deconstructing the master narrative (/l r+ 0 J < 0 r+ ...... 0 :::s 0 -h (") ...... < ...... r--' r--' ...... CY ([) J r+ ...... ([) (/l (") J ([) 0 r+ ([) (/l Ul 0 (") ...... C r--' (") 0 :::s r+ J 0 r--' Human Rights Specialty Issue 8-TRACK .Sugar Big Ship of STUDENTREVOLT Fools
Kevin
!Chris Bolster 1 Icode will serve as a starting point for those who are untomiliar to the discussionand for Editor In Chief those who are familiar. a forum
!Don Wright I I the television to see what is happening all over the world In disputes over land and title, they're violent. and there Is already enough suffering In the world."
John Wickstrom Entertainment Editor Shawn Martens Paul Becker Keith Brandsmo Ron Dart Ellen Dixon Talitha Duyzer Pat Harris Christine Kokoine Lolita Cheryl Major Shawn Martens Nico Pourfallah Douglas Quan (CUP) Sandy Weipert-Spieler Don Wright Paul West Jahon Zaozirny (CUP) he Cascade. Ix Issues per semester, published wice per month, the Cascade omes out on WednesdaysIn the foll nd winter semesters.The Cascade so member of the Canadian Univerlty Press,o notional network of 52 ollege and universitypapers. CUP olicy Is to oppose sexism,racism. omophobio and other oppressive rejudlces. Subscriptionsore S20 per ear. TheCascade office islocated n building A, near the Student ounge. otters to the Editor pollcy. etter length should be kept under words. Sadly,if lettersexceed this imlt they will be abruptly ended with /. Letters that hove been subected to the uncompromising ockslosh will be posted in the Cosode office and the public will be ble to view them during office ours. he deadline for submissions is ednesday noon. Submissionson lskor email preferred, but paper Is twoys good. The Cascade office Is ocintosh based, so email attochen1sneed to be sent as text files. ome holds for disk submissions. All etters must Include your name and tudent number, The Cascade will onslderpublishing~anonymous·tatersonly If circumstances ore extenu• ting. l5Clalmer. e opinions and values expressedin rttclesfeatured In the Cascade, ore hose of the writersand do not nee~ ssorily represent the opinions and clues of the editorial staff or serve s o phllosoph of the Cascade.
He said the decision recognized the competing interests of FirstNations and the Crown. but provides an impetus to negotiate, "because we are all here to stay."
master narrative
The alternatives, going to court or resorting to violent confrontation , are not reasonable solutionssoysRichardson: "All you have to do is turn on VMM Communications #207-7028-120 Street. Surrey, B.C. V3W 3M8 Tel: (604) 543-5055 Fax: (604) 543-5928 Cell: (604) 807-5767 Pgr: (604) 258-9943
Following several questions from the floor, the audience was treated to a meal of smoked and dried salmon, Lecture organizer Patricia Kelly encouraged everyone to think about the treaty process. talk It over with others, and watch for future lectures on the treaty and other First Nations issuesin the new year.
Richardson said the biggest challenge is educating people about the situation today. so that everyone is comfortable with what's happening, something he Is looking forward to seeing.
Just a reminder, the Status of Women and the Women's Center are presenting Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on Friday, December 4 at 4:30pm on the steps at the front of the university.ThisIsa candlelight memorial service for the 14 women killed at the L'ecole Polytechnlque on December 6, 1989. Please attend and ' and I looked to the horizon to see the sun fading low and thought.. twilight Is upon us." for furthered thought. Thisedition will specifically address issuesof justice and human rights at home and T abroad. it will center on the his issue of The Cascade Is treatment of our own minoridedicated to those who strive for human rights. It isa special edition, with the main theme dealing with the many questions of human rights. Although the specific issuesthat this edition will address are far from being a exclusive perspective. I hope that this Costies. First Nations and Asian immigrants it will also address gender issues and violence against women. Abroad, it will introduce the conflict between trade and aid and Canada's role as a player on the stage of International relations.
FSA, UCFY Fewer than 25 people turned out to hear Treaty Commissioner Miles Richardson give a lecture on the treaty process now underway in BritishColumbia at the UniversityCollege of the Fraser Valley. on Friday. Richardson. appointed to lead the commission just the week before. coiled the land question in BC one of the '' most crucial and critical lssuesof our time, N and said the treaty process has generated "the most focused debate since contact." "The question Is no longer. 'when are we going to addressthis land issue·,but how,· said Richardson. "We now have the tools in front of us,so let's make it work."
The process hos sixidentifiable stages, says Richardson, beginning with a First Nation statement of intent that includes information on who they are as a nation. their territory and governing structure. and contact names. The second stage is a readiness to negotiate; resources and consultative processes must be in place. The third stage involves negotiating what isto be negotiated. and the fourth stage gets into the "nltty gritty" of land. resources.and governing structure. At stage five the lawyers get involved and stage six is implementation. Richardson said the Treaty Commission is not a party to
Richardsontraced the current process to a historic meeting In September 1992,when First Nations, BritishColumbia, and Canada agreed to negotiate a "new relationship," which resulted in the BCTreatyCommission. One year later the Commission started acceptIng letters of intent from First Na ti on s "The process is not perfect, but our purpose Isto Improve it." said Richardson, who noted that 51 notions were Involved in 46 "negotiating tables. representing 70 percent of the aboriginal population.
~----=-,-,-~-----
Table of Contents Editorial Ideas & Assertions StudentUnion.» Human Rights 8-Track Soma Human Rights UDHR ~TEL: AT&T Prab Thiara Sales RepresentaHve
editorial remember these gifted women who were killed unnecessarily. I started out my piece with a quote. It was to signify the end of this semester, but it also serves a greater onyolgy. It seems that while January will bring a new year It will also signify the lossfor The Cascade. Mr. Poul F.Becker will be moving on to bigger and better things (ie. a paper with a larger circulation to spread the LazyMarxistdisease). Paul will be missed by the Cascade. In the past four years, Paul has served as Editor-InChief and a reloible journalist. He has only missed submitting on article in two editions. Tothis he JoinsNolan Webb as another honorary member of the Hook and Reel Club. You know. he hooks ya, then reels yo In Good luck for the future Poul. Remeber, be cool. stay worm. Seeyou In the new yearl C. negotiations, but is responsible for facilitating negotiations, reviewing the process. and monitoring the results. A current review of the process Is looking to incorporate the direction handed down one year ago by the Supreme Court in the Delgamuukw decision. "Delgamuukw determined that aboriginal title is a legal term that gives expression to ancient historic, hereditary aboriginal title that Is protected at the level of constitutional law," said Richardson. "Aboriginal title is a unique property interest In the land itself, not just the right to pick berries or hunt moose."
Cover
he Cascade deconstructing the RoomA226 33844 King Rd. Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 7M9 854-4529 853-4076 (fax) Email: Cascade@ucfv.bc.ca in Chief Chris Bolster Editor & Graphics Editor Destgn(prlntsavailable) Trowbridge I Advertising Sales
Many may wonder, why would the Big Chief devote a whole Issueto human rights? Quite simply put, thisCascade Is a celebration of the fiftieth year anniversaryof the Universal Declaration of Human Rightsand the twenty-fifth anniversary of Amnesty International Canada. I can only hope that thisedition will serve as a means to bring human rights to the forefront of our political dialogue and to en11g h ten those who would rather not discussthe topic.
Editor
Production
Sarah Conner Copy
!Keith Brandsma 11 colummst We·re living In a strange age. Why is it that people feel free to talk at regular •speaking volume In the library, but if I say ~hi" and carry on a conversation with a friend in the normally tomblike computer lab. people look at us In a manner that suggests we should be shot, What reality determines that one ought to be more reverent In a place filled with buzzing machines than fountains of knowledge? I would venture to say this is a great example of the evolution of history, Let me explain. After the fall of Rome, and through the middle ages, the church was the beacon for salvation. Clerics were keepers of knowledge, and they carefully wrote down the word of God in seclusion from the rest of the world. The church performed a variety of rqles for the community. and was considered a sacred place. Two events were key In shaking the authority and sanctity of the church. The Reformation called Into a question a number of pollcies of the church. and Martin Luther told Christians they could Interpret the Bible for themselves, Secondly, the Renaissance gave credence to the idea that knowledge could be found through reason. The church relied on faith to bring people knowledge, and since faith Is essentially unreasonable, the church lost status. People could read other books that conta lned knowledge. and things like books and libraries were considered sacred. liberal society emphasized one could do as one wanted, without the Influence of the church. It seems now that our gods of grace and knowledge are obsolete. Technology has replaced books and religion as our new god, and we are all eagerly following. Look at a real world example; a good portion of the money that was raised for the UCFV FutureNow" campaign was ninvested" in the computer lab. On the surface this looks good. Technology is racing ahead and we keep up. Unfortunately, buying and upgrading computers Isa terribly inefficient use of resources. Computer technology becomes obsolete so quickly, and money Is continually pored Into a pit that never seems to fill up. Yeah, I appreciate free e-mail access. and the ability to produce a good looking paper for a cheap cost. but we can do all of these things without having to dump tons of cash into computers. The computer lab shares a space In the Peter Jones Learning Centre with the library. The building Itself Is gorgeous. but do we all forget we have a universitywith a library that essentially has no books? The library is extremely underfunded, in fact, It cannot keep up with the number of Interlibrary loans. UCFV students who actually do research (without the sacred internet) are limited to the small stacks, or they have to go to UBC or SFUand pay $50 for a library card. So the library is getting the shaft in a couple of ways. As a research tool, more people are looking to the internet, so the library losesrespect as an integral part of this institution. People, then feel free to do as they please in the library, including bothering others who stillremember that books ore sacred. Meanwhile, soulless machines receive more respect than people who are trying to absorb what others in the post have written. I suspect that this Is partially because they look like televisions. appliances that all living room furniture Isfocused around.
LOL!T.--\
Ideas and Assertations
So please do me a favor. Keep your mouth shut when you are In the library, or at least pretend you have some respect for fellow students (who have some comprehension as to what studying Is). In exchange. I'll try to keep from laughing at you who hold computers to be the most sacred objects this school holds.
ence and also allowed cha!jefiristine Kokanie 11 lengers, we can not move forward as a people If we do. The greatest movement will The World Conference on the Universal Declaration of Human Rightsistaking place in Montreal on December 7,8, and 9, 1998, I am tremendously excited that I will be attending this conference. There will be a number of amazing speakers and my intention is to be a sponge, soaking up as much information as I can. I have thought so much about this event that I have dreamt about it! One of my dreams was about Prime Minister Chretien, Team Canada and the APEC team. They were protesting outside the Human Rights Conference. we happen when we are all engaged with each other and not locked up in our own closet of beliefs and desires.
RAPEas a WEAPON
Trade not Aid?
columnist
.
When I return to UCFV.I look forward to sharing my experience, I will write an article on the topic tor the Cascade and I will conduct a lecture "Theydid not send the riot squad out, they did not get the pepper out, and they did not try to hide the protesters; instead, they let them in." could hear their chants from----------inside. "HEY-HEY, HO-HO, Human Rights have got to Go". "Trade not Aid", "China stay In Tibet", "Doe-Doe-Doe Domination" and "Exploitthe People, they shouldn't be free". Of course the speakers that have been brought from Around The World were in shock of this spectacle and they did not want to hear these horrendous chants. The people at the conferon the subject. Whether or not you believe human rights ore universal, or that there should or should not be a declaration on human rights; I encourage you to come and listen. Perhaps we could dialogue on our views and learn something! Thisiswhat education is all about being engaged in a struggle to find the truth, whether universal or personal or both.
