacks and poverty on this scale.”

Local residences haven’t been the only victims of this “clean up” policy carried out by FIFA and the South African government, as street kids are continually whisked away, and much like Canada’s own “star-light tour” tactics, dropped in remote locations, far away from the eyes of the curious tourists and football fans.

However, many would argue that these dubious investments and spending sprees are good for the country in the long run. Unfortunately, these hopes and dreams are as tangible as the belief that Chile could have one-upped Brasil, with its infamous brand of samba soccer, and made its way into the quarter finals. As Alex Duval Smith, of the Guardian UK stated, “the biggest event on Earth will do little for the planet’s poorest people.”

Besides the fact that the jobs created during the “construction bubble,” throughout the pre-games preparations, are now useless, the first real blow to average working South Africans was felt following the bylaws enforced by FIFA, that stated that informal traders- a crucial part of any African economy- were to be banned from coming anywhere close to the 10 stadiums where matches would be played. In essence these laws aim to protect FIFA’s major sponsors, such as Coca Cola, from any rival soft drink sales. Already, there exist 400 cases for “ambush marketing” against small South African businesses and individuals.

The South African police force itself has already jumbled together a special task-force unit charged with clearing hawkers and small businesses from stadium areas.

Aside from crushing small businesses and gross spending sprees on white elephants, the South African government, under the tutelage of the giant FIFA, has effectively militarized its cities and towns, much like our very own Toronto during the G20 summit. During these World Cup days, “air sweeps by fighter jets, joint border patrols, police escorts for cruise ships, and teams of police and security guards roam the lands.” The aim, argued by the South African government, is to prevent “domestic extremism.” And no folks, it’s not those dastardly Muslims this time; but strike workers, union organizers, and non-violent protestors who are the “domestic extremists” and targets of police aggression. Not since the times of Apartheid in South Africa has such demonization and paranoia run afoot. Already, police units have violently put down peaceful marches led by: South African fishermen, who were being kicked off the beaches to make way for the incoming visitors; marches led by security guards themselves, who after the Germany-Australia game, decided to protest against their $2.25 an hour wages, and were met with tear gas, batons, and stun-grenades; and a march led by students who were protesting the demolition of a school complex to make way for the Neusprot Venue had been met with typical police “hospitality.” In fact, as the games go on, in towns such as Johannesburg and Durban, legislations have been passed effectively making it illegal for anyone to protest or to go on strike. In respect of the games, the basic civil liberties of working class South Africans have been taken away.

What the future holds for South Africa can be disputed to some extent, but one thing for sure is that it will hardly profit from this circus that is the World Cup games. A study carried out by the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa found that in 2005, one-in-three South Africans believed they would personally benefit from the World Cup; today, the number has fallen to one in 100. Furthermore, it is expected that much like the praised “Bird’s Nest” stadium designed for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in China, South Africa’s white elephants are destined to a life of emptiness and dust collection. The nation of South Africa will continue down a path of poverty and class exploitation; of neo-liberal policies and structural adjustment programs; of violence and of corruption. But hey, at least they proved they can host the World Cup, right?

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FEATURES NATE PHELPS HATES HIS FATHER

By Graham Slaughter

ON JULY 15, the Phelps family will hop into a squadron of minivans and drive 94 kilometres east from their home of Topeka, Kansas to Kansas City. They aren’t driving to a family reunion, a wedding, or a funeral. They’re going to an Adam Lambert concert.

But don’t get them wrong; the Phelps aren’t fans. Rather, they’re protesting the gay artist’s show on the basis that “he will be teaching people to sin” and that audience members ”will fall straight into hell.” An outline of the family’s trip can be read on their website: godhatesfags.com.

Run through their exclusive Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), the Phelps have made international headlines for their “God Hates Fags” campaign. The WBC is known for protesting the funerals of American soldiers, shouting that God killed them for defending a society that accepts homosexuality. They wave signs that read “Soldiers Die, God Laughs” and “Thank God for 9/11.” Since 1991, they’ve had nearly 44,000 protests across the United States, Canada, and once in Iraq.

They call these demonstrations “Love Crusades.”

Nate Phelps, 51, won’t be joining his family at the concert. In fact, Phelps hasn’t seen them 33 years.

On June 18, Phelps spoke to an audience of 200 at the University of Toronto about growing up in what a BBC documentary dubbed “the most hated family in America.” The speech was an official Pride 2010 event and was organized by the atheist organization the Centre for Inquiry Ontario.

Phelps’ talk drew in atheists, theology experts, and members of Toronto’s GLBT community for an hour of insight into the WBC. Phelps began by chronologically listing off the books of the Bible. At the age of seven, Phelps could recite all 66 books in 19 seconds flat.

“If one of us took too long my father would stop in the middle of his preaching, cast a gimlet eye on the offender and demand that, ‘Somebody smack that kid!’”

Along with his mother and 12 siblings, Phelps suffered from crippling degrees of physical and psychological abuse

from his father, pastor Fred Phelps.

Pastor Phelps reads the Bible as a literal text, following each lesson word-for-word. This interpretation legitimized not only the WBC’s treatment of gays, but also the pain that was inflicted upon the Phelps children. Due to this interpretation, rules of the house came straight out of the Old Testament and restricted children from celebrating Christmas, having friends, dating, or girls from cutting their hair.

Phelps discussed moments of his childhood where his father would violently beat him with a mattock, a weapon that he described as “an axe handle on steroids.”

“He would administer a few painful blows, scream at the child for 20 minutes, and then go at it again to split open our wounds. He claimed that this punishment was done out of love for his children; yet as he beat us, he’d scream his hatred at us also.”

The church, started in 1955, doesn’t intend on expanding its parish beyond the Phelps family. In fact, the WBC’s website recently linked to another website called godhatestheworld. com. Pastor Phelps preaches that only his followers will go to heaven and that the rest of the world is condemned.

“My father has no intention of conversion. You’re either chosen or you’re not.”

That message still rings true today. The current generation of the WBC has made online video parodies of songs such as Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” (“You pissed off God, you’ll see what he’s got”) and Michael Jackson’s “Bad” (“Because you’re bad, you’re bad ... and God is mad, He’s mad.”)

When Phelps was the same age as today’s WBC youth, his father lost his job as a lawyer due to his volcanic temper.

Pastor Phelps’ solution was to enlist his children to sell candy at bars across Kansas.

“Friday and Saturday night would find us ten to 12 yearold-children working our way through dark taverns, selling candy while strippers performed a few feet away. More than once, the violence that is inevitable in such places resulted in direct injury to one of us.”

Despite the violence, their father had them work at strip clubs for seven years.

“This raised some serious questions about the hypocrisy of my father’s message.”

Throughout his adolescence, Phelps secretly questioned the consistency of his father’s doctrine. If the Bible taught his sisters to dress modestly, why were they working in strip bars?

If the Bible taught that they should love their neighbours unconditionally, what made it okay to condemn the world to eternal suffering?

At 18, Phelps finally decided that he needed to escape his father’s tyranny.

At midnight on his 18 birthday, Phelps snuck out the front door, tossed his belongings into the trunk of a green Rambler Classic that he secretly bought for $300, and drove to California to work in a printing company with his brother Mark.

Today, Phelps lives in Calgary, Alberta with his fiancé, Angela. Phelps’ story has made him infamous in the atheist community; he now rejects Christianity on the basis that the Bible can be moulded to legitimize intolerance and abuse.

“Any system that is sustained by hatred, any ideology that would debase people based on who they love is morally wrong – and I reject it.”

Nate Phelps’ life story is long, detailed and covered in deep psychological scars (he suffers from depression to this day.) Even though Phelps admits its emotional toll, sharing his story is extremely important to him.

A week before coming to Toronto, Phelps received an email from a 17-year-old gay teenager that had become obsessed with the WBC’s message. The teenager was reaching out to Phelps for advice on how to cope with the concept that he would eventually suffer for eternity because of whom he loves.

“Sometimes, I doubt that my story makes a difference.

But when I got his email, those doubts disappeared. This does make a difference.”

PRIDE 2010

PHOTO: STEVIEONTARIO/FLICKR

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VERSE CITY INSPIRES YOUTH TO MAKE JOURNALISM

Students and faculty in Ryerson’s school of journalism partnered with East Metro Youth Services to offer a workshop for Toronto youth to make journalism. Over the course of the five-day workshop, students learned how to write for radio, produce stories, take photos and do interviews with people to tell stories.

Abigale Subdhan and Michelle Green wrote their thoughts on Verse City and Say Word, a youth program that introduces journalism to young people year-round.

The sounds of passionate voices, keyboards swiftly clicking and bright ideas all could be heard from 24 enthusiastic youth as they attended the Verse City Camp this weekend.

The second camp which is dedicated to teaching youth basic journalistic skills lasted from June 25-29.

The youth had four days to create and produce a radio story and show. They were given full control with hands-on experience by creating the entire story from start to finish.

This multimedia camp, which is in partnership with the Violence Intervention Project at East Metro Youth Services, started in 2007, to address a main concern- the way that minorities are seen through the media. This camp acknowledged that it was rare to see this marginalized group in this industry and wanted to create a group for youth where they could explore journalism.

Four days of early mornings, intense training and extreme hard work was all worth it by the end of the weekend, as the youth displayed the stories that they had created over the weekend and as well over the year.

“I wish I had the chance to attend something like this before coming to Ryerson. It’s a great way to open your eyes about the city and the stories. It’s a learning experience for all of us,” said Arti Patel, coordinator and student mentor of the Verse City Camp, who is also entering fourth-year journalism at Ryerson.

