Industrialized Food Production - Is it a Crime Against Humanity?

After WWII farming became more industrial with higher efficiencies, increased use of chemicals, and increased use of machines.  What should have lead to an abundance of food for everyone has resulted instead to poverty, starvation and suicide.  The increased costs of farming bankrupted small farmers and they lost everything to banks and big agricultural businesses.  These farmers migrated to the cities where they found poverty and no hope. 

Some country's agricultural industries are being destroyed by globalization and dumping of products by larger industrialized countries.  Third world countries borrow money which comes with strings attached which are meant to force the country into the 21st Century of trade and globalization.  The farmers are forced to compete on a global scale and many are unable to, so their production decreases or stops altogether. Theoretically globalization is a sound economic objective but when larger countries with cheaper production export their products to third world countries at lower prices, it kills the local market which cannot compete.  In reality this practice creates dependence and a cycle of poverty in the Third World. 

If industrialization and globalization has indeed bankrupted the small farmer and reduced self sufficiency in 3rd world countries, then it is killing people through poverty and starvation.  Killing people by any means is a crime, killing large amounts of people is a crime against humanity.

I don't believe that was the intent or is the intent of the powers that be that have changed the way the world looks at food production.  I believe the objective was to produce more food then the world needed.  Unfortunately, this is not the result as the increased costs of farming, importing and exporting have driven up the prices of food.

It is time for many 3rd world countries to go back to sustainable farming practices on a smaller scale.  Instead of the cycle of sending aid to these countries, developed nations should be helping families grow their own food to support themselves.  Sending money is a quick easy band aid that makes our governments feel good about themselves. However, the aid ends up lining the pockets of corrupt government officials and people continue to starve.  Investment in the country to develop agriculture would be a better solution to aid.  Although not an easy one.

What can we do to help feed the world and end global starvation?

South Sudan Independence Threatened - What Can we Do?

South Sudan's independence is on the line and worse - human lives.  As border disputes and struggles for power start new wars in the area many innocent people are caught in the crossfire.

What can we do 1/2 a world away?
Should we do anything? 
What right do the Western countries have to interfere in local boundary issues? 

There are so many questions to ask, and many people feel helpless to do anything so they do nothing.  Is nothing really going to help those living in refugee camps, those who are running from areas of conflict? 

South Sudan has been in conflict off and on for the last 50 years and the world has ignored their cries.  I grew up in the 80s when millions of South Sudanese were being slaughtered and thousands of orphans were fleeing into refugee camps yet there was no aid song for them.  Teenagers participated in 30 hour famine events for the starving Ethiopians while the country next door didn't make a footnote in the media.  Now 20 years later we have a choice, ignore their plight again or do something.

Our Lame Excuses for Inaction:

We negate the issues and turn the news off when it is too much for our sensitivities, we have our own problems of crime and terrorism.  We think of ourselves and thank God that we are not over there - wherever the there is.  We expect our leaders to do something, but not too much, maybe wave a finger of shame at the aggressors.  If it costs us anything then we don't want to get involved, after all we deserve life and liberty - they don't. 

We claim that the problem is too big and too foreign for us to do anything about - we are way to busy in our day to day lives and just don't have time to care about others.  We are guilty of consumerism and we continue to gobble up the resources of this world without a thought to the consequences for others.  I count myself amongst those guilty of this.

These and many other lame excuses or justifications for doing nothing while others die are examples of our own inhumanity.  Now is the time for action not lame excuses, what can you do to help change the world?

Our Actions for Change: 

We can change the world by writing letters to our Governments asking them to step in and mediate.
We can write letters to our media and ask for more information, more coverage of South Sudan.
We can join with other organizations working toward a better Sudan.
We can be ethical consumers and stop buying items that enhance the bank accounts of warlords.
We can buy fair trade.
We can talk to our neighbours and friends about South Sudan
We can organize a petition, a protest, a sit in, or any form of event to get the word out.
We can join organizations for Sudan on Facebook and post about Sudan on our facebook walls

What else can we do?  Leave your ideas in the comments section of this post.

Sometimes There is Good News - Harper Promises to Get Tougher on Criminals.

The splashy headline aside, the news that Harper wants to pass laws making it more difficult for liberal judges to go easy on multiple offenders is good news.  What some Canadians don't realize though is that he can only do these types of things IF he gets a majority government.  As a minority government leader he has been unable to introduce law changing bills because without a majority the Liberals veto every effort.  Without a majority he must cater to those in opposition that don't want tougher penalties for criminals.  That said, not all Liberals want to veto laws that punish offenders, its just their job as opposition.  That is why in Canada when there is a minority government, nothing gets done, we don't move forward, we only tread water. 

Harper:

"Our Government has made standing up for victims of crime a priority," Harper said. "A re-elected Conservative Government will build on our accomplishments in this critically important area to ensure all Canadians feel safer in their communities."

The good news though is that someone in power is making a promise to get tough on criminals.  That someone is willing to stand up for victims and pass laws that will force judges to impose stiffer sentences.  The struggle now for every citizen in Canada concerned about the level of Crime is to keep the pressure on our leaders to ensure that they follow through with their promises by writing emails, letters etc.  Some promises cannot be allowed to be broken.

Online Crimes Against Children - New Laws Needed

Child pornography is a huge issue in the online world and its time that the laws got tougher.  Our laws are so concerned with the rights of the criminal that they don't protect the rights of the victim, especially children.  The courts have made the job for police enforcement harder then ever all the while children and women are in chains being forced to do acts that they do not want to do. 

It's obvious that there is a need, the question now becomes how, what can we do to force change in our governments?  What can we do to force change in our laws? 