• ence reacted. They did not Keep your eyes and ears send the riot squad out. they open for the article and the did not get the pepper out lecture; it will be early In the and they did not try to hide Winter Semester. I hope to the protesters; Instead. they see you there letthem in. Once Inside,they permitted them to stay and listen to the whole confersex with
The men of your family have been qeaten or killed, your homes have been burnt or taken by intruders, your businesshas been looted an your children are away in hidIng, Any ties to freedom or sanctuary have been broken and at this moment when the worst has come the unimaginable happens, All that you have left is your body, your pride, your personal sense of security. The soldiers that killed your husbands. brothers and sons,the men that burnt your homes and looted your stores. the formidable characters that led you to push who was left of your family away to flee for a possible safe place come up from behind and destroy all that Is left. Thisstory goes back throughout history, to the legends of Viking's taking a town by force and raping and pillaging before escaping with some livestock. Unfortunately this isnot only legends, thistype of rape stilloccurs in warring countries today. Recently during the genocide in Rwanda. rape was the greatest weapon used by soldiers to control and overtake the women in targeted areas. Rape is one of the most widely used forms of violence against women and girls,yet it remains the least condemned war crime. The Crusaders in the 12th century raped women in the name of religion. In the 15th century. the so-called conquest of the Americas saw moss rape of indigenous women. Rape was a weapon ofterror used by the German army in the FirstWorld War, and a weapon of revenge used by the Soviet army in the Second World War. Some 200.000Korean women were held In sexual slavery as " comfort women" to the Japanese army during the Second World War. The armed conflict In Bangladesh In 1971 saw an estimated 200,000 women raped by Pakistani soldiers. In Peru in the early to mid1980's, rape of rural women most often Indigenous by the Peru military forces was a common tactic of terror against the Shining Path. And in March. 1994, The United Nations/Organization of American States International Civilian MissionIn Haiti reported that women were being raped In a manner which seemed to be an Integral part of political violence by civilians and the army in Haiti. Despite International laws against rape during armed conflict, very few cases of prosecution have taken place. Rape as a war crime was prosecuted for the first time during the Tokyo Tribunal. held shortly after World War II. But reports fell silent on this Issueuntil 1991,when reports of the Widespread and systematic use of rape was used as a tactic of war In the former Yugoslavia. Under the Common Article ill of the Geneva Conventions, rape isa prosecutable crime as it is a genocide, a crime against humanity. In April of 1994.rape was exceedingly common during the repression of the Tutsi peoples in Rwanda, Atleast 250,000 to 500,000 cases of rape were reported, The UN Special Rapporteur on Rwanda reported that ~rape was the rule and its absence the exception."
. . •, I • • NO COVER MON. -THURS 2509 Pauline St. Abbotsford, BC other 'exciting• ·1•c1 k cl•-.-1 .ay wee _en .. Don •t 111ake flying ho111e any more painful than it already is. Here at Westjet, your low-fare leader, we can sympathize ·with you and your traveling woes. So the least we can do is offer you a great fare on a hassle-free flight 'Cause we know you'll have your fair share of hassles when you get home. Just book by December 5, 1998 and fly up until December 17, 1998 and/or from January 5 to 10, 1999. This offer is also available for travel on December 31, 1998 and January 1, 1999! Valid Student l.D. is required. FROM $99 ONE WAYTO REGINA& SASKATOON FROM FROM $119 ONE WAYTO WINNIPEG $49 ONE WAYTO CALGARY& EDMONTON
fledgling little student association, who defiance. Students begin to feel students from joining, and continuity is Why don't we have a yearbook?
YOU CAN'T USE TAPE! And if vou video games Violates the Athletics • place it on a "non-concrete" ~all A STUDENT GROUP DIES BRIGHT HORIZON Exclusive Contract facilities will rip it down unless, of beer night Can't promote drinking • course, it is UCFV endorsed, in which Eventually, the group comes to see that Students have all voiced their support on Campus case, it seems to be allowed to stay up. they will not be able to realize their for a Gym,.. but also on those ballots, movie night legally can't charge for One of life's mysteries. hopes. They may discard them and the SUS polled students about other viewing videos aim for a smaller goal, which causes uses for this building, and a majority of movie night/popcorn sales can't So the optimistic group tries to find some to lose interest. Eventually those student wanted more student space. have food in BI01 and there is no some little place that they can call their ~o~tted 0/V'v'V\.AAA/'./VVV'V\.AAA/'vVVV'V\,AAA/'v-v-vv-v,..rv-. Student other appropriate site .•. anywhere own in order to let students know md1v1duals "E l • offices, dances you need Restauronics • • where they are at and what they're up who were XC usive contracts close student approval, can't be too loud because of to: This becomes quite a challenge, will~g to avenues for student groups to meeting classes in 8101, needs to be over by to • with many groups giving up when sacrifice th . ,, places PM when the campus closes and be faced with all the hoops they need to their generate err own funds. Places careful with those posters and banners jump throughjust to.find out WfIO precious '-"''V\..rV'./VVV'V\,AAA/'VVvvV\."-AA/'JVv""'A·"AA/'o,,..} that the when promoting it! REMEivIBER to talk to and when they finally get a tune and energy begin to fee] drained students could socialize with other -· NO TAPE!!l meeting set up, they are told that lhere and start to realize the hassle isn't students. Student groups are very forums if held in an open area like is no space available for student worth it. After all, their original ideas optimistic that soon, very soon, they the Great Hall or Roadrunner Cafe, • groups. have been ditched, or a.re unreachable. just .might get that much needed office need to contact all classes in the area And the students that follow after them space. and get their permission (provided they Some find their way to the student don't seem to really care anyway. ,can move their classes to another union where they are able to use the If UCFV seriously wants to see location) of course, it helps if you "Clubs Room" (A221) for a place to The group may opt lO push for things Student Life on this Campus, a get a P.A. system from IMS that will hold meetings at least. They may instead, and find themselves being thriving school spirit and an active and quit on you, but this is only if you decide to publish their home phone warned to get back into line. They interested alumni association, they know someone that IM.Sconsiders numbers or e-mail addresses as contact soon discover any allies they "thought" need to start supporting student groups worthy of signing for you because you points. ' they had, have somehow faded into the on campus, not killing them before can't be trusted. backgrOlmd, or have to1ally turned they can even get started. Exclusive These measures allow the group to around and adopted a new opinion. contracts close avenues for student What happened to that cute little catch grow to the point where they manage groups to generate their own funds. phrase everyone in power bas been to find some committed individuals What looked like support at one time, Not allowing student groups an office, spitting at students lately you know with great ideas and hopes for this suddenly turns into in.difference or no matter how small, stifles new the one STUDENT LIFE.
• • STUDENTS, IT JS TIME TO REVOLT! Approved Council Motions. Nov. 6th Motion to accept the proposed ex-officiojob descriptionand policy as amended,in principle. Motio11to accept the resu/Jsof the bi-election as presenied Motio11to allocate Sl50 to the APECforum. Motion to support ClllltdeKuff presenting an ADD Workshop at UCFV. Motion to set Student Union nreeti,igsfor every 111dFriday at 12:00 2:00 pm Motion to support the p11rchare of advertisedkits for Men Endi11gViolenceAgainst Wome11campaig11,not to exceed SJO. Motio11to forward S500 to tl,e Disaster Relieff u11da11dissue a challengelo a/J UCFV a11dlocal Age11ciesto meet or heat that amount. Motio11to support the 11seof our 11amewhe1treferri11gto the forum i11February/999. (ll11mw1Rights Adi>isory) Motion to accepttJ,e CISSA proposalprese,rted to cou11cilto become a "recog,,ized'club at UCFV.
s.u.s - Student UnionSociety
We come to your college, pay your tuition, buy your books and read S them, sit in your lectures, buy the tudents often criticize UCFV for '-J'v'V'-Ar,A/'VVV'v'V\./V\A/'VVV'v'V'..'V\.A/'VVVVV'v'V\./V\A/'VVV'v'V\./V\/V'VVVVV\.'V\.Ar,./V'VVV'v'V'-AAA/'v-v-vv~,,,.AAA') cafeteria food in Abby that is not not having anything for students to do. BBQ fur1draising events need to be institulion. UCFV WANTS to put • Athletics Department receives nearly as good as the food in Chwk There are no events to attend, no approved by Restauronics before they students ftrsl UCFV only exists double the amount of funding that (thank god for tht: Chet's there), buy school spirit, no school pride. There is can go ahead. After all, we are talking because of the students who attend it. the SUS does, yet only supports pop from your vending machines, pay no place to hang out, no place to meet about PROFITS here... And whatever Without students, there wouldn't be a I 00 students (we are not even IO cents for photocopies t1l8tlook like people who share common interests, no you do, don't have that BBQ anywhere UCFV. going to discuss the money from hell (when they are working that is), reason to hang around the campus. NEAR lhe cafetena or the RoadRunner vending machines, video games, pay the $12.50 library and tech fee and And once we graduate... WE ARE Cafel We c~'t encourage all those So are we to assume it is simply bingo... ), there must be some still the computer labs rarely work, and OUT OF HERE! No alumni students lmtenng about and wreaking "lip-service"? That is what sotne mistake.. a miscommunication the library has no useful books or association, no reunions, no reason to havoc wih· th th~ sanity of that one students felt after attending. perhaps.... reference material, pay the Student wonder about ol' UCFV. woman w O believes th at growling and Insurance Fee (and what the hell is yelling at s~dents is. an effective Does UCFV ONLY want students who H , that anyway and who said we need to Let us introduce yo~ to what student CuSt0mer Service ~echmquel come to sc~ool. P~Y~eir fees, do their ere s a. liSl of unfo~at~ pay it?), and for all this, we ask only groups face when trymg to organize in ••• but I digress... work, provide statistics for government rmscommwucatJon~ that effectively one thino o;der to bring about a healthy student funding, then go home? Or do they kill 3;11Y.attempts by SUS, clubs and 0 life on campus at least for their While at the Actmlles office, you find want students to believe in THIS assoc1at1o~s to foster a STUDENT SUPPORT particular group. out that your group can register there, school, get involved, and genuinelv LWEat this place: get $50 for starting up your group, and care about what happens here, andfood l'en~ing mac~ne Violates We only have one more thing to add A STUDENT GROUP IS BORN apply to host a pizza day (a set number work beside faculty and staff to make Res~urorncs Excl~s1veContract of Pizza Days is negotiated with it a better place for students to be... a selhng. pop V1olat~s the Athletics Fi:rst of all, a student group quickly Restauronics, but you still can't be place where new students WANT to Exclusive. Contract With COKE and realizes that without a point of contact where the students are.,. near the be... a place graduates fondly pop.machmes it is pretty difficult to get the word out Roadrunner Cafe) which will bring remember? selling coffee Violates Restauronics about how students can get involved. your group abou~ $150 if you manage and.the coffee bars' Exclusi~eContract Sure, there are the bulletin boards, but to sell all the p!ZZ8..Not too bad, _if Do they REALLY want our TRUE sellu~.g comp_uterJ Violates the they are so caked with notices unless you could do that once a month. But opinions, or do they just want to hear Seamx Exclusive Contract someone stops and tries to sort through considering that all student groups get the stuff they want to hear? Do they selling. disks Violates the Bookstore all of it, chances are your little poster to app!y for these, 1t works out to about really want to know our ideas, or do Excl~s1veCon~act • will be missed. Unless of course you one pLZZaday a year Yes, $150 for they prefer to stick with the way (selling an~g the bookstore sells post it on a wall. But be forewarned 365 days. they've been running things for years? v10latestheir exclusive).