The group of youth that attended the camp, all participate in a program at East Metro called Say Word, which is coordinated by Priya Ramanujam. Say Word is broken into four streams of journalism, radio, video, photojournalism and magazine, that the youth focus on throughout the year. These youth from the top seven priority neighbourhoods in Scarborough are given a voice to express their creativity and an early experience into the field of journalism.

“It was incredible applying the skills that we learned already from Priya at Say Word throughout our individual projects, but then also learning new skills about radio journalism, a stream I have never tried before,” said Hinal Ghelani, one of the 24 camp participants at Verse City.

The enthusiasm that radiated from the eyes of these youth could be seen from the first day as they herded their luggage out from the bus after trekking their way downtown. As soon as they arrived at the camp, they were thrust into the exciting and spontaneous world of journalism.

“I learned some new skills like reporting and interviewing, and using radio equipment, but more importantly, I think I learned a lot more about myself as a person and more about everybody that I spent time with,” said Ghelani.

The journey to creating radio pieces seemed hard at first, but soon the students were working like professionals, but more importantly the fun that they experienced working with the new radio equipment, creating voiceovers and spending the long hours creating these stories shined through.

“I’m just so blown away. It shouldn’t surprise me anymore. The range of voices, of stories, it is impressive. These youth do journalism the way it should be done: with passion, with ambition, taking risks, trying something new, letting their voices shine through,” said Julianna McDermott, a mentor of Verse City and Ryerson student.

These skills that these youth had already acquired were instilled by the experience that they had already had in the Say Word program at East Metro.

They learned many ideals that helped them both with journalism and skills that helped with their perception of others and themselves. Participating in this camp only elevated and added to the journalistic programs that they have been participating in for the past nine months.

“[Say Word] has helped youth realize their abilities to be patient, to deal with opposing opinions, and it has built a strong family unit where people stand up for what they believe in and each other,” says Priya Ramanujam, coordinator of the Say Word Program.

The range of final stories was a mixture of everything and anything happening in Toronto. The youth interviewed street performers, refugees, paramedics and angry protesters.

At the end of the camp, the youth were able to display their work from Say Word, as well as the radio pieces that they had created over the four days in front of a group of media professionals. These experienced alumni shared critique and feedback, backed up their individual and unique experiences.

However, despite the amazing experiences that these youth have experienced over the past two years, the funding for Verse City has come to an end, making this its final year as it stands. This camp has given youth a chance for the start of a career in journalism, a field that can seem very challenging at times. They were able to learn skills earlier in their lives that put them at an advantage and seeing an end to such a positive experience is saddening.

“In many ways the camp grew and improved this year, but I do feel disappointed because like anything, there is always room for improvement and I wish that there was a definite ‘next time’ so that we could work on those improvements,” said Ramanujam.

Despite the end to a opportunity, these youth worked to make it the best it could be. For Ramanujam, this end only symbolizes a beginning in the lives of many of these youth.

“The strides the youth made to get there, the work they put in - staying in the lab until 10 p.m., sitting at the computer for seven hours straight, telling stories from their heart - that cannot be dismissed. And these stories will be heard, no doubt.”—Abigale Subdhan

Say Word is a youth program for youth by youth. It has four streams: photojournalism, video broadcast, radio broadcast, and magazine.

Many times, this question pops up in my mind: Will there ever be an actual youth program that’s for the youth, with our ideas, our goals, and things WE want to do?

Having been involved in many youth programs, many were disappointing, disengaging and just one bag of drama, I was then introduced to Say Word.

Lemme rewind a little. So...I was in a pre employment program at East Metro youth Services. Didn’t really pay too much mind to people that weren’t in my program. But this one particular person stood out. She was small yet full of big energy and all the youth always flooded her office. Made me ask myself “who this popular girl?”

One day she came in to do a workshop and it really captivated me. So I decided to connect with her after and told her my passion and interests. That’s when I joined the Say Word Magazine and Photojournalism stream.

My journey through these programs was definitely life changing. The new experiences, increased knowledge, learning fun stuff, gaining important tools, learning everyday life skills, and being able to do what I love and create a voice for myself is one I must say, not many program out there do. It’s been a rollercoaster, times I wanted to give up when things got difficult.

Many random talks that make me laugh till my belly feels like its gonna buss. The youth in the program that feel like family. The smiles, the encouragement, the obstacles, the challenges. I classify it as good stress. My Say Word journey has help to find love in the things I used to like: To showcase my art.

Say Word has given me a voice beyond the walls of my neighbourhood. I have to honestly say, Say Word has saved my life. The last year has been one of the hardest years of my life, and when I let go of everything that kept me holding on, Say Word hung on to me, refusing to let me lose grip. The people, Priya, and the love that I found for photography and writing. I’ve grown as an individual and as a team. Say Word is family and I say this all time. We need more programs like Say Word.

But most of all we need more staff like Priya. There would be no Say Word without her. Her diligence, tolerance, patience, kindness, loving spirit, warm energy and unconditional never-ending support. That’s what makes Say Word, Say Word. To anyone who is reading this: Please support in any way to keep this program going. Say Word is saving life daily. By giving youth a sacred safe space to go to learn new tools and gain a family that is positive and supportive.

I LOVE YOU. SAY WORD FAMILIA .

Ryerson Journalism Camp With Say Word Late check-ins, smelly doorms, G20 protest, G20 riots, late night jams, After hours parties, all nighters, long talks, movie nights, bonding, and trips to the food store after 1 am. That was just a bit of what took place during this five day journalism camp experience.

We had the opportunity to take radio equipment, go out and about Toronto and interview people on topics such as legalization of marijuana, love of music and the World Cup, just to name a few. We learnt new editing skills and how to put a radio show together. Long days and nights. A freezing computer lab that felt like -85 degrees.

My toes were frostbitten.

Sitting in front of that computer with my partner Goon and Ray. Listening, cutting, editing, adding music. All that good stuff. And yes even though it was challenging it was a beautiful experience. Balanced out with late night trips to Subway, McDonalds and Pizza Pizza.

Our laughter echoed the streets as we talked about the most random of randomest things. “Sorry cant share, its grown folks’ business!!!”

Dominoes slamming the table. Peoples’ asses getting kicked in Crazy Eights card game. Getting down and jiggy in the open area. I’m all RAH RAH !!!!. I don’t know how we managed to go to be at five and wake up for eight. Dammmnn!!!

Watching the youth so passionate and determined about their stories while putting together their pieces for the radio gave me that extra drive.

Then the sudden crash came and things began to go downhill. What a let down. And I couldn’t have been anymore happier to be going home. I guess I can say it was a learning experience. I Just wished that the person who put all the pieces together was wiling to do it and do it right.

If that person is reading this I wanna let you know that you let us down. So thank you for giving us nothing to go back to Say Word with.

But with that being said to the Say Word Familia: WE DID OUR PART COMPLETED AND FINISHED IT AND I’M SO PROUD OF EVERYONE OF US!!

PRIYA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPURTUNITY, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CONSTANT RUNNING UP AND DOWN TO MAKE SURE THINGS FELL INTO PLACE. YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME WITH YOUR WILL POWER!!

AND YNUFF LOVE FOR BEING JUST AS OVERLY STRESSED. I KNOW YOU GREW SOME GREY HAIR ON TOP OF THAT HEAD. AND TO THE RYERSON MENTORS, MUCH BIG UP TO OMAIR, JULIANA, AND ARTI . YOU GUYS HELD IT DOWN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. CAME THROUGH FOR YOUR GROUPS AND ALL OF US ON A WHOLE. OMAIR YOU’RE THE SICKEST MENTOR, THANKS FOR TEACHING US THE TOOLS WE NEEDED TO GET IT DONE! TO THE DOCUMENTA RY CREW. THANKS FOR FOLLOWING US AROUND AND GETTING TO KNOW US. YA’LL ARE DOPE!!! BRIAN YOU CAN MOVEEEEEEEEE. LOVE THE TUTT HOMEBOY. And to the rest of the Ryerson team, both behind the scenes and frontline. I can’t stand here and say big thank yous cause it wouldn’t be real of me. I just wanna say that even though you used us to get what you needed out of it, called one of the youth uneducated, and didn’t give two shits about those stuck in the middle of the riot. It’s ok. Its okay cause we learned and we became tighter as a Say Word group. So i guess thank you, thank you for letting us know just wat tokenism looks like. You may have got what you wanted but we were one step ahead of the game.

POW POW!!! —Michelle Green RYERSON FREE PRESS JULY 2010

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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DENIED IN RADIO SHUT DOWN

By Kim Gottfried Piché ZACATE GRANDE IS a region located in the gulf of Fonseca, nestled between the Pacific ocean and the beautiful southern mountain range of Honduras. In the heart of the settlement, surrounded by homes made of corn stalks and sugar cane, a small brick building stands where seventeen young men and women are running a “radios communitarias” as a part of a initiative called the Movement for the Recovery and Reclamation of Land in Zacate Grande (Movimento de Recuperacion y Titulacion de tierras de Zacate Grande).

Emitting a signal in a radius of 25 km to about 10 villages (800 families) in the region, La Voz of Zacate Grande 97.1 FM grew out of a community response to the need to publicize an increasingly tense situation in which a multi-millionaire agro-industrial tycoon is trying to evict the Hondurans who have legal right to live, fish and farm on the land.

On June 3, 2010, La Voz of Zacate Grande FM was stormed by 300 police and shut down in an act of political censorship and in violation of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights which specifically states that communities cannot be restricted in their freedom of expression, whether that be radio, television or print media.

