occupation

Tuesday May 28, 2024

The escalation of protests into prolonged occupations, exemplified by the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Toronto and the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, underscores the challenges and limitations of such movements, highlighting the need to balance the right to protest with maintaining public order and preventing the proliferation of extremism.

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday May 28, 2024

The Limits of Protests – Lessons from Pro-Palestinian and Freedom Convoy Occupancies

The recent incident in Vancouver, where Pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded Prime Minister Trudeau at a restaurant, along with previous instances of incivility, underscores a concerning trend of disrespect and aggression in Canadian politics that threatens the principles of civil discourse and democratic engagement.

November 17, 2023

In recent years, the landscape of protests has shifted dramatically, with demonstrations increasingly turning into prolonged occupations that disrupt communities and breed extremism. Two prominent examples, the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Toronto and the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, highlight the challenges and limitations of such movements.

The pro-Palestinian encampment began as a demonstration against Israeli actions in Gaza, calling for divestment from companies associated with the conflict. While the initial grievances were valid, the occupation of university grounds quickly escalated, disrupting academic activities and fostering an environment of intolerance. Some protesters resorted to hostile rhetoric and actions, alienating potential allies and overshadowing the legitimate concerns at the heart of the protest.

News: U of T files for injunction to evict pro-Palestinian encampment

In the blossoming of spring, the humble tent becomes a poignant symbol of both escape and despair, embodying the struggles of homelessness and the fervent calls for change amidst the tranquility of nature.

May 9, 2024

Similarly, the Freedom Convoy started as a protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, attracting citizens frustrated with government policies. However, the movement swiftly evolved into an occupation that paralyzed the capital city, attracting extremist elements and causing widespread disruption. The government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act underscored the limits of tolerance for such occupations and the need to balance the right to protest with public safety and order.

These examples illustrate the dangers of protests that transform into occupations. While the right to protest is fundamental to democracy, it must be exercised responsibly and within legal boundaries. Occupations disrupt daily life, attract extremism, and erode the legitimacy of the protest, ultimately detracting from its original purpose.

Editorial: The ‘Freedom Convoy’ was hauling a load of bad ideas – but the people on board are not the enemy  

February 19, 2022

Moving forward, it is essential to recognize the importance of protests as a means of expressing dissent and effecting change. However, it is equally crucial to ensure that protests remain peaceful, respectful, and within the bounds of the law. Authorities must enforce these boundaries firmly and consistently, protecting the rights of all individuals while upholding public order.

While protests play a vital role in democratic societies, there are clear limitations when they escalate into occupations. By maintaining a balance between the right to protest and the need for public safety, we can ensure that demonstrations remain a force for positive change rather than a source of division and disruption. (AI)

Thursday May 9, 2024

In the blossoming of spring, the humble tent becomes a poignant symbol of both escape and despair, embodying the struggles of homelessness and the fervent calls for change amidst the tranquility of nature.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 9, 2024

Tent Tales: Finding Shelter in Spring’s Embrace

As Christmas approaches, a lamentation over broken promises and governmental failures at all levels, particularly in cities, reveals the stark reality of the homelessness crisis in Canada, with blame games and jurisdictional disputes overshadowing the urgent need to legalize housing and address the root causes.

December 20, 2023

As the gentle warmth of spring breezes through the trees and flowers begin to bloom, many of us yearn for the solace of nature’s embrace. It’s a time when the allure of outdoor adventures beckons, promising moments of tranquility away from the bustle of daily life. Yet, as we pitch our tents beneath the starry skies and immerse ourselves in the beauty of the natural world, it’s impossible to ignore the somber reality that hangs heavy in the air.

News: Nearly half of Canadians are opposed to university protest encampments, poll suggests

Tents, once synonymous with carefree camping trips and cozy nights under the stars, have taken on a new significance in our world today. They stand not only as symbols of outdoor escapades but also as stark reminders of the deep-seated troubles that plague our society.

December 28, 2021

In cities across the globe, tents have become makeshift homes for those grappling with the harsh realities of homelessness. They line sidewalks and parks, offering meagre shelter to those left vulnerable by economic hardship, systemic inequality, and a lack of affordable housing. The sight of these tents serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for compassionate solutions to address the root causes of homelessness and provide support to those in need.

Meanwhile, on university campuses and city squares, tents have become symbols of protest and resistance. They stand as silent witnesses to the impassioned voices demanding justice, equality, and change. From movements advocating for Palestinian rights to calls for environmental action, these encampments represent the collective desire for a better world, one where every voice is heard and every life is valued.

Report: Tent City Nation: Are Canada’s homeless encampments here to stay?

June 7, 2023

Yet, even amidst the serenity of nature’s embrace, the despair of our troubled world looms large. The echoes of conflict, injustice, and suffering reverberate through the peaceful stillness of the wilderness, reminding us that we cannot escape the realities of our time, no matter how far we roam.

And so, as we revel in the beauty of spring and the simple joys of camping beneath the open sky, let us also pause to reflect on the challenges that confront us. Let us recognize the resilience of the human spirit, which persists even in the face of adversity. And let us recommit ourselves to building a world where the promise of peace, justice, and equality shines as brightly as the morning sun filtering through the trees.

In the midst of it all, may we find moments of solace and connection, both with nature and with one another. For it is in these moments that we find hope, and it is in these moments that we find the strength to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Wednesday September 28, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 28, 2022

Kremlin paves way to annexing 4 regions of Ukraine as it announces referendum results

The Kremlin paved the way Tuesday to annex part of Ukraine and escalate the war by announcing that residents of a large swath overwhelmingly supported joining with Russia in stage-managed referendums that the U.S. and its Western allies have dismissed as illegitimate.

