Canadians Lost

From the Globe and Mail:

"‘Lost Canadian’ hopes to overhaul Canadian citizenship laws through class-action lawsuit"

A woman who has waited years to establish her Canadian citizenship in court is considering expanding her case into a class-action lawsuit to include thousands of other so-called “lost Canadians.” Jackie Scott, 68, was refused citizenship even though she came to Canada with her British mother and Canadian father at the age of two and spent most of her life here. A judicial review of that denial was to have started on Monday, but as the proceedings got under way, Ms. Scott put it on hold so she and her lawyers could broaden the court action.  Ms. Scott had initially asked the court to determine whether she was a citizen. But “it’s not just about me,” she told reporters afterward, saying she could not in good conscience become a Canadian without doing everything she can to help other “lost” individuals. Ms. Scott was born in England in 1945 to a Canadian serviceman father and a British mother and later migrated to Canada. The government claims that Ms. Scott’s father was legally considered a British subject at the time because Canada’s first citizenship act did not come into effect until 1947. “What happened today is quite interesting and it’s going to result in a historic decision as to what a Canadian is and when Canadians actually came into being,” one of Ms. Scott’s lawyers, James Straith, said outside the court. “What we hope to do now is come back and get a final order from the court where the court finds not just in Jackie Scott’s case, but in every one of these cases of lost Canadians,” Mr. Straith said. The government argued in a written response to Ms. Scott’s application for judicial review that “Canadian citizenship is a creation of federal statute. In order to become a Canadian citizen, a person must satisfy the applicable statutory requirements.”

But Mr. Straith said he finds that claim very troubling. If the government is “able to maintain that citizenship is only something that is defined by Parliament, and not simply defined by the law and Constitution of Canada, then they have a lot more flexibility on what they can do with citizenship and where they can allow and deny citizenship,” he said. Ms. Scott’s decision to expand the court action came after Judge Luc Martineau refused to allow a government document to be brought before the court. The document – a 1943 pamphlet issued to Canadian soldiers – deals “with the historic rights of Canadians as they were going overseas,” Mr. Straith said. It states that the soldiers “were fighting as citizens of Canada, not as merely British subjects,” he said. But due to the narrow nature of a judicial review, such a document is not permitted. Ms. Scott and her lawyers decided a trial setting could lead to a more meaningful ruling. “Then the court can make a finding, binding on everyone, that as a matter of fact Canadian citizens did or did not exist prior to Jan. 1, 1947,” Mr. Straith said. “It’s an opportunity to get this dealt with once and for all.” Ms. Scott’s judicial review has been adjourned. Over the next few weeks, she and her lawyers will determine whether to pursue a class-action lawsuit, or petition the court for a declaratory statement. Although the timeline is still uncertain, Ms. Scott should be back in front of a judge in September. If the new action is denied, the judicial review will go forward. How many people might be affected by a class action or declaratory statement is unclear. “I would guess that there are probably several thousand people that are affected like Jackie,” said Don Chapman, the founder of the Lost Canadians. When the federal government overhauled its citizenship laws in 2009, approximately 750,000 lost Canadians gained citizenship. However, because the changes applied only to those born in or after 1947, individuals like Ms. Scott were excluded. And although Ms. Scott said it would have been nice to leave the court on Monday with confirmation that she’s Canadian, she knows she is not the only one affected by a feeling of statelessness.

^ I have said it before and will continue to say it - the Canadian Citizenship Laws are pretty messed up. Unlike, Australia and the UK - which always allowed dual citizenship - Canada didn't from 1947 to 1977 and any Canadian living outside of Canada for a certain period of time could lose their citizenship. In 2009, the Canadian Government tried to fix some of its past mistakes and let Canadians who had their citizenship taken from them by the Canadian Government could apply to get it back (and if approved it was given back to the day it was taken from them.) The 2009 law didn't fix everything and in fact created several new problems. The new law created "Lost Canadians" and also striped native Canadians of giving Canadian Citizenship to their children if they are the 2nd generation born outside of Canada. This personally affects me and any children I will have as the Canadian Government would refuse to recognize them as Canadians. I was always taught that Canada was a country that was supposed to be the most politically correct, the most polite, the most multicultural, etc, but it seems those traits aren't always what they seem to be. The Canadian Government is allowed to openly discriminate against native Canadians and their children and no one seems to care. ^

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lost-canadian-hopes-to-overhaul-canadian-citizenship-laws-through-court/article13352773/

England, GB Or UK?

From the BBC:
"Royal baby: The American mistake"

Some US television networks proclaimed the royal baby news by welcoming the arrival of the "future king of England", forgetting about the rest of the UK. Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish... you may want to look away now. Some of the biggest names in American broadcasting have overlooked your existence amid the hysteria surrounding the newborn Windsor. Star presenters on CBS News and ABC News were among the culprits who referred to the baby as "the future king of England". American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted: "It's a boy! So happy for my cousin Kate and the future King of England". But there hasn't been a King of England since William III in the early 18th Century - and there won't be again, unless (or until) the United Kingdom splinters completely.

It's a common misunderstanding in the US. The New York Times angered many Scots when it marked Andy Murray's Wimbledon triumph with a tweet that said: "After 77 years, Murray and England rule" But before Brits get too sniffy about this equation between Britain and England, we should acknowledge it's a pretty complicated business and the English are sometimes guilty of the same mistake. A common error is for the British themselves to forget about Northern Ireland by referring to "Great Britain", which is an island, when really they mean the United Kingdom. (The Northern Irish are "British" without being part of Great Britain.) And remember that the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are British, but not part of the UK. Head hurting yet?  This is a two-way street, and getting to grips with the correct terminology stateside is also a tricky business. The United States of America is often referred to as "America" by British people, but consult the Oxford English Dictionary and you'll see that America is a desire, a place you yearn for. Of course, Simon and Garfunkel fans knew that already. The distinction between America and the US is important, because there is another America, Latin America. Not to mention Central America, and the rest of North America (including Mexico and Canada).  So can we legitimately use "American" as an adjective referring to something from the US? If so, you're back in the Britain/British quagmire again. Perhaps the answer is for everyone to be tolerant, to embrace a bit of "constructive ambiguity"... and just toast the health of the future king.

^ This was an interesting article. It seems that lots of nationalities - not just Americans - have this problem. When I was in school our textbooks always said "Russia or Russians" when they meant "Soviets or the USSR." Out books also said "English" when they meant "British." If we teach our kids the wrong terms it is not surprising that they use the wrong names when they are older. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-23423784

It's Never Too Late

From USA Today:
"'Wanted': Nazi hunters track war criminals in Germany"

Wanted" posters have been tacked up across Germany by Nazi hunters who say there are war criminals out there who continue to escape justice almost seven decades after the end of World War II. "The advanced old age of the perpetrators should not be a reason to discontinue prosecution, since the passage of time in no way diminishes their guilt and old age should not protect murderers," said Efraim Zuroff, the director of the Israel office of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a human rights group that tracks anti-Semitism. "Every single prosecution is an important reminder that justice can still be achieved for the victims of the Holocaust," he said. The campaign, "Late. But not too late! Operation Last Chance II," kicked off Tuesday and offers a $33,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Nazi criminals, according to the center.  The posters show a black-and-white photograph of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp and state: "Millions of innocents were murdered by Nazi war criminals. Some of the perpetrators are free and alive. Help us to bring them before a court." Zuroff estimates that about 60 potential war criminals are still alive. The campaign to seek out former World War II-era Nazis in Germany was launched by Zuroff following the conviction of John Demjanjuk in Munich. Demjanjuk was a Ukaranian-American convicted in 2011 by a German court for as an accessory to the murder of 27,900 Jews while a guard at a Nazi extermination camp. He died in a German nursing home in March 2012. In a legal precedent in Germany the court held that anyone who was an "overseer" of activity in the concentration camp could be charged with complicity in the murders even if they did not directly kill inmates.  Six million European Jews were exterminated in the Holocaust, a genocide that involved thousands of German Nazis and their collaborators throughout Europe.