To make matters worse, the land tycoon, known as Miguel Facussé Barjum is publicly using “environmental preservation” as an excuse to evict these inhabitants with an agenda to attain recognition as a great “green” entrepreneur and leader of private initiative.

In a recent visit to Honduras, six Canadian Catholic Campus ministers met with the community of Zacate Grande to hear their story. We were hosted by the Canadian Catholic organization for Development and Peace and CARITAS, a Catholic initiative that works alongside of communities and assist the marginalized and oppressed in 198 countries and territories to help them form movements and organize citizens.

We learned that the peninsula, upon which we sat, had at one time been an island. The Honduran people had lived there for over eighty years. A wealthy group of foreigners known as Coyolito Club began coveting the island as early as 1972 started a movement to confront the villagers and obtain

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the land as their own. Although they were forbidden to own land as foreigners under the actual constitutional law (article 101) and although the Hondurans who had lived on the land for over 12 years had rights to the land, it didn’t seem to matter to this group Facussé, the powerful leader of Coyolito used his influence in judicial politics to remove article 101 and he was therefore able to purchase 3,000 hectares of their land. In addition, Facussé managed to shut out families from money or international aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 in hopes that they would leave.

The community turned to the Catholic organization CARITAS in 1999 for legal advice and assistance. With the help of the diocese, they formed the Development and Solidarity Council (CODESOL) whose purpose was to present a united front against pressure applied by Coyolito Club.

Pressure tactics to try eradicate the villagers have included befriending the youth and offering “treats” to their parents to sell land, armed police presence at night, gunshots to local leaders and attempts to criminalize members of the community.

The people of Zacate Grande have refused to leave.

As the leader of the community told their story, the youth maintained a curious silence. When asked how all of this had affected them, there came no reply. Some of the youth offered a fearful glance at us, their eyes moving from us quickly to a more distant view of the horizon.

“They are not shy,” said the community leader “they do not speak because they have been arrested, while others have had guns pointed at them and threatened. If they are caught hunting a deer or picking corn on the land, Miguel has private security who will inform the police. Miguel hunts for pleasure, but our young people hunt for food to eat.”

Soon one young man came forward and spoke, telling us about the morning he awoke and heard from friends that their fathers had been arrested on the way to school.

“We are not afraid, but this has obviously affected us.

We as young people feel powerless. We need this land. We live in small houses with 10 persons in a family. What will we

do if we don’t have enough land? We have nothing to defend ourselves. We as young people need to be conscious of what is happening. Maybe we don’t have money but we have our knowledge. The radio station is our way of raising consciousness about what is happening to us and to others. It is our only tool of resistance against Miguel.”

With hammocks strung up, a news flash board and a sound proof recording room (the coolest room in the place), it was clear that the young people took great pride in their work at the radio station. Painted in black on the outer façade of the building were their heroes; native Lempira who fought against the Spanish, Visitation Padilla who fought for civil and political rights of women and Morazàn who fought to unite all of Central America.

The young people had received training as journalists and radio broadcasters at productions centers associated with the National Board of World Association of Community Radio Broadcasting (AMARC). Their efforts to construct a culture of citizenship have inspired the whole community, including the children who hope to some day work at the station As of June 4, the station is covered with yellow “crime scene” tape and five community leaders have been arrested, accused of “occupying” Facussé’s land and “tax fraud” for the radio station. As one respected journalist reports, “this is clear evidence of how powerful people want to silence the voices of communities facing an agrarian conflict.” It has been suggested that this is a part of a larger system of repressive measures that authorities are adopting against opposition and freedom of press since the coup d’etat last June 28, 2009 For more information or for updates on the situation, you can contact Ryerson Catholic Chaplaincy Centre (Kim Gottfried Piché) at chapkim@interlog.com. Please come and join us at Casa de Café: Honduras on Tuesday July 17th for an evening of Honduran coffee, slides and stories of the work of Hondurans for justice.

Kim Gottfried Piché is staff at Ryerson’s Catholic Chaplaincy Centre PHOTO: KIM GOTTFRIED PICHÉ

THROUGH THE EYES OF A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR

By Michael Chu

AS TEARS FALL from the heavy gray skies in Majdanek concentration camp in eastern Poland, participants in the March of Remembrance and Hope huddle around Pinchas Gutter as he shares his story.

“Here lies my mother, my father, my sister,” says Gutter, referring to the mound of ashes, the Majdanek mausoleum.

While delivering a prayer for his family and all those others in the mass grave, there is not a single dry eye underneath the giant disk-like structure protecting the group from the elements.

Having an opportunity to meet a Holocaust survivor, it is difficult to know exactly how you should feel or present yourself to them.

But in meeting Pinchas Gutter, you will immediately feel inspired, appreciate his humbleness and crave his knowledge and wisdom.

His stories of defying death, heartbreaking loss and unimaginable hardship easily tug at one’s emotions, but his compassion and pride is remarkable, to say the least.

Gutter, born in Lodz, Poland lived a comfortable life, with his father- a winemaker - mother and twin sister. When Hitler and the Nazi regime initiated their twisted plot to eradicate, the family fled to Warsaw hoping to find safety from the approaching Nazis.

When any decision seemed better than to stay put, this would eventually lead the Gutter family to the suffocating confines of the Warsaw Ghetto. Gutter, even at the ten-

der age of five, knew the dire circumstances at hand and did his best to numb himself from the inhumanity – by playing in the streets and sneaking sweets from the newsstand his mother had owned in the rapidly deteriorating streets of the Warsaw Ghetto.

They lived in the Warsaw Ghetto for three years, making ends meet – until the unrest of the Warsaw Uprisings.

Hiding in a bunker, the SS found them and threatened to gas the bunker, should they decide not to surrender. With nowhere else to go, the Gutter family would be deported to Madjanek, a concentration camp in Lublin.

Once arriving there, during the selection process – where those individuals suited for labour were separated from those that would be sent to the gas chambers – Gutter was separated from his family, the last time he would ever see them.

While most other children were immediately sent to the gas chambers – too young to be useful workers, Gutter nonetheless was chosen.

Gutter would continue to confront death, once, when hiding in a bunker as guards were rounding up inhabitants of the concentration camp for yet another round of selection – only to be spared for reasons unknown by a guard - and once again, also surviving the treacherous death march from Buchenwald – an intense labour camp – to Theresienstad, in Czechoslovakia, hundreds of miles away.

Gutter would remain there until liberation finally came in the form of the Soviet Army.

After the liberation, Gutter went to Great Britain, and settled in South Africa hoping to start a new life, but discovered something he had witnessed and experienced before – oppression.

“I hated the regime and what was going on there,” says Gutter.

“I came [on a visit] to Canada by chance,” adds Gutter, as he smiles. “When I came here I felt like I was breathing freedom.”

In 1985, Gutter would finally wind up permanently in Canada and has lived here ever since.

To this day he continues to share his story so that people - especially those not of Jewish origin - continue to fight human rights travesties.

“I feel it is important to tell my story to young students,” says Gutter. “I want to try and spread the word of what can happen at any country, anywhere.”

Gutter’s decision to share his story was a difficult and painful one, but can be attributed to a series of documentaries made for Global Television.

“I was convinced it was important [to share my experiences],” says Gutter. “But I couldn’t face it.”

Only after showing these tapes to his children, was he comfortable enough to speak about his heartbreaking past – result-

ing in taking his family back to Poland, documented in a feature for the BBC, The Void.

This led Gutter to continue sharing his story – at schools, human rights events and the yearly March of Remembrance And Hope, taking post-secondary students to Germany and Poland for a first-hand experience of the Holocaust.

What many survivors would consider difficult – going back to the places where they experienced their worst nightmares – is not easy for Gutter either, but the warmth and support he receives from each participant drives him to continue on his journey.

“By being able to share my burden with the students, I am able to parcel it out,” says Gutter. “It makes it easier for me because they know exactly what happened.”

Gutter’s fascinating drive to push himself to his physical and mental limits to share his painful story – in the hopes of building a level or respect and tolerance amongst the vast differences present in today’s society, has made a difference with each individual he has met.

“His courage, his compassion and his desire to share his unimaginable experience with all people – not just Jews – is, in and of itself, a gift,” says Alexandra Hunnings, a participant in this year’s March of Remembrance and Hope, and graduating master’s of journalism student at Ryerson.

“His tangible strength, intelligence and his relentless hope is beyond inspirational,” adds Hunnings. “Pinchas teaches us that humanity is a choice, not a given.”

THE THING ABOUT MUSEUMS

How English museums illustrate the problems with the contemporary historical exhibit

By Haseena Manek THROUGHOUT RECENT HISTORY, England has probably extended its reach to more countries than any other colonizing nation. In fact, at the height of its imperial regime, England controlled a quarter of the world’s population. Under the guise of science, anthropology, religious missions and military exploration, the English crown changed the history of hundreds of nations and millions of people.

Today, evidence of that history is unabashedly displayed in English museums.

Brighton’s Pavilion Museum is housed next to George IVs former seaside palace, which was built in the Indo-Saracenic style, a mix of Victorian gothic and indigenous design.

This approach was a favourite of British officials living in colonial India, a way to mask orientalist exoticism with feigned respect and appreciation for local art, basically the equivalent of architectural imperialism.

The museum itself is small by comparison but efficiently packs art, tools, clothing and other tokens from indigenous peoples the world over.

Descriptions of these objects glorify ‘armchair anthropology’; a detached and ineffective ethnographic technique critiqued by contemporary academics for its racist essentialism. The information provided romanticizes the colonial process, using gentle euphemisms when explaining the adventurous ‘collection process’ of what should be declared stolen goods.

