"What also concerns me is this new doctrine of preemptive strikes. I continue to believe that this policy of preemptive strikes is a dangerous policy that carries unintended consequences. When America acts unilaterally to enforce its will on other nations, without an imminent, direct threat to our security and without regard for the rest of the world or even our traditional allies, we endanger the peace of the world. America is the world's remaining superpower. But that unique status does not give America the right to impose its will whenever and wherever it chooses. We have a responsibility to lead, not to bully." (Unknown but wise American)

Canadian Justice Minister Martin Cauchon introduced a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. The Canadian position considers the American 'Zero Tolerance' approach a failure as young Americans smoke more than young Dutch people. Canadian Senators recomment outright legalization: « Dans une société libre et démocratique qui reconnaît fondamentalement mais non exclusivement la primauté du droit comme source de règles normatives, et où la puissance publique doit le plus possible favoriser l'autonomie et conséquemment utiliser avec parcimonie les outils de contrainte, une politique publique sur les substances psychoactives doit s'articuler sur des principes directeurs respectant la vie, la santé, la sécurité et les droits et libertés de chaque individu qui, naturellement et légitimement, recherche son bien-être et son épanouissement, et a la capacité de reconnaître la présence, la différence et l'équivalence de l'autre. »
(Funnily, Radio-Canada in French presents the news as "Pot: Ottawa introduces Bill", but with more reluctance on english Radio-Canada "'No intention' to legalize pot: Cauchon" .. )

Hearing the blond Flemish pop star on BBC who chose to represent the right-wing VlaamsBlok in Belgium... we have heard her lines before in Austria, France, Holland and Denmark: "Immigrants coming to our country must adapt to our culture, learn our language and integrate to our society or they will be deported".

In this matter, Canada has a lot to teach to European countries.

This approach is wrong and vowed to fail, because it puts the burden of 'integration' entirely on the shoulder of the immigrant. It attempts to remove the need for residents to participate in this integration, promoting them to the role of not-to-be-disturbed spectators and all-powerful integration judges. But integration goes both ways! One cannot expect an Indian to become Flemish. He will never speak, act or think like a 'traditional' Flemish. Even if he eventually does - after 2 or 3 generations maybe - his skin will never become Flemishly white..

The only way for integration to succeed is to understand, accept and embrace each other's cultures. The Flemish (or Danish or French..) culture need not be static. The only way to go forward and integrate successfully is to recognize the benefits and shortcomings of both cultures and, together, build a new culture that will respect and integrate all its citizens. The harsh rules right-wing parties propose will only bring more hatred, misunderstanding and racism. For integration to be successful, we must make immigrants feel respected, welcomed and appreciated. The role of a government is to foster mutual interest and understanding between old and new residents.

An Indian arriving in Canada will not be asked to become Canadian. He will be asked, "How can you contribute to the Canadian culture". Being Canadian is primarily being you and participating in the flowering of the Canadian culture. I believe this model is the only way out for a Europe still entrenched in its past.

yann.

"Nationalism is dangerous, but the nationalism of the oppressed seeking freedom is far less dangerous than the nationalism of the oppressor"

Denmark is stepping up efforts to shut down Christiana, the alternative town in the southern part of Copenhagen. Christiana, also called the Freetown or, more officially, the 'social experiment', started in 1970 as a mixture of anarchy and love, endorsing an alternative life based on communal living and freedom (all details on history and self-governement here).

The current Danish governement, a nationalist and often racist, right-wing, EU-skeptic and Bush supporting party, is going ahead with its plan to make room for more revenue-generating constructions in this much sought-after area. It is unfortunate that the frustrated right-wingers fail to understand the importance of Christiana. Christiania has become a self-controlled safe-haven for all the marginality of society as well as a continuous source of inspiration for all forms of art. Without Christiania, Denmark would be negating its social tradition and culture of tolerance, already much under threats by the current government. Copenhagen would become a boring and uniform city at best, displacing the marginality and softdrug trade on everyone's doorstep instead of being beautifully contained in one known area..

To save Christiania, click and sign here

The International Criminal Court objective is to hold accountable and bring to justice individuals responsible for mass murder, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (read more here). The court was created in July 1998 in Rome and entered into force in April 2002, taking seat in The Hague in the Netherlands. The US, in its neo-conservatist commitment to American global leadership, nullified its previous ratification and is now gathering support for impunity agreements, that is, Bush wants all US citizens to be exempted from prosecution in the court. Already 32 countries have been duped in agreeing on US immunity or agreed in exchange for reciprocity due to their own bad human rights record (ex. Israel, Rwanda, D.R.Congo, Siera Leone, Romania, Albania and maybe soon Latvia). On top of creating a dangerous precedent in 'unsigning' a previously signed international agreement, the US proves again it has no intention to support human rights justice and democracy on on global scale.. (Rome Statute, ICC)

"To end consumerism, we must reeducate ourselves on the separation of needs from desires. If capitalism emerged originally to fulfill a need, its offspring, consumerism, created and fed desires. Today so many of these desires have been exposed as artificial.. The craving for possessions, status and material wealth has become addictive and we feed our addictions by creating and consuming more of everything. But at the same time our desires have overtaken and eclipsed our needs. We seem to be trapped in a perpetual cycle of demand. The demise of competing ideologies allowed those living in capitalist societies a brief period of satisfaction before people began to ask: "Is this it?" (Richard.Donkin@ft.com, Financial Times, May 2)

It was about oil after all. Sir Jonathan Porritt, Tony Blair 's most Senior Environment Adviser, said Iraqi Oil was a "very strong factor" in going to war with Iraq. "There would not have been a war if Iraq didn't have the world's largest oil reserves". (In Danish) The US Energy Department forecast oil demand will climb 50% by 2025, indicating alternative energy sources were going to play a marginal role. Bush made the introduction of hydrogen cars a priority .. within the next 2 decades! A plan for no change, sure to please Bush&Co, car manufaturers and oil producers. CO2 emissions are projected to increase by 59%. (Financial Times May 2)

The first May Day, in 1886, was a call for eight-hour workdays by the workers in many American cities. During a labor rally in Chicago, a policeman was killed. The leaders of the local labor movement, eight anarchists, were put on trial and all were found guilty; four were hanged, one committed suicide in jail, and the remaining three were freed and officially granted pardon in 1893 as innocent and victims of hysteria, packed juries and a biased judge.

State, business leaders, and the media would want to hide the true history of May Day. The International Workers' Holiday is still described as a "commie" event in the US, and Labor Day was moved to September on a day devoid of any historical significance. Though not an official holiday in my american company, activities and concerts are taking place in the city - particularly grand in Rome!

"This is the first and only International Labor Day. It belongs to the working class and is dedicated to the revolution." (Wahington U., Anarchy.no)