If the entire non-student population arejs willing to sacrifice what little time threatened, and decide to just be a lost. they have outside of their studies, ''plain old student" and mind their own so excited about this (1 mean there are Almost every University or College IT IS TIME. THE STUDENTS OF serious committee meetings happening in this country has their own UCFV SHOULD REVOLT AND over this issue) doesn't that mean they yearbook. Why don't we? part-time jobs and fatnily life. business. But then growing pangs set in. The That seems to be the history of student STAGE AS MANY SIT INS AS ARE support student life at UCFV? Wouldn't it be great to a record of club room quickly becomes too small, groups on campus. Unless it has NECESSARY TO END THE EVIL our years here at UCFV? To look when you try to fit more tl1an8 people funding from other sources, like TIRADE OF THE EXCLUSMTY And if they do indeed support student back at fondly when we are older in there. The group begins to have student fees, or UCFV funding,, or DEAL AT UCFV! life at UCFV, doesn't that mean they and grayer? great ideas for events and services, but UCFV granted office space, you will WHY? would want to see Clubs and realizes that a lot of what they want to see groups rise up, th.en fade out, over Associations succeed in their And what about our student cards? do to better the students at UCFY costs and over again. This makes UCFV Because the entire institute is wrapped department-related extracurricular Have you ever had your card money. So they start the great think student groups are unreJiable and up in enough exclusivity deals to activities as well as lheir academics? stolen? How good are they for adventure of trying their hand at therefore, not to be taken seriously. smother and suffocateyou. l say we all identification purposes without a fundraising events. storm the deans office and demand to And what is the latest topic of the picture on them? If we have If you think this is untrUe, try to strut know why: rumor mill? Let me see if I can spread student ID cards with photos on ENOUGH up a group, and remember this article • CISSA is "forbidden" to sell it just as thick as others a.roundhere them, then we will also have the RED TAPE TO GO AROUND evezy time you hear... "You have a recycled disks. Surely this Half a million short to build the photos for a yearbook. bad history to overcome" or "Well, let's institute supports the students at 'regulation size gym'. Can you believe The group decides to have a little see bow serious your group is first" or this school, there must be some it?TI And what is the suggestion from Let's get together and produce BBQ. So how do you exactly go about "Let's wait -asemester or two before we mistake... a miscommunication the not so bright bulb on the block... ~CFV's fir~t year~ook. .If you are that? After asking around and seeing a move ahead on that." perhaps... CUT OUT THE STUDENT SPACE IN interested m getting this off th e rare BBQ on campus, the group fmds • SUS (and everyone else except nm PROPOSEDGYM BUILDING. ground, or if you have worked on a out you can go to Student Activities FL.IPSIDE Athletics) is forbidden to receive yearbook before, we especially and borrow their BBQ in order to have revenue from vending or video Excuse me!?! could use. your knowledge. If you such an event. But they quickly fmd If any of you attended the Strategic machines.The SUS supports 4,000 have any ideas on how to revamp out there are restrictions they need to Planning session held in November, students surely this institute While that is all fme and dandy for the our current st udent ID cais, t we consider. First, they are told an you would have heard a common supports' the students here there 100 or so Athletes here what about the ~eed to heatr yoku@t~o!t on ac! EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT belongs to threadthroughoutthe must be some mistake a other 3,000 or so p~ople who are theoSffUPSarkffiapatrl d1i4re5c13.ca or a R · d th d UC,:,V · " d d" • • e o ice a oca estaurorucs,• an at any ay, > Js a stu ent-centere miscommunicationperhaps. paying for the damn bu1ldmg?
Human Rights
In part: "The Government's dealings with the Baha'is must be in such a way that their progress and development is blocked They must be expelled from universities, either In the admission process or during the course of their studies, once It becomes known that they are Baha'ls , A plan must be devised to confront and destroy their cultural roots outside the country,., Deny them employment If they Identify themselves as Baha'is Deny them any position of Influence, such as in the educational sector, etc.·.
_, =-_, -1 -'i)UL- n·r:.t-L CLu=- Celebratewithus&&&-.IC&& :a J.& L 1\J .. Bringin1999withaBANG! 45844 YALE RD, CHILLIWACK, B.C. INFO: (604) 795-4734 N V ,, TELEPHONE: (604) 795-3334 FAX LINE: (604) 795-2377 ew I ears Eve PartyComing Events for December 1998 Sunday Monday Tuesday :wednesday Thursday Friday I Saturday Ani;i• & Davt bring you A Special Chrlstmas CiUYJNICiHT S Otau1iful Lad,ics & a great show Tuesday,December15,1998 6 7 SORRY WE'RELOONIE CLOSED BEER 13 14 LOONIESORRY WE'RE CLOSED BEER 20 21 SORRY WE'RELOONIE CLOSED BEER 27 28 SORRY wrRELOONIE CLOSED BEER 1 PEKNUT NIGHT 8 11 s~,r Sl Pmu S'7Jug.1 PE!NUT. NIGHT Sl fker S'l ~nts S7 Jup 15 A Special Christmas CiUYJ NICiHT 22 PE!NUT NIGHT SI 8= S1 Pints S7 Ju1s 29 PE!NUT NIGHT SI 8«r Sl Pillts $1 Ju,, 2 The Original Cheap Wednesday 9 The Original Cheap Wednesday 16 The Original Cheap Wednesday 23 The Original Cheap Wednesday 3 IBUNDERSTRUCI< a lrlbute to AC/DC 10 Our Version ot lhe 7k~ ~SMW 17 Ladles Ntghl oul full Monty Revue Lo~rGL~~~~:d~:~ng 24 ~taff Christmas [ve Meet & Gteet Egg Nog & Awesome Specials 4 5 Li~~ync Conte~t A FUl\dta1ur1or IN SatvttlonArmyX~u Hampcu 11 Checkoufour AWESOME ~UHDRAISE RS 18 Checkoufour AWESOME ~UHDRAISERS 25 tl!)erru C,hdstmAs! 12 19 26 $3.00 Co11er Fri&Sat $3.00 Coller Fri&Sat $3.00 C011er Fri &Sat BoxingDay VIPParty 30"k off all drinks for presenting ticket 30 J 1 Ladles Nlglll out The Original New Years fall Monty Revue Cheap Eve Party Local Guys performing for Local Ladies Wednesday Free Party Favours & Champagne Thursday, December 17, 1998 Free Party Favours & Champagne at MIDNIGHT! Thursday, Decemller 31, 1998 BoxingDa) VIPParty 30% off all drinks for presenting .ticke1 Saturday, December 26, 1998 Area 51 Trojans Ball Hockey are proud to prese THUNDERSTRUCKa tribute lo AC/DC Doors open at 8 pm Showtirne , 0 pm l1c:llets SB Ot Thursday, December 3, 1998
It is not clear to the Baha'i community of Iran why the raids and confiscation's were launched In late September. but It is evident that this Is yet another means to suffocate the Baha'i community. Thisarticle was issued to Inform the general public of the raids that are presently going on in Iran (perhaps it will make us all more grateful as well). How and when all the madness will stop is unknown. Thoseof us living in Canada may think that we are helpless, but even we have a responsibility to our fellow world citizens. It would be beneficial to write a letter to the Iranian Ministerof education. the Iranian embassy, or national authorities to register disappointment. A solution must be found, and perhaps that solution can start here. (Ellen Dixon UCFV FSA "H uman Rights In our communities" will be the theme of a very special week at UCFVthis year. The goal of the week isto Increase understanding and awareness of Human Rights and diversity issuesthat confront each and every one of us on a dally basis in our communlti es. Broadening Human Rightsawareness and understanding will help to foster an accepting, open and inclusive climate at UCFV. UCFV'sHarassment Advisory Committee, the Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Office, the FSA Human RightsCommittee, the PRIDE Network, the Student Union Society and UCFV Student Services along with many others of the campus community are planning a campus-wide Human Rights Awareness week to take place February 8th to 12th. Activities are being planned for both the Abbotsford and Chllliwack campuses, and the organizing committee would like to Invite your participation In this remarkable event. A few of the activities planned so far to Include a film series,a panel discussion on multi-culturalism. and a panel discussion on current gender issues, We also are planning a presentation and Human Rightsin post secondary settings. an Interactive performance by Headlines Theatre addressing issuesof sexual orientation, as well as other music and fundraising events and much more. The organizing committee Is inviting your suggestions and proposals for other activities during this week. We are encouraging participation by departments. faculty, students and external community groups, and look forward to the events that you will be willing to plan and Implement. Activities and/or displays should fall Into the theme of Increasing awareness and understanding of the broad spectrum of Human Rightsissuesin our communities. To keep things as simple and efficient as possible, formal proposals are not required, The organizing committee will contact you If they require additional Information. The committee will also ensure that proposed activities are in keeping with the spirit and theme of the event. The year's Human Rights Awareness Week at UCFV promises to be an educational and cultural highlight. Your participation would be appreciated and, we believe, rewarding. Please forward your suggestions or questions by e-mail to: Ellen Dixon at dlxone@ucfv.bc.ca
Hum9n Rights violation in IRAN
INica Pourfallah 11 writer Education is often something that North Americans take for granted. The accessibilityof an institute of higher learning is relatively uncomplicated; however. that is not the case in all countries. The Iranian Government had denied Baha'is entrance to university since 1980, in an attempt to provide higher education for Baha'is on a private basisthe Baha'i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE)was formed in 1987. Since 1980 more then 200 Baha'is have been killed because of their religious beliefs. while thousands have suffered arbitrary detention. In September 1998 two Boho 'is previously in detention. (Mr, Sirus Zabini-Moghaddam and Mr. Hedayat-Kashefl Najafabadi) were sentenced to death. As welt at least 36 faculty members of the BIHE(which functioned In various homes and buildings throughout Iran) have been arrested. 532 homes have been raided and looted of property, files. and equipment used for BIHE (widespread looting of personal items was in effect at the same time). These actions have been carried out across Iran by Government officers under direction of the Ministry of Information, and an Intelligence agency of the Iranian Government. Thosearrested were asked to sign a declaration that BIHE was abolished and that they would no longer be involved with It -they refused to sign. Baha'i students have been banned from attending universities, and Baha'i professors have been unable to teach. In order for one to understand the present situation In Iran. one must understand some of its past. Since 1980 Baha'is In Iran have had no rights under the constitution of the current regime because of their beliefs In a religion that postdates Islam. As well, Baho'is have often' been subject to confiscation of pensions. property, and belongings. Theircemeteries throughout Iron have been seized and desecrated. and even Baha'i marriage Is not recognized. The closure of the BIHEIsone of the means employed for strangulation of the Baha'i community under the "Baha'i Question'' policy, written by the Iranian Supreme Revolutionary Cultural Council in 1991,signed by Ayatollah All Khomeini. The "Baha'i QuestionHstates
Why Is Peltier's plight so Important to Canada? Possibly because although we're great at criticising other nations judicial systemsand human rights, we fail to see the flaws in our own society Here In Abbotsford we don't have to look much farther than down King Road to Matsqui Institution,to find our own political prisoners.Prisoners of spiritual conviction. Wolverine and the other 14 First Nations and non- First Nations supporters that were convicted after the Gustafson Lake standoff in the summer of 1995,are seNlng time for protecting their When you drive by Matsqui on your way home some time, think of Wolverine and his fellow Sundancers that stood up for their rights to participate in one of the ; most sacred of FirstNations spiritual traditions.
As long as people look down their noses and think It should be someone else·s problem then there will be a problem. People aren't looking for sympathy they are looking for support and understanding. There are so many people that are willing to feel bod about something, but not be willing to put themselves on the line for It.
There Is a place In Northern Manitoba called Shamattawa; It's about two to three hours east of Thompson. There are 822 residentsthat live in 122buildings. 46% of the housing stock fails to meet the minimum, acceptable housing standard of Canada and are without plumbing, water. sewage and ventilation. Cost of living is so high that to buy one bag of groceries for bare essentialsIs$120.00 There is also an epidemic of solvent abuse. that many blame on the lack of anything else to do. People who go to recovery homes in Thompson often find it difficult to stay straight after they return to Shamattowa. Next time we complain about a power outage here. think of those kind folks in Shamattawa who live In area that has erratic power because It comes from a 15 amp generator, circa. 1950. Unfortunately, also live in -50 below temperatures in the winter time. They are not looking for sympathy they are looking for resourcesand help, and if we can honestly care so much about third world conditions overseas we had better be prepared to look at fourth world conditions In our own back yard, Yeah and next time someone says that well they ended up this way because of war, ask them what war? and next time someone says that First Nations don't pay taxes and live off everyone, ask them If they know what a fiduciary promise is. better yet tell them to take an Anthro class, Contemporary Issue'sfor B.C FirstNations. Shamattawa is in the news now. National Post November 23, 1998- page A3. Eric Robinson the MLA from Ruperstland the district for that region will be here speaking at the Universityon December 4, 1998, most likely at the Roadrunner Cafe. Time 3:00 p.m. contact the S.U.Soffice for more details. Mr. Robinson is a dynamic speaker, and not to be missed.
As long as anyone, FirstNations and non- first nations people are being put in jail In this country for protecting their rights and beliefs. we need to be concerned about the issue of Human Rights. There are things In Canada that we would love to push aside and not recognize. our laissezfaire attitude. However. over the years the words of Peltier , Wolverine and others like them have tried to touch our hearts. After all the genocide, the elders still look to the teachings of the White Buffalo Woman who. it was said that when the White Buffalo returned that all nations of the world would have to unite to save mother earth. Sounds a bit for fetched. but the first white buffalo was born In 1994, and if the prophecy is true Its time to clean up our own back yard. Its time to not dwell on the past but to learn from It, and set an example for future generations'. As long as there are areas In thls country that still live in fourth world conditions, we are still as guilty of genocide as our forefathers were.