The infamous British Museum of London, England’s also glosses over the processes by which artifacts were ‘collected,’ but small and large plaques thanking benefactors for their ‘donations’ are everywhere.

Many of these are personal contributions, which made me question where someone like Major R.G. GayerAnderson, who donated the Ancient Egyptian cat statuette, dubbed the ‘Gayer-Anderson Cat’, would have obtained his treasury of historic art. (The Victoria and Albert Museum, PHOTO: IAN MUTTOO/FLICKR

also in London, is another of many museums to house GayerAnderson’s and his younger brother, T. G. Gayer-Anderson’s, donations).

Despite the fact that a map of Britain’s contemporary and historical political ties could be drawn out based on contributions to the British Museum, it is clear that there is an attempt to depoliticize its collection.

A Tennyson quote on the floor of the Great Court (as you enter the museum), reads: “And let thy feet/millenniums hence/be set in midst of knowledge.” A quote that I believe illustrates the way history and art are romanticized. A selfconfessed history-geek myself, I still believe it is important to contextualize historical artifacts to truly understand them.

Political context often goes unmentioned when displaying said artifacts, in an attempt to maintain what I can only describe as the ‘purity’ of academia, encouraging museumgoers to try and embrace and appreciate the wonders of world history and science without sullying it with implications of cultural theft and global politics.

If one considers the manner in which the museum obtained so many of its artifacts, disregarding historical and political context is to disregard a vital part the object’s history.

In so doing, we are disregarding the people and the culture it represents. This strikes me as both discourteous and ineffective for an establishment of universal scholarship.

Another important point is that the value of certain histories, certain peoples and certain eras visibly changes as one navigates somewhere like the British Museum. Something as basic as the layout of exhibits, I think, illustrates what the institution deems more interesting or important for visitors.

While on the one hand much of the museum’s collection from what we call today’s ‘Global South,’ are stolen pieces of history, it is interesting to note that European territories are still given large wings and sections for multiple time periods while other parts of the world are given smaller and sim-

pler bearings. Despite the British colonial legacy of baseless theft and genocide, the history of the colonized remains less impressive, or less important. 500 years later, Africa is still in the basement.

Tennyson’s quote is an obvious tenet of what the British Museum, and many other museums stand for: knowledge and learning about our past. All I can conclude based on visiting all of these institutions is that we will be in no capacity able to learn from the mistakes of our past if future generations are not taught about them.

And I know I am not the first to say “He who wins the war writes the history books,” so I wonder why it is that centuries of colonial oppression and all its ramifications are not only glorified and venerated by internationally renowned institutions but that their gross misrepresentation goes unquestioned and unchallenged.

It appears that the institution of the metropolitan museum has become another facet of the neo-colonial machine and that education is one more battle to fight in the war for freedom and equality.

RYERSON FREE PRESS JULY 2010

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READY FOR A WAKE-UP CALL

By Michael Chu

HOT DOGS FOR $5.25 (excluding the napkins, but after adding on fees for the bun, and condiments); paying sidewalk tolls for a toonie (we need to pay fees to access the sidewalk system?); and the cell-phone “stories” of everyday people like Big Mark and Benita (who do not like or cannot afford to allocate a large chunk of their disposable income on frills – like personal communications).

These are some of the tales used by the recent entries into the (at least for now) local cell-phone market – Wind Mobile, Mobilicity and Public Mobile – to introduce a newfound sensibility to the Canadian mobile communications market.

Canadians have long-suffered by paying exorbitant fees for cell-phone usage – and it shows, as, according to a 2008 TNS Canadian study, only 60 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 60 use mobile communications – far below the 80 per cent global average.

Many other factors have contributed to the current state of the mobile communications market in Canada: some of the tightest mobile network ownership legislations in the world and a consolidation of fragmented players in the late 90s to early 2000s.

A combination of media giants Telus and Rogers gobbling up smaller players – Clearnet and Fido respectively – was supposed to mean streamlined operations and ultimately passing on these savings to consumers.

We all know how that all turned out.

When the Canadian Radiotelevision Commission opened up the bidding for wireless spectrum in 2008, the big Three (Telus, Rogers and Bell) all decried the federal government’s decision to open up free air frequency to new entrants was not fair and that, as then Telus executive vice-president of Corporate Affairs, Janet Yale said, “We thought this was a government that believed in market forces….and at the end of the day we believe this is not in the best interest of consumers or telecom industry overall.”

When companies holding an oligopoly - ever so present in the Canadian telecom industry - believe adding system access fees and significant amounts on add-ons is necessary to enhance the user-experience, all the while, customers wait unacceptable times for assistance and spotty network coverage, there is no question that consumers were probably the lowest of priorities in the Canadian

telecom industry hierarchy.

In actuality, Canadians used to enjoy very competitive rates pre-industry consolidation without all those pesky extra fees – like the despised system access fee. Whatever momentum the industry had gained in significant user penetration was killed when the heavyweights realized they were in a position to maximize profit – their offerings were significantly inelastic in demand.

With the entry of the first of the three new entrants into the Canadian telecom market, Wind Mobile – borrowing a brand already well-known in Greece, they succinctly marketed themselves as the anti-establishment: reflecting the diversity of Canada in their marketing campaigns using clever humour in the place of social networks limited to five friends and cute animals.

The competitive plans (for the most part) feature combinations of unlimited calling, unlimited text, add-ons usually having additional costs, and long-distance calling to an eclectic mix of countries, all with little to no contract commitments and no system access fees.

However, there are some drawbacks in signing on with the new entrants: phones usually cost the full retail amount, let alone limited selection (i.e. no iPhones), networks are still limited to certain major Canadian urban centres, and shopping for cell phones has become that much more complicated because of many differences amongst the new entries.

Another factor to consider is that many Canadians are

already locked into long-term contracts, and users are being enticed to renew contracts with simplified – and more importantly – cheaper plans, making it imperative to sign up new, rather than converted customers, to be successful.

And each new service provider has various strengths and weaknesses to consider.

Wind Mobile - the first to make a splash – offers the widest variety of phones out of the new entrants, emphasizing affordable smartphone alternatives. While phones must be purchases outright, their generous plans allow great freedom for budget conscious individuals looking to own a Blackberry – with minimal restrictions and very little worry of going over any talk and data usage limits.

Mobilicity offers similar plans to Wind Mobile and targets heavy long-distance phone card users with its unlimited calling to the largest amount of countries offered amongst the new entries. Their plans are a little more complicated to sort through than Wind Mobile, and their phones are sold at full-retail value.

Public Mobile – which doesn’t offer smartphones – seem to be targeting immigrants with their simple and basic plans, very competitive long-distance rates, and offering the least amount of phones. Individuals dependent on landlines might find Public Mobile as a decent replacement due to its competitive costs, and no-frills options.

In a reactionary move, Rogers is planning to announce yet another flanker brand to its portfolio, to compete in the no-frills cell phone segment, chat.r.

Reports suggest that its strength will be pay-as-you-go but offering similar plans to the ones already offered by the new entrants.

Canadians finally have more accessible options and finally the big players are responding. The big three – Telus, Rogers and Bell – spent billions upgrading their networks, beef up their customer service, and cut down on redundancies.

Nonetheless, the new entrants have gained significant momentum by giving customers back all of the features the big players had snatched away years ago. The damage has been done, and it will be interesting to finally see the progress the industry should have already experienced years ago.

The three new entrants into the mobile communications segment have their work cut out for them, and a long way to go, but in the end, competition is a good thing for Canadian consumers.

CHINA CRAVES THE WESTERN LOOK

By Priyanka Jain PEOPLE LIVING IN Western society are already familiar with the Hollywood image being portrayed in the media. The way an actress’ curves hug her dress that makes her beautiful, or skin lightening cream that makes a person with darker skin complexion more attractive, are prime examples of how being beautiful is determined solely on how “western” one can look.

In China, there are no exceptions to this statement. From the age of 18, girls growing up in China become extremely conscious of their image in society. American television has a strong influence on the young generation in China, and they idolize celebrities, based on their appearance.

The two most popular cosmetic procedures performed in China are eyelid reconstruction and nasal bridge surgery. Eyelid reconstruction is widening the eye, to make it look bigger.

Nasal bridge surgery is reshaping the nose, making it look more symmetrical to the face. The most common age for these surgeries begins in the early 20s. This is the ideal age, due to job prospects, and being the marriageable age. People in China believe that by having surgeries such as eyelid reconstruction and nasal bridge surgery, this will further their career, and make them more accepted into society when looking for a long-term partner.

“Big eyes and a straight bridge are signs of beauty,” said cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yang Yunxia.

“Ladies don’t like their face to be big and fat, so they want to change their face into a more beautiful shape,” said Yunxia.

Western advertisements also have a huge impact on the Chinese, as they are constantly

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surrounded by beautiful people on television, and in magazines. They idolize the models posing for various billboards, such as H&M and Zara, which have been blown up all over Shanghai. The Chinese see these foreign advertisements as success, fame, and beauty. Consequently, they go to extreme lengths to look like these “picture perfect” people they have bounded themselves with.

The idea of the stereotypical tall, fair, Caucasian person being the most beautiful has also had an effect on China’s marketing industry. Workers at various stores selling Barbie dolls in Shangai have acknowledged the fact that the typical blonde hair, blue-eyed Barbie is always the most in demand, while the Asian Barbie just “sits on the shelves”.

General manager Dann Murphy, of Mattel Inc. (makers of Barbie) located in Shangai, said “We don’t offer a lot of Asian Barbies because they never sell well.”

“Customers like to buy the authentic Barbie that they think is beautiful, and Barbie is known to have blond hair and blue eyes,” Murphy said.

