De Volkskrant (The People’s Newspaper) is a Dutch morning daily, the third largest newspaper in The Netherlands. Its journalists Maud Effting and Willem Feenstra won the 2026 European Press Prize for Distinguished Reporting for What the wounds are telling us, a powerful investigation of targeted violence through the testimony of victims, medical professionals, and forensic analysis. De Volkskrant’s article is not easy reading.
The New York Times published a piece by Brown University Professor Omer Bartov, titled, “I’m a Scholar of Genocide. I Know It When I See It.” At the risk of this being labelled antisemitic, I repeat words of journalist Gideon Levy published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
“The blunt reality is that when there are no consequences, we humans are capable of immense depravity toward those we are taught to scorn as subhuman.”
When I was an adolescent, my Irish grandfather would recite poetry taught to him by my Scottish grandmother. The poem was usually by Robbie Burns, the Ploughman poet. I was always disinterested.
At the Canada West Forum website, you’ll find a video contrasting two very different responses to homelessness. It shows formerly unhoused people in Finland now living securely and comfortably in permanent homes — a testament to that country’s commitment to long-term solutions. The video also examines American efforts to provide compact, temporary shelters — an approach that may offer short-term relief but is far less effective for people facing chronic housing instability. The Finnish model is explained by Juha Kahila, who will be a featured participant in the upcoming online Canada West Forum event, Housing: The Affordability Challenge.
Fareed Khan describes himself as a “human rights and anti-hate activist, fighting for justice for the oppressed and persecuted.” He has written and commented extensively about these issues. Khan’s Substack account expresses his barely contained outrage about human rights topics. Some examples:
Stephen Fry excels in many forms of entertainment and education. While there seems to be nothing he cannot master, Fry has struggled with bipolar disorder throughout his life. Three years ago, Fry narrated the video ‘What makes something right or wrong?’. It provides a short explanation of humanism.
Ten symptoms of Woke Mind Virus: 1. You read book, and don’t burn them. 2. You embrace science. 5. You believe in true equality FOR ALL PEOPLE! 8. You resepct others’ rights…
World Central Kitchen, founded by Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, is an example of humanitarianism at work. WCK has become one of the world’s leading relief organizations since its 2010 launch following a devastating earthquake in Haiti. Food is essential to life and is vitally important in a crisis. Access to healthy meals during a disaster is a reminder that someone cares. But, of course, not everyone cares. Pierre Poilievre said a Conservative government would cut foreign aid funding. That mimics Trump’s policy of eliminating almost all development and humanitarian help abroad.
A brilliant essay in The Globe and Mail. Andrew Coyne has spent decades observing and writing about Canada. He has interacted with politicians of all sorts, but none like the Russian agent in the White House. Coyne sees that democracy in North America is threatened and he presents a powerful warning…
Audre Lorde was particularly focused on issues involving race and oppression, but her words are relevant to all of today’s critical issues. Individually, we may not affect material change, but working with others, that becomes a real possibility.
In 2000, James M. Kauffman forwarded a satirical letter circulating the Internet, addressed to conservative talk-show host, Dr. Laura Schlessinger. As a result, he became entangled in the raging controversies surrounding homosexuality […]
Trump and his conservative supporters aim to hurt people who seem different from themselves. In the end, they will hurt us all.
A decade ago, the New York Times included American cartoonist Jen Sorensen on a short list of the “most gifted lifters of political veils and pretenses.” Her work might be more relevant in 2025 than it has ever been.
Researchers have proven, scientifically, that humans are all one people. The colour of our ancestor’s skin and ultimately my skin and your skin is a consequence of ulta-violet light, of latitude and climate…
Joan Baez:
We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome, someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I know that I do believe
We shall overcome, someday…
[…] U.S. Senator Chris Murphy has continuously held elected offices since 1999. He was first voted into the Connecticut House…
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ottawa-housing-deal-municipal-analysis-9.7245322 Last Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby announced they would spend $3.2 billion over 10…
Saying isn’t doing. The latest Federal/Provincial Housing Initiative jointly announced by Mr Carney and Mr Eby hasn’t swayed those most…
https://wm-so.glb.shawcable.net/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en&id=416672&part=2 Cant say more!! TB
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[…] Los Angeles-based Critical Energy is developing modular power plants that can be mass-produced in factories, transported in sections by…