~~~fw~e~fcrt-Spielcr " nd 11 ions of the Oglala ~~~~=====.JNation).
In 1975, Peltier was an AIM warrior heading an armed defensive encampment near the village of Oglala on the Pine Ridge Reservation. On June 26 of that year, two ( also armed) FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ron WIiiiams , roared up to the camp, ostensibly to search for a young Indian accused of stealing a pair of cowboy boots. The agents had been to the camp the day before and had determined the ·suspect" was not present. On the fatal morning, their aggressive entry was met with a volley of gunfire, This firefight escalated Into a standoff between 30 local men, women and children and over 150 armed FBI agents. Resultingfrom this Incident. the two agents and AIM member. Joe Stuntz Killsrlght, lay dead. Subsequently the FBIlaunched one of the largest nation wide manhunts In U.Shistory. There identify her, her hands were cut off and set to the F.B.llab for proper Identification. The last time Anna Mae was seen was In F.B.Icustody, being questioned on the whereabouts of Leonard Peltier, There has been much speculation over the years about who really killed the F.B.Imen. Crossfire, someone else. or Peltier. There is not enough evidence to truly convict Peltier and there has been much too much evidence pointing other directions, Until a time that Peltier says he Is guilty to the parole board he will not be released on parole, The Canadian government has refused to disclose appropriate documents In order to appeal. Peltier's extradition back to Canada, which he is duly entitled to.
I realise many might take offence to that. it might cause controversy in our warm homes at night. god forbid that we are still supporting the First Nations Genocide. but If you look at what Wolverine truly did .and who he. is you might think differently.
The GOON squad was writer "A merlcan Indians share a history rich in diversity, integrity, culture and tradition. It is also rich in tragedy, deceit and genocide. As the world learns of these atrocities and cries out for Justice for all people everywhere, no human being should ever have to fear for his or her life because of their political or rellgiousbeliefs. We are in this together. my friends, the rich. the poor, the red. the white. black. brown and yellow. We share responsibilityfor Mother Earth and those who live and breathe upon her. Never forget that." -Leonard Peltier lndlscrlminant in their use of violence and anyone who opposed Wilson's regime was severely dealt with. The American Indian Movement was called In by the elders of the reserve for the protection of the people. Although AIM I like the Warriorshere In Canada believed in peaceful settlement, once they realized the magnitude of violence they were up against they had no choice but to arm themselves. AIM has earned a radical name for itself, but like the Warriors In Canada, their initial aim was to protect Innocent people from getting killed. It should be noted that, using only documented political deaths the yearly murder rate on the Pine Ridge ReseNotion (due to WIison's GOON squad) between 1973 was never any investigation into the death of Joe K111srlght. The F.B.Iwonted a fall guy and Leonard Peltierwas their choice. He was convicted on the eye witness account of a woman named Poor Bear who later recanted her story; saying that the F.B.Ihad threatened that if she didn't testify against Peltier, she would end up like Ahna Mae Aquash. Aquash was one of the many killed at PineRidge. She was picked up by the F.B.I a short time after Leonard was extradited from Canada. (The extradition orders were recently Identified OS being folslfled by the FBI.) Anna Mae's body was found months later and because the local police couldn't sacred Sundance grounds.
During the 1960's and ?O's the US Government implemented a program named COINTELPRO.This program was designed to destroy any organisation considered by the US Government to be politically or socially dissident. Between 1973 and 1975 Dick WIison was Councilor of Oglala Nation. He had gained power through force after only 20% of the Oglala nation voted for him(many more had voted to impeach him). WIisonneeded to retain his councilor status, because of an Illegal agreement made with the US government to exploit the reservations rich uranium deposits. It was in the best interestsof the US Government to keep WIison In power; therefore they supplied him with the necessary means of force, Including weapons and ammunition. The US also provided FBIagents to reinforce Wilson'sown militia, known as the GOON squad (Guardde r capitol of the U.S had a rote of 20.2 per 100,000. Preliminary figures at Pine Ridge are 61 homicides of A.1.Mworkersand supporters, most of these have gone unsolved, and have been given a "non-investigation" status. While families mourn the loss of their loved ones with no hope of ever seeing Justice for their deaths, Leonard Peltier sits in jail for a crime that all ballistic evidence has shown he could not have committed.
Wolverine( Jones Williams lgnance) Isa Sundancer. on elder and a man who stood up to the government to protect the Sundance grounds that had been used by his people for years, Wolverine has been convicted of attempted murder in a case that should not have gone farther than obstruction of justice. He shot at the wheels of an Armoured Personnel Carrier in an attempt to draw attention away from "First Nations and non-first two people runnations people are being ning from a truck put in jail in this country for that hod been protecting their rights and detonated by on RCMP command beliefs" mine .By distractFor tr1e last twenty-two years Leonard Peltier has been imprisoned. serving a life sentence. His crime? Allegedly killing two FBIagents on the Pine Ridge reserve, June 26, 1975. Documented evidence and eyewitness testimony prove Peltier's innocence and yet he is denied parole "During a parole hearing In December 1995. US prosecutor Lynn Crooks admitted again that no evidence exists against Peltier. He further stated that the Government never really accused him of murder and that If Peltier were retried. the Government could not reconvict. The Parole Board. however, decided not to grant parole because Peltier continues t© maintain his Innocence" and 1976 was 170 per 100,000.By comparison, Detroit, the reputed muring the authorities Wolverine effectively saved the fugitives' lives.
in their home States. How do we treat murderers (seria I and otherwise) in Canada? Is our normal practice one of feasting and dining them, rolling out red carpets for them? The answer,of course, isobvious. Why, then, do we welcome tyrants and dictators who. in any minimally reasonable manner, are terrorists and murderers of the most brutal sort? what does APEC97 say about our double standards when rights and economics collide?
Bertrand Russell
2 International Standards, Monitoring, Compliance Since W.W.11,moral standards that have been an essential part of the human rights revolution of the past few centuries, have taken on legal status. The UniversalDeclaratl on of Human Rights (UDHR) and the more substantive and consistent International Bill of Human Rights (IBHR-1976)now provide us
Human Rights!
The problem, though, is the gap we inevitably find between a most elevated and compelling theory and some of the most disturbing facts of reality. THENEWINTERNATIONALIST(Jan./96) published a list of 'the world's ten worst dictatorships'. Human RightsWatch, Amnesty International, the Humana Report, Freedom House and the UN Human Development Indicator (HDI, for the most part, confirm the findings of THENEW INTERNATIONALIST.The NI further argued that 'these ten regimes still rule over some 1.745 billion people 31% of the world's population'. We, in short, have international standards but those who honestly and faithfully monitor compliance to such standards discover a vast chasm between ideals and reality.
Our fear that communism might someday toke over the most of the world blinds us to the fact that anti-communism already hos.
The truth is that the campaign against politico/ correctness hos been mainly conducted by various conservatives and other champions of family values. Although some of the things they say have some meritespecially when rhev pick up on the sheer mindlessness of unthinking cant- their campaign totally overlooks the amazing conformity and politico/ correctness where, for example, military, notional securitv, foreign and economic policy have been concerned.
Michael Parenti
The remainder of this paper will explore and probe some of the significant and substantive double standards that exist within our military, national security, foreign and economic policies. It is only by facing and acknowledging these realities rather than flinching from them that we can truly be called citizens in any meaningful sense. So, for the next few moments. let us look at our relationship with China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Vietnam, the USA and the Abbotsford Air /Trade Show. Let us ask, ourselves, as we walk across this terrain this question: why are we often unaware of the fact we trade with tyrants and dine with dictators. and, once were only too aware of this, why do we, self righteously, condemn lesser crime and terrorists(like the IRA. PLO, Shining Path etc.) but go mute and silent when the real terrorists·are in our midst?
Wecelebrate 1998for two important reasons; it is fifty years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948-1998)was adopted at the United Nations (UN) as a moral plumb line to measure the ethical behavior within and between States, and it Is twenty-five years (19731998)since Amnesty International (Al) was founded in Canada. The adoption of the UDHRhas given the world an international magna carta by which compliance to human rights can be measured, and Al plays a crucial role as a moral watchdog, monitoring the compliance of Statesto international standards.
Where does Canada stand in all this, and how, as Canadians should we see our role in the global village? Or should we even bother to think about such things? Canadians prefer to see themselves as a middle power, a peace broker. a State committed to upholding human rights and substantive development issues. In fact, a recent Canadian stamp has a picture of John Humphrey on it; Humphrey was one of the chief architects of the UDHR and one of the founders of Al In Canada, So. as Canadians, we turn to such Canadians as role models of how Canadians view themselves. In fact, a recent book, FROMEMPIRETO UMPIRE(1995). reflects this image we have of ourselves. We don't see ourselves as part of an empire, and we, surely, are not a sub imperial power. We are more like an umpire who knows the rules of the game and is quite willing to call rogues States to the dock when they break such agreed upon rules of international fairness. but, is this image a cultural illusionor a solid fact the NI listed then States as significant dictatorships: Burma, Syria, Nigeria, Indonesia, Zaire, China, Iran, Sudan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia. Three of these States (the • largest three) have important and substantive aid and trade ties that have been carefully cultivated with Canada. Turkey,Vietnam and the USA.also, are Important trade partners with Canada; each of these Sates have a worrisome human rights record. Canada, also, hoststhe 3rd largest Air/Trade Show in the world (Abbotsford); the most powerful war birds and the most lucrative defense corporations regularly attend the Air /Trade Show. Does Canada trade with tyrants and dine with dictators? A brief discussion of Canada's relationship with Chain, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey , Vietnam, the USAand the Abbotsford International Air/Trade Show will dispel some of our cultural illusions and highlight, hopefully, who and what the REALTerror network is like and how it operates.
We have human rights standards; organizations such as Al monitor and annually publish report cards on the human rights records within and between States. The inevitable clash between economics and rights is a perennial one. Should we play the trade game, accepting the argument, that trade, in time, will improve the human rights situations in rogue Sates? Or is this argument merely a justification for corporations but has little to do with reality. has our decades of trade with Indonesia or China improved their human rights record? Canada, as we will see, often turns its back on rightswhen the promise of a few coppers in the coffer are dangled before mesmerized eyes. APEC97 (and the protest against It) signaled, yet once again, that those who (with good conscience and in good faith) walk the extra mile to uphold law and international moral standards are seen as radicals and imprisoned, and those who regularly break the law in the most obvious and flagrant manner are first, wined and dined and, second, protected by the police and military. Why is it that the real terroristsare pampered and those who protest such an injustice vilified and arrested?
FSA, UCFV It is in the nature of imperialism that citizens of the imperial power ore olwovs among the Jost to know-or coreabout circumstances in the colonies.
3 Canada and APEC 97 APEC97, like the G-7 meeting in Toronto in 1988. amply illustrated, for those who do not flinch from the hard facts, that Canada is quite willing to trade with tyrants and feed from the fat the land, dictators. many of the heads of Sate that attended APEC97 in Vancouver, regularly and routinely, break and violate international law. It does not take too much thinking to claim that those who break the law are criminals. Many of those who attended APEC 97 have been responsible for the deaths of thousands
•. :. : -~. • : ' •. ii' "\ ,-~~;n'> '-- TUii\{ .".t-' ,'I ;--t._ ,- _1c..,: -'..!'=';'~-~ , with legal standards, when signed and ratified by States at the UN, on human rights that should be applied within and between States. These moral criteria hold together, in an intricate and delicate balance. the Indivisibility and interdependence of the six major areas of human rights: political, civil, legal, cultural, social and economic. Environmental and animal rights. also, play a vital role in this ongoing process. Hence, we have, at the present time, universal.fundamental and international yardsticks by which the actions of a State can be measured and evaluated if a just. equitable and civilized world order is ever going to be realized both in theory and practice.