^ I have said this for years. There is no stature of limitations on murder (and if there are in some places -  there shouldn't be.) Just because these Nazis and their collaborators are old doesn't mean that they deserve any kind of special treatment when caught. The Nazis openly murdered the very old, the very young, the disabled, etc. Anyone and everyone the Nazis saw as "sub-human" was killed in some of the worst ways imaginable. The people who murdered or even knew about the murders and did nothing are guilty and always will be. ^

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/23/nazi-wanted-posters/2577997/

Canada's Succession

From the Globe and Mail:
"Ottawa says it will defend new royal succession rules from Quebec challenge"

The federal government says it will defend its new royal succession law as the province of Quebec joins two Quebec professors who are mounting a constitutional challenge. “No constitutional amendment is required for Canada to give its assent to this U.K. legislation, and we are prepared to defend the Succession to the Throne Act, 2013 before Canadian courts,” Paloma Aguilar, spokeswoman for Justice Minister Peter MacKay, said Monday.  The legal posturing, a harbinger of a potential constitutional spat, erupted as Prince William’s wife, Kate, gave birth to a boy, now third in line to the British throne. The revamped succession laws would have had more application had the new royal baby been a girl because they modernize the previous rule of succession that allowed younger boys to leapfrog over their older sisters. Parliament passed Canada’s law in March. Canada joined 16 other Commonwealth countries, following a British request, to fast track royal succession laws. Last month, two Quebec professors filed a constitutional challenge of the Canadian law in Quebec Superior Court because the provinces were not consulted. Initially, the province of Quebec did not immediately align itself with the legal action. But that changed hours after reports emerged that the Duchess of Cambridge had gone into labour on Monday. A spokesman for Quebec’s attorney general told The Canadian Press via email that the province is “effectively” in the case. Paul-Jean Charest said the department would soon file a legal motion before the courts, and would make its position known then. Robert Finch, dominion chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, said Monday he was aware of these legal developments. He said he support Canada’s position, but lamented the timing of the discussion. “The overwhelming majority (of people) are simply excited about the royal baby and aren’t getting too caught up with the legal nuances,” he said shortly after learning of the Quebec government’s intervention in the case on social media. “I’m surprised the Quebec government is coming late to the table to challenge it,” he added.

^ As I previously wrote, I don't see the Canadian Government in the wrong in this case. It seems that Quebec (as usually happens) is feeling left out and is trying to keep its name in the papers - especially with the new royal baby. ^

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-says-it-will-defend-new-royal-succession-rules-from-quebec-challenge/article13351647/

British Blocked

From the BBC:

"Online pornography to be blocked by default, PM announces"

Most households in the UK will have pornography blocked by their internet provider unless they choose to receive it, David Cameron has announced. In addition, the prime minister said possessing online pornography depicting rape would become illegal in England and Wales - in line with Scotland. Mr Cameron warned in a speech that access to online pornography was "corroding childhood". The new measures will apply to both existing and new customers. In his speech, Mr Cameron said family-friendly filters would be automatically selected for all new customers by the end of the year - although they could choose to switch them off.  And millions of existing computer users would be contacted by their internet providers and told they must decide whether to use or not use "family-friendly filters" to restrict adult material. The filters would apply to all devices linked to the affected home Wi-Fi network and across the public Wi-Fi network "wherever children are likely to be present". Customers who do not click on either option - accepting or declining - will have filters activated by default, Tory MP Claire Perry, Mr Cameron's adviser on the sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood, told the BBC. The UK's biggest internet service providers have agreed to the filters scheme meaning it should cover 95% of homes.

 

Other measures announced by the prime minister included:

• New laws so videos streamed online in the UK will be subject to the same restrictions as those sold in shops
• Search engines having until October to introduce further measures to block illegal content
• Experts from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre being given more powers to examine secretive file-sharing networks
• A secure database of banned child pornography images gathered by police across the country will be used to trace illegal content and the paedophiles viewing it

^ While I do not personally watch porn I do not think it is up to the government  to restrict porn access if porn is legal in that country. If porn is illegal than it makes sense to block it from everyone, but to have it legal and then block it from everyone automatically and then have individuals have to "opt-in" to see it is just dumb. It is the same with smoking. As long as it is legal to buy and smoke cigarettes then no place should be allowed to openly discriminate against smokers. There are very cheap ways for places to have inside areas that smokers can go to and at the same time have non-smokers not have to smell it. The bottom line here is: if it's legal than leave it alone. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23401076

Canadian Response

From the GG of Canada:
"Birth of Royal Baby"

Message from the Governor General on the Birth
of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Baby Son 

OTTAWA—My wife, Sharon, and I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the occasion of the birth of their son. Sharon and I have five wonderful daughters and ten delightful grandchildren and know well the elation that a new arrival brings to a young family. We know that this happy event brings great joy not only to Their Royal Highnesses, but to the entire nation as well. May the years to come with this child be filled with love and pride for all members of the Royal Family.  David Johnston

Message du gouverneur général à l’occasion de la naissance du fils du duc et de la duchesse de Cambridge 

OTTAWA — Mon épouse, Sharon, et moi désirons féliciter chaleureusement Leurs Altesses Royales le duc et la duchesse de Cambridge à l’occasion de la naissance de leur fils. Sharon et moi avons cinq filles et dix petits-enfants exceptionnels et connaissons l’immense allégresse que procure l’arrivée d’un nouveau-né au sein d’une jeune famille. Nous sommes convaincus que cet heureux événement comble de joie non seulement Leurs Altesses Royales, mais aussi toute la nation. Puissent les années à venir aux côtés de cet enfant être emplies d’amour et de fierté pour tous les membres de la famille royale.  David Johnston

^ This is the official announcement of the Governor General of Canada (who represents the Queen of Canada when she is not in the country.) ^

http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15236&lan=eng

Royal Boy

From the BBC:
"Royal baby: Kate gives birth to boy"

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, Kensington Palace has announced. The baby was delivered at 16:24 BST at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, weighing 8lb 6oz. The palace said in a statement that the duchess and the baby were "doing well". She and Prince William will remain in the hospital overnight. The news has been displayed on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in line with tradition. A bulletin - signed by the Queen's gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who led the medical team that delivered the baby - was taken by a royal aide from St Mary's to the palace under police escort. The document said: "Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today. "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well." The Kensington Palace press release said the Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news," it said. And the Prince of Wales, in a separate statement, said he and the Duchess of Cornwall were "overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. "It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy," he added. "Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future." BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the duke and duchess spent time bonding with their son before they told the family their news.