It is unfortunate that Western influences are rapidly spreading around the world, to the point where it is becoming dangerous. People of other nationalities are too caught up in imitating the Western image, and habits that they fail to embrace their own icon and unique features. In places like China, cosmetic surgery is beginning at a fairly young age. These false procedures are unhealthy for both the body and the mind; Cosmetic surgery will eventually become an uncontrollable addiction for people, and could potentially ruin their identity. They will be far too obsessed by the time they want out.

PHOTO: SCOTT ABLEMAN/FLICKR

CULTURE NEW FILM SIGNALS HOPE FOR 21ST CENTURY PROTEST MUSIC

By Sara Torvik WHEN PEOPLE HEAR the term ‘protest music’ their minds automatically turn to the sounds of the 1960s and most of us think (even if we weren’t there), ‘back in those days, music actually meant something.’ Nowadays pop music is all so shallow. Judging from pop music on the radio, one might assume that our generation has become so self absorbed and doesn’t care about anything beyond our own narrow scope of existence. Judging by the

hits, one might assume that fighting for change seems pointless or at best a remote possibility.

Or is it? Toronto film director Summer Love certainly doesn’t think so. Her new documentary Sounds Like a Revolution, which made its world premiere at the NXNE music festival on June 16 and opened in theatres on June 25, is an in-depth exploration of just how alive and well protest music is today. Musicians from every genre,

from punk to hip hop and from folk to reggae, are still doing their part to get people active and involved in politics today.

However, this isn’t an easy task.

This documentary shows how vocal musicians with messages of social justice are systematically pushed to the fringes. Sounds like a Revolution documents how the music industry has become dominated by corporate giants like Clear Channel and Best Buy, whose strict

censorship rules don’t allow artists to have creative control over their content that’s going on to the major labels, on radio stations and into retail stores. So the problem is not that there is a lack of artists that care about bigger political issues, the problem is that they’re just not being allowed to speak up and be heard.

All of the artists in the film, including Spearhead singer Michael Franti, NOFX frontman Fat Mike and conscious hip-hop artist Paris, express their frustrations and battles with trying to get their music and their message out to as many people as possible without the help of major labels. Franti has probably garnered the most success, with his annual music festival Power to the Peaceful in San Francisco which attracts roughly 50,000 people.

Meanwhile, Fat Mike kick-started Punkvoter, an initiative to encourage his young fans to get out and vote in the 2004 election in order to get the Bush Administration out of office. Even though Bush was re-elected that year, Mike’s efforts galvanized a whole new group of young voters to get involved in electoral politics.

Sounds like a Revolution was a long time in the making for Summer Love, who first became inspired to make the film in the wake of September 11, 2001. It was by the time the Iraq war was underway that she knew decisively that she had to do it.

“For a long time after 9/11 people were afraid to speak out,” she said. “There was a lot of overthe-top patriotism in the United States and everyone was behind the government one hundred per cent.

But by the time the Iraq war happened people were starting to wise up and there was a huge resistance, especially from artists. Even the Di-

xie Chicks voiced their opposition to the war. They came under fire for it, but really, that’s what inspired me,” explained Summer Love.

Watching the film, it’s evident that the invasion of Iraq back in 2003 did indeed have a huge impact on film director Love. Most of the artists interviewed, including the aforementioned Franti and Fat Mike, as well as ex-Rage Against the Machine member Tom Morello and Anti-Flag’s Justin Sane, spend a great deal of time talking about that particular issue in the film.

But some musical icons who were popular in the 1960s and 1970s also appear in the film. David Crosby recounts the story of what inspired Neil Young to write the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song “Ohio.”

The song tells the story of a shooting at Kent State University in 1970 and how, after seeing a photograph of the incident, Young immediately wrote the song and got his band mates together to record. The song criticizes the president of the time, Richard Nixon, and has become one of the most popular political protest songs of all time. Love says she tried to get Young himself to appear in the documentary to talk about the song but he declined.

Overall, this is an excellent documentary which sheds a lot of light on political activism still alive in twenty-first century music. Some of the sound bites have a tendency to become a little repetitive at times, but that’s probably inevitable when you have so many people talking about the same issues. On the positive side, all the artists are very articulate and the immense amount of passion for their causes that they feel comes through in this film. The fact that the artists care so much makes viewers care. That alone, makes this film a powerful tool for change.

RYERSON FREE PRESS JULY 2010

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INDIE ARTIST FULFILLING LIFELONG PASSION THROUGH MUSIC

Dan Mangan makes it on the 2010 Polaris Short List of best Canadian albums

By Michael Chu CANADIANS HAVE ALWAYS appreciated two things: a light sense of humour and Canadian folk-pop. And there’s no indie-folk artist who has been able to blend these two attributes together more eloquently than the current indie-music darling named Dan Mangan. While his tracks run deep and dark at times, Mangan ably retains a positive semblance – in one way or another.

“Though I’ve been known to make somewhat dramatic music at times,” says Mangan. “I’m a pretty easy going person.”

Clearly evident in one of his recent videos, Robots, the lyrical content runs deep, but the video – where two rival gangs duke it out using robots, only to harmoniously come together – can’t help but make a viewer laugh, or at least share a grin.

“I do like to infuse the heaviness with humour...Sometimes it’s noticed and sometimes it’s not,” says Mangan. “It’s interesting how lyrics bring out all kinds of different reactions,” he said.

Originally hailing from Vancouver, Mangan has come a long way since his beginnings in his high school band and the emerging west-coast indie music scene.

“I had pipe-dreams of a legitimate career in music, but at the point it was just messing around with friends,” says Mangan. “I learned to create music as opposed to just mimicking it and it took a long time to feel any sense of confidence with it.”

His recent album, Nice, Nice Very Nice released in 2009, has garnered significant critical accolades, just recently, making the 2010 Polaris Short List of best Canadian albums, voted upon by Canada’s most reputable music critics.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have a really supportive and dedicated fanbase in the last number of years,” says Mangan.

“I’ve never enjoyed the pedestal’ing that occurs with the audience/performer relationship,” adds Mangan, which has ultimately directed Mangan to appreciate each and every individual making time in their schedule and parting with their hard-earned money, to attend his shows.

Undoubtedly, Mangan’s humble approach has translated into rabid fans not only in Canada, but also in the UK, Australia and the United States.

Magnan has just recently affiliated himself with famed indie label Arts & Crafts – home to Feist, Zeus and Broken Social Scene – and his album will be released in the United States this summer, accompanied by a tour of over seventeen major American cities.

While Mangan missed this year’s NXNE festival because he was on tour in the UK (including a gig at Glastonbury Festival), Mangan is energized to play the Canadian music festival circuit, starting with the Mariposa Folk Festival in July in Orillia.

Mangan will continue to tour in support of his latest release, and he has no intentions of stopping. His appreciation to be able to do what he is so passionate about, and talented in, is what motivates him and reminds him that it’s his fans who brought him to where he is today.

“It’s important to find the right people in every town along the way,” says Mangan. “Each town has good people in it.”

In the next 10 years, Mangan says he would like to continue evolving his sound. “I’d like to continue to put out albums under a variety of outlets,” says Mangan. “I like the idea of having the solo career flank a myriad of side projects and inter-disciplinary musical endeavours.”

He adds, “I also want to keep travelling and see new places. I want to add sweat to the walls of the world’s best theatres.”

Already having the makings of a long-lasting music career, Mangan is enjoying the ride and appreciating each step of his ambitious journey. He seems to be fulfilling his lifelong passion – to engulf himself in music.

“As a kid it was a fantasy. As an adult it’s just become an excuse for my obsessiveness,” says Mangan. “I have a ridiculous amount of enthusiasm and ambition inside of me and it has to go somewhere. There may come a time when it’s not music, but for now, it certainly is.”

FRIENDSWITHYOU SPREADS THE HAPPINESS VIRUS

MARK FAST BRINGS THE BEAUTY OF THE ROSE TO LUMINATO

By Lian Novak

MARK FAST IS a 29-year-old, Winnipeg-born, London-based knitwear designer who, in a few short years has become an international success. In 2008, he completed his Master’s at Central Saint Martins in London England (he did his B.A. there as well), started his eponymous line a year later and since then has caused a whole flurry of commotion in the fashion world. He famously refused to lend Lady Gaga his clothes, has used plus-size models in many of his fashion shows, has collaborated with Top Shop and has also created a lower-priced diffusion line called Faster.

For his Luminato, Lancômecommissioned, installation, “The Ascension of Beauty,” Frost delicately hung giant white, knotted ropes from the ceiling throughout the Allen Lambert Galleria at Brookfield Place. These giant, hanging ropes remind him, he has said, of the knitting loops he makes when weaving his creations on his knitting machine. The spectator is taken on a journey from the raw beginning through to the finished product: a beautiful red dress with Fast’s signature tight cobwebbydetailed bodice.

Mark Fast designed this red dress for Lancôme’s seventy-fifth

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anniversary. He made it out of lycra, viscose and Swarovski elements. “The knitwear I have created is symbolic of the elegant structure of the rose and I have derived my inspiration from its delicate confidence,” explained Frost. “Its [the rose’s] layers extend off the body emulating the delicate petals held together by the stem.

The exhibition will encompass a rope structure that represents the emotion the Lancôme woman evokes. In my mind and my design, she encompasses the whole space and she is an inspiration to all people who behold her,” said Frost.

“Mark Fast’s work transcends the boundaries between art, fashion and beauty,” enthused Luminato CEO Janice Price. “Each year at Luminato, we aim to blur the lines between artistic genres by presenting unique collaborations and multidisciplinary art. Fast’s unique blend of fashion creation and sculptural installation is a perfect match for the Festival,” said Price.