4 Conoda and China Canada. since the early 70s, has nourished ever closer trade and aid ties with C,hina. "While China treats human rights with contempt, it is also the fastest growing market in the world today, attracting foreign investments on a massive scale. It has a GDP of %500 billion a year, foreign investments totaling $491 billion at the end of 1994, and an enormous low wage work force." Although the June '89 Tinanmen Square carnage shocked the world by its visual brutality, the virtual negation of political-and civil rights in China has a long, consistent and predictable history. The Chinese treatment of pro-democracy dissidents, the constant imprisonment and torture of those who dare to differ with official State policy, and equally important, the terrible treatment of the Tibetan people and their land, should alert event he dullest that the Chinese State has little or no concern for some fundamenta I rights. But. China continues to play an ever increasing role in Canada. "Disbursements in China in 1990-91 amounted to $63.85 million, making it the second largest aid recipient that year. China was Canada's fifth largest export market in 1992."2 CIDA funding and trade ties with China have flourished since 1992. In fact Team Canada's tour to China in the autumn of '95 consolidated and deepened the bilateral relations between the two States. meanwhile, China continues with its nuclear tests and deposits nuclear waste in Tibet. When the Dalai Lama chose his successor, the Chinese government ignored the Dalal Lama and, with much pomp and circumstance, appointed its own Lama. The hard facts of China's obvious and persistent human rights violations continue, yet Canada remains silent, and worse yet, continues to increase its trade and aid with this tyrant. Although Lloyd Axworthy has stated that human rights must play a crucial role in the trade and aid aspects of Canadian
Edward Said Introduction
9 Canada and the USA -The USAis Canada's largest trading partner. Our present NAFTA agreement further binds us to the USA>The USA has a predictable stance of viewing itself as the front runner of liberty and democracy in the world. But, since W.W.11.the USA has willingly supported many authoritarian states. been engaged In thousands of CIA covert operations and been responsible. directly and by proxy, for the deaths of millions.
The recent Klondike Days event In Edmonton (July '96) has generated much controversy. The 'Discover Vietnam' exhibit. many claimed. obseNed and left undiscovered the oppressivenature of the real Vietnam. In fact, various Vietnamese, who were port of 'Discover Vietnam' deflected and claimed refugee status in Canada. The Department of Foreign Affairs willingly conceded that 'Vietnam hos a human rights record right up there with China and Indonesia'. but profit is profit. In 1995,Canada granted Vietnam 'most favored nation' trading status; between 1987 and 1995, Canadians Invested $160 million In Vietnam. In 1995, Canada imported $76.l worth of goods from Vietnam and exported $34.8million worth of goods. Trade between Canada and Vietnam continues to thrive and grow regardless of the oppressive human rights situation in Vietnam. The State Department argues that 'maintaining healthy trading relattori~hipwith Vietnam can contribute to modernization and bring the country Into the international community'. Thisargument, of course, is used by corporationsto justifysidestepping, on a substantive level, the human rights question. The argument is also. for the most part fallacious. because many oppressive states are more concerned about wealth than basic political and civil rights. Certainly, China. Indonesia. Turkey or Saudi Arabia have not changed their minds about oppression because we have assisted them In modernization or brogue them into the International comm unity. The Vietnamese poet, Nguyen Chi Thlen.who has survived as a political prisoner for 27 years said, "If Politicans In the free world think that they can de-link business and human rights. they can look forward to the deserved contempt that people living under a totalitarian regime will reseNe for them·, Canada, unfortunately, ls often a crude opportunist when It comes to profit or human rights. and, in many ways. if this is our stance. we deseNe the contempt reserved for such uncivilized behavior.
Prime MinisterChretien's tour of the APECStatesin autumn '96 winced tighter Canadian-lndones1on relations. Chretien, predictably, Ignored the nagging human rights questions when the shimmer of gold glistened before hiseyes. The fact that Carmel Baudiordjo won "The Right Livelihood Award" (the alternative Nobel Prize) In 1995 should have meant something for Chretien and Canadians. Baudiardjo was forced out of Indonesia In 1971(after being In prison for 3 years) and since then she has tirelessly. though Tapol (Indonesian for political prisoner). highlighted Suharto's barbaric activities tn Indonesia. 6 Canada and Saudi Arapio j Saudi Arabia has one of the largest soil reserves In the world; it ploys a pivotal role in lubricating Western industry and interests- it is also a substantive Western power broker In the Middle East. The Saudi State. although not fundamentalist in the same way as the KhomelnlRofsonjanl Sate of Iron is. continues to play on Important part in insuring a repressive and conseNative form of Islam predominates In the Middle East. It Is significant that Iran. Iraq, Sudan and Libya often get a great deal of attention in the West. but Saudi Arabia goes unnoticed. yet Its oppressive regime brutalizes many. Saudi Arabia, In the Gulf War of 1991,was the home launching pad for the liberation of Kuwait and invasion of Iraq. Saudi Arabia, like Chino ond Indonesia. has on open heart and hand to Western Investors. but it Is ruthlessIn its denial of political and civil rights. he human rights organization. Portes Ouvertes. has argued that Saudi Arabian Christians ore the most repressed Christians in the world. Portes Ouvertes uses an index w1tha maximum of 100 for total religious persecution. Saudi Arabia topped the list at 86, Iran 75. Sudan 73.5. China 68. he fact that NI ranks Saudi Arabia as one of the top ten tyrants, and the fact that Portes Ouvertes has such a low estimate of Saudi Arabia should alert Canada to some basic ethical issues. But, predictably and once again. when trade and rights meet. the boot of economics often risesquick and fast and grinds the head of rights Into the ground. General Motors has its largest contract ever with Saudi Arabia to supply Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) to this oppressive State. The contract. worth in excess of a billion dollars, extending over a few years will further arm Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia Isalready one of the most militarizedStates Inthe world; Its annual expenditure on military products places It in the top ten percent. The fact that Saudi Arabia isso militarized. that It represses any substantive dissent and that it Is viewed as one of the worst dictatorships In the world should cause Canadians some concern. But. it thugs provide Jobsfor Canadians, better to protect Canad la n Jobs than worry about the plight of those who will be the victims of our armaments, Unfortunately, trade is trade and rights ore rights and rarely do the two meet. General Motors In Ontario will continue to ship Light Armored Vehicles to Saudi Arabia, although in principle and by law. Canadian corporations are not supposed to trade with Statesthat have a consistent record of violating human rights. 7 Canada end Turkey The Kurdish nation are the largest people in the world without a homeland; they are. for the most part scattered throughout Turkey,Iran, Iraq and Syria. The largest concentration of Kurds (16 million) is In Turkey. The largest concentration of rights, forbidding them the use of their language and culture, destroying their villages (1,390 between '94-'95), limiting Kurdish political parties and torturing Kurdishpolltlcal parties and torturing Kurdish men, women and children. the TurkishState argues that this ethnic cleansing can be justified because international law does not apply to the 'mountain Kurds' in south-eastern Turkey.Turkey. for the most part. Is a member in good standing with NATO. Canada being a committed member of NATO,views Turkeyas a faithful comrade in creating a free and democratic world order. Canada. though, is only too well aware of the Turkish treatment of the Kurds. but In '94-'95, as the Department of National Defense (DND) was looking about for clients to sell itsoutdoted CF-5s to. Turkey stepped onto front stage with an offer. The fact that Canada even considered the application puts In doubt our commitment to human rights. Canada, in the late '80s-eorly '90s was the 3rd largest exporter of arms to Turkey, after the USA and Germany. Canada, between '90-'94. sold almost $26 million worth of military hardware to Turkey, Thousands of Kurds ore kept in prison; many more are killed extra Judicially. The fact that Turkey regularly scores high as a State that brooks no opposition seems of little interest to the Canadian government. Turkey. since Atotuk, prefers to see Itself. like Indonesia, as a modern Islamic State that Is distinctly different from Iran and Saudi Arabia. The President of Turkey, Tansu Ciller. is a fan of Margaret Thakher; Ciller went to school in the USA and dressesin western style. yet. Ironically.the modern liberal version of Islam in Indonesia (the largest Islamic State In the world) and Turkey isJustas brutal. If not more so, than Saudi Arabia or Iron. But. we In the West only hear about, for the most port. the events In Iran. Libya, Sudan or Algeria. Canada has knowingly sold military vehlcl es. large-small caliber weapons. tear gas. aircraft and helicopters to Turkey;this runs contrary to our policy of not selling armaments to tyrants. But, when the tyrant Is our fr1end.we ore quite eager to arm the bully provided our pockets are lined.
The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. the support of S. Rhee (S. Korea). Tsoldares (Greece), Batista (Cuba). Somoza (Nicaragua). Montt (Guatemala). Pinochet (Chile). Shah (Iron), and Duvalier (Haiti) to name Just a few, should caution us about the USA.The invasion of Lebanon ('82-'83), that attack on Grenada (' 83) and Libya ('86) should cause some concern. he 1989 Invasion of Panama by 26.000 troops that led to the death of. at least 4,000 citizens of Panama, plus the 1991 Gulf War (100,000 = were killed) should cause some unease in our national conscience. (continued on page 10)
Human Rights foreign policy, much of this talk is merely smoke and wind. When economics and ethics collide, the bully of trade often beats down or Ignores the voice of rights. 5 Oanada and Indonesia J Canada, ever so briefly, withdrew aid from Indonesia when Sukarno invaded Malaysia in the mid-sixties: from 1964-1966.Canada turned its back on Indonesia. It must be remembered. though. that Sukarno (with Nehru and Nasser) were leaders of the 3rd World nonaligned movement of the '60s;such an outlook did not bide well for Indonesian-Canadian relations. When General Suharto toppled Sukarno in 1965(millions were killed by Suharto between '65-'69), Canada, ever so slowly. began the process of warming up to Indonesia. Suharto was much more generous and gracious to the West; an Investors' paradise was for the taking. The Indonesian invasion of EastTlmor(Dec./'75) and the subsequent deaths of about 200.000EastTimorese (1/3 of the population) should have caused some response. The western media, at the time, was waxing indigent about Pol Pot's massacres In Cambodia ('75-'79), but, per capita, the lives lost in East Timor were greater, but the West was silent about this kill1ng field. The Indonesian treatment ofihe Acch (North Sumatra), the Popuans and many other ethnic groups is well documented. Suharto has been compared to ldi Amin. and In hismore than 35 year reign of terror In Indonesia, Suharto slaughtered millions of men, women and children. Suharto. though. eagerly opened up Indonesia to the West. and Canada has. uncritically, embraced thistyrant in a willing and winning way. In fact. Indonesia is now the second largest recipient of CIDA funding and more than 200 Canadian businesses have brisk. busy and profitable relations with Indonesia. The Eastern Indonesian University Development Project at Simon Fraser Universitycontinues to play Its educational trade with Indonesia (receiving significant funding from CIDA) while going limp on the more responsible human rights questions. Canada hos been one of the few States to either abstain or vote against UN resolutions to condemn the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.and defense corporations in Canada continue to trade with Suharto and his military thugs.
In all, about 700 Chinese men are believed to have died working on the railway project.
The CPR built Canada, but who built the CPR?
Ubyssey UBC, WRCUP
VANCOUVER(CUP) When Bevan Jangze was growing up. his house was so close to the train tracks that it shook whenever a train went by. At the time, he probably didn't realize the significance of the Canadian Pacific Railway. But today, Jangze, the only liVing direct descendant of a Chinese CPRbuilder, jumps at the chance to talk about the railway and the men who helped build It. ·1nspite of the difficulties and hardship, (the Chinese) managed to always suNive," says the retired businessman. who l:tr--;;. h.". _..i -~ • lfii~--Qj~~ Is passionate about spreading awareness of the Chinese rail workers and their legacy. Jangze appears In a new documentary mode by Canadian and Chinese historians and film producers, Canadian Steel, Chinese Grit traces the steps of the early Chinese pioneers In British Columbia. and documents the discrimination they con(continued from page 9) But Canada. when it comes to arms trade. can sell virtually anything it wants to the USAwithout an export permit; end use and end destination isnot a consideration. In fact, in the Vietnam War. Canada made more money per capita from sales to the USA than any other State. Why. When we are so aware of how the USAoperates, do we refuse to ban export permits for the USA?The question, of course. is rhetorical; the answer is obvious. Profit is the alter we genuflect before, the Pentagon isthe cathedral we worship at. When trade and rights, on substantive Is-
As one of the people interviewed In the film, Jongze. 76. recalls hearing how hisfather. Cheng Foo, had to wrap his feet In burlap sock In order to stay warm during the winters.
In the end, "without the Chinese," remarked then Prime MinisterJohn A MacDonald. "there would be no railway." Yet the contribution of Chinese Immigrants to building the CPRrailway stillreceives scant mention in today's school history books.