Royal doctor Mr Setchell described the new arrival as "wonderful baby, beautiful baby", our correspondent added. Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking outside Downing Street, hailed the "wonderful news". "It is an important moment in the life of our nation but I suppose, above all, it's a wonderful moment for a warm and loving couple who've got a brand new baby boy," he added.

He said the Royal Family could "know that a proud nation is celebrating with a very proud and happy couple tonight".

^ It is good news. This child will one day be King of the UK and also King of Canada (along with many other places.) I noticed that even on Quebec sites in French and English the announcement was met with cheer. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23413653

New King

From the BBC:
"Philippe becomes new Belgian king as Albert II abdicates"

Crown Prince Philippe has been sworn in as the new Belgian king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II. The Oxford- and Stanford-educated, trained air force pilot took the oath as the country's seventh king in a ceremony in parliament. To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution. Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role. One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.

In his final address before signing a legislative act to step down, 79-year-old King Albert said his country must remain a "source of inspiration" to Europe.  His resignation on the grounds of ill-health came after nearly 20 years on the throne and was timed to coincide with Belgium's national day. He stressed his wish that Belgium - split between the Dutch-speaking north and the French south - remained united. In a colourful ceremony topped off by trumpet fanfare and cannon-fire, Philippe took his oath in the country's three official languages - Dutch, French and German.

---

Along with the national football team, the monarchy is often regarded as one of the few institutions that actually holds Belgium together.  Even so, opinion polls suggest French-speaking Wallonia is now a good deal more royalist than Dutch-speaking Flanders, and the new king will have to convince some citizens of his credentials.  His big challenge will come next year when national elections are due to be held, and separatist parties in Flanders are expected to do well.  After the last election it took more than 500 days to form a national government, because of the deep divisions between Flanders and Wallonia.  As king, Philippe (or Filip in Dutch) has an important constitutional role to play, and he will need to prove that he has the political skills to mediate between very different visions of his country's future.  This was a reminder of the delicate political task that awaits him - trying to mediate across the divide between French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders, where support for independence has been rising fast, says BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris.

Flag-waving supporters gathered in the midday sun waiting for their new king and his wife, Mathilde, to greet them from the balcony of the nearby royal palace. "The new king is a bit of history," said Xavier De Graef, draped in the red, yellow and black of the Belgian tricolour. "That doesn't happen very often so we wanted to be here," Mr De Graef, from French-speaking Liege, told Reuters news agency. King Albert's abdication comes only three months after Queen Beatrix of the neighbouring Netherlands vacated the Dutch throne in favour of her son Willem-Alexander.

^ Hopefully the new king can do what his father couldn't - effectively keep a Belgian government. The Belgian Monarchy has been ridden with problems in the past. The current King's grandfather was forced to abdicate in the 1950s for his role in World War 2. The current King's uncle died childless. The current King's father couldn't get a Belgian government for 500 days - the longest in word history. I don't know much about how ordinary Belgians feel about their Monarchy, but from what I can see it doesn't look good. Maybe the new one will bring good change. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23393963

Love To Hate

From Yahoo:

"10 Countries That Love (and Hate) America the Most"

Who loves ya, baby? If you’re the United States of America, the answer is fewer and fewer people around the world. In Britain, France, Germany and nearly a dozen other prominent nations, the percentage of people with a favorable view of the United States has declined over the last decade, according to a new global survey by the Pew Research Center. That trend has been apparent since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, which was highly unpopular in many countries. The 2008 financial meltdown marked another slip in America’s reputation, as many people blamed Wall Street for a global recession that still weighs on the world economy. Controversial drone strikes aimed at terrorists and childish political antics in Washington continue to mar America’s image abroad.

Some nations still have a soft spot for the U.S., however.  Of 39 nations where Pew conducted surveys,

 Here are the 10 where people have the most favorable impression of the U.S.:

1. Philippines (percentage with a favorable view of the United States: 85%)

2. Israel (83%)

3. Ghana (83%)

4. Senegal (81%)

5. Kenya (81%)

6. El Salvador (79%)

7. South Korea (78%)

8. Italy (76%)

9. Uganda (73%)

10. Brazil (73%)

Why are these particular countries so fond of us? For many of the African nations, it's largely because of the aid we send them, which is a strong starting point for better relations with this increasingly important continent. Most Americans don’t think much about Africa, but other nations -- like China do -- because economic conditions in several African nations are improving rapidly, and some of them are rich in rare-earth minerals, oil and other valuable resources. Africa is also important because it can serve as a staging area for counterterrorism operations in Somalia, Libya, and wherever the bad guys try to hide out next. The strong U.S. showing in South Korea shows the two nations remain unified in their approach to the cranks in North Korea, perhaps the most nettlesome nation on earth. Brazil is one of the world’s biggest and most important developing nations, so good relations there are important. Israel’s spot near the top of the list shows a strong alliance on Middle East interests, despite some sharp differences on how to manage some of the more divisive issues, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. America’s popularity in the Philippines, meanwhile, suggests Uncle Sam isn’t the exploitative quasicolonial power some critics claim it is. There's been a strong history of military and economic cooperation between the two nations since the Philippines became independent in 1946, including substantial U.S. aid to the archipelago. The Philippines also has territorial disputes with China, which could bind it even more closely to the United States.

It goes without saying that we remain unpopular in a few places.

Here are the 10 nations with the least favorable impression of the U.S., according to Pew:

1. Pakistan (percentage with a favorable view of the United States: 11%)

2. Jordan (14%)

3. Palestinian territories (16%)

4. Egypt (16%)

5. Turkey (21%)

6. Greece (39%)

7. China (40%)

8. Argentina (41%)

9. Tunisia (42%)

10. Lebanon (47%)

It’s not surprising that America is most unpopular in Pakistan -- there are deep divisions over U.S. drone strikes on Pakistani territory and other unilateral efforts to hunt down terrorists without that country's approval or cooperation. Strong U.S. support of Israel has long been generating enmity in Muslim nations, including Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, plus the Palestinian territories.

The negative view of America in China — where we're the biggest consumer of Chinese exports -- may come from government efforts to paint the U.S. as a hypocritical nation that badgers others about environmental issues and human rights, even though its own record is spotty. Argentina has developed strong ties with China in recent years, which might explain its modest antipathy toward America. There’s some consolation in those weak approval numbers. In several countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Germany, Australia and even Russia, American citizens are more popular than the nation they hail from. That suggests the U.S. government and its policies are the biggest threat to our standing in the world. A lot of Americans probably agree.