Fast’s collaboration with Lancôme also produced a fuschiacoloured lipstick called “Fast Kisses.” A far cry from a traditional knitwear designer, Mark’s sexy, feminine and body-conscious designs are sure to keep Mark on the fast track to international stardom.

RYERSONFREEPRESS.CA

By Roop Gill

NINE-YEAR-OLD TWINS CLAIRE and Emily push at a low-hanging balloon with green polka dots. They giggle hard as their father pushes the ball back at them, with less than half the effort. The girls get ready to face the balloon coming in their direction and swing it back with full force.

They are at the Wish Come True Festival. Like them, many other families are enjoying the Rainbow City installations at Queen’s Park on this Father’s Day weekend. As a part of the Luminato festival, FriendsWithYou, a Miami based art collective, has put up life size installations in Queen’s Park for the weekend. The installations include giant bounce houses, totems and inflatable characters, led by Rainbow King, Luminato’s 2010 festival mascot. Mist fountains sparkle over this wonderland.

The twins’ mother, Kathy Reeves keeps an eye on the girls as she comments on the set up, “It is very whimsical. I used to pass by here for work and I have seen them put the pieces together. The final product is so visually pleasing.”

FriendsWithYou produces art work with the purpose of creating an immersive experience that encourages interaction through play to change the current state of a person’s emotion to ‘happy.’ Xavier Burt, an ‘ambassador of friendship’ for FriendsWithYou says they want their art installations which they take to different cities to represent the ‘happiness brand.’ He doesn’t seem to find the business of selling happiness ironic in the slightest.

Burt explains, “Happiness is always inside you; you just have to find it.” And according to him, FriendsWithYou helps you reach that stage with the help of their visual art, interactive art, animation and music to create a complete experience. “We have sprinkled a happy virus over this place which will be the picketing line for G20 next weekend,” he said hopefully.

FriendsWithYou have also tries to make their mission statement accessible through their products and art pieces. Even though their paintings sell for thousands, a smileyface pin costs a dollar and instantly emits a happy aura. Bouncing in the play house is absolutely free, and so is standing under the mist or taking a picture in front of giant inflatable mushrooms.

FriendsWithYou offers this interactive experience for people all ages, but today it is mostly kids who are bouncing around the inflatable castle.

“This is the first time a majority of the demographic at an installation has been kids,” says Burt.

“We usually get mostly adults at our projects.” In fact, Luminato’s creative director, Chris Lorway, bounced in a bounce house in Miami while scoping for art for this year’s festival. He enjoyed the experience so much that he invited FriendsWithYou to participate in Luminato. Not only did FriendsWithYou create installations at this year’s festival, but they also supplied other venues in the city with their artwork.

FriendsWithYou have a pop-up

shop at the Magic Pony store and a painting exhibition at Narwhal Art Projects, both on Queen Street West and co-owned by Kristin Weckworth and Steve Cober, who are close friends with FriendsWithYou. Magic Pony is a gallery and a business that collaborates with and showcases international artists who mix fine art, commercial art and ‘fun’ art. This is the first time in four years that the Narwhal gallery has shown FriendsWithYou paintings in their gallery. Luminato or no Luminato, Weckworth has always made it a point of having FriendsWithYou presence at her galleries. “They were one of the three artists that inspired me to start up the Magic Pony in 2002,” she explained.

Weckworth contacted the FriendsWithYou duo, Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III when their projects were new. Since then, Weckworth and FriendsWithYou have developed a friendship and infused the Toronto art scene with FriendsWithYou signature characters.

When they decided to come to Toronto for Luminato, Weckworth was excited to have them. “I think they felt like they had a home away from home in Toronto because of Narwhal and Magic Pony,” she said.

After Borkson and Sandoval met with Torontonians during the Luminato Festival, the duo will be busy creating works for another city – this time for Art Basel in the winter in Miami - where they will parade their larger than life installations, and try to bring happiness along the way.

REVIEWS

BOOK

ART

Julie Devaney speaks up about health care in her forthcoming book

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ulie Devaney has so much to say about the Canadian health care system that she based her entire master’s thesis in critical disability studies on the topic. She then turned her views and her experiences into a play, My Leaky Body, which she has since performed in over 30 venues. To top it all off, she has a book being published in spring 2011 about the ups and many downs of navigating the health care system as a young woman with Crohn’s disease.

“There’s a massive disconnect right now between the way that we socially think it’s appropriate to behave with other people...and what happens in the health care system,” Devaney says. “When we’re in the most vulnerable situation of our lives, we’re in a place that’s completely run by hierarchy — where we have limited ability to determine what’s going to happen with our bodies.”

It wasn’t just one bad experience that spurred Devaney to action. It was many, she says, “It was just over the course of being chronically ill through my twenties and having a number of really traumatic moments.”

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. Devaney explains that when she was originally diagnosed, she was told she had ulcerative colitis—a ‘twin’ disease. With ulcerative colitis, the cure is to remove the entire colon. But when her body wasn’t responding to medication after a year and a half (which means that she’d take a medication and become so sick she’d have to be hospitalized), her whole colon was removed. “That didn’t cure me and since then, I’ve been re-diagnosed with Crohn’s disease,” Devaney explained.

Devaney chose to create a play because she says she thinks it’s really powerful when people can see things “off the page.” Devaney says that her play takes her audience to over packed emergency rooms, surgeries and on her journey to Mexico before her big surgery.

“It’s really about the politics of health care in terms of the condition of the health care system, the way that health care professionals treat patients and my own desire for change,” Devaney says.

While the early stages of My Leaky Body were based on her masters degree thesis, she says that the play has changed since then — it now has more moments that are light and comedic. “At the time... it was important not just to talk about health policy and disability as some kind of bureaucratic distraction, [but instead acknowledge] that it actually [has to do with] real, embodied people.”

My Leaky Body, the book, is made up of the writing that she did six years ago when she was travelling, performing for health care professionals and running workshops. Her workshops are a way for her to bring her activism into health care settings in a way that is accessible and tangible for health care professionals.

One of the techniques that she uses in her workshop is called a “mock rectal exam,” which she says is based on numerous experiences with health care professionals being very insensitive. She enlists the help of two volunteers: one who dons a gown and reads aloud what the experience felt like in the body while the other (acting as the doctor) puts on a glove.

“It really is... amazing and hilarious to have discussions about healthcare...It really brings out issues around power, consent and [the] physicality of what’s happening,” says Devaney enthusiastically.

“One of my biggest critiques of health care is how health care professionals are forced to distance themselves from their own experiences,” she says. “I think that’s what creates some of the most horrible dynamics for patients—when we have a fully disembodied professional talking to us or touching us,” says Devaney.

Nowadays, Devaney’s health is a completely different story. “I’m incredibly healthy,” she says. “I don’t even take medication.” Devaney says that these experiences have changed both her and the way that she lives her life. Instead of putting in 12-hour days like she used to, she is now less busy and organizes her life around her health.

“It has fundamentally changed the way I live my life and it’s actually been a good thing. I wouldn’t have been able to write so much if I hadn’t been so sick. If none of this had happened, I wouldn’t have a career as a writer and a performer so that’s pretty big.”—Vanessa Santilli For more information on Julie Devaney, visit her website at www.myleakybody.com.

GARCIA PHOTO: NICK NURSE

Strange Magic

by Jason Garcia

W

hat question does one ask any artist when trying to interpret the meaning of their work?

Why do you do what you do? Why do you write novels, create music, or dance? The answer was simple, yet thought provoking as painter Jason Garcia answered this question, saying, “To create a space that didn’t exist before.”

Garcia’s answer reflects the true heart of an artist, one that creates for the sake of creating as opposed to any pre-defined notion of an end result. This theme is quite evident in his first solo show at Toronto’s Meta Gallery, entitled, Strange Magic, which ran from June 4 to July 4, 2010.

From the outset it is evident that Garcia is playing with themes of human and animal instinct and where the two marry under the concept of therianthropy (the metamorphosis of humans into animals). Strange Magic also includes elements of mechanics, nature and fantasy with a prevalent element of both natural and geometric design.

To witness the series of paintings is to understand that Garcia has created a personal depiction of his inner self in his paintings that force the viewer to interpret them. One has the desire to label the random identifiable imagery into a cohesive concept, however this becomes difficult when the artist himself creates from an organic inner space that dictates what is to be painted.

It is a reversed process of inspiration.

Garcia explains, “When I first started exploring the concept, human hands and canine jaws began to appear from an articulated abstract geometric background. It was not a relationship that I had planned on painting or consciously made the decision to paint from the onset. It was something that was new, fresh and not completely understood within the content of my work.” In essence, his subconscious self is the source of his inspiration.

He goes on to say, “Most of the time, a painting and the complete meaning and reason for making one reveals itself to me over time.”

With some distance in place after the creation of Strange Magic, Garcia can now survey his work and garner some meaning from it, like the idea that there exists an inner beast within all of us. He explains, “It (the beast) retains a place and purpose without the necessity of a definitive distinction of good or evil.”

In short, Garcia is pleased

with the outcome of the series but admits that in the creation phase of pieces for this showing he was already envisioning his next body of work. “I am really looking forward to getting back into the studio to explore new ideas that I have had the opportunity to realize because of this exhibition,” explains Garcia.

The relationship between Garcia and Meta Gallery happened as a matter of chance, when Garcia met Meta director Jody Polishchuk in Japan in 2002 and the two got the opportunity to witness their artistic ventures over time. Some of Garcia’s associates and peers are also represented by Meta, so it was somewhat natural for Polischuck to invite Garcia to show at his gallery.

