I do not know Mel Lehan personally, but I have been aware of his altruistic activism for many years. His Facebook posts are usually both entertaining and informative. Recently, he reposted an item from Informatify about Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. Her story brought back memories of the dangerous years when courageous people risked their lives in the struggle for civil rights.
An intractable problem
I recently read several Facebook comments that trivialized the indiscriminate violence inflicted on innocent people in Gaza and Lebanon. Some commenters suggested that the deaths and disruption experienced by Israeli residents were equivalent to—or even worse than—the destruction inflicted on more than eight million people when sophisticated weaponry threatened or destroyed densely populated areas outside Israel’s borders.
What the wounds are telling us
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.
“I know it when I see it”
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.
Humans are capable of immense depravity
“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.”
Man was made to mourn
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.
Lessons from Finland.
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.
Outrage
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:
Humanism
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.
Be woke!
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…
Not everything is broken in our world
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.
Trump “metastasizing, mutating, rapidly worsening”
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…
Actively working for change…
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.
Should I smite them?
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 […]
In hurting others, we hurt ourselves
Trump and his conservative supporters aim to hurt people who seem different from themselves. In the end, they will hurt us all.
Gifted lifter of political veils and pretenses
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.
Bill Nye, the science guy, on race
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…
Resilience
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…
in-sights.ca 
Lucky that you have a useful advisor at your Chilliwack branch. I've dealt with Vancity in North Van for many…