^ There are always those that love you and those that hate you. Of course people usually dislike you because they are jealous and I think that's the case here. ^

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/10-countries-love-hate-america-most-163930019.html

Recorded Driving

From Yahoo:

"Driving somewhere? There's a government record of that"

Chances are, your local or state police departments have photographs of your car in their files, noting where you were driving on a particular day, even if you never did anything wrong.  Using automated scanners, law enforcement agencies across the country have amassed millions of digital records on the location and movement of every vehicle with a license plate, according to a study published Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union. Affixed to police cars, bridges or buildings, the scanners capture images of passing or parked vehicles and note their location, uploading that information into police databases. Departments keep the records for weeks or years, sometimes indefinitely.  As the technology becomes cheaper and more ubiquitous, and federal grants focus on aiding local terrorist detection, even small police agencies are able to deploy more sophisticated surveillance systems. While the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that a judge's approval is needed to track a car with GPS, networks of plate scanners allow police effectively to track a driver's location, sometimes several times every day, with few legal restrictions. The ACLU says the scanners assemble what it calls a "single, high-resolution image of our lives."  "There's just a fundamental question of whether we're going to live in a society where these dragnet surveillance systems become routine," said Catherine Crump, a staff attorney with the ACLU. The civil rights group is proposing that police departments immediately delete any records of cars not linked to a crime.  Law enforcement officials said the scanners can be crucial to tracking suspicious cars, aiding drug busts and finding abducted children. License plate scanners also can be efficient. The state of Maryland told the ACLU that troopers could "maintain a normal patrol stance" while capturing up to 7,000 license plate images in a single eight hour shift.  "At a time of fiscal and budget constraints, we need better assistance for law enforcement," said Harvey Eisenberg, chief of the national security section and assistant U.S. attorney in Maryland.  Law enforcement officials also point out that the technology is legal in most cases, automating a practice that's been done for years. The ACLU found that only five states have laws governing license plate readers. New Hampshire, for example, bans the technology except in narrow circumstances, while Maine and Arkansas limit how long plate information can be stored.  "There's no expectation of privacy" for a vehicle driving on a public road or parked in a public place, said Lt. Bill Hedgpeth, a spokesman for the Mesquite Police Department in Texas, which has records stretching back to 2008, although the city plans next month to begin deleting files older than two years. "It's just a vehicle. It's just a license plate."  In Yonkers, N.Y., just north of the Bronx, police said retaining the information indefinitely helps detectives solve future crimes. In a statement, the department said it uses license plate readers as a "reactive investigative tool" that is only accessed if detectives are looking for a particular vehicle in connection to a crime.

"These plate readers are not intended nor used to follow the movements of members of the public," the department's statement said.  But even if law enforcement officials say they don't want a public location tracking system, the records add up quickly. In Jersey City, N.J., for example, the population is only 250,000 but the city collected more than 2 million plate images on file. Because the city keeps records for five years, the ACLU estimates that it has some 10 million on file, making it possible for police to plot the movements of most residents depending upon the number and location of the scanners, according to the ACLU.  The ACLU study, based on 26,000 pages of responses from 293 police departments and state agencies across the country, also found that license plate scanners produced a small fraction of "hits," or alerts to police that a suspicious vehicle has been found. In Maryland, for example, the state reported reading about 29 million plates between January and May of last year. Of that amount, about 60,000 — or roughly 1 in every 500 license plates — were suspicious. The No. 1 crime? A suspended or revoked registration, or a violation of the state's emissions inspection program accounted for 97 percent of all alerts.  Eisenberg, the assistant U.S. attorney, said the numbers "fail to show the real qualitative assistance to public safety and law enforcement." He points to the 132 wanted suspects the program helped track. They were a small fraction of the 29 million plates read, but he said tracking those suspects can be critical to keeping an area safe.  Also, he said, Maryland has rules in place restricting access for criminal investigations only. Most records are retained for one year in Maryland, and the state's privacy policies are reviewed by an independent board, Eisenberg noted.  At least in Maryland, "there are checks, and there are balances," he said.

^ I guess driving really is a privilege and not a right. ^

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/driving-somewhere-theres-govt-record-145230580.html
 

Rolling Suspect

From the BBC:
"Rolling Stone defends Boston bomb suspect cover"

---

Had this picture appeared on the front cover of a news magazine, like Time or Newsweek, there would not have been a social media backlash. Indeed, the same portrait featured prominently on the front page of the New York Times in May without controversy. Rolling Stone is different because it's done so much over the decades to shape American popular and celebrity culture.  To some, then, a bomb suspect is being depicted as a cultural icon. The sepia-tinted photograph, where Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appears rather dreamy and vacant, looks like a relic from the 70s. Again, it has fuelled criticisms that the magazine is softening, even glamorising, his alleged crimes. This controversy also says a lot about the state of the American magazine market, and the pressure on publications to produce eye-catching and newsy images. This week Newsweek spliced together the portraits of the Florida teenager Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, the man acquitted last weekend of his murder. Bloomberg's Businessweek depicted a hedge-fund manager with a graph coming from his groin that intentionally looked phallic.  "The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone's long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day," it said. But two Massachusetts-based convenience store chains, Rockland and Tedeschi Food Shops, as well as Cumberland Farms, said on Wednesday they would not stock the edition. Two national pharmacy chains, CVS and Walgreens, quickly followed suit. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said on Wednesday the Rolling Stone was "ill-conceived, at best, and reaffirms a terrible message that destruction gains fame for killers and their 'causes'". Boston City Council President Stephen Murphy said the cover was "disgusting". "Rolling Stone has marketed Tsarnaev as a hero, a misunderstood teen, a product of two incompatible cultures," he said in a statement.  "He is not. He is a coward and a murderer who is appropriately facing the death penalty for his crimes." Commentators on social media networks also said the magazine cover was tasteless.  More than 15,000 mainly outraged comments were posted on Rolling Stone's Facebook page.

^ This is just a pathetic way for Rolling Stone to try and sell issues. I like that stores are refusing to sell the issue and if people are really upset over it then they won't but it. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23351317

The Heat Is On

From Yahoo:
"Heat blankets much of US as summer sizzles"

From Minnesota to Massachusetts temperatures surged to potentially dangerous levels Wednesday as the largest heat wave of the summer stretched out and stagnated, with relief in many parts of the country still days away.   Most states in the U.S. were expected to have some areas where the temperature would hit 90 degrees or more, according to the National Weather Service. Humid air just made it all feel worse, with heat indexes in some places over 100. Parts of 19 states were under weather advisories.   In New York City, where it was 95 degrees, sidewalk food vendor Ahmad Qayumi said that by 11 a.m., the cramped space inside his steel-walled cart got so hot, he had to turn off his grill and coffee machine.   "It was just too hot. I couldn't breathe," he said, turning away a customer who asked for a hamburger. "Just cold drinks," he said.  Amid the heat, officials in Washington D.C.'s Maryland suburbs worked to keep a failing water main from cutting off hundreds of thousands of people, just when they needed it most. People in Prince George's County were asked not to run their faucets, water their lawns or flush toilets to keep the water system from emptying during emergency repairs.   At the World Trade Center reconstruction site in New York City, workers building a rail hub dripped under their hardhats, thick gloves and heavy-duty boots. Some wore towels around their necks to wipe away the sweat.  Officials blamed hot weather for at least one death. A 78-year-old Alzheimer's patient died of heat exhaustion after wandering away from his northern Kentucky home Tuesday in temperatures that rose to 93 degrees.   Limited relief, in the form of a cold front, was expected to begin dropping south from Canada starting Thursday, before sweeping through the Midwest and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions by Saturday. That will bring lower temperatures, but also possibly severe thunderstorms, Vaccaro said.