The result is an interesting collection of related, dream-like vignettes of acrylic and oil on large, looming canvases.

As impetus to become a more seasoned artist, Garcia cites some of the breakthroughs that the creation of this series has granted to him, “completing the series served as a vehicle to delve deeper in the conceptual behavioral relativity of light and space within the play between abstraction and realism more than I have previously experienced in my work,” he said.

As an artist and quite likely as an individual, he has experienced what we all might strive for: growth.

It struck me that Garcia, a graduate of UCLA’s fine arts program was a natural artist, one that is not afraid to push the boundaries of concept or method in his painting. He has exhibited his art all over the world including Vancouver, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Los Angeles and now in Toronto and still seems to emanate an air of purity in approach to his work. His participation in live art shows is testament to his natural methodology and the benefit that spontaneity has during these events as he reasons, “Everything is a resource that is open to interpretation.”

So when asked about ‘painter’s block,’ his reply belies any lack of confidence for subject or content.

“That’s only a bedtime story that most likely has nothing to do with painting,” he said. Meanwhile his fans anxiously await the next series of paintings plucked from Garcia’s endless planetary-like soup of subconscious inspiration.—Nick Nurse For more information on Jason Garcia visit: Jgaricialive.com. To learn more about Meta Gallery see: Metagallery.com.

RYERSON FREE PRESS JULY 2010

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WORLDWIDE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

JAZZ

The Jazz Festival lifted the spirit of the city during G20 weekend

Two docs deliver intriguing ideas about life without the almighty dollar

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t takes a bit of creativity in order to get the most out of life and no two documentary films are better at showing this than No Pain, No Gain (Pas de pain, pas de gain) and Surfing the Waste: A Musical Documentary About Dumpster Diving which both screened at the World Wide Short Film Festival. Dumpster Diving, examines the back alleys of Montreal where a group of university graduates dig through grocery store and restaurant food dumpsters in order to salvage edible unwanted produce. They are so resourceful that they make fruit smoothies in a bicycle-operated blender and healthy vegetable stir fries from dumpster hunts. Often times, as their argument goes, because the produce has a bruise or two or a scrape here or there, the supermarkets toss them. It is this group’s philosophy to rescue it. This small movement of waste not want nottists is a complete way of living. It is a commentary meant to demonstrate the dangers of a society living in excess.

Similar to the plight of excessive living in North American society, No Pain No Gain addresses this topic further with Denis Manzano who gets by on a daily basis without using money. While there are no musical acts or choreographed dance numbers in this story, Manazano who trades goods in return for more goods, is just as entertaining. He fixes things and in return his laundry is done. He trades a record album for a ring; a candle buys him a hot dog; and in return for his handyman skills at a retired woman’s house; and his socks are darned. It leaves one wondering why he is driven not to conform. It leaves questions begging to be answered, Why does he do it? Is this a dubious social experiment of his making where we see only what he wants us to see? How will Denis Manzano succumb to the evils of the almighty dollar? If we have, why hasn’t he?—Angela Walcott

Over the Fence wins Deluxe Award for Best Live Action Short

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he week-long Worldwide Short Film Festival hosted by the Canadian Film Centre came to a close on June 6 with the announcement of the $2,500 Deluxe Award for Best Live Action Short. The award went to director Hamy Ramezan of Finland for Over the Fence (Viiko Ennen Vappua). Ramezan originally entered a Screenplay Competition in Finland for up-and-coming filmmakers. Ramezan wrote the screenplay for Over the Fence with Ilmari Aho. With this award for directing, Ramezan’s movie is now eligible for the Academy Awards.

Over the Fence tells the story of young Tomi who is driven to protect his little sister at all costs. This touching story documents his inner struggles; role reversals and his desire to shelter the defenseless from negative forces. Meanwhile the irresponsibility of their absent mother figure and the ill-effects of her wild parties form obstacles for the characters. The possibility that Tomi’s little sister will not overcome these obstacles because of teenaged distractions are things that Tomi must confront as he strives to keep his sister on the straight path to ensure she’ll be a successful athlete. The question remains – is vicarious living the answer to fulfilling dreams?

With a running time of 30 minutes, Ilmari Aho, the screenwriter for Over the Fence says it was hard to tell the story because he had to make the film short. Aho says that if he had 60 minutes to tell the story, “I would have added more character development to those characters of which we saw only a glimpse.” He would focus more on the family and in particular more on the mentor in the film.

“Tomi’s character is passive,” says Aho. “He has no time for himself.”

The writer admits that the challenge with short films is to make characters as whole as possible. He says that European shorts typically don’t have endings. With the ‘shorter is better’ catch phrase dominating the WSFF, Aho says “[it is a] challenge to make characters as whole as possible.” “There is no time for characters to have their own tone.” —Angela Walcott

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RYERSONFREEPRESS.CA

M

any Toronto city dwellers convened at the busy intersection of Yonge and Dundas Square, but it will be a day like no other. People didn’t gather to watch the latest street performers— the beat boxers or break dancers—they gathered to see a performer named Macy…Grammy awardwinning Macy Gray that is.

Several descriptive adjectives spring to mind when you think about a live performance by Gray: soothing, tranquil and satisfying. Gray’s free performance at this year’s Toronto Jazz Festival was a special highlight for festival-goers, but this was not the first time that Gray serenaded Toronto fans. She was one of the main attractions at a free downtown concert two years ago and she sang at the opening of the Holt Renfrew Holiday Window ceremony with legendary Patti Labelle in front of the Bloor Street store.

With her richly-toned voice, Macy Gray first burst onto the music scene with her debut album release, On How Life Is, with her hit single “I Try” in 1999. Gray has received two Grammy awards, two MTV awards and she has sold 15 million albums.

Her latest album, The Sellout, has just been released a single called “Beauty in the World” including collaborations with Bobby Brown and Matt Sorum.

After disappointing sales with her second album The Id, Gray went back to the recording studio and worked on her latest album The Sellout.

Joining Macy on stage this year at the Jazz Festival was singer Chaka Khan. When Khan was just 11 years old, she formed her very first singing group.

From there, she went on to join local Chicago group Rufus, producing many gold and platinum albums.

Khan’s career has traversed many genres including R&B, funk, soul and jazz; and she has collaborated with Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones and Barbra Streisand.

“It took lots of negotiating and we had to be extra careful with budgeting,” said Toronto Jazz Festival’s new artistic director, Josh Grossman. “The goal is to brand the festival with ‘freebies.’ Jazz can mean a lot of things; it shows (both) the intellectual and fun side of things too,” explained Grossman.

Quebéc-based acoustic jazz trio, The Lost Fingers, opened the street party with their 1980s Django-inspired renditions of songs such as “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi, “You Shook Me All Night Long” by ACDC, “Touch Me” by Samantha Fox, “Pump Up The Jam” by Technotronics and “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, as well a few standards of the gypsy jazz repertoire.

Although the Jazz Festival is not making money from their free performances, they serve as an educational tool as well. Several crash courses on jazz appreciation across the city have been added to the list of freebies on offer. Grossman brings a younger, fresher, more diverse perspective to the festival as evidenced in this year’s line-up including hip hop artists The Roots and jazz singer and actor Harry Connick Jr. When The Roots took to the stage at 9 pm on June 29, the traditional TD Toronto Jazz Fest

suddenly transformed into an all-ages after party.

Groups of sixteen year olds milled around amongst pepper-grey haired fans who bounced up and down with excitement in the crowd.

Patient fans crowded the stage waiting for The Roots to play and when they had finished no one wanted them to stop. Emcee for the night was CityLine host Tracy Moore, who introduced the band, and reminded fans that after the G20 protests, this was a time for Toronto to enjoy some good music and celebrate with The Roots.

The Grammy award winning group The Roots, who are also popularly known as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, were promoting their 2009 release entitled How I Got Over. The title track is an anthem about the dangers of life on the streets. They also performed “Break You Off,” “The Fire,” and a lengthy version of the single “You Got Me,” which really ‘got’ the audience. Meanwhile, intricate guitar work from Kirk Douglas and sousaphone player, Tuba Gooding Junior both wowed the crowd. Adding to the club atmosphere, the band worked their way in and out of tunes sampling like a DJ on a turntable. Popular disco and rock melodies briefly found their way into their performance including “Love to Love You Baby” and Guns ‘N Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine.” Fans just couldn’t get enough of their eclectic mix of music – from hip-hop to rap and jazzy influences and even a bit of rock n’ roll, for good measure.

Grossman booked this year’s acts based on over 300 submissions from artists around the world who were interested in participating in the week-long event. Planning began as early as September of the preceding year. Grossman admitted that the G20 Summit in Toronto presented a bit of a logistics problem during the planning phase. During the G20 over 1,000 people were arrested at protests.

Grossman recalled that another challenge in planning was hotel availability. Hotels that were booked for performers were not vacant which meant organizers had to work out a ‘plan B.’ The organizers also recruited more volunteers and told the media that all of the Jazz Festival performances, including the Mainstage performances, would take place outside the security zone where delegates would be stationed. Grossman and his team also used social networking sites including Facebook and a blog, in order to inform jazz fans that their event would go on as planned.