Determined to show their loyalty to Canada and to gain equal rights.600 Chinese Canadians volunteered to Join the Canadian Armed Forces in World War II. It worked. In 1947,the Chinese Immigration Act was repealed and Chinese Canadians were given the right to vote.
Canadian Steel, Chinese Grit aims to revive this littleknown aspect of Canadian history.
Hosted by local historian Wallace Chung and filmed on location in the Fraser Canyon, the 48-minute documentary traces the steps of the early Chinese pioneers with impressive archival footage and photographs. and inteNiews with descendants of the Chinese railway workers. The sacrifices they made were unbelievable. The Chil Bomber, F-4Phantom, F-14 Tomcat, A-4 Skyhowk and B52 Superfortresshove regularly attended the Alrshow; the event isa mecca of militarism. Airshowsare the 2nd largest entertainment venue in North America (after baseball), and the Abbotsford Airshow draws between 235,000- 300,000 each year. The Abbotsford Trade Show began In 1989 and It Is held every two years. Most of the major defense corporations such as British Aerospace, McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Lockheed. Hughes, Aerospatiale and Mitsubishi regularly attend the Trade nese railway workers did the work that nobody else would do: they were the "earthmovers," the ones who were given the task of carving the mountains. Hanging from ropes, they chipped away at the rock cliffs using sledgehammers and chisels.
Perhaps more symbolic than what Is ln the photograph is what is not. What the picture doesn't capture for reasons that betray a dork side of Canadian history are the faces of the numerous Chinese men who helped build the railway. From 1881 to 1885, over 17,000 Chinese men mode the dangerous 50-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean to B.C. like thousands of Chinese before them, they came to Canada "the Gold Mountain," In search of a better life. For this reason, they sues, meet, economics imprisonsethics then marches out to do as it please.
jDouglan Quan J I
Following generations of Chinese Canadians continued to face racism and discrimination. despite their contribution to Canadian society.
Human Rightsl
"It was a turning point.'' says Edgar Wickberg, a retired Universityof BritishColumbia historian. "Thiswas one of the biggest things for the Chinese community." 11 War Crimes Tribunalsand Crimes Against Humanity When W.W.11came to on end, the Allied powers set up two War Crimes Tribunals; these Tribunalstried and convicted many German and Japanese (the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials) for their crimes against humanity. Unfortunately, yet predictably, many of the Allied powers were not tried for the some crimes. The involvement the USA In Vietnam for the 50s70s nudged many to question whether much of what was going on in Vietnam (continued on page 14)
An example of the kind of treatment they faced is reflected in an old black and white photograph shown in the film. It was taken in 1885 when CPR President Sir William Van Horne traveled to Craigellachle, B.C to drive in the last spike of Canada's first coast-tocoast rail line.
The Stealth, Thunderbolt, Freedom Fighter. Hornet, 8agreed to take on the most treacherous tasks and endure harsh living conditions to build the CPR.
The film's producers are trying to get the CBC to agree to broadcast It. Ultimately, they hope to raise enough funds to have copies of It distributed to schools across Canada.
T h e y would insert sticks of lit dynamite into little holes in the cliff sides,then have to scurry their way back up before it blew. Many suffered from malnutrition and poor living conditions, Not only did the Chinese make half the money their white counterparts did, they were not provided with regular meals or lodging. The cold winters were especially unforgiving.
The Abbotsford International Air/Trade Show is the largest in North America (the third largest in the world). The Alrshow began In 1961.and in 1967 Trudeau declared it was Canada's national Alrshow. Since 1961, most of the biggest birds of prey and worblrds have been at the Airshow.
The AbbotsfordInternational Air/Trade Show
10
New film documents forgotten chapter of Canadain history tinued to face even after helping to build the CPR.
.
As the film moves past the railway years, It documents how the federal government tried to limit entry of Chinese Into Canada. first by imposing a head tax and then by imposing the Chinese Immigration show. Thirty-sevenmilitary corporations attended In '89, 102 in '93 and in '95 the number jumped again. Com Def (an arms bazaar organizer) attended in '95 and SICOFFA (the military wing of the Orgo nizatlon of American States) turned up In their best array. he Air/Trade Show is generously funded by governments, attended by defense corporations and supported by many businesses.The fact that we outdo the USAIn both a military event and the way we draw together the biggest defense corporations in the world should alert us to our hawks Inner soul. Act in 1923.effectively halting Chinese immigration to Canada. Jomes Pon, chairman of the Foundation to Commemorate Chinese Railroad Workers In Canada. recalls how in order to keep his job as an engineer for de Hovi/land aircraft In the 1940s.he hod to declare himself a white man on his job application. But as the film demonstrates. the perseverance of Chinese Canadians in the face of obstacles didn't end with the completion of the CPR. if anything, their voice grew louder and stronger.
The photo shows Van Horne surrounded bya handful of the tens of thousands of men who poured four years of sweat and tears into building the western portion of the CPR. But for all the symbolism it captures perseverance. endurance, Canadian unity it doesn't come close to reflecting the whole story behind the building of the CPR in B.C.
By depicting an imaginary city where people lived on the edge of humanity in a world of drugs, prostitution and hustling, Gibson created a vivid world that captivated readers with its style, its description and, most of all, its possibility of becoming a reality.
Gibson has also had some experience with television, last year writing an episode of the conspiratorial X Filesin which two hackers attempt to transform themselves into artificial tntelligence on the Internet, only to have their computer take on a life of its own.
And he appeared onscreen Oliver Stone-directed TV miniseriesWild Palms,when he was introduced as "the man who invented cyberspace."
"If you want to find the places where you'll find guys like those in New Rose Hotel. you'd have to go to Moscow and look at the hustlers who are over there eating the heart of the former empire ever since the g a t e s opened, It's the same guys." Butfor all the t I m e s Gibson has b e e n labeled a pessimist he sees himself as an optimist.
A ring of journalists sit In a hotel room around their interview subject and with pens poised and tape recorders rolling, eagerly antic lpate any pearl of wisdom that might roll out. Sitting in front of them is famed author William Gibson, who regards the entire situation with a bemused, slightly weary expression as he sits,stooped over, on the edge of the couch. Normally, Gibson is nearly Impossible to get a hold of and even harder to get to talk. But today, one of the world's foremost science fiction writers is just as enth used and eager to be here as the reporters, and he's more than ready to talk. The Vancouver resident wants to discuss the latest film adaptation of his work, New Rose Hotel. Starring William Dafoe and Christopher Walken and directed by Abel Ferrara (King of New York,Bad Lieutenant), the film Isbased on Gibson's short-story collection Burning Chrome. New Rose 11lotelis about two men who try to manipulate a young girl Into the heart of an isolated scientific genius_ a scam that will make them rich if they succeed. But as in all of Gibson's stories, nothing goes as just planned. "They're these human beings trapped in a world that consists of nothing but hotel suites, nightclubs, and board rooms," Gibson says of the two main characters, played by Dafoe and Walken. "And there's no exterior world. Theseguys never get to the street. They seldom go there. In the end, they Justgo there to die. They're like specialized organisms who live in hotel suites. I think there's one scene in a mall, and that's kind of like the wilderness for these guys, being in a mall."
The film, which recently played at the Vancouver International FIim Festival.lsn't Gibson,s firstforay into the film world. Those with long memories and Keanu Reeves fascinations will recall the movie Johnny Mnemonic.
Ubyssey UBC, WRCUP
VANCOUVER(CUP)
"I used to think that I was way more optimistic than anyone gave me credit for, because at least I was proposing that there was going to be a future for human beings. At the time I started writing this stuff, I had grown up all my life in the psychological shadow of the idea that if the right button was pressed, everything would end forever. That was the psychological state that people my age inherited and it began almost when we were born. "That sounds more unbelievable than science fiction in today's world. If I made that up, nobody would believe me. It was such a weird thing. I thought it was kind of a radical assumption that there would be this future."
pohn Zaazirny I I
"And I kind of like that. it's kind of cool. Each one always has one really great moment. That was really what I wanted Johnny Mnemonic to be. I wanted it to be all of the really great moments in all of the really bad science fiction movies that I've watched over the years. A dangerous strategy."
"The sky above the port was the color of television turned to a dead channel," reads the firstsentence of Gibsons' 1984 book Neuromancer, which helped usher in the new literary world of Cyberpunk a new science fiction sense of dystopia and corporatization.
While all of Gibson's stories are set in the future, his vision of the future has changed over his career. Yet the stories New Rose Hotel is based on are as relevant as they were when he wrote them 15 years ago, Gibson says. "It's a lot closer to the world of 1998than any of my short stories," he says.
"One of the things that's presupposed, but never mentioned In New Rose Hotel is that global capitalism is the only game in town. When the story was written, the Soviet Bloc was stillvery much a going concern and Marxismwas stilla going concern but that's not rea IIy true anymore, there is no driving force In the world except global capitalism, except for a few oddball, holdout places.
Human discusses the latest FIimAdaption of his FuturisticStories
Rights CYBERGOD,
Gibson's body of work influenced films long before any of his novels were adapted for the big screen _ although the results were less than spectacular.
"There's a whole shelf of really low-budget scl-fi movies that I look at and think, 'yeah, I know what they've been reading,'" Gibsori says.
Gibson turned to the camera and "Yes and they won't let me forget it." Indeed, creator of the idea of cyberspace is how most people think of Gibson.
If I were to explain what this band sounds like I would say, imagine Rancid and take away their originality, and then combine that with ake minus their pop.senslblllties and there you ave Firewater. Buy it if you're stupid. SM co etan 76/100 Definately one of the most under appreciated albums of the year, cott Weiland's first solo effort isan original and enjoyable piece of work. Ranging In styles from the loungey "Lady Your Roof BringsMe Down'' to the glamish "Barbarella" Scott makes the most of hi firstopportunity away from Stone Temple Pilotswith "12 Bar Blues". Check out track number nine, "Jimmy Was A Stimulator", It's one of the best sin gles of the year!
CM Track 6: New Release Pearl Jam"Live On Two Legs" 80/100 Fortheir first official live album-the biggest band of the nintles,Pearl Jam has not dlssapolntd. A collection of songs recorded during the extremely popular "Yield" tour, "Live On Two Legs" Is a great mix of PJ classics Opening with ~corduroy", this album gets off to rocking start and doesn't stop. It's a must hav for any music fan. Album highlights on this mom moth 72 minute disc Include "Off He Goes-, "D The Evolution#, "Daughter· and "Black". Theonl question ls where Is the Who's "Teenage Waste land,, cover?
I
Picking up where 1996's"'Heml-Vlslon" left oft Big Sugar returnswith Heated" a collection of reggae influenced, blues based, oc 'n ro s a solid effort from the Torontobased roup who are proving to be one of Canada's est bands. The first single "The Scene" Is this alums coolest track but other strong songs Include "Where I Stand-, "'Hammer In My Hand" and the andy Bauchmon cover "Let It Ride". The only roblem Is that this album doesn't experiment nough, Big Sugar seems a llttte too content with heir status quo.
SM 8 - Track Track 2: New Release New Radicals"Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too" i71/100 I hate the fact that I liked this album. The New Radicals disc Isfrom the same vien as other mainstream mashes such as Third Eye Blind and Fastball. DripIng with pop saplness you can't help but sing long to songs such as their first radio single "You et What You Given, "I Don't Wanna Die nymoreH, and "Crying Like A Church On SunayN. Sounding a bit like the RollingStonesat times n this album, the New Radicals aren't doing anyhlng incredibly original, but they're fun anyways. SM g~ Track 4: Up & Comming • Firewater"ThePonziScheme" 1'11: 30/100
SM Track 5: New Release Various Artists "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" 55/100
Thisis a teeny bopper album tho some of you more Into the hip ho scene may enjoy. Built around songs that have a similar 'magic' theme, and few that are thrown In Justto get big names an popular songs, this album lacks some seriousqual ity and It's only major selling point Is the fact tho it's linked with the popular TV series.
ewe 87/100 Jewel's yodelling voice carries beautifully on her new album. Her music still carries all the strength and sadness in its chords, while har brutal hon-esty and deep love for music shows in her lyrics. Thisis music we don't have t Interpret, Jewel gets down to the basics.Ina mos pleasurable way. Anyone who's a fan of thi Alaskan native will love this new album, and eve ryone else should pick it up as an easy listening disk.
