Saturday 14 May 2016

Letter to Editor Ottawa Citiizen

Ottawa Citizen     Homepage
Page A7 : Your letters for Friday, May 13

Two world events ignored by western news media.

I am appalled that the Ottawa Citizen and other western media have generally ignored or downplayed two international humanitarian cultural events: one in the ancient city of Palmyra on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day in Syria, and the second at Victory Day in Russia.

The first event brought the famous St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, headed by Maestro Valery Gergiev, to Palmyra, six weeks after ISIL was forced out, as a celebration and in gratitude to all those who fight terrorism and sacrifice their lives.

The second event, May 9 in Moscow, commemorated 71 years since the defeat of Nazi forces and the memory of Second World War veterans. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in defence of the country and of freedom for the world. More than 40 countries took part in this memorial, which attracted 800,000 participants to the Moscow parade.

Koozma J. Tarasoff, Ottawa


Martyrs’ Day

May 6, 2016, was the 100th anniversary of a massacre in Damascus and Beirut, Syria by Ottoman military leader Jamal Pasha 'The Butcher'. Russia ordered a cease-fire, and sent an orchestra to participate in the Syrian memorial for the dead. Concert title: 'Pray for Palmyra. Music revives ancient remains'.

Victory Day

(Russian: Den' Pobedy) honors veteran dead relatives as an 'Immortal regiment' (Russian: Bessmertnyi Polk). Photos of dead veteran relatives are carried by mourners. In 2016, citizen video journalists documented 3 memorial parades in Canada.

Toronto
Calgary
Winnipeg

Tuesday 10 May 2016

2 Anti-Gun TV Documentaries This Week


Armed in America (PBS, 2 parts)

Examining gun violence in America.
2 films, 2 nights 2 conversations. See websites. 


Under the Gun (epix)

Interviews with victim families and experts.  Online May 15

“In the gun debate, truth is the ultimate weapon.”  #gunfacts
  • 90% of guns used in crimes can be traced back to 5% of gun dealers.
  • 40% of guns sold in america are without a background check.
  • 84% of gun owners support background checks.
  • Gun violence is the 2nd leading cause of youth death, ages 10-19.
  • Share the facts
  • Tell your elected officials
  • I am ready
  • Close bad apple gun stores
  • For gun owners
  • Support positive mental health
  • Wear orange

Thursday 5 May 2016

Press for Conversion!

My friend Richard Sanders, an Ottawa peace activist, has just released issue #68 of Press for Conversion! magazine published by The Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT).

The theme of this current issue is: ‘Captive Canada’ which explores Canada's shameful history of mass civilian captivity from reservations to forced-labour camps. Sanders highlights social and psychological forms of internment that continually evolve to enslave people's hearts and minds.

He says arrogant ‘fairy tales’ mask our reality. The mythical gospels of the ‘Peaceable Kingdom’, ‘Christian values’, ‘Canadian values’, and ‘peace, multiculturalism, human rights and democracy’ are used as a cover for ‘Canadian exceptionalism’.

Find articles and back issues on COAT's website.

Sanders says the goal of his work ‘is to develop a theory of social control and cultural change that can explain how national myths and narratives can entice good, well-meaning people into supporting horrendous state crimes.'

Monday 2 May 2016

'Building a Culture of Peace' — Rogers TV

Show:Ottawa Experts — 1 hour — Rogers TV Ottawa Cable 22
Topic:'Building a Culture of Peace'
Host:Mony Dojeiji
Guests:Bill Bhaneja and Koozma J. Tarasoff
Date, Time:Tuesday May 3, 8 pm.
Rebroadcast: May 4, 9 am — May 5, 1 pm. May 7, 10 am. May 9, 1 pm.

From Walking for Peace, Facebook, by Mony Dojeiji 

Peace activists will be interviewed on Rogers TV Ottawa Cable 22, Canada.

Host Mony Dojeiji will lead a conversation about their combined 70 years of peace building — 60 years for Koozma and 10 for Bill

The program will appear live with telephoned questions from the viewing audience. The phone number will appear on screen during the show. The show will be repeated each of the following 2 days.

Update May 8, 2016

Ottawa Peace Elders on Rogers TV, by Koozma J. Tarasoff, May 7, 2016 — Program summary.

Update May 10, 2016

Show video online in 3 parts
  1. https://youtu.be/Eej8J2v2Mmo
  2. https://youtu.be/6ZAg0jXbpFI
  3. https://youtu.be/OBzmAJuqZjs