May 3, 2022

Pro-Moscow officials said all four occupied regions of Ukraine voted to join Russia. According to Russia-installed election officials, 93 per cent of the ballots cast in the Zaporizhzhia region supported annexation, as did 87 per cent in the Kherson region, 98 per cent in the Luhansk region and 99 per cent in Donetsk.

In a remark that appeared to rule out negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy told the UN Security Council by video from Kyiv that Russia’s attempts to annex Ukrainian territory will mean “there is nothing to talk about with this president of Russia.”

The preordained outcome sets the stage for a dangerous new phase in Russia’s seven-month war, with the Kremlin threatening to throw more troops into the battle and potentially use nuclear weapons.

The referendums in the Luhansk and Kherson regions and parts of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia began Sept. 23, often with armed officials going door to door collecting votes. The ballots asked residents whether they wanted the areas to be incorporated into Russia.

March 4, 2022

Moscow-backed officials in the four occupied regions in southern and Eastern Ukraine said polls closed Tuesday afternoon after five days of voting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to address Russia’s parliament about the referendums on Friday, and Valentina Matviyenko, who chairs the parliament’s upper house, said lawmakers could consider annexation legislation on Oct. 4.

Meanwhile, Russia ramped up warnings that it could deploy nuclear weapons to defend its territory, including newly acquired lands, and mobilizing more than a quarter-million more troops to deploy to a front line of more than 1,000 kilometres. 

After the balloting, “the situation will radically change from the legal viewpoint, from the point of view of international law, with all the corresponding consequences for protection of those areas and ensuring their security,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

Many Western leaders have called the referendum a sham, and the UN Security Council was scheduled to meet later Tuesday in New York to discuss a resolution that says the voting results will never be accepted and that the four regions remain part of Ukraine. Russia is certain to veto the resolution. (CBC) 

 

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 23, 2022

Was funding for Canada’s vaccine protests linked to Putin’s plans for Ukraine?

Joe Biden’s administration had two different and seemingly disparate international crises on its hands Friday when Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, strode to the podium in the White House briefing room.

January 22, 2022

Sullivan’s message was chilling: If Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to invade Ukraine, he said, it could happen before the end of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, which are scheduled to wrap up this coming Sunday.

At the same time, the White House had grown worried enough about the COVID-19 protests blocking vital commercial trade corridors at the Canada-U.S. border that it urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take a harder line.

Experts in both countries are wondering if the two situations have more in common than an initial glance might suggest.

Bessma Momani, a political-science professor at the University of Waterloo and a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, said she sees earmarks of Russia’s foreign interference techniques in the social-media maelstrom surrounding the protests in Canada.

“The Russian strategy has always been about divide, right? Sow dissent from within,” Momani said in an interview Monday.

February 11, 2022

The goal, she said, is to feed and foster the narrative — already well on its way in the U.S., but less so in Canada — that western-style democracies are prone to instability, insecurity and social upheaval.

“They picked up on this idea of culture wars and identity politics being yet another demonstration that democracy doesn’t work. And so it really is part of their strategy.”

Online news startup Grid reported last week that a single, stolen account was responsible for administering four of the most prominent Facebook groups at the centre of organizing and promoting the protests, which have entered their third week.

And NBC News has reported that the protests, originally branded as a “trucker convoy” comprising drivers angry at being forced to get vaccinated against COVID-19, were being promoted by fake accounts connected to so-called “content mills” in Bangladesh, Romania, Vietnam and elsewhere.

July 23, 2020

Momani said she suspects Canada’s global reputation as a stable liberal democracy in proximity to the U.S. has made it a tempting target for Russian hackers. She added the ensuing pandemonium has also provided Putin with a welcome distraction as he continues to amass troops, equipment and weapons near the Ukrainian border.

“If they were not patient zero behind this, they certainly helped add oxygen because the timing was appropriate for them,” she said.

“It’s going to be hard to pinpoint it, to completely say it’s all Russian intervention, but I have absolutely no doubt that they have their hand in this in some way.”

January 30, 2020

John Weaver, a professor of intelligence analysis at the York College of Pennsylvania, said it’s difficult to determine with any precision if Russia has been involved in sparking the social unrest on display in Canada.

But the fact that Canada is a prominent U.S. ally and trading partner, a G7 nation, a NATO member and part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network would make it a perfectly viable target, Weaver said.

“I believe it’s highly probable that they have some skin in this fight, but the degree to which that they do, I just don’t know,” he said. (National Observer) 

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to enter the Russian-controlled areas of southeast Ukraine following a decision to recognize the territories as independent states.

The decision to dispatch his troops to perform “peacekeeping duties” will be viewed in Ukraine and by other western allies as an occupation of the region and likely trigger tough sanctions and a Ukrainian military response. (The Guardian) 

 

Saturday February 19, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday February 19, 2022

Majority have lost faith in Canada’s ability to keep peace and order in wake of trucker protests: poll

February 10, 2022

After weeks of protests snarling downtown Ottawa and blockading border crossings, nearly two-thirds of Canadians have lost faith in the ability of the country to maintain peace, order and good government and 53 per cent have lost faith in the enforcement of the law, according to a new poll.

The Maru Public Opinion poll, done from Feb. 15 to Feb. 16, found that 71 per cent of Canadians would vote for a “strong-willed person” who will enforce law and order, regardless of what political party they’re from.

This view is strongest in Quebec (86 per cent) and in British Columbia (74 per cent). In Ontario and Alberta — both provinces with conservative premiers — this number drops to 66 per cent, followed by 63 per cent in Atlantic Canada and 62 per cent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

“Whether people know it or not, our daily politics and our ability to do things in this country is founded on the principle of peace, order and good government,” said John Wright, executive vice president of Maru Public Opinion. “That speaks to the door that opens to some form of populism that exists in other countries.”