^ We are in the heat wave too. We have had temperatures of 96 F with a heat index of 120 F. It is also very humid and we have the threat of strong thunderstorms everyday this week   - right now we are under a severe thunderstorm watch and it is really dark outside. It feels more like when I lived in Virginia than in New England. It really makes me miss having a pool. ^

http://news.yahoo.com/heat-blankets-much-us-summer-195328605.html

Royal Swearing

From the Globe and Mail:
"Would-be Canadian citizens set to fight oath to Queen"

A small group of landed immigrants with republican views who have refused Canadian citizenship because the ceremony involves swearing an oath to the Queen will be in a Toronto courtroom on Friday, facing off with the federal government in an attempt to have this citizenship requirement declared unconstitutional. But with a royal baby on the way, and a federal government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper that has dedicated itself to reviving the country’s connection to the monarchy – restoring the word Royal to the Royal Canadian Air Force, among other measures – the dissenters may have their work cut out for them. In court, the federal government is set to argue simply that immigrants who disagree with the idea of a hereditary head of state, and refuse to swear an oath of loyalty, do not deserve the benefits of citizenship. “The inability to enjoy the benefits of citizenship – to hold a Canadian passport and to vote – are amongst the costs reasonably borne by individuals whose personal beliefs run contrary to Canada’s foundational constitutional structure,” a lawyer for the federal Attorney-General says in written arguments submitted in advance of Friday’s hearing. Friday’s court fight is the latest chapter in more than 20 years of failed legal challenges to the citizenship oath spearheaded by Trinidadian-born Toronto activist and lawyer Charles Roach, who died last year at 79, never having become a Canadian citizen. The legal application in court Friday seeks to have the part of the oath that refers to swearing allegiance to “Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her Heirs and Successors” struck down because it violates the protections for freedom of religion and conscience in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration said the government had no plans to change the oath “Canadian citizenship is an honour and a privilege,” spokeswoman Sonia Lesage said. “The government has been working hard to maintain the integrity of the system and to increase the value of Canadian citizenship.”

^ I have to agree with the Canadian Government. If would-be Canadians don't like swearing an oath to the Queen (or King) of Canada then they shouldn't become Canadians. Canada has a long history of monarchism - even though many ordinary Canadians don't understand what it truly means - and until the Canadian public and/or Government decides to become a republic and do away with the Monarch then new citizens should be required to swear loyalty to the Queen as she is the head of the country. One thing the Ministry of  Citizenship needs to address is allowing Canadians born in the second-generation outside of Canada to at least one Canadian parent to pass on their Canadian citizenship to their children born outside of Canada. I am considered a native (ie non-naturalized) Canadian and yet can never pass on my Canadian citizenship to my children if they are born outside of Canada. That is true discrimination - not having new citizens swear loyalty to the Monarch. ^

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/would-be-canadian-citizens-set-to-fight-oath-to-queen-as-discriminatory/article13160104/

Homosexuality Legal

The last list was for illegal homosexual activity and here is the legal activity.

1. It is legal for homosexuals (male and female) to marry and serve in the military (with dates of legality):

- Canary Islands: Legal (1979), Marriage (2005), Military (2009) -   Ceuta:  Legal (1979), Marriage (2005), Military (2009) - Melilla: Legal (1979), Marriage (2005), Military (2009) - Mayote: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - Reunion: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002)- South Africa: Legal (1998), Marriage (2006), Military (1998) - Canada: Legal (1969), Marriage (2005), Military (1992) - Mexico: Legal (1872), Marriage (Mexico City 2010, Quintona Roo 2012), Military

- St Pierre & Miquelon: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - United States: Legal (2003), Marriage (Massachusetts 2004, California 2008, 2013, Connecticut 2008, Iowa 2009, Vermont 2009, New Hampshire 2010, District of Colombia 2010, New York 2011, Washington 2012, Maine 2012, Maryland 2013, Rhode Island 2013, Delaware 2013, Minnesota 2013) Military (2011) - Bonaire: Legal, Marriage (2012), Military (1974) - Sint Eustatius: Legal, Marriage (2012), Military (1974) - Saba: Legal, Marriage (2012), Military (1974)- Guadeloupe: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - Martinique: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - St Barthelemy: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - St. Martin: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002)- Argentina: Legal (1887), Marriage (2010) Military (2009) - Brazil: Legal (1830), Marriage (2013), Military  - French Guiana: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - Uruguay: Legal (1934), Marriage (2009), Military (2009) - New Zealand: Legal (1986), Marriage (2013), Military (1993)- New Caledonia: Legal, Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - Wallis & Futuna: Legal, Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - Denmark: Legal (1933), Marriage (2012), Military -   Norway: Legal (1972), Marriage (2009), Military  - Sweden: Legal (1944), Marriage (2009), Military -   Portugal: Legal (1983), Marriage (2010), Military - Spain: Legal (1979), Marriage (2005), Military (2009) - Belgium: Legal (1793), Marriage (2003), Military  - France: Legal (1791), Marriage (2013), Military (2002) - Netherlands: Legal (1811), Marriage (2001), Military (1974)

2. It is legal for homosexuals (male and female) to marry, but they have no military:

- Iceland: Legal (1940, Marriage (2006)

3. It is legal for homosexuals (male and female) to have civil unions and to serve in the military:

- United States: Legal (2003), Civil Union (New Jersey 2007, Oregon 2008, Nevada 2009, Illinois 2011, Hawaii 2012, Colorado 2013) Military (2011) - Colombia: Legal (1981), Civil Union (2009), Military (2009) - Ecuador: Legal (1997), Civil Union (2008), Military - Australia: Legal (1994), Civil Union (New South Wales 2010, Australian Capital Territory 2008, Tasmania 2004, Victoria 2008, Queensland 2005) Military (1992) - Austria: Legal (1971), Civil Union (2010), Military  - Czech Republic: Legal (1962), Civil Union (2006), Military - Germany: Legal (1969), Civil Union (2001), Military (2000) - Hungary: Legal (1962), Civil Union (2009), Military - Slovenia: Legal (1977), Civil Union (2006), Military - Switzerland: Legal (1942), Civil Union (2007), Military - Finland: Legal (1971), Civil Union (2002), Military - Ireland: Legal (1993), Civil Union (2011), Military (1993)
- United Kingdom: Civil Union (2005), Military (2000) Legal (England & Wales 1967, Scotland 1981, Northern Ireland 1982)

4. It is legal for homosexuals (male and female) to have civil unions, but they have no military:

-    Liechtenstein: Legal (1989), Civil Union (2011) - Greenland: Legal (1933), Civil Union (1996) -   Jersey: Legal (1990), Civil Union (2012) - Isle of Man: Legal (1992), Civil Union (2011) - Andorra: Legal (1791), Civil Union (2005)

The majority of the countries not on any of these lists allow homosexual activity, but do not provide for either marriage or civil unions.