SM I can't say that there's anything more than mediocre about this al, bum. other than the fact that they Include trumpets and trombone in heir group of muslclans. Also, an interesting anle on girl chasing that I haven't heard before Is he song '"IWant YourGirlfriend To BeMy Girlfriend oo." Other than that, It's a completely average lbum that I have almost nothing to say about. CM
Track 8: New Release ee 19 ,s Hard?" 60/100
CM Track 3: Canadian Content Big Sugar "Heated" 73/100
GJ: I suppose that the mainstream is more ready for rock'n'roll than It used to be, I don't thlnk you know, I haven't really changed with GJ: and Zepplin records. Hey, I used to Jump on the bed a lot when I was a kid. I was the oldest I hod younger siblings you know so It was a pretty entertaining way of babysitting.
SM: Your tons ore a lot more loyal then alot of the other bands that are out there. The crowd that was out there tonight I don't know how many crowds could stay as pumped as I sow that crowd all night. GJ: I know, I give them the goods, they know that I'll give them the songs that they wont to hear and kick it out everynlght I' II never Just walk out "I'm only ploying new songs you've never heard tonight" I'll never do that. I don't just do it for myself I do It for the audience.
SM:One lost question, how's married life? G J : Cool.
SM:With t h e death of grunge a n d faceless ela::ioi:x:l and the re-emerg enc e of glom a n d style in music, how do y O U think Big Sugar fits in with that? any kinds of trends or done anything like that. We Just make music that sounds good to us and that pleases our crowd. At the end of the day that's all that matters to me.
GJ: don't really give that too SM:Who were your rock stars m u c h growing up. and who do you consid- Imagine yourself to be eratlon. onstage lwasdoing-wh9t .--~l;...~[(l,~,~~p,t really h~ 1was do- fixation with any one entering sort toiner or guitar player or anyof flying thing like that so I never re-
SM: I've read a few critics that soy that you've gone a little· more mainstream on this record, do you think that's true or do you think that the mainstream is just ready f o r rock'n'roll again?
In the face of what was ally pattern myself ofter anypopular at the time, you body know, playing blues based anything and wearing O suit SM: I just meant as a kid you and tie when we started know GJ: ,I used to play air guitar to Kiss records, and Block Sabbath records and wasn't popular, but we managed to gain a following doIng what was unpopular. And so whether we're having a high time now or not, with like you know people, we're get- SM: and a little Led ting mainstream video and Zepplin? radio ploy that's all great not cause we' re mainstream, but just because people /Ike our music, there's a demand for it. If MuchMusic didn't ploy our videos, I'm sure that people would call and bug them.
BIG SUGAR
!Shawn Martens I j entertainment editor l·mcold. It's 2:00 in the morning and here I am standing in front of Big Sugar's tour bus wondering whether or not I'm going to get to do an interview with frontman Gordie Johnson. You see I was supposed to do an interview with him at 8:30, but my editor got the times mixed up. I didn't arrive on "the scene" till about 9:00 where I was informed that I was too late and that the band was now chilling out before the show. I couldn't have been more ticked off. Here I hod prepared for hours and was as excited as a schoolboy. because this was going to be my firstinterview, and with a certified rock star no less! Oh well I thought, at least I' II get to see a good show. I was wrong, I saw a great show.Big Sugar hit the Area 51 stage, a small club In Chllliwack, at about 11:30 and right from the opening you ltnew that they meant business. Bass player Gary Lowe set the vibe early.stepping up to the mike with a reggae rap before the band tore into "Where I Stand" from the new album "Heated" and followed that with "Gone For Good" from 1996's "Hemi-vlsion". They then moved Into a selection of songs from the new disc and then after a slight sound adjustment•klcked Into "Till I Get There'', from here the crowd seemed to wake up a bit. Then they erupted when out came the two headed guitar as Big Sugar broke into their hit single "Diggin a Hole" from "HemiVision", after that neither the band or the crowd looked back as Big Sugar rounded out their enormous 19 song set, which Included most memorably, "The Scene", "Let it Ride" ( a Randy Eb..d-m:n cover tune), "Round a n d Round" ( w h I ch jammed it's way into Led Zepplin's "Levee's Going ToBreak"), "If I Had My Way" (which included a trip Into Big Wreck's "That Song" although I don't think it was a tribute) and finally finishing up with "Ride Like Hell" .The concert was amazing, It was the first time that I hod seen Big Sugar, and the Toronto based band d i d n ' t disapoint. Lead singer Gordie Johnson was full of rock star riffs • and poses throughout the night and was especially cool when he played the guitar with his mouth during "Up In The Clouds". The band looked tight on stage and each had a few tricks of their own Including the odd Reggae vibe from Gary Lowe and two amazing harmonica solos from Kelly Hoppe. also new drummer Gavin Brown seemed to fit right in leading the rythm section. They weren't finishedyet however, as the bond walked back onstage to a screaming crowd who wanted more, and more is what they got. The encore consisted of an extended jam that began with "l 00 Cigarettes" and moved through several songs including Zepplin's "In My Time of Dying" and ended with "Look At the People".Before they mode it off the stage I decided that I hod only one more chance to do on interview, so I booked it outside and around the corner to the tour bus, unfortunetiy they hod already mounted. I decided to wait awhile notwilling to give up. Soon a small group of people hodgothe r e d around me, including two local guys who thought It would be cool if I quoted them about the show and a couple of girlslooking for more than on autograph. They asked if I was with the band. I reluctantly said no and told them that I was hoping for an oppearance Just like them. I was half way through a story, from one of the girls, about the last bond that came through town, when lo and behold out came Gordie Johnson. lmmediatley the girlsand the autograph seekersswarmed around him, but not before I requested my interview, brimming with hope. He agreed after hearing my sob story and told me to wait until he was through with the group that had gathered.So there I waited alive with anticipation once again as I watched Gordie, and as they came out the restof the bond, Interact with the fans. Gordie seemed to enjoy the attention most of all, shaking hands, signing autographs, and letting the girls talk just long enough to Inform them politely that he was flattered, but no. his wife wouldn't appreciate that. I looked down going over the questions in my head, and then the next thing I knew Gordie Johnson tugged me by the shoulder and led me into the tour bus for the Interview. I was a little nervous, but here's how it went; SM: I want to know, what is the scene? GJ: What is the scene? The scene is kind of a joke, that song is a little bit of a joke It's sort of like, if you're hip enough to not be hip at all then you must really be hip.
ISOMA - feature interVIEW
David Saito most especially. his sculptures. which were on display recently In hissolo show in our UCFV gallery. If you had come in and made yourself at home. you would have surely recognized this world. You mihgt have taken a seat on the 3 A.M. sofa of despair to join the que assembled before the god of direction; a one-eyed god with a slng u lar view, Bringing your teddy bear. you could join the transfixed child in front of his T.V undergoing Indoctrination Into the way of the world that awaits him. Or perhaps you would have identlfed with another of David's sculptures human forms immobilized In boxes, forced to conform to pre-ordained shapes, all crated and ready to fit into our society that we. at some level have decided to accept. Thingsremain as they are because we have silently consented to this status quo.
(continued onpage 16)
Artsand
Timely and Thought Provoking
• 12 Conclusion
We have universal standards in place by which we can, like a plumb line, measure the human rights performance In all the States in the world. We, also. have organizations, such as AL Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, the Humana Report and the HDI that report and monitor the human rightssituation in various parts of the world. We, also. have War Crimes Tribunalsand an International Court of Justice that can, if the political will is there, bring rogue States to the dock. The dilemma, though, between trade and rights Is an ongoing one. Canada has been known, when the stakes are not too high and the consequences minimal. to limit aid and trade with States that demonstrate little or no regard for human rights. Canada, for example, withdrew aid to Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia in the mid-late ?Os,withdrew support from Afghanistan when the USSRinvaded in 1979, refused to old Morcos
Entertainment (continued forn page 10)
!Don Wright FSA,OCfv What's In a label and who determines this sterotype? Are people who flee brutal oppression deservedly called terrorists, if they desperately grab a hostage in the process? Thisis only one of many questions we are faced with in David Edgar's Pentecost, the firstUCFVTheatre department presentation of the season. Pentecost is a very dense: multi-layered play, that needs to be viewed two or three times, or carefully read to fully appreciate all the issues It raises. and the possibilitiesthat they offer. Its a very long play, complete with a myriad of characters. languages, and unexpected twistsand turns, It demands your attention and doesn't let go the time essentially goes by quickly.
Pentecost presents us with such a group of 'terrorists'. It features a gypsy family fleeIng persecution, a Kurdish woman who escaped a chemical weapons attack on Kurdish villages In Northern Iraq, a Sri Lankan. Moslems, and a Palestinian who all had lost family members and friends as the result of government abuse of human rights. All were rejected refugee status at the unidentified Balkan country border, despite International agreements such as the 1951Convention on the Statusof Refugees. Somehow this rag-tag bunch manages to hijack a bus, take an aid worker hostage, and finally end up seeking sanctuary in an old church which, unknown to the refugees. has already become a complex battleground for western indifference, and religious and cultural Intolerance. All the refugees want is the chance to live and work In peace. But in this shoot-first world, that is too much to ask. There wasn't much wrong with this production. As I mentioned, the play is very dense and with as many as ten or twelve actors on stage sometimes, combined with the frequent shifts In language, I know I missedsome linesthat would have filled in a few more details for me. But overall the acting was wonderful. the set and costumes were very appropriate, and I'm looking forward to the next production.
The Theatre department Is gaining a reputation for frequently presenting work that strays from the safe and secure. pushes boundaries, poses questions, and gives the audience something new to think about.
Pentecost falls squarely into this category. as it forces us to confront our complacency with the normalization of western imperialism. It not only does this in terms of control of geography, but in terms of the control of ideas. It becomes clear as the play progresses that this control extends even further, laying claim to and cornmodifylng not only all knowledge, but as media critic Neil Postman would say. ways of knowing. Our primary way of attaining knowledge is through mass media, which automatically characterizes any resistance group (armed or unarmed) as a terrorist organization. ThisIn turn frames all further discussion about the group, making It easy for government forces to justify whatever extreme action they may wish to take.
On a lighter note are his two black and white pieces expounding the joys of alternate transportation; mobility via bicycles and skateboards. The closely cropped photos draw the viewer intimately Into the scene.
SCENE IN THE GALLERY Ill !{Pat Harris wnter It's all so unreal!! It's all so plastic!! Not the show, the world, according to David. Like willing victims. we succumb to what we're being force-fed. Thisidea is demonstrated so well by my favourite of his pieces faceless human forms. lined up one behind the other, patiently waiting their turn to be consumed by that which they would consume- blindly accepting their fate as detemined by the monolithic television screen; the destination into which they disappear, Welcome to the world as viewed by David Saito. His thought provoking ideas take material form in his paintings, photographs and.
was, also, not a flagrant violation of international law. he Russell International War Crimes Tribunal Judged the USA and found It guilty of substantive crimes against humanity. The proceedings of this trial are opened up to the Interested reader in AGAINST THE CRIME OF SILENCE(1968). The Nuremberg, Tokyo and RussellWar Crimes Tribunals, in their different ways, sought to take the ideas of international law and give them some sort of consistency and reality. Why should tyrants and dictators be excused from their dastardly deeds. The reality of this has become pertinent once again with the attempt by the supreme court in England (Nov./98) to hold Pinochet responsible for his crimes against humanity (and the Chileans in particular) for the more than 3,000 who disappeared or were killed/tortured during his reign in from the 70s-90s.But we need to ask, why should the USAnot be tried, then, for bringing Pinochet to power In 73. and supporting him throughout his reign of terror? And should not England be tried for faithfully supplying Pin0chet with an ample supply of arms? If we are going to be serious about War Crimes Tribunalsand Crimes Against Humanity, we need to ask deeper and more thorough going questions about those who both create the killing fields and those who pay and support those who do the killing.
Isthere an escape? Is there a gathering of modern day knights waiting in the wings? David's businessmensuggest so. One of his large thought provoking acrylic paintings has the central image of hands extended to the Orient in trade, but elsewhere asks.are we ~Lostat sear I have my doubts about businessleading us to the dawning of a better day. but who knows! Other works in David's show Included a second large acrylic painting and three photographic pieces. The painting focuses on the wistful gaze of a child, while surrounding him with the reassuring teddy bears and an airplane, waiting perhaps, to transport him into his future. His largest photographic work is from his 'Memories' series and harkens back to events In the life of his family.