It seems the Toronto Jazz Festival could not have happened a more appropriate time for their festival. For a city that had been disrupted by so much chaos as a result of the Summit; where tempers flared – and where violence and rage engulfed the city --people needed a release. They needed a time to relax and enjoy the city. They needed something to revel in, lift their spirits and enjoy the sights and sounds of a city reeling from fear. If Macy Gray and other performers jazzing up the streets is all it takes to cheer up the city, then the Jazz Festival was the greatest success of the weekend.—Angela Walcott PHOTO: ANIL MOHABIR/FLICKR

MUTEK FESTIVAL Not just party music

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ach year in early June throngs of electronic music fans descend upon Montreal for the Mutek festival - a unique program of experimental music and visual art installations. This year the festival delivered a high quality program that techno aficionados have come to expect. Many excellent genre-crossing acts performed and, despite relentless rain, attendees revelled in danceable music and learned about exciting new musical groups from North America and Europe.

Half-way into the week long festival, Mutek’s Friday night showcase offered up two acts that remain relatively under the radar but are worthy of more attention.

Christina Sealey and Richard Oddie make up the dark electro-pop duo Orphx. In their mid-thirties, they live in the Hamilton area and play in Toronto, Montreal and Europe whenever they get the chance. Sealey is a talented painter and Oddie is a university teacher, specializing in social science, geography and politics. The duo got to know each other well while producing many of their 20-plus record catalogue from which they perform songs at their live gigs.

The Orphx show at Mutek included material from the group’s latest EPs (Blacklight and Division) that came out on the hard techno label Sonic Groove of New York. Oddie said that their intention at Mutek was “to give people a sense of our different styles and influences.” Their set revealed their flare for combining of techno and house, electro and dub.

I asked Oddie about their creative process: “We make music with a lot of tension.

It’s music with darker feelings. We explore [those feelings] and work through them,” says Oddie. Their music is dark and industrial and on one of their records Orphx explored places they liked in their city. “We used sounds from the city [of Hamilton]. I suppose [the city] does shape our music a lot,” says Oddie. “[Hamilton] is a city that has struggled with poverty and the decline of the steel industry,” he explains. “There are feelings that come with that – [both] negative [ones] with social problems and positive [ones] as people try to... recreate themselves,” says Oddie.

Oddie figures that their music may be paralleled by living in the post-industrial environment, but he reflectively adds, “Perhaps we mirror [our environment] self-consciously.”

“We like Detroit techno – [which was borne out of ] similar conditions. [It’s] futuristic but relatively dark music. [Detroit techno artists] were shaped by what was going on in their city.”

With song titles like Burning Flags and Simulacrum one wonders what inspires Orphx thematically. “A lot of it is in response to things I’m reading, or things I hear about in the news,” says Oddie. “Other times [a song title] is in reference to something I am reading, or a psychological concept,” Oddie says.

He is most excited about artists making music on the fringes of techno. “They have a concept, and psychological and emotional weight to their music. It’s not just party music.

There’s something else going on and for me that is going back to the origins of techno. The [early] material from Detroit had a lot of emotional weight and depth to it. I like the idea of taking techno seriously,” explains Oddie.

Orphx started out making music in the early 1990s and they were heavily influenced

by Japanese ‘noise’ and industrial music. Since then they’ve connected with a small but global audience of music fans, record labels and galleries who enjoy their sound. “More recently we’ve been doing techno music more overtly... and foregrounding that structure and we seem to be reaching a new audience which is exciting,” says Oddie.

“It’s hard to get shows [in Hamilton] unless you put a lot of effort in. In Toronto there is a techno scene – and we’d like to play some of those gigs,” says Oddie. For now, Mutek was a real treat for them. “Mutek is one of the rare exciting places to play,” says Oddie.

Following Orphx, Actress was next on the Mutek bill performing an Ableton Live set that included sound effects and samples. Darren Cunningham (a.k.a. Actress) says he writes all of his tracks visually – “I want to create a visual experience in the sound and generate a mood so I can immerse people in the texture of the sound.”

When I interviewed Cunningham at Mutek about the origins of his creative process, he told me he was once a footballer for West Bromwich Albion in London, but had to stop playing at the age of 19 because of an injury. When he lost his dream to be a footballer, he says he was heartbroken. “It was a devastating time.” However he says, “The upside of that is that I’ve always had music – Even when I was playing football I was dabbling in music.”

“What you’re hearing in my music is losing a dream that I worked hard to achieve,” explains Actress. “I put all of that into my music. My music is now an expression of that,” he says.

Actress finds some similarities between his former career and his new one. “To be a sports person and musician you have to be a hundred per cent devoted to your art. The skills I put into my tracks are similar to the level of devotion I would put into playing football in the past,” he says. Today he is a music producer and the owner of the Brixton based record label Werk Discs.

Asked why he chose the name Actress, he explains, “An actress performs a role... and creates a persona for that part. So I re-contextualize that idea within my music.” Judging by his stage presence at his Mutek performance, which was very low-key and authentic, acting may be something that Cunningham jokes about, but never entertains seriously.

Most Mutek attendees would probably be inclined to agree with Actress when he said after his show, “It’s a great program they have in Montreal...Mutek was brilliant and well-organized.” If you’ve never attended Mutek festival, you’re advised to book it into your calendar early for next year. See you on the dance floor! —Amanda Connon-Unda

MUTEK PHOTO: AMANDA CONNON-UNDA

MOVEMENT FESTIVAL Plastikman Live adds visual intrigue to the Movement Festival

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or one weekend at the end of May, Detroit is transformed into the place to be for all techno music fans and globe-trotting industry workers who come from as far as Europe to party, celebrate the global techno subculture and make business connections.

This year marked the tenth anniversary of Movement Festival, Detroit’s annual electronic music festival and to celebrate, they hosted a special live headliner - a Canadian – the techno icon Plastikman, a.k.a. Windsor born Richie Hawtin.

The Plastikman Live show was highly-anticipated. It was received by an enthusiastic crowd in Heart Plaza with thousands of people dancing. Countless tweets went out over the course of the three-day event, with lots of praise for the Plastikman Live show. “The Plastikman show is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed,” tweeted Montreal hip-hop DJ, A-trak, who also performed at the festival.

During the Movement Festival, Toronto film maker Peter Mettler - renowned for his films such as Petropolis (2010) and Gambling, Gods and LSD (2000) - filmed the momentous Plastikman Live show. (No word yet on where the film will appear.)

The Plastikman Live show is an audio-visual showcase that integrates visual representations of elements of the songs. Although audio-visual technicians ensure the system is up and running during the show, Plastikman’s cues on stage trigger variations in the visuals. He has full control of the audio visual system as he performs. Spread over several large LCD panels, the show features unique visuals for each of Plastikman’s popular tracks and the crowd watches as the visuals are synched perfectly with the music – changing dynamically with each song.

Hawtin and the M-nus record label team – a crew of about 15 people - are currently almost half way through their 15-date Plastikman Live tour to music festivals and large venues in North America and Europe.

M-nus is working with Derivative, a Toronto company that specializes in live visual architecture. Derivative has worked with many popular artists and corporate clients, including the band Rush for their 2004 tour, the architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron for the Prada store in Tokyo and film giant Disney in Los Angeles.

In the months that led up to the first Plastikman Live show in Mannheim on March 27, 2010, M-nus art director and video director Ali Demirel worked with the Derivative team and used their Touch Designer software. They tested the show and did many rehearsals to work out the kinks. “However, it’s a work in progress that we still work on to perfect the show,” explains Demirel.

Detroit has a special significance for Hawtin, since he grew up across the river in Windsor. Detroit was the birthplace of a burgeoning techno sound and it was where he found his largest audience in the early years of his DJ career.

Plastikman Live has evolved considerably since the show’s first incarnations. Back in 2004, Plastikman Live did a show during the Mutek electronic and digital arts festival in Montreal. Although that show received mixed reviews, since then things have become easier because of hardware and software developments. “The visual software TouchDesigner that we use for the show is much more flexible and stable. Now we can perform with a laptop whereas [in 2004] we had to build a huge custom computer,” explains Demirel. Demirel adds that developments in LED technology have made it possible to create an interesting visual stage design. Plus, the communication possibilities between the visual and music software, such as Ableton Live with Max4Live, make it possible for the visuals to be fully integrated into Richie Hawtin’s audio set.

Demirel and Hawtin have been working together for nearly six years. Demirel says that he and Hawtin already had similar tastes in visuals before they met, but together developed their artistic style further over time. “We also learned a lot about technically realizing more advanced shows and performing for different types of environments and setups,” explains Demirel.

To gain a better understanding of how live visuals have evolved over time, following the history and evolution of the Plastikman Live show is a good start. “My first design didn’t have any integration with [Richie’s] setup,” says Demirel. “I was feeling his musical direction and performing everything manually. I didn’t even use any live visual software... But through the years I discovered what I needed for synchronizing our performance and I [incorporated] some new tools,” says Demirel. By now, “with Derivative’s TouchDesigner, everything is designed so perfectly in sync to Richie Hawtin’s performance,” explains Demirel, “I don’t even touch a button!”

Over time, Demirel has also learned a few surprising things about the techno icon, Plastikman. “I would have called myself one of the most perfectionistic people until I experienced working with [Richie Hawtin]!” says Demirel. “He never gets tired and never rests, and he adds more elements and details to the project even when you think it [is] enough!” But, he adds, “ [Hawtin] is open to collaborating with each person [each from different fields] involved in the project and [he is] capable of giving creative feedback and directions to all of them.”

In the Plastikman Live show the artistic creation is more important than the personalities. The live show is constructed in a way that obscures Plastikman behind the visual screen, rather than showcasing him in the normal pop music icon fashion. Demirel says, “This show is not about a star personality... We don’t want the audience to come there to see the person who makes the music, but rather we want them to experience his audio-visual artistic creation.”—Amanda Connon-Unda

RYERSON FREE PRESS JULY 2010

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