* While these lists are considered to be correct they should only be used for research and not as a definite list. *
 

Homosexuality Illegal

I have received several comments by people asking me to update the laws regarding homosexuals around the world (ie where it's legal, illegal, etc.) I have done my best to update it.

1. Being a homosexual (male and female) is illegal and punishable with death:

- Sudan, Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia, Somaliland, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran

 

2. Being a homosexual (males only) is illegal and punishable with prison:

 

-  Sierra Leone (Life),  Mauritius (5 years), Seychelles (14 years), Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Grenada (10 years), Jamaica (10 years), St Kitts & Nevis (10 years), St Lucia (10 years), Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Cook Islands, Tonga (10 years), Tuvalu (14 years), Turkmenistan (2 years), Uzbekistan (3 years), Gaza (10 years), Singapore (2 years), Turkish Cyprus

 

3. Being a homosexual (male and female) is illegal and punishable with prison:

 

-  Algeria (2 years),  Libya (5 years), Morocco (3 years), Western Sahara (3 years), South Sudan (10 years), Tunisia (3 years), Gambia (14 years), Ghana (3 years), Guinea (3 years), Liberia (1 year), Senegal (5 years), Togo (3 years), Cameroon (5 years), Eritrea (3 years), Burundi (2 years), Kenya (14 years), Tanzania (Life), Comoros (5 years), Botswana (7 years), Zambia (14 years), Belize (10 years), Antigua & Barbuda (15 years), Barbados (Life), Dominica (10 years), St Vincent (10 years), Trinidad & Tobago (25 years), Guyana (Life), Papua New Guinea (14 years), Solomon Islands (14 years), Kuwait (10 years), Oman (3 years), Qatar (5 years), Syria (3 years), Bangladesh (Life), Bhutan (1 year), Pakistan (Life), Brunei (10 years), Burma (Life), Malaysia (20 years), Malawi (14 years), Uganda (Life)

4. Being a homosexual (male and female)  is illegal and punishable with a fine:

-   Egypt, Ethiopia, Angola, Namibia, Samoa, Maldives, Sri Lanka

 

* While these lists are thought to be as correct as possible people should only use these as research and not a definite list. *

Euthanasia Memorial

From the BBC:
"Germany memorial for Nazi 'euthanasia' victims"

Work has begun on a memorial in Germany for the 300,000 people murdered by the Nazis for having mental and physical disabilities or chronic illnesses. A 30m (100ft) long glass wall is being built in the centre of Berlin, near the former site of the Nazi-era office that organised the "euthanasia" programme. In 1939, Adolf Hitler told officials that people "considered incurable" should be "granted a mercy killing".  The programme ended officially in 1941, but continued covertly until 1945. At first, personnel killed people by starvation and lethal injection. They later used gas chambers at killing centres in Germany and Austria. The programme, also known as Action T4, is considered a precursor to the Holocaust, during which millions of Jews were killed. On Monday, Germany's State Minister for Culture, Bernd Neumann, said educating people about the Nazis' crimes and honouring their victims remained an obligation for the country. In recent years, memorials have been constructed in Berlin for Jewish, Roma (Gypsy) and homosexual victims of the Nazis.

 

^ It is important to remember all the victims of the Nazis. There were numerous groups of people singled out by the Germans for extermination before and during the war because they did not fit the new Aryan Master Race ideology. I spent 4 summers working at an overnight summer camp for the mentally and physically disabled as a counselor. Before working at the camp (the word camp here while talking about the Nazis doesn't go pass me, but here I mean summer camp) I didn't really pay much attention to those with any sort of disability. I saw them a few times in school as they walked the hall to their special classes and heard others make fun of them. I decided to work at the summer camp to both learn more about the disabled and to test myself - to see if I was cut out for the work. In the end, while the work was extremely hard (even in my 4th summer) it was a lot of fun getting to know the campers. For the most part the campers were more down-to earth and kinder than "regular" people. I now have a new found respect for the physically and mentally disabled and their caregivers and believe that the disability laws around the US and the world need to be enforced more so that everyone is given a fair chance in life. The Nazis may be more known for their cruelty towards the disabled, but many places around the world (including the US) conducted experiments and other horrendous things on the disabled before, during and after the Nazis. I wonder if anyone will make a memorial to all of them around the world. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23234296

4th Of July!

Today is the 4th of July. Like on my birthday I am still sick with he flu so we won't be going anywhere - not that I had anywhere to go. We do have steaks to BBQ and so that will give us some holiday spirit. One things that I don't understand today is why places around the country have the celebrations yesterday or tomorrow instead of today - the actual holiday? The town next to me is having their's on Saturday. I think the celebration of a holiday should occur on the actual day otherwise it is just a normal day.

Royal Abdication

From the BBC:
"Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication"

King of the Belgians, Albert II, has announced his abdication. In a national televised address, the 79-year-old monarch said he would step down in favour of his son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, on 21 July, Belgium's national day. He said his health was no longer good enough to fulfil his duties, and he would step down after nearly 20 years on the throne. King Albert was sworn in as the sixth king of the Belgians on 9 August 1993. His accession to the throne followed the death of his brother, King Baudouin, at the age of 62. "I realise that my age and my health are no longer allowing me to carry out my duties as I would like to," he said in his address. After he succeeded his brother, King Albert became embroiled in a major royal scandal when he was alleged to be the father of an out-of-wedlock daughter, Delphine Boel, and suffered a crisis in his marriage with Queen Paola.  That issue came to the fore again this spring when Ms Boel opened court proceedings to prove she was the king's daughter. There is some speculation in the media that this may have influenced his decision to abdicate. Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.

One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.  King Albert exercised his authority in mediating between political leaders on the formation of a government during the 2010-2011 parliamentary stalemate, when Belgium was left without a government for 541 days after elections failed to find a clear winner. Tensions between the two main language communities of Flemish and French sometimes run high, and the issue has brought down several governments, creating frequent political instability. Respect for the royal family, though, is one of the few factors that crosses the communal divide. King Albert's announcement comes only three months after Queen Beatrix of the neighbouring Netherlands vacated the Dutch throne in favour of her son Willem-Alexander.

^ I haven't been to Belgium much, but what I did see was nice. We were driving from Germany to catch a ferry to England at Zeebrugge. We missed our ferry and had to wait for the overnight one so we went to a local amusement park that had dolphins as it's theme. It was a fun time. While we were in the Flemish (Dutch) speaking part it didn't seem to matter since we were speaking English to everyone (I'm not sure how they would react to a French-speaker there or vice versa.) If the Belgian king's job is to resolve deadlock governments then it may be a good thing that he is abdicating as 541 days without a government is something to be ashamed of. Hopefully, the new king will be able to keep the country united. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23167525

Healthcare Change

From the BBC:
"US delays introduction of key healthcare provision"

The main provision of a landmark healthcare bill passed under President Barack Obama will take effect one year later than planned, his administration has said. Employers now have until 2015 to extend healthcare benefits to their employees. The move has been seen as a major concession to retailers and other businesses. But it puts off the law's aim of giving coverage to nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance. It also raises questions over whether other elements of the bill will be implemented on schedule, analysts say. Business groups hailed the unexpected decision, saying it would give employers more time to prepare for the changes without having to incur penalties. But it could mean that many Americans remain uninsured. The 2010 Affordable Care Act, sometimes known as Obamacare, requires businesses with more than 50 workers to provide health insurance to all their full-time staff, or pay a series of increasingly severe penalties. From 1 January 2014 companies would have had to pay $2,000 (£1,320) for each uninsured employee, but the measure will now not be introduced until 2015. There is no fine for smaller businesses or for companies with workers who qualify for Medicaid, a government healthcare programme for the poor.