Come to us for your "Personal"look. Cuts, Perms, Colours, and more! Our students are trained and supervised to ensure professional results. Call for an appointmnent or drop by today. 111-1111
and as the chilly winter wind spun the mill faster and faster I could only come to one conclusion. If there was a hell, I thought it would hove sixof these things spinning at its gates. It's 9:51 a.m Monday morning. My editors are going to be cranky and nervous in about 2 hours.when after sitting around and watching me write this last minute article they realize that I am utterly unprepared to finish. I planned to finish last night, but In a lazy slide of the elbow a glass of water introduced Itselfto my keyboard; the damage was not as bad as imagined. but the night of writing was shot. I began my coverage last Monday when Bryon gave me a ride to a friends house. Hislittle blue truck bombed around a corner as he told me about a chlidrens entertainment group that he once worked for. Bryan was a fireworks specialist, The company's name was Mad Science. and Bryan told me that if I ever wanted to construct on interesting little pyrotechnics display, he would show me how. Great colours too, he assured me.
Evelyn McGregor
c}u,li'• ,Sehool of _;s.. u,, 28 31940 S. Fraser Way (MeadowfairMallat ClearbrookRd.)
Six years ago a young lifeguard named Bryan drove away from Abbotsford with thoughts of horrible, horrible freedom on his mind. He left the suburban Mecca behind, favouring a desire for anywhere but here. He travelled 'round the world, including stints in Miami, the Carrlbean, Holland, Germany and the rest of Northern Europe. There Is even a tale or two about being smuggled across borders. Slowly, the baywatch concept holding Bryan's mind gave way to the more serious existential question that he focussed upon: How con I get a degree and st/IIhave fun? Enter 1996, and the former lifeguard entered UCFV. 1998.The Lazy Marxist stumbles across a big man erecting a big post. Justoutside the newest addition to the Abbotsford campus. Enter Talesof the Lazy Marxist. The Cascade had asked for a piece on someone local, and so I decided to write about a sculptor named Bryan. He has been ·seen erecting large phallic structures around the Abbotsford Campus grounds. "It's not phallic." he tiredly explains to me. for the fiftieth time. "A beer can Is phallic," as he reaches towards another can of Canadian, "anything cylindrical and longer than wider Is phallic." Bryan does . not' like It when I assign some psychological intentions to his work. He thinks that I am misunderstanding ft, hispiece of art; that material object that reveals hisexploration of an autonomous act. My misunderstanding of Bryan's work often gets him to explain himself. I have found this to be my strongest tool for plying information out of him, I tried getting him drunk, but the big bastard handles his drink far better than I. I had failed horribly and ended up raving around his house trying to Jump over his lamp. The events of that night are somewhat foggy; however, I was smart enough to catch the name of a sod and yet elegant print hang1ng over Brian's computer. The print is called Francois and is the work of Evelyn Mcgregor. It depicts a clown from antiquity. which eyes you with a knowing suspicion. The clown does not trust you. but he Is also aware of the fact that he Issimply a clown, on entertainer who takes pride In craft. I am a Journalist, I take pride in my craft. however horribly I perform It. Bryan hates journalists. He doesn't trust politicians much either; actually the man smacks of anarchism. He Just left the room a while ago, complaining about how I had pigeon-holed him by calling him a local artist. I con apprleciate hismission;avoid the categories, live as an unknown. slip past the great soc iol og ico I mind. Unfortunatly, I had hooked Into the great beast. and so now the man must go down as someone who was dangerously characterized. In any event, his work seems phallic to me so you can decide for yourself. Some Abbotsford campus students might have noticed his Foll 1998 original, a 16 foot pole with a windmill on top. Bryan called it "Swath". The thing scared the shit out of me. I encountered it after a lecture on "Truth". The subject matter had made me curse and swear as I walked down the sidewalk bemoaning rationality. A cold wind blew across my face, forcing me to look up and see "Swath" for the first time. Its fierce red gunnells picked up speed.
ltales of the Lazy Marxist columrust
That's not to say that Bryan is a violent man. Sourcesinform me that he abhors violence. Thank Christfor that. I was trying to figure out how long I would hove to hide after printing this article, Violence isa big theme here. though. especially with my ability to secure information from him. Every time I catch him I have to think quick and shoot questions out like bullets. He isn't interested in waiting for me to write anything down either. so I have been covering this story with a combination of mental recollection and a bunch of rushed notes. Lying before me isa jumble of cryptic and abstract keywords, scribbled on Zig-Zag papers and napkins. One particular paper reads: Discussion concerning Instances of death. What is it about the alien and disconnected details of some poor strangers death that make it grim and yet absurd at the same time? Bryan told us about some poor bastard who flipped a pond-cleaning machine on Mill Lake. He was killed instantly, -Bryan- explains; jackhammered into 4 feet of murky duckshit. Pretty disturbing, Not that Bryon is all that disturbing. He Justdoesn't like being disturbed. especially by me. The biggest disturbance when convering a person who does not necessarilylike publicity ishis unwillingness give a photo. If you add in my history of ignorant photographic journalism. you have the potential for problems. Luckily I was able to convince the Big Chief and Chaerophon to help me attain a shot. Big Chief snapped off a covert ops photo while we were hanging out at Bryan'sapartment. We got the shot, and now I have finished the story. Thank Christ. (ed. note In the late afternoon we lost the original photo of Bryan, but he would have wanted us to continue on. io his memory. with this photo of Francois.)
\
I thanked him and made a mental note to find proper funding for this madman. It would be interesting to Jet him loose on things that explode, I thought to myself. I decided against this idea when Bryon found out that I was writing something about him. He does not like the idea of an article about him appearing in the mythology that is Lazy Marxism. "You're no more a LazyMarxistthan I am an Artist" he yellsat me. Conversation breaks down at this point and I find myself having to resort to violence.
To highlight the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty International members around the world have been campaigning on behalf of human rights defenders. Many are women like Irene Fernandez, the Director of Teneganita, a women's nongovernmental organization in Malaysia who is being charged with publishing a report about the ill-treatment of migrant workers, and Ngawang Sangdrol, a Buddist nun from Tibet, who is serving an 18 year sentence for engaging in peaceful protest calling for independence from China.
In 1997, people were reported tortured or ill-treated by security forces, police or other state authorities in 117 countries. In 34 countries, political prisoners were behind bars after unfair trials. People were arbitrarily arrested and detained, or in detention without charge or trial in 53 countries. Executions were carried out in 40 countries, white prisoners were under sentence of death in at least 70 countries. In 31 countries, people "disappeared" in 1997 or remained "disappeared" from previous years, and armed opposition groups committed serious human rights abuse, such as deliberate and arbitrary killings of citizens, torture and hostage taking in 31 countries
Many Canadians joined Amnesty International throughout the 1960's, but it wasn't until 1973that members belonging to groups in Ontario met to form the Canadian Section, which in 1978 divided into two branches, and now includes over 130 active English and French groups, a Youth/Campus network with approximately 300 groups, as well as networks that focus on specific professionssuch as medical, legal, teachers, and artists.A women's action network was formed in 1991,and one for refugee work was established in 1995.From 400 members in 1974, the Canadian Section has grown to 70,000 members and supporters.
rticle 11 Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed nnocent until proven guilty. rticle 12 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy, amily, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon their honor and reputaion.
Article2A Everyone has the right to rest and leisure.
Article27 everyone has the right freely tq participate in the cultural life of· the community.
rticle 1 All Human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. rticle2 Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth In this Decoration, without distinction of every kind. rticle3 Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person. rticle4 No one shall be held in slavery or seNitude. rticle 5 No one shall be subjected torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading reatment or punishment.
Article14 Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy, ln other countries, asylum from persecution. Article15 Everyone has the right to a nationality. Article16 Men and Women have the right to marry and have a family.
Article 18 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Article19 Everyone has the right to freedom of op[nion and expression.
Article29~e..[')'.onehas duties to the community. Article30 Nothing 1rr-thtsbectarationmay be interpreted as implying any right to engage in any activity aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth.
Article28 Everyone Is en led to a social and international order in which hts and freedoms set forth In this Declaration can be fully realized.
Don Wright chairs Abbotsford Group 163. Information for this article was compiled from a variety of Al materials. For more information visit the Al web site at <www.amnesty.ca> or drop by the UCFV Amnesty International office on the Abbotsford campus in building B next to the student lounge.
Un_iv~rsal.pecla}atior,_C?r··H_umarj'Rights
The first president of the Canadian Section was·Dr.John Humphrey, a law professorat McGill and former United Nations official who was one of the authors of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And it is this declaration, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, that is the starting point for much of Amnesty lnternational's work.
Amnesty International began as a public appeal by a Britishlawyer, PeterBenenson, on behalf of two Portuguese students who were imprisoned for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom in 1961 His newspaper article was published worldwide and it struck a common chord, resulting in more than a thousand offers of support for the idea of an international campaign to protect human rights. There are now almost one million members and supporters in more than 160 don, has more than 300 permanent staff and 95 volunteers from more than 50 countries.
Arlicle~5 Everyonehasthe right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being. Article26 Eve(Yonehas the right to education.
The UDHR,as it isknown, represented a great step forward in the respect of human rights and sets the basis for all other human rights law, essentiallypaving the way for a variety of international agreements and two important, legally binding covenants that were entered into force in 1976. These are the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Members of Amnesty International firmly believe that people working together can stop human rights violations. The principle of human solidarity has motivated members of Amnesty International-Canada for twenty five years, helping put human rights issueson the public agenda. But there ismuch work to be done.
n December l 0th 1948,the General Assemblyof the United Nations adopted nd proclaimed the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights,a condensed verion of which has been included on this page. Following this historical act, the ssemblycalled upon all the member countries to publicize the text of the Decarqtion and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded rincipally in schoolsand other educational institutions,without distinctionbased n the political status of countries or territories''.
rticle6 Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before he law. rticle 7 All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discriminaion to equal protection by the law. rticle 8 Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent naional tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him/her by the onstitution of by law. rticle9 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest aetention or exile.
Article 13 Everyone has the right to freedom of movement.
Article17 Everyone has the right to own property.
countries, and the organlzaL!:::==========I:.JI tion's ne·rvecentre, the International Secretariat in LonFSA, UCFV "For years I was held in a tiny cell. My only human contact was with my torturers My only company were the cockroaches and mice On Christmas Eve the door to my cell opened and the guard tossed in a crumpled piece of paper. It said, 'Take heart. The world knows you're alive. We' re with you. Regards, Monica, Amnesty International.' That letter saved my life."
Julio de Pena Valdez, labour organiser, Dominican Republic It is a simple idea, but one that works taking action to protect the human rights of one person at a time and it is at the core of the work that Amnesty International members in Canada have been doing for 25 years.
rticle 1O Everyone isentitled to full equality to a fair and public hearingcbyan ndependent and impartial tribunal.
Article 20 Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. Article21 Everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country. rtlcle22 Everyone as a member of society, has the right to social security and Isentitled to the realization of economic, social and cultural rights.
(continued from page 14) reign of brutality in the Phillippines, stood against Uganda in 73 (ldi Amin), Pinochet (73) and halted aid to Cuba in 78. The fact, though, that CIDA withdrew did not mean that businessin these countries ended. The Export Development Corporation (EDC) continued to ply their trade. The fact, though, that CIDA funding was temporarily suspended in some of the States listed above merely highlights a point. Canada will often take the moral high ground when it comes to dealing with States that if has little or no significant trade ties with. But, States like China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Vietnam, USA Abbotsford Air/ Trade Show or APEC 97 our real colors are shown and displayed for all to see. The International Trade Business Plan for 95-96 (published by the Ministry of Supply and Services) has targeted 7 States as growth markets: China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Korea and Turkey; the hard facts speak for themselves. Canada is keen and eager to trade with tyrants and dine with dictators. The sooner we remove the cataracts from our eyes, the quicker we will realize that we are part of the real terror network that wrecks havoc on much of our global village. Indeed, we are a hawkish and money hungry people and this must be confessed. The captains of industry sit on their sable thrones while the dove of peace is handed scraps, stroked and kept in a gilded cage.
_
Artlde 23 Everyone has the right to work Everyone has the right to form and join trade unions.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, but if we don't stand up for these rights, we risklosing them. It's up to all of us to keep the light on human rights.