We can start by asking our politicians the tough questions.  We can write letters to the editor of our local papers.  We can talk with our friends and neighbours about the issue.  Until the population of our country decides that its time for change, nothing will be done.  What will you do?

It is in our neighbourhood's in our communities, in our countries.  We as citizens need to make our voice heard and insist that our governments crack down on this horrific crime.



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Apathy,It's the Government's Fault

I came across a TED video of Dave Meslin on the Crime Analyst's Blog and I found it very interesting and timely considering our current election fever, or lack there of.   I encourage you to go to the Crime Analyst's Blog and check it out.  In the video Mr. Meslin has uncovered why Canadians are so Apathetic and guess what, it's not our fault. 

Apathy is a huge issue in Canadian electoral politics and one that should be fixed.  The question is how, have you ever watched a parliamentary debate?  Not the stuff of action movies.  There has to be something to make the process more interesting to the general public.  Maybe a musical number?  We've seen our Prime Minister sing and dance, now let's see his cabinet.  Oh ya they tend to do that in front of the media's camera's outside Parliament when explaining their actions, or lack there of, inside.  Ignatiff probably would sing, if he ever showed up for work. 

Our taxes are high, crime is high, health care is at an all time low, social services are struggling, and education has been cut back so much there is almost no need for kids to attend.  What is it going to take for Canadians to care enough to get involved, to say something, to jump up and down stomp their feet and say enough is enough - it's time for a change.

Unfortunately no time soon.  As long as our electoral process remains the same, as long as regions continue to be under represented, and as long as voters feel powerless - Apathy will continue to plague our country.  Will Vote Mobs work? We tried a new party to stew the pot - remember the Reform Party - but that didn't work.  What has to happen for Canadians to feel that their vote matters enough to turn up to the polling station?

Schoenborn is an Example of A Justice System Failing Society.

Allan Schoenborn's day pass fiasco is just another example of how the Canadian justice system is failing to protect it's citizens.  A psychotic killer of children should never see the light of day, even if accompanied by a guard, for any reason.  This man is already living better than he did when he was free, living in Merritt BC in an old trailer.  Why should any tax payer pay for him to go to the local gym, pool, or go out for a coffee.  Since we are a one income family on a tight budget I can't afford to give my family these luxuries so why should Schoenborn get free access to Rec Centers where children are present?

He is obviously a disturbed man who never should have had access to his children but the courts allowed it.  What kind of country do we live in where children are not protected but their murders get to live in the lap of luxury?  What's next day passes for Clifford Olson?  What about the children's mother, what about her sanity and safety?

Whichever politician is going to get tougher on crime and rework the system to protect the citizens of this country gets my vote.  One question, is there any politician up for the challenge?

Ivory Coast Dictator Gbagbo Arrested - Should UN of Helped?

I believe that the arrest of Gbagbo is a good thing, sending a strong message to the world that the days of dictators who commit crimes against humanity are numbered.  Gbagbo was arrested today by pro-Ouattara rebels strengthened by the actions of French forces.  The French presence on the street and the bombing of Gbagbo's location helped to disperse pro-Gbagbo forces, clearing the way for Gbagbo's arrest.  By not standing by and allowing further atrocities to occur France has sent a message that the democratic process started in 1990 is important to the Western power. 

However, should the UN and foreign forces get involved in these conflicts?  Both the French and the UN have claimed they were not part of the push to arrest Gbagbo, the bombings and the vehicles flying the French flag in the streets were what, a Coincidence?

Reading the timeline of the democratic process and civil war in the Ivory Coast, one has to wonder if anymore could have been done?  It seems to be a mess of one bully after another ignoring the people's democratic voice and seizing power by force. 
The UN and France both have been in the area trying to help enforce the 2003 peace treaty with a limited force.  It does not look like the UN mandate was strong enough to force the peace treaty, especially considering that it took 5 years to call the democratic election the treaty promised.  Then when the results were not in his favor Gbagbo delayed leaving office and another conflict resulted. 

In the 1990's the UN did not support their troops on the ground while people were being slaughtered around them, now 20 years later they still want to sit and watch?  What is their purpose if not to ensure peace in the World?  If the UN chooses to be ineffective should it still be in existence?  Considering the resources that countries send to finance the UN, it should be effective at something.  It may be time for taxpayers to demand a return for their tax dollar investment. 

The people of the Ivory Coast voted for Ouattara, yet Gbagbo stayed in control of the country.  The UN had declared Ouattara winner of the election and did nothing to oust Gbagbo.  Could the fighting of the last year been avoided if the UN had stepped up and supported Ouattara and his government by ousting Gbagbo? 

If the UN is going to the expense and trouble of overseeing a democratic election it should follow through to ensure the results of that election are enforced.  The UN will only do what it's member states are willing to do and the political leadership of the member states will only ask for what its people want it to.  In other words, if you want to end conflict and crimes against humanity in the world, you have to ask your leaders to. 

We can have a voice, isn't that what democracy is all about?  We can say enough is enough by writing letters, signing petitions, volunteering or just receiving newsletters from organizations like, oxfam, enough, and amnesty international.  Your voice although small, when added to other voices becomes a booming noise from the Western Countries and that my friend, will make all the difference in the world.

So many of us watch the news, think oh that is horrible, turn the channel and forget.  What does that say about us?  I know we are busy people trying to get ahead in this world however, we can't forget our own humanity along the way. 

Have any other ideas about how to help put an end to Crimes Against Humanity?

What now for Gbagbo?  Should he face charges at the ICC or be judged by the new Ivory Coast government?  Should he be executed or languish in jail?  What are your thoughts about what should happen now?