It was expected to have the greatest impact on hotel, restaurant and retail businesses that have many low-paid workers. Some Republicans said the decision was proof that the whole law should be repealed. "The White House seems to slowly be admitting what Americans already know," said Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate. "Obamacare needs to be repealed and replaced with common-sense reforms that actually lower costs for Americans."

^ It does sound a little like what the TSA just did. The TSA first said that they would allow small knives on planes. The American people complained loudly against it and then the TSA said they were going to move the date of when knives would be allowed and finally they announced that no knives would be allowed. This could be a first-step in delaying or repealing Obamacare (one can hope.) Maybe Obama and the Democrats are finally starting to realize that while health care in the US desperately needs to be fixed it can't be done under the current Obamacare provisions. Obamacare merely adds millions of people to an already crumbling system and does little to actually fix the system. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23156568

Canada Day

Today is Canada Day. It is when the different provinces joined together and officially became Canada (well the Dominion of Canada) in 1867. While it wouldn't be a completely independent country until 1982  - when the British Parliament no longer needed to give their consent to Canadian laws - it was the beginning of a long process that has made Canada what it is today. I haven't been in Canada on Canada Day and would like to see what it is like and how they celebrate the holiday.

Croatia In EU

From the BBC:
"Croatia celebrates on joining EU"

Croatia has become the 28th member of the European Union, with crowds joining celebrations in the capital Zagreb. Fireworks lit the sky as membership became effective at midnight (22:00 GMT), with President Ivo Josipovic describing the event as historic.  It comes almost two decades after Croatia's brutal war of independence. But correspondents say enthusiasm for the EU in the country has been dampened by the eurozone crisis, and Croatia's own economic problems.

---

Thousands of people were in Zagreb's main square for the accession ceremony. They enjoyed performances ranging from traditional dance to hip hop - culminating in a stirring rendition of the EU anthem Ode To Joy at midnight, as Croatia officially became the 28th member state.

But the square was not as packed as it might have been, had accession taken place a few years ago. Economic crises at home and within the EU have made many Croatians ambivalent about membership.  Some said the plight of their fellow Balkan country - and now fellow EU member - Bulgaria made them worried about what might happen to Croatia. Others said the accession process had taken so long - almost a decade - that they no longer cared.  But other Croatians were more enthusiastic - especially those whose lives or businesses involve crossing borders. For them, EU membership should reduce paperwork and hassle - reason enough to celebrate. "Welcome to the European Union!" European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in Croatian to the cheering crowd. President Josipovic said it was "a great and joyful day for our homeland". "This the day when we open a new chapter in the thick book of our history," he added.  Earlier he told a meeting of EU and regional leaders: "The accession of Croatia to the European Union is confirmation that each one of us belongs to the European democratic and cultural set of values." Croatian officials then unveiled EU signs and removed customs posts at the borders with Slovenia, the first former Yugoslav republic to have joined the bloc, and with Hungary. Croatia is the first new EU member since Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. It is 10 years since it applied.

^ I'm glad that Croatia is now part of the EU. I know it has been a long time (10 years) but I hope that this will help Croatia even more since it is such a great country. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23118035

New CDN Passport

From Passport Canada:

"Changes coming soon to the Canadian passport program"

New ePassport, 10-year validity for adult passports, a new fee structure

This year, changes are coming to the passport program that will benefit Canadians and help keep Canada at the forefront of international travel document security.

As of July 1, 2013:

1. Canada’s new 36-page ePassport becomes available through all service channels.
2. A new fee structure takes effect.
3. Applicants age 16 and over can apply for a 10-year passport (a 5-year passport will also be offered, and all children's passports will be issued with a maximum of 5-year validity).

Here is some advice to help with your passport application

• Apply during quieter periods. Early in the morning on a Wednesday or Thursday tends to be less busy in the Passport Canada offices.
• Save time and avoid mistakes. Complete your application form on your computer and then print it out once completed. The fillable PDF application forms are interactive and can help you avoid errors. Doing this may also save you time in the passport office as the barcode can be quickly scanned with the information you have entered.
• Double check. Make sure your application form is complete and you have all of the required documentation – including proof of parentage for child applications.

No changes to application requirements

Application requirements will not change with the new ePassport; however, the application forms will be modified to reflect the new fee structure and give adult applicants the choice between a 5-year or a 10-year passport. These new forms will be posted online on July 1, 2013.

Canadians have told us they are looking forward to the new 10-year passport, so we may encounter higher application volumes in July.

  ^ Finally, Canada has joined the rest of the world with a biometric passport. It's nice that they now also have a 10 year validity. ^

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/articles/20130510.aspx?lang=eng

New Russian Laws

From MT:
"Putin Signs 'Blasphemy' and 'Gay Propaganda' Bills"

President Vladimir Putin has signed the so-called “blasphemy bill” and the “gay propaganda bill” — two pieces of legislation that have outraged the liberal opposition. Both bills were passed unanimously by the State Duma on June 11, 2013, and their full texts appeared on the Kremlin's site Sunday. The blasphemy law will punish “public actions expressing obvious disrespect toward society and committed to abuse the religious feelings of believers,” with potential punishment of up to three years behind bars, fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($15,430), and compulsory correctional labor, Lenta.ru reported It also stipulates fines of 80,000-300,000 rubles and a prison term of up to three months for hindering the activities of religious organizations and preventing religious rites from being conducted. A fine of over 200,000 rubles can be levied for deliberate destruction of religious or theological literature. The bill was introduced to the parliament last year following rock group Pussy Riot's “punk prayer” in Christ the Savior Cathedral, a performance that infuriated conservative leaning segments of Russian society. Rights activists say the new law might be used for religious purposes, for example, to put pressure on the opposition or on free speech, and contradicts constitutional principles. The legislation on gay propaganda will ban the distribution of any information that could make homosexuality seem attractive, promote the “distorted perception” that traditional and non-traditional sexual relations are equal, or force them to become interested in such relations, according to the bill's text. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had asked Putin to veto the bill out of concern that it would lead to discrimination, but her pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Citizens found guilty of propagandizing “non-traditional” sexual relations among under 18-year-olds can be fined up to 5,000 rubles ($154), while officials could be fined up to 50,000 rubles.

The fines could rise to 100,000 rubles for citizens and 200,000 for officials if they use the media to distribute forbidden information. Legal entities will have to pay up to 1 million rubles or suspend their activities for 90 days if they are in breach of the legislation. Foreign citizens would face fines and deportation. Gay teens, many of whom face debilitating hostility at home and at school, look likely to be the hardest hit by the legislation, because the ban will probably make it harder to find objective information that could help them come to terms with their sexuality and find support

^ Shakes my head. Two steps forward. One back. ^

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-signs-blasphemy-and-gay-propaganda-bills/482516.html

My Birthday!

Today is my birthday. It doesn’t feel like any other day except for the fact that I am sick. For the past week my mom has been sick (with the flu) and I, as always, have been taking care of her. Yesterday, after mowing the yards and cleaning the whole house, it finally hit me like a violent smack across the face. I have been on medicine since last night and all it really seems to do is make me feel weaker and sleep more.

People have been asking me what great plans I have for today. Last year I was in New York City and saw a Broadway show. The year before that I was in Fairbanks, Alaska and the year before that we had just gotten home from: Ireland, Northern Ireland and England. My “great” plans for today are: taking care of my dogs, taking care of my mom, taking medicine and sleeping. Sounds like a great time I know. My dad just went back to Afghanistan five days ago and while we should have celebrated my birthday (and my mom’s – her’s is in 2 weeks) early we didn’t. As usual, everything was left to the last minute and he left with a “to-do list” mostly undone and a very messy house. Which I have since cleaned.

My mom and I had discussed BBQing today (since I really like it and rarely get any) but with her sick that was shelved. Then we had discussed driving an hour to a BBQ place I just recently found online and wanted to try, but with me now sick that was also put on the back burner. While we do have the makings for BBQ hamburgers and cole slaw I doubt that we will have even that. I will probably just make some frozen meal. As for a cake: since I didn’t buy/make one myself I am sure there won’t be one.

People also ask me what I got for presents. Again, in years past I received many great things. This year I got: a handful of birthday cards (anyone who knows me knows that I love getting cards even more than presents), a birthday post card, candy from Germany, some movies, books, a gift card and money. My parents gave me a card. I know that mail can be slow and all my friends and family live out of state (and some out of the country) so I could still get something in the mail a little later.

I have also received 1 e-card and many posts on Facebook, but not one person has wished me (either in person or by phone) a “Happy Birthday.”

As you can see this has been a pretty dismal birthday in many respects. As of right now, I simply want to go to sleep and forget this birthday ever happened and hope that next year will be a little better (it couldn’t be much worse.)

Note: It is now 9 pm (4 hours since I wrote this post) and I have received two phone calls wishing me a "Happy Birthday." One was my sister and the other a friend. Both said I sound sick and awful. It was still nice to be remembered.

Latvian Russians

From DW:

"Russian youth camps irk Latvia"

Latvia has warned of increased efforts by Russia to gain influence on ethnic Russian youth in Latvia. Through training camps in Russia, the Kremlin is thought to be trying to win allegiance to Moscow rather than Riga.  Latvia's security services have issued an alarming warning and harsh allegations against their Russian neighbor: The accusation is that ethnic Russian teenagers from Latvia are being offered free military training at youth camps in Russia. According to a recent report by Latvian security police, the teenagers not only get boy-scout style military training, but also ideological lectures and demonstrations of Russia's military might. "It's not only Russia's foreign ministry and military forces that support these camps. Russia's secret agencies do, too," Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks told Deutsche Welle. It's been two years since teenagers from the Russian-speaking minority of Latvia made the first trips to such camps in Russia. The participation is paid for by the Russian government. Last year, a training camp was organized in Velikiye Luki, a town in western Russia. The camp was entitled "Union - Heirs to the Victory" – referring to the Second World War when the Soviet Union and the Allies defeated Hitler's Germany.  Though only around 20 teenagers have participated in the camps so far, Latvia's politicians see it as a threat to national security. "Russia wants to use ethnic Russian youths living in Latvia and put ideological pressure on them. It wants to brainwash these kids into supporting the actions of Russia's soft power, or by winning peoples' hearts and minds. And that's how Russia wants to strengthen its control in the Baltic region," says Pabriks. Teams from countries like Belarus, Ukraine and Armenia participated in the 2012 camp. And there were also participants from the Baltic States, including teenagers from Latvia. The defense minister says participants are involved in a glorification of the Russian armed forces and Soviet history. And, for instance, they're being taught espionage by Russia's military servicemen. He stresses that it's a threat to national security because the kids return to Latvia as patriots of another country.  Pabriks believes Russia wants to reintegrate Latvians into a post-Soviet sphere of influence by stealth. In other words, it uses culture, economics and moral values to influence society. And these youth camps are just one tool, he says. But Anna Bakanach in Moscow, one of the organizers of the camp, denies the accusations. In fact, she says, it's an international event which aims to encourage cultural diversity among children. "I understand that there are objections against the relation to the Soviet Union. But the camp can only be associated with it because of its name 'Union- Heirs to the Victory'. Of course, the name represents the countries which participated in the Second World War. Although the Soviet Union was a huge and strong superpower, it's clear to everyone that it has no come back. And no one has tried nor is trying to revive it."  That said, the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin wants to establish a so-called Eurasian Union - a political and economic bloc, which would also include some of the former Soviet states. Latvian security forces say that Russia has been investing considerable amounts of money to strengthen ties with Russian minorities in the former Soviet republics to help further the idea of this Eurasian Union. "The thing is that these camps are a clear example of Russia using soft power, and taking what could be viewed as simple, cultural events to the next stage," explains Rinalds Gulbis, a researcher at the Center for East European Policy Studies in Riga.  "I mean, the youths and people in general are now being involved in practical activities and military training." Gulbis explains that there is a large Russian speaking minority in Latvia. And half of them - around 300,000 people - are non-citizens and sentimental about the Soviet past. And these kinds of feelings are a fertile ground for Russia to target, says Gulbis.  "The most upsetting fact is that the youths in the camp had to sign a memorandum promising to protect Russia and its values. They vowed to support the spread of the Russian language, culture and to defend Russian politics. The question is – does it match our Latvian values?" Both Pabriks and Gulbis say that Latvia needs to do more to involve kids in patriotic military camps back home in Latvia to counteract what they see as Russian infiltration. According to youth NGOs working in the country, at the moment only every 10th child in Latvia is able to attend a state-funded summer camp at all. That's why Pabriks wants to increase funding for youth programs as he can't forbid children from going to Russia. In the meantime, the foreign ministry in Riga has signaled to Russia that the involvement of Latvian youths in its military camps does not exactly improve mutual relations between the two countries.

^ It does seem a little off to have military training especially considering that Latvia abolished conscription in 2007. It would be one thing if the Russian camp was like a Boy Scout camp (ie teaching good citizenship and basic survival skills) but it seems, at least from this article, that this camp is like a Hitler Youth and a Soviet Pioneer camp (ie teaching political messages as well as weapons/military training.) No matter how much Russia and Putin want the former Soviet Union to come back I do not think it ever will (definitely not the super power it was after World War 2.) Sometimes you have to realize facts and let things go (while holding onto whatever fond memories you had.) Latvia (and other former Soviet Republics) should do more to incorporate the ethnic Russians inside their borders otherwise they will continue to feel like outsiders and go to more of these camps or do other things. It has been 20 + years since the USSR collapsed and while back in  1991 and for several years afterwards there may have been a need for the "non citizens" to be made second-class citizens in their own country. That time has long past. ^

 http://www.dw.de/russian-youth-camps-irk-latvia/a-16896948